Biographies & Memoirs - Books

Spaceboy

Biographies & Memoirs

»Da draußen war ein Seelenverwandter« – Die Geschichte einer lebenslangen FaszinationIm Jahr 1969 ist Frank Schätzing 12 Jahre alt und nicht gerade der Experte für Coolness auf dem Schulhof eines Kölner Gymnasiums. Er kann zwar den »Herrn der Ringe« auswendig, aber von Popmusik hat er so wenig Ahnung wie von Fußball, und rauchen tut er auch nicht. Doch dann geht es plötzlich los in seinem Leben, denn ein neuer Musiklehrer mit langen Haaren legt eine Schallplatte auf: David Bowies »Space Oddity«.Ab dann ist alles anders – eigentlich bis heute. Denn ein Leben lang hat dieser Jahrhundertkünstler Frank Schätzings eigenen Lebensweg begleitet, bereichert und immer wieder auf eigenartige Weise gespiegelt und durchquert. David Bowie, dieses sich selbst ständig neu erfindende Gesamtkunstwerk aus Sänger, Songwriter, Tänzer, Schauspieler, Regisseur und Geschichtenerzähler, wurde für Frank Schätzing zur Inspirationsquelle seines eigenen Wegs als Kreativer – als Zeichner, Musiker, Performer, als Autor weltberühmter Thriller und populärer Sachbücher.

The Twelve Caesars

Biographies & Memoirs

The Twelve Caesars is a set of twelve biographies of Julius Caesar and the first 11 emperors of the Roman Empire written by Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus. The book provides valuable information on the heritage, personal habits, physical appearance, lives, and political careers of the first Roman emperors as it mentions details which other sources do not. As with many of his contemporaries, Suetonius took omens seriously and carefully includes reports of omens portending Imperial births, accessions, and deaths. The Twelve Caesars was considered very significant in antiquity and remains a primary source on Roman history. The book discusses the significant and critical period of the Principate from the end of the Republic to the reign of Domitian.

Rum, Bum & Whacky

Biographies & Memoirs

Taken away from the bosom of his family in 1972, by chance, and not a little alcohol, the author is introduced to life on board a tramping coaster and thrown into a world of wonderful characters that would otherwise be ensconced in a institution more suited to the certifiable. A way of life that is unfathomable for men unlucky to be stuck ashore with families and work.From huge deep sea bulk carriers in exotic ports to tramping coasters around the coast of Britain and Ireland the seamen sailing them are distinguishable from landlubbers by memories that can only surface when in the company of like minded souls. Then the laughter begins. This book may go some way to explain why.

Playin' Possum

Biographies & Memoirs

In Playin' Possum, readers get an intimate look at country music legend George Jones through the eyes of his wife of thirty years.Ask anyone who knows country music, “Who was the GOAT—the greatest of all time?” and the answers will inevitably lead to George Jones. Millions of people know the name of the iconic country music artist, George Jones, but few people know that behind the man and his golden voice was a strong, feisty woman who not only saved his life from cocaine addiction, alcoholism, and other abusive and self-destructive behaviors, but also was instrumental in saving his soul. Legends, half-truths, and downright lies abound about the iconic singer, but what secrets do people not know about him? What was it like to live with him through the darkest shadows and in the brightest of lights? Married for more than thirty years to the greatest country music singer who ever lived, the man Frank Sinatra had whimsically referred to as “the second-greatest singer in America,” Nancy Jones knew George Jones better than anyone else on earth—the good George and the bad George, the horrendous, and the hilarious. George and Nancy married March 4, 1983, and with her help and encouragement, he quit his wild and wicked ways—for a while. Nancy soon learned, however, that the demons held a strong grip on the man she loved, and they were not about to release him without a fight. But Nancy Jones is a tenacious fighter, and most people who knew “the Possum,” credit Nancy with saving his life and rebuilding his career. For the first time, in Playin' Possum, Nancy Jones reveals the true “insider” perspectives and little known poignant and as well as humorous stories about the country music icon—his battles with cocaine, alcohol, abusive behavior toward her and others, his battles with himself, and most of all, his battles against the demons that sought to control him and ultimately destroy him. Nancy knew there was a good man inside George Jones, and she felt strongly that God had given her the assignment to help him, even if he hurt her. She refused to give up on Jones. Although Tammy Wynette sang “Stand By Your Man,” it was actually Nancy Jones who stood by George for more than thirty years, and helped bring him to the Light. Together, they brought joy and light to millions of people.

