"Baruch (Benedictus) Spinoza (1632-1677) was a radical freethinker who led a life guided by strong moral principles despite his disbelief in an all-seeing god. Seen by many--Christians as well as Jews--as Satan's disciple during his lifetime, Spinoza has been regarded as a secular saint since his death. Many contradictory beliefs have been attached to his name : rationalism or metaphysics, atheism or pantheism, liberalism or despotism, Jewishness...

In this personal story of resilience and adaptation, a renowned wildlife ecologist, exploring the ever-shifting relationship between humans, animals and the earth, while carving a niche for herself as one of very few Black scientists, argues for a more connected, more socially and ecologically conscious world.

"From the author of the definitive biography of Frank Sinatra, the story of how jazz arrived at the pinnacle of American culture in 1959, told through the journey of three towering artists-Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Bill Evans-who came together to create the most famous and bestselling jazz album of all time, Kind of Blue The myth of the 60s depends on the 1950s being the before times of conformity, segregation, straightness-The Lonely Crowd...

"A remarkably poignant writer for our troubled times, Patti Davis writes about love, loss, and the power of redemption in this poetic letter to her long-gone parents"--

"Michelangelo created some of the world's most recognizable art, from the statue of David to the intricate ceiling fresco of the Sistine Chapel. Beyond his well-known painting and sculpting, he was a gifted poet and architect. Young readers can learn about the entirety of Michelangelo's life, from his time as a young apprentice, and his relationships with several Catholic popes and the Medici family, to his unwillingness to stop working into his late...

In 1947, black baseball player Jackie Robinson broke through Major League Baseball's color barrier when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie Robinson Breaks Barriers examines this historic event from multiple perspectives, including those of Robinson himself, his wife, Rachel, and broadcaster Red Barber. Easy-to-read text, vivid images, and helpful back matter give readers a clear look at this subject. Features include a table of contents, infographics,...

From actor (Lost, Vampire Diaries, and more) to environmental activist, Ian Somherhalder is someone who cares deeply about the craft of acting and the stewardship of the planet. Read the life story of the young actor who works to restore the gulf after the devastating effects of the BP disaster while balancing the demands of Hollywood stardom.

"In 1957, when a young Midwestern woman landed a job at The New Yorker, she didn't expect to stay long at the reception desk. But stay she did, and for twenty-one years she had the best seat in the house. In addition to taking messages, she ran interference for jealous wives checking on adulterous husbands, drank with famous writers at famous watering holes throughout bohemian Greenwich Village, and was seduced, two-timed, and proposed to by a few...

"Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi-known to the world as an icon for democracy and nonviolent dissent in oppressed Burma, and to her followers as simply The Lady-has recently returned to international headlines. Now, this major new biography offers essential reading at a moment when Burma, after decades of stagnation, is once again in flux. Suu Kyi's remarkable life begins with that of her father, Aung San. The architect of Burma's independence,...

Life in Transit is the long-awaited sequel to Shimon Redlich’s widely acclaimed Together and Apart in Brzezany, in which he discussed his childhood during the War and the Holocaust. Life in Transit tells the story of his adolescence in the city of Lodz in postwar Poland. Redlich’s personal memories are placed within the wider historical context of Jewish life in Poland and in Lodz during the immediate postwar years. Lodz in the years 1945-1950...