Biography: general Books

Book SynopsisTrade Review“Positive, understanding, and uplifting.” -- Booklist“Evocative.” -- The Cut

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“An illustrated tribute to Maira Kalman’s late mother, this book deconstructs the life and spirit of Sara Berman through items in her meticulously kept closet.” — Publishers Weekly “The installation of her small closet—garments and linens folded with tender precision, a potato grater, a bottle of Chanel No. 19—is a shrine to humility and intention.” — The New Yorker “A reflection on her experiences and a study of the value (monetary and not) of the things we keep.” — Vogue “A new way of looking at rooms and possessions and women’s history.” — Amelia Peck, curator of American decorative arts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art “Sara Berman’s Closet” is like a living Maira Kalman painting: It’s filled with poetic details and her signature elements of irreverent humor and warmth.” — T Magazine “An unexpected meditation on modern city life: a modest closet from a studio apartment in the West Village, filled with the curious, lovely and very particular personal effects of Sara Berman, a Belarussian and Israeli émigré who was the mother of Maira Kalman, the irreverent artist, book author and illustrator.” — New York Times

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This vivid survey of Black history leaps off the page." — Publishers Weekly “In this vibrant, inclusive collection, McCalman honors the legacies of 145 Black Americans whose societal contributions cannot be overstated. His profiles and watercolors are wonderfully diverse, including both live and deceased; recognizable and lesser known; contemporary and historic... Accessible, important, and germane to the very fabric of American life, this moving collection of illustration and biography artistically reflects struggle, achievement, and perseverance... An enthusiastic, informative, and essential ode to Black American history.” — Kirkus Reviews "A unique and engaging entry point into Black history that will no doubt inspire further research into extraordinary figures from the past and present." — Booklist "Black icons and pioneers honored in a stunning new collection... The work is a testament to the urgency of our time here: how little of it there is, and how much we can give despite it." — San Francisco Chronicle “I have always gotten such a lift from George McCalman’s work—both spiritual and visual. His charming, informed, and always heartfelt art says so much about Black American life and history that he is now an essential part of the dialogue. What a gift this book is.” — Hilton Als, critic for The New Yorker, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism “In Illustrated Black History, George McCalman brings all of his brilliance—his whole heart, his keen artistic eye, his command of the written word—to this dazzling celebration of Black people. Not since Toni Morrison’s The Black Book has Black history been so vibrantly or imaginatively catalogued. We are all richer and wiser for it.” — Natalie Baszile, bestselling author of Queen Sugar and We Are Each Other's Harvest “Black history remains dynamic, yet certain assumptions are often baked into text. Illustrated Black History invites us with a beginner’s mind to stay rooted in community to keep the past alive. George McCalman’s pen projects the lives of Black luminaries who, for as long as they have shone, deserve richer tones and subtle shades, too. This book will serve as a lighthouse whose sweeping lamp will unsettle staid perspectives and confirm what most of us know in our hearts: Black people have led irresistibly exciting lives across time.” — George Aumoithe, Assistant Professor of History and African American Studies, Harvard “The experiences and narratives of Black folk throughout time and space are boundless. As you read and study the images throughout this captivating work you will appreciate the respect shown in honoring both the collective and individual histories: from the figures chosen; the essays written; and the range of mediums and approaches used in the over 140 beautiful portraits. The care and reverence shown to the Black lived experiences shines clear in this brilliant and timely work that captures both the known and especially the unseen.” — Anyabwile Love, PHD, History and Black Studies professor, Community College of Philadelphia. “Through his design studio, George McCalman has created book covers and print images that draw readers in to want to open the pages and discover more. He’s taken that same approach with this book, serving as a griot, beautifully sharing the stories of astounding and often undercelebrated people, who are united by their Blackness toward a common goal of equality and a fairer society for all.” — Wyatt Cenac, Comedian

