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Half and Half
by Claudine C. O'HearnAs we approach the twenty-first century, biracialism and biculturalism are becoming increasingly common. Skin color and place of birth are no longer reliable signifiers of one's identity or origin. Simple questions like What are you? and Where are you from? aren't answered--they are discussed.How do you measure someone's race or culture? Half this, quarter that, born here, raised there. What name do you give that? These eighteen essays, joined by a shared sense of duality, address both the difficulties of not fitting into and the benefits of being part of two worlds. Danzy Senna parodies the media's fascination with biracials in a futuristic piece about the mulatto millennium. Garrett Hongo writes about watching his mixed-race children play in a sea of blond hair and white faces, realizing that suburban Oregon might swallow up their unique racial identity. Francisco Goldman shares his frustration with having constantly to explain himself in terms of his Latino and Jewish roots. Malcolm Gladwell understands that being biracial frees him from racial discrimination but also holds him hostage to questions of racial difference. For Indira Ganesan, India and its memory are evoked by the aromas of foods.Through the lens of personal experience, these essays offer a broader spectrum of meaning for race and culture. And in the process, they map a new ethnic terrain that transcends racial and cultural division.From the Hardcover edition.
Inventions and Discovery: Henry Ford and the Model T
by Michael O'Hearn Phil Miller Keith Wilson Charles Barnett Christopher HarboTells the story of Henry Ford, along with his invention, the popular Model T automobile.
Harry - The Ride of My Life: The Noel Harris Story
by Wally O'HearnOne of the oldest jockeys still riding. Noel aka Handbreak Harry is the Keith Richards of the racing world. Talks of drugs, gambling and race fixing. His father is also a well known figure in the racing world. Bursting to prominence in the 1980s, Noel may 'smoke like a chimney, drink like a fish and eat like a sparrow' but he rides like a true champion. And he has outlasted many of his competitors, still leading them home in his late fifties after having notched up over 2000 wins. Along the way he has gained the loyalty of owners and trainers, the respect of fellow jockeys and the admiration of race-goers. He has also had a few beers, a bit of fun and lots of laughs, enjoying life and loving racing. Colourful - including green hair on occasions - and sometimes outlandish, Noel has stood out for his singular riding style, his optimism, commitment, sense of humour and straight-shooting sincerity. Racing is a game of wins and losses, highs and lows, and in this book, Noel takes us on the rollercoaster, from growing up in a racing family and apprenticeship days in a wild and scary Singapore, the rides and races of the NZ and Australian racing calendars, and the trials, tribulations and triumphs of staying at the top. Noel gives us the goods on the horses, owners, trainers, jockeys, races and officials, friends and family - the emotions, experiences, anecdotes and accolades of a long and successful career.
I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness, to The Blind Side, and Beyond
by Michael OherThe football star made famous in the hit film (and book) The Blind Side reflects on how far he has come from the circumstances of his youth. Michael Oher shares his personal account of his story, in this inspirational New York Times bestseller. Looking back on how he went from being a homeless child in Memphis to playing in the NFL, Michael talks about the goals he had to break out of the cycle of poverty, addiction, and hopelessness that trapped his family. Eventually he grasped onto football as his ticket out and worked hard to make his dream into a reality. With his adoptive family, the Touhys, and other influential people in mind, he describes the absolute necessity of seeking out positive role models and good friends who share the same values to achieve one's dreams. Sharing untold stories of heartache, determination, courage, and love, I Beat the Odds is an incredibly rousing tale of one young man's quest to achieve the American dream.