Through the Gate

Biographies & Memoirs

Jean Meyer is an accomplished painter who has spent most of her adult life in Italy, but she grew up in a terraced suburban house in Wirral, within the sound of the great ships of Liverpool and a ferry crossing away from the club where four mop-topped musicians were preparing to take the world by storm. Through the gate is a beautifully evocative memoir of those years which has been written as an imaginary voyage around her childhood home, focusing in turn on the events associated with each part of the house and garden. “With the idea that people leave their joys and tragedies in the fabric of the rooms they have inhabited, I have divided the story into the rooms of the house, each acting as the catalyst for remembering the things that took place there.”

Open

Biographies & Memoirs

Mai mult decât o carte de memorii despre viața unui profesionist în tenis, OPEN este povestea captivantă a unei vieți remarcabile. Împins de la spate de un tată dominator și irascibil pentru a deveni un campion la tenis, Andre Agassi a reușit ca la vârsta de 22 de ani să câștige primul dintre cele opt turnee de Grand Șlem pe care le-a cucerit de-a lungul carierei, lucru care i-a asigurat succesul financiar, celebritatea și în multe rânduri poziția de lider mondial în tenisul profesionist. În spatele acestei povești stă însă istoria unui om adeseori nefericit și confuz, care niciodată nu s-a simțit confortabil cu realizările sale profesionale. Cu o sinceritate dezarmantă, Andre scrie despre succesul dobândit la o vârstă fragedă, despre ce înseamnă cu adevărat celebritatea, despre căsătoria cu Brooke Shields și despre urcușurile și coborâșurile unei cariere fabuloase.Traducere de Paul Slayer Grigoriu.

Rilke's Venice

Biographies & Memoirs

For the Austrian poet and novelist Rainer Maria Rilke, travel was not only integral to his work, it was a way of life. Venice stands out as a location of particular importance to Rilke, and he visited the city ten times between 1897 and 1920. This city has inspired countless writers and artists, but Rilke, both enthralled and provoked by it, reveals a striking and deeply felt love for the city. He was as eager to explore the city’s underbelly, its deserted shipyards and back alleys, as he was to experience its iconic sights of St. Mark’s and the Doge’s Palace. Staying in both simple guesthouses and the grand palaces of his patrons, Rilke would walk prodigiously. His contemporary Stefan Zweig commented that “knowing every last corner and depth of the city was his passion” and Rilke himself said his walking allowed him to “grasp the whole breadth of the city.” In eleven walks, Birgit Haustedt guides readers through Venice following the poet’s footsteps. Haustedt invites us to look on the beloved sights of the city through Rilke’s eyes, offering a new vision of this famed destination. Rilke’s Venice provides new insight into one of the finest and most widely recognized writers of the twentieth century. It also acts as a literary travel companion and guidebook to Venice, offering eleven detailed maps of walks through the city.

Screening Room

Biographies & Memoirs

A WASHINGTON POST NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR • Alan Lightman’s grandfather M.A. was the family’s undisputed patriarch. It was his movie theater empire that catapulted the Lightmans, a Hungarian Jewish immigrant family, to prominence in the South; his triumphs that would both galvanize and paralyze his descendants. In this evocative personal history, the author chronicles his return to Memphis and the stifling home he had been so eager to flee forty years earlier. As aging uncles and aunts retell old stories, Alan finds himself reconsidering long-held beliefs about his larger-than-life grandfather and his quiet, inscrutable father.The result is an unforgettable family saga set against the pulsing backdrop of Memphis—its country clubs and juke joints, its rhythm and blues, its segregated movie theaters, its barbecue and pecan pie—including encounters with Elvis, Martin Luther King Jr., and E. H. “Boss” Crump. Both intensely personal and quintessentially American, Screening Room finely explores the tricks of light that can make—and unmake—a man and his myth.(With black-and-white illustrations throughout.)

Tolkien contre les machines

Biographies & Memoirs

L’œuvre de Tolkien est une implacable dénonciation du pouvoir, dont les formes les plus tyranniques sont explicitement accusées d’être responsables des violences qui dévastent la Terre du Milieu et ses habitants. Pourtant, depuis quelques décennies, l’extrême droite multiplie les tentatives d’accaparement de l’univers tolkienien. En effet, stratèges et intellectuels à la solde des réactionnaires qui briguent le pouvoir, ou qui l’ont déjà pris, tentent de combler un vide culturel. Pour ce faire, ils ne trouvent rien de mieux que d’essayer de s’approprier une œuvre populaire, certes, mais qui défend l’exact opposé de ce que prône leur idéologie.

