Adult DAISY Audio Books and Online Digital Audio - Non-fiction
Adventure
DC30433
Beyond the horizon: the great race to finish the first : human-powered circumnavigation of the planet by Colin Angus.
1 disc. Narrated by Geoffrey Pierpoint.
In June, 2004, Colin Angus left Vancouver on his bicycle, and nearly two years later, he rolled back in, having completed the first human-powered circumnavigation of the globe. Angus cycled, skied, and rowed a route that took him to Alaska, across the Bering Sea and the Siberian winter, through Europe from Moscow to Portugal, then across the Atlantic to Costa Rica and home. Along the way he burned through 4,000 chocolate bars, 72 inner tubes, 250 kgs of freeze-dried foods, 31 dorado fish (caught from the sea), 2 offshore rowboats, 4 bicycles, and 80 kgs of clothing - all without polluting the planet. Some strong language. 2007.
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Aging (includes retirement, health)
DC08563
Old age by Helen M. Luke ; introduction by Barbara A. Mowat.
1 disc. Narrated by Patricia Kilgarriff.
The author's philosophical journey through attitudes on aging draws inspiration from the classics. Creatively employing the language and ideas of Homer, Shakespeare, Dante, Eliot and others, she considers how to grow old with grace, intelligence and humour. 1987.
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Biography
DC12116
Aman: the story of a Somali girl by Aman ; as told to Virginia Lee Barnes and Janice Boddy.
1 disc. Narrated by Sondra Bolton.
Aman recounted her extraordinary life to anthropologist Barnes, and later to Boddy. Aman tells of daily life in Somalia during the tumultuous years of the 1950s and 1960s, and the events of her own life, including her ritual circumcision at age 9, and, after fleeing her husband at 13, her escape and experiences in Kenya and Tanzania. Some descriptions of violence. 1994.
DC33983
An alcoholic in the family by Mary Burton.
1 disc. Narrated by Gretel Davis.
A candid description of the stresses and unhappiness endured by the family of an alcoholic. 1974.
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DC28127
Mao: the unknown story by Jung Chang, Jon Halliday.
1 disc. Narrated by Jim Rodger.
A portrait of the late Chinese leader refutes a wide variety of myths about Mao and provides facts about the Long March, his relationship with Stalin, and the impact of his thirst for power on the Chinese people. Some descriptions of sex and violence. 2005.
DC31715
My years as Prime Minister by Jean Chrétien.
1 disc. Narrated by Gerald Gibson.
By the time he left office, Jean Chrétien had been in politics for forty years. Through the decade 1993 to 2003 he won three majority elections as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Finding the country dangerously in debt and bitterly divided, he describes how his government wiped out the deficit in just four years, helped to defeat the separatists in the cliffhanger Quebec referendum, passed the Clarity Act, and set out to fulfill the economic and social promises his party made in its famous Red Books. 2007.
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DC06226
Many happy returns: the lives of Edgar Cayce by W.H. Church.
1 disc. Narrated by Lou Harpenau.
Based on actual life readings by Edgar Cayce, the book traces the various incarnations through the centuries of the soul-entity of the psychic of Virginia Beach. 1984.
DC17683
Diana: once upon a time by [by Mary Clarke].
1 disc. Narrated by Maggie Jones.
Mary Clarke was nanny to Earl Spencer's children during Diana's adolescence. She tells of a child growing up among family tensions which marked her for life, of her cares for others, her need for stability, and the roots of her eating disorder. Written before Diana's death in 1997. 1994.
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DC33990
Fidel Castro handbook by George Galloway.
1 disc. Narrated by Robbie MacNab.
In the year that Fidel Castro turns eighty, this is a fresh look at his life from childhood, through his dramatic conquest of power, and his extraordinary, charismatic leadership of Cuba over forty-seven years. The author has researched archives from Havana, London, Washington, and Madrid and concluded original interviews with Fidel Castro's contemporaries, in Cuba and throughout the world, that provide insights into his personality and achievements. Descriptions of violence. 2006.
DC03744
The good fight: political memoirs, 1909-1958 by David Lewis.
1 disc. Narrated by Bill Anderson.
