Current Affairs Audiobooks | Politics

Radicalized: New Jihadists and the Threat to the West

The 2015 Paris and San Bernardino terrorist attacks heralded the beginning of a new wave of terrorism?one rooted in the ongoing conflict in Syria and Iraq that shows the possibility of foreign attackers working with citizens of the country. As ISIS seeks to expand its reach in the Middle East, its territory serves as a training and operations base for a new generation of jihadis. Young people from the West, primarily from Europe, have traveled to join the terror organization, re-emerging as hardened fighters with military training and a network of international contacts. Many have returned to their homelands, where it is feared they are planning a new series of brutal attacks. When the War on Terror began, Western political leaders assured their citizens that they would be engaging terrorists "over there" in Iraq and Afghanistan and not at home. In this guide to the latest development in the War on Terror based on extensive interviews and previously unseen material, Peter R. Neumann explains the phenomenon of the "new jihadis" and why the threat of terrorism and ISIS in the West is greater than ever before.

Peter R., Peter R. Neumann (Author), Malcolm Hillgartner (Narrator)

Audiobook

Settle for More

Anchor of the number one news show on cable, The Kelly File, Fox News Channel's Megyn Kelly writes her much anticipated book, a revealing and surprising memoir detailing her rise as one of the most respected journalists working today. From the values and lessons that have shaped her career, to her time at the center of the chaotic 2016 Republican presidential primary, this book offers an inside look at an uncompromising woman's journey to the top of the news business. In the two and half years since her show The Kelly File premiered on the Fox News Channel, Megyn Kelly has cemented her reputation as one of the most respected and hardest hitting journalists in America. Tackling issues from both sides of the aisle, live in prime time five nights a week, Kelly has embraced difficult questions-fearlessly pressing for answers as she redefines the face of news for her more than two million nightly viewers. Now in her debut book, Kelly goes behind the scenes of the stories and the storms that have made her one of the most talked about public figures in America. From growing up in a tough love family where she had to earn her praise, to her father's sudden, tragic death while she was still in high school, to the news stories that launched her journalism career, Kelly traces the values and experiences-both good and bad-that landed her in the anchor chair. With the same bold and brave voice that has won her fans across the political divide, she opens up about the controversy that made her a household name, telling her side of Donald Trump's feud with her, while sharing never-before-heard details about the infamous first Republican debate, its challenging aftermath, and how she persevered through it all, winning widespread admiration while maintaining her professionalism. Speaking candidly about the career-changing decision that led her to "settle for more"-a motto she credits with leading her to a better life at home and at work-Kelly also discusses how she approaches gender in the workplace, demonstrating how her success is rooted in Steve Martin's old adage: "Be so good they can't ignore you." Throughout her meteoric career, Megyn Kelly has been a source of fascination and speculation. Men and women, Republicans and Democrats, viewers of Fox News and the network's most diehard detractors have all sought to understand what she stands for and what matters to her. With this deeply personal account of her life, she answers critics and fans alike. At once humorous, uplifting, and revealing, Settle for More offers unparalleled insight into one of the most charismatic and intriguing television personalities in a generation, and will be one of the most talked about books from an influential voice unlike any other.

Megyn Kelly (Author), Megyn Kelly, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Enhanced Interrogation: Inside the Minds and Motives of the Islamic Terrorists Trying To Destroy Ame

In the dark days immediately after 9/11, the CIA turned to Dr. James Mitchell to help craft an interrogation program designed to elicit intelligence from just-captured top al-Qa'ida leaders and terror suspects. A civilian contractor who had spent years training U.S. military members to resist interrogation should they be captured, Mitchell, aware of the urgent need to prevent impending catastrophic attacks, worked with the CIA to implement 'enhanced interrogation techniques'--which included waterboarding. In Enhanced Interrogation, Mitchell now offers a first-person account of the EIT program, providing a contribution to our historical understanding of one of the most controversial elements of America's ongoing war on terror. Readers will follow him inside the secretive 'black sites' and cells of terrorists and terror suspects where he personally applied enhanced interrogation techniques. Mitchell personally questioned thirteen of the most senior high-value detainees in U.S. custody, including Abu Zubaydah; Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the amir or 'commander' of the USS Cole bombing; and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind behind the September 11, 2001, terror attacks--obtaining information that he maintains remains essential to winning the war against al-Qa'ida and informing our strategy to defeat ISIS and all of radical Islam. From the interrogation program's earliest moments to its darkest hours, Mitchell also lifts the curtain on its immediate effects, the controversy surrounding its methods, and its downfall. He shares his view that EIT, when applied correctly, were useful in drawing detainees to cooperate, and that, when applied incorrectly, they were counter-productive. He also chronicles what it is like to undertake a several-years-long critical mission at the request of the government only to be hounded for nearly a decade afterward by congressional investigations and Justice Department prosecutors. Gripping in its detail and deeply illuminating, Enhanced Interrogation argues that it is necessary for America to take strong measures to defend itself from its enemies and that the country is less safe now without them than it was before 9/11.

