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Sleeping Beauty
by Judith MichaelJudith Michael brings us a mesmerizing story of love, politics, family, and revenge in Sleeping Beauty.She has money, possessions, power. Now love becomes the only measure of success…From a wealthy Chicago suburb to the streets of San Francisco, from Los Angeles to Washington&’s treacherous enclaves, from a chic Colorado resort to the site of a fabulous treasure buried in Egypt, Judith Michael brings us a mesmerizing story of love, politics, family and revenge… Anne Garnett is a brilliant Los Angeles divorce lawyer—tough, smart, and untouchable. The vulnerable girl who ran away from her wealthy, influential family is hidden now behind the glossy façade of her high-powered career. Only the death of Anne&’s beloved grandfather can bring her back to the town he built—Tamarack, the Colorado playground of the rich and famous. Once there she is drawn again into the tangled passions and fortunes of who betrayed her so long ago…Embraced by a sister&’s love, challenged by a man who offers her everything she could want, Anne is confronted once more by Senator Vincent Chatham, the charismatic man who still waits to destroy her. But Anne is no longer a frightened girl. She is a proud, beautiful woman who must release the paralyzing pain of the past and discover her power to win…in a battle for family empire, honor, and the richest treasure of all…a deep, abiding love.
The Death Class: A True Story About Life
by Erika HayasakiThe poignant, “powerful” (The Boston Globe) look at how to appreciate life from an extraordinary professor who teaches about death: “Poetic passages and assorted revelations you’ll likely not forget” (Chicago Tribune).Why does a college course on death have a three-year waiting list? When nurse Norma Bowe decided to teach a course on death at a college in New Jersey, she never expected it to be popular. But year after year students crowd into her classroom, and the reason is clear: Norma’s “death class” is really about how to make the most of what poet Mary Oliver famously called our “one wild and precious life.”Under the guise of discussions about last wills and last breaths and visits to cemeteries and crematoriums, Norma teaches her students to find grace in one another. In The Death Class, award-winning journalist Erika Hayasaki followed Norma for more than four years, showing how she steers four extraordinary students from their tormented families and neighborhoods toward happiness: she rescues one young woman from her suicidal mother, helps a young man manage his schizophrenic brother, and inspires another to leave his gang life behind. Through this unorthodox class on death, Norma helps kids who are barely hanging on to understand not only the value of their own lives, but also the secret of fulfillment: to throw yourself into helping others. Hayasaki’s expert reporting and literary prose bring Norma’s wisdom out of the classroom, transforming it into an inspiring lesson for all. In the end, Norma’s very own life—and how she lives it—is the lecture that sticks. “Readers will come away struck by Bowe’s compassion—and by the unexpectedly life-affirming messages of courage that spring from her students’ harrowing experiences” (Entertainment Weekly).
Mrs Queen Takes the Train: A Novel (P. S. Series)
by William Kuhn“A witty, contemporary story of the Downton Abbey-esque tensions between servants and employers, the young and the old, and tradition and modernity.” — GlamourAn absolute delight of a debut novel by William Kuhn—author of Reading Jackie: Her Autobiography in Books—Mrs Queen Takes the Train wittily imagines the kerfuffle that transpires when a bored Queen Elizabeth strolls out of the palace in search of a little fun, leaving behind a desperate team of courtiers who must find the missing Windsor before a national scandal erupts. After decades of service and years of watching her family's troubles splashed across the tabloids, Britain's Queen is beginning to feel her age. An unexpected opportunity offers her relief: an impromptu visit to a place that holds happy memories—the former royal yacht, Britannia, now moored near Edinburgh. Hidden beneath a skull-emblazoned hoodie, the limber Elizabeth (thank goodness for yoga) walks out of Buckingham Palace and heads for King's Cross to catch a train to Scotland. But a colorful cast of royal attendants has discovered her missing. In uneasy alliance a lady-in-waiting, a butler, an equerry, a girl from the stables, a dresser, and a clerk from the shop that supplies Her Majesty's cheese set out to bring her back before her absence becomes a national scandal.Comic and poignant, fast-paced and clever, Mrs Queen Takes the Train tweaks the pomp of the monarchy, going beneath its rigid formality to reveal the human heart of the woman at its center.
