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Title: Russia and the Soviet Union

Author: Ralph Raico

Narrator: Harry Reasoner, Peter Hackes, Richard C. Hottelet

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-26-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 30 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

Recent events have made it clear that the Soviet Union is not a monolith; it's a collection of nationalities, many with serious objections to union. The demise of communism holds great promise and great danger not only for the Soviets, but for the world. This audiobook examines how the region's long history led to modern reality.

©1991 Knowledge Products, Inc. (P)1991 Knowledge Products, Inc.

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Titre: La tragédie du président

Sous-titre: Scènes de la vie politique 1986-2006

Auteur: Franz-Olivier Giesbert

Narrateur: Jean Barney

Format: Unabridged

Durée: 10 hrs and 50 mins

Langue: Français

Date de publication: 06-08-06

Éditeur: Audible France

Evaluation: 3.5 sur 5 sur 2 votes

Genres: History, World

Résumé de l'éditeur:

En 1987, Franz-Olivier Giesbert publiait une biographie de Jacques Chirac, éclairage documenté et percutant sur le plus imprévisible des hommes politiques français. Depuis cette date, Giesbert n'a cessé d'enquêter, d'observer, de prendre des notes sur la conquête du pouvoir par Chirac et sur ses deux mandats. Il livre ici le récit complet de vingt années d'une vie au cœur de la politique française, dont douze à la présidence. Il a rencontré le président à de nombreuses reprises, ainsi que ses amis et ennemis, ses proches et ses commentateurs. Il livre un portrait cinglant et vivant, souvent drôle, riche en anecdotes et en révélations, qui éclaire ce parcours hors normes.

Comment Chirac, l'homme des retournements, des paradoxes, des chutes et des rebonds, en est-il arrivé là ? À travers le trajet de l'homme, l'analyse de ses multiples facettes, toute la vie politique française défile, en une mise en scène sans complaisance, divertissante et sans pitié. La comédie du pouvoir, ses zones d'ombre, ses combines raffinées ou minables... Tout est passé au crible. Au final, cette peinture d'un homme qui a su se maintenir au faîte du pouvoir ne serait-elle pas l'histoire d'un formidable fiasco politique ?

Le récit est suivi d'un entretien avec Franz-Olivier Giesbert enregistré en mai 2006, en exclusivité pour audible.fr.

L'auteur

Né le 18 janvier 1949 à Wilmington (Delaware, USA),

est issu, côté paternel, d'une famille d'origine allemande et juive immigrée aux Etats-Unis à la veille de la première Guerre Mondiale et, côté maternel, d'une famille normande et catholique dirigeant à Elbeuf une importante imprimerie régionale. Avec une mère professeur de philosophie et un père dessinateur commercial passé par l'Art Institut of Chicago, il est élevé dans un milieu intellectuellement élevé mais touché par la violence d'un père traumatisé par son débarquement en Normandie.FOG est directeur du Point et écrivain. Il a publié une dizaine de romans dont

(prix Interallié 1995) et

(grand prix du roman de l'Académie française 1992). Auteur d'une biographie de Mitterrand (

, Seuil), il s'était déjà penché sur l'actuel chef de l'Etat, il y a près de vingt ans (

, Seuil).

© Editions Flammarion, 2006

© Audio Direct, 2006

Revues par les critiques:

Le mot de l'auteur

"On ne se méfie jamais assez des journalistes. [...] Depuis plus de quinze ans, j'ai consigné sur des cahiers à spirale la plupart de mes conversations avec Jacques Chirac.

Alors que son règne arrive à son couchant, il m'a semblé qu'il était temps de vider mes carnets. [...] Si l'on veut garder sa part d'ombre, il ne faut pas fréquenter les journalistes.

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Title: The Voyage of Their Lives

Subtitle: The Story of the SS Derna and Its Passengers

Author: Diane Armstrong

Narrator: Deidre Rubenstein

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-24-05

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 33 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

Diane Armstrong set sail on the Derna with her parents when she was 9 years old. Like a detective searching for clues, she has located over a hundred of the passengers. Through their recollections and memorabilia, as well as archival documents, she has recreated the voyage and traced what became of their hopes and dreams. The result is the unique portrayal of a migrant ship and its passengers.

