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Don't Trust, Don't Fear, Don't Beg: The Extraordinary Story of the Arctic 30
by Ben StewartThe true story of Greenpeace activists imprisoned in Russia—and the fight to free them: &“A gripping story of tremendous courage that reads like a thriller&” (Naomi Klein). &“The most important prison motto is hope for the better, but every moment, literally every moment, be prepared for the worst. Don&’t hope, don&’t fear, don&’t beg.&” —Roman Dolgov, one of the Arctic 30 With rising temperatures, a military arms race, and a multi-national rush to exploit resources at any cost, the Arctic is now the stage on which our future will be decided. As the ice melts, Vladimir Putin orders Russia&’s oil rigs to move further north. But one early September morning in 2013, thirty men and women from eighteen countries—the crew of Greenpeace&’s Arctic Sunrise—decided to draw a line in the ice and protest Arctic drilling. Thrown together by a common cause, they are determined to stop Putin and the oligarchs. But their protest is met with brutal force as Russian commandos seize the Arctic Sunrise. Held under armed guard by masked men, they are charged with piracy and face fifteen years in Russia&’s nightmarish prison system. Journalist and activist Ben Stewart spearheaded the campaign to release the Arctic 30. Now he tells their astonishing story—a tale of passion, courage, brutality, and survival. With wit, verve, and candor, Stewart chronicles the extraordinary friendships the activists made with their often murderous cellmates, their battle to outwit the prison guards, and the struggle to stay true to the cause that brought them there. &“With its colorful dialogue, moral dilemmas, and scenes of physical danger, Stewart&’s book would make a great movie . . . the prison life the book reveals is eye-opening, and Stewart describes it with great verve.&” —Foreign Affairs
From the Folks Who Brought You the Weekend: An Illustrated History of Labor in the United States
by Priscilla Murolo A.B. ChittyNewly updated: &“An enjoyable introduction to American working-class history.&” —The American Prospect Praised for its &“impressive even-handedness&”, From the Folks Who Brought You the Weekend has set the standard for viewing American history through the prism of working people (Publishers Weekly, starred review). From indentured servants and slaves in seventeenth-century Chesapeake to high-tech workers in contemporary Silicon Valley, the book &“[puts] a human face on the people, places, events, and social conditions that have shaped the evolution of organized labor&”, enlivened by illustrations from the celebrated comics journalist Joe Sacco (Library Journal). Now, the authors have added a wealth of fresh analysis of labor&’s role in American life, with new material on sex workers, disability issues, labor&’s relation to the global justice movement and the immigrants&’ rights movement, the 2005 split in the AFL-CIO and the movement civil wars that followed, and the crucial emergence of worker centers and their relationships to unions. With two entirely new chapters—one on global developments such as offshoring and a second on the 2016 election and unions&’ relationships to Trump—this is an &“extraordinarily fine addition to U.S. history [that] could become an evergreen . . . comparable to Howard Zinn&’s award-winning A People&’s History of the United States&” (Publishers Weekly). &“A marvelously informed, carefully crafted, far-ranging history of working people.&” —Noam Chomsky
An Empire of Ice: Scott, Shackleton, and the Heroic Age of Antarctic Science (Playaway Adult Nonfiction Ser.)
