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You are Always With Me: Letters to Mama
by Frida KahloFrida Kahlo is regarded as one of Mexico's greatest painters: her extraordinary personal style, her tragic story, her relationship with Diego Rivera (the more famous painter in their day) alongside her passionate paintings have made her a cult figure since she died over sixty years ago.But beyond the familiar images there is a private story about a daughter who confided in her beloved mama, Matilde Calderon Kahlo. Until now Frida's handwritten letters have only been available to scholars - and recently in Spanish in a book that appeared in 2016. Now for the first time we have over fifty of these letters in English.And what a treasure. Funny, observant and honest, they chart Kahlo's relationship with her mother; a relationship that was sometimes fraught - as with most mother and daughters - but was always alive and honest. They begin in 1923 when Kahlo was sixteen and continue until the death of her mother in 1932. These letters tell us about Kahlo's anxieties, her feelings about her husband and friends and above all reveal the marvellous, critical painter's eye in her description of people and places from Mexico, San Francisco and New York. Edited, translated and introduced by Dr. Héctor Jaimes, Professor of Spanish, North Carolina State University (who edited the Spanish version) this book is published with paintings and photographs.
You should Meet: Katherine Johnson
by Thea FeldmanMeet Katherine Johnson, a brilliant mathematician who worked at NASA in the early 1950s until retiring in 1986. Katherine's unparalleled calculations (done by hand) helped plan the trajectories for NASA's Mercury and Apollo missions (including the Apollo 11 moon landing). She is said to be one of the greatest American minds of all time.
You'll Forget This Ever Happened: Secrets, Shame, and Adoption in the 1960s
by Laura L. EngelMississippi, 1967. It&’s the Summer of Love, yet unwed mothers&’ maternity homes are flourishing, secret closed adoptions are routine, and many young women still have no voice. In You&’ll Forget This Ever Happened, Laura Engel takes us back to the Deep South during the turbulent 1960s to explore the oppression of young women who have committed the socially unacceptable crime of becoming pregnant without a ring on their finger. After being forced to give up her newborn son for adoption, Engel lives inside a fortress of silent shame for fifty years—but when her secret son finds her and her safe world is cracked open, those walls crumble. Are you still a mother even if you have not raised your child? Can the mother/child bond survive years of separation? How deep is the damage caused by buried family secrets and shame? Engel asks herself these and many other questions as she becomes acquainted with the son she never knew, and seeks the acceptance and forgiveness she has long denied herself. Full of both aching sadness and soaring joy, You&’ll Forget This Ever Happened is a shocking exposé of a shameful part of our country&’s recent past—and a poignant tale of a mother&’s enduring love.
You'll Grow Out of It
by Jessi KleinTHE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER'Jessi Klein is a brilliant comedic mind and this book is a perfect reflection of that. It's like having a glass of wine with the best friend you wish you had' -Amy SchumerAs both a tomboy and a late bloomer, comedian Jessi Klein grew up feeling more like an outsider than a participant in the rites of modern femininity.In YOU'LL GROW OUT OF IT, Klein offers-through an incisive collection of real-life stories-a relentlessly funny yet poignant take on a variety of topics she has experienced along her strange journey to womanhood and beyond. These include her "transformation from Pippi Longstocking-esque tomboy to are-you-a-lesbian-or-what tom man," attempting to find watchable porn, and identifying the difference between being called 'ma'am' and 'miss' ('Miss sounds like you weigh ninety-nine pounds').Raw, relatable, and consistently hilarious, YOU'LL GROW OUT OF IT is a one-of-a-kind book by a singular and irresistible comic voice.