Editorial Reviews:

This audiobook from Diane Armstrong isn't a memoir in the singular tradition of most memoirs. It is a memoir of a community, the inspiring and heartrending tale of those aboard the Derna in 1948. With little certainty of success, hundreds crammed themselves onto the ship leaving behind a world of Nazi reign, death camps, and gulags in hopes of a new start in Australia and New Zealand. Performed with a sincere empathy from veteran narrator, Deidre Rubenstein, The Voyage of Their Lives: The Story of the SS Derna and Its Passengers is an incredible look back at some of the lives that were forever changed from one of the darkest periods in modern European history.

Critic Reviews:

"Deidre Rubenstein's energetic reading keeps [the story] moving. She gives each word its due and enlivens conversations and life stories, many of them harrowing." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Could have been magnificent; still pretty good

The author must have run short of material. The first half of this book is beyond excellent, recounting the personal background and experiences of a group of War refugees who, in 1948, were emmigrating from various parts of Europe to Australia. Parts are especially interesting because the author, as a child, was one of the passengers herself, as we her own parents. Many scenes are memorable, eg,on Yom Kippur, services were held for the Jews. Her parents, for reasons of survival, had hid their Jewishness and because there was a Jewish quota, were traveling as non-Jews. The tension over the question of whether they should reveal themselves so they could observe the day is just one of the tiny points in this book that make it so interesting. Today, it's easy to forget all the "little" rules that existed at the time -- such as the Derma's 25% limit on Jewish passenbers.

All of the stories of the passengers on the voyage, the tensions among the several Germans -- some of them former Nazis -- and the surviving Jews; how a group of refugee children fared; the stress of the terribly overcrowed conditions, lost luggage, poor food, lack of water, all make it an engrossing 'how it was' book, and supremely interesting and worthwhile.

Unfortunately, a little over half through, the author apparently ran out of material and decided to fill in with contemporary accounts of what several former passengers are doing now. At this point, it becomes a tedious recital of success after success. Nice that they all did so well, but the endless accolades get seriously boring. She even goes so far as to quote the verbatim language on a placque of recognition one of the men had received from his community. Yikes!

Again, how wonderful he did so well.

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Title: Compass

Subtitle: A Story of Exploration and Innovation

Author: Alan Gurney

Narrator: John Lee

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 9 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-19-05

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 56 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

This book chronicles the misadventures of those who attempted to perfect the compass, an instrument so precious to 16-century seamen that, by law, any man found tampering with it had his hand pinned to the mast with a dagger. From the time man first took to the seas until only 1,000 years ago, sight and winds were the sailor's only navigational aids. It was not until the development of the compass that maps and charts could be used with any accuracy. Even so, it would be hundreds of years and thousands of shipwrecks before the marvelous instrument was perfected. And its history up to modern times is filled with the stories of disasters that befell sailors who misused it.

©2004 Alan Gurney; (P)2004 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic Reviews:

"An engaging sequence of stories for the maritime set." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Disappointing

This book reminds me of old college professors who are able to drain every bit of life out of their subject despite their passion for the material. The story doesn't seem to have an overarching narrative to hold it together. Well, it does, nominally, but it doesn't really work, at least in my oppinion; I nearly gave up on the book a few times. The narrator's crisp Scottish (I believe) accent was the most redeeming feature of this audiobook. One thing I would recommend would be to listen to the appendix at the end of the book first for definitions and such.

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Titre: Serge Klarsfeld

Auteur: Serge Klarsfeld, Claude Bochurberg

Narrateur: Serge Klarsfeld, Claude Bochurberg

Format: Original Recording

Durée: 7 hrs and 30 mins

Langue: Français

Date de publication: 11-24-04

Éditeur: Frémeaux & Associés

Evaluation: 4 sur 5 sur 1 votes

Genres: History, World

Résumé de l'éditeur:

Entretiens par Claude Bochurberg, sous la direction de Patrick Frémeaux. Février 2002. Pour la première fois, Serge Klarsfeld, historien et avocat, explique au micro de Claude Bochurberg pendant près de huit heures son engagement intellectuel et philosophique.

