Best Stories from the White House, 2E

About the Author C. Brian Kelly , a prize-winning journalist, is president and founder of Montpelier Publishing and a columnist and editor emeritus for Military History magazine. He also is a lecturer in newswriting at the University of Virginia. Kelly's articles have appeared in Reader's Digest, Friends, Yankee, Rod Serling's Twilight Zone , and other magazines, and he is the author of several books on American history. Ingrid Smyer is a freelance writer and editor. They live in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Best Stories from the White House, 2E

Best Stories from the White House, 2E

Best Stories from the White House, 2E

Best Stories from the White House, 2E

I Am Watching You

KIdsboro - Battle for Control (Adventures in Odyssey Kidsboro)

About the Author Marshal Younger is producer for Focus on the Family's audio drama Adventures in Odyssey, a show for which he has written more than 100 episodes. He is the author of several children's novels and has served as writer/producer of innovative projects such as Treasure of the Incas CD-ROM game and Answer That! Adventures in Odyssey DVD game. He lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Stephanie, their son and three daughters.

A Lady Never Surrenders (The Hellions of Halstead Hall)

About the Author Sabrina Jeffries is the award-winning author of nearly two dozen novels. She lives with her husband and son in North Carolina. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Chapter One EalingNovember 1825 When Bow Street Runner Jackson Pinter entered Halstead Hall’s library, he wasn’t surprised to find only one person there. He was early, and no one in the Sharpe family was ever early. “Good morning, Masters,” Jackson said, inclining his head toward the barrister who sat poring over some papers. Giles Masters was husband to the eldest Sharpe sister, Lady Minerva. Or Mrs. Masters, as she’d chosen to be called. Masters looked up. “Pinter! Good to see you, old fellow. How are things at Bow Street?” “Well enough for me to take the time to hold this meeting.” “I daresay the Sharpes have run you ragged investigating their parents’ deaths.” “Murders,” Jackson corrected him. “We’ve determined that for certain now.” “Right. I forgot that Minerva said the pistol found at the scene had never been fired. A pity no one noticed it nineteen years ago, or an investigation might have been mounted then and a great deal of heartache prevented.” “Mrs. Plumtree paid off anyone who might have explored further.” Masters sighed. “You can’t blame her. She thought she was preventing scandal.” Jackson frowned. Instead she’d prevented the discovery of the truth. And that was why she’d ended up with five grandchildren stuck in the past, unable to go on with their lives. That’s why she’d laid down her ultimatum—all of them had to marry by the end of the year or none would inherit. So far, they’d obliged her. All but one. In his mind arose an image of Lady Celia that he swiftly squelched. “Where is everyone?” “Still at breakfast. They’ll be trooping across the courtyard soon, I’m sure. Have a seat.” “I’ll stand.” He strode over to the window that overlooked the Crimson Courtyard, named for its red tile. Being at Halstead Hall always made Jackson uneasy. The sprawling mansion shrieked “aristocracy.” Having spent his early childhood in a Liverpool slum before moving to a terrace house in Cheapside at age ten, he found Halstead Hall too large, too sumptuous—and too full of Sharpes. After nearly a year with them as his clients, he still wasn’t sure how he felt about them. Even now, as he saw them walking across the courtyard beneath a cloud-darkened November sky, he tensed up. They didn’t look as if they planned to spring anything on him. They looked happy and content. First came the great lord himself—Oliver Sharpe, the ninth Marquess of Stoneville, said to be a near copy of his olive-skinned, black-haired, and black-eyed father. Initially Jackson had despised the man, having made the mistake of believing the gossip about him. He still thought Stoneville had chosen the wrong path after his parents’ deaths, but since the marquess seemed to be making up for it now, perhaps there was good in him after all. Beside him walked Lord Jarret, whose blue-green eyes and black hair were said to make him look more a blend of his half-Italian father and blond mother. He was Jackson’s favorite of the brothers. No-nonsense and even-tempered, Jarret was the easiest to talk to. And once his scheming maternal grandmother, Mrs. Hester Plumtree, had allowed him to take over the family business, the man had flourished. Jarret worked hard at Plumtree Brewery; Jackson could admire that. After him came Lord Gabriel with his new wife, Lady Gabriel, on one arm. No doubt the other two men’s wives were in their confinement—Lady Stoneville was expected to deliver within the month, and Lady Jarret wasn’t far behind. But Jackson wouldn’t be surprised to hear of an impending child soon from the youngest Sharpe brother. The couple seemed very much in love, which was rather astonishing, considering that their marriage had initially been contracted just to fulfill Mrs. Plumtree’s ridiculous ultimatum. That august woman clung to Gabe’s other arm. Jackson admired Mrs. Plumtree’s determination and pluck—it reminded him of his beloved aunt Ada, who’d raised him and now lived with him. But what the elderly woman was demanding of her grandchildren reeked of hubris. No one should have such power over their descendants, not even a legend like Hetty Plumtree, who’d singlehandedly built the family brewery into a major concern after the death of her husband. Behind her, the two Sharpe sisters came out to cross the courtyard. He dragged in a heavy breath as the younger one caught his eye. Masters approached to look out the window, too. “And there she comes, the most beautiful woman in the world.” “And the most maddening,” Jackson muttered. “Watch it, Pinter,” Masters said in a voice tinged with amusement. “That’s my wife you’re talking about.” Jackson started. He hadn’t been staring at Mrs. Masters. “I beg your pardon,” he murmured, figuring he’d best not explain. Masters would never accept that Lady Celia was to her sister as a gazelle was to a brood mare. The newly wedded barrister was blinded by love. Jackson wasn’t. Any fool could see that Lady Celia was the more arresting of the two. While Mrs. Masters had the lush charms of a dockside tart, Lady Celia was a Greek goddess—willowy and tall, small-breasted and long-limbed, with a fine lady’s elegant brow, a doe’s soft eyes. … And a vixen’s temper. The damned female could flay the flesh from a man’s bones with her sharp tongue. She could also heat his blood with one unguarded smile. God save him, it was a good thing her smile had never been bestowed on him . Otherwise, he might act on the fantasy that had plagued him from the day he’d met her—to shove her into some private closet where he could plunder her mouth with impunity. Where she would wrap those slender arms about his neck and let him have his way with her. Confound her, until she had come along, he’d never allowed himself to desire a woman he couldn’t have. He’d rarely allowed himself to desire anyone , only the occasional whore when he felt desperate for female companionship. Now he couldn’t seem to stop doing so. It was because he’d seen too little of her lately. What he needed was a surfeit of Lady Celia to make him sick of her. Then he might purge this endless craving for the impossible. With a scowl, he turned from the window, but it was too late. The sight of Lady Celia crossing the courtyard dressed in some rich fabric had already stirred his blood. She never wore such fetching clothes; generally her lithe figure was shrouded in smocks to protect her workaday gowns from powder smudges while she practiced her target shooting. But this morning, in that lemon-colored gown, with her hair finely arranged and a jeweled bracelet on her delicate wrist, she was summer on a dreary winter day, sunshine in the bleak of night, music in the still silence of a deserted concert hall. And he was a fool. “I can see how you might find her maddening,” Masters said in a low voice. Jackson stiffened. “Your wife?” he said, deliberately being obtuse. “Lady Celia.” Hell and blazes. He’d obviously let his feelings show. He’d spent his childhood learning to keep them hidden so the other children wouldn’t see how their epithets wounded him, and he’d refined that talent as an investigator who knew the value of an unemotional demeanor. He drew on that talent as he faced the barrister. “Anyone would find her maddening. She’s reckless and spoiled and liable to give her future husband grief at every turn.” When she wasn’t tempting him to madness. Masters raised an eyebrow. “Yet you often watch her. Have you any interest there?” Jackson forced a shrug. “Certainly not. You’ll have to find another way to inherit your new bride’s fortune.” He’d hoped to prick Masters’s pride and thus change the subject, but Masters laughed. “You, marry my sister-in-law? That, I’d like to see. Aside from the fact that her grandmother would never approve, Lady Celia hates you.” She did indeed. The chit had taken an instant dislike to him when he’d interfered in an impromptu shooting match she’d been participating in with her brother and his friends at a public park. That should have set him on his guard right then. A pity it hadn’t. Because even if she didn’t despise him and weren’t miles above him in rank, she’d never make him a good wife. She was young and indulged, not the sort of female to make do on a Bow Street Runner’s salary. But she’ll be an heiress once she marries. He gritted his teeth. That only made matters worse. She would assume he was marrying her for her inheritance. So would everyone else. And his pride chafed at that. Dirty bastard. Son of shame. Whoreson. Love-brat. He’d been called them all as a boy. Later, as he’d moved up at Bow Street, those who resented his rapid advancement had called him a baseborn upstart . He wasn’t about to add money-grubbing fortune hunter to the list. “Besides,” Masters went on, “you may not realize this, since you haven’t been around much these past few weeks, but Minerva claims that Celia has her eye on three very eligible potential suitors.” Jackson’s startled gaze shot to him. Suitors? The word who was on his lips when the door opened and Stoneville entered. The rest of the family followed, leaving Jackson to force a smile and exchange pleasantries as they settled into seats about the table, but his mind kept running over Masters’s words.


Joy of Hooking (With Yarn!)

Review Writers Digest Awards writes: The book might be a revelation to many readers, especially women. Rug hooking is a absorbing hobby women in particular can undertake. Eminently practical in its treatment of the subject, the well organized and written how-to book explains what rug hooking is, its traditions and background, how to do it, and then projects beginners can try to do. Step-by-step instructions, with handy pictures, look like they would enable readers to achieve considerable successes. Needed equipment is listed. Using yarn to hook poems, sayings, and aphorisms into rugs is another feature extolled. The gallery of rug hookings is colorful and impressive. A valuable 28-minute beginners' guide DVD is incorporated inside the book. Overall, the book is a fine introduction to rug hooking that should hook readers into trying out this avocation. --Writers Digest Awards Self Publishing Awards, 2011Writer's Digest Awards writes: The author gives a thorough, easy to understand look at a lesser known fiber art. The author s skill and passion for the subject is clear and draws readers in. While the book is mostly how-to oriented, it also covers history and craft supply issue, adding depth to the content. The wide range of sample rugs allows readers to see all the possible projects they could tackle; most of the samples have a slightly old-fashioned feel, but readers could easily adapt the skills to more cutting edge fashion patterns. The author s insider tips and experience make this book so much more value than basic how to books or internet instructions. While the book mostly focuses on rugs and flat projects, it also shows how to make three dimensional pieces like stuffed animals. The DVD is a great help for those now to this art form who like to learn in a way that is both visual and auditory; the DVD captures the quaint feel of this art. The included pattern is a great gift to beginners as well. --Writer's Digest Self-Publishing Awards, 2011 About the Author Judy Taylor is an artist and teacher, residing in Washington State. Her instructional DVD won the coveted Gold Award for Excellence at the International Television and Video Artists Assn. Her first book, Hooking With Yarn sold out of its first printing. More at Little House Rugs.