The Second Chance Club: Hardship and Hope After Prison
by Jason HardyA former parole officer shines a bright light on a huge yet hidden part of our justice system through the intertwining stories of seven parolees striving to survive the chaos that awaits them after prison in this illuminating and dramatic book. Prompted by a dead-end retail job and a vague desire to increase the amount of justice in his hometown, Jason Hardy became a parole officer in New Orleans at the worst possible moment. Louisiana&’s incarceration rates were the highest in the US and his department&’s caseload had just been increased to 220 &“offenders&” per parole officer, whereas the national average is around 100. Almost immediately, he discovered that the biggest problem with our prison system is what we do—and don&’t do—when people get out of prison.Deprived of social support and jobs, these former convicts are often worse off than when they first entered prison and Hardy dramatizes their dilemmas with empathy and grace. He&’s given unique access to their lives and a growing recognition of their struggles and takes on his job with the hope that he can change people&’s fates—but he quickly learns otherwise. The best Hardy and his colleagues can do is watch out for impending disaster and help clean up the mess left behind. But he finds that some of his charges can muster the miraculous power to save themselves. By following these heroes, he both stokes our hope and fuels our outrage by showing us how most offenders, even those with the best intentions, end up back in prison—or dead—because the system systematically fails them. Our focus should be, he argues, to give offenders the tools they need to re-enter society which is not only humane but also vastly cheaper for taxpayers.As immersive and dramatic as Evicted and as revelatory as The New Jim Crow, The Second Chance Club shows us how to solve the cruelest problems prisons create for offenders and society at large.
Just Married & Cooking: 200 Recipes for Living, Eating, and Entertaining Together
by Brooke Parkhurst James BriscioneAfter the bells have chimed, the gifts have been opened, and the honeymoon suitcases have been unpacked, newlywed couples often find themselves wondering, “So, what’s for dinner?” That’s why chef James Briscione and his wife, writer Brooke Parkhurst, put together Just Married and Cooking—a guide to living, eating, and entertaining together.Divided into two sections—“Life As We Know It” and “New Traditions”—Just Married and Cooking is full of valuable advice, easy-to-master techniques, time-saving secrets, and most important, recipes for delicious dishes. In “Life As We Know It,” Brooke and James offer over a hundred recipes for everyday eating. From delectable morning muffins to after-work appetizers and easy-to-prepare dinners, this section has everything young couples need for simple, healthy, and enticing eating. “New Traditions” contains nine menus to help newlyweds mark the special occasions in their new lives together: a glamorous birthday-girl dinner, a fresh and warm spring lunch, a derby-day party complete with a recipe for fail-proof mint juleps, and much more. Including a wedding registry list, suggestions for how to keep a well-stocked pantry, a glossary of frequently used chef terms, and advice for how to plan ahead for easy entertaining, Just Married and Cooking is the cookbook newlywed couples everywhere will turn to time and again for recipes and help navigating the kitchen—whether they are cooking for a quiet*** A delectable new cookbook featuring delicious recipes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients and accompanied by entertaining, informative tips and techniques. Brooke Parkhurst and James Briscione, the newlywed team that teaches popular couples cooking classes at New York’s Institute of Culinary Education and The Culinary Cooperative, navigate the difficulties of a small kitchen, budgetary restrictions, and limited time. Whether readers are looking to prepare everyday meals or special-occasion feasts, Just Married and Cooking is an appealing, practical lifestyle guide for cooking couples everywhere.
The New Kid (Tales from Maple Ridge #6)
by Grace GilmoreLogan tracks down a stolen book with the help of his new friend in the sixth book in the Tales from Maple Ridge series.There’s a new kid in Logan’s one-room schoolhouse! He’s quiet, has thick glasses, and the other students are sure he’s trouble. When a new book goes missing from the classroom’s bookshelf, accusations fly. Logan decides he must track down the book—with the help of his new friend—to show his classmates that there’s always room for another student in their small school.With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Tales from Maple Ridge chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.
