Biographies & Memoirs - Books

Jimmy

Biographies & Memoirs

England's record-breaking fast bowler reveals the truth behind his remarkable career. In his first book, James Anderson (or Jimmy, as everyone knows him) tells the story of his life in cricket. His career began at Burnley Cricket Club, where he discovered that he could bowl faster than the rest, before he moved on to Lancashire and then England. His early success made him England's golden boy, before a career-halting injury devastated Anderson. But then came a recent glorious return to form and Ashes triumphs, making this a tale of exuberance, determination and sheer force of character. Jimmy Anderson speaks openly and forthrightly about those he has played with and against, the captains he has known, and outlines his thoughts on some of the biggest issues in the game today. It all makes for a compelling read.

Master of Me

Biographies & Memoirs

From the award-winning, multihyphenate global entertainer Keke Palmer comes the inspiring true story of her journey to understanding her genuine value.A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF FALL 2024: Bookshop, Apple Books, People, BookRiot, and more!! Keke Palmer thought she knew who she was. What it means to be a good person and what it takes to be a success. It all seemed so simple, until she realized the challenges she would have to face to prove to herself who she wanted to be. From feeling alienated to having to restart her career after ten years in to becoming a single mother just months after her son was born—everything she worked for in life that she felt granted her what she wanted now also reminded her that “life is going to life” and throw curveballs regardless of what you deserve. She found herself asking, Where do I find my power? How do I master myself?In her own raw and intimate words, Keke talks about everything from her struggles with boundaries to unconditional love, forgiveness, and worthiness. “Don’t block your blessings and potential opportunities by allowing the voices of other people to influence your actions,” she says. “How you’re choosing to set yourself up for success is between you and the person looking back at you in the mirror.”Throughout the book, Keke also poses readers with the questions needed to get them through their own challenging times by sharing personal stories and lessons she’s learned along the way. She gets candid about the tools she’s developed to take the reins, harness her vulnerability, and recognize ownership in the narrative of her life—which allowed her to turn personal power into major power.In this exhilarating, deeply poignant, and often laugh-out-loud book, Lauren Keyana Palmer gets real about life, work, love, and belief. These pages will encourage readers to empower themselves with the truth, leverage their currency, and find the keys to master themselves and the art of alchemy. Keke writes, “You are not on anyone else’s timeline, only your own.”The result is a tour de force.They said, “Jack of all Trades, Master of None.”She said, “No, I am the Master. Of Me.”

Finding My Way

Biographies & Memoirs

A USA TODAY MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKThis is not the story you think you know. It’s the one I’ve been waiting to tell. Thrust onto the public stage at fifteen years old after the Taliban’s brutal attack on her life, Malala Yousafzai quickly became an international icon known for bravery and resilience. But away from the cameras and crowds, she spent years struggling to find her place in an unfamiliar world. Now, for the first time ever, Malala takes us beyond the headlines in Finding My Way—a vulnerable, surprising memoir that buzzes with authenticity, sharp humor, and tenderness.Finding My Way is a story of friendship and first love, of anxiety and self-discovery, of trying to stay true to yourself when everyone wants to tell you who you are. In it, Malala traces her path from high school loner to reckless college student to a young woman at peace with her past. Through candid, often messy moments like nearly failing exams, getting ghosted, and meeting the love of her life, Malala reminds us that real role models aren’t perfect—they’re human.In this astonishing memoir, Malala reintroduces herself to the world, sharing how she navigated life as someone whose darkest moments threatened to define her narrative—while seeking the freedom to find out who she truly is. Finding My Way is an intimate look at the life of a young woman taking charge of her destiny—and a deeply personal testament to the strength it takes to be unapologetically yourself.

What It Takes

Biographies & Memoirs

Amy Henry, a formidable businesswoman and the last woman standing on NBC's hit reality show The Apprentice, shares her experiences, tips, and in-your-face advice for moving up in today's workplace. Yes, men have written the rules for a long time---in What It Takes, Amy Henry shows young businesswomen how to make those rules work for them. With a ten-year career in business, Amy has shown she has what it takes---determination, brains, creativity, professionalism, and charm---to thrive in today's business world. What ItTakes is an in-depth look at the strategies and tactics Amy uses to make the workplace work for her. With examples from Amy's and other businesswomen's real-life experiences, as well as advice from experts, What It Takes is the most honest guide for women in the workplace available today. Hip, frank, and controversial, What It Takes is the ultimate guide to the reality of today's business world---and Amy Henry is the new model for young businesswomen.