Guitar: The First 100 Chords for Guitar: How to Learn and Play Guitar Chords: The Complete Beginner Guitar Method (Beginner Guitar Books)

Beaversprite: My Years Building an Animal Sanctuary

Birds of the Northeast Playing Cards (Nature's Wild Cards)

Eric Sloane's I Remember America

The Beavers of Popple's Pond: Sketches from the Life of an Honorary Rodent

The Twelfth Insight: The Hour of Decision (Celestine Series)

About the Author James Redfield is the New York Times bestselling author of The Celestine Prophecy , which was a #1 international bestseller. This phenomenal novel spent over three years on the New York Times bestsellers list. Redfield continued the story with the sequels The Tenth Insight: Holding the Vision, The Secret of Shambhala: In Search of the Eleventh Insight , and The Twelfth Insight: The Hour of Decision . James Redfield is also the author of the nonfiction title Celestine Vision and co-author of God and the Evolving Universe . He co-wrote and co-produced the film version of The Celestine Prophecy .

The Pipe Book

From the Back Cover Alfred Dunhill's passion for perfection led him to develop a pipe collection so that he might become a better tobacconist - the more he knew about pipes, the better he could serve his pipe-smoking customers. From this collection emerged an archivist and a catalog, and from the catalog evolved The Pipe Book - a thorough exploration of nearly every type of pipe known to man, with in-depth explanations of the pipes' origins, structures, and uses, as well as fascinating anthropological discussions that span the entire world and hundreds of years. Included here are everything from primitive makeshift, mound, and earthen pipes through models of ivory, clay, and porcelain to the modern briars, cobs, and meerschaums. And just as fascinating are the vivid and insightful discussions of the significance of smoking in different cultures, from the ancient Mayans to twentieth-century Europeans and everything in between. (61/4 X 83/4, 306 pages, b&w photos, illustrations) About the Author Alfred Dunhill Limited is one of the premier manufacturers and retailers of luxury goods of this century. It has an established reputation in the field of smokers' requisites, with such innovations as the White Spot trademark applied to pipes and the patented shell briar pipe. Alfred Dunhill died in 1959. His grandson, Richard Dunhill, is chairman of Alfred Dunhill Limited.

Millennial Hospitality IV: After Hours

The Holiday Train Show: The New York Botanical Garden

Review “Dazzling full-page views of the entire spectacle makes the experience come alive for readers, while essays explore the engineering of the tracks and bridges as well as notable featured trains. The book is a perfect gift that commemorates a visit to the Holiday Train Show and its 25 memorable years.” -Antique and Auction News About the Author Joanna L. Groarke is Director of Public Engagement and Library Exhibitions Curator at The New York Botanical Garden.Paul Busse is the founder of Applied Imagination.Karen Daubmann is The New York Botanical Garden’s Associate Vice President of Exhibitions and Public Engagement.

Meaning in Star Trek

Traced: Human DNA's Big Surprise

About the Author DR. NATHANIEL JEANSON received his B.S. in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and his PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology from Harvard University. As an undergraduate, he researched the molecular control of photosynthesis, and his graduate work involved investigating the molecular and physiological control of adult blood stem cells. His findings have been presented at regional and national conferences, and have been published in peer-reviewed journals, such as Blood, Nature, and Cell . Since 2009, he has been actively researching the origin of species, both at the Institute for Creation Research and at Answers in Genesis.

City of Bones(The Mortal Instruments)

About the Author Cassandra Clare is the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of The Red Scrolls of Magic , Lady Midnight , Lord of Shadows , and Queen of Air and Darkness , as well as the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series and Infernal Devices trilogy. She is the coauthor of The Bane Chronicles with Sarah Rees Brennan and Maureen Johnson; Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy with Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman; and Ghosts of the Shadow Market with Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, Kelly Link, and Robin Wasserman. Her books have more than 50 million copies in print worldwide and have been translated into more than thirty-five languages and made into a feature film and a TV show. Cassandra lives in western Massachusetts. Visit her at CassandraClare.com. Learn more about the world of the Shadowhunters at Shadowhunters.com.


Canoeing in the wilderness

About the Author Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817 - May 6, 1862) was an American essayist, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, yogi,[3] and historian. A leading transcendentalist,[4] Thoreau is best known for his book Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay "Civil Disobedience" (originally published as "Resistance to Civil Government"), an argument for disobedience to an unjust state. Thoreau's books, articles, essays, journals, and poetry amount to more than 20 volumes. Among his lasting contributions are his writings on natural history and philosophy, in which he anticipated the methods and findings of ecology and environmental history, two sources of modern-day environmentalism. His literary style interweaves close observation of nature, personal experience, pointed rhetoric, symbolic meanings, and historical lore, while displaying a poetic sensibility, philosophical austerity, and Yankee attention to practical detail.[5] He was also deeply interested in the idea of survival in the face of hostile elements, historical change, and natural decay; at the same time he advocated abandoning waste and illusion in order to discover life's true essential needs. He was a lifelong abolitionist, delivering lectures that attacked the Fugitive Slave Law while praising the writings of Wendell Phillips and defending the abolitionist John Brown. Thoreau's philosophy of civil disobedience later influenced the political thoughts and actions of such notable figures as Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. Thoreau is sometimes referred to as an anarchist.[7][8] Though "Civil Disobedience" seems to call for improving rather than abolishing government-"I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government"[9]-the direction of this improvement contrarily points toward anarchism: "'That government is best which governs not at all;' and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have." Thoreau had a distinctive appearance, with a nose that he called his "most prominent feature".[15] Of his appearance and disposition, Ellery Channing wrote:[16] His face, once seen, could not be forgotten. The features were quite marked: the nose aquiline or very Roman, like one of the portraits of Caesar (more like a beak, as was said); large overhanging brows above the deepest set blue eyes that could be seen, in certain lights, and in others gray,-eyes expressive of all shades of feeling, but never weak or near-sighted; the forehead not unusually broad or high, full of concentrated energy and purpose; the mouth with prominent lips, pursed up with meaning and thought when silent, and giving out when open with the most varied and unusual instructive sayings. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked At The Edge Of The World

