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Got a Revolution!: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane
by Jeff TamarkinThe most successful and influential rock band to emerge from San Francisco during the 1960s, Jefferson Airplane created the sound of a generation. Their smash hits "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit" virtually invented the era's signature pulsating psychedelic music and, during one of the most tumultuous times in American history, came to personify the decade's radical counterculture. In this groundbreaking biography of the band, veteran music writer and historian Jeff Tamarkin produces a portrait of the band like none that has come before it. Having worked closely with Jefferson Airplane for more than a decade, Tamarkin had unprecedented access to the band members, their families, friends, lovers, crew members, fellow musicians, cultural luminaries, even the highest-ranking politicians of the time. More than just a definitive history, Got a Revolution! is a rock legend unto itself. Jann Wenner, editor-in-chief and publisher of Rolling Stone, wrote, "The classic [Jefferson] Airplane lineup were both architects and messengers of a psychedelic age, a liberation of mind and body that profoundly changed American art, politics, and spirituality. It was a renaissance that could only have been born in San Francisco, and the Airplane, more than any other band in town, spread the good news nationwide."
The Road Trip Rewind
by Kate Tamberelli Danny TamberelliBack to the Future meets 10 Things I Hate About You as the past, the present, and two hearts with unfinished business collide in the most epic, hilarious, and downright poignant way . . . Up-and-coming screenwriter Beatrix Noel&’s dream project is finally a reality—her 90s-era script is in production. Less dreamy is the A-list actor in the starring role—none other than Rocco Riziero, who jilted Beatrix on New Year&’s Eve back in 1999. Without his celebrity status, the project would likely still be withering on her hard drive, but that doesn&’t mean Beatrix won&’t shame him at every opportunityon-set—especially when it becomes painfully obvious he doesn&’t even remember her . . . Boxed-in as a Hollywood pretty-boy, Rocco is thrilled to tackle a genuinely dramatic role. But he&’s perplexed about why the screenwriter treats him like a maggot. And awkward becomes irksome when their bickering results in a car crash right outside the famed Roxy Theatre on Sunset Boulevard—site of the New Year&’s Eve party where everything went wrong . . . Shockingly, Beatrix, Rocco, and the car, are uninjured. The twist? They&’re clearly, truly, somehow, still in December, still on Sunset—but in 1999. Their mission? They&’ll have to work together to correct their old mistakes—which just might bring them closer than either expects . . . But can they change the past without altering their future selves—and hold on to what they&’ve found together? Only time-travel will tell . . .
Let's Talk About Aging Parents: A Real-life Guide To Solving Problems With 27 Essential Conversations
by Laura Tamblyn WattsCaring for an aging parent can raise a host of tricky questions, but these conversation-starting scripts, plus expert advice, will help you and your parent find answers. Age-proofing an older relative’s living space, figuring out powers of attorney, spotting and dealing with signs of dementia, asking them to give up the car keys or consider assisted living . . . the first step toward tackling these concerns and more is an honest, informed discussion. Here are prompts and road maps for twenty-seven essential conversations—with your parent, other family members, and health care providers—including: Does my parent need help around the house? What kind of medical issues should we look out for? Do I really need to help my parents if they’re toxic? How can my family share the caregiving load? How to approach these topics is just as important as what needs to be said, so each chapter has tips for navigating complex emotions and finding shared ground when everyone has different ideas. You’ll get informed, have a productive discussion, and make a plan—so you can get back to making the most of your time with your parent.
The Farmer with a Heart of Gold
by Leen Al TamimiThe Farmer with a Heart of Gold is a heartwarming children’s tale that explores the power of kindness and how it can attract miracles and even more goodness into one’s life. Set in a distant land, our story’s protagonist, Mr. Jim the farmer, has devoted his life to working on a farm owned by the cold-hearted Mr. Bob. When disaster strikes unexpectedly, Mr. Bob shows no compassion for Mr. Jim, giving him a mere 24 hours to save the land or face eviction. Devastated at the thought of leaving his beloved farm behind, Mr. Jim is on the brink of losing hope. However, with the help of four little friends, he discovers the significance of being a good person and believing in the miracles that surround us all. Mr. Jim learns that all he needs to do is ask, and the universe will respond to his pure heart and intentions.
