- Table View
- List View
Illegal MiniBiographies. Writers
by Heberto Gamero ContínSixty unique and revealing stories about some of the most famous writers in history. What was going on in the head of Juan Rulfo when, as a travel agent, he drove along the endless roads of Mexico? What did Hemingway say to the Italian that he was carrying on his back before giving him to the Allies and thereby saving his life? What was the reaction of an admirer to the refusal of the Swedish Academy to award the Nobel Prize to Jorge Luis Borges? Who brought red roses to the tomb of Oscar Wilde? How were the last moments of Horacio Quiroga or Stefan Zweig? Nabokov, had he ever dreamed of returning to Russia? Sixty unique and revealing stories about some of the most famous writers in history.
Illegal: Reflections of an Undocumented Immigrant
by Jose Angel N.A day after N. first crossed the U.S. border from Mexico, he was caught and then released onto the streets of Tijuana. Undeterred, N. crawled back through a tunnel to San Diego, where he entered the United States forever. Illegal: Reflections of an Undocumented Immigrant is his timely and compelling memoir of building a new life in America. Authorial anonymity is required to protect this life. Arriving in the 1990s with a 9th grade education, N. traveled to Chicago where he found access to ESL classes and GED classes. He eventually attended college and graduate school and became a professional translator. Despite having a well-paying job, N. was isolated by a lack of official legal documentation. Travel concerns made big promotions out of reach. Vacation time was spent hiding at home, pretending that he was on a long-planned trip. The simple act of purchasing his girlfriend a beer at a Cubs baseball game caused embarrassment and shame when N. couldn't produce a valid ID. A frustrating contradiction, N. lived in a luxury high-rise condo but couldn't fully live the American dream. He did, however, find solace in the one gift America gave him--his education. Ultimately, N.'s is the story of the triumph of education over adversity. In Illegal he debunks the stereotype that undocumented immigrants are freeloaders without access to education or opportunity for advancement. With bravery and honesty, N. details the constraints, deceptions, and humiliations that characterize alien life "amid the shadows."
Illegally Yours \ Ilegalmente tuyo (Spanish edition): La comedia de mi vida
by Rafael AgustinMientras crecía, los padres de Rafa no querían que se sintiera diferente porque, como su mamá le dijo: “Los sueños no deben tener fronteras”. Pero cuando intentó sacar su licencia de conducir en su tercer año de preparatoria, sus padres se vieron forzados a revelarle su estatus migratorio. De pronto, el chico que moldeó todos sus estudios de preparatoria como en los programas de televisión estadounidenses, no tenía idea de que iba a hacer —¡no había un episodio de Salvados por la campana donde Zack fuera deportado!—. Mientras sus padres se liberaron de la carga de vivir una mentira frente a su hijo, Rafa se encontró deshecho por completo frente a su futuro.Ilegalmente tuyo es un conmovedor y cómico vistazo al modo en que esta familia de inmigrantes ecuatorianos metidos en problemas se une para navegar en la vida escolar de Rafa, la vida de trabajo de sus padres y su vida secreta compartida como estadounidenses indocumentados, determinados a hacer lo mejor de su, siempre turbulenta y a veces peligrosa, existencia en los Estados Unidos. Desde el uso de la “Explosión latina” de Ricky Martin/Jennifer López para sacar ventaja en la sociedad en los años 90 hasta cómo sus padres —doctores en su país de origen, Ecuador— fueron reducidos a realizar trabajos domésticos en Estados Unidos, el secreto de la familia se convirtió en su problema, y su problema se convirtió en maña. Exploración de pertenencia e identidad que alterna entre lo gracioso y lo conmovedor, Ilegalmente tuyo gira alrededor de una pregunta simple: ¿Qué significa ser estadounidense? Growing up, Rafa’s parents didn't want him to feel different because, as his mom told him: "Dreams should not have borders." But when he tried to get his driver's license during his junior year of high school, his parents were forced to reveal his immigration status. Suddenly, the kid who modeled his entire high school career after American TV shows had no idea what to do -- there was no episode of Saved by the Bell where Zack gets deported! While his parents were relieved to no longer live a lie in front of their son, Rafa found himself completely unraveling in the face of his uncertain future. Illegally Yours is a heartwarming, comical look at how this struggling Ecuadorian immigrant family bonded together to navigate Rafa's school life, his parents' work lives, and their shared secret life as undocumented Americans, determined to make the best of their always turbulent and sometimes dangerous American existence. From using the Ricky Martin/Jennifer Lopez “Latin Explosion” to his social advantage in the ‘90s to how his parents—doctors in their home country of Ecuador—were reduced to working menial jobs in the US, the family's secret became their struggle, and their struggle became their hustle. An alternatingly hilarious and touching exploration of belonging and identity, Illegally Yours revolves around one very simple question: What does it mean to be American?
