Collection: Biography & Memoir

A unique coming-of-age story from the lost world of Arab-Jews

In July 1950, Avi Shlaim, only five, and his family were forced into exile, fleeing their beloved Iraq to the new state of Israel.

'Remarkable.' Max Hastings, THE SUNDAY TIMES

Today the once flourishing Jewish community of Iraq, at one time numbering over 130,000 and tracing its history back 2,600 years, has all but vanished.

Why so? One explanation speaks of the timeless clash between Arab and Jewish civilisations and a heroic Zionist mission to rescue Eastern Jews from backward nations and unceasing persecution.

Avi Shlaim tears up this script. His parents had many Muslim friends in Baghdad and no interest in Zionism. As anti-Semitism surged in Iraq, the Zionist underground fanned the flames. Yet when Iraqi Jews fled to Israel, they faced an uncertain future, their history was rewritten to serve a Zionist narrative.

This memoir breathes life into an almost forgotten world. Weaving together the personal and the political, Three Worlds offers a fresh perspective on Arab-Jews, caught in the crossfire of Zionism and nationalism.

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A TLS AND NEW STATESMAN BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023

'A beautifully written book which artfully blends the personal with the political.' Justin Marozzi, SPECTATOR

'Three Worlds, by the Oxford historian of the modern Middle East Avi Shlaim, is an often enchanting memoir of his childhood in Baghdad... A gripping account... A lost world in Iraq is brilliantly brought back to life in this fascinating memoir.' David Abulafia, FINANCIAL TIMES

The Imagineers, those men and women who helped Walt Disney bring his creations to life, have achieved legendary status among theme park enthusiasts. IT'S KIND OF A CUTE STORY is the life story of one of the most beloved Imagineers, Rolly Crump. Covering his long and varied career, including designing some of Disney's most famous attractions and working directly with Walt himself, Rolly's stories weave into a lighthearted yet riveting narrative of his life and accomplishments.Packed with over 200 photos, many of which have never been seen before, IT'S KIND OF A CUTE STORY is a tribute to the life and work of a true original.

Matthew Perry is known all over the world for his character, Chandler Bing. The TV show FRIENDS became a huge success, and the actors got all the fame and money they could ever imagine. Three years after FRIENDS, Matthew had a serious Jet Ski accident that turned him over. Vicodin (medicine) was prescribed to ease his pain and it eventually became an addiction. Matthew was not a party animal and he had serious alcoholism issues. After spending years in darkness and loneliness, Matthew finally seeks help from his parents. He visited rehab centres to control his addiction. After becoming sober, he even started a Sober living facility to help people with this issue. He wished to be remembered for helping others rather than being remembered for his character. He has won several awards. A few years went by, and Matthew lived his life sober.

In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the incredible life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the beloved supreme court justice.

Little Ruth's mom taught her to be a lady--which meant to be her own independent self. Ruth promised herself she would do everything her mother didn't get the chance to do. And she excelled: at school, as a law professor, and later on the supreme court fighting gender discrimination.

Ruth became one of the most iconic figures in U.S. politics, standing up for what she believed in, fighting for racial and gender equality, and defending democratic values.

This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the justice's life.

Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling biography series for kids that explores the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.

This empowering series of books offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover and paperback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. With rewritten text for older children, the treasuries each bring together a multitude of dreamers in a single volume. You can also collect a selection of the books by theme in boxed gift sets. Activity books and a journal provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.

Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!

Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * "Do we need still another Watergate book? The answer turns out to be yes--this one." --The Washington Post * "Dazzling." --The New York Times Book Review

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Only Plane in the Sky, comes the first definitive narrative history of Watergate--"the best and fullest account of the crisis, one unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)--exploring the full scope of the scandal through the politicians, investigators, journalists, and informants who made it the most influential political event of the modern era.

In the early hours of June 17, 1972, a security guard named Frank Wills enters six words into the log book of the Watergate office complex that will change the course of history: 1:47 AM Found tape on doors; call police.

The subsequent arrests of five men seeking to bug and burgle the Democratic National Committee offices--three of them Cuban exiles, two of them former intelligence operatives--quickly unravels a web of scandal that ultimately ends a presidency and forever alters views of moral authority and leadership. Watergate, as the event is called, becomes a shorthand for corruption, deceit, and unanswered questions.

Now, award-winning journalist and bestselling author Garrett M. Graff explores the full scope of this unprecedented moment from start to finish, in the first comprehensive, single-volume account in decades.

