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Doll Parts
by Amanda Lepore Thomas Flannery“If you happen to be young and transgender, then you’re used to people being hateful toward you when all you want to do is exist. Through all the insanity in my life, there was only one thing I could control: myself. On the outside, obviously, but on the inside, too. I focused on not letting other people’s opinions have any effect on me whatsoever, and that’s how I’ve lived my life ever since.” —Amanda LeporeSpend an evening getting intimate with Amanda Lepore, the internationally renowned walking work of art and New York City’s reigning queen of nightlife for three decades. Paving the way for today’s “trans revolution,” Amanda is one of the world’s most famous transsexuals. In this poignant and revealing memoir, Amanda takes off the makeup, peels back the silicone, and reveals to the world the woman she truly is, all with a sense of divine certainty, humor, and charm. “I hate everyone but Amanda Lepore.” —Miley Cyrus “Amanda is pure heaven on earth, a dream come true. I adore her!” —Francois Nars “Amanda is truly a living work of art. I’ve never witnessed such devotion to the art of high glamour. In my book, she is a glambassador of the very highest order, a true fascinatrix!” —Dita Von Teese “As an Icon, Amanda is one of a kind because of her unique and singular look in the art of fashion. She has established herself as the most original and glamorous image in the world of transgender.” —Patricia Field “Amanda Lepore is a self-creation that governs her own splendid reality.” —Steven Klein, photographer
Dolley Madison
by Catherine AllgorFirst Lady of the United States and America's "Queen of Hearts," Dolley Madison fashioned an unofficial role for herself in the new administration of the United States, helping to answer the nation's need for ceremony and leaving footprints for centuries of presidential wives to follow. Assisting her husband, James Madison, she helped to promote national unity, modeling a political behavior that stressed civility and empathy. Together, their approach fueled bipartisanship in a country still assembling a political identity. About the Lives of American Women series: Selected and edited by renowned women’s historian Carol Berkin, these brief biographies are designed for use in undergraduate courses. Rather than a comprehensive approach, each biography focuses instead on a particular aspect of a women’s life that is emblematic of her time, or which made her a pivotal figure in the era. The emphasis is on a "good read," featuring accessible writing and compelling narratives, without sacrificing sound scholarship and academic integrity. Primary sources at the end of each biography reveal the subject’s perspective in her own words. Study questions and an annotated bibliography support the student reader.
Dolley Madison Saves George Washington
by Don BrownDolley was a farm girl who became a fine first lady when she married James Madison. She wore beautiful dresses, decorated her home, and threw lavish parties. Everyone talked about Dolley, and everyone loved her, too. Then war arrived at her doorstep, and Dolley had to meet challenges greater than she’d ever known. So Dolley did one thing she thought might make a difference: she saved George Washington. Not the man himself, but a portrait of him, which would surely have been destroyed by English soldiers. Don Brown once again deftly tells a little known story about a woman who made a significant contribution to American history.
Dollmakers and Their Stories: Women Who Changed the World of Play
by Krystyna Poray Goddu"Dolls are not a luxury. They are as necessary to a child's life as a loaf of bread . . . What a doll does for a little girl is develop her capacity to love others and herself." -Madame Alexander A wonderful offering for young doll enthusiasts and women's history buffs alike This fascinating book tells the stories of courageous dollmakers, all of whom were-and continue to be-filled with passion, vision, and determination. They are the unsung heroines behind some of the most important dolls of the last hundred years-such as Barbie (Ruth Handler) and Madame Alexander's collection (Beatrice Alexander). Entrepreneurs and feminists of their time, these strong women displayed both creative genius and astute business acumen, serving as excellent role models for today's young female readers.
