Listen to Top 100 Audiobooks in Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

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Title: The Beautiful Struggle

Author: Ta-Nehisi Coates

Narrator: J. D. Jackson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-12-08

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 684 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Ta-Nehisi Coates' debut is an infectious, reflective memoir - a lyrical saga of surviving the crack-stricken streets of Baltimore in the '80s. Son of Vietnam vet and black awareness advocate Paul Coates - a poor man who set out to publish lost classics of black history - Ta-Nehisi drifts toward salvation at Howard University, while his ominous brother Big Bill finds his own rhythm hustling.

©2008 Ta-Nehisi Coates; (P)2008 Recorded Books,LLC

Members Reviews:

Interesting glimpse into a life so unlike my own

Coates memoir of his boyhood-to-manhood years was an interesting read. The language and tone is quite different from his current writing at the Atlantic; fortunately, those unfamiliar with the slang in the book can get help from the internet (I had to Google phrases like "giving dap"). I am so unfamiliar with the world of his youth - I read this knowing nothing of black boys growing up in the city during the crack era. Coates lyrically describes his life and the ways it typified and departed from the life of his peers. It was a very worthwhile read and well-performed by the reader.

The coming of age of a rising public intellectual

What made the experience of listening to The Beautiful Struggle the most enjoyable?

Ta-Nehisi Coates blogs for the Atlantic Monthly. I'd been reading his blog for quite awhile when it occured to me that this book might be available on audible. It's an excellent introduction to Ta-Nehisi's life and world-view, particularly the role played by his father, Paul Coates, of Black Classic Press. Read his blog--he's a rising public intellectual and just very wise on many fronts. Additionally, JD Jackson captures the voice I hear when I read Ta-Nehisi's blog, and taught me to correctly pronounce his name (Ta-neh-HA-si), which I'd been mispronouncing for a long time.

Excellent

Love love love this story!!! So elegantly expressed that I often used my 39 second rewind option and jotted down quotes. I learn so much about the experience of young black kids growing up in Baltimore in the 80's.

He's a good writer, very descriptive.

He sometimes lays it on a little thick but he gives the reader a great picture of the characters.

I would always have the dagger at my throat.

"But all of us need myths. And here out West, where we all had lost religion, and had taken to barbarian law, what would deb our magic? What would be sacred words?"

Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Beautiful Struggle

Beautiful. Haunting. Rythmic. Pulsing with life, love, and the development of consciousness. This is a memoir of a peer. Ta-Nehisi Coates is one year younger than me. We grew up watching the same things through different lenses. Watching the same play from vastly different seats. His was a lens of black America in West Baltimore. I was born a military brat, the son of a veterinarian and officer. My father was born to parents who hadn't graduated from high school, but through grit and determination, and the help of the military, put himself through college and UC Davis veterinary school.

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Title: Father and I Were Ranchers

Subtitle: Little Britches # 1

Author: Ralph Moody

Narrator: Cameron Beierle

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-27-08

Publisher: Books in Motion

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 649 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

The Moody family moves from New Hampshire to a Colorado ranch. Experience the pleasures and perils of ranching in 20th Century America, through the eyes of a youngster.

©1950 Ralph Moody; (P)2001 Books in Motion

Members Reviews:

Touching story, Great Narration

Ralph Moody has a great style of writing and Cameron Beierle's narration makes it come alive. Together they give you a boy's view on life on the ranch, the life lessons he learns, and how he grows into being the man of the family at age 11. Most of the book had me laughing at an unpredictable twist or a wry statement of facts. The end broke my heart and had me yearning to listen to the next story. It's a great story well told and all the better because it is true.

Wonderful Story for Whole Family

What made the experience of listening to Father and I Were Ranchers the most enjoyable?

This is one of those books that you hate to see come to an end. It is a great story to share with the whole family, especially those with younger children (maybe 8 years and up). It illustrates good values, a great work ethic, and a family that sticks together no matter what. The narrator is first rate.

Have you listened to any of Cameron Beierles other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have only heard Cameron Beierle in the Little Britches series. The narration is fantastic.

Little Britches Series

LOVE this book. I laughed and cried. This took me back to simpler times.

A Good Book

Would you consider the audio edition of Father and I Were Ranchers to be better than the print version?

