Listen to New Releases Audiobooks in Nonfiction, Social Sciences

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Title: What's Wrong with Fat?

Author: Abigail Saguy

Narrator: Margie Lenhart

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-04-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Sciences

Publisher's Summary:

The United States, we are told, is facing an obesity epidemic - a "battle of the bulge" of not just national, but global proportions-that requires drastic and immediate action. Experts in the media, medical science, and government alike are scrambling to find answers. What or who is responsible for this fat crisis, and what can we do to stop it? Abigail Saguy argues that these fraught and frantic debates obscure a more important question: How has fatness come to be understood as a public health crisis at all? Why, she asks, has the view of "fat" as a problem-a symptom of immorality, a medical pathology, a public health epidemic - come to dominate more positive framings of weight-as consistent with health, beauty, or a legitimate rights claim-in public discourse? Why are heavy individuals singled out for blame? And what are the consequences of understanding weight in these ways?

What's Wrong with Fat? presents each of the various ways in which fat is understood in America today, examining the implications of understanding fatness as a health risk, disease, and epidemic, and revealing why we've come to understand the issue in these terms, despite considerable scientific uncertainty and debate. Saguy shows how debates over the relationship between body size and health risk take place within a larger, though often invisible, contest over whether we should understand fatness as obesity at all. Moreover, she reveals that public discussions of the "obesity crisis" do more harm than good, leading to bullying, weight-based discrimination, and misdiagnoses. Showing that the medical framing of fat is literally making us sick, What's Wrong with Fat? provides a crucial corrective to our society's misplaced obsession with weight.

Members Reviews:

Enlightening findings from rigorous research

What made the experience of listening to What's Wrong with Fat? the most enjoyable?

Well written in an engaging style, the book drew me in with the claim that the much hyped "obesity epidemic" is less a matter of empirical fact than a particular frame constructed by those who see obesity as a medical issue or individual responsibility. I learned a lot, including that BMI was never meant to assess individual weight, and was recalculated in the late 1980s (or 1990s?) resulting in a lot more people becoming 'overweight' or 'obese' overnight!

What was one of the most memorable moments of What's Wrong with Fat??

I appreciated the insights from the advocates who proffer alternative framing of fat, as "healthy at every size" or a matter of social acceptance. I was shocked and dismayed to learn of details of public health campaigns that shame and blame children and their parents regarding childhood obesity.

How could the performance have been better?

I can see how reading nonfiction can be challenging for a performer, but I found this voice not well suited to nonfiction. It's probably a matter of subjective taste - the voice was too high pitched for me to really enjoy it.

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

I listened to this book over several days while driving to/from work. The substance of the book caused to me reflect on my own assumptions about fat, talk to colleagues, and come back for more.

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Title: Coupon Crazy

Subtitle: The Science, the Savings, and the Stories Behind America's Extreme Obsession

Author: Mary Potter Kenyon

Narrator: Karen Commins

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-13-14

Publisher: Familius

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Sciences

Publisher's Summary:

Coupon Crazy examines the phenomena of avid coupon use and the socio-cultural and socioeconomic factors that construct it. By delving into the history of couponing, refunding, the science of shopping, and the dark underbelly of a coupon world the average American didn't even know existed, author Mary Potter Kenyon manages to both fascinate and educate the reader. Readers will meet today's "Coupon Queens" (and Kings) and learn about an era when trash really was cash. Not just an observer of this ethnographic research, Mary lived it for over 30 years.

Members Reviews:

Can coupons really save you money?

I'm a coupon clipper. I've read blogs and have even gone to many of the coupon websites mentioned in this book. I also work for one of the major drugstore chains mentioned here.

All that being said, I did learn a lot about the history of coupons, refunding and statistically who are most likely to use coupons. Ms. Kenyon gives you a lot of information in the book but it is in a way that doesn't overwhelm you. Ms. Kenyon also 'debunks' many of the couponing myths out there. If you have ever seen one of the coupon reality shows on TV, Ms. Kenyon points out the 'true reality' of them. They aren't very real at all.

Ms. Commins has a very pleasant voice and made the information even more interesting. She narrates the book at a good speed and you don't feel like it is being rushed.

