Collection: Biography & Memoir

Hilary Davidson delves into the clothing of one of the world's great authors, providing unique and intimate insight into her everyday life and material world

What did Jane Austen wear?

Acclaimed dress historian and Austen expert Hilary Davidson reveals, for the first time, the wardrobe of one of the world's most celebrated authors. Despite her acknowledged brilliance on the page, Jane Austen has all too often been accused of dowdiness in her appearance. Drawing on Austen's 161 known letters, as well as her own surviving garments and accessories, this book assembles examples of the variety of clothes she would have possessed--from gowns and coats to shoes and undergarments--to tell a very different story. The Jane Austen that Hilary Davidson discovers is alert to fashion trends but thrifty and eager to reuse and repurpose clothing. Her renowned irony and wit pepper her letters, which describe clothes, shopping, and taste. Jane Austen's Wardrobe offers the rare pleasure of a glimpse inside the closet of a stylish dresser and perpetually fascinating writer.

Funeral for Flaca is an exploration of things lost and found-love, identity, family-and the traumas that transcend bodies, borders, cultures, and generations.

Emilly Prado retraces her experience coming of age as a prep-turned-chola-turned-punk in this collection that is one-part memoir-in-essays, and one-part playlist, zigzagging across genres and decades, much like the rapidly changing and varied tastes of her youth. Emilly spends the late 90's and early aughts looking for acceptance as a young Chicana growing up in the mostly-white suburbs of the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to Portland, Oregon in 2008. Ni de aquí, ni de allá, she tries to find her place in the in between.

Growing up, the boys reject her, her father cheats on her mother, then the boys cheat on her and she cheats on them. At 21-years-old, Emilly checks herself into a psychiatric ward after a mental breakdown. One year later, she becomes a survivor of sexual assault. A few years after that, she survives another attempted assault. She searches for the antidote that will cure her, cycling through love, heartbreak, sex, an eating disorder, alcohol, an ever-evolving style, and, of course, music.

She captures the painful reality of what it means to lose and find your identity, many times over again. For anyone who has ever lost their way as a child or as an adult, Funeral for Flaca unravels the complex layers of an unpredictable life, inviting us into an intimate and honest journey profoundly told with humor and heart by Emilly Prado.

"I felt these essays deep in my heart. Funeral for Flaca is like a Chicana punk rock ballad in prose. Soulful and brave, these essays of Prado's life made me feel less lonely, less outcasted, and more seen-and isn't that why we come to books in the first place?" -Kali Fajardo-Anstine, author of Sabrina & Corina

"Once I started reading Funeral for Flaca, I could not stop. The series of essays traverses Prado's life and weaves a narrative that is gripping and beautifully told. Each essay is a finely crafted tribute to periods in Prado's labyrinthine path, intersecting trauma, pathology, loss and, ultimately, perseverance and healing." -Lisa Congdon, artist and author of Find Your Artistic Voice: The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic

"This book is brilliant. It tells the unique stories of what it means to grow up Latina in the U.S. and the universal experiences of love, coming of age and finding your own voice and self. Prado weaves personal stories that make you laugh, cry and give you hope for the future." -Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, author and co-editor of Presente!

"Emilly Prado's Funeral For Flaca is fierce, funny, intelligent, and vulnerable. This memoir-in-essays speaks with ease and honesty about the ferociously hard, isolating moments of youth, and Prado's matter-of-fact tone reads like a friend's voice talking us through the worst of it. Funeral for Flaca is here to remind us: there is a woman lying dormant inside every girl." -Margaret Malone, author of People Like You

In this graphic and yet surprisingly funny account of her and others' extraordinary careers, Lankford unveils a world in which park rangers struggle to maintain their idealism in the face of death, disillusionment, and the loss of a comrade killed while holding that thin green line between protecting the park from the people, the people from the park, and the people from each other. Ranger Confidential is the story behind the scenery of the nation's crown jewels--Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Great Smokies, Denali. In these iconic landscapes, where nature and humanity constantly collide, scenery can be as cruel as it is redemptive.

