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The Other Side of Me
by Sidney SheldonA brilliant, highly spirited memoir of Sidney Sheldon's early life that provides as compulsively readable and racy narrative as any of his bestselling novels.The Sheldon family were immigrants to the USA; a fairly dysfunctional family, constantly on the move, either fleeing debt crises or seeking possible employment all over the country. In the 1930's America's economy was in crisis, businesses were folding everywhere and more than thirteen million people lost their jobs. Sidney attended eleven different schools, worked by night at manual and temporary jobs. Sidney had always wanted to write and even when working as a busboy in a Chicago hotel managed to write for the local newspaper. But it was song-writing and radio that gave him his first break.In New York he worked as a barker for Radio City Music Hall, carrying on writing, seeking music publishers and choosing whether to have a hot dog for five cents and walk thirty-five blocks home or not to eat and take the subway home. Moving on to the Californian dream, he found a boarding house full of people with dreams and haunted the studio gates for a job as a writer, a reader, anything. His skill and persistence won and Sidney Sheldon's career had begun. But shortly afterwards, Pearl Harbor led to his joining the Army Air Corps and learning to fly.Amazingly, between training and flying, the indefatigable Sheldon started writing librettos for New York musical theatre, starting with an updated version of The Merry Widow (Balanchine was the choreographer), meeting stars like Kirk Douglas at the beginning of their careers, finding as many flops as successes. Returning to Hollywood, he found his screenplay career took off. He worked with actors like Cary Grant, Shirley Temple; with legendary producers like David Selznick and Dory Schar; and musical stars like Irving Berlin, Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. This is the amazing story of how Sidney Sheldon turned to writing television series and finally the books for which we all know him.The Other Side of Me is a wonderful story of a remarkable life, and of a man who has tried his hand at, and succeeded in, every form of writing.
Factory Man: How One Furniture Maker Battled Offshoring, Stayed Local - and Helped Save an American Town
by Beth MacyOne man's battle to save hundreds of jobs by taking on China and demonstrating the greatness of American business.With over $500 million a year in sales, the Bassett Furniture Company was once the world's biggest wood furniture manufacturer. Run by the same powerful Virginia family for three generations, it was also the center of life in Bassett, VA-an unincorporated town that existed solely for the people who built the company's products. But beginning in the 1980s, the Bassett company suffered from an influx of cheap Chinese furniture as the first waves of Asian competition hit, and ultimately was forced to send its production offshore to Asia.Only one man fought back. That man is John Bassett III, a descendant of the Bassetts who is now chairman of Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Co, which employs more than 700 Virginians and has sales of over $90 million. In FACTORY MAN, Beth Macy brings to life Bassett's deeply personal furniture and family story. As she shows how he uses legal maneuvers, factory efficiencies, and sheer grit, cunning, and will to save hundreds of jobs, she also discovers the hidden and shocking truth about industry and America.
Every Little Thing Gonna Be Alright: The Bob Marley Reader
by Hank BordowitzThroughout Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and America, Bob Marley represents far more than just the musician who translated spiritual and political beliefs into hypnotic, hard-hitting songs such as "Get Up, Stand Up," "No Woman, No Cry," and "Jammin'. " Marley was born in rural Jamaica and reared in the mean streets of Kingston's Trenchtown; his ascent to worldwide acclaim, first with The Wailers--Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingstone--and later as a solo artist, is a riveting story of the spiritual awakening of a uniquely talented individual. Now, for the first time, a symphony of voices has joined together to offer perspective on one of this century's most compelling figures. Dealing with Bob Marley as a man and myth, from his "rude boy" teens to international fame and his tragic death at the age of thirty-six, Every Little Thing Gonna Be Alright then explores the larger picture, examining Marley as the spokesman for Jamaica's homegrown religion of Rastafarianism, as a flash point for the pressure cooker of Jamaican politics, and his unique status as the first pop musical superstar of the so-called "Third World. "
See a Little Light: The Trail of Rage and Melody
by Bob MouldThe long-awaited, full-force autobiography of American punk music hero, Bob Mould. Bob Mould stormed into America's punk rock scene in 1979, when clubs across the country were filling with kids dressed in black leather and torn denim, packing in to see bands like the Ramones, Black Flag, and the Dead Kennedys. Hardcore punk was a riot of jackhammer rhythms, blistering tempos, and bottomless aggression. And at its center, a new band out of Minnesota called Hüsker Dü was bashing out songs and touring the country on no money, driven by the inspiration of guitarist and vocalist Bob Mould. Their music roused a generation.From the start, Mould wanted to make Hüsker Dü the greatest band in the world - faster and louder than the hardcore standard, but with melody and emotional depth. In SEE A LITTLE LIGHT, Mould finally tells the story of how the anger and passion of the early hardcore scene blended with his own formidable musicianship and irrepressible drive to produce some of the most important and influential music of the late 20th century. For the first time, Mould tells his dramatic story, opening up to describe life inside that furnace and beyond. Revealing the struggles with his own homosexuality, the complexities of his intimate relationships, as well as his own drug and alcohol addiction, Mould takes us on a whirlwind ride through achieving sobriety, his acclaimed solo career, creating the hit band Sugar, a surprising detour into the world of pro wrestling, and most of all, finally finding his place in the world.A classic story of individualism and persistence, Mould's autobiography is an open account of the rich history of one of the most revered figures of punk, whose driving force altered the shape of American music.