I enjoyed both the writing and reading of this book. I would recommend it to my friends who are thinking of getting into couponing. This is a very realistic guide to couponing.

in depth look at the couponing trend

A well researched look into the history of couponing from the heyday of 1980's refund craze through Extreme Couponing today. The author is likeable and her memoir is interspersed with lots of good facts and research statistics. She does a good job of looking at the trends and ramifications of couponing, including fraudulent use and the way retailers use psychlogical studies of consumer buying habits to try to control what you buy, and speculating what may be the future of coupon usage. This was a more enjoyable read than you might expect from such a dry subject.

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Title: Summary: The Unwinding, George Packer

Author: Save Time Summaries

Narrator: Michael Sears

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-02-14

Publisher: Save Time Summaries

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Sciences

Publisher's Summary:

Save time and understand more!

WARNING: This is not the actual audiobook The Unwinding by George Packer. Do not buy this summary and analysis if you are looking for a full copy of this enlightening audiobook. Instead, we have already read The Unwinding and pulled out some of the key points, and insights to give you a comprehensive chapter-by-chapter summary and review. In doing so, unfortunately we do not have the space to include all of the many important ideas and anecdotes found in The Unwinding. To get it all, you should first order the full audiobook.

Packaged together in an engaging and easily digestible format, this concise summary and analysis works best as an unofficial guide or companion to listen to alongside the audiobook.

Members Reviews:

Concise Yet Incredibly Informative

This summary book is concise and yet still incredibly informative. All the important information is summarized into chapters and at the end of each chapter is a great little list of `Key Take-Aways' which really condenses the information from the chapter into a short list of bullet points. The book itself is an interesting take on how America has started this downward spiral and some people who personify this demise. Then in the second part he revisits these same three people and further delves into their lives and their decisions. Continuously returning to the same three people as well as several famous people and various places around the country this book explore what had led to the unwinding of America. Truly a thought-provoking read that will open your mind.

A summary too brief

The summaries in this book are too skimpy and there is little connectivity among the parts. This reader never quite got it.

wimpy

The actual book was too pricey so I bought this summary

Very superficial, and written in a 3rd person style--sort of like a literature review.

Get the real thing

A summary is a great aid to the busy but serious reader

A summary is a great aid to the busy but serious reader. Useful as both preview and quick review to the sporadic reader.

Excellent Companion Guide to the Full-Length Book

This guide is an excellent companion to The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America by George Packer. The full-length version tells the story of the last three decades of the U.S. The companion provides excellent chapter summaries and key points making the material from the full-length book much easier to understand. As this guide suggests some may use this companion by reading a chapter from the full version and reading the corresponding section from the guide. Others may prefer to read the entire novel and use the guide as a review.

The full-length novel is excellent and important read not only for history buffs, but for Americans in general. This companion is a must-have for a good review and to help comprehend key points.

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Title: Double Down

Subtitle: Game Change 2012 by Mark Halperin & John Heilemann - Summary, Review & Analysis

Author: SAVE TIME SUMMARIES

Narrator: Michael Sears

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-31-13

Publisher: Save Time Summaries

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Sciences

Publisher's Summary:

WARNING: This is not the actual audiobook Double Down: Game Change 2012 by Mark Halperin & John Heilemann. Do not buy this summary & analysis if you are looking for a full copy of this highly entertaining audiobook, which can be found back on the Amazon search page.

Instead, we have already read Double Down and pulled out some of the key points, and insights to give you a comprehensive chapter-by-chapter summary & review. In doing so, unfortunately we do not have the space to include all of the many important ideas and anecdotes found in Double Down. To get it all, you should first order the full book. Packaged together in an engaging and easily digestible format, this concise summary & analysis works best as an unofficial guide or companion to listen to alongside the book.

Members Reviews:

Thought provoking

The summary itself is very insightful and thought provoking. A friend of mine just told me about the book "Double Down" and I wasn't so sure if I should buy so I decided to read a summary first. This book definitely made me want to read more. I am not very much into politics but I've followed Obama and Romney's debates before. The book really offers in depth details which are thought provoking. I'd like to applaud the author's style of writing. He made it easy for someone like me who's not really into politics, to understand.

Loved it!