Joy on Demand: The Art of Discovering the Happiness Within
by Chade-Meng TanA long-awaited follow-up to the New York Times bestselling Search Inside Yourself shows us how to cultivate joy within the context of our fast-paced lives and explains why it is critical to creativity, innovation, confidence, and ultimately success in every arena.In Joy on Demand, Chade-Meng Tan shows that you don’t need to meditate for hours, days, months or years to achieve lasting joy—you can actually get consistent access to it in as little as fifteen seconds. Explaining joy and meditation as complementary things that naturally reinforce each other, Meng explains how these two skills form a virtuous cycle, and once put into motion, become a solid practice that can be sustained in daily life.For many years, meditation has been taught and practiced in cultures where almost all meditators practice full-time for years, resulting in training programs optimized for practitioners with lots of free time and not much else to do but develop profound mastery over the mind. Seeing a disconnect between the traditional practice and the modern world, the bestselling author and Google’s “Jolly Good Fellow” has developed a program, through “wise laziness,” to help readers meditate more efficiently and effectively. Meng shares the three pillars of joy (inner peace, insight, and happiness), why joy is the secret is to success, and demonstrates the practical tools anyone can use to cultivate it on demand.
Acing the System Design Interview
by Zhiyong TanThe system design interview is one of the hardest challenges you&’ll face in the software engineering hiring process. This practical book gives you the insights, the skills, and the hands-on practice you need to ace the toughest system design interview questions and land the job and salary you want.In Acing the System Design Interview you will master a structured and organized approach to present system design ideas like: Scaling applications to support heavy traffic Distributed transactions techniques to ensure data consistency Services for functional partitioning such as API gateway and service mesh Common API paradigms including REST, RPC, and GraphQL Caching strategies, including their tradeoffs Logging, monitoring, and alerting concepts that are critical in any system design Communication skills that demonstrate your engineering maturity Don&’t be daunted by the complex, open-ended nature of system design interviews! In this in-depth guide, author Zhiyong Tan shares what he&’s learned on both sides of the interview table. You&’ll dive deep into the common technical topics that arise during interviews and learn how to apply them to mentally perfect different kinds of systems. Foreword by Anthony Asta, Michael D. Elder. About the technology The system design interview is daunting even for seasoned software engineers. Fortunately, with a little careful prep work you can turn those open-ended questions and whiteboard sessions into your competitive advantage! In this powerful book, Zhiyong Tan reveals practical interview techniques and insights about system design that have earned developers job offers from Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, PayPal, and Uber. About the book Acing the System Design Interview is a masterclass in how to confidently nail your next interview. Following these easy-to-remember techniques, you&’ll learn to quickly assess a question, identify an advantageous approach, and then communicate your ideas clearly to an interviewer. As you work through this book, you&’ll gain not only the skills to successfully interview, but also to do the actual work of great system design. What's inside Insights on scaling, transactions, logging, and more Practice questions for core system design concepts How to demonstrate your engineering maturity Great questions to ask your interviewer About the reader For software engineers, software architects, and engineering managers looking to advance their careers. About the author Zhiyong Tan is a manager at PayPal. He has worked at Uber, Teradata, and at small startups. Over the years, he has been in many system design interviews, on both sides of the table. The technical editor on this book was Mohit Kumar. Table of Contents PART 1 1 A walkthrough of system design concepts 2 A typical system design interview flow 3 Non-functional requirements 4 Scaling databases 5 Distributed transactions 6 Common services for functional partitioning PART 2 7 Design Craigslist 8 Design a rate-limiting service 9 Design a notification/alerting service 10 Design a database batch auditing service 11 Autocomplete/typeahead 12 Design Flickr 13 Design a Content Distribution Network (CDN) 14 Design a text messaging app 15 Design Airbnb 16 Design a news feed 17 Design a dashboard of top 10 products on Amazon by sales volume Appendix A Monoliths vs. microservices Appendix B OAuth 2.0 authorization and OpenID Connect authentication Appendix C C4 Model Appendix D Two-phase commit (2PC)
Between Words: A Friendship Tale
by Saki TanakaYou don't always need words to make a friendship bloom. A touching ode to connection and belonging by debut picture book author-illustrator, Saki Tanaka.Kai is used to following the seasons with Pa, from place to new place where people speak languages unfamiliar to his ears. When they finally settle in a valley full of pools, Kai tries to invite the other children to join in his play, but the strangeness of his words drives them away. Frustrated, he kicks his most treasured stone into one of the pools and in his search for it, finds something even more valuable.Dive into a whimsical tale of unexpected friendship, told with compassion and warmth. With every brushstroke, Saki Tanaka paints a radiant world where bonds are formed beyond language barriers.
