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You Better Not Cry: Stories for Christmas
by Augusten BurroughsYou've eaten too much candy at Christmas...but have you ever eaten the face off a six-foot stuffed Santa? You've seen gingerbread houses...but have you ever made your own gingerbread tenement? You've woken up with a hangover...but have you ever woken up next to Kris Kringle himself? Augusten Burroughs has, and in this caustically funny, nostalgic, poignant, and moving collection he recounts Christmases past and present--as only he could. With gimlet-eyed wit and illuminated prose, Augusten shows how the holidays bring out the worst in us and sometimes, just sometimes, the very, very best.
You Better Watch Out
by Greg Malone"It is, I contend, no small achievement to survive the perfect family." So Greg Malone says at the beginning of a graceful, generous and sometimes hilarious memoir of his childhood in the St. John's of the 1950s and 60s.A memoir from one of Canada's comic geniuses that is as moving as it is funny, about a young boy who survives, among other things, a school run by the Christian Brothers, encounters with the bullies of New Gower Street and the perfect family.We first meet Greg harnessed to a bush at a picnic wearing underpants on his head - a small boy squalling because he can't take part in the goings-on. From here, Greg takes us on a wild ride through the streets of old St. John's. We meet luminaries along the way, even Danny Williams, the future premier, sourly playing St. Bernadette in the all-boys' play, with Greg hardly concealing his joy in performing as her "chatty sister." Humble, poignant, funny and authentic - this is a delightful first book from a natural storyteller. Excerpt:I loved Barbara Lynn. Her sunny face was slightly freckled. She had blue eyes and her straight, caramel-blonde hair was pulled back and tied with a ribbon showing her high, smooth forehead. She had even, regular features and a smile that showed her perfect, white teeth. . . . We played house every day for endless summers and into the long winter nights, when she would take her big brother Basil's long toboggan without asking, so the two of us could go sliding together down over the hill, under the pole light, across St. Clare Ave. and down into the Knights of Columbus field where the full moon glittered on the glazed snow, and the toboggan would fly along forever on the longest slide we'd ever had.From the Hardcover edition.
You Buy the Peanut Butter, I'll Get the Bread: The Absolutely True Adventures of Best Friends in Business
by Renee E. Warren Kirsten Poe HillBest friends and business partners, two remarkable women share their secrets to starting and succeeding in your own business. Part inspiring business story and part insider's how-to, You Buy the Peanut Butter, I'll Get the Bread shares the lessons two best friends learned while making their business dreams come true. <P><P> The co-founders of Noelle-Elaine Media, Inc.--a New York City-based event management, media relations, video and technical production firm with many notable corporate and celebrity clients--Kirsten and Renée give aspiring small-business starters the real deal on what it takes to succeed and endure, both professionally and personally.<P>With refreshing honesty and sisterly counsel, they offer an up-close look at the daily highs and lows of starting, managing, and maintaining a business in the midst of developing and losing friendships, dating, falling in and out of love, and getting married--as well as the particular challenges women business owners face. Despite some peanut butter sandwich dinners, Kirsten and Renée made it happen, and their story will empower entrepreneurs everywhere that they can too.
You Can Change the World: The Kids' Guide to a Better Planet
by Lucy BellYou Can Change the World empowers kids to make changes in their lives and communities with the powerful message that anyone can make a difference in the world. This colorfully illustrated book is packed with information, ideas, and activities for everyday sustainability—like mending clothes, composting, and avoiding single-use plastics. Interspersed throughout are features on children around the globe who are making a difference, such as Greta Thunberg or Solli Raphael, reminding kids that ordinary people can spark extraordinary change.