A Life That Matters: The Legacy of Terri Schiavo -- A Lesson for Us All
by Robert Schindler Mary SchindlerIn 2004-5, when the Terri Schiavo case divided the country, one side of the story was buried under the avalanche of politics and power. Now, Terri Schiavo's parents, brother, and sister speak out--for Terri and themselves. A LIFE THAT MATTERS may well change every assumption you have about Terri's too-brief life and prolonged, agonizing death. Here the people who loved her and knew her best tell the story not only of the fifteen years Terri struggled to stay alive, but of a gentle child who brought happiness to everyone she touched. This is the story of a normal adolescent who blossomed into the beautiful young woman who captured Michael Schiavo's heart. And it is the inside story of their troubled relationship, for the members of Terri's family were witnesses to a growing tension--and were her confidants as she struggled in her marriage with the husband who would later crusade for her premature and unnecessary death. A book that stakes clear moral ground without a political aim, A LIFE THAT MATTERS takes us inside Terri's family when the courts ordered her feeding tube removed, and it leads inexorably to a scene that will haunt readers forever: a bereft family barred by the police from their daughter's hospice room in the final moments of her life. A LIFE THAT MATTERS separates lies from truth, myth from facts, and politics from people. It challenges us to hear the words and feel the emotions of the warm, intensely private family who never sought the media storm that accosted them, or the devastating legal battle that broke their hearts. The book asks us what we would do if we found ourselves, as the Schindlers did, wanting nothing more than to love and care for a daughter as long as she could live.
Billy Graham: A Tribute from Friends
by Vernon MclellanLeaders from all walks of life celebrate the legacy of one of the most widely respected men in the world in this collection of photos nd tributes to the Reverend Billy Graham.Regarded as the most influential Protestant leader of the past century, Billy Graham has touched over 210 million lives in more than 185 countries and territories. He has been a counselor to presidents, an example for pastors, and a shepherd to parishoners. Now, as this pinnacle of the Christian church enters the twilight of his public life at 82 years of age, his legacy is celebrated in a collection of poignant tributes and memories as leaders from the worlds of government, business, sports, entertainment, and religion share their personal stories and remembrances of this remarkable man. Contributors to this volume include former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Gerald Ford; and John Ashcroft, James Dobson, Jerry B. Jenkins, James Kennedy, Steve Largent, Zig Ziglar, and many more whose lives have been impacted by the work and life of Reverend Billy Graham.
End The Fed
by Ron PaulIn the post-meltdown world, it is irresponsible, ineffective, and ultimately useless to have a serious economic debate without considering and challenging the role of the Federal Reserve. Most people think of the Fed as an indispensable institution without which the country's economy could not properly function. But in End the Fed, Ron Paul draws on American history, economics, and fascinating stories from his own long political life to argue that the Fed is both corrupt and unconstitutional. It is inflating currency today at nearly a Weimar or Zimbabwe level, a practice that threatens to put us into an inflationary depression where $100 bills are worthless. What most people don't realize is that the Fed -- created by the Morgans and Rockefellers at a private club off the coast of Georgia -- is actually working against their own personal interests. Congressman Paul's urgent appeal to all citizens and officials tells us where we went wrong and what we need to do fix America's economic policy for future generations.