From Publishers Weekly In early 1864, heading back to Australia after a failed mining expedition, the crew of the Grafton encountered a violent storm and found themselves shipwrecked in the Auckland Islands, off the coast of New Zealand. Druett, a maritime historian ( In the Wake of Madness ), draws upon the journals of the ship's captain, Thomas Musgrave, and prospector François Raynal to reveal how the crew pulled together and made the best of their circumstances for nearly two years. By contrast, when the Invercauld ran aground on the other side of the island months later—beyond an impassable mountain range, and hence unaware they were not alone—the surviving sailors quickly began eating their dead crewmates out of desperation. Soon, only three remained, the ineffectual captain and another officer being kept alive by a resourceful seaman. Druett tells the two stories in strict chronological order, allowing readers to become familiar with the Grafton party before weaving the Invercauld survivors into the narrative. She zeroes in on the salient details of their ordeals, identifying the plants that kept the castaways from contracting scurvy or sketching out an improvised recipe for soap with equal aplomb. This is a fine addition to the genre of survival tales like Endurance or In the Heart of the Sea . (Jul. 20) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From School Library Journal Adult/High School—Using diaries, ship logs, and newspaper accounts, Druett re-creates the different experiences of the survivors of two wrecked vessels. In January 1864, the five-man crew of the Grafton left Sydney, Australia, intending to locate a source of argentiferous tin allegedly to be found on remote Campbell Island. In May 1864, the Invercauld left Melbourne for South America, with no passengers and a crew of 25, to sail to Callao to take on a cargo of fertilizer. Neither ship reached its final destination. Instead, both were shipwrecked on opposite ends of the same subantarctic island. Grafton 's crew survived, and could even be said to have prospered. By working together, the men managed to build a shelter, hunt sea lions, and, eventually, build a boat and launch their own rescue team. The initial 19 survivors of the Invercauld , on the other hand, fell into arguing and quibbling with no direction or plan. Their number soon dwindled to 16, and then to 3. Viewers of television's Survivor and readers of survival novels will enjoy Island , and the book could provide teens with the know-how to stay alive if they ever found themselves in a similar situation.— Joanne Ligamari, Rio Linda School District, Sacramento, CA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Bookmarks Magazine The author of several works on nautical history and a maritime mystery series, Joan Druett is a knowledgeable, entertaining tour guide through the seafaring life of the 19th century and the hardships of "castaway life" ( New York Times Book Review ). Druett illustrates how each group coped with the hostile conditions and why their respective strategies (or lack thereof) succeeded or failed by allowing the details of each story to drive the narrative. Some critics found those details too graphic-particularly the descriptions of cannibalism and clubbing baby seals-but Druett's straightforward, restrained writing style steers clear of sensationalism or melodrama. Based on survivors' memoirs, interviews, and newspaper articles, Island of the Lost is an enthralling tale with a timeless message. Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc. From Booklist In January 1864, five seamen from the wrecked schooner Grafton were stranded on Auckland^B Island, 300 miles from New Zealand. On the opposite end of the island another ship, the Invercauld , was wrecked during a gale. The Grafton 's sailors built a cabin and a forge and survived for almost two years before building another ship and leaving the island. Nineteen sailors survived the wreck of the Invercauld ; eventually only three were left alive. Druett, the author of 16 other books, consulted survivors' journals and other sources to relate their struggles--how they were able to obtain food, how they built furniture, their need for solidarity, and how they spent their leisure hours. They also spent time washing their garments, hunting for sea lions to eat, and continually planning and hoping to be saved. The amount of detail Druett has amassed is truly impressive, resulting in an invaluable account of survival. George Cohen Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Review "A compelling fact-upon-fact style that lets the men's incremental accomplishments and unlikely survival supply the drama."--News & Observer From the Inside Flap Auckland Island is a godforsaken place in the middle of the Southern Ocean, 285 miles south of New Zealand. With year-round freezing rain and howling winds, it is one of the most forbidding places in the world. To be shipwrecked there means almost certain death.  In 1864 Captain Thomas Musgrave and his crew of four aboard the schooner Grafton wreck on the southern end of the island. Utterly alone in a dense coastal forest, plagued by stinging blowflies and relentless rain, Captain Musgraverather than succumb to this dismal fateinspires his men to take action. With barely more than their bare hands, they build a cabin and, remarkably, a forge, where they manufacture their tools. Under Musgrave's leadership, they band together and remain civilized through even the darkest and most terrifying days.  Incredibly, at the same time on the opposite end of the islandtwenty miles of impassable cliffs and chasms awaythe Invercauld wrecks during a horrible storm. Nineteen men stagger ashore. Unlike Captain Musgrave, the captain of the Invercauld falls apart given the same dismal circumstances. His men fight and split up; some die of starvation, others turn to cannibalism. Only three survive. Musgrave and all of his men not only endure for nearly two years, they also plan their own astonishing escape, setting off on one of the most courageous sea voyages in history.  Using the survivors' journals and historical records, award-winning maritime historian Joan Druett brings this extraordinary untold story to life, a story about leadership and the fine line between order and chaos. From the Back Cover Auckland Island is a godforsaken place in the middle of the Southern Ocean, 285 miles south of New Zealand. With year-round freezing rain and howling winds, it is one of the most forbidding places in the world. To be shipwrecked there means almost certain death.  In 1864 Captain Thomas Musgrave and his crew of four aboard the schooner Grafton wreck on the southern end of the island. Utterly alone in a dense coastal forest, plagued by stinging blowflies and relentless rain, Captain Musgrave—rather than succumb to this dismal fate—inspires his men to take action. With barely more than their bare hands, they build a cabin and, remarkably, a forge, where they manufacture their tools. Under Musgrave's leadership, they band together and remain civilized through even the darkest and most terrifying days.  Incredibly, at the same time on the opposite end of the island—twenty miles of impassable cliffs and chasms away—the Invercauld wrecks during a horrible storm. Nineteen men stagger ashore. Unlike Captain Musgrave, the captain of the Invercauld falls apart given the same dismal circumstances. His men fight and split up; some die of starvation, others turn to cannibalism. Only three survive. Musgrave and all of his men not only endure for nearly two years, they also plan their own astonishing escape, setting off on one of the most courageous sea voyages in history.  Using the survivors' journals and historical records, award-winning maritime historian Joan Druett brings this extraordinary untold story to life, a story about leadership and the fine line between order and chaos. About the Author Joan Druett is a maritime historian and the award-winning author of several books, including Petticoat Whalers , She Was a Sister Sailor , Hen Frigates , Tupaia , and The Discovery of Tahiti. Her interest in maritime history began in 1984, when she discovered the grave of a young American whaling wife while exploring the tropical island of Rarotonga; she subsequently received a Fulbright fellowship to study whaling wives in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and California. Her ground-breaking work in the field of seafaring women was also recognized with a L. Byrne Waterman Award. She is married to Ron Druett, a maritime artist. Read more

Shirley F'N Lyle: VIVA the REVOLUTION

Review ★★★★½ Manhattan Book Review "Shirley F'N Lyle is a great story. A wild adventure with blood, guts, spit, gore, guns, and four-by-fours that will leave you wanting more. "★★★★★ Seattle Book Review "a fast, compelling ride... heavier on the grit than the chick... I along with many others will be looking forward to more." California Bookwatch: Ribald, sometimes rude, rollicking, and risqué: that's Shirley and her world, and this is the power and impact of a story that's a standout whether you want to label it chic lit, women's literature, or urban mystery. No matter what it's labeled, the out-of-the-box read that is Shirley F'N Lyle: VIVA the REVOLUTION is highly recommended for readers of contemporary women's fiction who like their characters urban, rough, and outrageously hilarious. ★★★★ Literary Titan: Shirley F'N Lyle is a fantastically entertaining novel... ★★★★½ SPR: Sassy, hard-nosed storytelling swirling between hard-hitting truths about society make this book more than a pulp-fiction pleasure. Shirley F'N Lyle: VIVA the REVOLUTION is a cutting, empowering, and unforgettable tale of heroism in the most unexpected of places. US Review of Books: Full of action, danger, and some surprisingly frank reflection on self-deprecation, there's also a subtle layer of comedy as all of the dangerous elements of the story turn against one another under false pretenses and incorrect assumptions. That tension all builds up to a climax that will be sure to surprise and delight readers and leave them ready for more. READER VIEWS: Clayton Lindemuth has done an excellent job by creating a fast paced, laugh out loud tale of angst and redemption. He created a plot full of twists and turns, with a character that is surprisingly likable. I found myself cheering her on... So much fun to read!

The Forager's Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants

About the Author Samuel Thayer is an internationally recognized authority on edible wild plants who has authored two award-winning books on the topic, Nature’s Garden and The Forager’s Harvest . He has taught foraging and field identification for more than two decades. Besides lecturing and writing, Samuel is an advocate for sustainable food systems who owns a diverse organic orchard and harvests wild rice, acorns, hickory nuts, maple syrup, and other wild products. He lives in rural northern Wisconsin with his wife and three children.

Enemies Foreign and Domestic

Review Enemies Foreign And Domestic review in GUNS Magazine, November 2005 A stadium massacre leads to the banning of all semi-automatic rifles, the teaser on the jacket reads. But who really fired the fatal shots, and why? The answer, we learn, involves nothing less than a modern day Reichstag fire, engineered and instigated by an evil and ambitious ATF supervisor and his squad of violent agency misfits. The political fallout of the stadium shooting is a national ban on assault weapons. With free rein to create more domestic terror incidents, and with unprincipled politicians and a complicit media, gun owners are easily demonized as a manipulated public demands more security. All Brad Fallon wanted to do was restore his vintage sailboat, Guajira, take his savings from three years of working the ANWR oil fields, and cruise the world. He hadn't counted on his interest and proficiency in shooting being used to entrap him, or being ultimately forced into covert rebellion against rogue federal agents. But back a man into a corner with other men -- all proficient in modern weaponry, and all unbending believers in liberty -- make it clear that you mean to destroy them, and a most dangerous type of resistance is born: a competent one. Author Matthew Bracken has written a thrilling first novel (did I mention this is also a passionate love story?), one that engages, grips and doesn t let up. He avoids the proselytizing that can plague the liberty genre, and delivers a solid, exciting tale with deep and believable characters. Bracken's background with UDT and SEAL Teams, and as the designer/builder of a cutter that he soloed from Panama to Guam, adds credibility to the technical and tactical details he weaves into the plot. I can't wait for the sequel, scheduled for release early in 2006. David Codrea, GUNS Magazine --GUNS Magazine, November 2005John Ross' review of Enemies Foreign And Domestic I have several complaints about most thriller novelists. First, their protagonists are too often 100% virtuous with no humanizing flaws. Second, the protagonists let their enemies live when you KNOW the bad guys are going to come back and murder their kids etc. Third, everything the government does (hi-tech weapons, military & police tactics, criminal investigations, etc.) functions flawlessly. Fourth, too many stories have all the brilliant thinking and brave actions done by government employees (Special Forces, policemen, Intelligence operatives, etc.) Lastly, some novels have a basic premise that is just not believable. (Clancy's RAINBOW SIX is a prime example.) Novelist Matthew Bracken has avoided these sins almost entirely in his excellent debut novel ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. It is a challenge for any writer to come up with a plot that is at once plausible enough to have the reader accept it but also unlikely enough that it has not actually happened yet in real life. EFAD's dramatic concept is this: Wally Malvone, a lone mid-level ATF executive, engineers (with one accomplice) a long-range shooting into a football stadium and successfully arranges for an addled, destitute veteran to take the blame and be killed in the process. Malvone does this because he needs an emergency that will encourage the President to embrace a plan he has put together: Forming a secret "hit squad" comprised of overaggressive ATF agents with disciplinary problems. This squad's duty is to be proactive: identify domestic terrorists ("militia members") and kill them during raids. The trial is in the media, when the cameras see the (planted) contraband retrieved from the slain terrorist's dwelling. Malvone wants to have this hit squad for the obvious reasons: funding, power, and prestige. Naturally, some of the victims drawn into Malvone's web of treachery decide they have no choice but to fight back. At each point in the storyline, as the good guys and bad guys acted and reacted, I kept asking myself if what was happening was plausible. How would *I* rewrite it to make it more believable? In some cases I thought that I would have had the parties react a bit differently, but I had to admit my alternate scenario was not necessarily more likely. The fact is that when you get into the realm of serious, institutionalized government abuse of power in an environment with lots of resourceful, angry, well-armed people and the near-instant information flow of the Internet, you're in uncharted waters. One critic said the female lead was an adolescent fantasy (21 years old, beautiful, motorcycle rider, expert shot, virgin) and I would have given her more edginess, but hey, a lot of readers like their heroes untainted. Anyway, EFAD is an action-packed read, with most of the skill and creativity being demonstrated by the private sector, which is IMO 100% realistic. Send a copy to your favorite Senator or Congressman... EFAD is also good inspiration for me to get back to work on DETOUR, the sequel to UC. No promises, except there should be something in it to offend just about everyone. John Ross, author of "Unintended Consequences" January 2004 --John Ross, author of "Unintended Consequences" January 2004 About the Author Matt Bracken was born in 1957 in Baltimore Maryland, and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1979 with a degree in Russian Studies. He was commissioned as a Naval officer, and served on east coast SEAL teams during the 1980s as a Special Warfare officer, including leading a SEAL detachment to Beruit Lebanon in 1983. He has worked as a boat builder, welder, and charter boat skipper, and holds a Coast Guard captain's license. He is also the author of "Domestic Enemies: The Reconquista" (2006) and "Foreign Enemies And Traitors," (2009)

Safe: How to Protect Yourself, Your Family, and Your Home

About the Author Wayne LaPierre has served as the executive vice president and chief executive officer of the National Rifle Association of America since 1991.Backed by NRA's 4 million active members, Wayne has led NRA efforts to restore the relevance and sanctity of the Second Amendment. Today, this right continues to be preserved by freedom's largest, most potent and devoted voluntary organization.