Eu, Miep, escondi a família de Anne Frank

Biographies & Memoirs

Publicado anteriormente no Brasil pela editora Gutenberg com o título Recordando Anne Frank Para os milhões de leitores apaixonados pelo livro O Diário de Anne Frank, aqui está a surpreendente história de Miep Gies. Por mais de dois anos, Miep e seu marido ajudaram a esconder judeus dos nazistas. Como milhares de heróis desconhecidos do Holocausto, eles arriscaram suas vidas todos os dias para levar comida, notícias e apoio emocional às vítimas. Neste livro, Miep Gies relembra seus dias com honestidade e sensível clareza. Ela narra desde sua infância sofrida como refugiada da Primeira Guerra Mundial até o momento em que coloca o pequeno diário xadrez de Anne Frank nas mãos de seu pai, Otto Frank. O diário ficou guardado com Miep por muitos anos, e graças a ela, ele pode ser publicado. Eu, Miep, escondi a família de Anne Frank é uma história fascinante e verdadeira, onde cada página nos toca com coragem e dolorosa delicadeza.

Those Immigrants!

Biographies & Memoirs

30 individuals. 1 country. And a zeal to make it to the top. This is the resounding tale of immigrants who journeyed to America and settled for nothing but the best. Stories of hope, belief, dreams, and an indefatigable spirit.

Le mie estati letterarie

Biographies & Memoirs

Dicono che le opere compiute determinino la grandezza di un uomo: ma forse, più ancora di quelle, sono le occasioni mancate, i rimpianti e le trasgressioni a definirlo maggiormente… Con questa full-immersion nella mente e nella sensibilità di Fulvio Tomizza – testimone inestimabile dell'esodo istriano di metà Novecento e scrittore di rara lucidità – non è possibile rimanere indifferenti. I testi qui raccolti sono stati gli ultimi ad essere effettivamente selezionati dall'autore, morto, fin troppo precocemente, nel 1999. Vi si trova di tutto: dai pensieri e le aspirazioni giovanili alle cupe divagazioni della maturità (segnata da un'ostinata chiusura in sé stesso), dalle meditazioni politiche a quelle morali. Di fronte a chi legge si staglia così un monumento al Tomizza uomo a tutto tondo: italofono di ascendenza contadina in un'Istria destinata ad essergli strappata; marito complicato e incostante, ma capace di un amore assoluto quanto disperato; cittadino del mondo, pellegrino intellettuale e avventuriero sentimentale. Insomma, umano, umano, troppo umano…

The Hope Circuit

Biographies & Memoirs

One of the most influential living psychologists looks at the history of his life and discipline, and paints a much brighter future for everyone. When Martin E. P. Seligman first encountered psychology in the 1960s, the field was devoted to eliminating misery: it was the science of how past trauma creates present symptoms. Today, thanks in large part to Seligman's Positive Psychology movement, it is ever more focused not on what cripples life, but on what makes life worth living -- with profound consequences for our mental health. In this wise and eloquent memoir, spanning the most transformative years in the history of modern psychology, Seligman recounts how he learned to study optimism -- including a life-changing conversation with his five-year-old daughter. He tells the human stories behind some of his major findings, like CAVE, an analytical tool that predicts election outcomes (with shocking accuracy) based on the language used in campaign speeches, the international spread of Positive Education, the launch of the US Army's huge resilience program, and the canonical studies that birthed the theory of learned helplessness -- which he now reveals was incorrect. And he writes at length for the first time about his own battles with depression at a young age. In The Hope Circuit, Seligman makes a compelling and deeply personal case for the importance of virtues like hope, gratitude, and wisdom for our mental health. You will walk away from this book not just educated but deeply enriched.

