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Steppin and Family
by Hope NewellTo Steppin, brown, eager and limber, tap-dancing was the only art in the world, but Harlem boys don't have much money for dancing lessons; and fame seemed very far away as he sat forlornly under the Wishing Tree. Little could Steppin Stebbins imagine the twists and turns in his home life and budding career in the year to follow. From his little corner of Harlem, to the wide open country of upstate New York, and even eventually to the lights of Broadway, Steppin Stebbin knows only one thing; his dream is to dance with the world's most famous tap dancer, Bob Williams. This is a prequel to the Mary Ellis nursing series.
Stepin Fetchit: The Life and Times of Lincoln Perry
by Mel WatkinsThe first African American movie star, Lincoln Perry, a. k. a. Stepin Fetchit, is an iconic figure in the history of American popular culture. In the late 1920s and ’30s he was both renowned and reviled for his surrealistic portrayals of the era’s most popular comic stereotype—the lazy, shiftless Negro. After his breakthrough role in the 1929 film Hearts in Dixie, Perry was hailed as “the best actor that the talking pictures have produced” by the critic Robert Benchley. Having run away from his Key West home in his early teens, Perry found success as a vaude- villian before making his way to California. The tall, lanky actor became the first millionaire black movie star when he appeared in a string of hit movies as the whiny, ever-perplexed, slow-talking comic sidekick. Perry was the highest paid and most popular black comedian in America during Hollywood’s Golden Age, but his ongoing battles with movie executives, his rowdy offscreen behavior, and his extravagant spending kept him in gossip-column headlines. Perry’s spendthrift ways and exorbitant lifestyle hastened his decline and, in 1947, having squandered or given away his fortune, he was forced to declare bankruptcy. In 1964 Perry was discovered in the charity ward of Chicago’s Cook County Hospital; he later turned up in Muhammad Ali’s entourage. In 1972 he unsuccessfully sued CBS for defamation because of a television program that ridiculed the type of characters he had portrayed. But his achievements were eventually acknowledged: in 1976 the Hollywood chapter of the NAACP gave him its Special Image Award for having opened the door for many a succeeding African American film star, and in 1978 he was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame. In Stepin Fetchit, Mel Watkins has given us the first definitive, full-scale biography of an entertainment legend.
Stephen Sondheim: A Casebook (Casebooks on Modern Dramatists #Vol. 23)
by Joanne GordonFirst Published in 1997. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
Stephen Sondheim: A Life
by Meryle SecrestIn the first full-scale life of the most important composer-lyricist at work in musical theatre today, Meryle Secrest, the biographer of Frank Lloyd Wright and Leonard Bernstein, draws on her extended conversations with Stephen Sondheim as well as on her interviews with his friends, family, collaborators, and lovers to bring us not only the artist--as a master of modernist compositional style--but also the private man. Beginning with his early childhood on New York's prosperous Upper West Side, Secrest describes how Sondheim was taught to play the piano by his father, a successful dress manufacturer and amateur musician. She writes about Sondheim's early ambition to become a concert pianist, about the effect on him of his parents' divorce when he was ten, about his years in military and private schools. She writes about his feelings of loneliness and abandonment, about the refuge he found in the home of Oscar and Dorothy Hammerstein, and his determination to become just like Oscar.Secrest describes the years when Sondheim was struggling to gain a foothold in the theatre, his attempts at scriptwriting (in his early twenties in Rome on the set of Beat the Devil with Bogart and Huston, and later in Hollywood as a co-writer with George Oppenheimer for the TV series Topper), living the Hollywood life.Here is Sondheim's ascent to the peaks of the Broadway musical, from his chance meeting with play-wright Arthur Laurents, which led to his first success--as co-lyricist with Leonard Bernstein on West Side Story--to his collaboration with Laurents on Gypsy, to his first full Broadway score, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. And Secrest writes about his first big success as composer, lyricist, writer in the 1960s with Company, an innovative and sophisticated musical that examined marriage à la mode. It was the start of an almost-twenty-year collaboration with producer and director Hal Prince that resulted in such shows as Follies, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd, and A Little Night Music.We see Sondheim at work with composers, producers, directors, co-writers, actors, the greats of his time and ours, among them Leonard Bernstein, Ethel Merman, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein, Jerome Robbins, Zero Mostel, Bernadette Peters, and Lee Remick (with whom it was said he was in love, and she with him), as Secrest vividly re-creates the energy, the passion, the despair, the excitement, the genius, that went into the making of show after Sondheim show.A biography that is sure to become the standard work on Sondheim's life and art.