I Beat The Odds: From Homelessness, To The Blind Side And Beyond
by Michael Oher Don YaegerThe football star made famous in the hit film The Blind Sidereflects on how far he has come from the circumstances of his youth. Michael Oher is the young man at the center of the true story depicted in The Blind Sidemovie (and book) that swept up awards and accolades. Though the odds were heavily stacked against him, Michael had a burning desire deep within his soul to break out of the Memphis inner-city ghetto and into a world of opportunity. While many people are now familiar with Oher's amazing journey, this is the first time he shares his account of his story in his own words, revealing his thoughts and feelings with details that only he knows, and offering his point of view on how anyone can achieve a better life. Looking back on how he went from being a homeless child in Memphis to playing in the NFL, Michael talks about the goals he had for himself in order to break out of the cycle of poverty, addiction, and hopelessness that trapped his family for so long. He recounts poignant stories growing up in the projects and running from child services and foster care over and over again in search of some familiarity. Eventually he grasped onto football as his ticket out of the madness and worked hard to make his dream into a reality. But Oher also knew he would not be successful alone. With his adoptive family, the Touhys, and other influential people in mind, he describes the absolute necessity of seeking out positive role models and good friends who share the same values to achieve one's dreams. Sharing untold stories of heartache, determination, courage, and love, I Beat the Odds is an incredibly rousing tale of one young man's quest to achieve the American dream.
When Your Back's Against the Wall: Fame, Football, and Lessons Learned through a Lifetime of Adversity
by Michael Oher Don YaegerThe NFL champion whose life inspired the hit movie The Blind Side is back with an inspiring and motivating book on overcoming any obstacle, no matter how tough the oddsMillions of people became part of Michael Oher&’s story when they watched a version of him on the big screen; read his memoir, I Beat the Odds; or cheered him on from the stands. After speaking to so many of them over the years, Oher knows that more than anything, people want to believe great things can happen, even when the situation looks bleak. His story of overcoming the toughest of odds serves as their hope. Oher&’s life has had a lot of unexpected highs: a college degree; four beautiful, healthy children and a happy marriage; drafted in the first round; a Super Bowl victory; and a second chance to play in the &“big game.&” He&’s also run up against quite a few walls: poverty, hunger, homelessness, struggles in school, bullying, job loss, brain injury, anxiety, and depression. What he knows now is that your wall can be your opportunity. In When Your Back&’s Against the Wall, he offers encouragement and shows readers how to get back up—again, and again, and again.
Fine and Dandy: The Life and Work of Kay Swift
by Vicki OhlKay Swift (1897-1993) was one of the few women composers active on Broadway in the first half of the twentieth century. Best known as George Gershwin's assistant, musical adviser, and intimate friend, Swift was in fact an accomplished musician herself, a pianist and composer whose Fine and Dandy (1930) was the first complete Broadway musical written by a woman. This book - the first biography of Swift - discusses her music and her extraordinary life. Vicki Ohl describes Swift's work for musical theater, the ballet, Radio City Music Hall's Rockettes, and commercial shows. She also tells how Swift served as director of light music for the 1939 World's Fair, eloped with a cowboy from the rodeo at the fair, and abandoned her native New York for Oregon, later fashioning her experiences into an autobiographical novel, Who Could Ask for Anything More? Informed by material, including Swift's unpublished memoirs and extensive interviews with her family members and friends, this book captures the essence and spirit of a remarkable woman. --BOOK JACKET. Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved
The Bohemians: The Lovers Who Led Germany's Resistance Against the Nazis