You Can Do It!: Speak Your Mind, America
by Rob SchneiderAn unfiltered and outrageously funny commentary on the threats to free speech in America from the legendary comedian, actor, and Emmy-nominated SNL writer. Rob Schneider&’s childhood in the San Francisco Bay area with parents of mixed-race backgrounds shaped his view of the world: that America affords the greatest opportunity for peoples from all nations and all faiths. But today, in this world gone mad, free speech is under attack. And Schneider keeps finding himself in controversy for questioning what woke ideology is doing to our great nation. Still, he refuses to be censored. In his debut book, Schneider will make you laugh out loud as he tells his unique story of a Hollywood-comedian-turned-vocal-advocate for open dialogue. He takes readers along for a ride through his life in show business (where he&’s starred in 27 movies with his friend Adam Sandler), shares stories from the glory days of Saturday Night Live, and makes a persuasive case for fearlessness in speech and pushing the boundaries in comedy. Comedians matter because they have a unique position in society to stand up against tyranny. In this book, Schneider shares never-before-told personal stories about Chris Farley, Norm Macdonald, Christopher Walken, Dana Carvey, and Martin Landau, and other comedy legends. You Can Do It! is part celeb memoir, part warning, and part siren call to action. It was said during the days of Covid the difference between a conspiracy theory and the truth was about six months. Influenced by his own experiences in Hollywood, Schneider illustrates his points about free expression with provocative commentary on things you aren't suppose to question, like identity politics, Covid tyranny, "global boiling," medical freedoms and more. Schneider refuses to believe he&’s dangerous for saying what he thinks. In fact, the opposite is true—it&’s dangerous to not question the narrative. It&’s dangerous to not exercise your free speech. That&’s what Rob Schneider&’s doing. And as this humorous, shocking, irreverent but insightful book shows readers, you can do it too.
You Can Get It If You Really Want: Start your business, transform your life
by Levi RootsYou Can Get It If You Really Want, by Levi Roots, the man behind the Reggae Reggae Sauce empire and hero of BBC's 'Dragons' Den', is a business book brimming with positivity. In this inspirational and upbeat book, Levi provides essential tips and advice for successful business start-ups whatever your idea and wherever your starting point might be. This book includes informative and practical advice as well as Levi's personal anecdotes of his success and the lessons he learned from his mistakes. Levi's experience and passion for his message shines through every chapter. Additionally, the book includes personal insights from Peter Jones (Levi's own Dragon) and many other entrepreneurs and captains of industry. You Can Get It If You Really Want also includes Levi's Top 10 Rules for the Roots of Business Success - together with an array of business tools to slay the dragons waiting in the world of start-ups.
You Can Get There from Here
by Bob Knowling"Not just another business autobiography, this is a fascinating and uplifting look into one man's leadership journey through poverty, hardship, racism, and betrayal to becoming one of the most inspirational business leaders of our time. "-Jane Marvin, former SVP human resources, Ross Stores, Inc. Bob Knowling is respected by many of America's most admired executives, from Jack Welch to Michael Bloomberg. He has led large organizations through periods of dramatic transformation; management guru Noel Tichy calls him "a change agent's change agent. " But even more impressive than Knowling's résumé is the road he took to the top. He grew up as one of thirteen children in Indiana, shuttling between the homes of his divorced parents, surrounded by crime, poverty, drug abuse, and racism. Later he lived and worked on his grandparents' farm in Missouri. No one encouraged him to have big ambitions or even bothered to ask, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" But Knowling used his athletic and academic talents to earn a college scholarship and later an MBA. He became an expert at leading change-helping others see a better future, then work hard to make it real. Knowling's story proves that almost any disadvantage can be overcome with persistence and a passion for excellence. And it teaches us how to embrace change rather than cling to the past. It is easy to lose sight of our potential in a time of economic turmoil, joblessness, and confusion. Knowling reminds us that none of those conditions is permanent and, more important, that none of them excuses us from making a concerted effort at whatever we try to do. As he puts it, "You turn around organizations, in most cases, by turning around individuals. . . . The real lesson of transformation is that it happens not in companies and not in offices, but in lives. " Knowling believes that we do not define ourselves by our upbringing or the external conditions of our lives. It's our response to those conditions that counts. It's not where you came from; it's what you do with your potential. You'll be amazed to learn where Knowling came from and how he got from a really distant "there" to a very inspiring "here. " .
You Can Run but You Can't Hide: Life And Times Of Dog The Bounty Hunter
by Duane Dog Chapman"Freeze!"Duane "Dog" Chapman entertains and inspires millions on Dog the Bounty Hunter, his #1-rated show on A&E--but there is more to his story. From troubled beginnings and tragedy to triumph and transformation, he reveals all for the first time in this no-holds-barred memoir.Dog spent the first twenty-three years of his life on the wrong side of the law. In You Can Run but You Can't Hide, he offers an inside look at his days as a gang member; his dark years of addiction and abuse; and how serving eighteen months in prison for a murder he didn't commit helped him recommit to his faith. He also shares stories of some of his most dangerous bounty hunts--including his capture of Max Factor heir and convicted rapist Andrew Luster, which made international headlines.In You Can Run but You Can't Hide, Dog recounts his incredible story, chronicling his journey from his onetime criminal past to the guiding faith that has led him to become one of the most successful bounty hunters in American history. Against all odds, Dog turned his life around and went from ex-con to American icon in the process. This is his story.
