Ishmael Beah describes his experiences after he was driven from his home by war in Sierra Leone and picked up by the government army at the age of thirteen, serving as a soldier for three years before being removed from fighting by UNICEF and eventually moving to the United States.

Think you've got a book inside of you? Anne Lamott isn't afraid to help you let it out. She'll help you find your passion and your voice, beginning from the first really crummy draft to the peculiar letdown of publication. Readers will be reminded of the energizing books of writer Natalie Goldberg and will be seduced by Lamott's witty take on the reality of a writer's life, which has little to do with literary parties and a lot to do with jealousy, writer's block and going for broke with each paragraph. Marvelously wise and best of all, great reading.

In a hilarious compilation of syndicated columns, the author of Dave Barry Turns 50 takes on the dangers of improperly sized brassieres, low-flow toilets, day trading, school science fairs, the IRS, the airlines, pine sap transfusions for tired Christmas trees, and more. Reprint.

Tells the story of the "USS Indianapolis," a battle cruiser torpedoed in the South Pacific by a Japanese submarine shortly after delivering parts of the atom bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima; and discusses the struggles of sailors who survived the blast to stay alive in the sea for nearly five days before help arrived.

Recounts the story of the 1820 wreck of the whaleship Essex, which inspired Melville's classic "Moby-Dick," and describes its doomed crew's ninety-day attempt to survive whale attacks and the elements on three tiny lifeboats.

A 'New Yorker' staff writer and Harvard historian chronicles the discovery of Joe Gould's long-lost manuscript, 'The Oral History of Our Time,' and of the violence, betrayals, and madness that led to its concealment.

Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didn’t commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, and legal brinksmanship—and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever.

A hardcover edition of the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic by the late president features his profiles of eight historical colleagues who demonstrated particular integrity in the face of opposition, including John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, Thomas Hart Benton, and Robert A. Taft.

Describes growing up in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the group of young women who came together at her home in secret every Thursday to read and discuss great books of Western literature, explaining the influence of Lolita, The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice, and other works on their lives and goals

Journalist Lily Koppel describes her efforts to find the owner of a redleather diary, written in the early 1930s, found inside a steamer trunk in a New York apartment, and interweaves excerpts from the diary with the memories of now-ninety-year-old Florence Wolfson, shedding light on the life and hopes of a young woman of privilege during the Great Depression.

Enter a world of breathtaking danger and beauty: In this remarkable memoir, veteran smokejumper Jason Ramos offers a rare inside look at the lives of airborne firefighters, the select few who parachute into the most rugged and remote wild areas to battle nature's blazes.

A touching, meticulous portrait of two boys growing up in a Chicago housing project reveals how they help each other maintain a shred of innocence among street gangs, gunfire, violence, and drugs.

A collection of eighty essays exploring the personal beliefs of a diverse assortment of contributors, both famous and unknown, includes selections from such notables as Isabel Allende, Colin Powell, John Updike, John McCain, William F. Buckley, Rick Moody, and others who reflect on their faith, the evolution of their beliefs, and how they express them.

Pat Tillman walked away from a multimillion-dollar NFL contract to join the Army and became an icon of post-9/11 patriotism. When he was killed in Afghanistan two years later, a legend was born. But the real Pat Tillman was much more remarkable, and considerably more complicated than the public knew...

A stunning account of a remarkable young man's heroic life and death, from the bestselling author of Into the Wild, Into Thin Air, and Under the Banner of Heaven.

Senator John McCain explores the meaning of courage through the stories of ordinary people who have risked their lives in their attempts to defend others or in pursuit of an ideal.

Uses the metaphor of a disease to explore how society has been affected by Americans' obsessive quest for material gain.

This is the book that changed America. Published just months before President Nixon’s resignation, All the President’s Men revealed the full scope of the scandal and introduced for the first time the mysterious “Deep Throat.” Beginning with the story of a simple burglary at Democratic headquarters and then continuing through headline after headline, Bernstein and Woodward deliver a riveting firsthand account of their reporting. Their explosive reports won a Pulitzer Prize for The Washington Post, toppled the president, and have since inspired generations of reporters.

Examines the effects of television on American society, arguing that media messages, which were generally coherent, serious, and rational when in print, have become shriveled and absurd due to the medium of television.

For Ta-Nehisi Coates, history has always been personal. At every stage of his life, he's sought in his explorations of history answers to the mysteries that surrounded him--most urgently, why he, and other black people he knew, seemed to live in fear. What were they afraid of? Coates takes readers along on his journey through America's history of race and its contemporary resonances through a series of awakenings--moments when he discovered some new truth about our long, tangled history of race, whether through his myth-busting professors at Howard University, a trip to a Civil War battlefield with a rogue historian, a journey to Chicago's South Side to visit aging survivors of 20th century America's 'long war on black people,' or a visit with the mother of a beloved friend who was shot down by the police.

