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Eye-opening reading for horse racing fans. Will also likely appeal to readers interested in sports history in post–Civil War America.
PREMIUM
Defectors: How the Illicit Flight of Soviet Citizens Built the Borders of the Cold War World
This diplomatic history is dense and detailed. Best suited for academic libraries with collections in modern European history.
Prince fans and others interested in popular music will find much to love and ponder in this engaging collection.
Recommended for business collections and to those considering entrepreneurship or applying Hsieh’s business philosophy.
Libraries with strong film and horror sections will find this irresistible two-volume reference an essential purchase.
A solid and unbiased source of primary documents on the most contentious political challenges facing the nation. For readers at all levels, especially high schoolers and undergrads.
To aid readers, there are a 23-page glossary of terms and a nine-page alphabetical index. Recommended for general or school libraries.
While the scientific lingo can feel a little overwhelming at times, readers who persist through to the end will likely find themselves enlightened and eager to listen and learn.
King’s engaging narrative exposes the maneuvering of lumber companies that plundered redwood forests for decades, with the collusion of powerful individuals in politics, academia, and civil service.
The Einstein Effect: How the World’s Favorite Genius Got into Our Cars, Our Bathrooms, and Our Minds
Readers won’t find a livelier celebration of Einstein’s work and life. A great recommendation for teens and adults alike.
Fans of Jaws and “Shark Week” will love this book, but it’s also a compelling read for anyone interested in oceans, wildlife, conservation, or scientific adventures. An excellent title for readers who’ve ever been at the ocean’s edge and wondered what was out there.
This book urges readers to consider that there are already solutions to the world’s water crisis, though humankind may not have the political, social, and cultural will to implement those solutions. Highly recommended for all libraries.
An intimate, moving narrative peppered with harsh statistics, love, angst, and the author’s own admirable vulnerability.
The book explores nearly every aspect and example of Black horror cinema, from recurring one-dimensional archetypes to surgical dissections of relevant films, but its overall message resonates. Black voices and creatives in cinema have made strides in representation, but there is clearly more work to do.
Seemingly tailor-made for audio, this powerful book is a must-purchase. Olivarez’s invitation to share moments of his history, culture, love, and joy is wholly affecting.
Abdurraqib is one of the preeminent cultural critics of our time, and his insightful essays give listeners much to consider, so long as the narration style works for them.
PREMIUM
A Guest at the Feast: Essays
This absorbing collection, so intimately told, is an excellent choice for any library seeking to expand on its religious and social commentary. Tóibín’s fans will want to dig in.
PREMIUM
What You Are Now
A play that questions and affirms the power of trauma, with mixed results in audio.
PREMIUM
The Tribe: Portraits of Cuba
Although some of the promises of the revolution did not materialize, these stories of human resilience and ingenuity provide hope for the future. Share with listeners seeking authentic stories of Cuban life; a great fit for fans of Anthony DePalma’s The Cubans or Leila Guerriero’s Cuba on the Verge.
This well-produced, essential account of hip-hop music and culture will appeal to the genre’s many fans, as well as listeners who enjoy popular culture and oral history.
Anyone looking to revisit classics or broaden their reading interests will treasure Ojo’s and Nixon’s brilliant performances and Davis’s curated list of outstanding short fiction.
This deliciously fast-paced nonfiction audio will appeal to foodies, history buffs, and lingua-phile listeners alike.
PREMIUM
Continuity
A climate-charged spoof of filmmaking superficiality that solidly entertains but doesn’t quite soar. Directed in its excellent audio format by Anna Lyse Erikson and part of L.A. Theatre Works’ “Relativity Series” of science-themed plays.
Bringley brings emotional depth to his experiences, struggling to heal from his brother’s death and immersing himself in the museum’s beauty. Despite minor quibbles, this audio should find a welcome home in most audio collections.
This audiobook is an easy score worth the ticket price and a special treat for those yearning for bygone-era baseball or 1990s nostalgia.
A worthy update to any Poe or biography collection, sure to attract listeners who might bypass something headier.
PREMIUM
Bang Bang Crash: A Memoir
Recommended for fans of Dave Grohl’s The Storyteller or Carrie Brownstein’s Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl.
This audiobook is a winner for patrons who enjoy medical nonfiction and true crime or are interested in medical forensics. Narrator Barr makes listeners want to hear more.
This impressively researched work with engaging narration is perfect for libraries with patrons interested in science, history, climate change, and ecology.
Told with candor and compassion, this well-narrated book should not be missed by anyone who is interested in the ethics and the real-life experiences of medical personnel.
Through these stories, listeners will learn not only about the monetary cost of medical care but the human cost as well. With facts and heart, this is a timely book that showcases the realities of a system in crisis.
