Social Science Audiobooks | Non-Fiction

Surviving Modern Yoga: Cult Dynamics, Charismatic Leaders, and What Survivors Can Teach Us

Grounded in investigative research and real survivor stories, Surviving Modern Yoga uncovers the physical and sexual abuse perpetrated by Ashtanga yoga leader Pattabhi Jois-and reckons with the culture, structures, and mythos that enabled it. Yoga culture sells well-meaning westerners the full package: physical health, good vibes, and spiritual growth. Here, investigative journalist Matthew Remski explores how cultic dynamics, institutional self-interest, and spiritualized indifference collude to obscure the truth: Harm happens in plain sight. Through in-depth interviews, insider analysis, and Remski's own history with high-demand groups, Surviving Modern Yoga brings to light how we're each susceptible to cult abuse and exploitation. He shows how, with the right kind of situational vulnerability and the wrong kind of guru, the ideas we hold close about ourselves-like It wouldn't happen to me or I'd speak up for victims-fail to protect us. Remski reckons with his own complicity in spiritual power dynamics, and shares how a process of disillusionment allowed him to recognize harm. He does the same for readers, peeling back the veneer of yoga marketing to reveal the abuse, assault, and silencing perpetrated against seekers who trusted Jois as a mentor, their guruji-even a father figure. Each survivor speaks in their own words, on their own terms, reclaiming agency against an insular, in-group culture that enabled a charismatic leader's devastating harm-and positioned him as its only remedy. Surviving Modern Yoga also includes practical tools to help readers: - Understand how high-demand groups trap would-be targets - Evaluate their own situational vulnerabilities - Learn to listen for loaded, red-flag language - Cultivate their literacy of cult tactics

Matthew Remski (Author), Matthew Remski, Theo Wildcroft (Narrator)

Audiobook

Brown Faces, White Spaces: Confronting Systemic Racism to Bring Healing and Restoration

The New York Times bestselling author of Be the Bridge calls people of faith to be a part of lasting change and help heal the racial disparity in our country-together. We might think of systemic racism as an unfortunate part of American history, something that happened back in the day. But the systems were never truly dismantled in our country, leaving artifacts of injustice that continue to affect every aspect of life for Black and Brown Americans. Many of us feel overwhelmed by the problem, unsure how we can make a difference. Yet God calls the church to stand firmly committed to racial reconciliation-and for each one of us to make choices that lead to healing. In Brown Faces, White Spaces, Latasha Morrison-a speaker, bridge builder, and champion for unity-explores nine aspects of American life where systemic racism still flourishes, including education, healthcare, the justice system, entertainment, and the church. Through story, historical context, and present realities, Morrison looks at what it means to recognize and confess the truth about inequities in the system (preparation), commit ourselves to changing the system (dedication), and move into true freedom as a society (liberation). Drawing on rich sociological insights, as well as experiences of family and friends and from her own life, Morrison asks: How does knowing our country's history make a difference in how we live today? How does Jesus's divine act of reconciliation on the cross lead to human liberation from oppression? How might we create systems for all to flourish? This honest, hope-filled book shows us how we can reform historically white spaces and create systems that work for the good of all. Join the bridge-building movement that is listening, learning, and working together for equity in every aspect of our lives. Includes questions for personal reflection and group discussion.

Latasha Morrison (Author), Anita Phillips, David Lee Huynh, Latasha Morrison, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

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)

Audiobook

Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That’s a Good Thing)

Brought to you by Penguin. Whether we like it or not, the AI revolution is coming to education. In Brave New Words, Salman Khan, the visionary behind Khan Academy, explores how artificial intelligence and GPT technology will transform learning, offering a roadmap for teachers, parents, and students to navigate this exciting (and sometimes intimidating) new world. An insider in the world of education technology, Khan explains the ins and outs of these cutting-edge tools and how they will forever change the way we learn and teach. Rather than approaching the ChatGPT revolution with white-knuckled fear, Khan wants parents and teachers to embrace AI and adapt to it (while acknowledging its imperfections and limitations), so that every student can complement the work they're already doing in profoundly new and creative ways, to personalize learning, adapt assessments, and support success in the classroom. But Brave New Words is not just about technology - it's about what this technology means for our society, and the practical implications for administrators, guidance counsellors, and hiring managers who can harness the power of AI in education and the workplace. Khan also delves into the ethical and social implications of AI and GPT, offering thoughtful insights into how we can use these tools to build a more accessible education system for students around the world. ©2024 Salman Khan (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Salman Khan (Author), Salman Khan, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Prison Officer

Gen Glaister (Author), Rebecca Lee, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

White Terror: A True Story of Murders, Bombings and a Far-Right Campaign to Rid Germany of Immigrant

