|
Biography and Memoir June 2019
|
|
|
|
| Mama's Boy: A Story from Our Americas by Dustin Lance BlackWhat it's about: Dustin Lance Black's conservative Mormon upbringing in Texas and his complicated relationship with his mother, a headstrong polio and abuse survivor.
Author alert: LGBTQIA activist Black is the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Milk.
Reviewers say: "terrifically moving" (Kirkus Reviews); "belongs in every library" (Booklist). |
|
|
Revolutionary : George Washington at war
by Robert L O'Connell
The military historian and author of Fierce Patriot presents a bold reappraisal of George Washington as a young soldier of destiny whose Revolutionary War leadership came to define the American character. Illustrations. Map(s)
|
|
|
Serving the servant : remembering Kurt Cobain
by Danny Goldberg
Published to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Cobain's death, a biographical portrait by Nirvana's music manager shares unique insights into such subjects as the meteoric success of Nevermind, Cobain's marriage to Courtney Love and his industry-changing suicide. 100,000 first printing
|
|
| Becoming Dr. Seuss: Theodor Geisel and the Making of an American Imagination by Brian Jay JonesWhat it is: a comprehensive and entertaining biography of ad man-turned-beloved children's book author and cartoonist Dr. Seuss.
Don't miss: the balanced appraisal of Seuss' legacy -- though he was known for championing causes like environmentalism, he also employed racial stereotypes in his works.
Who it's for: Seuss fans and lovers of page-turning biographies. |
|
|
Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen
by Mary Norris
What it's about: New Yorker copy editor Mary Norris' passion for Greek language, history, and culture, which began in unlikely earnest after she saw the science fiction film Time Bandits, partially set in ancient Greece.
Immersive study: Norris traveled solo to remote Mediterranean locales, performed in Greek-language productions of Elektra and The Trojan Women, and convinced her employers to subsidize Greek language courses to aid her in her copy editing work.
Read it for: a lively and upbeat blend of memoir and travelogue.
|
|
|
LeBron, Inc. : the making of a billion-dollar athlete
by Brian Windhorst
The best-selling author of Return of the King traces the story of LeBron James' professional journey to becoming a billion-dollar global brand and businessman who has influenced how professional athletes understand their value. 75,000 first printing
|
|
| Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon's Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the... by James R. Doty, MDWhat it's about: how James Doty survived a childhood of abuse to become a revered neurosurgeon and the director of Stanford University's Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE).
Featuring: well-researched mindfulness and visualization techniques.
Is it for you? Squeamish readers may want to steer clear of Doty's graphic descriptions of brain surgery. |
|
| Butterfly: From Refugee to Olympian, My Story of Rescue, Hope, and Triumph by Yusra MardiniWhat it is: a moving account of swimmer Yusra Mardini's flight from war-torn Syria in 2015 and her subsequent asylum in Germany.
About the author: At age 18, Mardini was a member of the Refugee Olympic Athletes Team at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Reviewers say: "A rousing, exciting true story of remarkable resilience" (Kirkus Reviews). |
|
| Empress of the East: How a European Slave Girl Became Queen of the Ottoman Empire by Leslie PeirceStarring: Ruthenian slave Roxelana, the concubine-turned-wife of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, who became one of her husband's most influential political advisers thanks to her shrewd knack for philanthropy and diplomacy.
Why you might like it: Empress of the East traces Roxelana's rise to power with evocative descriptions of 16th-century Turkish culture, customs, and politics. |
|
| A Curious Man: The Strange & Brilliant Life of Robert "Believe It or Not!" Ripley by Neal ThompsonWho it's about: eccentric playboy and cartoonist Robert Ripley, who parlayed his curiosity for all things weird into the successful multimedia empire "Believe It or Not!"
What's inside: chapter breaks interspersed with fun "Believe It!" facts.
Did you know? In his lifetime Ripley visited 150 countries, amassing oddities such as torture devices from around the world. |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|
|
|
|