- Table View
- List View
The Last Black Unicorn
by Tiffany HaddishNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER &“An inspiring story that manages to be painful, honest, shocking, bawdy and hilarious.&” —The New York Times Book Review From stand-up comedian, actress, and breakout star of Girls Trip, Tiffany Haddish, comes The Last Black Unicorn, a sidesplitting, hysterical, edgy, and unflinching collection of (extremely) personal essays, as fearless as the author herself.Growing up in one of the poorest neighborhoods of South Central Los Angeles, Tiffany learned to survive by making people laugh. If she could do that, then her classmates would let her copy their homework, the other foster kids she lived with wouldn&’t beat her up, and she might even get a boyfriend. Or at least she could make enough money—as the paid school mascot and in-demand Bar Mitzvah hype woman—to get her hair and nails done, so then she might get a boyfriend. None of that worked (and she&’s still single), but it allowed Tiffany to imagine a place for herself where she could do something she loved for a living: comedy. Tiffany can&’t avoid being funny—it&’s just who she is, whether she&’s plotting shocking, jaw-dropping revenge on an ex-boyfriend or learning how to handle her newfound fame despite still having a broke person&’s mind-set. Finally poised to become a household name, she recounts with heart and humor how she came from nothing and nowhere to achieve her dreams by owning, sharing, and using her pain to heal others. By turns hilarious, filthy, and brutally honest, The Last Black Unicorn shows the world who Tiffany Haddish really is—humble, grateful, down-to-earth, and funny as hell. And now, she&’s ready to inspire others through the power of laughter.
The Wife: A Novel (Ulverscroft Ser.)
by Meg WolitzerNow a major motion picture starring Glenn Close in her Golden Globe–winning role! One of bestselling author Meg Wolitzer&’s most beloved books—an &“acerbically funny&” (Entertainment Weekly) and &“intelligent…portrait of deception&” (The New York Times). The Wife is the story of the long and stormy marriage between a world-famous novelist, Joe Castleman, and his wife Joan, and the secret they&’ve kept for decades. The novel opens just as Joe is about to receive a prestigious international award, The Helsinki Prize, to honor his career as one of America&’s preeminent novelists. Joan, who has spent forty years subjugating her own literary talents to fan the flames of his career, finally decides to stop. Important and ambitious, The Wife is a sharp-eyed and compulsively readable story about a woman forced to confront the sacrifices she&’s made in order to achieve the life she thought she wanted. &“A rollicking, perfectly pitched triumph…Wolitzer&’s talent for comedy of manners reaches a heady high&” (Los Angeles Times), in this wise and candid look at the choices all men and women make—in marriage, work, and life.
Willow (DeBeers #1)
by V.C. AndrewsHigh society was too much for her. One of the most popular storytellers of all time, V.C. Andrews (Flowers in the Attic, My Sweet Audrina) layers psychological suspense with seductive glamour in this provocative first book of the classic De Beers Family series.All that glitters isn&’t gold... Wealth. Extravagant parties. Celebrity status. These are the things Willow knew only in her wildest dreams—until now. After discovering deep family secrets in her adoptive father&’s journal, she leaves behind her North Carolina college town and sets out in search of her birth family amid the high-class society of Southern Florida. Using an assumed name and pretending to conduct a study of one of the nation&’s wealthiest communities, Willow takes the city by storm and quickly becomes entangled with Thatcher Eaton, a young lawyer who sweeps her off her feet. But as Willow spirals into a passionate love affair and becomes intoxicated with the lifestyle of the rich and famous, the dark truth about her birth family threatens her fancy new life, pushing her to the brink of insanity...
Heavenstone Secrets (Heavenstone #1)
by V.C. AndrewsSecrets are at home here...and there is no escape.The Heavenstone sisters live with their mother and father in a grand old mansion in bluegrass Kentucky. Semantha, the younger and prettier one, is afraid of so many things—darkness, strange noises, mysterious whispers in the night. But nothing frightens her more than her sister, Cassie. She is older and wiser, and always telling Semantha what to do, what to wear, and how to behave around those wicked boys at school. Semantha has her eye on one special guy—but Cassie has other plans for her. In the Heavenstone house, big sister knows best. When tragedy strikes like a lightning bolt from heaven, Semantha&’s life becomes a living hell. Under Cassie&’s constant, watchful eye, she feels like a prisoner—a helpless pawn in her sister&’s cruel game. When Cassie begins wearing their mother&’s clothes and vying for their father&’s affections, Semantha realizes she must bring their twisted sibling rivalry to an end...before a new generation is born.
