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The Atheist's Bible: The Most Dangerous Book That Never Existed
by Georges MinoisThis intellectual history of a rumored book of heresy reveals a persistent undercurrent of atheism from the Middle Ages into the 18th century. In 1239, Pope Gregory IX accused Frederick II, the Holy Roman Emperor, of heresy. Without disclosing evidence of any kind, Gregory announced that Frederick had written a supremely blasphemous book—De tribus impostoribus, or the Treatise of the Three Impostors—in which Frederick denounced Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad as impostors. Of course, Frederick denied the charge, and over the following centuries the story played out across Europe, with libertines, freethinkers, and other &“strong minds&” seeking a copy of the scandalous text. The fascination persisted until finally, in the eighteenth century, someone brought the purported work into actual existence—in not one but two versions, Latin and French. Although historians have debated the origins and influences of this most apocryphal book, there has not been a comprehensive biography of the Treatise of the Three Impostors. In The Atheist&’s Bible, historian Georges Minois tracks the course of the book from its origins in 1239 to its most salient episodes in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, introducing readers to the colorful individuals obsessed with possessing the legendary work—and the equally obsessive passion of those who wanted to punish people who sought it. Minois&’s compelling account sheds much-needed light on the power of atheism, the threat of blasphemy, and the persistence of free thought during a time when the outspoken risked being burned at the stake. &“[A] timely and elegant study…Readers who are intrigued or scandalized by the diatribes of Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens will discover in The Atheist&’s Bible that, as that other Bible says, there is nothing new under the sun.&”—Walter Stephens, author of Demon Lovers
Even If You Were Perfect, Someone Would Crucify You: Stop Trying to Please People. Start Pleasing God
by Rob Shepherd&“In short, digestible chapters Shepherd shares several truths every human needs to know . . . You&’ll enjoy reading and laughing your way through this book!&” (Terrace Crawford, nationally recognized speaker & author of Going Social). He should have seen it coming. Anonymous letters are rarely good. On the day after preaching a sermon at his church, Rob Shepherd opened a letter filled with hurtful words and a very strong opinion about how awful his sermon was. On his fourth reading of the letter, Rob heard a still small voice say, &“Even if you preached the perfect sermon somebody would crucify it.&” That thought began the process of setting Rob free from being a lifelong people pleaser. With humor, personal stories, and great conviction Rob shares his personal story of learning to care less about what people say and more about what God says. Even If You Were Perfect Somebody Would Crucify You uncovers what our real struggle is when it comes to pleasing people. You can be set free from the fear of saying no to people, win the battle with avoiding confrontation, learn the power of confession, and find your true identity in Jesus. &“This book will nail you in regards to cutting out the paralyzing noises of life and opinions of others. Be ready for a tugging at your heart to rest and rediscover your identity FULLY in Him.&” —Chad Johnson, director of the Catalyst Conference
Creative Change: Why We Resist It . . . How We Can Embrace It
by Jennifer Mueller&“This book completely changed the way I think about creative innovation. . . . A must read&” (Cal Newport, bestselling author of Deep Work). Business leaders say they want creativity and need real innovation in order to thrive. But according to startling research from management professor Jennifer Mueller, these same leaders chronically reject creative solutions, even as they profess commitment to innovation. Mueller&’s research reveals that it&’s not just CEOs but educators, parents, and other social trendsetters who struggle to accept new and creative ideas. Mueller parses the tough questions these findings raise. Do we all have an inherent prejudice against creative ideas? Can we learn to outsmart this bias? Creative Change combines analysis of the latest research with practical guidance on how to shift your mindset, and offers a wealth of counterintuitive recommendations to help you embrace the creative ideas you want. &“If we all crave creativity so much, why do we reject new ideas so often? Jen Mueller&’s smart new book unravels this puzzle.&” —Daniel H. Pink, New York Times–bestselling author of When and Drive &“Mueller, an accomplished scholar in the management field, has developed a well-formulated argument for creativity. Her ideas and research need to be available to academics, business practitioners, and, really, everyone.&” —Library Journal