Simple Vegetarian Pleasures
by Jeanne LemlinJeanne Lemlin is aware that we're all vegetarians some of the time and that what we crave is delicious food that is quick and simple to prepare. In Simple Vegetarian Pleasures, Lemlin shares her dedicated, relaxed approach to good food with two hundred tempting recipes for flavorful meals. Here Lemlin shows how a bit of simple planning can help busy people pull together a great tasting, sophisticated vegetarian meal -- with an absolute minimum of fuss. A well-stocked vegetarian pantry is key to making a great dinner, and Lemlin offers lists of what to buy and store, in cabinets, refrigerator, and freezer, to make sure your tasty meal is not only fast but healthy. She provides the tools you need to create wholesome meals, including easy rich vegetable stocks to have on hand, tips on quicky roasting peppers or pitting olives, fast breakfast dishes that let you stay away from overprocessed, high priced commercial cereals. Stovetop dishes, make-ahead casseroles and gratins, and a range of pizzas, quesadillas, sandwiches and vegetarian burgers offer simple solutions for weeknight suppers. Salads and desserts take advantage of seasonal vegetables and fruits and suggested menus let harried home cooks move from soup to nuts, almost effortlessly. Winning Dishes include:Chickpea Salad with Fennel, Tomatoes, and Olives Spinach Soup with Couscous and Lemon Garlic Mashed Potatoes Portobello Mushroom and Caramelized Shallot Omelette Nantucket Cranberry Cake
The Art of a Beautiful Game: The Thinking Fan's Tour of the NBA
by Chris BallardIn The Art of a Beautiful Game, Chris Ballard, the award-winning Sports Illustrated writer who has covered the NBA for the past decade, goes behind the scenes to examine basketball in ways that will surprise even die-hard fans. An inveterate hoops junkie who played some college ball, Ballard sits down with the NBA's most passionate, cerebral players to find out their tricks of the trade and to learn what drives them, taking readers away from the usual sports talk radio fodder and deep into the heart of the game. Ballard talks to Dwight Howard, a prolific shot-blocker, about the enervating feeling of meeting another man at the height of his leap; challenges Steve Kerr to a game of H-O-R-S-E to understand the mentality of a pure shooter; reveals the roots of Kobe Bryant's unmatched killer instinct; and spends time with LeBron James to better understand both his mental game and his seemingly unlimited physical skills. He tracks down renowned dunkers from Dominique to Shaq to explore the impact of the dunk on the modern game, shadows Shane Battier during his preparations to defend LeBron, takes lessons from a freethrow shooting guru who once hit 2,750 in a row, and attends an elite NBA training camp to feel the pain that turns a prospect into a pro. Packed with lively characters and basketball history, and grounded in superb writing and the reportage that is the hallmark of Sports Illustrated, The Art of a Beautiful Game is an often witty, always insightful look at the men like Steve Nash, Yao Ming, and Alonzo Mourning who devote themselves to this elegant and complicated sport. It ultimately provides basketball fans what they all want: an inside read on the game they love.
Dinner with DiMaggio: Memories of an American Hero
by Rock Positano John PositanoA revealing account of the great Baseball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio from the man who knew him best in the last ten years of his life—&“a rare, intimate portrait…that pries open Joltin&’ Joe&’s perpetually buttoned-up privacy&” (The New York Times) with stories about the Yankees, Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and other celebrities.In 1990, Dr. Rock Positano, a thirty-two-year-old foot and ankle specialist, met Joe DiMaggio. Despite the forty years between them, an unlikely friendship developed after the doctor successfully treated the baseball champ&’s heel spur injury. Joe mentored Rock but came to rely on his young friend to show him a good time in New York, the town that made him a legend. In time, the famously reserved DiMaggio opened up to Dr. Positano and talked about his joys, his disappointments, and his sorrows as he reflected on his extraordinary life. The stories and experiences he shared with Dr. Positano comprise an intimate portrait of one of the great stars of baseball and icon of the twentieth century. &“Readers do not have to be baseball fans to be captivated by this memoir, which explores such universal themes as friendship, celebrity, aging, and mortality&” (Library Journal, starred review). DiMaggio was a complicated figure—sometimes demanding, sometimes big-hearted, always impeccable, loyal, and a true stand-up guy. This memoir of a decade-long friendship reveals the very private DiMaggio as &“a wholly human portrait of an American icon navigating his way through an adoring yet relentlessly demanding public&” (Booklist, starred review), while serving up illuminating stories and rare insights about the people in his life, including his teammates, Muhammad Ali, Sandy Koufax, Woody Allen, and many more.
