Do you remember being read to as a kid? How nice it was for someone to take the time to interpret characters and voices for you? You can still have that experience by listening to books. People do it all the time while doing housework, driving, delivering mail (my mailman Albert always has a book going and I am continually astonished at his range of authors and topics) – really anytime is a great time to listen. If you want to try this new way of reading, here are some suggestions of mostly nonfiction titles I have particularly enjoyed.
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
This story describes how twenty-eight men battled against almost insurmountable odds to return to civilization after their ship sank near the South Pole. The strength of these men – led by their captain, Ernest Shackleton – is energizing. A great summer listen when it is hot, hot, hot! This book is read by Simon Prebble.
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer
This is the eyewitness account of the May 1996 tragedy on Mount Everest, in which several climbers were killed in a blizzard. Krakauer’s details of each climber’s experience make you feel as if you are there. The tension mounts as the weather deteriorates and questionable decisions are made. This book is read by Phillip Franklin.
The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan
This is the story of the dust bowl – how and why it occurred, how people survived and did not survive, how it changed America. Egan explores what it was like for the people who stayed and experienced the ten-thousand-foot-high dust storms that whipped across the landscape. A classic disaster tale. This book is read by Patrick Lawlor.
Isaac’s Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larsen
On September 8th, 1900, Galveston, Texas, was on its way to becoming the most prosperous city in the nation, brimming with activity, commerce, and confidence. The following morning, it was a city decimated by nature. Isaac Cline was the chief weatherman for Texas and this is his story. This book is read by Richard M. Davidson.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon 
Despite his overwhelming fear of interacting with people, Christopher, a mathematically-gifted, autistic fifteen-year-old boy growing up in England, decides to investigate the murder of a neighbor's dog and uncovers secret information about his mother. This book is read by Jeff Woodman.