Stephen Fry in America: Fifty States and the Man Who Set Out to See Them All
by Stephen FryBritain's best-loved comic genius, Stephen Fry, turns his celebrated wit and insight to unearthing the real America as he travels across the continent in his chariot of Englishness, a black London cab.Stephen Fry has always loved America. In fact, he came very close to being born here. His fascination for the country and its people sees him embarking on an epic journey across America, visiting each of its fifty states to discover how such a huge diversity of people, cultures, languages, and beliefs creates such a remarkable nation. Stephen starts his journey on the East Coast and zigzags across America, stopping in every state from Maine to Hawaii, talking to each state's hospitable citizens, listening to music, visiting landmarks, viewing small-town life and America's breathtaking landscapes, following wherever his curiosity leads him. En route he discovers the South Side of Chicago with blues legend Buddy Guy, catches up with Morgan Freeman in Mississippi, strides around with Ted Turner on his Montana ranch, marches with Zulus in Mardi Gras in New Orleans, drums with the Sioux Nation in South Dakota, joins a Georgia family for Thanksgiving, "picks" with bluegrass hillbillies, and finds himself in a Tennessee garden full of dead bodies.Whether in a club for failed gangsters in Brooklyn, New York (yes, those are real bullet holes), or celebrating Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts (is there anywhere better?), Stephen is welcomed by the people of America—mayors, sheriffs, newspaper editors, park rangers, teachers, and hoboes, bringing to life the oddities and splendors of each locale. A celebration of the magnificent and the eccentric, the beautiful and the strange, Stephen Fry in America is the author's homage to this extraordinary country.
Steph and Dom's Guide to Life: How to get the most out of pretty much everything life throws at you
by Steph Parker Dom ParkerHi, Steph and Dom here ... Yes that's right, the posh couple from Gogglebox. We're here to tell you about this nifty little book we've done. In handy reference form the book contains our unique take on how to get the most out of pretty much everything life throws at you. Now before you think to yourself 'doesn't a book have to be more than one page long to actually be a book?' we'd like to reassure you we've learnt loads actually! Admittedly we've learnt most of it by accident ... but the point is, we would like to share it with you! Through the medium of hilarity we'll show you everything from how to make an Irish coffee without having a mental breakdown to learning how you and your partner can grow young together and endure more fun than you ever thought possible. Anyway, it's a bloody useful little thing with all the wisdom we've collected over the years - so sit back, pour yourself a drink and let us be your booze consultants, your style gurus, your pub lunch professionals and your maverick marriage counsellors. Chin chin x
Steph and Dom's Guide to Life: How to get the most out of pretty much everything life throws at you
by Steph Parker Dom ParkerHi, Steph and Dom here ... Yes that's right, the posh couple from Gogglebox. We're here to tell you about this nifty little book we've done.<P><P> In handy reference form the book contains our unique take on how to get the most out of pretty much everything life throws at you. Now before you think to yourself 'doesn't a book have to be more than one page long to actually be a book?' we'd like to reassure you we've learnt loads actually! Admittedly we've learnt most of it by accident ... but the point is, we would like to share it with you! Through the medium of hilarity we'll show you everything from how to make an Irish coffee without having a mental breakdown to learning how you and your partner can grow young together and endure more fun than you ever thought possible. Anyway, it's a bloody useful little thing with all the wisdom we've collected over the years - so sit back, pour yourself a drink and let us be your booze consultants, your style gurus, your pub lunch professionals and your maverick marriage counsellors. Chin chin x
Steph and Dom's Guide to Life: How to get the most out of pretty much everything life throws at you
by Steph Parker Dom ParkerThis is Steph and Dom's guide to surviving modern life. With top tips and advice, this delightful little audiobook brings their sage sofa wisdom into a must-have guidebook for fans of Gogglebox.Learn from your favourite Friday night couple how to survive all manner of social occasions; packed with top tips on everything from cocktail making, correct pronunciation and dress codes, this hilarious miscellany will share Steph and Dom's secret to success - and the fun they've had along the way. This is the essential guide to living it up, the Steph and Dom way. So, settle back, pour yourself a drink and learn how to live to the full. Chin, chin.(P)2015 Hodder & Stoughton
Step This Way (Step into Reading)
by Tish RabeStep into reading with the Cat in the Hat in this leveled reader all about different kinds of animal feet! Sally and Nick are having shoe trouble. Sally can't stand up in her mom's shoes, and her dad's are too big for Nick. Not a problem, says the Cat. Feet come in all shapes and sizes, and to demonstrate, he takes them on a trip in the Thinga-ma-jigger to visit some friends: a duck with flat, wide feet good for swimming; a lemur with long, grasping toes good for climbing; and a gecko with tiny hairs on his feet that keep him from slipping. Written specifically for children learning how to read with help, this Step into Reading book about the different ways of "stepping" is based on an episode of the hit PBS Kids preschool science show The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!
