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You Are What You Speak
by Robert Lane GreeneWhat is it about other people's language that moves some of us to anxiety or even rage? For centuries, sticklers the world over have donned the cloak of authority to control the way people use words. Now this sensational new book strikes back to defend the fascinating, real-life diversity of this most basic human faculty. With the erudite yet accessible style that marks his work as a journalist, Robert Lane Greene takes readers on a rollicking tour around the world, illustrating with vivid anecdotes the role language beliefs play in shaping our identities, for good and ill. Beginning with literal myths, from the Tower of Babel to the bloody origins of the word "shibboleth," Greene shows how language "experts" went from myth-making to rule-making and from building cohesive communities to building modern nations. From the notion of one language's superiority to the common perception that phrases like "It's me" are "bad English," linguistic beliefs too often define "us" and distance "them," supporting class, ethnic, or national prejudices. In short: What we hear about language is often really about the politics of identity.Governments foolishly try to police language development (the French Academy), nationalism leads to the violent suppression of minority languages (Kurdish and Basque), and even Americans fear that the most successful language in world history (English) may be threatened by increased immigration. These false language beliefs are often tied to harmful political ends and can lead to the violation of basic human rights. Conversely, political involvement in language can sometimes prove beneficial, as with the Zionist revival of Hebrew or our present-day efforts to provide education in foreign languages essential to business, diplomacy, and intelligence. And yes, standardized languages play a crucial role in uniting modern societies.As this fascinating book shows, everything we've been taught to think about language may not be wrong--but it is often about something more than language alone. You Are What You Speak will certainly get people talking.From the Hardcover edition.
You Can Be ABCs
by Robert Samuel White Robert Samuel WhiteBased on the empowering and beloved viral video rap by six-year-old Sam White and his dad, Bobby, as seen on The Ellen Show and more, comes a book about the many careers kids can aspire to, from A to Z!You can be an A--an architect, a B--a biochemist, a C--a computer software developer, and so much more! It's all about doing what you love and putting your heart into everything that you do. In this alphabet book of careers, the options run from A to Z! And six-year-old social media sensation Sam White and his dad, Bobby, want every kid out there to know that they can reach for the stars and make their dreams come true, whatever they want to become. Just don't be a Z--a zombie, and let the world pass you by.With dynamic and joyful art by Robert Paul Jr. accompanying Sam and Bobby's viral rap, this book will have readers celebrating the potential in everyone.
You Can Be A Winning Writer: The 4 C's System to Author Success: Craft, Commitment, Community & Confidence
by Joan GelfandA professional author shares the keys to success—from first draft to first printing and beyond—in this complete writer’s guide.For more than a decade, author Joan Gelfand has taught writers of all levels and disciplines how to find creative writing success using her unique 4 C’s approach that combines Craft, Commitment, Community and Confidence. In You Can Be a Winning Writer, Gelfand explains the 4 C’s with humor, empathy, and real-life anecdotes from famous, working, and emerging authors.The 4 C’s provide solid tips on mastering your craft, connecting with a literary community, and building your fan base. But the essential component to all of this is confidence. Gelfand knows that a lack of confidence has kept too many writers unpublished for too long. With the help of Renate Stendhal, PhD, Joan defines clear steps to overcoming the lack-of-confidence demon that haunts so many aspiring authors.This literary reference and publishing guide includes:Key authorship and publishing tipsImportant post-publication strategiesGuidance on avoiding common mistakesHow to enjoy greater success with the 4 C’s
You Can Do It: Grammar
by Andy Seed Roger HurnAll the essentials of grammer covered thoroughly in a light-hearted and accessible style. The books act as a genuinely useful tool for children who want or need to improve their English and grasp areas that they have perhaps not understood at school or missed out on. Each page covers a key point, shows lots of examples to demonstrate correct usage, and has a handy summary at the bottom of the page. Comic-strip style illustrations and the group of characters that make up the Odd Mob make learning fun and easy, with puns, jokes and cartoons.
You Can Do It: Spelling
by Andy Seed Roger HurnAll the essentials of spelling covered thoroughly in a light-hearted and accessible style. The books act as a genuinely useful tool for children who want or need to improve their English and grasp areas that they have perhaps not understood at school or missed out on. Each page covers a key point, shows lots of examples to demonstrate correct usage, and has a handy summary at the bottom of the page. Comic-strip style illustrations and the group of characters that make up the Odd Mob make learning fun and easy, with puns, jokes and cartoons.