I didn't read the print version.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ralph "Little Britches"

Which scene was your favorite?

I didn't know this book was based on an autobiography until after I read it. But, when he was telling about breaking nine toes, I just knew the details could not have been made up. Ouch! Trying to imagine such an injury, was beyond my imagination!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A young boy learns to be a cowpoke.

Any additional comments?

I'm going to "read" book #2 now.

One of my all time favorites

What made the experience of listening to Father and I Were Ranchers the most enjoyable?

Great story, great narration, perfect combination.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ralph, was my favorite character. The story centers on him.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scenes where Ralph's father gently molds the character of his son are my favorites.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The end of the book is very poignant.

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Title: Jennie Churchill

Subtitle: Winston's American Mother

Author: Anne Sebba

Narrator: Joanna David

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-24-08

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 68 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Anne Sebba, acclaimed for her biography of Mother Teresa, reveals it took an American beauty just three days to land Lord Randolph Churchill. Eight months after the marriage, Lady Jennie bore their son Winston. Using her charms to advance her husband and son, Jennie discreetly seduces 200 or more paramours - including the Prince of Wales.

©2007 Annie Sebba; (P)2008 Recorded Books,LLC

Critic Reviews:

"Her prose is as smooth and elegant as expensive cashmere ..." (Literary Review)

Members Reviews:

GREAT READ!

What did you love best about Jennie Churchill?

An all round woman who flirted with other men, put up with a man who had an STD and was the power behind the greatest Briton and the only man who stood up against Hitler!

Fantastic history

A fantastic historical novel based on good research and documentation. It is telling, fascinating, intelligent and even scandalous. I good read if you want to know more about Churchill and his American roots.

Very Good

I really liked the book but I must admit I did get tired of a lot of the same old same old. She was an amazing character.

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Title: Letter to My Daughter

Author: Maya Angelou

Narrator: Maya Angelou

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-14-08

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 527 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Dedicated to the daughter she never had but sees all around her, Letter to My Daughter reveals Maya Angelou's path to living well and living a life with meaning. Told in her own inimitable style, this book transcends genres and categories: guidebook, memoir, poetry, and pure delight.

Here in short spellbinding essays are glimpses of the tumultuous life that led Angelou to an exalted place in American letters and taught her lessons in compassion and fortitude: how she was brought up by her indomitable grandmother in segregated Arkansas, taken in at thirteen by her more worldly and less religious mother, and grew to be an awkward, six-foot-tall teenager whose first experience of loveless sex paradoxically left her with her greatest gift, a son.

Whether she is recalling such lost friends as Coretta Scott King and Ossie Davis, extolling honesty, decrying vulgarity, explaining why becoming a Christian is a lifelong endeavor, or simply singing the praises of a meal of red rice, Maya Angelou writes from the heart to millions of women she considers her extended family.

Like the rest of her remarkable work, Letter to My Daughter entertains and teaches; it is a book to cherish, savor, re-read, and share.

Members Reviews:

Wisdom that not only experience can give...

I just saw this book appear in my library one day (after checking I found out my girlfriend got it) and it looked short enough so I thought... What the heck? To say I was impressed would be a massive understatement. If I never thought Maya Angelou was an icon before, I would know now. Her insight, humility and wisdom is something that cannot be bought and it's not something that only experience can teach. It takes something more... something that Maya Angelou clearly has. She speaks of both her shortcomings and triumphs in a great way, I often have to really just stop whatever am doing to replay a portion of book so I can really absorb what she has to say.

I first thought the book would be geared specifically for women, and maybe it is in some way that my limited insight cannot perceive. But I would suggest this book to anyone... Black... White... Mixed... Asian... Indian... male... female... whoever you are. The wisdom in this book is something that is just great to say the least, narration by Maya Angelou was a heaven sent.

Truly an EPIC piece!

A Delightful Listen

What a delightful surprise to find out that Maya Angelou herself was the narrator. I felt like I was sitting at the feet of a sage, soaking in wisdom. This is a book I may end up picking up - that is the hardcopy - in order to easily reference the pearls of wisdom she graciously shares with her audience. My only criticism, is that towards the end, the stories became a bit impersonal, and seemed as if they were added as an afterthought. Didn't seem to fit with the idea of writing personal letters to a daughter. It sounded more like recycled speeches presented at other venues and hastily added towards the end of the book. This is why I gave the overall review 4 stars instead of 5.

