Selvbiografier

Kenneth Turan brings to life the extraordinary partnership of Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg and their role in creating the film industry as we know it

A revealing biography of Anne Frank, exploring both her life and the impact of her extraordinary diary

A personal and cultural exploration of the struggles between art and business at the heart of modern Hollywood, through the eyes of the talent that shaped itMatthew Specktor grew up in the film industry: the son of legendary CAA superagent Fred Specktor, his childhood was one where Beau Bridges came over for dinner, Martin Sheen's daughter was his close friend, and Marlon Brando left long messages on the family answering machine. He would eventually spend time working in Hollywood himself, first as a reluctant studio executive and later as a screenwriter.Now, with The Golden Hour, Specktor blends memoir, cultural criticism, and narrative history to tell the story of the modern motion picture industry--illuminating the conflict between art and business that has played out over the last seventy-five years in Hollywood. Braiding his own story with that of his father, mother (a talented screenwriter whose career was cut short), and figures ranging from Jack Nicholson to CAA's Michael Ovitz, Specktor reveals how Hollywood became a laboratory for the eternal struggle between art, labor, and capital.Beginning with the rise of Music Corporation of America in the 1950s, The Golden Hour lays out a series of clashes between fathers and sons, talent agents and studio heads, artists, activists, unions, and corporations. With vivid prose and immersive scenes, Specktor shows how Hollywood grew from the epicenter of American cultural life to a full-fledged multinational concern--and what this shift has meant for the nation's place in the world. At once a book about the movie business and an intimate family drama, The Golden Hour is a sweeping portrait of the American Century.

The most capped All Black in history speaks for the record about his storied career, spanning four World Cups, nine Super Rugby finals and 153 appearances in the black jersey. 'A modern-day Colin Meads' - Steve Hansen'The ultimate winner' - Scott Robertson'A legend of the game' - Richie McCawAfter making his debut for New Zealand in 2010 at the age of 21, Samuel Whitelock was selected for the 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign. He played in all seven matches and emerged victorious with the nation's first trophy since 1987. Four years later he played in all seven matches of the 2015 tournament, becoming one of an elite group of players to win back-to-back World Cups. Whitelock was instrumental in the most successful period of All Blacks rugby in the modern era, and in his retirement year he topped off his domestic career with a performance for the ages, and a record run of championships for the Crusaders. In this autobiography, Whitelock speaks in his own words about physical and mental toughness, leadership and coaching, friends and foes on the footy field, tradition, darkening the jersey and how family and farming provided the bedrock for global success. View from the Second Row is an inspiring story and a journey like no other, and the epitome of what makes New Zealand rugby special.

When you've been told over and over that you belong at the bottom, how do you come out on top? Dance Moms star and triple threat Nia Sioux shows the way via her story of resilience, triumph, and defining success for herself.

In Elsewhere, author and photographer Katherine Oktober Matthews examines her compulsion to travel-a fundamental need to be moving. She lays bare her existential journey as a mixed-format essay and journal written on the road, made even more personal through her contemplative photos, quietly coursing with an underlying conflict. Flitting between cities and blinking back and forth through time, Elsewhere pulsates with a nebulous sense of home and the deep wish to belong. In this innovative personal essay of words and photos, raw and insightful of a time and a generation, Matthews traces the widening recognition that the one thing a wanderer takes with her everywhere is herself.

Nick Kaldas is a cop's cop. From Egypt to Marrickville, from investigating war criminals to taking down global drug operations, Kaldas has seen the worst humanity can offer. But he's also seen what human qualities can lead to greatness. This the compelling true story of an immigrant boy from Egypt who rose from beat cop to be one of the most senior police in Australia. During his time in the NSW police force, he was one of Australia's first Arab undercover cops, headed up both the Homicide and Gang Squad units, reformed the Counter Terrorism team and then became the Deputy Police Commissioner. But he has also faced down some of the toughest, most brutal criminal organisations in the world. In the Middle East, he was hand-picked by the United Nations to investigate the assassination of Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri; investigate the illegal use of chemical weapons in Syria; and was a director of UNRWA, the UN agency tasked with assisting Palestinian refugees. Whether he is negotiating a hostage situation or gaining the trust of the Syrian secret police, Kaldas has learned a thing or two about resilience, courage and fortitude. In this memoir, Kaldas describes the most challenging cases that have shaped him; shares his key principles of what makes a great leader; and reveals what it takes to stand up for what's right in the face of insurmountable opposition.

