Other books that might interest you

• 

  Stealing Manhattan - The Untold...

  Burl Barer, Punch Stanimirovic

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The true crime story of a family of altruistic jewel thieves and four decades of daring capers and sweet escapes, including a 1992 New York mega-heist. 
   
  Punch Stanimirovic insists: “My father, known as Mr. Stan, is the greatest gentleman thief who ever lived—a true genius.” 
   
  Punch was raised to be an exceptional diamond thief. He could work magic on a safe that would have sent Mandrake the Magician back to the novelty store, and Dr. Strange back to medical school. He and his family risked it all to make the patriarch, Mr. Stan, proud. 
   
  Punch’s pop culture sensibilities, his father’s proven skills, and his mother’s artistic input merged to create cinema-style capers—elaborately planned and executed, including a spectacular 1992 New York mega-heist of over one billion dollars in diamonds, gold, and precious gems—and they got away with it. 
   
  Many of the crew members went on to invest in real estate, helping to “build the New York skyline”, while others moved to Europe and became the Pink Panthers. 
   
  They had one rule: No One Gets Hurt. From daring heists to the ultimate escape, discover the true story of Punch, his extraordinary crew, and his high-society family . . . 
   
  Edgar Award winner and New York Times–bestselling author Burl Barer brings to light the remarkable story of four decades and two generations of America’s First Family of kind and generous “altruistic outlaws” in Stealing Manhattan: The Untold Story of America’s Billion Dollar Gem Heist Masterminds. 
   
  Praise for Stealing Manhattan 
   
  “Barer has that all-important knack for seeking and finding hidden truth. In Stealing Manhattan, those who pulled off this caper were professionals who knew how to keep their mouths shut. And lucky for us, some of these mouths have recently opened to Barer . . . now the world can know the truth. You will not want to miss this “gem” of a book!” —Kevin Sullivan, author of The Bundy Murders: The Yearly Journal

  Show book

• 

  Blackinese - Reflections on Race...

  Patricia Bradby Moore

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  In this candid and thought-provoking memoir, a millennial woman of Black and Chinese heritage reflects on the complexities of growing up with a mixed identity in the American South and beyond. From childhood memories to college experiences and a burgeoning career, Blackinese explores the nuances of race, culture, and belonging, tackling everything from food and music to dating, politics, and religion. 
  With vulnerable honesty, author Patricia Bradby Moore takes readers on a journey through her ever-evolving sense of self, which has been shaped by her diverse upbringing and global travels. From navigating the challenges of being multiracial in the U.S. to exploring how race is understood and experienced in other parts of the world, her story speaks to the growing population of mixed-race individuals who don’t fit into simple boxes. 
  Blackinese is an invitation to reflect on identity, empathy, and the shared human experience. With every page, it encourages readers to embrace their complexity and find strength in their uniqueness. This is a memoir for anyone who has ever felt they don’t quite fit the mold and for those who want to better understand what it means to live in a world where the lines of race and identity are anything but clear.

  Show book

• 

  Wild Ride Home - Love Loss and a...

  Christine Hemp

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  "This memoir seems written directly from Hemp’s soul, as she beautifully shares her moving story of learning to love and trust again after loss."--Booklist  
   
  Christine Hemp's debut work of nonfiction, Wild Ride Home, is a brilliant memoir, looping themes of finding love and losing love, of going away and coming home, of the wretched course of Alzheimer's, of cancer, of lost pregnancies, of fly fishing and horsemanship, of second chances, and, ultimately, of the triumph of love and family--all told within the framework of the training of a little white horse named Buddy.  
   
  Wild Ride Home invites the reader into the close Hemp family, which believes beauty and humor outshine the most devastating circumstances. Such optimism is challenged when the author suffers a series of blows: a dangerous fiancé, her mother’s dementia, unexpected death and illness. Buddy, a feisty, unforgettable little Arabian horse with his own history to overcome, offers her a chance to look back on her own life and learn to trust again, not only others, but more importantly, herself. Hemp skillfully guides us through a memoir that is, despite devastating loss, above all, an ode to joy. 

  Show book

• 

  The California Days of Ralph...

  Brian C. Wilson

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  In the spring of 1871, Ralph Waldo Emerson boarded a train in Concord, Massachusetts, bound for a month-and-a-half-long tour of California—an interlude that became one of the highlights of his life. On their journey across the American West, he and his companions would take in breathtaking vistas in the Rockies and along the Pacific Coast, speak with a young John Muir in the Yosemite Valley, stop off in Salt Lake City for a meeting with Brigham Young, and encounter a diversity of communities and cultures that would challenge their Yankee prejudices. 
   
   
   
  Based on original research employing newly discovered documents, The California Days of Ralph Waldo Emerson maps the public story of this group's travels onto the private story of Emerson's final years, as aphasia set in and increasingly robbed him of his words. Engaging and compelling, this travelogue makes it clear that Emerson was still capable of wonder, surprise, and friendship, debunking the presumed darkness of his last decade.

  Show book

• 

  Stephen Hawking - The...

  Chris McNab

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Explore the life and scientific legacy of Stephen Hawking - the brilliant theoretical physicist who changed the way we look at time and space. 
   
  Stephen Hawking's contributions to physics and cosmology literally changed our understanding of the universe. This captivating biography introduces his life and greatest scientific contributions, with accessible explanations on his theories surrounding general relativity, quantum mechanics, the science of black holes, and his pursuit of the 'Theory of Everything'. With black and white photographs throughout, this biography is gives wonderful insight into Hawking's extraordinary achievements and how his attitude to life and work were the true driver of his success.

  Show book

• 

  Women of Ancient Mesopotamia -...

  Layla Gupta

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  In Ancient Mesopotamia, women in positions of royalty wielded significant power and influence, though their roles were often intertwined with the male-dominated political and religious systems. These women were not only important figures within their families and courts but also held sway over matters of governance, culture, and religion. The Mesopotamian concept of royalty was complex, encompassing both divine authority and political responsibility, and women in royal families were frequently called upon to uphold and represent these ideals. 
  One of the most prominent ways in which women in Mesopotamian royalty exercised their power was through marriage alliances. Royal women were often married to powerful kings or high-ranking officials, and these unions were strategically arranged to secure political stability, territorial expansion, and alliances between city-states. While the majority of these marriages were political in nature, some royal women were able to carve out roles of personal power and influence. For instance, Queen Shub-Ad, who ruled the Sumerian city-state of Ur, is believed to have held a direct and significant role in political decision-making during her reign. Her involvement in military campaigns, the construction of monumental architecture, and religious rituals showcases the multifaceted nature of female royal authority. 
  In addition to their marriages, royal women in Mesopotamia often took on important religious roles. Many queens and princesses served as high priestesses, a position that not only gave them spiritual authority but also political power. Priestesses were central figures in the worship of the gods, and as such, they were deeply connected to the divine. Enheduanna, the daughter of the Akkadian king Sargon, is one of the most well-known royal women from Mesopotamian history.

  Show book