Biography & Memoir Audiobooks

Mohandas Gandhi grew up in India under British rule. Despite all odds, he became a lawyer and moved to South Africa. Gandhi worked peacefully against British rule in South Africa and then in India, fasting, marching, and protesting against unfair treatment of the Indian people. Many unfair laws were changed because of Gandhi.

Susan Rogers (Author), Highlights For Children (Narrator)

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Game for Life: Troy Aikman

Join the Pro Football Hall of Fame in celebrating this legendary quarterback and football commentator! This new biography is based on interviews with Troy Aikman himself! Troy Aikman has always been a winner. In high school, he won the state championship—in typing! Of course, he was a football star in high school, too. And in college. And he was a number one NFL Draft pick. As a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, Troy won three Super Bowls—and was once the Super Bowl MVP. Then he became a football analyst for Fox Sports, where millions of fans watch and listen to his commentary. He's even been nominated for four Emmys for sportscasting! What will Troy Aikman win next? Game for Life biographies support the Pro Football Hall of Fame's mission to honor the heroes of the game, preserve its history, promote its values, and celebrate excellence everywhere. Don't miss the other books in the series, John Madden and Michael Strahan!

Clarence Hill, Jr. Clarence Hill (Author), Fred Berman (Narrator)

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Game for Life: John Madden

Join the Pro Football Hall of Fame in celebrating the legendary coach, announcer, and video game personality! This new biography is based on interviews with John Madden himself! Nobody knows more about football than John Madden does. His childhood revolved around sports. When an injury kept him from playing in the NFL, he continued to learn everything he could about football. As head coach of the Oakland Raiders, Madden won more games than any other coach in Raiders history. Then he used his football knowledge as a commentator and the creator of one of the most popular video games ever—Madden NFL. Find out why John Madden is such a beloved member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame! Game for Life biographies support the Pro Football Hall of Fame's mission to honor the heroes of the game, preserve its history, promote its values, and celebrate excellence everywhere. Don't miss Game for Life: Michael Strahan!

Peter Richmond (Author), Chris Browning (Narrator)

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Gabe & Izzy: Standing Up for America's Bullied

The moving, true story of the young woman dubbed "The Voice of America's Bullied"; how her bond with her dog, Izzy, changed her life; and their mission to help break the cycle of bullying. In middle school, Gabrielle "Gabe" Ford developed a degenerative muscle disease, and was harassed by bullies as a result. She did her best to keep her head high, but it wasn't easy. Then Gabe got a dog, Izzy, who developed an uncannily similar disorder. They were invited to appear on Animal Planet to talk about their bond, which in turn led to an invitation to speak at a school. And so began Gabe's career as an anti-bullying advocate. Dubbed "The Voice of America's Bullied" by the Huffington Post, Gabe now makes a career of public speaking and has received numerous honors for her hard work. Here is her amazing story--from her lowest days dealing with various challenges, to the unbelievable and immediate bond with Izzy, to her ongoing mission to put an end to bullying, one school at a time. Biographical Note: Gabrielle Ford never dreamed that a long-eared coonhound could change her life. But that's just what happened when she cared for her ailing pet Izzy and found the voice to help others in need as a nationally-known motivational speaker. Today Gabe's incredible story has drawn media attention from The Today Show, Cosmopolitan Magazine and Animal Planet, among others. As a child, Gabrielle loved dance and dreamed of becoming a prima ballerina. That dream was shattered by a rare genetic neuromuscular disease, Friedreich's Ataxia, that would eventually place her in a wheelchair. Gabe not only struggled with the devastation of the illness, but also endured constant and cruel bullying from classmates. The constant torment took her on a path of depression and isolation. That all changed when Izzy, a long-eared coonhound pup, entered Gabe's life. Izzy became Gabe's best friend and constant companion. When this special friend mysteriously developed a condition mirroring Gabe's, Gabe re-entered the world to get Izzy the best treatment available. Speaking out for the voiceless Izzy gave her the courage to speak out for another voiceless group: the thousands of children bullied in American schools every day. Through countless personal trials, Gabe found her way back to the stage as an outspoken advocate against school bullying. In addition to her countless school visits, she has also been a keynote speaker at various conferences and conventions. Her dedication even earned her the 2011 Communications & Leadership Award from Toastmasters International, The 2011 Peace Maker of The Year Award (Gandhi Award /Genesee County MI), as well as the Community Hero Award in 2008 from the Fenton Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Gabrielle Ford, Sarah L. Thomson (Author), Susan Bennett (Narrator)

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From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems/Del ombligo de la luna y otros poemas de Ver

With a poet's magical vision, Francisco X. Alarcón takes young listeners back to his childhood when he traveled with his family to Mexico to visit his grandmother and other relatives. Listeners ride with him in the family station wagon across the misty mountain range to the little town of Atoyac, the beloved town of his ancestors. There he listens his grandma's colorful stories, samples Auntie Reginalda's tasty breakfasts, learns about the keys to the universe, and take playful dips in the warm sea.

Francisco X. Alarcon (Author), Gary Tiedemann (Narrator)

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From Here to There: Inventions That Changed the Way the World Moves

In a time when people believed flying was impossible, Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier proved that the sky wasn't the limit. When most thought horseback was the only way to race, Bertha and Karl Benz fired up their engines. From the invention of the bicycle and the passenger steam locomotive to the first liquid-fuel propelled rocket and industrial robot, inventors across the world have redefined travel.Informative and celebratory, this collective biography tells the story of the experiments, failures, and successes of visionaries who changed the way the world moves.

