June is Audiobook Month: Science & Innovation

June is Audiobook Month! To celebrate, borrow a Nonfiction audiobook from Carnegie-Stout Public Library's collection. Here are a few titles on scientific exploration and human achievement that you might enjoy:

The Tangled Tree by David Quammen
David Quammen specializes in writing nonfiction about science and travel, and the occasional thriller novel. The Tangled Tree is an accessible and engaging account of recent discoveries in biology and evolution. Jacques Roy narrates the audiobook with crisp, yet unhurried, professionalism.




Paper by Mark Kurlansky
Mark Kurlansky is known for his carefully researched and richly detailed accounts of unexpected topics. In Paper, Kurlansky explores the ways that this seemingly boring product has shaped human history. Andrew Garman narrates the audiobook with a command of the facts that aids, rather than distracts, from the interesting details.



Spooky Action at a Distance by George Musser
Journalist George Musser has created an accessible book on a complicated topic: nonlocality, or quantum entanglement, a question that has interested physicists since Albert Einstein labeled it as “spooky action at a distance.” The audiobook is narrated by William Hughes with energy and a crisp delivery.




Science of the Magical by Matt Kaplan
Journalist Matt Kaplan explores the scientific truths behind our myths of the supernatural, from ancient Vikings to Captain America. This fascinating book is a great pick for fans of Mary Roach. The audiobook is narrated by Eric Michael Summerer with confidence and a skill for pacing.

Staff Review: Birdseye by Mark Kurlansky

I can't say that I loved reading a book about the man behind the frozen food industry. It wasn't at all my usual sort of book, but I'm very glad that I pushed beyond my comfort zone to read it.

I checked out Birdseye by Mark Kurlansky because I wanted to read a book for the microhistory category in the Great Reading Challenge. I don't read very much nonfiction of any sort and have never tried a microhistory, so this seemed like a great way to Challenge my Reading habits.

Kurlansky is known for his microhistories (nonfiction books that go in depth on one, relatively small, topic in history), and his books often focus on food-related topics (yum!). However, the most important factor in my choice of Birdseye was the fact that an eBook was available in OverDrive at ten p.m. and I could start reading right there on my couch.

Happily, this was not a strenuous read. Kurlansky didn't expect me to have any special knowledge or familiarity with the history or science behind the development of frozen foods. I learned some interesting facts and enjoyed some amusing anecdotes about Clarence "Bob" Birdseye's colorful life. This is exactly the sort of book that my 70-something father would love, and I can see the appeal. In fact, I'll probably track down a copy to give my father so that we can have a nice chat about frozen vegetables over the holidays.

Am I glad that I checked out this book? Yes! Am I now a devoted fan of microhistories? Not so much, but I'm definitely willing to check one out the next time I need a brain break from my usual Science Fiction and Romance!

~Sarah, Adult Services