Biographies & Memoirs - Books

One Man Against the World

Biographies & Memoirs

The National Book Award–winning author of Legacy of Ashes delivers “a devastating account of Nixon’s presidency . . . powerful [and] extraordinary” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).Drawing on newly declassified documents, One Man Against the World paints a devastating portrait of a tortured yet brilliant man who led the country largely according to a deep-seated insecurity and distrust of not only his cabinet and congress, but the American population at large. In riveting prose, Tim Weiner illuminates how the Vietnam War and the Watergate controversy that brought about Nixon’s demise were inextricably linked.From the hail of garbage and curses that awaited Nixon upon his arrival at the White House, to the unprecedented action Nixon took against American citizens, to the infamous break-in and the tapes that bear remarkable record of the most intimate and damning conversations between the president and his confidantes, Weiner narrates the history of Nixon’s anguished presidency in fascinating and fresh detail.A crucial new look at the greatest political suicide in history, One Man Against the World leaves us not only with new insight into this tumultuous period, but also into the motivations and demons of an American president who saw enemies everywhere, and, thinking the world was against him, undermined the foundations of the country he had hoped to lead.

Like a Waking Dream

Biographies & Memoirs

Among the generation of elder Tibetan lamas who brought Tibetan Buddhism west in the latter half of the twentieth century, perhaps none has had a greater impact on the academic study of Buddhism than Geshe Lhundub Sopa. He has striven to preserve Tibetan religious culture through tireless work as a professor and religious figure, establishing a functioning Buddhist monastery in the West, organizing the Dalai Lama's visits to the U.S., and offering countless teachings across the country. But prior to his thirty-year career in the first ever academic Buddhist studies program in the United States - a position in which he oversaw the training of many among the seminal generation of American Buddhist studies scholars - Geshe Sopa was the son of peasant farmers, a novice monk in a rural monastery, a virtuoso scholar-monk at one of the prestigious central monasteries in Lhasa, and a survivor of the Tibetan uprising and perilous flight into exile in 1959.In Like a Waking Dream, Geshe Sopa frankly and observantly reflects on how his life in Tibet - a monastic life of yogic simplicity - shaped and prepared him for the unexpected. His is a tale of an exemplary life dedicated to learning, spiritual cultivation, and the service of others from one of the greatest living masters of Tibetan Buddhism.

It's a Long Story

Biographies & Memoirs

Willie Nelson shares his life story in this "heartfelt" bestselling memoir of true love, wild times, best friends, and barrooms (Washington Post)."Unvarnished. Funny. Leaving no stone unturned." . . . So say the publishers about this book I've written. What I say is that this is the story of my life, told as clear as a Texas sky and in the same rhythm that I lived it. It's a story of restlessness and the purity of the moment and living right. Of my childhood in Abbott, Texas, to the Pacific Northwest, from Nashville to Hawaii and all the way back again. Of selling vacuum cleaners and encyclopedias while hosting radio shows and writing song after song, hoping to strike gold. It's a story of true love, wild times, best friends, and barrooms, with a musical sound track ripping right through it. My life gets lived on the road, at home, and on the road again, tried and true, and I've written it all down from my heart to yours. Signed, Willie Nelson.

Tous les marins sont des chanteurs

Biographies & Memoirs

« Il n’y a pas de hasard ou il n’y a que des hasards », comme disait Rimbaud, et c’est dans un vide-greniers à Saint-Lunaire que François Morel a trouvé un vieil exemplaire défraîchi de La Cancalaise. Dans cette revue, endommagée par le temps, étaient reproduites une douzaine de chansons d’un poète et marin breton, Yves-Marie Le Guilvinec. Intrigué par l’originalité, la singularité de ce qu’il lisait, François Morel, avec l’aide de Gérard Mordillat, a voulu enquêter sur l’auteur oublié de ces textes et établir sa biographie. Yves-Marie Le Guilvinec, né en 1870 à Trigavou, pêcheur sur les grands bancs de Terre-Neuve, cadet d’une famille nombreuse, est mort en mer en 1900. Il vécut sans autre horizon que la pêche à la morue et disparut au moment où la gloire lui tendait les bras. La biographie d’Yves-Marie Le Guilvinec complétée par l’intégrale du texte de ses chansons est accompagnée de plusieurs lettres émouvantes à sa mère et d’une étude sur sa mort que nous devons à l’amabilité du Dr Patrick Pelloux, ainsi que de portraits par Ernest Pignon-Ernest.