Dolls! Dolls! Dolls!: Deep Inside Valley of the Dolls, the Most Beloved Bad Book and Movie of All Time
by Stephen Rebello"A blissful treasure trove of gossipy insider details that Dolls fans will swiftly devour."--Kirkus ReviewsThe unbelievable-but-true, inside story of Jacqueline Susann's pop culture icon Valley of the Dolls--the landmark novel and publishing phenomenon, the infamous smash hit film ("the best worst movie ever made"), and Dolls's thriving legacy todaySince its publication in 1966, Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls has reigned as one of the most influential and beloved pieces of commercial fiction. Selling over thirty-one million copies worldwide, it revolutionized overnight the way books got sold, thanks to the tireless and canny self-promoting Susann. It also generated endless speculation about the author's real-life models for its larger-than-life characters. Turned in 1967 into an international box-office sensation and morphing into a much-beloved cult film, its influence endures today in everything from films and TV shows to fashion and cosmetics tributes and tie-ins. Susann's compulsive readable exposé of three female friends finding success in New York City and Hollywood was a scandalous eye-opener for its candid treatment of sex, naked ambition, ageism, and pill-popping, and the big screen version was one of the most-seen and talked-about movies of the time.Dolls! Dolls! Dolls! digs deep into the creation of that hugely successful film--a journey nearly as cut-throat, sexually-charged, tragic, and revelatory as Susann's novel itself--and uncovers how the movie has become a cherished, widely imitated camp classic, thanks to its over-the-top performances, endlessly quotable absurd dialogue, outré costumes and hairdos, despite the high aspirations, money, and talent lavished on it. Screenwriter-journalist-film historian Stephen Rebello has conducted archival research and new interviews to draw back the velvet curtain on the behind-the-scenes intrigue, feuds and machinations that marked the film's production. In doing so, he unveils a rich, detailed history of fast-changing, late 1960s Hollywood, on screen and off.
Dolly!: The Story of Dolly Parton and Her Big Dream
by Robyn McGrathA rhythmically told and vibrantly illustrated picture book biography of Dolly Parton: an American icon beloved by all.You&’ve likely heard of the performer Dolly Parton. But do you know where this dazzling songwriter and musician draws her roots? As one of twelve children growing up in rural Tennessee, Dolly was determined to be seen and heard. From her front porch to her church choir, every stage was an opportunity to perform and share her many talents. While balancing farm chores with schoolwork, Dolly never lost sight of her dreams, composing her first song at age five and performing at the Grand Ole Opry at age thirteen. With lilting language and vibrant artwork, this childhood story captures the unique gifts of Dolly Parton, while also honoring the measures of her success: resilience, confidence, family, and kindness.
Dolly: The Biography
by Alanna NashThis comprehensive look at the life of country music superstar Dolly Parton covers her poor but loving upbringing through her recent induction into the Country Music Association Hall of Fame. Based on extensive interviews with a host of Nashville's biggest stars such as BARBARA MANDRELL, MARTY ROBBINS, and EDDIE RABBITT, as well as with the Parton family and Dolly herself, this intimate biography charts the legendary singer's life from the backwoods of Tennessee to the footlights of the Grand Ole Opry and beyond. This updated edition looks at the country singer's endeavors from the 1980s through today, a period in which Parton opened her own theme park, Dollywood; flirted with pop music; and returned to her rural mountain roots with the release of three critically acclaimed bluegrass albums--Hungry Again in 1997, The Grass Is Blue in 1999, and Little Sparrow in 2001. Nash also takes readers into the studio for the release of Dolly's most recent record, the much-lauded Halos & Horns.
Dolly: An Unauthorized Collection of Wise & Witty Words on Grit, Lipstick, Love & Life from Dolly Parton
by Mary ZaiaCompiled by Mary Zaia, Dolly: An Unauthorized Collection of Wise & Witty Words on Grit, Lipstick, Love & Life from Dolly Parton is a book of quotes from America’s most beloved country singer.We all need a dose of Dolly in our lives. Whether it’s her warmth and generosity, her humble roots and down-home values, her gifts to film and music, or her unforgettable style and humor, Dolly Parton has plenty of life secrets to share. Enjoy this collection of her wisest quotes, funniest cracks, and encouraging words for living life right.· Nearly 150 Dolly quotes on living with big dreams and an open heart· Empowerment, strength, and confidence whenever you need it· Get inspired to be boldly you, just like Dolly!