Mistakes and personal insights, beautifully read

Maya Angelou has a voice like warm butter. If she read it aloud, she could make her grocery list sound wise and sensual and beautiful. When listening to her, I just want to nod my head and agree, grateful that she's sharing her thoughts with me. In this book, she recounts many of her personal experiences across eight decades of life.

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Title: An American Hedge Fund

Subtitle: How I made $2 Million as a Stock Operator & Created a Hedge Fund

Author: Timothy Sykes

Narrator: Brett Barry

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-19-08

Publisher: HFactor Publishing

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 333 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Timothy Sykes turned $12,000 of Bar Mitzvah gift money into $1.65 million by trading thousands of stocks from 1999 to 2002. He managed the number-one Short Bias Hedge Fund from 2003 to 2006, starred in the television documentary Wall Street Warriors, and appeared regularly on CNBC - all before the age of 26. It's been a wild ride.

This Rocky-like story is the first realistic look at the world of stock trading and hedge funds. It will educate and inspire everyone.

Critic Reviews:

"This is the first book I'd give to somebody if I were trying to interest them in the stock market." (Greg Feirman, Founder and CEO, Top Gun Financial Planning)

"There's certainly a dash of Holden Caulfield to Sykes, but there's at least an equal part Larry Livingston, the trader in Edwin LeFevre's classic Reminiscences of a Stock Operator." (Dow Jones Newswire)

Members Reviews:

Ok but something is missing

This book is hugely entertaining. Timothy's story is interesting, honest and well told. The problem with this book is that it misses the authors purpose and goal. You will learn about a few trading techniques but the book is not detailed enough to help you really understand the concepts of these trading tactics and sadly you will not learn what exactly a Hedge Fund is. Recommended if you have a little background knowledge.

tuff critic

No details just a book about his life. which in my opinion should have been the title.

Honest Story from a real trader

Where does An American Hedge Fund rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

Don't look at this book as a

What other book might you compare An American Hedge Fund to and why?

Reminiscences of a Stock Operator but not as good as far as gaining insight into trading.

Any additional comments?

The narrator was excellent. The book was read with the passion of someone who actually lived the life of Sykes.

Your Very Own Big Brother of the Stock Market

Where does An American Hedge Fund rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

In the top 5

What was one of the most memorable moments of An American Hedge Fund?

That he was a millionaire by 21 years of age and the realization for the first time in my life that I can become financially independent!

What does Brett Barry bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Emotion, Passion, Clarity

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

Didn't really think about it that way. I listen often when I'm at work or doing other tasks, so I listen to as much as I can. If I don't finish, I return to it at a later time. In fact I think I still have a couple of chapters yet to finish!

Any additional comments?

Love the Book, Love the Education.....it's really like having a mentor to learn about real-life mistakes and mishaps before they happen or when they happen. I'm so much calmer and confident about investing for the first time in my life. I'm 52!

A wild ride, got me back into investing

I really enjoyed this book. Tim's honesty and humor really carried the day. I did learn quite a bit about trading, not the "how to's" -- there are plenty of resources out there for that -- but the mind set. His honest assessment of his accomplishments and mistakes is well done.

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Title: Beautiful Boy

Subtitle: A Father's Journey through His Son's Meth Addiction

Author: David Sheff

Narrator: Anthony Heald

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-23-08

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 991 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Before meth, Sheff's son, Nic, was a varsity athlete, honor student, and award-winning journalist. After meth, he was a trembling wraith who stole money from his eight-year-old brother and lived on the streets. With haunting candor, Sheff traces the first warning signs, the attempts at rehabilitation, and, at last, the way past addiction. He shows us that, whatever an addict's fate, the rest of the family must care for one another, too, lest they become addicted to addiction.

Critic Reviews:

"Sheff does not spare himself or anyone else from keen professional scrutiny any more than he was himself spared the pains and joys of watching a loved one struggling with addiction and recovery....This is an honest, hopeful book, coming at a propitious moment in the meth epidemic." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Terrifyingly real...