The story begins in 1971, with the publication of thousands of military and government documents known as the Pentagon Papers, which reveal dishonesty about the decades-long American presence in Vietnam and spark public outrage. Furious that the leak might expose his administration's own duplicity during a crucial reelection season, President Richard M. Nixon gathers his closest advisors and gives them implicit instructions: Win by any means necessary.

Within a few months, an unsteady line of political dominoes are positioned, from the creation of a series of covert operations code-named GEMSTONE to campaign-trail dirty tricks, possible hostage situations, and questionable fundraising efforts--much of it caught on the White House's own taping system. One by one they fall, until the thwarted June burglary attracts the attention of intrepid journalists, congressional investigators, and embattled intelligence officers, one of whom will spend decades concealing his identity behind the alias "Deep Throat." As each faction slowly begins to uncover the truth, a conspiracy deeper and more corrupt than anyone thought possible emerges, and the nation is thrown into a state of crisis as its government--and its leader--unravels.

Using newly public documents, transcripts, and revelations, Graff recounts every twist with remarkable detail and page-turning drama, bringing readers into the backrooms of Washington, chaotic daily newsrooms, crowded Senate hearings, and even the Oval Office itself during one of the darkest chapters in American history.

Grippingly told and meticulously researched, Watergate is the defining account of the moment that has haunted our nation's past--and still holds the power to shape its present and future.

"Ty Seidule scorches us with the truth and rivets us with his fierce sense of moral urgency." --Ron Chernow

In a forceful but humane narrative, former soldier and head of the West Point history department Ty Seidule's Robert E. Lee and Me challenges the myths and lies of the Confederate legacy--and explores why some of this country's oldest wounds have never healed.

Ty Seidule grew up revering Robert E. Lee. From his southern childhood to his service in the U.S. Army, every part of his life reinforced the Lost Cause myth: that Lee was the greatest man who ever lived, and that the Confederates were underdogs who lost the Civil War with honor. Now, as a retired brigadier general and Professor Emeritus of History at West Point, his view has radically changed. From a soldier, a scholar, and a southerner, Ty Seidule believes that American history demands a reckoning.

In a unique blend of history and reflection, Seidule deconstructs the truth about the Confederacy--that its undisputed primary goal was the subjugation and enslavement of Black Americans--and directly challenges the idea of honoring those who labored to preserve that system and committed treason in their failed attempt to achieve it. Through the arc of Seidule's own life, as well as the culture that formed him, he seeks a path to understanding why the facts of the Civil War have remained buried beneath layers of myth and even outright lies--and how they embody a cultural gulf that separates millions of Americans to this day.

Part history lecture, part meditation on the Civil War and its fallout, and part memoir, Robert E. Lee and Me challenges the deeply-held legends and myths of the Confederacy--and provides a surprising interpretation of essential truths that our country still has a difficult time articulating and accepting.

Calling all Yankees fans!

The Ultimate New York Yankees Trivia Book is a staple for anyone who loves baseball, sports trivia, and the Bronx Bombers. You will be tested on your knowledge of mind-blowing facts from the early days when Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, and Lou Gehrig owned New York, as well as the current era of Bronx baseball led by the likes of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Within these pages, you will find answers to over 350 trivia questions as well as hundreds of interesting facts, including:

• How many times was Billy Martin hired and fired as Yankees manager? (More times than you'd think.)
• In Derek Jeter's junior high yearbook, students were asked to write what they planned to be doing in 10 years. Jeter answered, "Playing shortstop for the New York Yankees."
• In a high school football game, former Yankee Johnny Damon suffered his first sports concussion at the hands of which NFL star?
• Back in 1998, former Yankee Alex Rodriguez was asked by a reporter who his dream date would be with. His answer? Jennifer Lopez. And 22 years later, J-Lo and A-Rod are currently engaged to be married.
• Who threw the Yankees' very first no-hitter in 1917?

Whether you're a lifelong Yanks fan or are simply looking to hit one out of the park on MLB Trivia Night at your local bar, The Ultimate New York Yankees Trivia Book is a grand slam.

A prisoner gardens his way to freedom in this inspiring picture-book biography.

When Elliott Michener was locked away in Alcatraz for counterfeiting, he was determined to defy the odds and bust out. But when he got a job tending the prison garden, a funny thing happened. He found new interests and skills--and a sense of dignity and fulfillment. Elliott transformed Alcatraz Island, and the island transformed him.

