True stories / true accounts of events Books

Book SynopsisWhat is forgiveness?Are some acts unforgivable?Can forgiveness take the place of revenge?Powerful real-life stories from survivors and perpetrators of crime and violence reveal the true impact of forgiveness on ordinary people worldwide. Exploring forgiveness as an alternative to resentment or retaliation, the storytellers give an honest, moving account of their experiences and what part forgiveness has played in their lives. Despite extreme circumstances, their stories open the door to a society without revenge.All royalties from the sale of this book go to The Forgiveness Project charity.Trade ReviewThis reassuring and uplifting book testifies to the truth of forgiveness - freestanding, not dependent upon faith, but upon humanity. It is both provocative and full of hope. -- Jon Snow, journalist and presenterResentment and bitterness are cancers of the soul. Forgiveness is a healing balm. It is costly but effective as this book so clearly demonstrates. -- Terry Waite CBE, humanitarian and author, held hostage in Lebanon, 1987-91Confronting, inspiring and unforgettable. The stories in this book not only show the challenges and complexity of forgiveness but reveal unexpected pathways to creating a more tolerant and empathic world, and why we should consign revenge to the dustbin of history. -- Roman Krznaric, author of Empathy: A Handbook for Revolution and founding faculty member of The School of Life, LondonThere are many, many stories (and fine photographs) in this book and dipping into them on a grey, cold, rainy day was like walking into a room where all the lights blazed and a fire welcomed. I felt immeasurably better. Proud to be human. Hopeful that, despite all the evil that is perpetrated by the lost, ignorant and wicked, enough good people are spreading the messages which cancel it out. Uplifted, because it is true that 'to err is human, to forgive divine'. And if this is the finest aspect of the human spirit, then one thing is sure: there are many saintly souls walking the face of the world, teaching the rest of us how to be better. -- Bel Mooney, journalist and broadcasterThese testimonies show the power of forgiveness as a force for renewal and redemption that can harness reconciliation to positively transform the lives of victims and perpetrators. -- Peter Tatchell, political campaignerMarina Cantacuzino's new book asks us to consider the most challenging question: is it possible for a victim to forgive the perpetrator? Presenting us with heart-breaking and astonishing examples, she shows the answer is 'yes' - even when the victim is a grieving parent and the perpetrator is the murderer of that parent's child. Forgiveness allows the victim to recognise the humanity of the perpetrator (who may himself be a victim), to re-humanise him. And forgiveness is the antidote to a life imprisoned by bitterness and hatred. This book is an invaluable contribution to the debate surrounding peace and reconciliation. -- Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, Cambridge UniversityI have seen, in warzones across the world, how destructive our human desire for revenge can be. It leads to perpetual conflict and inflicting our own sense of loss and grief on countless others. Marina Cantacuzino's work, in this important book and beyond, is a reminder that there is an antidote. These tales of forgiveness are the balm that can soothe our all too angry world. -- Dan Snow, historian and TV presenterThe testimonials in this book have taught me a great deal about forgiveness, which I think I thought was something rather easier than it is. They make me weep and they make me really think about what it is to forgive and what it is to try and understand someone instead of demonising them. I think this is probably one of the most important projects in the world today. -- Emma Thompson, actorThis book, in which the depths of human sadness are related alongside astonishing accounts of hope, courage and beauty, gives the lie to much that is said and written about forgiveness today. The introductory essay, and the stories that follow, point to the extraordinary range of experiences and situations where forgiveness is somehow relevant, and where it sometimes, often unaccountably, heals and transforms even the most wounded and broken. This is challenging and mysterious stuff, and it will draw a deep and different response from all who open themselves to the pain, truth and transcendence documented here. -- Stephen Cherry, Dean, King's College, Cambridge, and author of Healing Agony: Re-Imagining ForgivenessFor eleven years Marina Cantacuzino has been eliciting stories from people who have been able to experience the transformative power of forgiveness, people who have suffered losses that could have crippled their lives with grief and wishes for revenge. Her skill as an ex-journalist is very present as she lets the stories speak and, by not taking a strong moral stance but by being able to embrace the ambiguities inherent in forgiveness, she makes the book even more compelling. I have no doubt you will be left moved and perhaps even changed by reading them. -- Robin Shohet, psychotherapist and authorThe Forgiveness Project skillfully exposes through personal story the horror and brutality of what people too often do to each other. Thankfully, these stories are leavened with the transforming healing of non violence, understanding and forgiveness and serve as examples to us all. -- Frederic Luskin Ph.D., author of Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and HappinessThe Forgiveness Project encourages sensitive connection between parties whose only commonality may have been one of hate. The results are nothing short of miracles. Love knows no obstacles - and this book, sampling the breathtaking work of The Forgiveness Project, is evidence of that. Prepare to be astounded. -- Thandie Newton, actor...Ultimately, some very good books prove their merit by providing answers to life's dilemmas. Far rarer are those books that prove their merit by provoking us into answering questions about just such dilemmas. The Forgiveness Project is of the latter category and is well worth your attention. -- San Diego Book ReviewThe bulk of this impressive, original book, which deserves to be hugely influential, is a set of 'stories' that the author has written on behalf of people who have suffered some kind of traumatic harm at the hands of another. They are written in the first person and with such skill that the subtleties of personality and context shone through. The author is not promoting any theory of forgiveness because she doesn't have one. She believes that it takes a myriad of forms and is only known through specific and actual examples. It is, as she puts it, 'as mysterious as love'. -- Stephen Curry * Theology, 119(1) *This book combines human stories with a deep engagement with some hugely difficult issues. It is written from within the secular paradigm, but it has many overlaps and insights for theology. Concepts such as forgiveness, vengeance and reconciliation and how we address them are common to all of humanity, and this book with its telling of many human stories provides a good way in to reflecting deeply on these issues...this book is essential reading for anyone involved in the work of healing. It has the potential to be transformative. -- Revd Dr Sarah Hills * Health and Social Care Chaplaincy, Issue 4.1 (June) 2016 *This is a deeply moving book about a difficult subject...the book also shows us that forgiveness is a process, a journey that is not an easy choice but one that can transform the world if taken. -- The Reader, June 2016Table of ContentsIntroduction: 'As Mysterious as Love'. 1. Eva Kor - Poland. 2. Ray Minniecon - Australia. 3. Jayne Stewart - England. 4. Bud Welch - USA. 5. John Carter - England. 6. Ginn Fourie and Letlapa Mphahlele - South Africa. 7. Bassa, Aramin - Palestine. 8. Madeleine Black - England. 9. Sammy Rangel - USA. 10. Anne Marie Hagan - Canada. 11. Camilla Carr and Jon James - Chechnya. 12. Joe Berry and Patrick Magee - Northern Ireland. 13. Magdalene Makola - Scotland. 14. Samantha Lawler - USA. 15. Martin Snodden - Northern Ireland. 16. Katy Hutchinson and Ryan Aldridge - Canada. 17. Gill Hicks - England. 18. TJ Leyden - USA. 19. Geoff Thompson - England. 20. Grace Idowu - England. 21. Jude Whyte - Northern Ireland. 22. Wilma Derksen - Canada. 23. Satta Joe - Sierra Leone. 24. Salimata Badgi-Knight - Senegal. 25. Robi Damelin - Israel. 26. Assaad Emile Chaftari - Lebanon. 27. Linda Biehl and Easy Nofemela - South Africa. 28. Khaled al-Berry - Egypt. 29. Kelly Connor - Australia. 30. Arno Michaelis - USA. 31. Idan Barir - Israel. 32. Marian Partington - England. 33. Kemal Pervanic - Bosnia. 34. Jean Paul Samputu - Rwanda. 35. Cathy Harrington - USA. 36. Hanneke Coates - Indonesia. 37. Mary Johnson and Oshea Israel - USA. 38. Shad Ali - England. 39. Riham Musa - Palestine. 40. Bjørn Magnus Jacobsen Ihler - Norway.