by Norman Ohler“An astonishing story of the anti-Nazi resistance—a story of love, incredible bravery and self-sacrifice . . . brilliantly told.” —Antony Beevor, New York Times-bestselling author Harro Schulze-Boysen already had shed blood in the fight against Nazism by the time he and Libertas Haas-Heye began their whirlwind romance. She joined the cause, and soon the two lovers were leading a network of anti-fascist fighters that stretched across Berlin’s bohemian underworld. But nothing could prepare Harro and Libertas for the betrayals they would suffer in this war of secrets—a struggle in which friend could be indistinguishable from foe. Drawing on unpublished diaries, letters, and Gestapo files, Norman Ohler spins an unforgettable tale of love, heroism, and sacrifice in The Bohemians.“An unforgettable portrait of two young lovers and their circle of friends in the anti-Hitler resistance, The Bohemians offers a fascinating glimpse of life in Nazi Germany, where the simple self-assertion of youth was a political act, and daily life was a minefield where missteps could have fatal consequences.” —Joseph Kanon, New York Times-bestselling author“A detailed and meticulously researched tale . . . that reads like a thriller.” —The New York Times Book Review“A taut, absorbing tale of anti-Nazi resistance . . . Sharply drawn characters enliven a tragic history.” —Kirkus Reviews“Each chapter leaves readers wanting more and rooting for the ill-fated group . . . Ohler’s gifts as a writer shine as he brings to life the personalities, motivations, and machinations of the Red Orchestra.” —Library Journal“This deeply researched and stylishly written account unearths an appealing yet overlooked chapter in WWII history.” —Publishers Weekly
Blitzed: Drugs In Nazi Germany
by Norman Ohler Shaun WhitesideThe sensational German bestseller on the overwhelming role of drug-taking in the Third Reich, from Hitler to housewives. The Nazis presented themselves as warriors against moral degeneracy. Yet, as Norman Ohler's gripping bestseller reveals, the entire Third Reich was permeated with drugs: cocaine, heroin, morphine and, most of all, methamphetamines, or crystal meth, used by everyone from factory workers to housewives, and crucial to troops' resilience - even partly explaining German victory in 1940. The promiscuous use of drugs at the very highest levels also impaired and confused decision-making, with Hitler and his entourage taking refuge in potentially lethal cocktails of stimulants administered by the physician Dr Morell as the war turned against Germany. While drugs cannot on their own explain the events of the Second World War or its outcome, Ohler shows, they change our understanding of it. Blitzed forms a crucial missing piece of the story.
It Can't Be Done, Nellie Bly!: A Reporter's Race Around the World
by Nancy OhlinThis is the true story of Nellie Bly, a bold woman, reporter, and adventurer who set a world record for her famous journey around the globe.Nellie Bly was a nineteenth century newspaper reporter for the New York World, but instead of writing about "ladylike" subjects like tea parties and charity balls, Nellie wrote about critical social problems of her day—poor job conditions, dilapidated housing, and dishonest politicians. If someone told her "It can't be done, Nellie Bly," she went right ahead and did it anyway.So when Nellie read Jules Verne's novel, Around the World in Eighty Days, she was inspired to circle the globe herself in an attempt to beat the record of the fictional character Phileas Fogg. But would she go too far in her quest?Young fans of history will cheer for Nellie Bly as she embarks on her 22,000-mile trip. Equipped only with one sturdy travel dress, a small satchel, and a pet monkey she picks up in Singapore, Bly travels by ship, train, and foot, experiencing incredible events and places—from a monsoon at sea to a leper colony in China.This delightful true story of a woman with an indomitable spirit will inspire a new generation of young women and adventurers. Back matter includes additional information about Nellie Bly's life.
Shadow Migration: Mapping a Life (American Lives)
by Suzanne OhlmannWith her feet firmly rooted on the plains of Nebraska, Suzanne Ohlmann launches the reader into flight over miles and decades of migration: from an apple-pie childhood in America&’s Fourth of July City to the dirt floors of a cowshed in rural India, we zigzag across time and geography to see the world through Ohlmann&’s eyes and to discover with her the pain she&’d been avoiding through her boomerang travels away from her native home. Through incarnations as a musician, arts manager, and registered nurse, Ohlmann finally lands in Texas, buys a house, and gets a dog. But her house is haunted, and so is she. In the dark solitude of Ohlmann&’s basement the vision of a dead child presents her with a harrowing choice: she can go home to Nebraska and seek the truth of her biological past, or, like the boy, surrender to the depths of her own darkness. With honesty, compassion, and a sense of humor, Ohlmann recounts her tenacious search into the shadows of her life.
The Bickersons: A Biography of Radio's Wittiest Program
by Ben OhmartA lively biography of an old-time radio comedy family whose humor still makes us laugh! Other books about old-time radio shows are available from Bookshare.
Welcome, Foolish Mortals...The Life and Voices of Paul Frees
by Ben OhmartThe official biography of Paul Frees, the voice behind hundreds of radio shows, TV shows, cartoons, and Disneyland's Haunted Mansion.