The Melodramatic Thread: Spectacle and Political Culture in Modern France (Interdisciplinary Studies in History)
by James R. Lehning“This ambitious undertaking is concerned with the melodramatic form in theatre and film and its impact on French political culture.” —H-France ReviewIn France, both political culture and theatrical performances have drawn upon melodrama. This “melodramatic thread” helped weave the country’s political life as it moved from monarchy to democracy. By examining the relationship between public ceremonies and theatrical performance, James R. Lehning sheds light on democratization in modern France. He explores the extent to which the dramatic forms were present in the public performance of political power. By concentrating on the Republic and the Revolution and on theatrical performance, Lehning affirms the importance of examining the performative aspects of French political culture for understanding the political differences that have marked France in the years since 1789.“In this thoroughly researched and persuasive book, Lehning provides a fascinating reading of public performances in modern France . . . This is an important contribution to the study of French culture and the democratization process . . . Essential.” —Choice“Lehning’s application of the themes of melodrama to French political culture offers new insights into French history. His style is lively, clear, and highly readable.” —Venita Datta, Wellesley College“The analyses in this book make a real contribution to debates about the ways in which art, particularly popular art, and politics interact; how politics itself is theatrical in the French case; and the role of ritual in politics and the function of politics as ritual and ceremony.” —John Gaffney, Aston University
Black Violin: A Novel
by Maxence FermineThere were many musical souls adrift on that raft of silence that is Venice. There was the music of Johannes Karelsky.There was the music of Erasmus, the violin maker. And there was the music of war. But of that, the two men never spoke.From the internationally acclaimed author of Snow comes a timeless tale of love and music set against the romantic backdrop of eighteenth-century Venice.In 1797, the violin prodigy Johannes Karelsky arrives in Venice after fighting with Napoleon's army in the Italian campaign. After the war, he boards with an aged violin maker named Erasmus who created the legendary "Black Violin," which he forbids Johannes to touch because, as he says, "Once you have tasted it, you will never be the same again." Johannes becomes obsessed with the idea of playing this violin as well as finding the woman who saved his life when he was injured in battle.Beautifully written and highly evocative, The Black Violin interweaves Johannes's quest for love and the history of this mysterious instrument in a narrative that is sure to resonate long after the last page is turned.
The Bad Samaritan: A Novel of Suspense Featuring Charlie Peace (Charlie Peace #4)
by Robert BarnardWhen British policemen Charlie Pearce and Mike Oddie investigate the unsurprising murder of the village parish Lothario, they question Rosemary Sheffield, the vicar’s wife. Rosemary, who has recently “lost” her faith and been accused of immoral behavior with a Yugoslavian refugee, makes a perfect suspect. Another winning combination of plot, character, and wit from Barnard.
Strategic Planning: What Every Manager Must Know
by George A. SteinerIn today's complex business world, strategic planning is indispensable to achieving superior management. George A. Steiner's classic work, known as the bible of business planning, provides practical advice for organizing the planning system, acquiring and using information, and translating strategic plans into decisive action. An invaluable resource for top and middle-level executives, Strategic Planning continues to be the foremost guide to this vital area of business management.
White Feminism: From the Suffragettes to Influencers and Who They Leave Behind
by Koa BeckWritten &“with passion and insight about the knotted history of racism within women&’s movements and feminist culture&” (Rebecca Traister, New York Times bestselling author), this whip-smart, timely, and impassioned call for change is perfect for fans of Good and Mad and Hood Feminism.Addressing today&’s conversation about race, empowerment, and inclusion in America, Koa Beck, writer and former editor-in-chief of Jezebel, boldly examines the history of feminism, from the true mission of the suffragists to the rise of corporate feminism with clear-eyed scrutiny and meticulous detail. She also examines overlooked communities—including Native American, Muslim, transgender, and more—and their ongoing struggles for social change.With &“intellectually smart and emotionally intelligent&” (Patrisse Cullors, New York Times bestselling author and Black Lives Matter cofounder) writing, Beck meticulously documents how elitism and racial prejudice have driven the narrative of feminist discourse. Blending pop culture, primary historical research, and first-hand storytelling, she shows us how we have shut women out of the movement, and what we can do to correct our course for a new generation.Combining a scholar&’s understanding with hard data and razor-sharp cultural commentary, White Feminism &“is a rousing blueprint for a more inclusive &‘new era of feminism&’&” (TheBoston Globe).
