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I'm Perfect, You're Doomed
by Kyria AbrahamsI'm Perfect, You're Doomed is the story of Kyria Abrahams's coming-of-age as a Jehovah's Witness -- a doorbell-ringing "Pioneer of the Lord." Her childhood was haunted by the knowledge that her neighbors and schoolmates were doomed to die in an imminent fiery apocalypse; that Smurfs were evil; that just about anything you could buy at a yard sale was infested by demons; and that Ouija boards -- even if they were manufactured by Parker Brothers -- were portals to hell. Never mind how popular you are when you hand out the Watchtower instead of candy at Halloween. When Abrahams turned eighteen, things got even stranger. That's when she found herself married to a man she didn't love, with adultery her only way out. "Disfellowshipped" and exiled from the only world she'd ever known, Abrahams realized that the only people who could save her were the very sinners she had prayed would be smitten by God's wrath. Raucously funny, deeply unsettling, and written with scorching wit and deep compassion, I'm Perfect, You're Doomed explores the ironic absurdity of growing up believing that nothing matters because everything's about to be destroyed.
I'm Possible: A Story of Survival, a Tuba, and the Small Miracle of a Big Dream
by Richard Antoine WhiteFrom the streets of Baltimore to the halls of the New Mexico Philharmonic, a musician shares his remarkable story in I'm Possible, an inspiring memoir of perseverance and possibility.Young Richard Antoine White and his mother don't have a key to a room or a house. Sometimes they have shelter, but they never have a place to call home. Still, they have each other, and Richard believes he can look after his mother, even as she struggles with alcoholism and sometimes disappears, sending Richard into loops of visiting familiar spots until he finds her again. And he always does—until one night, when he almost dies searching for her in the snow and is taken in by his adoptive grandparents.Living with his grandparents is an adjustment with rules and routines, but when Richard joins band for something to do, he unexpectedly discovers a talent and a sense of purpose. Taking up the tuba feels like something he can do that belongs to him, and playing music is like a light going on in the dark. Soon Richard gains acceptance to the prestigious Baltimore School for the Arts, and he continues thriving in his musical studies at the Peabody Conservatory and beyond, even as he navigates racial and socioeconomic disparities as one of few Black students in his programs.With fierce determination, Richard pushes forward on his remarkable path, eventually securing a coveted spot in a symphony orchestra and becoming the first African American to earn a doctorate in music for tuba performance. A professor, mentor, and motivational speaker, Richard now shares his extraordinary story—of dreaming big, impossible dreams and making them come true.
I'm Possible: Jumping into Fear and Discovering a Life of Purpose
by Jeremy CowartInternationally known photographer and philanthropist Jeremy Cowart uses snapshots of his own story to inspire readers with the message that all things are possible when we actively engage our God-given purpose to change the world.Recognized as “the most influential photographer on the Internet,” Jeremy Cowart is known as a photographer, hotelier, fund-raiser, teacher, artist, world uniter, lover of life, and man of adventure. What fans don’t always know is that Jeremy started out as a failure.Growing up, Jeremy’s life was defined by the words I can’t do it. Thankfully, Jeremy’s parents reprogrammed his mind with a single sentence: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. That simple truth propelled Jeremy to achieve greatness in many forms, includingrunning photo shoots with A-list clients, such as Sting, the Kardashians, President Obama, the Pope, and many more,launching the Help-Portrait movement to invest dignity and value in people from underserved communities and who were victims of tragedy, andlaunching the Purpose Hotel as a for-profit hotel chain designed to fuel the work of not-for-profit organizations.I’m Possible is an extension of Jeremy’s belief that greatness must serve a greater purpose. It’s a book that will inspire readers with the message that all things are possible when we actively engage our God-given purpose to change the world.
