Interesting Audio Books Archives - Page 3 of 5

Acting as Computers….”Hidden Figures”, by Margot Lee Shetterly

Only when she was grown and married, did author Margot Lee Shetterly discover the amazing people with whom she shared a neighborhood as she was growing up. Margot grew up in the Hampton, Virginia area, with Langley Air Force Base just miles away. Langley was the headquarters of the Aeronautical Research and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). NACA had the mission to transform flying gadgets into war machines. They were dissolved as an agency in 1958, and was replaced by the agency we all know today, the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA). At that point the race for space superiority gained speed. In this fertile environment is where author Shetterly found a most miraculous story.

On the cusp of the beginning of World War II, with no computers or technology to speak of, the government needed help with their aeronautical advancement and number crunching. The solution was to hire women to shoulder the burden ……… they acted as computers, freeing the engineers to focus on their trained profession. The women were extremely successful and sharp, carrying out the task with excellence.

The author described the chosen women as both ordinary and extraordinary, as she shines a light on the women’s lives and accomplishments. The African-American women were called the West Computers, after the area to which they were assigned. Author Shetterly decided that books have been written about the astronauts, the engineers, and now it was the women’s turn to have their story told. They were at the heart of all achievements accomplished by the Center. They crunched numbers for every function of a plane, contributing to the constantly changing designs, making the flying machines of war, faster, safer, and more aerodynamic. Katherine Johnson worked on computations for Mercury and Apollo missions, and Christine Darden’s work advanced supersonic flight. In the 1970’s new technology advances made the job of the Western Computers obsolete. It is not known exactly how many women participated in the Western Computers project, since social customs of the era dictated that women could only work until they were married and had children. After that occurred, their careers were over, and they became full time homemakers and mothers.

The book has been adapted for screen, starring Octavia Spencer and Taraji P. Henson, and is now in theaters. “Langley was not just a laboratory of science and engineering…….in many ways it was a racial relations laboratory, and a gender relations laboratory, says author Shetterly.

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“The Fly Over Country”….”Hillbilly Elegy”, by J.D. Vance

It is an interesting thought that a young man from a very poor background in the Kentucky area of Appalachia can join the Marines, attend The Ohio State University, then be accepted into the prestigious Yale Law School. How does this happen? Can you even imagine how intimidated such a young man would be as he enters the stately buildings in New Haven, and Yale. And the readers must keep in mind that Vance was only 31 when writing this book.

As the two coasts call the area where Vance grew up, the “fly over” part of the country, those who have never left their area on each coast can never really understand the personal struggle of someone like J D Vance because they have not had the benefit of living in a quietly poor community, where jobs may be scarce so that a Dad might have to travel to find a job, leaving his family to handle their many struggles. The inner city struggles are much different…….more violence, drug dependency, although the “fly over country” has certainly developed its share of the drug problem. The main struggle for areas like Appalachia in Ohio is their struggle to have their problems and concerns heard by those in government. Vance’s description of his childhood and the sting of being called “redneck”, and yet the desire to lash out at anyone who utters this as an insult, is a partial explanation of why someone like Donald Trump was elected. The Appalachian people are sick of hearing empty promises from their leaders, so when a non-politician gives these people hope that actual economic help may be actually given, they showed as in Vance’s book, how conservatism gives more opportunities for advancement, not just more liberal band-aids.

Vance focuses mostly on his own personal story to try to convey that ordinary “simple” social welfare solutions are not enough. It seems that those solutions are not only inadequate for the people of Vance’s Ohio Appalachia, but for all other economically repressed areas. Vance understands this, and accuses most political leaders of over simplifying the problems, therefore, they do not solve the complicated problems. Vance attempts to give a native Appalachians view of their life and culture. “Hillbilly Elegy” is a story that demonstrates the full measure of the brokenness that wracks Appalachia, but it is also a story that exemplifies the depths of familial love and opportunity.” Perhaps through someone like Vance, bridges can be built between the perceived different cultural barriers.

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Love Choices, Sarcasm and The Love for Princess Leia…”Princess Diarist”, by Carrie Fisher

Many have written reviews of The Princess Diarist by author and actor, Carrie Fisher. Some were dated before her very untimely, sad death, followed closely by the death of her Mother, Debbie Reynolds. They were so very close, that many have surmised that Debbie passed from a broken heart when she lost her beloved daughter. It is with respect and sadness that this review is written.

Upon discovering the journals which had been left under floor boards for forty years, author Carrie Fisher decided to write a memoir of sorts that commemorated her iconic first film, Star Wars that was shown in 1977. Back then, Carrie was just a teenager who made the usual awkward mistakes that many experience, except that hers were recorded and published for all to see, given her new celebrity status, and the Hollywood Royalty that were her Mother and Father (Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher). It is difficult enough for the average child to go through the breakup of their parents, but one can only imagine how bizarre it must have been to have been a child involved in the Liz Taylor, Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds triangle. The press had a field day, which caused great sorrow for Debbie and her daughter.