Call Me Ted
by Bill Burke Ted TurnerA shrewd businessman, an outspoken maverick, and a generous philanthropist, Ted Turner's story is the stuff of legend. But what drives him? Where did he get such a powerful will to succeed? What has he learned over his illustrious life? Never before has the controversial businessman shared his personal story. Here, for the first time, he will. From his difficult and troubling childhood to his hard-partying college life, from his vision of CNN to the drama and turmoil of the AOL/Time Warner deal, and from his ownership of the Braves to his news-making philanthropy, Turner spares no details of his extraordinary career and provides fascinating businesses insights along the way - many of which are sure to surprise. Turner will also reveal the never-before-told details of his personal life. He frankly discusses a childhood of loneliness (he was sent to boarding school at the tender age of 4), the impact of devastating loss (his sister died at 17 and his hard-charging father committed suicide when Ted was in his early 20s). Turner also goes into great detail about his marriages, including his marriage to Jane Fonda, the "love of my life." It's been a helluva ride. Ted Turner truly is the great American maverick of our time. His story will educate, enlighten, entertain, and inspire - for the first time, Turner will tell the public how he went from being a young billboard salesman in the South to being the largest private landowner in the country. The release of this long-awaited memoir will be a major media event, and Ted's captivating story promises to deliver on the hype.
Fug You: An Informal History of the Peace Eye Bookstore, the Fuck You Press, the Fugs, and Counterculture in the Lower East Side
by Ed SandersFug Youis Ed Sanders's unapologetic and often hilarious account of eight key years of "total assault on the culture," to quote his novelist friend William S. Burroughs. Fug Youtraces the flowering years of New York's downtown bohemia in the sixties, starting with the marketing problems presented by publishingFuck You / A Magazine of the Arts, as it faced the aboveground's scrutiny, and leading to Sanders's arrest after a raid on his Peace Eye Bookstore. The memoir also traces the career of the Fugs--formed in 1964 by Sanders and his neighbor, the legendary Tuli Kupferberg (called "the world's oldest living hippie" by Allen Ginsberg)--as Sanders strives to find a home for this famous postmodern, innovative anarcho-folk-rock band in the world of record labels.
The Haunted Smile: The Story Of Jewish Comedians In America
by Lawrence J. EpsteinFrom vaudeville to the movies to television, the complete?and often hilarious?history of how Jewish comedians transformed American entertainment
Ninety Days: A Memoir of Recovery
by Bill CleggThe goal is ninety. Just ninety clean and sober days to loosen the hold of the addiction that caused Bill Clegg to lose everything. With six weeks of his most recent rehab behind him he returns to New York and attends two or three meetings each day. It is in these refuges that he befriends essential allies including Polly, who struggles daily with her own cycle of recovery and relapse, and the seemingly unshakably sober Asa. At first, the support is not enough: Clegg relapses with only three days left. Written with uncompromised immediacy, NINETY DAYS begins where Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man ends-and tells the wrenching story Clegg's battle to reclaim his life. As any recovering addict knows, hitting rock bottom is just the beginning.
The Good Guys
by David Fisher Bill Bonanno Joe PistoneThe authors' extraordinary lives and experiences infuse this novel with chilling true-to-life details and a real insider's perspective. Bonanno is a former high-ranking member of a crime family, and Pistone is a former undercover FBI agent.
Pride of October: What It Was to Be Young and a Yankee
by Bill MaddenLegendary Yankees past and present sit down with award-winning columnist Bill Madden to offer a captivating portrait of what it's like to play for the Bronx Bombers. In his years of writing about the Yankees for the Daily News, columnist Bill Madden has earned the reputation as one of the premier journalists covering the team. Now, he combines his unprecedented access with his unique insight to provide an insider's look at America's most revered sports team. Madden sits down with 18 prominent Yankee players--from legends like Yogi Berra to recent greats like Paul O'Neill--and gets them to open up about what it's like to play for the sport's most loved, most hated, and most successful franchise. Introspective chapters include profiles of Phil Rizzuto, Whitey Ford, Don Mattingly, and Lou Piniella; Jerry Coleman, who explains why the Yankees to him are "not just a team but a religion"; and Ralph Houk, the manager of the 1961 Yankees team who rarely gives interviews. Other revealing portraits include Bobby Murcer, Reggie Jackson, and Joe Pepitone. A celebration of baseball at its best, this is the perfect book for anyone who ever dreamed of donning the blue pinstripes and winning one for the home team.
Counting Coup: A True Story of Basketball and Honor on the Little Big Horn
by Larry ColtonIn this extraordinary work of journalism, Larry Colton journeys into the world of Montana's Crow Indians and follows the struggles of a talented, moody, charismatic young woman named Sharon LaForge, a gifted basketball player and a descendant of one of George Armstrong Custer's Indian scouts. But "Counting Coup" is far more than just a sports story or a portrait of youth. It is a sobering exposé of a part of our society long since cut out of the American dream. Along the banks of the Little Big Horn, Indians and whites live in age-old conflict and young Indians grow up without role models or dreams. Here Sharon carries the hopes and frustrations of her people on her shoulders as she battles her opponents on and off the court. Colton delves into Sharon's life and shows us the realities of the reservation, the shattered families, the bitter tribal politics, and a people's struggle against a belief that all their children -- even the most intelligent and talented -- are destined for heartbreak. Against this backdrop stands Sharon, a fiery, undaunted competitor with the skill to dominate a high school game and earn a college scholarship.