America may be more diverse than ever coast to coast, but the places where we live are becoming increasingly crowded with people who live, think, and vote as we do. We've built a country where we can all choose the neighborhood-and church and news show-most compatible with our lifestyle and beliefs. And we are living with the consequences of this way-of-life segregation. Our country has become so polarized, so ideologically inbred, that people don't know and can't understand those who live just a few miles away. The reason for this situation, and the dire implications for our country, is the subject of this groundbreaking work.

Explores the idea that today's mainstream beliefs about the world are fundamentally incorrect, drawing on original interviews with intellectuals and experts to consider how music, sports, literature, and other present-day conventions may be perceived in future centuries.

Draws on the author's personal experiences from other countries and his observations and studies concerning America looking at the current state of race relations in this country and illuminates options for a race-neutral, discrimination free society to develop and flourish.

Chronicles how sugar cane farmers in a small county on the west coast of Mexico created a unique distribution system that brought highly addictive black tar heroin to the United States, and looks at a pharmaceutical company's marketing campaign of OxyContin.

James Bradley examines the lives of the six young men who raised the American flag over Iwo Jima in February 1945 and were immortalized by a famous photograph--one of whom was Bradley's father (adapted for young people).

Over the remote Pacific island of Chichi Jima, nine American flyers--Navy and Marine airmen sent to bomb Japanese communications towers there--were shot down. One of those nine was miraculously rescued by a U.S. Navy submarine. The others were captured and held by Japanese soldiers on Chichi Jima and held prisoner. Then they disappeared.

An intriguing study of the rise of civilization argues that human development is not based on race or ethnic differences but rather is linked to biological diversity, discussing the evolution of agriculture, technology, writing, political systems, and religious belief

A study of how democracy is suffering from the forces of consumerist capitalism, which has broken down the borders between countries, creating a global village of communications, information, entertainment, and commerce; and religious and tribal fundamentalism, which is splintering the world into small, intolerant factions.

Soon after the fall of the Taliban, in 2001, Deborah Rodriguez went to Afghanistan as part of a humanitarian aid group. Surrounded by people whose skills-as doctors, nurses, and therapists-seemed eminently more practical than her own, Rodriguez, a hair dresser and mother from Michigan, despaired of being of any real use. Yet she found she had a gift for befriending Afghans, and once her profession became known she was eagerly sought out by Westerners desperate for a good haircut and by Afghan women, whohave a long and proud tradition of running their own beauty salons. Thus the idea for the Kabul Beauty School was born. Within that small haven, the line between teacher and student quickly blurred as these vibrant women shared with Rodriguez their stories and their hearts, ultimately giving her the strength to leave her own unhealthy marriage and allow herself to love again, Afghan style.

A foreign affairs columnist for The New York Times offers an incisive look at globalization from a social, economic, political, and cultural perspective and assesses the impact of this trend both at home and abroad.

Tells the stories of newcomers to the United States, focusing on the author's home community in Nebraska, providing insight into how immigrants view Americans, and showing the effects of U.S. immigration policies.

A history of the Federal Convention at Philadelphia in 1787 that produced the Constitution of the United States.

Citing a rise in such factors as cosmetic surgery, status-related debt, and misrepresented Facebook profiles, a cautionary report on the increase of unhealthy ego-related behaviors examines its actual cost to families, organizations, and societies.

Author Ron Powers offers a searching, richly researched narrative of the social history of mental illness in America paired with the deeply personal story of his two sons' battles with schizophrenia.

An ecological and anthropological study of eating offers insight into food consumption in the twenty-first century, explaining how an abundance of unlimited food varieties reveals the responsibilities of everyday consumers to protect their health and the environment.

Explores the role introverts play in a world that is geared towards those who enjoy communicating with others and offers practical suggestions at how introverts can make sure their message is heard.

Clear, fast-paced prose explores Western civilization throughout history, highlighting along the way not only the different forms that racial prejudice has taken, but the way in which it has manifested itself in the politics, philosophies, and beliefs of each group of people.

Chronicles the history of salt, discussing how it has shaped civilizations from the earliest beginnings of world history and how it has been used in different cultures.

One teenager in a skirt. 
One teenager with a lighter.
One moment that changes both of their lives forever.

