Collection: Biography & Memoir

The definitive history of Pink Floyd by founding member Nick Mason, this reading edition brings up-to-date the band's incredible story as told uniquely from the inside out. Including the complete text of the original in an easy-toread format, a new chapter covering the passing of Rick Wright and the release of the group's final album, and 80 pages of images from Mason's archives plus new photos, Inside Out is a masterly rock memoir and an eye opener for both veteran fans and those just discovering the group.

Deeply influential cultural icon Oprah Winfrey is the twenty-fifth hero in this New York Times bestselling picture book biography series. (Cover may vary)

This friendly, fun biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great--the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. Each book tells the story of an icon in a lively, conversational way that works well for the youngest nonfiction readers and that always includes the hero's childhood influences. At the back are an excellent timeline and photos. This book features critically acclaimed talk show host Oprah Winfrey, who used her struggles in childhood as motivation to become "Queen of All Media."

This friendly, fun biography series inspired the PBS Kids TV show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. One great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big.

Included in each book are:
- A timeline of key events in the hero's history
- Photos that bring the story more fully to life
- Comic-book-style illustrations that are irresistibly adorable
- Childhood moments that influenced the hero
- Facts that make great conversation-starters
- A virtue this person embodies: Oprah Winfrey's authenticity shines in this.

You'll want to collect each book in this dynamic, informative series!

Joan of Arc was born in a small French village during the worst period of the Hundred Years' War. For generations, France had been besieged by the British. At age 11, Joan began to see religious visions telling her to join forces with the King of France. By the time she was a teenager, she was leading troops into battle in the name of her country. Though she was captured and executed for her beliefs, Joan of Arc became a Catholic saint and has since captured the world's imagination.

From award-winning Palestinian author Ibtisam Barakat comes a touching account of coming of age against a backdrop of political turmoil in the Middle East.

Picking up where Ibtisam Barakat's first memoir, Tasting the Sky, left off, Balcony on the Moon follows her through her childhood and adolescence in Palestine from 1972-1981 in the aftermath of the Six-Day War.

This memoir about pursuing dreams in the face of adversity chronicles Ibitsam's desire to be a writer and shows how she finds inspiration through writing letters to pen pals and from an adult who encourages her to keep at it. But the most surprising turn of all for Ibtisam happens when her mother decides that she would like to seek out an education, too.

Enlightening and at times funny, Balcony on the Moon is a not often depicted look at daily life in a politically tumultuous region.

A Margaret Ferguson Book

Praise for Balcony on the Moon:

"This is a compelling personal history, brimming with humor, wisdom, and empathy." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"This intense memoir paints a dark picture of growing up in Israeli-occupied Palestine, where 'we are made to live with no land, no country, no rights, no safety, and no respect for our dignity.' . . . A poetic, deeply felt coming-of-age story." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"[A] memoir and winner of the Arab American Book Award, Barakat moves beyond her early school years during the Six-Day War and its uprooting aftermath. She focuses on the years 1971-81, when she--a feisty protofeminist--and her family shifted about in the occupied West Bank, trying to find a place that felt safe and like home. . . The beauty of the writing is its clear-eyed matter-of-fact-ness." --Booklist

"Highly recommended for upper middle school and high school libraries." --School Library Journal

A captivating memoir that tells the story of one woman's experience of joining a community of army wives after leaving her New York City job--a profoundly intimate look at marriage, friendship, and today's America.

When her new husband joins an elite Army unit, Simone Gorrindo is uprooted from New York City and dropped into Columbus, Georgia--a town so foreign she might as well have landed on the moon. With her husband frequently deployed, Simone is left to find her place in this new world, alone--until she meets the wives.

Gorrindo gives us an intimate look into the inner lives of a remarkable group of women and a tender, unflinching portrait of a marriage. A love story, an unforgettable coming-of-age tale, and a bracing tour of the intractable divisions that plague our country today, The Wives offers a rare and powerful gift: a hopeful stitch in the fabric of a torn America.