These memoirs of the former leader of the New Democratic Party reveal the roots of Lewis' reputation as Canada's conscience and his commitment to social change. c1981.
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DC34000
It just occurred to me...: the reminiscences & thoughts of Chairman Humph by Humphrey Lyttelton.
1 disc. Narrated by Peter Barker.
The legendary band leader and jazz trumpeter, broadcaster and humorist looks back at his extraordinarily rich and varied life and the many colourful characters he has known and played with - from Duke Ellington to Louis Armstrong. 2007.
DC30041
Kate: the woman who was Hepburn by William J. Mann.
1 disc. Narrated by Peggy Mahon.
Mann's careful research on the longstanding rumours about Hepburn's lesbianism suggests that she lived her life as a man with little empathy for women's issues. He also shatters the legend of her romance with Spencer Tracy, establishing a pattern of relationships in which Hepburn played emotional caretaker to a series of alcoholic, closeted homosexuals. He describes Hepburn's rocky relationships with Hollywood studios and with the press, and depicts her final decline into alcoholism and depression. Some strong language. 2006.
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DC10915
Rogue warrior by Richard Marcinko with John Weisman.
1 disc. Narrated by Roy Avers.
Marcinko describes his 30-year career in the United States Navy, from basic training through Vietnam to his assignment as commander of SEAL Team Six, the Navy's counterterrorist unit. Strong language and violence. Followed by "Rogue warrior II: Red Cell". Bestseller 1992.
DC28474
High: confessions of a pot smuggler by Brian O'Dea.
1 disc. Narrated by Clyde Bramadat and Gerald Gibson.
The O'Dea family is well known in Newfoundland, but they could not protect their middle son from sexual abuse at the hands of priests, nor from turning to selling and using drugs as a teenager. Twenty-five years later, when the police knocked on his door at the end of a massive DEA investigation, he had given up the trade and was working as a drug addiction counselor in Santa Barbara. O'Dea interweaves extracts of his prison diary with the recounting of his outlaw years and the dawning recognition of those things in his life that were worth living for. Explicit strong language, descriptions of sex and violence. 2006.
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DC30322
Public triumph, private tragedy: the double life of John P. Robarts by Steve Paikin.
1 disc. Narrated by Ken Luginbuhl.
John Robarts became Ontario premier in 1961, and his government established legal aid, a huge system of community colleges and universities, law reform, GO Transit, the Ontario Science Centre, and Ontario Place, as well as a significant enhancement of individual civil rights, a reorganization of school administration, and a start on regional government. But for all his success and triumph in the public realm, Robarts struggled with the demons that plagued his private life. 2006.
DC32927
Into the blast furnace: the forging of a CEO's conscience by Courtney Pratt and Larry Gaudet.
1 disc. Narrated by Norman Anderson.
When steel manufacturer Stelco Inc. went into bankruptcy protection in early 2004, there was a lot at stake during the company's restructuring: 6,000 jobs, 10,000 pensions; the egos and pocketbooks of lawyers, investors, union leaders, politicians and hedge fund managers, each with a special interest to flog and no interest in compromise. CEO Courtney Pratt, hired to clean up the mess, believed in keeping the company alive while ethically reconciling the competing interests - and trying to stay human in a bottom-line world. Some strong language. c2008.
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DC25489
A pirate of exquisite mind: explorer, naturalist, and buccaneer : the life of William Dampier by Diana Preston and Michael Preston.
1 disc. Narrated by Jack Lamb.
In the late 1600s, Dampier, an Englishman, circumnavigated the globe three separate times, mapping nearly every place he visited, but was also a buccaneer launching raids on Spanish ships. He was the first self-made naturalist to visit the Galapagos - his sketches of the region's turtles set the stage for Darwin's future visit - and his theories about how wind patterns affect ocean currents are still used today. c2004.
DC34013
Born on a blue day: a memoir of Asperger's and an extraordinary mind by Daniel Tammet.
1 disc. Narrated by Alistair Petrie.