You Can Run, But You Can't Hide
by Laura Morton Duane Dog ChapmanAutobiography of bounty hunter "Dog" Chapman, how he turned his life around after serving time for murder and abusing drugs, to a life devoted to justice and religion.
You Can Stop Humming Now: A Doctor's Stories of Life, Death and in Between
by Dr. Daniela Lamas'Gripping, soaring, inspiring . . . Read it' - Atul Gawande, author of the international bestseller Being Mortal'You Can Stop Humming Now is essential reading on what it means to be human in an age of medical technology. I couldn't put it down' - Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich, author of The Fact of a Body'In turns anguishing, gripping, and hopeful, You Can Stop Humming Now is a must-read for anyone contemplating what medicine holds in store for us.' - Danielle Ofri, MD, PhD, author of What Patients Say, What Doctors FeelModern medicine is a world that glimmers with new technology and cutting-edge research. To the public eye, medical stories often begin with sirens and flashing lights and culminate in survival or death. But these are only the most visible narratives. As a critical care doctor treating people at their sickest, Daniela Lamas is fascinated by a different story: what comes after for those whose lives are extended by days, months, or years as a result of our treatments and technologies?In You Can Stop Humming Now, Lamas explores the complex answers to this question through intimate accounts of patients and their families. A grandfather whose failing heart has been replaced by a battery-operated pump; a salesman who found himself a kidney donor on social media; a college student who survived a near fatal overdose and returned home, alive but not the same; and a young woman navigating an adulthood she never thought she'd live to see-these moving narratives paint a detailed picture of the fragile border between sickness and health.Riveting, beautifully told, and deeply personal, You Can Stop Humming Now is a compassionate, uncompromising look at the choices and realities that many of us, and our families, may one day face.
You Can Stop Humming Now: A Doctor's Stories of Life, Death and in Between
by Dr. Daniela Lamas'Gripping, soaring, inspiring . . . Read it' - Atul Gawande, author of the international bestseller Being Mortal'You Can Stop Humming Now is essential reading on what it means to be human in an age of medical technology. I couldn't put it down' - Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich, author of The Fact of a Body'In turns anguishing, gripping, and hopeful, You Can Stop Humming Now is a must-read for anyone contemplating what medicine holds in store for us.' - Danielle Ofri, MD, PhD, author of What Patients Say, What Doctors FeelModern medicine is a world that glimmers with new technology and cutting-edge research. To the public eye, medical stories often begin with sirens and flashing lights and culminate in survival or death. But these are only the most visible narratives. As a critical care doctor treating people at their sickest, Daniela Lamas is fascinated by a different story: what comes after for those whose lives are extended by days, months, or years as a result of our treatments and technologies?In You Can Stop Humming Now, Lamas explores the complex answers to this question through intimate accounts of patients and their families. A grandfather whose failing heart has been replaced by a battery-operated pump; a salesman who found himself a kidney donor on social media; a college student who survived a near fatal overdose and returned home, alive but not the same; and a young woman navigating an adulthood she never thought she'd live to see-these moving narratives paint a detailed picture of the fragile border between sickness and health.Riveting, beautifully told, and deeply personal, You Can Stop Humming Now is a compassionate, uncompromising look at the choices and realities that many of us, and our families, may one day face.
You Can Take the Cat out of Slough . . .
by Chris PascoeYou can take a cat to water but you can't make it think. Last summer, Chris Pascoe decided to do something monumentally stupid. He decided to stay at home with his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Maya and disaster-prone tabby Birmingham, Brum for short. And also with Brum's rather vicious live-in-partner-girl-cat Sammy, who he intended mainly not to wake. Let biting cats lie. Why he believed time with Brum would, with all the years of contrary evidence, be quality he's not at all sure . . .The result is a series of tales of death-defying feats. Paddling pools, gazebos, small birds and kitchens - all aspects of normal life can take a dangerous turn with the presence of Brum. Pascoe tries to train the tabby, restrain the tabby and even researches the stories of other danger cats in a bid to keep Brum alive a bit longer. And amazingly, despite the efforts of his exuberant two-year-old with a plastic mallet, he still is.
