LargePrintBooks.com: 12 Non Fiction Titles for 2006

The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town (Random House Large Print) by John Grisham (Hardcover - Oct 10, 2006) - Large Print

Amazon.com
John Grisham tackles nonfiction for the first time with The Innocent Man, a true tale about murder and injustice in a small town (that reads like one of his own bestselling novels). The Innocent Man chronicles the story of Ron Williamson, how he was arrested and charged with a crime he did not commit, how his case was (mis)handled and how an innocent man was sent to death row. Grisham's first work of nonfiction is shocking, disturbing, and enthralling--a must read for fiction and nonfiction fans.

Buy new: $31.95 $21.09 In Stock

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner (Paperback - Jan 1, 2006) - Large Print

Forget your image of an economist as a crusty professor worried about fluctuating interest rates: Levitt focuses his attention on more intimate real-world issues, like whether reading to your baby will make her a better student. Recognition by fellow economists as one of the best young minds in his field led to a profile in the New York Times, written by Dubner, and that original article serves as a broad outline for an expanded look at Levitt's search for the hidden incentives behind all sorts of behavior. There isn't really a grand theory of everything here, except perhaps the suggestion that self-styled experts have a vested interest in promoting conventional wisdom even when it's wrong. Instead, Dubner and Levitt deconstruct everything from the organizational structure of drug-dealing gangs to baby-naming patterns. While some chapters might seem frivolous, others touch on more serious issues, including a detailed look at Levitt's controversial linkage between the legalization of abortion and a reduced crime rate two decades later. Underlying all these research subjects is a belief that complex phenomena can be understood if we find the right perspective. Levitt has a knack for making that principle relevant to our daily lives, which could make this book a hit. Malcolm Gladwell blurbs that Levitt "has the most interesting mind in America," an invitation Gladwell's own substantial fan base will find hard to resist.

Buy new: $25.95 $20.48 In Stock

Culture Warrior (Random House Large Print) by Bill O'Reilly (Hardcover - Sep 25, 2006) - Large Print

From Publishers Weekly
In his latest screed, the host of Fox News'The O'Reilly Factor mobilizes fellow "traditionalists" against a "secular-progressive movement" supposedly led by billionaire George Soros ("public enemy number one") and the liberal rhetorician George Lakoff. O'Reilly condemns the "erosion of societal discipline" flowing from an alleged "S-P [secular-progressive]" agenda of drug legalization, teenagers' rights, moral relativism, church-state separation, therapy instead of punishment for criminals and, above all, the "communist" freeloader's doctrine that the government should tax the rich to fund housing, health care and early-childhood education for the poor. None of this coheres well, but O'Reilly keeps fans stoked with red meat, including tales of ACLU Christmas-bashers who wanted schools to stop teaching kids to sing carols, and permissive judges who go easy on child molesters. Too often, though, he feuds with personal enemies like "smear-merchant" Al Franken, Hollywood liberals, press critics and unnamed "black-hearted websites." As a result, his populist swagger subsides into kvetching ("Clooney's press agent, a guy named Stan Rosenfield, began badmouthing me and Fox News around Hollywood") and paranoia ("S-P power-brokers... will command their forces to attack me in every way possible"). More resentful and self-pitying than feisty, O'Reilly may be suffering from battle fatigue.

Buy new: $26.95 $17.79 In Stock

The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (Random House Large Print) by Barack Obama (Hardcover - Nov 7, 2006) - Large Print

From Publishers Weekly
Ilinois's Democratic senator illuminates the constraints of mainstream politics all too well in this sonorous manifesto. Obama (Dreams from My Father) castigates divisive partisanship (especially the Republican brand) and calls for a centrist politics based on broad American values. His own cautious liberalism is a model: he's skeptical of big government and of Republican tax cuts for the rich and Social Security privatization; he's prochoice, but respectful of prolifers; supportive of religion, but not of imposing it. The policy result is a tepid Clintonism, featuring tax credits for the poor, a host of small-bore programs to address everything from worker retraining to teen pregnancy, and a health-care program that resembles Clinton's Hillary-care proposals. On Iraq, he floats a phased but open-ended troop withdrawal. His triangulated positions can seem conflicted: he supports free trade, while deploring its effects on American workers (he opposed the Central American Free Trade Agreement), in the end hoping halfheartedly that more support for education, science and renewable energy will see the economy through the dilemmas of globalization. Obama writes insightfully, with vivid firsthand observations, about politics and the compromises forced on politicians by fund-raising, interest groups, the media and legislative horse-trading. Alas, his muddled, uninspiring proposals bear the stamp of those compromises.

Buy new: $27.95 $17.61 Available for Pre-order

American Map United States Road Atlas 2007: Large Scale Large Type (American Map Road Atlas) by AMERICAN MAP CORPORATION (Spiral-bound - Sep 15, 2006) - Large Print

Book Description
The 2007 American Map United States Road Atlas Large Print Edition is an easy-to-read edition of our best-selling Standard Road Atlas with the focus on all 50 states. This atlas contains colorful maps of each state and over 300 cities, detailed maps of national parks and recreational areas and same page indexing and mileage charts and all the information you need to know when you are on the road. Accuracy guaranteed--a benefit exclusive to American Map.