The Storyteller

Biographies & Memoirs

Historia o tym, jak tyczkowatemu dzieciakowi ze Springfield w stanie Wirginia udało się spełnić szalone marzenie. Mimo że dziś Dave Grohl jest znanym na całym świecie rockmanem, pozostał skromnym facetem, który wciąż zachwyca się siłą muzyki i z pokorą przyjmuje sławę. W gawędziarskim stylu – i z ogromnym poczuciem humoru – wspomina swoją pierwszą trasę koncertową z zespołem Scream, opowiada o czasie spędzonym w Nirvanie i tragicznym końcu zespołu, o powstaniu Foo Fighters, kiedy znalazł się na życiowym zakręcie, o graniu z Iggym Popem, występie na ceremonii rozdania Oscarów, tańczeniu z chłopakami z AC/DC, przypadkowym spotkaniu z Little Richardem, a także życiu rodzinnym, zwłaszcza bliskiej relacji z trzema córkami… Lista jest długa.Historie Grohla są pełne muzyki. Warto ich posłuchać.Ekscytująca uczta dla fanów, a także niezwykłe spojrzenie na ostatnich trzydzieści lat historii rocka.„Booklist”Książka szczera, skromna i pełna historii o wielkich gwiazdach… Miłośnicy muzyki będą czytać na zapętleniu.CNNTe wspomnienia czytają się same – ma się wrażenie, że to rozmowa w barze z przyjacielem, który jakimś trafem pracował z prawie każdym istotnym mainstreamowym i niezależnym muzykiem rockowym ostatnich dekad.„Pittsburgh Post-Gazette”Dave Grohl kieruje przekaz do ludzi stojących pod sceną: „W głębi duszy jestem taki jak wy. Ciężko zapracowałem na swoją dzisiejszą pozycję, ale miałem obsesję na punkcie tej samej muzyki, która kręci was. Ja też jestem fanem”.„Billboard”W tej świetnej i szczerej książce Grohl nie boi się opowiadać o wszystkim: od śmierci Kurta Cobaina po ojcostwo.Audible (ranking Best of the Year)

Mother of the Brontës

Biographies & Memoirs

The groundbreaking biography of Maria Branwell reveals a remarkable woman who has been lost in the shadows of her gifted children, Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë. The witty, clever and intrepid Cornish lady of letters, lover of Patrick and mother of genius has been missing for too long. The extraordinary Brontës were a family like no other and it all began when Maria met Patrick.

Geschichte Alexanders des Großen

Biographies & Memoirs

In "Geschichte Alexanders des Großen" entführt Johann Gustav Droysen den Leser in die faszinierende Welt eines der bedeutendsten Herrscher der Antike. Mit einer einzigartigen Mischung aus historischer Analyse und narrativem Geschick zeichnet Droysen nicht nur die militärischen Erfolge Alexanders nach, sondern beleuchtet auch die politischen, kulturellen und sozialen Kontexte seiner Zeit. Durch eine sorgfältige, textuelle Auswertung antiker Quellen entfaltet er das vielschichtige Porträt eines Charakters, der bis in die Moderne hinein die Geschichtsschreibung prägte, und demonstriert dabei einen literarischen Stil, der sowohl anspruchsvoll als auch zugänglich ist. Droysen, geboren 1808 in der preußischen Provinz, war Historiker und Politikwissenschaftler, dessen Interesse an der Geschichte der Antike sich in seiner akademischen Laufbahn widerspiegelte. Seine enge Auseinandersetzung mit der klassischen Philologie und seine Überzeugungen über die Relevanz des Geistes der Antike für das moderne Europa motivierten ihn, diese umfassende Biographie zu verfassen. Droysen strebt nicht nur danach, Fakten zu präsentieren, sondern auch Verständnisse über den Einfluss Alexanders auf das historische und kulturelle Erbe zu entwickeln. Das Buch ist für jeden Geschichtsinteressierten uneingeschränkt empfehlenswert. Droysens fundierte Analyse und lebendige Darstellung machen die komplexe Figur Alexanders nicht nur nachvollziehbar, sondern auch inspirierend. Ob Sie Geschichtsstudent sind oder einfach am Erbe der Antike interessiert, dieses Werk bietet Ihnen tiefe Einblicke und regt zum Nachdenken an.

