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War and Warriors Volume One: Legion Rising, Travesty of Justice, Saving Sandoval (War and Warriors #1)
by Don Brown Jeff Morris Craig W. DrummondThree real-life accounts of the struggles of American soldiers from the Iraq and Afghanistan battlefields to, in two cases, US military tribunals. Legion Rising: Surviving Combat and the Scars It Left Behind by Jeff Morris Follow Jeff through up-close, fast-paced accounts of the thrills and dangers of combat as a Platoon Leader in Iraq. Feel the weight of the gruesome and tragic loss of eight men whose lives were taken in the line of duty. Journey through his battle to face the scars and shadows that followed him long after his time serving in the military was over. Travesty of Justice: The Shocking Prosecution of Lt. Clint Lorance by Don BrownThe Book That Won a Presidential Pardon! On July 2, 2012, three Afghan males crowded on a motorcycle and sped down a Taliban-controlled dirt road toward Lt. Clint Lorance&’s men. In a split-second decision, Lorance ordered his men to fire. When no weapons were found on the Afghan bodies, the Army prosecuted Lorance for murder. &“The most powerful case to date for the exoneration of imprisoned Army Lt. Clint Lorance.&” —Sun-Sentinel Saving Sandoval by Craig W. Drummond While deployed in Iraq, Sandoval, an airborne infantryman and elite sniper, was instructed to &“take the shot&” and kill an enemy insurgent wearing civilian clothes. Two weeks later, Army Criminal Investigation Command descended upon Sandoval&’s unit, trying to link Sandoval and others to war crimes, including murder. &“A revealing, real-life courtroom drama, reminiscent of A Few Good Men.&” —Hunter R. Clark, International Law and Human Rights Program and Drake University Law School
To Kill or Be Killed: A True Crime Memoir From Prison
by Joni AnkersonA convicted murderer tells the story of the years of domestic abuse she endured that drove her to kill her police sergeant husband. The day we met in October of 1997, I was working at the District Court in Traverse City, Michigan as a Deputy Clerk. It was like most other days with arraignments, sentencings, civil case hearings and the like. People shuffling in and out, everyone taking care of their important business with court appearances, document filings, paying tickets, fines and bonding loved ones out of jail. I loved my job. It was extremely satisfying and interesting with constant interaction with all walks of life, including people on either end of the judicial spectrum and many in between. Suddenly, there he was. Tall, handsome, and looking so impressive and important in his Michigan State Police uniform with his hat, gun belt and badge. A powerful man who had chosen a profession to serve and protect. He was extremely friendly and upbeat, smiling profusely. Best of all, he, too, was unattached. What could go wrong? He was like a dream man. We clicked, immediately, and began dating exclusively. But he was not a dream man. He was a nightmare . . . as I learned over the next twelve years. Twelve years of enduring domestic violence at its absolute worst. Constant abuse, control, manipulation, and threats. Sadistic sexual deviance and sexual violence. It was only going to end one way: someone would die in our bed and someone would go to prison for murder. This is my story about domestic violence, resilience, reckoning and survival.
The Best American Essays 2014 (The Best American Series)
by John Jeremiah SullivanThe acclaimed author of Pulphead collects &“21 of the year&’s most urgent and at times painfully truthful pieces of nonfiction published in the U.S.&” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). In our age of trigger warnings and jeopardized free expression, The Best American Essays 2014 does not shy away from shocking extremes, ambiguities, or dualities. As guest editor John Jeremiah Sullivan notes, the essay assumes many two-sided forms, and these diverse pieces capture all the conceptions of what an essay can be: the loose and the strict, the flourish and the finished, the try and the trial. Sullivan&’s choices embrace the high and the low, the memoirist&’s confession and the journalist s reportage, and all the gray area in between. From a hotel in Mongolia to a Clockwork Orange like Baltimore, from a Rome emergency room to Burning Man, these diverse pieces surprise and entertain, inform and titillate. The Best American Essays 2014 includes entries by Kristin Dombek, Dave Eggers, Leslie Jamison, Ariel Levy, Yiyun Li, Barry Lopez, Zadie Smith, Wells Tower, Emily Fox Gordon, James Wood, and others.