In a riveting biography that reads like a crime novel, Sibert medalist and Newbery Honor winner Susan Campbell Bartoletti uncovers the true story of Mary Mallon, a.k.a. Typhoid Mary, one of the most misunderstood women in American history.

With archival photographs and text, among other primary sources, this riveting biography looks beyond the tabloid scandal of Mary's controversial life. How she was treated by medical and legal officials reveals a lesser-known story of human and constitutional rights, entangled with the science of pathology and enduring questions about who Mary Mallon really was.

How did her name become synonymous with deadly disease? What happens when a person's reputation has been forever damaged? And who is really responsible for the lasting legacy of Typhoid Mary?

Terrible Typhoid Mary also examines extreme public health measures at the time and public misconceptions around disease. Includes an author's note, timeline, annotated source notes, and bibliography.

Are you a die-hard Braves fan?

Now you surely will be with The Ultimate Atlanta Braves Trivia Book. If you want to know all the ins and outs (every great baseball team has a few!) of one of the most famous hardball teams ever in the NL and MLB-then this book is for you.

The next time you walk into a bar, your friend's, or even your father-in-law's place for Trivia Night, you'll be a smash hit knowing about Braves legends like Hank Aaron and Chipper Jones; pitchers like Greg Maddux, Spahn, and Sain; classic catchers like Lopez and Torre; and sluggers like Dale, Dusty, and Eddie.

What ultimate Atlanta Braves trivia will you score with this valuable book? Catch the answers to all these tricky trivia questions and tons more:

• How many pennants and World Series championships have the Braves won in their illustrious history?
• What fantastic event happened to the Braves and their loyal fans in 1957?
• Which NL team is Atlanta's biggest rival, and why?
• Which fleet Braves outfielder was nicknamed the "Road Runner"?
• Which Braves hurler transitioned from starter to reliever and just got better?

Dear Die-Hard Fan: your ultimate Atlanta Braves trivia book comes with 15 chapters chock-full of questions, answer pages, and fun factoids about your favorite team. Quiz Night coming? Be ready! Have a blast with your trivia book all about the incredible Atlanta Braves!

A Michelle Obama Reach Higher Fall 2022 reading list pick

A Library Journal "BEST BOOK OF 2022"

"Aguon's book is for everyone, but he challenges history by placing indigenous consciousness at the center of his project . . . the most tender polemic I've ever read."
--Lenika Cruz, The Atlantic

"It's clear [Aguon] poured his whole heart into this slim book . . . [his] sense of hope, fierce determination, and love for his people and culture permeates every page."
--Laura Sackton, BookRiot

Part memoir, part manifesto, Chamorro climate activist Julian Aguon's No Country for Eight-Spot Butterflies is a collection of essays on resistance, resilience, and collective power in the age of climate disaster; and a call for justice--for everyone, but in particular, for Indigenous peoples.

In bracing poetry and compelling prose, Aguon weaves together stories from his childhood in the villages of Guam with searing political commentary about matters ranging from nuclear weapons to global warming. Undertaking the work of bearing witness, wrestling with the most pressing questions of the modern day, and reckoning with the challenge of truth-telling in an era of rampant obfuscation, he culls from his own life experiences--from losing his father to pancreatic cancer to working for Mother Teresa to an edifying chance encounter with Sherman Alexie--to illuminate a collective path out of the darkness.

A powerful, bold, new voice writing at the intersection of Indigenous rights and environmental justice, Julian Aguon is entrenched in the struggles of the people of the Pacific to liberate themselves from colonial rule, defend their sacred sites, and obtain justice for generations of harm. In No Country for Eight-Spot Butterflies, Aguon shares his wisdom and reflections on love, grief, joy, and triumph and extends an offer to join him in a hard-earned hope for a better world.

In this New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice, the son of working-class Mexican immigrants flees a life of labor in fruit-packing plants to run in a Native American marathon from Canada to Guatemala in this "stunning memoir that moves to the rhythm of feet, labor, and the many landscapes of the Americas" (Catriona Menzies-Pike, author of The Long Run).