Highlander in Love (Lockhart Family #3)
by Julia LondonThe Lockhart brothers' quest for an ancient family heirloom has proved fruitless...and an unpaid loan has left them indebted to their rival, Payton Douglas. With no recourse, the Lockharts offer Payton their most valuable commodity: their sister Mared's hand in marriage. Raised to despise the Douglas name, Mared outwardly agrees to the marital bargain for the sake of her family; secretly, she concocts a plan to ensure Payton will not wish to marry her. Seeing the handsome, virile laird Payton face-to-face, however, threatens a centuries-long enmity -- and awakens Mared's deepest desires. But she will not be swayed. Choosing to repay her family's debt by working as his housekeeper instead of wedding him, she finds herself inexorably drawn to the man she vowed to resist. Then a profound discovery changes everything....Now, no longer bound by a promise to her family, Mared must let her heart decide if the laird Payton is the enemy of past legend -- or if he holds the key to a future filled with a passion beyond her wildest dreams.
No One Belongs Here More Than You: Stories (Canons Ser. #33)
by Miranda JulyNamed a Top Ten Book of the Year by Time, the bestselling debut story collection by the extraordinarily talented Miranda July, award-winning filmmaker, artist, and writer.In No One Belongs Here More Than You, Miranda July gives the most seemingly insignificant moments a sly potency. A benign encounter, a misunderstanding, a shy revelation can reconfigure the world. Her characters engage awkwardly—they are sometimes too remote, sometimes too intimate. With great compassion and generosity, July reveals her characters&’ idiosyncrasies and the odd logic and longing that govern their lives. No One Belongs Here More Than You is a stunning debut, the work of a writer with a spectacularly original and compelling voice.
House of Secrets: A Novel (House of Secrets #1)
by V.C. AndrewsFrom the New York Times bestselling author and literary phenomenon V.C. Andrews (Flowers in the Attic, My Sweet Audrina) comes a shivery gothic tale of romance, class divisions, and the secrets that haunt families for generations.Ever since Fern could remember, she and her mother have lived as servants in Wyndemere House, the old gothic mansion of the Davenport family. She may have been a servant, but Fern developed a sweet friendship with Dr. Davenport&’s son, Ryder, and she was even allowed free range of the estate. But Dr. Davenport has remarried and his new wife has very different ideas about a servant&’s place. Now Fern and her mother are subject to cruel punishments, harsh conditions, and aren&’t even allowed to use the front door. Yet, for all her wrath, the cruel woman cannot break the mysterious bond between Ryder and Fern. And when Ryder invites Fern to join his friends at prom, there&’s nothing Mrs. Davenport can do to stop them nor can she continue to guard the secret that haunts the women of Wyndemere—but there&’s nothing she won&’t try. After all, reputation is everything.
The History of the Royal Marines: The Early Years 1664-1842: Volume 1 (The History of the Royal Marines: the Early Years 1664-1842 #1)
by Paul Harris Nicolas“The first volume of a two volume anniversary history of the early Royal Marines.The Royal Marines can trace their origins back to the formation of 'The Duke of York and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot' in 1664…The Royal Marines as we know them today were formed in 1755 and since that time they have distinguished themselves in many conflicts fought by the British to the present day. Numerous books have been written about the exploits of the Royal Marines, particularly in the 20th century, but this special two volume edition concentrates on the earliest period of their history. The presence of red-coated marines was inseparable from the blue uniform of their naval comrades during the great age of sail and this book covers that period in detail including the American War of Independence. The great contest of the early 19th century was against Revolutionary, Consulate and Napoleon Bonaparte's First Empire of the French. The Royal Marines fought in every major naval engagement of that long war, all of which are detailed in these pages together with many minor engagements, the War of 1812 and the imperial campaigns including the Chinese Opium Wars.”-Print ed.
