The #1 bestseller that forever changed how we thought about JFK, published with a new
epilogue in time for the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's assassination.
When it was originally published in 2003, AN UNFINISHED LIFE brought to light new
revelations about JFK's health, his love affairs, his brothers and father, and the path JFK
would have taken in the Vietnam entanglement if he had survived. A blockbuster bestseller,
the book was embraced by critics and readers as a landmark assessment of our 35 th
president. Now, in time for what promises to be remarkable media attention on Kennedy's
death and legacy, AN UNFINISHED LIFE returns with a new, strikingly incisive examination by
Robert Dallek in which he further assesses JFK's impact and hold on American culture.
An exhaustive, soul-searching memoir, Bill Clinton's My Life is a refreshingly candid look at
the former president as a son, brother, teacher, father, husband, and public figure. Clinton
painstakingly outlines the history behind his greatest successes and failures, including his
dedication to educational and economic reform, his war against a "vast right-wing
operation" determined to destroy him, and the "morally indefensible" acts for which he was
nearly impeached. My Life is autobiography as therapy--a personal history written by a man
trying to face and banish his private demons.
Clinton approaches the story of his youth with gusto, sharing tales of giant watermelons,
nine-pound tumors, a charging ram, famous mobsters and jazz musicians, and a BB gun
standoff. He offers an equally energetic portrait of American history, pop culture, and the
evolving political landscape, covering the historical events that shaped his early years
(namely the deaths of Martin Luther King Jr. and JFK) and the events that shaped his
presidency (Waco, Bosnia, Somalia). What makes My Life remarkable as a political memoir is
how thoroughly it is infused with Clinton's unassuming, charmingly pithy voice:
I learned a lot from the stories my uncle, aunts, and grandparents told me: that no one is
perfect but most people are good; that people can't be judged only by their worst or
weakest moments; that harsh judgments can make hypocrites of us all; that a lot of life is
just showing up and hanging on; that laughter is often the best, and sometimes the only,
response to pain.
However, that same voice might tire readers as Clinton applies his penchant for minute
details to a distractible laundry list of events, from his youth through the years of his
presidency. Not wanting to forget a single detail that might help account for his actions,
Clinton overdoes it--do we really need to know the name of his childhood barber? But when
Clinton sticks to the meat of his story--recollections about Mother, his abusive stepfather,
Hillary, the campaign trail, and Kenneth Starr--the veracity of emotion and Kitchen
Confidential-type revelations about "what it is like to be President" make My Life impossible
to put down.
To Clinton, "politics is a contact sport," and while he claims that My Life is not intended to
make excuses or assign blame, it does portray him as a fighter whose strategy is to "take the
first hit, then counterpunch as hard as I could." While My Life is primarily a stroll through
Clinton's memories, it is also a scathing rebuke--a retaliation against his detractors, including
Kenneth Starr, whose "mindless search for scandal" protected the guilty while "persecuting
the innocent" and distracted his Administration from pressing international matters
(including strikes on al Qaeda). Counterpunch indeed.
At its core, My Life is a charming and intriguing if flawed book by an equally intriguing and
flawed man who had his worst failures and humiliations made public. Ultimately, the man
who left office in the shadow of scandal offers an honest and open account of his life,
allowing readers to witness his struggle to "drain the most out of every moment" while
maintaining the character with which he was raised. It is a remarkably intimate, persuasive
look at the boy he was, the President he became, and man he is today.
The life and times of Abraham Lincoln have been analyzed and dissected in countless books.
Do we need another Lincoln biography? In Team of Rivals, esteemed historian Doris Kearns
Goodwin proves that we do. Though she can't help but cover some familiar territory, her
perspective is focused enough to offer fresh insights into Lincoln's leadership style and his
deep understanding of human behavior and motivation. Goodwin makes the case for
Lincoln's political genius by examining his relationships with three men he selected for his
cabinet, all of whom were opponents for the Republican nomination in 1860: William H.