The Last Dragon on Mars (The Dragonships Series #1)
by Scott ReintgenA boy living on Mars unexpectedly becomes a dragon rider in this first book in the sci-fi and fantasy mash-up The Dragonships series, sure to delight fans of Skandar and Eragon.Keep your eyes down and your feet moving, or this planet will rust you. That&’s what Lunar Jones tells the other kids at the relocation clinic. All of them were born on Mars, a planet that never wanted people in the first place. With resources scarce and hope even scarcer, it&’s easy to get distracted looking up. After all, their ancestors descended from the stars. Martian history always starts with Earth. The first astronauts discovered that space was already occupied. Not by little green men or flying saucers. It was full of dragons. One for every moon, every planet, every star. When humanity discovered that Earth&’s dragon had sacrificed herself to make their home planet habitable, they set their sights on Mars. If one dead dragon could breathe life into a world, why not create another one? Mankind won the war that followed, but with one catch. As the dragon died, he whispered a curse over Mars. The first settlers found their crops wouldn&’t grow. Animals hunted them. Storms raged endlessly. It took three generations to figure out the truth: Mars was doomed. Lunar knows all the old stories about dragons and space, but no one up there&’s planning to help him or his crew. Instead, he focuses on scrapping valuable gear that the storms uncover in the war zone. Until one day, a salvaging run goes wrong. Desperate to find shelter, Lunar goes underground in a restricted zone. What he finds there, buried in the Martian dust, might just be the only hope left for a dying planet.
Sarah Phillips (Northeastern Library Of Black Literature Ser.)
by Andrea LeeDiscover the acclaimed author of Red Island House Andrea Lee&’s first novel—a coming-of-age classic that follows a young Black woman through her middle-class childhood in the suburbs of Philadelphia and her travels as an adult in France that captures &“the hidden world of mind and heart&” (LA Times).At once far-reaching and intimate, this novel in stories begins in Paris, where Sarah Phillips has fled after graduating from Harvard. In successive flashbacks, we learn of Sarah&’s proper middle-class upbringing as a minister&’s daughter in a Black suburb of Philadelphia. Each layer of the past reveals the process that transformed her early sense of security into one of estrangement and escape, while her adventures slowly lead her to contemplate the eventual prospect of a return. Like the loop of time it chronicles, Andrea Lee&’s brilliant and revelatory debut novel, now considered a classic of Black American literature, traces essential issues of identity and affiliation that can&’t be easily settled, and its nuance and resonance remains as timely as ever.
Arctic Dreams
by Barry LopezWinner of the National Book Award This bestselling, groundbreaking exploration of the Far North is a classic of natural history, anthropology, and travel writing.The Arctic is a perilous place. Only a few species of wild animals can survive its harsh climate. In this modern classic, Barry Lopez explores the many-faceted wonders of the Far North: its strangely stunted forests, its mesmerizing aurora borealis, its frozen seas. Musk oxen, polar bears, narwhal, and other exotic beasts of the region come alive through Lopez&’s passionate and nuanced observations. And, as he examines the history and culture of its indigenous communities, along with parallel narratives of intrepid, often underprepared and subsequently doomed polar explorers, Lopez drives to the heart of why the austere and formidable Arctic is also a constant source of breathtaking beauty, mystery, and wonder. Written in prose as pure as the land it describes, Arctic Dreams is a timeless mediation on the ability of the landscape to shape our dreams and to haunt our imaginations.