This unique first-person account offers a window into the mind of a high-functioning, 27-year-old British autistic savant with Asperger's syndrome. Tammet's ability to think abstractly, deviate from routine, and empathize, interact and communicate with others is impaired, yet he's capable of incredible feats of memorization and mental calculation. Besides being able to effortlessly multiply and divide huge sums in his head with the speed and accuracy of a computer, he learned Icelandic in a single week and recited the number pi up to the 22,514th digit. Tammet traces his life from a frustrating, withdrawn childhood and adolescence to his adult achievements. Bestseller. 2006.
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DC02057
Family on wheels: further adventures of the Trapp family singers by Maria Augusta Trapp.
1 disc. Narrated by Gusti Huber.
Continuing the story of the Trapp Family Singers, this tells of their life as refugees in America, and ends with their final concert in 1955. Full of reminiscences, anecdotes, and humour. 1959.
DC15101
A writer's life by Scott Young.
1 disc. Narrated by Bryon Johnsen.
The prolific Canadian author and sports writer talks about his own life. Concentrating on his early years in Manitoba and Toronto, and his wartime experiences, he gives an insight into the writer's world. He also talks about his three marriages, his grandchildren, and his fondness for his farm near Omemee, Ontario. 1994.
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DC15179
Sean Connery: from 007 to Hollywood icon by Andrew Yule.
1 disc. Narrated by William Samples.
Yule chronicles the life of super-celebrity Sean Connery, who rose from the slums of Edinburgh to become an enduring and successful screen idol. A minefield of contradictions, Connery is happily married, but with a history of conquests, and easygoing, but also unforgiving. 1992.
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Blindness and Visual Impairment
DC29663
Eavesdropping: a life by ear by Stephen Kuusisto.
1 disc. Narrated by Ken Luginbuhl.
The author of "Planet of the Blind" (DC28693), who has been legally blind since birth, explains how he perceives the world around him through listening. In these essays he describes childhood influences, adult travels, artful eavesdropping, and love of poetry and Caruso's singing. 2006.
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Cookbooks
DC31308
Simply great food: 250 quick, easy & delicious recipes by Patricia Chuey, Eileen Campbell and Mary Sue Waisman.
1 disc. Narrated by Barbara Lord.
Features 250 recipes and an abundance of nutrition-related information written by practicing dietitians. You'll enjoy breakfasts, lunches, snacks and dinners that taste wonderful, yet can be prepared in surprisingly little time. Provides information on food preparation and healthy eating while satisfying the desire to create appetizing meals for every occasion. 2007.
DC31105
Hungry for comfort: the pleasures of home cooking by Rose Murray.
1 disc. Narrated by Judy Sturrup.
A country cookbook spiced with reminiscences and culinary wisdom. With sections devoted to soups, casseroles, stews, roasts, menus for family celebrations and casual entertaining. Also includes Murray's stories about the joys of cooking and the methods and secrets of her grandmother and mother. 2003.
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DC31127
In the heat of the kitchen by Gordon Ramsay ; with Roz Denny and Mark Sargeant.
1 disc. Narrated by Fatimo Ho.
Gordon Ramsay, star of "Hell's Kitchen," is known for his culinary expertise. This new cookbook reveals not only recipes, but how he achieved his success, from techniques and short cuts to clever cooking tips. With chapters on fish, poultry, meat, vegetables, salads, fruits and breads, this is a cookbook you will turn to whenever you want to cook with lots of style and a minimum of fuss. 2004, c2003.
DC34008
Tamarind & saffron : favourite recipes from the Middle East by Claudia Roden.
1 disc. Narrated by Various female narrators.
The collection of new and updated recipes are simple to prepare and healthy without losing any of their exotic flavours and aromas. Recipes include Aubergines in a spicy honey sauce; baby onions in tamarind and lamb with chickpeas and chestnuts. 1999.
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Crime
DC09383
Black swine in the sewers of Hampstead: beneath the surface of Victorian sensationalism by Thomas Boyle.
1 disc. Narrated by Graeme Malcolm.
The author, intrigued by sensational literature written during the repressive Victorian era, discovered five volumes of newspaper clippings from the 19th century. The result is this collection of true crime reports. 1989.
DC07023
Small sacrifices: a true story of passion and murder by Ann Rule.
1 disc. Narrated by Carol McCartney.