by Edward J. LarsonA Pulitzer Prize–winning author examines South Pole expeditions, &“wrapping the science in plenty of dangerous drama to keep readers engaged&” (Booklist). An Empire of Ice presents a fascinating new take on Antarctic exploration—placing the famed voyages of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, his British rivals Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton, and others in a larger scientific, social, and geopolitical context. Recounting the Antarctic expeditions of the early twentieth century, the author reveals the British efforts for what they actually were: massive scientific enterprises in which reaching the South Pole was but a spectacular sideshow. By focusing on the larger purpose of these legendary adventures, Edward J. Larson deepens our appreciation of the explorers&’ achievements, shares little-known stories, and shows what the Heroic Age of Antarctic discovery was really about. &“Rather than recounting the story of the race to the pole chronologically, Larson concentrates on various scientific disciplines (like meteorology, glaciology and paleontology) and elucidates the advances made by the polar explorers . . . Covers a lot of ground—science, politics, history, adventure.&” —The New York Times Book Review
Restless Valley: Revolution, Murder, and Intrigue in the Heart of Central Asia
by Philip ShishkinThis award-winning foreign correspondent&’s vivid account of Central Asia&’s recent history &“reads like a novel but is the stuff of hard-won journalism&” (Gary Shteyngart, author of Absurdistan). Here are the stories of two revolutions, a massacre of unarmed civilians, a civil war, a drug-smuggling highway, brazen corruption schemes, contract hits, and larger-than-life characters who may be villains, heroes, or possibly both. Restless Valley is a gripping, contemporary chronicle of Central Asia from a veteran journalist with extensive experience in the region. Both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have struggled with the challenges of post-Soviet, independent statehood, and both became entangled in America&’s Afghan campaign when the United States built military bases within their borders. Meanwhile, the region was becoming a key smuggling hub for Afghanistan&’s booming heroin trade. Through the eyes of local participants—the powerful and the powerless—Shishkin reconstructs how Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have ricocheted between extreme repression and democratic strivings; how alliances with the United States and Russia have brought mixed blessings; and how Stalin&’s legacy of ethnic gerrymandering continues to incite conflict today. &“The weird, the strange, the corrupt, and the grand are all evident . . . [Shishkin] relentlessly pursues and then tells the stories of the most corrupt and powerful and also the most sincere and admirable characters who inhabit these mountains.&” —Ahmed Rashid, The New York Review of Books
Surge: My Journey with General David Petraeus and the Remaking of the Iraq War (The Yale Library of Military History)
by Peter R. Mansoor&“The definitive account . . . A fascinating combination of grand strategy and personal vignettes&” (Max Boot, The Wall Street Journal). Finalist for the 2013 Guggenheim-Lehrman Prize in Military History Surge is an insider&’s view of the most decisive phase of the Iraq War. After exploring the dynamics of the war during its first three years, the book takes the reader on a journey to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where the controversial new US Army and Marine Corps counterinsurgency doctrine was developed; to Washington, DC, and the halls of the Pentagon, where the joint chiefs of staff struggled to understand the conflict; to the streets of Baghdad, where soldiers worked to implement the surge and reenergize the flagging war effort before the Iraqi state splintered; and to the halls of Congress, where Amb. Ryan Crocker and Gen. David Petraeus testified in some of the most contentious hearings in recent history. Using newly declassified documents, unpublished manuscripts, interviews, author notes, and published sources, Surge explains how President George W. Bush, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Ambassador Crocker, General Petraeus, and other US and Iraqi political and military leaders shaped the surge from the center of the maelstrom in Baghdad and Washington. &“This is one of the best books to emerge from the Iraq War. I expect it will be remembered as one of the most insightful accounts from an insider of the key &‘surge&’ phase of that conflict. The chapter on the Sunni Awakening especially stands out as a terrific overview of that critical development.&” —Thomas E. Ricks, author of Fiasco
The Passion Driven Life: The Secrets of Success, Balance & Fulfillment in The 9 Key Areas of Life