You Can Take the Cat out of Slough . . .
by Chris PascoeYou can take a cat to water but you can't make it think. Last summer, Chris Pascoe decided to do something monumentally stupid. He decided to stay at home with his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Maya and disaster-prone tabby Birmingham, Brum for short. And also with Brum's rather vicious live-in-partner-girl-cat Sammy, who he intended mainly not to wake. Let biting cats lie. Why he believed time with Brum would, with all the years of contrary evidence, be quality he's not at all sure . . .The result is a series of tales of death-defying feats. Paddling pools, gazebos, small birds and kitchens - all aspects of normal life can take a dangerous turn with the presence of Brum. Pascoe tries to train the tabby, restrain the tabby and even researches the stories of other danger cats in a bid to keep Brum alive a bit longer. And amazingly, despite the efforts of his exuberant two-year-old with a plastic mallet, he still is.
You Cannot Be Serious
by James Kaplan John McenroeJohn McEnroe was just an eighteen-year-old amateur from Queens when he stunned the tennis world by making it to the Wimbledon semifinals in 1977. He turned pro the following year after winning the NCAA singles title; three years later, he was ranked number one in the world. McEnroe dominated tennis in the eighties, winning three Wimbledon and four U. S. Open titles. His 1980 Wimbledon final match with Bjorn Borg is considered by many tennis experts to be the best match ever. You Cannot Be Serious is McEnroe at his most personal, a no-holds-barred examination of contemporary tennis, his championship seasons, his cantankerous on-court behavior, his marriage to Tatum O'Neal, his current roles as a devoted father, husband to pop star Patty Smyth, senior tennis tour player, and controversial television commentator, and much more. Funny, biting, close to the bone, this is exactly the book you'd expect-and want-from one of the most colorful figures of our time.
You Cannot Resist Me When My Hair Is in Braids (Made in Michigan Writers Series)
by Frances Kai-Hwa WangIn the aftermath of a messy divorce, Frances Kai-Hwa Wang writes in the hope of beginning to build a new life with four children, bossy aunties, unreliable suitors, and an uncertain political landscape. The lyric essays in You Cannot Resist Me When My Hair Is in Braids deftly navigate the space between cultures and reflect on lessons learned from both Asian American elders and young multiracial children, punctuated by moments rich with cultural and linguistic nuance. In her prologue, Wang explains, "Buddhists say that suffering comes from unsatisfied desire, so for years I tried to close the door to desire. I was so successful, I not only closed the door, I locked it, barred it, nailed it shut, then stacked a bunch of furniture in front of it. And now that door is open, wide open, and all my insides are spilling out." Full of current events of the day and #HashtagsOfTheMoment, the topics in the collection are wide ranging, including cooking food to show love, surviving Chinese School, being an underpaid lecturer, defending against yellow dildos, navigating immigration issues, finding love in a time of elections, crying with children separated from their parents at the border, charting the landscape of frugal/hoarder elders during the pandemic, witnessing COVID-inspired anti–Asian American violence while reflecting on the death of Vincent Chin, teaching her sixteen-year-old son to drive after the deaths of Trayvon Martin and George Floyd, and trusting the power of writing herself into existence. Within these lyric essays, some of which are accompanied by artwork and art installations, Wang finds the courage and hope to speak out for herself and for an entire generation of Asian American women. A notable work in the landscape of Asian American literature as well as Midwest and Michigan-based literature, You Cannot Resist Me When My Hair Is in Braids features a clear and powerful voice that brings all people together in these political and pandemic times.
You Can't Always Get What You Want: My Life with the Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead and Other Wonderful Reprobates
by Sam CutlerA &“straight-dope, tell-all account&” of touring with two of the world&’s greatest bands of the 60s and 70s—A &“fast-moving narrative of rock-n-roll excess&” (Publishers Weekly). In this all-access memoir of the psychedelic era, Sam Cutler recounts his life as tour manager for the Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead—whom he calls the yin and yang of bands. After working with the Rolling Stones at their historic Hyde Park concert in 1969, Sam managed their American tour later that year, when he famously dubbed them &“The Greatest Rock Band in the World.&” And he was caught in the middle as their triumph took a tragic turn during a free concert at the Altamont Speedway in California, where a man in the crowd was killed by the Hell&’s Angels. After that, Sam took up with the fun-loving Grateful Dead, managing their tours and finances, and taking part in their endless hijinks on the road. With intimate portraits of other stars of the time—including Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, the Band, the Allman Brothers, Pink Floyd, and Eric Clapton—this memoir is a treasure trove of insights and anecdotes that bring some of rock&’s greatest legends to life.