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Book SynopsisZara H. Phillips seemed to live a charmed life - backing singer to the stars with an incredible career here and across the Atlantic - but her smile masked a difficult childhood and the reality that she was adopted as a baby in the 60s. Her life soon spiralled and as a teenager she suffered from drug and alcohol addiction, as she struggled to find her birth parents and her true identity.Somebody's Daughter is a fascinating and revealing account of how a beautiful woman's life has been dominated by her adoption and how it has affected her and those around her. Hard-hitting and emotional, Zara's memoir explores the needs of adopted children, with her characteristic warmth and wit, and the true journey it takes to find where you belong.

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2018If you had told Helen two years ago that she would be getting up at 6 a.m. on Sundays to swim in a freezing reservoir and spending her Saturday nights unshowered and covered in mud in a pub, she would have spat out her champagne. But when everyone around you starts settling down, what else is a glamorous party girl to do but to launch herself into the world of endurance sport?For someone who didn't even own a pair of flat shoes (and definitely no waterproofs), Helen would soon find she had a lot to learn.Join Helen on her hilarious and soul-searching journey as she swaps a life of cocktail bars and dating for the challenges and exhilaration of triathlons, trail runs, obstacle races, long-distance cycles and ocean swims... and sets herself the seemingly impossible goal of qualifying as a Team GB triathlete.Trade ReviewA chatty, and sometimes racy, account of going from glamour girl to GB triathlete. * Daily Mail, Friday Books *Helen's portrayal of her transformation through running is utterly brilliant. It's warming, funny and extremely relatable! * Editor, Women’s Running Magazine *I love Helen Croydon's honesty. It makes me connect with every word she writes! * Jo Good, BBC Radio London *Inspirational stuff from a compelling writer. Helen Croydon writes with great human insight and humour. * Samantha Washington, Sky News *Proof that we can all surprise ourselves and those that know us. A great tale with honesty and plenty of humour. I might get my running shoes on yet... * Lucrezia Millarini, ITV News *The writing style and narrative really drew me in. I was completely hooked and read the entire book in the space of 4 sittings. I would probably have devoured it whole if I didn't have a tiny human to look after! * Fat Girl to Ironman blog *This has to be one of the most enjoyable running related books I have ever read. It is incredibly well written and brilliantly captures why so many people of all abilities take up running or triathlons in the first instance...I found myself captivated, nodding along in agreement and smiling to myself as I recognised so much of what she described. * So Let’s Go Running Magazine *

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Book SynopsisKindness mattersWhen times are hard, we pull together. Despite the difficulties of life during the coronavirus pandemic, love and kindness prevail.Dive into this heart-warming book and discover the many uplifting and inspiring acts of kindness that have come from the crisis. Read about the postman who donned fancy dress while doing his rounds to bring a smile to his community, the mum who set up a virtual story time for young children, or the schools that worked together to manufacture face masks for local care homes and hospitals.The coronavirus crisis may be a challenging time for the world, but the amazing stories in this book show that nobody is too small to make a difference - and that, no matter what, we can always find light in the darkness.

