- Table View
- List View
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir
by Matthew PerryINSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER#1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER The BELOVED STAR OF FRIENDS takes us behind the scenes of the hit sitcom and his struggles with addiction in this “CANDID, DARKLY FUNNY...POIGNANT” memoir (The New York Times) A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK by Time, Associated Press, Goodreads, USA Today, and more!“Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name. My friends call me Matty.”So begins the riveting story of acclaimed actor Matthew Perry, taking us along on his journey from childhood ambition to fame to addiction and recovery in the aftermath of a life-threatening health scare. Before the frequent hospital visits and stints in rehab, there was five-year-old Matthew, who traveled from Montreal to Los Angeles, shuffling between his separated parents; fourteen-year-old Matthew, who was a nationally ranked tennis star in Canada; twenty-four-year-old Matthew, who nabbed a coveted role as a lead cast member on the talked-about pilot then called Friends Like Us. . . and so much more.In an extraordinary story that only he could tell—and in the heartfelt, hilarious, and warmly familiar way only he could tell it—Matthew Perry lays bare the fractured family that raised him (and also left him to his own devices), the desire for recognition that drove him to fame, and the void inside him that could not be filled even by his greatest dreams coming true. But he also details the peace he’s found in sobriety and how he feels about the ubiquity of Friends, sharing stories about his castmates and other stars he met along the way. Frank, self-aware, and with his trademark humor, Perry vividly depicts his lifelong battle with addiction and what fueled it despite seemingly having it all. Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing is an unforgettable memoir that is both intimate and eye-opening—as well as a hand extended to anyone struggling with sobriety. Unflinchingly honest, moving, and uproariously funny, this is the book fans have been waiting for.
Friendship for Grown-ups: What I Missed and Learned Along the Way
by Lisa WhelchelFormer "Facts of Life" star Whelchel shares her experiences of growing up without true friends and how she learned to find and develop them as an adult through God's grace. Readers will find practical tips for their own friendships along the way.
Frigate Commander
by Tom WarehamThe naval historian presents the thrilling true story of a Royal Navy officer&’s frigate command in the tumultuous late 18th and early 19th centuries. Based on the private journals of Admiral Sir Graham Moore, Frigate Commander recounts his experiences as a Lieutenant and then Captain during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Moore's journal gives a detailed account of life as a serving naval officer, revealing the unique problems of managing a frigate crew, maintaining discipline and turning his ship into an efficient man of war. Moore was one of the Royal Navy's star captains, serving continuously as a frigate commander between 1793 and 1804. His early career took him to Newfoundland before serving with Sir William Sidney Smith's squadron on the north coast of France. Moore was present during the Naval Mutiny at Spithead in 1797, and helped to destroy the French fleet off Ireland in 1798. His most famous action occurred in September 1804, when his squadron captured a Spanish frigate squadron carrying a fortune in treasure. The following year his frigate, HMS Indefatigable, was involved in the opening of the Trafalgar Campaign.
Frithjof Schuon: Messenger of the Perennial Philosophy
by Michael Oren FitzgeraldOffering the most comprehensive biography of Frithjof Schuon (1907-1998) yet published, Fitzgerald''s work features quotations from Schuon?s articles, books, memoirs, and correspondence, combined with a wealth of reliable information from people who knew Schuon well. With over 75 color and black-and-white photos and illustrations, readers will gain valuable insights into the life and work of the foremost representative of the Perennialist or ?Traditionalist? school of comparative religious thought.