You'll Grow Out of It
by Jessi KleinTHE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER'Jessi Klein is a brilliant comedic mind and this book is a perfect reflection of that. It's like having a glass of wine with the best friend you wish you had' - Amy SchumerAs both a tomboy and a late bloomer, comedian Jessi Klein grew up feeling more like an outsider than a participant in the rites of modern femininity.In YOU'LL GROW OUT OF IT, Klein offers-through an incisive collection of real-life stories-a relentlessly funny yet poignant take on a variety of topics she has experienced along her strange journey to womanhood and beyond. These include her "transformation from Pippi Longstocking-esque tomboy to are-you-a-lesbian-or-what tom man," attempting to find watchable porn, and identifying the difference between being called 'ma'am' and 'miss' ('Miss sounds like you weigh ninety-nine pounds').Raw, relatable, and consistently hilarious, YOU'LL GROW OUT OF IT is a one-of-a-kind book by a singular and irresistible comic voice.(P)2016 Hachette Audio
You'll Grow Out of It
by Jessi Klein<P>YOU'LL GROW OUT OF IT hilariously, and candidly, explores the journey of the twenty-first century woman. As both a tomboy and a late bloomer, comedian Jessi Klein grew up feeling more like an outsider than a participant in the rites of modern femininity. <P>In YOU'LL GROW OUT OF IT, Klein offers-through an incisive collection of real-life stories-a relentlessly funny yet poignant take on a variety of topics she has experienced along her strange journey to womanhood and beyond. These include her "transformation from Pippi Longstocking-esque tomboy to are-you-a-lesbian-or-what tom man," attempting to find watchable porn, and identifying the difference between being called "ma'am" and "miss" ("Miss sounds like you weigh ninety-nine pounds"). <P>Raw, relatable, and consistently hilarious, YOU'LL GROW OUT OF IT is a one-of-a-kind book by a singular and irresistible comic voice. <P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
You'll Never Believe Me: A Life of Lies, Second Tries, and Things I Should Only Tell My Therapist
by Kari Ferrell"A captivating, sharp and very funny memoir." —New York Times Book ReviewThe compelling, edgy, compassionate, laugh-out-loud memoir from Kari Ferrell, formerly known as the "Hipster Grifter"Before Anna Delvey, before the Tinder Swindler, there was Kari Ferrell. Adopted at a young age by a Mormon family in Utah, Kari struggled with questions of self-worth and identity as one of the few Asian Americans in her insulated community, leading her to run with the “bad crowd” in an effort to fit in. Soon, stealing from superstores turned into picking up men (and picking their pockets), and before she knew it, Kari had graduated from petty theft to Utah’s most wanted list. Though Kari was able to escape the Southwest, she couldn’t outrun her new moniker: the Hipster Grifter. New York City’s indie sleaze scene had found its newest celebrity—just as Kari found herself in a heap of trouble. Jail time, riots, bad checks, and an explosion of internet infamy and fetishization put her name in the spotlight. Beyond the gossip and Gawker posts, there’s a side to Kari the media never saw—until now. By turns rollicking and irreverent, warm and compassionate, You’ll Never Believe Me tells Kari’s story for the first time. A heartfelt narrative of redemption and reconciliation as Kari eventually dedicates her life to activism, social justice, and setting the record straight, this memoir introduces a fresh, hilarious new voice to the literary stage and offers readers a nostalgic, uplifting, and at times unbelievable book that grapples with truth, why we lie, and what it means when our pasts don’t paint the whole picture.
You'll Never Believe Me: Before Anna Delvey, before the Tinder Swindler, there was 'Hipster Grifter' Kari Ferrell...
by Kari Ferrell'Emphatically audacious, hysterical and compelling. Read this memoir!' CAT MARNELLAdopted from South Korea by a Mormon family in Utah, Kari struggled with questions of self-worth and identity as one of the few Asian Americans in her insulated community, and ran with the 'bad crowd' in a bid to fit in. Stealing from shops soon turned into picking up men (and picking their pockets), and, before she knew it, Kari had graduated from petty theft to the state's most-wanted list.Though she was able to escape her hometown for the bright lights of New York, she couldn't outrun her new monicker: the Hipster Grifter. But beyond the internet infamy, headlines and speculation, there's a side to Kari the media never saw - until now.
You'll Never Believe Me: Before Anna Delvey, before the Tinder Swindler, there was 'Hipster Grifter' Kari Ferrell...
by Kari Ferrell'Emphatically audacious, hysterical and compelling. Read this memoir!' CAT MARNELLAdopted from South Korea by a Mormon family in Utah, Kari struggled with questions of self-worth and identity as one of the few Asian Americans in her insulated community, and ran with the 'bad crowd' in a bid to fit in. Stealing from shops soon turned into picking up men (and picking their pockets), and, before she knew it, Kari had graduated from petty theft to the state's most-wanted list.Though she was able to escape her hometown for the bright lights of New York, she couldn't outrun her new monicker: the Hipster Grifter. But beyond the internet infamy, headlines and speculation, there's a side to Kari the media never saw - until now.