Un engagement qui lui a donné la force de travail et de conviction pour établir l'histoire de l'Holocauste, sur des bases scientifiques indiscutables et pour rechercher et faire juger de nombreux criminels nazis ainsi que leurs collaborateurs et notamment Klaus Barbie. Serge Klarsfeld et sa femme Beate ont voulu, par leur travail d'historien mais aussi par leur action militante, permettre aux Juifs de faire le travail de deuil. Ils ont porté à la connaissance de tout le degré d'inhumanité que l'homme peut porter en lui-même, et dont la Shoah fut l'expression. L'inscription dans l'ordre juridique national et international de la notion de Crime contre l'humanité a permis d'éviter toute banalisation de la singularité de la Shoah. Elle a donné leur juste dimension aux procès intentés contre les criminels nazis tout en nous contraignant à affronter avec lucidité ce qu'a été l'histoire du XXème siècle. En affirmant que la prééminence du droit ne peut être établie sur l'oubli ou la négation du passé, Serge Klarsfeld a créé les conditions qui nous permettent de croire encore en l'homme aujourd'hui. Grâce à lui, le projet humaniste a survécu à Auschwitz.

Les intervenants

forment un couple hors du commun. Elle est Allemande, fille d'un soldat de la Wehrmacht. Il est juif, Français, fils d'un juif Roumain déporté à Auschwitz le 28 octobre 1943 et assassiné dans sa 39ème année.

Au déni des préjugés, Serge et Beate sont l'un pour l'autre depuis le jour où ils se sont rencontrés. Leur combat, mené au nom de la Mémoire, de la Vérité et de la justice, se déploie sur plus de trente ans et n'a guère d'équivalent.

Bloc d'amour tout autant que duo de choc, Serge et Beate ont rassemblé les Fils et Filles des déportés juifs de France, qui en luttant à leurs côtés ont pu de cette façon, pour la plupart, surmonter le poids de la douleur provoquée par l'assassinat de leurs parents après leur déportation.

© 2001 Groupe Frémeaux Colombini S.A.

© F.F.D.J.F.

© 2002 Frémeaux & Associés

(P) 2001 Frémeaux & Associés - Groupe Frémeaux Colombini S.A.

Revues par les critiques:

La presse en parle

"Serge Klarsfeld a compris que les grands mots resteraient toujours en deçà de l'horreur, que notre indignation, si naturelle pourtant, ne saurait être à la mesure du gigantesque massacre. Il a donc choisi l'objectivité et la terrifiante précision des énumérations et des statistiques, sachant que cette précision et cette objectivité étaient en elles-mêmes le plus implacable des réquisitoires.

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Title: To Conquer the Air

Subtitle: The Wright Brothers and the Great Race for Flight

Author: James Tobin

Narrator: Boyd Gaines

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 04-18-03

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 58 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

So wrote a quiet young Ohioan in 1900, one in an ancient line of men who had wanted to fly - wanted it passionately, fecklessly, hopelessly. But now, at the turn of the 20th century, Wilbur Wright and a scattered handful of other adventurers conceived a conviction that the dream lay at last within reach, and in a headlong race across 10 years and two continents, they competed to conquer the air. James Tobin, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award in biography, has at last given this inspiring story its definitive telling.

For years Wright and his younger brother, Orville, experimented in utter obscurity. Meanwhile, the world watched as the imperious Samuel Langley, armed with a rich contract from the U.S. War Department and all the resources of the Smithsonian Institution, sought to create the first manned flying machine. But while Langley became obsessed with flight as a problem of power, the Wrights grappled with it as a problem of balance. Thus their machines took two very different paths - his toward oblivion, theirs toward the heavens.

To Conquer the Air is a hero's tale of overcoming obstacles within and without that plumbs the depths of creativity and character. With a historian's accuracy and a novelist's eye, Tobin has captured the interplay of remarkable personalities at an extraordinary moment in our history. In the centennial year of human flight, To Conquer the Air is itself a heroic achievement.

Members Reviews:

A great story

To Conquer the Air: The Wright Brothers and the Great Race for Flight, is an insightful, well-researched narrative of the development of heavier-than-air flight by James Towbin. This novel is essentially the story of the Wright brothers and their competition, told in chronological order with scenes switching back and forth between the Wrights and other aviation pioneers to show the tension of the competition in the race to fly. The irony involved creates a surprising amount of suspense for what is essentially a historical novel. Wilbur Wright?s use of the scientific method to develop models and prototypes is impressive. This began with aerodynamic design and control of gliders with the brothers concentrating on flight control and design, while others were more concerned with design and power. Especially insightful was their development of a primitive wind tunnel that they used to test and modify their designs. The family story is included to add to realism to the description of what these pioneers were experiencing at a time when they were making history. The narrator, Boyd Gaines, does a fine job reading the abridged version of the book, adroitly capturing the foreign and regional accents. I was so thoroughly taken with the story that I never lost interest during the six hours and ten minutes duration of the program. This four-star novel lets one sit back, relax, and experience an important time in American history.