You Can Do It: Grammar
by Andy Seed Roger HurnAll the essentials of grammer covered thoroughly in a light-hearted and accessible style. The books act as a genuinely useful tool for children who want or need to improve their English and grasp areas that they have perhaps not understood at school or missed out on. Each page covers a key point, shows lots of examples to demonstrate correct usage, and has a handy summary at the bottom of the page. Comic-strip style illustrations and the group of characters that make up the Odd Mob make learning fun and easy, with puns, jokes and cartoons.
You Can Do It: Punctuation
by Andy Seed Roger HurnAll the essentials of punctuation covered thoroughly in a light-hearted and accessible style. The books act as a genuinely useful tool for children who want or need to improve their English and grasp areas that they have perhaps not understood at school or missed out on. Each page covers a key point, shows lots of examples to demonstrate correct usage, and has a handy summary at the bottom of the page. Comic-strip style illustrations and the group of characters that make up the Odd Mob make learning fun and easy, with puns, jokes and cartoons.
You Can Do It Punctuation
by Andy Seed Roger HurnAll the essentials of punctuation covered thoroughly in a light-hearted and accessible style. The books act as a genuinely useful tool for children who want or need to improve their English and grasp areas that they have perhaps not understood at school or missed out on. Each page covers a key point, shows lots of examples to demonstrate correct usage, and has a handy summary at the bottom of the page. Comic-strip style illustrations and the group of characters that make up the Odd Mob make learning fun and easy, with puns, jokes and cartoons.
You Can Do It: Spelling
by Andy Seed Roger HurnAll the essentials of spelling covered thoroughly in a light-hearted and accessible style. The books act as a genuinely useful tool for children who want or need to improve their English and grasp areas that they have perhaps not understood at school or missed out on. Each page covers a key point, shows lots of examples to demonstrate correct usage, and has a handy summary at the bottom of the page. Comic-strip style illustrations and the group of characters that make up the Odd Mob make learning fun and easy, with puns, jokes and cartoons.
You Can Publish Your Journal Article: Advice From Editors to Help You Succeed
by Gilbert C. GeeYou’ve completed your research and want to publish it in a peer-reviewed journal. Author Gilbert C. Gee is here to help, sharing what he learned as a writer, reviewer, and Editor-in-Chief, and calling on other journal editors to offer their advice. You Can Publish Your Journal Article! will not only help you write your paper, but more importantly, be more likely to succeed in peer review. The book has four main premises: that writing involves a relationship between you and your readers, and that your research joins an ongoing conversation in the field; that good writing is rewriting, and revision is critical; that people who write daily are more productive than those who binge write; and finally, that persistency wins, so don’t give up when you get a rejection. With chapters offering practical advice on selecting the right journal, peer review, the methods section, displaying your data, writing the results and discussion sections, the book concludes with short essays from invited journal editors about how to avoid common mistakes and ensure success.
You Can Publish Your Journal Article: Advice From Editors to Help You Succeed
by Gilbert C. GeeYou’ve completed your research and want to publish it in a peer-reviewed journal. Author Gilbert C. Gee is here to help, sharing what he learned as a writer, reviewer, and Editor-in-Chief, and calling on other journal editors to offer their advice. You Can Publish Your Journal Article! will not only help you write your paper, but more importantly, be more likely to succeed in peer review. The book has four main premises: that writing involves a relationship between you and your readers, and that your research joins an ongoing conversation in the field; that good writing is rewriting, and revision is critical; that people who write daily are more productive than those who binge write; and finally, that persistency wins, so don’t give up when you get a rejection. With chapters offering practical advice on selecting the right journal, peer review, the methods section, displaying your data, writing the results and discussion sections, the book concludes with short essays from invited journal editors about how to avoid common mistakes and ensure success.