In a tour de force of investigative journalism, White Terror tells for the first time the story of the National Socialist Underground in Germany – in an engrossing global story that examines violence, modern racism and national trauma. Before the storming of the U.S. Capitol; before the mass shootings at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, the Walmart in El Paso, or the mosque in Christchurch; before the mass-murders perpetrated by Dylann Roof in 2015 or Anders Breivik in 2011; before any of that, there was the National Socialist Underground in Germany, where the global rise of white terrorism began. Between 2000 and 2011, the NSU, a Neo-Nazi terrorist trio—one woman, two men—serially killed immigrants, funding their spree through robbing banks and aided by a vast network of like-minded extremists. Anders Breivik, whose writings are widely circulated among hate groups today, hailed the sole surviving member of the NSU as a “martyr.” In a tour de force of investigative journalism and novelistic storytelling in the vein of Say Nothing and Killers of the Flower Moon, White Terror tells the story of the NSU, taking readers back to the fall of the Berlin Wall, the reunification of East and West Germany, and the rise of Neo-Nazism. White Terror tells the story of the NSU trio, their radicalization from skinhead youths selling Nazi-themed Monopoly games and trading blows with left-wing punks to full-fledged on-the-run terrorists carrying out bombings and assassinations. But it’s also about something almost as terrifying: the German police and intelligence services that missed clues and overlooked leads, mishandled far-right informants, repeatedly tried to paint the Turkish and Greek murder victims as mafiosos, and, once the terror plot was revealed, covered-up their mistakes and refused to acknowledge their failings. Excellently put together and deeply researched, White Terror is an engrossing story first and foremost about Germany and its difficult history of racism, but also an international story that examines modern racism, an issue every country has to deal with in some form.

Jacob Kushner (Author), Samantha Desz, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Lytton: Climate Change, Colonialism and Life in the Centre of the Universe

From bestselling true-crime author Peter Edwards and Governor General's Award-winning playwright Kevin Loring, two sons of Lytton, BC, which burned to the ground in 2021, offer a meditation on hometown―when hometown is gone. Before it made global headlines as the small town that burned down during a record-breaking heat wave in June 2021, while briefly the hottest place on Earth, Lytton, British Columbia, had a curious past. Named for the author of the infamous line, "It was a dark and stormy night," Lytton was also where Peter Edwards, organized-crime journalist and author of over a dozen books, spent his childhood. Although only about 500 people lived in Lytton, Peter liked to joke that he was only the second-best writer to come from his tiny hometown. His grade-school classmate's nephew Kevin Loring, a member of the Nlaka'pamux Nation at Lytton First Nation, had grown up to be a Governor General's Award-winning playwright. The Nlaka'pamux called Lytton "The Centre of the World," a view Buddhists would share in the late twentieth century, as they set up a temple just outside town. In modern times, many outsiders would seek shelter there, often people who just didn't fit anywhere else and were hoping for a little anonymity in the mountains. You'll meet a whole cast of them in this book. A gold rush in 1858 saw conflict with a wave of Californians come to a head with the Canyon War at the junction of the mighty Fraser and Thompson rivers, one that would have changed the map of what was soon to become Canada had the locals lost. The Nlaka'pamux lost over thirty lives in that conflict, as did the American gold seekers. A century later, Lytton hadn't changed much. It was always a place where the troubles of the world seemed to land, even if very few people knew where it was. This book is the story of Lytton, told from a shared perspective, of an Indigenous playwright and the journalist son of a settler doctor who quietly but sternly pushed back against the divisions that existed between populations (Dr. Edwards gladly took a lot of salmon as payment for his services back in the 1960s). Portrayed with all the warmth, humour and sincerity of small-town life, the colourful little town that burned to the ground could be every town's warning if we don't take seriously what this unique place has to teach us.

Kevin Loring, Peter Edwards (Author), Kevin Loring, TBD, Wayne Ward (Narrator)

Audiobook

Fair Shake: Women and the Fight to Build a Just Economy

A stirring, comprehensive look at the state of women in the workforce—why women's progress has stalled, how our economy fosters unproductive competition, and how we can fix the system that holds women back. In the #MeToo era, when gender equality is at the forefront of the conversation, women are still falling behind in the workplace faster than ever before; this was true before COVID, and even more true after. Fair Shake explains that the system that governs our economy—a winner-takes-all economy—is the cause. The WTA economy self-selects for aggressive, cutthroat business tactics, which creates a feedback loop that sidelines women. The book explores what legal scholars determine the "triple bind" including: -If women don't compete on the same terms as men, they lose. -If women do compete on the same terms as men, they lose. -When women see that they can't win on the same terms as men, they take themselves out of the game (if they haven't been pushed out already). Fair Shake offers a timely, practical view of women in the workforce today—what holds them back and what stops them from entering at all. Using legal cases throughout, Naomi Cahn offers rich, detailed storytelling to demonstrate how our laws fail to protect women. This book is the much-needed wake-up call to make the lasting changes required for gender equality in the workplace.

