Collection: Biography & Memoir

In All You Need is Ears, legendary Grammy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated record producer George Martin shares tales from his life and musical career with the Fab Four.

George, he said, I don't know if you'd be interested, but there's a chap who's come in with a tape of a group he runs. They haven't got a recording contract, and I wonder if you'd like to see him and listen to what he's got?

Certainly, I said, I'm willing to listen to anything. Ask him to come and see me.

OK, I will. His name's Brian Epstein . . .

George Martin spotted the Beatles' talent, and recorded and produced The Fab Four from the start right through to The Beatles Anthology. Often called "the fifth Beatle," Martin not only produced but also arranged some of the band's most iconic and distinctive songs, including "Yesterday." In this witty and charming autobiography, Martin describes exactly what it was like to work in the studio with the Beatles--from their first audition (and his decision to scrap Pete Best on drums) to the wild experimentation of Sgt. Pepper, complete with sound effects, animal noises, and full orchestras in evening dress at the direct request of Paul McCartney.

All You Need Is Ears is an intimate insider's look at the most important pop group of all time, and how they made the music that changed the world: it's an inimitable look at the Beatles' creative process, and at the interplay of genius and practical improvisation that gave them their sound. It's an indispensable read for Beatle lovers and anyone interested in how the world of popular music really works.

Inspire young scientists with the biographies of 50 fascinating women in science past and present, each paired with a hands-on experiment that brings the history and principles of science to life.

Women have been involved in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) for thousands of years. While many have faced obstacles because of their gender, things are changing for the better, and today there are more women than ever working in these disciplines.

By examining the moments that inspired successful women to pursue STEM fields, delving into their adventures and struggles, and exploring their interests outside of science and engineering, She Can STEM gives kids a rare glimpse into the fascinating personalities behind the lab coats.

Just a few of the many curious, creative, and persevering women introduced:

• Physicist Dr. Nadya Mason - Dr. Mason studies how electrons move through materials like carbon and graphene. She ran track in high school and was a gymnast on the United States National Team.
• Ecologist Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer - When she was a young girl, Dr. Kimmerer loved to pick wild strawberries and nature helped her reconnect with her Potawatomi heritage. Eventually, her love of the outdoors led to a successful career as a plant ecologist and author.
• Physicist Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein - As a kid, Dr. Prescod-Weinstein dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player. She attended a performing arts school where she trained as a dancer before going on to study astronomy and theoretical physics.
• Chemist Dr. Raychelle Burks - Dr. Burks has loved Agatha Christie mysteries and Star Trek since she was young. Today, she works to create hand-held sensing systems that can identify chemical clues tied to crimes.
• Microbiologist Dr. Esther Lederberg - Dr. Lederberg was a child during the Great Depression and was often hungry. Although she enjoyed literature, music, and French, she eventually chose biochemistry as her field of study and went on to make many important discoveries.

Whether you're passionate about science, math, history, art, music, or sports, the relatable role models in She Can STEM demonstrate that with curiosity and hard work, anyone can pursue a bright future in STEM.

Dig into even more incredible science history from The Kitchen Pantry Scientist series with: Physics for Kids, Chemistry for Kids, Biology for Kids, Math for Kids, and Ecology for Kids.

From one of the greatest rock guitarists of our era comes a memoir that redefines sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll.

For the first time ever, Slash tells the tale that has yet to be told from the inside: how the legendary band Guns N' Roses came together, how they wrote the music that defined an era, how they survived insane, never-ending tours, how they survived themselves, and, ultimately, how it all fell apart. Slash is a window into the world of the notoriously private guitarist and a front seat on the roller-coaster ride that was one of history's greatest rock 'n' roll machines, always on the edge of self-destruction, even at the pinnacle of its success. Slash is everything Slash is: funny, honest, ingenious, inspiring, jaw-dropping . . . and, in a word, excessive.

See how iconic artists like Claude Monet were influenced by their environments in this beautiful series produced in collaboration with The Met.

See the world through Claude Monet's' eyes and be inspired to produce your own masterpieces.

Have you ever wondered exactly what your favorite artists were looking at to make them draw, sculpt, or paint the way they did? In this charming illustrated series of books to keep and collect, created in full collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you can see what they saw and be inspired to create your own artwork, too. In What the Artist Saw: Claude Monet, meet famous French painter Claude Monet. Step into his life and learn how he pioneered the Impressionist movement. Learn all about his love of nature and how he was inspired to paint light, water, and water lilies. Have a go at producing your own art inspired by what you find most beautiful about nature!

In this series, follow the artists' stories and find intriguing facts about their environments and key masterpieces. Then see what you can see and make your own art. Take a closer look at landscapes, or even yourself, with Vincent van Gogh. Try crafting a story in fabric like Faith Ringgold, or carve a woodblock print at home with Hokusai. Every book in this series is one to treasure and keep-- perfect for budding young artists to explore exhibitions with, then continue their own artistic journeys.

