DailyLit: Men Books

Band of Sisters

by Kirsten Holmstedt

Description

In Iraq, the front line is everywhere...and everywhere in Iraq, women in the U.S. military fight. More than 155,000 of them have served in Iraq since 2003—4 times the number of women sent to Desert Storm in 1991—and more than 430 have been wounded and over 70 killed, almost twice the number of U.S. military women killed in action in Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm combined.

But should women be in combat? Do they have what it takes to be warriors? Compelling questions once...but empty questions now, because more than ever, American women are in combat, and they are warriors. The real question is: What is their experience of war? We haven't heard their stories—until now.

Band of Sisters presents 12 of these amazing and often heart-wrenching stories of American women in the frontlines:

Accounts from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines
America's first female pilot to be shot down and survive
The U.S. military's first black female pilot in combat
A 21-year-old turret gunner defending a convoy
Two military policewomen in a firefight
A nurse struggling to save lives, including her own

Extended Copyright Information

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to Stackpole Books, 5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17055.

Previously published by Stackpole Books.

Sample Installment

Wikipedia Tours: Famous Women Throughout History

by Wikipedia

Description

For many years invisible to the eyes of historians, the experience of women through the ages comes to life in Famous Women Throughout History. The daring and sometimes controversial women included in this tour were all pioneers in politics, activism, science, or the arts. Their achievements and contributions were varied, but together their stories make a compelling statement about the genius, creativity, and sheer will possessed by women throughout history and around the world.

The text of this Wikipedia Tour is available from Wikipedia under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.

Cover: This image provided by Wikipedia.

Sample Installment

100 Ways to Succeed/Make Money

by Tom Peters

Description

The secrets to success in business and life are revealed in business icon and management guru Tom Peters' 100 Ways to Succeed/Make Money. Delivered in Peters' singularly irreverent voice, these tidbits—which originally appeared on Peters's blog—will transform your way of looking at business while also giving you the swift verbal kick in the, er, behind that will motivate you to put these ideas into action. With a tip a day from Tom Peters delivered by DailyLit, you can take up Peters' call to "Wow...Now! (No bull. This is doable)." Doable indeed.

Extended Copyright Information

This work, 100 Ways to Succeed/Make Money, by Tom Peters, is distributed under the following Creative Commons License: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License.

Sample Installment

Wikipedia Tours: "Best Picture" Oscar Winners

by Wikipedia

Description

The Oscars: the glamour, the glitz—and, oh yeah, the movies. Catch up on your Academy Award history with this collection of all eighty Best Picture Award winners. The list spans from silent films to the amazing spectacles of more recent years, but each picture is a crystallized moment of cinematic brilliance, a distillation of time and of the visions of many individuals. Here you can learn about the ideas, actors, and process that created these motion-picture gems.

The text of this Wikipedia Tour is available from Wikipedia under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.

Cover: This image is available from Wikimedia Commons under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.

Sample Installment

The Cult of Perfection

by Cooper Lawrence

Description

Quiz: Are You an Overachiever?

- Is your life ruled by a "to do" list of goals?
- When you get an idea, do you act upon it immediately, not resting until you have achieved a result?
- Do you always complete your work before the deadline?
- Do you often feel overwhelmed?
- Are you restless even on vacation?

If you answered "yes" to the above questions, chances are you are an overachiever. But don’t worry—it's not a dirty word. Join psychology expert and media personality (and self-professed overachiever) Cooper Lawrence as she details the upside of this way of life (whatever you set your mind to, you achieve) and the downside (the stress, anxiety, and self-doubt you sometimes experience). Most important, she provides the tools you need to make peace with your inner overachiever. Packed with practical exercises and real-life stories of overachieving women past and present, The Cult of Perfection helps you harness your incredible energy, focus, and determination, to bring joy and success to your life.

Extended Copyright Information

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing by the publisher. Requests for permission should be sent to skirt!, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, P.O. Box 480, Guilford, Connecticut 06437.

Previously published by skirt!, an imprint of The Globe Pequot Press.