The unique biography of an individual playing various pioneering roles in civil engineering, in the late nineteenth century, but with a social conscience. A long and eventful career which embraced everything from lighthouse design and construction in Japan to theatre architecture and ornamentation in Ireland.

In an intensely revealing memoir written for his Canadian daughter, a man breaks a lifetime of silence about the traumas of his childhood in war-torn Vietnam and his years as a refugee in revolutionary Iran.Spanning decades and generations, this heartfelt memoir began over ten years ago as a series of letters from a worried father to his daughter. Anh Duong had witnessed countless menacing and terrible things as a child during the Vietnam War, and later as a refugee in Iran during the revolution of the late 1970s. But like many in the Vietnamese diaspora, he had remained silent about his experiences for years, believing that trauma was better left unspoken.When his daughter, Ashley Da-Lê Duong, became involved in the 2012 student protests over tuition hikes in Quebec, he felt compelled to speak. For years a deeply reserved and laconic man, he now allowed the floodgates of memory to open as he warned his child of the ways that earnest activism can descend into violence, just as he had seen in his youth in Vietnam and Iran.In precise prose, Dear Da-Lê moves along a taut narrative thread that begins with Duong’s birth in 1953 and ends with his arrival in Canada, frayed and broke, in 1980. With surprising moments of hope and tenderness amid brutal divisions, the author creates a coming-of-age story intertwined with the human costs of war and exile. Its revelations are sure to resonate not only with the generation born to refugees of the Vietnam War, but with anyone seeking to understand the lasting, often hidden torments of violent conflict and the healing that can take place in the act of telling.

Bob McDonald, host of CBC Radio’s Quirks and Quarks, offers a personal and inspiring memoir of life-changing events in his early years through five decades in science journalism. Revered science reporter and radio host Bob McDonald has devoted his career to turning our attention away from everyday perspectives and outward to the vast, intricate wonders of our planet and universe. Now, in this revealing and captivating memoir, he looks within, offering an intimate view of the path that brought him from a blue-collar background to his long-standing role as Canada’s foremost explainer of all things scientific.It’s an engrossing and often jubilant story that allows McDonald to share powerful insights on overcoming fear of failure and tackling life-transforming challenges. Early on, he describes a childhood and youth plagued by difficulties in school that eventually convinced him to drop out of university. Yet, despite the academic obstacles, his love of science burned bright. Soon, through an innate stage sense and sheer enthusiasm, he landed a gig doing high-spirited demonstrations for the public at the Ontario Science Centre, which in turn led to self-produced TV spots.And as each hard-won, never-certain success built on the last, he arrived at the role that would make him a national figure: the witty, engaging, passionately curious host of the perennially popular CBC Radio show Quirks and Quarks, reporting from the frontiers of scientific exploration and rubbing elbows with such luminaries as Chris Hadfield, Buzz Aldrin and Stephen Hawking. Told with all of McDonald’s trademark pace and humour, Just Say Yes is bound to please, surprise and inspire his numerous fans in entirely new ways.

Played Up Pompey Four contains fresh interviews with 23 individuals whose immense contributions left an indelible mark on a truly special football club. The fourth in the Played Up Pompey series, this book explores the Blues careers of those whose outstanding performances established them as household names and heroes among the Fratton faithful.

Haf Thomas of Llanrug is quite a character! She has competed on the Urdd stage, has been an extra on Pobol y Cwm, she has switched the Christmas lights on in Caernarfon - and has raised sixty thousand pounds for various charities. This is the inspiring story of a young lady who will not be overcome by life''s difficulties.