Dolly on Dolly: Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton (Musicians in Their Own Words #12)
by Randy L. Schmidt"Nobody knows Dolly like Dolly," declares Dolly Parton. Dolly's is a rags-to-riches tale like no other. A dirt-poor Smoky Mountain childhood paved the way for the buxom blonde butterfly's metamorphosis from singer-songwriter to international music superstar. The undisputed "Queen of Country Music," Dolly has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and has conquered just about every facet of the entertainment industry: music, film, television, publishing, theater, and even theme parks. It has been more than fifty years since Dolly Parton arrived in Nashville with just her guitar and a dream. Her story has been told many times and in many ways, but never like this. Dolly on Dolly is a collection of interviews spanning five decades of her career and featuring material gathered from celebrated publications including Rolling Stone, Cosmopolitan, Playboy, and Andy Warhol's Interview magazine. Also included are interviews which have not been previously available in print. Dolly's feisty and irresistible brand of humor, combined with her playful, pull-up-a-chair-and-stay-awhile delivery, makes for a fascinating and inviting experience in down-home philosophy and storytelling. Much like her patchwork "Coat of Many Colors," this book harkens back to the legendary entertainer's roots and traces her evolution, stitching it all together one piece at a time.
Dolly Parton: Country Goin' to Town (Women of Our Time)
by Susan SaundersDolly said every country girl dreamed of goin' to town--but Dolly knew how to make her dreams come true. She grew up in poverty in the heart of the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. Dolly was composing music before she could write and singing as soon as she could speak, and always believing in herself. Singing in her uncle's backwoods church, on 4:00 a.m. radio programs, and finally in the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Dolly was heading for the heights of country music stardom. Her heart remains in the country, but Dolly Parton has become a star acclaimed throughout the world.
Dolly Parton: In Her Own Words (In Their Own Words)
by Suzanne SonnierA collection of quotations from one of America’s most beloved cultural icons.Curated from Dolly Parton’s numerous public statements—interviews, speeches, social media posts, and more—this is a comprehensive picture of her legacy as a musician, businesswoman, and philanthropist. Since her career began in the Nashville music scene of the 1960s, Parton has become revered for her work as a singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter, selling over one hundred million records and being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. And beyond her musical achievements, she co-owns the Dollywood Company and is renowned for the philanthropic work of her Dollywood Foundation.This collection is a look into the inner workings of the woman known for penning such hits as “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” and “9 to 5.” Now, for the first time, you can find Parton’s most inspirational, thought-provoking quotes in one place, providing an intimate and direct look into the mind of this legendary woman.
Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics
by Dolly Parton Robert K. OermannDolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics is a landmark celebration of the remarkable life and career of a country music and pop culture legend.As told by Dolly Parton in her own inimitable words, explore the songs that have defined her journey. Illustrated throughout with previously unpublished images from Dolly Parton's personal and business archives.Mining over 60 years of songwriting, Dolly Parton highlights 150 of her songs and brings readers behind the lyrics. - Packed with never-before-seen photographs and classic memorabilia - Explores personal stories, candid insights, and myriad memories behind the songsDolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics reveals the stories and memories that have made Dolly a beloved icon across generations, genders, and social and international boundaries.Containing rare photos and memorabilia from Parton's archives, this book is a show-stopping must-have for every Dolly Parton fan. - Learn the history behind classic Parton songs like "Jolene," "9 to 5," "I Will Always Love You," and more. - The perfect gift for Dolly Parton fans (everyone loves Dolly!) as well as lovers of music history and countryAdd it to the shelf with books like Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton, The Beatles Anthology by The Beatles, and Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen.
Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics
by Dolly Parton Robert K. OermannDolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics is a landmark celebration of the remarkable life and career of a country music and pop culture legend.As told by Dolly Parton in her own inimitable words, explore the songs that have defined her journey. Illustrated throughout with previously unpublished images from Dolly Parton's personal and business archives.Mining over 60 years of songwriting, Dolly Parton highlights 175 of her songs and brings readers behind the lyrics.• Packed with never-before-seen photographs and classic memorabilia• Explores personal stories, candid insights, and myriad memories behind the songsDolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics reveals the stories and memories that have made Dolly a beloved icon across generations, genders, and social and international boundaries. Containing rare photos and memorabilia from Parton's archives, this book is a show-stopping must-have for every Dolly Parton fan.• Learn the history behind classic Parton songs like "Jolene," "9 to 5," "I Will Always Love You," and more.• The perfect gift for Dolly Parton fans (everyone loves Dolly!) as well as lovers of music history and countryAdd it to the shelf with books like Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton, The Beatles Anthology by The Beatles, and Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen.
Dolor y gloria
by Pedro AlmodóvarLa película más personal de Pedro Almodóvar. El libro más repleto de extras. Salvador Mallo es un veterano director de cine aquejado de múltiples dolencias, pero el peor de sus males es la incapacidad para seguir rodando. La mezcla de medicamentos y drogas hace que Salvador pase la mayor parte del día postrado. Este estado de duermevela le traslada a una época de su vida que nunca visitó como narrador: su infancia en los años sesenta, cuando emigró con sus padres a un pueblo de Valencia en busca de prosperidad. También se le vuelve a aparecer su primer amor adulto, ya en el Madrid de los ochenta, y el dolor que supuso la ruptura. Salvador se refugia en la escritura como única terapia para olvidar lo inolvidable. Ese ejercicio lo devuelve al temprano descubrimiento del cine, cuando las películas se proyectaban sobre un muro encalado, al aire libre, con olor a pis, a jazmín y a brisa de verano. De nuevo, descubrirá que el cine puede ser su única salvación frente al dolor, la ausencia y el vacío. Esta edición contiene, además del guion original de la película (que incluye escenas que no se vieron en el cine), un sustancioso apartado de comentarios sobre su proceso creativo y el rodaje, firmado por el propio Almodóvar, y un precioso epílogo de Gustavo Martín Garzo. Además, está profusamente ilustrada a todo color con fotografías y fragmentos del storyboard. Un libro perfecto para todos los amantes del cine y la cultura.
Dolores Del Rio: Beauty in Light and Shade
by Linda B. HallDolores del Río's enormously successful career in Hollywood, in Mexico, and internationally illuminates issues of race, ethnicity, and gender through the lenses of beauty and celebrity. She and her husband left Mexico in 1925, as both their well-to-do families suffered from the economic downturn that followed the Mexican Revolution. Far from being stigmatized as a woman of color, this Mexican star was acknowledged as the epitome of beauty in the Hollywood of the 1920s and early 1930s. While she insisted upon her ethnicity, she was nevertheless coded white by the film industry and its fans, and she appeared for more than a decade as a romantic lead opposite white actors. Returning to Mexico in the early 1940s, she brought enthusiasm and prestige to the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, becoming one of the great divas of Mexican film. With struggle and perseverance, she overcame the influence of men in both countries who hoped to dominate her, ultimately controlling her own life professionally and personally.