Illegally Yours: A Memoir
by Rafael AgustinA funny and poignant memoir about how as a teenager, TV writer Rafael Agustin (Jane The Virgin) accidentally discovered he was undocumented and how that revelation turned everything he thought he knew about himself and his family upside down.Growing up, Rafa&’s parents didn't want him to feel different because, as his mom told him: "Dreams should not have borders." But when he tried to get his driver's license during his junior year of high school, his parents were forced to reveal his immigration status. Suddenly, the kid who modeled his entire high school career after American TV shows had no idea what to do -- there was no episode of Saved by the Bell where Zack gets deported! While his parents were relieved to no longer live a lie in front of their son, Rafa found himself completely unraveling in the face of his uncertain future. Illegally Yours is a heartwarming, comical look at how this struggling Ecuadorian immigrant family bonded together to navigate Rafa's school life, his parents' work lives, and their shared secret life as undocumented Americans, determined to make the best of their always turbulent and sometimes dangerous American existence. From using the Ricky Martin/Jennifer Lopez &“Latin Explosion&” to his social advantage in the &‘90s to how his parents—doctors in their home country of Ecuador—were reduced to working menial jobs in the US, the family's secret became their struggle, and their struggle became their hustle. An alternatingly hilarious and touching exploration of belonging and identity, Illegally Yours revolves around one very simple question: What does it mean to be American?
Illumination Rounds: from Dispatches
by Michael HerrFresh in his boots and three days in-country, Michael Herr is in a Chinook when a young soldier across from him is gunned. “It took me a month to lose that feeling of being a spectator to something that was part game, part show.” Written in unforgettable and unflinching detail, Herr captures the chaos and fervor of the war and the surreal insanity of life in that singular combat zone. Selected from Dispatches, one of "the best book to have been written about the Vietnam War" (The New York Times Book Review) and an instant classic straight from the front lines.A Vintage Shorts Vietnam Selection. An ebook short.
Illumination in the Flatwoods: A Season With the Wild Turkey
by Joe HuttoThe acclaimed account of an astonishing human-turkey relationship. The author describes how he hatched two clutches of wild turkey eggs in an incubator and raised the poults to maturity. Imprinting on him from the moment they hatched, the turkeys fully accepted their human parent into their world. Hutto records their explorations together through fields and woods and the development of their communication and mutual awareness. Along the way he reflects upon the nature of consciousness and the place of humans and animals in the environment.
Illusion of Justice: Inside Making a Murderer and America's Broken System
by Jerome F. Buting“A compelling portrait of the mechanisms of building a murder defense. A fantastic look behind the scenes of the U.S. justice system.” —Kirkus ReviewsOver his career, Jerome F. Buting has spent hundreds of hours in courtrooms representing defendants in criminal trials. When he agreed to join Dean Strang as co-counsel for the defense in Steven A. Avery vs. State of Wisconsin, he knew a tough fight lay ahead. But, as he reveals in Illusion of Justice, no-one could have predicted just how twisted that fight would be—or that it would become the center of the documentary Making a Murderer, which made Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey household names.Buting’s powerful, riveting boots-on-the-ground narrative of Avery’s and Dassey’s cases becomes a springboard to examine the shaky integrity of law enforcement and justice in the United States, which Buting has witnessed firsthand for more than thirty-five years. From his early career as a public defender to his success overturning wrongful convictions working with the Innocence Project, his story provides an insider view into the high-stakes arena of criminal defense law; the difficulties of forensic science; and a horrifying reality of biased interrogations, coerced or false confessions, faulty eyewitness testimony, official misconduct, and more.Combining narrative reportage with critical commentary and personal reflection, Buting explores his professional and personal motivations, career-defining cases, and what must happen if our broken system is to be saved. Illusion of Justice is a tour-de-force from a relentless and eloquent advocate for justice who is determined, in the face of overwhelming odds, to make America’s judicial system work as it is designed to do.