Growing up in Yakima, Washington, Noé Álvarez worked at an apple-packing plant alongside his mother, who "slouched over a conveyor belt of fruit, shoulder to shoulder with mothers conditioned to believe this was all they could do with their lives." A university scholarship offered escape, but as a first-generation Latino college-goer, Álvarez struggled to fit in.

At nineteen, he learned about a Native American/First Nations movement called the Peace and Dignity Journeys, epic marathons meant to renew cultural connections across North America. He dropped out of school and joined a group of Dené, Secwépemc, Gitxsan, Dakelh, Apache, Tohono O'odham, Seri, Purépecha, and Maya runners, all fleeing difficult beginnings. Telling their stories alongside his own, Álvarez writes about a four-month-long journey from Canada to Guatemala that pushed him to his limits. He writes not only of overcoming hunger, thirst, and fear--dangers included stone-throwing motorists and a mountain lion--but also of asserting Indigenous and working-class humanity in a capitalist society where oil extraction, deforestation, and substance abuse wreck communities.

Running through mountains, deserts, and cities, and through the Mexican territory his parents left behind, Álvarez forges a new relationship with the land, and with the act of running, carrying with him the knowledge of his parents' migration, and--against all odds in a society that exploits his body and rejects his spirit--the dream of a liberated future.

"This book is not like any other out there. You will see this country in a fresh way, and you might see aspects of your own soul. A beautiful run." --Luís Alberto Urrea, author of The House of Broken Angels

"When the son of two Mexican immigrants hears about the Peace and Dignity Journeys--'epic marathons meant to renew cultural connections across North America'--he's compelled enough to drop out of college and sign up for one. Spirit Run is Noé Álvarez's account of the four months he spends trekking from Canada to Guatemala alongside Native Americans representing nine tribes, all of whom are seeking brighter futures through running, self-exploration, and renewed relationships with the land they've traversed." --Runner's World, Best New Running Books of 2020

"An anthem to the landscape that holds our identities and traumas, and its profound power to heal them." --Francisco Cantú, author of The Line Becomes a River

Celebrate Black History Month with The Story Of Series!

Discover the life of Martin Luther King Jr.--a story about standing up for civil rights for kids ages 6 to 9

Martin Luther King Jr. became one of the most important civil rights leaders in America by fighting for equality for Black people. Before he made history with his powerful speeches and peaceful protests, Martin was a dedicated, smart kid who loved to learn. He challenged racism and overcame hardships to follow his passion and do the right thing. Explore how Martin went from being a kid with a dream to an outstanding leader who made America a better place for everyone.

• Independent reading--This Martin Luther King Jr. biography is broken down into short chapters and simple language so kids 6 to 9 can read and learn on their own.
• Critical thinking--Kids will learn the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Martin's life, find definitions of new words, discussion questions, and more.
• A lasting legacy--Find out how Martin made the world a more equal place for future generations in this African American history book for kids.

How will Martin Luther King Jr.'s life inspire you?

Discover activists, artists, athletes, and more from across history with the rest of The Story Of series, including famous figures like Ella Fitzgerald, Simone Biles, Sojourner Truth, Barack Obama, and John Lewis.

When anxious feelings spiral out of control, they can drain your energy and prevent you from living the life you want. If you're ready to stop letting your anxiety have the upper hand, The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Anxiety, Second Edition can help you to recognize your anxiety triggers, develop skills to stop anxious thoughts before they take over, and keep needless fears from coming back.

In the second edition of this best-selling workbook, William J. Knaus offers a step-by-step program to help you overcome anxiety and get back to living a rich and productive life. With this book, you will develop a personal wellness plan using techniques from rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), powerful treatment methods proven to be even more effective than anxiety medication. This edition includes new evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation and values-based action, addresses perfectionism and anxiety, and features updated, cutting-edge research.

Anxiety and panic are intense emotions, and in the moments that you experience them it may seem like you are powerless, but nothing could be further from the truth. This workbook offers a practical program that you can use on your own, or with a therapist, to take back that power and conquer your anxiety.