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Book SynopsisThe British comedian of Nigerian heritage and co-executive producer and writer of the CBS hit series Bob Hearts Abishola chronicles her odyssey to get to America and break into Hollywood in this lively and humorous memoir. According to family superstition, Gina Yashere was born to fulfill the dreams of her grandmother Patience. The powerful first wife of a wealthy businessman, Patience was poisoned by her jealous sister-wives and marked with a spot on her neck. From birth, Gina carried a similar birthmark—a sign that she was her grandmother’s chosen heir, and would fulfill Patience’s dreams. Gina would learn to speak perfect English, live unfettered by men or children, work a man’s job, and travel the world with a free spirit.Is she the reincarnation of her grandmother? Maybe. Gina isn’t ruling anything out. In Cack-Handed, she recalls her intergenerational journey to success foretold by her

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Book SynopsisAn insightful and engaging insider’s look at the history and business of the meat industry, from master butcher Pat LaFrieda A full-throated celebration of red meat from one of the nation’s major purveyors. . . . The true meat of his book is a study of how beef is brought from farm to table as well as an account of commercial success that deserves a place on any business school syllabus. -- Kirkus ReviewsIt all began when Pat LaFrieda’s great-grandfather Anthony LaFrieda decided to pack up and move his family from Italy to New York in search of a better life, setting up the family’s first retail butcher shop in 1922 in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Almost one hundred years later, Pat LaFrieda, a fourth-generation butcher and third-generation meat purveyor, is at the helm of a family-run business that has been providing meat to customers for decades, through wars, the Great Depression, the tumultuou

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Book SynopsisA thrilling biography of Edda Mussolini—Benito Mussolini’s favorite daughter, one of the most influential women in 1930s Europe—and a heart-stopping account of the unraveling of the Fascist dream in Italy, from award-winning historian and author of the acclaimed Resistance Quartet, Caroline Moorehead “Reads like a page-turning thriller.”—BookPageEdda Mussolini was the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini’s oldest and favorite child. At 19, she was married to Count Galleazzo Ciano, Il Duce’s Minister for Foreign Affairs during the 1930s, the most turbulent decade in Italy’s fascist history. In the years preceding World War II, Edda ruled over Italy’s aristocratic families and the cultured and middle classes while selling Fascism on the international stage. How a young woman wielded such control is the heart of Moorehead’s fascinating history. The issues that emerge

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Book SynopsisA thrilling biography of Edda Mussolini—Benito Mussolini’s favorite daughter, one of the most influential women in 1930s Europe—and a heart-stopping account of the unraveling of the Fascist dream in Italy, from award-winning historian and author of the acclaimed Resistance Quartet, Caroline Moorehead “Reads like a page-turning thriller.”—BookPageEdda Mussolini was the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini’s oldest and favorite child. At 19, she was married to Count Galleazzo Ciano, Il Duce’s Minister for Foreign Affairs during the 1930s, the most turbulent decade in Italy’s fascist history. In the years preceding World War II, Edda ruled over Italy’s aristocratic families and the cultured and middle classes while selling Fascism on the international stage. How a young woman wielded such control is the heart of Moorehead’s fascinating history. The issues that emerge

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Book SynopsisA unique tribute to often overlooked women who have left an indelible mark on Gospel Music—powerful talents who overcame racism and sexism to define the genre, establish its sound, and set the standard for good sangin’ for generations.Nothing in the world soothes the soul better than Gospel music.Trade ReviewIsn't Her Graze Amazing! is an affectionate yet clear-eyed view of gospel’s brightest voices. — Library Journal

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Book SynopsisAn instant New York Times bestseller from Kelly Ripa—a sharp, funny, and honest collection of real-life stories showing the many dimensions and crackling wit of the beloved daytime talk show host.In Live Wire, her first book, Kelly shows what really makes her tick. As a professional, as a wife, as a daughter and as a mother, she brings a hard-earned wisdom and an eye for the absurdity of life to every minute of every day. It is her relatability in all of these roles that has earned her fans worldwide and millions of followers on social media. Whether recounting how she and Mark really met, the level of chauvinism she experienced on set, how Jersey Pride follows her wherever she goes, and many, many moments of utter mortification (whence she proves that you cannot, in fact, die of embarrassment) Kelly always tells it like it is. Ms. Ripa takes no prisoners.Surprising, at times savage, a little shameless and always with humor… Live Wire shows Kelly as she really is offscreen—a very wise woman who has something to say. 

