Selvbiografier

From prolific metal guitarist and songwriter for Exodus (and formerly Slayer) Gary Holt comes an entertaining and deeply personal memoir of Holt's "destruction-laden" life, along with a firsthand account of the genesis of the Thrash Metal scene, from its origins in the Bay Area to its world dominationSince exploding out of the Bay Area heavy metal scene in the 1980s, thrash metal has made its way to every corner of the globe, conquering worldwide charts with every passing year. As the guitarist and primary songwriter of Exodus, and as an originator of the subgenre and one of its fiercest proponents, Gary Holt watched as his peers-Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax-soared to superstardom. As his fellow artists amassed millions of fans and record sales, Exodus' albums received critical recognition and inspired generations of listeners but struggled to reach the same heights of success, as the band was plagued by years of bad management, bad luck, and bad decision-making. In A FABULOUS DISASTER, Holt shares a deeply personal account of what it was like to "live fast, play fast, and crash hard" as thrash metal dominated the globe. Holt's "destruction-laden farce" follows our narrator through the highest of highs and lowest of lows as he and his bandmates juggle major label contracts, MTV-sponsored tours and festivals, growing addictions to alcohol and meth, and the loss of key founding members. In the throes of addiction, Holt's own fall from grace is swift; one year, he's playing on the MTV Headbanger's Ball Tour with Anthrax and Helloween, and the next, he's struggling to find minimum wage jobs as he battles drugs, divorce, and the dissolution of his creative prospects. Ultimately, after the tragic death of one of his closest friends and former bandmates-Holt decides that enough is enough and realizes the only one who can save him is himself. Newly sober and determined to resurrect his career, he commits himself to Exodus, pushing the band to new heights. He then joins Slayer, one of metal's biggest bands, and plays massive venues around the world, including Madison Square Garden. After Slayer's unexpected retirement, Holt devotes his attention full-time to Exodus once again, recording and playing with more passion than ever before.An "unadulterated odyssey through decades of insanity," punctuated by Holt's unique insight and knack for storytelling, A FABULOUS DISASTER is a thrill ride from start to finish. His story proves that redemption-even from the pits of rock 'n' roll excess-is always possible.

The unlikely story of an activist Greek Orthodox bishop in Chicago who helped abolish the death penalty in Illinois and whose ministry to HIV/AIDS patients helped changed religious perceptions of the LGBTQ+ community.

The first memoir from Geoff Dyer, author of Yoga for People Who Can't Be Bothered to Do It, recollecting his childhood and coming of age in postwar Britain

In this beautifully illustrated, independent publication, music writer andjournalist Pete Chrisp explores how Paul Simon - despite his on-off relationship with ArtGarfunkel and his often tempestuous private life - has, after all these years, maintained world recognition as one of the greatestsinger-songwriters of all time.

A timely, magisterial new history of Churchill's life and politics, focusing on his dealings with Russia and the Soviet Union.

I have a very severe disability: I use a wheelchair full-time, have very limited use of my hands, and some people find it difficult to understand me when I speak.This book is about how I achieved my PhD, the highest qualification a person can earn. My research took place at a special school, where I formed advocacy sessions with the young people there. In these sessions, we discussed their hopes and plans for life after school. I also shared my own experience transitioning from special education to mainstream schooling, as many of them had disabilities similar to mine.One of the main challenges in my research was the way I gathered data. Traditional one-on-one interviews were impossible because I relied on my personal assistant to interpret my speech, while each young person often required their own interpreter. As a result, we had to explore alternative methods for collecting information.Because I am unable to use pen and paper, observations were also challenging. My personal assistant took notes for me while we were at the school, and I would type them up on my computer when I got home.

In this journey, Gabriel Bekö guides you through the first four decades of his life with the purpose to examine the elements that have most likely shaped him and his understanding of the world and himself in it. It is, in a way, a description of his path towards the views described in his earlier book Reflections on the World of Human Inspirations: In Search of Authenticity. It is an expedition to realizations and convictions, values and principles, personality and spirit through history, personal encounters, cultures, globetrotting, and academia. Gabriel Bekö tells his personal story of inspirations to help you find your own. And perhaps to be part of it.

