- Table View
- List View
Dk Life Stories: Martin Luther King Jr (Dk Life Stories Ser.)
by Laurie Calkhoven Charlotte AgerIn this kids' biography, discover the amazing story of Martin Luther King Jr., whose powerful words and dreams for the future inspired the world. Martin Luther King Jr. will always be remembered for his famous "I have a dream" speech, which he gave during the March on Washington in 1963. But his life before and after that big event, and his other enormous contributions to the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, largely go unspoken. In this biography for kids ages 8-12, learn all about MLK - from his early family life and experiences in education, to his untimely death and the worldwide mourning and riots that followed. This new biography series from DK goes beyond the basic facts to tell the true life stories of history's most interesting people. Full-color photographs and hand-drawn illustrations complement thoughtfully written, age-appropriate text to create an engaging book children will enjoy reading. Definition boxes, information sidebars, fun facts, maps, inspiring quotes, and other nonfiction text features add depth, and a handy reference section at the back makes this the one biography series every teacher and librarian will want to collect. Each book also includes an author's introduction letter, a glossary, and an index.
DK Life Stories Marie Curie (DK Life Stories)
by Nell WalkerExplore the inspirational tale of this Nobel prize laureate, Marie Curie.Learn about the fascinating life of Marie Curie, one of the world&’s most celebrated women scientists who changed the course of the world through her scientific discoveries in this captivating children&’s biography.This intriguing history book for kids uncovers the trials, tribulations and most memorable moments in Marie Curie&’s career and life. It includes: • Full-color photographs and hand-drawn illustrations, this engaging narrative will appeal to even the most reluctant of young readers • 12 narrative chapters plus full-page quotes and photo galleries scattered throughout the book that keeps the momentum going, helping reluctant readers along as they navigate the book. • Authors are carefully chosen for each book to ensure voice and tone are exactly right • Definition boxes, information sidebars and inspiring quotes add depth, while a handy reference section at the back makes DK Life Stories the one biography series everyone will want to collect. This educational book makes for a perfect purchase for kids ages 7 to 11, especially those who are particularly interested in learning about science. Young readers will be engrossed in this biography as they learn about the major events of Marie Curie&’s life. Explore her childhood in Poland when she discovered her love of science using the lab kit her father brought home from his school. Discover when she coined the term &“radioactive&” and developed mobile radiology units that helped treat countless injured soldiers in the First World War. DK Life Stories biography series goes beyond the basic facts to tell the true-life stories of history&’s most interesting people. Each book includes an author&’s introduction letter as well as a glossary, timeline, family tree, quiz and index. Add Life Stories: Anne Frank or Life Stories: Martin Luther King Jr to your collection!
DK Life Stories: Leonardo da Vinci (DK Life Stories)
by Stephen KrenskyDiscover the inspiring story of Leonardo da Vinci, the artist, inventor, and engineer of the Italian Renaissance...Leonardo was a creative genius who wanted to understand how things worked. This book traces his life, from his birth in a hilltop village near Florence, Italy, through to his work as a painter, sculptor, and engineer. Leonardo made hundreds of drawings and paintings, including the Mona Lisa - probably the most famous painting in the world. Learn how Leonardo made detailed sketches of the human body and designs of parachutes, helicopters, and armored tanks - many years before the technology existed to build them.This new kids' biography series from DK goes beyond the basic facts to tell the true life stories of history's most interesting and inspiring people. Full-color photographs and hand-drawn illustrations complement age-appropriate narrative text to create an engaging book children will enjoy reading. Definition boxes, information sidebars, inspiring quotes, and other nonfiction text features add depth, and a handy reference section at the back makes DK Life Stories the one biography series everyone will want to collect.
DK Life Stories: Katherine Johnson (DK Life Stories)
by Ebony Joy WilkinsIn this kids' biography, discover the inspiring story of Katherine Johnson, famed NASA mathematician and one of the subjects of the best-selling book and movie Hidden Figures.It was an incredible accomplishment when the United States first put a person on the moon--but without the incredible behind-the-scenes work of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, such a feat could not have been possible. In this biography for kids ages 8-12, follow Katherine's remarkable journey from growing up in West Virginia, to becoming a teacher, to breaking barriers at NASA and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. DK Life Stories go beyond the basic facts to tell the true life stories of history's most interesting people. Full-color photographs and hand-drawn illustrations complement thoughtfully written, age-appropriate text to create an engaging book children will enjoy reading. Definition boxes, information sidebars, fun facts, maps, inspiring quotes, and other nonfiction text features add depth, and a handy reference section at the back makes this series perfect for school reports and projects. Each book also includes an author's introduction letter, a glossary, and an index.
