Collection: Biography & Memoir

"Pulse-pounding, both as a sports highlight and a tribute to the character and determination of one of the game's unexcelled greats." -- Kirkus

Discover the story behind Michael Jordan's incredible triumph in the 1997 Flu Game in this powerful graphic novel written by Murder Ballads' Gabe Soria and illustrated by award-winning artist Brittney Williams.

Presenting Who HQ Graphic Novels: an exciting addition to the #1 New York Times best-selling Who Was? series!

Explore the relentless grit of Michael Jordan, as he powers through a mysterious illness in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA finals against the Utah Jazz, infamously known as The Flu Game. A story of athleticism, willpower, and triumph, this graphic novel invites readers to immerse themselves into the unyielding drive of the one of the greatest basketball players of all time -- brought to life by gripping narrative and vivid full-color illustrations that jump off the page.

New York Times Bestseller

The beloved actress and star of One Tree Hill, White Collar, and Lethal Weapon, Hilarie Burton Morgan, tells the story of leaving Hollywood for a radically different kind of life in upstate New York with her husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan--a celebration of community, family, and the value of hard work in small town America.

While Hilarie Burton Morgan's hectic lifestyle as an actress in New York and Los Angeles gave her a comfortable life, it did not fulfill her spiritually or emotionally. After the birth of their first son, she and her husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan, the star of The Walking Dead, decided to make a major change: they bought a working farm in Rhinebeck, New York, and began a new chapter in their lives.

The Rural Diaries chronicles her inspiring story of farm life: chopping wood, making dandelion wine, building chicken coops. Burton looks back at her transition from urban to country living--discovering how to manage a farm while raising her son and making friends with her new neighbors. She mixes charming stories of learning to raise alpacas and buying and revitalizing the town's beloved candy store, Samuel's Sweet Shop, with raw observations on the ups and downs of marriage and her struggles with secondary infertility. Burton also includes delicious recipes that can be made with fresh ingredients at home, as well as home renovation and gardening tips.

Burton's charisma, wide eyed attitude, and fortitude--both internal and physical--propels this moving story of transformation and self-discovery. The Rural Diaries honors the values and lifestyle of small-town America and offers inspiration for anyone longing to embark on their own unconventional journey.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER - Julia's story of her transformative years in France in her own words is "captivating ... her marvelously distinctive voice is present on every page." (San Francisco Chronicle).

Although she would later singlehandedly create a new approach to American cuisine with her cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking and her television show The French Chef, Julia Child was not always a master chef. Indeed, when she first arrived in France in 1948 with her husband, Paul, who was to work for the USIS, she spoke no French and knew nothing about the country itself.

But as she dove into French culture, buying food at local markets and taking classes at the Cordon Bleu, her life changed forever with her newfound passion for cooking and teaching. Julia's unforgettable story--struggles with the head of the Cordon Bleu, rejections from publishers to whom she sent her now-famous cookbook, a wonderful, nearly fifty-year long marriage that took the Childs across the globe--unfolds with the spirit so key to Julia's success as a chef and a writer, brilliantly capturing one of America's most endearing personalities.

You can hear bodies collide and feel tendons pop as four-time All-Pro guard Ed Newman takes you inside one of the world's most unforgiving workplaces--the NFL. Brainy, candid, vivid, and visceral, Newman's Warrior Judge highlights his transformation from a hapless Miami Dolphins rookie into an elite player and then, by way of a law degree, an elected judge in South Florida.From humble beginnings as a Jewish kid in Long Island, Newman is drafted by Don Shula and his "perfect season" 1972 Miami Dolphins. He overcomes culture shock, alpha-dog hazing, coaches' doubts, cancer, injury, and antisemitism. Newman ultimately earns a starring role alongside future Hall of Famers, like Dan Marino, Larry Little, and Dwight Stephenson. Hovering over this constellation of talent is Coach Shula, always a relentless critic and sometimes a mentor and father figure. Newman's story climaxes when he juggles law school final exams with Super Bowl XIX. Warrior Judge is as inspiring as it is lively and surprising; it's a tale of adversity vanquished by against-all-odds determination. Newman was a passing quarterback's dream. He tells it how it went down from his unique perspective.--Dan Marino, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Warrior Judge is an interesting read of what it's like to be an offensive lineman in the NFL.--Larry Little, NFL Hall of Fame offensive guard Lively, often irreverent, and most of all authentic, there aren't any NFL books like this.--Michael Ennis, New York Times bestselling author After reading his thought-provoking book, all I can say is, A big hit is coming your way.--Kim Bokamper, Pro Bowl Miami Dolphin and TV personality Warrior Judge is a beautiful tribute to the good old Dolphin days. It lovingly remembers the players of the 1972 "perfect season."--Dick Anderson, two-time Super Bowl Champion