Illusionary (Hollow Crown)
by Zoraida CórdovaThe most wanted rebel returns in Zoraida Córdova's gripping conclusion to the Hollow Crown duology.For years, she was wielded as a weapon. Now it's her time to fight back. Reeling from betrayal at the hands of the Whispers, Renata Convida is a girl on the run. With few options and fewer allies, she's reluctantly joined forces with none other than Prince Castian, her most infuriating and intriguing enemy. They're united by a lofty goal: find the fabled Knife of Memory, kill the ruthless King Fernando, and bring peace to the nation. Together, Ren and Castian have a chance to save everything, if only they can set aside their complex and intense feelings for each other. With the king's forces on their heels at every turn, their quest across Puerto Leones and beyond leaves little room for mistakes. But the greatest danger is within Ren-the Gray, her fortress of stolen memories, has begun to crumble, threatening her grip on reality. She'll have to control her magics-and her mind-to unlock her power and protect the Moria people once and for all. The most wanted rebel returns in Zoraida Córdova's gripping conclusion to the Hollow Crown duology.(P) 2021 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
Illusions of Camelot: A Memoir
by Peter BoalFrom the artistic director of the Pacific Northwest Ballet and former principal dancer for the New York City Ballet comes an unforgettable memoir about one artist's journey from boyhood to ballet. Peter's story starts in the pastoral and privileged town of Bedford, New York: a rare enclave 40 miles north of New York City where private schools, country clubs, and families hold their own rules and secrets. Within the town, views of race, morality, and sexuality are unspoken yet evident. Meanwhile, at home, Peter and his family are left to grapple with his father's alcoholism and untimely death. As a young boy finding his way, Peter soon turns to ballet. Ultimately his passion becomes a beacon, leading him to work at the New York City Ballet as a teenager, living on his own while discovering the pitfalls and pleasures Manhattan has to offer. Throughout Peter's deeply personal work, you'll meet Hattie Lindsay, Peter's caregiver, whose love for Peter matches her disdain for Henry, the family dog. You'll step onto the club house floor during ballroom dancing lessons in Bedford, into the studios of the School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center, and onto the stage in George Balanchine's The Nutcracker as Peter performs the title role of the Nutcracker Prince. For all the laughter these stories offer, gravity is everywhere. Moments by Balanchine's hospital bedside, or in the AIDS-ravaged ward at Columbia-Presbyterian hospital as a loved one's life passes away are told with painful honesty and raw hurt. Peter's journey takes us to the start of a storied career as a dancer with the New York City Ballet and leaves us with insights into the unique path of an artist and individual shaped by environment, circumstance, and family.
Illusions of Immortality: A Psychology Of Fame And Celebrity
by David GilesWhat drives people to crave fame and celebrity? How does fame affect people psychologically? These issues are frequently discussed by the media but up till now psychologists have shied away from an academic away from an academic investigation of the phenomenon of fame. In this lively, eclectic book David Giles examines fame and celebrity from a variety of perspectives. He argues that fame should be seen as a process rather than a state of being, and that `celebrity' has largely emerged through the technological developments of the last 150 years. Part of our problem in dealing with celebrities, and the problem celebrities have dealing with the public, is that the social conditions produced by the explosion in mass communications have irrevocably altered the way we live. However we know little about many of the phenomena these conditions have produced - such as the `parasocial interaction' between television viewers and media characters, and the quasi-religious activity of `fans'. Perhaps the biggest single dilemma for celebrities is the fact that the vehicle that creates fame for them - the media - is also their tormentor. To address these questions, David Giles draws on research from psychology, sociology, media and communications studies, history and anthropology - as well as his own experiences as a music journalist in the 1980s. He argues that the history of fame is inextricably linked to the emergence of the individual self as a central theme of Western culture, and considers how the desire for authenticity, as well as individual privacy, have created anxieties for celebrities which are best understood in their historical and cultural context.