Cover design by Kara Plikaitis.
Cover photo by Michael Harrison,
Michael Harrison Photography, Charlotte, NC.

Sample Installment

Field Guide to Happiness

by Barbara Ann Kipfer

Description

Dr. Barbara Ann Kipfer's 14,000 Things to Be Happy About sold more than one million copies and started a groundswell of self-awareness, gratitude, and contentment. Her new book offers easy-to-use tools and techniques for helping readers "choose" happiness in their everyday lives. Making lists, mind maps, and journals can help you set goals, inspire you, and motivate you to achieve the things that bring you happiness. This delightful book is filled with steps to take toward reaching any goal, with sidebars about staying encouraged and redefining what makes you happy. It will simply and efficiently expand your creative output, help you solve personal problems, and guide you in new and positive directions.

Take your happiness into your own hands and discover new joy in your life! This field guide help you find the way.

Extended Copyright Information

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to The Lyons Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, P.O. Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.

Previously published by The Lyons Press, an imprint of the Globe Pequot Press.

Cover design by Georgiana Goodwin.
Cover image copyright Getty Images.

Sample Installment

The Soul of the Rhino

by Hemanta R. Mishra

Description

In early 2006, National Public Radio reported that "A promising conservation effort to save one of Nepal's signature endangered species is now in serious trouble, due primarily to poachers taking advantage of fighting between government forces and Maoist insurgents." This was devastating news indeed to author and scientist Hemanta Mishra, who has spent the better part of his adult life struggling to save the Indian Rhino from extinction in his native Nepal.

The Soul of the Rhino is the spirited yet humble account of Mishra's unique personal journey. Fresh out of university in the 1970s, Mishra embarks on his conservation work with the help of an ornery but steadfast elephant driver, the Nepalese royal family, and handfuls of like-minded scientists whose aim is to protect the animal in the foothills of the Himalayas. Yet, in spite of decades spent creating nature reserves and moving rhinos to protected areas, arm-wrestling politicians, and raising awareness for the cause, Mishra is still fearful about the future of the Indian Rhino. To this day, Nepal is overrun by armed insurgents, political violence, and poachers who could kill off this magnificent creature for good.

Filled with candor and bittersweet humor, Mishra re-creates his journey on behalf of the rhino, an ugly yet enchanting, terrifying yet delicate creature. The first book of its kind to delve into the multi-layered political labyrinths of South Asian wildlife conservation, and one man’s endurance in the face of it all, The Soul of the Rhino is sure to win over your heart and soul.

Praise for The Soul of the Rhino

"The Soul of the Rhino is unusual, fascinating and important. It provides not only a rare insight into the personality and behavior of the highly endangered and little known Asian rhino, but an equally absorbing picture of the people who share its habitat...[It] is also a commentary on the way in which wildlife management can be helped or tragically hindered by revolution, politics and the commitment, or lack of it, of those in power. Most important, it will surely inspire other young people in Asia to follow in [Mishra's] footsteps. I hope you will buy and read this book."
—Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace

"The Soul of the Rhino is the first book of its kind that proves that nature conservation in Asia does not only depend upon good Western science. But like politics in America, it is an art—an art of the possible—an art that puts human needs and culture in the forefront of environmental conservation."
—Rimpoche Lodi Gyari, Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

"For anyone in wildlife, the Himalayan region, Hindu and Buddhist culture, this book is a delight...Many well-meaning, dedicated conservation supporters have written enthusiastically about environmental, species, and cultural conservation—but Mishra has not only 'talked the talk,' he has really 'walked the walk,' as the reader will learn."
—Kenneth Nebenzahl, director of the American Himalayan Foundation, and member of the World Wildlife Fund—U.S. Council

"From the unique perspective of a Nepali dealing with conservation battles in his own country, [Mishra] describes his contacts with everyone from poacher and foreigner to bureaucrat, royalty and rhino. I enjoyed The Soul of the Rhino immensely for its potent conservation message as well as its insights into a culture and the soul of the author."
—George B. Schaller, Wildlife Conservation Society

Extended Copyright Information

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to The Lyons Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, P.O. Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.