Sheff recounts in amazing detail, the horror he and his family continue to endure through his son's ongoing meth addiction.I found myself leaving earlier in the morning to catch the traffic jam, just so I could listen for longer.

As a professional of the medical world, I found his research and explanations excellent and pharmacologically accurate (as you'd expect of a journalist).

I loved this book, although I understand the agony and hopelessness Sheff expresses at times may be overwhelming to some - this really is the world that meth creates. Sheff does make some significant realisations on his journey which would assist anyone who also has a loved one with methamphetamine addiction.

I look forward to now reading/listening to Nick's account although I am terrified that by doing so I may be feeding the very habit he's trying to quit.

A Gripping Story

I thoroughly enjoyed hearing this book read. I had heard the author and his son, the subject of the book, interviewed on NPR when the book first came out and the story stayed with me for a year before I decided to download the book. For anyone who has lived with a loved one who has an addiction problem, I think it is a necessary read. The story was eloquently told and all of the facts about meth addiction were explained in a way that I had never before understood to this degree. I highly recommend this book.

Been There

My own son is addicted to drugs (though not meth) and alcohol. He read this book and insisted that I did. I admit, the first half of the book was horribly painful for me. It was as if I was reading about my own family and their struggles. However, it got me to admit things to myself that I had not been able to previously. I know from experience that this book is as painfully honest as it gets. By the end, I was nodding. Yes, there is only so much I can do for my son, but, I can deal with my addiction to his addiction in the most positive way possible. I can help myself. Well done Mr. Sheff!

Painful and honest account

This account by David Sheff about his son Nick's meth addiction was lengthy but riveting nontheless. The account leaves nothing out, starting with Nick as a baby, young child, school-age, middle school, teenager. This detail is offered apparently to give the reader an open look at Nick's life and see that drug addiction can happen to anyone. (Nick was very bright, great athlete, artistic, funny, charming, had it all).

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Title: Infidel

Author: Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Narrator: Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-05-07

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2429 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

This New York Times best-seller is the astonishing life story of award-winning humanitarian Ayaan Hirsi Ali. A deeply respected advocate for free speech and women's rights, Hirsi Ali also lives under armed protection because of her outspoken criticism of the Islamic faith in which she was raised.

©2007 Ayaan Hirsi Ali; (P)2007 Recorded Books

Critic Reviews:

"Crammed with harrowing details, Hirsi Ali's account is a significant contribution to our times." (Kirkus Reviews)

"A clearly written and fascinating account of exceptional courage." (Library Journal)

"Infidel is a unique book, Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a unique writer, and both deserve to go far." (The Washington Post)

Members Reviews:

Tough, Candid Assessment

The first half of this book details the coming of age of the author. The second half covers the issues of her public political life. The story is told in a sensitive and candid way, at turns both antagonistic and tender.

The underlying premise is that Islam, when practiced in a way consistent with its writings and history, is essentially about power and control rather than about peaceful pursuit of God.

But more importantly, it is a call to attention that to place high value on others' cultures without a critical evaluation of them is dangerous. Tolerance doesn't always optimize primary values in either the foreign or host culture.

The value of this book is broader than just its evaluation of Islam. Its highest value is in its call to think and speak clearly regardless of the political winds that blow.

I remember reading a quotation recently (but cannot remember the source) that "if 50,000 people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing." That is certainly part of the message of this book.

Incredible and inspiring story.

This is a very inspiring story. The details are what made it so interesting to me. I wish she would have had a professional reader instead of reading it herself. It took me several hours before I could understand most of what she was saying. I almost gave up after the first hour or so but there was enough there to maintain my interest. Once I became acclimated to her voice and enunciation I realized this was an incredible story. It was worth the effort to persevere and understand her. You will learn a lot about the Moslem faith, not the sugar-coated public relations version of it being a religion of peace but how it actually impacts people's lives, especially women, in a negative way.

Incredibly Eye Opening

I finished this book about a week ago and am well into another book, however I find my thoughts reverting back to Infidel. I cannot get over how this brave young woman was able to trust herself so completely to know that everything she ever grew up with and was taught was fundamentally flawed. This is a must listen. It is haunting, inspiring and scary. We could all learn a lot from Ayaan Hirsi Ali. The most important lesson is to trust yourself and your feelings. Then have the courage to stand up to, and against all who try to tell you that you are wrong.