Trauma Farm: A Rebel History of Rural Life
by Brian BrettThe acclaimed author transforms a single day on his small farm into a &“gorgeously thoughtful meditation on the natural world&” and our place in it (Vancouver Sun). The acclaimed poet and author Brian Brett takes readers on an irreverent and illuminating journey through a day in the life of his small island farm in British Columbia, affectionately named Trauma Farm. With fascinating ruminations on everything from the natural history of farming to the horrors of industrial slaughterhouses, Brett&’s day of tending to his farm becomes a Joycean epic of agrarian life. Brett moves from the tending of livestock, poultry, orchards, gardens, machinery, and fields to the social intricacies of rural communities and, finally, to an encounter with a magnificent deer in the silver moonlight of a magical field. Brett understands both tall tales and rigorous science as he explores the small mixed farm—meditating on the perfection of the egg and the nature of soil while also offering a scathing critique of agribusiness. Whether discussing the uses and misuses of gates, examining the energy of seeds, or bantering with his family, farm hands, and neighbors, Brett remains aware of the miracles of life, birth, and death that confront the rural world every day.Trauma Farm was a 2009 book of the year in the Times Literary Supplement and the Globe & Mail, and winner of Writers&’ Trust Canadian Non-Fiction Prize.
Vampire: The Richard Chase Murders (WildBlue Press True Crime)
by Kevin SullivanThe author of The Bundy Murders tells the harrowing true story of &“one of the most bizarre serial killers in America&” (Katherine Ramsland, bestselling author of Confession of a Serial Killer). A city under siege, held captive while a psychopathic vampire serial killer instills fear in its residents, taunts the authorities, and brutally kills his victims. This book is a chilling and stomach-churning look into the life of a twisted, sick man, so evil one would wonder if he was even human. From his early days when he would liquify rabbits in a blender to drink their intestines and blood to mutilating his victims, his thirst for killing could not be satiated. This is the story of Richard Trenton Chase, the Vampire of Sacramento. It is not for the faint of heart. &“Fraught with emotion and detail . . . a must have book for all true crime enthusiasts and collectors.&” —RJ Parker, award-winning author of Escaped Killer &“Sullivan has written a fascinating account of an abnormal psyche of egregious proportions, and captures the very essence of Richard Chase&’s monstrous crime spree the citizens of Sacramento will never forget.&” —Gary C. King, author of Love, Lies, and Murder
Wild Card Quilt: The Ecology of Home (The\world As Home Ser.)
by Janisse RayThis account of rediscovering her Georgia home and its landscapes is “another must-read book” by the author of Ecology of a Cracker Childhood (Tulsa World).Seventeen years after she’d left “for good,” Janisse Ray pointed her truck away from Montana and back to the small southern town where she was born. Wild Card Quilt is the story, by turns hilarious, heartbreaking, and ambitious, of the adventures of returning home. For Ray, a naturalist and an American Book Award–winning author, it is a story of linking the ecology of people with the ecology of place—of recovering lost traditions as she works to restore the fractured ecosystem of her native South. Her story is filled with syrup boils, quilt making, alligator trapping, and the wonderful characters of a place where generations still succeed each other on the land. But her town is also in need of repair, physical and otherwise. This memoir recounts Ray’s journey as she works to save her local school, sets up a writing group at the local hardware store—and struggles with whether she can be an adult in a childhood place.“Alive with good imagery and colorful characters.” —The Atlanta Journal-Constitution“This is nature writing at its best . . . Her book will make you long for home.” —St. Petersburg Times
Roaring Back: The Fall and Rise of Tiger Woods
by Curt SampsonThe incredible true story of Tiger Woods&’s dramatic comeback following his humbling and very public personal, physical, and professional setbacks. One publicly imploded marriage. Two car accidents. Eight surgeries. And now, a miracle of hard work and storied talent: five Masters wins. Once hailed as &“the greatest closer in history&” before he fell further than any beloved athlete in America&’s memory, Tiger swung at the world&’s wildest expectations and beat the skeptics with his April 2019 Masters championship. Roaring Back traces his road to Augusta and the improbable, phenomenal comeback of one of the greatest golfers in history.New York Times–bestselling author Curt Sampson details the highs and lows of Woods&’s career in three gripping