by Louis F. VargasTake your life from mundane to great in love, life, and business with this inspiring guide to finding your passion and living your faith!Louis F. Vargas was a street-smart kid from an immigrant family who went on to graduate from an elite college, make a fortune on Wall Street, then lose it all—only to make an incredible comeback as chairman of an Inc. 500 company. In The Passion Driven Life, Vargas shares his own life story as well as the inspiring stories of other individuals who found success by following their passion with determination and Godly faith. And he shows you the secrets to doing it all yourself.In The Passion Driven Life, you will find the tools you need to transform your life, find balance, and excel further. Some of the many things this book reveals are:How to empower thoughts and re-focus on purpose, passion, and successThe 7 Secrets of Business SuccessHow to harness the power of the mind and find out what holds you backWhy life’s really not all about you (sorry to disappoint you!)The source of unshakeable faith and hope in lifeHow to overcome setbacks and obstaclesHow to unleash balance and enjoyment in your life and live at the pace of passion
The Starter Garden Handbook: A Cook's Guide to Growing Your Own Food
by Alice Mary AlvrezThe author of The Going Green Handbook gives you tips for growing vegetables, reducing your food budget, eating organic, and being eco-friendly. Here in one pretty package is everything you need to know to have your garden and eat it, too! Inside, you&’ll find tips for greening up all areas of your garden. Learn surprising facts about your impact on the environment and change your habits with do-it-yourself ideas in The Starter Garden Handbook. Organic gardener, environmentalist, and pop-up chef Alice Mary Alvrez will help you start with small changes, like growing basic herbs, and work your way up to raising bees. Learn how to raise many kinds of vegetables and fruits, and get tips on composting weeds, clippings, and leftovers so you have nutrient-rich soil. Whether you are at the green rookie level, eco-master, or full-on gardening guru, you can learn to grow your own food and help the planet every week of the year with The Starter Garden Handbook. If you&’re a fan of The Vegetable Gardener&’s Bible, you&’ll love The Starter Garden Handbook! &“Nowadays people think they have to quit their day job and toil in the hot sun all day. Not true! Most gardening is in the planning and once you have established your plot, I promise you, it will become your Happy Place. Nothing feels better than serving a delicious dish from plants you grew from seeds.&” —Susannah Seton, author of Simple Pleasures of the Garden
One or the Other: An Eddie Dougherty Mystery (The Eddie Dougherty Mysteries #3)
by John McFetridgeThis police procedural set in 1970s Montreal is &“an enjoyable read . . . that immerses readers in a tumultuous period in Canadian history&” (Publishers Weekly). In the weeks before Montreal is to host the 1976 Summer Olympics, the police are bolstering security to prevent another catastrophe like the &’72 games in Munich. But it isn&’t tight enough to stop nearly three million dollars being stolen in a bold daytime Brink&’s truck robbery. As the high-profile heist continues to baffle the police, Constable Eddie Dougherty gets a chance to prove his worth as a detective on another case. He&’s assigned to assist in a Quebec suburb investigating the deaths of two teenagers returning from a rock concert across the Jacques Cartier Bridge. Were they mugged and thrown over the side? Or was it a murder-suicide? With tensions running high in the city and his career at stake, Dougherty is about to confront one of the most challenging cases of his life.
Black Angel: The Life of Arshile Gorky
by Nouritza MatossianA biography of the Armenian painter that &“adds immeasurable to the interest of [his] art . . . Carefully researched, well written, [and] enlightening&” (The New York Review of Books). In this first full-scale biography, Nouritza Matossian charts the mysterious and tragic life of Arshile Gorky, one of the most influential painters of the twentieth century. Born Manoug Adoian in Armenia, he survived the Turkish genocide of 1915 before coming to America, where he posed as a cousin of the famous Russian author Maxim Gorky. One of the first abstract expressionists, Gorky became a major figure of the New York School, which included de Kooning, Rothko, Pollock, and others. But after a devastating series of illnesses, injuries, and personal setbacks, he committed suicide at the age of forty-six. In Black Angel, arts journalist Matossian analyzes Gorky&’s personal letters, as well as other new source material. She writes with authority, insight, and compassion about the powerful influence Gorky&’s life and Armenian heritage had upon his painting.
