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Biography and Memoir June 2019
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| All That You Leave Behind by Erin Lee Carr
What it's About An acclaimed documentary filmmaker comes to terms with her larger-than-life father, the late New York Times journalist David Carr, in this fierce memoir of love, addiction, and family. |
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All the Way : My Life in Four Quarters by Joe Namath
What it's About Namath was heralded as a gridiron god, while his rugged good looks, progressive views on race, and boyish charm quickly transformed him - in an era of raucous rebellion, shifting social norms, and political upheaval - into both a bona fide celebrity and a symbol of the commercialization of pro sports. By 26, with a championship title under his belt, he was quite simply the most famous athlete alive. Although his legacy has long been cemented in the history books, beneath the eccentric yet charismatic personality was a player plagued by injury and addiction, both sex and substance. When failing knees permanently derailed his career, he turned to Hollywood and endorsements, not to mention a tumultuous marriage and fleeting bouts of sobriety, to try and find purpose. Now 74, Namath is ready to open up, brilliantly using the four quarters of Super Bowl III as the narrative backbone to a life that was anything but charmed.
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| Becoming Dr. Seuss: Theodor Geisel and the Making of an American Imagination by Brian Jay Jones
What it's About Dr. Seuss is a classic American icon. His work has defined our childhoods and the childhoods of our own children. His whimsical illustrations and silly, simple rhymes are timeless favorites because, quite simply, he makes us laugh. Theodor Geisel, however, led a life that goes much deeper than the prolific and beloved children's book author. In fact, the allure and fascination of Dr. Seuss begins with this second, more radical side. He had a successful career as a political cartoonist, and his political leanings can be felt throughout his books--remember the environmentalist of The Lorax? Geisel was a complicated man, who introduced generations to the wonders of reading while teaching young people about empathy and how to treat others well. |
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Sea Stories : My Life in Special Operations by William H. McRaven
What it's About The #1 New York Times best-selling author of Make Your Bed tells amazing stories of bravery and heroism from his career as a Navy SEAL and commander of America's Special Forces. Simultaneous
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Where the light enters : building a family, discovering myself by Jill Biden
What it's About The former Second Lady describes her marriage to Joe Biden and the role of politics in her life and teaching career, sharing intimate insights into the traditions, resilience and love that have helped her family establish balance and endure tragedy.
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| The Incredible True Story of Blondy Baruti: My Unlikely Journey from the Congo to Hollywood by Blondy Baruti with Joe LaydenWhat it is: an inspiring chronicle of author Blondy Baruti's life, from his impoverished childhood in the Democratic Republic of Congo to his success as a college basketball player and actor.
Author alert: Baruti made his film debut as villain Huhtar in 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2.
Why you might like it: Short chapters and a friendly, conversational tone make this a quick and uplifting read. |
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| Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon's Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the... by James R. Doty, MDWhat it's about: how James Doty survived a childhood of abuse to become a revered neurosurgeon and the director of Stanford University's Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE).
Featuring: well-researched mindfulness and visualization techniques.
Is it for you? Squeamish readers may want to steer clear of Doty's graphic descriptions of brain surgery. |
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| Butterfly: From Refugee to Olympian, My Story of Rescue, Hope, and Triumph by Yusra MardiniWhat it is: a moving account of swimmer Yusra Mardini's flight from war-torn Syria in 2015 and her subsequent asylum in Germany.
About the author: At age 18, Mardini was a member of the Refugee Olympic Athletes Team at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Reviewers say: "A rousing, exciting true story of remarkable resilience" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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| Empress of the East: How a European Slave Girl Became Queen of the Ottoman Empire by Leslie PeirceStarring: Ruthenian slave Roxelana, the concubine-turned-wife of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, who became one of her husband's most influential political advisers thanks to her shrewd knack for philanthropy and diplomacy.
Why you might like it: Empress of the East traces Roxelana's rise to power with evocative descriptions of 16th-century Turkish culture, customs, and politics. |
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| A Curious Man: The Strange & Brilliant Life of Robert "Believe It or Not!" Ripley by Neal ThompsonWho it's about: eccentric playboy and cartoonist Robert Ripley, who parlayed his curiosity for all things weird into the successful multimedia empire "Believe It or Not!"
What's inside: chapter breaks interspersed with fun "Believe It!" facts.
Did you know? In his lifetime Ripley visited 150 countries, amassing oddities such as torture devices from around the world. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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