Non-Fiction Audiobooks

Inflamed: Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice

Brought to you by Penguin. A doctor and an economist explore the hidden links between health and structural injustices, and set out a radical vision for a fairer world Inflamed journeys across the human body - through our digestive, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, reproductive, immune, and nervous systems - illuminating the hidden relationships between our biological systems and the profound injustices of our political and economic systems. This boldly original book shows how inflammation is connected not just to the food that we eat and the air that we breathe, but is also linked to the traumatic events we experience, the stories we tell, and the arts of diagnosis that physicians practice - and fail to practice - every day. Combining the latest scholarship on globalization and biology with the stories of patients in marginalized communities and the science of Indigenous groups, Inflamed points the way toward a deep medicine that has the potential to heal not only our bodies but the world. © Rupa Marya, Raj Patel 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Raj Patel, Rupa Marya (Author), Raj Patel, Rupa Marya (Narrator)

Audiobook

Logic: A Very Short Introduction, 2nd Edition

Logic is often perceived as having little to do with the rest of philosophy, and even less to do with real life. In this lively and accessible introduction, Graham Priest shows how wrong this conception is. He explores the philosophical roots of the subject, explaining how modern formal logic deals with issues ranging from the existence of God and the reality of time to paradoxes of probability and decision theory. Along the way, the basics of formal logic are explained in simple, non-technical terms, showing that logic is a powerful and exciting part of modern philosophy. In this new edition Graham Priest expands his discussion to cover the subjects of algorithms, axioms, and proofs in mathematics.

Graham Priest (Author), Kyle Tait (Narrator)

Audiobook

Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash

Out of sight, out of mind ... Into our trash cans go dead batteries, dirty diapers, bygone burritos, broken toys, tattered socks, eight-track cassettes, scratched CDs, banana peels.... But where do these things go next? In a country that consumes and then casts off more and more, what actually happens to the things we throw away? In Garbage Land, acclaimed science writer Elizabeth Royte leads us on the wild adventure that begins once our trash hits the bottom of the can. Along the way, we meet an odor chemist who explains why trash smells so bad; garbage fairies and recycling gurus; neighbors of massive waste dumps; CEOs making fortunes by encouraging waste or encouraging recycling-often both at the same time; scientists trying to revive our most polluted places; fertilizer fanatics and adventurers who kayak amid sewage; paper people, steel people, aluminum people, plastic people, and even a guy who swears by recycling human waste. With a wink and a nod and a tightly clasped nose, Royte takes us on a bizarre cultural tour through slime, stench, and heat-in other words, through the back end of our ever-more supersized lifestyles. By showing us what happens to the things we've 'disposed of,' Royte reminds us that our decisions about consumption and waste have a very real impact-and that unless we undertake radical change, the garbage we create will always be with us: in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we consume. Radiantly written and boldly reported, Garbage Land is a brilliant exploration into the soiled heart of the American trash can.

Elizabeth Royte (Author), Elizabeth Royte, Jennifer Aquino (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Science of Science Fiction: The Influence of Film and Fiction on the Science and Culture of Our

Media headlines declare this the age of automation. The TV talks about the coming revolution of the robot, tweets tell tales of jets that will ferry travelers to the edge of space, and social media reports that the first human to live for a thousand years has already been born. The science we do, the movies we watch, and the culture we consume is the stuff of fiction that became fact, the future imagined in our past-the future we now inhabit. The Science of Science Fiction is the story of how science fiction shaped our world. No longer a subculture, science fiction has moved into the mainstream with the advent of the information age it helped realize. Explore how science fiction has driven science, with topics that include: - Guardians of the Galaxy: Is Space Full of Extraterrestrials? - Jacking In: Will the Future Be Like Ready Player One? - Mad Max: Is Society Running down into Chaos? - The Internet: Will Humans Tire of Mere Reality? - Blade Runner 2049: When Will We Engineer Human Lookalikes?