Young artists can learn to paint just like television's favorite painter, Bob Ross, with these simple-to-follow lessons!

In the officially licensed Painting with Bob Ross for Kids, children discover how to create stunning natural landscapes such as "Happy Trees Along a Cabin Path," "Surfing at Sunset," and "Scenic Snowy Summit," alongside a cartoon Bob Ross who encourages them at every step! The fun illustrations, easy instructions, and a lighthearted"happy accidents" approach make this subject matter enjoyable for young painters, regardless of skill level.

With step-by-step instructions by certified Bob Ross painting instructor Doug Hallgren, along with fun cartoons by illustrator Alfredo Intocci, Painting with Bob Ross for Kids teaches 10 classic Bob Ross paintings with kid-friendly painting techniques. This is twice as many painting projects--five more--than the Bob Ross for Kids: Happy Lessons in a Box painting kit (which includes supplies and a booklet containing instructions for five of the paintings).

While the lessons are aimed at children ages six to eight, anyone can enjoy them, even if you are only a kid at heart. With this book, youngsters can paint:

• A snowy mountain
• A desert landscape
• A beach at sunset
• A springtime waterfall
• And more!

First learn how to set up a painting studio, and then dive into any painting to start. Follow along, step by step, using the Bob Ross method, and see how easy and fun it is to paint!

For more than 40 years, Bob Ross has transformed TV viewers into painters. His Joy of Painting program is the most recognized, most watched TV art show in history. Millions of fans of all ages and from around the globe still relax and unwind with Bob's gentle manner and encouraging words on television and online via Twitch and YouTube, captivated by the magic that takes place on canvas.

Build a solid foundation for mental health and wellness with this fun and engaging guide--just for teens!

Do you ever feel misunderstood? Do you get upset easily, or struggle to manage difficult thoughts and feelings like sadness, anger, frustration, or worry? Does it feel like everything is just too stressful? If so, you're far from alone. Many teens struggle to balance their emotions and manage stress. The good news is that your generation is keenly aware of the importance of mental health. Awareness is a great first step, but you also need solid skills to successfully navigate your complex world, be your best, and reach your goals. This book can teach you those skills!

In this friendly guide, psychologist Melanie McNally offers proven-effective tools to help you cultivate emotional intelligence--the ability to identify and express your emotions in healthy ways. You'll gain a greater understanding of the connection between your emotions and your behavior, learn how to stay calm during stressful or anxiety provoking situations, and discover tips to help you manage conflict with your friends, family, teachers--or anyone in your life.

You'll find foundational skills to help you:

• Increase motivation
• Practice emotional self-awareness
• Identify your feelings
• Manage your moods
• Decrease your stress levels
• Set authentic and attainable goals

Emotions are powerful things. By learning to understand and balance your own emotions, you'll be empowered to take control of your goals, your dreams, and your mental well-being--now and into the future!

In these increasingly challenging times, kids and teens need mental health resources more than ever. With more than 1.6 million copies sold worldwide, Instant Help Books are easy to use, proven-effective, and recommended by therapists.

How do you pick basketball's GOATs? Michael Jordan and LeBron James get a lot of GOAT nods. But is Steph Curry the greatest shooter? And what about all-time WNBA points leader Diana Taurasi? It comes down to stats, history, and hunches. Read more about some of the legends of basketball and see if you agree that they're the greatest of all time.

A revelatory meditation on class and consumer culture, from 2022 Nobel laureate Annie Ernaux

A New Yorker Best of the Week Pick - A World Literature Today Notable Translation of 2023

"Translated from the French with great intelligence and sensitivity by Alison Strayer. . . . Ernaux's diary is a provocation: to accept these life scenes as worthy of our time and attention."--Kate Briggs, Washington Post

"A dryly charming look at the way the French live now, through the sharp eyes of its most acclaimed chronicler."--Kirkus Reviews

For half a century, the French writer Annie Ernaux has transgressed the boundaries of what stories are considered worth telling, what subjects worth exploring. In this probing meditation, Ernaux turns her attention to the phenomenon of the big-box superstore, a ubiquitous feature of modern life that has received scant attention in literature.