The Princess Diarist has been described as extremely honest, humorous, and sad all at the same time. The torture it must have been on the Hollywood “roller coaster”, when one minute you are the latest darling in your metal bikini, and the next minute those same people treat you with such cruelty.
Carrie Fisher speaks about herself…….about her addictions, her bad choices in love, her sarcasm, and her love for Princess Leia. “It is a look inside the head of a young, inexperienced woman, who loved the wrong man, and fell into sudden fame……..funny, wise and insightful…….a great read for women, who are Star Wars fans, and have loved Han Solo for as long as they could remember”.

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Never Fear the Haters…Fear the weak who listen to them…”Obsessed or Be Average”, by Grant Cardone

From the New York Times bestselling author of The 10X Rule and If You’re Not First, You’re Last comes an in-your-face wake-up call for anyone truly ready for success. We’re in the middle of an epidemic of average. So-called “normal” people get up every day, go to work, do what’s asked of them, leave promptly at 5, and return home to sit on the couch and watch TV. Society tells us that this is what it means to lead a balanced life. Don’t stress too much or work too hard. Your career isn’t everything. But Grant Cardone thinks this preoccupation with balance has really just given an excuse to be mediocre.

This book will give you permission to be obsessed. It will make you aware of the haters and the naysayers. Grant points out the difference between the two, and how naysayers are worse than haters. “Never fear the haters – fear the weak who listen to them.”

It was a great refresher into obsession as a positive in business. Combine this with “Ego is the Enemy” and you have a powerful strategy. Literally makes you want to sprint to your goals and conquer them. Makes what you have to do obvious and clear.

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Shaking Up the Establishment…”Great Again: How To Fix Our Crippled America”, By Donald J. Trump

If you have read a biography of author and businessman, Donald J. Trump, you already know that he is the definition of the American success story. He is constantly upgrading the standards of excellence, while at the same time, increasing his interests in real estate, sports, and entertainment. Mr. Trump has written more than fifteen books, with his first book, The Art of the Deal, being a classic and iconic book in the business field. Mr. Trump was himself, a graduate of the Wharton School of Finance.

Crippled America: How To Make America Great Again, is Mr. Trump’s latest book. He calls this book a blueprint of how to Make America Great Again. His idea is that the country just needs someone who can courageously say exactly what needs to be done, and it does not happen through career politicians.

To quote Mr. Trump: “I am shaking up the establishment on both sides of the political aisle”………. because he is a different kind of candidate who did not take money from special interest groups during the primary campaign. He spent his own funds to run his campaign until he received the Republican nomination. Through staying above the usual handouts for money, Mr. Trump has established his agenda for bringing America back to greatness and prosperity.
Excerpt……..”We need someone with a proven track record in business, who understands greatness, someone who can rally us to the standard of excellence we once epitomized and explain what needs to be done.”

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She Could Be So Charming One Minute and Brutally Ruthless in the Next…”The Girls”, by Emma Cline

If the reader is looking for a light-hearted novel to read and relax, Emma Cline’s debut novel, The Girls, might not be a good one to choose. But for most readers it will be a very interesting comparison to the other novels that have been written about the subject. The Girls is a sort of explanation from the woman’s point of view as to why the women, or girls as they were very young, chose to have any part of Charles Manson and the cult they became, to go on a horrendous, murderous crime spree. Most previous works have focused on how Charles Manson got these seemingly ordinary girls to do the awful acts that they committed at his request. Cline delves into who they were before the murders and who some are as they are older.

As one character Evie, exemplifies, she was 14 when she came into contact with Russell’s cult. She is going through puberty, easily influenced by the other girls who seem to be so sure of themselves. She finds an immediate attraction to the group. Another, Suzanne, who is an extension of real-life Susan Atkins, is a different story. The character Suzanne is like Susan who was both troubled and attractive, so she used her ability to read people’s desires to her advantage. She could be so charming one minute and brutally ruthless in the next. She chose power and belonging over having any control over any part of her life, including her body. Cline chooses to show the many facets of Suzanne’s (Susan’s) personality, rather than just simply make her the “bad girl” as other works have done. Many agree that Cline’s portrayal of Susan through Suzanne is probably more like what the true person was.

The one thing the reader may notice is that Russell (Manson) is not charismatic or even interesting as a person on his own. He preyed on girls who had issues and flaws, who were wanting attention, or who needed to belong to something…..anything! Other sociopaths do not get the continuing notoriety of Charles Manson, and Emma Cline honed in on an explanation for that…….. the others did not have a group of seemingly “normal” young women following them around doing their bidding. It seems there is very little left to say about Manson, but still plenty of information to be told about The Girls.