Illustrated Black History
by George McCalmanA gorgeous collection of 145 original portraits that celebrates Black pioneers—famous and little-known--in politics, science, literature, music, and more—with biographical reflections, all created and curated by an award-winning graphic designer.Illustrated Black History is a breathtaking collection of original portraits depicting black heroes—both famous and unsung—who made their mark on activism, science, politics, business, medicine, technology, food, arts, entertainment, and more. Each entry includes a lush drawing or painting by artist George McCalman, along with an insightful essay summarizing the person’s life story.The 145 entries range from the famous to the little-known, from literary luminary James Baldwin to documentarian Madeline Anderson, who produced “I Am Somebody” about the 1969 strike of mostly female hospital workers; from Aretha Franklin to James and Eloyce Gist, who had a traveling ministry in the early 1900s; from Colin Kaepernick to Guion S. Bluford, the first Black person to travel into space.Beautifully designed with over 300 unique four-color artworks and accessible to readers of all ages, this eye-opening, educational, dynamic, and timely compendium pays homage to Black Americans and their achievements, and showcases the depth and breadth of Black genius.
Illustrated Sports Encyclopedia
by DKThe ultimate guide to more than 100 top sports from around the world, from basketball to blade running.Are you a team player? Do you have a steady aim? Maybe you are super fast or strong? Whatever your size or skill, there is a sport out there for you. The Illustrated Sports Encyclopedia is the ultimate illustrated guide to the diverse world of sport, from the best known ball-sports, athletics, and water sports to the most obscure racket sports and races (anyone for a game of pickleball?). The book showcases different sports by grouping them into categories including team sports, target sports, winter sports, wheels and motors, horse sports, and extreme sports.This illustrated guide to sports for kids offers: - A dynamic visual design and clear language, explaining all the sports essentials to understand and enjoy the featured sports. - A core overview to explain each sport through &“aim of the game&” boxes, and essential equipment.- Clear, intuitive categories that divide the sports, allowing kids to expand their understanding and compare similar sports they are interested in.- Special features to tell the story of the Olympics and Paralympics, focusing on the history, aims, and spirit of the Games.The Illustrated Sports Encyclopedia is a must-have title for all young sports enthusiasts, particularly in the run up to the 2024 Paris Olympics. A special section on the Olympic and Paralympic Games looks at their history, from the early Greek games right up to the present day, with Summer and Winter Olympic sports clearly identified and explained.Dynamic photography brings the sports to life, and complements the clear explanations and artworks that describe the rules, equipment, competitions, and common terms.
Ilse Koch on Trial: Making the “Bitch of Buchenwald”
by Tomaz JardimAn authoritative reassessment of one of the Third Reich’s most notorious war criminals, whose alleged sexual barbarism made her a convenient scapegoat and obscured the true nature of Nazi terror.On September 1, 1967, one of the Third Reich’s most infamous figures hanged herself in her cell after nearly twenty-four years in prison. Known as the “Bitch of Buchenwald,” Ilse Koch was singularly notorious, having been accused of owning lampshades fabricated from skins of murdered camp inmates and engaging in “bestial” sexual behavior. These allegations fueled a public fascination that turned Koch into a household name and the foremost symbol of Nazi savagery. Her subsequent prosecution resulted in a scandal that prompted US Senate hearings and even the intervention of President Truman.Yet the most sensational atrocities attributed to Koch were apocryphal or unproven. In this authoritative reappraisal, Tomaz Jardim shows that, while Koch was guilty of heinous crimes, she also became a scapegoat for postwar Germans eager to distance themselves from the Nazi past. The popular condemnation of Koch—and the particularly perverse crimes attributed to her by prosecutors, the media, and the public at large—diverted attention from the far more consequential but less sensational complicity of millions of ordinary Germans in the Third Reich’s crimes.Ilse Koch on Trial reveals how gendered perceptions of violence and culpability drove Koch’s zealous prosecution at a time when male Nazi perpetrators responsible for greater crimes often escaped punishment or received lighter sentences. Both in the international press and during her three criminal trials, Koch was condemned for her violation of accepted gender norms and “good womanly behavior.” Koch’s “sexual barbarism,” though treated as an emblem of the Third Reich’s depravity, ultimately obscured the bureaucratized terror of the Nazi state and hampered understanding of the Holocaust.
Image Wars: Kings and Commonwealths in England, 1603-1660
by Kevin SharpeSpin and photo opportunities may appear to have emerged onto the political scene only recently, but in fact image and its manipulation have always been vital to the authority of rulers. This book, the second in Kevin Sharpe's trilogy exploring image, power, and communication in early modern England, examines its importance during the turbulent seventeenth century. From the coronation of James I to the end of Cromwell's protectorate, Sharpe considers how royalists and parliamentarians--often using the same vocabularies--sought to manage their public image through words, pictures, and performances in order to win support and secure and enhance their authority.