A true account of the investigation and trial of Diana Downs for the attempted murder of her three children. Downs claims that they were attacked by a stranger, but suspicions were aroused by Diana's lack of concern in her children's survival. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1987.
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DC07530
The blooding by Joseph Wambaugh.
1 disc. Narrated by Jake Williams.
Recounts how a psychopathic killer in England might have remained undetected except for a scientist's discovery of genetic fingerprinting which helped to solve the crimes. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex and violence. c1989.
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Essays
DC31278
The first man in my life: daughters write about their fathers by edited by Sandra Martin.
1 disc. Narrated by Anne Malo.
In twenty-two original narratives, some of Canada's most acclaimed writers share stories, memories, insights, and revelations - from the comic to the tragic - about the first man in their lives. These complex stories will open a fresh and intense conversation with daughters everywhere about the men they've observed since childhood: their fathers. Some descriptions of sex and violence and some strong language. 2007.
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Food
DC34275
Animal, vegetable, miracle: a year of food life by Barbara Kingsolver, with Steven L. Hopp and Camille Kingsolver.
1 disc. Narrated by Barbara Kingsolver.
In this seamless diary narrative, best-selling author Barbara Kingsolver tells how she and her family relocated to southern Appalachia after suffering through years of drought in Arizona. Their purpose was to "live in a place that could feed us" by growing their own food and living among a community of local organic food growers. In their search for another way to eat and live, they begin to recover what Kingsolver considers our nation's lost appreciation for the American family farm. c2007.
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Health
DC25793
Atkins for life: the complete controlled carb program for permanent weight loss and good health by Robert C. Atkins.
1 disc. Narrated by Rosemarie Cloutis.
The late physician's last book - following "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution" - explains how to permanently maintain an ideal weight by eliminating excess carbohydrates from one's diet. Includes six months of menu plans and recipes as well as success stories by dieters. Bestseller. 2003.
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History (Canadian)
DC29408
The Acadians: in search of a homeland by James Laxer.
1 disc. Narrated by Anne Livingston.
In 1604, a small group of migrants fled political turmoil and famine in France to start a new colony on Canada's east coast. Their roughly demarcated territory included what are now Canada's Maritime provinces, land that was fought over by the British and French empires until the Acadians were finally expelled in 1755. In the absence of a state, what defines an Acadian today is elusive, and while their community, centred in New Brunswick, is more confident than ever, it is entering a contentious debate about its future. Some descriptions of violence. 2006.
DC31078
Three nights in Havana: Pierre Trudeau, Fidel Castro and the Cold War world by Robert Wright.
1 disc. Narrated by Peter Schretlen.
In 1976, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau embarked on a three-day visit to Havana, becoming the first leader of a NATO country to visit Cuba since the 1960 American economic embargo. The trip was widely denounced as Trudeau, accompanied by his family, was enthusiastically greeted in Havana. The unusual relationship between two enigmatic world leaders is reflected in the three critical days when Canadian politics played on the international stage. Some strong language. 2007.
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History
DC34018
Days that changed the world by Hywel Williams.
1 disc. Narrated by Gordon Dulieu. Charlotte Strevens.
The currents of history run deep and often unseen beneath the everyday ripple of events. But now and again the current rises to the surface, and the events of a single day shed an exceptional light on the meaning of the past. Some of the 50 days described in this book mark the end of an era; others the start of something new. All are remembered as powerful symbols of their time. 2006.
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Internet
DC34285
Planet Google: one company's audacious plan to organize everything we know by Randall Stross.
1 disc. Narrated by William Hughes.
The business world has been desperate to learn what Google's plans for the future are, because they know that Google is the arbiter of the future of the web. Stross reveals the scope of the plan, including such potentially disruptive initiatives as free downloadable software, which could put providers like Microsoft out of business, and GoogleEarth and GoogleMaps satellite technology, which is rapidly mapping the entire surface of the Earth in high-powered detail. 2008.
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Journals, Memoirs, etc.
DC33774
Sun in winter: a Toronto wartime journal, 1942 to 1945 by Gunda Lambton.
1 disc. Narrated by Inez Somerville.