Previously published by The Lyons Press, an imprint of The Globe Pequot Press.

Cover design by Georgiana Goodwin.
Cover image Bridgeman Art Library.

Sample Installment

All in My Head

by Paula Kamen

Description

At the age of twenty-four, Paula Kamen's life changed in an instant. While she was putting in her contacts, the left lens disturbed a constellation of nerves behind her eye. The pain was more piercing than that of any other headache she had ever experienced. More than a decade later, she still has a headache—the exact same headache. From surgery to a battery of Botox injections to a dousing of Lithuanian holy water, from a mountain of pharmaceutical products to aromatherapy and even a vibrating hat, All in My Head chronicles the sometimes frightening, usually absurd, and always ineffective remedies Kamen—like so many others—tried in order to relieve the pain. Beleaguered and frustrated by doctors who, frustrated themselves, periodically declared her pain psychosomatic, she came to understand the plight of the millions who suffer chronic pain in its many forms. Full of self-deprecating humor and razorsharp reporting, All in My Head is the remarkable story of patience, acceptance, and perseverance in the face of terrifying pain.

Praise for All in My Head

"Kamen describes her descent into headache hell with verve and wit...Her prose is a pleasure...For readers who have headaches and for chronic pain sufferers, this book is a must-read."
—Boston Globe

"With the tireless consumer activism of Ralph Nader and the sardonic wit of Saturday Night Live’s Tina Fey, Kamen’s tale is essential reading for anyone suffering from chronic pain."
—Shape

"Gripping...Kamen takes us inside the world of chronic pain and shows us how the constant disbelief and distrust she encountered were almost as bad as the pain itself...a necessary book."
—Chicago Tribune

"[This book] connects the dots on this issue of women and chronic pain in a way nobody else has done."
—Salon.com

"...Undeniably funny. Kamen’s irreverent sense of humor about her pain and herself makes the book a delight to read as she unabashedly pokes fun at the corporate pharmaceutical industry (even while she hopes for a test-tube cure), doctors and other caregivers. Kamen makes the reader understand what it is like to be happy even while one is in pain."
—Publisher’s Weekly

"Sharp, entertaining, informative, and blessedly free of poor-me-see-how-I-suffered-ism."
—Kirkus

"An expert look at a vexing issue, the book will enlighten Kamen’s fellow-sufferers that they are not alone."
—The Telegraph

"Her reporting and gender analysis are top-notch…Her story is both gripping and terrifying. But it’s her deadpan humor and fine, fine writing that make All in My Head so truly fantastic."
—Bitch

"If you have any kind of chronic pain, especially chronic head pain, you will find All in My Head a balm for your tormented soul. If you love someone with chronic pain and you don’t really get what they’re going through, you must read this."
—ChickLit.com

"Written with passion and a remarkable sense of humour in the face of the relentless headache, [this book] will reassure fellow sufferers that they are not alone."
—New Scientist

"Paula Kamen combines a sharp journalistic intelligence with a very welcome flair for the absurd."
—Dave Eggers, author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

"Paula Kamen’s comic gifts are the best prescription for protecting us against the insane realities of our pharmaceutically obsessed health-care system."
—Neal Pollack, author The Neal Pollack Anthology of American Literature

"Not since Norman Cousins’s Anatomy of an Illness has there been a medical memoir of such depth and compelling fascination. The detail, the beautiful writing, the triumph of this young author’s will over paralyzing pain will make you cry for her and adore her on the selfsame page."
—Barbara Seaman, author and co-founder of The National Women’s Health Network

"Kamen writes with the dedication of a muckraking journalist, the comic flair of Woody Allen, and the obsessive attention to detail of Spalding Gray. Tragically for the author, yet blessedly for readers, All in My Head is clearly a book that Paula Kamen was born to write."
—Adam Langer, author of Crossing California

"Despite the sobering topic, Kamen manages to magically bring in a dose of levity, letting her keen wit and hilarious eye for bizarre detail shine through right from the start. Perhaps laughter is the best medicine after all."
—Spike Gillespie, author of Surrender (But Don’t Give Yourself Away)

"All in My Head is a deeply human, witty, and courageous book and should be required reading for all."
—Jane Pincus and Judy Norsigian, co-authors, Our Bodies, Ourselves

Extended Copyright Infomation

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Previously published by Da Capo Press, a member of the Perseus Books Group.