An important, if dryly narrated, account of humans as accidental and purposeful animals of environmental extinction. Recommended for fans of environmental histories and scholars of the same.
A heartfelt and moving book for listeners who enjoy animal stories and insights into connections between humans and animals.
Hardcore house music fanatics will enjoy this book’s discussions on various clubs, drum machines, and acetates. Give it to readers who fondly remember the genre.
PREMIUM
The Modern Maverick: Why Writing Your Own Rules Is Better for You, Your Business and the World
Recommended for readers who are looking to make quality-of-life adjustments in their professional and personal lives.
This refreshing guide to zero-waste cooking invites readers to bring what they have to the pot to create unique and flavorful recipes.
Rich in images and stories, at once accessible to cooks, and crafted for readers, this is a work to cook from and reflect on. Don’t miss it.
PREMIUM
The Little Book of Exoplanets
Recommended for readers who appreciate astronomy or are intrigued by the possibility of life on other planets.
Although all of the subjects March commends to the reader are Christians, the suggested practices are not bound by any religious faith and open to anyone who strives to live deliberately.
With plenty for cooks and cookbook readers, Sercarz has delivered a vibrant collection of recipes that lets the reader peek behind the curtain of Middle Eastern cuisine.
Potts’s compassionate and sensitively read memoir is a challenging but timely listen, illuminating a little-known side of rural America.
Share with listeners interested in history, climate change, feminism, and narrative nonfiction. The intriguing plot, homesteading history, and insights into climate change make this a winner.
For fans of G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century by Beverly Gage. Recommended for general purchase.
While the technology has changed, modern policing still relies heavily on scientific evidence. Katwala’s fascinating history of this unreliable device is a cautionary tale that will likely appeal to those interested in criminal justice and true crime.
Listeners interested in social justice and the history of the 1960s will likely enjoy this well-narrated deep dive into the early days of the Black Power movement.
A compelling recounting of one man’s obsession and a shocking case judged in the court of public opinion.
This heartfelt and honest book about life after loss is a must-listen for anyone looking to feel seen in their grief. Those who enjoy memoirs, stories of persistence through hard times, and those looking to learn more about America’s opioid crisis will want to listen.
Listeners will be on the edge of their seats as they learn about the heroic efforts of Chinese scholars and curators throughout this 16-year mission.
PREMIUM
Poverty, by America
Although the message may not be welcomed by all, this thought-provoking book delivers. Recommended for all audio collections.
All the trimmings of an admirable shipwreck story are present, including scurvy, mutiny, controversy, and foul weather. Combined with Graham’s hardy narration, Grann’s latest is a riveting must-listen. Expect broad listener appeal and high demand for this enthralling seafaring tale.
Despite some flaws, this audiobook is a fantastic addition to any collection. Share with listeners looking for a different take on ancient Egyptian royalty; fans of Guy de la Bédoyère’s Pharaohs of the Sun or Arielle P. Kozloff’s Amenhotep III will also likely enjoy this title.
This deep dive into the case of Ana Montes is meticulously presented and will captivate true-crime lovers.
PREMIUM
The Critic’s Daughter: A Memoir
Even if listeners aren’t familiar with Gilman or her parents, listeners will likely enjoy this rich, well-written memoir about flawed relationships and the lasting trauma of divorce.
Lovers of true crime will be unable to stop listening. A horrendous tale from its beginning straight through to its convoluted finish.
An approachable exploration of humanity’s roots that will likely interest those who loved Sang-Hee Lee’s Close Encounters With Humankind or Annalee Newitz’s explorations of more recent ancient humans in Four Lost Cities.
PREMIUM
A Heart That Works
Delaney’s visceral memoir and love letter to his child will leave listeners’ hearts aching. A powerful audio that communicates the wholly personal yet terribly unifying experience of grief.
Lyons covers causes and solutions for everyday interactions and provides a persuasive argument for silence. Recommended for all audio collections.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a harrowing, issue-oriented nonfiction work about family, foster care, and the faults and failings of both. Recommended for fans of Adrian Nicole LeBlanc and similar steadfast investigative journalism.
PREMIUM
Fieldwork: A Forager’s Memoir
This memoir detailing Regan’s relationship with her body, her family, and the world around her resonates with sincerity and passion.
PREMIUM
Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt’s Ancient Temples from Destruction
Fans of history and Egyptology will be inspired by Olson’s account, which narrator Flanagan delivers with clarity and nuance. A gripping and highly recommended audio.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an upbeat and honest animal lover autobiography, as much about people as it is about pets.