Look Back to See the Way Ahead

Biographies & Memoirs

Two stories about the early days of World War Two, both based on fact. The first begins in 1937 in China at a missionary hospital; the second in 1938 in California, and the entry of an 18 year old into the army and two wars.

Vera mevrouw Vladimir Nabokov

Biographies & Memoirs

Stacy Schiff is de auteur van Vera, mevrouw Vladimir Nabokov, dat bekroond werd met een Pulitzer Prize. Schiff schrijft regelmatig voor onder meer The New Yorker, The New York Times en The Washington Post. Ze woont en werkt in New York.

LIFE Remembering Elvis Presley

Biographies & Memoirs

He will always be the KingCelebrate the King of Rock 'n' Roll with this keepsake biography of Elvis Presley, lavishly illustrated with dozens of historic photos, including many from the archives of Life magazine. A detailed timeline traces Elvis's life from when he received his first guitar to his glory days filled with recording, acting and gyrating for shrieking fans, to his great '68 comeback comeback, and right up to his untimely death in 1977. Intimate photojournalism combines with insightful text to reveal Elvis behind the scenes . . . at Graceland and on the road, with Priscilla and Lisa Marie, in front of the cameras, and on the stage. Explore the days of "Heartbreak Hotel," "Don't Be Cruel," "Blue Suede Shoes," "Jailhouse Rock," "Love Me Tender," "Blue Christmas" and so many other unforgettable hits. It's now or never-so you should probably pick up your copy today.

朝花夕拾

Biographies & Memoirs

我常想在纷扰中寻出一点闲静来,然而委实不容易。目前是这么离奇,心里是这么芜杂。一个人做到只剩了回忆的时候,生涯大概总要算是无聊了罢,但有时竟会连回忆也没有。中国的做文章有轨范,世事也仍然是螺旋。前几天我离开中山大学的时候,便想起四个月以前的离开厦门大学;听到飞机在头上鸣叫,竟记得了一年前在北京城上日日旋绕的飞机。我那时还做了一篇短文,叫做《一觉》。现在是,连这“一觉”也没有了。

By Honor Bound

Biographies & Memoirs

By Honor Bound is the powerful and moving story of two Medal of Honor recipients, written by New York Times bestselling author Dick Couch. "Delivers cracking-good minute-by-minute descriptions of two SEAL missions rich in suspense, with technically accurate fireworks and undeniable heroism." —HistoryNet In April of 1972, near the end of the Vietnam War, SEAL Lieutenant Tom Norris performed an unprecedented ground rescue of two American airmen who were shot down behind enemy lines in North Vietnam, a feat for which he would be awarded the Medal of Honor. Just six months later, Norris was sent on a dangerous special reconnaissance mission that would take his team deep into enemy territory. In the running gun battle that ensued, Lieutenant Norris was severely wounded; a bullet entered his left eye and exited the left side of his head. SEAL Petty Officer Mike Thornton, under heavy fire, fought his way back onto a North Vietnamese beach to rescue his officer—an act of heroism that earned him the Medal of Honor as well. This is the true story of two living American legends who entered military service and the Navy SEAL teams for vastly different reasons—and were thrown together for a single combat mission that would define their lives.

On s'en souviendra ! - Le port du masque n'empêche pas de marcher sur la tête

Biographies & Memoirs

Philippe Bouvard, espiègle chroniqueur de la vie comme elle va, a rempli son carnet de notes et de choses vues au cours de la folle année du Covid." C'était en septembre 2020, à l'orée de la deuxième vague. Entre deux confinements, j'avais retrouvé le chemin des tapis verts. Ce qui devait arriver arriva. Au lieu de toucher le jackpot, je contractai la souche historique du coronavirus...Les familiers se firent plus distants et les visiteurs plus rares. Quoique asymptomatique, j'avais l'impression d'être un pestiféré bien portant. Voire un cadavre encore capable de se tenir les côtes. Un grand merci à la providence qui m'a laissé le temps de devenir gâteux et de mourir d'autre chose que du covid ! "Il n'y a pas d'âge pour faire de faux adieux. Sauvé par son appétit de vivre et sa contagieuse bonne humeur, Philippe Bouvard a donc rempli son carnet d'anecdotes, de réflexions et de choses vues au cours de cette folle période.Espiègle chroniqueur, il détaille ainsi, dans son soixante-huitième livre, sa " relation humoristicopolémique de notre calvaire viral ", posant un regard mordant sur la gestion politique de la crise – comme sur les absurdités du " monde d'après ".