Człowiek, który zrozumiał naturę. Nowy świat Aleksandra von Humboldta

Biographies & Memoirs

Na jego cześć nazwano miasta, rzeki, pasma górskie, prąd oceaniczny, pingwina, gigantyczną kałamarnicę, a nawet morze na Księżycu.Barwne życie Alexandra von Humboldta jest jak żywcem wyjęte z powieści przygodowej: zapuścił się w lasy deszczowe, wspiął na najwyższe wulkany świata, był podziwiany przez władców i prezydentów, uczonych i poetów. Inspirował Napoleona, Darwina, Bolívara, a nawet kapitana Nemo z powieści Juliusza Verne’a. Idee i odkrycia tego wielkiego naukowca zrewolucjonizowały i ukształtowały naukę, ochronę przyrody, politykę oraz sztukę.Andrea Wulf zabiera nas w fantastyczną podróż jego śladami – w wyścig przez Rosję zakażoną wąglikiem i wyprawę tropikalnymi rzekami pełnymi krokodyli – i pokazuje, dlaczego życie i poglądy Humboldta pozostają tak ważne do dziś. Chciał nie tylko zrozumieć świat, w którym żyjemy, ale też jako pierwszy zaczął się o niego troszczyć. Już w 1800 roku przewidział zmiany klimatyczne spowodowane działalnością człowieka i stworzył podwaliny współczesnego ruchu ekologicznego.„Człowiek, który zrozumiał naturę” to najgłośniejsza biografia ostatnich lat i zwycięzca Costa Biography Award 2015.

The Early Life of Abraham Lincoln (Illustrated Edition)

Biographies & Memoirs

'The Early Life of Abraham Lincoln (Illustrated Edition)' offers a panoramic view of the formative years of one of America's most iconic figures, explored through a tapestry of expressive narratives and vivid illustrations. This anthology not only delves into Lincoln's humble beginnings and his rise in the political sphere, but also reflects the nuanced interplay of biography and historical narrative. The collection stands out for its incorporation of diverse literary styles, ranging from detailed historiographic essays to rich, illustrative depictions that bring the past to life. The anthology captures the essence of its era, contributing significantly to the literary portrayal of American political figures. The editors, Ida M. Tarbell and J. McCan Davis, are renowned for their deep historical insight and scholarly rigor. Their backgrounds in journalism and history respectively enrich this collection, illuminating Lincoln's early environment and societal conditions. The anthology aligns with both the Progressive era's investigative spirit and the rich tradition of American biography, providing a composite lens through which the early life of Lincoln is interpreted and understood. This illustrated edition is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the intersection of American history and literature. It provides an educational journey into the early influences that shaped Lincoln, highlighting the importance of early experiences in the making of a leader. Readers are invited to explore a multiplicity of perspectives and themes, which together foster a deeper understanding of not just a man, but the socio-political fabric of an era.

The Fighter

Biographies & Memoirs

Paul 'Warlord' Warren was an Australian Muay Thai kick-boxing champion who was used to the physically punishing world of martial arts at its highest level. But nothing could prepare him for the torment he would face in the Australian army. One month after he arrived in Afghanistan as a soldier in the ADF, an IED exploded, tearing off his right leg and instantly killing his mate, Private Ben Ranaudo. It was 18 July 2009 and Ben was the campaign's eleventh fatality. Private Warren's life was saved by the quick work of his battalion, who got him a helicopter within 16 minutes for surgery. Paul was flown to Germany and then back to Australia, where he received treatment for his injuries in Brisbane. Although he had only known his partner, Dearne, for four months before his deployment, she moved to Brisbane to assist his recovery. There were many dark times as Paul struggled with the shattering effects of PTSD, and guilt and grief over the death of his mate Benny. At his lowest ebb, Paul thought about taking his own life, as so many other soldiers in similar circumstances continue to do. Recovery was a slow and at times desperately painful process, but the discipline and toughness he'd learned from his martial arts background and the fierce love of Dearne helped him mend. The Fighter is a story of courage, determination and love that will move all who read it.

Joshua and the Land of Promise

Biographies & Memoirs

F. B. Meyer (1847 – 1929) was a famous pastor and evangelist in England. He was a frequent speaker at Keswick and a friend of Hudson Taylor, D. L. Moody and Spurgeon. He was loved for his many writings, devotionals and Scriptural biographies which helped countless thousands grow in their love for the Lord and his Word. It is our prayer that Meyer's writings will similarly challenge and encourage you in your Christian walk. JOSHUA AND THE LAND OF PROMISE is one of his classic Biblical Biographies. With great skill and insight, Meyer looks at the life lessons from this man of God and gives practical application for our lives today!

