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Showing 41 - 60 of 678 items
By Percy Leed. 2023
By Walter Isaacson. 2023
From the author of Steve Jobs and other bestselling biographies, this is the astonishingly intimate story of the most fascinating…
and controversial innovator of our era—a rule-breaking visionary who helped to lead the world into the era of electric vehicles, private space exploration, and artificial intelligence. Oh, and took over Twitter. When Elon Musk was a kid in South Africa, he was regularly beaten by bullies. One day a group pushed him down some concrete steps and kicked him until his face was a swollen ball of flesh. He was in the hospital for a week. But the physical scars were minor compared to the emotional ones inflicted by his father, an engineer, rogue, and charismatic fantasist. His father's impact on his psyche would linger. He developed into a tough yet vulnerable man-child, prone to abrupt Jekyll-and-Hyde mood swings, with an exceedingly high tolerance for risk, a craving for drama, an epic sense of mission, and a maniacal intensity that was callous and at times destructive. At the beginning of 2022—after a year marked by SpaceX launching thirty-one rockets into orbit, Tesla selling a million cars, and him becoming the richest man on earth—Musk spoke ruefully about his compulsion to stir up dramas. "I need to shift my mindset away from being in crisis mode, which it has been for about fourteen years now, or arguably most of my life," he said. It was a wistful comment, not a New Year's resolution. Even as he said it, he was secretly buying up shares of Twitter, the world's ultimate playground. Over the years, whenever he was in a dark place, his mind went back to being bullied on the playground. Now he had the chance to own the playground. For two years, Isaacson shadowed Musk, attended his meetings, walked his factories with him, and spent hours interviewing him, his family, friends, coworkers, and adversaries. The result is the revealing inside story, filled with amazing tales of triumphs and turmoil, that addresses the question: are the demons that drive Musk also what it takes to drive innovation and progress?By Billy Busch. 2023
The story of the iconic Anheuser-Busch dynasty, written—for the first time—by a Busch heir. As an heir to the Anheuser-Busch…
company and fortune, Billy Busch was raised on the real stories of how his family built one of America's oldest and most iconic brands. Since the company was formed almost 150 years ago, the Busch family, their beer, the famous Clydesdales in their advertising, and even their style of business have become a symbol of the American dream—that not-so-outdated belief that hard work, grit, and a positive can-do attitude make anything possible. Growing up on the family's ancestral estate as a prince to the King of Beers, Billy lived a life only kids could dream up—living in an amusement park, traveling by private rail car and yacht, and playing with his pet elephant, Tessie. But as he grew up, he realized that the Busch family legacy was not just wealth and privilege. With no separation between family and business, Billy's father—more boss than dad—continued the tradition of preparing the next generation for corporate leadership, with high and exacting standards for his children. For Billy, all of this, combined with a dysfunctional family environment, was all too normal. Family Reins tells the story of a legendary American family, their rise to power, and their fall from grace through poisonous infighting, succession struggles, and a seemingly endless string of tragedies, scandals, and lossBy Julie K Brown, Julie K. Brown. 2021
Dauntless journalist Julie K. Brown recounts her uncompromising and risky investigation of Jeffrey Epstein's underage sex trafficking operation, and the…
explosive reporting for the Miami Herald that finally brought him to justice while exposing the powerful people and broken system that protected him. Adult. Descriptions of sex. Strong languageBy Culture Smart. 2023
This collection of Culture Smart guidebooks introduces listeners to China, Japan, and India. Each guidebook includes concise chapters on the…
local customs, traditions, and values of the country's inhabitants and, crucially, the key historical and cultural events that have shaped them. There are sections on social and business etiquette, tips on communication, both verbal and non-verbal, and advice on how to be a good guest. The guidebook on China is written by Indre Balcikonyte-Huang and Kathy Flower. The guidebook on Japan is written by Paul Norbury. The guidebook on India is written by Becky StephenBy William Joseph Convery, William J. Convery. 2000