Fritz
by Martin ShepardFritz Perls described himself as a &“mediocre psychoanalyst&” who became &“the possible creator of a &‘new&’ method of treatment&”—Gestalt Therapy. His wife described him as half prophet, half bum. Dave Rybeck, reviewing FRITZ in Psychology Today, said that &“Martin Shepard has done an excellent job of getting into, on top of, and under the Fritz Perls mystique. He spent two years learning all he could about Perls&’s life and has produced a masterful yet loving portrait that goes far beyond biography. FRITZ offers a Fritz Perls to whom few, if any, were privy. This holistic view of Fritz, his early falterings, his neurotic rootlessness, his prima donna pettiness, his chronic self-doubts and, above all, his driving destiny to become a great master in the world of psychotherapy, reveals a human, lovable person. It leaves me feeling glad that Fritz did his thing. And that Martin Shepard did his, too.&”
Fritz Bauer: The Jewish Prosecutor Who Brought Eichmann and Auschwitz to Trial (German Jewish Cultures Ser.)
by Ronen SteinkeA biography of the German Jewish judge and lawyer who survived the Holocaust, brought the Nazis to justice, and fought for the rights of homosexuals. German Jewish judge and prosecutor Fritz Bauer (1903–1968) played a key role in the arrest of Adolf Eichmann and the initiation of the Frankfurt Auschwitz trials. Author Ronen Steinke tells this remarkable story while sensitively exploring the many contributions Bauer made to the postwar German justice system. As it sheds light on Bauer&’s Jewish identity and the role it played in these trials and his later career, Steinke&’s deft narrative contributes to the larger story of Jewishness in postwar Germany. Examining latent antisemitism during this period as well as Jewish responses to renewed German cultural identity and politics, Steinke also explores Bauer&’s personal and family life and private struggles, including his participation in debates against the criminalization of homosexuality—a fact that only came to light after his death in 1968. This new biography reveals how one individual&’s determination, religion, and dedication to the rule of law formed an important foundation for German post war society.&“What is clear—and what this book makes clear—is that without people like Fritz Bauer there would have been none of this prosecution of Nazi atrocities, no trials for Auschwitz camp guards or Adolf Eichmann, no rehabilitation of the German resistance against Hitler. Ronen Steinke deserves thanks for bringing this message of Fritz Bauer back to light in such an accessible form, balancing professional distance and sympathy.&” —Kai Ambos, Criminal Law Forum&“Illuminates the biography of a central actor in Germany&’s coming to terms with its Nazi past.&” —Jacob S. Eder, author of Holocaust Angst
Fritz Bennewitz in India: Intercultural Theatre with Brecht and Shakespeare
by David G. John Joerg Esleben Rohmer RolfThis volume offers the first comprehensive analysis of the work of East German theatre director Fritz Bennewitz in India between 1970 and 1994. Joerg Esleben has gathered together many of Bennewitz’ own writings, most published for the first time, in which he reflects on his production of plays by Bertolt Brecht, Shakespeare, Goethe, Chekhov, and Volker Braun. By translating these writings into English, the editors have provided unprecedented access to Bennewitz’ thinking about intercultural work in India. This material is illuminated by explanatory annotations, contextualized commentary, and critical perspectives from Bennewitz’s former colleagues in India and other leading scholars. Through its kaleidoscope of perspectives, Fritz Bennewitz in India offers a significant counter to dominant models of Western theatrical interculturalism.
Fritz Lang: The Nature of the Beast
by Patrick McGilliganThe name of Fritz Lang—the visionary director of Metropolis, M, Fury, The Big Heat, and thirty other unforgettable films—is hallowed the world over. But what lurks behind his greatest legends and his genius as a filmmaker? Patrick McGilligan, placed among &“the front rank of film biographers&” by the Washington Post, spent four years in Europe and America interviewing Lang&’s dying contemporaries, researching government and film archives, and investigating the intriguing life story of Fritz Lang. This critically acclaimed biography—lauded as one of the year&’s best nonfiction books by Publishers Weekly—reconstructs the compelling, flawed human being behind the monster with the monocle.
Fritz Reiner, Maestro and Martinet
by Kenneth MorganThis award-winning book, now available in paperback, is the first solid appraisal of the legendary career of the eminent Hungarian-born conductor Fritz Reiner (1888-1963). Personally enigmatic and often described as difficult to work with, he was nevertheless renowned for the dynamic galvanization of the orchestras he led, a nearly unrivaled technical ability, and high professional standards. Reiner's influence in the United States began in the early 1920s and lasted until his death. Reiner was also deeply committed to serious music in American life, especially through the promotion of new scores. In Fritz Reiner, Maestro and Martinet, Kenneth Morgan paints a very real portrait of a man who was both his own worst enemy and one of the true titans of his profession.