The TRUE story

A cunning and accurate account on the events and life of the early years of flight. This book encompasses the factors of the how the first flights came to be, in a clear easy to listen story. In addition to the straight facts, the author also includes external influences such as friendships, family and fate that adds marvelous insight!

The speaker has clear tone, the audio quality is excellent and the writing style makes it difficult to stop.

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Title: The Riddle of the Compass

Subtitle: The Invention that Changed the World

Author: Amir D. Aczel

Narrator: Henry Leyva

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-28-01

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 123 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

The secrets of science meet the drama of the high seas. Amir D. Aczel, the distinguished science writer, turns detective as he uncovers the fascinating story of the invention of the compass. It's a fabulous tale of Chinese lodestones directing the building of palaces and ancient mariners following the flights of birds to reach their destinations.

The arrival of the compass in Europe and an understanding of its potential revolutionized trade in the Mediterranean and ushered in the great Age of Exploration. Tracking down the roots of the compass and telling the story of navigation through the ages, Aczel instructs and charms as never before.

Amir Aczel is known for his ability to write delightful books about hard topics in math and science. And this is the book he was born to write. Raised on ocean liners by his ship's-captain father, the young Aczel stood at the helm and steered ships though the Mediterranean. His experience adds depth and resonance to the telling of this terrific story.

Executive Producer: Jacob Bronstein

Producer: John Wager

Produced by arrangement with Harcourt, Inc.

Original Jacket Photographs by (top) Kim Westerskov/Stone and Barry Marcus/FPG International

Original Jacket Design by Claudine Guerguerian

Author photograph by Debra Gross Aczel

©2001 by Amir Aczel

(P)2001 Random House, Inc.

Critic Reviews:

"Nimble writer that he is, Aczel keeps these and other topics in constant, fluid motion, like a master juggler. A compulsively readable investigation, as attracting as the magnetic north." - (Kirkus Reviews)

Members Reviews:

so much folklore

This book was a facinating account of how the compass "may have" been invented. The author clearly did a lot of research into, if not determining the absolute truth, perhaps a plausible explanation of the various developments that, building upon one another, resulted in the magnetic compass.

Don't pass this up

Any additional comments?

I found this to be a very enjoyable listen. A lot of the specific details of the invention of the compass can never be known, so Aczel tells what is known, then goes off on different entertaining tangents of the times and places that are relevant to the story. At the end what you really know is that too much is unknowable. But it is still worth the trip. Henry Leyva does a very nice job reading, never sounding overbearing. Give this one a try. Rick.

A brief overview of the topic

Any additional comments?

If you are looking for an in-depth treatment of the topic, I don not think you will find it in this book. The book does not have the feel of a scholarly, historical work, but seems to be more a brief overview of the compass/seafaring, due to the exposure of the author as a child, to his father's profession as a ship's captain. The author sails past technical details about the compass and its history without real explanation. The author talks more about people and places that might have been important stepping stones in the development of the technology. Most annoyingly, his references can't be assumed to be "historically" accurate since he makes references to mythological biblical characters, possibly mythological persons, and historical people and places with no distinction. If you want a quick read and are just mildly interested in the topic, this is a decent little book.

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Title: Snakes and Ladders

Subtitle: Glimpses of Modern India

Author: Gita Mehta

Narrator: Gita Mehta

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 12-15-99

Publisher: Phoenix Books

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

A series of engrossing sketches reveals an India that may be surprising to many Westerners. Instead of a single country, the listener will discover, India is a nation of several civilizations in different states of development. The author, a well-regarded writer, reporter, and lecturer, covers the country from its ancient cultures to her encounters with the film directors and poets and the complicated machination of the world's largest democracy.