Zero Regrets
by Apolo Ohno"Zero regrets. It's a philosophy not just about sport but about life. School, business, academics, love--anything and everything. It's complicated and yet not. You have to figure out who it is you want to be. Not what you want to be--who. There has to be a vision, a dream, a plan. Then you chase that with everything you've got." Over three consecutive Olympic games, Apolo Ohno has come to symbolize the very best of the competitive spirit--remaining equally gracious in victory and defeat, always striving to improve his performance, and appreciating the value of the hard work of training as much as any reward it might bring. In Zero Regrets, Apolo shares the inspiring personal story behind his remarkable success, as well as the hard-won truths and strategies he has discovered in good times and bad. Raised by his single father, an immigrant from Japan who often worked twelve-hour days, the young Apolo found it difficult to balance his enormous natural gifts as an athlete with an admittedly wild, rebellious streak. After making a name for himself as a promising young speed skater, his career was almost over before it began when his lack of preparation caused him to finish last at the U.S. Olympic trials in 1998. A life-changing week of solitary soul-searching at the age of fifteen led him to recommit himself to his training, and at the 1999 world junior championships he won first place overall--one of the most remarkable turnarounds in sports history. From that moment on, the world of speed skating had a new champion and Apolo was on his way to legendary status. Much more than an account of races won and lost, Zero Regrets is a compelling portrait of a father-and-son relationship that deepened over time and was based on respect, love, and unshakable faith in each other. For the first time, Apolo reveals what he knows about his long-absent mother; he makes us feel what it is like to face the best competitors on the planet with the eyes of millions of fans upon you; and he shares his secrets for achieving total focus and mental toughness, secrets that can be applied in situations well beyond sports. We learn the details of the unbelievably intense workout and diet that he endured while training for the 2010 Winter Olympics, a regime that literally reshaped his body and led to some of his most thrilling victories. In this deeply personal and entertaining book, Apolo shows how we can all come closer to living with zero regrets. While Apolo's own journey may be unique, the insights he has gleaned along the way have the power to help us all feel like champions every day. *** Nine days after dropping me off, Dad came to pick me up. In that call from the pay phone, I hadn't said anything to him about what decision I had made. On the car ride back home, I told him. "I want to try this," I said. "Are you willing," he asked, "to really put forth a true effort? From the bone?" I told my father: "I want to skate." With clarity of purpose, everything suddenly seemed different. I didn't just want to skate--I loved it. I realized, too, that while I had to want to buy into the training, the discipline, the self-sacrifice, I needed direction and guidance, too. You truly can't get there by yourself. I needed not only to truly and profoundly depend upon Dad for help but also to welcome those--coaches, trainers, others--who could help me along the way. . . . I was also making promises to myself and writing them in my journal: I'm not going to mess it up this time. When I go home, I really am going to be the different person I decided in Iron Springs I would be. I know what I want to do. I want to be the best in the world. I didn't know quite yet how I would get there. But I was clear, and I had no doubt-- that's what I was after. --From Zero Regrets
Zero Regrets: Be Greater Than Yesterday
by Apolo Anton OhnoGold medal-winning Olympic speed-skater Apolo Ohno, the most decorated American Winter Olympic athlete of all time, shares his inspiring personal story and life lessons learned through training and competition.
A Journey: The Autobiography of Apolo Anton Ohno
by Apolo Anton Ohno Nancy Ann RichardsonI honestly don't know what battles I'm going to face next, only that I have the spirit and the will to face anything and fight for my sport and for what I believe is right. I'll give 110 percent and still dig down deeper for more. Apolo Anton Ohno won both a gold and a silver medal at the 2002 Olympic Games and became an instant hero. But his Olympic victory represents just one moment of his incredible, and continuing journey.From an early age, his father, Yuki, recognized Apolo's natural abilities and made it his mission to help his son live up to his potential. But getting Apolo to follow through on his opportunities wasn't always easy. Like many kids, Apolo struggled to balance his energetic and fiercely competitive nature with his desire for independence and freedom. And even as he succeeded on the ice, he felt the loneliness that comes with being at the top. Amid the pain, the fear, the uncertainty, Apolo asked himself again and again, Why am I doing this? And the answer came to him: He truly loved to skate. So with laser-sharp focus he pursued his number-one goal: to become a great athlete.From his personal struggles to his unwavering commitment and ambition, Apolo Anton Ohno is a true example of courage. He has battled his personal demons, toppled physical barriers, and clawed his way to the top -- but even now he does not rest. Always, he looks within himself to hear his strongest critic, to face his fiercest competitor. And always, he continues to strive to be the best -- not just for his team, not just for his country -- but also for himself. And that is what makes Apolo Anton Ohno a true champion. This is his story.