In 1942 Gunda Lambton was a "war guest," a single mother sent from England to Toronto to avoid the war. While insanity raged throughout Europe she struggled to keep herself and her two small children going in a strange new home. While many people then were engaged in dramatic, heroic war work, her diary is a tribute to the quiet areas of endurance and pleasures of discovery that also distinguished those years. 2003.
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Mathematics
DC32930
One to nine: the inner life of numbers by Andrew Hodges.
1 disc. Narrated by Victor Hodge.
Have you ever thought about the uniqueness and simplicity of One, or what it means to be Two? Is Four really so square and why are there Seven days of the week, Seven deadly sins, or even Seven wonders of the world? An investigation into such topics as musical harmony, code breaking, and probabilities in poker and lotteries, which probes the surprising symmetries of time, space, matter, and forces. c2007.
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Pet Care
DC30038
Good owners, great dogs by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson.
1 disc. Narrated by Jan Doherty.
The only North American to study and work with the renowned Barbara Woodhouse, Kilcommons solves all those bad dog problems that drive owners crazy, and shows how to raise a puppy into a happy, perfectly behaved dog. The trick is to understand how dogs think, read their body language, and communicate with patience, praise, and clarity. 1999.
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Psychology
DC10754
The power of positive living by Norman Vincent Peale.
1 disc. Narrated by Andy Chappell.
Using letters and anecdotes, Peale offers advice that will help people to conquer their fears, triumph over adversity and transform their lives through faith in God. Sequel to "Power of positive thinking" (DC01159). 1990.
DC27960
Notes from the green room: coping with stress and anxiety in musical performance by Paul G. Salmon, Robert G. Meyer.
1 disc. Narrated by Mai Kirch.
The authors, both professors of psychology, explain the causes of musical performance anxiety and suggest ways to deal with them effectively. Drawing on cognitive and behavioural psychology, they discuss techniques to prepare for performance, including learning experiments, relaxation training, tension management, and graded exposure to groups of various sizes. 1992.
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Religion (Christian)
DC16400
You can if you think you can by Norman Vincent Peale.
1 disc. Narrated by Randy Atcher.
Peale uses true stories of men and women from all walks of life to show how to develop an inner power that will help solve problems, build self-trust, and master nameless vague fears. c1992, c1974.
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Religion - Catholic
DC00924
Yesterday, today, and forever by Maria von Trapp.
1 disc. Narrated by Julie Snow.
Baroness Trapp, of the famous Trapp Family Choir, tells how a fresh study of the Gospels gave her family and their priest new insights into the life of Christ. 1952.
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Religion - Protestant
DC06589
Choices, changes by Joni Eareckson Tada.
1 disc. Narrated by Pat Barlow.
Over 20 years ago, Joni was in an accident which left her a quadriplegic. She examines why life in Christ is so important, and how the Holy Spirit brings choices through which people can change. c1986.
DC09145
Secret strength: for those who search by Joni Eareckson Tada.
1 disc. Narrated by Patricia McDermott.
A collection of devotional readings that are designed to help those who seek to know God more intimately. The 112 readings are grouped into four sections: Secrets of his strength; Secrets of his character; Secrets of his grace; and Secrets of praise. 1988.
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Science
DC33979
Electric universe: how electricity switched on the modern world by David Bodanis.
1 disc. Narrated by William Roberts.
For centuries, electricity was viewed as little more than a curious property of certain substances that sparked when rubbed. Then, in the 1790s, Alessandro Volta began the scientific investigation that ignited an explosion of knowledge and invention, transforming our world. The force that once seemed inconsequential was revealed to be responsible for everything from the structure of the atom to the functioning of our brains. Bodanis weaves tales of romance, divine inspiration, and fraud through lucid accounts of scientific breakthrough to show us the history of electricity. 2006.
DC26467
The fabric of the cosmos: space, time, and the texture of reality by Brian Greene.
1 disc. Narrated by Trevor Balena.
String theory is a recent development in physics that, by positing that all which exists is composed of infinitesimally small vibrating loops of energy, seeks to unify Einstein's theories and those of quantum mechanics into a so-called "theory of everything." Greene offers a view of human understanding of space and time, beginning with Newton, moving through Einstein and quantum physics, and on to string theory and its hypotheses. c2004.