Seward, Salmon P. Chase, and Edward Bates. These men, all accomplished, nationally
known, and presidential, originally disdained Lincoln for his backwoods upbringing and lack
of experience, and were shocked and humiliated at losing to this relatively obscure Illinois
lawyer. Yet Lincoln not only convinced them to join his administration--Seward as secretary
of state, Chase as secretary of the treasury, and Bates as attorney general--he ultimately
gained their admiration and respect as well. How he soothed egos, turned rivals into allies,
and dealt with many challenges to his leadership, all for the sake of the greater good, is
largely what Goodwin's fine book is about. Had he not possessed the wisdom and
confidence to select and work with the best people, she argues, he could not have led the
nation through one of its darkest periods.
Ten years in the making, this engaging work reveals why "Lincoln's road to success was
longer, more tortuous, and far less likely" than the other men, and why, when opportunity
beckoned, Lincoln was "the best prepared to answer the call." This multiple biography
further provides valuable background and insights into the contributions and talents of
Seward, Chase, and Bates. Lincoln may have been "the indispensable ingredient of the Civil
War," but these three men were invaluable to Lincoln and they played key roles in keeping
the nation intact.
Hillary Rodham Clinton is known to hundreds of millions of people around the world. Yet few
beyond her close friends and family have ever heard her account of her extraordinary
journey. She writes with candor, humor and passion about her upbringing in suburban,
middle-class America in the 1950s and her transformation from Goldwater Girl to student
activist to controversial First Lady. Living History is her revealing memoir of life through the
White House years. It is also her chronicle of living history with Bill Clinton, a thirty-year
adventure in love and politics that survives personal betrayal, relentless partisan
investigations and constant public scrutiny.
Hillary Rodham Clinton came of age during a time of tumultuous social and political change
in America. Like many women of her generation, she grew up with choices and opportunities
unknown to her mother or grandmother. She charted her own course through unexplored
terrain -- responding to the changing times and her own internal compass -- and became an
emblem for some and a lightning rod for others. Wife, mother, lawyer, advocate and
international icon, she has lived through America's great political wars, from Watergate to
Whitewater.
The only First Lady to play a major role in shaping domestic legislation, Hillary Rodham
Clinton traveled tirelessly around the country to champion health care, expand economic
and educational opportunity and promote the needs of children and families, and she
crisscrossed the globe on behalf of women's rights, human rights and democracy. She
redefined the position of First Lady and helped save the presidency from an
unconstitutional, politically motivated impeachment. Intimate, powerful and inspiring, Living
History captures the essence of one of the most remarkable women of our time and the
challenging process by which she came to define herself and find her own voice -- as a
woman and as a formidable figure in American politics.
La biografía definitiva de Steve Jobs
La muerte de Steve Jobs ha conmocionado al mundo. Tras entrevistarlo en más de cuarenta
ocasiones en los últimos dos años, además de a un centenar de personas de su entorno,
familiares, amigos, adversarios y colegas, Walter Isaacson nos presenta la única biografía
escrita con la colaboración de Jobs, el retrato definitivo de uno de los iconos indiscutibles de
nuestro tiempo, cuya creatividad, energía y afán de perfeccionismo revolucionaron seis
industrias: la informática, el cine de animación, la música, la telefonía, las tabletas y la
edición digital.
Consciente de que la mejor manera de crear valor en el siglo xxi es conectar la creatividad
con la tecnología, fundó una empresa en la que impresionantes saltos de la imaginación van
de la mano de asombrosos logros tecnológicos.
Aunque Jobs colaboró con el libro, no pidió ningún control sobre el contenido, ni siquiera el
derecho a leerlo antes de la publicación. No rehuyó ningún tema y animó a la gente que
conocía a hablar con franqueza. Jobs habla con sinceridad a veces brutal sobre la gente con
la que ha trabajado y contra la que ha competido. De igual modo, sus amigos, rivales y
colegas ofrecen una visión sin edulcorar de las pasiones, los demonios, el perfeccionismo, los
deseos, el talento, los trucos y la obsesión por controlarlo todo que modelaron su visión
empresarial y los innovadores productos que logró crear.
Su historia, por tanto, es el retrato de una fascinante vida: la de un genio capaz de enfurecer
y seducir a partes iguales.