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Book SynopsisFrom his Syrian hometown to Lebanon, Egypt, Scotland, and England, Hussein maps the path of a man cast out of his familiar world. No One May Remain is a raw and candid perspective from a Kurdish-Syrian author on the war in Syria, the refugee crisis, and life for a refugee in the West.

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Book Synopsis'That’s what happens when you listen to the stories and they start to tell themselves all over again … the more you hear, the more questions there are, answers unpeeling like the layers of an onion.’Memoir, detective work and political history come together in this vivid and moving family biography told through the stories passed down by its undaunted women.Heard on a toboggan in the Austrian mountains, in the back seat of an overloaded Mini toiling through Europe, on a coal barge in Paris … here are tales that take us from Hungary, Germany and Italy to France, England and Argentina, from the young actress in fin de siècle Vienna to the 16-year-old schoolboy who disappeared for over 50 years. My Disappearing Uncle is a journey of discovery that explores the complicated dance between the present and the past.Trade ReviewA compulsive tangle of tales touching not only on lives, loves and the longing to belong, but also the brutality of war and injustice suffered again and yet again in Europe up to the present day. -- Katya Adler * BBC Europe Editor *An astonishing book, beautifully written. Echoes of a middle-European Forsyte Saga later colliding with the brutal realities of Nazism, and what came next. -- John Carr * author of Escape from the Ghetto *Kathy Henderson has a rare ability to draw us into her immediate family and then reverse the telescope to take in the cultural and political canvas imploding into world wars, Holocaust and diaspora … Her writing is beautiful and captivating and we are carried along in her unfolding discoveries … -- Frankie Armstrong * singer, author and activist *Kathy has peeled away the layers of her family history to reveal not only a fascinating narrative but the way in which chance encounters enrich our lives. -- Meriel Schindler * author of The Lost Café Schindler *She fits these tales into a gripping … historical narrative for her own better understanding of what occurred … to allow us, her readers, a deeper insight into the complex history of central Europe through the 20th Century, its two world wars and beyond. -- Diana Quick * actor and writer **'Henderson has that rare quality of being able to draw the reader into her world, offering them a rich and cultural experience along the way.' *- The Lady‘an evocative account of a childhood in a postwar London’ - Who Do You Think You Are?

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Book SynopsisThe true and moving story of a family's adoption of a little boy with cerebral palsy.

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Book SynopsisOn February 26th 2012 seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin was walking home with a bag of Skittles and a can of juice when a fatal encounter with a gun-wielding neighbourhood watchman ended his young life. In a matter of weeks, Trayvon Martin's name would be spoken by President Obama, honored by professional athletes, and passionately discussed all over traditional and social media. Trayvon's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, driven by their intense love for their lost son, launched a nationwide campaign for justice that would change the USA and the world. Five years after his tragic death, Travyon Martin has become a symbol of social justice activism, as has his hauntingly familiar image: the photo of a young man, wearing his favourite hoodie and gazing silently at the camera. But who was Trayvon Martin, before he became an icon? And how did one black child's death become the match that lit a civil rights movement?Rest in Power, told through the compelling alternating narratives of Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, answers those questions from the most intimate of sources. It's the story of the beautiful and complex child they lost, the cruel unresponsiveness of the police and the hostility of the legal system, and the inspiring journey they took from grief and pain to power, and from tragedy and senselessness to meaning.Trade Review"When Trayvon Martin was first shot I said that this could have been my son. Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago." -President Barack Obama; "Given the unconscionable shooting deaths of young black men, many by police, that followed Trayvon's, this galvanizing testimony from parents who channeled their sorrow into action offers a deeply humanizing perspective on the crisis propelling a national movement."-Booklist (starred review); "Not since Emmitt Till has a parent's love for a murdered child moved the nation to search its soul about racial injustice and inequality. Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin's extraordinary witness, indomitable spirit and unwavering demand for change have altered the dynamics of racial justice discourse in this country." -Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy

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Book SynopsisIn this intimate collection of autobiographical essays that every woman should read, Swi offers stories of deep reflection that relate to the tears and laughter, the rise and fall, and the love and pain felt by women in Malaysia and Singapore over the last 75 years.

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Book SynopsisA guide to all things aphrodisiac,Edible Pleasuresis the perfect book to whet the appetite and satiate the senses. aimed at the more discerning gourmand,Edible Pleasuresoffers an irresistible guide to the unbreakable bond between food and love. From the poetic to the philosophical, the absurd to the abstruse, indulge in scientific, gastronomic and cultural histories, accompanied by an a-z of aphrodisiacs with a side order of seductive recipes. lovingly combining delicacies from The Taste of a Kiss by Martial to Madame Pompadour's Asparagus Tips, by way of South Park's Hot Salty Chocolate Balls,Edible Pleasuresis bound to be the definitive textbook on food, passion, love and desire.