This book will teach you, inspire you, empower you to have faith in yourself and take steps to no only help yourself, but help others who are experiencing the same injustice in the name or religion, government policies, or sexual discrimination.

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Title: Marine Sniper

Subtitle: 93 Confirmed Kills

Author: Charles Henderson

Narrator: Kevin Foley

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-23-07

Publisher: Books in Motion

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 999 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

There have been many Marines. There have been many marksmen. But there has been only one Sergeant Carlos Hathcock, a legend of Marine lore. He stalked the Viet Cong behind enemy lines. His record has never been matched: 93 confirmed kills. This is his story. Powerful, chilling, and all true.

©2001 Charles Henderson; (P)2005 Books in Motion

Critic Reviews:

"Highly readable." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

history at its best

this is a must hear. i have had co workers start to listen and get hooked and they took my work truck and drove slow just to hear it. i guess what i like the most is to me this is a true american hero. john wayne in real life. not some dreamed up hollywood movie. i wish it could be heard in schools so our kids could understand what a real good guy is. buy it you wont be sorry. narrator is good. makes you think there is more than one person telling the story.like watching tv but the picture is in your head

This guy was amazing!

So I was really looking for a book that gave me a feel for what snipers go through, and did it. I was mostly looking for the action side of it but this book goes into the biography and background of Hathcock also which at first I wasn't interested in, but later enjoyed. This book is written as more of a story with dialogue, rather than an after-action interview. Definitely an amazing story!

Carlos Hathcock is THE man!

Where does Marine Sniper rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

Top 3 and I have listened to way too many audio books.

What did you like best about this story?

Like best? I suppose the entire book was what I liked best.

What about Kevin Foleys performance did you like?

I wish K Foley would perform ALL audio books from this day forward. This guy is by far the best narrator (or whatever you call these people) I have ever heard. He knows when and where to pause, change tempo, increase tone, etc. yes the book is awesome and combined with this guys delivery, wow!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Forced retirement, WTF?

Any additional comments?

Do not hesitate, not for a second, download this book RIGHT NOW!

A must listen, A+

I was totally blown away by the story of Gunny Hathcock. The book completely rounds out his life. I felt as though I knew Carlos after listening to it. It was great to take on trips. I know of 5-6 people who have borrowed my iPod to listen to his story. I had not understood the sniper mentality until I started listening to this book and it really taught me a few things. A++

i really enjoyed this book

Would you consider the audio edition of Marine Sniper to be better than the print version?

do not know

What was one of the most memorable moments of Marine Sniper?

when he said the only time he felt bad was when he missed because he knew that soldier would kill Americans

Which scene was your favorite?

when he killed the sadistic female enemy soldier that would torture Americans

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Carlos Hathcock: The original one shot, one kill

Any additional comments?

i really enjoyed this story about a real American hero

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Title: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Subtitle: A Year of Food Life

Author: Barbara Kingsolver

Narrator: Barbara Kingsolver, Steven L. Hopp, Camille Kingsolver

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-25-07

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1577 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle follows the family through the first year of their experiment. They find themselves eager to move away from the typical food scenario of American families: a refrigerator packed with processed, factory-farmed foods transported long distances using nonrenewable fuels. In their search for another way to eat and live, they begin to recover what Kingsolver considers our nation's lost appreciation for farms and the natural processes of food production. Americans spend less of their income on food than has any culture in the history of the world, but they pay dearly in other ways: losing the flavors, diversity, and creative food cultures of earlier times. The environmental costs are also high, and the nutritional sacrifice is undeniable: on our modern industrial food supply, Americans are now raising the first generation of children to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

Part memoir and part journalistic investigation, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle makes a passionate case for putting the kitchen back at the center of family life and diversified farms at the center of the American diet.

Critic Reviews:

"Kingsolver has the ear of a journalist and the accuracy of a naturalist." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Eye opening

I really enjoyed listening to this book. I'm actually glad that I listened to it instead of reading it--I think listening forced me to slow down and really absorb everything the book says (I tend to read pretty fast). The juxtaposition of the different voices of the authors (Barbara K., Stephen H. and Camille K.) worked very nicely. Some of the points do get repeated a bit throughout the book, which did get a little annoying. However, that did not interfere with my enjoyment.