I liked getting a condensed view of this topic. I found it very informative and easy to understand. I had read about this and watched several TV interviews with the authors and this was still informative.

Enlightening read

I read the original book from cover to cover before reading this summary and review and I must say that reading the summary gave me a different perspective on things. The summary gives a perspective outside of that of the authors and really gives the reader some things to think about. The summary also pointed to areas where the book was lacking such as not mentioning the efficiency of the Obama IT operation and how this helped him to win the debate.

A really good read if you want more insight on the 2012 debates and all the circumstances and activities that surrounded the debate. A great read especially after reading the original book in entirety.

Interesting and Informative

Interesting fast paced and informative even after all the reporting I learned more facts about the candidates and ancillary characters than I had read before

Very Insightful

Having read the book and I must say it is very insightful. However after reading the summary by Mark Halperin I see things from a different perspective. This summary gives an in dept view different from the authors about 2012 presidential debate. I love a book that makes me think and Double Down has opened my eyes about the ins and outs of politics. I recommend reading the summary after reading the book. Easy to read and understand.

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Title: 14 Theses in Favor of Homeschooling

Author: Andrew Bushard

Narrator: Jennifer Drake Ford

Format: Unabridged

Length: 44 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-24-13

Publisher: Free Press Media Press

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Sciences

Publisher's Summary:

Are you offended by the elitism of the public schools? Do you believe parents not bureaucrats should control children's education? Are you appalled at the school system's abuse of pharmaceutical drugs? Do you feel confined by mandatory curriculum and compulsory education? Are you fed up with the lackluster education the public schools provide our children? Would you consider homeschooling and other alternatives to the public schools? If you answered yes to these questions, then 14 Theses in Favor of Homeschooling may be for you! This work is a shorter and even more focused version of Andrew Bushard's other work, A Case For Homeschooling: 95 Theses against the School System.

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Title: Quarterly Essay 52: Found in Translation

Subtitle: In Praise of a Plural World

Author: Linda Jaivin

Narrator: Linda Jaivin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-01-13

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Sciences

Publisher's Summary:

Whether were aware of it or not, we spend much of our time in this globalised world in the act of translation. Language is a big part of it, of course, as anyone who has fumbled with a phrasebook in a foreign country will know, but behind language is something far more challenging to translate: culture. As a traveller, a mistranslation might land you a bowl of who-knows-what when you think you asked for noodles, and mistranslations in international politics can be a few steps from serious trouble.

But translation is also a way of entering new and exciting worlds, and forging links that never before existed.

Linda Jaivin has been translating from Chinese for more than thirty years. While her specialty is subtitles, she has also translated song lyrics, poetry and fiction, and interpreted for ABC film crews, Chinese artists and even the English singer Billy Bragg as he gave his take on socialism to some Beijing rockers.

Members Reviews:

Great

Great article really worth reading if any interest in cultures/meanings/language and role in globalised world.

the power and perils of a translator's task

The last quarterly essay of the year usually finds readers tired of politics and looking for a fresh topic. Well, Linda Jaivin delivers. This eclectic assemblage of experiences, insights, taboos and tips is both a hoot and a timely reminder that neither the written or spoken word is usually what it seems. The immense importance of context, nuance, cultural sensitivity and currency whenever we meet a statement that was not originally uttered in English, and even some that are, is examined through events on the street, complex or contrived meetings, and the day-to-day news. Jaivin not only removes the veil of Anglo-centric perception, but illuminates the elephant in the room, the convenient pretence that we perpetuate or blunder through, particularly in respect of how we see and are seen by China. There's also a gentle message, strongly delivered, about tolerance and justice, again well nuanced. Anyone who wishes to work across cultures and languages, either at a commercial level or simply in an attempt to better understand our place in the world, would do well to consider Jaivin's story.

A trifle briefer than some quarterly essays, Jaivin's compact contribution is a gem - my money is that it will inspire many a chat over the silly season.