Frocking Life: Searching for Elsa Schiaparelli
by Billyboy* Jean DruesedowAt an early age, BillyBoy* chose two mentors: Bugs Bunny and Elsa Schiaparelli. From Bugs Bunny, he learned the basics of how to behave in society and how to manage life’s wicked turns; to be coy, smart, witty, and to always dress appropriately with the assurance of Beau Brummell. But most of all, his cartoon mentor taught him a lighthearted approach to life, and an entertaining charm that is to personality what humor is to good conversation. From Schiaparelli, who he discovered at age fourteen through a very strange hat in a Paris flea market, he learned the meanings of love and art. His human mentor opened doors that he “never even dreamed existed,” as the title character says to her nephew in Auntie Mame. As Schiap turned into a genuine passion, she became a golden thread that led to all sorts of discoveries, encounters, and inspirations over the next forty years. A wealthy orphan with a glamorous but complicated background, BillyBoy* adopted the legendary designer as a guardian angel of sorts, and has spent a lifetime searching for her, through her clothes. Inspired by Shocking Life, Schiaparelli's own memoir, FROCKING LIFE will resonate with anyone who loves fashion and flamboyant storytelling. Built around some of the most iconic pieces ever created by the designer, this book is about endless discoveries, and the meaning that can be transmitted, across decades, by a simple piece of clothing. Peopled by dazzling characters from Schiaparelli's own inner circle and the worlds of art and fashion— Saint Laurent, Vreeland, Warhol to name a few—this is a scintillating yet profound homage to a woman who saw life as art, and inspired a young boy to do the same. BillyBoy* has always been a strange fruit and it must be said, not everyone could have a bite of it. The press adored him since he was, as author Edmund White wrote, “good copy.” In fact, his thrilling journey through fashion, culture, and art are deeply tied to what he wore for each occasion. One day, it is a skintight silver lamé studded outfit by Nudie Cohen (the designer of Elvis Presley’s elaborate ensembles), which was originally made for David Cassidy. For a tea with the Begum Aga Khan at the Ritz, he played the part of the dandy in a conservative suit with impeccable tie, topped by a Vivienne Westwood/Malcolm McClaren Buffalo hat adorned with a silk lettuce leaf. For an interview at home with German Vogue, he transformed into a sex kitten in hot pants and an Yves Saint Laurent sheer blouse. This book is both BillyBoy*'s personal story of his intense spiritual and metaphysical journey through life, and also his authoritative insight into the life and work of Elsa Schiaparelli who became such an influence on him. As an historian and collector, his close examination of the milieu of European and American, Scandinavian and Asian high fashion and his detailed research into Schiaparelli's haute couture seasonal collections (and her vast number of licensed fashion and accessories) will appeal not only to fashionistas and haute couture devotees and collectors. It explores their relationship to her era, through the many friendships and relationships with the iconic people in fashion he forged over four decades. Anecdotes of varied stars in all aspects of culture will interest those who study 20th-century art and history.
Frog: The secret diary of a paramedic
by Sally Gould'A riveting ride along the knife edge of life and death from a frontline worker in one of our most crucial professions.' Fiona Kelly McGregor, author of Iris 'Frog', a term of endearment for intensive care paramedics, derives from the notion that everything they touch croaks. Sally Gould delivers a gripping and heartfelt memoir that dives into the unpredictable, often absurd, and sometimes heartbreaking reality of life as a paramedic. Life as a paramedic, writes Sally Gould in this candid, witty memoir, can be traumatic, gross, dull, hilarious, magical. To make the cut, you need to be able to think outside the square, keep calm in the midst of chaos, be in possession of a strong stomach, and simply brush it off when patients die. That&’s on top of having a profound understanding of the human body, plus the skills to counter its failings. It also helps to have a highly developed and oftentimes dark sense of humour. But behind the sirens and the life-or-death scenes, and the absurdity of non-urgent callouts, a paramedic&’s career is very different to how most people imagine it. Based on years of meticulously kept journals, Frog is an intimate look at the human cost of the job and the cumulative effect of trauma. Sally shares a personal story that is searingly honest and truly inspiring, one which offers a heartfelt tribute to the resilience, courage and camaraderie that define the high-stakes world of emergency medicine.