You'll Never Blue Ball in This Town Again: One Woman's Painfully Funny Quest to Give It Up
by Heather McDonaldNew York Times bestselling author, comedian, and Chelsea Lately writer Heather McDonald’s hilarious true story of finding herself in the predicament of being an unwilling virgin at the age of twenty-seven.Can’t a girl dress like a hooker, dance like a stripper, and kiss like a porn star and still be a nineteen-year-old virgin? You’ll Never Blue Ball in This Town Again is the laugh-out-loud story of an attractive Los Angeles woman who found herself in the predicament of being an unwilling virgin. As an actress, writer, and stand-up comedienne, Heather McDonald passed up ample opportunities to have her V-card revoked by handsome, rich, and sometimes even fabulously famous men, but she could not bring herself to do “it” until well after her friends had been deflowered. As Chelsea Handler so lovingly puts it, “Thank God Heather waited twenty-seven years to lose her virginity or she wouldn’t have any material for this book.” Whether in a backseat, a community pool, or a sports stadium, with a frat boy, a doctor, or an A-list celebrity, Heather McDonald knew how to turn those boys blue. Unlike “putting out,” blue balling might not have paid her rent or landed her free trips to Hawaii, but it did provide her with hilarious stories and adventures in her search for true love—and, ultimately, her very own happy ending. Now, Heather McDonald will never blue ball in this town again.
You'll Never Find My Body
by Don Lasseter Ronald E. BowersThe author of Meet Me for Murder shares the true crime story of a LA prosecutor working to prove a man guilty of murder—without a body.No evidence . . .On April 22, 1991, three young children waited for their mother, Ann Racz, to return with a takeout dinner. Instead, their father showed up with a small bag of cold French fries and said their mother had gone away. Ann&’s children didn't believe it. Neither did her friends. And neither did the police. But there was zero evidence that anything had happened to Ann.No body . . .Los Angeles detectives dug furiously into the case, grilling John Racz and searching for clues. But without a body, the investigation stalled, and three children grew up wondering what had happened to their loving mother—and if their father had killed her.And a killer in plain sight . . .Fourteen years later, a brilliant female prosecutor defied the legal establishment and delved into the cold case, uncovering shocking information about Ann and her relationship with John. Suddenly, a crusading prosecutor was up against the most difficult kind of murder case of all: to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that John Racz had murdered his wife—even though her body was never found . . . With sixteen pages of photos
You'll Never Find Us: A Memoir
by Jeanne Baker GuyIn 1977, Jeanne&’s German nationalist ex-husband, Klaus, tells her he&’s gotten a new job and wants to take their three-year-old daughter and six-year-old son away for a long weekend to celebrate. Jeanne relents. But Klaus never returns and instead sends Jeanne a letter, delivered by a mutual friend, in which he declares that he has fled to Germany and she will never see him, or her children, again.The next four months are filled with agony, despair, and anger as Jeanne seeks legal support but quickly learns that federal parental kidnapping laws will offer her little help. She reflects on her tumultuous ten-year marriage to Klaus and the unsettling events that followed their divorce. A product of the patriarchal culture of the 1950s, Jeanne&’s nice-girl mentality is being tested and reshaped by the feminist movement of the 1970s, and she finds that the kidnapping ultimately becomes a doorway to unexpected strength.You&’ll Never Find Us is the story of a young mother coming into her own power, regardless of past mistakes, bad judgment, and fears; the story of a woman who realizes she must tap into her newfound resilience and courage to find her stolen children—and steal them back.
