Listen to Best Sellers Audiobooks in History, 21st Century

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Title: Confederaphobia: An American Epidemic

Author: Paul C. Graham

Narrator: Bill Izard

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 44 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-11-18

Publisher: Shotwell Publishing

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

For 150 years Confederate monuments and other memorials dotted the American landscape. Few people objected. After all, a third of the American people are descended from Confederate soldiers and Congress has officially and legally declared Confederates to be "American veterans".

That time has passed.

There is an epidemic of hate and fear sweeping the land; a wave of hostility and intolerance that shows no sign of slowing or stopping; its fury is directed at Southern symbols - flags, monuments, and other displays - in fact everything Southern now appears to be a target. Paul C. Graham has courageously examined this case of mass hysteria; a condition he has aptly dubbed "Confederaphobia".

"It's one thing," writes Graham, "to acknowledge that the meaning of symbols is one of perspective. It's quite another thing to have the meaning dictated by ideologues who are not participants in the cultural tradition.... Southern symbols mean to the Southerner exactly what they say that they do...speak for those people for whom Southern identity is a living reality."

Southern people are growing weary of the ongoing demonization; of being bullied and harassed; and have begun to realize that Confederaphobia is not a matter of monuments, but a campaign to expunge their identity.

If you are a self-identified Southerner, you are a potential target!

It's not too late to inoculate yourself from the dangerous effects of this disease, but this is only possible if you recognize the problem.

The problem is not Confederate flags, monuments, markers, belt-buckles, stickers, do-dads, knick-knacks, what-nots, or Dukes of Hazzard re-runs - the problem is Confederaphobia!

Members Reviews:

A Must Read

A must read, especially if you're still walking around shell-shocked by the recent hysteria and wave of attacks and criminal destruction of public property by crazed individuals armed with weapons and seething with hate, without any accountability of either the perpetrators or the local officials who themselves have been part of it and/or complacent. You're not alone. This sheds light and puts a finger on the psychopatholgy behind the sudden phenomenon of this recent vehement hatred of all things southern. I read this on my Kindle, took me about an hour, and I wrote a review a few days ago but it kept disappearing before I was able to send it. I think it was a little better-worded than this one but I wanted to make sure I gave this a 5 star, positive review. Even the haters of all things southern should read this, but I doubt one would have the mental capacity or moral character to do so. Prove me wrong. Excellent analysis and short read. Thank you Mr. Graham!

YOU MUST HAVE THIS BOOK!

Fantastic assessment of the ideologies and phobias that fuel the current wave of cultural cleansing. Not a long book at all, but completely covering every aspect of the contradictory condition of the Confederaphobe. The final short chapter is absolutely the most encouraging words I have read on the matter, and is written in a language that millennials and teens can easily digest. Paul C.Graham is a gifted editor who speaks in a non-threatening, often humorous manner to the very heart of the Southern identity.

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Title: The Great Recession of 2008 and Its Consequences

Subtitle: Uncertainty, Revolution, and Populism

Author: Thomas Winterbottom

Narrator: Michael Goldsmith

Format: Unabridged

Length: 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-16-17

Publisher: Thomas F. Winterbottom

Genres: History, 21st Century

Publisher's Summary:

This book is an examination of the social, economic, and political consequences of the great recession of 2008.

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Title: Supreme Power

Subtitle: 7 Pivotal Supreme Court Decisions That Had a Major Impact on America

Author: Ted Stewart

Narrator: Art Allen

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-26-17

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 11 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Best-selling author Ted Stewart explains how the Supreme Court and its nine appointed members now stand at a crucial point in their power to hand down momentous and far-ranging decisions. Today's Court affects every major area of American life, from health care to civil rights, from abortion to marriage.

This fascinating book reveals the complex history of the Court as told through seven pivotal decisions. These cases originally seemed narrow in scope, but they vastly expanded the interpretation of law. Such is the power of judicial review to make sweeping, often unforeseen, changes in American society by revising the meaning of our Constitution.