In the first years of the twentieth century, his business acumen and philanthropy put John Kernan Mullen among Colorado's first…
citizens. His name has survived the first years of the twenty-first century mainly because one of Denver's only Roman Catholic high schools still bears his name. With this volume, the author attempts to rescue Mullen from the forgotten annals of history and contextually illustrate his lifeBy Marc Tyler Nobleman, Melissa Iwai. 2018
The devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in 1941, drew the United States into World War II. Few know…
that several months later, Japanese pilot Nobuo Fujita dropped bombs on the mainland, outside a small town in Oregon. But the bombings were only the beginning of Fujita's story. Twenty years later, he returned to Oregon, this time to apologize. This true tale is a dramatic and moving account of reconciliation after war. For grades 2-4By Jennifer Bradbury, Sam Boughton. 2021
By Catherine Thimmesh. 2018
An award-winning author details the groundbreaking panda conservation efforts in China, including scientists dressing up in panda costumes. This innovative,…
out-of-the-box thinking proves that while humans may be the cause of this dire situation, we may also be part of the solution. For grades 5-8. 2018By Frank Partnoy. 2009
Former investment banker profiles Swedish immigrant Ivar Kreuger, who made a fortune by raising money in America and lending it…
to companies in Europe in exchange for matchstick monopolies. Partnoy examines the revelations of Kreuger's business practices after his suicide in 1932 and their continuing impact into the twenty-first century. 2009By Roy Ratnavel. 2023
An incredible immigrant story from a prominent Canadian Tamil who fled torture and imprisonment, arrived in Canada with $50 in…
his pocket, then rose from the mailroom to the executive suite of the country’s largest independent asset management company. Roy Ratnavel’s astonishing journey began at age seventeen, when he was seized by government soldiers and interned in a notorious prison camp for no reason other than being born a Tamil. He saw friends die, and was tortured for a few months—until an unlikely encounter allowed him to send a message beyond the prison walls, which led to his release. Seeing nothing but more danger in his son’s future, Ratnavel’s father sought refuge for his son in Canada, far from the ethnic violence that was consuming Sri Lanka. When the consular immigration officer asked for proof that the boy’s life was at risk in his homeland, Ratnavel simply lifted his shirt to show the man his unhealed scars. It wasn’t long before he was on a plane. His father was shot and killed three days later. To repay the debt he owed to his hero of a father, Ratnavel was determined to find the bright future that had been envisioned for him. He went to night school, worked three jobs at a time, and lived in a tiny space with seven housemates. Ratnavel persevered, and he hustled. He accepted no charity, even from relatives, but he made the most of the opportunities set in his path, the mentorship offered by those Canadians who recognized his potential, and by his new homeland, a country shaped by openness, tolerance, and a commitment to merit. Prisoner #1056 is not only a moving immigrant success story and a searing account of surviving unimaginable injustice and trauma—it is an urgent warning that the dark forces of populism that tore apart the once-prosperous island of Sri Lanka can do their ugly work in Western societies too. Passionate, raw, thoughtful, and far-seeing, Prisoner #1056 makes the case that our destiny is in our own handsBy Thomas D'Aquino. 2023
A remarkable memoir by the man at the apex of Canadian power for over fifty years, Private Power, Public Purpose…
is the ultimate insider's history in the worlds of politics, business, and philanthropy.Private Power, Public Purpose is an ambitious and sweeping first-hand account of the past 50 years of Canadian economic history, told from the front lines…. A highly rewarding read.Stephen Poloz, former Governor of the Bank of Canada and author of The Next Age of UncertaintyIn this monumental memoir, Thomas d’Aquino offers personal insights on four decades of bold leadership at the apex of power. A transforming force in redefining the role of business and the shaping of responsible capitalism, Canada’s private sector leader in advancing the free trade agreement with the United States, valiant defender of national unity, and passionate environmentalist, he has been at the centre of every major policy debate that has influenced contemporary Canada.Referred to by his peers as "Canada’s leading business ambassador," Private Power, Public Purpose chronicles exploits on five continents and describes how he has championed Canada’s place as an economic player on the world stage. His insights on leadership are timeless, honed from relationships with six Canadian prime ministers, over 1000 chief executives, and dozens of global leaders. Beyond business and public policy, Thomas d’Aquino’s fascinating adventures in the world of voluntarism, the arts, and philanthropy reveal a great deal about the soul of this remarkable Canadian.By Peter Matthiessen. 1978