The World At My Fingertips
by Karsten OhnstadKarsten Ohnstad shares his journey into blindness with warmth and humor.
Kamikaze, Cherry Blossoms, and Nationalisms: The Militarization of Aesthetics in Japanese History
by Emiko Ohnuki-TierneyDrawing on diaries never before published in English, Ohnuki-Tierney describes these young men's agonies and even defiance against the imperial ideology. Passionately devoted to cosmopolitan intellectual traditions, the pilots saw the cherry blossom not in militaristic terms, but as a symbol of the painful beauty and unresolved ambiguities of their tragically brief lives. Using Japan as an example, the author breaks new ground in the understanding of symbolic communication, nationalism, and totalitarian ideologies and their execution.
Herstory: Women Who Changed the World
by Deborah G. Ohrn Gloria Steinem Ruth AshbyA very special collection of short biographies offers insightful sketches of the lives and accomplishments of 150 of history's most influential and brilliant women, including Clara Barton, the legendary Trung Sisters of medieval Vietnam, and many others.
It's OK to Miss the Bed on the First Jump
by John O'hurleyCharming and hilarious, IT'S OK TO MISS THE BED ON THE FIRST JUMP is more than a mere celebration of man's best friend. In this lighthearted and reflective exploration of how dogs have served as some of our most valuable and enlightened teachers, well-known and well-loved actor John O'Hurley (Seinfeld, Dancing with the Stars) shares lessons learned from his life with canine companions, including: Every 15 Minutes Is a New Day; When One Person Stops Petting You, Move On; and You're Only as Big as You Think You Are, to name a few. 'Dogs, after all, have pure hearts, trusting natures, a zest for living, noble characters, and an ability to take things in stride,' writes O'Hurley in the book's introduction. 'They can be counted on, and are pleasant companions. They know what's important, always. How many humans do you know about which you could say the same?' Both poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, IT'S OK TO MISS THE BED ON THE FIRST JUMP is an ideal gift for the dog lover in your life.
It's OK to Miss the Bed on the First Jump
by John O'HurleyCharming and hilarious, IT'S OK TO MISS THE BED ON THE FIRST JUMP is more than a mere celebration of man's best friend. In this lighthearted and reflective exploration of how dogs have served as some of our most valuable and enlightened teachers, well-known and well-loved actor John O'Hurley (Seinfeld, Dancing with the Stars) shares lessons learned from his life with canine companions, including: Every 15 Minutes Is a New Day; When One Person Stops Petting You, Move On; and You're Only as Big as You Think You Are, to name a few. 'Dogs, after all, have pure hearts, trusting natures, a zest for living, noble characters, and an ability to take things in stride,' writes O'Hurley in the book's introduction. 'They can be counted on, and are pleasant companions. They know what's important, always. How many humans do you know about which you could say the same?' Both poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, IT'S OK TO MISS THE BED ON THE FIRST JUMP is an ideal gift for the dog lover in your life.
I'm Movin' On: The Life and Legacy of Hank Snow
by Vernon OickleA biography on the Canadian country musician, from his poor childhood in Nova Scotia to international celebrity on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.Born in tiny Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, Hank Snow enjoyed a musical career that spanned five decades and sales of more than 80 million albums. In I’m Movin’ On, journalist Vernon Oickle chronicles Snow’s hardscrabble life, from his destitute childhood in Queens County to international fame. Leaving no stone unturned in his richly detailed profile of the Singing Ranger, Oickle exposes the highs and lows of Snow’s career, and his journey (“Everywhere, man,”) from small East Coast radio stations to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Includes a foreword from Hank’s son, Jimmie Rodgers Snow, a timeline, discography, and 75 photographs.