The Matabele Rebellion 1896 With the Belingwe Field Force: With The Belingwe Field Force (classic Reprint)
by D Tyrie Laing“The struggles for AfricaThere can be few more interesting and evocative periods of British imperial history than the struggles for south-eastern Africa. The empire had found itself colliding with the interests of many native powers across the globe during the decades of its expansion. Many had fought to maintain their independence and some, like the Sikhs of the Punjab, were sufficiently well versed in the practice of warfare as to be a serious threat. This could not be said of the tribes which rose from the Zulu nation, yet the Zulu War of 1879 gave British forces a chilling and brutal lesson in what a 'primitive' African tribal army was capable of achieving on the field of battle. The Matabele, as an off-shoot of the martial Zulus, also inevitably came into conflict with the British during the closing decade of the 19th century. The First Matabele War did not decisively subjugate the tribe and in 1896 it rose again laying siege to Bulawayo with over 10,000 Ndebele warriors.”-Print ed.
Charles Lister; Letters and Recollections, With a Memoir by his Father, Lord Ribblesdale
by Thomas Lister Ribblesdale Charles ListerIncludes Gallipoli Campaign Map and Illustrations Pack -71 photos and 31 maps of the campaign spanning the entire period of hostilities.“With the Hood Battalion during the campaign in the DardanellesAlthough there remains much interest in the activities of the Royal Naval Division during the First World War, there is little original material on the subject readily available. The letters which form a substantial part of this book, may have been overlooked by many readers since they were originally published under a title that gave no indication that the book was about service with ‘the sailors in khaki’. Charles Lister was a frequent correspondent with his family and friends while travelling abroad before the outbreak of war, and he continued this correspondence throughout his military service until he died of wounds sustained while serving with the Hood Battalion of the Royal Naval Division during the Gallipoli campaign. After his death, Lister’s father, Lord Ribblesdale, published his son’s letters as a memorial.”-Print ed.
The Defence of Plevna, 1877. Written by One Who Took Part in It
by Frederick William Von HerbertIn "The Defence of Plevna, 1877," readers are transported to the heart of one of the most pivotal moments in European history. Set against the backdrop of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, this gripping narrative chronicles the epic struggle for the Bulgarian town of Plevna.As the Russian Empire seeks to expand its influence in the Balkans and challenge Ottoman dominance, the small garrison town of Plevna becomes the focal point of a fierce and relentless battle. Led by the indomitable Ottoman commander, Osman Pasha, the defenders of Plevna are faced with overwhelming odds as they confront the might of the Russian army.Against the backdrop of political intrigue, military strategy, and personal drama, the fate of Plevna hangs in the balance. Will Osman Pasha and his valiant defenders withstand the onslaught of the Russian forces, or will the town fall, signaling a turning point in the course of history?"The Defence of Plevna, 1877" is not just a tale of warfare, but a testament to the human spirit in the face of adversity. It is a story of courage, honor, and the enduring struggle for freedom and independence. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in military history, the Balkans, or the complex dynamics of 19th-century Europe.
The History of The Knights Templars, The Temple Church, and The Temple: Large Print
by Charles G Addison“The warrior knights of the crossThe Knights Templar were one of the most famous Christian military orders of the medieval period. Officially endorsed by the church in the early decades of the 12th century the express purpose of the order was to provide defence and protection to Christian pilgrims. The concept became a popular one and with patronage came wealth and power so that the order, through a substantial infrastructure of non-warrior members spread throughout Europe promoting its objectives, developing financial institutions and building fortification on a grand scale. However, the Knights Templar are especially remembered today for the prowess of their military knights. Clad in white mantles bearing the distinctive red cross the Templars both attracted and created some of the most expert and effective fighting men of their time. Naturally, the order was closely connected to the Holy Land and with the Crusades. For some two hundred years it fought the forces of Islam for dominance of Jerusalem experiencing mixed fortunes in dozens of actions and major battles. The eventual loss of the Holy Land could do no other than promote a decline in their fortunes, and indeed, the support for the Templars. Furthermore, the order's wealth and its independent structure, wielding power outside state and church, inevitably made it a target for both suspicion and dissolution. The end came in 1312—in a welter of torture, bloodshed and burnings at the stake. The legend has lived on however, and today the times of Knights Templar are to many more intriguing and evocative than ever.”-Print ed.
