"An empowering guide to the many ways of noticing, connecting with, and documenting the world around you, based on the renowned workshop that Kristin Link has been leading in remote Alaska for over a decade. For over 15 years, artist and illustrator Kristin Link has taught everyone from children to experts to draw everything from a single acorn to a breathtaking mountain vista. Now her popular field sketching course is available as a guide that anyone can use. Discover t he Art of Field Sketching is a nature illustration book for artists of all skill levels. It starts with the basics of pen, pencil, and watercolor, then introduces more advanced techniques for complex landscapes and animals in motion. It features visual subject matter for wherever you live: you can learn to sketch a night sky, a backyard bird, or a squirrel in the park as well as a rugged mountain wilderness. The book includes 30 step-by-step lessons, and many more inspiring examples of finished products. It also focuses on the meditative and philosophical aspects to field sketching, like slowing down, presentness, and learning to love nature of all sizes. Discover The Art of Field Sketching is just as informative on why to get into field sketching, as it is on how to make the most of your projects." --

"Two writers show you how to turn a worthy sentence into a memorable one. Starting where The Elements of Style leaves off, Good Writing can improve your book, your essay, your memo, your blog post, speech, or script. These essential rules for persuasive language work on any type of writing, and anyone can learn them quickly. Each rule is accompanied by examples and a lively pair of essays, the first by Neal Allen, who developed the list of tips over the course of his journalism and corporate careers; the second by his wife, Anne Lamott, acclaimed author of Bird by Bird and nineteen other nonfiction works and novels. The authors don't always agree on the specifics, but they are passionate about making better sentences."--

"A tour de force of narrative reporting that examines how women are criminalized for actions they take to defend themselves or a loved one from violence, revealing a legal system that fails to protect them but never fails to punish them. Thirty percent of women serving time on murder and manslaughter charges in the U.S. are criminalized survivors: women who are arrested, prosecuted, and imprisoned for protecting themselves or a loved one from physical or sexual violence. When journalist Justine van der Leun set out to examine the phenomenon of criminalized survivors, she was met with silence, indifference, and a profound absence of data on the hundreds of thousands of women who have been forced into impossible choices and found themselves on the receiving end of the full force of the law. In Unreasonable Women, van der Leun sets out to tell the stories of these women, weaving together her own extensive on-the-ground research with the narratives of three criminalized survivors to examine how and why women are punished in America. In the lives of Tanisha, Jema, and TC, we see how the system fails survivors long before it punishes them and how familial, societal, and state violence replicate when early trauma is unacknowledged and untreated. Deeply researched and compellingly told, Unreasonable Women is a passionate call to action - and a forensic denunciation of a broken system that would rather condemn a woman to life behind bars than face up to its own failings"-- Provided by publisher.

"Forget the rules for throwing a party and revel in community with this guide for the modern way to host with 85 recipes from the renowned author of Colombiana"-- Provided by publisher.

"Based on the life-saving research and more than twenty years of clinical trials and practice, Unlearn Your Pain is a ground-breaking guide to reversing chronic pain and overcoming anxiety and depression. AN OPEN FIELD PUBLICATION FROM MARIA SHRIVER. Migraines, headaches, back pain, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, and a host of other chronic illnesses have crippled the modern American population. For the past twenty years, Dr. Howard Schubiner has been conducting clinical trials and authoring more than 100 scientific papers and lectures to get to the root cause of how to reverse these insidious illnesses. In Unlearn Your Pain, he shares in inspiring and step-by-step detail the program steeped in the latest neuroplasticity research that has proven most effective in treating chronic pain, anxiety, and depression. The source of much of chronic pain is neurological and the book details a revolutionary program to better health that has saved thousands from a lifetime of misery and depression. Using the latest practices in the mind-body connection, all confirmed by clinical trials and studies, Dr. Schubiner leads readers to a new understanding of how the mind affects our pain, physical and emotional, and how we can gain control over our bodies and minds to live a healthier and better life"-- Provided by publisher.

