Social Science Audiobooks | Non-Fiction

A long-time Austinite and journalist’s exploration of the profound movements that have shaped Austin, Texas—charting the shifts within its vibrant music scene, the impact of rapid urbanization, and the challenges of gentrification—ultimately questioning what this city’s transformation signals for American urban identity. Austin isn’t what it used to be. This is a common sentiment amongst locals, offered with the same confused—and often disappointed—tone familiar to residents of Seattle, Portland, or San Francisco, where rapid growth and expansion have led to an urban identity crisis. Like those cities, Austin is known for its unique qualities: a thriving live music scene and housing affordability that historically made it a compelling home for creatives and self-described weirdos to roost. But now, as Big Tech infiltrates and climate change looms, Austin has become less familiar—and far less affordable. An exploration of the beloved city’s evolution, Lost in Austin also serves as a critical exploration of the transformation that has befallen one of America’s most beloved cities—and serves as a warning for what the homogenization of cities means for American urban identity. With a journalist’s perspective and the heart of an Austinite, Alex Hannaford delves into the consequences of the city’s rapid growth in chapters that chronicle the major movements permanently altering the city: a vanishing music scene, soaring property values, and the encroachment of major industry. Through keen reportage and extensive interviews, Lost in Austin unveils the toll of unchecked growth and the city’s shift from its rebellious spirit to commercialization. Through those stories—vibrant, colorful, and clearly full of love for this city—Hannaford raises a crucial question: How do American cities, once celebrated for their unique values, became casualties of their own rapid growth and success? And can they ever return to what they once were?

Alex Hannaford (Author), James Meunier, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Beyond Policing

What better way to make the case for a police free world than to show a world where it's possible? For Princeton University's Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow, Philip V. McHarris, body cameras, de-escalation training, procedural justice, diversity among police, and other popular reforms will never stop police violence. And high emphasis on punishment in the United States has left many communities without the resources needed to keep them safe. Beyond Policing aims to provide a better understanding of the origins and functions of policing and the criminal punishment system in the United States. In this research-driven collection of essays, author and sociologist Philip V. McHarris charts the pitfalls of policing in the United States, from slave patrols, to the expansion of mass policing in the mid-1900s, and the epidemic of police violence today. Written in deftly precise, yet widely accessible language, Beyond Policing presents evidence, both data and anecdotal, that tackles the weight and toll of policing on people and communities and patterns that prove that police reform only leads to more policing. And for what seems like America's most oppressive institution, McHarris points to an exit from the current punitive paradigm, outlining strategies for responding to conflict and harm in ways that transform the conditions that gave rise to violence. This requires, he asserts, decriminalization, decarceration, and defunding punitive institutions that have created the current police and carceral state and a committed investment in community-based alternatives-mechanisms that actually provide safety.

Philip V. Mcharris (Author), Philip V. Mcharris, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Cities Under Siege: One Night of Violence in America’s Urban Wasteland

A Fox News analyst and well-known commentator on urban violence examines the rise in crime affecting American cities and tells how it has personally affected families, including his own. On June 24, 2022, Gianno Caldwell’s eighteen-year-old brother, Christian, was murdered. He was standing with friends on a street in the Southside of Chicago when a black SUV pulled up and several unidentified men opened fire. Fifty shell casings were later found at the scene. Three in the crowd were rushed to the hospital; only two survived. His family was shattered, and Caldwell was devastated. Tragically, he is not alone. In this gripping exposé, Caldwell dives deep into the heart of America's big cities, telling the stories of several other murders that occurred on the same night his brother died, revealing the shocking human tragedy beneath the rise in crime rates. The Night My Brother Was Murdered takes a bold stance, shining a spotlight on the multiple failings of Democratic policies that have transformed our once-thriving metropolises into crime-ridden centers. Caldwell meticulously dissects the consequences of progressive agendas that prioritize social experiments over public safety. Though some of the worst cities have the strictest gun control laws, they cannot stop the proliferation of weapons from states with few regulations. He reveals the detrimental effects of failed poverty programs, the effect of the disintegration of two-parent households, the decline of religion, and sanctuary city policies that can help to shield criminals. Combining rigorous research and poignant personal anecdotes, Caldwell provides a comprehensive understanding of the dangers facing urban communities, and presents a compelling case for why we must reject the status quo and demand change.