The Sweet Breath of Life: A Poetic Narrative of the African-American Family
by Ntozake ShangeWords and images come together in a collaboration between celebrated poet Ntozake Shange and an acclaimed group of photographers, to result in this stunning celebration of contemporary Black life in America.From the first publication of The Sweet Flypaper of Life by Langston Hughes and Roy DeCarava in 1967, to Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats, collaborations between writers and photographers have been important in African American culture. These books examine the issues of identity and representation that have been so central to this group's efforts to thrive.The Kamoinge Workshop photographers who contributed their work to this inspiring collection consist of names that have appeared in The New York Times, National Geographic, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), and more. Names such as Anthony Barboza, Adger W. Cowans, Ming Smith Murray, Beuford Smith, John Pinderhuges, and many others. The Workshop&’s mission was a response from the bias portrayals of African Americans in the media. They sought to shed positive light on their subjects, as well as to demystify Black life in America. And The Sweet Breath of Life does exactly that.
Hyper-chondriac: One Man's Quest to Hurry Up and Calm Down
by Brian FrazerDoes your blood pressure surge if the car in front of you turns without signaling? Do your neck veins pulsate when a cashier takes too long to ring you up? Does relaxing seem like it'll have to wait until you're dead? Then your name could very well be Brian Frazer. On paper, Frazer is the world's healthiest guy. He eats right, exercises regularly, gets plenty of sleep, has never smoked and has missed only one day of flossing in the last five years. But inside he's a swirling vortex of angst, capable of contracting a new malady every month. Once Frazer realized that all his ills were tied to stress, he went on a quixotic quest for calm, venturing into everything from Tai Chi, serotonin blockers and Kabbalah to an unfortunate incident involving pineapple-chicken curry at a Craniosacral therapy session. Never has the road to wellville taken so many unforeseen turns. Achingly funny, uncomfortably true and always entertaining, Hyperchondriac is just the medicine for anyone who wants to take it down a notch.
The Pine Tar Game: The Kansas City Royals, the New York Yankees, and Baseball's Most Absurd and Entertaining Controversy
by Filip BondyThe New York Times bestseller—“a rollicking account” (The Kansas City Star) of the infamous baseball game between the Yankees and Royals in which a game-winning home run was overturned and set off one of sports history’s most absurd and entertaining controversies.On July 24, 1983, during the finale of a heated four-game series between the dynastic New York Yankees and small-town Kansas City Royals, umpires nullified a go-ahead home run based on an obscure rule, when Yankees manager Billy Martin pointed out an illegal amount of pine tar—the sticky substance used for a better grip—on Royals third baseman George Brett’s bat. Brett wildly charged out of the dugout and chaos ensued. The call temporarily cost the Royals the game, but the decision was eventually overturned, resulting in a resumption of the game several weeks later that created its own hysteria. The game was a watershed moment, marking a change in the sport, where benign cheating tactics like spitballs, Superball bats, and a couple extra inches of tar on an ash bat, gave way to era of soaring salaries, labor strikes, and rampant use of performance-enhancing drugs.In The Pine Tar Game acclaimed sports writer Filip Bondy paints a portrait of the Yankees and Royals of that era, replete with bad actors, phenomenal athletes, and plenty of yelling. Players and club officials, like Brett, Goose Gossage, Willie Randolph, Ron Guidry, Sparky Lyle, David Cone, and John Schuerholz, offer fresh commentary on the events and their take on the subsequent postseason rivalry. “A sticky moment milked for all its nutty, head-shaking glory” (Sports Illustrated), The Pine Tar Game examines a more innocent time in professional sports, and the shifting tide that resulted in today’s modern iteration of baseball.Some watchers of the Royals’ 2015 World Series win over New York’s “other baseball team,” the Mets, may see it as sweet revenge for a bygone era of talent flow and umpire calls favoring New York.