Cover design by Cooley Design Lab.
Cover illustration copyright csaimages.com.

Sample Installment

This Moment on Earth

by Kerry and Heinz Kerry

Description

The environment, and the movement that grew up to protect it, is under attack—concerted and purposeful. Yet the need for solutions to pressing environmental problems grows more urgent each day. Teresa Heinz Kerry and Senator John Kerry traveled across the country in a national campaign to see at first hand how these issues unite people across party and ideological lines. From the San Juan Basin to the Gulf of Mexico to the South Bronx, from mothers on Cape Cod to Colorado ranchers, they found a vibrant coalition of people and communities deploying ingenuity, technology, and sheer will power to save the world they know and love. Now, in this passionate and personal book, Senator John Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry shine the spotlight on an inspiring crosssection of these new environmental pioneers. The book combines intensive research with keenly observed personal experiences to present a portrait of Americans devoted to the natural diversity and spectacular uniqueness of our country. It also includes an extensive guide on where and how readers can get involved.

Praise for This Moment on Earth

"John Kerry and Teresa Heinz have written a book that is a profound challenge to all of us but contains, in the examples of the men and women who are fighting the great fight for a better future for our environment, the clear hope that if we can embrace their resourcefulness, determination and essential patriotism we will prevail. Both John and Teresa have been long-time leaders in the battle to save the Earth's environment. Way back when it was not all fashionable, indeed when very few people in the world were even paying attention to it, both John and Teresa were providing outstanding and courageous leadership."
—former Vice President Al Gore

Extended Copyright Information

No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information, address PublicAffairs, 250 West 57th Street, Suite 1321, New York, NY 10107. PublicAffairs books are available at special discounts for bulk purchases in the U.S. by corporations, institutions, and other organizations. For more information, please contact the Special Markets Department at the Perseus Books Group, 11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, call (617) 252-5298, or e-mail special.markets@perseusbooks.com.

Previously published by PublicAffairs, a member of the Perseus Books Group.

Cover design: Nina D'Amario.
Cover Photo: Copyright Tom Fowlks/Getty Images.

Sample Installment

skirt! Rules for the Workplace

by Kelly Love Johnson

Description

Humorous, practical, tell-it-like-it-is advice for women in the workplace.

Only seven of the Fortune 500 companies have a woman as CEO or President, and nearly 20 percent of them don't have any women at all in upper management. In the bestselling tradition of Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office and Who Moved My Cheese, Kelly Love Johnson lays out practical advice for career women who are starting out or who wonder why they're not moving ahead. This is the book every graduating senior, receptionist, and entry-level assistant will steal from her best friend. Johnson shows how speaking out, embracing change, and changing others' perceptions of working women can bring both personal and professional success. Chapters include: "The Alphas and the Betas: Personality Types," "A Feminist Says What?" and "Work Like a Girl." Using personal anecdotes, tried and true tactics, and a directory of resources and Web sites, Johnson shows readers how women can move ahead in the workplace just as well as men, as Ginger Rogers once said, "but backwards and in high heels."

Praise for skirt! Rules for the Workplace

"Want a fulfilling career? To be paid what you are worth? To get ahead without leaving your ethics in the garbage? skirt! Rules for the Workplace . . . is savvy, strategic, and suitable wisdom for any office."
—Jennifer Baumgardner, author of Manifesta, Grassroots, and Look Both Ways

"Funny, feminist, and packed with practical suggestions that will make your work life better—and make the workplace in general better for women. I learned something or got useful encouragement on every page."
—Alison Piepmeier, director of the Women's and Gender Studies, Program at the College of Charleston

Extended Copyright Information

Previously published by skirt!, an imprint of the Globe Pequot Press.

Cover design by Georgiana Goodwin.

Sample Installment