Agincourt: Henry V and the Battle That Made England
by Juliet BarkerWaged almost six centuries ago, the Battle of Agincourt still captivates. It is the classic underdog story, and generations have wondered how the English--outmanned by the French six to one--could have succeeded so bravely and brilliantly. Drawing on a wide range of sources, Juliet Barker paints a gripping narrative of the October 1415 clash between the outnumbered English archers and the heavily armored French knights. Populated with chivalrous heroes, dastardly spies, and a ferocious and bold king, AGINCOURT is as earthshaking as its subject--and confirms Juliet Barker's status as both a historian and a storyteller of the first rank.
Under the Big Black Sun: A Personal History Of L. A. Punk
by John Doe Tom DesaviaUnder the Big Black Sun explores the nascent Los Angeles punk rock movement and its evolution to hardcore punk as it's never been told before. Authors John Doe and Tom DeSavia have woven together an enthralling story of the legendary west coast scene from 1977-1982 by enlisting the voices of people who were there. The book shares chapter-length tales from the authors along with personal essays from famous (and infamous) players in the scene. Additional authors include: Exene Cervenka (X), Henry Rollins (Black Flag), Mike Watt (The Minutemen), Jane Wiedlin and Charlotte Caffey (The Go-Go's), Dave Alvin (The Blasters), Jack Grisham (TSOL), Teresa Covarrubias (The Brat), Robert Lopez (The Zeros, El Vez), as well as scencesters and journalists Pleasant Gehman, Kristine McKenna, and Chris Morris. Through interstitial commentary, John Doe "narrates" this journey through the land of film noir sunshine, Hollywood back alleys, and suburban sprawl-the place where he met his artistic counterparts Exene, DJ Bonebrake, and Billy Zoom-and formed X, the band that became synonymous with, and in many ways defined, L.A. punk. Under the Big Black Sun shares stories of friendship and love, ambition and feuds, grandiose dreams and cultural rage, all combined with the tattered, glossy sheen of pop culture weirdness that epitomized the operations of Hollywood's underbelly. Readers will travel to the clubs that defined the scene, as well as to the street corners, empty lots, apartment complexes, and squats that served as de facto salons for the musicians, artists, and fringe players that hashed out what would become punk rock in Los Angeles.
Downtown: My Manhattan
by Pete HamillA rich historical and personal portrait of Manhattan from the bestselling writer who is for many the living embodiment of the city.Manhattan, the keystone of New York City, is a place of ghosts and buried memory. One can still see remnants of the British colony, the mansions of the robber barons, and the speakeasies of the 1920s. These are the places that have captivated the imaginations of writers for centuries. Now Pete Hamill brings his unique knowledge and deep love of the city to a New York chronicle like no other.During his 40 years as a newspaperman, Pete Hamill has been getting to know Manhattans neighborhoods and inhabitants intimately, bearing witness to their greatest triumphs and tragedies. From the winding, bohemian streets of Greenwich Village to the seedy alleyways of the meatpacking district and to the weathered cobblestones of South Street Seaport, Hamill peels back the layers of history to reveal the citys past, present, and future.More than just history or reporting, this is an elegy by a native son who has lived through some of New Yorks most historic moments, and who continues to call this magnificent, haunted city his home.
Hard Times in Paradise: An American Family's Struggle to Carve Out a Homestead in California's Redwood Mountains
by David Colfax Micki ColfaxA modern pioneer story of a family moving to an unsettled area in the 1970s.
The Woman Who Named God: Abraham's Dilemma and the Birth of Three Faiths
by Charlotte GordonThe saga of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar is the tale of origin for all three monotheistic faiths. Abraham must choose between two wives who have borne him two sons. One wife and son will share in his wealth and status, while the other two are exiled into the desert. Long a cornerstone of Western anxiety, the story chronicles a very famous and troubled family, and sheds light on the ongoing conflict between the Judeo-Christian and Islamic worlds. How did this ancient story become one of the least understood and most frequently misinterpreted of our cultural myths? Gordon explores this legendary love triangle to give us a startling perspective on three biblical characters who--with their jealousies, passions, and doubts--actually behave like human beings. THE WOMAN WHO NAMED GOD is a compelling, smart, and provocative take on one of the Bible's most intriguing and troubling love stories.