Henrique V

Biographies & Memoirs

Winston Churchill chamou-lhe "um brilho de esplendor na história sombria e conturbada da Inglaterra medieval", mas, para um medievalista moderno, foi, simplesmente, "o maior governante de Inglaterra".Dan Jones, um dos mais importantes historiadores medievais do nosso tempo, dá vida de forma inesquecível à ascensão surpreendente de Henrique V, que sobreviveu a uma rebelião, a um ferimento de flecha quase fatal e a um longo e precário aprendizado enquanto príncipe para se tornar o maior rei guerreiro da Inglaterra.Henrique V reinou somente nove anos e quatro meses e morreu com apenas 35 anos, mas paira sobre a paisagem do final da Idade Média e para lá dela. Vencedor da Batalha de Agincourt, imortalizada por William Shakespeare, foi um rei modelo para os seus sucessores. Salvou um país devastado da ruína económica, reprimiu rebeliões e protegeu as fronteiras do reino, enquanto na diplomacia externa fez com que a Inglaterra se tornasse uma potência novamente importante. Porém, as suas conquistas no norte da França seriam a génese para três gerações de calamidades no seu país, sob a forma das Guerras das Rosas.Uma biografia emocionante e imperdível, que oferece uma visão sem precedentes dos importantes primeiros vinte e seis anos da sua vida, da sua ascensão ao poder e das suas campanhas militares.Os elogios da crítica:"Feroz, dinâmico, político, íntimo e humano. Esta é a melhor biografia até agora do maior rei de Inglaterra."Simon Sebag Montefiore, autor bestseller"Uma narrativa histórica no seu melhor."The Telegraph"Uma biografia repleta de adrenalina."The Spectator"Um historiador que escreve de forma tão viciante como qualquer romancista."The Observer "O rei da narrativa histórica triunfa de novo. Uma aula magistral sobre como tornar a Idade Média viciante e fácil de ler."Lucy Worsley, historiadora e escritora"Mais um livro de Dan Jones que eu gostaria de ter escrito. Um dos maiores reis de Inglaterra recebe a biografia que merece de um dos nossos maiores historiadores medievais."Dan Snow, historiador e apresentador de televisão"Uma das coisas boas do livro de Dan Jones é a atenção dada a Henrique V como ser humano, com interesses que vão além de impor a obediência em casa e conquistar territórios no exterior... Fruto de uma pesquisa exaustiva, é magistralmente narrado e absolutamente cativante."The Times Literary Supplement

Vinný od narodenia

Biographies & Memoirs

Neuveriteľná smutno-komická cesta za životným šťastím Trevor Noah sa narodil ako syn juhoafrickej matky z kmeňa Xhosa a švajčiarskeho občana. V čase apartheidu boli vzťahy medzi partnermi odlišnej farby pleti neakceptovateľné a pokladali sa za trestný čin. Trevor bol dieťa, ktoré sa vlastne nemalo narodiť, a tak ho museli skrývať. Zažil chudobu, prejavy rasizmu, ale aj odvážnu vzburu svojich “farboslepých rodičov“, ktorí sa s dôvtipom snažili prekonať etnické a rasové predsudky. Dnes je z neho obľúbený moderátor s vlastnou show, cestuje po celom svete a vystupuje ako stand-up komik pred vypredanými sálami. Jeho rozprávanie sledujeme v navzájom prepojených príbehoch, mnohé sú zábavné či dramatické, iné zasa hlboko dojemné. Trevorova kniha sa pokladá za najúspešnejšiu autobiografiu 21. storočia, keďže nám s dôvtipom a úprimnosťou približuje nezvyčajný svet, na ktorý by sme najradšej zabudli. Spoznávame ťažké detstvo, keď jeho jedálniček pozostával čisto z húseníc, alebo keď ho pri únose vyhodili z idúceho minibusu. Autor nevynechá ani spomienky na sladké trápenie, čo mu pripravili stredoškolské lásky. Celou knihou sa vinie jeho neutíchajúci zmysel pre humor a satiru aj krásne p**o k nebojácnej a milujúcej matke. Chránila svojho syna pred kolotočom chudoby, násilia a týrania a ukázala mu cestu k slobode, vzdelaniu a dôstojnému životu.