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Book SynopsisAn instant New York Times bestseller from Kelly Ripa—a sharp, funny, and honest collection of real-life stories showing the many dimensions and crackling wit of the beloved daytime talk show host.In Live Wire, her first book, Kelly shows what really makes her tick. As a professional, as a wife, as a daughter and as a mother, she brings a hard-earned wisdom and an eye for the absurdity of life to every minute of every day. It is her relatability in all of these roles that has earned her fans worldwide and millions of followers on social media. Whether recounting how she and Mark really met, the level of chauvinism she experienced on set, how Jersey Pride follows her wherever she goes, and many, many moments of utter mortification (whence she proves that you cannot, in fact, die of embarrassment) Kelly always tells it like it is. Ms. Ripa takes no prisoners.Surprising, at times savage, a little shameless and always with humor… Live Wire shows Kelly as she really is offscreen—a very wise woman who has something to say. 

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Book SynopsisThe beloved New York Times bestselling author reflects on home, family, friendships and writing in this deeply personal collection of essays.  The elegance of Patchett’s prose is seductive and inviting: with Patchett as a guide, readers will really get to grips with the power of struggles, failures, and triumphs alike. —Publisher''s Weekly“Any story that starts will also end.” As a writer, Ann Patchett knows what the outcome of her fiction will be. Life, however, often takes turns we do not see coming. Patchett ponders this truth in these wise essays that afford a fresh and intimate look into her mind and heart. At the center of These Precious Days is the title essay, a surprising and moving meditation on an unexpected friendship that explores “what it means to be seen, to find someone with whom you can be your best and most complete self.” When Patchett chose an early galley of actor and producer Tom Hanks’ short story collection to read one night before bed, she had no idea that this single choice would be life changing. It would introduce her to a remarkable woman—Tom’s brilliant assistant Sooki—with whom she would form a profound bond that held monumental consequences for them both. A literary alchemist, Patchett plumbs the depths of her experiences to create gold: engaging and moving pieces that are both self-portrait and landscape, each vibrant with emotion and rich in insight. Turning her writer’s eye on her own experiences, she transforms the private into the universal, providing us all a way to look at our own worlds anew, and reminds how fleeting and enigmatic life can be. From the enchantments of Kate DiCamillo’s children’s books (author of The Beatryce Prophecy) to youthful memories of Paris; the cherished life gifts given by her three fathers to the unexpected influence of Charles Schultz’s Snoopy; the expansive vision of Eudora Welty to the importance of knitting, Patchett connects life and art as she illuminates what matters most. Infused with the author’s grace, wit, and warmth, the pieces in These Precious Days resonate deep in the soul, leaving an indelible mark—and demonstrate why Ann Patchett is one of the most celebrated writers of our time.