acts. From his startling loss at the 2009 PGA Championship, detrimental obsession with his swing, and that infamous night involving an ex-wife and a nine-iron…to adoring fans and lucrative sponsors turning their backs, exclusive interviews with past instructors and PGA tour peers, and an arrest complete with a toxicology report . . . finally to Tiger coming from behind for his fifth green jacket as the crowd rumbled in Georgia, and how his comeback rivals those of the most dramatic in his sport. Sampson also places Woods&’s defeats and triumphs in the context of historic comebacks by other notable golfers like Ben Hogan, Skip Alexander, Aaron Silton, and Charlie Beljan, finding the forty-three-year-old alone on the green for his trajectory of victory against all odds. As this enthralling book reveals, Tiger never doubted the perseverance of the winner in the mirror.&“Sampson admirably details all the highs and lows.&” —Jim Nantz, CBS Sports
The Bourbon King: The Life and Crimes of George Remus, Prohibition's Evil Genius
by Bob BatchelorThe rise and fall of the man who cracked Prohibition to become one of the world&’s richest criminal masterminds—and helped inspire The Great Gatsby. Love, murder, political intrigue, mountains of cash, and rivers of bourbon…The tale of George Remus is a grand spectacle and a lens into the dark heart of Prohibition. Yes, Congress gave teeth to Prohibition in October, 1919, but the law didn&’t stop George Remus from amassing a fortune that would be worth billions of dollars today. As one Jazz Age journalist put it, &“Remus was to bootlegging what Rockefeller was to oil.&” Author Bob Batchelor breathes life into the largest bootlegging operation in America—greater than that of Al Capone—and a man considered the best criminal defense lawyer of his era. Remus bought an empire of distilleries on Kentucky&’s &“Bourbon Trail&” and used his other profession, as a pharmacist, to profit off legal loopholes. He spent millions bribing officials in the Harding Administration, and he created a roaring lifestyle that epitomized the Jazz Age over which he ruled. That is, before he came crashing down in one of the most sensational murder cases in American history: a cheating wife, the G-man who seduced her and put Remus in jail, and the plunder of a Bourbon Empire. Remus murdered his wife in cold-blood and then shocked a nation winning his freedom based on a condition he invented—temporary maniacal insanity.&“The fantastic story of George Remus makes the rest of the &“Roaring Twenties&” look like the &“Boring Twenties&” in comparison.&” ―David Pietrusza, author of 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents
Paris Times Eight: Finding Myself in the City of Dreams
by Deirdre Kelly&“Very engaging . . . This charming travel memoir shows us how a person and a city can grow and change in tandem.&” —Booklist Over eight visits to Paris, Deirdre Kelly has found herself—first as a nineteen-year-old and then later as a budding writer, a dance critic, and a fashion reporter. Subsequent visits—with her mother, her future husband, and later as a mother herself—have shown her that while some parts of Paris remain constant, her life is always evolving. More than just a beautiful and romantic backdrop for her self-discovery, Paris itself contributes to that discovery, emerging as a principal character in Kelly&’s life, an influence that inspires, guides, and teaches as she ages. A terrific gift for budding travelers, Francophiles, and women on their own path toward growth, this book reminds readers of their own favorite place. &“A poignant, honest, and deliciously sexy coming-of-age story.&” —Jan Wong, national bestselling author of Beijing Confidential &“Deirdre Kelly&’s writing is fast-paced and full of color and gives the reader an insider&’s view. She gets it right.&” —Sally Armstrong, national bestselling author of The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor &“Takes the reader on a colorful travelogue along the narrow streets of the Marais district, the spectacular Tuileries gardens and the bustling Galleries Lafayette department store . . . a fast-paced, breezy read, its substance subtly woven into a tale of a city whose glamour and beauty never fades.&” —Ottawa Citizen &“At times pensive, sardonic and laugh-out-loud funny, as it chronicles a real life with all its comedies and tragedies.&” —Calgary Herald
Soar: A Memoir