Recording her visits to a store near Paris for over a year, she captures the world that exists within its massive walls. Through Ernaux's eyes, the superstore emerges as "a great human meeting place, a spectacle"--a flashy, technologically advanced incarnation of the ancient marketplace where capitalism, cultural production, and class converge, dictating our rhythms of desire. With her relentless powers of observation, Ernaux takes the measure of a place we thought we knew, calling us to question the experiences we overlook and to gaze more deeply into ordinary life.

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

This "beautiful tribute to a legendary artist" (Quincy Jones) is the first in-depth biography of Nipsey Hussle, the hip-hop mogul, artist, and activist whose transformative legacy inspired a generation with his motivational lyrics and visionary business savvy--before he was tragically shot down in the very neighborhood he was dedicated to building up.

For Nipsey Hussle, "The Marathon" was more than a mixtape title or the name of a clothing store; it was a way of life, a metaphor for the relentless pursuit of excellence and the willpower required to overcome adversity day after day. Hussle was determined to win the race to success on his own terms, and he wanted to see his whole community in the winner's circle with him.

A moving and powerful exploration of an extraordinary artist, The Marathon Don't Stop places Hussle in historical context and unpacks his complex legacy. Combining on-the-ground reporting and candid interviews, "Rob Kenner has given us the book the world--and hip-hop and pop culture--has been waiting for...one that should be celebrated alongside the best biographies ever about iconic figures we have loved--and lost" (Kevin Powell, author of When We Free the World).

Quarantined in a southwestern desert city in the midst of her high-risk pregnancy, Margo Steines felt her life narrow around her growing body, compelling her to reckon with the violence entangled in its history. She was a professional dominatrix in New York City, a homestead farmer in a brutal relationship, a welder on a high-rise building crew, and a mixed martial arts enthusiast; each of her many lives brought a new perspective on how power and masculinity coalesce--and how far she could push her body toward the brink. With unflinching candor, Steines searches for the roots of her erstwhile attraction to pain while charting the complicated triumph of gentleness and love.

As the biggest star in the world's most popular sport, Lionel "Leo" Messi is an international celebrity. But in many ways, he's just a regular guy.

Readers (Grades 4-6) will learn about Leo's favorite foods and pastimes and find out how he likes to spend time with his family. They will also learn how he got his start as a soccer player and how he became an international superstar.

In this photographic picture book, the authors record and transcribe the words of displaced children, raising up their voices--who they are, where they came from, and the many different reasons that they had to leave their home countries.

My parents told me we had to leave to stay safe. I was scared.

We left in a hurry. We could hardly bring anything. I could only take what fit in my backpack.

One day there was everyone and the next day there was almost no one. We had to go too.

This book celebrates the resilience, hope, and joy of children and their families who are seeking asylum. Stunning photographs capture children doing everyday things like playing on the playground, going to school, and meeting new friends alongside their stories of having to leave to their home countries in order to stay safe. The authors transcribed and photographed children from around the world to share their experiences on moving to a new place under extremely difficult circumstances as a way to raise up their voices and humanize people seeking asylum.

Countries include Afghanistan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Bosnia, Tibet, Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Mexico, Syria, Nigeria, Myanmar, and Ukraine. The authors have included backmatter with further information for kids, parents, and educators.

The latest in the bestselling All the Songs series, this is the most in-depth exploration of Metallica's songs ever written.

The latest book in the bestselling All the Songs series, this is the most in-depth exploration of Metallica's songs ever written.

From their widely circulated demo, No Life 'til Leather, all the way to their 10th studio album Hardwired... to Self-Destruct - Metallica have earned the title of the biggest heavy metal band on the planet. Their albums, including the hugely influential Master of Puppets, are now considered classics of rock and metal, while singles such as Enter Sandman, Fade to Black and For Whom the Bell Tolls have stood the test of time. Follow the epic journey of the godfathers of thrash metal, song-by-song, and see how they became one of the biggest selling bands in the world.