Reichsbegründer und ihre Geschichte

Biographies & Memoirs

Ziel dieser Ausgabe ist es, den Geist, die vielfältigen Strategien, die Opfer und die Entschlossenheit in den Persönlichkeiten der großen Reichsgründer darzustellen. Diese Sammlung umfasst die Biographien von: Alexander der Große (Johann Gustav Droysen) Augustus (Sueton) Napoleon (Alexandre Dumas) Bismarck (Karl Bleibtreu)

Plus fort la vie

Biographies & Memoirs

Relier les cinq continents à la nage! Un pari fou, relevé par deux amis, Philippe Croizon et Arnaud Chassery. Leur projet, "Nager au-delà des frontières", les a entraînés autour du monde. Cette expérience fraternelle est d’autant plus extraordinaire que Philippe Croizon vit depuis vingt ans avec une particularité : il est amputé des quatre membres, à la suite d’une électrocution. Au fil de cette aventure, Philippe ouvre des fenêtres sur les grands moments de sa vie, raconte son accident, ses tentatives pour en finir, son nouvel amour... Une belle affinité le lie désormais à ceux qui ont connu des destins tragiques : Théo, un jeune garçon lui aussi amputé, ou Paul, rescapé des camps de concentration. Brisé après ses amputations, Philippe a retrouvé la force, l’envie de vivre et de se dépasser grâce au sport. Un parcours de résilience bouleversant qui nous entraîne du rire aux larmes et révèle une soif de vivre hors du commun.

Confesiones de un chef

Biographies & Memoirs

Antes de que existiera The Bear, existía Anthony Bourdain.Edición del 25.º aniversario de un clásico absoluto.Con una nueva introducción de Irvine Welsh.En las ya clásicas memorias del chef Anthony Bourdain, éste nos llevó a través de las puertas giratorias de la cocina y puso patas arriba el oficio culinario.Bourdain lo cuenta todo: desde su primera ostra en la Gironda hasta su humilde puesto de friegaplatos en un restaurante de pescado de Provincetown (donde se enganchó al trabajo de chef de por vida); desde los fogones del Rainbow Room en lo alto del Rockefeller Center hasta los traficantes de drogas del East Village, pasando por Tokio, París y de vuelta en Nueva York.El resultado es un banquete deliciosamente divertido y chocante de relatos salvajes extraídos de su experiencia durante más de veinticinco años entre fogones. Un libro que te hará la boca agua y te dejará con ganas de más.La crítica ha dicho:«Un libro cautivador con su intrigante mezcla de escritura inteligente y lenguaje culinario. [...] Más terroríficamente apasionante que una novela de Stephen King.»The Sunday Times«Nadie ha contado con tanta frescura y veracidad las interioridades de las cocinas de los restaurantes». Ferran Adrià«Extraordinario... escrito con una claridad y un ingenio lúcido que deja en evidencia a la fraternidad profesional de escritores gastronómicos.»Observer«Totalmente fascinante.»New York Magazine«Vas a reír y vas a llorar. [...] Encantador.»Denver Post«Bourdain captura el mundo de los restaurantes y la comida en toda su gloria teatral y enloquecida.»USA Today«Hilarante... Bourdain destroza alegremente el decorado para revelar los horrores privados entre bastidores.»New York Times Book Review