by Gail Campbell Woolley&“This is a book about life—about living it ravenously, fully, joyously, unendingly, even if you have a death sentence.&” —Donna Brazile, former chair, Democratic National Committee When Gail Campbell Woolley was seven, a pediatrician told her mother that Gail suffered from sickle cell anemia, a rare blood disease, and that she would be dead by age thirty-five. While others may have responded to this horrifying news by descending into a fog of self-pity, Gail went in the opposite direction. She decided to live an eventful, exciting life that ultimately included—despite a troubled home life and the systemic racism and sexism of the late twentieth century—academic success, an impressive career, a long and loving marriage, and the ability to leave her unmistakable stamp on every person she met. By the time she finally succumbed to her disease at age fifty-eight in 2015, she had ground that doctor&’s words into dust. Soar, written in the last two years of her life, is Woolley&’s powerfully inspiring story, and its publication checks the last item off her extraordinary bucket list, which also included traveling to every continent except Antarctica. Written in an engaging, no-nonsense voice with a directness that reflects her many years in journalism, Woolley&’s remarkable story not only will move readers to root for this irrepressible, quietly heroic woman but also will push readers to reassess their own approach to life. &“An inspiration for anyone confronting life&’s challenges. Gail has left a legacy of courage and compassion, and her memoir represents a voice that desperately needs to be heard in America right now.&” —Marc Morial, president and CEO, National Urban League
A Piece of My Heart: Living Through the Grief of Miscarriage, Stillbirth, or Infant Death
by Molly Fumia“A window into the words every woman wants to hear and feel in their hearts after their hope of a healthy normal pregnancy is gone.” —Education for HealthDespite advancements in the care of those who are suffering from the loss of a child to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death, many parents, especially mothers, cannot or will not give themselves permission to mourn. Their feelings are real and complex, yet they are often denied a safe place to live through and ultimately befriend the grieving. A Piece of My Heart is such a friend. The moving story of a mother’s loss of her week-old son, it chronicles an amazing journey that began with denial and guilt, found its way through remembrance and reconciliation, and ended in resolution and surprising joy. A beautiful book about the necessity of grieving the loss of unlived lives, it shows readers who are going through similar experiences a shared understanding and wraps them in a warm cloak of support and friendship. Readers will be affirmed in the sacred right of all parents to mourn the loss of their children, however short their lives, and will be shown the path toward eventual healing.“This compassionate work provides an intimate journey into Fumia’s repressed grief over losing her newborn son and her ultimate reconciliation with her own guilt. Moving beyond her own circumstances, she offers direct advice to others who have lost a child to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death . . . Her key message is that all losses and grief deserve respect and should not be minimized regardless of the situation.” —Library Journal
God Land: A Story of Faith, Loss, and Renewal in Middle America
by Lyz Lenz“Will resonate with any readers interested in understanding American landscapes where white, evangelical Christianity dominates both politics and culture.” —Publishers WeeklyIn the wake of the 2016 election, Lyz Lenz watched as her country and her marriage were torn apart by the competing forces of faith and politics. A mother of two, a Christian, and a lifelong resident of middle America, Lenz was bewildered by the pain and loss around her—the empty churches and the broken hearts. What was happening to faith in the heartland?From drugstores in Sydney, Iowa, to skeet shooting in rural Illinois, to the mega churches of Minneapolis, Lenz set out to discover the changing forces of faith and tradition in God’s country. Part journalism, part memoir, God Land is a journey into the heart of a deeply divided America. Lenz visits places of worship across the heartland and speaks to the everyday people who often struggle to keep their churches afloat and to cope in a land of instability. Through a thoughtful interrogation of the effects of faith and religion on our lives, our relationships, and our country, God Land investigates whether our divides can ever be bridged and if America can ever come together.“God Land, Lyz Lenz’s much-anticipated debut book, is a marvel. Not only is it a window into the middle America so many like to stereotype but fail to fully understand in all of its complexity, but it mixes reportage, memoir, and gorgeous prose so seamlessly I wanted to know how she did it.” —Sarah Weinman, author of The Real Lolita
Olive Odyssey: Searching for the Secrets of the Fruit that Seduced the World