Image and Reality: Kekule, Kopp, and the Scientific Imagination
by Alan J. RockeNineteenth-century chemists were faced with a particular problem: how to depict the atoms and molecules that are beyond the direct reach of our bodily senses. In visualizing this microworld, these scientists were the first to move beyond high-level philosophical speculations regarding the unseen. In Image and Reality, Alan Rocke focuses on the community of organic chemists in Germany to provide the basis for a fuller understanding of the nature of scientific creativity. Arguing that visual mental images regularly assisted many of these scientists in thinking through old problems and new possibilities, Rocke uses a variety of sources, including private correspondence, diagrams and illustrations, scientific papers, and public statements, to investigate their ability to not only imagine the invisibly tiny atoms and molecules upon which they operated daily, but to build detailed and empirically based pictures of how all of the atoms in complicated molecules were interconnected. These portrayals of “chemical structures,” both as mental images and as paper tools, gradually became an accepted part of science during these years and are now regarded as one of the central defining features of chemistry. In telling this fascinating story in a manner accessible to the lay reader, Rocke also suggests that imagistic thinking is often at the heart of creative thinking in all fields. Image and Reality is the first book in the Synthesis series, a series in the history of chemistry, broadly construed, edited by Angela N. H. Creager, John E. Lesch, Stuart W. Leslie, Lawrence M. Principe, Alan Rocke, E. C. Spary, and Audra J. Wolfe, in partnership with the Chemical Heritage Foundation.
Image of America
by R. L. Bruckberger"Either America is the hope of the world, or it is nothing. There are those who have begun to despair of the West. It is for them that I am writing." Thus the author states his intention. The result is a book -- in the tradition of Tocqueville and Bryce -- in which we see ourselves through the sympathetic, critical eyes of a Frenchman who as Chaplain General of the Resistance has seen the life of action and as scholar, author, and priest knows the life of the spirit. He lived for eight years in this country, thought deeply about it, and came to love and admire it. His eyes and ears picked up sights and sounds that ours do not. The heroes he admires are not, in most instances, the ones we should choose. The ideas and ideals that have shaped our history and our character as a nation, seen in the perspective of the ancient traditions of Europe, take on a new meaning. From hitherto unused or misused material an image of America emerges that is as enlightening as it is surprising. "To some of the problems that most torment the European conscience," Father Bruckberger writes, "America, I am convinced, has found answers, and found them with no disavowal of the European heritage. America brings to this Western heritage something concrete of its own. . . ." How has this come about? What is the essential spark that has won so vital a role for this country in the angry and perilous world of today? The answer, says the author, lies in our regard for the individual, for the non-abstract, living human being. This theme, contrasted with the heresy of Europe (the subordination of Man to abstraction), is developed with wit and insight in the author's reflections on our political principles and institutions, on our economic beliefs, and on our business and social achievements.
Images and Shadows: Part of a Life (Nonpariel Ser. #Vol. 82)
by Iris OrigoAn extraordinary memoir by Iris Origo, who chronicled political life in A Chill in the Air and War in Val d'Orcia, and now turns inward to describe her own family, the work of writing, and the transcience of memory. Images and Shadows, Iris Origo’s autobiographical account of her early life, is as perceptive and humane and beautifully written as her celebrated memoir War in Val d’Orcia. Origo’s father came from an old and moneyed American family, her mother was the daughter of an Irish peer, and Iris grew up in the most privileged of circumstances. Her father died of tuberculosis when he was only thirty, and her mother moved to Fiesole, Italy, where she and Iris developed a close friendship with the great connoisseur and art historian Bernard Berenson. Later, Origo and her Italian husband transformed a desolate and deforested Tuscan property into a flourishing estate, and it was there that she discovered her true calling as a writer. In Images and Shadows, Origo paints portraits of her shy, loving father and her headstrong mother, and describes beloved places, the books that formed her sensibility, and how she grew up and made her way in the world. She reflects on the pleasures and challenges of writing and evokes the persistence and fragility of memory. Images and Shadows is an autobiography that is as thoughtful as it is profoundly touching.