In this lyrical, unsentimental, and compelling memoir, the son of a black African father and a
white American mother searches for a workable meaning to his life as a black American. It
begins in New York, where Barack Obama learns that his father—a figure he knows more as
a myth than as a man—has been killed in a car accident. This sudden death inspires an
emotional odyssey—first to a small town in Kansas, from which he retraces the migration of
his mother’s family to Hawaii, and then to Kenya, where he meets the African side of his
family, confronts the bitter truth of his father’s life, and at last reconciles his divided
inheritance.
Acclaimed in previous editions - with more than 85,000 copies in print - this classic work by
John Hostetler has been expanded and updated to reflect current research on Amish history
and culture, as well as the new concerns of Amish communities throughout North America.
In this fourth edition of Amish Society, Hostetler takes the reader inside Amish culture and
explains the nature of Amish religious beliefs and ceremonies, community and family life,
tensions with worldly values, and interactions with outsiders. He offers updated information
on a variety of topics, including Amish population trends, land use and farming practices,
and relations with the state. Amish communities - found primarily in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and
Indiana - continue to attract millions of tourists each year. Yet most visitors, misled by
stereotypes and commercial attractions, do not have the opportunity to understand the
Amish as they really are. Indeed, the simple dress and traditional habits of the Amish tend to
mask the complexity of their way of life. John Hostetler's portrait of the Amish people
effectively captures the depth and diversity of their enduring culture.
What is sold at garage sales? Why does no one get wet at a bridal shower? For non-native
speakers, here's a humorous approach to understanding common American customs and
the expressions related to them. Customs are explained, one to a page, with conversational
examples and whimsical cartoons. Topics range from age-old traditions, such as shaking
hands and bachelor parties, to more modern American practices - coupon clipping, TV
dinners, and tailgate parties.
Imagine that you're from England, or India, or Hong Kong, and your English is impeccable.
But when you travel to America, you get a funny look when you tell a colleague,"I'll knock
you up tomorrow at half-eight." And you can't find bangers on a single restaurant menu.
You feel like you speak a foreign language-because you do! You need to know how to survive
in American English, and this book will help you do it. This user-friendly guide focuses on the
vocabulary that newcomers to the U.S. really need to know. Arranged by subject, from
driving to shopping to eating, the book includes information on basic cultural and linguistic
differences between British and American English, including particular pitfalls to watch for,
and a handy glossary.
Each chapter begins with a quick-reference summary of key confusable words.
Americanisms, grammar, and cultural points.
Offers guidance on social issues such as tipping and addressing people.
Perfect for travelers, businesspeople, and students.
"Did Mama sing every day?" Caleb asks his sister Anna.
"Every-single-day," she answers. "Papa sang, too."
This Newbery Medal–winning book is the first of five books in Patricia MacLachlan's chapter
book series about the Witting family. Set in the late nineteenth century and told from young
Anna's point of view, Sarah, Plain and Tall tells the story of how Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton
comes from Maine to the prairie to answer Papa's advertisement for a wife and mother.
Before Sarah arrives, Anna and her younger brother Caleb wait and wonder. Will Sarah be
nice? Will she sing? Will she stay?
This children's literature classic is perfect for fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the
Prairie books, historical fiction, and timeless stories using rich and beautiful language. Sarah,
Plain and Tall gently explores themes of abandonment, loss and love.
Celebrate America Both real and fictional narrators serve as your tour guides on this fun and
factual trip into American Symbols. Francis Scott Key, Ben Franklin, and James Madison offer
insight on their roles in history and the resulting symbols, such as the National Anthem, that
are still honored today.
Nursery Rhymes "The Nursery Collection" books are enhanced by special touches such as
flocking and embossing on the cover and pages. Charming illustrations and soft, pastel colors
distinguish the entire collection of traditional nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and lullabies.
Nursery rhymes are a traditional part of early childhood.
In this tender, beautiful letter to his daughters, President Barack Obama has written a
moving tribute to thirteen groundbreaking Americans and the ideals that have shaped our
nation. From the artistry of Georgia O'Keeffe, to the courage of Jackie Robinson, to the
patriotism of George Washington, President Obama sees the traits of these heroes within his
own children, and within all of America’s children.
Breathtaking, evocative illustrations by award-winning artist Loren Long at once capture the
personalities and achievements of these great Americans and the innocence and promise of
childhood.
