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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a skintight silver lamé studded outfit by Nudie Cohen (the designer of Elvis Presley’s elaborate ensembles), which was originally made for David Cassidy.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.
The Frog Princess
by Angie BeasleyThe Frog Princess is the story of Angie Beasley's transformation from ugly duckling to beauty queen.With few jobs around, bland food and cold weather, the best that Angie could hope for was a job at the local Findus factory. Her family didn't have it easy. Her baby brother was a cot death and the tragedy caused her mother to turn to the Jehovah's Witness faith. Their poverty, now combined with an austere belief system, meant no Christmas, no birthdays and little joy. But aged 16, Angie decided that she was destined for bigger things. After seeing a TV advertisement she entered a beauty pageant. And won. She went on to take 25 titles, including Miss Leeds, and her home town title Miss Cleethorpes, giving her the opportunity to model while travelling the world.Just as Angie felt that life couldn't get any better, she got engaged to a man who trapped her in a terrifying cycle of domestic violence. When she eventually escaped him, she had lost all of her money and self-esteem. She was on the bottom rung of the ladder yet again. But Angie picked herself up, turned her talents to event management and grafted her way to becoming Director of Miss England.Evoking the magical, lost world of the 1970s beauty pageant, The Frog Princess is Angie Beasley's real life fairytale.The eldest of six children, Angie Beasley (nee Chapman) was born in 1963 in Grimsby. With few prospects in life beyond the local fish factories, she decided to enter Miss Yorkshire Television at the age of 16. Within eight years, Angie had gone on to win twenty-five beauty titles, leading to work in the entertainment industry. She is now the Director of Miss England Limited, and lives in Leicester with her son.
From a Clear Blue Sky: Surviving the Mountbatten Bomb
by Timothy KnatchbullThe prize-winning, &“exceptionally moving&” memoir of a family boat trip, an IRA bombing, and a teenager&’s loss of his twin brother (The Telegraph).Christopher Ewart-Biggs Literary Award Winner and PEN/JR Ackerley Prize Nominee On an August weekend in 1979, fourteen-year-old Timothy Knatchbull joined his family on a boat trip off the shore of Mullaghmore in County Sligo, Ireland. By noon, an Irish Republican Army bomb had destroyed the boat, leaving four dead. The author survived, but his grandparents, family friend, and twin brother did not. Lord Mountbatten, his grandfather, was the target, and became one of the IRA&’s most high-profile assassinations. Knatchbull and his parents were too badly injured to attend the funerals of those killed, which only intensified their profound sense of loss. Telling this story decades later, Knatchbull not only revisits these terrible events but also writes an intensely personal account of human triumph over tragedy—a story of recovery not just from physical wounds but deep emotional trauma.From a Clear Blue Sky takes place in Ireland at the height of the Troubles and gives compelling insight into that period of Irish history. But more importantly, it brings home that while calamity can strike at any moment, the human spirit is able to forgive, to heal, and to move on. &“A minute by minute story of what happened that day, and what happened afterwards.&” —Daily Mail &“This is an extremely moving book. Beyond providing a phenomenally detailed evocation of his own family&’s trauma, Knatchbull has lots of wise things to say about how we survive horrors—of all kinds—in our lives.&” — Zoë Heller, author of the Booker Prize finalist Notes on a Scandal &“A very poignant, clearsighted, heartbreaking but ultimately positive account.&” —Hugh Bonneville, The New York Times
From a Limestone Ledge: Some Essays and Other Ruminations about Country Life in Texas
by John GravesA look at the pleasures and hardships of doing things oneself, a nostalgic meditation on country ways.
From a Mess to a Miracle
by Kimberly DanielsIn this hard-hitting sequel to her autobiography, Against All Odds, Kim Daniels goes beyond her transformation from world-class athlete to drug addict to Christian pastor and describes the challenge of coming into the church and the startling discoveries she has made there. In From a Mess to a Miracle, Daniels exposes the enemy's traps at work inside the church that prevent believers from experiencing a truly transformed life in Christ. She pulls no punches as she teaches believers how to sharpen their spiritual discernment, demolish strongholds, tear down idols and avoid snakes in the pews. "God wants His church to manifest His marvelous light," she writes. Through her personal journey, Daniels shows readers how they can be transformed from a mess to a miracle and be totally free to walk in the fullness of God.