Vivian Kirkfield (Author), Pete Cross, Zoe Cross-Nelms (Narrator)

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Friends for Freedom: The Story of Susan B. Anthony & Frederick Douglass

No one thought Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass would ever become friends. The former slave and the outspoken woman came from two different worlds. But they shared deep-seated beliefs in equality and the need to fight for it. Despite naysayers, hecklers, and even arsonists, Susan and Frederick became fast friends and worked together to change America.

Suzanne Slade (Author), Lizan Mitchell (Narrator)

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Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos

The fascinating Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is remembered for her self-portraits, her dramatic works featuring bold and vibrant colors. Her work brought attention to Mexican and indigenous culture, and she is also renowned for her works celebrating the female form. Brown's story recounts Frida's beloved pets-two monkeys, a parrot, three dogs, two turkeys, an eagle, a black cat, and a fawn-and playfully considers how Frida embodied many wonderful characteristics of each animal.

Monica Brown Ph.D. (Author), Adriana Sananes (Narrator)

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Frenemies in the Family: Famous Brothers and Sisters Who Butted Heads and Had Each Other's Backs

One minute you can't live without them . . . the next minute you don't want them breathing your air! Siblings everywhere will relate to this humorous look at famous brothers and sisters whose important bonds have shaped their accomplishments . . . (mostly) for the better. They blame you when they get in trouble. They seem like your parents' favorite. They are the only enemy you can't live without. Almost everyone has a juicy story about their siblings-even famous people. Meet those who got along, those who didn't, and everyone in between! * Demi Lovato and her sister * Tennis superstars Serena and Venus Williams * Walt and Roy Disney * Princes William and Harry * Stephen Colbert and his eleven older siblings * Quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning * The Jacksons (Michael, Janet, and family) * Reality TV sensations, the Gosselins * Queen Elizabeth I and the queen who history remembers as Bloody Mary * Conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker * John Wilkes Booth (the man who assassinated Abraham Lincoln) and his brother Edwin * Vincent and Theo van Gogh * Airplane inventors, the Wright brothers * The Romanovs * The Kennedys Oh, brother! This could get ugly. . . .

Kathleen Krull (Author), Lisa Cordileone (Narrator)

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Freedom Riders: John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of the Civil Rights Movement

It was 1961. John Lewis and Jim Zwerg are two young men boarding a bus and heading south for Montgomery, Alabama and the thick of the brewing Civil Rights struggle. They are idealists, committed to justice and equality and full of hope for change. This is their Freedom Ride. Arriving in town, suddenly they find themselves helpless in the clutches of an angry white mob armed with bats, chains, and hammers. Both men are beaten within an inch of their lives, for the color of their skin-John was black and Jim was white-and for the ideas they had traveled so far to support. Told from the perspectives of these two Freedom Riders, this Robert F. Silbert Honor Book is a stunning testament to the power of nonviolent resistance in the face of racial discrimination and segregation. A thoughtful reading from narrator Cecelia Riddett brings this important tale of the Civil Rights Movement to life for today's readers.

Ann Bausum (Author), Cecelia Riddett (Narrator)

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Frederick Douglass: Leader of the Abolitionist Movement

Explore the extraordinary life of Frederick Douglass and his transition from slave to freed man. Born as a slave in 1818, Douglass endured many hardships, including being separated from his family when he was a young child. Throughout his life, Douglass struggled to become a freed man and risked his life to fight for equality for all people. He worked hard to become literate and eventually published his own autobiography. Douglass became friends with influential people, like President Lincoln, who helped Douglass work to achieve freedom for slaves. After the Civil War, Douglass continued to fight for the equality of women and immigrants. Today, Douglass is remembered as a famous orator, author, editor, and statesman who made America a better place for all people.

Melissa Carosella (Author), Teacher Created Materials (Narrator)

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Franz Kafka: The Life and Legacy of One of the 20th Century’s Most Influential Writers

Franz Kafka was among the most unique authors in the early 20th century, and as a Jewish German-language writer, he proved to be an ideal conduit for his era’s deepest anxieties. Already emotionally damaged, he was physically weak as well, unable to confront society on any level. His sense of intimidation at the hands of his family reached deeply pathological proportions, and he suffered further from a simultaneous, desperate mix of embrace and revulsion with the Jewish faith. Retreating into familiar representations of his time, Kafka created a series of nightmarish short stories and novels, in which someone much like him played the central role. Settings tended to be a mixture of landmarks, and rather than being based on real events from his life, Kafka’s stories are more linked to the habits of his own inner demons and exterior relationships. Kafka’s work was unprecedented in its day, but terms commonly used to describe his work today include “absurdist” and “visionary fiction.” The former is at times perceived by modern readers as whimsical, but more correctly applies to locales and situations that could not possibly exist or take place. In the latter, Kafka hangs the presiding issues of the piece on fictitious human and natural riddles that exacerbate the victimhood of central characters. These artificial dilemmas stand as the unsolvable barriers that lace each narrative. Nearly a century after his death, Kafka is considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, despite being a virtual unknown throughout his life. In fact, Kafka never intended for his unpublished work to be released posthumously, but his wishes were ignored, and it was certainly to the world’s benefit. Kafka’s work is so profound and unique that the term “Kafkaesque” is now a part of the English language, a reference to surreal distortions and amazing complexities.

Charles River Editors (Author), Colin Fluxman (Narrator)

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