I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together: A Memoir
by Maurice Vellekoop&“Maurice Vellekoop's beautiful graphic memoir feels painfully honest. It's about art and life and families and belief, about who we are and what forms us, the magic and the hurt, and it evokes times that are well-lost while reminding us of the battles still being fought every day. Most of all, I think, it's about love.&” —Neil GaimanFor fans of Fun Home by Alison Bechdel, I&’m So Glad We Had This Time Together is an epic graphic memoir about a queer illustrator surviving his intensely Christian childhood in 1970s Toronto.Meet little Maurice Vellekoop, the youngest of four children raised by Dutch immigrants in the 1970s in a blue-collar suburb of Toronto. Despite their working-class milieu, the Vellekoops are devoted to art, music, and film, and they instill a deep reverence for the arts in young Maurice—except for literature. He&’d much rather watch Cher and Carol Burnett on TV than read a book. He also loves playing with his girlfriends&’ Barbie dolls and helping his Mum in her hair salon, which she runs out of the basement of their house. In short, he is really, really gay. Which is a huge problem, because the family is part of the Christian Reformed Church, a strict Calvinist sect. They go to church twice on Sunday, and they send their kids to a private Christian school, catechism classes, and the Calvinist Cadet Corps. Needless to say, the church is intolerant of homosexuality. Though she loves her son deeply, Maurice&’s mother, Ann, cannot accept him, setting the course for a long estrangement. Vellekoop struggles through all of this until he graduates from high school and is accepted into the Ontario College of Art in the early 1980s. Here he finds a welcoming community of bohemians, including a brilliant, flamboyantly gay professor who encourages him to come out. But just as he&’s dipping his toes into the waters of gay sex and love, a series of romantic disasters, followed by a violent attack, sets him back severely. And then the shadow of the AIDS era descends. Maurice reacts by retreating to the safety of childhood obsessions, and seeks to satisfy his emotional needs with film- and theatre-going, music, boozy self-medication, and prolific art-making. When these tactics inevitably fail, Vellekoop at last embarks on a journey towards his heart&’s true desire. In psychotherapy, the spiderweb of family, faith, guilt, sexuality, mental health, the intergenerational fallout of World War II, King Ludwig II of Bavaria, French Formula Hairspray, and much more at last begins to untangle. But it&’s going to be a long, messy, and occasionally hilarious process. I&’m So Glad We Had This Time Together is an enthralling portrait of what it means to be true to yourself, to learn to forgive, and to be an artist.
I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together: A Memoir (Pantheon Graphic Library)
by Maurice VellekoopAn astonishing, epic graphic memoir in the spirit of Fun Home by Alison Bechdel and Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe&“I&’m So Glad We Had This Time Together is that rarest of things: a book about coming out to a loving yet conservative family that is as heartrending to read as it is to look at. It&’s an incredibly moving, funny, and ultimately triumphant account (spoiler alert!) of what can only be described as a magical fairy tale (pun totally intended!).&”—Anderson CooperMeet little Maurice Vellekoop, the youngest of four children raised by Dutch immigrants in the 1970s in a blue-collar suburb of Toronto. Despite their working-class milieu, the Vellekoops are devoted to art, music, and film, and they instill a deep reverence for the arts in young Maurice—except for literature. He&’d much rather watch Cher and Carol Burnett on TV than read a book. He also loves playing with his girlfriends&’ Barbie dolls and helping his Mum in her hair salon, which she runs out of the basement of their house. In short, he is really, really gay. Which is a huge problem, because the family is part of the Christian Reformed Church, a strict Calvinist sect. They go to church twice on Sunday, and they send their kids to a private Christian school, catechism classes, and the Calvinist Cadet Corps. Needless to say, the church is intolerant of homosexuality. Though she loves her son deeply, Maurice&’s mother, Ann, cannot accept him, setting the course for a long estrangement.Vellekoop struggles through all of this until he graduates from high school and is accepted into the Ontario College of Art in the early 1980s. Here he finds a welcoming community of bohemians, including a brilliant, flamboyantly gay professor who encourages him to come out. But just as he&’s dipping his toes into the waters of gay sex and love, a series of romantic disasters, followed by a violent attack, sets him back severely. And then the shadow of the AIDS era descends. Maurice reacts by retreating to the safety of childhood obsessions, and seeks to satisfy his emotional needs with film- and theatre-going, music, boozy self-medication, and prolific art-making. When these tactics inevitably fail, Vellekoop at last embarks on a journey towards his heart&’s true desire. In psychotherapy, the spiderweb of family, faith, guilt, sexuality, mental health, the intergenerational fallout of World War II, King Ludwig II of Bavaria, French Formula Hairspray, and much more at last begins to untangle. But it&’s going to be a long, messy, and occasionally hilarious process.I&’m So Glad We Had This Time Together is an enthralling portrait of what it means to be true to yourself, to learn to forgive, and to be an artist.
