Audiobooks narrated by Ron Butler

A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe

In this poignant mixed voice, mixed form collection of interconnected prose, poems and stories, teen characters, their families, and their communities grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst fear and loss, these New York City teens prevail with love, resilience and hope. From the award-winning author of Chlorine Sky and Vinyl Moon. Grief, pain, hope, and love collide in this short story collection. In New York City, teens, their families, and their communities feel the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst the fear and loss, these teens and the adults around them persevere with love and hope while living in difficult circumstances: - Malachi writes an Armageddon short story inspired by his pandemic reality. - Tariq helps their ailing grandmother survive during quarantine. - Zamira struggles with depression and loneliness after losing her parents. - Mohamed tries to help keep his community spirit alive. - A social worker reflects on the ways the foster system fails their children. From award-winning author Mahogany L. Browne comes a poignant collection of interconnected prose, poems, and lists about the humanity and resilience of New Yorkers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mahogany L. Browne (Author), Ali Nasser, Amir Royale, Andrea Emmes, Brandon Miles, Chantelle Ramdeen, Elena Rey, Emana Rachelle, Karen Dziekonski, Kiebpoli Calnek, Mahogany L. Browne, Marie-Francoise Theodore, Nile Bullock, Ozzie Jacobs, Ron Butler, TBD, Tyla Collier (Narrator)

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Learning to Flourish in the Age of AI

This timely book affirms that humans can flourish in the Age of AI by relying on their distinctive strengths. It explores the skills and knowledge required to interact effectively, efficiently, and responsibly with AIs—both today and in the future. In Part I, this book develops the Cognitive Amplifier Loop, which allows humans to use AI to build on their cognitive and emotional strengths and manage their limitations. Kosslyn discusses ways to employ this loop to offload tasks to AI and to utilize it to train us effectively and efficiently, as well as how to use it to both learn and engage in critical thinking and creative problem-solving—and manage cognitive and emotional constraints. Part II establishes how to draw on the Cognitive Amplifier Loop to help us improve our human relationships, addressing emotional intelligence, effective communication, leadership, followership, and collaboration skills. Finally, Part III builds on previous chapters to consider how to interact with AIs to help each of us learn and grow. Throughout the book, Kosslyn provides practical strategies and AI-assisted exercises to help readers develop these essential skills and knowledge. Kosslyn argues that by cultivating distinctively human capabilities, we can not only coexist with AI but flourish in an AI-infused world. This book is a must-read for anyone involved with AI, education, or Learning and Development in industry. It will also appeal to anyone studying thinking and decision-making, AI and psychology, and the use of technology in the classroom.

Stephen M. Kosslyn (Author), Ron Butler (Narrator)

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Christmas Eve at The Brooks

James Brooks, the Chief of Staff to the President, is hoping for some downtime to rekindle his connection with his wife, Ashley, amidst the challenges of raising their young children. However, his plans quickly go awry when he takes over parenting duties for their mischievous two-year-old daughter, Avery. What starts as a simple task soon spirals into a series of humorous and heartwarming moments that define the chaos of family life during the holiday season. Meanwhile, other members of the Brooks family are dealing with their own parenting challenges. Nick and Ericka are busy managing their lively twins, Vernon and Rene are handling their son’s stubborn streak, and Xavier and Nicole are navigating the joys and trials of raising a daughter. From potty training mishaps to decorating disasters, each family faces the ups and downs of parenting toddlers during Christmas. Yet, through it all, love, laughter, and family unity keep them grounded during this festive time. The holiday takes an unexpected turn when the teenage children decide to take over babysitting duties, giving the parents a rare night of peace and quiet. With a break from the chaos, the Brooks parents finally have a chance to reconnect and enjoy the spirit of the season. Filled with humor, tender moments, and the magic of family traditions, Christmas Eve at the Brooks is a perfect holiday read. Iris Bolling’s charming storytelling and relatable characters remind us that even in the midst of holiday craziness, the love and joy of being surrounded by family are what truly make the season special. This heartwarming novel is perfect for readers who enjoy stories about love, family, and festive fun.

Iris Bolling (Author), Ron Butler (Narrator)

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Becoming Good Stewards of Antibiotics: Changing the Way We Look at Things

When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. A medical disaster looms on the horizon. Antibiotic effectiveness is failing while strains of life-threatening multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) continue to rise. Vaccines cannot solve the problem. Newer and stronger drugs can’t cure it. More research is unnecessary because we already know the root cause: overuse of antibiotics. Dr. Peter Patterson understands that using antibiotics “just in case” is ingrained in our culture. Everyone, from health care professionals to patients and their advocates, shares the blame—but we cannot afford to let the practice continue. Becoming Good Stewards of Antibiotics is a call to action to restore and preserve antibiotic effectiveness. Every chapter of Becoming Good Stewards of Antibiotics offers key takeaways you can immediately begin implementing. Discover actionable suggestions for improved patient care and better protocols. Underscored with wry wit and true-to-life tales, Dr. Patterson warns of the tragedy of a post-antibiotic era as he explains how to prevent it from happening.

