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Chronicles: Volume 1
By Bob Dylan. 2004
First of a three-volume memoir by music legend Bob Dylan. Describes his intellectual development, folk songs and blues he listened…
to in the 1960s, and the growth of his artistic conscience. Recalls early days in Greenwich Village, transient loves, lasting friendships, and experiences in New Orleans and Woodstock. Bestseller. 2004Explorers house: National Geographic and the world it made
By Robert M Poole. 2004
Former executive editor of National Geographic magazine chronicles the National Geographic Society from 1888 through 2003. Discusses how Alexander Graham…
Bell and his descendants built an institution that influenced worldwide audiences and sponsored exploration, discovery, and invention. Also examines the organization's race and gender policies. 2004Houdini: the untold story
By Milbourne Christopher. 1970
Natalie Wood: a life
By Gavin Lambert. 2004
Biography of movie actress Natalie Wood (1938-1981) by a screenwriter friend. Relying on accounts of her two husbands and others,…
Lambert portrays Wood's manipulative mother, childhood stardom, family secrets and lasting emotional trauma, film career struggles and successes, love affairs and marriages, and tragic drowning at forty-three. Some strong language. 2004Big Russ and me: father and son : lessons of life
By Tim Russert. 2004
Television journalist's memoir celebrating his bond with his father, "Big Russ," a WWII veteran whom Russert calls "endlessly hardworking and…
eternally optimistic." Author recollects his own 1950s Buffalo childhood in a close-knit Irish Catholic neighborhood and recalls teachers who inspired him throughout his life. Bestseller. 2004Gonna do great things: the life of Sammy Davis, Jr
By Gary Fishgall. 2003
Biography of versatile African American actor, singer, and comedian Sammy Davis Jr. (1925-1990), who began his career in vaudeville at…
age three. Using interviews, Davis quotations, and primary source materials, drama critic Fishgall describes the evolution of Davis's career, his marriages and affairs, and his involvement in the civil rights movement. 2003Ball of fire: the tumultuous life and comic art of Lucille Ball
By Stefan Kanfer. 2003
Details the life and times of comedienne and sit-com star Lucille Ball (1911-1989), beginning with her difficult childhood in upstate…
New York. Covers her unhappy marriage to Desi Arnaz and the evolution of her career until she became "the first woman with major economic power in postwar Hollywood." Bestseller. 2003Bob Hope: my life in jokes
By Bob Hope. 2003
The late comedian, who died in 2003 at one hundred years of age, tells his life through jokes--organized by decade--revealing…
his family, experiences, interests, and personal and political thoughts. Reminisces about his long career in show business on the radio, screen, and television--and in the war theater entertaining American troops. Introduction by daughter Linda. 2003Kate remembered
By A. Scott Berg. 2003
Berg's memoir of his twenty-year personal dialog with Academy Award-winning actress Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003). He recalls her reminiscences about her…
family, her acting career, and her relationship with Spencer Tracy, along with his own memories of his time spent with her. Bestseller. 2003'Tis herself: a memoir
By Maureen O'Hara, John Nicoletti. 2004
Illustrious actress reminisces about her six-decade career during Hollywood's "golden age." O'Hara describes her radio and stage child-stardom in Ireland,…
arrival in California at eighteen, interactions with famous actors and directors, marriages, and retirement in the Virgin Islands. Some strong language. 2004The king and I: the uncensored tale of Luciano Pavarotti's rise to fame by his manager, friend, and sometime adversary
By Anne Midgette, Herbert H. Breslin. 2004
Luciano Pavarotti's manager/publicist candidly recounts his thirty-six-year relationship with the opera singer. Breslin describes the tenor as evolving from a…
"simple, lovely guy" to a "determined, aggressive, and somewhat unhappy superstar." Details his career, quirks, superstitions, and love life. 2004All my best friends
By George Burns. 1989
According to Burns, "Most of what I say is true. The rest is show business." In this portfolio about friends…
in show business, Burns delivers "anecdographies" of people he grew up with from their beginnings in vaudeville through silent movies, theatre, radio, talkies, and on into TV. Included are Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Jack Benny, Jimmy Durante, and others. BestsellerThe Road Years: A Memoir, Continued . . .