by Julie AngusThis Mediterranean travel memoir offers &“an engaging mix of history, food travelogue, and botany lesson . . . There is much to enjoy here&” (Library Journal). Inspired by her Syrian forebears&’ intimate relationship with the olive, Julie Angus embarks on a voyage around the Mediterranean to unlock the secrets of the fruit that meant so much to them. Accompanied by her husband and their ten-month-old son, Angus collects samples from ancient trees to determine where the first olive tree originated; feasts on inky black tapenades and codfish drizzled with olive oil, among many other delights; witnesses the harvesting of olives in Greece; and visits perhaps the oldest olive tree in the world, on Crete. The result is a fascinating history and biography of this most influential and irresistible fruit. &“It is a pleasure to try to keep up with this book; like its author, it covers an enormous amount of territory.&” —Christopher Bakken, Wall Street Journal
Slow Road to Brownsville: A Journey Through the Heart of the Old West
by David ReynoldsAn adventurous Englishman explores the forgotten landscape of America&’s Wild West in this &“illuminating, elegantly written travelogue&” (Financial Times). In his acclaimed memoir Swan River, David Reynolds invited readers into the world of his youth, growing up in Manitoba, Canada. Now, in Slow Road to Brownsville, Reynolds brings readers on a road trip along Highway 83, a little-known two-lane highway that runs from his Canadian hometown to the Mexican border at Brownsville, Texas, on the Gulf of Mexico. Enthralled by the myth of the American West and the romance of the open road, Reynolds explores the realities behind both as he makes his way between small towns, gas stations, and motels, hanging out in bars with the locals and learning the stories of this forgotten region that was once the frontier. Along the way he encounters many legendary figures from North American history, including Lewis and Clark, Sitting Bull, Buffalo Bill, Davy Crockett, and even Truman Capote.
King Charles: The Man, the Monarch, and the Future of Britain
by Robert JobsonAn exhaustive and revealing biography of Britain&’s new monarch, King Charles III, with fresh reporting by the journalist the Wall Street Journal dubbed &“the Godfather of royal reporting.&” With exclusive interviews and extensive research, King Charles delivers definitive insight into the extraordinary life of His Royal Highness, former Prince of Wales, as he takes the throne, a watershed moment in modern history and in the British monarchy.New York Times bestselling author Robert Jobson debunks the myths about the man who became king, going beyond banal, bogus media caricatures of Charles to tell his true story. Jobson—who has spent nearly thirty years chronicling the House of Windsor, and has met Charles on countless occasions—received unprecedented cooperation from Clarence House, what was the Prince&’s office, in writing this illuminating biography.King Charles divulges the full range of Charles&’s profoundly held political beliefs: the United Kingdom&’s special relationship to the United States, climate change, Brexit, and immigration—to ultimately portray the kind of monarch Charles III will be. Jobson taps a number of sources close to the now-King who have never spoken on the record before, plus members of the Royal Household who have served Charles during his decades of public life. This comprehensive profile also reveals the late Queen Elizabeth&’s plans to transition Charles to the throne; how at her insistence he already reads all government briefings; and why he feels it is his constitutional duty to relay his thoughts to ministers in his controversial &“black spider memos.&” Moreover, King Charles reveals the truth about Charles's deeply loving but occasionally volatile relationship with his second wife and chief supporter, Camilla. The result is an intriguing new portrait of a man who at last has become king.
The Works of Samuel Johnson, Volume One: Life, Poems, And Tales, Volume 1 The Works Of Samuel Johnson, Ll. D. , In Nine Volumes (The Works of Samuel Johnson #1)
by Samuel JohnsonA brief essay on the life and genius of the prolific eighteenth-century English author, followed by a selection of his poetry, letters, and a novella.Under the pen name &“Dr. Johnson,&” English writer Samuel Johnson was a biographer, essayist, lexicographer, literary critic, moralist, playwright, poet, and travel writer. The son of a bookseller, he made so many contributions to the English language that he is regarded as one of the greatest figures of eighteenth-century literature. The first of nine volumes, The Works of Samuel JohnsonVolume One includes an essay on the life and genius of Samuel Johnson, followed by a collection of his poetry, including his &“Drury Lane Prologue,&” &“On the Death of Mr. Robert Levet,&” and &“The Vanity of Human Wishes.&” A selection of his personal correspondence is featured as well, along with his great satirical novella, The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia.
