Jonathan Hogan has narrated 24 audiobooks on Listento.it by 18 authors, with an average listener rating of 4.3★ across 72 ratings. The most-rated is Last Child in the Woods.
Last Child in the Woods
Summary
New York Times and Washington Post contributor Richard Louv is the widely respected author of seven previous books. In Last Child in the Woods, Louv illustrates how the alienation of today's children from nature can lead to a host of childhood disorders - and he offers effective methods for healing this rift.
©2005 Richard Louv (P)2007 Recorded Books
Go Down Together
Summary
With dramatic flair, Jeff Guinn delivers the definitive portrait of Bonnie and Clyde. These media-savvy outlaws appealed to America's Depression-era hunger for swashbuckling characters. Glowing radio and newspaper reports transformed these "public enemies" into celebrities - much like the cinema gangsters of the time.
©2009 24 Words LLC (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC
Big Data
Summary
Oxford professor and author Viktor Mayer-Schönberger joins Economist data editor and commentator Kenneth Cukier to deliver insight into the hottest trend in technology. "Big data" makes it possible to instantly analyze and draw conclusions from vast stores of information, enabling revolutionary breakthroughs in business, health, politics, and education. But big data also raises troubling social and privacy concerns sure to be a major talking point in the years ahead.
©2013 Viktor Mayer-Schöberger and Kenneth Cukier (P)2013 Recorded Books
Consilience
Summary
One of our greatest living scientists - and the winner of two Pulitzer Prizes for On Human Nature and The Ants - gives us a work of visionary importance that may be the crowning achievement of his career. In Consilience (a word that originally meant "jumping together"), Edward O. Wilson renews the Enlightenment's search for a unified theory of knowledge in disciplines that range from physics to biology, the social sciences and the humanities. Using the natural sciences as his model, Wilson forges dramatic links between fields. He explores the chemistry of the mind and the genetic bases of culture. He postulates the biological principles underlying works of art from cave-drawings to Lolita. Presenting the latest findings in prose of wonderful clarity and oratorical eloquence, and synthesizing it into a dazzling whole, Consilience is science in the path-clearing traditions of Newton, Einstein, and Richard Feynman.
©1999 Edward O. Wilson (P)2018 Random House Audio
The Social Conquest of Earth
Summary
Edward O. Wilson is one of the world’s preeminent biologists, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and the author of more than 25 books. The defining work in a remarkable career, The Social Conquest of Earth boldly addresses age-old questions (Where did we come from? What are we? Where are we going?) while delving into the biological sources of morality, religion, and the creative arts.
©2012 Edward O. Wilson (P)2012 Recorded Books. LLC
Polio
Summary
Pulitzer Prize, History, 2006This comprehensive and gripping narrative covers all the challenges, characters, and controversies in America's relentless struggle against polio. Funded by philanthropy and grassroots contributions, Salk's killed-virus vaccine (1954) and Sabin's live-virus vaccine (1961) began to eradicate this dreaded disease. Author David M. Oshinsky, a multiple New York Times Notable Book winner and University of Texas professor, is a leading American political and cultural historian.
©2005 David M. Oshinsky (P)2007 Recorded Books
Tales from the Ant World
Summary
Edward O. Wilson recalls his lifetime with ants - from his first boyhood encounters in the woods of Alabama to perilous journeys into the Brazilian rainforest. "Ants are the most warlike of all animals, with colony pitted against colony.... Their clashes dwarf Waterloo and Gettysburg", writes Edward O. Wilson in his most finely observed work in decades. In a myrmecological tour to such far-flung destinations as Mozambique and New Guinea, the Gulf of Mexico's Dauphin Island and even his parents' overgrown yard back in Alabama, Wilson thrillingly evokes his nine-decade-long scientific obsession with more than 15,000 ant species. Wryly observing that "males are little more than flying sperm missiles" or that ants send their "little old ladies into battle", Wilson eloquently relays his brushes with fire, army, and leafcutter ants, as well as more exotic species: the Matabele, Africa's fiercest warrior ants; Costa Rica's Basiceros, the slowest ants in the world; and New Caledonia's Myrmecia apicalis, the most endangered of them all. A personal account by one of our greatest scientists, Tales from the Ant World is an indispensable volume for any lover of the natural world.