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Sea Stories (Non Fiction)
DC31005
When the wind blows: extraordinary adventures with a deadly twist by Maggi Ansell.
1 disc. Narrated by Trudy Magas.
Robin and Maggi unexpectedly buy a newly-confiscated drug boat in the Cayman Islands. Months of hard work, fun and mishaps follow while they refurbish the yacht, Orca, and undertake a Pacific Ocean crossing. After sailing to Australia, they begin the trip back to Canada when they are overtaken by an unforeseen cyclone. 2006.
DC34277
Black wave: a family's adventure at sea and the disaster that saved them by John and Jean Silverwood, with Malcolm McConnell.
1 disc. Narrated by Carrington MacDuffie and Joe Barrett.
When John and Jean Silverwood, both experienced sailors, decided to give their four children a taste of life on the high seas, they hoped the trip would offer important learning experiences. But aboard their fifty-five-foot catamaran, the Silverwood family struggled with family and marriage dynamics in compressed quarters alongside the terrifying forces of nature. Then, just when it seemed that they had mastered every challenge, their world was shattered in a split second of sheer horror. 2008.
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Social Problems
DC34276
Beautiful boy: a father's journey through his son's meth addiction by David Sheff.
1 disc. Narrated by Anthony Heald.
Before meth, Sheff's son, Nic, was a varsity athlete, honour 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. 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. 2008, c2007
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Social Sciences
DC33814
101 things I wish I knew when I got married: simple lessons to make love last by Linda and Charlie Bloom.
1 disc. Narrated by Deborah Kipp.
Psychotherapists Linda and Charlie Bloom present 101 techniques that can provide the skills and understanding necessary to sustain a committed relationship. Each lesson is presented as a simple, one-line thought followed by an explanation using real life examples. Demonstrates how anyone can find ways out of a painful relationship, and how couples can enrich their own relationships through working through love's challenges. 2004.
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Sports and Recreation
DC31294
Tales from Q school: inside golf's fifth major by John Feinstein.
1 disc. Narrated by Maureen McAdams.
Sportswriter details playing golf in the 2005 PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, or "Q School," where more than a thousand aspiring professional golfers competed for thirty spots on the annual PGA tour. Describes the experiences of competitors, from rookies to champions. Bestseller. 2007.
DC31714
McCown's law: the 100 greatest hockey arguments by Bob McCown with David Naylor.
1 disc. Narrated by Ron Blenkhorn.
Sports talk-radio personality Bob McCown isn't afraid to say what's on his mind. His hockey opinions include: The Leafs haven't won the Stanley Cup in 40 years for a perfectly logical reason: they have the crappiest players; it's time the law put hockey's most violent offenders in something more restrictive than the penalty box; and Slovakia, not Canada, just may be the greatest hockey nation on Earth. 2007.
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Travel and Culture
DC22833
No worries: a journey through Australia by Mark McCrum.
1 disc. Narrated by William Samples.
Knowing nothing of Australia except the lager-ad cliches of sun and surf, kangaroos and didgeridoos, Mark McCrum arrives Down Under. Hitching, flying, by Greyhound and by train, he makes his picaresque way around the vast brown land. He explores the country and meets its varied inhabitants, from royalist hippies to republican cattle- ranchers, from Perth millionaires to desert Aboriginals. 1997.
DC13482
Arousing the goddess by Tim Ward.
1 disc. Narrated by Simon Curwen.
During his two years meandering the "Dharma Trail" through Asia, Ward met and fell in love with an Austrian Indologist who was in India doing research. Working as her assistant, Ward travels India with her. Together they find themselves sharing their discovery of the tantric path, in which all acts and emotions, including sex and passion, become part of the search for spiritual liberation. Some strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. c1996.
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DC07397
Caves in the desert: travels in China by George Woodcock.
1 disc. Narrated by Vincent Tovell.
In 1987, the author toured through northern China visiting traditional Buddhist centres rarely visited by the non-Chinese. As he recounts his journey, Woodcock also details Chinese geography, history, art, religion and society. 1988.
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