Biography/Memoir
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A Long Way Gone...
by Ishmael Beah Year Published: 2007 Call Number 92 BeahIshmael 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.
American Chica : Two Worlds, One Childhood
by Marie Arana Year Published: 2001 Call Number 92 AranaThe author discusses her childhood as the daughter of a Peruvian father and American mother, and recalls the challenges she faced trying to reconcile her two cultures after moving to the United States.Angela's Ashes: A Memoir
by Frank McCourt Year Published: 2003 Call Number 92 McCourtThe author chronicles his impoverished childhood in Limerick, Ireland, in the 1930s and 1940s, describing his father's alcoholism and talent for storytelling; the challenges and tragedies his mother faced, including the loss of three children; and his early experiences in the Catholic church, and balances painful memories with humor.Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
by Lamott, Anne Year Published: 1995 808 LAMThink 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.
Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard
by Liz Murray Year Published: 2010 Call Number 92 MurrayLiz Murray, who was homeless at the age of fifteen and had drug-addicted parents, reflects on how she overcame obstacles and eventually attended Harvard University.Catch Me If You Can
by Frank. W. Abagnale Year Published: 2000 Call Number 92 AbagnaleFormer con man Frank Abagnale, an authority on financial foul play, tells stories of the adventures he had while living the high life as a criminal.Dave Barry Is Not Taking This Sitting Down!
by Barry, Dave Year Published: 2001 Call number 814 BARIn 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.
Glass Castle: A Memoir
by Jeannette Walls Year Published: 2006 Call Number 92 WallsThe author recalls her life growing up in a dysfunctional family with an alcoholic father and distant mother and describes how she and her siblings had to fend for themselves until they finally found the resources and will to leave home.Hurricane: The Miraculous Journey of Rubin Carter
by James S. Hirsch Year Published: 2000 Call Number 92 CarterChronicles Rubin Carter's twenty-year imprisonment, discussing why he was accused of three murders he did not commit, how racial issues affected the outcome of his trial, how he earned the support of celebrities, and why a group of Canadians decided to help him prove his innocence.In Harms Way : The Sinking of the Uss Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors
by Stanton, Doug Year Published: 2001 Call number 940.54 STATells 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.
In the Heart of the Sea : The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex
by Philbrick, Nathaniel Year Published: 2000 Call number 910 PHIRecounts 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.
Joe Gould's Teeth
by Lepore, Jill Year Published: 2016 Call number 2016A '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.
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
by Stevenson, Bryan Year Published: 2014 Call number 92 StevensonBryan 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.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
by Stephen King Year Published: 2010 Call Number 92 KingStephen King reflects on how his writing has helped him through difficult times and describes various aspects of the art of writing.Profiles in Courage
by Kennedy, John Fitzgerald Year Published: 1956 Call number 920 KENA 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.
Reading Lolita in Tehran : A Memoir in Books
by Nafisi, Azar Year Published: 2003 Call number 820.9 NAFDescribes 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
Red Leather Diary : Reclaiming a Life Through the Pages of a Lost Journal
by Koppel, Lily Year Published: 2008 Call number 974.7 KOPJournalist 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.
Smokejumper: A Memoir by One of America's Most Select Airborne Firefighters
by Ramos, Jason Year Published: 2015 Call number 634.9 RAMEnter 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.
The Road from Coorain
by Jill K. Conway Year Published: 1989 Call Number 92 ConwayThe memoirs of Jill Conway and her journey into adulthood from a 30,000 acre sheep ranch in Coorain, Australia, to America where she became the first woman president of Smith College.There Are No Children Here : The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in the Other America
by Kotlowitz, Alex Year Published: 1992 Call number 305.23 KOTA 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.
This Boy's Life: A Memoir
by Tobias Wolff Year Published: 1989 Call Number 92 WolffWolff's account of his boyhood and the process of growing up includes paper routes, whiskey, scouting, fistfights, friendship, betrayal, and America in the fifties.This I Believe : The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women
by Allison, Jay Year Published: 2007 Call number 170 THIA 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.
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
by Laura Hillenbrand Year Published: 2010 Call Number 92 Zamperini and OverDrive eBookA biography of Olympic runner and World War II bombardier, Louis Zamperini, who had been rambunctious in childhood before succeeding in track and eventually serving in the military, which led to a trial in which he was forced to find a way to survive in the open ocean after being shot down.
Warriors don't cry: A searing memoir of the battle to integrate Little Rock's Central High
by Melba Pattillo Beals Year Published: 1994 Call number 92 BealsA riveting true story of an embattled teenager who paid for integration with her innocence. Beals chronicles her harrowing junior year at Central High where she underwent the segregationists' brutal organized campaign of terrorism which included telephone threats, vigilante stalkers, economic blackmailers, rogue police, and much more.