Gianno Caldwell (Author), Gianno Caldwell, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Biblical Critical Theory Audio Lectures: How the Bible's Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life

The Zondervan Biblical and Theological Lectures series provides a unique audio learning experience. Unlike a traditional audiobook's direct narration of a book's text, Biblical Critical Theory Audio Lectures includes high-quality live recordings of college-level lectures that cover the important points from each subject as well as relevant material from other sources. A bold vision for Christians who want to engage the world in a way that is biblically faithful and culturally sensitive. In Biblical Critical Theory Audio Lectures, Christopher Watkin shows how the Bible and its unfolding story help us make sense of modern life and culture. Critical theories exist to critique what we think we know about reality and the social, political, and cultural structures in which we live. In doing so, they make visible the values and beliefs of a culture in order to scrutinize and change them. Biblical Critical Theory Audio Lectures exposes and evaluates the often-hidden assumptions and concepts that shape late-modern society, examining them through the lens of the biblical story running from Genesis to Revelation, and asking urgent questions like: - How does the Bible's storyline help us understand our society, our culture, and ourselves? - How do specific doctrines help us engage thoughtfully in the philosophical, political, and social questions of our day? - How can we analyze and critique culture and its alternative critical theories through Scripture? Informed by the biblical-theological structure of Saint Augustine's magisterial work The City of God (and with extensive diagrams and practical tools), Biblical Critical Theory Audio Lectures shows how the patterns of the Bible's storyline can provide incisive, fresh, and nuanced ways of intervening in today's debates on everything from science, the arts, and politics to dignity, multiculturalism, and equality. You'll learn the moves to make and the tools to use in analyzing and engaging with all sorts of cultural artifacts and events in a way that is both biblically faithful and culturally relevant. It is not enough for Christians to explain the Bible to the culture or cultures in which we live. We must also explain the culture in which we live within the framework and categories of the Bible, revealing how the whole of the Bible sheds light on the whole of life. If Christians want to speak with a fresh, engaging, and dynamic voice in the marketplace of ideas today, we need to mine the unique treasures of the distinctive biblical storyline.

Christopher Watkin (Author), Christopher Watkin (Narrator)

Audiobook

Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose: A 100-Day Devotional for Athletes

As an athlete, you train your body and mind to be ready for competition. But what about your soul? Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose is your guide to exercising your faith, with Andy Dooley as your trainer. As a professional athlete turned pastor--and a passionate leader, Seattle Seahawks in-game host, social media influencer, and fitness trainer--Andy Dooley knows all about sports and what it takes to be a Christian on and off the field, court, or wherever you may play. A 100-day devotional written to encourage and guide athletes of any age, level, or sport, Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose is just what you need to integrate your faith into what you love to do--play your sport. Let Dooley be your spiritual trainer and coach you to: - Become a better teammate in four simple steps - Discover effective ways to handle stress before a competition - Identify how God is working through your sport to make you more like him - Understand and embrace your calling as a Christian who is also an athlete Physical training has value for our lives here on earth, yet it holds zero weight for the eternal. If you learn to be tenacious about living a godly life now as you also strive to become a better athlete and teammate, you'll change the trajectory of your life.

Andy Dooley (Author), Andy Dooley, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Reinventing Love: How the Patriarchy Sabotages Heterosexual Relations

A new work by the author of “In Defense of Witches” that seeks to redefine heterosexual relationships and give women back their voice. As feminist principles have taken wider hold in society, and basic ideas about equality for women can seem a given, many women still struggle in one of the most important areas of life: love. Whether it’s finding a partner, seeking a commitment from one, or struggling in a relationship that is unfulfilling or even potentially abusive, women still find that deeply-engrained notions of gender and behavior can be obstacles to a healthy, loving relationship. In her new book, acclaimed French feminist Mona Chollet tackles some of these long-held and pervasive ideas that remain stumbling blocks for many women in heterosexual relationships. Drawing from popular culture, politics, and literature, Reinventing Love provides a provocative, accessible look at how heterosexual relationships can improve and evolve under a feminist lens.

Mona Chollet (Author), Alix Dunmore, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Dateable: Swiping Right, Hooking Up, and Settling Down While Chronically Ill and Disabled

A much-needed guide to dating--from apps to hooking up, sex, long-term relationships and more--from disabled essayist and author Jessica Slice and bioethicist Caroline Cupp. Disabled people date, have casual sex, marry, and parent. Yet our romantic lives are conspicuously absent from the media and cultural conversation. Sexual education does not typically address the specific information needed by disabled students. Mainstream dating apps fail to include disability as an aspect of one's identity alongside race, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation. The few underutilized disability-focused apps are paternalistic and unappealing. Bestselling dating books do not address disability, and the few relationship books marketed to disabled people focus on the mechanics of sex rather than the complex interactions that create the conditions for it. In Dateable, disabled authors Jessica Slice Caroline Cupp team up to address the serious gap in the dating space. Dateable is the first book on disabled dating and relationships; it's a dating guide made especially for disabled and chronically ill people, that also calls in nondisabled readers. Jessica and Caroline take on everything from rom-com representation and dating apps to sex and breakups with a strong narrative underpinning and down-to-earth advice. The book is as much a practical tool as it is an empowering guide.