DK Life Stories Jesse Owens: Amazing people who have shaped our world (DK Life Stories)
by James BuckleyDiscover the inspiring story of Jesse Owens, African American track-and-field athlete and Olympic gold medalist, in this fascinating kids' biography.Jesse Owens is one of the most famous athletes of all time, but he experienced discrimination throughout his athletic career, such as having to stay at a different hotel to his teammates, because of the color of his skin. However, he went on to win an incredible four gold medals at the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games.This biography, ideal for kids aged 8-11, charts the major events of Jesse's life; from his childhood growing up on a farm in Alabama before his family moved to Ohio in search of better opportunities, to the beginning of his running career and years as a world record-breaking student athlete while working part-time jobs, all the way to the Olympics and beyond.DK Life Stories goes beyond the basic facts to tell the true life stories of history's most interesting and inspiring people. Full-color photographs and hand-drawn illustrations complement age-appropriate, narrative text to create an engaging ebook children will enjoy reading. Definition boxes, information sidebars, inspiring quotes, and other nonfiction text features add depth, and a handy reference section at the back makes DK Life Stories the one biography series everyone will want to collect.
DK Life Stories: Jane Goodall (DK Life Stories)
by Libby RomeroIn this kids' biography, discover the inspiring story of Jane Goodall, whose work with chimpanzees changed the way we understand animals and ourselves. Jane Goodall was a pioneer of primatology through her groundbreaking with chimpanzees in Africa. When she embarked on her career, women were discouraged from conducting scientific research, especially when that work meant living side by side with wild animals. Jane was a self-taught scientist, who bravely ventured out into the bush of Tanzania to discover the secret world of chimpanzees. Through perseverance and perceptive observation, she gained access to these elusive creatures and discovered that they are not so different from us. This new biography series from DK goes beyond the basic facts to tell the true life stories of history's most interesting people. Full-color photographs and hand-drawn illustrations complement thoughtfully written, age-appropriate text to create an engaging book children will enjoy reading. Definition boxes, information sidebars, maps, inspiring quotes, and other nonfiction text features add depth, and a handy reference section at the back makes this the one biography series every teacher and librarian will want to collect. Each book also includes an author's introduction letter, a glossary, and an index.
DK Life Stories: Helen Keller (DK Life Stories)
by Libby RomeroIn this kids' biography, discover the inspiring story of Helen Keller, who overcame the odds by learning to understand and communicate with the world.Helen Keller lost her sight and hearing due to an early childhood illness and spent the first six years of her life unable to interact with other people. She remained isolated from the outside world until Anne Sullivan came to work as her teacher. In this biography for kids ages 8-12, learn all about Helen Keller's amazing life and achievements--how she learned to read Braille and speak, go to college, write books, and ultimately revolutionize the world through her activism on behalf of the deaf and blind. DK Life Stories go beyond the basic facts to tell the true life stories of history's most interesting people. Full-color photographs and hand-drawn illustrations complement thoughtfully written, age-appropriate text to create an engaging book children will enjoy reading. Definition boxes, information sidebars, fun facts, maps, inspiring quotes, and other nonfiction text features add depth, and a handy reference section at the back makes this series perfect for school reports and projects. Each book also includes an author's introduction letter, a glossary, and an index.