Step This Way (Step into Reading)
by Tish RabeStep into reading with the Cat in the Hat in this leveled reader all about different kinds of animal feet! Sally and Nick are having shoe trouble. Sally can't stand up in her mom's shoes, and her dad's are too big for Nick. Not a problem, says the Cat. Feet come in all shapes and sizes, and to demonstrate, he takes them on a trip in the Thinga-ma-jigger to visit some friends: a duck with flat, wide feet good for swimming; a lemur with long, grasping toes good for climbing; and a gecko with tiny hairs on his feet that keep him from slipping. Written specifically for children learning how to read with help, this Step into Reading book about the different ways of "stepping" is based on an episode of the hit PBS Kids preschool science show The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!This ebook contains Read & Listen audio narration.
Step Off!: My Journey from Mimbo to Manhood
by Dan CorteseRecognized from Seinfeld and MTV, Dan Cortese now gives readers a personal and humorous look at the life and career of an American TV actor and host Fans of Veronica's Closet, MTV Sports, What I Like About You, 8 Simple Rules, and Castle will relish this exclusive account of Dan’s life and career. Step Off! is a hilarious look inside the eccentric experiences of a Hollywood favorite. He discusses life from his own honest, outrageous Hollywood perspective. Cortese shares the lessons he's learned—and a few he hasn’t—working on screen for over two decades as an American actor. He also reveals details about his most rewarding job: being a father. Step Off! is a side-splitting, heart-warming journey through Dan’s life and career, showing the hilarious and memorable aspects of acting, fame, and striving to be a super dad. Follow the actor’s path from working in a steel mill in Pittsburgh, to the rock-climbing "Mimbo" on Seinfeld, to his life as a father of three. You’re sure to laugh with this noteworthy celebrity book from Dan Cortese.
Step Into the Spotlight!: A Branches Book (The Amazing Stardust Friends #1)
by Heather Alexander Diane Le FeyerThis glittery early chapter book series is all about friendship! This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow! Meet the amazing Stardust Girls -- Marlo, Bella, Carly, and Allie! They all live and work at the Stardust Circus. Marlo, the new girl, is eager to make friends. The other girls welcome her and she tries everything to fit in -- trapeze, tightrope walking, juggling, and even dog training -- all with hilarious results. Marlo wants to shine in the spotlight, but what will her special talent be? With black-and-white illustrations throughout, this glittery series is full of sparkle and friendship!
Step Dancing in Ireland: Culture and History (Ashgate Popular and Folk Music Series)
by Catherine E. FoleyFor many people step dancing is associated mainly with the Irish step-dance stage shows, Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, which assisted both in promoting the dance form and in placing Ireland globally. But, in this book, Catherine Foley illustrates that the practice and contexts of step dancing are much more complicated and fluid. Tracing the trajectory of step dancing in Ireland, she tells its story from roots in eighteenth-century Ireland to its diverse cultural manifestations today. She examines the interrelationships between step dancing and the changing historical and cultural contexts of colonialism, nationalism, postcolonialism and globalization, and shows that step dancing is a powerful tool of embodiment and meaning that can provoke important questions relating to culture and identity through the bodies of those who perform it. Focusing on the rural European region of North Kerry in the south-west of Ireland, Catherine Foley examines three step-dance practices: one, the rural Molyneaux step-dance practice, representing the end of a relatively long-lived system of teaching by itinerant dancing masters in the region; two, Rinceoirà na RÃochta, a dance school representative of the urbanized staged, competition orientated practice, cultivated by the cultural nationalist movement, the Gaelic League, established at the end of the nineteenth century, and practised today both in Ireland and abroad; and three, the stylized, commoditized, folk-theatrical practice of Siamsa TÃre, the National Folk Theatre of Ireland, established in North Kerry in the 1970s. Written from an ethnochoreological perspective, Catherine Foley provides a rich historical and ethnographic account of step dancing, step dancers and cultural institutions in Ireland.