Dolph Lundgren: Train Like an Action Hero
by Per Bernal Dolph LundgrenAre you ready to take your exercise and fitness routine to the next level? Then take a lesson from internationally-renowned action hero Dolph Lundgren, as he shares the personal fitness secrets gained from a lifetime of hard-fought experiences on-camera and off.Dolph has created a personal philosophy of fitness based on martial arts, yoga, strength training, biochemical research, professional sports, and over 40 starring roles in classic action films. It's a logical, fun, and surprisingly easy path to total fitness--whether you're at the office, with friends, playing sports, or in class. This is the ultimate lifestyle to improve your health and build your physique!Dolph Lundgren: Be Fit Forever--his autobiographical training guide--features weekly training programs, daily menu planners, guides to equipment and gear, fantastic photos from behind the scenes of Hollywood action movies, and more.DOLPH'S SPECIAL TIPS:1. Briefing: The reasons you need to get fit2. Mission: Personal training and health philosophy3. Weaponry: How to best combine strength exercises, cardiovascular, and flexibility training4. Special Ops: Stick to your goals even while away traveling5. Fuel and supplies: The best foods and supplements to build your body6. Fit forever: Stay in shape for the rest of your life!With detailed exercise plans and over 100 step-by-step photos, Dolph Lundgren: Be Fit Forever is the kickass guide to building a body that will look great and make you feel even better--forever.
Dolphin Confidential: Confessions of a Field Biologist
by Maddalena BearziA &“compelling&” up-close memoir of a career spent among marine mammals and a portrait of the daily lives of dolphins (Publishers Weekly). Working among charismatic and clever dolphins in the wild is a unique thrill—and this book invites us shore-bound dreamers to join Maddalena Bearzi as she travels alongside them. In a fascinating account, she takes us inside the world of a marine scientist and offers a firsthand understanding of marine mammal behavior, as well as the frustrations and delights that make up dolphin research. Bearzi recounts her experiences at sea, tracing her own evolution as a woman and a scientist from her earliest travails to her transformation into an advocate for conservation and dolphin protection. These compelling, in-depth descriptions of her fieldwork also present a captivating look into dolphin social behavior and intelligence. Drawing on her extensive experience with the metropolitan bottlenose dolphins of California in particular, she offers insights into the daily lives of these creatures—as well as the difficulties involved in collecting the data that transforms hunches into hypotheses and eventually scientific facts. The book closes by addressing the critical environmental and conservation problems facing these magnificent, socially complex, highly intelligent, and emotional beings. &“Pairing vivid images of bottlenose dolphins swimming together and caring for one another with descriptions of the meticulous scientific work required to record their behavior, Maddalena Bearzi sheds light on the life of a field biologist…A beautifully written account.&”—Library Journal
The Dolphin Letters, 1970-1979: Elizabeth Hardwick, Robert Lowell, and Their Circle
by Elizabeth Hardwick Robert LowellThe correspondence between one of the most famous couples of twentieth-century literatureThe Dolphin Letters offers an unprecedented portrait of Robert Lowell and Elizabeth Hardwick during the last seven years of Lowell’s life (1970 to 1977), a time of personal crisis and creative innovation for both writers. Centered on the letters they exchanged with each other and with other members of their circle—writers, intellectuals, friends, and publishers, including Elizabeth Bishop, Caroline Blackwood, Mary McCarthy, and Adrienne Rich—the book has the narrative sweep of a novel, telling the story of the dramatic breakup of their twenty-one-year marriage and their extraordinary, but late, reconciliation.Lowell’s controversial sonnet-sequence The Dolphin (for which he used Hardwick’s letters as a source) and his last book, Day by Day, were written during this period, as were Hardwick’s influential books Seduction and Betrayal: Essays on Women in Literature and Sleepless Nights: A Novel. Lowell and Hardwick are acutely intelligent observers of marriages, children, and friends, and of the feelings that their personal crises gave rise to.The Dolphin Letters, masterfully edited by Saskia Hamilton, is a debate about the limits of art—what occasions a work of art, what moral and artistic license artists have to make use of their lives as material, what formal innovations such debates give rise to. The crisis of Lowell’s The Dolphin was profoundly affecting to everyone surrounding him, and Bishop’s warning to Lowell—“art just isn’t worth that much”—haunts.