You Can Say That Again!: A Fun Approach to Sounding Better When You Open Your Mouth to Speak
by Bruce RogersYou Can Say That Again is Bruce Rogers’ light-hearted look at the the English language. It examines the origins, history, and peculiarities of the language, and provides instruction on how to speak effectively. It sets the record straight on how to pronounce some of the most troublesome words and names. It examines the standards of the electronic media and finds them wanting. And it offers tips on preparation and presentation for platform speakers and broadcasters. You Can Say That Again has a language quiz in every chapter, along with lists of origins, political and business terms, sports and science bloopers, puns, limericks, and euphemisms. There’s a pronunciation guide for major languages. And there is help for those who want to join the battle against jargon, slang, and cliches. Vocal confidence is essential for personal success. You Can Say That Again can help you sound better when you open your mouth to speak.
You Can Write a Novel: Second Edition
by James V. SmithTurn Your Big Idea into a Salable Novel Do you have an idea for a great novel? Have you always dreamed of writing a bestseller? Are you at a loss for where to start? Look no further. You Can Write a Novel, 2nd Edition, gives you concrete, proven techniques to get from idea, to manuscript, to bookstore. Veteran author James V. Smith, Jr. , breaks down the novel writing process into ten logical steps. You'll start building the foundation for your book right away by taking your story's three most importance incidents from brainstorm to final draft perfection. Smith's approach will guide you through a practical sequence designed to keep you focused, organized, and moving forward. You Can Write a Novel skillfully and simply addresses the essentials, such as plot, character, setting, dialogue, and action. You'll learn how to generate a salable idea, develop your idea into a framework, and build your framework into a finished manuscript. This edition includes new brainstorming tools, fresh plot and character organization strategies, and innovative tools to evaluate your story's readability and pacing-plus, you'll find the one-word key to every best-selling novel. And, as always, Smith's upbeat, accessible style will cheer you on from start to finish.
YOU CAN WRITE Children's Books
by Tracy E. DilsOhio-based author and editor Dils explains how to turn ideas about children's books into published volumes. After reviewing the market as a whole and dispelling some misconception, she covers picture books, beginning readers and chapter books, middle grade and young adult novels, and nonfiction. Then she gets into the nuts and bolts, looking at conventions of style and technique, finding the right publisher, the query and proposal, formatting the manuscript, and creating a writing rhythm. An appendix sets out characteristics of the standard developmental stages. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
You Can Write A Terrific Opinion Piece
by Jennifer FandelYou can say why you think rabbits make the best pets. You can list why winter is better than summer. You can share why your school needs a new gym. You can write a terrific opinion piece!
You Can Write Using Good Grammar
by Jennifer Rozines RoyMany young writers consider grammar boring and difficult. In YOU CAN WRITE USING GOOD GRAMMAR, author Jennifer Rozines Roy counters that perception with humor and encouragement. Helpful examples, clear explanations, charts, and illustrations make this grammar guide accessible to young readers.
You Cannot Resist Me When My Hair Is in Braids (Made in Michigan Writers Series)
by Frances Kai-Hwa WangIn the aftermath of a messy divorce, Frances Kai-Hwa Wang writes in the hope of beginning to build a new life with four children, bossy aunties, unreliable suitors, and an uncertain political landscape. The lyric essays in You Cannot Resist Me When My Hair Is in Braids deftly navigate the space between cultures and reflect on lessons learned from both Asian American elders and young multiracial children, punctuated by moments rich with cultural and linguistic nuance. In her prologue, Wang explains, "Buddhists say that suffering comes from unsatisfied desire, so for years I tried to close the door to desire. I was so successful, I not only closed the door, I locked it, barred it, nailed it shut, then stacked a bunch of furniture in front of it. And now that door is open, wide open, and all my insides are spilling out." Full of current events of the day and #HashtagsOfTheMoment, the topics in the collection are wide ranging, including cooking food to show love, surviving Chinese School, being an underpaid lecturer, defending against yellow dildos, navigating immigration issues, finding love in a time of elections, crying with children separated from their parents at the border, charting the landscape of frugal/hoarder elders during the pandemic, witnessing COVID-inspired anti–Asian American violence while reflecting on the death of Vincent Chin, teaching her sixteen-year-old son to drive after the deaths of Trayvon Martin and George Floyd, and trusting the power of writing herself into existence. Within these lyric essays, some of which are accompanied by artwork and art installations, Wang finds the courage and hope to speak out for herself and for an entire generation of Asian American women. A notable work in the landscape of Asian American literature as well as Midwest and Michigan-based literature, You Cannot Resist Me When My Hair Is in Braids features a clear and powerful voice that brings all people together in these political and pandemic times.