Birds of a Lesser Paradise: Stories
by Megan Mayhew BergmanAn “astonishing debut collection, by a writer reminiscent of such greats as Alice Munro, Elizabeth Strout, and even Chekhov” (Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants), focusing on women navigating relationships with humans, animals, and the natural world. Exploring the way our choices and relationships are shaped by the menace and beauty of the natural world, Megan Mayhew Bergman’s powerful and heartwarming collection captures the surprising moments when the pull of our biology becomes evident, when love or fear collides with good sense, or when our attachment to an animal or wild place can’t be denied. In “Housewifely Arts,” a single mother and her son drive hours to track down an African gray parrot that can mimic her deceased mother’s voice. A population-control activist faces the conflict between her loyalty to the environment and her maternal desire in “Yesterday’s Whales.” And in the title story, a lonely naturalist allows an attractive stranger to lead her and her aging father on a hunt for an elusive woodpecker. As intelligent as they are moving, the stories in Birds of a Lesser Paradise are alive with emotion, wit, and insight into the impressive power that nature has over all of us. This extraordinary collection introduces a young writer of remarkable talent.
Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird: Stories
by Agustina BazterricaAn NPR Best Book of 2023 A collection of nineteen dark, wildly imaginative short stories from the author of the award-winning TikTok sensation Tender Is the Flesh.From celebrated author Agustina Bazterrica, this collection of nineteen brutal, darkly funny short stories takes into our deepest fears and through our most disturbing fantasies. Through stories about violence, alienation, and dystopia, Bazterrica&’s vision of the human experience emerges in complex, unexpected ways—often unsettling, sometimes thrilling, and always profound. In &“Roberto,&” a girl claims to have a rabbit between her legs. A woman&’s neighbor jumps to his death in &“A Light, Swift, and Monstrous Sound,&” and in &“Candy Pink,&” a woman fails to contend with a difficult breakup in five easy steps. Written in Bazterrica&’s signature clever, vivid style, these stories question love, friendship, family relationships, and unspeakable desires.
Guerrilla Business Secrets: 58 Ways to Start, Build, and Sell Your Business
by Jay Conrad Levinson Steve SavageFrom a master salesperson and a revolutionary marketing strategist: A take-no-prisoners guide to making your small business dreams come true. Do you long to break out of the corporate rate race and run your own business? Jay Conrad Levinson, author of the bestselling Guerrilla Marketing series, and Steve Savage, management consultant and salesman extraordinaire, team up to show you how in this truly captivating guide. By learning from Steve&’s desolate disasters and tremendous triumphs, you will gain the knowledge you need to start and run a business—covering every facet from picking a hot product to navigating government bureaucracy to expanding overseas. Learn how Steve develops dazzling products, builds successful sales forces, and once took a company from zero to $60 million in six years. Guerrilla Business Secrets tells how hundreds of men and women trained by Steve were able to fulfill their dreams and stretch to the outer limits of their potential. &“I have never seen anyone who could organize a business, recruit a sales force, and motivate an entire company better than Steve Savage. He is a genuine business visionary.&” —Rod Turner, Senior Executive Vice President, Colgate Palmolive
One God, Two Voices: Life-Changing Lessons from the Classroom on the Issues Challenging Today's Families
by Deidre Hester Sue WhitedAn inspirational, faith-based guide to raising the next generation of leaders—based on the real-life experiences of two amazing educators. Hailing from the hills of West Virginia and the ghettos of New York City, two teachers—one an older Caucasian and the other a younger African American—somehow find each other in the halls of a middle school in Hampton, VA. Becoming the best of friends, Deidre Hester and Sue Whited join together to educate their eighth-grade students in curriculum and life. One God Two Voices comes from their hearts as they speak to teachers, parents, students, and the world at-large on diverse topics, such as the racial divide (from the O.J. Simpson trial to the tragic deaths of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown), repeating history, &“acting white,&” and the reality of being a teacher while maintaining your integrity, sanity, and sense of humor. From the tragic shooting death of a student who had sung Boyz II Men&’s version of &“It&’s So Hard to Say Good-bye to Yesterday&” in the eighth-grade talent show to the guidelines for setting a model of leadership in the classroom, One God Two Voices weaves together the authors&’ unique and personal teaching experiences to create an inspirational tapestry of faith and education. In this updated version of their 2004 title For Such A Time As This . . . We Are But Small Voices, Hester and Whited make a difference for today—and the future.