Images of Fred Dibnah
by Fred KerrYou didn't just meet with Fred Dinah you were instinctively drawn close to him, his larger than life personality was truly infectious and his communication skills second to none. Fred had the uncanny and somewhat unique knack of talking through a TV camera so that the viewer actually felt a personal contact with him. The Bolton born steeplejack became nationally known and loved following a series of TV programs. Although an admirer of all things, Victorian he was what the modern media people call 'a natural', microphones and TV cameras did not faze him one bit. This publication takes the reader on a fascinating journey during the making of Fred's last TV series during 2004.
Imaginary Borders (Pocket Change Collective)
by Xiuhtezcatl Martinez"It won't take you long to read this book, but it will linger in your heart and head for quite a while, and perhaps inspire you to join in the creative, blossoming movement to make this world work." -- Bill McKibben, environmentalist, New York Times bestselling author of The End of Nature, journalist, and founder of 350.org"An inspiring story that will change the way all of us think about the climate crisis - and how we can solve it." -- Van Jones, New York Times bestselling author of The Green Collar Economy and Rebuild the Dream, and co-founder of Dream Corps"A hopeful, well-argued book on climate change written in a refreshing new voice."-- Kirkus Reviews, starred review"Martinez presents a meaningful, heartfelt call to action with content that reflects current issues. Additionally, the book's short length will appeal to reluctant readers. An essential purchase for any high school or public library."-- School Library Journal, starred reviewIn this personal, moving essay, environmental activist and hip-hop artist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez uses his art and his activism to show that climate change is a human issue that can't be ignored.Pocket Change Collective is a series of small books with big ideas from today's leading activists and artists. In this installment, Earth Guardians Youth Director and hip-hop artist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez shows us how his music feeds his environmental activism and vice versa. Martinez visualizes a future that allows us to direct our anger, fear, and passion toward creating change. Because, at the end of the day, we all have a part to play.
Imaginary Communities: Utopia, the Nation, and the Spatial Histories of Modernity
by Phillip E. WegnerImaginary Communities explores the genre of utopian literature as a tool for understanding the literary, cultural and social theories of modern spatiality.
Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal
by Lisa Henson Karen FalkJim Henson's iconic puppet characters, fantastic worlds, and warm humor have delighted millions of people of all ages. His incredibly diverse body of work, from the Muppets to the world of The Dark Crystal, reveals his charm and genius to fans old and new. Compiled directly from The Jim Henson Company archives, Imagination Illustrated adapts the diary that Jim faithfully kept throughout his career, supplementing it with a trove of little-seen visual material, including rare sketches, personal and production photographs, storyboards, doodles, and much more. Throughout, archivist Karen Falk delves into the behind-the-scenes details of Henson's life and artistic process. Sure to delight anyone who has enjoyed Henson's creations--seeing early drawings of Kermit and Rowlf is like smiling over childhood photos of dear friends--this lovely book celebrates Jim's life and his magic.
Imagine It Forward: Courage, Creativity, and the Power of Change
by Tahl Raz Beth ComstockFROM ONE OF TODAY'S FOREMOST INNOVATION LEADERS, AN INSPIRING, PERSONAL APPROACH TO MASTERING CHANGE IN THE FACE OF UNCERTAINTY. Confronting change is incredibly hard, both organizationally and personally. People become resistant. They are afraid. Yet the pace of change in our world will never be slower than it is right now, says Beth Comstock, the former Vice Chair and head of marketing and innovation at GE. Imagine It Forward is an inspiring, fresh, candid, and deeply personal book about how to grapple with the challenges to change we face every day. It is a different kind of narrative, a big picture book that combines Comstock’s personal story in leading change with vital lessons on overcoming the inevitable roadblocks. One of the most successful women in business, Comstock shares her own transformation story from introverted publicist to GE’s first woman Vice Chair, and her hard-won lessons in shifting GE, a 125 year old American institution, toward a new digital future and a more innovative culture. As the woman who initiated GE's Ecomagination clean-energy and its (and NBC’s) digital transformations, Comstock challenged a global organization to not wait for perfection, but to seek out emerging trends, embrace smart risks and test ideas boldly, and often. She shows how each one of us can become a “change maker” by leading with imagination. “Ideas are rarely the problem,” writes Comstock. “What holds all of us back, really—is fear. It’s the attachment to the old, to ‘What We Know.’” As Comstock makes clear, transforming the mindset and culture of a company is messy. There is no easy checklist. It is fraught with uncertainty, tension and too often failure. It calls for the courage to defy convention, go around corporate gatekeepers when necessary, and reinvent what is possible. For all those looking to spearhead change in their companies and careers, and reinvent “the way things are done,” Imagine It Forward masterfully points the way.