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Book Synopsis'[It] manages to be funny, moving, activist, and challenging.' Harriet Minter, TalkRadio'I loved this book - I thought it was really interesting' Jane Garvey, BBC Radio 4 Woman's HourHealth Visiting is one of those professions that most people think is a bit of a non-job. 'You just sit on sofas and drink tea, don't you? It's not like you're a real nurse, in hospital.'Well, Health Visitors are real nurses, with at least three years' training, and they are out there, on their own. No back-up team or support structures to call for help if they're in a dicey situation. No warm lights, tea breaks spent chatting in the canteen, nobody else to ask, 'is this okay, what do you think?'Over 40 years working in the NHS, Rachael Hearson has been chased down an isolated stairwell by crack-fuelled drug-addicted pimps, threatened by a knife-wielding wife-beater in a hostel, unwittingly visited a brothel...And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the National Outdoor Book Award Grand Prize Winner, Banff Mountain Book Festival Forever on the Mountain grips even non-climbers with its harrowing scenes of thorny relationships tested by extraordinary circumstances. Washington PostTrade Review"A shrewd and penetrating investigation of one of climbing’s greatest tragedies, Forever on the Mountain grapples with the most fundamental questions of risk and responsibility." -- David Roberts, author of Limits of the Known"Just as good as Into Thin Air…A spell binder." -- The Sun Times"Some welcome perspective on an enduringly painful episode of mountaineering history…Tabor analyzes this debacle with the doggedness of an investigative reporter and the technical knowledge of an experienced climber." -- Wall Street Journal"A powerful case study in how quickly cracks in a team’s solidarity can lead to disaster." -- Outside"As he negotiates his way through egotism, sabotage, freak weather, and staggering courage, Tabor maintains a cool head and, even more importantly in this case, an open heart. This is a maddening, terrifying book, and also a deeply compassionate one." -- John Vaillant, author of The Golden Spruce"This harrowing tale of the 1967 catastrophe on the slopes of McKinley will leave you breathless…A great detective story that offers a shocking twist to a long-unsolved mystery." -- Gay Salisbury, coauthor of The Cruelest Miles

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Book SynopsisEntertainers Roy and Dale Evans Rogers were thrilled when their little daughter Robin was born. But their excitement turned to concern when they were informed that Robin was born with Down''s Syndrome and advised to 'put her away.' The Rogers ignored such talk and instead kept Robin, and she graced their home for two and a half years. Though Robin''s time on earth was short, she changed her parents'' lives and even made life better for other children born with special needs in the years to come. Angel Unaware is Robin''s account of her life as she looks down from heaven. As she speaks to God about the mission of love she just completed on earth, the reader sees how she brought her parents closer to God and encouraged them to help other children in need. This book, which changed the way America treated children with special needs, is now available to a new generation. It is the perfect gift for parents of special needs children, parents grieving the death of a child, or

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Book SynopsisChaos. Frustration. Compassion. Desperation. Hope. These are the five words that author Wendy Welch says best summarize the state of foster care in the coalfields of Appalachia. Her assessment is based on interviews with more than sixty social workers, parents, and children who have gone through “the system.”Trade Review“Fall or Fly is a compelling, unvarnished glimpse into the complex world of foster care and adoption in modern-day Appalachia. Dr. Welch provides readers with a multifaceted view of the system through the eyes of children, foster parents, and caseworkers. It will surely become a treasured resource, not only for those interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents but for those who desire a more complete understanding of the foster care system.”“Fall or Fly offers a broad view of foster care in Appalachia…. Providing multiple perspectives alongside one another preserves tensions and contradictions that are necessary for (Welch’s) thorough exploration of foster care and adoption…. Welch provides … multiple stories and personal observations that have sometimes been missing from mainstream debate.” * Appalachian Journal *“This book zeroes in on the foster care and adoption system in the Appalachian coalfields. It tells the story with an adept combination of close looks at the experiences of the three parties involved—the kids, the social workers, and the courts.” * Appalachian Mountain Books *

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Book SynopsisTold alongside the life of a unique city resident, Harbin: A Cross-Cultural Biography is the history of Russian-Chinese relations in the Manchurian city of Harbin.Trade Review"The book is a masterful analysis of the consequences that traumatic shifts in power relations could have for the life of individuals." -- N. Pianciola, Nazarbayev University * Slavonic and East European Review *"This is a fascinating and well-researched exploration of the Russian [and] Chinese cultural encounter in Harbin, based on the extensive use of sources in both Russian and Chinese." -- Austin Jersild, Old Dominion University * H-Soz-Kult *"Specialists will draw much eclectic material about Harbin from Gamsa and enjoy the author’s often insightful ideas about cross-cultural contact and more." -- David Wolff, Hokkaido University * Slavic Review *"There are many reasons to like this book. The writing is elegant, with frequent memorable turns of phrase. The research in Russian, Chinese, and European-language sources is deep and rich, and Gamsa’s feel for his subject is remarkable. One senses on every page his balanced affection for Harbin and even for Budberg, despite his frankness about their many shared imperfections." -- Willard Sunderland, University of Cincinnati * Journal of Modern History *“The book builds on impressive research, contains stimulating discussions of the relationship between biography and general history, and thus deserves to be read not only as the story of a remarkable man but also, more broadly, as a fascinating attempt to understand the life of an individual in the context of his multicultural environment.” -- Stig Thøgersen, Aarhus University * H-Net Reviews *“Harbin: A Cross-Cultural Biography is a remarkable feat of research across multiple languages and archives, as well as a compellingly original, stylishly written, and surprisingly intimate book.” -- Edward Tyerman, University of California, Berkeley * Twentieth-Century China *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Introduction 1. Of Ethnicity and Identity 2. Beginnings 3. Intermediaries and Channels of Communication 4. A Chinese-German Flower 5. Daily Life in a Mixed City 6. Trials and Endings 7. Russians and Chinese under Japanese Rule 8. Kharbintsy and Ha’erbin ren Epilogue: The General and the Particular Notes Glossary of Chinese Terms Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn Australia 38,000 people are reported missing each year, in the UK the number is around 365,000 and in the US over 600,000. Many of these cases are never resolved.Blending long-form journalism with true crime and philosophy, Erin Stewart’s The Missing Among Us takes us from the Australian bush, to the battlefields of Northern France and the perilous space of a refugee camp to explore stories behind the missing. Stewart speaks to parents of missing children, former cult members, advocates working on the crisis of missing refugees, children of the Stolen Generations and many more.From famous cases like that of Madeleine McCann, to those who are lesser known, yet equally loved and mourned, this unique book forces us to see the complex story behind each missing person and those they leave behind.