PREMIUM
The Jan 6th Report
This fact-based accounting of the events of January 6, 2021, is one of the essential historical documents of this era. The thoughtful presentation of this audio edition makes it accessible to a wider audience.
PREMIUM
Sink: A Memoir
Stunningly written and eloquent in its despair, this book is unforgettable; Thomas’s expressive narration elevates his story into a work of art.
Hagerty’s illuminating account provides a fascinating and deeply moving glimpse into how anthropologists’ use of forensic methods has changed the ways in which research is conducted in the field.
Armchair travelers and history buffs interested in political and social issues, including immigration, civil rights, and environmental justice will appreciate this unique, solidly narrated title.
Mohammadi’s haunting interviews make for an unsettling but deeply powerful listen. An excellent audio that provides insight into the Iranian legal system and the way the Iranian government treats its activist prisoners.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a lyrical life story about faith and foraging. Recommended for fans of honest, inspiring memoirs.
Through Robbins’s firsthand knowledge of teaching and her investigation into the lives of other teachers, she reveals the harsh realities behind this honorable and challenging profession. A timely, essential listen for teachers and nonteachers alike.
A fascinating history of this unique community to pair with Zora Neale Hurston’s Barracoon or Ben Raines’s The Last Slave Ship, narrated by Kevin R. Free.
The lives of Schulback and Donenfeld connect old Hollywood, the Golden Age of Comics, and the Holocaust. Fans of celebrity tell-all stories and comic book histories will enjoy.
A must-listen for fans of Shapiro’s work on NPR and journalism memoirs. Purchase multiple copies (perhaps even forgoing the print), and put in the hands of sure-to-be-delighted patrons.
PREMIUM
Token Black Girl: A Memoir
A unique exposé of fashion media that is recommended for fans of Kenya Hunt’s Girl Gurl Grrrl or Tressie McMillan Cottom’s Thick.
This excellent audio shines a light on the unsung heroes providing frontline health care to unhoused people and demonstrates the power of a small group dedicated to a cause. A recommended purchase for all libraries.
Despite flaws in the audio, this is an arresting account of how a same-sex relationship endured amid societal conflicts and a solid examination of the men’s respective works.
PREMIUM
My Road from Damascus: A Memoir
This riveting memoir of a Syrian dissident, featuring an outstanding, often musical performance, deserves comparisons to Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning in its ability to find the beauty of human connection in utterly inhumane conditions.
Given the changing legislation on abortion, Wright’s extraordinary feminist history, featuring an impassioned performance by Wilson and a lively discussion between author and narrator, is essential for all library collections.
Although the content is occasionally repetitive, the central message about an industry taking advantage of people living in or close to poverty bears repeating. Recommended for libraries where this message will resonate.
Listeners will relate to the disasters and triumphs of Tate’s friendships and will likely respond to her transparent, often humorous delivery.
A timely and compassionate memoir that will appeal to anyone looking for connections and trying to bridge their own chasms.
The audiobook’s hybrid of truth and tale may give some listeners pause. Give to those who enjoy eccentric, lyrical nonfiction.
Anyone interested in women’s studies or medieval history will be delighted with Janega’s witty and insightful look at the long trail of medieval attitudes toward women, especially given Naeymi’s sparkling performance.
An inspiring story. Essential listening for researchers, students, administrators, and anyone interested in the influence of women in science and academia.
PREMIUM
Hijab Butch Blues
While this memoir addresses weighty and sometimes painful topics, the essays shine with hope for a better future and deeper understanding. Listeners will end up hoping for more from this trailblazing writer.
Listeners who enjoy memoirs about self-discovery will enjoy Pennington’s candid debut. Suggest to fans of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild.
An intelligent and vital look at women in rock audiences. All Springsteen fans will likely enjoy this, but it also deserves serious consideration from general readers interested in studies of popular music, gender, and fandom.
A diverting and informative tour and an excellent companion to William Schnabel’s Summer of Love and Haight.
Fredriksson’s honesty about her often abrasive past behavior, her frustration at being discounted in the men-dominated music industry, and her attempts to find alternative lifesaving treatments makes for an engaging read. Most poignant is her vulnerability as she opens her closets and photo albums that showcase a life well lived.
Neither an excoriation of the sex industry nor a reclamation of it as a source of empowerment, this memoir adds a needed complexity to the conversation about both.
Students of astrology and zodiac-curious readers will find a readable, easy-to-navigate, yet comprehensive reference tool for interpreting natal charts.
The U.S. Supreme Court is increasingly in the news, but its workings and history are opaque. This recommended book can help clear things up.
Shea’s matter-of-fact journalistic style prevents sensationalism from overtaking this study of the Mamas & the Papas’ powerful influence and importance.
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