You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train
by Howard ZinnBeacon Press is proud to publish a new edition of the classic memoir by one of our most lively, influential, and engaged teachers and activists. Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States, tells his personal stories about more than thirty years of fighting for social change, from teaching at Spelman College to recent protests against war.A former bombardier in WWII, Zinn emerged in the civil rights movement as a powerful voice for justice. Although he's a fierce critic, he gives us reason to hope that by learning from history and engaging politically, we can make a difference in the world.
You Can’t Get There From Here: The Past as Present in Small-Town Ontario Fiction
by Ryan PorterRather than reading small-town representations within works as portraits of a provincial past, this book claims that they are best understood as projections emerging from an urban present. As Ontario urbanized over the past century, small towns became a popular literary trope, and Ryan Porter argues that literary small-town Ontario functioned, and functions still, as not only a refraction but also as an exploration of the province’s dominant urban modernity. Utilizing theories from heritage scholars, who view popularly understood pasts as conforming to the zeitgeist of the present, You Can’t Get There from Here argues that the literary small-town Ontario past is malleable, consisting of attempts to come to terms with the present in which the narrators find themselves. The book focuses on four key Ontario authors – Stephen Leacock, Robertson Davies, Alice Munro, and Jane Urquhart – as well as many secondary authors, and links the readings to much broader trends in actual Ontario towns and in popular culture.
You Can't Joke About That: Why Everything Is Funny, Nothing Is Sacred, and We're All in This Together
by Kat TimpfWhat happens when we can’t joke about some of the most important stuff in life? <p><p>In a 2019 study, 40% of people reported censoring themselves out of fear that voicing their views would alienate them from the people they care about most. Those people should probably not read this book in public. <p><p>In You Can’t Joke About That, Kat Timpf shows why much of the way we talk about sensitive subjects is wrong. We’ve created all the wrong rules. We push ourselves into unnecessary conflicts when we should feel like we’re all in this together. When someone says “you can’t joke about that,” what they really mean is “this is a subject that makes people sad or angry.” <p><p>Hilariously and movingly, Timpf argues that those subjects are actually the most important to joke about. She shows us we can find healing through humor regarding things you probably don't want to bring up in polite conversation, like traumatic break-ups, cancer, being broke, Dave Chappelle, rape jokes, aging, ostomy bags, religion, body image, dead moms, religion, the lab leak theory, transgender swimmers, gushing wounds, campus censorship, and bad Christmas presents. <p><p>This book is Kat Timpf with her hair down, except since hers is mostly extensions, this book is Kat Timpf with her hair out. Read it because you want to get to know her better. Read it because it’s the best book on free speech and comedy in a generation. Read it because you want to laugh out loud… even at the kind of stuff we’re afraid to say out loud. Just read it, and you’ll be glad you did. <p> <b>New York Times Bestseller</b>
You Can't Make This Stuff Up: The Complete Guide to Writing Creative Nonfiction -- from Memoir to Literary Journalism and Everything in Between
by Lee GutkindFrom rags-to-riches-to-rags tell-alls to personal health sagas to literary journalism everyone seems to want to try their hand at creative nonfiction. Now, Lee Gutkind, the go-to expert for all things creative nonfiction, taps into one of the fastest-growing genres with this new writing guide. Frank and to-the-point, with depth and clarity, Gutkind describes and illustrates each and every aspect of the genre, from defining a concept and establishing a writing process to the final product. Offering new ways of understanding genre and invaluable tools for writers to learn and experiment with, You Can't Make This Stuff Up allows writers of all skill levels to thoroughly expand and stylize their work.