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Harnessing the Electrifying Power of a Bold Vision…”Shoe Dog”, by Phil Knight

Phil Knight, the founder of Nike has written a very honest and entertaining memoir about how he became the chairman of the board for one of the most successful companies in business history. His decision to try something other than the usual corporate employment and ladder climbing was reached after a back-packing trip through Asia, Europe, and Africa. He was 24 years old and was questioning what his future would hold. During that trip, he decided to follow an unconventional path…….one that would lead him to be the chairman of a company that now grosses $30 billion annually.

Knight was a graduate of the University of Oregon, where he was a runner on their track team. He decided that he wanted a career in something that would allow him to not only make money, but afford him the opportunity to pretty much “play all the time”. He began his amazing venture by borrowing $50 from his father, and sold Japanese made running shoes from the trunk of his Plymouth Valiant. He says that in his first year, he made a profit of $8,000. That “company” was named Blue Ribbon, after those hanging on his bedroom walls representing his own running competitions.

The road to his current multi-billion dollar corporation was not always rosey. Knight encountered many successes and setbacks along the way. But through those good and bad times, he persevered, with his most cherished accomplishment being the formation of relationships that formed the foundational heart and soul of Nike. One can only imagine the current thoughts of the struggling graphic designer who was paid $35 to create the iconic swoosh! The chairman Knight, and his “ragtag group of misfits”, together “harnessed the electrifying power of a bold vision and a shared belief in the redemptive, transformative power of sports, and created a brand, and a culture, that changed everything.”

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A Little Girl, Her Journey, and Her Amazing Story of Healing…”Miracles From Heaven”, by Christy Wilson Beam

American author, Christy Wilson Beam, writes this beautiful memoir about the journey of her sick twelve year old daughter Annabel Beam. She survived, without any injury, a thirty foot fall from a branch into a hollow Cottonwood tree. While waiting to be rescued, she visited heaven and then was found to be cured of her chronic illness. Every parent can identify with the terror these parents felt as they waited for their daughter to be rescued.

Author Beam and her husband spent many hours in hospitals with Annabel trying to get her severe health issues resolved. The little girl was not able to digest her food. Most of the time, she would hardly have the energy to play, let alone climb trees. But, one day she decided to do just that with her two sisters. It was that day that changed her life and her family’s life in a very miraculous way. Some have reported getting an overwhelming sense of calm while reading what should have been very intense passages in the book. Some attribute that calmness to a feeling of a spiritual presence.

Sony Pictures Entertainment has produced an adapted version of this remarkable story, directed by Patricia Riggen, and scripted by Randy Brown. The film stars Jennifer Garner, Kylie Rogers, Martin Henderson, and Eugene Derbez.

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Who Conspired to Bring Him Down?…”Killing Reagan”, by Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard

Authors Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard have joined once again as a best selling writing team to create their next in a long line of successful books, Killing Reagan. They educate their readers in an enjoyable read of the career and life of President Ronald Reagan. They explain his rise to power and tell of those who conspired to bring him down.

When President Reagan barely escaped death when a gunman’s bullet came close to his heart, he was grievously injured, but still had to carry out the duties of the most important man in the world. Such a traumatic incident would have been too much for men half his age to carry on.

Killing Reagan goes back to his glory days in Hollywood on through to California’s governor’s mansion, and finally to the White House and the Presidency. O’Reilly and Dugard present an unforgettable view of a great man who served in a violent time.

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There Must be a Pony Here Somewhere, “A Lucky Life Interrupted”, by Tom Brokaw

Tom Brokaw, the former news anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News has written a new book, A Lucky Life Interrupted: A Memoir of Hope, in which he reflects back on his life and considers what he would still like to achieve. He was 75 years old and had extreme back pain due to his multiple myeloma. Every day that he went outside his Manhattan apartment, he was smacked in the face by a huge billboard of a young, healthy Tom Brady starring back at him. He admitted to Tom Brady the first time they met, that he therapeutically cursed that billboard every time he saw it. He told Brady that his cursing him got him through cancer treatment. The story gave the New England Patriots quarterback a good laugh.
Brokaw was very touched by all those who reached out to him with support during his battle with cancer. Among them were the current President, President George W. Bush, Charles Barkley, and many more, including David Letterman, who was very kind in checking on him and inviting him to dinner. It was immensely helpful to him to have such considerate people caring about him.
In the book, he considers his bucket list: ● Learn to sail solo ● Learn to play chess ● Get a short story published ● Spend more mornings by the sea, with his wife, Meredith, a copy of The New Yorker, and plenty of black coffee ●Fish more river and saltwater flats
Brokaw insists he is an eternal optimist, even through the difficult journey of having multiple myeloma. A great story he used as illustrating that optimism was when Ronald Reagan used the great line “about a child comes down in the morning, and beneath the Christmas tree there is just an enormous pile of horse dung. And he starts thinking, ‘there must be a pony here somewhere’. That is kind of my attitude about life.”

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