Each chapter presents an easy-to-listen-to brief on the case and explains what the decisions mean and how the Court ruling, often a 5-4 split, had long-term impact. For example, in Lochner v. New York, a widely accepted turn-of-the-20th-century New York State law limited excessive overtime for bakery workers. That law was overturned by the Court based on the due process clause of the Constitution. The very same precedents, Stewart points out, were used by the Court 70 years later and expanded to a new right to privacy in Rose v. Wade making abortion legal in the nation.

Filled with insight, commentary, and compelling stories of ordinary citizens coming to the judiciary for remedy for the problems of their day, Supreme Power illustrates the magnitude of the Court's power to interpret the Constitution and decide the law of the land.

Members Reviews:

Interesting

When reading this book, the reader needs to take into consideration that Federal District Court Judge Ted Stewart is looking at the cases from his own conservative philosophy. His end point also represents his personal conservative viewpoint. The author apparently is not pleased with what he sees in the performance of the Third Branch of government.

Stewart has chosen seven cases to make his point. Judge Stewart bemoans the ascendency of Federal power over State Rights. This is an old debate going back to the founding of this country. He begins with some attempts at neutral analysis. But quickly his viewpoints on gender and race equality, sexual orientation, individual rights and separation of church and state reveal his true views and discard any pretension of neutral viewpoints.

As I am always attempting to understand various peoples viewpoints. I found the book interesting. But, I would have preferred this discussion from an analytical neutral viewpoint. I would have preferred an academic discussion. It is apparent that Judge Stewart believes that the Supreme Court (Judicial section of government) has overstepped its role in the balance of power. I tend to disagree with and believe that it is the legislative branch that is failing to do its job. I do agree with Judge Stewart that the Federal Commerce Laws have overstepped the intended role of that department. The Federal Commerce Department has duplicated state laws. Judge Stewart pointed out that a person can be tried and convicted in both the Federal and State courts for the same crime nullifying the double jeopardy law. I was not aware of this and I believe it should be corrected.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is just over seven hours. Art Allen does a good job narrating the book.

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Title: Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians but Were Afraid to Ask

Author: Anton Treuer

Narrator: Kaipo Schwab

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 09-26-17

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

"I had a profoundly well-educated Princetonian ask me, 'Where is your tomahawk?' I had a beautiful woman approach me in the college gymnasium and exclaim, 'You have the most beautiful red skin.' I took a friend to see Dances with Wolves and was told, 'Your people have a beautiful culture.'...I made many lifelong friends at college, and they supported but also challenged me with questions like, 'Why should Indians have reservations?'"

What have you always wanted to know about Indians? Do you think you should already know the answers-or suspect that your questions may be offensive? In matter-of-fact responses to over 120 questions, both thoughtful and outrageous, modern and historical, Ojibwe scholar and cultural preservationist Anton Treuer gives a frank, funny, and sometimes personal tour of what's up with Indians, anyway.

White/Indian relations are often characterized by guilt and anger. Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians but Were Afraid to Ask cuts through the emotion and builds a foundation for true understanding and positive action.

Critic Reviews:

Straightforward, fascinating, funny, and often wise,

Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask is a wonderful resource for non-Indians and Indians too. (There are plenty of things we want to know about each other.) It is that rare thing - an informational and entertaining read." (Louise Erdrich)

Members Reviews:

Fun to read but full of sobering tales of Indians' past treatment

This book is easy to read in short sessions, but you'll find yourself drawn into reading to the end of his stories. Prof. Treuer knows this subject from the "inside" from being an active member of his tribe, from careful study of available research, and from his own travels around the world. Before buying and reading this book, I knew some about Indians in North America from my own reading and from living and working on a reservation when I was younger. But, in every section of this excellent book, I learned much more. This is a superb book. I hope he writes some more!

Bridging the Divide

This informative and entertaining book brings to mind the Elvis Costello song "What's so funny 'bout Peace, Love, and Understanding". The author's purpose is to help people move past the anger, myths, and misery that permeate Indian and White history. He has chosen to write a book that will encourage honest discourse and mutual understanding, thereby, making the world a better place. A laudable idea.