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Book SynopsisThe beloved New York Times bestselling author reflects on home, family, friendships and writing in this deeply personal collection of essays.  The elegance of Patchett’s prose is seductive and inviting: with Patchett as a guide, readers will really get to grips with the power of struggles, failures, and triumphs alike. —Publisher''s Weekly“Any story that starts will also end.” As a writer, Ann Patchett knows what the outcome of her fiction will be. Life, however, often takes turns we do not see coming. Patchett ponders this truth in these wise essays that afford a fresh and intimate look into her mind and heart. At the center of These Precious Days is the title essay, a surprising and moving meditation on an unexpected friendship that explores “what it means to be seen, to find someone with whom you can be your best and most complete self.” When Patchett chose an early galley of actor and producer Tom Hanks’ short story collection to read one night before bed, she had no idea that this single choice would be life changing. It would introduce her to a remarkable woman—Tom’s brilliant assistant Sooki—with whom she would form a profound bond that held monumental consequences for them both. A literary alchemist, Patchett plumbs the depths of her experiences to create gold: engaging and moving pieces that are both self-portrait and landscape, each vibrant with emotion and rich in insight. Turning her writer’s eye on her own experiences, she transforms the private into the universal, providing us all a way to look at our own worlds anew, and reminds how fleeting and enigmatic life can be. From the enchantments of Kate DiCamillo’s children’s books (author of The Beatryce Prophecy) to youthful memories of Paris; the cherished life gifts given by her three fathers to the unexpected influence of Charles Schultz’s Snoopy; the expansive vision of Eudora Welty to the importance of knitting, Patchett connects life and art as she illuminates what matters most. Infused with the author’s grace, wit, and warmth, the pieces in These Precious Days resonate deep in the soul, leaving an indelible mark—and demonstrate why Ann Patchett is one of the most celebrated writers of our time.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“This is a powerful call for a more inclusive and “real” feminism.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Bowen writes from an authentic space for Black women who are often left out of feminist conversations due to respectability politics, but who are just as deserving of the same voice and liberation.” — Booklist (starred review) “Sesali is one of my favorite voices because of her truth, that somehow seems to be my own truth. . . . The duality of being from the hood, and educated and valuable in ways most people find contradictory; a feminist, who doesn't need a man, but wants to be wanted because Bad Bitches need love too . . . Sesali perfectly vocalizes the inner dialogue, and daily mantras needed to be a Bad Bitch.” — Gabourey Sidibe, actor, director, and author of This is Just My Face: Try Not To Stare “Reading [Bad Fat Black Girl] is like an unforgettable conversation between you and your best homegirl. Expect to cry from laughing too hard, be pushed intellectually, love yourself more deeply, and commit to charging your worth like only the badddddddeeest do!” — Dr. Ruth Nicole Brown, professor and author of Black Girlhood Celebration: Toward A Hip Hop Feminist Pedagogy and Hear Our Truths: The Creative Potential of Black Girlhood “Sesali Bowen is poised to give Black feminism the rejuvenation it needs. Her trend-setting writing and commentary reaches across experiences and beyond respectability. I and so many Black girls still figuring out who they are in this world will gain so much from whatever she has to say.” — Charlene A. Carruthers, activist and author of Unapologetic: A Black, Queer and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements “Bad Fat Black Girl: Notes from a Trap Feminist matter-of-factly resurfaces the contributions of Black femmes often left out of even prominent Black feminist texts. As Sesali put it perfectly, Black fat girls from the hood wearing bonnets in public preserving their hairstyles to not be seen as unkempt deserve a framework to be returned to them, as they are the progenitors of why a Black feminist framework would need to even exists. This is a text that belongs in the feminist, music, sex, race, and class sections of the bookstore. It does not merely focus on one topic, but effortlessly captures the intersections of Black experience free from respectability, a celebration of the folks who are often sex shamed, sex workers, and those who are denied pleasure entirely.” — Ericka Hart, Activist and Sexuality Educator “Sesali Bowen is the girl a lot of media types have been cosplaying as for years. In her first book she has proven why she can be imitated, but never duplicated. Her willingness to be at once incredibly vulnerable and unrepentantly entitled on behalf of Black women—including herself—is a gift.” — Jamilah Lemieux, Writer, Culture Critic, Podcast Host

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Book SynopsisThe beloved New York Times bestselling author reflects on home, family, friendships and writing in this deeply personal collection of essays.  The elegance of Patchett’s prose is seductive and inviting: with Patchett as a guide, readers will really get to grips with the power of struggles, failures, and triumphs alike. —Publisher''s Weekly“Any story that starts will also end.” As a writer, Ann Patchett knows what the outcome of her fiction will be. Life, however, often takes turns we do not see coming. Patchett ponders this truth in these wise essays that afford a fresh and intimate look into her mind and heart. At the center of These Precious Days is the title essay, a surprising and moving meditation on an unexpected friendship that explores “what it means to be seen, to find someone with whom you can be your best and most complete self.” When Patchett chose an early galley of actor and producer Tom Hanks’ short story collection to read one night before bed, she had no idea that this single choice would be life changing. It would introduce her to a remarkable woman—Tom’s brilliant assistant Sooki—with whom she would form a profound bond that held monumental consequences for them both. A literary alchemist, Patchett plumbs the depths of her experiences to create gold: engaging and moving pieces that are both self-portrait and landscape, each vibrant with emotion and rich in insight. Turning her writer’s eye on her own experiences, she transforms the private into the universal, providing us all a way to look at our own worlds anew, and reminds how fleeting and enigmatic life can be. From the enchantments of Kate DiCamillo’s children’s books (author of The Beatryce Prophecy) to youthful memories of Paris; the cherished life gifts given by her three fathers to the unexpected influence of Charles Schultz’s Snoopy; the expansive vision of Eudora Welty to the importance of knitting, Patchett connects life and art as she illuminates what matters most. Infused with the author’s grace, wit, and warmth, the pieces in These Precious Days resonate deep in the soul, leaving an indelible mark—and demonstrate why Ann Patchett is one of the most celebrated writers of our time.