James E. Mitchell Ph.D., James E. Mitchell, PH.D., Ph.D. James E. Mitchell (Author), Ryan Rennot (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Master Plan: ISIS, al-Qaeda, and the Jihadi Strategy for Final Victory

Given how quickly its operations have achieved global impact, it may seem that the Islamic State materialized suddenly. In fact, al-Qaeda's operations chief, Sayf al-Adl, devised a seven-stage plan for jihadis to conquer the world by 2020 that included reestablishing the Caliphate in Syria between 2013 and 2016. Despite a massive schism between the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, al-Adl's plan has proved remarkably prescient. In summer 2014, ISIS declared itself the Caliphate after capturing Mosul, Iraq-part of stage five in al-Adl's plan. Drawing on large troves of recently declassified documents captured from the Islamic State and its predecessors, counterterrorism expert Brian Fishman tells the story of this organization's complex and largely hidden past-and what the master plan suggests about its future. Only by understanding the Islamic State's full history-and the strategy that drove it-can we understand the contradictions that may ultimately tear it apart. "The definitive history of the Islamic State-told by one of a handful of experts who studied the group long before it became what it is today."-Peter Neumann, King's College London

Brian Fishman (Author), Stephen R. Thorne (Narrator)

Audiobook

DER SPIEGEL ERKLÄRT: Neue Medien: Zwölf Einblicke in die Welt der Medien.

Wie entstand das Silicon Valley und wie viel Geld wird dort verdient? Was ist Quantum Insert und wie funktioniert Rocket Internet? Die Welt der Medien entwickelt sich schnell. Tag für Tag kommen neue Geschäftsmodelle auf den Markt. Egal ob in der S-Bahn, im Gespräch mit den Kollegen oder in den Nachrichten, die Medien sind in aller Munde. Sie wollen mitreden und aktuelle Entwicklungen nachvollziehen können? In jedem Smalltalk FunFacts rund um das Thema Medien parat haben? DER SPIEGEL erklärt in diesem Audiobook wichtige Daten, Trends und Entwicklungen. Dieses Audiobook entstand in Zusammenarbeit mit der SPIEGEL iPad Redaktion.

Der Spiegel (Author), Spiegel Ipad Redaktion (Narrator)

Audiobook

Twilight Warriors: The Soldiers, Spies, and Special Agents Who Are Revolutionizing the American Way

When US troops withdrew from Afghanistan at the end of 2014, the longest conflict in our nation's history came to an end. Yet we are still at war-no longer with other states, but with a host of new enemies, from Jihadi insurgents and nihilistic terrorists to narco-traffickers and modern-day pirates. In Twilight Warriors, the award-winning foreign correspondent James Kitfield introduces us to the tight-knit brotherhood that strives to keep the United States safe from the dimly understood threats it now faces. Together, these men have broken down the boundaries between their respective agencies to engineer a networkcentric way of fighting using a seamless web of intelligence analysts, information networks, FBI forensics experts, and Special Forces units to take the fight to America's enemies as never before.

James Kitfield (Author), Tom Perkins (Narrator)

Audiobook

Unspeakable: Chris Hedges on the most Forbidden Topics in America

Chris Hedges on the most taboo topics in America, with David Talbot. Chris Hedges has been telling truth to (and against) power since his earliest days as a radical journalist. He is an intellectual bomb thrower, who continues to confront American empire in the most incisive, challenging ways. The kinds of insights he provides into the deeply troubled state of our democracy cannot be found anywhere else. Like many of our most important thinkers, he has been relegated to the margins because of ideas deemed too radical—or true—for public consumption. Whether it is covering the dissolution of former Soviet states or embedding in the Middle East to understand the post-9/11 world, he has been a singular voice pushing against mainstream media disinformation and the amnesia of establishment received wisdom. He is an intellectual heir to American radical heroes such as Thomas Paine and Noam Chomsky, and is dedicated to reigniting a shared commitment to radical equality and honesty. Hedges here speaks up about the most pressing issues that currently face our nation. He tackles the rise of a fascist right in support of Donald Trump, which advocates xenophobia and violence in a push for American totalitarianism. He rails against the posturing of inclusivity from establishment elites on both sides of the aisle, who post-Occupy-Wall-Street continue to advocate for policies that make America uninhabitable for all but the ultra-rich and, as lackeys for corporate interests, continue to expand income inequality in all directions. He tears into the contemporary glamorization of the military and the unchecked, unchallenged hawkishness that defines contemporary American foreign policy. Moreover, he shows his support for contemporary revolts against this twisted order—such as Black Lives Matter—that represent Americans refusing to take the destruction of their country lying down. And that's just the start. He possesses a clear understanding of the challenges that lie before us, and has proven to be ahead of the curve time and again. All of which is to say, Chris Hedges is unafraid to say what is necessary and true—and has always been. If we are to combat the intellectual and moral decay that have come to grip American life, we must listen to him and the urgent message he brings in this book.