Help your little one dream big with a Little Golden Book biography about primatologist and conversationist, Jane Goodall. 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 Dr. Jane Goodall--the world's leading expert on chimpanzees and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, which protects chimpanzees and their habitats--is an inspiring read-aloud for young animal lovers.

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

PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST - "A fascinating read about a true genius and his unrelenting thirst for beauty in art and in life."--MIKHAIL BARYSHNIKOV

Winner of the Plutarch Award for Best Biography and the Marfield Prize for Arts Writing - Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award, the Kirkus Prize, and the Baillie Gifford Prize

Based on a decade of unprecedented research, the first major biography of George Balanchine, a broad-canvas portrait set against the backdrop of the tumultuous century that shaped the man The New York Times called "the Shakespeare of dancing"--from the bestselling author of Apollo's Angels

New York Times Editors' Choice - ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, NPR, Oprah Daily

Arguably the greatest choreographer who ever lived, George Balanchine was one of the cultural titans of the twentieth century--The New York Times called him "the Shakespeare of dancing." His radical approach to choreography--and life--reinvented the art of ballet and made him a legend. Written with enormous style and artistry, and based on more than one hundred interviews and research in archives across Russia, Europe, and the Americas, Mr. B carries us through Balanchine's tumultuous and high-pitched life story and into the making of his extraordinary dances.

Balanchine's life intersected with some of the biggest historical events of his century. Born in Russia under the last czar, Balanchine experienced the upheavals of World War I, the Russian Revolution, exile, World War II, and the Cold War. A co-founder of the New York City Ballet, he pressed ballet in America to the forefront of modernism and made it a popular art. None of this was easy, and we see his loneliness and failures, his five marriages--all to dancers--and many loves. We follow his bouts of ill health and spiritual crises, and learn of his profound musical skills and sensibility and his immense determination to make some of the most glorious, strange, and beautiful dances ever to grace the modern stage.

With full access to Balanchine's papers and many of his dancers, Jennifer Homans, the dance critic for The New Yorker and a former dancer herself, has spent more than a decade researching Balanchine's life and times to write a vast history of the twentieth century through the lens of one of its greatest artists: the definitive biography of the man his dancers called Mr. B.

William Shakespeare, the most celebrated poet in the English language, left behind nearly a million words of text, but his biography has long been a thicket of wild supposition arranged around scant facts. With a steady hand and his trademark wit, Bill Bryson sorts through this colorful muddle to reveal the man himself. His Shakespeare is like no one else's the beneficiary of Bryson's genial nature, his engaging skepticism, and a gift for storytelling unrivaled in our time."

Peabody and Emmy Award-winning journalist Jane Marie expands on her popular podcast The Dream to expose the scourge of multilevel marketing schemes and how they have profited off the evisceration of the American working class.

We've all heard of Amway, Mary Kay, Tupperware, and LuLaRoe, but few know the nefarious way they and countless other multilevel marketing (MLM) companies prey on desperate Americans struggling to make ends meet.

When factories close, stalwart industries shutter, and blue-collar opportunities evaporate, MLMs are there, ready to pounce on the crumbling American Dream. MLMs thrive in rural areas and on military bases, targeting women with promises of being their own boss and millions of dollars in easy income--even at the risk of their entire life savings. But the vast majority--99.7%--of those who join an MLM make no money or lose money, and wind up stuck with inventory they can't sell to recoup their losses.