The book is full of commonly asked questions and "insider" information about such topics as mascots, sovereignty, language, and much more. I highly recommend the book to all who would like to learn more about the American Indian perspective.

What I wanted to know but didn't know how to ask

I saw Dr. Treuer speak in Grand Marais, MN. I wanted to read this book after meeting him.

He is an excellent speaker and writer.

A quote from the book:

"Many tribal languages were never written. Why do they write them now? At one point in time, white people never used cars, so why do they use them now?"

He says we need to confront our collective past, historical trauma, and inequities.

The format of giving answers to commonly stated questions makes the reading clear and meaningful.

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Title: Bloomberg

Subtitle: A Billionaire's Ambition

Author: Chris McNickle

Narrator: Fajer Al-Kaisi

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-26-17

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: History, 21st Century

Publisher's Summary:

Examine the bipartisan legacy of a remarkable billionaire politician

Bloomberg: A Billionaire's Ambition tells the story of how one of America's most successful entrepreneurs was elected mayor of New York City and what he did with the power he won. Bloomberg's stunning victory against all odds just weeks after the 9/11 terrorist attack left him facing challenges unlike any mayor in history. For the next 12 years, he kept the city safe, managed budgets through fiscal crises, promoted private sector growth, generated jobs, built infrastructure, protected the environment, supported society's cultural sensibilities, and achieved dramatic improvements in public health.

Bloomberg was an activist executive who used government assets boldly and wisely for the greatest good, for the greatest number of people. His time as mayor was not without controversy. Bloomberg supported stop and frisk police tactics that a judge ruled unconstitutional, and jailhouse violence rose to levels so severe the federal government intervened. The administration's homeless policies were ineffective. And he forced a change in the city charter to allow him to serve a third term.

Overall, record low crime and the lasting impact of innovative policies will cause his tenure to be remembered as a remarkable success. Having returned to his global media empire, and to his private philanthropy, Bloomberg continues to challenge the National Rifle Association on gun control, promote national education reform, and support policies to combat climate change. Frequently touted as an independent candidate for president, Bloomberg leaves behind a legacy of effective government.

Members Reviews:

I think Michael Blumberg is a very good business person and administrator

I think Michael Blumberg is a very good business person and administrator. NYC is a very difficult place to please everyone but he did a good job.. The World Trade Center without Michael's help I doubt it would have ever been completed,

Bill

Florida

Bloomberg as mayor, all the details in a great read.

Excellent insight into Bloomberg's terms as Mayor. The things that worked and those that failed. A seemingly fair review of it all written as a page turner. This fills in the gaps that were missing in the press coverage, the thought behind the decisions and much of the long term strategies set in place by Bloomberg that seemed to have been missed by the media. Well written and documented with extensive references. If you want to know the how and why of 12 years he ran the city, this is the go to book.

A thorough book which gives you the info to make your own decision about Bloomberg.

As a guy who has been interested in Bloomberg for a long time, this book hit the spot. It is thoroughly researched, balanced on a complex subject and man, and a lot of fun to read.

It's the type of book to read if you really want to get the measure of Bloomberg the man, the businessman, and maybe the candidate.

How one billionare proved a business background can enhance politics and government

Bloomberg: A Billionaire's Ambition is a very thorough, straight-forward look at New York City's 3 term mavor and philanthropist. McNickle covers both politics and policy aspects of being mayor of our nation's largest city.

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Title: Making the Unipolar Moment

Subtitle: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Rise of the Post-Cold War Order

Author: Hal Brands

Narrator: Cory Schaeffer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-19-17

Publisher: University Press Audiobooks

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

In the late 1970s, the United States often seemed to be a superpower in decline. Battered by crises and setbacks around the globe, its postWorld War II international leadership appeared to be draining steadily away. Yet just over a decade later, by the early 1990s, America's global primacy had been reasserted in dramatic fashion. The Cold War had ended with Washington and its allies triumphant; democracy and free markets were spreading like never before. The United States was now enjoying its "unipolar moment"an era in which Washington faced no near-term rivals for global power and influence, and one in which the defining feature of international politics was American dominance. How did this remarkable turnaround occur, and what role did U.S. foreign policy play in causing it? In this important book, Hal Brands uses recently declassified archival materials to tell the story of American resurgence.