Frogman Stories: Life and Leadership Lessons from the SEAL Teams
by Rick Kaiser“Rick Kaiser was a legend in the SEAL Teams for his courage, his leadership and his unparalleled professionalism. Read this book and you will know why!” — Admiral William McRaven, Navy SEAL and author of Make Your Bed and Sea Stories A compelling look at US Navy SEALs through a true-to-life lens focused on the triumphs and challenges of the elite warriors of the Special Forces community. Master Chief (SEAL) Rick Kaiser (Ret.) captures over 45 years of events in and around the SEAL Teams. It is not a blood-and-guts portrayal of battlefield victories and losses, but an authentic view of how things are done in the Teams. The SEALs truly are silent professionals and the most memorable stories often don’t feature combat but are the moments that shape these exceptional warriors. A Silver Star recipient for his leadership during the battle of Mogadishu—“Black Hawk Down”—and a prominent member of both SEAL Team TWO and SEAL Team Six, Rick has been recognized throughout his career for his courage, commitment, and fortitude. Continuing to serve the SEALs as Chief Operating Officer of the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, Rick is the perfect person to tell the Navy SEAL story the way it really is, sharing the life and leadership lessons he learned along the way.
From "Poilu" To "Yank," [Illustrated Edition]
by William Yorke StevensonContains 17 illustrations that the author took whilst in France.William Yorke Stevenson was one of a hardy bunch of American volunteers who joined the French army as an ambulance driver and was, indeed, a driving force behind American aid for the many wounded soldiers. As he was initially posted to the Verdun sector he would see the effects of some of the worst fighting on the entire Western Front which he recounted in his first book "At the Front in a Flivver". His experiences continue in this volume which carries the action into 1917 and the further bloody battles that the French undertook to retake the ground lost to the Germans in 1916. Needless to say the casualties were horrific and Stevenson and his unit would show great courage in ferrying the injured from the frontlines to the hospitals in the rear. With the entrance of the United States into the lists on the Allied side, Stevenson and his men found themselves part of the official American effort, and passed from being a "Poilu" (a traditional name for a French infantryman - literally "hairy one") to a "Yank". A vivid and well-written account of service in the American Ambulance Corps with the French during the First World War.
From Animal House to Our House: A Love Story
by Ron TannerRon and Jill, after six months together, discovered the house of their dreams: a landmark Victorian row house that had belonged to a notorious fraternity in Baltimore. Unfortunately, it was now a condemned, abandoned property. But Jill wanted the house and Ron wanted Jill. Beyond the wall-to-wall graffiti, collapsed fireplaces and banisters, and three dumpsters worth of trash, the couple envisioned this as their future dream home. So Ron bought the 4,500-square-foot ruin, despite the fact that neither Ron nor Jill knew anything about home renovation, and that the project might ruin them both financially and emotionally. A book for lovers, dreamers, and do-it-yourselfers, From Animal House to Our House recounts Ron and Jill’s decade-long adventure in house restoration, offering inspiration, insight, and hilarity as they hammer away at the American dream of home ownership and true love.
