Listen to Best Sellers Audiobooks in History, 21st Century

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Ingenious

Subtitle: A True Story of Invention, Automotive Daring, and the Race to Revive America

Author: Jason Fagone

Narrator: Adam Verner

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-05-13

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 22 votes

Genres: History, 21st Century

Publisher's Summary:

In 2007, the X Prize Foundation announced that it would give $10 million to anyone who could build a safe, mass-producible car that could travel one hundred miles on the energy equivalent of a gallon of gas. The challenge attracted more than one hundred teams from all over the world, including dozens of amateurs. Many designed their cars entirely from scratch, rejecting decades of thinking about what a car should look like.

Jason Fagone follows four of those teams from the build stage to the final race and beyond - into a world in which destiny hangs on a low drag coefficient and a lug nut can be a beautiful talisman. The result is a gripping story of crazy collaboration, absurd risks, colossal hopes, and poignant losses. In an old pole barn in central Illinois, childhood sweethearts hack together an electric-powered dreamboat, using scavenged parts, forging their own steel, and burning through their life savings. In Virginia, an impassioned entrepreneur and his hand-picked squad of speed freaks pool their imaginations and build a car so light that you can push it across the floor with your thumb. In West Philly, a group of disaffected high school students come into their own as they create a hybrid car with the engine of a Harley motorcycle. And in Southern California, the early favorite - a start-up backed by millions in venture capital-designs a car that looks like an alien egg.

Ingenious is a joyride. Fagone takes us into the garages and the minds of the inventors, capturing the fractious yet beautiful process of engineering a bespoke machine. Suspenseful and bighearted, this is the story of ordinary people risking failure, economic ruin, and ridicule to create something vital that Detroit had never pulled off. As the Illinois team wrote in chalk on the wall of their barn, "SOMEBODY HAS TO DO SOMETHING. THAT SOMEBODY IS US."

Members Reviews:

Lost in irrelevant detail

An interesting idea for a book, with some fascinating details about folks making wonderful cars.

But thenhow much do I care about the personal habits, love life, superstitions, childhood trauma, etc. that made them what they are?

As I'm listening, I'm also thinking, "What do I care if what'shisname was engaged to what'shername in the 1070's, but it didn't work out because of jealousy over someoneelse, and not graduating high school due to motherinlaw's bla, bla,bla..."

If this were a book on building cars, which it sometimes is, it would be great. As it is, it's clogged with uninteresting detail about who lived with who, and the desires of somebody to have a child with... Oh, my! I couldn't care less!!!

Apparently, there just wasn't enough stuff about building high-efficiency cars that the author could understand to fill a book.

Good narration, though.

Heres to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels.

Yes, that headline's a quote from an Apple advertisement, but yet somehow fit so well to describe the cast of characters gathered in pursuit of creating a 100 mpge car. The book is extensively researched, the characters so finely presented, the passion so tangibly presented, you feel as if you are listening to a movie.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Surge

Subtitle: My Journey with General David Petraeus and the Remaking of the Iraq War

Author: Peter R. Mansoor, General David Petraeus (foreword)

Narrator: Mark Boyett

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-29-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 30 votes

Genres: History, 21st Century

Publisher's Summary:

Surge is an insider's view of the most decisive phase of the Iraq War. After exploring the dynamics of the war during its first three years, the book takes the listener on a journey to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where the controversial new U.S. Army and Marine Corps counterinsurgency doctrine was developed; to Washington, D.C., and the halls of the Pentagon, where the Joint Chiefs of Staff struggled to understand the conflict; to the streets of Baghdad, where soldiers worked to implement the surge and reenergize the flagging war effort before the Iraqi state splintered; and to the halls of Congress, where Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General David Petraeus testified in some of the most contentious hearings in recent memory.

Using newly declassified documents, unpublished manuscripts, interviews, author notes, and published sources, Surge explains how President George W. Bush, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Ambassador Crocker, General Petraeus, and other U.S. and Iraqi political and military leaders shaped the surge from the center of the maelstrom in Baghdad and Washington.

Members Reviews:

Excellent balanced mix of personal observations and scholarly analysis and history

Mansoor has done a superb job of mixing his personal experience and observations of his him at MNFI with his classically trained academic's ability to research within the contemporary records. His analysis of the Surge is both detailed and easy to follow.