Told with empathy and a storyteller's flair, Elliott's story is funny, touching, and unexpectedly relevant. Back matter about the history of Alcatraz and the US prison system today invites meaningful discussion.

Mountains Beyond Mountains meets Tattoos On the Heart in this unforgettable, powerful, and stunningly-told memoir of a struggling veterinarian saving animals and humans on the streets of California - and how he discovered what bonds all living creatures.

Dr. Kwane Stewart was questioning his career as a veterinarian when he saw a homeless man with a flea-infested dog outside of a convenience store. In a moment of spontaneous generosity, he offered to examine the dog and treat him for free. It was the first step in a now nine-year journey that has taken Dr. Kwane from Skid Row to San Francisco and beyond to care for pets and their humans who are living on the streets.

In What It Takes to Save a Life, Dr. Kwane shows how our four-legged, feathered, scaled, and swimming family members--these dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and other animals that live side by side with us--provide more than companionship. They offer essential love, hope, and a sense of security.

Written with striking honesty and rich detail, Dr. Kwane looks back on his childhood, how he discovered his appreciation for animals and his calling, and offers a frank assessment of the state of veterinary medicine today, where compassion fatigue, burnout, and suicide are facts of life. Full of warm and inspiring stories of human-animal relationships, this powerful and eye-opening book is a reminder that we are all members of a wider family. It is also a clarion call for each of us to help those in need--especially our most vulnerable brothers and sisters--and the animals who are their families. Wise and warm, Dr. Stewart's story is a reminder that one life can make an immeasurable difference.

Sonia y sus amigos siembran un jardín, y cada uno contribuye a su manera. Rafael tiene asma y a veces debe mantener la calma para poder respirar mejor, lo que le permite pintar bellas rocas para el jardín. Anthony utiliza una silla de ruedas para moverse rápidamente y dirigir al grupo. Anh tartamudea al hablar y prefiere escuchar. Por eso sabe cómo sembrar cada flor. Todos los amigos son diferentes, pero todos tienen algo en común: les gusta hacer preguntas y saber más acerca de sus compañeros!

En esta tierna historia que refleja la diversidad, escrita por Sonia Sotomayor, juez del Tribunal Supremo de Estados Unidos, e inspirada en su propia experiencia tras diagnosticarle diabetes durante su infancia, los lectores descubrirán cómo los niños de esta historia utilizan sus habilidades y fortalezas para trabajar juntos y aprender los unos de los otros. Con vibrantes y llamativas ilustraciones del galardonado artista Rafael López, este libro nos demuestra que las diferencias son maravillosas, y que si en alguna ocasión no entiendes algo, no debes quedarte callado, SOLO PREGUNTA!

"It's time to start helping the helpers, Tell Me My Story shows us the way." - Jonathan Fields, Founder of Good Life Project(R) & bestselling author of SPARKED

The work of serving others never ends, and it demands a great deal from those who take it on-more than they have to give, if they're not careful. But helping others shouldn't come at the cost of one's own health and well-being.

And yet, years of putting mission needs before their own, coupled with the impact of a global pandemic, has left many humanitarians across mission-driven fields struggling to acknowledge their pain and serve others at the same time. It's left them languishing, exhausted, stressed out, burned out, traumatized, morally injured, depressed, anxious, and facing a seemingly impossible choice: Them or me?

Using moments from her own life and twenty-year humanitarian career, Dimple D. Dhabalia invites humanitarians to consider how choosing a path of service may provide powerful opportunities to reveal and heal wounds at the individual and organizational levels, while embracing their humanity through the stories of the people they serve.

Part memoir and part manifesto, Tell Me My Story is one leader's message of hope and offers a map to healing for those doing humanitarian work. It's also a reminder: This service and the people who do it are crucial to our world, and we must equip, empower, and encourage them to work as the best version of themselves-for themselves, for their loved ones, and for the people they serve.