I'm So Glad You're Here: A Memoir
by Pamela GayI&’m So Glad You&’re Here is the story of a family disrupted by ramifications of a father&’s mental illness. The memoir opens with a riveting account of Gay, age eighteen, witnessing her father being bound in a straitjacket and carried out of the house on a stretcher. The trauma she experiences escalates when, after her father has had electroshock treatments at a state mental hospital, her parents leave her in a college dorm room and move from Massachusetts to Florida without her. She feels abandoned. Both her parents have gone missing. Decades later, when Gay and her three much-older siblings show up for their father&’s funeral, she witnesses her sundered family&’s inability to gather together. Eventually, she is diagnosed with PTSD of abandonment and treated with EMDR therapy—and finally begins to heal. Poignant and powerful, I&’m So Glad You&’re Here is Gay&’s exploration of the idea that while the wounds we carry from growing up in fractured families stay with us, they do not have to control us—a reflective journey that will inspire readers to think about their own relational lives.
I'm Sorry You Feel That Way
by Diana JosephAn Entertainment Weekly "must"-"It's hard to recall another collection of essays, or a memoir, with more natural charm." Surrounded by dysfunctional men-from her fourteen-year-old son to her high-maintenance boss-Diana Joseph did what she had to do: survive. I'm Sorry You Feel That Way is an honest, hilarious, and instantly recognizable memoir of a truly modern woman. Funny, fearless, and warmhearted, it is a portrait of a woman in all her endless complexities and contradictions, and of the people she has come to love in spite of-or rather because of-theirs.
I'm Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves
by Ryan O'Connell<P>This hilarious part-memoir, part-manifesto reveals what sets apart the latest generation of young people coming of age in an all-wired, overeducated, and underemployed world. <P>People are obsessed with Ryan O'Connell's blogs. With tens of thousands reading his pieces on Thought Catalog and Vice, watching his videos on YouTube, and hanging on to each and every #dark tweet, Ryan has established himself as a unique young voice who's not afraid to dole out some real talk. He's that candid, snarky friend you consult when you fear you're spending too much time falling down virtual k-holes stalking your ex on Facebook or when you've made the all-too-common mistake of befriending a psycho while wasted at last night's party and need to find a way to get rid of them the next morning. But Ryan didn't always have the answers to these modern day dilemmas. <P>Growing up gay and disabled with cerebral palsy, he constantly felt like he was one step behind everybody else. Then the rude curveball known as your twenties happened and things got even more confusing. Ryan spent years as a Millennial cliché: he had dead-end internships; dabbled in unemployment; worked in his pajamas as a blogger; communicated mostly via text; looked for love online; spent hundreds on "necessary" items, like candles, while claiming to have no money; and even descended into aimless pill-popping. But through extensive trial and error, Ryan eventually figured out how to take his life from bleak to chic and began limping towards adulthood. <P>Sharp and entertaining, I'm Special will educate twentysomethings (or other adolescents-at-heart) on what NOT to do if they ever want to become happy fully functioning grown ups with a 401k and a dog.
I'm Staying at Richard's: Raising the Exceptional Son I Never Expected
by Bernadette AgiusThis inspiring, heartfelt, and powerful memoir by a mother of a child with Down syndrome explores the incredible blessings and challenges of raising a child with disabilities. When Bernadette Agius—an ambitious career-focused woman—became pregnant, she imagined her unborn child attending the best schools and dazzling everyone with his impressive wit, charm, and intelligence. But when the doctors placed her baby boy in her arms and told Bernadette he had Down syndrome, those dreams instantly disappeared. While her first impulse was to fight against this new reality, she soon found the strength to become the champion her son, Richard, would need and deserved. With the help of her husband and a newfound village of professionals, Bernadette forged a new life, discovering along the way that everyone has a different version of normal. Ultimately Richard, now thirty, was able to defy expectation and become an independent adult. Grounded in love, offering a message of hope, and told with humor and honesty, I’m Staying at Richard’s shines a light on the fierce, unwavering love of a mother for her son.