'If I had a Son': Race, Guns, and the Railroading of George Zimmerman

About the Author Jack Cashill is an independent writer and producer who has written for Fortune, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Weekly Standard. Cashill writes weekly for WND and has authored nine books of nonfiction under his own name, five of which have been featured on Book-TV, and collaborated quietly on six others. Cashill also has produced a score of documentaries for regional PBS and national cable channels. He holds a Ph.D. from Purdue.

Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War

Amazon.com Review An Amazon Best Book of June 2016: It takes a special kind of writer to make topics ranging from death to our gastrointestinal tract interesting (sometimes hilariously so), and pop science writer Mary Roach is always up to the task. In her latest book, Grunt , she explores how our soldiers combat their non-gun-wielding opponents--panic, heat exhaustion, the runs, and more. It will give you a new appreciation not only for our men and women in uniform (and by the way, one of the innumerable things you’ll learn is how and why they choose the fabric for those uniforms), but for the unsung scientist-soldiers tasked with coming up with ways to keep the “grunts” alive and well. If you are at all familiar with Roach’s oeuvre, you know her enthusiasm for her subjects is palpable and infectious. This latest offering is no exception. --Erin Kodicek, The Amazon Book Review From School Library Journal Roach does it again. Amid all the debates about the military-industrial complex in our country, its impact on medicine, invention, and other scientific pursuits is often overlooked. Roach interviews those in science-related military careers, employing her cockeyed sense of humor and awing readers with what she uncovers. (http://ow.ly/PN4C305MyAa)—Jamie Watson, Baltimore County Public Library Review "A mirthful, informative peek behind the curtain of military science." ― Washington Post "From the ever-illuminating author of Bonk and Stiff comes an examination of the science behind war. Even the tiniest minutiae count on the battlefield, and Roach leads us through her discoveries in her inimitable style." ― Elle "Our most consistently entertaining science journalist…Roach goes where other writers wouldn’t dare….And her search produces images―a kind of technopoetry―that are hard to forget." ― O Magazine "[Roach] takes on the challenges the military faces to keep its fighters safe and healthy with her trademark flair (and zingy footnotes)." ― Entertainment Weekly "Roach is a tenacious investigative journalist with an appetite for the unappetizing... Grunt ranks high in the Roach repertoire." ― USA Today "Mary Roach’s latest bit of brilliance….As meticulously researched, beautifully written, and disturbingly funny as her previous books… Grunt examines the science behind war, as well as the researchers who are leading the charge in these state-of- the-art developments. Roach’s prose is a triumph―an engaging blend of anecdote, research, and reflection." ― Boston Globe "[Roach] writes exquisitely about the excruciating….wildly informative and vividly written" ― Los Angeles Times "Nobody does weird science quite like [Roach], and this time, she takes on war. Though all her books look at the human body in extreme situations (sex! space! death!), this isn’t simply a blood-drenched affair. Instead, Roach looks at the unexpected things that take place behind the scenes." ― Wired "Roach...applies her tenacious reporting and quirky point of view to efforts by scientists to conquer some of the soldier’s worst enemies." ― Seattle Times "Extremely likable…and quick with a quip….[Roach’s] skill is to draw out the good humor and honesty of both the subjects and practitioners of these white arts among the dark arts of war." ― San Francisco Chronicle "Covering these topics and more, Roach has done a fascinating job of portraying unexpected, creative sides of military science." ― New York Post About the Author Mary Roach is the author of five best-selling works of nonfiction, including Grunt , Stiff , and, most recently, Fuzz . Her writing has appeared in National Geographic and the New York Times Magazine , among other publications. She lives in Oakland, California. Read more

Networking with a Purpose: How I Built My Power Team, Raised 16 Million Dollars & Got On HGTV!

About the Author Amy Mahjoory is the founder and president of Blue Ink Homes, a multi-million-dollar real estate investing company based in Chicago, IL. Prior to creating Blue Ink Homes, Amy earned her Bachelor of Arts in Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University and her Master of Business Administration majoring in Operations Management from St. Edward's University. For fourteen years, Amy worked for Dell Inc. in Austin, Texas where she became a highly recognized global leader in Procurement, Logistics and Operations Management. Amy's success can be attributed, in large part, to her team-building talents and cutting-edge business systems. She focuses on surrounding herself with some of the most dynamic and dedicated entrepreneurs, mentors, peers, employees and investors. Her strengths include strategic networking, team building, problem solving, outsourcing and raising private money. Amy has a genuine interest in helping others succeed. Most of Amy's success originates from her belief in working smarter, not harder. Amy is an expert real estate investor, entrepreneur, published author, TV personality, national real estate coach and motivational public speaker. Amy's number one goal is to provide the absolute highest level of service to her clients.

Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of Kindergarten (Picture Puffins)

Review Children and adults both will be delighted ("Booklist", starred review) The lively, rhyming text is accompanied by illustrations that reveal details worth poring over. ("The Horn Book") About the Author Joseph Slate , a native West Virginian, has always loved to paint and write. Mr. Slate is professor of art emeritus at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he taught for 30 years. He now lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with his wife, Patty. A Marine Air Corps veteran, he and his wife have set foot on all seven continents and traveled in 39 countries. They have lived in both Japan and Italy. Ashley Wolff is the author and/or illustrator of over 55 children’s picture books including I Love My Mommy Because and I Love My Daddy Because, Stella and Roy Go Camping, Me Baby, You Baby, The Wild Little Horse, Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?, I Call My Grandma Nana and the beloved Miss Bindergarten Series. Her books have won numerous state and national awards.

Official GRE Value Combo


Country Baking: Delicious, Pies, Cakes, Cookies, Breads, and More for All Occasions (American Country)

Historic Houses (American Country)

Traditional Country Style

Country Living Shortcuts to Decorating Country Style

From Publishers Weekly Design writer Atkins compiled this deftly organized decorating guide with an eye toward infusing a homey, rustic spirit into any space. Country style, she writes, is calm, unhurried and charmingly antique (think mellowed wood, sunwashed color and natural stone). But in a nod to our harried reality, most of the books ideas are achievable in an afternoon. Addressing a different room in each chapter, Atkins outlines design strategies from simple projects to more involved alterations, from a change of quilt to homemade wreaths to decorative moldings. Rich photographs-at least one on every page-illustrate a cozy pastoral setting through colors, fabrics, furniture and lighting. The book presents several iterations on "country style," including homespun, romantic and English-cottage elegant, to diversify its suggestions, and also contains useful quick-reference panels to color palettes, windowsill herb gardens, etc.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Colonial Style: Creating Classic Interiors in Your Cape, Colonial, or Saltbox Home

From Publishers Weekly Nostalgia for a past that "was simpler, somehow better" has led to the enduring popularity of Colonial-style architecture and decor, writes Crochet ( Designer's Guide to Furniture Styles ). While new Colonial-style houses are being built across the country, older homes are being restored to their past glory. Focusing on three house styles from the 17th and 18th centuries—Colonial, Cape Cod and Saltbox—Crochet shows readers how such homes can retain historically accurate features while accommodating modern needs. Without being too much of a purist (she advocates knocking down interior walls if a house feels claustrophobic), Crochet stresses the importance of creating a unified look: she's particularly keen on concealing televisions, microwaves and sinks by adapting period pieces of furniture to house them. While restoration buffs will relish the book's details on such things as quirk bead molding, gunstock corner posts and strap hinges, those seeking to bring some history to a newer home will find hints on incorporating salvaged floorboards or recreating authentic-looking plaster walls and wood paneling. Although the book is generally helpful and looks beautiful, it's marred by poor editing: some writing is sloppy, and repetitions abound (must we be repeatedly told, for instance, that decorative molding was more ornate in public rooms than in kitchens and servants' quarters?). Still, Crochet's enthusiasm for her subject is evident, and her vast knowledge will please historically minded homeowners. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From the Author This book is for homeowners who appreciate the historic character of their old house, whether Colonial, Cape Cod, or Saltbox style. The numerous examples are from actual homeowners who updated their 17th or 18th century homes with a sense of the past without sacrificing modern amenities or luxuries. It is meant to inspire homeowners to learn about the inherent qualities of these older homes while making it loveable and liveable for themselves in the 21st century. About the Author This book is for homeowners who appreciate the historic character of their old house, whether Colonial, Cape Cod, or Saltbox style. The numerous examples are from actual homeowners who updated their 17th or 18th century homes with a sense of the past without sacrificing modern amenities or luxuries. It is meant to inspire homeowners to learn about the inherent qualities of these older homes while making it loveable and liveable for themselves in the 21st century. Read more

MONSTERS IN A BOX -

An Innocent Client (Joe Dillard Series)