Answering the Call: An Autobiography of the Modern Struggle to End Racial Discrimination in America
by Nathaniel R. Jones&“Jones, a trailblazing African American judge, delivers an urgently needed perspective on American history . . . [A] passionate and informative account&” (Booklist, starred review). Answering the Call is an extraordinary eyewitness account from an unsung hero of the battle for racial equality in America—a battle that, far from ending with the great victories of the civil rights era, saw some of its signal achievements in the desegregation fights of the 1970s and its most notable setbacks in the affirmative action debates that continue into the present in Ferguson, Baltimore, and beyond. Judge Nathaniel R. Jones&’s groundbreaking career was forged in the 1960s: As the first African American assistant US attorney in Ohio; as assistant general counsel of the Kerner Commission; and, beginning in 1969, as general counsel of the NAACP. In that latter role, Jones coordinated attacks against Northern school segregation—a vital, divisive, and poorly understood chapter in the movement for equality—twice arguing in the pivotal US Supreme Court case Bradley v. Milliken, which addressed school desegregation in Detroit. He also led the national response to the attacks against affirmative action, spearheading and arguing many of the signal legal cases of that effort. Answering the Call is &“a stunning, inside story of the contemporary struggle for civil rights . . . Essential reading for understanding where we are today—underscoring just how much work is left to be done&” (Vernon E. Jordan Jr., civil rights activist). &“A forthright testimony by a witness to history.&” —Kirkus Reviews
Geronimo (The Lamar Series in Western History)
by Robert M. UtleyThis &“meticulous and finely researched&” biography tracks the Apache raider&’s life from infamous renegade to permanent prisoner of war (Publishers Weekly). Notorious for his ferocity in battle and uncanny ability to elude capture, the Apache fighter Geronimo became a legend in his own time and remains an iconic figure of the nineteenth century American West. In Geronimo, renowned historian Robert M. Utley digs beneath the myths and rumors to produce an authentic and thoroughly researched portrait of the man whose unique talents and human shortcomings swept him into the fierce storms of history. Utley draws on an array of newly available sources, including firsthand accounts and military reports, as well as his geographical expertise and deep knowledge of the conflicts between whites and Native Americans. This highly accurate and vivid narrative unfolds through the alternating perspectives of whites and Apaches, arriving at a more nuanced understanding of Geronimo&’s character and motivation than ever before. What was it like to be an Apache fighter-in-training? Why was Geronimo feared by whites and Apaches alike? Why did he finally surrender after remaining free for so long? The answers to these and many other questions fill the pages of this authoritative volume.
Simón Bolívar: A Life
by John LynchThe &“impeccably researched, uncommonly honest, and . . . very well written&” biography of the nineteenth century Venezuelan military and political leader (Alvaro Vargas Llosa, New Republic). Simón Bolívar was a revolutionary who freed six South American countries from Spanish Imperial rule, an intellectual who argued the principles of national liberation, and a statesman who led the governments of Venezuela, Gran Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru. His life, passions, and battles were woven into Spanish American culture almost as soon as they happened. In the first major English-language biography of &“The Liberator&” in half a century, John Lynch draws on extensive research to understand Bolívar&’s life in the context of his own society and times, and to explore his remarkable and enduring legacy. Simón Bolívar illuminates the man&’s inner world, the dynamics of his leadership, his power to command, and his modes of ruling the diverse peoples of Spanish America. The key to his greatness, Lynch concludes, was his ability to inspire people to follow him beyond their immediate interests, in some cases through years of unremitting struggle. Encompassing Bolívar&’s entire life and his many accomplishments, this is the definitive account of a towering figure in the history of the Western hemisphere. &“[A] masterly new biography.&” —Noam Lupu, San Francisco Chronicle