©2020 Edward O. WIlson (P)2020 Recorded Books
Half-Earth
Summary
Refusing to accept the mass extinction of species as an inevitability, "the world's greatest naturalist" (Jeffrey Sachs) proposes a plan to save Earth's imperiled biosphere. Half-Earth resoundingly concludes the best-selling trilogy begun by The Social Conquest of Earth and The Meaning of Human Existence, a National Book Award finalist. History is not a prerogative of the human species, Edward O. Wilson declares in Half-Earth, a brave work that becomes a radical redefinition of human history. Demonstrating that we blindly ignore the histories of millions of other species, Wilson warns of a point of no return that is imminent. Angrily challenging the fashionable theories of anthropocenes, who contend that humans can survive alone in an Edenic bubble engineered for their own survival, Wilson documents that the biosphere does not belong to us. Yet, refusing to believe that our extinction is, as so many fear, predetermined, Wilson has written Half-Earth as a cri de coeur, proposing that the only solution to our impending "sixth extinction" is to increase the area of natural reserves to half the surface of the Earth. Suffused with a profound Darwinian understanding of our planet's fragility, Half-Earth is a transformative work that reverberates with an urgency like few other books.
©2016 Edward O.Wilson (P)2016 Recorded Books
Boss Life
Summary
When columnist Paul Downs was approached by the New York Times to write for their You're the Boss blog, he had been running his custom furniture business for 24 years strong - or mostly strong. Now he embarks on a book-length essay that intends to show a portrait of a real business, with a real boss, a real set of employees, and the real challenges they face, in hopes of promoting a better understanding of the behaviors of small-business owners. In 1986, fresh out of college, Paul Downs opened his first and last business: a small company that built custom furniture. With no idea how to run a business or how to build custom furniture, Downs spent a year teaching himself the business, and in 1987 he hired his first employee. That was when things got complicated. As his business began to grow, he had to learn about management, cash flow, taxes, and so much more. Furthermore, globalization and the arrival of the Internet made a big impact on the economy, causing him to have to reevaluate, restructure, and reinvent. Most important, Downs is keenly aware that every small business, no matter the product it makes or the service it provides, starts with people. He writes with tremendous insight about hiring employees, providing motivation to get the best jobs out of them and incentive to maintain their loyalty and respect, and the difficult decisions he's made to let some of them go. With honesty and conviction, Downs tells the true story behind building and sustaining a successful company in an ever-evolving economy, often airing his own failures and shortcomings to unveil the difficulties that arise from being a boss and a businessperson. We've heard countless stories from employees about their managers; Boss Life seeks to tell the other side of that story.
©2015 Paul Downs (P)2015 Recorded Books
The Whistling Season
Summary
When a widowed rancher hires a housekeeper to help with his three young sons, he finds her to be cheerful and competent. Yet she is concealing a colorful and infamous past. Filled with humor and hardship, this novel sings with what the author calls "a poetry of the vernacular". A finalist for the National Book award, Ivan Doig, who has published 11 books, has been hailed as the "West's preeminent literary novelist" by the Denver Post.
©2006 Ivan Doig (P)2006 Recorded Books
The Meaning of Human Existence
Summary
Searching for meaning in what Nietzsche once called “the rainbow colors” around the outer edges of knowledge and imagination, Edward O. Wilson bridges science and philosophy to create a 21st century treatise on human existence. Once criticized for his over-reliance on genetics, Wilson unfurls here his most expansive and advanced theories on human behavior, recognizing that, even though the human and spider evolved similarly, the poet’s sonnet is wholly different than the spider’s web. Whether attempting to explicate "the Riddle of the Human Species", warning of "the Collapse of Biodiversity", or even creating a plausible "Portrait of E.T.", Wilson does indeed believe that humanity holds a special position in the known universe. Alarmed, however, that we are about to abandon natural selection by redesigning biology and human nature as we wish them, Wilson concludes that advances in science and technology bring us our greatest moral dilemma since God stayed the hand of Abraham. Edward O. Wilson is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading scientists. He is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the author of the best-selling The Social Conquest of Earth and Letters to a Young Scientist.