Domènech i Montaner: Un home universal
by Lluís Domènech GirbauL’obra que acull tota la riquesa d’un home polifònic que va transcendir la seva època per convertir-se en un referent cultural immortal. L'arquitecte Lluís Domènech i Montaner (1849-1923) ha estat qualificat, amb raó, d'home universal. Figura fonamental de la Catalunya del tombant del segle XIX i començaments del XX, la seva obra va anar més enllà de l'àmbit arquitectònic gràcies a la seva activa participació en la vida cultural i política del seu temps. Artífex dels edificis de l'Exposició Universal del 1888 i de dues obres mestres del modernisme com l'Hospital de Sant Pau i el Palau de la Música (declarades Patrimoni de la Humanitat), Domènech i Montaner va ser també un nom destacat de la Renaixença, va presidir les Bases de Manresa i va ser diputat a les Corts espanyoles, punt culminant del catalanisme polític.
Domestic Affairs: Enduring the Pleasures of Motherhood and Family Life
by Joyce MaynardAn unforgettable collection of essays on the everyday thrills and challenges of marriage and motherhood, from one of America&’s best-loved memoiristsWitty and insightful, Domestic Affairs is an extension of Joyce Maynard&’s celebrated, widely syndicated newspaper column of the same name that ran from 1984 to 1990. Each essay gives an unfiltered look at the ups and downs of family life and a remarkable window into the challenges of modern motherhood. Topics range from babysitter woes to family visits to coping with a child&’s burgeoning independence. These collected writings represent nine years&’ worth of stories about the greatest adventure of Maynard&’s life, or, as she writes, &“the difficult, exhausting, humbling, and endlessly gratifying business of raising children, of ensuring the health of both body and soul.&” This ebook features an illustrated biography of Joyce Maynard including rare photos from the author&’s personal collection.
Domestique: The Real-life Ups and Downs of a Tour Pro
by Charly Wegelius**Winner - Sweetspot Cycling Book of the Year** For 11 years I was a professional cyclist, competing in the hardest and greatest races on Earth. I was in demand from the world’s best teams, a well-paid elite athlete. But I never won a race. I was the hired help.When my mum dropped me off in a small French town aged 17, I was full of determination to be a professional cyclist, but I was completely green. I went from mowing the team manager’s lawn to winning every amateur race I entered. Then I turned pro and realised I hated the responsibility and pressure of chasing victory. And that’s when I became a domestique.I learned to take that hurt and give it everything I had to give, all for someone else’s win. When the order came in to ride I pushed out with the hardest rhythm I could, dragging the group faster and faster, until my whole body screamed with pain. There were times I rode myself to a standstill, clutching the barrier metres from the line, as the lead group shot past. But that’s what made me a so good at my job.As my career took off, I started looking at the fans lining the route, cheering us like heroes. The passion for cycling oozed off them, but they couldn’t know what it was really like. They didn’t see the terrible hotels, the crazy egos or all the shit that goes with great expectations. Well, this is how it is…
Domina: The Women Who Made Imperial Rome
by Guy de la Bédoyère&“An illuminating and highly readable narrative about the role of women at the center of imperial Rome—fascinating and important.&” —Lesley Adkins, author of Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero—these are the names history associates with the early Roman Empire. Yet, not a single one of these emperors was the blood son of his predecessor. In this captivating history, a prominent scholar of the era documents the Julio-Claudian women whose bloodline, ambition, and ruthlessness made it possible for the emperors&’ line to continue. Eminent scholar Guy de la Bédoyère, author of Praetorian, asserts that the women behind the scenes—including Livia, Octavia, and the elder and younger Agrippina—were the true backbone of the dynasty. De la Bédoyère draws on the accounts of ancient Roman historians to revisit a familiar time from a completely fresh vantage point. Anyone who enjoys I, Claudius will be fascinated by this study of dynastic power and gender interplay in ancient Rome. &“In contrast to most histories of Rome which focus almost entirely on the exploits of its male emperors, Domina examines the women who partnered them in power, from the perfect Roman wives Livia and Octavia to Cleopatra, Agrippina the Younger and the trio of Severan Julias who all stepped far beyond tradition to dominate the Roman world.&”—Joann Fletcher, author of The Story of Egypt &“Enjoyable, fluently written and well-balanced in approach. De la Bédoyère leaves no stone unturned by way of evidence, which he carefully evaluates with regard to its context and reliability.&”—Pat Southern, author of The Roman Army
