Bøger udgivet af St. Martin's Griffin

Mike Kersjes always believed that his students could do anything-even attend the prestigious Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, where some of America's best and brightest high school students compete in a variety of activities similar to those experienced by NASA astronauts training for space shuttle missions. The challenge was convincing everyone else that the kids in his special education class, with disabilities including Tourette's syndrome, Down's syndrome, dyslexia, eating disorders, and a variety of emotional problems, would benefit from the experience and succeed. In A Smile as Big as the Moon, Kersjes explains how, with remarkable persistence, he broke down one barrier after another, from his own principal's office to the inner sanctum of NASA, until Space Camp finally opened its doors. After nine months of rigorous preparation, Kersjes's class arrived at Space Camp, where they turned in a performance beyond everyone's expectations.

Charles Mathes has impressed readers with his inventive series of "Girl" stand-alones in which a different female heroine must uncover a dark secret about her family's past. In this fourth addition to the series, Mathes brings readers Jane Sailor, a young woman who choreographs stage combat for theatrical productions. She is working at a regional repertory company when she gets an ominous phone call urging her to return to New York: something has happened to her father.Jane has been expecting this call for years. Aaron Sailor was a promising painter before he fell down the stairs of their Soho loft. He has been in a coma for the past eight years, and the doctors have made it clear that there is no chance for recovery. This phone call from the nursing home can only mean one thing. But her father is not dead, Jane learns to her surprise. Still unconscious, he has suddenly begun to speak. What he says is as baffling as it is upsetting. "No, Perry, don't do it. No, Perry, no." Were these the last words that Aaron spoke before his head was smashed on the vestibule floor? Could his fall perhaps have not been an accident? And who was Perry? Searching through her father's old papers Jane stumbles across a name she has never heard before. Perry Mannerback turns out to be an eccentric billionaire who spends his time giving away money and collecting rare clocks. Jane goes to work for him, hoping to find some answers, but instead discovers the real question: Will she get out of this alive? From the high stakes world of New York City art galleries to the underbelly of London's antique trade to the puzzling attentions of an international financier, Jane follows the trail of a killer as Charles Mathes takes his readers on another dazzling adventure.

San Francisco magician Emma Passant is puzzled by her grandfather's cryptic will. He writes that she is to "take her place at the helm and turn the wheel on the legacy that I have kept hidden from her". As Emma ponders these elusive words, a friend of hers is fatally shot--by the same gun that was used to kill her grandfather. The mystery begins to come together, however, upon the disappearance of a model boat--the replica of a boat her grandfather had sailed on years before. Emma departs in search of the real vessel, and finds herself in an adventure and into the shocking truth about her family's past.

Though the tragedy of the Trail of Tears is widely recognized today, the pervasive effects of the tribe's uprooting have never been examined in detail. Despite the Cherokees' efforts to assimilate with the dominant white culture-running their own newspaper, ratifying a constitution based on that of the United States-they were never able to integrate fully with white men in the New World.In An American Betrayal, Daniel Blake Smith's vivid prose brings to life a host of memorable characters: the veteran Indian-fighter Andrew Jackson, who adopted a young Indian boy into his home; Chief John Ross, only one-eighth Cherokee, who commanded the loyalty of most Cherokees because of his relentless effort to remain on their native soil; most dramatically, the dissenters in Cherokee country-especially Elias Boudinot and John Ridge, gifted young men who were educated in a New England academy but whose marriages to local white girls erupted in racial epithets, effigy burnings, and the closing of the school.Smith, an award-winning historian, offers an eye-opening view of why neither assimilation nor Cherokee independence could succeed in Jacksonian America.