©2014 Edward O. Wilson (P)2014 Recorded Books
Genesis
Summary
Asserting that religious creeds and philosophical questions can be reduced to purely genetic and evolutionary components, and that the human body and mind have a physical base obedient to the laws of physics and chemistry, Genesis demonstrates that the only way for us to fully understand human behavior is to study the evolutionary histories of nonhuman species. Of these, Wilson demonstrates that at least 17 - among them the African naked mole rat and the sponge-dwelling shrimp - have been found to have advanced societies based on altruism and cooperation. Whether writing about midges who "dance about like acrobats" or schools of anchovies who protectively huddle "to appear like a gigantic fish", or proposing that human society owes a debt of gratitude to "postmenopausal grandmothers" and "childless homosexuals", Genesis is a pithy yet path-breaking work of evolutionary theory, braiding 21st-century scientific theory with the lyrical biological and humanistic observations for which Wilson is known.
©2019 Edward O. Wilson (P)2019 Recorded Books
The Origins of Creativity
Summary
"Creativity is the unique and defining trait of our species, and its ultimate goal, self-understanding", begins Edward O. Wilson's sweeping examination of the humanities and its relationship to the sciences. By studying fields as diverse as paleontology, evolutionary biology, and neuroscience, Wilson demonstrates that human creativity began not 10,000 years ago, as we have long assumed, but over 100,000 years ago in the Paleolithic Age. Chronicling the evolution of creativity from primates to humans, Wilson shows how the humanities, in large part, spurred on by the invention of language, have played a previously unexamined role in defining our species. Exploring a surprising range of creative endeavors - the instinct to create gardens, the use of metaphors and irony in speech, the power of music and song- Wilson proposes a transformational "Third Enlightenment" in which the blending of science and humanities will enable a deeper understanding of the human condition and how it ultimately originated.
©2017 Edward O. Wilson (P)2017 Recorded Books
The Hot L Baltimore
Summary
Lanford Wilson's The Hot L Baltimore is one of the most important plays of the last 100 years, influencing generations of playwrights. The actors in the original cast had not reached fame before their debuts, but since then they have achieved extraordinary careers in theater, film, and television. This renewed collaboration is a rare treat for anyone who loves excellent playwriting and phenomenal acting. Members of the original Circle Repertory Company are directed by Marshall W. Mason: Judd Hirsch, Trish Hawkins, Elizabeth Sturges, Henrietta Bagley, Conchata Ferrell, Burke Pearson, Lisa Emery, Zane Lasky, Ken Kliban, Stephanie Gordon, Brian Tarantina, Jonathan Hogan, and Claris Nelson.
©2014 Roven Records Spoken Word (P)2017 Roven Records Spoken Word
The Little Book of Market Myths
Summary
Everybody knows that a strong dollar equals a strong economy, bonds are safer than stocks, stocks are more volatile now and stop-losses are a smart, money-saving tactic...right? These are just a few widely believed but potentially dangerous market myths. New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author Ken Fisher dismantles in this wise, informative, wholly entertaining new book. As a long-term Forbes columnist and CEO of a global money management firm managing tens of billions for high-net-worth individuals and institutions, Ken knows a thing or two about what works and what's bunk when it comes to investing wisdom. Bringing together some of Ken's best myth debunking and market sleuthing of the past 25 years, in an easy-to-digest, bite-sized format, The Little Book of Market Myths exposes some of the most common - and deadly - myths investors swear by. And he demonstrates why subscribing to the rule-of-thumb approach to investing could prevent you from reaching your long-term investing goals. But this book is more than just a list of myths. One after another, Ken takes each commonly held belief or "surefire" strategy and explains why the myth persists, why it doesn't work and just how damaging it can be to your financial health. And each chapter is a primer on how you can apply the same "debunking" tactics yourself, now and for the rest of your investing time horizon. Whether you're a novice investor or a longtime veteran, this book arms you with priceless insights to help you identify major errors you may be committing and help you see the world clearer - so you can improve your investing results.