John Ellis Jones (1929-2023) was a classical scholar and archaeologist who dedicated himself to teaching and developing his subject in his beloved Wales. His son, the photographer Rhodri Ellis Jones, has exhibited his works in some of the world''s most renowned galleries, and has lived in Bologna, Italy since 2000. He has created this volume in...

From the acclaimed author of A History of America in Ten Strikes, a sweeping account of the impact of organizers on United States history We are living through a tidal wave of protests and activism in America. These movements sometimes seem to spring from nowhere, but beneath them all is a deeper river of social change work known as organizing. Author of the celebrated A History of American in Ten Strikes (a Kirkus Reviews best book of 2018), Erik Loomis uncovers a rich and revealing history by turning to stories about key organizers throughout America's past. In twenty short biographies, Organizing America shows how one movement has influenced another over time--and how the movement leaders' personal histories influenced them toward changing the world. A chronological story with a vast sweep, Organizing America considers a cross section of social justice activists across time, race, gender, and movement, examining lives as varied as Benjamin Lay, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Eugene V. Debs, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Bob Moses, Saul Alinsky, Yuri Kochiyama, Harvey Milk, Alicia Garza, Bill McKibben, and many more. The result is a history of the United States viewed through some of its most important changemakers. With an introduction that explains what organizing is and how collective action works, Loomis sets a tone that is both practical and historical--providing context and inspiration for anyone seeking to step into the work of social change in America.

The long-lost true story of an American whaler, Robert Armstrong, who embarked on a harrowing adventure in the South Pacific in the mid-nineteenth century in search of absolution and redemption. Armstrong's gripping personal account is bookended by thoroughly researched contextual background compiled by his great-great-grandson, Alexander Brash, shedding further light on a turbulent historical period, his ancestor's religious milieu, and the importance of saving our oceans' wildlife. A fascinating dive into both human morality and America's maritime history.

Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM will be the definitive book about Garland's legendary career at MGM, pulling back the curtain to reveal the truths about that career while also presenting previously unknown details and facts that are sure to delight her fans as well as fans of classic film.

While Gandhi's life and work have continued to fascinate historians, Sarala Devi has not yet been the subject of a comprehensive biography. Critical of writings that tend to sensationalise Gandhi's relationships with women, Forbes' analysis instead brings her into focus as an equal participant.

Illustrated Edition: Includes 20 unique illustrations, each capturing the essence of the chapters.Comprehensive Summary: A detailed summary that encapsulates the spirit and adventure of the journey.Characters List: An informative list of real-life characters encountered by Stevenson in his travels.Author Biography: An insightful biography of Robert Louis Stevenson, providing context to his literary work.Immerse yourself in the captivating world of "The Silverado Squatters," an illustrated edition of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic travel memoir. This unique edition brings to life Stevenson's adventure with 20 stunning illustrations, each artfully depicting key moments from his journey.More than merely a travelogue, "The Silverado Squatters" vividly recounts Stevenson's two months of honeymoon in the deserted mining settlement of Silverado, which is tucked away in the Napa Valley of California. This memoir shows evidence of Stevenson's acute observational abilities, his capacity to find beauty in the untamed outdoors, and his profound respect for the variety of people he meets.In this edition, you'll find not only the complete text of Stevenson's journey but also a comprehensive summary that guides you through the highs and lows of his adventures. Discover the real-life characters who bring color and depth to Stevenson's narrative through an informative characters list.Additionally, delve into the life of the author himself with an insightful biography of Robert Louis Stevenson. Understand the man behind the memoir, his inspirations, and how his travels influenced his later works.Perfect for fans of classic literature, travel enthusiasts, and admirers of Stevenson's work, this illustrated edition of "The Silverado Squatters" is a treasure trove of adventure, reflection, and natural beauty. Embark on this journey with Stevenson and experience the enchanting world of Silverado like never before.

A biography of footballer