Bareknuckle: Memoirs of the Undefeated Champion
by Peter Walsh Bartley GormanAs bareknuckle fighting is poised to steal MMA&’s spotlight, its greatest modern-day champion tells his story of rising to the top in the brutal sport. Steeped in the tradition of his Irish Traveller ancestry, Bartley Gorman also embraced its dangerous subculture: bareknuckle fighting. Though it gave birth to boxing as we know it today, the sport has remained underground—and illegal in most developed countries. But that didn&’t stop Gorman from rising through the prize-fighting ranks of Great Britain and Ireland and staying undefeated for twenty years. Now, through Gorman&’s thrilling memoir, readers get a front row view of the punches exchanged in back parking lots and fair grounds, the gritty characters populating the fight circles, and the hazards facing a sought after champion. &“A rare glimpse into a secret world,&” Bareknuckle celebrates one man&’s mastery of fighting in its purest form and heralds the rebirth of one of the oldest combat sports in history (The Independent on Sunday). &“Every page shines. A tremendous book.&” —Traveller Magazine &“Well-written and interesting.&” —Boxing News
Chancellorsville
by Stephen W. SearsA new look at the Civil War battle that led to Stonewall Jackson&’s death: A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year and &“tour de force in military history&” (Library Journal). From the award-winning, national bestselling author of Gettysburg, this is the definitive account of the Chancellorsville campaign, from the moment &“Fighting Joe&” Hooker took command of the Army of the Potomac to the Union&’s stinging, albeit temporary, defeat. Along with a vivid description of the experiences of the troops, Stephen Sears provides &“a stunning analysis of how terrain, personality, chance, and other factors affect fighting and distort strategic design&” (Library Journal). &“Most notable is his use of Union military intelligence reports to show how Gen. Joseph Hooker was fed a stream of accurate information about Robert E. Lee&’s troops; conversely, Sears points out the battlefield communications failures that hampered the Union army at critical times . . . A model campaign study, Sears&’s account of Chancellorsville is likely to remain the standard for years to come.&” —Publishers Weekly &“The finest and most provocative Civil War historian writing today.&” —Chicago Tribune Includes maps
Life to the Years: Living a Robust Life After Heart Disease
by Michael James Michael RanvilleA cardiologist and his patient tell a true story of surviving and thriving, in a book both informational and inspirational. After Michael Ranville&’s emergency treatment, his cardiologist told him: Given the nature and severity of your heart attack, you should no longer be with us. Statistically, you are dead. Now, the doctor and patient unite to present a unique story for the benefit of heart patients—or anyone who has a heart. A generation ago, heart patients rarely defied the statistical category that dictated a sedentary existence and an abbreviated life. But this is the tale of one patient who didn&’t die. He continued to live, refused to take up membership in that statistical category. Under the thirty-year care of Dr. Michael James and a forward-leaning cardiac community, Michael Ranville and a host of other determined heart patients created a new statistical category. Life to the Years is also the lively, anecdote-laden story of a tenacious and resourceful cardiologist who helped Ranville seize control of life after heart disease. The authors illustrate the development of life-saving technology with fascinating stories that underscore the human element that still drives medicine. Life to the Years does not shy from the controversial, from the uncomfortable. A confrontation with mortality is the inevitable companion of heart disease. For the authors, the significance of dignity when faced with death—for both family and patient—is far from a theoretical discussion. This is a memoir that will both enlighten and encourage, and offer a behind-the-scenes look at a successful doctor-patient relationship.