If it weren't for the 57 bus, Sasha and Richard never would have met. Both were high school students from Oakland, California, one of the most diverse cities in the country, but they inhabited different worlds. Sasha, a white teen, lived in the middle-class foothills and attended a small private school. Richard, a black teen, lived in the crime-plagued flatlands and attended a large public one. Each day, their paths overlapped for a mere eight minutes. But one afternoon on the bus ride home from school, a single reckless act left Sasha severely burned, and Richard charged with two hate crimes and facing life imprisonment. The case garnered international attention, thrusting both teenagers into the spotlight. 

An introduction to the Tipping Point theory explains how minor changes in ideas and products can increase their popularity and how small adjustments in an individual's immediate environment can alter group behavior.

Chronicles the experiences of Meriwether Lewis, the man chosen by President Jefferson to lead a voyage from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean, discusses the experiences of those who took part in the expedition, and tells of the leading political, scientific, and military figures involved in the mapping of the American West.

Collects essays from Malcolm Gladwell, a British-born journalist and staff writer for "The New Yorker," that explore a range of topics, including intelligence tests, ethnic profiling, the history of hair dye, and more.

Presents an oral history of the dust storms that devastated the Great Plains during the Depression, following several families and their communities in their struggle to persevere despite the devastation.

A witness to the Montana Mann Gulch fire of 1949 explores the mysteries of the tragedy, with eyewitness accounts, new evidence, and research from fire scientists.

A self-proclaimed candy fanatic and lifelong chocoholic traces the history of some of the much-loved candies from his youth, describing the business practices and creative candy-making techniques of some of the small companies.

The authors explore the economics of real-world issues often viewed as insignificant, such as the extent to which the Roe v. Wade decision affected violent crime, and examine hidden incentives behind all sorts of human behavior.

Describes how two nineteen-year-old working-class kids from a small town in Idaho overcame their lives as outsiders and reveals how they are using the Internet to redefine themselves and change their lives

Following his blockbuster biography of Steve Jobs, The Innovators is Walter Isaacson's revealing story of the people who created the computer and the Internet. It is destined to be the standard history of the digital revolution and an indispensable guide to how innovation really happens. What were the talents that allowed certain inventors and entrepreneurs to turn their visionary ideas into disruptive realities? What led to their creative leaps? Why did some succeed and others fail? In his masterly saga, Isaacson begins with Ada Lovelace, Lord Byron's daughter, who pioneered computer programming in the 1840s. He explores the fascinating personalities that cr eated our current digital revolution, such as Vannevar Bush, Alan Turing, John von Neumann, J.C.R. Licklider, Doug Engelbart, Robert Noyce, Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs, Tim Berners-Lee, and Larry Page. This is the story of how their minds worked and what made them so inventive. It's also a narrative of how their ability to collaborateand master the art of teamwork made them even more creative. For an era that seeks to foster innovation, creativity, and teamwork, The Innovators shows how they happen.

In an attempt to understand the lives of Americans earning near-minimum wages, Ehrenreich works as a waitress in Florida, a cleaning woman in Maine, and a sales clerk in Minnesota.

Presents the thirtieth anniversary edition of the classic guide to writing, discussing the basic principles, methods, and forms of writing, and considering personal style.

Examines the transformation of the prescription drug industry since the 1980s, arguing that the focus of the business has moved from research to marketing, and discussing the effects of the resulting for-profit medical system on America.

Identifies the qualities of successful people, posing theories about the cultural, family, and idiosyncratic factors that shape high achievers, in a resource that covers such topics as the secrets of software billionaires and why the Beatles earned their fame.

Provides an account of the shootings at Colorado's Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, focusing on the teenage killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, drawing from interviews, police files, psychological studies, and writings and tapes by the boys to look at the signs they left that disaster was looming.

On November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the Clutter family were savagely murdered by blasts from a shotgun held a few inches from their faces. There was no apparent motive for the crime, and there were almost no clues. 

As Truman Capote reconstructs the murder and the investigation that led to the capture, trial, and execution of the killers, he generates both mesmerizing suspense and astonishing empathy. In Cold Blood is a work that transcends its moment, yielding poignant insights into the nature of American violence.

A personal investigation into the causes, effects and communal toll of the brutal murders of three young children by their parents in 2003 Brownsville, Texas, explores the questions the case raised about poverty, mental illness, the death penalty and the proposed demolition of the apartment building where the tragedy occurred.

Growing up a ninety-eight-pound weakling tormented by bullies in the schoolyards of Kansas, Matthew Polly dreamed of one day journeying to the Shaolin Temple in China to become the toughest fighter in the world, like Caine in his favorite 1970s TV series Kung Fu.

American Shaolin is the story of the two years Matthew spent in China living, studying, and performing with the Shaolin monks.

Recounts the author's experiences with the reclusive Tarahumara Indians, whose techniques allow them to run long distances with ease, and describes his training for a fifty-mile race with the tribe and a number of ultramarathoners.