I'm Staying with My Boys: The Heroic Life of Sgt. John Basilone, USMC
by Jim Proser Jerry CutlerThe authorized biography of the legendary Marine featured in HBO’S The Pacific, a true American hero who gave his life in service during World War II.I’m Staying with My Boys is a firsthand look inside the life of one of the greatest heroes of the Greatest Generation. Sgt. John Basilone held off three thousand Japanese troops at Guadalcanal after his fifteen-member unit was reduced to three men. At Iwo Jima he single-handedly destroyed an enemy blockhouse, allowing his unit to capture an airfield. Minutes later he was killed by an enemy artillery round. He was the only Marine in World War II to have received the Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, and a Purple Heart, and is arguably the most famous Marine of all time.I’m Staying with My Boys is the only family-authorized biography of Basilone, and it features photographs never before published. Distinctive among military biographies, the story is told in first person, allowing readers to experience his transformation, forged in the horrors of battle, from aimless youth to war hero known as “Manila John.”Praise for I’m Staying with My Boys“Everyone should read this book, the story of a true American hero. I served with John Basilone and I can hear his voice on every page.” —Thomas O. Nass, 5th Marine Division, World War II“This book about the legendary John Basilone is presented in such a personal style that one would believe that “Manila John” is still alive. Not since William Manchester authored his memoir Goodbye, Darkness twenty-five years ago has a book been written about one man that seems so authentic.” —Col. Ken Jordan, USMC (Ret.)
I'm Still Here (Adapted for Young Readers): Loving Myself in a World Not Made for Me
by Austin Channing BrownAn adaptation of the powerful New York Times bestselling account of growing up Black and female in America, completely rewritten with new stories for young readersAustin Channing Brown&’s first encounter with race in America came at age seven, when she discovered that her parents had named her Austin to trick future employers into thinking she was a white man. Growing up in majority-white schools and churches, Channing Brown writes, &“I had to learn what it means to love Blackness,&” a journey that led to a lifetime spent navigating America&’s racial divide as a writer, speaker, and expert helping organizations practice genuine inclusion.In this adaptation of her bestselling and critically acclaimed memoir, she explores how America&’s racial dynamics show up in the classrooms, friend groups, and conversations kids inhabit every day. &“I love being a Black girl,&” she writes. &“And sometimes being a Black girl in America is hard.&” Covering topics like representation, self-love, allyship, and being Black in public, Brown helps kids nourish their identity and make sense of how they fit into the world.For students navigating a time of racial hostility, and for the adults and educators who care for them, I&’m Still Here is an empowering look at the experiences of young Black kids, inviting the reader to confront apathy, find their voice, and discover how Blackness—if we let it—can save us all.
I'm Still Here: 'A leading new voice on racial justice' LAYLA SAAD, author of ME AND WHITE SUPREMACY
by Austin Channing Brown'A leading new voice on racial justice' LAYLA SAAD, author of ME AND WHITE SUPREMACYA REESE'S BOOK CLUB X HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK PICK * THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERThis book is my story about growing up in a Black girl's body. It's about surviving in a world not made for me. Austin Channing Brown's first encounter with a racialized America came at age seven, when she discovered her parents named her Austin to deceive future employers into thinking she was a white man. Growing up in majority-white schools and churches, Austin writes, 'I had to learn what it means to love Blackness,' a journey that led to a lifetime spent navigating America's racial divide as a writer, speaker and expert helping organisations practice genuine inclusion. In a time when nearly every institution (schools, churches, universities, businesses) claims to value diversity in its mission statement, Austin writes in breathtaking detail about her journey to self-worth and the pitfalls that kill our attempts at racial justice. Her stories bear witness to the complexity of America's social fabric and invite the reader to confront apathy, recognise God's ongoing work in the world and discover how Blackness-if we let it-can save us all.'An example of how one woman can change the world by telling the truth about her life with unflinching, relentless courage' GLENNON DOYLE, author of UNTAMED'Most people say, "that books has legs"; I measure the impact of a book by how often I throw it across the room. [Austin's book] has serious wings. It broke me open' BRENE BROWN
I'm Still Here: A Memoir
by Martina ReavesIn 1969, at age twenty, Martina moves to San Francisco. She lives in a commune, marries her hippie streetcar driver, and moves away from the city—first to Mendocino County, Oregon, and then to the Virgin Islands. In 1980, Martina comes out. She finds her life partner, Tanya, at work, and in 1986 they have a son, Cooper. In 2008, Martina is diagnosed with serious tongue cancer. Her journey in the aftermath of this diagnosis is one of hope, fear, family, friendship, perseverance, and learning to live with a terminal diagnosis. Reaves braids these strands of her life together in I’m Still Here, presenting readers with a nuanced, poignant exploration of what it means to live—and love—authentically.
