Other books that might interest you

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  Hollywood's White House - The...

  Peter C. Rollins, John E. O'Connor

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  From action flicks to biopics to SNL skits, how presidents are portrayed on screen: “An interesting study of the real presidency and the reel presidency.” —USA Today Magazine  Winner of the Popular Culture Association’s Ray and Pat Browne Book Award   Whether serious or satirical, biographical or fictional, the ways that US presidents are depicted in popular culture reveal much about us as a nation. The contributors to Hollywood’s White House examine the historical accuracy of presidential depictions, illuminate their influence, and uncover how they reflect the concerns of their times and the social and political visions of the filmmakers. With reflections on portrayals of Washington, Adams, Lincoln, FDR, Nixon, and more, this volume, which includes a comprehensive filmography and a bibliography, is ideal for both historians and film enthusiasts.   “An engaging collection.” —Robert Brent Toplin, author of Reel History: In Defense of Hollywood

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  The Prince and the Pauper

  Mark Twain

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  This treasured historical satire, played out in two very different socioeconomic worlds of 16th-century England, centers around the lives of two boys born in London on the same day: Edward, Prince of Wales and Tom Canty, a street beggar. During a chance encounter, the two realize they are identical and, as a lark, decide to exchange clothes and roles—a situation that briefly, but drastically, alters the lives of both youngsters. The Prince, dressed in rags, wanders about the city's boisterous neighborhoods among the lower classes and endures a series of hardships; meanwhile, poor Tom, now living with the royals, is constantly filled with the dread of being discovered for who and what he really is.

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  Antarctic Pioneer - The...

  Joanna Kafarowski

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  Jackie Ronne reclaims her rightful place in polar history as the first American woman in Antarctica.Jackie was an ordinary American woman whose life changed after a blind date with rugged Antarctic explorer Finn Ronne. After marrying, they began planning the 1946–1948 Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition. Her participation was not welcomed by the expedition team of red-blooded males eager to prove themselves in the frozen, hostile environment of Antarctica.On March 12, 1947, Jackie Ronne became the first American woman in Antarctica and, months later, one of the first women to overwinter there.The Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition secured its place in Antarctic history, but its scientific contributions have been overshadowed by conflicts and the dangerous accidents that occurred. Jackie dedicated her life to Antarctica: she promoted the achievements of the expedition and was a pioneer in polar tourism and an early supporter of the Antarctic Treaty. In doing so, she helped shape the narrative of twentieth-century Antarctic exploration.

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  The Artistry in Hidden Talents -...

  Mel Rusnov

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  Mel Rusnov describes the delight of discovering "The Artistry of Hidden Talents", especially music, in people otherwise defined by their careers, for NPR's This I Believe series.  
  This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that begins with the series title. The pieces that make up the program compel listeners to re-think not only what and how they have arrived at their own personal beliefs, but also the extent to which they share them with others. 
  Featuring a star-studded list of contributors that includes John McCain, Isabel Allende, and Colin Powell, as well as pieces from the original 1950's series including Helen Keller and Jackie Robinson, the This I Believe book collection also contains essays by a Brooklyn lawyer, a woman who sells yellow pages advertising in Fort Worth, TX and a man who serves on the state of Rhode Island's parole board. The result is a stirring, funny and always provocative trip inside the minds and hearts of a diverse group of Americans whose beliefs, and the incredibly varied ways in which they choose to express them, reveal the American spirit at its best.

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  8 Seconds of Courage - A...

  Tom Sileo, Flo Groberg

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  In an inspiring story of valor and the making of a hero, Florent Groberg—who grew up in France and emigrated to the US—becomes the first immigrant in forty years to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor after he tackled a suicide bomber in Afghanistan.Florent “Flo” Groberg was born in the suburbs of Paris and moved to the US with his family in middle school. He became a naturalized citizen in 2001. After attending the University of Maryland, he joined the US Army and twice deployed to Afghanistan. In August of 2012, Flo was guarding a high-level US-Afghan delegation and noticed someone suspicious: a local man stumbling toward his patrol. Flo reacted quickly and ran to tackle the man—who was wearing a suicide vest. Four people died in the subsequent explosion, but many others were spared. Flo himself spent the next three years undergoing surgeries at Walter Reed Medical Center, and in 2015 he was given the nation’s highest military award, the Congressional Medal of Honor—the first immigrant to be so recognized since the Vietnam War.What prepares a soldier for those critical moments in combat? 8 Seconds of Courage tells Flo’s story from his childhood in France to his decision to enlist and the grueling training he underwent at US Army Ranger School. As a field commander on the front lines in Afghanistan he formed close and lasting bonds with his fellow soldiers. It was this powerful sense of responsibility that compelled him to take action to save lives, even at the risk of his own.“Flo’s incredible tale of bravery and service is also a stark reminder that for many of our warriors, coming home is not the end of the fight. Flo finds a way to live…Truly an inspiration” (Jon Stewart). In his own words, Flo provides that essential insight into his selfless act while remembering his four fallen brothers in arms. 8 Seconds of Courage is a story of heroism, sacrifice, and camaraderie in wartime.

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  In the Lion’s Den - Married to a...

  Marianne Guillemin

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  Married just a few months, Marianne gradually discovers that her husband is self-centered and domineering. Attractive and charming in public, he belittles her in private, imposes his habits and favors his own career over that of his wife. Psychological violence is compounded by physical violence.
  Marianne learns to decipher the moods of this perverse man, and implements strategies to avoid conflict and protect her three children. Not daring to talk about it, and because she thinks her children need their father, she lives ten years in the lion's den. 
  Years after her divorce, she still dreads returning home. Time is what she needs to rebuild her life. 
  Now, she offers a thoughtful account of the mechanisms of narcissistic perversity and withdrawal, and urges women to stop keeping silent.

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