The Hinge of Fate (Winston S. Churchill The Second World Wa #4)
by Winston S. ChurchillThe British prime minister recounts battles from Midway to Stalingrad, and how the Allies turned the tide of WWII: &“Superlative.&” —The New York Times The Hinge of Fate is the dramatic account of the Allies&’ changing fortunes. In the first half of the book, Winston Churchill describes the fearful period in which the Germans threaten to overwhelm the Red Army, Rommel dominates the war in the desert, and Singapore falls to the Japanese. In the span of just a few months, the Allies begin to turn the tide, achieving decisive victories at Midway and Guadalcanal, and repulsing the Germans at Stalingrad. As confidence builds, the Allies begin to gain ground against the Axis powers. This is the fourth in the six-volume account of World War II told from the unique viewpoint of the man who led his nation in the fight against tyranny. The series is enriched with extensive primary sources, as we are presented with not only Churchill&’s retrospective analysis of the war, but also memos, letters, orders, speeches, and telegrams, day-by-day accounts of reactions as the drama intensifies. Throughout these volumes, we listen as strategies and counterstrategies unfold in response to Hitler&’s conquest of Europe, planned invasion of England, and assault on Russia, in a mesmerizing account of the crucial decisions made as the fate of the world hangs in the balance. &“No memoirs by generals or politicians . . . are in the same class.&” —The New York Times
Wetware: A Computer in Every Living Cell
by Dennis Bray&“A beautifully written journey into the mechanics of the world of the cell, and even beyond, exploring the analogy with computers in a surprising way&” (Denis Noble, author of Dance to the Tune of Life). How does a single-cell creature, such as an amoeba, lead such a sophisticated life? How does it hunt living prey, respond to lights, sounds, and smells, and display complex sequences of movements without the benefit of a nervous system? This book offers a startling and original answer. In clear, jargon-free language, Dennis Bray taps the findings from the discipline of systems biology to show that the internal chemistry of living cells is a form of computation. Cells are built out of molecular circuits that perform logical operations, as electronic devices do, but with unique properties. Bray argues that the computational juice of cells provides the basis for all distinctive properties of living systems: it allows organisms to embody in their internal structure an image of the world, and this accounts for their adaptability, responsiveness, and intelligence. In Wetware, Bray offers imaginative, wide-ranging, and perceptive critiques of robotics and complexity theory, as well as many entertaining and telling anecdotes. For the general reader, the practicing scientist, and all others with an interest in the nature of life, this book is an exciting portal to some of biology&’s latest discoveries and ideas. &“Drawing on the similarities between Pac-Man and an amoeba and efforts to model the human brain, this absorbing read shows that biologists and engineers have a lot to learn from working together.&” —Discover magazine &“Wetware will get the reader thinking.&” —Science magazine
Authentic Health: The Definitive Guide to Losing Weight, Feeling Better, Mastering Stress, Sleeping Well Every Night, & Enjoying a Sense of Purpose
by Gus VickeryA straightforward guide to holistic health and wellness that gets at the root of weight gain, anxiety, insomnia, and other chronic conditions. Millions of Americans are locked in ongoing battles with obesity, diabetes, insomnia, depression, anxiety, persistent headaches, and other chronic health conditions. And while many treatments are aimed at temporary relief from symptoms, few actually address the root causes. In Authentic Health, Guz Vickery, MD, offers a holistic approach to better health and genuine relief. In this easy-to-use roadmap, Vickery lays out a comprehensive program addressing the habits and conditions that drive many of the most common chronic health problems. Covering nutrition and physical activity, Vickery also provides essential information and advice on stress-management, sleeping well, and cultivating a sense of purpose in your life. More than just another weight loss guide, Authentic Health is a powerful manifesto for reclaiming good health and living well.
Bitter Waters: America's Forgotten Naval Mission to the Dead Sea
by David Haward Bain&“An intriguing, thorough study of a little-known scientific expedition to the Dead Sea by a mid-19th-century U.S. Navy lieutenant&” (Kirkus Reviews). With customary depth and insight, David Haward Bain illumines the United States&’s nineteenth-century exploration of the Holy Land. To lead the expedition, the navy tabbed William Francis Lynch, an officer eager to enter the esteemed yet dangerous field of Victorian exploration. Like many of his successful contemporaries, Lynch was well read and possessed an independent nature, but a man who also preferred organization to chaos, and with a character that tended toward the obsessive. The expedition would force a juxtaposition of the ancient world with the modern, as the world&’s newest power attempted an exhaustive scientific study of the waters of the cradle of civilization. Beyond its fascinating topic, Bitter Waters is full of broad allusions from the period that demonstrate Bain&’s deep understanding of America, and serve to make the work appealing for general scholars and lay readers. Heroically engaging unfamiliar terrain, hostile Bedouins, and ancient mysteries, Lynch and his party epitomize their nation&’s spirit of Manifest Destiny in the days before the Civil War. &“An engrossing narrative of the expedition that richly positions the mission&’s incidents within Lynch&’s Western perspective on the Near East. Wonderfully realized, Bain&’s account will enthrall seekers of history off the beaten path.&” —Booklist (starred review) &“David Haward Bain, author of Empire Express, paints a vivid picture of the ambitious, visionary seafarers and their bold adventure . . . Bitter Waters captures this fascinating moment in American history.&” —History Book Club (official selection)