A Dominant Character: The Science and Politics of J.B.S. Haldane
by Samanth SubramanianJ.B.S. Haldane, scientist extraordinaire—born in Britain yet spiritually bound to India—remains one of the most enigmatic geniuses of the modern era. Here is a man who saw action in two world wars, engaged in the most radical politics of his day, conducted groundbreaking scientific research, and wrote with flair and conviction—yet Haldane&’s universe remains shrouded in mystery. <P><P>Award-winning author Samanth Subramanian’s latest offering undoes this travesty. Besides shedding light on Haldane’s contributions to genetics and evolutionary biology—he was the first to calculate the rate at which mutations occur and accumulate in genes—the book illuminates Haldane&’s inner world—his towering intellect, his radical vision of society, his provocative philosophy, and his attempts a wrestling with the essential moral questions that scientific progress must raise. <P><P>Equally, the book dwells on Haldane’s years in India—his journey to the nation; his affiliation with the Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta; his attachment to the Genetics and Biometry Laboratory in Bhubaneshwar (where he died). Dronamraju’s description of Haldane as ‘the last man who knew everything’ was, at its simplest, an acknowledgement of his command over multiple subjects. But it was also an astute observation that Haldane’s era was the last time when the realms of scientific knowledge were limited enough for a single person to apprehend in near-entirety. To know everything was to see the forces of the world unified and to conceive of life in its full complexity. A Dominant Character will give readers a taste of that heady sensation.
A Dominant Character: The Radical Science And Restless Politics Of J. B. S. Haldane
by Samanth SubramanianA biography of J. B. S. Haldane, the brilliant and eccentric British scientist whose innovative predictions inspired Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. J. B. S. Haldane’s life was rich and strange, never short on genius or drama—from his boyhood apprenticeship to his scientist father, who first instilled in him a devotion to the scientific method; to his time in the trenches during the First World War, where he wrote his first scientific paper; to his numerous experiments on himself, including inhaling dangerous levels of carbon dioxide and drinking hydrochloric acid; to his clandestine research for the British Admiralty during the Second World War. He is best remembered as a geneticist who revolutionized our understanding of evolution, but his peers hailed him as a polymath. One student called him “the last man who might know all there was to be known.” He foresaw in vitro fertilization, peak oil, and the hydrogen fuel cell, and his contributions ranged over physiology, genetics, evolutionary biology, mathematics, and biostatistics. He was also a staunch Communist, which led him to Spain during the Civil War and sparked suspicions that he was spying for the Soviets. He wrote copiously on science and politics in newspapers and magazines, and he gave speeches in town halls and on the radio—all of which made him, in his day, as famous in Britain as Einstein. It is the duty of scientists to think politically, Haldane believed, and he sought not simply to tell his readers what to think but to show them how to think. Beautifully written and richly detailed, Samanth Subramanian’s A Dominant Character recounts Haldane’s boisterous life and examines the questions he raised about the intersections of genetics and politics—questions that resonate even more urgently today.
Dominga Campos
by Celia MansonSiempre se ha subrayado el carácter desconocido y oculto de la vida privada del presidente argentino Hipólito Irigoyen. No obstante hay en su vida situaciones inocultables, como lo fueron sus seis hijos y su pertinaz soltería. Esta historia da a conocer el origen, la formación y el entorno familiar de la única mujer a quien Irigoyen amó y con quien en algún momento proyectó contraer matrimonio: Dominga Campos. Hipólito Irigoyen es y será siempre un solitario. Sus biógrafos, todos hombres hasta ahora, se conmueven profundamente ante el renunciamiento familiar y afectivo que se impone. Faltaba la mirada femenina que interpretase este especial caso de amor, y este libro ha venido a llenar ese vacío.