From a Mountain In Tibet: A Monk’s Journey
by Lama Yeshe Losal RinpocheLama Yeshe didn't see a car until he was fifteen. But everything changed with the arrival of Chinese army vehicles in 1959. In the wake of the deadly Tibetan Uprising, he escaped to India through the Himalayas as one of only 13 survivors out of 300 refugees.Now in his seventies and a leading monk at the Samye Ling monastery in Scotland, Lama Yeshe casts a hopeful look back at his momentous life - from his quiet early years and the moment his world changed to his time spent in America, experiencing the excesses of the Woodstock generation. And to his life now.Written with erudition and humour, From a Mountain in Tibet shines a light on how the most desperate of situations can help us to uncover vital life lessons and attain lasting peace and contentment.___________________________________________'Brilliant and riveting. This book shows us that freedom is a choice we can all make' Gelong Thubten, author of A Monk's Guide to Happiness'A fascinating story of an incredible life, told with unflinching honesty' Dr John Sellars author of Lessons in Stoicism
From a Small Seed - The Story of Eliza Hamilton
by Camille AndrosA lyrical picture book biography of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, co-founder and director of the first private orphanage in New York City and wife of founding father Alexander Hamilton.Ever since she was a young girl, Eliza Hamilton hoped to help people in need. From the private quarters of her family home to her national platform as Hamilton’s partner, Eliza was a lifelong advocate for fairness, freedom and faith. The remarkable acts of charity and public service she performed after Alexander’s death are considered a significant contribution to the Hamilton legacy the world celebrates today. Here is a thoughtful, historical account of her life beginning with her childhood influences.Much like the award-winning picture book biographies that celebrate trailblazing women like The House that Jane Built: A Story About Jane Addams and Hillary Rodham Clinton: Some Girls Are Born to Lead, Camille Andros and Tessa Blackham's From a Small Seed—The Story of Eliza Hamilton is an accessible portrait of an exemplary public figure whose principles have stood the test of time. Christy Ottaviano Books
From a Town on the Hudson
by Yuko KoyanoYuko Koyano spent five years in the United States in the 1980s as the wife of a Japanese businessman, the mother of two sons, and an observer in her own right. She believed that the experience would open a new window on the world for herself and her family, and she was not disappointed. From the outset, Ms. Koyano was a keen observer of American life in the New Jersey town where she lived just across the Hudson from Manhattan. She soon found that her study of English Literature in college in Japan had left her ill-prepared to understand the words in her sons' schoolbooks, not to mention the ones they picked up even more quickly in the schoolyard. Nor did contemporary life in the United States match the images she had grown up with on Japanese television reruns of American sitcoms. Not deterred, Ms. Koyano entered the life of everyday America, and its cast of characters-schoolteachers, senior citizens, taxi drivers, police officers, and postal clerks-fill the pages of this affectionate memoir. The vignettes captured in From a Town on the Hudson delight, amuse, and touch the reader, and give us-host and visitor alike-an opportunity to see ourselves as others see us.
From a Town on the Hudson
by Yuko KoyanoYuko Koyano spent five years in the United States in the 1980s as the wife of a Japanese businessman, the mother of two sons, and an observer in her own right. She believed that the experience would open a new window on the world for herself and her family, and she was not disappointed. From the outset, Ms. Koyano was a keen observer of American life in the New Jersey town where she lived just across the Hudson from Manhattan. She soon found that her study of English Literature in college in Japan had left her ill-prepared to understand the words in her sons' schoolbooks, not to mention the ones they picked up even more quickly in the schoolyard. Nor did contemporary life in the United States match the images she had grown up with on Japanese television reruns of American sitcoms. Not deterred, Ms. Koyano entered the life of everyday America, and its cast of characters-schoolteachers, senior citizens, taxi drivers, police officers, and postal clerks-fill the pages of this affectionate memoir. The vignettes captured in From a Town on the Hudson delight, amuse, and touch the reader, and give us-host and visitor alike-an opportunity to see ourselves as others see us.
From an Idea to Disney: How Imagination Built a World of Magic (From an Idea to)
by Lowey Bundy SicholFrom an Idea to Disney is a behind-the-movie-screen look into the history, business, and brand of the world's largest entertainment empire. With humorous black & white illustrations throughout, learn about the company behind the world's favorite mouse, Mickey! “I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing—that it was all started by a mouse.” —Walt Disney Today, the Walt Disney Company is the biggest entertainment company in the world with theme parks, TV shows, movie studios, merchandise, the most recognizable cartoon character in the world, Mickey Mouse. But a long time ago, brothers Walt and Roy Disney started out with just an idea. Find out more about Disney’s history, the business, and the brand in this illustrated nonfiction book!Find out what Walt first intended to name his famous mouse. (Hint: It wasn’t Mickey!)Discover behind-the-scenes magic of how Walt Disney World is run.Explore the ways the Disney expanded its brand from a little mouse into media, merchandise, and more!