DK Life Stories: Harriet Tubman (DK Life Stories)
by Kitson JazynkaDiscover the inspirational tale of this revolutionary abolitionist, Harriet Tubman.Journey back in time to the hardship days of American slavery, where slaves were brutally prosecuted daily and yearned for their freedom. Uncover the heroic tale of Harriet Tubman, an inspirational and fearless abolitionist who helped many slaves secure their freedom in this gripping and educational children&’s biography.This motivational history book uncovers the trials and tribulations of Harriet Tubman&’s life story, and teaches children about the atrocities of that period, endurance and bravery of the human character. Here&’s what&’s inside: • The story is the driver here. Follow Harriet&’s tale chapter by chapter as the author unveils not just the facts, but also what Harriet was thinking and feeling — when appropriate, in her own words. There are 12 chapters in total • Full-page quotes and photo galleries scattered throughout the book keep the momentum going, helping reluctant readers along as they navigate this chaptered book • Authors are carefully chosen to ensure the voice and tone are exactly right A force to be reckoned with; Harriet Tubman was a nurse, scout, and advisor during the American Civil War. Harriet co-led the Combahee River Raid, in which 700 slaves were freed. After the war, she continued with her revolutionary plights and became involved in the fight that allowed women the right to vote, and opened a retirement home for sick and elderly African Americans. This biography contains full-color photographs and hand-drawn illustrations that complement the age-appropriate narrative text to create an engaging book that children will enjoy reading. Definition boxes, information sidebars, maps, inspiring quotes and other nonfiction text features add extra depth. The convenient, easy-to-follow reference section at the back of the book makes this a great resource for children, teachers and librarians.DK Life Stories biography series goes beyond the basic facts to tell the true-life stories of history&’s most interesting people. Each book includes an author&’s introduction letter as well as a glossary, timeline, family tree, quiz and index. Add Life Stories: Anne Frank or Life Stories: Martin Luther King Jr. to your collection!
DK Life Stories: Gandhi (DK Life Stories)
by Diane BaileyIn this kids' biography, discover the inspiring life story of Mohandas Gandhi, whose teachings of compassion and non-violence helped to win his country's freedom.Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born at a time when his home country was choked under the oppression of British rule. Many thought that violence was the only way to fight back, but Gandhi disagreed. Instead, he successfully used his teachings of non-violence and civil disobedience to win his country's freedom, and to promote his philosophy of peace and equality. In this biography for kids ages 8-12, see how Gandhi--called Mahatma, or "great soul," by his many followers--changed the world through his words and deeds, which still resonate worldwide today. DK Life Stories go beyond the basic facts to tell the true life stories of history's most interesting people. Full-color photographs and hand-drawn illustrations complement thoughtfully written, age-appropriate text to create an engaging book children will enjoy reading. Definition boxes, information sidebars, fun facts, maps, inspiring quotes, and other nonfiction text features add depth, and a handy reference section at the back makes this series perfect for school reports and projects. Each book also includes an author's introduction letter, a glossary, and an index.
DK Life Stories: Florence Nightingale (DK Life Stories)
by Kitson JazynkaIn this kids' biography, discover the fascinating story of Florence Nightingale, who cared for British soldiers during wartime as the "Lady of the Lamp" and changed the field of nursing.Florence Nightingale was a pioneer of nursing at a time when women were discouraged from working outside the home, especially in the field of science. She saved many lives both on and off the battlefield through implementing a new standard of medical care, and by leading groups of nurses to improve conditions. In this biography for kids ages 8-12, learn all about the inspiring story of Florence Nightingale--social reformer, statistician, and mother of modern nursing who bucked the social norms of her day and changed the world. DK Life Stories go beyond the basic facts to tell the true life stories of history's most interesting people. Full-color photographs and hand-drawn illustrations complement thoughtfully written, age-appropriate text to create an engaging book children will enjoy reading. Definition boxes, information sidebars, fun facts, maps, inspiring quotes, and other nonfiction text features add depth, and a handy reference section at the back makes this series perfect for school reports and projects. Each book also includes an author's introduction letter, a glossary, and an index.
DK Life Stories Barack Obama: Amazing People Who Have Shaped Our World (DK Life Stories)
by Stephen KrenskyDiscover the incredible life story of Barack Obama, who became the first African American president of the USA.This popular biography series from DK goes beyond the basic facts, to share with children the true life stories of history&’s most interesting and inspiring people. Young readers can enjoy learning all about Barack Obama, famous for his meteoric rise to the presidency of the most powerful country in the world – the USA. Follow the story of how Obama realized his dreams – a story of success, resilience, and perseverance, to become one of the most admired leaders the world has ever seen. Discover Barack&’s fight against racial and social injustices, hardships and setbacks in his early career, and his personal happiness when marrying Michelle. Colorful photographs and beautiful hand-drawn illustrations go alongside exciting text to create an engaging book that children will immerse themselves in. Learn about Barack Obama in this biography for children ages 8+, featuring:- Obama&’s tale chapter by chapter, unveiling not just the facts, but also what he was thinking and feeling in his own words- 12 narrative chapters, plus full-page quotes and photo galleries scattered throughout the book, keeping reluctant readers engaged- Full-color photographs and hand-drawn illustrations, along with maps, quotes, and a reference section, a timeline of Barack&’s life, a quiz, and a glossary of key terms- An educational biography that&’s part of the collectible Life Stories series- Part of the fascinating Life Stories biography collection, this series is about amazing people who have shaped our world, that children aged 8 and upwards will enjoy collecting.Children can learn all about Barack Obama&’s remarkable journey, from his unsettled early childhood, through to his struggle to find a meaningful first job as a young man in this gripping true life story to inspire young readers.