June Carbone, Nancy Levit, Naomi Cahn (Author), Janina Edwards, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Somebody Told Me: One Man’s Unexpected Journey Down the Rabbit Hole of Lies, Trolls and Conspiracies

Brought to you by Penguin. Have you been keeping your eye on your grandma lately? Have you been calling her enough? You sure she’s not spending too much time on YouTube? Is she talking fondly of dictators? Has she suddenly started quietly muttering in the Aldi queue about the “Jewish Space Lasers” she’s heard are setting wildfires around the world to make sure everyone believes in climate change? When was the moment the world began to believe anything? Danny Wallace, million-copy bestselling author of Yes Man and Join Me, has fallen down the modern rabbit hole of lies, conspiracies and disinformation. Along the way, he encounters families torn apart by accusations and fake news, journalists putting themselves on the frontline of the disinformation war, reformed conspiracy theorists, influencers who see profit in stoking paranoia, and the shadowy nameless, faceless trolls on the other side of our screens. He discovers how disinformation and well-told lies can ruin a year or a whole life, how they can affect our family, our street, our community. How they can spread across a country, a continent, even the world. How they take hold of our imaginations and make us feel both helpless and powerful. And Danny asks: can you do anything to stop it – even with the truth on your side? ©2024 Danny Wallace (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Danny Wallace (Author), Danny Wallace, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Vows: The Modern Genius of an Ancient Rite

From the bestselling author of Home Comforts comes the story of our wedding vows—what they mean and why they still matter. In the West, marrying is so thoroughly identified with ceremonial promises that "taking vows" is a synonym for getting married. So, it's a surprise to realize that this custom is actually a historical and anthropological oddity. Most of the world, for most of history, married without making promises. And there's a reason for that. Marriage by vow presupposes free choice, and free choice makes a love-match possible. It is a very modern arrangement. Vows is both a moving memoir of two marriages and a thoughtful meditation on marriage itself. Cheryl Mendelson tackles the sociology of commitment through our most traditional promises and shows why they endure. In considering the kind of marriage these vows entail, she helps answer some of life's most urgent and personal of questions: Could I, would I, or should I make these promises to someone? Using history and literature, the book describes the parameters of the behavior that traditional vows promise and, in doing so, answers a whole series of other questions: Why did wedding-by-vow arise only in the West? Why are they recited in weddings around the world today? Why have these vows lasted for nearly a thousand years? Why does the kind of marriage promised in the vows survive?

Cheryl Mendelson (Author), Cassandra Campbell, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

On Sex and Gender: A Commonsense Approach

An eye-opening account of what the left and right get wrong about sex and gender—and how we can be a thoughtful, sex-smart society. On Sex and Gender focuses on three sequential and consequential questions: What is sex as opposed to gender? How does sex matter in our everyday lives? And how should it be reflected in law and policy? All three have been front-and-center in American life and politics since the rise of the trans rights movement: They are included in both major parties' political platforms. They are the subject of ongoing litigation in the federal courts and of highly contentious legislation on Capitol Hill. And they are a pivotal issue in the culture wars between left and right playing out around dinner tables, on campuses and school boards, on op-ed pages, and in corporate handbooks. Doriane Coleman challenges both sides to chart a better way. In a book that is equal parts scientific explanation, historical examination, and personal reflection, she argues that denying biological sex and focusing only on gender would have detrimental effects on women's equal opportunity, on men's future prospects, and on the health and welfare of society. Structural sexism needed to be dismantled—a true achievement of feminism and an ongoing fight—but going forward we should be sex smart, not sex blind. This book is a clear guide for reasonable Americans on sex and gender—something everyone wants to understand but is terrified to discuss. Coleman shows that the science is settled, but equally that there is a middle ground where common sense reigns and we can support transgender people without denying the facts of human biology. She livens her narrative with a sequence of portraits of exceptional human beings from legal pioneers like Myra Bradwell and Ketanji Brown Jackson to champion athletes like Caster Semenya and Cate Campbell to civil rights giants like Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Pauli Murray. Above all, Coleman reminds us that sex not only exists, but is also good—and she shows how we can get both sex and gender right for society.

Doriane Lambelet Coleman (Author), Janina Edwards, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Freedom to Discriminate: How Realtors Conspired to Segregate Housing and Divide America

A landmark history told with narrative skill, Freedom to Discriminate uncovers realtors' definitive role in segregating America and shaping modern conservative thought. His book traces the increasingly aggressive ways realtors justified their practices, how they successfully weaponized the word 'freedom' for their cause, and how conservative politicians have drawn directly from realtors' rhetoric for the past several decades. Much of this story takes place in California, and Slater demonstrates why one of the very first all-white neighborhoods was in Berkeley, and why the state was the perfect place for Ronald Reagan's political ascension. The hinge point in history is Proposition 14, a largely forgotten but monumentally important 1964 ballot initiative. Created and promoted by California realtors, the proposition sought to uphold housing discrimination permanently in the state's constitution, and a vast majority of Californians voted for it. This vote had explosive consequences-ones that still inform our deepest political divisions today-and a true reckoning with the history of American racism requires a closer look at the events leading up to it. Freedom to Discriminate shatters preconceptions about American segregation, and it connects many seemingly disparate aspects of the nation's history in a novel and galvanizing way.

Gene Slater (Author), Keith Sellon-Wright (Narrator)

Audiobook

Social Science Audiobooks in Non-Fiction