Goering

Biographies & Memoirs

Published in the Bloomsbury Revelations series and featuring a new preface by the author, this classic biography by acclaimed historian Richard Overy takes the reader on a chilling journey into the heart of Hitler's inner circle. Hermann Goering was Hitler's most loyal supporter, his designated successor and the second most powerful man in the Third Reich. One of the main architects of the Nazi regime, he was also instrumental in the creation of the Gestapo and directly ordered the Final Solution. But who was the man behind the carefully-constructed mask? Self-indulgent and ruthless, sybaritic and brutal, egotistical yet capable of self-effacement, weak-willed yet fiercely calculating, Goering was a contradictory, complex and often bufoonish character. He styled himself as the 'Iron Man' but was known to wear togas, fur coats and faux-medieval hunting outfits. A brilliant World War I fighter pilot, military leader and mercurial Luftwaffe commander, he also loved the opera and took a perverse pride in his ill-gotten, infamous art collection. Richard Overy illuminates the many facets of Goering's personality and charts his story from his golden days as Hitler's most trusted commander to his failures and loss of power after the Battle of Britain, his sensational trial at Nuremberg and his ignominious death by suicide on the eve of his execution.

The Life & Legacy of Amerigo Vespucci

Biographies & Memoirs

The Life & Legacy of Amerigo Vespucci is a fascinating anthology that traverses the tumultuous waters of exploration and colonization during the Age of Discovery. This collection presents a rich tapestry of narratives, letters, and reflections that paint a vivid picture of the early encounters between the Old World and the New. Through a vibrant array of literary styles, each piece captures the tension, wonder, and complexity of this pivotal era. The inclusion of remarkable works—ranging from descriptive chronicles to poignant personal accounts—underscores the diversity and significance of these historical documents. Particularly noteworthy is the anthology's engagement with the varied perspectives on exploration's impact, providing an invaluable window into this transformative period. The anthology brings together the voices of iconic figures like Christopher Columbus, Bartolomé de las Casas, and Amerigo Vespucci, united by their monumental roles in reshaping world geography and intercultural relations. Editor(s) adeptly curate an expansive dialogue that reflects both the celebratory and critical aspects of their exploits and legacies. This collection aligns with historical discourses that have profoundly influenced cultural and literary scholarship, offering a multifaceted narrative enriched by differing viewpoints. Together, these influential figures transcend their individual contributions, crafting a compelling mosaic that invites reflection on discovery and its enduring impacts. This collection is essential for readers seeking to immerse themselves in the multilayered narrative of early transatlantic exploration. By weaving together perspectives that span continents and eras, The Life & Legacy of Amerigo Vespucci presents a rare opportunity to engage with the complexities of identity, culture, and legacy through a meticulously curated literary lens. Ideal for scholars and casual readers alike, the anthology promises to enlighten and provoke thoughtful dialogue, enhancing both historical understanding and appreciation for the diverse voices captured within its pages.

Henri Raymond

Biographies & Memoirs

Cette succession d'entretiens avec Henri Raymond permet de suivre un itinéraire intellectuel vers une histoire architecturale et urbaine de la société. Tout en retraçant les étapes marquantes de la vie de ce penseur représentatif de la sociologie urbaine française, ce recueil entend restituer toute l'épaisseur d'une personnalité faisant fi des conventions et du langage académique. Ce livre permet de renouer avec les profondes réflexions qui ont alimenté les enseignements du sociologue, notamment en Sorbonne, à Paris et Nanterre, à l'école d'architecture de Paris Belleville.

Henri de Rohan

Biographies & Memoirs

Né en 1579 dans une famille réformée de la haute noblesse bretonne et poitevine, Henri de Rohan fut, très jeune, l’un des compagnons préférés d’Henri IV, qui le fit duc et pair, et favorisa son mariage avec l’intrépide Marguerite de Béthune, la fille de Sully. L’assassinat de son protecteur en 1610 fut pour lui une catastrophe irrémédiable. Il devint bientôt, face à Marie de Médicis et à Louis XIII, le champion de l’intransigeance protestante. En 1629, la paix d’Alès le contraint à l’exil à Venise, dont il devint le commandant des armées. Ses talents militaires, ses relations dans toute l’Europe — il était le parrain de Charles Ier d’Angleterre — conduisirent Richelieu et le roi à lui confier d’importantes missions diplomatiques et militaires en Suisse, puis en Allemagne contre les Habsbourg. En 1638, l’ancien rebelle trouva au combat une mort héroïque.