My Son, The Killer: The Untold Story of Luka Magnotta and '1 Lunatic 1 Ice Pick'
by Brian Whitney Anna YourkinAn intimate look at the internet killer featured in the Netflix true crime documentary Don&’t F**k with Cats—written with the murderer&’s mother. In 2012, male escort and porn actor Luka Magnotta found a gruesome path to fame. He videotaped himself murdering and dismembering Chinese student Jun Lin before posting the video online. After mailing Jun&’s hands and feet to elementary schools, Luca led Interpol on a manhunt that ended in Berlin. They arrested him at an Internet café where he was reading news stories about himself. Now with a legion of twisted fans, Magnotta was brought back to Canada, convicted of first-degree murder, and sentenced to prison. During this time, Anna Yourkin, his estranged mother, troubled by Magnotta&’s abused childhood and her role in it, reconnected with her killer son. With exclusive interviews, Magnotta has given award-winning journalist Brian Whitney an intimate look inside the mind of this &“social media&” killer. Joining Whitney to tell this unique true crime story is Anna Yourkin, who provides exclusive photos.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: In Her Own Words (In Their Own Words)
by Helena Hunt&“Like so many cultural icons, Ginsberg has doled out some seriously memorable quotes, thoughts, and observations . . . a quick dip of inspiration.&” —Bustle As one of only nine women in a class of 500 at Harvard Law School when she enrolled in 1956 and one of only four female Supreme Court justices in the history of the United States, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was frequently viewed as a feminist trailblazer and an icon for civil rights. Ginsburg had always been known as a prolific writer and speaker. Now, Ruth Bader Ginsburg: In Her Own Words offers a unique look into the mind of one of the world&’s most influential women by collecting 300 of Ginsburg&’s most insightful quotes. Meticulously curated from interviews, speeches, court opinions, dissents, and other sources, Ruth Bader Ginsburg: In Her Own Words creates a comprehensive picture of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her wisdom, and her legacy. &“The standard of courage and intellect and kindness and heart.&” —Gloria Steinem
Pride and Joy: LGBTQ Artists, Icons and Everyday Heroes
by Kathleen ArchambeauA collection sharing stories of success, happiness, and inspiration from the LGBTQ+ community.In Pride and Joy, award-winning writer and longtime LGBTQ+ activist Kathleen Archambeau tells the untold stories from diverse queer voices around the world. Not like the depressing, sinister, shadowy stories of the past, this book highlights queer people living open, happy, fulfilling, and successful lives.Inside, learn why Tony Kushner quit cello and how Colm Toibin found his voice, why Emma Donoghue calls her experience a fluke and the best advice Bill T. Jones got was from his mother, and also how being an inaugural poet changed Richard Blanco’s life and how Ugandan activist “LongJones” escaped death threats and gained asylum.But you will also see other stories, like the bravery of a Uruguayan author who was rejected by her immediate family even as she began a family of her own. Be inspired by the audacity to fight for justice that motivates National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell, a Mormon who grew up in Utah. Learn how two couples transcend time and distance to finally be together and how one NBA sports executive summoned the courage to come out. Discover the message of love from the first openly lesbian United Methodist Church Bishop. Learn the secrets of a successful, out IBM executive based in London and the rewards of Ballroom Basix founder in Harlem. See how the Maori philosophy of whanau guided the MP who won marriage rights in New Zealand and how high expectations overcame disability and bullying for an acclaimed mezzo-soprano. Meet the professional violinist and composer impacted by family tensions and the Armenian Genocide. Read about the ballroom dancers and Hungarian activists on neo-Nazi “hit lists.”Pride & Joy shows why there is hope it gets better for everyone in the queer community, including:The transgender choreographer and dancer who continues to break rules and enlighten audiencesThe Dutch singer, songwriter and independent theater producer who breaks down stereotypesThe founder of an award-winning smoking cessation programThe California political director of the Obama re-election campaignThe Russian émigré award-winning computer scientist and the Chinese folk dancer