A simple, human solution for loneliness and depression When Dr. Dixon Chibanda lost a patient to suicide, he began a soul-searching journey that eventually led to a mental healthcare revolution. As one of only six psychiatrists in all of Zimbabwe, a country traumatized by decades of conflict, Chibanda quickly realized that millions there were suffering from mental illness with no hope of receiving care. He saw that the only way to narrow this care gap was to leverage existing resources in the community, and one such resource was the compassion and understanding of grandmothers. With fourteen of these wise elders as partners, Chibanda pioneered the Friendship Bench program, a community-driven initiative addressing loneliness, depression, substance abuse, and suicide by fostering intergenerational connectedness. Since then, more than 500,000 people worldwide have sat on a park bench to share their personal stories with an empathetic grandmother. A primer on how human connection forms the bedrock of our resilience, The Friendship Bench gives readers the tools to facilitate transformative healing by reaching out to those who are struggling and isolated from the world around them. It’s a case study of how interventions supported by robust scientific evidence can be made accessible for all. Ultimately, it’s a celebration of the collective wisdom and knowledge of those rooted in their communities and their profound ability to foster belonging, purpose, and healing.

David II (1329-1371), son of the hero King of Scots, Robert Bruce (1306-1329), has suffered a harsh historical press, condemned as a disastrous general, a womaniser and a sympathiser with Scotland's 'auld enemy', England. Bringing together evidence from Scotland, England and France, Michael Penman offers a different view.

Margaret Thatcher is a British icon. There is no denying her place in history as Britain's greatest peacetime Prime Minister. The reaction to her death confirms that twenty-three years after leaving office she still bestrides the political scene, both in Britain and around the world, like a colossus. Margaret Thatcher was elected to Parliament in 1959. Twenty years later she became Britain's first woman Prime Minister. She achieved two further landslide election victories, making her the longest-serving British Prime Minister since Lord Liverpool. She resigned in November 1990 after eleven-and-a-half years at the pinnacle of British politics. Memories of Margaret Thatcher brings together over 200 personal reminiscences and anecdotes from those who - whether political friends or opponents, observing her from the press gallery or toiling to keep her flame alight in the constituencies - experienced close encounters with the Iron Lady. They include, among others, Ronald Reagan, Helmut Kohl, Norman Tebbit, Cecil Parkinson, Matthew Parris, Michael Howard, Paddy Ashdown, Adam Boulton, Lord Ashcroft, Sebastian Coe, Boris Johnson, Ann Widdecombe, William Hague, Sir Bernard Ingham, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Esther Rantzen, Dame Ann Leslie, David Davis, Liam Fox and many more. Amusing, revealing, sympathetic and occasionally antagonistic, these observations combine to give a unique portrait of the political and personal life of a remarkable woman. They show the deeply private and compassionate nature of a woman who will forever be known as the Iron Lady.

The End of An Era charts the ups and numerous downs of the last twenty yearsof British politics from the closest quarters.

One of the most surprising footballstories you will ever read: the life of George Robledo, the forgotten foreigngenius of English football.

The extraordinary, little-known life of Richard, the manwho succeeded Cromwell and survived the Restoration.

The inside story of award-winning, popular entertainer and actor who discovered that the keys to success in the entertainment industry are a strong work ethic, a willingness to reinvent, refusing to quite, and a drive to survive.Joe Piscopo has made both live and living room audiences laugh for five decades, winning the acclaim and affection of millions of fans. Often recognized as one of the actors who replaced the original cast on Saturday Night Live, he helped rescue the show from cancellation. In Average Joe, Piscopo shares behind-the-scenes stories from an impressive, multi-faceted career. As a new entertainer, he performed stand-up and hosted at the famous Improv in New York City, where he got to know comics who were just starting out, including Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, and Gilbert Gottfried. On SNL, he often paired with newcomer Eddie Murphy, writing and performing now classic skits. He saw himself as the utility guy, the one who could jump in, get something done, and get a laugh. His often uncanny impersonations ranged from President Ronald Reagan to Joan Rivers to his hero Frank Sinatra—all of whom he met in person. Beyond SNL, his career spans from car and beer commercials to roles in major movies. A self-proclaimed Dork Dad, Joe found that celebrity can sidetrack a person from the pursuit of what’s really important in life. After focusing on fitness for his own health, he was featured on the cover of body-building magazines, which had a notable impact on his career. Today, Joe is still a hardworking entertainer, hosting his own radio show, The Joe Piscopo Show, and performing comedy, song, and dance live across the US and Canada. Joe sums it all up with: “I’m part of the blue-collar of show business, baby.”