Includes alphabetical index organized by state for easy look-up
Rich 3-D shaded relief
30% larger scale maps
Up-to-date tourist information
Focuses on United States

Buy new: $21.95 $14.93 In Stock

Webster's New Explorer Large Print Dictionary by Merriam-Webster (Hardcover - May 31, 2006) - Large Print

Book Description
An invaluable, easy-to-use resource for those who require or prefer large print, this dictionary includes the core of the American English vocabulary and offers many of the same key features that make Merriam-Webster dictionaries best-sellers. The book, which carries the Seal of Approval of the National Association for Visually Handicapped, features 40,000 entries with definitions, table of pronunciation symbols, and a special section on abbreviations.

Buy new: $12.98 $10.77 In Stock

What I Know for Sure (Random House Large Print) by Tavis Smiley (Hardcover - Oct 10, 2006) - Large Print

Readers will likely be particularly interested in the popular radio and television talk show host's account of his clash with media titan Bob Johnson, who fired Smiley from his position at BET, and his clash with National Public Radio, where he felt he was a token given little room for growth. Although Smiley recounts those controversies, the heart of this book is his experience growing up, rooted in a religiously fundamentalist family, sheltered from and fearful of the world. Smiley was part of an extended family of 10 in a small town in Indiana where blacks were fairly scarce. A beating received from a truly loving father, based on a misunderstanding with the head of the church, set up a psychological estrangement that haunted Smiley and propelled him to succeed. He directed his energies into academic achievement through high school, Indiana State University, and Harvard Law School. A fortuitous internship lead Smiley to the world of the media. This surprisingly thoughtful book emphasizes old-school values and the rewards of hard work.

Buy new: $26.95 $17.79 In Stock

Traits of Writing Flip Chart: A Big Classroom Reference Guide by Ruth Culham (Spiral-bound - Mar 1, 2006) - Large Print

Book Description
A unique trait-based resource from expert Ruth Culham, this big, informative flip chart is a student-friendly guide to the traits—ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions. For each trait, you’ll find a definition, writing tips, a scoring rubric, and two model essays (low- and high-scoring samples). The large print and oversize pages make it perfect for mini-lessons, small-group work, conferences, and more. The ideal companion to any trait-based writing classroom. For use with Grades 3-5.

Buy new: $24.99 $16.49 In Stock

Velazquez Large Print Spanish And English Dictionary by Velazquez Press Editors (Hardcover - Jan 1, 2006) - Large Print

Book Description
The Velazquez Large Print Spanish and English Dictionary continues the Velazquez tradition of excellence, making the same accurate, extensive, and authoritative trove of information accessible to those unable to read fine dictionary print. First and only Spanish and English Large Print dictionary on the market. Developed in conjunction with the NAVH. Easy-to-read font, bold guide, phrases, and intuitive phonetic spelling. Designed to meet the needs of mature and visually impaired readers. Contains over 30,000 entries. Guide words in Spanish help user select the best translation. Features clear, readable type. Includes pronunciation keys in both Spanish and English sections. Easy to read format and up-to-date.

Buy new: $22.95 $16.75 In Stock

10.

The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs by Madeleine Albright (Paperback - May 1, 2006) - Large Print

Secretary of State under President Clinton and a devout Catholic (with recently discovered Jewish roots), Albright (Madam Secretary) is especially qualified to tackle the thorny subject of the role of faith in international relations. In a remarkably accessible, even breezy style, she looks at these issues in light of recent history both abroad and at home, from the religious fundamentalism that led to the ouster of the shah of Iran to the invasion of Iraq and American hope that a political culture can emerge there that integrates democracy and Islam. But Albright also looks critically at President Bush, an evangelical Christian who invokes God in the name of fighting "evil." In this ambitious, thoughtful, and wide-ranging treatment, Albright deftly balances the pragmatic need to confront religious-based unrest and the idealistic need to temper one's own personal beliefs in the public realm. While fully acknowledging the threat al- Qaeda poses, Albright rejects the notion that a "clash of civilizations" is in progress and wisely calls for care and nuance in how America approaches international confrontations that are tinged with religion.

Buy new: $25.95 $17.13 In Stock

11.

Sex and the Seasoned Woman by Gail Sheehy (Hardcover - Jan 31, 2006) - Large Print

This is a well-researched lesson on how women over 45 can live fully in every area of life--especially sexually. In the second half of her life, a woman usually switches from pleasing others to expressing her deepest desires and talents. With the life span approach that she used so effectively in PASSAGES, Sheehy's stories have a familiarity that speaks to the heart without being sentimental or purely inspirational. She creates an openness and excitement about the possibility of finding sexual and emotional fulfillment. By discovering her unique gifts and capabilities, a woman can find many avenues for expressing herself in relationships, in work, in life. Sheehy's thinking and writing about these matters are unparalleled and her narrating fluid and genuine.

Buy new: $26.95 $17.79 In Stock

12.

Godless: The Church of Liberalism (Random House Large Print) by Ann Coulter (Hardcover - May 2, 2006) - Large Print

Just more dreck from Coulter. Her usual half truth and name calling make up the bulk of this book.

Buy new: $30.95 $20.43 In Stock