Would recommend this to anyone looking for a good single volume examination of the higher level policy and military strategy that guided the later stages of the war in Iraq.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Queen

Subtitle: A Monarch for All Seasons

Author: Michael Dean

Narrator: Ray Lonnen

Format: Original Recording

Length: 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-26-13

Publisher: Redbush Entertainment

Genres: History, 21st Century

Publisher's Summary:

Sixty years after her accession to the throne, Queen Elizabeth the second remains the calm centre of a tempestuous age.

This fascinating documentary recalls the major events of an extraordinary life.

Listen to this audiobook free with a 30-day trial. Go to http://hotaudiobook.com/free

Title: Inside the Real Area 51

Subtitle: The Secret History of Wright Patterson

Author: Thomas Carey, Donald Schmitt

Narrator: Paul Boehmer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-04-13

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 91 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

The true nature of what actually crashed in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947 remains classified. Only a select few have ever had access to the truth about what became known as Area 51.

But what happened to the remnants of that crash is shrouded in even greater mystery. What began in the high desert of New Mexico ended at Wright-Patterson, an ultra top-secret Air Force base in Dayton, Ohio. The physical evidence of extraterrestrial visitation was buried deep within this nuclear stronghold.

How tragic that such seismic news should be kept from the people of the world... pieces of history, now quickly dwindling into oblivion as the last of the secret-keepers passes on.

In spite of its rich history of military service to our nation, Wright-Patterson also stands as the secret tomb of one of the greatest occurrences in recorded history. But be prepared... the real Area 51 - Wright-Patterson's vault - is about to be opened.

Contact me for any questions: [email protected]

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Enemies Within

Subtitle: Inside the NYPD's Secret Spying Unit and bin Laden's Final Plot Against America

Author: Matt Apuzzo, Adam Goldman

Narrator: Keith Szarabajka

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-03-13

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 24 votes

Genres: History, 21st Century

Publisher's Summary:

Two Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists take an unbridled look into one of the most sensitive post-9/11 national security investigations, a breathtaking race to avert a second devastating terrorist attack on American soil.

In Enemies Within Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman lay bare the complex and often contradictory state of counterterrorism and intelligence in America through the pursuit of Najibullah Zazi, a terrorist bomber who trained under one of bin Laden's most trusted deputies. Zazi and his coconspirators represented America's greatest fear: a terrorist cell operating inside America. Apuzzo and Goldman lift the veil of secrecy to reveal the strengths and weaknesses of our counterterrorism measures. This real-life spy story - uncovered in previously unpublished secret NYPD documents and interviews with intelligence sources - shows that while many of these programs are more invasive than ever, they are often counterproductive at best.

Six months after the 9/11 attacks, New York police commissioner Ray Kelly initiated a straightforward yet audacious antiterrorist plan to be implemented in the Big Apple. The NYPD would dispatch a vast network of undercover officers and informants - known as "mosque crawlers" and "rakers" - into Muslim neighborhoods to eavesdrop on conversations in mosques and community centers.

Police amassed data on innocent people, often for their religious and political beliefs. But when it mattered most, these strategies failed to identify the most imminent threats.

Enemies Withintackles the tough questions about the effectiveness of the measures we take to protect ourselves from real and perceived threats. Its shocking details about the tactics and activities of the NYPD will be headline news and reveal what it really takes to hunt down terrorists in America.

Members Reviews:

not bad

in my opinion too much narrative and not enough dialogue and needs to be more descriptive so one could picture what is going on in the story.

Good listen!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Interesting story behind the scenes.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The story of the interaction between law enforcement agencies at different levels of government. Not sure if I believe all the facts though.

Have you listened to any of Keith Szarabajkas other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is my first book by the author, but I would listen to another.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Very we'll written but you need to take the information from where it comes from..

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Under Fire

Subtitle: The Untold Story of the Attack in Benghazi

Author: Fred Burton, Samuel M. Katz

Narrator: Jeff Gurner

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-03-13

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 62 votes

Genres: History, 21st Century

Publisher's Summary:

The explosive inside account of the attack against the U.S. diplomatic and intelligence outposts in Benghazi, Libya.