Step By Step: The perfect gift for the adventurer in your life
by Simon ReeveThe inspiring memoir from TV traveller Simon Reeve's life of amazing adventures in over 120 countries and the most remote and extreme corners of the planet.TV documentary maker Simon Reeve has dodged bullets on frontlines, hunted with the Bushmen of the Kalahari, dived with manta rays, seals and sharks, survived malaria, walked through minefields, tracked lions on foot, been taught to fish by the President of Moldova, and detained for spying by the KGB. After a decade spent making more than 80 programmes he has become a familiar face on British TV, well known for his extraordinary journeys across jungles, deserts, mountains and oceans, and to some of the most beautiful, dangerous and remote regions of the world. But what most people don't know is that Simon's own journey started in a rough area of Acton, West London where he was brought up and left school with no qualifications. For the first time he will tell his life story with a book rich in anecdotes to entertain and inform readers about some of the most fascinating (and often dangerous) places in the world and what it took to reach them.(P)2018 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
STEM, Theatre Arts, and Interdisciplinary Integrative Learning: Bridging the Cultures (The Arts in Higher Education)
by Nancy KindelanThis book responds to challenging questions about curricular realignment, especially how a more porous approach to higher education reduces the impact of a “siloed” curriculum, lessens the tendency toward the fragmentation of knowledge, allows for the development of cross-disciplinary explorations, and promotes new approaches to knowledge and creativity through interdisciplinary integrative learning. This volume demonstrates how combining two seemingly disparate cultures helps undergraduate students develop creative mindsets needed for addressing challenging open-ended questions, complex social issues, and non-routine problem-solving. In doing so, this book aims to stimulate discussions about integrative interdisciplinary education between STEM and other fields of performance and performance technologies that have been either overlooked or underdeveloped.
Stellar Transformations: Movie Stars of the 2010s (Star Decades: American Culture/American Cinema)
by Steven Rybin Brenda Austin-Smith Karen Hollinger Rick Warner David Greven Celestino Deleyto Jennifer O'Meara Danielle E. Williams Daniel Varndell Kyle Stevens Matt Connolly Cynthia BaronStellar Transformations: Movie Stars of the 2010s circles around questions of stardom, performance, and their cultural contexts in ways that remind us of the alluring magic of stars while also bringing to the fore the changing ways in which viewers engaged with them during the last decade. A salient idea that guides much of the collection is the one of transformation, expressed in these pages as the way in which post-millennial movie stars are in one way or another reshaping ideas of performance and star presence, either through the self-conscious revision of aspects of their own personas or in redirecting or progressing some earlier aspect of the culture. Including a diverse lineup of stars such as Oscar Isaac, Kristen Stewart, Tilda Swinton, and Tyler Perry, the chapters in Stellar Transformations paint the portrait of the meaning of star images during the complex decade of the 2010s, and in doing so will offer useful case studies for scholars and students engaged in the study of stardom, celebrity, and performance in cinema.
Stella Rising (Orca Soundings)
by Nancy BelgueStella Connors has spent her whole life bouncing around from one town to the next, following the latest musician her mother has fallen in love with. She has always vowed she will never become a pathetic groupie like her mother, Viv. But then her best friend uploads a video of Stella singing a cover of her favorite band’s biggest hit. It goes viral, and suddenly Stella’s ideas about who she is and what she wants take a real hit. As a publicity stunt, the band’s manager asks Stella to perform with them when they come to town. Stella is thrilled and agrees immediately. Soon she finds herself in the spotlight, with everyone after her for interviews and photo ops. And unless she’s reading things wrong, she’s pretty sure the band’s lead singer has a thing for her. When she gets invited to go on the road with the band and perform in another concert, Stella forgets every bad thing she ever thought about being a groupie. After all, she’s nothing like her mother. She’s a star. Isn’t she?
Steely Dan: Reelin' in the Years
by Brian Sweet[from the back cover] "Reelin' In The Years is the acclaimed biography of Steely Dan, now updated to include details of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen's work during the Nineties and beyond, including the latest Steely Dan masterpiece 'Everything Must Go'. The only book ever to have been published on Steely Dan, it tells the strange tale of how Becker and Fagen, a couple of cynical New York jazz fans, wormed their way into a record contract and astonished critics with their superb debut, 'Can't Buy A Thrill', in 1973. Seven albums later, after 'Aja' had topped charts everywhere, they were among the biggest selling acts in the world. Then they quit, only to reform in 1993 more popular than ever. But Steely Dan were different from the rest of rock's super-sellers. They rarely gave interviews. After some early bad experiences on the road, they refused to tour. They didn't have their photographs taken. Few people even knew what they looked like. Steely Dan weren't even a proper group; it was two musicians and their producer, yet every top notch player in the world lined up to appear on their albums. They were perfectionists. They were enigmatic. They were very rich. Their music was the coolest around. In Reelin' In The Years, Brian Sweet, editor and publisher of Metal Leg, the UK based Steely Dan fanzine, draws back the veil of secrecy that has surrounded Becker and Fagen. Here at last is the true story of how they made their music and lived their lives. Includes many photographs and a complete discography."