Theodora: Portrait in a Byzantine Landscape
by Antony Bridge&“First rate popular history/biography, evoking the Byzantine empire at its peak. A remarkable story in an entertaining, informative book.&” —The Wall Street Journal This is the biography of a Byzantine courtesan who rose from the gutter to the throne of an empire. It is a romantic and improbable story, and Theodora is an extraordinary woman, indeed. Her background and her many actions were scandalous, but she had qualities of greatness and this book sets the record straight. This account of her life is a pageant in which Emperors and barbarian kings, Popes and Patriarchs, eunuchs and generals, heretics and orthodox opponents, charioteers and ladies of easy virtue, saints and sinners move in a formal and splendid rhythm. This formality was often marred by violence: one of the worst riots in Byzantine history took place when Theodora had been empress for a short time, and during much of her reign there was war in Italy, marked by appalling suffering and barbarity. Toward the end of her life, Constantinople was devastated by Bubonic plague. Yet Theodora triumphed over every adverse circumstance, tough and clever to the end. &“ . . . Bridge&’s book, with its exceptionally vivid and evocative style, brings the period alive.&” —Library Journal &“Puts [Theodora] in her own time and place in the vast panorama of the golden age of an empire which lasted 1,100 years.&” —Boston Herald &“Conveys the passion and the fervor of the sixth century A.D.&” —Los Angeles Herald Examiner
The Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing
by Gary W EldredStart making money today--with the ultimate guide for first-time investors No matter what the market does, real estate stilloffers plenty of money-making opportunities. In this new edition of The Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing, Gary W. Eldred presents the toolsand knowledge new investors need to get started profitably. Packed with smart money-making strategies and real-life stories from successful investors, this edition also covers the latest information on financing, foreclosures, cash flow, and much more. You'll not only master the basics of investing, but also discover specialized techniques that the pros rely on to grow their long-term wealth. Concise yet comprehensive, this practical guide shows you how to: Find great deals on properties with big potential Get started with low- or no-down payment financing Utilize creative financing options and otherpeople's money Buy low-cost foreclosures and REOs Make value-adding improvements to any property Craft winning offers and negotiate like a pro Manage rental properties hassle-free Flip investment properties for fast profit In addition, Eldred shows you how to tailor your investment strategy to make money almost anywhere, in any type of market. With proven techniques, timeless principles, and totally up-to-date information, The Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing, Second Edition is the perfect place to start building a prosperous future--today.
The Billion Dollar Mistake: Learning the Art of Investing Through the Missteps of Legendary Investors
by Stephen L Weiss&“Concentrating on personal finance don&’ts is a clever idea . . . an intriguing reminder of what not to do when investing your money.&” —The New York Times Brilliant investors and top businesspeople make mistakes, too—very expensive ones. Drawing on his twenty-plus years of experience at some of Wall Street&’s most prestigious firms, as well as original research and interviews with these legendary investors, Stephen Weiss offers fascinating narrative accounts of their billion-dollar blunders. Here, such prominent figures as Kirk Kerkorian, Bill Ackman, David Bonderman, Aubrey McClendon, and Leon Cooperman discuss the most significant trade or investment that went against them, the magnitude of the loss, its effect on their businesses—and on their personal lives. The book skillfully examines the causal relationship between the quirks of each investor&’s personality and the mistakes they have committed—as well as the lessons learned. While some investors made errors of judgment, others made errors of perception. But no matter how many zeros were attached to these particular losses, investors at any level can profit from the wisdom gained—and avoid the same missteps. &“When a great investor flubs it, everyone can learn a lesson. With that in mind, author Stephen Weiss delves into the biggest mistakes of such Wall Street luminaries as Bill Ackman, Leon Cooperman and Richard Pzena.&” —Barron&’s
The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings
by Steve Berges&“Berges shares a framework investors can use to make the transition from buying single-family homes to successfully investing in multifamily properties.&” —The Real Estate CPA, &“18 of the Best Books on Real Estate Investing&” Whether you&’re a first-time real estate investor or a seasoned professional, The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings helps you map out your future, find apartment buildings at a fair price, finance purchases, and manage your properties. Now revised and expanded, this Second Edition includes tax planning advice, case studies of real acquisitions, and appendixes that add detail to the big picture. Plus, it includes a handy glossary of all the terms investors need to know, helpful sample forms that make paperwork quick and easy, and updated real estate forecasts. With this comprehensive guide at hand you&’ll find profits easy to come by. &“If you&’re thinking about investing in apartment buildings, this is a good place to start.&” —Robert Bruss, nationally syndicated columnist