Mom and Me, Me and Mom
by Miguel TancoThe joy of being a mom is palpable in this touching tribute to parenthood. Whimsical illustrations capture the poignant moments that make motherhood so special: pinning up a daughter's hair, getting messy during playtime, reading quietly side by side, and, above all, cherishing precious moments together. Bright pops of Pantone coral infuse each spread, and a cloth spine adds an irresistible specialness. At once a treasured Mother's Day gift and a year-round "I love you," this book will delight parents and children in a celebration of a supremely meaningful relationship. This lovely testament to the inimitable mother/daughter bond goes straight to the heart.
Depraved Indifference: No Lesser Plea, Depraved Indifference, And Immoral Certainty (Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi #2)
by Robert K. TanenbaumA prosecutor defies the FBI, CIA, and Mafia to bring terrorists to justice in this thriller from the New York Times–bestselling author of Justice Denied. After hijacking a flight to Milwaukee, a group of Croatian terrorists inform the FBI of bombs they&’ve planted across the country. If their demands are not met, the bombs will explode. The plan goes perfectly until one of the weapons goes off in the Bronx, killing a police officer—in assistant district attorney Butch Karp&’s jurisdiction. Prosecuting a few terrorist cop killers should be a slam-dunk, but Karp and his assistant, Marlene Ciampi, are getting resistance from unexpected quarters—including the NYPD itself. The Archdiocese of New York hires a top lawyer to defend the accused. And when the FBI, CIA, and Miami Mafia team up to undermine the case, it&’s clear these Croatians are no ordinary terrorists. As Karp and Ciampi uncover powerful ties, and secrets that reach from anticommunist Cuba to Nazi war crimes, they realize their fight for justice has become a fight for their lives. From the New York Times–bestselling author and former Manhattan assistant district attorney, Depraved Indifference is an insider&’s &“damning indictment of our court system and an entertaining exposé of the DA's office&” (Publishers Weekly). This ebook features an illustrated biography of Robert K. Tanenbaum including rare photos from the author&’s personal collection.
Material Witness: Reversible Error, Material Witness, And Justice Denied (Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi #5)
by Robert K. TanenbaumIn this &“wild, exhilarating ride&” from the New York Times–bestselling author, a prosecutor goes undercover—on the court—after a basketball player&’s murder (Chicago Tribune). Marion Simmons is big. He&’s tough. And he takes a long time to die. Simmons survives the long ride through Queens, clinging to life until the car stops in an abandoned lot, and a hit man puts two bullets in his head. When the police arrive, they recognize the dead man instantly. Simmons is the most famous basketball player in New York City, and his murder—along with the fortune of cocaine found in the car—will turn the sport upside down. When he was in college, Butch Karp dreamed of playing professional basketball. Instead, he became the toughest prosecutor in the District Attorney&’s office. To get to the truth of Simmons&’ murder, Karp goes undercover as a player—putting his life on the line to cleanse the sport of drug dealing, point shaving, and murder for hire. From the former Manhattan assistant DA and bestselling author of Justice Denied, Material Witness is a standout legal thriller in the long-running Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi series. Material Witness is the 5th book in the Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order. &“A winner . . . a master of the crime grime of Manhattan . . . for those who have stalked the criminal courts there&’s tremendous authenticity.&” —F. Lee Baily &“Extraordinary . . . sexy dialogue, rousing action, pungent observation on the New York criminal justice system.&” —Chicago Tribune