Review Pratt's richly developed characters are vivid and believable, especially the strong Southern women who fight their male-dominated culture from behind a facade of vulnerability in this brilliantly executed debut. --Publisher's Weekly -- Starred ReviewIt s Scott Turow and Grisham... The opening chapter is maybe the most compelling I have read in a decade. --Ken Bruen From the Author SCOTT PRATT is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose books have sold more than six million copies. He was born in South Haven, Michigan, and grew up in Jonesborough, Tennessee. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from East Tennessee State University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee. BOOKS IN THE JOE DILLARD SERIES An Innocent Client An Innocent Client In Good Faith In Good Faith Injustice for All Injustice for All Reasonable Fear Reasonable Fear Conflict of Interest Conflict of Interest Blood Money Blood Money A Crime of Passion A Crime of Passion Judgment Cometh (And That Right Soon) Judgment Cometh (And That Right Soon) Due Process Due Process Last Resort (Coming Summer 2023) Last Resort (Coming Summer 2023) BOOKS IN THE DARREN STREET SERIES Justice Redeemed Justice Redeemed Justice Burning Justice Burning Justice Lost Justice Lost BOOKS IN THE PRESLEY CARTER SERIES Blood is Black Blood is Black BOOKS IN THE BILLY BECKETT SERIES Deep Threat Deep Threat Divine Strike Divine Strike Ripcord Ripcord Break Point Break Point Out of Bounds Out of Bounds BOOKS IN THE MILLER & STEVENS SERIES The Sins of the Mother The Sins of the Mother STANDALONES River on Fire River on Fire CHILDREN'S BOOKS An Elephant's Standing in There An Elephant's Standing in There A Ride on a Cloud A Ride on a Cloud FIND SCOTT Website:  scottprattfiction.comContact:  scott@scottprattfiction.com Join our Email List: mailchi.mp/scottprattfiction/mailing-list-sign-up Facebook (Scott Pratt): facebook.com/ScottPrattFiction Facebook (Joe Dillard Fans): facebook.com/groups/196640251521065 Twitter: twitter.com/prattbooks Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/2419708.Scott_Pratt Instagram: Instagram.com/scottprattauthor Bookbub: bookbub.com/authors/scott-pratt From the Inside Flap Two weeks after my birthday, I finished up a hearing on a drug case in federal court in Greeneville and had just gotten in my truck to drive back to Johnson City when I looked at my cell phone and saw a text message from Caroline: About the Author Scott Pratt was born in South Haven, Michigan, in 1956, and grew up in Jonesborough, Tennessee. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from East Tennessee State University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee. He lives in Tennessee with his wife and four dogs. Read more

Calculus- simpleNeasyBook


The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World

Review “A masterful narrative that is part memoir and part scientific detective story.” — Smithsonian Magazine, “10 Best Science Books of the Year” “A beguiling chronicle.” — Nautilus “Svensson has, quite stunningly, discovered in the natural and human history of the European eel a metaphor for his father’s life and a way to explore questions of knowledge, belief and faith.” — Washington Post “Captivating . . . shot through with electric current. The book’s deadpan title perhaps undercuts its depth and complexity. Yes, this is a book about eels, those uncanny creatures, but in Svensson’s capable hands it is also a book about obsession and mystery, about faith and science, and about the limits of knowledge . . . Like Annie Dillard and Rachel Carson, Svensson knows the best nature writing is done with emotion and drive.” — Minneapolis Star Tribune “Fascinating.” — What's Jordana Reading, Summer Reads "Enthralling." — Colorado Springs Gazette “Nature writing at its finest. Svensson's memories of eel fishing with his father speak to the intersection of life and science, and add to its heart.” — Shelf Awareness “Blending a wonderfully evocative and succinct timeline of scientific discoveries about eels with a memoir of his changing relationship with his father, Svensson has produced an extremely readable book on a fish that all have heard of but few (on our side of the pond) have actually seen.” — Booklist “An unusual and beguiling guide to an unusual and beguiling animal. . . . Svensson’s book, like its subject, is a strange beast: a creature of metamorphosis, a shape-shifter that moves among realms. It is a book of natural history, and a memoir about a son and his father. It is also an exploration of literature and religion and custom, and what it means to live in a world full of questions we can’t always answer.” — The New Yorker “As much a boon to my mental life as a blow to my social one. For weeks after reading I found myself cornering people at parties to obliterate them with a machine-gun spray of eel facts. But according to The Book of Eels , I’m not alone in my eelmania. . . . If you don’t think of yourself as someone who might enjoy meditating on eel glory, well, I didn’t either, and here I am transcribing my encounter for publication.” — New York magazine “Captivating . . . The Book of Eels is, in the end, not really about eels but about life itself.” — Wall Street Journal “Poses questions about philosophy, the metaphysical, and the spiritual, as well as scientific issues, in a way that will stir readers. This beautifully crafted book challenges us not only to understand eels but our own selves. Highly recommended.” — Library Journal (starred review) “Svensson . . . melds the personal and scientific in this captivating look at the European eel. . . . Nature-loving readers will be enthralled by [his] fascinating zoological odyssey.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Inspires readers to see eels in a whole new way.” — Los Angeles Times , “21 New and Classic Books to Keep You in Touch with the Natural World” “An account of the mysterious life of eels that also serves as a meditation on consciousness, faith, time, light and darkness, and life and death. . . . an intriguing natural history . . . that sheds as much light on humans as on eels.” — Kirkus Reviews “Without a doubt, the most delicious natural history book of the decade. Svensson’s prose effortlessly undulates between his own personal experience and a thousand years of scientific inquiry. But it’s his call to conservation—not just of this noble eel but of our memories both personal and cultural—that truly elevates this remarkably poignant work.” — Mark Siddall, Curator and Professor, American Museum of Natural History “A wonderful read. The story of the eel is one of the most fascinating on the planet, but equally fascinating is the story Patrik Svensson tells so well here about the mysteries of being.” — Bernd Heinrich, author of Mind of the Raven “With lyricism and sharp clarity, Patrik Svensson lets us in on the secret dream-like world of the eel. As we move deeper into a book that intertwines beautiful nature writing with a moving memoir of a quiet father and a loyal son—as well as healthy doses of philosophical thought from Aristotle to Freud—we get to know one of Earth's most unknowable creatures and revel in a life so different than our own.” — David Gessner, author of All the Wild That Remains “ What an amazing book.  About eels! — a haunting and extraordinary creature. Patrik Svensson explores both their mystery and the science that has brought them into focus in the last few decades and made them seem a vivid indicator species for the health of our planet. ” — Robert Hass, author of Summer Snow About the Author Patrik Svensson is an arts and culture journalist at Sydsvenskan newspaper. He lives with his family in Malmö, Sweden. The Gospel of Eels is his first book.

The Man Who Quit Money

Review "This is a beautiful, thoughtful and wonderful book. I suspect I may find myself thinking about it every day for the rest of my life." - Elizabeth Gilbert"Mark Sundeen's astonishing and unsettling book goes directly to the largest questions about how we live and what we have lost in a culture obsessed with money. Sundeen tells the story of a gentle and generous man who sought the good life by deciding to live without it. What's most unsettling and astonishing is that he appears to have succeeded." - William Greider"Maybe it's just this odd, precarious moment we live in, but Daniel Suelo's story seems to offer some broader clues for all of us. Mark Sundeen's account will raise subversive and interesting questions in any open mind." - Bill McKibben “Suelo isn’t a conflicted zealot, or even a principled aesthete. He’s a contented man who chooses to wander the Earth and do good. He’s also someone you’d want to have a beer with and hear about his life, as full of fortune and enlightenment as it is disappointment and darkness… At its core, The Man Who Quit Money is the story of a man who decided to live outside of society, and is happier for it.” – Men’s Journal “Sundeen deftly portrays [Suelo] as a likeable, oddly sage guy… who finds happiness in radical simplicity [and] personifies a critique that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt remorse on the treadmill of getting and spending." – Outside Magazine “Captivating… Suelo emerges as a remarkable and complex character… Sundeen brings his subject vividly to life [and] makes a case for Suelo's relevance to our time.” – The Seattle Times “Exquisitely timed… The Man Who Quit Money is a slim, quick read that belies the weightiness underneath. The very quality that makes us see a “man walking in America” (Suelo’s words) and be simultaneously attracted and repelled is exposed here in beautiful detail.” – The Missoula Independent “In America, renunciation breaks the rules, but, as everyone evicted from Zuccotti Park or bludgeoned at Berkeley or just steamed in-between knows, the rules require breaking. Sundeen… sets out to understand the process and logic behind a money-free lifestyle while tracing the spiritual, psychological, physical, and philosophical quest that led this particular man to throw over our society’s arguably counterfeit-yet-prevailing faith in money, or, more precisely, in debt.” – The Rumpus “A fascinating subject… both resonant as a character study and infinitely thought-provoking in its challenge to all our preconceptions about modern life—and about the small and large hypocrisies people of all philosophies and religious paths assume they need to accept.” – The Salt Lake City Weekly “Thoughtful and engrossing biography that also explores society’s fixation with financial and material rewards...Although few readers will even consider emulating Suelo’s scavenger lifestyle, his example will at least provoke some serious soul-searching about our collective addiction to cash.” – Booklist About the Author Mark Sundeen is an award-winning writer whose nonfiction has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Outside, National Geographic Adventure, and The Believer. He is the author of Car Camping (HarperCollins, 2000) and The Making of Toro (Simon & Schuster, 2003), and co-author of North by Northwestern (St. Martin's, 2010), which was a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller. He has taught fiction and nonfiction in the MFA programs at the University of New Mexico and Western Connecticut State University. He lives in Montana and Utah.