The Fattening of America: How The Economy Makes Us Fat, If It Matters, and What To Do About It
by Eric A. Finkelstein Laurie ZuckermanA guide to how America became the fattest nation, and how the food industry and the government keep it that way. In The Fattening of America, renowned health economist Eric Finkelstein, along with business writer Laurie Zuckerman, reveal how the US economy has become the driving force behind our expanding waistlines. Blending theory, research, and engaging personal anecdotes, the authors discuss how declining food costs—especially for high-calorie, low-nutrient foods—and an increasing usage of technology, which make Americans more sedentary, has essentially led us to eat more calories than we burn off. Praise for The Fattening of America&“[Finkelstein and Zuckerman] show that our entire society profits from making people fat and then either keeping them fat or making them thin again. When you understand how these powerful forces work, you can do a better job of resisting them—and staying healthy.&” —Jack Challem, bestselling author of The Food-Mood Solution and Stop Prediabetes Now&“Everyone who eats food in America must read this book. It is a comprehensive guide to how we&’ve become the fattest nation on the planet and how the food industry, in cahoots with the government, makes us one of the least healthy nations.&” —Fred Pescatore, MD, MPH, CCN, author of The Hamptons Diet&“The authors have done an excellent job talking to mainstream America about obesity. It brings together all of the latest research and packages it in a way that is engaging for the average person. I very much enjoyed the book and would recommend it for anyone interested in obesity. Well done.&” —James O. Hill, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and author of The Step Diet: Count Steps, Not Calories to Lose Weight and Keep It Off Forever&“An important book for everyone interested in gaining a better understanding of the underlying causes behind the obesity epidemic and options for addressing it.&” —Barry Popkin, Carla Smith Chamblee Distinguished Professor of Global Nutrition at the University of North Carolina
Toy Monster: The Big, Bad World of Mattel
by Jerry OppenheimerAn eye-popping, unauthorized exposé of the House of Barbie from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Kardashians and Crazy Rich. From Boise to Beijing, Mattel&’s toys dominate the universe. Its no fun-and-games marketing muscle reaches some 140 countries, and its iconic products have been a part of our culture for generations. Now, in this intriguing and entertaining exposé, New York Times–bestselling author Jerry Oppenheimer places the world&’s largest toy company under a journalistic microscope, uncovering the dark side of toy land, and exploring Mattel&’s oddball corporate culture and eccentric, often bizarre, cast of characters. Based on exclusive interviews and an exhaustive review of public and private records, Toy Monster exposes Mattel&’s take-no-prisoners, shark-infested corporate style. Throughout this scrupulously reported, unauthorized portrait, you&’ll discover how dangerous toys are actually nothing new to Mattel, and why its fearsomely litigious approach within the brutal toy business has helped their products dominate potential rivals such as Bratz. Engaging and accessible, Toy Monster shows you why today&’s toy business isn&’t always fun and games. &“Oppenheimer . . . has now trained his sights on the world&’s biggest toy company—its egos, scandals and flawed products. In his toyland, nothing is cute.&” —The Wall Street Journal &“Oppenheimer takes a tour of Mattel&’s seamier side, highlighting its dubious corporate practices and kooky cast in this scathing portrait . . . Fast-paced and engaging, this exposé will absorb readers until the last page and will forever change the way they think about the company.&” —Publishers Weekly &“Thoroughly researched, beautifully written, Oppenheimer&’s opus contains all the intrigue and drama of an epic novel.&” —C. David Heymann, New York Times–bestselling author
Native Plants for Southwestern Landscapes
by Judy MielkeA guide to xeriscaping for eco-conscious gardeners living in desert climates. For gardeners who want to conserve water, the color, fragrance, shade, and lush vegetation of a traditional garden may seem like a mirage in the desert. But such gardens can flourish when native plants grow in them. In this book, Judy Mielke, an expert on Southwestern gardening, offers the most comprehensive guide available to landscaping with native plants. Writing simply enough for beginning gardeners, while also providing ample information for landscape professionals, she presents over three hundred trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, groundcovers, wildflowers, cacti, and other native plants suited to arid landscapes. The heart of the book lies in the complete descriptions and beautiful color photographs of plants native to the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan desert regions of the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Mielke characterizes each plant and gives detailed information on its natural habitat, its water, soil, light, temperature, and pruning requirements, and its possible uses in landscape design. In addition, Mielke includes informative discussions of desert ecology, growing instructions for native plants and wildflowers, and &“how-to&” ideas for revegetation of disturbed desert areas using native plants. She concludes the book with an extensive list of plants by type, including those that have specific features such as shade or fragrance. She also supplies a list of public gardens that showcase native plants.