From Aristotle’s Teleology to Darwin’s Genealogy
by Marco SolinasStarting with Aristotle and moving on to Darwin, Marco Solinas outlines the basic steps from the birth, establishment and later rebirth of the traditional view of living beings, and its overturning by evolutionary revolution. The classic framework devised by Aristotle was still dominant in the 17th Century world of Galileo, Harvey and Ray, and remained hegemonic until the time of Lamarck and Cuvier in the 19th Century. Darwin's breakthrough thus takes on the dimensions of an abandonment ofthe traditional finalistic theory. It was a transition exemplified in the morphological analysis of useless parts, such as the sightless eyes of moles, already discussed by Aristotle, which Darwin used as a crowbar to unhinge the systematic recourse to final causes. With many excerpts, a chronological sequence and an analytical approach, this book follows the course of the two conceptions that have shaped the destiny of living beings in western culture.
From Baghdad to America: Life Lessons from a Dog Named Lava (Playaway Adult Nonfiction Ser.)
by Jay KopelmanLieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman won the hearts of readers everywhere with his moving story of adopting an abandoned puppy named Lava from a hellish corner of Iraq. He opened the door for other soldiers to bring dogs home, and in From Baghdad to America, Kopelman once again leads the pack with his observations on the emotional repercussions of war. Here, for the first time, Kopelman holds nothing back as he responds to the question, "Why did you save a dog instead of a person?" The answer reveals much about his inner demons-and about the bigger picture of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He talks about what it's like to return to the States and examines the shocking statistics to come out of Iraq: Depression, suicide, alcohol abuse, and broken relationships are at record highs for the men and women who serve there. Kopelman credits Lava with helping him to endure combat and the pain of war, as well as helping him deal with the surprising difficulties of returning to everyday life. Civilians have a hard time understanding what being a Marine means, and the adjustment to living among them is hard for these soldiers. This book attempts to shed light on that for all readers.
From Battle of Britain Airman to PoW Escapee: The Story of Ian Walker RAF
by Angela WalkerThis is the Second World War story of a champion cyclist turned airman who lived to tell the tale against almost impossible odds. A New Zealander in the RAF, Ian Walker took part in the Battle of Britain before transferring to Bomber Command and surviving three plane crashes in his Wellington bomber. The last of these saw him crash land in enemy territory, where he was eventually captured and taken prisoner. Confined within the claustrophobic walls of a POW camp, he hatched a plot with a fellow inmate to escape. This they achieved, almost miraculously, in broad daylight. Living on basic rations, they navigated the enemy wilds until they were captured, yet again, and taken back to prison.After languishing in POW camps and hospitals for more than two years, Ian had the good fortune of being placed on a list of injured men to be exchanged, man for man, with German prisoners. The little-known story of the history-making exchange that took place in Barcelona in October 1943 is detailed here, describing how thousands of allied and axis prisoners were safely returned to their homelands in the midst of war.Ians daughter, Angela Walker, has endeavored to preserve the details of her fathers extraordinary odyssey in full. Her tale circumnavigates the globe, weaving snippets taken from letters and extensive journals kept by her father in order to create a compelling, warm hearted and thrilling account of his war. Having once inspired her to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, her father now continues to inform and inspire her through the stories shes recovered from his past. Her book commemorates the efforts of all New Zealands wartime airmen who, like her father, made significant contributions in the fight for allied victory.
From Bicycle to Bentley: A Bookmaker's Story
by Stephen LittleStephen takes the reader from his earliest school days when it became clear he was academically bright, especially in math, attending prep school, winning a scholarship to major public school Uppingham where he won math prizes and, aged 16, passed 3 S (scholarship) levels. By then he had decided to be a bookie. He attended an interview for Cambridge University only because it was on his bicycle route to Newmarket races! Unable to work in any gambling job until 18, he set about visiting racecourses by bicycle, staying in youth hotels (17½p per night), eventually cycling to all racecourses in the UK, including several now-defunct courses. At 18 he found employment with Beresford & Smith in London; aged 24 he got his first bookie’s license in 1971 and by the age of 40 in 1986 was betting big on the rails at major meetings such as the Grand National, Cheltenham, Derby, Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood, often laying bets to lose £100,000 or more - when money was worth nearly twice today’s value - one of the few bookies who happily stood "toe to toe and traded blow for blow" with big hitters like JP McManus, Barney Curley, Michael Tabor and Harry Findlay. In 1998 changes in pitch administration prompted early retirement, and he sold his pitches, worked for a few unsatisfactory years for Corals and then departed the big time - with a Bentley as well as a bicycle, a house in Georgian Bath and a satisfactory bank balance.