You'll Never Nanny in This Town Again
by Suzanne HansenNew and completely updated editionHilarious and addictive, this chronicle of a small-town girl's stint as a celebrity nanny reveals what really happens in the diaper trenches of Hollywood.When Oregon native Suzanne Hansen becomes a live-in nanny to the children of Hollywood über-agent Michael Ovitz, she thinks she's found the job of her dreams. But Hansen's behind-the-scenes access soon gets her much more than she bargained for: working twenty-four hours a day, juggling the shifting demands of the Hollywood elite, and struggling to comprehend wealth unimaginable to most Americans, not to mention dealing with the expected tantrums and the unexpected tense-and intense-atmosphere in the house where she lives with her employers.When the thankless drudgery takes its toll and Hansen finally quits, her boss threatens to blackball her from ever nannying in Hollywood again. Discouraged but determined, Hansen manages to land gigs with Debra Winger and then Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman. Attentive, welcoming parents with a relaxed attitude toward celebrity-looks like Hansen's fallen into a real-life happy ending. But the round-the-clock workdays continue, rubbing some of the glitter off L.A. living, and Hansen's not sure how much longer she can pretend to be Mary Poppins. Even bosses who treat her like family can't help as she struggles to find meaning in her work while living in a town that seems to lack respect for nannies and everyone else who comes in the employee's entrance-but without whom many showbiz households would grind to a halt.Peppering her own journey with true stories and high drama experienced by other nannies to the stars, Hansen offers an intriguing, entertaining mix of tales from the cribs of the rich and famous. You'll Never Nanny in This Town Again is a treat for everyone who is fascinated by the skewed priorities of Tinseltown, for anyone who has wondered how high-wattage supermoms do it all, and for readers who love peeking behind the curtains of celebrity, all of whom will devour this unparalleled-and unabashedly true-account of one girl's tour of duty as Hollywood's hired help.From the Hardcover edition.
You're Already Awesome: How to Silence Your Inner Critic and Step into Greatness
by Alison Faulkner“This is the book that will help you finally put your self-doubt to rest and awaken you to your brilliance.” — Nakeia Homer, author of I Hope This HelpsEverywhere we look, we’re bombarded with millions of ways we can transform ourselves. But while often a worthwhile goal, this drive to be our best selves can also be overwhelming and stressful. Alison Faulkner has been there, and is here to remind us that nothing external can give us worth or value-- we’re already awesome, what we need to do is learn how to recognize our inherent awesomeness and then step into our true power. In You’re Already Awesome, Alison shares with honesty, vulnerability, and a whole lot of humor, personal stories and twelve powerful shifts that help us shift back into an awareness of our awesomeness. The tools in each chapter are tried and true methods that she has used herself and with countless clients to build successful businesses and step into the life of their dreams.
You're Better Than Me: A Memoir
by Bonnie McFarlane“McFarlane has guts, heart, jokes, and plenty of wise words in this hilarious journey through the dark heart of the entertainment industry.” —Publishers WeeklyIt took Bonnie McFarlane a lot of time, effort, and tequila to get to where she is today. Before she starred on Last Comic Standing and directed her own films, she was an inappropriately loud tomboy growing up on her parents’ farm in Cold Lake, Canada, wetting her pants during standardized tests and killing chickens. Desperate to find “her people”—like-minded souls who wouldn’t judge her because she was honest, ruthless, and, okay, sometimes really rude—Bonnie turned to comedy. In her explosively funny and no-holds-barred memoir, Bonnie tells it like it is, and lays bare all of her smart (and not-so-smart) decisions along the way to finding her friends and her comedic voice.From fistfights in elementary school to riding motorcycles to the World Famous Comic Strip, to Late Night with David Letterman, and through to her infamous “c” word bit on Last Comic Standing, You’re Better Than Me is her outrageous trip through the good, bad, and ugly of her life in comedy. McFarlane doesn’t always keep her mouth shut when she should, but at least she makes people laugh. And that’s all that matters, right?“Explores the strange, thrilling world of stand-up . . . [a] brutally candid memoir.” —Shelf Awareness“The author writes lovingly and wittily about . . . negotiating her eccentric family, and developing a creative urge and darkly sardonic worldview born of isolated tedium…Consistently funny.” —Kirkus Reviews
You're Coming With Me Lad: Tales of a Yorkshire Bobby
by Mike PannettPolicing rural Yorkshire is a far cry from Mike Pannett's old job hunting down drug gangs and knife crime in Central London. Settled back in his native Yorkshire, the former Metropolitan Policeman finds that life as a rural beat bobby is no picnic. After a crazed swordsman threatens to take his head off, he finds himself confronting a knife-wielding couple bent on carving each other up. When a stag night turns ugly he ends up with the groom, the best man and the bride-to-be all banged up in the cells -- and the wedding just hours away. With record-breaking floods and politicians to escort, will Mike find time woo the woman of his dreams?For fans of Gervase Phinn and James Herriot.
You're Cookin It Country
by Loretta LynnLoretta Lynn writes just as she speaks. She is a wonderful storyteller and a fabulous cook. The book begins with a yummy blackberry cobbler recipe. There are recipes for every meal, and no meal should be skimpy, according to these recipes and shared memories.