Béla Bartók

Biographies & Memoirs

"This deeply researched biography of Béla Bartók (1881–1945) provides a more comprehensive view of the innovative Hungarian musician than ever before. David Cooper traces Bartók’s international career as an ardent ethno-musicologist and composer, teacher, and pianist, while also providing a detailed discussion of most of his works. Further, the author explores how Europe’s political and cultural tumult affected Bartók’s work, travel, and reluctant emigration to the safety of America in his final years. Cooper illuminates Bartók’s personal life and relationships, while also expanding what is known about the influence of other musicians—Richard Strauss, Zoltán Kodály, and Yehudi Menuhin, among many others. The author also looks closely at some of the composer’s actions and behaviors which may have been manifestations of Asperger syndrome. The book, in short, is a consummate biography of an internationally admired musician."

Poison Candy

Biographies & Memoirs

In August 2009, former madam Dalia Dippolito conspired with a hit man to arrange her ex-con husband's murder. Days later, it seemed as if all had gone according to plan. The beautiful, young Dalia came home from her health club to an elaborate crime scene, complete with yellow tape outlining her townhome and police milling about. When Sgt. Frank Ranzie of the Boynton Beach, Florida, police informed her of her husband Michael's apparent murder, the newlywed Dippolito can be seen on surveillance video collapsing into the cop's arms, like any loving wife would—or any wife who was pretending to be loving would. The only thing missing from her performance were actual tears.... And the only thing missing from the murder scene was an actual murder.Tipped off by one of Dalia's lovers, an undercover detective posing as a hit man met with Dalia to plot her husband's murder while his team planned, then staged the murder scenario—brazenly inviting the reality TV show Cops along for the ride. The Cops video went viral, sparking a media frenzy: twisted tales of illicit drugs, secret boyfriends, sex-for-hire, a cuckolded former con man, and the defense's ludicrous claim that the entire hit had been staged by the intended victim for reality TV fame.In Poison Candy, case prosecutor Elizabeth Parker teams with bestselling crime writer Mark Ebner take you behind and beyond the courtroom scenes with astonishing never-before-revealed facts, whipsaw plot twists, and exclusive photos and details far too lurid for the trial that led to 20 years in state prison for Dalia Dippolito.

A Life of Napoleon Bonaparte

Biographies & Memoirs

A Life of Napoleon Bonaparte written by Ida M. Tarbell who was an American writer. This book was published in 1901. And now republish in ebook format. We believe this work is culturally important in its original archival form. While we strive to adequately clean and digitally enhance the original work, there are occasionally instances where imperfections such as missing pages, poor pictures or errant marks may have been introduced due to either the quality of the original work. Despite these occasional imperfections, we have brought it back into print as part of our ongoing global book preservation commitment, providing customers with access to the best possible historical reprints. We appreciate your understanding of these occasional imperfections, and sincerely hope you enjoy reading this book.

Sono contenta che mia mamma è morta

Biographies & Memoirs

JENNETTE MCCURDY HA SOLO tredici anni quando diventa una celebrità della tv grazie alla serie "iCarly". Dietro il suo sorriso smagliante si nasconde però l'inferno degli abusi fisici e psicologici a cui sua madre la sottopone fin da quando è bambina. Ossessionata dall'idea di fare della figlia una star, Debbie ha assunto il controllo maniacale di ogni aspetto della sua vita. E Jennette, pur di vedere la madre felice e di conquistare il suo amore, è disposta a rinunciare all'infanzia normale che vorrebbe così tanto. Giorno dopo giorno, per anni, Debbie cerca di distruggere Jennette per ricostruirla a suo piacimento. Solo quando il cancro obbliga Debbie a stare in ospedale e lontano da lei, Jennette scopre fino a che punto è riuscita a devastarla. Preda di disturbi alimentari, dell'alcol e di una grave depressione, è costretta ad affrontare il suo passato e il mostro che l'ha resa ciò che non avrebbe mai voluto essere.Scritto con disarmante sincerità e umorismo nero, Sono contenta che mia mamma è morta è il racconto di quello che succede quando chi ci dovrebbe amare più di tutti abusa della nostra innocenza. Ma soprattutto è una storia che parla di resilienza e conquista della libertà. E della felicità di farti lo shampoo da sola.