On the night of September 11, 2012, the American diplomatic mission at Benghazi, Libya, came under ferocious attack by a heavily armed group of Islamic terrorists. The prolonged firefight, and the attack hours later on a nearby CIA outpost, resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including the American ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, the Information Officer, Sean Smith, and two former Navy SEALs, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty, working for the Central Intelligence Agency.

After the fall of Qaddafi, Benghazi was transformed into a hotbed of fundamentalist fervor and a den of spies for the northern half of the African continent. Moreover, it became the center of gravity for terrorist groups strategically situated in the violent whirlwinds of the Arab Spring. On the eleventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks against the United States, a group of heavily armed Islamic terrorists had their sights set on the U.S. diplomatic and intelligence presence in the city.

Based on the exclusive cooperation of eyewitnesses and confidential sources within the intelligence, diplomatic, and military communities, Fred Burton and Samuel M. Katz reveal for the first time the terrifying twelve-hour ordeal confronted by Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, his Diplomatic Security (DS) contingent, and the CIA security specialists who raced to rescue them.

More than just the minute-by-minute narrative of a desperate last stand in the midst of an anarchic rebellion, Under Fire is an inspiring testament to the bravery and selflessness of the men and women who put their country first while serving in one of the most dangerous regions in the world.

Members Reviews:

The Attack in Benghazi: Under Fire

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes because this book offers a completely different narrative than that ANY of the news outlets or government soundbites have remotely offered.

What did you like best about this story?

The bravery of the Diplomatic Security Agents...

What does Jeff Gurner bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

His Arabic pronunciation of names, places, etc. The riveting nature of the incident and his delivering of the narrative of the story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Too long to do that... but yes, it is that good...

Fantastic well worth the time to listen

Nothing bad to say about this book I have always been a piazza fan but now I know the whole story a great book well written well read a must for any baseball fan

Not too good

The authors provide too much information such as giving readers the exact technical specifications of firearms each and every time guns are mentioned. However, the authors screwed up the battle details, especially the actions of the GRS operators. Did they not do their homework?

True?

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The truth

Has Under Fire turned you off from other books in this genre?

No

What about Jeff Gurners performance did you like?

Good reading

What character would you cut from Under Fire?

None

Any additional comments?

There is a thing that i learned a long time ago. It is called lying by ommission and I believe that it is true in this book.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Generation of Swine

Subtitle: Tales of Shame and Degradation in the '80's

Author: Hunter S. Thompson

Narrator: Scott Sowers

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-21-13

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 43 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Generation of Swine, the second volume of the legendary Dr. Hunter S. Thompson's best-selling Gonzo Papers, was first published in 1988 and is now back in print. Here, against a backdrop of late-night tattoo sessions and soldier-of-fortune trade shows, Dr. Thompson is at his apocalyptic best - covering emblematic events such as the 1987-88 presidential campaign, with Vice President George Bush, Sr., fighting for his life against Republican competitors like Alexander Haig, Pat Buchanan, and Pat Robertson; detailing the GOP's obsession with drugs and drug abuse; while at the same time capturing momentous social phenomena as they occurred, like the rise of cable, satellite TV, and CNN - 24 hours of mainline news. Showcasing his inimitable talent for social and political analysis, Generation of Swine is vintage Thompson - eerily prescient, incisive, and enduring.

Members Reviews:

Gonzo Papers, vol 2

Any additional comments?

Scott Sowers' performance is great. It's not HST's voice at all, but it certainly adds to the experience. Again.It may come as a surprise, but Thompson was not a fan of the Reagan administration. If you haven't read HST, then this is not the place to start. Try Hell's Angels or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas first. If you've gotten this far, you'll know what to expect.

Buy the ticket, take the ride.

mostly violent ranting

Where does Generation of Swine rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

not the worst, definitely not the best

Who was your favorite character and why?

hunter as usual, he typically makes himself the most interesting character

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

yes but scott sowers was a little over the top with the tone of his voice, he seemed to be yelling the whole time

If you could give Generation of Swine a new subtitle, what would it be?

more ranting and a few good stories

Any additional comments?

if you have read a lot of his work you will find many pieces from other works in this book

Always lived HST. The narrator is fantastic!