I'm Still Here: A bestselling Reese's Book Club pick by 'a leading voice on racial justice' LAYLA SAAD, author of ME AND WHITE SUPREMACY
by Austin Channing BrownA REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICKA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER'An example of how one woman can change the world by telling the truth about her life with unflinching, relentless courage' GLENNON DOYLEAustin Channing Brown's first encounter with racism in America came at age seven, when she discovered her parents named her Austin to deceive future employers into thinking she was a white man. Growing up in majority-white schools and neighbourhoods, Austin 'had to learn what it means to love Blackness,' a journey that led to her becoming a writer, speaker and expert helping organisations practice genuine inclusion. In this bestselling memoir, she writes beautifully and powerfully about her journey to self-worth and how we can all contribute to racial justice. 'A leading new voice on racial justice' LAYLA F SAAD, author of ME AND WHITE SUPREMACY'Most people say, "that books has legs"; I measure the impact of a book by how often I throw it across the room. [Austin's book] has serious wings. It broke me open' BRENE BROWN'A deeply personal celebration of blackness that simultaneously sheds new light on racial injustice and inequality while offering hope for a better future' SHONDALAND
I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness
by Austin Channing BrownFrom a powerful new voice on racial justice, an eye-opening account of growing up Black, Christian, and female in middle-class white America. <P><P>Austin Channing Brown's first encounter with a racialized America came at age 7, when she discovered her parents named her Austin to deceive future employers into thinking she was a white man. <P><P>Growing up in majority-white schools, organizations, and churches, Austin writes, "I had to learn what it means to love blackness," a journey that led to a lifetime spent navigating America's racial divide as a writer, speaker and expert who helps organizations practice genuine inclusion.In a time when nearly all institutions (schools, churches, universities, businesses) claim to value "diversity" in their mission statements, I'm Still Here is a powerful account of how and why our actions so often fall short of our words. <P><P>Austin writes in breathtaking detail about her journey to self-worth and the pitfalls that kill our attempts at racial justice, in stories that bear witness to the complexity of America's social fabric--from Black Cleveland neighborhoods to private schools in the middle-class suburbs, from prison walls to the boardrooms at majority-white organizations. <P><P>For readers who have engaged with America's legacy on race through the writing of Ta-Nehisi Coates and Michael Eric Dyson, I'm Still Here is an illuminating look at how white, middle-class, Evangelicalism has participated in an era of rising racial hostility, inviting the reader to confront apathy, recognize God's ongoing work in the world, and discover how blackness--if we let it--can save us all. <P><P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
I'm Still Standing
by Shoshana Johnson M. L DoyleSHOSHANA HOLDS NOTHING BACK in this harrowing account of an ordinary woman caught in extraordinary circumstances. She reveals decisions made by chain of command that may have led to her twenty-two-day imprisonment, describes the pain of post-traumatic stress disorder, and shares the surprising story of how a specialist in a maintenance company ended up on the front lines of war. Told with exceptional bravery and candor, I'm Still Standing is at once a provocative look at the politics of war and the unforgettable story of a single mom and soldier who became an American hero. In March 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom made world headlines when a U. S. army convoy was attacked en route to Baghdad. Shoshana Johnson became the first black female prisoner of war in United States history.