"A must-read-not only for those who dedicate their lives to helping others, but for all who have a story in need of healing." - Angela Bailey, Founder & CEO, Angela Bailey and Associates and Former Chief Human Capital Officer for the Department of Homeland Security

The story of one of Cincinnati's most influential leaders in medicine.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1939, Dr. Alvin Crawford grew up and attended medical school in a segregated world. Beginning with his early life in Orange Mound--a self-contained community for freed slaves established in the 1890s--Crawford's autobiography describes his flirtation with a music degree and time spent playing in jazz bands through the segregated South. In 1960, Crawford began his ground-breaking medical career with his entrance into the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, becoming the school's first African American student. After completing his medical training and traveling the world as a surgeon for the Navy, Crawford found himself in Cincinnati, where he established the Comprehensive Pediatric Orthopedic Clinic at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, the first in the region.

Underlying this story are the systemic and very personal incidents of racism Crawford experienced throughout his career. His autobiography is a personal account of segregation, integration, ambition, hard work, and taking risks.

Soul Companion: A Memoir is the true adventures of Judy Hilyard, as she travels to the Afterlife in joyful service to others and education of self.

Judy recounts her experiences of living life as an Anam Aira, a soul companion, for those who have died or are in the final stages of dying.

Judy was awakened to this great service for humans and our animal companions as she was finishing her 47-year career as a left-brain-focused Intensive Care RN.

She has been doing Anam Aira work for several years, helping hundreds of people - those about to pass over to the Other Side, those already over There and those still here in physical form. The connection across the Veil is Love-Affirming for all and relieves the fear of death for those still here.

"We are eternal souls who live forever and therefore, healing of emotional or spiritual wounds can be facilitated, even if one or more of the people in the wounding are no longer physically alive. Healing, Joy and Peace are always assured." - Judy Hilyard

Malala Yousafzai was a girl who loved to learn but was told that girls would no longer be allowed to go to school. She wrote a blog that called attention to what was happening in her beautiful corner of Pakistan and realized that words can bring about change. She has continued to speak out for the right of all children to have an education. In 2014 she won the Nobel Peace Prize.

A beautiful and inspirational full-color journal from Tabitha Brown, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Feeding the Soul (Because It's My Business)

In her beloved book Feeding the Soul, Tabitha Brown made readers feel seen, loved, and heard, sharing the knowledge she's gained from her own journey in life. Now, in this gorgeous keepsake journal, Tab invites readers to think more deeply about their own life paths, and how to live in more love and happiness. Readers will be drawn in to write on each creatively illustrated, uplifting page, with:

Dozens of thought-provoking writing prompts in Tabitha's encouraging voiceCharming and colorful illustrationsMotivational and inspirational "Tabisms"Space for readers to write in their own stories, hopes, and dreams--and make the journal their own!

This soul-healing journal encourages readers to take some time to reflect on their own sources of joy and hope, spirituality, self-image, and peace, and to look back on when they want to appreciate how far they've come and what insights they've gained in their own journeys.

A memorial edition of Elie Wiesel's seminal memoir of surviving the Nazi death camps, with tributes by President Obama and Samantha Power

When Elie Wiesel died in July 2016, the White House issued a memorial statement in which President Barack Obama called him "the conscience of the world." The whole of the president's eloquent tribute serves as a foreword to this memorial edition of Night. "Like millions of admirers, I first came to know Elie through his account of the horror he endured during the Holocaust simply because he was Jewish," wrote the president.

In 1986, when Wiesel received the Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wrote, "Elie Wiesel was rescued from the ashes of Auschwitz after storm and fire had ravaged his life. In time he realized that his life could have purpose: that he was to be a witness, the one who would pass on the account of what had happened so that the dead would not have died in vain and so the living could learn." Night, which has sold millions of copies around the world, is the very embodiment of that conviction. It is written in simple, understated language, yet it is emotionally devastating, never to be forgotten.

Born in the town of Sighet, Transylvania, Wiesel was a teenager when he and his family were deported to Auschwitz and then Buchenwald. Night is the shattering record of his memories of the death of his mother, father, and little sister, Tsipora; the death of his own innocence; and his despair as a deeply observant Jew confronting the absolute evil of man.

"Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, that turned my life into one long night," writes Wiesel. "Never shall I forget . . . even were I condemned to live as long as God Himself." These words are etched into the wall of the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. Far more than a chronicle of the sadistic realm of the camps, Night also addresses many of the philosophical and personal questions implicit in any serious consideration of the Holocaust.

In addition to tributes from President Obama and Samantha Powers, this memorial edition of Night includes the unpublished text of a speech that Wiesel delivered before the United Nations General Assembly on the sixtieth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, entitled "Will the World Ever Know." These remarks powerfully resonate with Night and with subsequent acts of genocide.