Vibration Cooking was first published in 1970, not long after the term "soul food" gained common use. While critics were quick to categorize her as a proponent of soul food, Smart-Grosvenor wanted to keep the discussion of her cookbook/memoir focused on its message of food as a source of pride and validation of black womanhood and black "consciousness raising."

In 1959, at the age of nineteen, Smart-Grosvenor sailed to Europe, "where the bohemians lived and let live." Among the cosmopolites of radical Paris, the Gullah girl from the South Carolina low country quickly realized that the most universal lingua franca is a well-cooked meal. As she recounts a cool cat's nine lives as chanter, dancer, costume designer, and member of the Sun Ra Solar-Myth Arkestra, Smart-Grosvenor introduces us to a rich cast of characters. We meet Estella Smart, Vertamae's grandmother and connoisseur of mountain oysters; Uncle Costen, who lived to be 112 and knew how to make Harriet Tubman Ragout; and Archie Shepp, responsible for Collard Greens à la Shepp, to name a few. She also tells us how poundcake got her a marriage proposal (she didn't accept) and how she perfected omelettes in Paris, enchiladas in New Mexico, biscuits in Mississippi, and feijoida in Brazil. "When I cook, I never measure or weigh anything," writes Smart-Grosvenor. "I cook by vibration."

This edition features a foreword by Psyche Williams-Forson placing the book in historical context and discussing Smart-Grosvenor's approach to food and culture. A new preface by the author details how she came to write Vibration Cooking.

From the age of thirteen when she began climbing, it was clear Lynn Hill had an unusual gift. Before long she was arguably the best rock climber in the world, establishing routes so bold and difficult that few others could follow. And in 1994, Lynn succeeded on a climb that no one--man or woman--has been able to repeat: the first "free ascent" of the Nose on Yosemite's El Capitan, which means that she climbed 3,000 feet of vertical granite without using gear to aid her ascent--and all in under twenty-three hours. In Climbing Free Hill describes her famous climb and meditates on how she harnesses the strength and the courage to push herself to such extremes. She tells of her near-fatal 80-foot fall, her youth as a stunt artist for Hollywood, her friendships with climbing's most colorful personalities, and the tragedies and triumphs of her life in the vertical world. More than merely a story of adventure, this book stands out as a genuine, singular account of a life richly and boldly lived.

In this classic work--a blend of memoir, social criticism, and political analysis that remains relevant today--the first Black Congresswoman to serve in American history, New York's dynamic representative Shirley Chisholm, traces her extensive political struggle and examines the problems that have long plagued the American system of government.

"A tremendously impressive book." --Washington Post

"What [Chisholm] did was so pioneering. . . . She embraced what made her different and used it as her superpower." --Regina King

"I want to be remembered as a woman . . . who dared to be a catalyst of change." Political pioneer Shirley Chisholm--activist, member of the House of Representatives, and former presidential candidate--was a woman who consistently broke barriers and inspired generations of American women, and especially women of color. Unbought and Unbossed is her story, told in her own words--a thoughtful and informed look at her rise from the streets of Brooklyn to the halls of Congress. Chisholm speaks out on her life in politics while illuminating the events, personalities, and issues of her time, including the schism in the Democratic party in the 1960s and '70s--all of which speak to us today.

In this frank assessment, "Fighting Shirley" recalls how she took on an entrenched system, gave a public voice to millions, and embarked on a trailblazing bid to be the first woman and first African American President of the United States. By daring to be herself, Shirley Chisholm shows how one person forever changed the status quo.

Look out for the biopic Shirley, directed by John Ridley and starring Regina King, coming in March 2024.

"Her motto and title of her autobiography--Unbought and Unbossed--illustrates her outspoken advocacy for women and minorities during her seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives." --National Women's History Museum

Marco Polo was seventeen when he set out for China . . . and forty-one when he came back! More than seven hundred years ago, Marco Polo traveled from the medieval city of Venice to the fabled kingdom of the great Kublai Khan, seeing new sights and riches that no Westerner had ever before witnessed. But did Marco Polo experience the things he wrote about . . . or was it all made-up? Young readers are presented with the facts in this entertaining, highly readable Who Was . . . ? biography with black-and-white artwork by John O?Brien.

JRR Tolkien was not always the old Oxford professor, pipe in the mouth, refining his extraordinary work. In 1915, at age 23, he left for the front with his high school friends, whom he loved like brothers. They take part in the Battle of the Somme which will kill 450,000 people. The horror of war will brand his relationship to friendship, love and creation. This graphic novel explores the youth of the author of The Lord of the Rings, and his traumatic experience of the battlefields of the First World War, which will forge the imagination of his literary work. For fans of The Hobbit & Lord of The Rings looking to learn more about the genius behind their favorite epics.

Amazing stories of 100 extraordinary indigenous Americans, for kids 9 and up

This fascinating and fact-filled biography collection includes:

• 100 easy-to-read one-page biographies: Find out how these incredible individuals changed the course of history!
• Illustrated portraits: Each biography includes an illustration to help bring history to life!
• A timeline, trivia questions, project ideas and more: Boost your learning and test your knowledge with fun activities and resources!