The Infernal World of Branwell Brontë
by Daphne Du Maurier"Miss du Maurier has brought to the art of the biography the narrative urgency which gives such animation to her storytelling." -New York Times Book ReviewPursued by the twin demons of drink and madness, Branwell Bronte created a private world that was indeed infernal. As a bold and gifted child, his promise seemed boundless to the three adoring sisters over whom his rule was complete. But as an adult, the precocious flame of genius distorted and burned low. With neither the strength nor the resources to counter rejection, unable to sell his paintings or publish his books, Branwell became a spectre in the Bronte story, in pathetic contrast with the astonishing achievements of Charlotte, Emily and Anne. This is the biography of the shadowy figure of the "unknown" Bronte.
Banished: Surviving My Years in the Westboro Baptist Church
by Lisa Pulitzer Lauren DrainYou've likely heard of the Westboro Baptist Church. Perhaps you've seen their pickets on the news, the members holding signs with messages that are too offensive to copy here, protesting at events such as the funerals of soldiers, the 9-year old victim of the recent Tucson shooting, and Elizabeth Edwards, all in front of their grieving families. The WBC is fervently anti-gay, anti-Semitic, and anti- practically everything and everyone. And they aren't going anywhere: in March, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the WBC's right to picket funerals. <P> Since no organized religion will claim affiliation with the WBC, it's perhaps more accurate to think of them as a cult. Lauren Drain was thrust into that cult at the age of 15, and then spat back out again seven years later. BANISHED is the first look inside the organization, as well as a fascinating story of adaptation and perseverance. <P> Lauren spent her early years enjoying a normal life with her family in Florida. But when her formerly liberal and secular father set out to produce a documentary about the WBC, his detached interest gradually evolved into fascination, and he moved the entire family to Kansas to join the church and live on their compound. Over the next seven years, Lauren fully assimilated their extreme beliefs, and became a member of the church and an active and vocal picketer. But as she matured and began to challenge some of the church's tenets, she was unceremoniously cast out from the church and permanently cut off from her family and from everyone else she knew and loved. BANISHED is the story of Lauren's fight to find herself amidst dramatic changes in a world of extremists and a life in exile.
The Supremes: A Saga of Motown Dreams, Success, and Betrayal
by Mark RibowskyThe acclaimed, first comprehensive biography of the most successful female vocal group of all time
HitMan: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling
by Bret HartWritten without collaborators and based on decades of tape recordings he made throughout his career, HITMAN is Bret Hart's brutally honest, perceptive and startling account of his life in and out of the ring that proves once and for all that great things come in pink tights.
Jennifer's Way: My Journey with Celiac Disease--What Doctors Don't Tell You and How You Can Learn to Live Again
by Jennifer EspositoAward-winning actress Jennifer Esposito tells a riveting personal story about her own journey and experience with chronic illness, and her long-awaited diagnosis: celiac disease. Armed with this knowledge, she vowed to rebuild her life to ensure her wellness, and she learned how to live again. The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness estimates that as many as 1 in 133 Americans has celiac disease, and 83% of people who have it are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions. Jennifer received an accurate diagnosis only after decades of mysterious illnesses and misdiagnoses. Upon being diagnosed with celiac disease, she dedicated herself to advocacy through her nonprofit foundation for celiac education, Jennifer's Way. She also owns and operates a gluten-free bakery called Jennifer's Way in Manhattan. Jennifer, who starred in the Oscar-winning film Crash and CBS's Blue Bloods, will not let her diagnosis deter her--or anyone else--from living a successful and healthy life. She provides hope for all those who suffer. For anyone struggling with a chronic illness, Jennifer's Way is proof that there is a solution for what ails you, that you shouldn't stop until you find it, and that you can feel good again.
Life Is Not a Stage: From Broadway Baby to a Lovely Lady and Beyond
by Florence Henderson Joel BrokawFor millions of people around the world, Carol Brady is synonymous with motherhood, but growing up as the youngest of ten children in rural Indiana in the aftermath of the Great Depression, Florence Henderson lived a life quite different from that of the quintessential TV mom she later played on television. Florence's father was a dirt-poor tobacco tenant farmer who was nearly fifty years old when he married Florence's twenty-five-year-old mother, and was nearly seventy when Florence was born. Florence's childhood was full of deprivation and abandonment. Her father was an alcoholic at a time when there was no rehab or help for the disease. Their home rarely had electricity or running water. When she was twelve, Florence's mother left the family to work in Cleveland and never returned.Florence opens up about her childhood, as well as the challenges she's faced as an adult, including stage fright, postpartum depression, her extramarital affairs, divorce, her hearing loss, and heart problems. She writes with honesty and wisdom of how her faith and ability to survive has brought her through rough times to a life of profound joy and purpose.