I'm Movin' On: The Life and Legacy of Hank Snow
by Vernon OickleA biography on the Canadian country musician, from his poor childhood in Nova Scotia to international celebrity on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Born in tiny Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, Hank Snow enjoyed a musical career that spanned five decades and sales of more than 80 million albums. In I&’m Movin&’ On, journalist Vernon Oickle chronicles Snow&’s hardscrabble life, from his destitute childhood in Queens County to international fame. Leaving no stone unturned in his richly detailed profile of the Singing Ranger, Oickle exposes the highs and lows of Snow&’s career, and his journey (&“Everywhere, man,&”) from small East Coast radio stations to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Includes a foreword from Hank&’s son, Jimmie Rodgers Snow, a timeline, discography, and 75 photographs.
Homemade: Finnish Rye, Feed Sack Fashion, and Other Simple Ingredients from My Life in Food
by Beatrice OjakangasBeatrice Ojakangas, the oldest of ten children, came by it naturally--the cooking but also the pluck and perseverance that she's served up with her renowned Scandinavian dishes over the years. In the wake of the Moose Lake fires and famine of 1918, Ojakangas tells us in this delightful memoir-cum-cookbook, her grandfather sent for a Finnish mail-order bride--and got one who'd trained as a chef. Ojakangas's stories, are, unsurprisingly, steeped in food lore: tales of cardamom and rye, baking salt cake at the age of five on a wood-burning stove, growing up on venison, making egg rolls for Chun King, and sending off a Pillsbury Bake Off-winning recipe without ever making it. And from here, how those early roots flourished through hard work and dedication to a successful (but never easy) career in food writing and a much wider world, from working for pizza roll king Jeno Paulucci to researching food traditions in Finland and appearing with Julia Child and Martha Stewart--all without ever leaving behind the lessons learned on the farm. As she says, "first you have to start with good ingredients and a good idea."Chock-full of recipes, anecdotes, and a kind humor that bring to vivid life the Finnish culture of northern Minnesota as well as the wider culinary world, Homemade delivers the savory and the sweet in equal measures and casts a warm light on a rich slice of the country's cooking heritage.
Finding Mañana: A Memoir of a Cuban Exodus
by Mirta Ojito<i>Finding Mañana</i> is a vibrant, moving memoir of one family's life in Cuba and their wrenching departure. Mirta Ojito was born in Havana and raised there until the unprecedented events of the Mariel boatlift brought her to Miami, one teenager among more than a hundred thousand fellow refugees. <p><p>Now a reporter for The New York Times, Ojito goes back to reckon with her past and to find the people who set this exodus in motion and brought her to her new home. She tells their stories and hers in superb and poignant detail-chronicling both individual lives and a major historical event. Growing up, Ojito was eager to excel and fit in, but her parents'--and eventually her own--incomplete devotion to the revolution held her back. As a schoolgirl, she yearned to join Castro's Young Pioneers, but as a teenager in the 1970s, when she understood the darker side of the Cuban revolution and learned more about life in el norte from relatives living abroad, she began to wonder if she and her parents would be safer and happier elsewhere. <p><p>By the time Castro announced that he was opening Cuba's borders for those who wanted to leave, she was ready to go; her parents were more than ready: They had been waiting for this opportunity since they married, twenty years before. Finding Mañana gives us Ojito's own story, with all of the determination and intelligence--and the will to confront darkness--that carried her through the boatlift and made her a prizewinning journalist. <p><p>Putting her reporting skills to work on the events closest to her heart, she finds the boatlift's key players twenty-five years later, from the exiles who negotiated with Castro to the Vietnam vet on whose boat, Mañana, she finally crossed the treacherous Florida Strait. <p><p><i>Finding Mañana</i> is the engrossing and enduring story of a family caught in the midst of the tumultuous politics of the twentieth century. On the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Mariel boatlift, this is the Pulitzer Prize winner's extraordinary memoir of her childhood in Cuba and her historic journey to America.