"Ever since conquistadores claimed Taino land in the name of their Catholic God and New England Puritans formed their strictly Protestant 'city on a hill,' religion has been central to American life. Even as some found religious freedom -- Rhode Island welcomed the Quakers, Jews, and Baptists that Massachusetts expelled as dissenters -- indigenous people and Africans forced into slavery struggled to protect their religious practices. With the constitutional separation of church and state, it fell to the American people to decide: would they sharpen religion's formidable powers of division, or reimagine its creative possibilities? In A God-Shaped Nation, Brook Wilensky-Lanford follows this essential American tension from first contact through the 2025 inauguration. It is a story of defiance: Anne Hutchinson, preaching against Puritan clergy; Reform rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise serving soft-shell crab to his kosher guests; the Paiute man Wovoka envisioning the Ghost Dance movement in the face of violent government repression. It is also a story of community: Millerites waiting together in vain for Jesus's return on a rainy October night in 1844; Chinese immigrants bringing Daoist and Buddhist gods to their California temples; Mormons pushing westward to build their 'new Zion' in Utah. And in the last fifty years, it has been a story of muscular political power, as the religious right has sought both to shape the present and to paint the past in its own image. At this moment, when religion appears to shape even the most secular aspects of American life, understanding its complex history is more essential than ever. 'It is in history that the very human work of religion happens,' Wilensky-Lanford shows us, 'and in ordinary time that even the most carved-in-stone tenets can and do change.'"-- Book jacket flaps.

"For nearly a century, two families have captivated the world like no others: the British royal Windsor clan and the American Kennedys. Much ink has been spilled on these two institutions over the years, but no one has examined their powerful and intertwined legacies. Until now. In The Kennedys and the Windsors, acclaimed journalist Caroline Hallemann unearths the story of two iconic families whose lives, ambitions, and respective reigns have juxtaposed each other in surprising ways. Through rich archival research and fresh interviews from insiders on both sides of the Atlantic, Hallemann reveals how an Irish Catholic immigrant family with little entrée into elite New England society came to host dinner parties for the King and Queen of England, carving their path to the White House. In the process, she draws out some startling parallels between the two families: the early deaths of Princess Diana and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, the frustrated "second sisters" Princess Margaret and Lee Radziwill, the scandal-plagued next generation of Bobby Kennedy and Prince Andrew, and the current generation's shared struggle to figure out what a monarchy (actual or imagined) means in the 21st century. From Queen Elizabeth's coronation to President Kennedy's historic London visit, from JFK Jr.'s tragic death to Prince Harry's decisive break with his family, Hallemann traces the key moments of the lives of these two dynasties through a fresh and fascinating lens, showing how they have intersected over the generations in ways that not only shaped their images and legacies, but history itself."-- Provided by publisher.

A sweeping history of the Black Death that shows how the deadly plague affected not just Europe, but much of the medieval world. The book follows the pandemic's impact on places like London, Cairo, and Florence, exploring how Christians, Muslims, and Jews faced fear, loss, and survival during one of history's deadliest disasters. Through personal stories and historical detail, it reveals both the devastation caused by the plague and the resilience people showed in overcoming it.

"In a world fractured by division and isolation, The Way of Befriending offers a transformative vision of connection. Parfait Bassalé, a consultant, storyteller, and singer-songwriter, invites readers to dismantle the barriers of race, religion, and identity through the courageous, curious, and compassionate act of befriending. Blending deeply personal stories, practical tools, and original songs, Bassalé redefines friendship as an antidote to "othering" and a pathway to liberation. His unique approach interweaves reflective inquiry with music, creating an immersive guide for fostering authentic relationships that heal and inspire. Whether you're seeking to deepen personal connections, lead with empathy, or create inclusive communities, The Way of Befriending is an invitation to see the humanity in others-and to take the bold step of being the bridge. This is a call to action for anyone ready to embrace a more compassionate and connected world"-- Provided by publisher.