Narrator really brings the soul of Hunter to life! Great performance! Getting Hells Angels next!

Dr.Thompson at his best

These are a collection of essays from the San Francisco Examiner in the 1980's about sports, Iran Contra, politics and a variety of other topics. This is Hunter Thompson at the height of his powers and he does not disappoint. One cannot read or listen to his prose without stopping and laughing at various points. His ability to skewer the politician, the lawyer, the sports team or whomever is without parallel. Here is an example: "The whole Marine Corps should be disbanded, finished off with other useless relics like the Sea-Bees, Hitler Youth and the Lafayette Esquadrille...The U.S. Army's 1st Airborne Division could eat the whole Marine Corps for breakfast and take the rest of the day off for beer and volleyball." No one writes like that and this book is a testament to Dr. Thompson's extraordinary talents.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Rise of the Warrior Cop

Subtitle: The Militarization of Americas Police Forces

Author: Radley Balko

Narrator: William Hughes

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-09-13

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 684 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

The American approach to law enforcement was forged by the experience of revolution. Emerging as they did from the shadow of British rule, the country's founders would likely have viewed police as they exist today as a standing army and therefore a threat to liberty. Even so, excessive force and disregard for the Bill of Rights have become epidemic in America today.

According to civil liberties reporter Radley Balko, these are all symptoms of a generation-long shift to increasingly aggressive, militaristic, and arguably unconstitutional policing - one that would have shocked the conscience ofAmericas founders.

Rise of the Warrior Cop traces the arc of US law enforcement from the constables and private justice of colonial times to present-day SWAT teams and riot cops. Today relentless "war on drugs" and "war on terror" pronouncements from politicians, along with battle-clad police forces with tanks and machine guns, have dangerously blurred the distinction between cop and soldier. Balko's fascinating, frightening narrative shows how martial rhetoric and reactionary policies have put modern law enforcement on a collision course with the values of a free society.

Members Reviews:

Not all police are bad.

Like most things in government, the policies of policing are broken. Balko details many issues facing the citizens at large who sadly have traded away our right ever time, piecemeal in lieu for the illusion of safety from ourselves. Now, not only must law abiding citizens fear criminals but our protectors who for good or for ill are taking liberties with our freedoms. State sponsored seizures of property and assets, ultra-violence, wrongful death and injuries with no victim recourse sounds like something out of 1930's Germany and that could never happen here at home. Hopefully after reading this, you too will join together and help take back our nation before another family is hurt or destroyed with no recourse.

not an anti cop book

nevermind the naysayers. they are just angry cops who don't like the truth being revealed. this book it's historically and factually accurate. I have been investigating and researching police brutality and violence nearly my whole life. and when I say we have a major problem believe me we do. as the author describes it has a lot to do with policy and the blue line mentality. look folks , read or listen to this book and make it viral. spread the truth because the life you save might be your own family or friend or self.

Scarier than any horror book. Because it's true!

What made the experience of listening to Rise of the Warrior Cop the most enjoyable?

The information given. I researched a lot of it after the fact. All true.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Rise of the Warrior Cop?

The feeling of dread that I had in realizing that it's only going to get worse and that our country is screwed.

What about William Hughess performance did you like?

He was extremely good. But that being said it's a work of non fiction and mostly all he has to really do spit out facts.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I wouldn't say an extreme reaction.

Any additional comments?

I'm listening to this for a second time just to hear all the facts again.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The American Mind

Author: The Great Courses

Narrator: Professor Allen C. Guelzo Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania

Format: Original Recording

Length: 18 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-08-13

Publisher: The Great Courses

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 118 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

Americans pride themselves on being doers rather than thinkers, but ideas are at the very root of what it means to be an American. Behind this nation's diverse views on religion, education, social equality, democracy, and other vital issues is a long-running intellectual debate about the right ordering of the human, natural, and divine worlds.

Indeed, America is an enduring hotbed of ideas. Such great thinkers as Jonathan Edwards, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, William James, Martin Luther King, Jr., and many others engaged in lively and often contentious debate that helped mold America's institutions and attitudes. This immensely stimulating conversation made the United States what it is today - and provides the subject for these 36 fascinating lectures.