No stone is left unturned across more than 500 pages, illustrated with incredible photography throughout, from the inspiration behind the lyrics and melodies to the recording process and even the musicians and producers who worked on each track.

Uncover the stories behind the music in this truly definitive book - a must-have for every Metallica fan.

A colorful, fascinating look at growing up in the royal family over the centuries, from the Plantagenets and Tudors to the Windsors and Cambridges.

For as long as the British royal family has existed, their children have been brought up in ways that seem bizarre and eccentric to the rest of us--the royal family's obsession with making their children tough and independent as early as possible, often by delegating their parental duties to staff, goes back centuries.

Gilded Youth looks at centuries of growing up aristocratic and royal--from Edward VII smashing up his schoolroom to Prince Andrew peeing on a stable lad's shoes; from Princess Margaret putting horse manure in a footman's pockets to Diana Spencer wearing crop tops, kissing a local village boy, and drinking cider in a bus shelter; from a teenage Prince Harry throwing up in the street to Prince William becoming completely obsessed with doing the right thing regardless of the feelings of his younger brother.

Even Queen Elizabeth herself reacted oddly to her upbringing, becoming in many ways obsessively compulsive--as a child she insisted her shoes should always be positioned in the same place, her lunch set out exactly the same way each day, and that for tea she have jam pennies (small rounds of bread and jam), which she was still eating every afternoon into her nineties.

The younger generation seem to insist they want a normal or ordinary upbringing for their children--because that goes down well with the public--but this is just window dressing. Gilded Youth looks at how, when it comes to their children, the British royal family is still behaving much as they did in the past.

Help your little one dream big with a Little Golden Book biography about talk show host, producer, and actor Oprah Winfrey. Little Golden Book biographies are the perfect introduction to nonfiction for young readers--as well as fans of all ages!

This Little Golden Book about Oprah Winfrey--host of the highest-rated daytime talk show in American history, and one of the most influential and successful women in the world--is an inspiring read-aloud for young children, as well as their parents and grandparents.

Look for more Little Golden Book biographies:
- Misty Copeland
- Frida Kahlo
- Iris Apfel
- Bob Ross
- Queen Elizabeth II
- Harriet Tubman

In this autobiographical work for intermediate readers, former astronaut Jose M. Hernandez shares his journey from farmworker to spaceman.

USA TODAY BESTSELLER
GOODREADS CHOICE AWARDS FINALIST (HUMOR)

"I loved Tough Titties and didn't want it to end! ... Laura Belgray speaks to the late bloomers and slow starters in us all." -- Kelly Ripa, New York Times bestselling author of Live Wire

"Nobody makes me laugh like Laura Belgray. ... Tough Titties is a hilarious, must-read permission slip to be 100% you." -- Marie Forleo, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything is Figureoutable

From award-winning TV writer Laura Belgray, a hilarious collection of full-body-cringe, watch-through-your-fingers life lessons her own husband calls "loser Sex and the City."

What does it take to grow up cool and popular, master adulthood, fast track your success, and always be your best? Laura Belgray wouldn't know.

Her wildly relatable coming-of-age stories include hate-following her 6th grade bully on social media decades later; moving home post-college to measure her self-worth in hookups with Upper West Side bartenders; dating a sociopathic man-baby; proving herself in the early '90s at New York's coolest magazine (as the world's worst intern); falling for get-rich-quick schemes on the Internet; and, most of all, saying "tough titties" to the supposed-to's in life: driving a car, being on time, handing in your paperwork, learning to roast a chicken, and having kids.

Peppered with cutting insights on our confusing, self-helpy culture that calls hair removal "self care" and tells us to give our 110% but also to give zero f*cks, Tough Titties will leave you feeling better about, well, everything. Let's face it: we're all tired of shame-spiraling after being told what to do when we know we're not going to do any of it.

Tough Titties is one big permission slip to be a dork, a sometimes-unspiritual slacker, a late bloomer and, ultimately, 100% yourself. It'll also have you snort-laughing in public and tapping whoever's nearby to say, "Lemme read you one more part!" Which is annoying, but tough titties.