No Lesser Plea: No Lesser Plea, Depraved Indifference, And Immoral Certainty (Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi #1)
by Robert K. TanenbaumFirst in the New York Times–bestselling series: Two district attorneys go up against a brilliant killer in this &“exceptionally good&” legal thriller (Publishers Weekly). The plan was simple: When the manager carries the bags of money out of the supermarket, Mandeville Louis will be waiting with a shotgun. He&’ll kill the manager, kill the guard, and cruise away. But when Louis&’s driver shows up late, he&’s forced to improvise—and the result is a disaster. He storms a liquor store, killing two and leaving a trail the cops have no trouble following. But even behind bars, Mandeville Louis won&’t go down without a fight. An expert in legal procedure, Louis has never met a loophole too small to shimmy through. He&’s going to bob and weave his way into a plea bargain and back onto the streets—unless Butch Karp can stop him. A firebrand assistant district attorney who&’s just been assigned to Homicide, he wants to make an example of Louis. With the help of the brilliant Marlene Ciampi, Karp intends to break Mandeville Louis—and strike a blow for justice. Written by a legendary prosecuting attorney, No Lesser Plea is a perfect introduction to this saga of life in gritty 1970s New York. No Lesser Plea is the 1st book in the Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order. &“Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi are the most interesting pair of characters in the suspense genre today.&” —Chicago Tribune &“An attorney himself, Tanenbaum has infused this book with a strong collection of characters, a raunchy energy that crackles in the out-of-office lawyer talk and a basic sense of outrage at a system that is failing miserably.&” —Publishers Weekly
Reversible Error: Reversible Error, Material Witness, And Justice Denied (Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi #4)
by Robert K. TanenbaumBook Four of the bestselling Butch Karp legal thriller series: Karp, Marlene, and a few honest cops must stand up to a hive of corrupt politiciansAssistant District Attorney Butch Karp is finally recognized for his heroic service to New York City when a group of politicians back him for the top job as Manhattan&’s district attorney. But a series of cases involving vigilante murders begins to reveal the true motives of those civil servants standing by his side. It&’s Karp versus the dirty city in one of Tanenbaum&’s most revealing and caustic legal thrillers— a stunning indictment of civil corruption and overreach. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Robert K. Tanenbaum including rare photos from the author&’s personal collection.
Cinema Love: A Novel
by Jiaming Tang&“Exceptional, moving, and not to be missed.&”—Alice Hoffman &“Gentle and fierce, heartbreaking without sacrificing its sense of humor . . . I have never read anything like it.&”—Robert Jones, Jr. A staggering, tender epic about gay men in rural China and the women who marry them. For over thirty years, Old Second and Bao Mei have cobbled together a meager existence in New York City&’s Chinatown. But unlike other couples, these two share an unusual past. In rural Fuzhou, before they emigrated, they frequented the Workers&’ Cinema: a theater where gay men cruised for love. While classic war films played, Old Second and his countrymen found intimacy in the screening rooms. In the box office, Bao Mei sold movie tickets to closeted men, guarding their secrets and finding her own happiness with the projectionist. But when Old Second&’s passion for his male lover is revealed, a series of haunting events unfold, propelling these characters toward an uncertain future in America. Spanning three timelines—post-socialist China, 1980s Chinatown, and contemporary New York—Cinema Love is an &“exceptional" and "moving&” (Alice Hoffman) epic about men and women who find themselves in forbidden relationships; the weight of secrets; and the way memory forever haunts the present.