DK Life Stories: Anne Frank (DK Life Stories)
by Stephen KrenskyDiscover the inner world of the girl who hid from the Nazis in WWII — Anne Frank!Insightful and a testament to a child with wisdom beyond her circumstances, Anne Frank&’s life story and diary continue to inspire children everywhere. Learn about her life in this children&’s history book before she went into hiding and during her time in &“The Annex.&” Inside this colorful, illustrated biography, you&’ll find: • Anne Frank's story chapter by chapter as the author unveils not just the facts, but also what Anne was thinking and feeling — when appropriate, in her own words • Full-page quotes scattered throughout the book keep the momentum going, helping reluctant readers along as they navigate this chaptered book • Carefully designed features, like definition boxes, quotes, maps, illustrations, and more • A reference section with Anne&’s family tree, a timeline of her life, a quiz, an author&’s introduction letter, a glossary and an index Anne Frank&’s diary tells two stories: one of an extraordinary young girl living in hiding during one of the most fearsome times in history, and one of a relatable girl facing the same questions and troubles that kids do today. Learn how both sides made Anne the person and writer she was. Inside this Anne Frank biography, you&’ll also meet her family and friends, explore &“The Annex,&” where they hid, and find information on the historical context of World War II, the Holocaust, Hitler and Nazi Germany.This life story of Anne Frank is packed with full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations and thoughtfully written text to engage young children from beginning to end. Look out for definition boxes, information sidebars, maps and quotes to use as a reference for projects or teaching! DK Life Stories biography series goes beyond the basic facts to tell the true-life stories of history&’s most interesting people. Each book includes an author&’s introduction letter as well as a glossary, timeline, family tree, quiz and index. Add Life Stories: Harriet Tubman or Life Stories: Marie Curie to your collection!
DK Life Stories Amelia Earhart (DK Life Stories)
by Libby RomeroDiscover the inspiring story of Amelia Earhart - the first woman to fly solo over the Atlantic Ocean...Amelia Earhart is one of the world's most famous aviators in the history of flight and a role model for women everywhere. Follow the story of this trailblazing pilot - from her childhood adventures in Kansas, USA, to her around-the-world-flight in 1937, which ended in her mysterious disappearance over the Pacific Ocean.This biography book for kids ages 8-11 charts the major events of Amelia's life, including buying her first plane (a bright yellow bi-plane that she named "The Canary"), gaining her pilot's license in 1923, becoming the first female air passenger to cross the Atlantic Ocean in 1928, and becoming the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1932, earning her the nickname "Queen of the Air". The story of a true feminist icon, DK Life Stories: Amelia Earhart is the gripping tale of a determined woman who broke the rules and followed her dreams skywards.This new kids' biography series from DK goes beyond the basic facts to tell the true life stories of history's most interesting and inspiring people. Full-color photographs and hand-drawn illustrations complement the age-appropriate, narrative text to create an engaging book children will enjoy reading. Definition boxes, information sidebars, inspiring quotes, and other nonfiction text features add depth, and a handy reference section at the back makes DK Life Stories the one biography series everyone will want to collect.
DK Life Stories: Alexander Hamilton (DK Life Stories)
by James BuckleyIn this kids' biography, discover the amazing life story of Alexander Hamilton, Founding Father of the United States whose work as an American statesman and strong personality made him an icon of history and popular culture.Alexander Hamilton is known not only for his political brilliance, but also for his strong principles and astonishing achievements. In this biography for kids 8-12, read about how, from humble beginnings as an orphan, Hamilton defied all the odds and made a lasting name for himself in many arenas, including politics, finance, and the military. DK Life Stories go beyond the basic facts to tell the true life stories of history's most interesting people. Full-color photographs and hand-drawn illustrations complement thoughtfully written, age-appropriate text to create an engaging book children will enjoy reading. Definition boxes, information sidebars, fun facts, maps, inspiring quotes, and other nonfiction text features add depth, and a handy reference section at the back makes this series perfect for school reports and projects. Each book also includes an author's introduction letter, a glossary, and an index.