You're Embarrassing Yourself: Stories of Love, Lust, and Movies
by Desiree AkhavanWriter, actor, and director Desiree Akhavan shares the stories she was told to shut up about—hilarious, horny, heartbreaking tales of a life in pursuit of art, love, and a better haircut.&“Hilariously raw, relatable, and—dare I even say—sexy.&”—Jessi KleinWhen it comes to shame, Desiree Akhavan knows what she&’s talking about—whether it&’s winning the title of the Ugliest Girl at her high school, acquiescing to the nose job she was lovingly forced into by her Iranian parents, or losing her virginity to a cokehead she met in a support group for cutters. In You&’re Embarrassing Yourself, Akhavan goes to the rawest places—the lifelong struggle to be at peace in one&’s body, the search for home as the child of immigrants, the anxious underbelly of artistic ambition—in pursuit of wisdom, catharsis, and lolz.Equal parts funny and heartfelt, these seventeen essays chart an artist&’s journey from outcast to overnight indie darling, to (somewhat) self-aware adult woman. The result is a collection that captures the pathetic lows and euphoric highs of our youth—and how to survive them.
You're Hired!: Untold Successes and Failures of a Populist President
by Casey B. MulliganDonald J. Trump had essentially zero experience running for office and his candidacy for President of the United States was opposed by many in both parties that dominate American politics. Nevertheless, in 2016 the American people told him &“You&’re hired!&”. As an insider, scholar, and Chief Economist of the President&’s Council of Economic Advisers, Casey Mulligan presents riveting first-hand accounts of President Trump&’s engagement with policy and politics. The struggle between Trump and a ruling class is skillfully presented by revealing business practices that President Trump is using to dismantle and reshape the Federal administrative state. It proves that today&’s populism has some real substance, but also acknowledges Trump&’s political incorrectness. You&’re Hired! brilliantly details the administration&’s successes and failures alongside the scandals, and accurately portrays the approach and capabilities of our President and our government. You will feel like an insider as you learn how Trump handles auto companies, Senator Bernie Sanders, immigration, international aid, the 2016 election, Twitter, and more that the news media has often failed to report or explain. Rigorous evidence is detailed on assertions that the White House staff is in perpetual chaos which is directly attributable to the President.
You're Leaving When?: Adventures in Downward Mobility
by Annabelle GurwitchFrom the New York Times bestselling author of I See You Made an Effort comes a timely and hilarious chronicle of downward mobility, financial and emotional. With signature "sharp wit" (NPR), Annabelle Gurwitch gives irreverent and empathetic voice to a generation hurtling into their next chapter with no safety net and proves that our no-frills new normal doesn't mean a deficit of humor.In these essays, Gurwitch embraces homesharing, welcoming a housing-insecure young couple and a bunny rabbit into her home. The mother of a college student in recovery who sheds the gender binary, she relearns to parent, one pronoun at a time. She wades into the dating pool in a Miss Havisham-inspired line of lingerie and flunks the magic of tidying up.You're Leaving When? is for anybody who thought they had a semblance of security but wound up with a fragile economy and a blankie. Gurwitch offers stories of resilience, adaptability, low-rent redemption, and the kindness of strangers. Even in a muted Zoom.
You're Married to Her?
by Ira WoodAs the anti-Vietnam War movement drew to a close, a twenty-six-year-old unknown playwright began an affair with a glamorous older woman, a feminist activist and acclaimed poet/novelist at the height of her career. What she saw in a neurotic, sexually naïve, poorly educated but very sweet guy was apparent to no one, especially him. Using a wildly self-skewering but oddly sympathetic narrative voice that fulfills The New York Times' assessment of his "special gift for heartwarming comedy," Ira Wood re-imagines his early years with Marge Piercy in a series of chronologically linked essays, never failing to raise the question that few have failed to ask: You're married to Her?With the brazen candor of Toby Young's How to Lose Friends and Alienate People and the wicked lunacy of David Sedaris, Wood tells tales of his first true love, who he told his parents were dead; his disastrous affair with a promiscuous single mother, while he was involved with Piercy; his childhood dependence on speed; and running for public office on a lark-and winning-only to find himself responsible for the government of a small town. Thirty years later he's still married to Her, confident enough to share, and laugh at, what men do when their behavior slips to the level of their self-esteem.Ira Wood is the author of two novels and the co-author, with Marge Piercy, of two highly acclaimed books, a novel and a writing text. His talk show The Lowdown streams on WOMR-FM, a Pacifica network affiliate.