Steel Pier: Showplace Of The Nation (Images of America)
by Steve LiebowitzAtlantic City has worn the tag of "America's Playground" since its earliest days, so it is only natural that its biggest and most well-known icon, the Steel Pier, would be known as the "Showplace of the Nation." Over the course of 80 years, from 1898 to 1978, Steel Pier developed from a quiet, genteel amusement that featured light classical music and cakewalks to a vast entertainment complex that offered movies, big-name vaudeville acts, exhibits, big bands, rock bands, and the Water Circus with its famed diving horse. What makes this even more compelling is that one could spend the entire day on the pier and take all of this in for one small admission.
Stealing the Show: African American Performers and Audiences in 1930s Hollywood
by Miriam J. PettyStealing the Show is a study of African American actors in Hollywood during the 1930s, a decade that saw the consolidation of stardom as a potent cultural and industrial force. Petty focuses on five performers whose Hollywood film careers flourished during this period--Louise Beavers, Fredi Washington, Lincoln "Stepin Fetchit" Perry, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and Hattie McDaniel--to reveal the "problematic stardom" and the enduring, interdependent patterns of performance and spectatorship for performers and audiences of color. She maps how these actors--though regularly cast in stereotyped and marginalized roles--employed various strategies of cinematic and extracinematic performance to negotiate their complex positions in Hollywood and to ultimately "steal the show. " Drawing on a variety of source materials, Petty explores these stars' reception among Black audiences and theorizes African American viewership in the early twentieth century. Her book is an important and welcome contribution to the literature on the movies.
Stealing the Show: How Women Are Revolutionizing Television
by Joy PressFrom a leading cultural journalist, a definitive look at the rise of the female showrunner—and a new golden era of television.Female writers, directors, and producers have radically transformed the television industry in recent years. Shonda Rhimes, Lena Dunham, Tina Fey, Amy Schumer, Mindy Kaling: These extraordinary women have shaken up the entertainment landscape, making it look like an equal opportunity dream factory. But things weren't always this rosy. It took decades of determination in the face of preconceived ideas and outright prejudice to reach this new era. In this endlessly informative and wildly entertaining book, veteran journalist Joy Press tells the story of the maverick women who broke through the barricades, starting with Roseanne Barr (Roseanne) and Diane English (Murphy Brown), whose iconic shows redefined America’s idea of “family values” and incited controversy that reached as far as the White House. Barr and English inspired the next generation of female TV writers and producers to carve out the creative space and executive power needed to present radically new representations of women on the small screen. Showrunners like Amy Sherman Palladino (Gilmore Girls), Jenji Kohan (Weeds, Orange Is the New Black), and Jill Soloway (Transparent) created characters and storylines that changed how women are seen and how they see themselves, in the process transforming the culture. Stealing the Show is the perfect companion to such bestsellers as Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Tina Fey’s Bossypants, and Shonda Rhimes’ Year of Yes¸ not to mention Sheila Weller’s Girls Like Us and Rebecca Traister’s All the Single Ladies. Drawing on deep research and interviews with the key players, this is the exhilarating behind-the-scenes story of a truly groundbreaking revolution in television.
