Sound Recommendations: Now and Then (Nonfiction)

Today's edition of Sound Recommendations returns to nonfiction, with two science books, one biography, and one history. Hope you find something new to listen to.

If you like geology, learning more about North America, and meeting interesting people, then you must listen to John McPhee's Basin and Range, the first book in his Annals of a Former World series. In this book, McPhee talks about his travels with geology professor Kenneth Deffeyes across Route 80 from the East Coast to California. McPhee explores the geology of North America by looking at road cuts, which reveal how unstable the land around us can be. Here we see evidence of upheaval, plate tectonics, ancient seas, and long-dead organisms. We also meet other experts and learn not only about geology but also about history, the concept of time, and much more. Basin and Range is read by veteran nonfiction narrator Nelson Runger, who adds just enough expression to keep you engaged without getting in the way of the information. I should mention, however, that Runger is one of those narrators whom people seem to love or hate; thus you might want to listen to a sample before buying.

In Mayflower, Nathaniel Philbrick starts in the Old World and follows the passengers on the famous ship across the ocean to Plymouth Harbor and through the first rough decades after the establishment of the colony. Mayflower is an eye-opening book (at least it was to me). For example, I was surprised to learn that the ship did not land where it was supposed to and that the passengers, especially the women, were so distraught that they refused to travel any farther, even though scouts had discovered a better harbor (Boston) to the north and their original charter was to the south (near the mouth of the Hudson). The book also details the evolution of Pilgrim-Native American relationships, the colonists' personalities, and daily life in the settlement. The narrator is George Guidall, who does an excellent job bringing the history alive, and I was particularly impressed with his handling of Indian languages.

Unlike previous Einstein biographies, Walter Isaacson's Einstein: His Life and Universe is based on the scientist's personal letters. Rather than concentrate solely on Albert Einstein's theories, Isaacson shows us the person behind the famous equation and crazy hair. We meet Einstein's family, the women he loved, his life in Europe and then in the States, and his struggle to find his footing in the academic world. Of course, no biography of Einstein would be complete without an exploration into physics, and Isaacson does an amazing job of conveying complex concepts to the layperson. Edward Herrmann's expressive and well-paced reading helps listeners connect to both Einstein the man and Einstein the scientist. Even when the book turns to quantum theory, Herrmann avoids sounding professorial, maintaining a friendly tone and helping the listener along.

Have you read Mary Roach yet? I started with her Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. This wasn't that odd of a choice for me, given my academic background, but I was surprised by how much I loved Roach's writing style and how fascinated I was with the various ways cadavers are used to further research in a wide variety of fields. With respect and humor, Roach tells us about a body farm (to research decay and help with forensics), gross anatomy classes, NASA research, and surgical research. I couldn't stop listening. Shelly Frasier is the perfect narrator for Roach's prose. She accentuates the humor, remains respectful, and enhances Roach's informal style. Frasier reads as if she were telling a story, which is just the right way to approach Stiff.