Cockroaches

Biographies & Memoirs

Mukasonga unsparingly resurrects the horrors of the Rwandan geocide while lyrically recording the quieter moments of daily life with her family—a moving tribute to all those who are displaced, who suffer. Mukasonga’s extraordinary, lyrical, and heartbreaking book … is indispensable reading for anyone who cares about the endurance of the human spirit and who hopes for a better world. — Lynne Sharon Schwartz, Los Angeles Review of Books Scholastique Mukasonga’s Cockroaches is a compelling chronicle of the author’s childhood in the years leading up to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. In a spare and penetrating tone, Mukasonga brings to life the scenes of her family’s forced displacement from Rwanda to neighboring Burundi. With a view made lucid through time and pain, Mukasonga erodes the distance between her present and her past, resurrecting and paying homage to her family members who were massacred in the genocide, but also, in movingly simple language, the beauty present in quiet, daily moments with her loved ones. As lyrical as it is tragic, Cockroaches is Mukasonga’s tribute to her family’s suffering and to the lingering grip of the dead on the living.

Cosa porti con te

Biographies & Memoirs

«Gli avvenimenti della mia vita non sono successi mai casualmente, ma favoriti da incontri con persone straordinarie, ognuna delle quali ha contribuito a ciò che ho vissuto: un’avventura esistenziale irripetibile.» La memoria percorre il filo della vita di Paolo Crepet alla ricerca dell’essenziale: le radici artistiche della sua famiglia, le esperienze molteplici e cosmopolite nella formazione, la meraviglia della scoperta della psichiatria, la nascita della passione per la scrittura. In queste pagine dense di aneddoti e di eventi inconsueti, affiorano innumerevoli incontri singolari, ciascuno dei quali ha contribuito ad aggiungere un tassello al cantiere di un’identità personale e professionale in continuo rinnovamento; su tutti svetta la figura di Franco Basaglia, amico e maestro, l’uomo capace di trasformare la concezione della follia e di riconoscere diritti fondamentali ai più fragili e indifesi. Le grandi tappe della vita vengono così raccontate alla luce di un costante comun denominatore: gli affetti, le emozioni, la capacità di creare fra sé e gli altri un legame che oltrepassi la distanza e il tempo. Ai lettori viene affidato questo insegnamento che affiora da ricordi ironici e benevoli, simili a scogli a cui aggrapparsi saldamente mentre si avanza nell’ampio mare aperto.

Salon de M. de Talleyrand

Biographies & Memoirs

« C’est un homme difficile à suivre dans les méandres de sa vie politique que M. de Talleyrand... Cette destinée, se présentant toujours différemment qu’elle ne doit se terminer, a quelque chose d’étrange qui surprend, et empêche quelquefois d’être aussi impartial qu’on le voudrait pour juger un homme dont l’esprit est si supérieur et si remarquable d’agréments, comme homme du monde : c’est qu’il est en même temps homme de parti ; on ne peut pas les séparer : et si l’un attire, l’autre repousse.Avant la Révolution, l’abbé de Périgord était un abbé mauvais sujet ; il faisait partie, à peine sorti du séminaire de Saint-Sulpice, de l’état-major religieux de l’archevêque de Reims. On sait que cette troupe d’abbés était la plus élégante et la plus recherchée parmi tous les jeunes gens qui prenaient le parti de la carrière ecclésiastique1. L’abbé de Périgord ne fit faute à sa renommée, et sa conduite répondit parfaitement à ce que les autres avaient annoncé. Mais M. de Talleyrand, dès cette époque, annonçait, lui, un homme supérieur à tout ce qui l’entourait... Et cette universalité dans les goûts, cette facilité dans tout ce qu’il faisait, prouvaient par avance qu’il serait un des hommes les plus distingués de son temps. »BnF collection ebooks a pour vocation de faire découvrir en version numérique des textes classiques essentiels dans leur édition la plus remarquable, des perles méconnues de la littérature ou des auteurs souvent injustement oubliés. Tous les genres y sont représentés : morceaux choisis de la littérature, y compris romans policiers, romans noirs mais aussi livres d’histoire, récits de voyage, portraits et mémoires ou sélections pour la jeunesse.