The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century

Amazon.com Review An Amazon Best Book of May 2018: The title of The Feather Thief smartly echoes Susan Orleans' The Orchid Thief , and The Feather Thief has good reason to compare itself to such an admired book. Strange niches of history. Obsessives who refuse to adhere to the law. A writer who stumbles upon a story that becomes an obsession in its own right. All these elements combust to create Johnson's investigation into the theft of 299 rare bird skins from a British natural history museum. While bird skins might sound like (ahem) dry reading, Johnson knows just how to fascinate the reader, plunging with vigor into exotic bird exploration, the crackdown on rare bird trafficking, and the insular world of fly-tying enthusiasts, all of which lead, almost inevitably, to the theft from the Tring Museum. The most likely receivers of the stolen goods? Fly-tiers with an unquenchable thirst for feathers from blue chatterers, the resplendent quetzal, and birds of paradise so they can re-create outlandish Victorian-era salmon flies. Although the thief is caught, Johnson decides to investigate himself what happened to the 106 never-recovered bird skins, pulling the reader even deeper into the thief's bizarre world. Clever, informative, and sometimes endearingly bumbling, this mix of natural history and crime opens up new worlds. You'll never look at a stuffed bird the same way again. —Adrian Liang, Amazon Book Review Review “Fascinating . . . a complex tale of greed, deception, and ornithological sabotage.” — The New York Times Book Review “Fascinating from the first page to the last—you won’t be able to put it down.” — Southern Living “A fascinating book . . . the kind of intelligent reported account that alerts us to a threat and that, one hopes, will never itself be endangered.” — The Wall Street Journal “Thrilling . . . This book is The Orchid Thief for the fly-fishing and birding set.”— Paris Review , “Staff Picks” “Johnson, like Susan Orlean before him, is a magnifier: he sees grand themes—naïveté, jealousy, depression, the entitlement of man . . . That vision makes a book about things like Victorian salmon fly tiers feel heavy as gold.” — The New Yorker , “What We’re Reading This Summer”“[A] true-crime caper recounted with relish.” — O, The Oprah Magazine , “10 Titles to Pick Up Now”“Vivid and arresting . . . Johnson [is] a wonderfully assured writer.” — The Times (London)“One of the most peculiar and memorable true-crime books ever. . . . Johnson is an intrepid journalist . . . [with] a fine knack for uncovering details that reveal, captivate, and disturb.”— Christian Science Monitor “An uncommon book . . .  [that] informs and enlightens. . . A heist story that manages to underline the enduring and continuing importance of natural history collections and their incredible value to science. We need more books like this one.” — Science “The best compliment I can give a nonfiction writer is that they make me care deeply about an obscure topic I would otherwise never have been interested in. That’s the case with Kirk Wallace Johnson’s The Feather Thief .” — Eva Holland, Outside , “The Best Summer Books” “A fascinating account of a bizarre crime . . . The Feather Thief is one of the more peculiar and gripping crime stories in recent memory.” — LitHub CrimeReads, “The Essential True Crime Books of Spring 2018” “Johnson succeeds in conveying the gravity of this natural-history 'heist of the century,' and one of The Feather Thief ’s greatest strengths is the excitement, horror, and amazement it evokes. It’s nonfiction that reads like fiction, with plenty of surprising moments.” — Outside “A riveting read.” — Nature “A literary police sketch—part natural history yarn, part detective story, part the stuff of tragedy.” — Smithsonian “Within pages I was hooked. This is a weird and wonderful book . . . Johnson is a master of pacing and suspense . . . It’s a tribute to [his] storytelling gifts that when I turned the last page I felt bereft.” —Maggie Fergusson, The Spectator (London)“A riveting story about mankind’s undeniable desire to own nature’s beauty and a spellbinding examination of obsession, greed, and justice . . .[told] in engrossing detail. . . . A gripping page-turner.” — Bustle “Enthralling.” — HelloGiggles “Richly informative, with handy illustrations, endlessly fascinating and crackingly entertaining, The Feather Thief is the kind of true-crime narrative that gives Erik Larson's much-lauded The Devil in the White City a run for the money.” — Shelf Awareness “Highly entertaining . . . journalism at its best . . . If you know nothing about fly-fishing or tying, it doesn’t matter, as long as you like a well-written story.” —Karen Gallagher, The Baltimore Sun 's Roughly Speaking podcast“Reads like a whodunit . . . I could not put it down.”—Tom Rosenbauer, The Orvis Fly Fishing Guide Podcast “This is the type of book I absolutely love – one that takes a seemingly obscure topic and shines a brilliant and bizarre and endlessly fascinating light upon it. The crime itself is riveting, but Kirk Wallace Johnson’s portrayal of the crazy world of feather fanatics makes this an unforgettable read.”—Michael Finkel, author of The Stranger in the Woods “Captivating...Everything the author touches in this thoroughly engaging true-crime tale turns to storytelling gold. . . . Johnson's flair for telling an engrossing story is, like the beautiful birds he describes, exquisite. . . . A superb tale about obsession, nature, and man's ‘unrelenting desire to lay claim to its beauty, whatever the cost.’” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review“[An] enthralling account of a truly bizarre crime. . . . Johnson goes deep into the exotic bird and feather trade and concludes that though obsession and greed know no bounds, they certainly make for a fascinating tale. The result is a page-turner that will likely appeal to science, history, and true crime readers.” — Publishers Weekly, Starred Review“A remarkably compelling story of obsession and history.” — Booklist, Starred Review“You'll never look at a feather the same way again after reading this riveting detective story . . . [ The Feather Thief ] brilliantly weaves together Alfred Russel Wallace, the surprisingly shadowy history of fly fishing, conservation and the plumage of the most beautiful birds on earth.” — The Bookseller (UK) “A true-crime tale that weaves seemingly unrelated threads—a museum break-in; the development of evolutionary theory; a case of post-Iraq PTSD; endangered birds; and (above all) the murky underworld of fly-tying obsessives—into a spellbinding narrative tapestry.”  —Mark Adams, author of Turn Right at Machu Picchu “ A captivating tale of an unlikely thief and his even more unlikely crime, and a meditation on obsession, greed, and the sheer fascination in something as seemingly simple as a feather.”—Paul Collins, author of The Murder of the Century “A stirring examination of the devastating effects of human greed on endangered birds, a powerful argument for protecting our environment—and, above all, a captivating crime story.”—Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of Trees “This gem of a book, about a heist of archival birds, is marvelous, moving, and transcendent. I can’t stop thinking about it.” —Dean King, author of Skeletons on the Zahara and The Feud “This extraordinary book exposes an international underground that traffics in rare and precious natural resources, yet was previously unknown to all but a few. A page-turning read you won’t soon forget, The Feather Thief tells us as much about our cultural priorities as it does about the crimes themselves. There’s never been anything like it.”   —Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of The Hidden Life of Dogs About the Author Kirk W. Johnson is the author of To Be a Friend Is Fatal and the founder of the List Project to Resettle Iraqi Allies. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times , The Washington Post , and the Los Angeles Times , among others. He is the recipient of fellowships from Yaddo, the MacDowell Colony, the American Academy in Berlin, and the USC Annenberg Center. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. PROLOGUE By the time Edwin Rist stepped off the train onto the platform at Tring, forty  miles north of London, it was already quite late. The residents of the sleepy town had finished their suppers; the little ones were in bed. As he began the long walk into town, the Midland line glided off into darkness. A few hours earlier Edwin had performed in the Royal Academy of Music’s “London Soundscapes,” a celebration of Hayden, Handel, and Mendelssohn. Before the concert, he’d packed a pair of latex gloves, a miniature LED flashlight, a wire cutter, and a diamond-blade glass cutter in a large rolling suitcase, and stowed it in his concert hall locker. He bore a passing resemblance to a lanky Pete Townshend: intense eyes, prominent nose, and a mop of hair, although instead of shredding a Fender, Edwin played the flute. There was a new moon that evening, making the already-gloomy stretch of road even darker. For nearly an hour, he dragged his suit- case through the mud and gravel skirting the road, under gnarly old trees strangled with  ivy. Turlhanger’s  Wood  slept to the north, Chestnut Wood to the south, fallow fields and the occasional  copse in between. A car blasted by, its headlights blinding. Adrenaline coursing, he knew he was getting close. The entrance to the market town of Tring is guarded by a sixteenth-century pub called the Robin Hood. A few roads beyond, nestled between the old Tring Brewery and an HSBC branch, lies the entrance to Public Footpath 37. Known to locals as Bank Alley, the footpath isn’t more than eight feet wide and is framed by seven-foot-high brick walls. Edwin slipped into the alley, into total darkness. He groped his way along until he was standing directly behind the building he’d spent months casing. All that separated him from it was the wall. Capped with three rusted  strands of barbed wire, it might  have  thwarted his plans were it not for the wire cutter. After clearing an opening, he lifted the suitcase to the ledge, hoisted himself up, and glanced anxiously about.  No sign of the guard. There was a space of several feet between his perch on the wall and the building’s nearest window, forming a small ravine. If he fell, he could injure himself—or worse, make  a clamor that would  summon security. But he’d known this part wouldn’t be easy. Crouched on  top  of the  wall,  he reached  toward the  window with the glass cutter and began to grind it along the pane. Cutting glass was harder  than  he had anticipated, though, and as he struggled to carve an opening, the glass cutter slipped from his hand and fell into the ravine. His mind raced. Was this a sign? He was think- ing about  bailing  on the whole  crazy scheme when  that voice, the one that  had urged him onward these past months, shouted Wait a minute! You can’t give up now. You’ve come all this way! He crawled  back down  and picked up a rock. Steadying himself atop the wall, he peered around in search of guards before bashing the window  out, wedging his suitcase through the shard-strewn opening,  and climbing into the British Natural History Museum. Unaware that he had just tripped an alarm in the security guard’s office, Edwin pulled out the LED light, which cast a faint glow in front of him as he made his way down the hallways toward the vault, just as he’d rehearsed in his mind.  He wheeled his suitcase quietly through corridor after corridor, drawing  ever closer to the most beautiful  things he had ever seen. If he pulled this off, they would bring him fame, wealth, and prestige. They would solve his problems. He deserved them. He entered  the vault, its hundreds of large white steel cabinets standing in rows like sentries,  and got to work. He pulled out the first drawer, catching a waft of mothballs. Quivering  beneath  his fingertips were a dozen Red-ruffed Fruitcrows, gathered  by natural- ists and biologists  over hundreds of years from the forests and jungles of South America and fastidiously preserved  by generations of curators for the benefit of future research. Their coppery-orange feathers glimmered despite the faint light. Each bird, maybe a foot and a half from beak to tail, lay on its back in funerary repose, eye sockets filled with cotton, feet folded close against  the body. Tied around their legs were biodata labels: faded, handwritten records of the date, altitude, latitude, and  longitude of their capture, along with other vital details. He unzipped the suitcase and began filling it with the birds, emptying one drawer after another. The occidentalis subspecies that he snatched  by the handful had been gathered a century earlier from the Quindío Andes region of western Colombia. He didn’t know exactly how many he’d be able to fit into his suitcase, but he managed forty-seven of the museum’s forty-eight male specimens before wheeling his bag on to the next cabinet. Down in the security office, the guard was fixated on a small television screen. Engrossed in a soccer match, he hadn’t yet noticed the alarm indicator blinking on a nearby panel. Edwin opened  the next cabinet  to reveal dozens of Resplendent Quetzal  skins gathered  in the 1880s from the Chiriquí cloud forests of western Panama,  a species now threatened by widespread deforestation and protected by international treaties. At nearly four feet in length, the birds were particularly difficult to stuff into his suitcase, but he maneuvered thirty-nine of them inside by gently curling their sweeping tails into tight coils.   Moving down the corridor, he swung open the doors of another cabinet, this one housing species of the Cotinga birds of South and Central  America. He swiped fourteen one-hundred-year-old skins of the Lovely Cotinga, a small turquoise bird with a reddish-purple breast endemic to Central America, before relieving the museum of thirty-seven specimens of the Purple-breasted Cotinga, twenty-one skins of the Spangled Cotinga, and another ten skins of the endangered Banded Cotinga, of which as few as 250 mature individuals are estimated to be alive today.The Galápagos island finches and mockingbirds gathered by Charles Darwin in 1835 during  the voyage of the HMS Beagle— which had been instrumental in developing  his theory of evolution through natural selection—were resting in nearby drawers. Among the museum’s most valuable holdings were skeletons and skins of extinct birds, including the Dodo, the Great Auk, and the Passenger Pigeon, along with an elephant-folio edition of John James Audubon’s The Birds of America . Overall, the museum houses one of the world’s largest collection of ornithological specimens: 750,000 bird skins, 15,000 skeletons, 17,000 birds preserved in spirit, 4,000 nests, and 400,000 sets of eggs, gathered over the centuries from the world’s most remote forests, mountainsides, jungles, and swamps. But Edwin hadn’t broken into the museum for a drab-colored finch. He had lost track of how long he’d been in the vault when he finally wheeled his suitcase to a stop before a large cabinet. A small plaque indicated its contents: paradisaeidae. Thirty-seven  King Birds of Paradise, swiped in seconds. Twenty-four Magnificent Rifle-birds. Twelve Superb Birds of Paradise. Four Blue Birds of Paradise. Seventeen Flame Bowerbirds. These flawless specimens, gathered against almost impossible odds from virgin forests of New Guinea and the  Malay Archipelago 150 years earlier, went into Edwin’s bag, their tags bearing the name of a self-taught naturalist whose breakthrough had given Darwin the scare of his life: a. r. wallace.      The guard glanced at the CCTV feed, an array of shots of the parking lot and the museum campus. He began his round, pacing the hallways, checking the doors, scanning for anything awry Edwin had long since lost count of the number of birds that passed through his hands. He had originally planned to choose only the best of each species, but in the excitement of the plunder, he grabbed and stuffed until his suitcase could hold no more. The guard stepped outside to begin a perimeter check, glancing up at the windows  and beaming his flashlight on the section abutting the brick wall of Bank Alley. Edwin stood before the broken window, now framed with shards of glass. So far everything had gone according to plan, with the exception of the missing glass cutter. All that remained was to climb back out of the window without slicing himself open, and melt into the anonymity of the street. Read more