The Blood of the Lamb: A Novel
by Peter De VriesThis autobiographical novel of family tragedy by the author of Slouching Towards Kalamazoo &“moves deftly from manic hilarity to manic fury, and back again&” (Newsday). The most poignant of Peter De Vries&’s novels, The Blood of the Lamb is also his most personal. It follows the life of Don Wanderhop from his childhood in an immigrant Calvinist family living in Chicago in the 1950s through the loss of a brother, his faith, his wife, and finally his daughter—a tragedy drawn directly from De Vries&’s own life. Despite its basis in personal tragedy, The Blood of the Lamb offers glimpses of the comic sensibility for which De Vries was famous. Written with a powerful blend of grief, love, wit, and fury, De Vries&’s &“sensitive treatment of the death of a beloved child it has scarcely a superior in contemporary fiction" (Chicago Tribune).
Mr. Penrose: The Journal of Penrose, Seaman
by William WilliamsAn 18th century sailor is cast away in a multi-ethnic New World in this long-neglected classic regarded as the first American novel every written. Mr. Penrose narrates the adventures of a Llewellin Penrose who flees an unhappy home life to seek his fortune on the high seas. Having learned the sailor&’s trade, Penrose survives a series of nautical mishaps, only to be cast adrift on the Mosquito Coast. When rescue finally comes, Penrose refuses to abandon the new home he has made among the Indians. Though not officially published until 1815—posthumously and bowdlerized—painter and seafarer William Williams&’s dynamic adventure was actually written before 1780, making it unjustly forgotten as, arguably, the first American novel. Publishers may have been wary of &“a work of imagination&”, but Lord Byron could barely contain his enthusiasm for this unique tale: &“I have never read so much of a book in one sitting in my life. He kept me up half the night, and made me dream of him the other half.&” Equal parts travel narrative, sea-merchant yarn and historical document, this original version of Mr. Penrose reflects on some of the most pressing moral and social issues of its time: imperialism, racial equality, religious freedom, and the nature of an ethical government. In fact, it contains the first unequivocal critique of slavery in a transatlantic novel and the most realistic portrayals of Native Americans in early American fiction. In the afterword, Sarah Wadsworth imparts new research on the author and his career, shedding light on the novel&’s subjects and timely themes, and situating Mr. Penrose at the forefront of the American literary canon.
Two Whole Cakes: How to Stop Dieting and Learn to Love Your Body
by Lesley KinzelFrom the internationally renowned Fatshionista blogger, a &“vulnerable, funny, whip-smart&” celebration of fat acceptance and body confidence (Hanne Blank). From Photoshopped pictures to food-shaming to the latest crop of diet fads, our culture is obsessed with weight—as in, the less of it the better. In this spirited book based on the popular blog of the same name, Lesley Kinzel urges readers to do away with calorie-counting, cutting carbs, and all of the diet &“secrets&” foisted on us by the media. Instead of conforming to an unrealistic and unnecessary standard, the key to confidence—and happiness—is to learn to love the body you have, no matter what shape you are. Full of personal observations, enthusiastic encouragement, and straightforward advice, this is the non-diet book for everyone who wants to enjoy life at any size. Hannah Blank, author of Big, Big Love, calls it, &“a delightfully readable way out of our culture&’s unrealistic expectations of body size and appearance.&” &“Every single page of this book contains an AHA! moment. Two Whole Cakes is super empowering and fun to read—you seriously can&’t put it down. I&’ve read it twice, and I&’m keeping it for my daughter.&” —Jane Pratt, founding editor of xoJane and Sassy &“This accessible blend of memoir and cultural theory is a lifeline and a love letter; one is better off in the world for having read it.&” —Marianne Kirby, co-author of Lessons From the Fat-o-Sphere
Last Wolf at Eagle Well
by Robert C. MowryA Native American FBI agent must navigate the wilds of New Mexico—and deadly legends of the past—to catch a killer in this chilling crime novel. Rookie FBI agent Rusty Redtail is a man of two worlds—the federal government&’s world of law and order, and the Muscalero Apache&’s world from which he came. So he&’s a natural choice to take on the case of a savage murder involving a Federal Bureau of Land Management agent in a remote region of New Mexico. But death is nothing new to the area. There are plenty of unsolved murders, disappearances and unusual fatalities dating back hundreds of years. Most involve the legendary Wolf family—now deceased—whose secret Eagle Well is rumored to hold both golden treasure and a cache of damning information. Many have searched for hit. And many have died trying. Someone is still protecting the Eagle Well. And if Rusty can&’t put together the clues of the past, his own future is going to be cut brutally short . . .