I'm Still Standing
by Wendy WatsonAn uplifiting and thought provoking memoir of Wendy Watson's battle with cancer -- Tesco Mum of the Year Winner
I'm Supposed to Protect You from All This: A Memoir
by Nadja SpiegelmanA Travel and Leisure and New York Magazine/The Cut Best Book of Summer A memoir of mothers and daughters--and mothers as daughters--traced through four generations, from Paris to New York and back again. For a long time, Nadja Spiegelman believed her mother was a fairy. More than her famous father, Maus creator Art Spiegelman, and even more than most mothers, hers--French-born New Yorker art director Françoise Mouly--exerted a force over reality that was both dazzling and daunting. As Nadja's body changed and "began to whisper to the adults around me in a language I did not understand," their relationship grew tense. Unwittingly, they were replaying a drama from her mother's past, a drama Nadja sensed but had never been told. Then, after college, her mother suddenly opened up to her. Françoise recounted her turbulent adolescence caught between a volatile mother and a playboy father, one of the first plastic surgeons in France. The weight of the difficult stories she told her daughter shifted the balance between them. It had taken an ocean to allow Françoise the distance to become her own person. At about the same age, Nadja made the journey in reverse, moving to Paris determined to get to know the woman her mother had fled. Her grandmother's memories contradicted her mother's at nearly every turn, but beneath them lay a difficult history of her own. Nadja emerged with a deeper understanding of how each generation reshapes the past in order to forge ahead, their narratives both weapon and defense, eternally in conflict. Every reader will recognize herself and her family in this gorgeous and heartbreaking memoir, which helps us to see why sometimes those who love us best hurt us most. From the Hardcover edition.
I'm Talking: My Life, My Words, My Music
by Kate Ceberano Tom GillingFor the first time, Kate Ceberano, one of Australia's best-loved entertainers, shares her story.In her own unmistakeable voice, Kate Ceberano takes us on a very personal journey from her suburban childhood, her immersion in the Melbourne club scene of the eighties and her rise to stardom at the age of fourteen when she fronted the wildly popular funk bank I?m Talking, to the life of a female performer and recording artist in London, Los Angeles and New York.With parallel careers as a pop and jazz singer and songwriter, Kate has received the highest awards in the Australian music industry including the ARIA for Best Female Artist. She has delighted audiences in Harry M. Miller's hugely successful Jesus Christ Superstar, won a legion of fans when she won Dancing with the Stars, and made a triumphant debut for Opera Australia in South Pacific. Now she reveals, for the first time, just what that was like.People have been talking about Kate Ceberano since she was a teenager: Hugh Jackman described her as having 'truly one of the great voices this country has produced'; for Rolling Stone she is 'pure, soulful and powerful'. Now Kate is talking for herself.Accompanied by never before seen photos.
I'm Telling the Truth, but I'm Lying: Essays
by Bassey IkpiIn I’m Telling the Truth, but I’m Lying Bassey Bassey Ikpi explores her life—as a Nigerian-American immigrant, a black woman, a slam poet, a mother, a daughter, an artist—through the lens of her mental health and diagnosis of bipolar II and anxiety. Her remarkable memoir in essays implodes our preconceptions of the mind and normalcy as Bassey bares her own truths and lies for us all to behold with radical honesty and brutal intimacy. <P><P>From her early childhood in Nigeria through her adolescence in Oklahoma, Bassey Ikpi lived with a tumult of emotions, cycling between extreme euphoria and deep depression—sometimes within the course of a single day. By the time she was in her early twenties, Bassey was a spoken word artist and traveling with HBO's Def Poetry Jam, channeling her life into art. <P><P>But beneath the façade of the confident performer, Bassey's mental health was in a precipitous decline, culminating in a breakdown that resulted in hospitalization and a diagnosis of Bipolar II. <P><P>In I'm Telling the Truth, But I'm Lying, Bassey Ikpi breaks open our understanding of mental health by giving us intimate access to her own. Exploring shame, confusion, medication, and family in the process, Bassey looks at how mental health impacts every aspect of our lives—how we appear to others, and more importantly to ourselves—and challenges our preconception about what it means to be "normal." <P><P>Viscerally raw and honest, the result is an exploration of the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of who we are—and the ways, as honest as we try to be, each of these stories can also be a lie.