Featuring in-depth reporting and intimate research, Selling the Dream reveals how these companies--often owned by political and corporate elites, such as the Devos and the Van Andels families--have made a windfall in profit off of the desperation of the American working class.

It takes a few wrong turns to find the right way.

Paul Millerd thought he was on his way. From small-town Connecticut kid to the most prestigious consulting firm in the world, brushing shoulders with CEOs and with the resume to match.

The Pathless Path is about finding yourself in the wrong life, and the real work of figuring out how to live. Through painstaking experiments, living in different countries and the goodwill of people from around the world, Paul Millerd pieces together a set of ideas and principles that guide him from unfulfilled and burned out to the good life and all of the existential crises in between.

This book is a personal journey of awakening and is an ideal companion for people considering leaving their jobs, embarking on a new path, dealing with the uncertainty of an unconventional path, or searching for better models for thinking about work in a fast-changing world.

Reader feedback:

"It's a rare book in that it is tangentially about careers and being more focused and productive, but unlike almost every other book I have read about these topics, I finished this one and felt better about myself and my career."

"The themes are timeless. The content is expertly written. The advice is refreshingly non-prescriptive."

"If you have questioned your own path, or a nagging lack of intention in your choices you need this book. If you have felt a gradual loss of agency in your direction you need this book. You are in the grip of an invisible script that was not written for you." - Kris Abdelmessih

"The writing is fantastic - Paul's writing is approachably poetic; a quick read that weaves together his own experience moving from a 'default path' overachiever to a 'pathless path' seeker of passion and curiosity, deep research into the history of work and collections of perspectives from years of podcasting, friendship, conferences, and meetings with other 'alternative path' life-livers."

Psychotherapist Josh Fletcher takes us on a tour of the inner mind of a therapist--revealing a hilariously candid point of view on the therapeutic process, a practical guide to therapy, and maybe a few more cobwebs and dark corners than one might expect. It's everything you ever wanted to know about therapy (and maybe a few things you didn't).

Trauma, heartbreak, anxiety, and mourning are all parts of the human experience, and Josh Fletcher's mission in life is to normalize the need to find a trusted professional with whom you can discuss all of life's scariest aspects. Through the lens of four of his patients--Daphne, a wildly successful actor who still struggles to find contentment; Levi, an intim-idating bouncer with obsessive tendencies who's trapped in a sex cult; Zahra, an anxious, people-pleasing doctor in the midst of unpacking serious trauma; and Noah, a shy newcomer with some major closet skeletons--you'll share in their self-discovery and recovery as they untangle themselves from an all-too-familiar web of emotions. In between sessions, Fletcher struggles to balance his own well-being with that of his patients as details from his sometimes messy but always heartfelt personal life reveal that therapists aren't immune to getting tripped up by the same hurdles as the rest of us.

And How Does That Make You Feel? is a primer on what to expect from therapy, how to find the right therapist, and the most common afflictions treated in therapy (such as depression, OCD, and panic attacks) as well as a darkly hilarious narrative about what's going on in your thera-pist's mind before, during, and after your session. Above all, it's filled with the promise that a better future is always possible . . . if we're willing to seek help and do the work.

In this timely follow-up to the best-selling, genre-defining Young, Gifted and Black, you can meet 52 more Black icons from around the world - this time spanning even more countries and including inspiring figures from as far back as the 1500s right up to present-day heroes.

Featuring the stories of recent changemakers such as Amanda Gorman and Naomi Osaka, as well as historic talents such as Juan Latino and Yaa Asantewaa, Jamia Wilson has curated a new selection of inspiring black icons illustrated by Andrea Pippins' colorful and celebratory artwork.

Covering 52 figures, the book is ideal for educators and homeschoolers studying Black excellence, with a new figure to explore every week of the year. Biographies are ordered chronologically, and the range of figures showcases an even more global selection in line with the movement towards decolonizing our history and curricula.