Goethe & Schiller - Eine ergiebige literarische Allianz

Biographies & Memoirs

Die Anthologie 'Goethe & Schiller – Eine ergiebige literarische Allianz' taucht tief in die meisterhaften Werke zweier der bedeutendsten deutschen Dichter ein, ergänzt durch bedeutende literarische Analysen und Essays von anerkannten Gelehrten wie Friedrich Gundolf, Emil Ludwig und Otto Harnack. Diese Sammlung vereint unterschiedlichste Stile – von dramatischen Erzählungen über philosophische Schriften bis hin zu klassischer Poesie. Sie bietet dem Leser eine faszinierende Vielfalt an literarischen Exzellenzen, die nicht nur das Erbe von Goethe und Schiller feiern, sondern auch deren fortwährende Bedeutung in der Literaturgeschichte veranschaulichen. Die herausragenden Beiträge dieser Anthologie sind von Literaten und Gelehrten verfasst, die sich intensiv mit der Zeit und dem Einfluss der Weimarer Klassik auseinandergesetzt haben. Friedrich Gundolf und Emil Ludwig bieten tiefgehende Einblicke in die Wirkung von Goethe und Schiller auf die deutsche Kultur, während Otto Harnack eine kritische Perspektive auf die gesellschaftlichen und philosophischen Implikationen ihrer Werke eröffnet. Die Sammlung zeugt von einem reichen intellektuellen Austausch und kollektiver Erkundung zwischen den Autoren, die die Spannweite und Tiefe der Weimarer Klassik auslotet. Diese Anthologie ist ein Muss für Literaturliebhaber, die daran interessiert sind, die Sprachgewalt und das intellektuelle Vermächtnis von Goethe und Schiller zu erkunden. Sie bietet eine einzigartige Gelegenheit, eine Vielzahl von Perspektiven und literarischen Ansätzen in einem einzigen Band zu entdecken und einen fruchtbaren Dialog zwischen den verschiedenen Stimmen zu genießen. Tauchen Sie ein in diese reiche Sammlung, die gleichzeitig den Bildungshorizont erweitert und den Zugang zu einem prächtigen Kapitel der Literaturgeschichte eröffnet.

The Ballad of Speedball Baby

Biographies & Memoirs

The Ballad of Speedball Baby is the thrilling, extremely funny, and heart-wrenchingly vulnerable story of Ali Smith—coming of age in ’90s New York—who commits to the messy, exhilarating life of a musician and must survive the slings and arrows society reserves for women who refuse to comply. As an only child reeling from the demolition of her parents’ toxic marriage, the New York City underground music scene offers a young Ali a different family of misfits and talented outsiders to belong to. She becomes the bass player for edgy band Speedball Baby, a decision that will take her around the world—from onstage at the legendary CBGBs to the red-light district of Amsterdam. She’s often the only girl in a broken-down tour van, being strip-searched at the Croatian border, chased by lunatics, and navigating the seedy underbelly of a male-dominated music scene full of addiction, violence, and misogyny—all while keeping her sharp wit and dark humor intact. Rimmed with heavy black eyeliner and smelling faintly of cheap booze, The Ballad of Speedball Baby is a pulse-quickening, unpredictable ride through the ’90s music scene—alternately terrifying, hilarious, and painfully evocative—as well as a love letter to the power of female solidarity.