A mediocre Quarterly Essay

I was quite disappointed with Linda Jaivin's Quarterly Essay and feel it was a waste of money. The substance of it could have been said in three or four pages. It is not clear what fundamental point Jaivin is trying to make as her essay is so loosely constructed and so discursive, not at all an argued case for a clearly stated position. It's a ramble. She rehearses some trite observations (trite because they are so commonplace in discussions of the translation process) about the difficulties of matching meaning across two languages and the sometimes laughable, sometimes fatuous, sometimes dangerous errors that can be made. In doing so she cites examples mainly from Chinese/English translation, an area in which she has worked for decades. Some of her own recollections are mildly interesting, but the collective whole doesn't really constitute enough substance to justify its being published for $19.

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Titolo: Italiani di domani

Autore: Beppe Severgnini

Narratore: Beppe Severgnini

Formato: Unabridged

Durata: 4 hrs and 30 mins

Lingua: Italiano

Data di pubblicazione: 11-12-13

Editore: Emons Edizioni

Valutazioni: 5 su 5 su 2 voti

Categoria: Nonfiction, Social Sciences

Riepilogo Editore:

Con questo libro Beppe Severgnini ci consegna otto T, otto chiavi che, se usate bene, potrebbero aprire all'Italia le porte di un futuro migliore. Otto suggerimenti semplici, onesti e concreti per "riprogrammare noi stessi e il nostro Paese (brutto verbo, bel proposito)" e diventare veramente Italiani di domani; questione di atteggiamento, non solo di anagrafe. Nato da una serie di incontri nelle università e pubblicato nel 2012, questo saggio è diventato subito un grande successo editoriale.

©2012 Beppe Severgnini (P)2013 Emons Italia srl

Recensioni dei membri:

leggero e piacevole

Come sopra, e' un libro leggero piacevole e ben scritto. stile severgnini

a a a

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Title: The Jet Sex: Airline Stewardesses and the Making of an American Icon

Author: Victoria Vantoch

Narrator: Donna Postel

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 11-01-13

Publisher: University Press Audiobooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Sciences

Publisher's Summary:

In the years after World War II, the airline stewardess became one of the most celebrated symbols of American womanhood. Stewardesses appeared on magazine covers, on lecture circuits, and in ad campaigns for everything from milk to cigarettes. Airlines enlisted them to pose for publicity shots, mingle with international dignitaries, and even serve (in sequined minidresses) as the official hostesses at Richard Nixon's inaugural ball. Embodying mainstream America's perfect woman, the stewardess was an ambassador of femininity and the American way both at home and abroad. Young, beautiful, unmarried, intelligent, charming, and nurturing, she inspired young girls everywhere to set their sights on the sky.

In The Jet Sex, Victoria Vantoch explores in rich detail how multiple forces-business strategy, advertising, race, sexuality, and Cold War politics-cultivated an image of the stewardess that reflected America's vision of itself, from the wholesome girl-next-door of the 1940s to the cosmopolitan glamour girl of the Jet Age to the sexy playmate of the 1960s.

Though airlines marketed her as the consummate hostess-an expert at pampering her mostly male passengers, while mixing martinis and allaying their fears of flying-she bridged the gap between the idealized 1950s housewife and the emerging "working woman." On the international stage, this select cadre of women served as ambassadors of their nation in the propaganda clashes of the Cold War. The stylish Pucci-clad American stewardess represented the United States as middle class and consumer oriented-hallmarks of capitalism's success and a stark contrast to her counterpart at Aeroflot, the Soviet national airline. As the apotheosis of feminine charm and American careerism, the stewardess subtly bucked traditional gender roles and paved the way for the women's movement. Drawing on industry archives and hundreds of interviews, this vibrant cultural history offers a fresh perspective on the sweeping changes in twentieth-century American life.

The book is published by University of Pennsylvania Press.

Critic Reviews:

"The Jet Sex is an impressive study of the stewardess as an American icon and a real human being. Those of us who came of age in the 1950s and 1960s can't help but remember her appeal as a model of beauty and of service in the magical realm of flying. Written in sprightly and compelling prose, the book should appeal both to scholars and to the general public." (Lois Banner, author of Marilyn: The Passion and the Paradox)

"An original, evocative, and informative work that explores provocative questions about the place of the stewardess in American culture. With a flair for storytelling and for capturing the experiences of individual stewardesses, Victoria Vantoch also gives us a rich description of the development of a profession, the development of an industry, and the curious ways in which gender factored in at every turn." (Jennifer Scanlon, author of Bad Girls Go Everywhere: The Life of Helen Gurley Brown)

Members Reviews:

The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You

When passenger flights started to become common in the 1930s, the co-pilot was the one who helped carry luggage and passed out blankets. As the number of flights and passengers increased, the airlines realized they needed a dedicated employee in the cabin to assist with passengers.