Facing the global threat of a rising Communist world power in the aftermath of World War II, the U.S. employed hundreds of Black Americans to speed read Russian communications and gather essential information on the US's most dangerous nuclear rival. The result was the creation of a segregated civilian codebreaking unit known as the Traffic Processing Division--The Plantation. Despite wage discrimination, grueling hours, strict quotas, and harsh conditions, the Plantation's 100 college-educated Black women made invaluable breakthroughs in United States' Soviet intelligence even as the Red Scare and the backlash against civil rights eroded their democratic freedoms at home. Their underappreciated top-secret work led directly to victory over the USSR and the end of the Cold War thirty years later. In this thrilling history, Sarah Valentine tells their remarkable story in full for the first time. Decoding the Devil pays long overdue tribute to these little-known Black cryptologists' critical contributions to national security during the civil rights era, and offers a fresh perspective on the Cold War and American heroes of color.

For 250 years, we have debated what it means to be American. This question shaped the compromises in our Constitution and the arguments we've been having ever since--spawning abolitionism, secession, and civil war; populism, mass migration, and global leadership; movements for reform and the backlashes to them. In All We Say, Ben Rhodes tells the story of fifteen speeches--some iconic, others long forgotten--that have both shaped and reflected the argument Americans have been having from our founding to the intense divisions of our time. Through riveting and beautifully rendered accounts of the people, movements, and moments that produced these speeches, Rhodes traces the history of our battle over identity. The result is a singular and revealing portrait of America itself: a nation divided between two stories--one of inheritance, power, and exclusion, the other of equality, striving, and belonging. Drawing on a decade writing for Barack Obama, Rhodes also shows us how words can redirect a nation, what makes a speech enduring, and why oratory is a unique form of persuasion in American democracy. From Benjamin Franklin's call for compromise at the Constitutional Convention, to Alexander Stephens' case for white supremacy as the cornerstone of the Confederacy; from Martin Luther King's dream of true equality to Donald Trump's rallying cry against democracy itself, these speeches remind us that history is a living argument. At a time when American identity--and truth--is contested, All We Say offers a fresh and powerful look at who we really are and who we could still become. --

New Heights hosts Jason and Travis Kelce attempt to tackle some of life's dumbest questions from the 92%ers. Join us on this discov­ery of knowledge as we cover topics like sports, relationships, parenting, gorilla fights, and many more quandaries that man has pondered since he first gazed upon the stars. When you think philosophy, you'll probably think of names like Socrates, Plato, or Aristotle. Butnone of those men have won a single Super Bowl, so what do they know? No Dumb Questions is a collection of Jason and Travis's wisest, funniest, and most electric debates that could only come from the collected wisdom of a combined twenty-seven seasons in the NFL.

"Frank Lloyd Wright was more than the mind behind America's most iconic buildings-he was a man whose turbulent private life captivated a nation. The famous architect's stormy marriage to Kitty Wright and his infamous affair with another woman, Mamah Borthwick, ignited one of the country's first celebrity scandals, splashed across headlines from coast to coast. Then, in August 1914, scandal turned to horror. A tragedy at Taliesin, the Wisconsin home Wright built as a monument to love, shook the very foundation of Wright's life-and catapulted him back to the front pages of newspapers across the country as readers clamored for glimpses of his very darkest moments."--

Liz Tenuto's When The Body Speaks is a comprehensive handbook that shows how stress and trauma are stored within the body--and how somatic exercises can provide a powerful tool for healing. This easy-to-digest primer explains the science of somatics while providing simple, fully illustrated exercises for releasing tension through somatic practice. Defined as movement for healing, somatic exercises emphasize internal sensory awareness, slowing down, and being gentle with oneself as crucial for understanding and healing from tension, stress, and trauma. Liz shares her moving personal narrative as well as stories of her work with students whose stress- and trauma-related physical, emotional, and cognitive issues have been healed through somatic exercises. She presents the latest scientific research on health impacts of long-term stress and trauma and the negative effects of living in survival mode (as so many of us do), while offering thoughtful insights into what it means to heal through the body. Long-term stress and unresolved trauma can manifest in a host of ways--sleep issues, fatigue, muscle tension, digestive problems, cognitive difficulties, and numerous psychological conditions including anxiety and depression. By focusing on the body's innate capacity to heal, Liz teaches readers how to use movement to address these issues, allowing the nervous system to flow from dysregulation to a state of homeostasis.... In her first book, Liz offers not only practical exercises and a deeper understanding of how the mind and body interact but a pathway for self-healing, empowerment, and a more fulfilling life.