American Medical Association Boy's Guide to Becoming a Teen: Getting Used to Life in Your Changing Body
by American Medical AssociationA boy&’s &“straightforward, accessible, and nonjudgmental&” guide to everything they need to know about puberty and becoming a teen (Booklist). Becoming a teen is an important milestone in every boy&’s life. It&’s especially important at this time to get answers and advice from a trusted source. The American Medical Association Boy&’s Guide to Becoming a Teen is filled with invaluable advice to get you ready for the changes you will experience during puberty. Learn about these important topics and more: · Puberty and what kinds of physical and emotional changes you can expect—from your developing body to your feelings about girls · The importance of eating the right foods and taking care of your body · Pimples, acne, and how to properly care for your skin · Your reproductive system—inside and out · Thinking about relationships and dealing with new feelings The American Medical Association Boy&’s Guide to Becoming a Teen will help you understand the health issues that are of most concern to teenage boys, and will teach you how to be safe, happy, and healthy through these years.
The Big Book of Parenting Solutions: 101 Answers to Your Everyday Challenges and Wildest Worries (Child Development #1)
by Michele BorbaThe Today show expert &“tackles 101 issues ranging from sibling rivalry, lying and peer pressure to cell-phone use and TV addiction . . . Indispensable&” (Publishers Weekly). A recommended read for moms by Working Mother magazine. In this down-to-earth guide, parenting expert Michele Borba offers advice for dealing with children&’s difficult behavior and hot button issues including biting, temper tantrums, cheating, bad friends, inappropriate clothing, sex, drugs, peer pressure, and much more. Written for parents of kids age 3-13, this book offers easy-to-implement advice for the most important challenges parents face with kids from toddlers to tweens. Includes immediate solutions to the most common childhood problems and challenges Written by Today&’s resident parenting expert Michele Borba Offers clear step-by-step guidance for solving difficult childhood behaviors and family conflicts Contains a wealth of advice that is easy-to-follow and gets quick results Author has written outstanding parenting books including Building Moral Intelligence, No More Misbehavin&’, Don&’t Give Me that Attitude, and more Each of the 101 issues includes clear questions, specific step-by-step solutions, and advice that is age appropriate. &“Moms and dads have come to rely on Dr. Borba for advice on issues large and small. The Big Book of Parenting Solutions is an indispensable, comprehensive, and authoritative guide to the wonderful and sometimes wacky world of parenthood. You&’ll find yourself dipping into it for answers again and again.&” —Dana Points, Editor-in-Chief, Parents Magazine &“The easy-to-use problem/solution format will have you battling your biggest parenting crises with confidence.&” —Working Mother
Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story
by BonoNEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • Bono—artist, activist, and the lead singer of Irish rock band U2—has written a memoir: honest and irreverent, intimate and profound, Surrender is the story of the remarkable life he&’s lived, the challenges he&’s faced, and the friends and family who have shaped and sustained him. • A VOGUE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR &“A brilliant, very funny, very revealing autobiography-through-music. Maybe the best book ever written about being a rockstar.&” —Caitlin Moran, award-winning journalist &“When I started to write this book, I was hoping to draw in detail what I&’d previously only sketched in songs. The people, places, and possibilities in my life. Surrender is a word freighted with meaning for me. Growing up in Ireland in the seventies with my fists up (musically speaking), it was not a natural concept. A word I only circled until I gathered my thoughts for the book. I am still grappling with this most humbling of commands. In the band, in my marriage, in my faith, in my life as an activist. Surrender is the story of one pilgrim&’s lack of progress ... With a fair amount of fun along the way.&” —Bono As one of the music world&’s most iconic artists and the cofounder of the organizations ONE and (RED), Bono&’s career has been written about extensively. But in Surrender, it&’s Bono who picks up the pen, writing for the first time about his remarkable life and those he has shared it with. In his unique voice, Bono takes us from his early days growing up in Dublin, including the sudden loss of his mother when he was fourteen, to U2&’s unlikely journey to become one of the world&’s most influential rock bands, to his more than twenty years of activism dedicated to the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty. Writing with candor, self-reflection, and humor, Bono opens the aperture on his life—and the family, friends, and faith that have sustained, challenged, and shaped him. Surrender&’s subtitle, 40 Songs, One Story, is a nod to the book&’s forty chapters, which are each named after a U2 song. Bono has also created forty original drawings for Surrender, which appear throughout the book.
Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author
by Lucinda Halpern&“All aspiring authors know the value of a great literary agent, but few know how to get one. Lucinda Halpern has written the definitive guide to attracting an agent and laying the groundwork for a book well worth publishing.&”— Adam Grant, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Think Again and Hidden Potential, and host of the TED podcast Re:ThinkingA step-by-step guide from a New York literary agent that will show you how to create a winning concept, craft an irresistible pitch, and land your dream book deal.In this practical, immediately actionable guide, Lucinda Halpern, who has represented New York Times bestsellers and brokered numerous deals with major publishers for over a decade, divulges what agents look for in authors and the shortcuts they use to get book deals but have never revealed—until now.Lucinda has personally helped hundreds of writers and entrepreneurs launch timeless, best-selling books. But the path to literary success begins with knowing the answers to questions like:How do I make my book idea marketable to agents and publishers? What essential ingredients should my book pitch possess?What common pitfalls and errors should I avoid?How do I find a reputable agent who shares my vision?What can I do if I'm getting rejected by agents and publishers?With her unique 6-step method, Lucinda provides the tools and concrete strategies to:Write a query letter that gets an agent's attention Build an effective marketing platformCreate a timeless bestsellerPacked with interviews from best-selling authors, leading book editors from Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, and more, Get Signed is the indispensable roadmap you need right now to get noticed and become a published author.
Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines
by Joy BuolamwiniNATIONAL BESTSELLER • &“The conscience of the AI revolution&” (Fortune) explains how we&’ve arrived at an era of AI harms and oppression, and what we can do to avoid its pitfalls.&“Dr. Joy Buolamwini has been an essential figure in bringing irresponsible, profit-hungry tech giants to their knees. If you&’re going to read only one book about AI, this should be it.&”—Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation A LOS ANGELES TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • Shortlisted for the Inc. Non-Obvious Book AwardTo most of us, it seems like recent developments in artificial intelligence emerged out of nowhere to pose unprecedented threats to humankind. But to Dr. Joy Buolamwini, who has been at the forefront of AI research, this moment has been a long time in the making.After tinkering with robotics as a high school student in Memphis and then developing mobile apps in Zambia as a Fulbright fellow, Buolamwini followed her lifelong passion for computer science, engineering, and art to MIT in 2015. As a graduate student at the &“Future Factory,&” she did groundbreaking research that exposed widespread racial and gender bias in AI services from tech giants across the world.Unmasking AI goes beyond the headlines about existential risks produced by Big Tech. It is the remarkable story of how Buolamwini uncovered what she calls &“the coded gaze&”—the evidence of encoded discrimination and exclusion in tech products—and how she galvanized the movement to prevent AI harms by founding the Algorithmic Justice League. Applying an intersectional lens to both the tech industry and the research sector, she shows how racism, sexism, colorism, and ableism can overlap and render broad swaths of humanity &“excoded&” and therefore vulnerable in a world rapidly adopting AI tools. Computers, she reminds us, are reflections of both the aspirations and the limitations of the people who create them.Encouraging experts and non-experts alike to join this fight, Buolamwini writes, &“The rising frontier for civil rights will require algorithmic justice. AI should be for the people and by the people, not just the privileged few.&”
Mr. Peanut (Vintage Contemporaries)
by Adam RossA New York Times Noteable BookMesmerizing, exhilarating, and profoundly moving, Mr. Peanut is a police procedural of the soul, a poignant investigation of the relentlessly mysterious human heart.David Pepin has been in love with his wife, Alice, since the moment they met in a university seminar on Alfred Hitchcock. After thirteen years of marriage, he still can&’t imagine a remotely happy life without her—yet he obsessively contemplates her demise. Soon she is dead, and David is both deeply distraught and the prime suspect.The detectives investigating Alice&’s suspicious death have plenty of personal experience with conjugal enigmas: Ward Hastroll is happily married until his wife inexplicably becomes voluntarily and militantly bedridden; and Sam Sheppard is especially sensitive to the intricacies of marital guilt and innocence, having decades before been convicted and then exonerated of the brutal murder of his wife. Like the Escher drawings that inspire the computer games David designs for a living, these complex, interlocking dramas are structurally and emotionally intense, subtle, and intriguing; they brilliantly explore the warring impulses of affection and hatred, and pose a host of arresting questions. Is it possible to know anyone fully, completely? Are murder and marriage two sides of the same coin, each endlessly recycling into the other? And what, in the end, is the truth about love?