Charles Fritz, the Complete Collection: 100 Paintings Illustrating the Journals of Lewis and Clark

Review If Lewis and Clark had selected an artist to accompany them on their historic journey, no doubt they would have chosen a painter with a keen eye and an adventurous spirit---someone like Charles Fritz. -- -B. Byron Price, director, Charles M. Russell Center for the Study of Art of the American West, University of OklahomaOne of the most frequently asked questions on the planning of the Lewis and Clark Expedition concerns Jefferson's failure to send a professional artist with the Corps. Now, thanks to a carefully researched and historically accurate series of paintings by Montana artist Charles Fritz, Americans have the opportunity to see what Lewis and Clark observed, what they looked like, and the people they met on their way to the Pacific. This is a rare chance to step back in time and appreciate Lewis and Clark's experiences from 1804 to 1806. -- -Stephen E. Ambrose, author of the best-selling book Undaunted Courage With the completion of Charles Fritz's monumental project, a huge void has been filled! Through the eyes of a gifted and dedicated American artist, we now have a view of the world of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. This book will hold a special place in the William Clark family library, and it is a must for any serious student of Lewis and Clark or anyone who appreciates the adventure and magic of early Western exploration. -- -Peyton C. Bud Clark, great, great, great grandson of Captain William ClarkOne of the most frequently asked questions on the planning of the Lewis and Clark Expedition concerns Jefferson's failure to send a professional artist with the Corps. Now, thanks to a carefully researched and historically accurate series of paintings by Montana artist Charles Fritz, Americans have the opportunity to see what Lewis and Clark observed, what they looked like, and the people they met on their way to the Pacific. This is a rare chance to step back in time and appreciate Lewis and Clark's experiences from 1804 to 1806. -- -Stephen E. Ambrose, author of the best-selling book Undaunted Courage With the completion of Charles Fritz's monumental project, a huge void has been filled! Through the eyes of a gifted and dedicated American artist, we now have a view of the world of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. This book will hold a special place in the William Clark family library, and it is a must for any serious student of Lewis and Clark or anyone who appreciates the adventure and magic of early Western exploration. -- -Peyton C. Bud Clark, great, great, great grandson of Captain William ClarkOne of the most frequently asked questions on the planning of the Lewis and Clark Expedition concerns Jefferson's failure to send a professional artist with the Corps. Now, thanks to a carefully researched and historically accurate series of paintings by Montana artist Charles Fritz, Americans have the opportunity to see what Lewis and Clark observed, what they looked like, and the people they met on their way to the Pacific. This is a rare chance to step back in time and appreciate Lewis and Clark's experiences from 1804 to 1806. -- -Stephen E. Ambrose, author of the best-selling book Undaunted Courage With the completion of Charles Fritz's monumental project, a huge void has been filled! Through the eyes of a gifted and dedicated American artist, we now have a view of the world of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. This book will hold a special place in the William Clark family library, and it is a must for any serious student of Lewis and Clark or anyone who appreciates the adventure and magic of early Western exploration. -- -Peyton C. Bud Clark, great, great, great grandson of Captain William ClarkOne of the most frequently asked questions on the planning of the Lewis and Clark Expedition concerns Jefferson's failure to send a professional artist with the Corps. Now, thanks to a carefully researched and historically accurate series of paintings by Montana artist Charles Fritz, Americans have the opportunity to see what Lewis and Clark observed, what they looked like, and the people they met on their way to the Pacific. This is a rare chance to step back in time and appreciate Lewis and Clark's experiences from 1804 to 1806. -- -Stephen E. Ambrose, author of the best-selling book Undaunted Courage With the completion of Charles Fritz's monumental project, a huge void has been filled! Through the eyes of a gifted and dedicated American artist, we now have a view of the world of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. This book will hold a special place in the William Clark family library, and it is a must for any serious student of Lewis and Clark or anyone who appreciates the adventure and magic of early Western exploration. -- -Peyton C. Bud Clark, great, great, great grandson of Captain William Clark From the Back Cover Charles Fritz: 100 Paintings Illustrating the Journals of Lewis and Clark unites exquisite Western art with one of our nation's greatest epics. The result of a decade of comprehensive research and on-location painting, this expanded collection of 100 paintings depicts the triumphs and travails of the Corps of Discovery's two-and-a-half-year trek through unknown territory to the Pacific Ocean and back between 1804 and 1806. Although several members of the Corps of Discovery kept journals, an artist did not accompany the expedition. Unlike almost every expedition since, there had been no one to visually document the unique people, landscapes, animals, and plants never before seen by Americans living in the East. With artistry and a passion for historical accuracy, Charles Fritz, one of the nation's most respected Western artists, brings the Journals of Lewis and Clark to life, telling this remarkable American story visually-and for the first time allowing us to experience what the Corps saw on their historic journey. About the Author Charles Fritz grew up in Mason City, Iowa, and studied history and education at Iowa State University in Ames. His luminous paintings of the West have been included in many museum exhibitions across the country, including the Albuquerque Museum; Artists of America; Great American Masters; Denver Art Museum: Gilcrease Museum; Prix de West Exhibition, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum; C.M. Russell Museum; and the Salmagundi Club. His work has been featured in many magazines, periodicals, and books, including Donald Hagerty's Leading the West: One Hundred Contemporary Painters and Sculptors and Canyon de Chelly: 100 Years of Painting and Photography . Fritz resides in Billings, Montana, with his wife, Joan, and their sons, Isaac and Erik. Read more

In Pursuit of Birds: A Foray with Field Glasses and Sketchbook by Ladislav R Hanka (2015-08-02)

Field Guide to Wisconsin Streams: Plants, Fishes, Invertebrates, Amphibians, and Reptiles

Review "Great illustrations, clear and practical information, and breadth of coverage make this guide a winner. It will be a go-to resource for amateurs and professionals drawn to Wisconsin's streams."—Emily Stanley, University of Wisconsin–Madison“Well-done field guide filled with an abundance of photographs and line drawings. . . . The book is small and lightweight, making it convenient for use in the field. . . . Will benefit any amateur or professional in the field, particularly because of the many helpful images.”— Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine e “Accessible for the professional biologist, as well as schoolteachers wanting students to identify stream life, or the general public interested in stream ecology. . . . Useful throughout the region as ranges of many of the species and taxonomic groups covered in this guide cross state lines into . . . Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, or Iowa.”— Ecological Restoration About the Author Michael A. Miller is a stream ecologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources whose professional interests include watershed and stream ecology and management. Katie Songer is an environmental scientist, educator, and writer who has worked with AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Ron Dolen is an environmental scientist and educator who has conducted watershed studies and trained citizen volunteer stream monitors at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Trout Magic

About the Author John D. Voelker, also known by his pen name Robert Traver, was a noted lawyer, author and fly fisherman from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Born and raised in Ishpeming, he later attended the University of Michigan Law School.