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Book SynopsisTonika Rinar believes that everybody is capable of time travel. We can access history as it really happened, without later exaggeration or bias. We can also heal ourselves by coming to terms with our experiences in past lives. Tonika escorts the reader into other worlds and dimensions, explaining her own remarkable experiences with an easy-to-read approach. At one level the book can simply be taken as a series of fascinating experiences with the paranormal, embracing past life regression, ghosts, angels and spirit guides. But it also encourages the reader along their own journey of self-discovery and understanding. A journey in which you can discover your own connection with the Universe and the many different dimensions contained within Creation. Journey Home offers a multitude of insights, and along the way looks at some of the fundamental questions asked by all cultures around the world. Where do we come from? Why are we here? What is the point of our life? What happens when we die?Trade Review'She is a remarkable lady who leads a remarkable life.' Mike Finniston, triple Bafta award- winning director, planning a documentary on Tonika 'She strikes me - has always struck me - as a person of great sincerity and integrity who possesses a very powerful gift.' Phil Hewitt, Observer Newspapers

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for Lesbian Memoir/Biography Lammy Award Rendered in bronze, covered in white lacquer, two women sit together on a park bench in Greenwich Village. One of the women touches the thigh of her partner as they gaze into each other’s eyes. The two women are part of George Segal’s iconic sculpture “Gay Liberation,” but these powerful symbols were modeled on real people: Leslie Cohen and her partner (now wife) Beth Suskin. In this evocative memoir, Cohen tells the story of a love that has lasted for over fifty years. Transporting the reader to the pivotal time when brave gay women and men carved out spaces where they could live and love freely, she recounts both her personal struggles and the accomplishments she achieved as part of New York’s gay and feminist communities. Foremost among these was her 1976 cofounding of the groundbreaking women’s nightclub Sahara, which played host to such luminaries as Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinem, Pat Benatar, Ntozake Shange, Rita Mae Brown, Adrienne Rich, Patti Smith, Bella Abzug, and Jane Fonda. The Audacity of a Kiss is a moving and inspiring tale of how love, art, and solidarity can overcome oppression.Trade Review"I remember Sahara as a spring in the desert of the time!" -- Gloria Steinem"I love Leslie’s book. It is beautifully written. The detail she gives is remarkable both about her relationship with Beth, the beginning of Sahara where I spent many an amazing evening, and even her days in Siena. Leslie brings it all back to life. Reading this book, I was brought back to the Upper East Side in the ‘70s. Leslie had a magnetic power, and it suffuses the pages of this book." -- Brenda Feigen * feminist activist, film producer, attorney, cofounder of Ms. Magazine *"Leslie’s tribute to Sahara is testimony to the sanctuary we found in being together, feeling safe and enthralled by a sense of freedom. Whether you found that in The Duchess, Bonnie and Clyde’s or The Cubbyhole,this is your invitation to revisit. Little compared with the sense of anticipation you felt walking through the door and into the glances, stares or smiles of women and that the next few hours held countless possibilities." -- Ginny Apuzzo * gay rights and AIDS activist; former executive director of the National LGBTQ Task Force *"I am thrilled to share a story of one of the greatest loves ever known, a story of bravery to dream of and then create a safe haven for like-minded individuals who wanted a place of their own. I can remember the panic that set in the first time I went to Sahara. On tour, I was new to the excitement of riding in a limo, seeing the reaction of people dancing to my music, then suddenly being told, 'This club is different.' I was unaware of what I was about to experience. 'This is a woman’s club! Wink. Wink.' There was fear, anxiety, and laughter. I didn’t know what to think, but in I went! Warmth, joy, happiness, and excitement greeted me at the door. My Dear Friends, still all these years later, that same warmth, joy, happiness, and excitement greets me each time we see each other. I cherish the times I spent, the lifelong friends, the celebrations, and the memories I will always hold so dear. Thank you, Leslie, for sharing your incredible story!" -- Linda Clifford * R&B and disco singer *" Sahara was the only female place that I felt comfortable as I identified with the atmosphere and the women who patronized it—fashionable, glamorous, and happy. I thank Leslie Cohen for her imagination and design for her creation. The only woman’s club that I continue to hold in my memory." -- Patricia Field * Emmy Award-winning costume designer, stylist and fashion designer *"Leslie Cohen’s writing is bold, beautiful and brutally honest. She writes as she has lived, without fear or hesitation. I find my own story woven (like so many others...) through the fabric of late nights at Sahara and the blinding sunlight of 6:00 am on the upper East side. Somehow we all survived. I am honored to be part of this history." -- Brooke Kennedy * Emmy Award nominated television producer and director *"In The Audacity of a Kiss, Leslie Cohen is telling a neglected story that we all need to hear. Her club Sahara was a touchstone of feminist and LGBT history, and we're long overdue for a (re-)visit." -- Michael Schiavi * Professor of English, New York Institute of Technology, and author of Celluloid Activist: The Life and Times of Vito Russo *"Seeing Beth and Leslie’s