"No one is born resilient. But you have the power to become stronger than you think. At one point or another, life will break us open-through loss, trauma, betrayal, or heartbreak. But as psychologist Dr. Sherry Hamby reveals, we are never beyond repair. We all have an incredible capacity for greater resilience. In Stronger Than You Think, Dr. Hamby shatters the conventional wisdom that says resilience is something you either have or don't. Instead, it is a modifiable process-and like any process, it can be learned, practiced, and built upon. Drawing on over 30 years of original research, clinical work, and a growing body of evidence, this groundbreaking book gives you the tools to build your own resilience portfolio-a set of evidence-based strategies and resources that can help you flourish despite life's hardest moments. Along the way, you'll learn: The everyday, science-backed practices you can rely on to feel calmer and more regulated How cultivating an authentic sense of purpose changes everything--including giving your trauma meaning How our social and physical ecologies can make us more or less resilient, and how to make necessary changes Why traditional therapy and medication can only take us so far, and how to take it one step further You don't have to be tough or gritty to thrive. You just have to know how to build your strength"--

"Discover how making connections with strangers leads to positive shifts in our everyday lives, from preeminent researcher and professor of the psychology of kindness Dr. Gillian Sandstrom. Do you ever feel lonely, even in a crowd? Do you feel anxious or worried about what others think of you, or struggle to make friends? You are not alone. But the truth is, opportunities for positive connection and community are all around you. In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Gillian Sandstrom reveals that by talking to strangers, we can unlock more joy, curiosity, and goodwill every day. In an age when loneliness is a social health crisis and harmful behaviors like groupthink increase our perception of distance and polarization, this transformational guide explains the benefits of stretching our perceived limits and connecting with our fellow humans, including: Increased happiness and wellbeing -- Improved social skills and self-esteem -- Reduced anxiety and social biases -- Expanded connections and social circles. Combining powerful scientific findings with stories from her own life, Dr. Sandstrom offers us a new vision of a life well lived, when we have the courage to reach out and simply say, 'hello'."--Publisher

A heartfelt journey across the United States exploring the history, importance, and lasting spirit of lesbian bars. Traveling with her wife and best friend, author and co-creator of the hit podcast Cruising Rachel Karp visits some of the country's remaining lesbian bars, sharing the stories of the people and communities that keep them alive. Blending queer history, personal experiences, and cultural exploration, the book shows how these spaces have served as places of safety, activism, friendship, and belonging for generations.

A book about building a home and a wild garden on the edge of a Himalayan forest, illuminated by the author's own watercolors. When acclaimed novelist Anuradha Roy and her husband stumble upon a derelict cottage in the hill station of Ranikhet, they decide it is where they will now live. Fresh from the neon-lit publishing offices of Delhi, Roy is initially bemused by the gentle pace of life in the mountains but then won over: spellbound by the landscape, taken to the heart of the rural community, and adopted by four mountain dogs and counting.As Roy tries to rebuild the cottage and create a garden, she encounters nature at its most fierce, beautiful, and vulnerable, and over twenty-five years bears witness to the destructive impact of global warming on the alpine ecosystem. What emerges is a tender and intimate portrait of her surroundings in which rugged nature, lovable dogs, and recalcitrant humans come together to captivating effect. Written with unsentimental clarity, humor, and poignancy, this is a story of profound transformations.

"By one of the world's leading chemists, an entertaining and revealing tour of the chemical bonds that shape our everyday lives and provide the infrastructure for our chaotic world."--Amazon.

