Non-fiction audiobooks, call for recommendations

[Duer 157099]

OK I'm joining this topic forum! It looks relatively active, and I've been devouring non-fiction books (audiobooks) lately.

Right now I seem to be on a bin Laden kick. I think all the recent torture discussions have created in me an interest in understanding where these detainees have come from and what their backgrounds might be. So that led to an interest in the early days of the war in Afghanistan. I like the first person accounts.

Right now I'm reading (hearing):

The Osama bin Laden I Know by Peter Bergen, Jawbreaker by Gary Berntsen, and Kill bin Laden by Dalton Fury. There are so many others I'd like to read (like Ghost Wars by Steve Coll) but that are not available as audiobooks.

I also like books by CIA types (See No Evil by Robert Baer, Ghost by Fred Burton), or any other "on the ground" type narratives that help in understanding what's going on in the Middle East (Children of Jihad by Jared Cohen)

My up-next list:

Legacy of Ashes by Tim Weiner
The Inheritance by David Sanger
Overthrow by Stephen Kinzer

So if anyone here has some recommendations along these lines, please post.

Also, did anything ever come of a book-club type thing, for reading/discussing particular books?

[ClearPresentDanger]

1. Renegade by Richard Wolfe

Heard him on the radio today. It's about the 2008 presidential campaign.

[Duer 157099]

3. I've been seeing him daily on MSNBC talking about it

I will eventually get it when it becomes an unabridged version -- and even better if he narrates, as I love his voice

:thumbsup?

[patriotproud]

2. Travels in Georgia

or anything by John McPhee

John McPhee, Profiles, “TRAVELS IN GEORGIA,” The New Yorker, April 28, 1973, p. 44

ABSTRACT: PROFILE of Georgia biologist-ecologist Carol Ruckdeschel, of Atlanta. In her Atlanta house, where she stays for short periods, she keeps a myriad of unusual animals--snakes, hawks, etc. She and Sam Candler work for the Ga. Natural Areas Council, which sees to the discovery & preservation of wild areas around the state. She & Sam & writer travel around the state, picking up D. O.R. animals, some of which Carol keeps for specimens for the biology dept. of Georgia State U., where she studied biology. Long descriptions of the countryside & animals they encounter.

[Duer 157099]

4. I do have some McPhee

Thanks for the other one, I'll look it up.

Travel is another subject I like reading/hearing.

One of my recent favorites was The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner; also recently listened to all of (my favorite author in the world) Bill Bryson's books, he is just awesome beyond belief!

[Jane Austin]

5. Lawrence Wright won the Pulitzer Prize for The Looming Tower:

Al Qaeda and the Path to 9/11.

Audible.com has it

[Duer 157099]

6. Oooooo! Excellent!

That one hits all my criteria: it's 17+ hours and unabridged! Awesome!

:thumbsup:

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. Check out Bill Maher's "When You Ride Alone You Ride With Bin Laden"

It's a tad dated (2002) but his observations about the "war on terror" are humorous and intelligent. "F.U.B.A.R." (2006) by Sam Seder and Stephen Sherill is a highly entertaining and humorous book. Mike's Election Guide 2008 is short but entertaining look at last year's election, particularly his "Ask Mike" Q & A section. If you read any of these, post back and tell us what you thought of them. :hi:

[LiberalSEO]

8. A little off-topic

Talking about audio books.. I found this website called www.AudioToGo.com - it works exactly like NetFlix, but they send/rent out audio books (up to 13 discs at a time I believe - don't quote me on that). I just signed up for a trail.. will see if its worth it.

As far as recommendations.. I read the "Corporate Warriors: The Rise of the Privatized Military Industry" it's more of an academic study than a regular non-ficiton book but an interesting read nonetheless (got a used version from amazon for a buck or two).

[abluelady]

9. "Conscience of a Liberal"

It's by Paul Krugman and he reads it. I listen to two to three audio books at a time, depending where I'm at--the car, the kitchen, the office, etc. The authors who read their own books make it even better. I am also very lucky that I can download audio books from my library and listen to them on my computer for free!

[MountainLaurel]

10. Not overtly political

But right now I'm listening to "The End of Overeating" by David Kessler, about how the food industry uses our bodies against us to make us addicted. Interesting topic and a good narrative style that translates well to audio.

[zeos3]

11. Legacy of Ashes is a good one.

Also, check out Blowback by Chalmers Johnson.

Chomsky is also a personal favorite.

[HelenWheels]

12. Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman

by Jon Krakauer

[Doctor_Horrible]

13. The audio version of Zinn's A People's History (narrated by Matt Damon) is fantastic. nt