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMESBESTSELLERFrom political wunderkind and former army intelligence officer Jason Kander comes a haunting, powerful memoir about impossible choices?and how sometimes walking away from the chance of a lifetime can be the greatest decision of all.?A truly special book. This combination of honesty, thoughtfulness, urgency, and vulnerability is not common in leaders, and Jason demonstrates boundless occupancy of all of these traits.? ?Wes Moore,New York Timesbestselling author ofThe Other Wes MooreIn 2017, President Obama, in his final Oval Office interview, was asked who gave him hope for the future of the country, and Jason Kander was the first name he mentioned. Suddenly, Jason was a national figure. As observers assumed he was preparing a run for the presidency, Jason announced a bid for mayor of Kansas City instead and was headed for a landslide victory. But after eleven years battling PTSD from his service in Afghanistan, Jason was seized by depression and suicidal thoughts. He dropped out of the mayor?s race and out of public life. And finally, he sought help.In this brutally honest second memoir, following hisNew York Timesbestselling debutOutside the Wire, Jason Kander has written the book he himself needed in the most painful moments of his PTSD. In candid, in-the-moment detail, we see him struggle with undiagnosed illness as he considered a presidential bid; witness his family buoy him through challenging treatment; and, giving hope to so many of us, see him heal.

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Book SynopsisThe story of the fascinating, fraught alliance among Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, and Maria Weston Chapman—and how its breakup led to the success of America’s most important social movement.“Fresh, provocative and engrossing.” —New York TimesIn the crucial early years of the Abolition movement, the Boston branch of the cause seized upon the star power of the eloquent ex-slave Frederick Douglass to make its case for slaves’ freedom. Journalist William Lloyd Garrison promoted emancipation while Garrison loyalist Maria Weston Chapman, known as “the Contessa,” raised money and managed Douglass’s speaking tour from her Boston townhouse.Conventional histories have seen Douglass’s departure for the New York wing of the Abolition party as a result of a rift between Douglass and Garrison. But, as acclaimed historian Linda Hirshman reveals,&

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Book SynopsisA leading voice in the global climate movement delivers a powerful manifesto and moving memoir about climate justice and how we can?and must?build a livable and inclusive future for all.Leading climate justice activist Vanessa Nakate brings her fierce, fearless spirit, new perspective, and superstar bona fides to the biggest issue of our time. In A Bigger Picture, her first book, she shares her story as a young Ugandan woman who sees that her community bears disproportionate consequences to the climate crisis. At the same time, she sees that activists from African nations and the global south are not being heard in the same way as activists from white nations are heard. Inspired by Sweden?s Greta Thunberg, in 2019 Nakate became Uganda?s first Fridays for Future protestor, awakening to her personal power and summoning within herself a commanding political voice.Nakate?s presence highlights and reveals rampant inequalities within the climate justice movement. In January 2020, while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as one of five international delegates, including Thunberg, Nakate?s image was cropped out of a photo by the Associated Press. The photo featured the four other activists, who were all white. It highlighted the call Nakate has been making all along: for both environmental and social justice on behalf of those who have been omitted from the climate discussion and who are now demanding to be heard.From a shy little girl in Kampala to a leader on the world stage, A Bigger Picture is part rousing manifesto and part poignant memoir, and it presents a new vision for the climate movement based on resilience, sustainability, and genuine equity.

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