Tells how in 1936 the University of Washington's eight-oar crew, composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers who had mastered collegiate rowing, went on to the Berlin Olympics where they defeated Adolf Hitler's German team to achieve the Olympic gold medal.

A study of the struggles of Arthur Agee and William Gates to win college scholarships and positions on professional teams follows the stories of their families, relationships, and personal aspirations

A stirring account of athleticism in the face of adversity follows the remarkable journey of three young men-John Landy, Wes Santee, and Roger Bannister-who suffered defeat at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952 but nevertheless vowed to break the four-minute mile, training tirelessly to accomplish their goal.

Presents a comprehensive analysis of the 1936 Olympic games hosted by Germany, America's threat to boycott the games, and the four Olympic gold medals won by African-American athlete Jesse Owens, whose performance crushed Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy.

On October 12, 1972, a plane carrying a team of young rugby players crashed into the remote, snow-peaked Andes. Out of the forty-five original passengers and crew, only sixteen made it off the mountain alive. For ten excruciating weeks they suffered deprivations beyond imagining, confronting nature head-on at its most furious and inhospitable. And to survive, they were forced to do what would have once been unthinkable ...

This is their story -- one of the most astonishing true adventures of the twentieth century.  

Presents a study of how people think without thinking, looking at the brain processes involved in making snap decisions, discussing why some people seem to have great instincts while others consistently choose unwisely, and examining ways to control the process.

Discusses how patterns of human behavior follow scientifically predictable laws, covering how the digital evidence people leave behind, such as e-mails, time-stamped texts, and voice mails, contribute to data that reveals people's tendency toward "bursty" activity followed by periods of almost nothing, and includes examples from nature and society on a broad level.

Provides an account of the voyage undertaken by polar explorer Ernest Shackleton and his crew aboard the Endurance in 1914-15, telling how the men survived after their ship became locked inside an island of ice and drifted for ten months before being crushed.

Tackles the science behind some of a soldier's most challenging adversaries--panic, exhaustion, heat, noise--and introduces us to the scientists who seek to conquer them.

An account of the previously unheralded but pivotal contributions of NASA's African-American women mathematicians to the space program describes how they were segregated from their white counterparts by Jim Crow laws in spite of their groundbreaking successes, in a best-selling account that inspired the forthcoming film.

A history of innovation shares stories of accidental genius and brilliant mistakes, examines unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated fields, and reveals how important inventions have had unintended consequences.

In August 1883, a catastrophic volcanic eruption off the coast of Java was followed by a tsunami that killed nearly 40,000 people. The author brings new perspective to this iconic event, showing how it marked a change in East-West relations.

The author dispenses rat facts and rat stories, looking into the history of rats, and describes how, with the aid of a notebook and night-vision gear, he sat nightly in a garbage-filled alley getting to know the wild city rat.

Tells the story of the discovery in 1991 of a World War II German U-boat, sunk sixty miles off the coast of New Jersey, by deep sea diversJohn Chatterton and Richie Kohler, and their six year obsession with identifying the submarine which sank with its crew onboard.

Nature and science writer Bill Bryson examines some of mysteries of science, and attempts to understand not only what scientists know, but how they know it. Covers the creation of the universe, the size of the Earth, the origins of life, and other topics.

Explores the emotional and physical world of the octopus--a surprisingly complex, intelligent, and spirited creature--and the remarkable connections it makes with humans... Reveals what octopuses can teach us about consciousness and the meeting of two very different minds.

A compelling look inside the world of forensics examines the use of human cadavers in a wide range of endeavors, including research into new surgical procedures, the testing of the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin, space exploration, a Tennessee human decay research facility, and a Scandinavian funeral directors' conference on human composting.

In 1986, twenty-year-old Christopher Knight left his home in Massachusetts, drove to Maine, and disappeared into the woods. He would not have a conversation with another human being until nearly three decades later when he was arrested for stealing food. Living in a tent even in winter, he had survived by his wits and courage, developing ingenious ways to store food and water, to avoid freezing to death. He broke into nearby cottages for food, clothes, reading material, and other provisions, taking only what he needed, but terrifying a community never able to solve the mysterious burglaries. Based on extensive interviews with Knight himself, this is a vividly detailed account of the why and how of his secluded life-as well as the challenges he has faced returning to the world. A riveting story of survival that asks fundamental questions about solitude, community, and what makes a good life, and a deeply moving portrait of a man who was determined to live his own way, and succeeded.

Cheryl Strayed recounts the impact of her mother's death on her life at age twenty-two and chronicles her experiences after she made the impulsive decision to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert all the way into Washington State.