I'm That Girl: Living the Power of My Dreams
by Jordan ChilesWith a Foreword by Simone Biles. <p> The sensational two-time Olympian Jordan Chiles’s heartfelt, inspiring memoir chronicling her unlikely path to the podium—including the unprecedented challenges, the joy of winning, the crushing pain of defeat, and the love and support of her devoted family and teammates that helps her stay strong. <p> It was a rare and stunning reversal: after the judges at the 2024 Paris Olympics determined that Jordan had rightfully scored third place for her performance—following a successful challenge by her coach—she earned the bronze medal. Later, Jordan’s euphoria turned to devastation when the Court of Arbitration for Sport stripped her of that medal based on nothing but semantics. Jordan called the ruling, “One of the most challenging moments of my career. Believe me when I say I have had many.” <p> In her powerful, eye-opening memoir, Jordan digs deep, sharing the story of her life’s challenges—the racism she encountered as a gifted Black girl in a predominantly white elite sport, the battles with body image and subsequent unhealthy relationship with food, the grueling practices, the injuries, the moments of nearly calling it quits. Through it all, Jordan refused to give up. Through sheer grit—and the love of her family—she kept working and winning. <p> When Simone Biles stepped away from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after a case of the “twisties,” Jordan stepped in to play a key role in securing silver for Team USA. And in Paris, Jordan made history as part of the first all-Black podium in all of men's and women’s gymnastics. <p> Told with refreshing candor and Jordan’s irrepressible spirit, I’m That Girl is a glimpse of life in the psychologically and physically demanding upper echelons of women’s elite gymnastics. Exploring the deep bonds so often forged in pressure cookers, Jordan speaks openly about her relationships with her teammates, including her best friend and “big sister” Simone Biles, and how their support for one another has proved invaluable on and off the mat. With the highs, lows, twists, and turns characteristic of the sport, and featuring a 16-page color photo insert, I’m That Girl reveals how one extraordinary young woman keeps her balance in a uniquely dizzying life. <p> By way of her unwavering tenacity, Jordan has changed the culture of gymnastics, fighting every day to ensure that the girls she inspires are not pre-judged for their hair, their bodies, or their skin color. Insightful and deeply moving, I’m That Girl is a testament to the power of perseverance and the transformative joy of doing what you love, told by a fierce and unique individual who has been and will always be That Girl—the ultimate hype woman who shows up and gives it her all. <b>New York Times Bestseller</b>
I'm Walking as Straight as I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond
by Geri JewellA candid memoir of building an acting career—and a happy life—with cerebral palsy: &“It&’s a joy to read this book&” (Ian McShane). Exposing real pain, unstoppable perseverance, and unquestionable faith in the human spirit, this autobiography offers a true glimpse beyond actress Geri Jewell&’s public image as a one-dimensional hero. Born with cerebral palsy, Jewell made history when she became the first person with a disability cast in a recurring role on American television in The Facts of Life, and in the years that followed she experienced a string of other successes, including a performance at the White House and a role on HBO&’s Deadwood. But along with such accomplishments, this personal story also depicts some of the less-than-rosy events that happened behind closed doors during her initial climb to fame—among them, her release from The Facts of Life; her manager&’s embezzlement of the money she made on the show; and her struggle with chronic pain, despair, and a fear of revealing her true sexual identity. Told with grace and humor, this inspirational narrative presents an honest portrayal of a woman who refused to give up when others kept knocking her down.