Cinema Love: 'Not just an extraordinary debut but a future classic' Jessamine Chan
by Jiaming Tang*A stunning and compelling novel for fans of PACHINKO, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, and SHUGGIE BAIN*'Cinema Love is not just an extraordinary debut but a future classic' Jessamine Chan, author of The School for Good Mothers'I loved it. Cinema Love fizzes with energy. The characters are rich and warm and the prose is perfect. Jiaming Tang is a remarkable new voice' Fiona Mozley, author of Booker-shortlisted Elmet'A tender and enrapturing feat of storytelling' Vanessa Chan, author of The Storm We MadeFor over thirty years, Old Second and Bao Mei have cobbled together a meagre existence in New York City's Chinatown. But unlike other couples, these two share an unusual past. In rural Fuzhou, before they emigrated, they frequented the Workers' Cinema, where gay men cruised for love.While classic war films played, Old Second and his fellow countrymen found intimacy in the privacy of the Workers' Cinema's screening rooms. Elsewhere, in the box office, Bao Mei sold tickets to closeted men - guarding their secrets and finding her own happiness with the projectionist. But when secrets are unveiled, they set in motion a series of haunting events that propel Old Second and Bao Mei towards an uncertain future in America.Spanning three timelines - post-socialist China, 1980s Chinatown, and contemporary New York - Cinema Love is a tender epic about men and women who find themselves in forbidden and frustrated relationships as they grapple with the past and their unspoken desires.
Cinema Love: 'Not just an extraordinary debut but a future classic' Jessamine Chan
by Jiaming Tang*A stunning and compelling novel for fans of PACHINKO, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, and SHUGGIE BAIN*'Cinema Love is not just an extraordinary debut but a future classic' Jessamine Chan, author of The School for Good Mothers'I loved it. Cinema Love fizzes with energy. The characters are rich and warm and the prose is perfect. Jiaming Tang is a remarkable new voice' Fiona Mozley, author of Booker-shortlisted Elmet'A tender and enrapturing feat of storytelling' Vanessa Chan, author of The Storm We MadeFor over thirty years, Old Second and Bao Mei have cobbled together a meagre existence in New York City's Chinatown. But unlike other couples, these two share an unusual past. In rural Fuzhou, before they emigrated, they frequented the Workers' Cinema, where gay men cruised for love.While classic war films played, Old Second and his fellow countrymen found intimacy in the privacy of the Workers' Cinema's screening rooms. Elsewhere, in the box office, Bao Mei sold tickets to closeted men - guarding their secrets and finding her own happiness with the projectionist. But when secrets are unveiled, they set in motion a series of haunting events that propel Old Second and Bao Mei towards an uncertain future in America.Spanning three timelines - post-socialist China, 1980s Chinatown, and contemporary New York - Cinema Love is a tender epic about men and women who find themselves in forbidden and frustrated relationships as they grapple with the past and their unspoken desires.
Baba's Peach Tree
by Marie TangIn this moving picture book, a migrant worker and his daughter, find good fortune in the form of a peach tree growing behind their house in rural China. Filled with stunning illustrations, this is a unique and poignant story about love, perseverance, and family.Behind their old stone house, Tao Hua and her father, Baba, discover good fortune: a peach tree. Baba prunes and tends to the tree. He calls it a blessing, like good shoes, hot rice, and books. And for a long time, the peach tree offers them fruit and hope for a better life. But time passes, and so do the seasons, and, one day, the tree does not blossom.But life blossoms in a different way when Baba comes home and announces that he got a job in the Big City, where there are good schools and opportunities. And so the seasons pass, and, one day, when Baba is very old, he and his daughter return to their old home and to new peach trees--to old memories and new beginnings.Baba&’s Peach Tree is a story of the dreams we dream and the sacrifices we make as seen through the lens of a migrant family.
Public-Key Cryptography – PKC 2024: 27th IACR International Conference on Practice and Theory of Public-Key Cryptography, Sydney, NSW, Australia, April 15–17, 2024, Proceedings, Part I (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #14601)
by Qiang Tang Vanessa TeagueThe four-volume proceedings set LNCS 14601-14604 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 27th IACR International Conference on Practice and Theory of Public Key Cryptography, PKC 2024, held in Sydney, NSW, Australia, April 15–17, 2024. The 54 papers included in these proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected from 176 submissions. They focus on all aspects of signatures; attacks; commitments; multiparty computation; zero knowledge proofs; theoretical foundations; isogenies and applications; lattices and applications; Diffie Hellman and applications; encryption; homomorphic encryption; and implementation.