In 1957 Melba Pattillo turned sixteen. That was also the year she became a warrior on the front lines of a civil rights firestorm. Following the landmark 1954 Supreme Court ruling, Brown v. Board Education, she was one of nine teenagers chosen to integrate Little Rock's Central High School. This is her remarkable story.
West with the Night
by Beryl Markham Year Published: 1995 Call Number 92 MarkhamMemoirs of Beryl Markham, who grew up in East Africa, became a bush pilot in Africa, and in 1936 made the first solo flight east to west across the Atlantic.Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tilman
by Krakauer, Jon Year Published: 2010 Call number 92 TillmanPat 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.Why Courage Matters : The Way to a Braver Life
by McCain, John Year Published: 2004 179 MCCSenator 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.
History/Social Sciences
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1421: The Year China Discovered America
by Menzies, Gavin Year Published: 2008 Call Number 931 MENOn March 8, 1421, the largest fleet the world had ever seen set sail from China to "proceed all the way to the ends of the earth to collect tribute from the barbarians beyond the seas." When the fleet returned home in October 1423, the emperor had fallen, leaving China in political and economic chaos. The great ships were left to rot at their moorings and the records of their journeys were destroyed. Lost in the long, self-imposed isolation that followed was the knowledge that Chinese ships had reached America seventy years before Columbus and had circumnavigated the globe a century before Magellan. And they colonized America before the Europeans, transplanting the principal economic crops that have since fed and clothed the world.Affluenza : The All-consuming Epidemic
by De Graaf, John Year Published: 2005 Call number 306 DEUses the metaphor of a disease to explore how society has been affected by Americans' obsessive quest for material gain.
All the President's Men
by Bernstein, Carl Year Published: 1974 Call number 364.1 BERThis 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.
Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business
by Postman, Neil Year Published: 2006 Call number 302.2 POSExamines 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.
Barracoon : the story of the last "black cargo"
by Zora Neale Hurston Year Published: 2018 Call number 306.3 HURIn 1927, Zora Neale Hurston went to Plateau, Alabama, just outside Mobile, to interview eighty-six-year-old Cudjo Lewis. Of the millions of men, women, and children transported from Africa to America as slaves, Cudjo was then the only person alive to tell the story of this integral part of the nation's history. Hurston was there to record Cudjo's firsthand account of the raid that led to his capture and bondage fifty years after the Atlantic slave trade was outlawed in the United States.
Between the World and Me
by Coates, Ta-Nehisi Year Published: 2015 Call number 305.800973 COA and OverDrive eBookFor 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.
Big Sort : Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America Is Tearing Us Apart
by Bishop, Bill Year Published: 2008 Call number 305.8 BISAmerica 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.
But What If We're Wrong : Thinking About the Present As If It Were the Past
by Klosterman, Chuck Year Published: 2016 Call number 303.49 KLOExplores 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.
Color-Blind : Seeing Beyond Race in a Race-Obsessed World
by Cose, Ellis Year Published: 1997 Call number 305.8 COSDraws 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.
Dreamland : the true tale of America's opiate epidemic
by Quinones, Sam Year Published: 2016 Call number 362.29 QUIChronicles 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.
Flags of Our Fathers : Heroes of Iwo Jima
by Bradley, James Year Published: 2003 Call number 940.54 BRA and OverDrive eBookJames 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).
Flyboys : A True Story of Courage
by Bradley, James Year Published: 2003 Call number 940.54 BRAOver 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.
Guns, Germs, and Steel : The Fates of Human Societies
by Diamond, Jared Year Published: 1999 Call number 303.4 DIAAn 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
Jihad Vs. McWorld
by Barber, Benjamin R Year Published: 1996 Call number 909.82 BARA 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.
Kabul Beauty School : An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil
by Rodriguez, Deborah Year Published: 2007 Call number 305.48 RODSoon 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.
Lexus and the Olive Tree : Understanding Globalization
by Friedman, Thomas L. Year Published: 2000 Call number 337 FRIA 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.
Middle of Everywhere : Helping Refugees Enter the American Community
by Pipher, Mary Bray Year Published: 2002 Call number 305.9 PIPTells 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.
Miracle at Philadelphia : The Story of the Constitutional Convention, May to September 1787
by Bowen, Catherine Drinker Year Published: 1966 Call number 342.73 BOWA history of the Federal Convention at Philadelphia in 1787 that produced the Constitution of the United States.
Narcissism Epidemic : Living in the Age of Entitlement
by Twenge, Jean M Year Published: 2009 Call number 155.2 TWECiting 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.