This beautiful book celebrates the characteristics that unite all Americans, from our nation’s
founders to generations to come. It is about the potential within each of us to pursue our
dreams and forge our own paths. It is a treasure to cherish with your family forever.
Preamble: We the people who love cake, join in union in order to bake a more perfect
dessert, re-establish the standard that true cake is baked from scratch, ensure the use of
natural ingredients, provide for the common consumption of dessert in moderation, and
protect the grace of sharing dessert with friends and foe, so ordain and establish this
Constitution of the United Cakes of America. Warren Brown's first cookbook, "CakeLove",
provided an overview of baking, with essential ingredients and equipment lists, and basic
recipes for pound cakes, butter cakes, and foam cakes. Now he's taking it to the next level,
offering his unique take on more than fifty classic American cake recipes. In "United Cakes of
America", you'll find mouthwatering recipes for Chiffon Cake (California), Key Lime Pie
(Florida), Coconut Cake (Hawaii), Kentucky Derby Cake, New York Style Cheesecake, Apple
Butter Cake (West Virginia) and many more. Also included are fun and informative sidebars,
eye-catching photographs and a section of mix-and-match recipes for buttercreams and
icings. An unlikely baker, Warren Brown (who has an admitted fear of flour) began a career
in health education that eventually led to a degree in law. A New Year's resolution in 1999
brought him into the kitchen and he hasn't left since. Instead he's been creating amazing
cakes, all from scratch.
John Steinbeck famously christened Route 66 America’s “Mother Road” in The Grapes of
Wrath, and that chapter about Tom Joad’s exodus is just one of the classic pieces collected
in this ultimate anthology. Here’s history, roadside attractions, pop culture, ghost stories—
even recipes from famous greasy spoons. And it’s all illustrated with the largest collection of
vintage art, postcards, travel decals, collectibles, and other memorabilia ever amassed. This
is a truly a worthy tribute to the Main Street of America.
With beautiful illustrations, specially designed maps, and concise essays written and
reviewed by National Geographic's Alliance Program, this authoritative guide stands alone
among children's reference titles. Easy-to-read physical maps introduce each region of the
U.S., followed by a lively essay of the area's history, climate, natural resources, and physical
features.
The best-selling Reader's Digest travel book has 40% new content including over 200 new
sites, over 200 new full-color photographs, and all-new, up-to- date maps.
Off the Beaten Path spotlights over 1,000 of the United States' most overlooked must- see
destinations. In a state-by-state A-to-Z format, this budget-friendly vacation planner reveals
the best-kept secret spots so that no matter where you live, you can plan an unforgettable
local vacation within an hour or two of your home. Each of the featured sites has been
verified by the respective state's tourist bureau as still being "off the beaten path." Revel in
nature, science, art, and culture, and encounter the unexpected as you explore undiscovered
gems.
This exciting new edition features:
1,000 sites-more than 200 new sites and over 300 photographs-more than 200 brand new
Brand-new detailed state road maps, and revised and updated tourist information- plus links
to the attraction's website
New feature-"Did You Know" fact boxes, and three new icons representing pet- friendly,
handicap-accessible, and wi-fi compatible sites
Sidebars containing seasonal events for each state
Packed with innovative ideas for fun day trips and truly memorable vacations for travelers of
every temperament, penchant, and budget, this unparalleled escape book leads you to New
Hampshire's castle in the clouds. pontoon boating through the Florida Everglades, dinosaurs
trails through Colorado, an authentic jousting tournament in Virginia, or a stroll down
America's oldest street in New York City.
The all-in-one trip planner and travel guide-now totally revised and updated-will steer you
down the most scenic road every time. From Florida's Road to Flamingo to Hawaii's Oahu
Coastal Loop . . . from British Columbia's Sea to Sky Highway to Cape Cod's Sandy Shores . . .
each featured road trip is pictured in stunning full color and described in vivid text, keyed to
an easy-to-follow newly revised map. Whether you choose a drive in a far corner of the
continent or a back road in your own state, this book is your ticket to North America's most
beautiful byways.
America’s national parks spring from an idea as radical as the Declaration of Independence:
that the nation’s most magnificent and sacred places should be preserved, not for royalty or
the rich, but for everyone. In this evocative and lavishly illustrated narrative, Ken Burns and
Dayton Duncan delve into the history of the park idea, from the first sighting by white men
in 1851 of the valley that would become Yosemite and the creation of the world’s first
national park at Yellowstone in 1872, through the most recent additions to a system that
now encompasses nearly four hundred sites and 84 million acres.