Members Reviews:

Defense of Reagan/Bush

Unlike so many histories of this period, this focuses on the decisions made that resulted in the unipolar moment becoming a unipolar era. Brand differs with many realist theorists who saw this as part of the broader cycles of power. He shows how decisions by Reagan and Bush were the result of a strategy to create a world dominated by American values, which is in line with Nye's arguments about soft power.

Brand's history is not without his criticism of the policies. He also addresses how the short term needs of the two regimes resulted in abuses in Latin America and questionable military engagements.

Mixed

Where is the United States going? Is it ascending, declining or just treading water. Its foreign policy continues to play an important role in the country, whether right or wrong. Does it suit the U.S. to have an enemy? The Cold War is over, the âWar on Terrorâ has replaced it. The country now faces a so-called unipolar moment, something where there are no near-term rivals for global power and influence.

Is this good, and how did U.S. foreign policy play a role in shaping this situation? This book takes a look at this, using recently declassified archive material to link together global change, U.S. policy and geopolitics to great effect. The author contends that this was not an accidental effect, far from it, yet it might be equally difficult to suggest it was a deliberate plan.

The author has produced a very comprehensive work that is quite a fascinating read. It can be a little difficult to fathom at times, at least to a lay reader, yet if you need to skip ahead a bit every so often you can still follow broadly with the story. U.S. Presidents helped shape global change, reading the runes as it were, leading the massive U.S. political-military machine to refocus its global beam.

It wonât appeal to everyone (the book that is, the concept certainly wonât) yet it can be an appealing, different and valuable read in any case, especially for those who need this sort of material or just the plain curious.

The Long-Term Rise of the Unipolar World

The thesis of this book is that the post-Cold War unipolar world--and the unquestioned primacy of the United States--derived from a process that began in the 1970s, when it appeared the so-called American century had just about come to its end.

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Title: Last Days of the Pharaoh

Author: Bradley Hope

Narrator: Kevin Stillwell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-12-17

Publisher: Audible Studios

Genres: History, 21st Century

Publisher's Summary:

Two days before the collapse of Hosni Mubarak's regime in Egypt, one man gathered the courage to tell the president the truth: he would be killed in his palace if he did not step down. What came next revealed the bitter power struggles atop the most populous country in the Middle East at its most vulnerable moment in six decades.

But it was too late. As street protests swelled into the hundreds of thousands across the country, decision-making at the highest levels broke down and Mubarak fled to the resort city of Sharm el Sheikh.

This is the inside story of the final days of Egypt's modern-day pharaoh, who ruled with near autocratic powers for three decades before being forced to resign on February 11, 2011.

Cairo-based journalist Bradley Hope interviewed more than two dozen eyewitnesses, from current and former officials to Mubarak's long-time make-up artist, to tell the dramatic story of the president's downfall.

Members Reviews:

Window into a revolution

Good window into a revolution of a new kind. A social network fueled one that ultimately failed. How is Egypt of today different then Mubarak's?

What Really Happened

The last days of the Mubarak rule were succinctly stated through "Last Days of the Pharaoh". What the media told us was superficial compared to this detailed account. Like the Pharaohs of old Mubarak and his advisors tried vainly to avoid the loss of power. (And it seems the struggles continue to this day.)

Good reference work

It was well written meaning good spelling etc. The title caught my eye. It is a good report on the recent happenings in Egypt and how Mubarak's reign ended. I remember Sadat's death and the Pharaohish suspicions surrounding it at that time. The death of Mubarak's little grandson sounded very Pharaohish and sad at the same time. It seems to be a reference work and I'm glad I read it.

Finally, a 'losers' history'!