You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)
by Felicia DayThe Internet isn't all cat videos. There's also Felicia Day - violinist, filmmaker, Internet entrepreneur, compulsive gamer and former lonely homeschooled girl who overcame her isolated childhood to become the ruler of a new world . . . or at least semi-influential in the world of Internet geeks and Goodreads book clubs.After growing up in the south where she was 'homeschooled for hippie reasons', Felicia moved to Hollywood to pursue her dream of becoming an actress and was immediately typecast as a crazy cat-lady secretary. But Felicia's misadventures in Hollywood led her to produce her own web series, own her own production company and become an Internet star.Felicia's short-ish life and her rags-to-riches rise to Internet fame launched her career as one of the most influential creators in new media. Now, Felicia's strange world is filled with thoughts on creativity, video games, and a dash of mild feminist activism - just like her memoir.Hilarious and inspirational, You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) is proof that everyone should embrace what makes them different and be brave enough to share it with the world, because anything is possible now - even for a digital misfit.
You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost): A Memoir
by Felicia DayFrom online entertainment mogul, actress, and "queen of the geeks" Felicia Day comes a funny, quirky, and inspiring memoir about her unusual upbringing, her rise to Internet-stardom, and embracing her individuality to find success in Hollywood.The Internet isn't all cat videos. There's also Felicia Day--violinist, filmmaker, Internet entrepreneur, compulsive gamer, hoagie specialist, and former lonely homeschooled girl who overcame her isolated childhood to become the ruler of a new world...or at least semi-influential in the world of Internet geeks and Goodreads book clubs. After growing up in the south where she was "homeschooled for hippie reasons," Felicia moved to Hollywood to pursue her dream of becoming an actress and was immediately typecast as a crazy cat-lady secretary. But Felicia's misadventures in Hollywood led her to produce her own web series, own her own production company, and become an Internet star. Felicia's short-ish life and her rags-to-riches rise to Internet fame launched her career as one of the most influential creators in new media. Now, Felicia's strange world is filled with thoughts on creativity, video games, and a dash of mild feminist activism--just like her memoir. Hilarious and inspirational, You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) is proof that everyone should embrace what makes them different and be brave enough to share it with the world, because anything is possible now--even for a digital misfit.
You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost): A Memoir
by Felicia DayThe Internet isn't all cat videos...There's also Felicia Day - violinist, filmmaker, Internet entrepreneur, compulsive gamer and former lonely homeschooled girl who overcame her isolated childhood to become the ruler of a new world . . . or at least semi-influential in the world of Internet geeks and Goodreads book clubs.After growing up in the south where she was 'homeschooled for hippie reasons', Felicia moved to Hollywood to pursue her dream of becoming an actress and was immediately typecast as a crazy cat-lady secretary. But Felicia's misadventures in Hollywood led her to produce her own web series, own her own production company and become an Internet star.Felicia's short-ish life and her rags-to-riches rise to Internet fame launched her career as one of the most influential creators in new media. Now, Felicia's strange world is filled with thoughts on creativity, video games, and a dash of mild feminist activism - just like her memoir.Hilarious and inspirational, You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) is proof that everyone should embrace what makes them different and be brave enough to share it with the world, because anything is possible now - even for a digital misfit.
You're Not A Country, Africa!
by Pius AdesanmiIn this wide-ranging collection of essays, Pius Adesanmi explores what Africa means to him as an African and as a citizen of the world. <P><P>Examining the personal and the political, tradition and modernity, custom and culture, Adesanmi grapples with the complexity and contradictions of this vast continent, zooming in most closely on Nigeria, the country of his birth. <P><P>The inspiration for the title of the collection, You're Not a Country, Africa, comes from a line of poetry: 'You are not a country Africa, you are a concept, fashioned in our minds, each to each'. <P><P>The Africa fashioned in our minds - with our fears and our dreams - is the Africa that the reader will encounter in these essays. <P><P>Through narratives and political and cultural reflections, Pius Adesanmi approaches the meaning of Africa from the perspective that you never actually define Africa: rather, it defines you in various contexts and for various people.