Caroline Cupp, Jessica Slice (Author), Courtney Lin, Dana Swanson, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

On Trial… For Murder: Courtroom Dramas that Gripped the World

The dramatic events of some of the world’s most controversial murder trials The stakes are never higher when the charge is murder... Explore the riveting twists and turns of some of the most notorious and controversial murder trials in history, such as the O. J. Simpson, Phil Spector, and Oscar Pistorius cases. Each of the trials detailed in this audiobook—the latest in DK’s highly successful series of true crime investigations—dominated the world's news media and gripped public attention. After examining the evidence, if you had been a member of the jury, what would have been your verdict? Guilty? Or Not Guilty? Emily G. Thompson is a true crime author and freelance writer from Northern Ireland. She has her own website and award-winning podcast, Morbidology, which boasts of over 300k downloads each month. The weekly true crime show takes a look at cases from all across the globe and highlights systemic failures in various systems. It recently won 'Best International Podcast' at the iHeartRadio awards. She is the author of Unsolved Child Murders: Eighteen American Cases, 1956-1998, the co-author of DK's Unsolved Murders:True Crime Cases Uncovered, and DK's Cults Uncovered: True Stories of Mind Control and Murder, Mysteries Uncovered: True Stories of the Paranormal and Unexplained, and Killers Caught. © 2024 Emily G. Thompson © 2024 DK Audio

Emily G. Thompson (Author), Avena Mansergh-Wallace, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Rebels with a Cause: Reimagining Boys, Ourselves, and Our Culture

An in-depth exploration of what boys teach us about humanity and culture, and a call to action to assess the crisis of connection we have created, in order to stop a vicious cycle of violence and blame In her previous groundbreaking book that was the inspiration for the Oscar-nominated film Close, NYU professor of developmental psychology Niobe Way describes her research findings that boys and young men have the same emotional and relational intelligence as all other humans and want and need the same thing, which is each other. Yet they grow up in a "boy" culture that makes them and us think otherwise. Thus, they have a hard time finding what they want and need, especially as they become men. Now in her new book Rebels with a Cause, Way takes it one step further and reveals how these "rebels with a cause," as she calls them, not only teach us about themselves but also about ourselves and why we, too, are having such a hard time, as evidenced by the soaring rates of depression, anxiety, loneliness, suicide, and violence around the world. The solution to this crisis of connection, Way argues, is to hear what the rebels are asking of us, which is to care, to listen with curiosity, and to take collective responsibility for the damage we have done to them and to ourselves. Way provides us with not only data-driven insight from more than thirty-five years of research into the roots and consequences of our crisis of connection, she also offers us concrete and empirically tested strategies for creating a world that better aligns with our human nature and our human needs. Her book reminds us that "it's not the rebels who cause the troubles of the world, it's the troubles that cause the rebels." The time to listen to and act on what they have to teach us is now.

Niobe Way (Author), Niobe Way, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

I've Been to the Mountaintop

Martin Luther King Jr. (Author), Dominic Hoffman, Reader Tbd 1 (Narrator)

Audiobook

Lifehouse: Building Care in the Long Emergency

How to reclaim power in a time of perpetual crisis We are living through a Long Emergency: a near-continuous train of pandemics, heatwaves, droughts, resource wars, and other climate-driven disasters. In Lifehouse, Adam Greenfield asks what might happen if the tactics and networks of care that spring up in response to these times might be brought together in a single, coherent way of life? Using examples from the Black Panthers' 'survival programs,' the astonishingly effective Occupy Sandy disaster-relief effort, and the neighborhood-based mutual aid groups that sustained many during COVID lockdowns to the large-scale, self-organized polities of municipalist Spain and Kurdish Rojava, Greenfield argues for rethinking local power as a bulwark against despair-a way to discover and develop the individual and collective capacities that have gone underutilized during all the long years of late capitalism, and a means for thriving in the face of impending catastrophe.

Adam Greenfield (Author), Michael Butler Murray (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Stories Whiteness Tells Itself: Racial Myths and Our American Narratives

The police murders of two Black men, Philando Castile and George Floyd, frame this searing exploration of the historical and fictional narratives that white America tells itself to justify and maintain white supremacy. From the country's founding through the summer of Black Lives Matter in 2020, David Mura unmasks how white stories about race attempt to erase the brutality of the past and underpin systemic racism in the present. Intertwining history, literature, ethics, and the deeply personal, Mura looks back to foundational narratives of white supremacy to show how white identity is based on shared belief in the pernicious myths, false histories, and racially segregated fictions. White supremacy insists white knowledge is superior to Black knowledge, and this belief dismisses the truths embodied in Black narratives. In James Baldwin's essays, Mura finds a response to racial distortions and a way for Blacks and other BIPOC people to heal from the wounds of racism. Mura attends to the persistent trauma racism has exacted and lays bare how deeply we need to change our racial narratives to dissolve the myth of Whiteness and acknowledge the stories and experiences of Black Americans.

David Mura (Author), David Lee Huynh (Narrator)

Audiobook

Social Science Audiobooks in Non-Fiction