2019 Green Earth Book Awards - Long List The art and writing of Gwen Frostic are well known in her home state of Michigan and around the world, but this picture book biography tells the story behind Gwen's famous work. After a debilitating illness as a child, Gwen sought solace in art and nature. She learned to be persistent and independent--never taking no for an answer or letting her disabilities define her. After creating artwork for famous Detroiters and for display at the World's Fair and helping to build WWII bombers, Gwen moved her printmaking business to northern Michigan. She dedicated her work and her life to reminding people of the wonder and beauty in nature.

The Sweetest Scoop is a picture book biography of the entrepreneurial activist duo behind Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream and their rocky road to success, from author Lisa Robinson and award-winning illustrator Stacy Innerst.

Chunky Monkey. Cherry Garcia. Truffle Kerfuffle.

Legendary ice cream makers Ben & Jerry are behind some of the wackiest, tastiest flavors we know and love. It all began when two groovy guys, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, met when they were 12 years old. Ben liked art, Jerry liked science, and they both loved food . . . especially ice cream!

They started a business together, and with no idea how to actually make ice cream, they made it happen with teamwork, determination, and an appetite for fun and experimentation. When the doors of Ben & Jerry's Homemade ice cream shop finally opened, crowds flocked. But the pair would still have a rocky road ahead--and ambitious activist goals to fulfill.

Chock-full of facts and humor, this entertaining biography about two hardworking partners living their Americone Dream gives readers plenty to chew on. Through their inventiveness, passion, and activism, Ben & Jerry dreamed of making the world a better, more delicious place--one scoop at a time.

"The Sweetest Scoop is a visual treat!" --Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield, Co-founders of Ben & Jerry's

Welcome all rascals and tricksters to this marvellous miscellany of mischief and magic!

This playful book explores the world of deception and trickery - both the good and the bad.

Learn the secrets of infamous magic illusions and tricks and discover the stories of some of history's most notorious hoaxes, pranks, and cons. While some are great fun, others contain a serious lesson . . . after all, understanding scams of the past can help protect you in the future.

Meet infamous pranksters such as Marcel Duchamp (the French artist who pranked the art world), renowned illusionists and escape artists such as Adelaide Hermann (one of the first female magicians), and cunning con-artists such as George C. Parker (the American who "sold" the Statue of Liberty).

The themed spreads explore a range of topics such as made-up monsters, alien conspiracies, doctored photos, disguises and pseudonyms, April Fool's Day pranks, and much more.

If you're feeling mischievous, you can even follow the steps and tips spaced throughout the book to try your hand at some pranks and magic tricks of your own! But keep your wits about you, because fake hoaxes are included within the pages for eagle-eyed readers to try to spot!

Perfect for readers young and old who delight in a bit of mischief.

East Side Dreams is an award winning, inspirational book. As you read, you will experience with the author, Art Rodriguez, the difficult time he had growing up, partly dealing with his dictatorial father. This book will make your emotions run high. You will laugh, cry, and laugh again. It is truly an inspirational story, relating life's experiences from the age of a delinquent teenager to his maturity as a successful businessman. Beginning in 1966 on the east side of San Jose, California, this book continues to be a favorite among educators and students alike.

In this thrilling panorama of real-life events, the bestselling author of Empire of Pain investigates a secret world run by a surprising criminal: a charismatic middle-aged grandmother, who from a tiny noodle shop in New York's Chinatown managed a multi-million dollar business smuggling people.

"Reads like a mashup of The Godfather and Chinatown, complete with gun battles, a ruthless kingpin and a mountain of cash. Except that it's all true." --Time

Keefe reveals the inner workings of Sister Ping's complex empire and recounts the decade-long FBI investigation that eventually brought her down. He follows an often incompetent and sometimes corrupt INS as it pursues desperate immigrants risking everything to come to America, and along the way, he paints a stunning portrait of a generation of illegal immigrants and the intricate underground economy that sustains and exploits them. Grand in scope yet propulsive in narrative force, The Snakehead is both a kaleidoscopic crime story and a brilliant exploration of the ironies of immigration in America.