Engaging nonfiction audiobooks? Middle school ages

[madteaparty]

Want to mix up our long drive routines. Care to share any fun or bearable 😉 non fiction audiobooks? I’ve fiction well and truly covered. 

[Porridge]

Endurance by Alfred Lansing

[Porridge]

This five part series about the California wildfires is excellent

https://www.mynspr.org/show/california-burning-solutions-to-californias-wildfire-problem/2019-09-29/california-burning-episode-1-our-history-with-fire

[domestic_engineer]

How about podcasts?  We like Planet money. 

[ScoutTN]

Bomb by Steve Sheinkin

[mrsfellman]

My husband & oldest son (11 yrs) really enjoyed listening to "Open Heart" by Steven Westaby. However, it does have some crass language at times, very detailed descriptions of surgeries & not all patients make it past a few days after surgery. That being said, it is a surprisingly captivating book. I am an Adult living with Congenital Heart Defects & I had Open Heart surgery 10 yrs ago so I found some parts REALLY hard to listen. 😳

[daijobu]

Animals Make us Human by Temple Grandin.

[goldenecho]

On 4/11/2021 at 4:55 PM, domestic_engineer said:

How about podcasts?  We like Planet money. 

Stuff You Missed in History class is one I like.  
Throughline is another good one. 

Both are for adults but I can't think of anything I couldn't share with a middle schooler in those. 

[ealp2009]

We have enjoyed Bomb by Steve Sheinkin and The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean.  

ETA: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind was also good.  

Edited April 23, 2021 by ealp2009

[gradchica]

9 hours ago, goldenecho said:

Stuff You Missed in History class is one I like.  
Throughline is another good one. 

Both are for adults but I can't think of anything I couldn't share with a middle schooler in those. 

My 5th grader and I enjoyed the various Legends of the Old West podcast episodes we’ve listened to. Also geared to adults. 
 

We tried a few other podcasts on similar topics but we both found too much vulgarity (I suppose some of those characters just invite crass language to describe their unsavory activities, but this podcast avoids that and tedious banter). 
 

I’ve enjoyed History Unplugged and History that Doesn’t Suck. I can’t remember anything objectionable, though there are obviously some topics that may be too heavy for younger or sensitive children.

Edited April 24, 2021 by gradchica

[madteaparty]

11 hours ago, daijobu said:

Animals Make us Human by Temple Grandin.

Oh this is so up her alley. Thank you 

[telluridemom]

Courage and a clear mind about the ancient Greeks and Pharaohs and Queens of Ancient Egypt both by Jim Weiss. We love him at our house 🙂