Foodopoly: The Battle Over the Future of Food and Farming in America
by Wenonah Hauter&“A meticulously researched tour de force&” on politics, big agriculture, and the need to go beyond farmers&’ markets to find fixes (Publishers Weekly). Wenonah Hauter owns an organic family farm that provides healthy vegetables to hundreds of families as part of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) movement. Yet, as a leading healthy-food advocate, Hauter believes that the local food movement is not enough to solve America&’s food crisis and the public health debacle it has created. In Foodopoly, she takes aim at the real culprit: the control of food production by a handful of large corporations—backed by political clout—that prevents farmers from raising healthy crops and limits the choices people can make in the grocery store. Blending history, reporting, and a deep understanding of farming and food production, Foodopoly is a shocking, revealing account of the business behind the meat, vegetables, grains, and milk most Americans eat every day, including some of our favorite and most respected organic and health-conscious brands. Hauter also pulls the curtain back from the little-understood but vital realm of agricultural policy, showing how it has been hijacked by lobbyists, driving out independent farmers and food processors in favor of the likes of Cargill, Tyson, Kraft, and ConAgra. Foodopoly shows how the impacts ripple far and wide, from economic stagnation in rural communities to famines overseas, and argues that solving this crisis will require a complete structural shift—a change that is about politics, not just personal choice.
Madness and Memory: The Discovery of Prions—A New Biological Principle of Disease
by Stanley B. PrusinerIn this &“utterly fascinating&” science memoir, the Nobel Prize–winning author chronicles his revolutionary discovery of a major cause of brain diseases (The New York Times). In 1997, Stanley B. Prusiner received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his research on devastating brain diseases. That he was the award&’s sole recipient was entirely appropriate. His struggle to identify the agent responsible for scrapie and mad cow disease in animals, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, had been waged largely alone, and in some cases, in the face of strenuous opposition. In Madness and Memory, Prusiner recounts the journey to his remarkable discovery of prions—infectious proteins that replicate and cause disease, but surprisingly contain no genetic material. Along the way, he sheds light on the world of contemporary science and the meticulousness and perseverance it requires. Through his telling, the agony and triumph of years of research comes to life, along with fascinating portraits of fellow scientists racing to make breakthrough discoveries. Prusiner&’s hypothesis, once considered heresy, now stands as accepted science and provides a path toward conquering such pervasive scourges as Alzheimer&’s, Parkinson&’s, Lou Gehrig&’s, and others diseases. &“Madness and Memory is the story of one of the most important discoveries in recent medical history, and it is also a vivid and compelling portrait of a life in science.&” —Oliver Sacks, MD, neurologist and author of Hallucinations
Spies: The Rise and Fall of the KGB in America
by John Earl Haynes Harvey Klehr Alexander Vassiliev&“This important new book . . . based on archival material . . . shows the huge extent of Soviet espionage activity in the United States during the 20th century&” (The Telegraph). Based on KGB archives that have never been previously released, this stunning book provides the most complete account of Soviet espionage in America ever written. In 1993, former KGB officer Alexander Vassiliev was permitted unique access to Stalin-era records of Soviet intelligence operations against the United States. Years later, Vassiliev retrieved his extensive notebooks of transcribed documents from Moscow. With these notebooks, John Earl Haynes and Harvey Klehr have meticulously constructed a new and shocking historical account. Along with valuable insight into Soviet espionage tactics and the motives of Americans who spied for Stalin, Spies resolves many long-standing intelligence controversies. The book confirms that Alger Hiss cooperated with the Soviets over a period of years, that journalist I. F. Stone worked on behalf of the KGB in the 1930s, and that Robert Oppenheimer was never recruited by Soviet intelligence. Uncovering numerous American spies who never came under suspicion, this essential volume also reveals the identities of the last unidentified American nuclear spies. And in a gripping introduction, Vassiliev tells the story of his notebooks and his own extraordinary life.