From Biplane to Spitfire: The Life of Air Chief Marshal Sir Geoffrey Salmond KCB KCNG DSO
by Anne BakerAir Marshal Sir Geoffrey Salmond and his brother Jack joined the Royal Flying Corps during the Great War and both were to have a major influence on the development of the Royal Air Force in the 1920s and 1930s. After a most distinguished war service, Geoffrey, the older of the two, became one of the original pioneers of long range flight and rose steadily through the ranks. He was one of the first to recognize the importance of 'high speed flight' and the development of the Supermarine S6 (the forerunner of the Spitfire). As such he was closely involved with the Schneider Trophy races of the early 1930s. His successful career also encompassed flights of long range endurance.Extraordinarily, both Jack and Geoffrey rose to become Chiefs of the Air Staff in the mid-1930s. Geoffrey succeeded his brother at the top of his profession only to die in post before he could see the fruits of his labors come to fruition in the Battle of Britain; without his vision the RAF might very well not have had the Spitfire and the result would surely have been very different.
From Birth To Rebirth: Gnostic Healing For The 21st Century
by Charles V. TramontFrom Birth to Rebirth is the heart-warming true story of a dedicated obstetrician whose interest in hypnosis develops into a passion for using past-life regression as an exciting healing modality. After making his way through the rigors of medical training and the trenches of daily practice, Dr. Tramont now finds himself evolving into a pragmatic Gnostic. For thousands of years, Gnostics have believed that liberation comes from knowledge of who you are, why you are here, and where you came from. Far from being an ancient, obscure, and little-understood theology, Gnosticism is emerging today as newly valid, mainstream, and clearly relevant. In From Birth to Rebirth you will find yourself sharing Dr. Tramont's excitement as his curiosity regarding past lives escalates into full-blown research that takes him down the extraordinary pathway of spiritual enlightenment. His growing interest in therapeutic hypnosis guides him through the complex domain of the mind as he begins to discover other dimensions and the significance of previous lives to present health. To Dr. Tramont's amazement, guiding individuals through therapeutic regressions of their previous lives enables them to successfully heal themselves of many emotional and physical problems. His discovery of the extreme effectiveness of this rather miraculous method of healing has profoundly affected the way he views medicine, and, for that matter, even the nature of reality itself. In From Birth to Rebirth you will accompany Dr. Tramont on a wild ride as he encounters surprises at every turn and learns to listen to his intuition a "" the very voice of his soul. From the shackles of conventional medicine springs a safe, inexpensive, non-invasive, and extremely successful alternative healing method, a modality that is essential for the 21st Century.
From Bordello to Ballot Box: A First-hand Account of Legal Prostitution and Political Corruption
by Jessi Winchester W. Lane StartinAutobiography
From Borneo to Lockerbie: Memoirs of an RAF Helicopter Pilot
by Geoffrey LeemingA pilot discusses his missions around the world as he chronicles his career with Britain’s Royal Air Force in the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s.In 1961 Geoffrey Leeming achieved his boyhood ambition to become a RAF pilot. After a period as co-pilot on the tanker variant of the Valiant bomber, a sudden change of circumstances resulted in most of his subsequent service flying being as a helicopter pilot. The helicopter most in use at this time was the Whirlwind, a good aircraft but of limited performance and lacking the technical aids enjoyed by later types of helicopters.He next flew in the little-known Borneo Confrontation of the 1960s. Living in primitive jungle bases alongside loyal and friendly natives, the Whirlwind crews supported the land forces operating along the Indonesian border with long and hazardous flights over dense, frequently uncharted, jungle.Most of the Author’s remaining helicopter service was in the Search and Rescue role, firstly from RAF Lossiemouth, then from RAF Valley, flying in the mountains and over the surrounding seas of the Scottish Highlands and Snowdonia. Many lives were saved by Geoffrey and his crewmen in weather conditions frequently exceeding the safety limits in which they were supposed to operate.His final postings were as an instructor and as commander of the Search and Rescue Training Unit at Valley. This period culminated in his traumatic involvement in the immediate aftermath of the explosion of the Pan Am airliner over Lockerbie.From Borneo to Lockerbie is an exciting flying memoir enhanced by the Author's natural modesty.