love at a young age had a profound influence on me. I remember going to their beautiful house with my mom and feeling their love in their home. It definitely shaped me at a young age as to what I could have for myself as an adult." -- Rachel Robinson * former MTV star of Road Rules and The Challenge and founder of @rachelfitness *"I promise you will not put down this book. Leslie Cohen has the gift of being a wonderful writer with the added blessing of having a profoundly significant personal story to tell. It's one of those books whose time has come." -- Caroline Myss * author of Intimate Conversations with the Divine and Anatomy of the Spirit *"Equality Pioneer to Publish Memoir" by Brian Kantz * SUNY Buffalo State *"Anger, Love, and Memory," and Leslie Cohen * Gay & Lesbian Review *"The Audacity of a Kiss is interesting and relatable. Well worth the time spent." * Out In Print Blog *"Sealed with a kiss: Leslie Cohen discusses lesbian bars and becoming 'art'" by Gregg Shapiro * Bay Area Reporter *"Cohen’s prose is honest and beautiful and many of us will find ourselves in her words. I love that past histories are finally being published and that these wonderful stories are being recorded forever. We can never allow our past to be forgotten and it is because of people like Leslie Cohen that we are able to live as we do today. The strongest message for me here is to once again see that liberation comes from both within and without. Cohen’s prose is honest and beautiful and many of us will find ourselves in her words. I love that past histories are finally being published and that these wonderful stories are being recorded forever. We can never allow our past to be forgotten and it is because of people like Leslie Cohen that we are able to live as we do today. The strongest message for me here is to once again see that liberation comes from both within and without." * Reviews by Amos Lassen *Leslie Cohen Talks Memoir “The Audacity Of A Kiss” (AUDIO) * Outtake Voices podcast *Excerpt from The Audacity of a Kiss: Love, Art & Liberation by Leslie Cohen * Lesbian.com *"The Audacity of a Kiss is very much a love story, but it is also a tale of a woman who was not by nature an activist as she found her way in the world of political and social change of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Cohen’s memoir is about how few choices there were for women like her when she was coming of age as a young lesbian in the ‘50s." * Philadelphia Gay News *Addresses Project interview with Leslie Cohan * Addresses Project *Lesbian News cover story with Leslie Cohen * Lesbian News *"Sealed with a Kiss: An Interview with Leslie Cohen" * South Florida Gay News *The Audacity of a Kiss excerpt in San Francisco Bay Times * San Francisco Bay Times *Interview with Leslie Cohen * Epochalips *"Pandemic Pivot: Major museum digital exhibit for LGBT History Month," by J.W. Arnold * Out In New Jersey *"Out East End: Leslie Cohen, Author of ‘The Audacity of a Kiss: Love, Art & Liberation’" by Angela LaGreca * Dan's Papers *"Where the 'L' are the Women?" podcast interview with Leslie Cohen * "Where the 'L' are the Women?" podcast *"This fast-moving memoir touches on many themes, including the proverbial trio of 'sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll.'" * The Gay & Lesbian Review *"Indeed, The Audacity of a Kiss is an easy tale. It’s comfortable, like a crackling fireplace and a glass of wine on a cushy sofa. There are accomplishments here, told so that you really share the pride in them. Readers are shown the struggle that Cohen had, too, but experiences are well-framed by explanations of the times in which they occurred, with nothing overly dramatic – just the unabashed truth, and more warmth. Opening this book, in a way, then, is like accepting an invitation to own the recliner for an evening, and you won’t want anything else." * Washington Blade *"?The Brave Life of Lesbian Trailblazer Leslie Cohen," by Ashley-Anna A. * Gay City News *"I remember Sahara as a spring in the desert of the time!" -- Gloria Steinem"I love Leslie’s book. It is beautifully written. The detail she gives is remarkable both about her relationship with Beth, the beginning of Sahara where I spent many an amazing evening, and even her days in Siena. Leslie brings it all back to life. Reading this book, I was brought back to the Upper East Side in the ‘70s. Leslie had a magnetic power, and it suffuses the pages of this book." -- Brenda Feigen * feminist activist, film producer, attorney, cofounder of Ms. Magazine *"Leslie’s tribute to Sahara is testimony to the sanctuary we found in being together, feeling safe and enthralled by a sense of freedom. Whether you found that in The Duchess, Bonnie and Clyde’s or The Cubbyhole,this is your invitation to revisit. Little compared with the sense of anticipation you felt walking through the door and into the glances, stares or smiles of women and that the next few hours held countless possibilities." -- Ginny Apuzzo * gay rights and AIDS activist; former executive director of the National LGBTQ Task Force *"I am thrilled to share a story of one of the greatest loves ever known, a story of bravery to dream of and then create a safe haven for like-minded individuals who wanted a place of their own. I can remember the panic that set in the first time I went to Sahara. On tour, I was new to the excitement of riding in a limo, seeing the reaction of people dancing to my music, then suddenly being told, 'This club is different.' I was unaware of what I was about to experience. 