Swami in a Strange Land: How Krishna Came to the West
by Joshua M. Greene“Master storyteller Joshua Greene reveals the true, thrilling adventure story of Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, a modern-day spiritual giant.” —Sharon Gannon, author and cofounder of Jivamukti YogaIn 1965, a seventy-year-old man—soon to be known as Prabhupada—set sail from India to America with a few books in his bag, pennies in his pockets, and a message of love in his heart. He landed in New York at the peak of the revolutionary counterculture movement of the ’60s, and went on to spark a global spiritual renaissance that led to the creation of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which has changed millions of lives. Through the depiction of Prabhupada as both an enlightened luminary and a personable, funny, and conscientious individual, Swami in a Strange Land shows why cultural icons such as George Harrison and Allen Ginsberg incorporated Prabhupada’s teachings into their lives, and why millions more around the globe embarked upon the path of bhakti yoga in his footsteps. Carefully researched, skillfully crafted, and extraordinarily intimate, this narrative follows Prabhupada as he rises from an anonymous monk to a world-renowned spiritual leader. Set in locations as far ranging as remote Himalayan caves and the gilded corridors of Paris’s City Hall, Swami in a Strange Land traces the rise of Eastern spirituality in the West—and in particular, the rise of yoga culture and vegetarianism and the concepts of karma and reincarnation. A remarkable journey into the deepest dimensions of the human experience, Swami in a Strange Land shows how one man with a dream can change the world.“[A] story of timeless love.” —Radhanath Swami, author of The Journey Home
Chaplain Turner's War: Life And Faith On The Frontlines With The U. S. Army In Iraq
by Moni BasuAn award-winning journalist portrays life and faith on the frontlines of the Iraq War through the experience of a US Army chaplain. The US mission in Iraq ended Dec. 18, 2011, as the last American soldiers climbed into trucks and headed south through the desert towards Kuwait. Nearly 4,500 American troops died in the Iraq war. More than 30,000 others were physically wounded. Countless others live with scars that can&’t be seen. While medics and doctors heal the physical scars of the wounded, the military employs a select few to heal the hearts, minds, and souls of soldiers—all of whom are changed forever by war. In January 2008, Atlanta Journal-Constitution international reporter Moni Basu began documenting life at war and at home with Darren Turner, a chaplain in the US Army. Chaplain Turner served as the emotional support system of U.S. soldiers more accustomed to toughing it out than opening up. For the first time ever, the entire series of Ms. Basu&’s articles on Chaplain Turner have been collected into one book. There have been few looks into one of this nation&’s most controversial wars that have been as honest, heartbreaking, and inspiring as Chaplain Turner&’s War. The experiences of the young men and women Chaplain Turner served speak with a clarity and force that is relatable to readers of any religion and of any opinion about the Iraq War. It is a story of people&’s lives who are so often taken for granted as steely warriors, and so rarely appreciated as heroes returning home with a lifetime of emotional weight.