Orvis From Lure to Fly: Fly Fishing for Spinning and Baitcast Anglers

Review "Dave Karczynski could write about a puddle of mud drying out and make it interesting. When his work crosses my desk, I read it right now. And it's always a treat." -- Greg Thomas, former Editor, Fly Rod & Reel"No matter how old you are, coming to fly fishing from conventional fishing is, in my opinion, the best education you can have for fly fishing. (In fact, some of the very best saltwater fly anglers I know started as commercial fishermen). You are already more than halfway there. Fly fishing is not some arcane black art. It's just another way of sticking a hook in a fish's mouth. You are about to join someone I think you'll come to feel is your fishing buddy. Dave will take you on a journey without condescension, and will explain all the silly fly-fishing jargon. He'll reference similarities and differences to conventional fishing. He speaks your language. And I totally agree with Dave's philosophy of starting with panfish. Everybody associates fly fishing with trout, but if you begin fly fishing by chasing trout you will quickly become discouraged and frustrated. Trout are hard to catch, unless you find wilderness brook trout or cutthroats that have seen minimal fishing pressure. So take fly-rod fishing in the order he presents it here. Don't be impatient. You have the rest of your life to enjoy fly fishing alongside all the other methods of fishing you enjoy." -- Tom Rosenbauer, author of The Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide and a marketing manager with the Orvis Company in Manchester, Vermont, from the Foreword--Tom Rosenbauer, Author and Orvis Marketing Director, from the Foreword About the Author Dave Karczynski is a writer and photographer specializing in sporting culture and narrative. Whether it’s the glacial rivers of the Himalayan outback or the high country lakes of the Polish Carpathians, deep wild country is where Dave feels most at home. A former Zell Fellow at the University of Michigan and recipient of the 2012 Robert Traver Award for outdoor writing, he is a regular contributor to Outdoor Life, Fly Rod & Reel, The Drake, and many other magazines. In addition to Orvis From Lure to Fly, Dave is also the co-author of Modern Smallmouth: Modern Tactics, Tips and Techniques. When not on the water or in the woods, Dave teaches creative writing and photography at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Trout Tips: More than 250 fly-fishing tips from the members of Trout Unlimited

The First-Year Teacher's Checklist: A Quick Reference for Classroom Success

Review "Thompson's work helps beginning teachers?even those with no prior teaching experience?to understand the basics of effective teaching. The First Year Teacher's Checklist makes it easy for educators who are just starting out to understand what it will take to become a successful teacher. I will definitely make this book required reading for my teacher interns." ?Bill Snead, director of Alternative Certification Programs, Harris County Department of Education, Houston, Texas "A must-have resource for new teachers and interns. Easy to read, discuss, and implement, it will improve your instruction along with helping you manage your to-do lists, your classrooms, and all of the new tasks and items involved with your first year of teaching. Keep it handy!" ?Mike Rogers, president, EverythingAboutLearning.com, a PEAK Learning Systems Company "New teachers and those who support their success will thrive on Julia's succinct delineation of the daily business of teaching." ?Layne Ferguson, teacher development specialist, Department of Teacher Leadership and Professional Development, Prince George's County Public Schools, Maryland Review "Thompson's work helps beginning teachers?even those with no prior teaching experience?to understand the basics of effective teaching. The First Year Teacher's Checklist makes it easy for educators who are just starting out to understand what it will take to become a successful teacher. I will definitely make this book required reading for my teacher interns." ?Bill Snead, director of Alternative Certification Programs, Harris County Department of Education, Houston, Texas "A must-have resource for new teachers and interns. Easy to read, discuss, and implement, it will improve your instruction along with helping you manage your to-do lists, your classrooms, and all of the new tasks and items involved with your first year of teaching. Keep it handy!" ?Mike Rogers, president, EverythingAboutLearning.com, a PEAK Learning Systems Company "New teachers and those who support their success will thrive on Julia's succinct delineation of the daily business of teaching." ?Layne Ferguson, teacher development specialist, Department of Teacher Leadership and Professional Development, Prince George's County Public Schools, Maryland From the Inside Flap The First-Year Teacher's Checklist This easy-to-use reference—with hundreds of helpful, classroom-tested answers, ideas, techniques, and teaching tools—will help you on your way to a successful and productive school year. Designed to be flexible, the book offers a choice of ideas and approaches that best fit your classroom situation. Master teacher Julia Thompson shows you how to: Develop successful relationships with students, colleagues, administrators, and parents Develop successful relationships with students, colleagues, administrators, and parents Manage professional responsibilities and develop career skills Manage professional responsibilities and develop career skills Create an orderly classroom where students are courteous and respectful Create an orderly classroom where students are courteous and respectful Motivate students to become independent learners Motivate students to become independent learners Use proven strategies to prevent misbehavior Use proven strategies to prevent misbehavior Design instruction that will appeal to every student Design instruction that will appeal to every student Set up a classroom for maximum comfort and learning Set up a classroom for maximum comfort and learning Thrive in the world of high-stakes testing Thrive in the world of high-stakes testing "Thompson's work helps beginning teachers—even those with no prior teaching experience—to understand the basics of effective teaching. The First Year Teacher's Checklist makes it easy for educators who are just starting out to understand what it will take to become a successful teacher. I will definitely make this book required reading for my teacher interns." — BILL SNEAD , director of Alternative Certification Programs, Harris County Department of Education, Houston, Texas "A must-have resource for new teachers and interns. Easy to read, discuss, and implement, it will improve your instruction along with helping you manage your to-do lists, your classrooms, and all of the new tasks and items involved with your first year of teaching. Keep it handy!"  — MIKE ROGERS , president, EverythingAboutLearning.com, a PEAK Learning Systems Company "New teachers and those who support their success will thrive on Julia's succinct delineation of the daily business of teaching." — LAYNE FERGUSON, teacher development specialist, Department of Teacher Leadership and Professional Development, Prince George's County Public Schools, Maryland From the Back Cover The First-Year Teacher's Checklist This easy-to-use referencewith hundreds of helpful, classroom-tested answers, ideas, techniques, and teaching toolswill help you on your way to a successful and productive school year. Designed to be flexible, the book offers a choice of ideas and approaches that best fit your classroom situation. Master teacher Julia Thompson shows you how to: Develop successful relationships with students, colleagues, administrators, and parents Develop successful relationships with students, colleagues, administrators, and parents Manage professional responsibilities and develop career skills Manage professional responsibilities and develop career skills Create an orderly classroom where students are courteous and respectful Create an orderly classroom where students are courteous and respectful Motivate students to become independent learners Motivate students to become independent learners Use proven strategies to prevent misbehavior Use proven strategies to prevent misbehavior Design instruction that will appeal to every student Design instruction that will appeal to every student Set up a classroom for maximum comfort and learning Set up a classroom for maximum comfort and learning Thrive in the world of high-stakes testing Thrive in the world of high-stakes testing "Thompson's work helps beginning teacherseven those with no prior teaching experienceto understand the basics of effective teaching. The First Year Teacher's Checklist makes it easy for educators who are just starting out to understand what it will take to become a successful teacher. I will definitely make this book required reading for my teacher interns."  BILL SNEAD , director of Alternative Certification Programs, Harris County Department of Education, Houston, Texas "A must-have resource for new teachers and interns. Easy to read, discuss, and implement, it will improve your instruction along with helping you manage your to-do lists, your classrooms, and all of the new tasks and items involved with your first year of teaching. Keep it handy!"   MIKE ROGERS , president, EverythingAboutLearning.com, a PEAK Learning Systems Company "New teachers and those who support their success will thrive on Julia's succinct delineation of the daily business of teaching."  LAYNE FERGUSON, teacher development specialist, Department of Teacher Leadership and Professional Development, Prince George's County Public Schools, Maryland About the Author Julia G. Thompson has been a public school teacher for more than 25 years. An active speaker, consultant, and teacher trainer, she publishes a website (juliagthompson.com) offering tips for teachers on a wide variety of topics. Thompson is the bestselling author of The First-Year Teacher's Survival Guide and Discipline Survival Kit for the Secondary Teacher . Read more

David Busch's Nikon D90 Guide to Digital SLR Photography (David Busch's Digital Photography Guides)

About the Author With more than a million books in print, David D. Busch is the world's #1 selling digital camera guide author, and the originator of popular digital photography series like David Busch's Pro Secrets and David Busch's Quick Snap Guides. He has written more than a dozen hugely successful guidebooks for Canon and Canon digital SLR models, as well as many popular books devoted to dSLRs, including Mastering Digital SLR Photography, Second Edition, and Digital SLR Pro Secrets. As a roving photojournalist for more than twenty years, he illustrated his books, magazine articles, and newspaper reports with award-winning images. He's operated his own commercial studio, suffocated in formal dress while shooting weddings-for-hire, and shot sports for a daily newspaper and upstate New York college. His photos and articles have appeared in Popular Photography & Imaging, The Rangefinder, The Professional Photographer, and hundreds of other publications. He has also reviewed dozens of digital cameras for CNet and Computer Shopper, and his advice has been featured in National Public Radio's "All Tech Considered." When About.com named its top five books on Beginning Digital Photography, debuting at the #1 and #2 slots were Busch's Digital Photography All-In-One Desk Reference for Dummies and Mastering Digital Photography. During the past year, he's had as many as five of his books listed in the Top 20 of Amazon.com's Digital Photography Bestseller list--simultaneously! Busch's 120-plus other books published since 1983 include bestsellers like David Busch's Quick Snap Guide to Digital SLR Lenses. Visit his website at http://www.dslrguides.com.

Simpsons Comics Colossal Compendium Volume 1 (Simpsons Comic Compilations)

About the Author Matt Groening, the creator and executive producer of the Emmy ® Award-winning series The Simpsons , as well as creator of the cartoon strip "Life in Hell" and the animated FOX television series Futurama , is the man responsible for bringing animation back to primetime and creating an immortal nuclear family. In addition, Groening formed Bongo Comics Group in 1993 and currently serves as publisher of The Simpsons Library of Wisdom, Simpsons Episode Guides, Simpsons Comics, Bart Simpson Comics, Radioactive Man Comics, Simpsons Comics Treasure Trove, the annual Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror, Futurama Comics and more than 36 comic compilations, as well as many instant classics including Bart Simpsons Guide to Life , The Simpsons Handbook and The Simpsons Uncensored Family Album .