No One Cares About Crazy People: The Chaos and Heartbreak of Mental Health in America
by Powers, Ron Year Published: 2017 Call number 362.2 POWAuthor 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.
Omnivore's Dilemma : A Natural History of Four Meals
by Pollan, Michael Year Published: 2007 Call number 394.1 POLAn 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.
Quiet : the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking
by Cain, Susan Year Published: 2012 Call number 155.2 CAI and OverDrive eBookExplores 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.
Race : A History Beyond Black and White
by Aronson, Marc Year Published: 2007 Call number 394.2663 AROClear, 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.
Salt : A World History
by Kurlansky, Mark Year Published: 2003 Call number 553.6 KURChronicles 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.
Symphony for the City of the Dead : Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad
by Anderson, M. T. Year Published: 2015 Call number 780 ANDAn account of the Siege of Leningrad reveals the role played by Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich and his Leningrad Symphony in rallying and commemorating their fellow citizens.
The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives
by Slater, Dashka Year Published: 2017 Call number 364.15 SLAOne 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.Tipping Point : How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
by Gladwell, Malcolm Year Published: 2002 Call number 302 GLA and OverDrive eBookAn 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.
Undaunted Courage : Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West
by Ambrose, Stephen E. Year Published: 1996 Call number 917.804 AMBChronicles 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.
What the Dog Saw : And Other Adventures
by Gladwell, Malcolm Year Published: 2009 Call number 814.6 GLACollects 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.
Worst Hard Time : The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl
by Egan, Timothy Year Published: 2006 Call number 978 EGAPresents 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.
Young Men & Fire
by MacLean, Norman Year Published: 1992 Call number 634.9 MACA 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.
Business/Tech
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Candyfreak : A Journey Through The Chocolate Underbelly Of America
by Almond, Steve Year Published: 2005 Call number 338.4 ALMA 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.
Fast Food Nation : The Dark Side of the All-American Meal
by Schlosser, Eric Year Published: 2005 Call number 394.1 SCHPresents an examination of the fast food industry, tracing its history and discussing how it arose in postwar America, as well as the impact it has had on economy, food production, and popular culture.
Flash Boys
by Lewis, Michael Year Published: 2015 Call Number 332.6 LEWA small group of Wall Street iconoclasts realize that the U.S. stock market has been rigged for the benefit of insiders. They band together―some of them walking away from seven-figure salaries―to investigate, expose, and reform the insidious new ways that Wall Street generates profits.Freakonomics : A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
by Levitt, Steven D Year Published: 2006 Call number 330 LEVThe 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.
Geeks : How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho
by Katz, Jon Year Published: 2001 338.7 KATDescribes 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
Innovators : How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution
by Isaacson, Walter Year Published: 2014 920 ISAFollowing 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.
Nickel and Dimed : On (Not) Getting by in America
by Ehrenreich, Barbara Year Published: 2002 Call number 305.5 EHRIn 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.
On Writing Well : The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
by Zinsser, William Knowlton Year Published: 1976 Call number REF 808 ZINPresents the thirtieth anniversary edition of the classic guide to writing, discussing the basic principles, methods, and forms of writing, and considering personal style.
Our Daily Meds : How the Pharmaceutical Companies Transformed Themselves into Slick Marketing Machin
by Petersen, Melody Year Published: 2008 Call number 338.4 PETExamines 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.
Outliers : The Story of Success
by Gladwell, Malcolm Year Published: 2008 Call number 302 GLA and OverDrive eBookIdentifies 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.
The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine
by Lewis, Michael Year Published: 2011 Call Number 330.973 LEWChronicles the events leading up to the economic crash in 2008 by following the lives of various individuals, including Steve Eisman, Vincent Daniel, Michael Burry, Greg Lippmann, Gene Park, Howie Hubler, and others.True Crime
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Bones : brothers, horses, cartels, and the borderland dream
by Joe Tone Year Published: 2017 Call number 364.1 TONThe dramatic true story of two brothers living parallel lives on either side of the U.S.-Mexico border--and how their lives converged in a major criminal conspiracy. Jose Trevino was a devoted family man working as a bricklayer in Texas. Back in Mexico, his younger brother Miguel was ascending to the top ranks of Los Zetas, a notoriously bloody drug cartel. One day Jose showed up at a quarter-horse auction and bid close to a million dollars for a horse, which caught the attention of an eager young FBI agent named Scott Lawson. Lawson enlisted Tyler Graham, an American rancher who would eventually breed Jose's champion horse--nicknamed Bones--to help the FBI infiltrate what was revealing itself to be a major money-laundering operation, with the ultimate goal of capturing the infamous Miguel Trevino
Chasing King's Killer: The Hunt for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Assassin
by James L. Swanson Year Published: 2018 Call number 323.092 SWAIn his meteoric, thirteen-year rise to fame, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a mass movement for Civil Rights -- with his relentless peaceful, non-violent protests, public demonstrations, and eloquent speeches. But as violent threats cast a dark shadow over Dr. King's life, Swanson hones in on James Earl Ray, a bizarre, racist, prison escapee who tragically ends King's life.