You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train
by Howard ZinnBeacon Press is proud to publish a new edition of the classic memoir by one of our most lively, influential, and engaged teachers and activists. Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States, tells his personal stories about more than thirty years of fighting for social change, from teaching at Spelman College to recent protests against war.A former bombardier in WWII, Zinn emerged in the civil rights movement as a powerful voice for justice. Although he's a fierce critic, he gives us reason to hope that by learning from history and engaging politically, we can make a difference in the world.
You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train: A Personal History
by Howard Zinn Keeanga-Yamahtta TaylorHoward Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States, tells his personal stories about more than thirty years of fighting for social change, from teaching at Spelman College to recent protests against war.A former bombardier in WWII, Zinn emerged in the civil rights movement as a powerful voice for justice. Although he's a fierce critic, he gives us reason to hope that by learning from history and engaging politically, we can make a difference in the world.
You Can't Be Serious
by Kal PennIn this refreshingly candid memoir, Kal Penn recounts why he rejected the advice of his aunties and guidance counselors and, instead of becoming a doctor or &“something practical,&” embarked on a surprising journey that has included acting, writing, working as a farmhand, teaching Ivy League University courses, and smoking fake weed with a fake President of the United States, before serving the country and advising a real one. You Can&’t Be Serious is a series of funny, consequential, awkward, and ridiculous stories from Kal&’s idiosyncratic life. It&’s about being the grandson of Gandhian freedom fighters, and the son of immigrant parents: people who came to this country with very little and went very far—and whose vision of the American dream probably never included their son sliding off an oiled-up naked woman in a raunchy Ryan Reynolds movie…or getting a phone call from Air Force One as Kal flew with the country&’s first Black president. With intelligence, humor, and charm on every page, Kal reflects on the most exasperating and rewarding moments from his journey so far. He pulls back the curtain on the nuances of opportunity and racism in the entertainment industry and recounts how he built allies, found encouragement, and dealt with early reminders that he might never fit in. And of course, he reveals how, after a decade and a half of fighting for and enjoying successes in Hollywood, he made the terrifying but rewarding decision to take a sabbatical from a fulfilling acting career for an opportunity to serve his country as a White House aide. Above all, You Can&’t Be Serious shows that everyone can have more than one life story. Kal demonstrates by example that no matter who you are and where you come from, you have many more choices than those presented to you. It&’s a story about struggle, triumph, and learning how to keep your head up. And okay, yes, it&’s also about how he accidentally (and very stupidly) accepted an invitation to take the entire White House Office of Public Engagement to a strip club—because, let&’s be honest, that&’s the kind of stuff you really want to hear about.
You Can't Buy Love Like That: Growing Up Gay in the Sixties
by Carol E. AndersonA young lesbian girl grows beyond fear to fearlessness as she comes of age in the &’60s amid religious, social, and legal barriers. Carol Anderson grows up in a fundamentalist Christian home in the &’60s, a time when being gay was in opposition to all social and religious mores and against the law in most states. Fearing the rejection of her parents, she hides the truth about her love orientation, creating emotional distance from them for years, as she desperately struggles to harness her powerful attractions to women while pursuing false efforts to be with men. The watershed point in Carol's journey comes when she returns to graduate school and discovers the feminist movement, which emboldens her sense of personal power and the freedom to love whom she chooses. But this sense of self-possession comes too late for honesty with her father. His unexpected death before she can tell him the truth brings the full cost of Carol's secret crashing in compelling her to come out to her mother before it is too late. Candid and poignant, You Can't Buy Love Like That reveals the complex invisible dynamics that arise for gay people who are forced to hide their true selves in order to survive and celebrates the hard-won rewards of finding one's courageous heart and achieving self-acceptance and self-love.
You Can't Do It!: There Are a Million Reasons You Can't---Find the Reason You Can
by Marcus JohnsAt some point in our lives, we all hear some version of "You can't do it." When that influential voice (whether outside or inside you) tells you why you can't--maybe that's the perfect reason why you can. At 27, actor, viral YouTuber, and one of the top former Vine stars Marcus Johns wants to shift our perspective on the resistance and obstacles that discourage our most powerful contributions. Whether it's conducting outrageous experiments or creating content we love to share, some unusual people use the voices of doubt--including their own--as motivation to press on and prove them all wrong.Sharing lighthearted insights from his life as a social media phenom, Marcus knows what it takes to be influential both online and off. How does one balance family, friends, faith, and fame--not to mention, finding the fun--and what does true success look like when the cameras are off?With his signature wit and transparency, Marcus shares his unconventional thoughts on:How to overcome self-doubt and move aheadKnowing who's on your team--and who's notWhat it really means to follow your gutDeveloping your skills by embracing failureRemaining humble and sharing your success with othersA must-read for any passionate go-getter, You Can't Do It may just be the magical phrase pointing you to the right track.