The authors recount the adventures, mythmaking, and intense political battles behind the
evolution of the park system, and the enduring ideals that fostered its growth. They capture
the importance and splendors of the individual parks: from Haleakala in Hawaii to Acadia in
Maine, from Denali in Alaska to the Everglades in Florida, from Glacier in Montana to Big
Bend in Texas. And they introduce us to a diverse cast of compelling characters—both
unsung heroes and famous figures such as John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, and Ansel
Adams—who have been transformed by these special places and committed themselves to
saving them from destruction so that the rest of us could be transformed as well.
From Theodore Roosevelt to Barack Obama, this is a presidential roll call from 1901 to the
current day. This title provides an overview of the memorable figures who have made their
mark on American political history including Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D Roosevelt, John
F Kennedy, Richard Nixon and Barack Obama. It includes an analysis of each leader as
politician, statesman and private individual, setting each president in the context of major
social, political and economic developments, and discussing their influence on the course of
history. It charts the momentous social and economic history of the times, including the
building of the Panama Canal, the San Francisco earthquake, the Wall Street Crash, silent
movies, radio, television, space travel and the internet, as well as the rise of popular culture.
It analyzes the implications and lasting legacies of war including World Wars I and II, the
Korean War, Vietnam, the Gulf Wars, the Iraq War and the war on terror, as well as
international crises that have altered the course of world diplomacy. The 20th century
proved to be one of immense and rapid social and economic change for the United States of
America. This illustrated encyclopedia of the presidents from 1901 presents a factual
account of each of the presidents who have stood for office, and sets them within context of
the times in which they each presided. Many have become synonymous with domestic and
international events, such as Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal, Richard Nixon and
Watergate, Ronald Reagan and Star Wars, and Jimmy Carter and the Iranian hostage crisis.
Alongside each of the presidential portraits are snapshots of industrial, economic, social and
political developments that have changed the world, such as Henry Ford and the mass
production of the motor car, the invention of the atomic bomb, the collapse of communism
and international terrorism. More than 240 photographs, facsimile newsreel images, maps
and fine art paintings help to provide a visual account of each presidential era, making this
book a valuable reference for those interested in America's social and political history.
Featuring National Geographic's hallmark combination of stunning images, superb maps,
authoritative narrative, and concise, penetrating analysis, the Almanac of American History
has been carefully designed to offer its readers not just a wider and deeper understanding of
our country's development, but also an inviting mix of fascinating facts and colorful graphics
that make it a browser's delight.
After the Introduction by respected historian Hugh Ambrose and a special feature on how to
use the Almanac's features most efficiently, the book is divided into four major parts, each
exploring a different aspect of America's history. The first explores the continent's geology
and geography to answer the fundamental question of how the vast, rich landscape shaped
both our expanding society and our sense of ourselves. In Section 2, Milestones, twelve
essays discuss how America evolved from a sparsely settled wilderness into the global leader
it is today. Section 3 covers the major eras in America's history, beginning with the earliest
Native Americans and closing with the first decade of a new millennium. Finally, a
thematically organized section discusses such important topics as Leaders, Wars, Religion
and Beliefs, and Presidents. An appendix features Milestone Documents, including the
Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address, and
more. A bibliography and a comprehensive index complete this indispensable reference.
Snapshots of the U.S.'s last nine generations--from the creators of the Mindset List media
sensation Just as high school graduates in 1957 couldn't imagine life without zippers, those
of 2009 can't imagine having to enter phone booths and deposit coins in order to call
someone from the street corner.Every August, the Mindset List highlights the cultural
touchstones that have shaped the lives of that year's incoming college class. Now this
fascinating book extends the Mindset List approach to dramatize what it was like to grow up
for every American generation since 1880, showcasing the remarkable changes in what
Americans have considered "normal" about the world around them. Expands Tom McBride
and Ron Nief's popular annual Mindset Lists to explore the mindset of nine generations of
Americans, from 1880 to the future high school graduates of 2030 Offers a novel and
absorbing way to understand the frame of reference of Americans through history, whether
it's the high school grads of 1918, who viewed riding an elevator as a thrill second only to
roller coasters, or those of 2009, who have always thought of "friend" as an active verb Puts
a human face on the evolution of historical changes related to technology, the struggle for
rights and equality, the calamities of war and depression, and other areas The annual
Mindset List garners extensive media attention, including on Today , The Early Show , the
NBC Nightly News , CNN, and Fox as well as in the Wall Street Journal , the New York Times ,
USA Today , the Los Angeles Times , Time magazine, and hundreds of international
publications Whatever your own generational mindset, this book will give you an
entertaining and important new tool for understanding the unique perspective and
experience of Americans over more than a hundred and fifty years.
