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A lively introduction to opera, from the Renaissance to the twenty-first century There are few art forms as visceral and…
emotional as opera—and few that are as daunting for newcomers. A Mad Love offers a spirited and indispensable tour of opera's eclectic past and present, beginning with Monteverdi's L'Orfeo in 1607, generally considered the first successful opera, through classics like Carmen and La Boheme , and spanning to Brokeback Mountain and The Death of Klinghoffer in recent years. Musician and critic Vivien Schweitzer acquaints readers with the genre's most important composers and some of its most influential performers, recounts its long-standing debates, and explains its essential terminology. Today, opera is everywhere, from the historic houses of major opera companies to movie theaters and public parks to offbeat performance spaces and our earbuds. A Mad Love is an essential book for anyone who wants to appreciate this living, evolving art form in all its richness
Legendary wordsmith Raekwon the Chef opens up about his journey from the staircases of Park Hill in Staten Island to…
sold-out stadiums around the world with the Wu-Tang Clan in this revealing memoir— perfect for fans of The Autobiography of Gucci Mane and Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter . There are rappers that everyone loves and there are rappers that every rapper loves, and Corey Woods, a.k.a. Raekwon the Chef, is one of the few who is both. His versatile flow, natural storytelling, and evocative imagery has inspired legions of fans and a new generation of rappers. As one of the founding members of Wu-Tang Clan, Raekwon's voice and cadence is synonymous with the inimitable sound that has made the group iconic since 1991. Now, for the first time, Raekwon tells his full story, from struggling through poverty to make ends meet to turning a hobby into a legacy. The Wu-Tang story is dense, complex, and full of drama, and here nothing is off limits: the group's underground origins, secrets behind songs like "C.R.E.A.M." and "Protect Ya Neck," and what it took to be one of the first hip-hop groups to break into the mainstream. Raekwon also dives deep into the making of his meticulous solo albums—particularly the classic Only Built 4 Cuban Linx —and talks about how spirituality and fatherhood continue to inspire his unstoppable creative process. A celebration of perseverance and the power of music, From Staircase to Stage is a master storyteller's lifelong journey to stay true to himself and his roots
Aerosmith lead singer and American Idol judge, born in 1948, reminisces about his childhood in the Bronx as the son…
of a classical pianist, early musical career, and the rise and fall of the band that made him a rock star. Strong language. Bestseller. 2011
Author of How the Beatles Destroyed Rock 'n' Roll (DB 71861) researches the origins of Mississippi Delta blues. Recaps the…
life of African American singer Robert Johnson (1911-1938) and his influence on white performers who revived the genre in the 1960s. Debunks stereotypes and myths surrounding the music. 2004
Canadian digital-marketing expert offers advice for integrating social media and personal branding into a new business model with the potential…
of reaching a larger consumer base. Offers examples of people who used Facebook, blogs, smartphones, and netbooks to successfully expand their businesses. 2009
Susan Boyle details being catapulted into fame in 2009 at age forty-eight on television's Britain's Got Talent. Describes her audition…
and elimination, debut album, international tour, and life in her small Scottish village before and after her new career. Addresses media speculation about her appearance, mental capacity, and lifestyle. 2010
Journalist Carr expands upon his 2008 article in The Atlantic Monthly entitled "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" Citing neurology research,…
he argues that humans are losing our capacity for concentration, contemplation, and reflection as advancing technology changes our neural pathways. Pulitzer Prize finalist. 2010
Autobiography of Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Crowell (born 1950) evokes his hardscrabble Texas upbringing by volatile parents. Details the relationship between…
his epileptic, Pentecostal mother and alcoholic, honky-tonk father. Recounts the start of his own career and discusses his marriage to Rosanne Cash. Strong language and some violence. 2011
Biography of Janis Joplin (1943-1970) chronicles her successful music career and provides insight into her personal life and emotional vulnerabilities.…
Discusses Joplin's drug and alcohol addictions and death of an overdose at age twenty-seven. For junior and senior high and older readers. YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction. 2010
Allen, who cofounded Microsoft in 1975, traces the early years of the computer company and his relationship with his business…
partner and high school friend Bill Gates. Discusses his career blunders, ownership of the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers, recovery from Hodgkin's lymphoma, and philanthropic pursuits. 2011
Author of Genius (DB 36181) and Chaos (RC 27005) chronicles the history of humanity's efforts to store, access, and communicate…
information--from Paleolithic cave paintings to early-twenty-first-century search engines. Discusses prominent inventors Charles Babbage, Ada Byron, Samuel Morse, Alan Turing, and Claude Shannon. 2011
Biography of entrepreneur Steve Jobs (1955-2011) chronicles his childhood, education, entry-level jobs in California's Silicon Valley, 1976 cofounding of Apple…
computer in his parents' garage, and leadership in spearheading the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Discusses Jobs's personal and professional relationships and his 2003 cancer diagnosis. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2011
Historical analysis of mass-communication media--radio, telephone, television, and film--introduced during the twentieth century. Examines each technology's trajectory from being free…
and open for public access to becoming closed and controlled by a single corporation or cartel led by Adolph Zukor, David Sarnoff, and others. 2010
Journalist interviews twenty notable opera professionals--singers, conductors, and directors--who discuss their careers and offer their views on the future of…
opera. Interviewees include sopranos Natalie Dessay and Renée Fleming, tenor Plácido Domingo, director Patrice Chéreau, and conductors Kent Nagano and Esa-Pekka Salonen. 2010
Smithsonian Institution curator details the invention and development of computing, from punch cards to smartphones. Focuses on four themes: the…
coding of information in binary form, the convergence of different technologies, advances in solid-state electronics, and the interaction between people and machines. 2012
Journalist examines Washington, D.C., during the second half of the twentieth century through the lens of go-go music, which celebrated…
the capital's black culture. Recounts the rise of stars such as Chuck Brown, the role of political and religious leaders, and the economic impact of the genre. Strong language. 2012
Software-company CEO posits society is at the tipping point of the Information Revolution, which he compares to the Agricultural and…
Industrial revolutions. Explores the history of computing and the rise of mobile technologies and social networks and analyzes their impact on entertainment, commerce, and health care. 2012
Technology historian examines the creation of one of the first computers: the Universal Machine proposed by Alan Turing in 1936.…
Chronicles the 1945 gathering of scientists, led by mathematician John von Neumann, who constructed the theoretical machine that would later assist early weather modeling and nuclear weapons development. 2012
Presents fifty-seven interviews with Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) from news articles and radio transcripts, conducted from December 1966 to just before…
his death in September 1970. Also includes court testimony excerpts. Hendrix discusses his musical influences, the social issues of the day, and his drug use. 2012
Fleisher explains that his love of classical music launched his first career as a concert pianist and that the same…
passion kept him alive when his right hand failed him at age thirty-six. Discusses becoming a conductor and teacher. Covers his marriages and the people who influenced him. 2010