Account of a journey that began in September, 1973, when the novelist-explorer set out with field biologist George Schaller to…
the Crystal Mountain across the Himalayas on the Tibetan plateau. Schaller wished to observe the rutting of the blue sheep, and Matthiessen, a student of Zen Buddhism, hoped to find the Lama of Shey. 1979By Richard Sebra. 2017
Do you like holidays? Learn all about how and why people celebrate different holidays. Carefully leveled text and fresh, vibrant…
photos engage young readers in learning about the traditions and celebrations of Chinese New Year. Age-appropriate critical thinking questions and a photo glossary help build nonfiction learning skillsBy Mary Pilon. 2018
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Monopolists, the incredible story of Olympic sailor Kevin Hall, and the…
psychiatric syndrome that makes him believe he stars in a television show of his life. Meet Kevin Hall, brother, son, husband, father, and Olympic and America's Cup sailor. Kevin has an Ivy League degree, a winning smile, and throughout his adult life, he has been engaged in an ongoing battle with a person that doesn't exist to anyone but him: the Director. Kevin suffers from what doctors are beginning to call the "Truman Show" delusion, a form of psychosis named for the 1998 movie, where the main character is trapped as the star of a reality TV show. When the Director commands Kevin to do things, the results can lead to handcuffs, hospitalization, or both. Once he nearly drove a car into Boston Harbor. His girlfriend, now wife, was in the passenger seat. In the tradition of Kay Redfield Jamison's An Unquiet Mind, journalist Mary Pilon's The Kevin Show reveals the many-sided struggle by Kevin, his family, and the medical profession to understand and treat a psychiatric disorder whose euphoric highs and creative ties to pop culture have become inextricable from Kevin's experience of himself. Interweaving his perspective, journals, and sketches with police reports, medical records, and interviews with those who were present at key moments in his life, The Kevin Show is a bracing, suspenseful, and eye-opening view of the role that mental health plays in a seemingly ordinary lifeBy Nico Medina. 2018
Named Temujin at birth by his nomadic family in early Mongolia, the great Genghis Khan used his skill and cunning…
to create the Mongol Empire and conquer almost the entire continent of Asia. As ruler of the largest empire in human history, he was as respected as he was feared. Learn more about the man and the legend in Who Was Genghis Khan?By Gregory Copeland, Who Hq, Jody Jensen Shaffer, Who Hq. 2020
When Kong-sang (now known as Jackie Chan) was a young boy in Hong Kong, he enjoyed practicing martial arts with…
his dad but hated going to school. He was eventually enrolled in the China Drama Academy, where he improved his martial arts skills and became a stuntman. That training led to a successful career as an actor. For grades 4-7By Don E. Carleton, Don E Carleton. 1998
J.R. Parten (1896-1992) was born in small town East Texas, studied at the University of Texas from 1913-1917, served in…
World War I as the youngest major in the field artillery, and entered the oil business in 1919 where he became a pioneer of the industry. A lifelong Democrat of moderately liberal cast, Parten was a player in state and national politics, often crusading on the liberal and losing side of elections and issues. As a generous philanthropist and political activist--often behind the scenes--Parten supported world peace and opposed nuclear weapons and the Vietnam warBy Kayla Harren, Sophia Gholz, Sophia M Gholz. 2019
The true story of "the forest man of India." Learn how young Jadav started with some bamboo plants and just…
kept growing. Includes tips for growing your own forest. For grades K-3By Christina Soontornvat. 2020
The author chronicles the events of June 23, 2018, when twelve young soccer players and their coach were trapped for…
days in a flooded cave in northern Thailand. Includes firsthand interviews of rescue workers, details the science and technology used to get deep underground, and the challenges everyone faced. For grades 4-7. 2020