The book struck such a chord with me. When I was a child, there wasn't so much transportation of produce and I do remember how excited my mother would get when certain things came "in season." This book really brought all that back. I wish I had read this book in August or July, instead of November! I also appreciated the insight into the corporate food industry. The book makes me want to investigate further.

Really Good Book

Totally enjoyable and informative! Wasn't sure I wanted to read another book about food and organics, but I'm very glad my friends encouraged that I do so. I didn't particularly enjoy the author's personal narration. As a gardener, food preserver and one who cares greatly about nutrition and good eating, it was very good. As one who owns and loves animals, the chicken and turkey tales were great. Don't miss this book if you care about food sources and learning how easy it is to prepare good food - and how this family did it.

Bringing Pause to What We Eat

Since reading this book I can't reach for a pepper at the grocery store without wondering where it came from, how many miles it traveled, or how it was grown. In fact, I only buy my produce from my local farmer's market and am learning to eat seasonally. How and what I eat hasn't been the same since finishing this book - Barbara Kingsolver invites an intellectual conversation back into the American diet, after decades of forfeiting our knowledge about what's in our food over to the food processing plants and agricultural system.

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Title: No Shortcuts to the Top

Subtitle: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks

Author: Ed Viesturs, David Roberts

Narrator: Stephen Hoye

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-27-06

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 714 votes

Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs

Publisher's Summary:

For 18 years, Ed Viesturs pursued climbing's holy grail: to stand atop the world's 14 8,000-meter peaks, without the aid of bottled oxygen. But No Shortcuts to the Top is as much about the man who would become the first American to achieve that goal as it is about his stunning quest. As Viesturs recounts the stories of his most harrowing climbs, he reveals a man torn between the flat, safe world he and his loved ones share and the majestic and deadly places where only he can go.

A preternaturally cautious climber who once turned back 300 feet from the top of Everest but who would not shrink from a peak (Annapurna) known to claim the life of one climber for every two who reached its summit, Viesturs lives by an unyielding motto: "Reaching the summit is optional. Getting down is mandatory." It is with this philosophy that he vividly describes fatal errors in judgment made by his fellow climbers, as well as a few of his own close calls and gallant rescues. And, for the first time, he details his own pivotal and heroic role in the 1996 Everest disaster made famous in Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air.

No Shortcuts to the Top is more than the first full account of one of the staggering accomplishments of our time; it is a portrait of a brave and devoted family man and the beliefs that shaped this most perilous and magnificent pursuit.

Members Reviews:

NO SHORTCUTS

I read allot of mountaineering books. Ed Viesturs story is one of my favorites. Not only has time proved him to be one of the world’s premier mountaineers, but the narrative this book shows that it is not by luck that he lives to tell the tale. Viesturs is proven to be a man of resolve, character, and discernment. I was apprehensive of reading this book because of many reviews that told of a boastful man who is full of himself. Nobody wants to read a 350 page work of hubris and self adulation. As I read this book and gained respect for the man, I realized that some have mistaken his realistic evaluation of situations as self congratulation. This is an error. Viesturs is an extra-ordinary (not ordinary) man. So when he recalls things that are just recollections of his reality, some may interpret this as a huge ego. However, it is his ability to make clear and unemotional judgments about situations that has gotten him not only up, but down the mountains he has climbed. This is unlike the self flagellation of some who profess humility, while clearly seething with pride at their own meekness. Viesturs makes no such claims.

Buy this book, learn from Ed Viesturs, enjoy.

Vicarious Immersion into this Rare World!

Any additional comments?

This book, unabridged, is the primer and introduction for one who might want to lose oneself in this genre of books. High altitude mountaineering is grand drama, with killing cold, and with oxygen starvation that hobbles the brain and causes the body to consume itself. This is where storms appear out of nowhere, and simple injuries can become a death sentence, because help often is unavailable. Fiction is unnecessary because up here the true stories are incredible.

Yes, Dr. Viesturs book uses the word I a lot: Its an autobiography as well as an overview. Arguably the worlds best, the guy practices great safety discipline, and deals in facts.