The 2013 edition of The World Almanac® and Book of Facts will answer all of your trivia
questions—from history and sports to geography, pop culture, and much more.
Whether you're a business person visiting for a week or a foreign student visiting for a
semester, American Ways, A Cultural Guide to the United States covers all your basic needsfrom the trends and customs of day-to-day activities to the more esoteric customs regarding
cultural values, politics, education, religion and relationships. In this revised edition, Gary
Althen and Janet Bennett have added material that provides the clearest insights yet into the
American psyche and culture, reflecting many of the monumental changes that have
occurred since the previous edition's publication. The authors discuss the lasting effects of
the Bush-administration policies and controversies as well as the impact of the nation's first
black president. An updated chapter on social relationships and the effect that networking
sites such as Twitter and Facebook have had on meeting people and creating friendships is
also included. American Ways helps any newcomer to the U.S. make an easier transition.
Living in the U.S.A., has for many years provided the sojourner with just the information and
advice needed to deal with the expected and the unexpected. Now, under Davies' skilled
editorship, this sixth edition continues in that tradition. Living in the U.S.A. is a concise but
comprehensive guide to attitudes, customs, manners and daily life in the United States. It is
factual but lively, educational but not pedantic, informative but not prescriptive. Short-term
visitors to the U.S. will find advice for, among many other things, doing business,
understanding American behaviour, and obtaining health care. Those who stay longer will
find practical pointers for getting along at work, in school, at home, even at the supermarket
and the bank; for meeting new friends; and for enjoying their leisure time.
This unique handbook for fresh arrivals to the United States outlines common American
practices, beliefs, and customs. Written in a colloquial style and drawing on examples from
history and popular culture, the author provides priceless insights on why Americans behave
as they do and answers the important questions a visitor might ask, from why Americans
appear so open and optimistic to how to negotiate with Americans or act at a dinner party.
Full of practical advice (how to extend your visa) as well as invaluable guidance on how to
understand American society (covering topics like political parties, privacy, family, work, and
money), this handy book is an ideal reference for anyone new to the United States
"The American Dream" is one of the most familiar and resonant phrases in our national
lexicon, so familiar that we seldom pause to ask its origin, its history, or what it actually
means. In this fascinating short history, Jim Cullen explores the meaning of the American
Dream, or rather the several American Dreams that have both reflected and shaped
American identity from the Pilgrims to the present. Cullen begins by noting that the United
States, unlike most other nations, defines itself not on the facts of blood, religion, language,
geography, or shared history, but on a set of ideals expressed in the Declaration of
Independence and consolidated in the Constitution. At the core of these ideals lies the
ambiguous but galvanizing concept of the American Dream, a concept that for better and
worse has proven to be amazingly elastic and durable for hundreds of years and across
racial, class, and other demographic lines. Cullen then traces a series of overlapping
American dreams: the quest for of religious freedom that brought the Pilgrims to the "New
World"; the political freedom promised in the Declaration; the dream of upward mobility,
embodied most fully in the figure of Abraham Lincoln; the dream of home ownership, from
homestead to suburb; the intensely idealistic-and largely unrealized-dream of equality
articulated most vividly by Martin Luther King, Jr. The version of the American Dream that
dominates our own time--what Cullen calls "the Dream of the Coast"--is one of personal
fulfillment, of fame and fortune all the more alluring if achieved without obvious effort,
which finds its most insidious expression in the culture of Hollywood. For anyone seeking to
understand a shifting but central idea in American history, The American Dream is an
interpretive tour de force.