From Borroloola to Mangerton Mountain: Travels and Stories from Ireland's Most Beloved Broadcaster
by Micheal O'MuircheartaighMicheál Ó Muircheartaigh is best known as the voice of the GAA. But his interests and enthusiasms – sporting and non-sporting – go far beyond the fields of Gaelic games. In his new book, the follow-up to his bestselling memoir From Dún Síon to Croke Park, Micheál brings us along on his travels around the world, and to the villages, townlands and sporting fields of the four provinces of Ireland. He recalls great days at the races and in sporting stadiums big and small, and great nights in the dance halls. Above all, he tells the stories of these places and the people he has encountered there – stories told as only Micheál can tell them.
From Botswana to the Bering Sea: My Thirty Years With National Geographic
by Thomas CanbyNational Geographic has been called a window on the world and a passport to adventure. Each month an estimated forty million people in 190 countries open its pages and are transported to exotic realms that delight the eye and mind. Such widespread renown gives the magazine's writers unmatched access to people and places, as doors that are closed to the rest of the journalistic world open wide. Thomas Y. Canby was a National Geographic writer and science editor from 1961 to 1991, a time during which the Society grew by leaps and bounds and the resources available to staff were seemingly limitless. In From Botswana to the Bering Sea, he gives readers a look at the life of a National Geographic field staffer and an insider's view of the fascinating dynamics within the magazine's offices. Canby's assignments dealt with issues of global concern, and his travels took him to the farthest reaches of the planet. This book allows the reader to share in his experiences -- from a Filipino rice harvest capped by a feast of deep-fried rats, to impoverished villages of Asia and Africa gripped by the world's most widespread famine, to seal hunting and dog sledding with Eskimos in the Canadian high Arctic. Readers match wits with paranoid guardians of the secret Soviet space program, skirt land mines in the flaming oil fields of Kuwait, and dodge death while scuba diving to an archaeological site in a Florida sinkhole. The book also gives insight into the magazine's inner workings: how article subjects are chosen and assigned; how writers interact; how prolonged trips to impossibly remote destinations are planned; how staffers operate in the field. Working for National Geographic has been called "the best job in the world." From Botswana to the Bering Sea describes that unique job, and answers the question Canby and his colleagues are so often asked: "So, what is it like to work for National Geographic?"
From Boys to Men: Gay Men Write About Growing Up
by Robert Williams Ted GideonseMore than an anthology of coming out stories, "From Boys to Men" is a stunning collection of essays about what it is like to be gay and young, to be different and be aware of that difference from the earliest of ages. <P><P> In these memoirs, coming out is less important than coming of age and coming to the realization that young gay people experience the world in ways quite unlike straight boys. Whether it is a fascination with soap opera, an intense sensitivity to their own difference, or an obsession with a certain part of the male anatomy, gay kids or kids who would eventually identify as gay have an indefinable but unmistakable gay sensibility. Sometimes the result is funny, sometimes it is harrowing, and often it is deeply moving. Essays by lauded young writers like Alex Chee (Edinburgh), Aaron Hamburger (Faith for Beginners), Karl Soehnlein (The World of Normal Boys), Trebor Healy (Through It Came Bright Colors), Tom Dolby (The Trouble Boy), David Bahr, and Austin Bunn, are collected along with those by brilliant, newcomers such as Michael McAllister, Jason Tougaw, Viet Dinh, and the wildly popular blogger, Joe. My. God. "