The School at Thrush Green: A Novel (The Beloved Thrush Green Series #9)
by Miss ReadTwo favorite villagers make a life-changing decision. &“If you&’ve ever enjoyed a visit to Mitford, you&’ll relish a visit to Thrush Green&” (Jan Karon, #1 New York Times–bestselling author). The School at Thrush Green returns readers to the heart of the Cotswolds just as beloved primary school teachers Dorothy Watson and Agnes Fogerty announce their retirement and make plans to leave Thrush Green and buy a new home at Barton-on-Sea. The village people are aflutter with the news, musing about the teachers&’ replacements, the fate of the schoolhouse, and an appropriate farewell gift. Further drama unfolds as Dorothy takes up driving and Agnes finds a new friend in a stray cat. As summer turns to fall, the changing seasons reflect the changing face of Thrush Green, where old and new friends settle down and find happiness. &“Once again, Miss Read renders a charming recital of events in Thrush Green, a quaint English village caught in time (most likely teatime).&” —Booklist
The Bazaar of Bad Dreams: Stories
by Stephen KingIncludes the story &“Premium Harmony&”—set in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine The masterful #1 New York Times bestselling story collection from O. Henry Prize winner Stephen King that includes twenty-one iconic stories with accompanying autobiographical comments on when, why and how he came to write (or rewrite) each one.For more than thirty-five years, Stephen King has dazzled readers with his genius as a writer of short fiction. In this new collection he introduces each story with a passage about its origins or his motivations for writing it. As Entertainment Weekly said about this collection: &“Bazaar of Bad Dreams is bursting with classic King terror, but what we love most are the thoughtful introductions he gives to each tale that explain what was going on in his life as he wrote it." There are thrilling connections between stories; themes of morality, the afterlife, guilt, what we would do differently if we could see into the future or correct the mistakes of the past. In &“Afterlife,&” a man who died of colon cancer keeps reliving the same life, repeating his mistakes over and over again. Several stories feature characters at the end of life, revisiting their crimes and misdemeanors. Others address what happens when someone discovers that he has supernatural powers—the columnist who kills people by writing their obituaries in &“Obits;&” the old judge in &“The Dune&” who, as a boy, canoed to a deserted island and saw names written in the sand, people who then died in freak accidents. In &“Morality,&” King looks at how a marriage and two lives fall apart after the wife and husband enter into what seems, at first, a devil&’s pact they can win. &“I made these stories especially for you,&” says King. &“Feel free to examine them, but please be careful. The best of them have teeth.&” Stories include: -Mile 81 -Premium Harmony -Batman and Robin Have an Altercation -The Dune -Bad Little Kid -A Death -The Bone Church -Morality -Afterlife -Ur -Herman Wouk Is Still Alive -Under the Weather -Blockade Billy -Mister Yummy -Tommy -The Little Green God of Agony -Cookie Jar -That Bus Is Another World -Obits -Drunken Fireworks -Summer Thunder
The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book: Everything You Need to Know to Put Your EQ to Work
by Dr. Travis Bradberry Dr. Jean GreavesAn accessible, how-to guide that brings focus to the unique skills that comprise emotional intelligence and incorporate these tools into your life.EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: THE #1 PREDICTOR OF PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS AND PERSONAL EXCELLENCE In today's fast-paced world of competitive workplaces and chaotic personal lives, each of us is searching for effective tools that can make our schedules, behaviors, and relationships more manageable. The Emotional Intelligence Quickbook shows us how understanding and utilizing emotional intelligence can be the key to exceeding our goals and achieving our fullest potential. Authors Bradberry and Greaves use their years of experience as emotional intelligence researchers, consultants, and speakers to revitalize our current understanding of emotional intelligence. They have combined their latest research on emotional intelligence with a quick, easy-to-use format and cut-to-the-chase information to demonstrate how this