DK Life Stories: Albert Einstein (DK Life Stories)
by Wil MaraIn this kids' biography, follow the remarkable life story of Albert Einstein, whose legendary genius and creative imagination made him one of the world's most famous thinkers.Albert Einstein is known as one of the most brilliant people in history. His many theories and discoveries changed the way scientists think and work, and the way in which we look at and understand things. In this kids' biography for ages 8-12, learn all about Einstein's family and education, his travels and troubles, and the special compass he was given as a young boy that first set him on the path to questioning the world around him. DK Life Stories go beyond the basic facts to tell the true life stories of history's most interesting people. Full-color photographs and hand-drawn illustrations complement thoughtfully written, age-appropriate text to create an engaging book children will enjoy reading. Definition boxes, information sidebars, fun facts, maps, inspiring quotes, and other nonfiction text features add depth, and a handy reference section at the back makes this series perfect for school reports and projects. Each book also includes an author's introduction letter, a glossary, and an index.
DK Life Stories: Ada Lovelace (DK Life Stories)
by Nancy CastaldoIn this kids' biography, discover the inspiring story of Ada Lovelace, who wrote the world's first computer program.In 1833, Ada Lovelace met mathematician Charles Babbage, inventor of calculating machines. She went on to devise a way of inputting data into Babbage's Analytical Machine, and in doing so became the first-ever computer programmer. In this kids' biography book for 8-11 year olds, learn all about Ada Lovelace's fascinating life, including her famous father (celebrated poet Lord Byron), her talent for languages and mathematics, and her predictions for how computers could change our lives.This new biography series from DK goes beyond the basic facts to tell the true life stories of history's most interesting people. Full-colour photographs and hand-drawn illustrations complement thoughtfully written, age-appropriate text to create an engaging book children will enjoy reading. Definition boxes, information sidebars, maps, inspiring quotes, and other nonfiction text features add depth, and a handy reference section at the back makes this the one biography series every teacher and librarian will want to collect. Each book also includes an author's introduction letter, a glossary, and an index.
Djinn (SUNY series in Queer Politics and Cultures)
by Tofik DibiFrom a young age, Tofik Dibi feels "it"—a spirit, or djinn, that follows him everywhere. Where "it" goes, "they" go—his classmates, his colleagues, all the people who fear and hate "it," his homosexuality.The son of Moroccan immigrants, Dibi was elected to the Dutch Parliament in 2006 at just twenty-six years old. During his six years in office, he fought for the equal rights of Dutch Muslims against a political elite that cast them as misogynists, homophobes, and, after 9/11, terrorists. But Dibi himself never came out publicly as queer—until he wrote Djinn. A bestseller upon its publication in Dutch in 2015, it tells the poignant, at times heartbreaking, story of Dibi's coming-of-age as a gay Muslim man with humor and grace. From his Amsterdam childhood to his experiences in New York City clubs and internet chatrooms to his unlikely political ascent, Djinn explores contemporary issues of race, religion, sexuality, and human rights in and beyond Europe. Yet it also promises readers who may not see themselves reflected in popular culture—like Dibi as a young man—an all-too-rare sense of visibility and recognition.
DJ Focus (Fountas & Pinnell Classroom, Guided Reading)
by Catherine LordiNIMAC-sourced textbook. The Young DJ. Kelvin Doe was only 14 when he first went on the radio as DJ Focus. Amazing, right? Not as amazing as the story of how he did it.