The Everything Tex-Mex Cookbook: 300 Flavorful Recipes to Spice Up Your Mealtimes! (The Everything Books)
by Linda LarsenAn American tradition since the 1800s, Tex-Mex food combines the flavors of a wide variety of ingredients with the influence of different cultures to create unique dishes that are crafted to perfection.Tomatoes, beef, beans, chiles, and corn are the staples of Tex-Mex cooking, while flavor, texture, and personality are added with specialties such as hot sauce, chorizo, and spices such as chili pepper and cayenne pepper. Packed with 300 not-quite-south-of-the-border recipes, The Everything Tex-Mex Cookbook brings these authentic flavors to your very own kitchen.Features recipes for: -Chilled Avocado Soup -Red Snapper Flautas -Oven Barbecued Beef Brisket -Chicken Chimichangas -Mixed Bean Lasagna -Red Sangria -Peach Daiquiri PieWhether you&’re looking for a quick party appetizer, dinner for your family, or drinks and dessert, The Everything Tex-Mex Cookbook has everything you need to add some color and spice to your daily menus!
Decoding Your Destiny
by Carmen HarraMetaphysical intuitive Carmen Harra, PhD, has found that we all have an individual soul code. She reveals how to calculate your soul code so you can see who you truly are, understand your destiny, and use your free will to make the most of your potential. With your soul code in hand, you’ll learn about the tool of prediction: the more you think on a specific potentiality, predict it, and put your intentions to work, the more likely it is you’ll achieve it. Combining intention with action is the practice of manifestation and free will. Decoding Your Destiny includes exercises, tips, and stories from Dr. Harra’s clients to help guide you as you nurture your own intuitive abilities. Dr. Harra also gives her own account of the future with predictions of a better world. Her vision for the next thirty to 100 years provides fascinating food for thought.
Leaders: Profiles and Reminiscences of Men Who Have Shaped the Modern World
by Richard NixonWhen Nikita Khrushchev shouted contempt for the United States in his famous “Kitchen Debate” with Vice President Richard Nixon, Americans gasped at the sudden glimpse of the Soviet leader's character. At the time cameras and reporters were present. But how much more would we have learned if we could have traveled the globe with Richard Nixon and met privately with others who have shaped the modern world?Richard Nixon knew virtually every major foreign leader since World War II—some at the pinnacle of power, some during their “years in the wilderness” out of power, and still others toward the end of their lives. His was an unparalleled opportunity to gain insight into the nature of the powerful and qualities of leadership.In Leaders, Nixon shares these insights and experiences. He illustrates these leaders in private, assesses their careers, recalls words of wisdom, and brings to bear his own judgments. We meet the co-architects of the New Japan, Douglas MacArthur and Shigeru Yoshida. Encountering the legendary leaders of China—Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Chiang Kai-shek—we see the men behind the events. We see the intensely private Charles DeGaulle; explore the philosophies of Konraud Adenauer; confront Leonid Brezhnev; and delight in the company of Winston Churchill—not to mention Nixon’s analyses of interactions with dozens of other leaders.No one but Richard Nixon could have written this book. It is at once as personal as a handclasp and as objective as only so earnest a student of history could have made it.
On Great Service: A Framework for Action
by Leonard L. BerryImproving service quality has finally become a top priority of management today, yet according to service quality expert Leonard Berry only a handful of companies have managed to determine exactly what to improve and how to improve it. For the past two years, Berry studied dozens of companies of all sizes renowned for their capacity to deliver what they promise and more. From his on-site observation of the strategies and practices of such companies as Mary Kay Cosmetics, Tattered Cover Book Store, Longo Toyota & Lexus, Lakeland Regional Medical Center, and Hard Rock Cafe, Berry has constructed a dynamic new framework for improving service. This framework provides a roadmap for implementation found nowhere else in the service quality literature. In every chapter Berry draws on his twelve years of research in service quality to explain each part of the framework in detail. He provides rich insights and inspiring examples of great service -- including numerous examples unique to this book as well as the classic success stories of USAA, Taco Bell, and many more. Berry shows that a company must (1) develop service leadership skills and values -- a concept substantially different from developing general leadership; (2) build a service quality information system; and (3) create a comprehensive service strategy based on the four principles of great service: reliability, surprise, recovery, and fairness. He demonstrates how these four principles, when adopted by the leadership and infused into the systems of a service company, are the building blocks of the framework and form the anchor for implementation. Berry shows how the "artistry" of great service can be systematically created from this foundation through a company's organizational structure, technology, and often under utilized human resources assets. He challenges service managers to set their service quality aspirations higher, and his innovative, practical ideas will help them achieve those higher standards. Linking service excellence to value creation, Berry provides solid financial reasons for the necessity of great service. Here, at last, is the book for which managers in every service industry have waited: Leonard Berry's "operating manual" for turning plans for great service into action.