I'm Wild Again
by Helen Gurley BrownShe's back and causing jaws to drop as always! As bold and amusing as ever, Helen Gurley Brown, who made her mark in publishing history when she became editor in chief of Cosmopolitan in 1965, has written her first memoir, I'm Wild Again: Snippets from My Life and a Few Brazen Thoughts. While the subjects of her seven previous books have all been drawn from her own experiences, this is the first time Brown has concentrated on herself as the sole subject of a book and revealed the secrets of her sometimes shocking and always interesting life.In I'm Wild Again, Brown discusses several aspects of her life that she has not opened up about before. She talks about her breast implants and cosmetic surgery, her bout with breast cancer, her fidelity to her husband. Furthermore, she offers her thoughts on parents, adultery, office politics, exercise, food, marriage, affection...the list goes on. Never one to be shy or mince words, Brown doesn't leave any words unwritten, and the contents of her book "shocked, flabbergasted, amazed, irritated, amused" gossip columnist Liz Smith, who has seen almost everything. Larry King, Frank McCourt, Joan Rivers, Diane Sawyer, and Dominick Dunne have also praised the book and toasted Brown for leading such a courageous and vibrant life.
I'm With Fatty
by Edward UgelOne man’s humorous and heartfelt journey through his year-long attempt to regain his health and change his life. Where does one draw the line between being a lifelong foodie and a food addict? Edward Ugel is 36 years old and weighs 263 pounds, or as he likes to think about it: 119 kilograms. I'm with Fattychronicles Ugel’s attempt to follow doctor’s orders and lose fifty pounds or risk dropping dead while standing in line at Popeyes. It details the complex love triangle between himself, his wife, and all the crispy, braised, barbecued, and sautéed goodies that he’s been feeding himself ever since he could say the words “to go. ” Ugel sets off on his yearlong journey to figure out how to live in a world without dim sum, smoked Italian meats, and the pleasure of cooking whatever and however he wants. He spends his days torn between two worlds: nutritionists and personal trainers versus pancetta and Häagen-Dazs. It’s a war of attrition—each side has its share of victories and utter failures. Lovers of narrative nonfiction will relish this contagiously readable book that looks back at Ugel’s complicated history with food, obesity, and the ruinous effects this lifelong relationship has had on him. Filled with humor, ultimately this is a book about the private hell of being fat in America and about the fragile male psyche and the seldom-discussed issue of male body image. I’m with Fattyis a funny, candid, raw, and personal story of weight loss from the male perspective. It is a narcissistic battle of wills between the author who loves food more than oxygen and the man who knows that his very life depends on the success of his “Fatty Project. ” I’m with Fattytakes the reader along on a difficult, frustrating, embarrassing, and inspiring journey, one that is the last great hope of a man desperate to save his own life—or at least own a pair of pants that fits.
I'm With Fatty
by Edward UgelOne man's humorous and heartfelt journey through his year-long attempt to regain his health and change his life. Where does one draw the line between being a lifelong foodie and a food addict? Edward Ugel is 36 years old and weighs 263 pounds, or as he likes to think about it: 119 kilograms. I'm with Fatty chronicles Ugel's attempt to follow doctor's orders and lose fifty pounds or risk dropping dead while standing in line at Popeyes. It details the complex love triangle between himself, his wife, and all the crispy, braised, barbecued, and sautéed goodies that he's been feeding himself ever since he could say the words "to go." Ugel sets off on his yearlong journey to figure out how to live in a world without dim sum, smoked Italian meats, and the pleasure of cooking whatever and however he wants. He spends his days torn between two worlds: nutritionists and personal trainers versus pancetta and Häagen-Dazs. It's a war of attrition--each side has its share of victories and utter failures. Lovers of narrative nonfiction will relish this contagiously readable book that looks back at Ugel's complicated history with food, obesity, and the ruinous effects this lifelong relationship has had on him. Filled with humor, ultimately this is a book about the private hell of being fat in America and about the fragile male psyche and the seldom-discussed issue of male body image. I'm with Fatty is a funny, candid, raw, and personal story of weight loss from the male perspective. It is a narcissistic battle of wills between the author who loves food more than oxygen and the man who knows that his very life depends on the success of his "Fatty Project." I'm with Fatty takes the reader along on a difficult, frustrating, embarrassing, and inspiring journey, one that is the last great hope of a man desperate to save his own life--or at least own a pair of pants that fits.