Dizzy, Duke, Brother Ray, and Friends: On and Off the Record with Jazz Greats
by Lillian TerryLilian Terry has lived music. As a performer, she has shared the stage with Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone. She cofounded the European Jazz Federation and pioneered jazz education in Italy. Her work as a director-producer of radio and television programs have spread the music by introducing countless people to its legendary performers. Drawing on Terry's long friendships and professional associations, Dizzy, Duke, Brother Ray, and Friends offers readers a rare opportunity to hear intimate conversations with some of the world's greatest musical figures. Dizzy Gillespie offers his thoughts on playing with œsanctified rhythm and the all-important personal touch in performance. Duke Ellington discourses on jazz history and concludes an interview to sing a self-written ditty in Italian. Ray Charles gives candid thoughts on race and politics while taking charge of Terry's tape recorder. Abbey Lincoln, Max Roach, Horace Silver, Bill Evans ”all provide Terry and her readers with unforgettable encounters. The result is a collection of profiles, some stretching over a decade or more, that reveal these performers in ways that illuminates their humanity and expands our appreciation of their art.
Dizzee Rascal: Tales from Da Corner
by Alex KittsNo-holds-barred account of one of Britain's most gifted and creative musical talentsIn 2003, at the age of 17, Dizzee Rascal became an overnight name to drop when his debut album, Boy In Da Corner, beat Coldplay, Radiohead and The Darkness to the Mercury Music Prize.Dizzee was born in Nigeria, but raised by his mum in Bow, east London after the death of his father when he was two years old. Dizzee was thrown out of four schools in four years, got involved with drugs and crime. But, whilst he dropped out of most formal education, music always had a guiding influence on Dizzee. With four bestselling albums to his name, Dizzee is not only famed for pioneering grime - his style has evolved and progressed and he has become one of the biggest popstars in the UK today. Recent collaborations with artists as diverse as Arctic Monkeys and Fatboy Slim demonstrate Dizzee's vision and musical genius. Citing influences which range from old skool hip hop to jungle and heavy metal, Dizzee embodies an artist with a unique talent who's pioneering approach guarantee his longevity.
Dizzee Rascal: Tales from Da Corner
by Alex KittsNo-holds-barred account of one of Britain's most gifted and creative musical talentsIn 2003, at the age of 17, Dizzee Rascal became an overnight name to drop when his debut album, Boy In Da Corner, beat Coldplay, Radiohead and The Darkness to the Mercury Music Prize.Dizzee was born in Nigeria, but raised by his mum in Bow, east London after the death of his father when he was two years old. Dizzee was thrown out of four schools in four years, got involved with drugs and crime. But, whilst he dropped out of most formal education, music always had a guiding influence on Dizzee. With four bestselling albums to his name, Dizzee is not only famed for pioneering grime - his style has evolved and progressed and he has become one of the biggest popstars in the UK today. Recent collaborations with artists as diverse as Arctic Monkeys and Fatboy Slim demonstrate Dizzee's vision and musical genius. Citing influences which range from old skool hip hop to jungle and heavy metal, Dizzee embodies an artist with a unique talent who's pioneering approach guarantee his longevity.
DIY Rules for a WTF World: How to Speak Up, Get Creative, and Change the World
by Krista SuhFrom the creator of the Pussyhat Project comes a manifesto for every woman to create her own distinct and original path to joy, success, and impact.On January 21, 2017, millions of protestors took part in the Women's March, and many of them created a "sea of pink" when they wore knitted pink "pussyhats" in record numbers. The pussyhat swiftly found its place on the cover of TIME and the New Yorker, and it ultimately came to symbolize resistance culture. Creator of the Pussyhat Project, Krista Suh, took an idea and built a worldwide movement and symbol in just two months. But like so many women, Krista spent years letting her fears stop her from learning to live by her own rules. Now in DIY RULES FOR A WTF WORLD, Krista Suh shares the tools, tips, experiences, "rules," and knitting patterns she uses to get creative, get bold, and change the world. From learning how to use your own intuition to decide which rules are right for you to finding your inner-courage to speak up fearlessly; from finding what your passions are (this might surprise you!) to dealing with the squelchers out there, DIY RULES FOR THE WTF WORLD not only inspires you to demolish the patriarchy, but also enables you to create your own rules for living, and even a movement of your own, all with gusto, purpose, and joy.
