New Releases

Many Americans remember a family road trip to visit one of our 63 national parks. Why did Americans start preserving these sites of natural and historic interest? How were these parks selected, and what steps did conservationists, activists, philanthropists, politicians, and others take to protect millions of acres against the booming developments of an expanding nation? An award-winning writer, researcher, and American Studies scholar, Dr. Megan Kate Nelson tackles these questions as she takes you on a marvelous journey through some of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Anne Sexton, born Anne Gray Harvey, (November 9, 1928 - October 4, 1974) was an American poet known for her highly personal, confessional verse. She won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1967 for her book Live or Die. Her poetry details her long battle with bipolar disorder, suicidal tendencies, and intimate details from her private life, including relationships with her husband and children, whom she physically and sexually assaulted.

Shirley Temple (April 23, 1928 - February 10, 2014) was an American actress, singer, dancer, and diplomat, who was Hollywood's number-one box-office draw as a child actress from 1934 to 1938. Temple began her film career in 1931 when she was three years old. In 1935, she received a special Juvenile Academy Award for her contributions in motion pictures. Temple embarked on her U.S. diplomatic career in 1969, later being named Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia, and also served as Chief of Protocol of the United States.

Irwin Allen Ginsberg (June 3, 1926 - April 5, 1997), born in Newark NJ, was an American poet and writer. As a student at Columbia University in the 1940s, he began friendships with Lucien Carr, William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac, forming the core of the Beat Generation. He vigorously opposed militarism, economic materialism, and sexual repression, and he embodied various aspects of this counterculture with his views on drugs, sex, multiculturalism, and hostility to bureaucracy. "America" is a poem by Ginsberg written in 1956.

Burton Stephen Lancaster (November 2, 1913-October 20, 1994), born in New York City, was an American actor, producer and director. Initially known for playing tough guys with a tender heart, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-year career in films and television. He was a four-time Academy Award Best Actor nominee, winning the Oscar and Golden Globe for the 1960 film, Elmer Gantry, and BAFTA award winner for Birdman of Alcatraz (1963) and Atlantic City (1982). The following recordings are from tv interviews from 1963 and 1973.

Virginia Woolf (January 25, 1882 - March 28, 1941) was an English writer from Kensington, London, who pioneered a narrative mode called "stream of consciousness" to describe the thoughts and feelings of the narrator. Regarded as one of the most prominent modernist 20th-century writers, Woolf's works have gained much attention for inspiring feminism, as well as, numerous films, novels, and plays. The following recording is from a radio broadcast on April 29th, 1937.

Roald Dahl (September 13, 1916 - November 23, 1990), born in Cardiff, Wales, was a novelist, poet, screenwriter, and short story author, as well as a fighter pilot and intelligent officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II. Considered one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century, Dahl's classic works include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, The Witches, The Twits and Matilda. His books have sold more than 300 million copies worldwide.

Thomas Stearns Eliot (September 26, 1888 - January 4, 1965) was an American-British poet, essayist and playwright. He is considered to be one of the 20th century's greatest poets, as well as a central figure in English-language Modernist poetry. His use of language, writing style, and verse structure reinvigorated English poetry. He is also noted for his critical essays, which often re-evaluated long-held cultural beliefs.

From the 17th to 18th centuries, bold thinkers cast off the authority of ancient traditions and embraced reason as the primary tool for understanding the world. These rationalists, or early modern philosophers, included René Descartes, Baruch Spinoza, and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz—visionaries whose answers to profound questions remain relevant today. Early Modern Philosophy: Descartes and the Rationalists covers the key philosophers of this period in 12 fascinating half-hour lectures, presented by award-winning teacher James D. Reid, Professor of Philosophy at Metropolitan State University.

In this heartfelt audio adapted from a PBS special, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer shares personal stories about the private challenges behind his success, offering an intimate approach that invites you into his world. He reveals five key principles—willingness, determination, fearlessness, compassion, and love—that have shaped his most important life choices and are available for anyone seeking greater clarity in their own life.

Explore the unseen forces that shape your health with this insightful live lecture from Caroline Myss. In Psychic Versus Energetic Disorders, recorded in 2012, Caroline dives into the complex relationship between our modern habits and our psychic well-being. With the rise of technology, social media, and the constant presence of screens, we are more connected—and overwhelmed—than ever.