Recording (P)1997 by Audio Literature, Text Copyright ©1997 by Gita Mehta

Critic Reviews:

"These wide-ranging pieces, suffused with outrage, pride, love, and humor, have the immediacy of sharp personal reactions and the distance of a critical eye." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Pleasant Mistake

I got this audio thinking it was about Indian mythology. Instead, despite the wooden reading by the author, I found myself riveted to the story (in general) of India's entry into the modern world, at least politically. This is a country we seldom think of except that it produces cheap things and filmy silks. There is so much more to consider, and I am happy that Ms. Gehta introduced me to it. It was heartrending to find that people could virtually go into slavery trying to pay off a loan of $12 plus years and years of interest. Yet by helping a woman to purchase a loom, within a year she could bring her family out of poverty. Also, the Indians who hated the British Raj found that they were forced to work for the British in order to help their people. There must have been many conflicting feelings about that fact. Ms Gehta is obviously an intelligent woman and it is to be hoped she has other works available.

I enjoyed the book on the flight to India

I was searching for a few books to listen to on the way to India. I really enjoyed this book. It's not so much a history book, it's more about a person telling about her views and experiences on growing up in India. I highly recommend the book for anyone traveling to India. I wouldn't have listened to it if I hadn't gone there. If your not planning on going to India then I wouldn't recommend it.

Brief Overview

For someone unfamiliar with post-colonial indian history and culture, this book would make a good introduction. I was a little disappointed, as I was expecting more anecdotes and local color. Perhaps I would have enjoyed this audiobook more if it had been unabridged.

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Titre: Pourquoi dit-on "boire cul-sec" et "jeu de mains, jeu de vilains" ? (Choses à savoir)

Auteur: Louis Guillaume

Narrateur: Louis Guillaume

Format: Unabridged

Durée: 1 min

Langue: Français

Date de publication: 11-14-17

Éditeur: Choses à Savoir CULTURE GENERALE

Genres: History, World

Résumé de l'éditeur:

Des podcasts quotidiens pour apprendre des choses et développer sa culture générale.

©2017 Louis Guillaume (P)2017 Louis Guillaume

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Title: Olympic Affair

Subtitle: A Novel of Hitler's Siren and America's Hero

Author: Terry Frei

Narrator: Mark Moseley

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-17-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

Although not a member of the National Socialist Party, Leni Riefenstahl was the film-maker darling of the Nazis and Adolf Hitler. First a successful dancer and actress in Germany, she became more notorious when she produced and directed Victory of Faith and Triumph of the Will, the chilling documentaries about Nazi Party congresses at Nuremberg.

Glenn Morris was an All-American farm boy from tiny Simla, Colorado, as well as a former college football star and student body president at the school now known as Colorado State University. At the 1936 Olympics, he won the decathlon, earning him the label "the world's greatest athlete." Among the American heroes at the Berlin Games, he was considered second only to Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals.

Riefenstahl and Morris: An unlikely couple? Perhaps, but in her 1987 memoirs, the German filmmaker belatedly confirmed she had an affair with the American athlete during the filming of Olympia, Riefenstahl's documentary about the Berlin Games. In fact, she portrayed it as much more than a dalliance, saying that she had dreamed of marrying Morris and that he broke her heart. Morris, who went on to Hollywood, the National Football League, and military service, spoke sparingly of the relationship, but mused late in life that he "should have stayed in Germany with Leni."

In Olympic Affair, author Terry Frei turns to historical fiction in a novel researched in much the same fashion as his widely praised works of non-fiction, including Horns, Hogs, and Nixon Coming and Third Down and a War to Go. Using deduction, imagination and narrative skill to augment documented fact (as well as debunk myths parroted for many years), Frei tells the story of their ill-fated affairand beyond.

Members Reviews:

Frei Captures History for Us

A very interesting book that provides an insight into the world of the mid-1930's before World War II. It's a fascinating story of the small-town Colorado athlete and an extraordinary woman movie-maker. This could be a screen play for a movie.

Terry really brings the characters to life. I can't wait to read more Terry Frei stuff. Well done.

Sports, Intrigue, and Romance

Outstanding read! Historical recreation of the relationship between Glenn Morris, a Colorado decathalete, and Leni Riefenstal, Hitlers's preferred movie-maker. This book covers the American participation in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, but also provides an historical perspective on the political implications of the Nazi desire to showcase Germany and win hearts and minds to their cause. Couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.

Five Stars

Was super!

Learn and entertain

Very interesting book. His use of timelines and history made the story all the more interesting.. Well worth the purchase and time

Truly a great read as I could not put it down

Outstanding book... Truly a great read as I could not put it down!