The Monkey on My Back: A Memoir
by Debbi MorganA deeply personal memoir spanning three generations of women, this is the intimate autobiography of Emmy Award–winning actress Debbi Morgan, best known as Angie Hubbard on the long-running soap opera All My Children.Raised in the South Bronx and beloved for the diverse and captivating characters she’s played, Debbi Morgan enjoyed a thirty-year tenure on All My Children before joining the cast of The Young and the Restless and later appearing opposite Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson in several films. But this book is not about her career, and it’s not about Hollywood. It’s not even about her rise to stardom. Charting her family history as well as her own life from childhood to the present in this compelling memoir, Debbi reveals the fear, doubt, and insecurities she’s struggled with for much of her life—and how she escaped a vicious cycle of pain to find self-confidence, happiness, and success.Early on in her family history, an ugly pattern of abuse developed into fear, insecurity, self-doubt, and emotional trauma, which passed down from one generation to the next. From her maternal grandmother, who was beaten by her husband as they struggled through the Great Depression, to Debbi’s mother, who became pregnant as a young teen and suffered the same abuse as her mother, down to Debbi, who internalized the physical abuse she watched her mother endure, a deep-rooted fear plagued all three generations of women. But through it all, Debbi endured, and with a good dose of humor and self-compassion, she emerged with the deepest love of herself—and her mojo quite intact!Told with intense emotion, candor, and a barrage of belly laughs, Debbi shares a deeply moving, explosive, yet inspirational journey about what it took to break the cycle and emerge as a confident, fearless woman.
Codgerspace
by Alan Dean FosterTechnology becomes self-aware—and goes haywire—in this comedic science fiction adventure by New York Times–bestselling author Alan Dean Foster. Without warning, kitchen appliances, laundry machines, and every other electronic gadget humans came to depend upon ceased to perform the tasks they were manufactured to do. Ignoring their programming, these devices now sought the meaning of life from an intelligence nonhuman in origin. Their quest ends in the most unexpected of places. Beneath the grounds of an upstate New York retirement community lies an alien spaceship. Inert for millennia, the machines have awakened the ancient intelligence within it. Programmed to wage war against an enemy race, the spaceship threatens to destroy the entire galaxy. And now the fate of all organic andinorganic life lies with five senior citizens—and a food processor . . .
Day of Deceit: The Truth About FDR and Pearl Harbor
by Robert B. StinnettIn Day of Deceit, Robert Stinnett delivers the definitive final chapter on America's greatest secret and our worst military disaster.Drawing on twenty years of research and access to scores of previously classified documents, Stinnett proves that Pearl Harbor was not an accident, a mere failure of American intelligence, or a brilliant Japanese military coup. By showing that ample warning of the attack was on FDR's desk and, furthermore, that a plan to push Japan into war was initiated at the highest levels of the U.S. government, he ends up profoundly altering our understanding of one of the most significant events in American history.
My Father's Daughter: A Memoir
by Tina Sinatra Jeff CoplonCelebrating the 100th anniversary of Sinatra’s birth, a startling, compelling, yet affectionate portrait of an American entertainment legend by his youngest daughter, who writes about the man, his life, the accusations, and about the many people who surrounded him—wives, friends, lovers, users, and sycophants—from his Hoboken childhood through the notorious “Rat Pack,” and beyond.Frank Sinatra seemed to have it all: genius, wealth, the love of beautiful women, glamorous friends from Las Vegas to the White House. But in this startling and remarkably outspoken memoir, his youngest daughter reveals an acutely restless, lonely and conflicted man. Through his marriages and front-page romances and the melancholy gaps between, Frank Sinatra searched for a contentment that eluded him. Tina writes candidly about the wedge his manipulative fourth wife, Barbara Marx, drove between father and daughter.My Father’s Daughter, with its unflinching account of Sinatra’s flaws and foibles, will shock many of his fans. At the same time, it is a deeply affectionate portrait written with love and warmth, a celebration of a daughter’s fond esteem for her father and a respect for his great legacy. Even now, as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth, the world remembers Frank Sinatra as one of the giants of the show business. In this book from someone inside the legend, Tina Sinatra remembers him as something more: a father, and a man.