Captain Phil Harris

Biographies & Memoirs

Sein Gespür für die besten Fangreviere der Beringsee und sein bedingungsloser Einsatz für seine Crew sind legendär. Seine Trunksucht, notorische Untreue und Wutanfälle waren gefürchtet. Und als Kapitän Phil Harris mit nur 53 Jahren in Anchorage, Alaska, starb, kannte ein Millionenpublikum sein von Stürmen und Wodka gezeichnetes Gesicht. Wer war der Mann, den seine Gefährten wahlweise den "König der Beringsee" oder den "zähesten Bastard der Welt" nannten? Fesselnd geschildert von Harris' Söhnen, erzählt CAPTAIN PHIL HARRIS von den Träumen eines kleinen Jungen auf dem Fangboot seines Vaters, von der ersten Sturmfahrt eines siebzehnjährigen Greenhorns - unbezahlt und seekrank - und vom märchenhaften Aufstieg eines abgewrackten Krabbenfischers zum schillernden Fernseh-Helden der DMAX-Serie "Fang des Lebens". Ein Leben so wild und unberechenbar wie die Beringsee. Die Saga von einem unbeugsamen Kapitän und seinen Dämonen, von der Macht der rauen See und der Kraft der Vaterliebe.

El hombre más rico de Babilonia

Biographies & Memoirs

Su futuro se extiende ante usted como un camino que lleva al horizonte. A lo largo de este camino, surgen ambiciones que anhela hacer realidad, deseos que quiere satisfacer. Para hacer realidad sus ambiciones y sus deseos, primero debe triunfar en el terreno financiero. Aplique los principios fundamentales claramente enunciados en las páginas de este libro y podrá lograrlo. Deje que estos principios lo lleven más allá de las dificultades que trae la pobreza, y que le ofrezcan la vida feliz y plena que da una bolsa bien provista. Estos principios son universales e inmutables, como la ley de la gravedad y podrán enseñarle, como ya lo han hecho a tantos otros antes que usted, la manera de llenar su bolsa, de aumentar el saldo de su cuenta bancaria y de asegurarse un notable éxito económico. El dinero abunda para quienes comprenden las simples reglas de la adquisición de bienes.

Finding My Way. Ein Memoir

Biographies & Memoirs

Wie findest du zurück zu dir selbst, wenn deine Welt sich über Nacht ändert?Nach dem Attentat der Taliban auf ihr Leben wurde Malala unvermittelt auf die öffentliche Bühne gestoßen und schnell zur international bekannten Symbolfigur für Mut und Resilienz. Doch fern der Kameras und Menschenmengen brauchte sie Jahre, um ihren Platz in einer ihr nicht vertrauten Welt zu finden. Nun nimmt Malala in Finding My Way ihre Leserinnen und Leser erstmals mit in die Welt hinter den Schlagzeilen – in einem zutiefst verletzlichen und überraschenden Memoir voller Authentizität, Humor und Zärtlichkeit.Finding My Way ist eine Geschichte von Freundschaft und erster Liebe, von Angst und Selbstfindung. Eine Geschichte, die zeigt, wie man sich selbst treu bleibt, wenn alle Welt dir sagen will, wer du bist. Malala zeichnet ihren Weg nach von der einsamen Schülerin in der Highschool über die unbekümmerte Studentin bis hin zu der jungen Frau, die mit ihrer Vergangenheit Frieden geschlossen hat. Sie lässt uns spontan teilhaben an den manchmal chaotischen Momenten ihres Lebens – als sie ihre Prüfungen fast nicht schafft, geghostet wird und die Liebe ihres Lebens kennenlernt. Malala erinnert uns, dass wahre Role Models im Leben niemals vollkommen sind – sondern in erster Linie menschlich.In diesem bewundernswerten Memoir stellt sich Malala der Welt ganz neu vor und zeigt uns, wie sie ihr Leben meisterte als Mensch, dessen finsterste Stunden ihr Leben beinahe für immer geprägt hätten – und wie sie trotzdem für die Freiheit kämpfte, herauszufinden, wer sie wirklich ist. Finding My Way gibt uns einen intimen Einblick in das Leben einer jungen Frau, die ihr Schicksal selbst bestimmt. Das Buch ist ein zutiefst persönliches Zeugnis der Kraft, die Malala brauchte, um ohne Zugeständnisse ganz sie selbst zu werden.

Biographies & Memoirs Books