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Title: Lost Souls

Subtitle: Found! Inspiring Stories About Beagles

Author: Kyla Duffy, Lowrey Mumford

Narrator: Rhonda Mitchell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 10-24-13

Publisher: Happy Tails Books

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Sciences

Publisher's Summary:

Lost Souls: FOUND! Inspiring Stories about Beagles is a heartwarming, thought-provoking compilation of over 60 true stories that address the cruelty of animal neglect and abuse and the joy rescued dogs bring to their new homes. This audiobook is a must-listen for Beagle lovers and people who are considering adopting dogs.

Members Reviews:

Just lovely.

It totally melt my heart. I love this breed abd despise all the laboratories that test on them. I have two beagles and if I could I would have more.

Easy read

As a beagle owner, I enjoyed this book of articles about other people's beagles. It is a short book, and I was able to read it in one day. Although I don't think this will give prospective beagle owners much insight into beagle personalities, I think any dog lover will find this to be a short, amusing read.

Great Beagle Book

New beagle book as described.

Four Stars

Great story, great read!

Love Beagles

Just made me realize how much I love Beagles, and more. I guess there is no such thing as a bad beagle, even when they are misbehavin'

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Title: The Art of Darkness

Subtitle: Meditations on the Effect of Horror Fiction

Author: W. J. Renehan

Narrator: Greg Beastrom

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 4 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-05-13

Publisher: New Street Communications, LLC

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Nonfiction, Social Sciences

Publisher's Summary:

What makes Horror literature horrifying? What primordial fears resonate within (and attract us to) stories of the macabre? In this insightful volume, W.J. Renehan explores the complex interrelated traditions of Horror fiction, and the human psychology that fuels them.

In the course of his analysis, Renehan puts everything from the ancient vampire legends to Lovecraft's cosmic Horror of the unknown into compelling cultural context.

Renehan discusses monsters both supernatural and man-made, and explores the dark landscapes created by the likes of Shirley Jackson, H.P. Lovecraft, Peter Straub, Stephen King and other masters.

Overall, Renehan's book provides a rich introduction to that vital genre of literature which we allow to take us from the safety and light of our firesides into random, demonic, incoherent territories of terror - and seeks to explain why we so willingly return to those unsettling environs again and again.

About the Author: W. J. Renehan serves as Editorial Director for Horror and Sci-Fi publisher Dark Hall Press. He is an alumnus of Dean College, SUNY New Paltz and the University of Rhode Island.

Members Reviews:

Serious Thought Applied to Horror

Erudite but accessible, Renehan makes some interesting observations about the philosophy of horror; what it is that scares us, and, more importantly, "why" we like to be scared. His broad thesis is that ". . . horror fiction effectively lifts the constraints of social, sexual, and moral codes for our entertainment." He cursorily explores this idea as it relates to the broad themes of human nature; death, sex, madness, isolation, perversion, and the monsters we imagine in order to project our deepest desires and fears.

"The Art of Darkness" makes for a good, compact primer on the subject of horror fiction, though the copious citations from earlier works sometimes feel like a susbstitue for truly original ideas. Stephen King's "Danse Macabre" is quoted so often, I felt as if I were reading a book report on it. Chapter 3 on the relationship of horror and sex wasn't quite as in depth as I would have liked. I was also rather disappointed that Renehan did not go into more depth on the relationship of horror to comedy, as comedy also effectively defies societal norms and mores for the purposes of entertainment, and is, thus, a natural companion to horror (e.g. "Shaun of the Dead", the original "Fright Night", much of Joss Whedon's "Cabin in the Woods").

Recommended.

Required reading for any student of the genre.

This is one of the most erudite and insightful works available on Amazon, regarding the nature and influence of Horror fiction on the reader. Mr Renehan delves deeply into the psychology of fear and phobias (amongst other things) and how these triggers are used to effect in horror literature.