In this course, you will delve deeply into the philosophical underpinnings of the nation, forged by the Puritans and the leaders of the American Revolution. You will also explore many other aspects of the elaborate structure that became modern America, tracing ideas in politics, religion, education, philosophy, psychology, anthropology, literature, social theory, and science - proving that Americans have a much richer intellectual tradition than generally imagined. You'll learn about such philosophical movements as transcendentalism, pragmatism, and conservatism. You'll study the transatlantic philosophy of the Puritans, the spiritual revival of the Great Awakening, and the passion for reason sparked by the Enlightenment. And you'll trace the origin and evolution of America's colleges, which have served as a battleground of ideas, sometimes in an almost literal sense.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

Members Reviews:

Great long view of America

Even at 18hours, not enough time for anything but an overview. But it did put our American history in perspective. May end up listening again if I get free time. Definitely worth time and money.

Continuity of the American Mind

A revelatory piece of handiwork: what may be seen as derivative of European thought is here seen on its own. It is not uncritical, and it doesn't play down the often fascinating but provincial and sometimes just plain weird Puritan roots, but at the same time the course manages to be moderately generous and expansive.Just when youbthink the lecturer is becoming tendentious, he surprises you. This is the intellectual equivalent of visiting Crystal Bridges.

Fantastic Story About American Ideas

A fantastic and amazing story about the typically untold but hugely important ideas that shaped America

This book is the ephin bomb!!!

This is exactly the lectures that you want to here. He covers every angle in a different light from what you have likely been taught before. The relationships of thoughts and history are absolutely fascinating!! Enjoy!!!

very illuminating

most engaging series. his condescending delivery is very appropriate when examining intulectuals since they always have a condescending attitude to the rest of humanity.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Origins and Ideologies of the American Revolution

Author: The Great Courses

Narrator: Professor Peter C. Mancall

Format: Original Recording

Length: 24 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-08-13

Publisher: The Great Courses

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 156 votes

Genres: History, American

Publisher's Summary:

The years between 1760 and 1800 rocked the Western world. These were the years when colonists on the eastern fringes of a continent converted the ideals of Enlightenment thought first into action, then into an actual form of government.

Now you can learn why this happened and how the colonists did it - in a series of 48 insightful lectures from an award-winning teacher and author.

Professor Mancall brings to life not only the famous but also the little-remembered colonists who were caught up in the debates over rights and power, liberties and empire. It is a story of immense importance and rich discoveries. And because he presents original source materials, including examples of how events were reported and interpreted, you'll more readily grasp the evolution of ideas, the competing pressures, and the misunderstandings - not only in the time leading up to the Revolution, and during the years it was being fought, but afterwards, as well.

That's when the victorious colonists came to learn that in achieving freedom from Great Britain, they had simply traded one set of problems for another. They still had to cope with the extraordinarily difficult task of crafting a workable government - one that could support their ideals of how citizens and government should relate to each other - and achieving respect and success among other nations.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

Members Reviews:

Fills a lot of gaps

Any additional comments?

This was a very worthy addition to the Great Courses, soberly teasing apart a complicated, multi-sided tangle of action, reaction, understanding, and misunderstandings. Its attention to the oft-neglected period between Pilgrims and Stamp Acts was especially welcome.

Mancall does an excellent job, too, of capturing how even individuals--such as Franklin, Adams, and Hutchison--could be divided in their own minds at a time when the right was not so clear and battle lines had yet to harden, as well as the familiar interpersonal debates. A testimony to the thoughtfulness exhibited on many sides of the issue of revolution.

Essential listing for any history buff

Although I was a history minor in college, there a few facts presented in this course of which I was not previously aware. The lecturer is engaging. Many of the concepts presented are essential to real understanding of the constitutional basis of our government and the continued conflict between Federalists and anti-Federalists today.

An Ideal Way to Study the Revolution

This course examines the ideologies that led to the outbreak of the American Revolution, fueled the Revolution during the war and guided the formation of America's government that endures to the present. This course does not cover the military history of the war. Instead, this course focuses on the great thinkers, like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, whose ideas helped stir the colonists into action. This course is not a biography of these individuals but, rather, is an examination of their thoughts and ideas.