Mark Brake (Author), Matt Godfrey (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Awakened Brain: The Psychology of Spirituality and Our Search for Meaning

Brought to you by Penguin. A ground-breaking exploration of the neuroscience of spirituality and a bold new paradigm for health, healing and resilience Whether it's an uplifting walk in nature, meditation or prayer, there are many ways to experience heightened awareness and escape the relentless demands of modern life. The range of opportunities of this kind suggest that it isn't dependent on faith or religion, but that it's about a different mode of living; an innate spirituality. Lisa Miller has spent decades researching the effects of spirituality on the brain. In this book she draws on her clinical experience and award-winning research to show how an active spiritual life can transform our physical and psychological wellbeing. Bringing scientific rigour to the most intangible aspect of our lives, Miller offers insights into the neurological basis for the increased resilience that comes with nurturing spirituality and highlights its measurable positive effects: decreasing the likelihood of depression and substance abuse, and shifting the course of recovery in many other clinical settings. Woven throughout is Miller's personal story of how, while confronting her own challenges, her professional pragmatism gave way to a greater appreciation of insights that are important to so many people and yet so often dismissed as unscientific. Brimming with inspiration and compassion, this landmark book will revolutionize your understanding of spirituality, mental health and how we find meaning and purpose in life. © Lisa Miller 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Lisa Miller (Author), Brittany Pressley (Narrator)

Audiobook

Human Evolution: A Very Short Introduction, 2nd Edition

The study of human evolution is advancing rapidly. Newly discovered fossil evidence is adding ever more pieces to the puzzle of our past, whilst revolutionary technological advances in the study of ancient DNA are completely reshaping theories of early human populations and migrations. In this Very Short Introduction, Bernard Wood traces the history of paleoanthropology from its beginnings in the eighteenth century to the very latest fossil finds. In this new edition he discusses how ancient DNA studies have revolutionized how we view the recent (post-550 ka) human evolution, and the process of speciation. The combination of ancient and modern human DNA has contributed to discoveries of new taxa, as well as the suggestion of 'ghost' taxa whose fossil records still remain to be discovered. Considering the contributions of related sciences such as paleoclimatology, geochronology, systematics, genetics, and developmental biology, Wood explores our latest understandings of our own evolution.

Bernard Wood (Author), Mike Cooper (Narrator)

Audiobook

Cannabinoids and the Brain

Parker describes the discovery of tetrahydocannbinol (THC), the main psychoactive component of cannabis, and the further discovery of cannabinoid receptors in the brain. She explains that the brain produces chemicals similar to THC, which act on the same receptors as THC, and shows that the endocannabinoid system is involved in all aspects of brain functioning. Parker reports that cannabis contains not only the psychoactive compound THC, but also other compounds of potential therapeutic benefit, and that one of them, cannabidiol (CBD), shows promise for the treatment of pain, anxiety, and epilepsy. Parker reviews the evidence on cannabinoids and anxiety, depression, mood, sleep, schizophrenia, learning and memory, addiction, sex, appetite and obesity, chemotherapy-induced nausea, epilepsy, and such neurodegenerative disorders as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's Disease. Each chapter also links the scientific evidence to historical and anecdotal reports of the medicinal use of cannabis. As debate about the medical use of marijuana continues, Parker's balanced and objective review of the fundamental science and potential therapeutic effects of cannabis is especially timely.

Linda A. Parker (Author), Erin Deward (Narrator)

Audiobook

Skid Road: On the Frontier of Health and Homelessness in an American City

In Skid Road, Josephine Ensign digs through layers of Seattle history-past its leaders and prominent citizens, respectable or not-to reveal the stories of overlooked and long-silenced people who live on the margins of society. The sometimes fragmentary tales of these people, their lives and deaths, are not included in official histories of a place. How, Ensign asks, has a large, socially progressive city like Seattle responded to the health needs of people marginalized by poverty, mental illness, addiction, racial/ethnic/sexual identities, and homelessness? Drawing on interviews and extensive research, Ensign shares a diversity of voices within contemporary health care and public policy debates. Informed by her own lived experience of homelessness, as well as over three decades of work as a family nurse practitioner providing primary health care to homeless people, Ensign is uniquely situated to explore the tensions between caregiving and oppression, as well as charity and solidarity, that polarize perspectives on homelessness throughout the country. A timely story in light of the ongoing health care reform debate, the affordable housing crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic, the stories from Skid Road illuminate issues surrounding poverty and homelessness throughout America.