The 52 icons: Juan Latino, Queen Nanny, Toussaint Louverture, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Olaudah Equiano, Alexander Pushkin, Yaa Asantewaa, Moses and Calvin McKissack, Ann Lowe, Albert Luthuli, Charles Drew, Thurgood Marshall, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, George Washington Gibbs Jr., Jackie Robinson, Bertina Lopes, Frantz Fanon, Hans Massaquoi, Coretta Scott King, Mariama Ba, Gladys Mae West, Chinua Achebe, Alvin Ailey, Miriam Makeba, Annie Easley, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, Fela Kuti, John Lewis, Aretha Franklin, Angela Davis, Bob Marley, Octavia Butler, Thomas Sankara, Iman, Prince, Ozwald Boateng, Marcus Samuelsson, Leymah Gbowee, Laverne Cox, Phoebe Robinson, Lewis Hamilton, Michaela Coel, Colin Kaepernick, Kadeena Cox, Aisha Dee, Adenike Oladosu, Naomi Osaka, Amanda Gorman, Chloe x Halle, Ntando Mahlangu, Zaila Avant-garde, Mari Copeny.

Strong, courageous, talented, and diverse, these extraordinary men and women's achievements will inspire a new generation to chase their dream ... whatever it may be.

Discover more empowering books by the same author-illustrator team: Baby Young, Gifted, and Black; Young, Gifted and Black; Step into Your Power; Step into My Power and Big Ideas For Young Thinkers.

Written by award-winning author Megan Hoyt, this thoughtful STEM picture book biography about the brilliant architect of Grand Central Terminal is a celebration of resilience in the face of adversity, creative problem solving, and, of course, trains!

There was once a place in New York City that had a tennis club, movie theater, and art gallery--all in the same building! It also had a secret passageway, a huge library, and even a ski slope.

This astounding building is Grand Central Terminal, and it was the work of one brilliant man: William J. Wilgus. When William, an experienced engineer, wanted to create a new electric-powered train system, he knew he needed to house this special fleet somewhere exceptional. His grand idea of a solution? An underground multilevel train station that would become an iconic New York landmark, and one that is still an integral part of the city over a century later.

Acclaimed author Megan Hoyt pays homage to William J. Wilgus and his crowning achievement in this STEM-oriented picture book biography, with whimsical illustrations by Dave Szalay.

This non-fiction comics anthology presents stories of survival and healing told by Latin American migrant farmworkers in Vermont, and drawn by New England cartoonists as part of the El Viaje Más Caro Project-a health care outreach effort of the Open Door Clinic and UVM Extension Bridges to Health aimed at addressing the overlooked mental health needs of these vulnerable immigrants. Originally distributed to farm workers as individual Spanish language comic books, this collected edition brings the lives and voices-as well as the challenges and hardships-of these workers to an English-language audience, granting insight into the experiences and lives of the people vital to producing the food we eat.

Featuring a foreword by Julia Alvarez (Afterlife), introduction by Stephen R. Bissette (Swamp Thing) and preface by project founder, nurse Julia Doucet, these inspiring stories grapple with issues encountered by migrant workers everywhere-isolation, separation, depression, substance abuse-even as they celebrate resilience, family, community, and the ability of each storyteller to direct their own healing narrative. The Most Costly Journey is a gripping work that draws together non-fiction cartooning, graphic medicine and ethnography, channeling the skills of health care practitioners, artists and ethnographers into helping alleviate the pain of others.