'This is a woman’s club! Wink. Wink.' There was fear, anxiety, and laughter. I didn’t know what to think, but in I went! Warmth, joy, happiness, and excitement greeted me at the door. My Dear Friends, still all these years later, that same warmth, joy, happiness, and excitement greets me each time we see each other. I cherish the times I spent, the lifelong friends, the celebrations, and the memories I will always hold so dear. Thank you, Leslie, for sharing your incredible story!" -- Linda Clifford * R&B and disco singer *" Sahara was the only female place that I felt comfortable as I identified with the atmosphere and the women who patronized it—fashionable, glamorous, and happy. I thank Leslie Cohen for her imagination and design for her creation. The only woman’s club that I continue to hold in my memory." -- Patricia Field * Emmy Award-winning costume designer, stylist and fashion designer *"Leslie Cohen’s writing is bold, beautiful and brutally honest. She writes as she has lived, without fear or hesitation. I find my own story woven (like so many others...) through the fabric of late nights at Sahara and the blinding sunlight of 6:00 am on the upper East side. Somehow we all survived. I am honored to be part of this history." -- Brooke Kennedy * Emmy Award nominated television producer and director *"In The Audacity of a Kiss, Leslie Cohen is telling a neglected story that we all need to hear. Her club Sahara was a touchstone of feminist and LGBT history, and we're long overdue for a (re-)visit." -- Michael Schiavi * Professor of English, New York Institute of Technology, and author of Celluloid Activist: The Life a *"Seeing Beth and Leslie’s love at a young age had a profound influence on me. I remember going to their beautiful house with my mom and feeling their love in their home. It definitely shaped me at a young age as to what I could have for myself as an adult." -- Rachel Robinson * former MTV star of Road Rules and The Challenge and founder of @rachelfitness *"I promise you will not put down this book. Leslie Cohen has the gift of being a wonderful writer with the added blessing of having a profoundly significant personal story to tell. It's one of those books whose time has come." -- Caroline Myss * author of Intimate Conversations with the Divine and Anatomy of the Spirit *"Equality Pioneer to Publish Memoir" by Brian Kantz * SUNY Buffalo State *"Anger, Love, and Memory," and Leslie Cohen * Gay & Lesbian Review *"The Audacity of a Kiss is interesting and relatable. Well worth the time spent." * Out In Print Blog *"Sealed with a kiss: Leslie Cohen discusses lesbian bars and becoming 'art'" by Gregg Shapiro * Bay Area Reporter *"Cohen’s prose is honest and beautiful and many of us will find ourselves in her words. I love that past histories are finally being published and that these wonderful stories are being recorded forever. We can never allow our past to be forgotten and it is because of people like Leslie Cohen that we are able to live as we do today. The strongest message for me here is to once again see that liberation comes from both within and without. Cohen’s prose is honest and beautiful and many of us will find ourselves in her words. I love that past histories are finally being published and that these wonderful stories are being recorded forever. We can never allow our past to be forgotten and it is because of people like Leslie Cohen that we are able to live as we do today. The strongest message for me here is to once again see that liberation comes from both within and without." * Reviews by Amos Lassen *Leslie Cohen Talks Memoir “The Audacity Of A Kiss” (AUDIO) * Outtake Voices podcast *Excerpt from The Audacity of a Kiss: Love, Art Liberation by Leslie Cohen * Lesbian.com *"The Audacity of a Kiss is very much a love story, but it is also a tale of a woman who was not by nature an activist as she found her way in the world of political and social change of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Cohen’s memoir is about how few choices there were for women like her when she was coming of age as a young lesbian in the ‘50s." * Philadelphia Gay News *Addresses Project interview with Leslie Cohan * Addresses Project *Lesbian News cover story with Leslie Cohen * Lesbian News *"Sealed with a Kiss: An Interview with Leslie Cohen" * South Florida Gay News *The Audacity of a Kiss excerpt in San Francisco Bay Times * San Francisco Bay Times *Interview with Leslie Cohen * Epochalips *"Pandemic Pivot: Major museum digital exhibit for LGBT History Month," by J.W. Arnold * Out In New Jersey *"Out East End: Leslie Cohen, Author of ‘The Audacity of a Kiss: Love, Art Liberation’" by Angela LaGreca * Dan's Papers *"Where the 'L' are the Women?" podcast interview with Leslie Cohen * "Where the 'L' are the Women?" podcast *"This fast-moving memoir touches on many themes, including the proverbial trio of 'sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll.'" * The Gay & Lesbian Review *"Indeed, The Audacity of a Kiss is an easy tale. It’s comfortable, like a crackling fireplace and a glass of wine on a cushy sofa. There are accomplishments here, told so that you really share the pride in them. Readers are shown the struggle that Cohen had, too, but experiences are well-framed by explanations of the times in which they occurred, with nothing overly dramatic – just the unabashed truth, and more warmth. Opening this book, in a way, then, is like accepting an invitation to own the recliner for an evening, and you won’t want anything else." * Washington Blade *"The Brave Life of Lesbian Trailblazer Leslie Cohen," by Ashley-Anna A. * Gay City News *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Author’s Note Prologue Part I: Youth 1. Secrets and Dreams 2. Confetti on New Year’s Eve 3. Touching God 4. Awakening 5. Crawling out of Darkness 6. Acceptance Part II: Freedom Calling 7. Les Femmes 8. Water in the Desert 9. Jagged, Dirty Thoughts 10. An Antidote to Boredom 11. Permission 12. Virginia Slims Part III: A Posse of Outsiders 13. Lone Riders 14. Style Gets Used Up 15. Bashert: Fate, Meant to Be 16. After the Desert Postscript Gay Liberation Timeline Acknowledgments Notes