You Can't Read This: Forbidden Books, Lost Writing, Mistranslations, and Codes
by Val RossWherever people can read, there are stories about the magic, mystery, and power of what they read. Val Ross presents a history of reading that is, in fact, the story of the monumental, on-going struggle to read. From Enheduanna, daughter of Sargon the Great, the world's oldest signed author to Empress Shotoku of Japan who in 764 ordered the printing of one million Buddhist prayers; from the story of Hulagu, Ghengis Khan's nasty brother who destroyed the library of Baghdad to Bowdler and the censorship of Shakespeare, there have been barriers to reading ranging from the physical to the economical, social, and political.Written for children ages ten and up, You Can't Read This explores the development of alphabets, the decoding of ancient languages, and censorship in Ancient Rome and modern America. It's about secret writing, trashed libraries, writers on the run, writers in hiding, books that are thought to have magical powers and mistranslations that started wars. It's about people: from the American slave Frederick Douglass to girls in Afghanistan in the year 2001 who defied laws that prevented them from learning to read. What do all these stories have in common? They're all about how texts contain power - and how people everywhere throughout history have devoted their wills and their brains to reading and unleashing the power of the word.With lavish illustrations and an index, this is history at its finest.From the Hardcover edition.
You Don't Even Know Me: Stories and Poems About Boys
by Sharon G. FlakeI sit in your class. I play by the rules. I'm young. I'm fly. I'm black. In 9 stories and 13 poems, Sharon G. Flake gives readers insight into the minds of a diverse group adolescent African American males. There's Tow-Kaye, getting married at age 17 to love of his life, who's pregnant. He knows it's the right thing to do, but he's scared to death. James writes in his diary about his twin brother's terrible secret, which threatens to pull James down, too. Tyler explains what it's like to be a player with the ladies. In a letter to his uncle, La'Ron confesses that he's infected with HIV. Eric takes us on a tour of North Philly on the Fourth of July, when the heat could make a guy go crazy. Still, he loves his hood. These and other unforgettable characters come to life in this poignant, funny and often searing collection of urban male voices.
You Don't Know Us Negroes and Other Essays
by Zora Neale Hurston Henry Louis Gates Jr. Genevieve WestIntroduction by New York Times bestselling author Henry Louis Gates Jr. Spanning more than 35 years of work, the first comprehensive collection of essays, criticism, and articles by the legendary author of the Harlem Renaissance, Zora Neale Hurston, showcasing the evolution of her distinctive style as an archivist and author.“One of the greatest writers of our time.”—Toni MorrisonYou Don’t Know Us Negroes is the quintessential gathering of provocative essays from one of the world’s most celebrated writers, Zora Neale Hurston. Spanning more than three decades and penned during the backdrop of the birth of the Harlem Renaissance, Montgomery bus boycott, desegregation of the military, and school integration, Hurston’s writing articulates the beauty and authenticity of Black life as only she could. Collectively, these essays showcase the roles enslavement and Jim Crow have played in intensifying Black people’s inner lives and culture rather than destroying it. She argues that in the process of surviving, Black people re-interpreted every aspect of American culture—"modif[ying] the language, mode of food preparation, practice of medicine, and most certainly religion.” White supremacy prevents the world from seeing or completely recognizing Black people in their full humanity and Hurston made it her job to lift the veil and reveal the heart and soul of the race. These pages reflect Hurston as the controversial figure she was—someone who stated that feminism is a mirage and that the integration of schools did not necessarily improve the education of Black students. Also covered is the sensational trial of Ruby McCollum, a wealthy Black woman convicted in 1952 for killing her lover, a white doctor.Demonstrating the breadth of this revered and influential writer’s work, You Don’t Know Us Negroes and Other Essays is an invaluable chronicle of a writer’s development and a window into her world and mind.
You Don't Want to Know: The grisly, jaw-dropping and most macabre moments from history, nature and beyond
by James FeltonWith his trademark brand of bulldozer-banter, Twitter legend James Felton guides you through the most morbidly fascinating facts you'll then wish you could forget. Ever wondered why the chainsaw was invented?* How authorities dealt with a beached whale back in ye olde days of 1970?** Or what being a human decanter entails?*** Then you've come to the right place! Within these pages you'll find the maddest, strangest and downright grossest stories from history, nature and science that you don't want to know. (Except secretly you really do you masochistic, beastly person you.) Illustrated, painfully funny and drop-your-jaw ridiculous, this is trivia from the cesspit of time that you won't be able to stop reading once you start.*To aid childbirth.**They exploded it with 100 times too much dynamite and rained blubber down on unsuspecting people and buildings.***Decency prevents us from answering this one here. You'll have to buy the book to find out.