©2013 Fisher Investments (P)2013 Recorded Books
How Dinosaurs Took Flight
Summary
Would you believe it if I told you that every bird you see - even the smallest hummingbird - is a dinosaur? Well, that’s what many scientists now believe! Follow along as scientists examine ancient fossils and pose new theories on how prehistoric dinosaurs evolved into today’s modern birds. Packed with exciting stories of unearthing ancient fossils and tales of what early feathered dinosaurs might have looked like, this book will have imaginations running wild. From the very first birds, with only tiny dino-fuzz covering their bodies, to the mystery of how dinosaurs finally took to the air, listeners will explore the startling connection between the birds they encounter every day and their very distant relatives - the dinosaurs. Christopher Sloan works for National Geographic and has written several children’s books on scientific topics. Listeners who enjoy this book should also check out Bury the Dead.
©2005 Christopher Sloan (P)2008 Recorded Books
What Makes a Terrorist?
Summary
Why we need to think more like economists to successfully combat terrorism If we are to correctly assess the root causes of terrorism and successfully address the threat, we must think more like economists do. This is the argument of Alan Krueger's What Makes a Terrorist, a book that explains why our tactics in the fight against terrorism must be based on more than anecdote, intuition, and speculation. Many popular ideas about terrorists and why they seek to harm us are fueled by falsehoods, misinformation, and fearmongering. Many believe that poverty and lack of education breed terrorism, despite the wealth of evidence showing that most terrorists come from middle-class, and often college-educated, backgrounds. Krueger closely examines the factors that motivate individuals to participate in terrorism, drawing inferences from terrorists' own backgrounds and the economic, social, religious, and political environments in the societies from which they come. He describes which countries are the most likely breeding grounds for terrorists, and which ones are most likely to be their targets. Krueger addresses the economic and psychological consequences of terrorism and puts the threat squarely into perspective, revealing how our nation's sizable economy is diverse and resilient enough to withstand the comparatively limited effects of most terrorist strikes. He also calls on the media to be more responsible in reporting on terrorism. Bringing needed clarity to one of the greatest challenges of our generation, this 10th anniversary edition of What Makes a Terrorist features a new introduction by the author that discusses the lessons learned in the past decade from the rise of ISIS and events like the 2016 Pulse nightclub attack in Orlando, Florida.
©2007, 2018 Princeton University Press (P)2018 Recorded Books
Robert E. Lee on Leadership
Summary
Robert E. Lee scholar H. W. Crocker III is an esteemed Civil War historian. Skillfully summarizing Lee’s life, Crocker clearly extracts leadership lessons from the storied career of the South’s beloved leader and applies them to today’s business worldUnder General Lee’s management, a rag-tag army of poor farmers—vastly outnumbered, outgunned, under-supplied, and under-fed—consistently routed Union troops. Brilliantly seizing strategic opportunities, Lee stunned his foes and inspired his soldiers. He was decisive, focused, and humble. Sharing his men’s hardships, Lee spoke often with them and earned their loyalty. He found trusted subordinates who shared his vision, gave them broad instructions, and turned them loose. He didn’t micromanage or belittle. Taking blame for failure, he was lavish in praise and charitable in criticism Revered by his men, respected by his opponents, and universally recognized as a Christian gentleman, Robert E. Lee practiced—on plantation, battlefield, and campus—effective management principles. For those seeking leadership excellence, this practical work is absolutely essential.
©1999, 2000 H.W. Crocker III (P)2006 Recorded Books, LLC
The Texas Rangers
Summary
Mike Cox, journalist and Texas Ranger grand master, recounts enthralling tales of men who proudly wore the silver Lone Star - once hand-carved from the Mexican five peso. Whether facing Indians, banditos, or Yankees, TexasRangers earned a reputation for being some of the most formidable lawmen in U.S. history.
©2008 Mike Cox (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC
What You Have Left
Summary
Just after her mother's funeral, five-year-old Holly is dropped off by her father at her grandfather's South Carolina dairy farm. It will be 30 years before Holly sees her father again - plenty of time to develop a fondness for drinking and video poker. And also plenty of time to contemplate why her father abandoned her.
©2007 Will Allison (P)2008 Recorded Books,LLC