In Pursuit of Garlic: An Intimate Look at the Divinely Odorous Bulb
by Liz PrimeauThe author of Front Yard Gardens celebrates the joy of garlic—from its culinary history to advice on growing and cooking with the indispensable ingredient. Liz Primeau&’s love affair with garlic began when her teenaged boyfriend took her to an Italian restaurant for spaghetti served with heavenly garlic-laced meatballs, a sublime escape from the bland English dinners she was used to at home. Here, Primeau celebrates that culinary love, discussing garlic's central place in her kitchen and garden, as well as its role in history, art, medicine, and science. Primeau shares the pleasing ritual of beginning each dinner she cooks by chopping garlic, the secret of removing garlic's tight jacket with a confident smack of a knife, as well as her favorite garlic-centered recipes. Primeau also discusses the many varieties of garlic and gives invaluable tips for growing your own. She visits garlic fairs, where she tries to track down France's elusive L'ail Rose, and she explores the issue of cheap Chinese garlic, which has invaded the North American market to the exclusion of local varieties."Packed with fascinating facts, practical advice on growing, curing and storage, recipes and personal stories.&” —Winnipeg Free Press
Sound: A Memoir of Hearing Lost and Found
by Bella Bathurst&“A moving and fascinating book about sound and what it means to be human&” from the Somerset Maugham Award–winning author of The Lighthouse Stevensons (Financial Times). In this surprising and moving book, award-winning writer Bella Bathurst shares the extraordinary true story of how she lost her hearing and eventually regained it and what she learned from her twelve years of deafness. Diving into a wide-ranging exploration of silence and noise, she interviews psychologists, ear surgeons, and professors to uncover fascinating insights about the science of sound. But she also speaks with ordinary people who are deaf or have lost their hearing, including musicians, war veterans, and factory workers, to offer a perceptive, thought-provoking look at what sound means to us. If sight gives us the world, then hearing—or our ability to listen—gives us our connections with other people. But, as this smart, funny, and profoundly honest examination reveals, our relationship with sound is both more personal and far more complex than we might expect. &“Bathurst is a restless, curious writer . . . After reading this book, I found myself listening in a richer and more interested way.&” —The Guardian &“A hymn to the faculty of hearing by someone who had it, lost it and then found it again, written with passion and intelligence . . . terrifying, absorbing and ultimately uplifting.&” —Literary Review &“Bathurst&’s affecting memoir will enlighten and educate.&” —Publishers Weekly &“A memoir of hearing loss and what the author learned . . . through her unexpected recovery from it. A good writer knows material when it presents itself, and Bathurst is a very good writer.&” —Kirkus Reviews
Dirty Kids: Chasing Freedom with America's Nomads
by Chris Urquhart&“[A] fascinating debut . . . documenting the lives of teenage runaways who traverse America as part of a freewheeling counterculture.&” —Publishers Weekly At age twenty-two, writer Chris Urquhart left a life of middle-class comfort to document the lives of these young nomads for a magazine feature. Captivated, she followed them for three more years. In honest prose interspersed with photographs portraying the grimy beauty of nomadic life, Dirty Kids tells the story of how Urquhart lived alongside runaways, crust punks, and dropouts, hippies, Deadheads, and Rainbows in an attempt to belong in their world. But the road took its toll, and along the way, Urquhart found suffering alongside the freedom—mental health issues, substance abuse, and fears of violence marred her journey. Despite all that, the warm, welcoming family of travelers and their radically alternative culture of sharing, generosity, and non-capitalistic collaboration forever changed her outlook on life and her understanding of freedom. &“An illuminating and memorable twenty-first-century journey. From this angle, Burning Man looks bourgeois.&” —Ted Conover, National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author of Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing &“Brings readers face-to-face with the bliss of freedom, the terror of loneliness, and the hard but true realities of life on the road—and on the rails—in modern day Babylon.&” —Peter Conners, author of Growing Up Dead: The Hallucinated Confessions of a Teenage Deadhead &“Urquhart shows us a seldom-glimpsed slice of America with poetic flair and journalistic objectivity.&” —Ken Ilgunas, award-winning author of Trespassing Across America
Menachem Begin and the Israel-Egypt Peace Process: Between Ideology and Political Realism (Perspectives on Israel Studies)
by Gerald M. Steinberg Ziv RubinovitzThis political biography sheds new light on the vital role played by the Israeli Prime Minister in establishing peaceful relations with Egypt.Focusing on the character and personality of Menachem Begin, Gerald Steinberg and Ziv Rubinovitz offer a new look into the peace negotiations between Israel and Egypt in the 1970s. Begin’s role as a peace negotiator has often been marginalized, but this sympathetic and critical portrait restores him to the center of the diplomatic process. Beginning with the events of 1967, Steinberg and Rubinovitz look at Begin’s statements on foreign policy, including relations with Egypt, and his role as Prime Minister and chief signer of the Israel-Egypt peace treaty. While Begin did not leave personal memoirs or diaries of the peace process, Steinberg and Rubinovitz have tapped into newly released Israeli archives and information housed at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and the Begin Heritage Center. The analysis illuminates the complexities that Menachem Begin faced in navigating between ideology and political realism in the negotiations towards a peace treaty that remains a unique diplomatic achievement.