Chris Hedges, David Talbot (Author), Chris Hedges, Michael Quinlan (Narrator)

Audiobook

Jesse Ventura's Marijuana Manifesto

Any way you look at it, for whoever is using it, marijuana is a medicinal plant, in abundant supply. Every month and every year that goes by, we find out more positive things about it. Marijuana has been demonized through the years but obviously this plant has a great deal of positive attributes, and it's also a renewable resource. Being a cash crop, marijuana is bad for the pharmaceutical industry. Is Big Pharma pressuring the government to continue to deny sick people access? If so, that's truly a crime against American citizens. And as Jesse Ventura writes: "Our government won't do the right thing and legalize marijuana unless we the people demand it, because there are so many people within our government on the payroll, all thanks to the War on Drugs." Jesse Ventura's Marijuana Manifesto calls for an end to the War on Drugs. Just because something is illegal, that doesn't mean it goes away; it just means that criminals run it. Legalizing marijuana will serve to rejuvenate our pathetic economy, and just might make people a little happier. Ventura's book will show us all how we can take our country back.

Jen Hobbs, Jesse Ventura (Author), Paul Woodson (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Year of Voting Dangerously: The Derangement of American Politics

Maureen Dowd's incendiary takes and takedowns from 2016--the most bizarre, disruptive and divisive Presidential race in modern history. Trapped between two candidates with the highest recorded unfavorables, Americans are plunged into The Year of Voting Dangerously. In this perilous and shocking campaign season, The New York Times columnist traces the psychologies and pathologies in one of the nastiest and most significant battles of the sexes ever. Dowd has covered Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton since the '90s. She was with the real estate mogul when he shyly approached his first Presidential rope line in 1999, and she won a Pulitzer prize that same year for her penetrating columns on the Clinton impeachment follies. Like her bestsellers, Bushworld and Are Men Necessary?, THE YEAR OF VOTING DANGEROUSLY will feature Dowd's trademark cocktail of wry humor and acerbic analysis in dispatches from the political madhouse. If America is on the escalator to hell, then THE YEAR OF VOTING DANGEROUSLY is the perfect guide for this surreal, insane ride.

Maureen Dowd (Author), Elisabeth Rodgers (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Gift of Anger: Use Passion to Build Not Destroy

"Under Joe Solmonese’s leadership, the Human Rights Campaign became the model other organizations look toward to create effective social and political change. Against daunting odds, HRC was instrumental in passing landmark national legislation such as the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act; the repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell”; and the passage of marriage equality in eight states. How did Solmonese and HRC do it? What Solmonese reveals in this book is that for him the key to success was learning to harness his anger. Essentially it’s just a form of energy. Channeled, it can keep you moving forward on a long journey. But uncontrolled, it can blow everything up. With this as his guiding principle, Solmonese uses stories from his work with HRC and his previous position as CEO of the powerful women’s organization Emily’s List to share a series of often-surprising lessons. For example, empathize with your enemies instead of shaming them, find allies wherever you can, and ask for the doable, not the impossible (even when the “impossible” is your ultimate goal). Most striking in this book are the stories of Solmonese’s ability to draw some kind of win—however small—from seeming adversaries. But at every step of the way he emphasizes the importance of managing the yin-yang tension of anger. Particularly when dealing with irrational and offensive attitudes, the temptation is ever-present to give in to righteous indignation. While it’s fine to feel it, Solmonese’s advice is to always be strategic with your outrage. "

Joe Solmonese (Author), Tom Dheere (Narrator)

Audiobook

Unholy Alliance: The Agenda Iran, Russia, and Jihadists Share for Conquering the World

The New York Times bestselling author of Rise of ISIS exposes the dangers of radical Islam and the effects it has on the American way of life in this informative and eye-opening new book. The fundamental principle of our system of government is individual liberty. Our forefathers chose to bequeath a system that limited the reach of government officials so that Americans could control their own lives. When the United States was attacked on September 11, 2001, the true face of radical Islam was exposed for the world to see. Our nation came face-to-face with a rabid ideology that was—and is—committed to destroying our freedoms and imposing Islamic Shariah onto the Western world. The principles of Shariah, which demands total submission to Allah, completely clash with US law and legal tradition. But that doesn’t stop adherents of fundamental Islam from executing those who they believe have offended Islam and Muhammad. As such, Shariah has become a threatening danger to our country, our values, and our way of life. In Unholy Alliance, Jay Sekulow and the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) tackle radical Islam head on. They expose the attempts by fundamentalist Muslims—both in the US and abroad—to destroy our legal system in favor of a system that would destroy our essential liberties. They bring attention to terrorism in today’s world and reflect on the recent Paris and San Bernardino attacks, as well as Russia, Syria, Iran, and continuous threats to our nation. Each of us should be aware of what is going on in the world and learn what we can do as individuals to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, be they foreign or domestic.

Jay Sekulow (Author), Jay Sekulow (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Jihad

Back by popular the demand, the bestselling Politically Incorrect Guides provide an unvarnished, unapologetic overview of the topics every American needs to know. The Politically Incorrect Guide to Jihad delves into the dark world of radical Islam, exposing the most violent menace of the twenty-first century. "This book should be essential reading for politicians, bishops, and everyone who is on the front lines of the culture wars."-Robert Spencer, New York Times bestselling author

William Kilpatrick (Author), John Pruden (Narrator)

Audiobook

Current Affairs Audiobooks in Politics