"Twenty years ago, Stephanie Coontz asked of traditional marriage, "What tradition?" Now she returns to examine its contemporary state-what threatens its prevalence and what freedoms it can create for all people. Ninety percent of the world's people live in countries where marriage rates have plummeted since the 1980s, with the Western world experiencing especially steep drops. Almost everywhere, marriage has declined most among men and women with the lowest levels of education or earnings. And highly-educated and high-earning women are actually more likely to marry and less likely to divorce than in the past. But such women often express more ambivalence about getting married than other women-and typically postpone doing so until later in life. Still, rather than devaluing marriage, people all around the world overwhelmingly describe it as the highest expression of commitment they can imagine. And most people say they eventually want to marry even while they increasingly express uncertainty about whether they will end up doing so. In her new book, For Better and Worse, Stephanie Coontz unravels the origins of these paradoxical trends. Using the past to illuminate the present, she shows how shifting marital ideologies, gender relations, sexual mores, and emotional mind-sets over time have bequeathed us a welter of contradictory expectations and habits that often sabotage our attempts to build mutually satisfactory relationships. "Traditional" roles and values that once promoted successful marriages are now a recipe for relationship failure. Only by undoing the legacy of marriage's "problematic past," Coontz argues, can we help individuals and society at large navigate the "challenging future" of marriage"-- Provided by publisher.

"This book will focus on how to identify your weakest link with self-assessments and the best supportive exercises to strengthen your climbing without getting hurt"-- Provided by publisher.

"Plastic is everywhere in our daily lives. But the companies that make it-petrochemical companies which are often subsidiaries of Big Oil like ExxonMobil and Dow Chemical-seem to be hiding in plain sight. For all the vivid coverage of where plastic ends up, there is remarkably little discussion of where it comes from. Plastic, it turns out, is a financial lifeline for oil companies that are concerned about diminishing demand for oil and gas in the future, and these companies are doing everything they can to double and eventually triple plastic production by 2050. Award-winning journalist Beth Gardiner gives readers an up-close look at the plastic industry's relentless growth, its extraordinary profits, its toxic pollution and its hidden role in exacerbating climate change. Every chapter in Plastic Inc brings new revelations, including: how Big Oil invented the idea of recycling, even though they always knew that recycling plastic at scale would never work (and by doing so, they created the playbook that big tobacco and big pharma would later follow); how microplastics are becoming a health crisis; how oil companies have linked with political forces to fight against bans on single use plastic like plastic bags, even creating laws that ban bans; the major characters and personalities behind what amounts to a hidden corporate and political scandal perpetuated over decades. The stories in Plastic Inc will reframe for readers a problem many of us think we understand, but which has deeper roots and a more complicated future than we can have possibly imagined"--

"A deeply moving portrait of the lives of Iranians across five decades, from the Iranian Revolution to the inspiring Woman Life Freedom protests, tracing the promise of the revolution, its betrayal by forces of autocracy, and a people's undying spirit of resistance. The 1979 revolution in Iran swept aside a monarchy, fueled by a people's dreams of social justice and political freedom. But the movement's leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, and his acolytes instead built a system that served their narrow faction and worsened beyond imagination the brutality and corruption that had existed under the Shah. Stolen Revolution follows six Iranians who, together, have lived the arc of modern Iranian history: -Mehdi Karroubi, a devotee of Khomeini, rose to the heights of power before being cast out of the inner circle. He spurred the revolution's first calls for reform. -Hila Sedighi, a young activist, gave voice through her poetry to her peers' hopes during the reform years and ultimately voiced their shattered dreams. -Said Rahmani, a successful global tech entrepreneur, returned to Iran to spark a start-up boom in his native country and encountered a ruthless security state that wanted his company for itself. -Amir Moghadam, an ambitious government bureaucrat, witnessed corruption and graft on a scale that impelled him to take enormous risks to expose the truth. -Rozhin Yousefzade and Kosar Eftekhari, both born in the 1990s, escaped their gendered destinies by leaving their hometowns for Tehran where they joined a mass movement in confrontation with a ferocious state apparatus: the Woman Life Freedom protests. Each paid an enormous price. Through a vivid and harrowing narrative, Stolen Revolution offers a visceral understanding of contemporary Iran, of life in a modern autocracy, and of the Iranian people's undying fight for a better future"--