The Nixon Tapes: 1971–1972 (With Audio Clips)
by Douglas Brinkley, Luke A. NichterAn enhanced edition of this &“fascinating&” collection of White House transcripts, including audio clips of some of the most newsworthy conversations (San Francisco Chronicle). This &“treasure trove&” of transcripts documents two years of Richard Nixon&’s presidency and takes you directly inside the White House, through the famous—and infamous—Nixon White House tapes that reveal for the first time the president uncensored, unfiltered, and in his own words (TheBoston Globe). President Nixon&’s voice-activated taping system captured every word spoken in the Oval Office, Cabinet Room, other key locations in the White House, and at Camp David—3,700 hours of recordings between 1971 and 1973. Yet less than five percent of those conversations have ever been transcribed and published. Now, thanks to historian Luke Nichter&’s massive effort to digitize and transcribe the tapes, the world can finally read an unprecedented account of one of the most important and controversial presidencies in US history. This volume of The Nixon Tapes offers a selection of fascinating scenes from the period in which Nixon opened relations with China, negotiated the SALT I arms agreement with the Soviet Union, and won a landslide reelection victory. All the while, the growing shadow of Watergate and Nixon&’s political downfall crept ever closer. The Nixon Tapes provides a never-before-seen glimpse into a flawed president&’s hubris, paranoia, and political genius—&“essential for students of the era and fascinating for those who lived it&” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).
So You Want to Start a Business: The 7 Step Guide to Create, Start & Grow Your Own Business
by Ingrid ThompsonGet it right—from the start! &“Entrepreneurship is like a roller coaster ride, exhilarating yet terrifying . . . Allow Ingrid to guide you&” (Adam Franklin, bestselling author of Web Marketing That Works). Often, people leap into starting a business to pursue their passion without fully realizing what they&’ve gotten themselves into. They may love what they do—but the financial and administrative side of the business ends up being more than they bargained for. So You Want to Start a Business takes you through the seven essential elements required to create a thriving business. With examples, exercises, and invaluable guidance, Ingrid Thompson provides a practical guide to unleashing one&’s inner entrepreneur. With over twenty years&’ experience helping people create successful businesses, Ingrid knows exactly how to help people decide what kind of business to start—and start out on the right foot.
Winning the War on Cancer: The Epic Journey Towards a Natural Cure
by Sylvie Beljanski&“A fascinating combination of personal story and details on the suppression of holistic cancer(and other disease) therapies&” (Ann E. Fonfa, president, The Annie Appleseed Project). President Nixon signed the National Cancer Act in 1971, declaring a war on the disease. Nearly fifty years and several billion dollars later, it looks like we have lost the battle. Or have we? What if a natural solution had been there all along, just overlooked by the pharmaceutical industry? When a new, natural, and non-toxic way to address cancer is being discovered, it is a game changer that does not go unnoticed in the scientific community. But instead of being hailed and embraced, it is fiercely opposed by prominent scientists with strong ties to the pharmaceutical industry, and the might of the government is called to the rescue. As a result, we are losing the war on cancer. Mirko Beljanski, PhD, one of the first green molecular biologists, was called upon by former French president François Mitterrand to treat his prostate cancer, allowing him to reach his second term in office, but upon his death, Beljanski became the subject of relentless persecution aimed at wiping out this information. In Winning the War on Cancer, his daughter Sylvie Beljanski outlines her journey of learning about her father&’s discoveries, and ensuring his legacy is available to all those struggling with the disease today. &“Whether a current patient or caregiver, a survivor, a researcher, an author/speaker, or a physician, the information in this book is groundbreaking, exciting, and essential to know . . . Sincere, captivating, poignant, and educational.&” —Annie Brandt, founder and president of Emerita, Best Answer for Cancer Foundation