Imagine It Forward: Courage, Creativity, and the Power of Change
by Tahl Raz Beth ComstockFrom one of today’s foremost innovation leaders, an inspiring and practical guide to mastering change in the face of uncertainty.The world will never be slower than it is right now, says Beth Comstock, the former Vice Chair and head of marketing and innovation at GE. But confronting relentless change is hard. Companies get disrupted as challengers steal away customers; employees have to move ahead without knowing the answers. To thrive in today’s world, every one of us has to make change part of our job. In Imagine It Forward, Comstock, in a candid and deeply personal narrative, shares lessons from a thirty year career as the change-maker in chief, navigating the space between the established and the unproven. As the woman who initiated GE's digital and clean-energy transformations, and its FastWorks methodology, she challenged a global organization to not wait for perfection but to spot trends, take smart risks and test new ideas more often. She shows how each one of us can—in fact, must—become a “change maker.” “Ideas are rarely the problem,” writes Comstock. “What holds all of us back, really—is fear. It’s the attachment to the old, to ‘What We Know.’” Change is messy and fraught with tension, uncertainty and failure. Being “change ready” calls for the courage to defy convention, the resilience to overcome doubts, and the savvy to know when to go around corporate gatekeepers to reinvent what is possible. Among the practical takeaways Comstock offers: • The power of discovery—bringing the outside into your organization. It’s about turning the world into a classroom. • Find a spark—provocateurs who challenge established ways of thinking can be a powerful catalyst for change. • Give yourself permission—every change maker must learn to give herself permission to push outside expectations and boundaries. Confronting today’s accelerating change requires an extraordinary degree of problem-solving, collaboration, and forward-thinking leadership to unlock every person’s potential. Imagine It Forward masterfully points the way.
Imagine No Religion: The Autobiography of Blase Bonpane
by Blase BonpaneFrom Cleveland to all over the world, the life story of a former priest who spoke out against U.S. involvement in Guatemala and fought for peace. In the wake of the Second Vatican Council 1962-1965 many religious people, especially those serving in Latin America, began to understand a spirituality that transcended sectarianism. Having come from an upwardly mobile Italian American family marked by southern Italian anti-clericalism, Blase was accustomed to hearing his parents express real differences with their institutional church. He went into the seminary despite the avid protests of his parents.Blase&’s odyssey takes us from his high school and college years, through his service in Guatemala during a violent revolution, to his expulsion from that country for &“subversion.&” After receiving a gag order from the Church—which he could not in good conscience accept—Blase met with the editorial board of the Washington Post and released all the material he had regarding the U.S. military presence in Guatemala. This action led to his separation from the Maryknoll Fathers.Blase went on to teach at UCLA where he met the former Maryknoll Sister Theresa Killeen, who had served in Southern Chile. They married in 1970. Together they worked directly with Cesar Chavez at his headquarters in La Paz, California, built solidarity with the Central American Revolution, formed the Office of the Americas in Los Angeles, worked on the forefront of the international movement for justice and peace, and raised two children. But his work did not end there . . .&“Read Blase Bonpane&’s autobiography. If you can aspire to a fraction of what he has achieved, you will look back on a life well lived.&” —Noam Chomsky
Imagine That!: How Dr. Seuss Wrote The Cat in the Hat
by Judy SierraA lively new picture-book biography of the most beloved children&’s book author of all time: Dr. Seuss!Have you ever wondered how the great Dr. Seuss wrote his most famous book? Did you know that for The Cat in the Hat, he wasn&’t allowed to make up the fun words he was known for—like OOBLECK and IT-KUTCH and HIPPO-NO-HUNGUS? He was only allowed to use words from a very strict list! This bouncy account of the early career of Dr. Seuss (a.k.a. Ted Geisel) proves that sometimes limitations can be the best inspiration of all. Kid-friendly prose (with Seussian rhyme for Ted&’s dialogue) and whimsical illustrations by award winner Kevin Hawkes recall the work of Dr. Seuss himself. Writing tips from Dr. Seuss and exclusive letters from the author and illustrator, detailing how they created this book, are included!