other kind of "smart" helps us to decrease our stress, increase our productivity, understand our emotions as they happen, and interact positively with those around us. The Emotional Intelligence Quickbook brings this concept to light in a way that has not been done before -- making EQ practical and easy to apply in every aspect of our daily lives. The Quickbook will help you to: -Engage the four unique areas of EQ: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management -Increase your EQ through the use of these skill-building techniques -Apply your EQ at work to develop leadership skills and improve teamwork, making you a better manager and a more desirable employee -Practice your EQ outside the office environment to benefit your relationships with loved ones, making you a better partner and parent -Access the link between your EQ and your physical well-being to improve your overall health -Measure your current EQ through access to the authors' bestselling online Emotional Intelligence Appraisal
Forbidden City: City Spies; Golden Gate; Forbidden City (City Spies #3)
by James PontiIn this third &“thrilling&” (Kirkus Reviews) installment in the New York Times bestselling series from Edgar Award winner James Ponti, the young group of spies help a fellow agent in another international adventure perfect for fans of Spy School and Mrs. Smith&’s Spy School for Girls.After taking down a mole within their organization, the City Spies are ready for their next mission—once again using their unique skills and ability to infiltrate places adults can&’t. The sinister Umbra has their sights set on recruiting a North Korean nuclear physicist by any means necessary, and the City Spies plan to keep an eye on his son by sending Paris to the chess prodigy&’s tournaments in Moscow and Beijing. Meanwhile, Sydney&’s embedded as a junior reporter for a teen lifestyle site as she follows the daughter of a British billionaire on tour with the biggest act on her father&’s music label to uncover what links both the band and the billionaire have to a recent threat from an old Soviet missile base. From a daring break-in at one of London&’s most exclusive homes to a dangerous undercover mission to a desperate search and rescue operation on the streets of Beijing, the City Spies have their work cut out for them on their most dangerous mission yet.
Laozi's Dao De Jing: A New Interpretation for a Transformative Time
by Laozi Ken LiuA fresh, graceful translation of one of the most important and timeless classics—the foundational work of Daoism—by award-winning novelist Ken Liu, who contextualizes and demystifies this famously enigmatic text.Laozi&’s Dao De Jing was written around 400 BC by a compassionate soul in a world torn by hatred and ambition, dominated by those that yearned for apocalyptic confrontations and prized ideology over experience. By speaking out against the cleverness of elites and the arrogance of the learned, Laozi upheld the wisdom of the concrete, the humble, the quotidian, the everyday individual dismissed by the great powers of the world. Earthy, playful, and defiant, Laozi&’s words gave solace to souls back then, and offer comfort today. Now, this beautifully designed new edition serves as both an accessible new translation of an ancient Chinese classic and a fascinating account of renowned novelist Ken Liu&’s transformative experience while wrestling with the classic text. Throughout this translation, Liu takes us through his own struggles to capture the meaning in Laozi&’s text in a series of thoughtful and provocative interstitial entries. Unlike traditional notes that purport to be objective, these entries are explicitly personal and unapologetically subjective. Gradually, as Liu learns that true wisdom cannot be pinned down in words, the notes grow sparser until they fade away entirely. His journey suggests the only way out of struggle is to engage with texts that have survived the millennia, wrestling with ideas that gesture at something eternal, in hopes that we might eventually reach that moment of transcendent joy. Liu&’s translation, by eschewing cleverness, paradoxically reveals the slipperiness of Laozi&’s original. The Dao De Jing has been translated countless times and will be translated countless times in the future. In that constant change and flow, we finally find our home in Dao, the eternal principle that allows us, finite beings in time and space, to reckon and reconcile with the infinite.