By Rick Mercer. 2023
THE INSTANT #1 BESTSELLERRick Mercer is back—again!—with the eagerly awaited sequel to his bestselling memoirAt the end of his memoir…
Talking to Canadians, Rick Mercer was poised to make the biggest leap yet in his extraordinary career. Having overcome a serious lack of promise as a schoolboy and risen through the showbiz ranks—as an aspiring actor, star of a surprisingly successful one-man show about the Meech Lake Accord, co-founder of This Hour Has 22 Minutes, creator and star of the dark-comedy sitcom Made in Canada—he was about to tackle his biggest opportunity yet. The Road Years picks up the story at that exciting point, with the greenlighting of what would become Rick Mercer Report. Plans for the show, of course, included political satire and Rick’s patented rants. But Rick and his partner, Gerald Lunz, were also determined to do something that comedy tends to avoid as too challenging: they would emphasize the positive. Rick would travel from coast to coast to coast in search of everything that’s best about Canada, especially its people. He found a lot to celebrate, naturally, and was rewarded with a huge audience and a run of 15 seasons. The Road Years tells the inside story of that stupendous success. A time when Rick was heading to another town—or military base, sports centre, national park—to try dogsledding, chainsaw carving, and bear tagging; hang from a harness (a lot); ride the “Train of Death;” plus countless other joyous and/or reckless assignments. Added to the mix were encounters with the country’s great. Every living prime minister. Rock and roll royalty from Rush to Randy Bachman. Olympians and Paralympians. A skinny-dipping Bob Rae. And Jann Arden, of course, who gets a chapter to herself. Along the way he even found the time to visit several countries in Africa and co-found and champion the charity Spread the Net, which has gone on to protect the lives of millions. Join the celebration, and revive a wealth of happy memories, with what is Rick Mercer’s funniest, most fascinating book yet.Crying at Movies: A Memoir
By John Manderino. 2008
When Hitchcock's The Birds began showing in the summer of 1963 at the Dolton Theater, the starlings of Riverside, Illinois…
launched their attacks. They were "black, freckled, oily-looking things" with "tiny black buttons for eyes." They carried off Skippy Whalen's baseball cap, pooped on Father Rowley's finger, and attacked a feisty little dog named Tuffy who fought them off. "I blamed Hitchcock" says the author, a Catholic grammar school student at the time. In this comical, witty memoir, John Manderino shows us how the pivotal points of his life have been enmeshed with movie moments. Crying at Movies presents thirty-eight succinct chapters, each bearing the title of a film. It is at once a love-letter to an art form and a humorous appreciation of the distinctions between movie scenes and life's realities.I'm Walking as Straight as I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond
By Geri Jewell. 2011
A candid memoir of building an acting career—and a happy life—with cerebral palsy: &“It&’s a joy to read this book&”…
(Ian McShane). Exposing real pain, unstoppable perseverance, and unquestionable faith in the human spirit, this autobiography offers a true glimpse beyond actress Geri Jewell&’s public image as a one-dimensional hero. Born with cerebral palsy, Jewell made history when she became the first person with a disability cast in a recurring role on American television in The Facts of Life, and in the years that followed she experienced a string of other successes, including a performance at the White House and a role on HBO&’s Deadwood. But along with such accomplishments, this personal story also depicts some of the less-than-rosy events that happened behind closed doors during her initial climb to fame—among them, her release from The Facts of Life; her manager&’s embezzlement of the money she made on the show; and her struggle with chronic pain, despair, and a fear of revealing her true sexual identity. Told with grace and humor, this inspirational narrative presents an honest portrayal of a woman who refused to give up when others kept knocking her down.Killing Willis: From Diff'rent Strokes to the Mean Streets to the Life I Always Wanted
By Todd Bridges. 2010
The former child star—best known as Willis Jackson on Diff’rent Strokes—shares the shocking but inspirational details of his struggles with…
addiction, brushes with the law, and fierce fight to carve a path through the darkness and find his true identity. For Todd Bridges early stardom was no protection from painful childhood events that paved the road to his own personal hell. One of the first African-American child actors on shows like Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons, and Roots, Bridges burst to the national forefront on the hit sitcom Diff’rent Strokes as the subject of the popular catchphrase, "What’chu Talkin About Willis?" When the show ended, Bridges was overwhelmed by the off-camera traumas he had faced. Turning to drugs as an escape, he soon lost control. Now, for the first time, Bridges opens up about his life before and after Diff’rent Strokes: the incredible reversals of fortune brought on by fame and the precipitous—and very public—descent that followed; the persecution from police; the drug addiction that nearly consumed him; the criminal charges that almost earned him a life sentence; and his successful legal defense led by Johnnie Cochran. Through it all, Bridges never relented in his quest to fight his way back from the abyss, establish his own identity—separate from Willis Jackson—and offer his ordeal as a positive example for those struggling to overcome similar challenges. His triumphant story of recovery and redemption is recounted here as well. Todd Bridges has lived a life of remarkable twists and turns—from the greatest heights to the lowest lows imaginable. In this shocking but ultimately hopeful memoir, he proves that what he was really talking about was survival.The Road Years: A Memoir, Continued . . .