If 'history is written by the victors', then reading Bradley Hope's evocative and panoramic depiction of the final doomed days of Mubarak in his 'bunker' brings to mind these lines by the great Russian futurist poet Vvedensky:

'Do not deliver him a horse

Because alas he is a corpse

Don't call him names and make him cry

Don't come and poke him in the eye'

Hope does not poke Mubarak in the eye. But Last Days is not a wistful apologia. Nor is the work shackled with the deadening sense of the inevitable that sometimes accompanies such accounts. We all know how the Egyptian president turned out in the end, yet I remained in thrall to the racing story, at every turn Quixotically thinking: maybe he will see sense and save himself! Of course, he does no such thing, but it is a testament to Hope's rollercoaster writing style that we follow the plot as if it were unfolding 'in real time'.

Hope is an intrepid Middle East correspondent of the 'old school', whose keen eye for sourcing and Pasolini-like affinity for the 'common man' bring us face to face as much with Mubarak's elite inner circle as his proletarian makeup artist. There is much dark humour, poignancy and empathy in this account of the downfall of Egypt's 'Godfather' figure.

'Last Days' is by no means perfect, however. Sometimes, Hope's journalistic instincts privilege plot and pacing over analysis.

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Title: Historic Moments in Speech: September 11, 2001

Author: The Speech Resource Company, Robert Wikstrom - introduction

Narrator: Robert Wikstrom

Format: Original Recording

Length: 5 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-29-17

Publisher: The Speech Resource Company, Inc.

Genres: History, 21st Century

Publisher's Summary:

At 8:45 a.m. on September 11, 2001, an American Airlines Boeing 767 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City leading off a series of jet crashes, destruction, and lives lost. A tribute to that day includes memorable speeches by President George W. Bush announcing the attack to the American people and conveying his support with a bullhorn to rescuers, Mayor Rudy Giuliani addressing the UN, Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice before the 9/11 Commission, and more. Produced by the Speech Resource Company and fully narrated by Robert Wikstrom.

Members Reviews:

Excellent collection of speeches and press conferences

Excellent collection of speeches and press conferences. Especially appreciated the audio from the air traffic controllers - had never heard that before.

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Title: Analysis of Robert O'Neill's The Operator by Milkyway

Author: Milkyway

Narrator: Sam Scholl

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-28-17

Publisher: Milkyway Media

Genres: History, 21st Century

Publisher's Summary:

The Operator: Firing the Shots That Killed Osama Bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior (2017) is Robert O'Neill's memoir about his service as a Navy SEAL from 1996 to 2012. O'Neill describes the years of grueling training, high-stakes missions, and dramatic rescues that led up to his team's top-secret raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan. Purchase this in-depth analysis to learn more.

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Title: The Mind of Empire

Subtitle: China's History and Modern Foreign Relations

Author: Christopher Ford

Narrator: Gary Roelofs

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 44 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-25-17

Publisher: University Press Audiobooks

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: History, 21st Century

Publisher's Summary:

With an economy and population that dwarf most industrialized nations, China is emerging as a 21st century global superpower. Even though China is an international leader in modern business and technology, its ancient history exerts a powerful force on its foreign policy. Christopher A. Ford expertly traces China's self-image and its role in the world order - from the age of Confucius to today. Ford argues that despite its exposure to and experience of the modern world, China is still strongly influenced by a hierarchical view of political order, and is only comfortable with foreign relationships that reinforce its self-perception of political and moral supremacy.

Recounting how this attitude has clashed with the Western notion of separate and coequal state sovereignty, Ford speculates and offers a warning about how China's legacy will continue to shape its foreign relations. Artfully weaving historical, philosophical, religious, and cultural analysis into a cohesive study of the Chinese worldview and explaining its relevance, Ford offers a unique perspective of modern China.

The audiobook is published by The University Press of Kentucky.

"The Mind of Empire is an ideal guidebook for contending with the People's Republic: a scholarly analysis of Chinese history written with considerable authority and flair, and a sobering account of what dealing with Chinese power and ambition means to us - and, especially to them." - The Weekly Standard.

"A much-needed and an erudite contextualization... [this audiobook] will benefit immensely those interested in the history and strategic culture of China's foreign policy." - The China Quarterly.

"With impressive zeal, [Ford] works his way through the canon of Chinese political philosophy." - The New York Review of Books.