Dr. Peter Patterson (Author), Ron Butler (Narrator)

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Treating Violence: An Emergency Room Doctor Takes On A Deadly American Epidemic

The inspiring story of a Black doctor deeply affected by the violence in his childhood that plagued his Brooklyn community who was determined to be a force for change and dedicated himself to addressing trauma and violence as public health issues Rob Gore first encountered violence when he was beaten and robbed as a 10-year old; it was treated as an inevitable fact of life, but after another brush with violence as a teen, he began to reject that prevalent attitude. As he matured and became a doctor, he grew in his determination to find treatments for what he saw not as an unavoidable fact for most people living in vulnerable, underserved neighborhoods especially, but as a public health issue that could be addressed by early intervention and solid support, beginning in the medical community. He also became deeply involved in efforts to diversify the entire field of medicine, starting with the "front lines" in the Emergency Department. Seeing his brother Angel and close friend Willis fall prey to the epidemic of violence with profound-and in Willis's case-deadly consequences, Rob began seriously researching the issue and went on to found an organization which is one of the models for successful approaches to reducing violence and protecting victims, who are disproportionately BIPOC, living in impoverished neighborhoods, or members of the LGBTQ+ community. Here he provides not only statistics, but stories of what he witnessed in NYC neighborhoods, in Atlanta, Chicago, Buffalo and even in medical work in Haiti and Kenya. His work with the Kings Against Violence Initiate (KAVI) and allied organizations is a blueprint for treating violence not as a police matter, but as a public health crisis, which can and should be addressed and substantially reduced. The people he introduces us to in these pages are not merely victims, but often advocates, paving the way for eliminating the epidemic of violence in our country.

Rob Gore (Author), Ron Butler (Narrator)

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Notes of a Native Son

Brought to you by Penguin. 'The story of the negro in America is the story of America ... it is not a very pretty story' James Baldwin's breakthrough essay collection made him the voice of his generation. Ranging over Harlem in the 1940s, movies, novels, his preacher father and his experiences of Paris, they capture the complexity of black life at the dawn of the civil rights movement with effervescent wit and prophetic wisdom. 'A classic ... In a divided America, James Baldwin's fiery critiques reverberate anew' Washington Post 'Edgy and provocative, entertainingly satirical' Robert McCrum, Guardian 'Cemented his reputation as a cultural seer ... Notes of a Native Son endures as his defining work, and his greatest' Time ©1955 James Baldwin (P)2024 Penguin Audio

James Baldwin (Author), Ron Butler (Narrator)

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Creative Endurance: 56 Rules for Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Your Goals

Mike Schnaidt (Author), Ron Butler (Narrator)

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The Black Yearbook [Portraits and Stories]

A gripping exploration of the joys, hardships, and truths of Black students through intimate, honest dialogues and stunning photography, author of Heavy "A radical, reverential, and restorative document of community."-Rebecca Bengal, author of Strange Hours: Photography, Memory, and the Lives of Artists When photographer Adraint Bereal graduated from the University of Texas, he self-published an impressive volume of portraits, personal statements, and interviews that explored UT's campus culture and offered an intimate look at the lives of Black students matriculating within a majority white space. Bereal's work was inspired by his first photo exhibition at the George Washington Carver Museum in Austin, entitled 1.7, that unearthed the experiences of the 925 Black men that made up just 1.7% of UT's total 52,000 student body. Now Bereal expands the scope of his original project and visits colleges nationwide, from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to predominantly white institutions to trade schools and more. Rather than dwelling on the monolith of trauma often associated with Black narratives, Bereal is dedicated to using honest dialogue to share stories of true joy and triumph amidst the hardships, prejudices, and internal struggles. Using an exciting and eclectic design approach to accompany the portraits and stories, each individual profile effectively conveys the interviewee's unique voice, tone, and background. The Black Yearbook reframes society's stereotypical perception of higher education by representing and celebrating the wide range of Black experiences on campuses.

Adraint Khadafhi Bereal (Author), Adraint Khadafhi Bereal, André Santana, Angel Pean, Benjamin Charles, Henriette Zoutomou, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Keylor Leigh, Kiese Laymon, Malik Rashad, Marcella Cox, Reynaldo Piniella, Ron Butler, TBD, Torian Brackett, Zoleka Vundla (Narrator)

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Cobalt: A Fantasy Novella

A keen young freshman. A siren at a crossroads. A chance meeting that changes everything. Gina is a mermaid—a siren—on her land cycle and she has found a human mate she loves. In fact, they're engaged, but to overcome a mysterious betrayal she isn't sure she should forgive, she needs some time at sea, ideally above it. So she stows away on a tall ship. Seth is a precocious fifteen-year-old working on a school project, researching Cobalt Girl, a modern sailing vessel. A chance meeting and a fog bank along the Carolina coast will change both of their lives forever… Return to the siren realm of A.L. Knorr with Cobalt, a novella-length prequel to a forthcoming series entitled Pretty Little Mermaids, which expands the lore and worlds established in Born of Water, Mermaid’s Return and The Siren’s Curse, but is set before the events of the latter.