By Rick Mercer. 2023
Rick Mercer is back—again!—with the eagerly awaited sequel to his bestselling memoirAt the end of his memoir Talking to Canadians,…
Rick Mercer was poised to make the biggest leap yet in his extraordinary career. Having overcome a serious lack of promise as a schoolboy and risen through the showbiz ranks—as an aspiring actor, star of a surprisingly successful one-man show about the Meech Lake Accord, co-founder of This Hour Has 22 Minutes, creator and star of the dark-comedy sitcom Made in Canada—he was about to tackle his biggest opportunity yet. The Road Years picks up the story at that exciting point, with the greenlighting of what would become Rick Mercer Report. Plans for the show, of course, included political satire and Rick&’s patented rants. But Rick and his partner, Gerald Lunz, were also determined to do something that comedy tends to avoid as too challenging: they would emphasize the positive. Rick would travel from coast to coast to coast in search of everything that&’s best about Canada, especially its people. He found a lot to celebrate, naturally, and was rewarded with a huge audience and a run of 15 seasons. The Road Years tells the inside story of that stupendous success. A time when Rick was heading to another town—or military base, sports centre, national park—to try dogsledding, chainsaw carving, and bear tagging; hang from a harness (a lot); ride the &“Train of Death;&” plus countless other joyous and/or reckless assignments. Added to the mix were encounters with the country&’s great. Every living prime minister. Rock and roll royalty from Rush to Randy Bachman. Olympians and Paralympians. A skinny-dipping Bob Rae. And Jann Arden, of course, who gets a chapter to herself. Along the way he even found the time to visit several countries in Africa and co-found and champion the charity Spread the Net, which has gone on to protect the lives of millions. Join the celebration, and revive a wealth of happy memories, with what is Rick Mercer&’s funniest, most fascinating book yet.Unsung: A Compendium of Creativity
By Kate Ceberano. 2023
A beautiful illustrated memoir from beloved Australian musician Kate Ceberano, featuring her inspirational song lyrics, stories, paintings and embroidery, and…
celebrating four decades of songwriting and recording on the release of her 30th album. Kate Ceberano is used to a hush descending as she draws breath to release that magnificent voice but when the whole world quietened in 2020, she found the silence disorientating. Without an audience or long hours of travel with her tribe of musicians, there was time to think. But what does an artist do when they can&’t make art? They find a way. With characteristic passion, abundance and joy, Kate liberated her unsung songs. They flowed through her paintbrush as she embellished guitars, her needle as she stitched quilts to envelop her beloveds and her pen as she unfurled stories, poems and songs. In Unsung Kate muses on the people and experiences that have inspired her, on what has humbled her, what hurts and what sustains. This is the story of a powerful woman in her prime, but also of a reflective, romantic and vulnerable artist making sense of the universe. It&’s proof of a lifetime lived in music. It&’s a tribute to songs, wherever they come from and wherever they go.Yeah, Nah!: A celebration of life and the words that make us who we are
By William McInnes. 2023
Have you ever bunged it on?Behaved like a drongo?Added mayo to a story?Lost your Reg Grundies?Join bestselling storyteller William McInnes…
as he offers his own take on our colourful and colloquial way with words. From the simpler times of childhood to today's testing (and unprecedented!) times, or when we're wasting time, enjoying sporting times or hitting the big time, Australians have a turn of phrase for every situation. Our love of plain speaking communicates the essence of the thing to our mates, to those in the know - and to those who should know better.Part memoir, part manifesto, this warm, witty, poignant and laugh-out-loud funny collection will have you thinking about what you say, how you say it and what that really says about us as a nation. Praise for the writing of William McInnes'Warm and engaging . . . feels a little bit like home' Daily Telegraph'If there is a quintessence of Australia at its best, William McInnes has distilled it' The Age'Warm, nostalgic, funny and undeniably Australian' Sydney Morning HeraldWho I Am: My Story THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
By Melanie C. 2022
For the first time ever, Melanie C, aka Sporty Spice, tells her amazing life story in her own words and…
gives a full and honest account of what life was really like in The Spice Girls. THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER ___________'What a woman and what a book!' Elizabeth Day'Fabulous ... There is so much I really relate to, growing up as a young girl, the 90s, all the stuff you went through.' Zoe Ball'Amazing ... Absolutely brilliant.' Chris Evans'Sporty Spice telling it like it is.' Independent'An amazing story ... An incredibly profound, vulnerable and honest look into the highs and lows of the Spice Girls.' Steven Bartlett'Really lovely.' Chris Moyles ___________For the first time ever, Melanie C, aka Sporty Spice, tells her amazing life story in her own words and gives a full and honest account of what life was really like in The Spice Girls.I never told my story before because I wasn't ready. Now, finally, I am.25 years ago, The Spice Girls, a girlband that began after answering an advert in the paper, released our first single. 'Wannabe' became a hit and from that moment, my life changed for ever.I was suddenly part of one of the biggest music groups in history, releasing hit after hit, performing to our wonderful fans and spreading the message of Girl Power to the world. It was everything I'd dreamed of growing up, and I've had some incredible times... The BRITs! The movie! Travelling the world playing iconic venues like Madison Square Garden, The O2, Wembley Stadium and The London 2012 Olympics!!!When you're a woman, though, that power can be easily taken away by those around you, whether by pressure, exhaustion, shaming, bullying or a constant feeling like you aren't enough. I have been known as Sporty Spice, Mel C, Melanie C or just plain old Melanie Chisholm, but what you will read within the pages of this book is who I truly am, and how I found peace with that after all these years.I have really enjoyed reminiscing and getting everything down on the page, and, though revisiting some of my darkest times was hard, I hope this book can be inspiring and empowering as well as entertaining and give you a bit of a laugh.