Josephine Ensign (Author), Holly Adams (Narrator)

Audiobook

Particle Panic!: How Popular Media and Popularized Science Feed Public Fears of Particle Accelerator

From novels and short stories to television and film, popular media has made a cottage industry of predicting that the end of the world will be caused by particle accelerators. Rather than allay such fears, public pronouncements by particle scientists themselves often unwittingly fan the flames of hysteria. This audiobook surveys media depictions of particle accelerator physics and the perceived dangers these experiments pose. In addition, it describes the role of scientists in propagating such fears and misconceptions, offering as a conclusion ways in which the scientific community could successfully allay such misplaced fears through more effective communication strategies. This audiobook is aimed at the general reader interested in separating fact from fiction in the field of high-energy physics, at science educators and communicators, and, last but not least, at all scientists concerned about these issues.

Kristine Larsen (Author), Jennifer Jill Araya (Narrator)

Audiobook

Science Fiction and the Moral Imagination: Visions, Minds, Ethics

In this highly original audiobook, Russell Blackford discusses the intersection of science fiction and humanity's moral imagination. With the rise of science and technology in the nineteenth century, and our continually improving understanding of the cosmos, writers and thinkers soon began to imagine futures greatly different from the present. Science fiction was born out of the realization that future technoscientific advances could dramatically change the world. Along with the developments described in modern science fiction-space societies, conscious machines, and upgraded human bodies, to name but a few-come a new set of ethical challenges and new forms of ethics. Blackford identifies these issues and their reflection in science fiction. This fascinating audiobook will appeal to anyone with an interest in philosophy or science fiction, or in how they interact.

Russell Blackford (Author), John Lescault (Narrator)

Audiobook

Yorkshire Ripper - The Secret Murders: The True Story of Serial Killer Peter Sutcliffe's Reign of Te

Published for the 30th anniversary of the arrest of Peter Sutcliffe, aka The Yorkshire Ripper. The Yorkshire Rippers' reign of terror is well known, but many remain unaware of the full truth behind the brutal attacks that shocked the nation many years ago. Countless crucial details of murder, manipulation and miscarriages of justice have been hidden from the public, and the true extent of the Ripper's crimes still remains hidden to this day. This book exposes the twist in the tale of the most notorious British serial killer of the last hundred years.

Chris Clark, Tim Tate (Author), Leighton Pugh (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Aztec Empire: An Enthralling Overview of the History of the Aztecs, Starting with the Settlement

If you are curious about how the extraordinary Aztecs lived and ran their empire, then pay attention! The remarkable Aztecs formed a vast, organized empire renown for military prowess, expansive trade, intriguing culture, and ingenious agriculture – all from an island in a swamp. But where was their mysterious homeland of Aztlan? How did they ascend to dominance in the Valley of Mexico? Explore the mesmerizing origins of the Aztecs, discover how a wandering desert tribe came to rule much of present-day Mexico, and investigate the spectacular – albeit somewhat depraved – culture that set their civilization apart. This easy-to-read, comprehensive, and engaging history of the Aztec Empire will unlock the little-known and awe-inspiring stories and culture of a legendary people. This well-researched and authoritative presentation, accompanied by striking illustrations, brings the Aztec civilization to life. Here are some of the fascinating questions you will explore: - What secrets have recent archaeological finds uncovered about the Aztecs and other Mesoamerican cultures? - How did the startling cultures that existed before the Aztecs influence them? What made these pre-existing cultures famous? - What prophesies propelled the Mexica into their empire-building destiny and formed their self-identity? - Why did the Mexica build their astonishing city on an island in the middle of a lake? How did it grow into one of the largest cities in the world at that time? - Was their mysterious homeland of Aztlan a real place? If so, where was it? - What’s this story about an eagle on a cactus eating a rattlesnake? - How did the Mexica turn the tables to rule over the tribes that once dominated them? - And much, much more! Scroll up and click the “add to cart” button to learn more about the incredible Aztecs!

Enthralling History (Author), Jay Herbert (Narrator)

Audiobook