From Squanto to Sacagawea, Sitting Bull to Crazy Horse, Louise Erdrich to Deb Haaland and many more, readers will be introduced to artists, activists, scientists, and icons throughout history. Organized chronologically, 100 Native Americans Who Shaped American History offers a look at the prominent role these men and women played and how their talents, ideas, and expertise have influenced the country from its very beginnings all the way through the present day.

Heal the pain of growing up with emotionally abusive parents, and take the first steps toward the life--and the love--you deserve.

Few things in the world have a more profound effect on your life than the parents who raised you. When your parents are pathologically self-centered, manipulative, or emotionally abusive, the pain they cause is deep and often difficult to put into words. You may experience anxiety, depression, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), low self-esteem, addiction, or other mental health conditions as an adult. And you may even feel like it was somehow all your fault. But it was not your fault, and there are tools you can use to heal the trauma caused by your childhood.

From the author of the self-help hit Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members, this compassionate guide will help you gain a greater understanding of what happened in your past; transform deep pain into emotional resilience; and build the loving, meaningful relationship with yourself that you deserve. You'll also learn to set boundaries with others, assert your needs, and overcome emotional avoidance to develop warm, loving relationships with others.

Author Sherrie Campbell offers powerful skills drawn from a range of evidence-based treatments, including mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), self-compassion, lived experience, and body-based practices to help you heal from the past and reconnect with your authentic self.

A happy and healthy life is not a life without struggle--it is a journey full of meaningful lessons. Let this book guide you on the path to healing, wholeness, and self-discovery.

North of London, 2005. A doomed romance between an emo kid and a scene kid. More than friends, less than lovers, they're trying to grow shrooms before the world ends. Send help.

Solo graphic novel debut from REMY BOYDELL (THE PERVERT), fully painted in watercolor.

In this groundbreaking biography, David Maraniss captures all of football great Vince Lombardi: the myth, the man, his game, and his God.More than any other sports figure, Vince Lombardi transformed football into a metaphor of the American experience. The son of an Italian immigrant butcher, Lombardi toiled for twenty frustrating years as a high school coach and then as an assistant at Fordham, West Point, and the New York Giants before his big break came at age forty-six with the chance to coach a struggling team in snowbound Wisconsin. His leadership of the Green Bay Packers to five world championships in nine seasons is the most storied period in NFL history. Lombardi became a living legend, a symbol to many of leadership, discipline, perseverance, and teamwork, and to others of an obsession with winning.

"The best book ever written about an American city, by the best journalist of his time."-- Jimmy Breslin

New edition of the classic story of the late Richard J. Daley, politician and self-promoter extraordinaire, from his inauspicious youth on Chicago's South Side through his rapid climb to the seat of power as mayor and boss of the Democratic Party machine. A bare-all account of Daley's cardinal sins as well as his milestone achievements, this scathing work by Chicago journalist Mike Royko brings to life the most powerful political figure of his time: his laissez-faire policy toward corruption, his unique brand of public relations, and the widespread influence that earned him the epithet of "king maker." The politician, the machine, the city--Royko reveals all with witty insight and unwavering honesty, in this incredible portrait of the last of the backroom Caesars.

New edition includes an Introduction in which the author reflects on Daley's death and the future of Chicago.

New York, New York...

Are you passionate about basketball? Do you consider yourself a die-hard fan of the New York Knicks? If so, you'll be excited to learn interesting, behind-the-scenes information and in-depth details about the team in a new publication, The Ultimate New York Knicks Trivia Book. The team and its fans have been around since before the NBA began, and over 75 years of Knicks history is packed into this book.

Within the pages, you'll discover:

• How one Knicks icon only made the team because he got injured.
• Which New York Knick won college football's Heisman Trophy.
• How a father and son both played the same position for the Knicks, 40 years apart.
• How the Knicks established themselves as a trailblazer in terms of racial equality.
• The origin of nicknames like "Clyde," "Doc," "Grandmama," and "The Horse."

And so much more! Test your memory of New York's big moments with dozens of true or false questions. Marvel at some of the craziest facts in Knicks' history with hundreds of entertaining "Did You Know" anecdotes. And take your best shot with carefully designed chapters full of multiple-choice possibilities.

From the foundation set by Ned Irish through the early formative days, Willis Reed limping onto the court, through the Patrick Ewing draft lottery, the bruising defensive system of Pat Riley, through the up-tempo style of Mike D'Antoni, and everything in between, it's all here for all ages to enjoy. Don't wait, grab a copy today and celebrate the Knicks in all their glory!

This lively and accessible book focuses on the philosophy and argument of Plato's writings, drawing the reader into Plato's way of doing philosophy and the general themes of his thinking. It discusses Plato's style of writing: his use of the dialogue form, his use of what we today call fiction, and his philosophical transformation of myths. It also looks at his discussions of love and philosophy, his attitude towards women, and towards homosexual love. It explores Plato's claim that virtue is sufficient for happiness and touches on his arguments for the immorality of the soul and his ideas about the nature of the universe.