Public-Key Cryptography – PKC 2024: 27th IACR International Conference on Practice and Theory of Public-Key Cryptography, Sydney, NSW, Australia, April 15–17, 2024, Proceedings, Part III (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #14603)
by Qiang Tang Vanessa TeagueThe four-volume proceedings set LNCS 14601-14604 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 27th IACR International Conference on Practice and Theory of Public Key Cryptography, PKC 2024, held in Sydney, NSW, Australia, April 15–17, 2024. The 54 papers included in these proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected from 176 submissions. They focus on all aspects of signatures; attacks; commitments; multiparty computation; zero knowledge proofs; theoretical foundations; isogenies and applications; lattices and applications; Diffie Hellman and applications; encryption; homomorphic encryption; and implementation.
Public-Key Cryptography – PKC 2024: 27th IACR International Conference on Practice and Theory of Public-Key Cryptography, Sydney, NSW, Australia, April 15–17, 2024, Proceedings, Part IV (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #14604)
by Qiang Tang Vanessa TeagueThe four-volume proceedings set LNCS 14601-14604 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 27th IACR International Conference on Practice and Theory of Public Key Cryptography, PKC 2024, held in Sydney, NSW, Australia, April 15–17, 2024. The 54 papers included in these proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected from 176 submissions. They focus on all aspects of signatures; attacks; commitments; multiparty computation; zero knowledge proofs; theoretical foundations; isogenies and applications; lattices and applications; Diffie Hellman and applications; encryption; homomorphic encryption; and implementation.
Public-Key Cryptography – PKC 2024: 27th IACR International Conference on Practice and Theory of Public-Key Cryptography, Sydney, NSW, Australia, April 15–17, 2024, Proceedings, Part II (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #14602)
by Qiang Tang Vanessa TeagueThe four-volume proceedings set LNCS 14601-14604 constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 27th IACR International Conference on Practice and Theory of Public Key Cryptography, PKC 2024, held in Sydney, NSW, Australia, April 15–17, 2024. The 54 papers included in these proceedings were carefully reviewed and selected from 176 submissions. They focus on all aspects of signatures; attacks; commitments; multiparty computation; zero knowledge proofs; theoretical foundations; isogenies and applications; lattices and applications; Diffie Hellman and applications; encryption; homomorphic encryption; and implementation.
Caring Economics: Conversations on Altruism and Compassion, Between Scientists, Economists, and the Dalai Lama
by Tania Singer and Matthieu RicardA COLLECTION OF INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SCIENTISTS AND ECONOMISTS IN DIALOGUE WITH HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA, ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR A MORE ALTRUISTIC ECONOMYCan the hyperambitious, bottom-line-driven practices of the global economy incorporate compassion into the pursuit of wealth? Or is economics driven solely by materialism and self-interest? In Caring Economics, experts consider these questions alongside the Dalai Lama in a wide-ranging, scientific-based discussion on economics and altruism. Begun in 1987, the Mind and Life Institute arose out of a series of conferences held with the Dalai Lama and a range of scientists that sought to form a connection between the empiricism of contemporary scientific inquiry and the contemplative, compassion-based practices of Buddhism. Caring Economics is based on a conference held by the Mind and Life Institute in Zurich in which experts from all over the world gathered to discuss the possibility of having a global economy focused on compassion and altruism. Each chapter consists of a presentation by an expert in the field, followed by a discussion with the Dalai Lama in which he offers his response and his own unique insights on the subject. In this provocative and inspiring book, learn how wealth doesn't need to be selfish, how in fact, empathy and compassion may be the path to a healthier world economy.
Down with the System: The highly-awaited memoir from the System Of A Down legend
by Serj TankianThe incredible first memoir by System Of A Down frontman Serj TankianWith nearly 40 million record sales, three albums topping the Billboard charts, a Grammy win and a legion of fans, System Of A Down are one of the biggest metal bands on the planet. At their core has always been Serj Tankian, whose journey from the streets of Beirut to rock superstardom is as remarkable and unlikely as you'll get. By dint of luck, circumstance, struggle, and more than a little talent, Serj has had the chance to live an extraordinary life. In Down With the System, he retraces this remarkable and unlikely journey, and explores what it's taught him - about music, about art, about activism, and about himself. From teaming up with Tom Morello to push social justice causes on unsuspecting metalheads, arguing with LAPD officers over the best way to quell his rioting fans, and traveling with Anthony Bourdain through Armenia one meal at a time, Down With the System is an immigrant's tale, an activist's awakening, and rock memoir unlike any other.