You Can't Do It Alone: A Widow's Journey Through Loss, Grief and Life After
by Maria Quiban WhitesellIn this supportive guide, a widow and a mental health expert provide guidance and thoughtful advice for anyone dealing with traumatic loss.When FOX11's weather anchor Maria Quiban Whitesell's husband Sean was diagnosed with Glioblastoma (GBM), a deadly form of brain cancer, she was completely unprepared. How would she possibly explain what was happening to their young son, Gus? How should she respond when people ask inappropriate questions? What about just dealing with the details of the day-to-day?In You Can't Do It Alone, Whitesell tells her story and teams up with licensed therapist Lauren Schneider to provide readers with a roadmap for walking through illness, death and grief. Whitesell and Schneider explore:Discussing a serious diagnosis in an honest, clear mannerNavigating control over life when you feel no controlFinding your support groupDealing with memories, family and friendsHelping balance work, caregiving, parenting and much, much more
You Can't Fall Off the Floor: And Other Lessons from a Life in Hollywood
by Harris Katleman Nick KatlemanA studio executive&’s &“superb memoir&” of his years in the industry, filled with hilarious stories and hard-earned wisdom (Library Journal). From watching his colleague get shot in the testicles by a jealous producer to running Hollywood&’s most successful TV studio, Harris Katleman had a front row seat in the development of the television industry. A classic account of the business side of entertainment, this book shares what really happened in the early careers of Hollywood stars and the development of iconic programs. Through a number of funny behind-the-scenes anecdotes, Katleman shares his journey from office boy to talent agent to television producer, and finally to studio head at both MGM and Twentieth Century Fox. Along the way, we meet industry giants including Rupert Murdoch, Bob Iger, Barry Diller, Marvin Davis, Kirk Kerkorian, Mark Goodson, and Lew Wasserman. This memoir goes beyond the story of a life in Hollywood. It is the story of crucial developments—how motion picture film libraries were opened for television licensing, how The Simpsons was birthed, and much more. &“Not only does this book show his leadership in the television business, it shows how strongly he fought for groundbreaking shows that transformed the industry.&”—David E. Kelley &“A worthy entry in the lexicon of books chronicling Hollywood of yesteryear.&”—Booklist
You Can't Get Much Closer Than This: Combat With the 80th "Blue Ridge" Division in World War II Europe
by A.Z. Adkins Jr. Andrew Z. Adkins IIIA young soldier’s memoirs of fighting in WWII: “Fascinating . . . A personal record like this is a valuable resource to anyone interested in the period”(Military Model Scene).After the Citadel and Officer Candidate School, Andrew Z. Adkins Jr., was sent to the 80th Infantry Division, then training in the California-Arizona desert. There, he was assigned as an 81mm mortar section leader in Company H, 2nd Battalion, 317th Infantry Regiment.When the division completed training in December 1943, it was shipped in stages to the United Kingdom and then Normandy, where it landed on August 3, 1944. Lieutenant Adkins and his fellow soldiers took part in light hedgerow fighting that served to shake the division down and familiarize the troops and their officers with combat. The first real test came within weeks, when the 2nd Battalion, 317th Infantry, attacked high ground near Argentan during the drive to seal German forces in the Falaise Pocket. While scouting for mortar positions in the woods, Adkins met a group of Germans and shot one of them dead with his carbine. This baptism in blood settled the question faced by every novice combatant: He was cool under fire, capable of killing when facing the enemy. He later wrote, “It was a sickening sight, but having been caught up in the heat of battle, I didn’t have a reaction other than feeling I had saved my own life.”Thereafter, the 2nd Battalion, 317th Infantry, took part in bloody battles across France, sometimes coping with inept leadership and grievous losses, even as it took hills and towns away from the Germans. In the fighting graphically portrayed here, Adkins acted with skill and courage, placing himself at the forefront of the action whenever he could. His extremely aggressive delivery of critical supplies to a cut-off unit in an embattled French town earned him a Bronze Star, the first in his battalion.This is a story of a young soldier at war, a junior officer’s coming of age amid pulse-pounding combat. Before his death, Andy Adkins was able to face his memory of war as bravely as he faced war itself. He put it on paper, honest and unflinching. In 1944-45, he did his duty to his men and country—and here, he serves new generations of military and civilian readers.