Stay with My Heart
by Tashie BhuiyanFrom the author of Counting Down with You and A Show for Two comes a new YA contemporary about a girl who accidentally sabotages an up-and-coming local band and falls for the guitarist while secretly trying to make up for her mistake.Liana Sarkar lives and breathes music, hoping to follow in the footsteps of her A&R coordinator father. Maybe if she succeeds, he&’ll finally give her the time of day instead of drowning himself in work to distract from the grief of her mother&’s passing.When Liana accidentally sabotages an up-and-coming local band, Third Eye, she makes it her mission to steer them towards success—without them discovering her role in their setback. But as she gets closer to Third Eye, especially their enigmatic leader Skyler Moon, it becomes harder to hide the truth.With both her heart and their futures on the line, will Liana be able to undo the damage she&’s caused?Praise for A Show for Two&“You&’ll fall head-over-heels in love with these characters while they fall in love with each other.&” —Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights&“Tender and bittersweet.&” —Tahereh Mafi, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Shatter MePraise for Counting Down with You&“I. Love. This. Book.&” —Mark Oshiro, award-winning author of Anger Is a Gift&“Steals your heart from start to finish.&” —Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of You Have a Match&“Hand to fans of Netflix hit Never Have I Ever.&” —Booklist
Stay Tuned: A History of American Broadcasting (Routledge Communication Series)
by Christopher H. Sterling John Michael KittrossSince its initial publication in 1978, Stay Tuned has been recognized as the most comprehensive and useful single-volume history of American broadcasting and electronic media available. This third edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to bring the story of American broadcasting forward to the 21st century, affording readers not only the history of the most important and pervasive institution affecting our society, but also providing a contextual transition to the Internet and other modern media. The enthusiasm of authors Christopher H. Sterling and John Michael Kittross is apparent as they lead readers through the development of American electronic mass media, from the first electrical communication (telegraph and telephone); through radio and television; to the present convergence of media, business entities, programming, and delivery systems, including the Internet. Their presentation is engaging, as well as informative, promoting an interest in history and making the connections between the developments of yesterday and the industry of today. Features of this third edition include: *chronological and topical tables of contents; *new material reflecting modern research in the field; *a new chapter describing historical developments from 1988 through to the current day; *an expanded bibliography, including Web site and museum listings; *an updated and expanded glossary and chronology; and *extensive statistical data of the development of television and radio stations, networks, advertising, programming, audiences, and other aspects of broadcasting. Designed for use in undergraduate and graduate courses on the history of American mass media, broadcasting, and electronic media, Stay Tuned also fits well into mass communication survey courses as an introduction to electronic media topics. As a chronicle of American broadcasting, this volume is also engaging reading for anyone interested in old radio, early television, and the origins and development of American broadcasting.
Stay Interesting: I Don't Always Tell Stories About My Life, but When I Do They're True and Amazing
by Jonathan GoldsmithWhat makes a life truly interesting? Is it the people you meet? The risks you take? The adventures you remember?Jonathan Goldsmith has many answers to that question. For years he was a struggling actor in New York and Los Angeles, with experiences that included competing for roles with Dustin Hoffman, getting shot by John Wayne, drinking with Tennessee Williams, and sailing the high seas with Fernando Lamas, never mind romancing many lovely ladies along the way.However, it wasn’t all fun and games for Jonathan. Frustrated with his career, he left Hollywood for other adventures in business and life. But then, a fascinating opportunity came his way—a chance to star in a new campaign for Dos Equis beer. A role he was sure he wasn’t right for, but he gave it a shot all the same. Which led to the role that would bring him the success that had so long eluded him—that of “The Most Interesting Man in the World.”A memoir told through a series of adventures and the lessons he’s learned and wants to pass on, Stay Interesting is a truly daring and bold tale, and a manifesto about taking chances, not giving up, making courageous choices, and living a truly adventurous, and always interesting life.
Stay Cool: Why Dark Comedy Matters in the Fight Against Climate Change
by Aaron SachsHow gallows humor can bolster us to confront global warmingWe’ve all seen the headlines: oceans rising, historic heat waves, mass extinctions, climate refugees. It feels overwhelming, like nothing can make a difference in combating this ongoing global catastrophe. How can we mobilize to save the world when we feel this depressed? Stay Cool enjoins us to laugh our way forward. Human beings have used comedy to cope with difficult realities since the beginning of recorded time—the more dismal the news, the darker the humor. Using this rich tradition of dark comedy to investigate climate change, Aaron Sachs makes the case that gallows humor, a mainstay of African Americans and Jews facing extraordinary oppression, can cultivate endurance, persistence, and solidarity in the face of calamity. Sachs surveys the macabre tradition of laughing during great suffering, from the Black Plague to the San Francisco earthquake of 1906—and offers some of the earliest examples of superlative dark comedy. He also explores how a new generation of activists and comedians are deploying dark humor to great effect, by poking fun at older people’s apathy about climate catastrophes, lambasting oil corporations’ “eco” rebranding, and even producing an off-Broadway dystopian comedy called “Sea Level Rise.” Sachs offers suggestions for how environmentalists can use dark comedy first to boost their own morale, and then to reframe their activism in more energizing and relatable ways. Environmentalism is probably the least funny social movement that’s ever existed. Stay Cool seeks to change that. Will comedy save the world? Not by itself, no. But it can put people in a decent enough mood to get them started on a rescue mission.