The Beat of My Own Drum

Biographies & Memoirs

From the Grammy-nominated singer, drummer, and percussionist who is world renowned for her contributions throughout the music industry, a moving memoir about the healing power of music and spiritual growth inspired by five decades of life and love on the stage.She was born Sheila Escovedo in 1957, but the world knows her as Sheila E. She first picked up the drumsticks and started making music at the precocious age of three, taught by her legendary father, percussionist Pete Escovedo. As the goddaughter of Tito Puente, music was the heartbeat of her family, and despite Sheila's impoverished childhood in Oakland, California, her family stayed strong, inspired by the music they played nightly in their living room. When she was only five, Sheila delivered her first solo performance to a live audience. By nineteen, she had fallen in love with Carlos Santana. By twenty-one, she met Prince at one of her concerts. Sheila E. and Prince would eventually join forces and collaborate for more than two decades, creating hits that catapulted Sheila to her own pop superstardom.The Beat of My Own Drum is both a walk through four decades of Latin and pop music—from her tours with Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie, Prince, and Ringo Starr to her own solo career. At the same time, it’s also a heartbreaking, ultimately redemptive look at how the sanctity of music can save a person’s life. Having repeatedly endured sexual abuse as a child, Sheila credits her parents, music, and God with giving her the will to carry on and to build a lasting legacy.Rich in musical detail, pop, and Latin music history, this is a fascinating walk through some of the biggest moments in music from the ’70s and ’80s. But as Sheila’s personal story, this memoir is a unique glimpse into a world-famous drummer’s singular life—a treat for both new and longtime fans of Sheila E. And above all, The Beat of My Own Drum is a testament to how the positive power of music has fueled Sheila’s heart and soul—and how it can transform your life as well.

Wavewalker

Biographies & Memoirs

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERA TIMES BEST MEMOIR OF 2023‘Grippingly vivid and pacey’ THE TIMES‘A seven-year old girl on a seventy-foot yacht, for ten years, over fifty thousand miles of sailing’ SIMON WINCHESTER‘A seven-year old girl on a seventy-foot yacht, for ten years, over fifty thousand miles of sailing … a fantastic story of a truly Odyssean journey across all the world’s great oceans – but is also the inspiring story of the developing of a restless and inquiring mind’ SIMON WINCHESTER'An astonishing almost day-by-day account of [a] hazardous journey and its legacy’ TELEGRAPH‘This is a story of an epic childhood journey, so exciting and so shocking it is hard to know whether you’re reading about a dream or a nightmare… Wavewalker is thrilling, horrifying, beautifully written – I couldn’t put it down’ ED BALLSAged just seven, Suzanne Heywood set sail with her parents and brother on a three-year voyage around the world. What followed turned instead into a decade-long way of life, through storms, shipwrecks, reefs and isolation, with little formal schooling. No one else knew where they were most of the time and no state showed any interest in what was happening to the children.Suzanne fought her parents, longing to return to England and to education and stability. This memoir covers her astonishing upbringing, a survival story of a child deprived of safety, friendships, schooling and occasionally drinking water… At seventeen Suzanne earned an interview at Oxford University and returned to the UK.From the bestselling author of What Does Jeremy Think?, Wavewalker is the incredible true story of how the adventure of a lifetime became one child’s worst nightmare – and how her determination to educate herself enabled her to escape‘A classic memoir of childhood. This is a book that every parent should read to consider the consequences of their midlife crises, and every child should read to learn how to deal with impossible mums and dads, as well as boils and barnacles’ Mail on Sunday 5*‘An electrifying story about an extraordinary childhood, and Heywood tells it with remarkable clarity and assurance . . . an engrossing book that pitches the reader into the highs and lows of a young life spent in the “Wavewalker School of the Sea”’TLSAbout the authorSuzanne Heywood was born in the UK but for most of her childhood sailed around the world with her family, with limited access to formal education. She came back to the UK aged 17 and won a place to study at Oxford University. After her PhD at Cambridge University, she joined McKinsey and Company where she became a senior partner. She is now a managing director of Exor and chair of CNH Industrial. She married the late civil servant Jeremy Heywood in 1997 and they have three children.

The Barefoot Woman

Biographies & Memoirs

LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR TRANSLATED LITERATUREA moving, unforgettable tribute to a Tutsi woman who did everything to protect her children from the Rwandan genocide, by the daughter who refuses to let her family's story be forgotten.The story of the author's mother, a fierce, loving woman who for years protected her family from the violence encroaching upon them in pre-genocide Rwanda. Recording her memories of their life together in spare, wrenching prose, Mukasonga preserves her mother's voice in a haunting work of art.

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