Bloodmarked: TikTok made me buy it! The powerful sequel to New York Times bestseller Legendborn (The Legendborn Cycle #2)
by Tracy DeonnSPLINTERED BLOODLINES. UNBREAKABLE BARGAINS. A LEGACY OF BETRAYAL. The powerful sequel to the instant New York Times bestselling and award-winning Legendborn that's taking TikTok by storm. Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, Leigh Bardugo, Sarah J. Maas and Cinderella is Dead!The shadows have risen, and the line is law. All Bree wanted was to uncover the truth behind her mother&’s death. So she infiltrated the Legendborn Order, a secret society descended from King Arthur&’s knights – only to discover her own ancestral power. Now, Bree has become someone new: A Medium. A Bloodcrafter. A Scion. But the ancient war between demons and the Order is rising to a deadly peak. And Nick, the Legendborn boy Bree fell in love with, has been kidnapped. When the Regents reveal they will do whatever it takes to hide the war, Bree and her friends must go on the run to rescue Nick themselves. But enemies are everywhere, Bree&’s own powers are unpredictable and dangerous, and she can&’t escape her growing attraction to Selwyn, the mage sworn to protect Nick until death. If Bree has any hope of saving herself and the people she loves, she must learn to control her powers from the ancestors who wielded them first – without losing herself in the process.Praise for Legendborn: "I love the feeling of a magical world existing just beneath the surface of our own and this story gave me everything I wanted: incredible characters, ancient lore and secret societies – all grounded in our very real, very flawed world . . ." – Leigh Bardugo, author of Shadow and Bone "Tracy Deonn&’s Legendborn braids southern folk traditions and Black Girl Magic into a searing modern tale of grief, power and self-discovery." – Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Belles
Haunted Bachelors Grove (Haunted America)
by Ursula BielskiA terrifying exploration of &“the most historic haunted cemetery in the Chicagoland area, and most likely one of the most known in the world&” (Chicago Now)! Slumbering beneath a shroud of deep forest and deliberate secrecy, Bachelors Grove Cemetery still exerts a powerful pull on paranormal pilgrims and curiosity-seekers around the world. Shielding the orphaned burial ground from ritual and idle vandalism has also buried the rich history of this magical place. Still, its eerie presence has dominated the folklore of the southwest side of Chicago for every generation since 1838. Brave the woods with Ursula Bielski to unearth decades of mysteries and myriad ghost stories, from the Magic House to the Madonna of Bachelors Grove. Includes photos! &“Historian and paranormal investigator Ursula Bielski says Bachelors Grove, a cemetery located on the edge of Rubio Woods in Midlothian, is among the most haunted places in the world. Her book . . . is the culmination of years of research at the site.&” —Chicago Tribune &“Bielski ascribes the site&’s high level of activity to &‘an ancient force, something malevolent,&’ as well as a spate of occult activity in the &’60s and &’70s that may have involved unsettling practices like animal sacrifice and grave desecration.&” —Time Out Chicago
Michigan Literary Luminaries: From Elmore Leonard to Robert Hayden
by Anna ClarkDiscover the novelists, poets, and others who are part of this Midwestern state&’s rich literary tradition. From Ernest Hemingway&’s rural adventures to the gritty fiction of Joyce Carol Oates, the landscape of the &“Third Coast&” has inspired generations of the nation&’s greatest storytellers. Michigan Literary Luminaries shines a spotlight on this rich heritage of the Great Lakes State. Discover how Saginaw greenhouses shaped the life of Pulitzer Prize–winning writer Theodore Roethke. Compare the common traits of Detroit crime writers like Elmore Leonard and Donald Goines. Learn how Dudley Randall revolutionized American literature by doing for poets what Motown Records did for musicians, and more. With a mixture of history, criticism, and original reporting, journalist Anna Clark takes us on a surprising literary tour.