A.L. Knorr (Author), Marnie Penning, Ron Butler (Narrator)

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Fragile Neighborhoods: Repairing American Society, One Zip Code at a Time

This urgent exploration of why American society is in trouble-and how to fix it, starting with the places we call home-is an "essential and engaging read for everyone who wants to better understand the challenges facing our cities, towns and our nation." (Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class) The neighborhoods we live in impact our lives in so many ways: they determine who we know, what resources and opportunities we have access to, the quality of schools our kids go to, our sense of security and belonging, and even how long we live. Yet too many of us live in neighborhoods plagued by rising crime, school violence, family disintegration, addiction, alienation, and despair. Even the wealthiest neighborhoods are not immune; while poverty exacerbates these challenges, they exist in zip codes rich and poor, rural and urban, and everything in between. In Fragile Neighborhoods, fragile states expert Seth D. Kaplan offers a bold new vision for addressing social decline in America, one zip code at a time. By revitalizing our local institutions-and the social ties that knit them together-we can all turn our neighborhoods into places where people and families can thrive. Readers will meet the innovative individuals and organizations pioneering new approaches to everything from youth mentoring to urban planning to keeping families intact: people like Dreama, a former lawyer whose organization works with local leaders and educators in rural Appalachia to equip young people with the social support they need to succeed in school; and Chris, whose Detroit-based non-profit turns vacant school buildings into community resource hubs while also organizing local volunteers to repair homes and beautify streets in neighborhoods across the city. Along the way, Kaplan offers a set of practical lessons to inspire similar work, reminding us that when change is hyperlocal, everyone has the opportunity to contribute.

Seth D. Kaplan (Author), Ron Butler (Narrator)

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What It Takes to Save a Life: A Veterinarian’s Quest for Healing and Hope

Mountains Beyond Mountains meets Tattoos On the Heart in this unforgettable, powerful, and stunningly-told memoir of a struggling veterinarian saving animals and humans on the streets of California - and how he discovered what bonds all living creatures. Dr. Kwane Stewart was questioning his career as a veterinarian when he saw a homeless man with a flea-infested dog outside of a convenience store. In a moment of spontaneous generosity, he offered to examine the dog and treat him for free. It was the first step in a now nine-year journey that has taken Dr. Kwane from Skid Row to San Francisco and beyond to care for pets and their humans who are living on the streets. In What It Takes to Save a Life, Dr. Kwane shows how our four-legged, feathered, scaled, and swimming family members—these dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and other animals that live side by side with us—provide more than companionship. They offer essential love, hope, and a sense of security. Written with striking honesty and rich detail, Dr. Kwane looks back on his childhood, how he discovered his appreciation for animals and his calling, and offers a frank assessment of the state of veterinary medicine today, where compassion fatigue, burnout, and suicide are facts of life. Full of warm and inspiring stories of human-animal relationships, this powerful and eye-opening book is a reminder that we are all members of a wider family. It is also a clarion call for each of us to help those in need—especially our most vulnerable brothers and sisters—and the animals who are their families. Wise and warm, Dr. Stewart's story is a reminder that one life can make an immeasurable difference.

Kwane Stewart (Author), Ron Butler (Narrator)

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Easily Slip into Another World: A Life in Music

An autobiography of one of the towering figures of contemporary American music and a powerful meditation on history, race, capitalism, and art. Henry Threadgill has had a singular life in music. At 79, the saxophonist, flautist, and celebrated composer is one of three jazz artists (along with Ornette Coleman and Wynton Marsalis) to have won a Pulitzer Prize. In Easily Slip into Another World, Threadgill recalls his childhood and upbringing in Chicago, his family life and education, and his brilliant career in music. Here are riveting recollections of the music scene in Chicago in the early 1960s, when Threadgill developed his craft among friends and schoolmates who would go on to form the core of the highly influential Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM); the year and a half he spent touring with an evangelical preacher in the mid-1960s; his military service in Vietnam-a riveting tale in itself, but also representative of an under-recognized aspect of jazz history, given the number of musicians in Threadgill's generation who served in the armed forces. We appreciate his genius as he travels to the Netherlands, Venezuela, Trinidad, Sicily, and Goa enriching his art; immerses himself in the volatile downtown scene in New York City in the 1970s and 1980s; collaborates with choreographers, writers, and theater directors as well as an astonishing range of musicians, from AACM stalwarts (Muhal Richard Abrams, Roscoe Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, and Leroy Jenkins), to Chicago bluesmen, downtown luminaries, and world music innovators; shares his impressions of the recording industry his perspectives on music education and the history of Black music in the United States; and, of course, accounts for his work with the various ensembles he has directed over the past five decades.

Brent Hayes Edwards, Henry Threadgill (Author), Ron Butler (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Ron Butler