EDITED BY: Marek Bennett, Julia Grand Doucet, Andy Kolovos, & Teresa Mares

FEATURED ARTISTS: Tillie Walden / Marek Bennett / Kevin Kite / Iona Fox / Kane Lynch / Teppi Zuppo / John Carvajal / Michael Tonn / Angela Boyle / Rick Veitch / Glynnis Fawkes / Greg Giordano / Ezra Veitch / Shashwat Mishra / Michelle Sayles

FOREWORD: Julia Alvarez

PREFACE: Julia Grand Doucet

INTRODUCTION: Stephen R. Bissette

AFTERWORD: Teresa Mares & Andy Kolovos

PAGES: 252 / DIMENSIONS: 5.5"x8.5"

INTERIOR: B&W / COVER: Color

BINDING: Paperback / LANGUAGE: English

PRINT ISBN: 978-0-916718-00-8

LCCN: 2021932606

LIMITED FIRST EDITION contains red foil gilded page edges and a black satin ribbon marker.As featured in Pitchfork, Empire, MovieMaker, Nerdist, The Wall Street Journal, The A.V. Club, Mashable, Wired, Yahoo's "It List," IGN, SFX, The Wrap, Gizmodo and more!"I see many things. I see plans within plans."Following his underground hit Eraserhead and critically acclaimed The Elephant Man, visionary filmmaker David Lynch set his sights on bringing Frank Herbert's beloved sci-fi novel Dune to the screen. The project had already vexed directors such as Alejandro Jodorowsky (El Topo) and Ridley Scott (Alien). But by the early '80s Universal Pictures was prepared to give Lynch the keys to the kingdom - and the highest budget in the studio's history at the time - so that he could lend his surrealistic chops to this sprawling story of feuding space dynasties. They would also hopefully be creating a "Star Wars for adults" franchise-starter.As the hot young filmmaker commanded a cast with 42 major speaking parts as well as a crew of 1,700 (plus over 20,000 extras) on 80 sets built on 8 sound stages in Mexico, what happened next became as wild, complex, and full of intrigue as Herbert's novel itself.Film writer Max Evry goes behind the erratic ride of David Lynch's Dune like never before, with a years-in-the-making oral history culled from a lineup of new interviews with the film's stars (Kyle MacLachlan, Sean Young, Virginia Madsen, etc.), creatives, film executives, and insiders - not to mention Lynch himself.David Lynch's Dune initially left many filmgoers and reviewers scratching their heads, most dismissing the film upon its release. However, four decades and a big-budget remake later, Lynch's Dune is finally poised to find its rightful place alongside the director's other masterpieces such as Blue Velvet and Mullholland Drive.Max Evry's A Masterpiece in Disarray takes you back to 1984 with the deepest dive yet into the cult classic that is David Lynch's Dune.

Tenacity, positive attitude and a genuine interest in and love for people helped propel Vickey Barron to the top of the New York City real estate market. In this book, she shares the secrets of her unexpected success -- dating back to her humble beginnings as a child being raised by a stressed-out single mother. Through a series of hilarious, heartfelt, and sometimes - unbelievable stories, Vickey explores the lessons she's learned throughout her life and the importance of asking questions. She'll also share what she's learned about overcoming fear, getting out of your own way, and finding the success you want while having fun doing it.

The bestselling, "unvarnished" (The New York Times), "engrossing" (The Guardian), "gritty, well-researched" (The Economist)--and definitely unauthorized--biography of the celebrity chef and TV star Anthony Bourdain, based on extensive interviews with those who knew the real story.Anthony Bourdain's death by suicide in June 2018 shocked people around the world. Bourdain seemed to have it all: an irresistible personality, a dream job, a beautiful family, and international fame. The reality, though, was more complicated than it seemed. Bourdain became a celebrity with his bestselling book Kitchen Confidential. He parlayed it into a series of hit television shows, including the Food Channel's Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and CNN's Parts Unknown. But his bad boy charisma belied a troubled spirit. Addiction and an obsession with perfection and personal integrity ruined two marriages and turned him into a boss from hell, even as millions of fans became enamored of the quick-witted and genuinely empathetic traveler they saw on TV. At the height of his success Bourdain was already running out of steam, physically and emotionally, when he fell hard for an Italian actress who could be even colder to him than he sometimes was to others, and who effectively drove a wedge between him and his young daughter. Down and Out in Paradise is the first book to tell the full Bourdain story, and to show how Bourdain's never-before-reported childhood traumas fueled both the creativity and insecurities that would lead him to a place of despair. "Filled with fresh, intimate details" (The New York Times), this is the real story behind an extraordinary life.