The American Way of War: How Bush's Wars Became Obama's (TomDispatch Books)
by Tom EngelhardtThe creator of TomDispatch.com &“tackles our military fetish . . . He takes on our war-possessed world with clear-eyed, penetrating precision&” (Mother Jones).Tom Engelhardt, creator of the website TomDispatch.com, takes a scalpel to the American urge to dominate the globe. Tracing developments from 9/11 to present day, this is an unforgettable anatomy of a disaster that is yet to end.Since 2001, Tom Englehardt has written regular reports for his popular site TomDispatch that have provided badly needed insight into US militarism and its effects, both at home and abroad. When others were celebrating the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, he warned of the enormous dangers of both occupations.In The American Way of War, Engelhardt documents Washington&’s ongoing commitment to military bases to preserve—and extend—its empire; reveals damning information about the American reliance on air power, at great cost to civilians in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan; and shows that the US empire has deep historical roots that precede the Bush administration—and continued through the presidency of Barack Obama.Praise for Tom Engelhardt and The American Way of War&“Engelhardt is absorbing and provocative. Everything he writes is of a satisfyingly congruent piece.&” —The New York Times&“Tom Engelhardt provides a clear-eyed examination of U.S. foreign policy in the Bush and Obama years, and details unsparingly how Obama has inherited—and in many cases exacerbated—the ills of the Bush era.&” —Daniel Luban, Inter Press Service &“Tom Engelhardt is a national treasure and always worth reading.&” —Juan Cole, professor of history at the University of Michigan
The Skeleton Code: A Satirical Guide to Secret Keeping
by Alla Campanella Ken MasseyA revealing look at what we hide and why: &“Funny, well-written, and absolutely the best self-help book I have come across in a while&” (Urban Book Reviews). In an of age of social media, computer hacking, recorders on every new device we can get our hands on, and security cameras following every shameless move we make, privacy is a thing of the past. Unfortunately, the skeletons in our closets aren&’t so gone, forgotten, or protected. With one errant text, unfortunate photo, or midnight tweet, they can start rattling. This tongue-in-cheek, yet cautionary book explores the many ways, and great lengths we go to, to shield our public personas, reputations, and most embarrassing and cringe-worthy secrets. With scores of funny and alarming interviews with people who didn&’t take extreme measures to guard their now-free and feral skeletons, it also outlines the strategies you can take to make sure your secrets never see the light of day. If you don&’t think you need the key to The Skeleton Code, you&’re treading the dark and increasing crowded waters of that infamous river called Denial.
How Not to Get Rich: The Financial Misadventures of Mark Twain
by Alan Pell Crawford&“Crawford captures the energy, humor, and wide-eyed hope of America&’s first &‘angel investor&’ with wit and verve . . . A book that is worthy of Twain himself&” (Dan Lyons, New York Times–bestselling author of Disrupted). A Wealth Management Best Business Book of 2017 Mark Twain&’s lifetime spans America&’s era of greatest economic growth. And Twain was an active, even giddy, participant in all the great booms and busts of his time, launching himself into one harebrained get-rich scheme after another. But far from striking it rich, the man who coined the term &“Gilded Age&” failed with comical regularity to join the ranks of plutocrats who made this period in America notorious for its wealth and excess. Instead, Twain&’s mining firm failed, despite striking real silver. He ended up somehow owing money over his seventy thousand acres of inherited land. And his plan to market the mysteriously energizing coca leaves from the Amazon fizzled when no ships would sail to South America. Undaunted, Twain poured his money into the latest newfangled inventions of his time, all of which failed miserably. In Crawford&’s hilarious telling, the familiar image of Twain takes on a new and surprising dimension. Twain&’s story of financial optimism and perseverance is a kind of cracked-mirror history of American business itself—in its grandest cockeyed manifestations, its most comical lows, and its determined refusal to ever give up. &“Light and frothy, this humorous biography is a lively read.&” —Kirkus Reviews