As he did in his bestselling Scholastic MG/YA books Chasing LIncoln's Killer and "THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SHOT!", Swanson transports readers back to one of the most shocking, sad, and terrifying events in American history.Columbine
by Cullen, Dave Year Published: 2010 Call number 373.788 CULProvides 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.
Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders
by Bugliosi, Vincent Year Published: 1994 Call Number 364.1 BUGRecounts the story of the murder of seven people in Los Angeles in 1969 and the trial and conviction of the Manson "family" for the murders.In Cold Blood
by Capote, Truman Year Published: 1965 Call Number 364.15 CAP and OverDrive eBookOn 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.
Long Shadow of Small Ghosts : Murder and Memory in an American City
by Tillman, Laura Year Published: 2016 Call number 364.152 TILA 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.
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America
by Erik Larson Year Published: 2004 Call Number 364.152 LARTells the parallel stories of Daniel Burnham, the main architect of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, and serial killer Henry H. Holmes, discussing the challenges Burnham faced in creating the hugely successful White City, and looking at how Holmes used the opportunities afforded by the fair to lure victims to their deaths.Under the banner of heaven : a story of violent faith
by Jon Krakauer Year Published: 2004 Call number 289.3 KRAPresents an account of the 1984 murder of Brenda Lafferty and her fifteen-month-old daughter Erica by Mormon Fundamentalists Ron and Dan Lafferty, brothers to the victims' husband and father who claim they were acting on an order directly from God, and provides insights into Mormon Fundamentalists and other extremist belief systems.
Sports
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American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of the Iron Crotch
by Polly, Matthew Year Published: 2007 Call number 796.815 POLGrowing 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.Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen
by McDougall, Christopher Year Published: 2009 Call number 796.42 MCDRecounts 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.
Boys in the Boat : Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
by Brown, Daniel James Year Published: 2014 Call number 797.12 BRO and OverDrive eBookTells 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.
Friday Night Lights : A Town, a Team, and a Dream
by Bissinger, H. G. Year Published: 2004 796.332 BIS and OverDrive eBookFollows the 1988 season of the Permian Panthers, a high school football team in Odessa, Texas, exploring the lives of the players and the impact of the championship team on the small town.
Hoop Dreams : A True Story of Hardship and Triumph
by Joravsky, Ben Year Published: 1995 Call number 920 JORA 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
Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game
by Lewis, Michael Year Published: 2004 Call number 796.357 LEWMoneyball is a quest for the secret of success in baseball. Following the low-budget Oakland Athletics, their larger-than-life general manger, Billy Beane, and the strange brotherhood of amateur baseball enthusiasts, Michael Lewis has written not only "the single most influential baseball book ever" (Rob Neyer, Slate) but also what "may be the best book ever written on business" (Weekly Standard).
Seabiscuit: An American Legend
by Hillenbrand, Laura Year Published: 2003 Call number 798.4 HIL and OverDrive eBookHe was a cultural icon. A world-class athlete. A champion who triumphed over terrible handicaps to become a legend of the racetrack. No other racehorse has rivaled Seabiscuit's fame or his sway over the nations imagination. The spellbinding story of this marvelous animal, the world he lived in, and the men who staked their lives and fortunes on his dazzling career. A riveting tale of grit, grace, luck and an underdog's stubborn determination, Seabiscuit is an American classic.
The Blind Side
by Lewis, Michael Year Published: 2007 Call number 92 OherDetails the life of University of Mississippi football player Michael Oher, who was raised by a crack addicted mother and adopted at the age of sixteen by a wealthy family, and explores the rising importance and salary of the offensive left tackle in the game of football.
The perfect mile : three athletes, one goal, and less than four minutes to achieve it
by Bascomb, Neal Year Published: 2005 Call number 796.42 BASA 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.
Triumph : The Untold Story of Jesse Owens and Hitler's Olympics
by Schaap, Jeremy Year Published: 2007 Call nuber 796.42 TRIPresents 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.
Adventure/Nature/Science
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Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors
by Read, Piers Paul Year Published: 1974 Call number 982 REAOn 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.