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThe true story of 2 year-old Anna, abandoned by her natural parents, left alone in a neglected orphanage.

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Book SynopsisA must-have gift for anyone interested in investigative journalism. The Sunday Times Insight team is famous for its investigative journalism. This book profiles the major stories – often a result of years of work and painstaking investigation – that ripped away the shrouds of secrecy, revealing the inconvenient truth.

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Book SynopsisNominated for the 2017 Hillman Prize and the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights AwardWith this Dickensian tale from America’s heartland, New York Times writer and columnist Dan Barry tells the harrowing yet uplifting story of the exploitation and abuse of a resilient group of men with intellectual disability, and the heroic efforts of those who helped them to find justice and reclaim their lives.In the tiny Iowa farm town of Atalissa, dozens of men, all with intellectual disability and all from Texas, lived in an old schoolhouse. Before dawn each morning, they were bussed to a nearby processing plant, where they eviscerated turkeys in return for food, lodging, and $65 a month. They lived in near servitude for more than thirty years, enduring increasing neglect, exploitation, and physical and emotional abuse—until state social workers, local journalists, and one tenacious labor lawyer helped these men achieve freedom.Drawing

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Can’t recommend this joint enough. It is extremely hard to translate what is happening in our society right now. … Aaron Glantz does a great job moving through the jungle of jargon. But most importantly he implicitly raises a question that has been quietly dogging me for years: What does it mean to tell your children that their success is ultimately a matter of discipline, education, hard work, and citizenship, and then see that those factors have almost no power to explain the (financial) success of the Titans of America. ... An illuminating and discomfiting read.” — Ta-Nehisi Coates (via Instagram) "Essential reading." — New York Review of Books “Glantz skillfully tells a bigger story about American housing that’s tortuous, confounding and ultimately enraging.” — New York Times “With prose that is as plainspoken as it is propulsive, Glantz explains how homeownership propelled the American Dream until 1986 only to fall, one financial scheme at a time, at the hands of billionaire money-grabbers and the failing regulators and gutless politicians who enable them.” — Beth Macy, author of Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America “In case there was ever any doubt that the world of high finance affects American households, Aaron Glantz lays it to rest in this gripping narrative of how the foreclosure machine became a grand mechanism to convert America’s historic wealth building asset—its homes—into a commodity for financiers.” — Sarah Bloom Raskin, former deputy secretary of the US Treasury and former governor of the Federal Reserve Board “An eye-opening account of how a cast of characters from Wall Street to Hollywood enriched themselves at the expense of American families. Glantz weaves together personal stories, historical context, and sharp and insightful analysis of how financiers created predatory products that wreaked devastation on the US economy and… countless families.” — Mehrsa Baradaran, professor of law at the University of California, Irvine School of Law “Glantz, through exemplary journalism, reveals the new corporate landlords’ relationship to Donald Trump and their exploitation of loopholes in public policy, in combination with the endless resources of greedy bankers, to transform the 2008 foreclosure crisis into predatory renting schemes and cash in on widespread housing insecurity.” — Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, author of Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership “This is a story that needs to be told, and Glantz tells it beautifully. Homewreckers reads like a novel, but it carries an important message: We must never let this happen again.” — Alan S. Blinder, Gordon S. Rentscher Professor of Economics and Public Affairs, Princeton University, former member of the Council of Economic Advisers, Vice Chairman of the Board of the Federal Reserve System “In this remarkable book, Aaron Glantz provides a well-researched, highly readable look at one of the nation’s most underreported stories…a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the Great Recession and the role of the voracious financial interests who would go on to put Donald Trump in the White House.” — Gwenda Blair, author of The Trumps: Three Generations of Builders and a President “A tale of greed and corruption...A solid, useful exploration of a system that ‘needs substantial, systemic change.’” — Kirkus Reviews “[A] cogent, infuriating exposé… lucid prose and impressive research make this an essential account of an under-the-radar housing crisis.” — Publishers Weekly “Glantz does an excellent job explaining the financial complexities of the housing crisis and its fallout. But the real strength of his book comes from the personal stories he weaves in to illustrate his points…the most surprising stories are those of the homewreckers themselves.” — BookPage "A shocking investigation into America's housing crisis. ... A tale of greed and corruption." — Christiane Amanpour "Smart, engrossing... chronicles how a few vulture capitalists scored big paydays on the backs of beleaguered middle-class homeowners, exploiting government largesse to cover their losses - and positioning themselves for top Trump administration jobs." — San Francisco Chronicle

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author Janice Dean shares the journeys and lessons she’s learned from everyday heroes taking on long odds. After her acclaimed memoir, Mostly Sunny, Janice Dean figured she was done trying to survive or bring down awful men. Then she found herself taking on Governor Andrew Cuomo on social media and then at rallies. What at first seemed like a futile fight ended with Cuomo’s historic resignation. But it caused Janice to wonder: What fuels someone’s resolve to go up against a powerful opponent? And how can ordinary people make the world a better place?In I Am the Storm, Janice shares the stories of others who stood like David against Goliath, choosing to fight for what was right rather than take the easy path. In the book, she shares stories from ordinary people doing extraordinary things, such as:* a California chef who went up against the government to help restaur

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Book SynopsisInto the Wild meets Helter Skelter in this riveting true story of a modern-day homesteading family in the deepest reaches of the Alaskan wilderness—and of the chilling secrets of its maniacal, spellbinding patriarch. When Papa Pilgrim, his wife, and their fifteen children appeared in the Alaska frontier outpost of McCarthy, their new neighbors saw them as a shining example of the homespun Christian ideal. But behind the family's proud piety and beautiful old-timey music lay Pilgrim's dark past: his strange  connection to the Kennedy assassination and a trail of chaos and anguish that followed him from Dallas and New Mexico. Pilgrim soon sparked a tense confrontation with the National Park Service fiercely dividing the community over where a citizen’s rights end and the government’s power begins. As the battle grew more intense, the turmoil in his brood made it increasingly difficult

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