Dixieland Delight: A Football Season on the Road in the Southeastern Conference
by Clay TravisThere is no college ball more passionate and competitive than football in the Southeastern Conference, where seven of the twelve schools boast stadiums bigger than any in the NFL and 6.5 million fans hit the road every year to hoot and holler their teams to victory.In September 2006, popular sports columnist and lifelong University of Tennessee fan Clay Travis set out on his "Dixieland Delight Tour." Without a single map, hotel reservation, or game ticket, he began an 8,000-mile journey through the beating heart of the Southland. As Travis toured the SEC, he immersed himself in the bizarre game-day rituals of the common fan, brazenly dancing with the chancellor's wife at a Vanderbilt frat party, hanging with University of Florida demigod quarterback Tim Tebow, and abandoning himself totally to the ribald intensity and religious fervor of SEC football. Dixieland Delight is Travis's hilarious, loving, irreverent, and endlessly entertaining chronicle of a season of ironic excess in a world that goes a little crazy on football Saturdays.
Dixie Lullaby: A Story of Music, Race, and New Beginnings in a New South
by Mark KempRock & roll has transformed American culture more profoundly than any other art form. During the 1960s, it defined a generation of young people as political and social idealists, helped end the Vietnam War, and ushered in the sexual revolution. In Dixie Lullaby,veteran music journalist Mark Kemp shows that rock also renewed the identity of a generation of white southerners who came of age in the decade after segregation- the heyday of disco, Jimmy Carter, and Saturday Night Live. Growing up in North Carolina in the 1970s, Kemp experienced pain, confusion, and shame as a result of the South's residual civil rights battles. His elementary school was integrated in 1968, the year Kemp reached third grade; his aunts, uncles, and grandparents held outdated racist views that were typical of the time; his parents, however, believed blacks should be extended the same treatment as whites, but also counseled their children to respect their elder relatives. "I loved the land that surrounded me but hated the history that haunted that land," Kemp writes. When rock music, specifically southern rock, entered his life, he began to see a new way to identify himself, beyond the legacy of racism and stereotypes of southern small-mindedness that had marked his early childhood. Well into adulthood Kemp struggled with the self-loathing familiar to many white southerners. But the seeds of forgiveness were planted in adolescence when he first heard Duane Allman and Ronnie Van Zant pour their feelings into their songs. In the tradition of music historians such as Nick Tosches and Peter Guralnick, Kemp masterfully blends into his narrative the stories of southern rock bands- from heavy hitters such as the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and R.E.M. to influential but less-known groups such as Drive-By Truckers- as well as the personal experiences of their fans. In dozens of interviews, he charts the course of southern rock & roll. Before civil rights, the popular music of the South was a small, often racially integrated world, but after Martin Luther King Jr. 's assassination, black musicians struck out on their own. Their white counterparts were left to their own devices, and thus southern rock was born: a mix of popular southern styles that arose when predominantly white rockers combined rural folk, country, and rockabilly with the blues and jazz of African-American culture. This down-home, flannel-wearing, ass-kicking brand of rock took the nation by storm in the 1970s. The music gave southern kids who emulated these musicians a newfound voice. Kemp and his peers now had something they could be proud of: southern rock united them and gave them a new identity that went beyond outside perceptions of the South as one big racist backwater. Kemp offers a lyrical, thought-provoking, searingly intimate, and utterly original journey through the South of the 1960s, '70s, '80s, and '90s, viewed through the prism of rock & roll. With brilliant insight, he reveals the curative and unifying impact of rock on southerners who came of age under its influence in the chaotic years following desegregation. Dixie Lullaby fairly resonates with redemption.
Dixie Dewdrop: The Uncle Dave Macon Story (Music in American Life)
by Michael D. DoublerOne of the earliest performers on WSM in Nashville, Uncle Dave Macon became the Grand Ole Opry's first superstar. His old-time music and energetic stage shows made him a national sensation and fueled a thirty-year run as one of America's most beloved entertainers. Michael D. Doubler tells the amazing story of the Dixie Dewdrop, a country music icon. Born in 1870, David Harrison Macon learned the banjo from musicians passing through his parents' Nashville hotel. After playing local shows in Middle Tennessee for decades, a big break led Macon to Vaudeville, the earliest of his two hundred-plus recordings and eventually to national stardom. Uncle Dave--clad in his trademark plug hat and gates-ajar collar--soon became the face of the Opry itself with his spirited singing, humor, and array of banjo picking styles. For the rest of his life, he defied age to tour and record prolifically, manage his business affairs, mentor up-and-comers like David "Stringbean" Akeman, and play with the Delmore Brothers, Roy Acuff, and Bill Monroe.