Blink: the Power of Thinking Without Thinking
by Gladwell, Malcolm Year Published: 2005 Call number 153.4 and OverDrive eBookPresents 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.
Bursts : The Hidden Pattern Behind Everything We Do
by Barabasi, Albert-Laszlo Year Published: 2010 Call number 303.4901 BARDiscusses 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.
Ecology of a Cracker childhood
by Janisse Ray Year Published: 1999 Call number 92 RayJanisse Ray grew up in a junkyard along U.S. Highway 1, hidden from Florida-bound vacationers by the hedge at the edge of the road and by hulks of old cars and stacks of blown-out tires. Ecology of a Cracker Childhood tells how a childhood spent in rural isolation and steeped in religious fundamentalism grew into a passion to save the almost vanished longleaf pine ecosystem that once covered the South.
Endurance : Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
by Lansing, Alfred Year Published: 1998 Call number 910.4 ALEProvides 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.
Grunt : The Curious Science of Humans at War
by Roach, Mary Year Published: 2016 Call number 355 ROATackles 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.
Hidden Figures : The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helpe
by Shetterly, Margot Lee Year Published: 2016 Call number 510.92 LEEAn 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.
How We Got to Now : Six Innovations That Made the Modern World
by Johnson, Steven Year Published: 2014 Call number 303.48 JOHA 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.
Into the Wild
by Krakauer, Jon Year Published: 1997 Call Number 917.9804 KRAIn April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a moose hunter. How McCandless came to die is the unforgettable story of Into the Wild.Krakatoa : The Day The World Exploded: August 27, 1883
by Winchester, Simon Year Published: 2003 Call number 551.21 WINIn 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.
Lab Girl
by Jahren, Hope Year Published: 2016 Call Number 570 JAH and OverDrive eBookHope Jahren has built three laboratories in which she's studied trees, flowers, seeds, and soil. She tells about her childhood in rural Minnesota with an uncompromising mother and a father who encouraged hours of play in his classroom's labs; about how she found a sanctuary in science, and the disappointments, triumphs and exhilarating discoveries of scientific work. Yet at the core of this book is the story of a relationship Jahren forged with Bill, who becomes her lab partner and best friend. Their sometimes rogue adventures in science take them over the Atlantic to the ever-light skies of the North Pole and to tropical Hawaii, where she and her lab currently make their home.Morgue: A Life in Death
by Di Maio, Vincent Year Published: 2016 Call Number 920 DIDr. Vincent Di Maio, a veteran medical examiner, explores the complicated forensic cases of the lives of Lee Harvey Oswald to the complex shooting of Trayvon Martin.Perfect Storm : A True Story of Men Against the Sea
by Junger, Sebastian Year Published: 1998 Call number 974.4 JUNThe incredible true account of the most extraordinary storm of the 20th century, this is the story of a tempest born from so rare a combination of factors it was deemed "perfect" and of the doomed fishing boat with her crew of six that was helpless in the midst of a force beyond comprehension. October 1991. It was "the perfect storm"--a tempest that may happen only once in a century--a nor'easter created by so rare a combination of factors that it could not possibly have been worse. Creating waves ten stories high and winds of 120 miles an hour, the storm whipped the sea to inconceivable levels few people on Earth have ever witnessed. Few, except the six-man crew of the Andrea Gail, a commercial fishing boat tragically headed towards its hellish center.
Rats : Observations on the History and Habitat of the City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants
by Sullivan, Robert Year Published: 2004 Call number 599.35 SULThe 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.
Shadow Divers : The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last M
by Kurson, Robert Year Published: 2005 Call number 940.54 KURTells 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.
Short History of Nearly Everything
by Bryson, Bill Year Published: 2003 500 BRYNature 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.
Soul of an Octopus : A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness
by Montgomery, Sy Year Published: 2016 Call number 594 MONExplores 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.
Stiff : The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
by Roach, Mary Year Published: 2004 Call number 611 ROAA 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.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
by Skloot, Rebecca Year Published: 2011 Call Number 616 SKL and OverDrive eBookExamines the experiences of the children and husband of Henrietta Lacks, who, twenty years after her death from cervical cancer in 1951, learned doctors and researchers took cells from her cervix without consent which were used to create the immortal cell line known as the HeLa cell; provides an overview of Henrietta's life; and explores issues of experimentation on African-Americans and bioethics.The stranger in the woods : the extraordinary story of the last true hermit
by Finkel, Michael Year Published: 2017 Call number 92 KnightIn 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.
Wild : From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
by Strayed, Cheryl Year Published: 2013 Call number 92 Strayed and OverDrive eBookCheryl 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.
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