From an Idea to Google: How Innovation at Google Changed the World (From an Idea to)
by Lowey Bundy SicholFrom an Idea to Google is a behind-the-computer-screen look into the history, business, and brand of the world's largest search engine. With humorous black & white illustrations throughout, learn about the company that even earned its own catchphrase: Google it!Today, Google is the number one internet search engine and the most visited website in the world. But a long time ago, two college friends, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, started out with just an idea. Find out more about Google’s history, the business, and the brand in this illustrated nonfiction book! Find out where the name “Google” came from. (Hint: It involves a LOT of zeros!) Discover how Google became the fastest and most popular internet search engine of all time. Explore how Google transformed from a tiny startup (in someone’s garage!) into one of the most powerful companies in the world.
From an Idea to Lego: The Building Bricks Behind the World's Largest Toy Company (From An Idea To Ser.)
by Lowey Bundy SicholFor fans of the successful Who Was series, From an Idea to Lego is a behind-the-bricks look into the world's famous toy company, with humorous black & white illustrations throughout.Today, LEGO is one of the biggest toy companies in the world, but a long time ago, a Danish carpenter, Ole Kirk Christiansen, started with just an idea. Find out more about LEGO&’s origins, those famous bricks, and their other inventive toys and movie ventures in this illustrated nonfiction book!Find out the origin the name &“LEGO.&” (Hint: it combines two Danish words)See how LEGO grew from a carpentry shop to a multi-platform toy company.Discover how LEGO bricks are made and how they came up with their design.
From an Idea to Nike: How Marketing Made Nike a Global Success (From an Idea to)
by Lowey Bundy SicholFrom an Idea to Nike is a fully-illustrated look into how Nike stepped up its sneaker game to become the most popular athletic brand in the world. Humorous black & white illustrations throughout. Ever wonder how Nike became the athletics empire it is today? From an Idea to Nike digs into the marketing campaigns and strategy that turned this running-shoe company into the outfitter for many athletes as well as the iconic American brand. With infographics and engaging visuals throughout, this behind-the-scenes look into the historical and business side of Nike will be an invaluable resource for kids interested in what makes this business run.Find out where the name Nike came from and how the famous swoosh became the signature logo.Learn about the company's first marketing campaign with a star athlete. (Hint: It wasn’t Michael Jordan!) Explore the ways Nike expanded marketing from running to basketball, soccer, golf, and beyond!
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 The Battle of Britain to Bombing Hitler's Berchtesgaden: Wing Commander James 'jim' Bazin, Dso, Dfc
by James BazinIt was Tuesday, 17 October 1939. Britain had been at war with Germany for more than a month and for only the second time the Luftwaffe had dared to enter British airspace – and at last James ‘Jim’ Bazin’s chance had come. After joining the RAF in 1935, Jim was an experienced pilot when war broke out and he was eager to test his skills against the enemy. This first combat was the start of a career which saw Wing Commander Bazin, as he was to become, being posted to France with 607 (County of Durham) Squadron. He fought there until the last days of the Battle of France. In the course of the campaign, Bazin had battled his way to becoming an ace. He was also shot down behind enemy lines, but successfully evaded capture to return to his squadron and resume the fight. There was no respite for Bazin as he was once again in the air defending Britain’s skies in his trusty Hurricane as the Luftwaffe sort to destroy Fighter Command in the summer of 1940. With ten ‘kills’ to his name, Jim Bazin was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in October that year. But merely driving off the Luftwaffe was not enough for him. He was posted to Inverness where he served as a Controller in 14 Group’s Operations Room, which gave him a taste for offensive operations. In time, Bazin volunteered to move to Bomber Command. He duly undertook a conversion course in 1943, eventually joining 49 Squadron as a Lancaster pilot to take the war to the very heart of the enemy. After commanding 49 Squadron, including taking part in Bomber Command’s support of the D-Day landings, Bazin was promoted to Wing Commander, leading 9 Squadron on many attacks on special targets such as U-boat pens, viaducts, refineries and, most notably, operating with the famous Dambusters against Hitler’s great battleship Tirpitz. Unrelenting in his efforts against the enemy, Jim Bazin was involved in operations against targets in Poland and Germany right up until the end of the war. This culminated in the last major RAF operation of the Second World War when, on 25 April 1945, Bomber Command attacked the Berghof, Hitler’s Alpine retreat, and other targets in Berchtesgaden. Jim Bazin was awarded the DSO in September 1945 – rightful recognition for a man who had done so much to bring about the defeat of the enemy.
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. "