Down with the System: The highly-awaited memoir from the System Of A Down legend
by Serj TankianThe incredible first memoir by System Of A Down frontman Serj TankianWith nearly 40 million record sales, three albums topping the Billboard charts, a Grammy win and a legion of fans, System Of A Down are one of the biggest metal bands on the planet. At their core has always been Serj Tankian, whose journey from the streets of Beirut to rock superstardom is as remarkable and unlikely as you'll get. By dint of luck, circumstance, struggle, and more than a little talent, Serj has had the chance to live an extraordinary life. In Down With the System, he retraces this remarkable and unlikely journey, and explores what it's taught him - about music, about art, about activism, and about himself. From teaming up with Tom Morello to push social justice causes on unsuspecting metalheads, arguing with LAPD officers over the best way to quell his rioting fans, and traveling with Anthony Bourdain through Armenia one meal at a time, Down With the System is an immigrant's tale, an activist's awakening, and rock memoir unlike any other.
Down with the System: A Memoir (of Sorts)
by Serj TankianAn exhilarating, thoughtful, and beautifully written memoir by musician, songwriter, and lead singer-lyricist of Grammy award-winning metal band, System Of A Down, Serj Tankian. Serj Tankian will be the first to admit that his band, System Of A Down, was &“unlikely a chart-topper as had ever existed in modern music history: a band of Armenian-Americans playing a practically unclassifiable clash of wildly aggressive metal riffs, unconventional tempo-twisting rhythms, and Armenian folk melodies, with me alternately growling, screaming, and crooning lyrics that could pivot from avant-garde silliness to raging socio-political rants in the space of a single line.&” After all, as Serj concedes, &“it&’s not easy listening.&” Even so, there&’s no doubt that System&’s music had struck a chord with millions of listeners across the globe ever since they burst on the scene in the mid-1990s. With nearly 40 million album sales, three albums topping the Billboard charts, and a devoted legion of fans, the band dominated the alt-rock and metal scenes just as the world hurtled into a new millennium, redefining the very idea of what rockstars could and couldn&’t talk about, could and couldn&’t do, could and couldn&’t represent. In DOWN WITH THE SYSTEM, Serj presents readers with a memoir that is far more than just a rock 'n' roll fable. It's an immigrant's tale, it&’s an activist's awakening, and it's a spiritual journey from darkness toward light. And all of this comes down to the fact that Serj himself has had the chance to live an extraordinary life—thanks to a combination of luck, circumstance, struggle, talent, and spiritual awakening. Born to Armenian parents in Beirut, Serj grows up hearing bombs drop outside his childhood home during the country&’s civil war, before moving to Los Angeles at the age of seven. As a young man, he is immersed in the SoCal community of &“Little Armenia,&” learning more and more about the brutal genocide faced by his ancestors while helping his parents adapt to the constraints and contradictions of the American Dream. Then, during a pivotal drive home from an LSAT class, Serj decides to turn away from a promising future in business and law to make music instead—a decision that leads him to touring five continents as the lead singer of a hugely popular rock band, hitting number #1 on the Billboard album charts the morning of 9/11, and then having the hit single from the same album banned from radio two days later. In the years that follow, his uniquely singular story continues, as he evades glass bottles hurled at a cancelled show by angry Slayer fans, teams up with Tom Morello to push social justice causes on unsuspecting metalheads, argues with LAPD officers over the best way to quell rioting fans, and defines new sounds and singing tactics with Rick Rubin. Braiding together Serj&’s thought-provoking insight with heartfelt and poetic prose, DOWN WITH THE SYSTEM retraces Serj&’s remarkable and unlikely journey, and explores what it&’s taught him—about music, about art, about activism, and about himself. It&’s an unforgettable ride that will leave you breathless—and an absolute delight for new fans and old ones alike.