The Family (Deutsche Edition)

Biographies & Memoirs

Charles Manson und seine Family brachten es im Herbst 1969 fast über Nacht zu schrecklicher Berühmtheit. Mitglieder der Gruppe hatten die Schauspielerin Sharon Tate, hochschwangere Ehefrau des Regisseurs Roman Polanski und weitere Freunde aus dem Hollywood-Jetset in der Polanski-Villa am Cielo Drive auf bestialische Weise ermordet. Nach Mansons Verhaftung ging das Foto des irren Mörders "mit dem glasigen Blick" um die ganze Welt. Doch die Anfänge der Family liegen in der Hippie- und Flower-Power-Bewegung des Jahres 1967. In diesem Sommer bevölkerten Aberhunderte von Jugendlichen San Francisco, auf der Suche nach einem neuen, freieren Leben. Freie Liebe, freier Sex - das suchten auch die Mädchen, die sich um Manson scharten. Der eben aus dem Gefängnis Entlassene hatte bald einen ganzen Harem von Anhängerinnen, die ihn als Guru verehrten. Nach und nach mischten sich Elemente satanischer Kulte in die Liebesorgien, bis schließlich Mansons Jünger als scheinbar willenlose Werkzeuge die Apokalypse-Visionen ihres Meisters in einen Blutrausch verwandelten. Der Autor Ed Sanders hat in akribischen Recherchen über Jahre alles verfügbare Material zusammengetragen, Verhörprotokolle und Prozessakten gewälzt, mit Zeugen und Family-Mitgliedern gesprochen und versucht, das Rätsel zu ergründen. In diesem Buch erzählt er die Geschichte der Family - von Charlie Mansons Jugend über die bunten Eskapaden bis hin zu den mörderischen Gewaltorgien. Für die vorliegende Neuausgabe hat Sanders die spannende "Nachgeschichte" des Falles aufgespürt: die Reaktion der Family auf die Verurteilung Mansons, seine ungebrochene Macht, die auch aus dem Gefängnis heraus noch wirksam ist, das versuchte Attentat auf Präsident Ford und viele andere irritierende Begebenheiten. Schon bei seinem ersten Erscheinen Anfang der Siebziger wurde dieses Buch zu einem Klassiker. Auch heute, in der erweiterten Neuausgabe, hat es nichts von seiner Faszination eingebüßt.

Let's Go (So We Can Get Back)

Biographies & Memoirs

The singer, guitarist, and songwriter—best known for his work with Wilco—opens up about his past, his songs, the music, and the people who have inspired him in this personal memoir. This ideal addition to your Wilco collection also makes a perfect gift for music lovers.*A New York Times Bestseller**A Rolling Stone Best Music Books of 2018 selection**A Pitchfork Pick: Best Music Books of 2018*Few bands have encouraged as much devotion as the Chicago rock band Wilco, and it's thanks, in large part, to the band's singer, songwriter, and guiding light: Jeff Tweedy. But while his songs and music have been endlessly discussed and analyzed, Jeff has rarely talked so directly about himself, his life, or his artistic process.Until now. In his long-awaited memoir, Jeff will tell stories about his childhood in Belleville, Illinois; the St. Louis record store, rock clubs, and live-music circuit that sparked his songwriting and performing career; and the Chicago scene that brought it all together. He also talks in-depth about his collaborators in Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, and more; and writes lovingly about his parents; wife, Susie; and sons, Spencer and Sammy. Honest, funny, and disarming, Tweedy's memoir will bring readers inside both his life and his musical process, illuminating his singular genius and sharing his story, voice, and perspective for the first time.

Biographies & Memoirs Books