A one-of-a-kind novel that plunges readers into the secrets of Afro-Cuban Santeria-a world of fascinating beauty, pulsating rhythms, and great mystery.Gabrielle Segovia, Ph.D., is struggling to build a career as a Latina scientist, cope with her third miscarriage, and resuscitate her marriage to fellow biology professor Benito Cruz. Becoming a santera is not in her plans. But everything changes when her best friend, the feisty Patricia Muñoz, drags her into a French Quarter voodoo shop during a conference in New Orleans. When Gabrielle gets home to the San Francisco Bay Area, the predictions from her on-a-whim reading begin to come true. That's when she learns she hails from a long line of practitioners of Santeria, the religion created when Yoruba slaves combined their ancient rituals with Catholicism. Out of desperation to become a mother and save both her job and her marriage, Gabrielle turns to Puerto Rican relatives living in Miami she hasn't seen since she was a child. She finds herself warmly embraced by three generations of Segovia santeras and drawn into their world of séances, sacred drums, and ritual animal sacrifice.Unexpectedly marked for initiation by the gods and goddesses of the Yoruba pantheon, Gabrielle must decide whether she can bring herself to answer the call. And, if she chooses, commit to the seemingly contradictory life of a scientist who is also a santera.In this powerful debut novel, Irete Lazo captures a vibrant world still unknown to many and relates a journey that is at once funny, heart-wrenching, and, ultimately, triumphant.

A PARODY OF THE BELOVED FANTASY DOORSTOP... ER, SAGAIn the land of the Eight (or was it Six?) Kingdoms-where the seasons last as long as a series of bestselling Tolkien-esque novels-trouble is brewing. The mud is growing muddier, the onions are rotting, the Wall to the North (or is it the South?) is melting, and Lord Barker of Summerseve is getting worried. His wife is addicted to Godsweede, his King is too fat to fit into his armor, and the foreshadowing is out of control. All in all, not the position you want to be in when Summer is coming.From this world of outdoor fornication with horse-people (and indoor fornication with blood relatives) comes an epic story of novella proportions. Amid plots and counterplots, power-hungry warriors and overworked ravens, poor reception and no wireless, the future of the Barkers, their BFFs, and their enemies dangles in the balance, as each strives to survive long enough to appear in at least two of the sequels."His teeth might be wooden, but his prose is not."---J.R.R. MadisonGeorge R. R. Washington cannot tell a lie: A Game of Groans was not prepared, authorized, licensed, approved, or endorsed by any person or entity involved in creating or producing any of the Song of Ice and Fire books or the Games of Throne television program. Please direct any inquiries to our legal counsel, Clarence R. R. Darrow.

A quarter of a million dollars. It''s the going tab for four years at most top-tier colleges. Why does it cost so much and is it worth it? In this provocative investigation, the renowned sociologist Andrew Hacker and New York Times writer Claudia Dreifus make an incisive case that the American way of higher educationΓÇönow a $420 billion-per-year businessΓÇöhas lost sight of its primary mission: the education of our young people. They probe the true performance of the Ivy League, the baleful influence of tenure, an unhealthy reliance on part-time teachers, and supersized bureaucracies which now have lives of their own. Hacker and Dreifus take readers from Princeton and Harvard to Evergreen State, revealing those institutions that need to adjust their priorities and others that are getting it right, proving that learning can be achievedΓÇöand at a much more reasonable price. Higher Education? is a wake-up call and a call to arms.

Whenever a plane goes down in the U.S., a "Go Team" made up of experts is assembled by the NTSB to investigate. Those people - each of them a leading expert in a specific area - are known as informally as "Crashers."When a passenger plane, a Vermeer One Eleven, slams into the ground outside Portland, Oregon, a team is quickly assembled to investigate the cause. Under the leadership of the IIC (Investigator in Charge), Leonard "Tommy" Tomzak, the team gets to work as fast as possible. But this time it's different. This time, the plane was brought down deliberately, without leaving a trace, and this was only a trial run.In LA, Daria Gibron - a former Shin Bet agent, now under the protection of the FBI- spots a group of suspicious-looking men. Missing her former life of action, she attaches herself to them only to learn that, somehow, they were responsible for the plane crash and are preparing for another action. While her FBI handler tries to find her and save her, Daria risks her life to try to get close enough to learn what's going on and thwart the coming terrorist action. But time is running out and her cover story is running thin.Dana Haynes' novel Crashers is a fresh and utterly compelling thriller, an original mix of action, investigation and a brilliant cast of characters that grabs the reader in the way few novels can and fewer do.

Wake up your mind with KenKen!This collection of easy to challenging KenKen puzzles is perfect for solvers looking to caffeinate their minds and jump-start their day.Includes:- 100 easy to challenging KenKen puzzles- Puzzles that range in size from easy 4x4 grids to challenging 9x9 grids- Introduction and solving instructions by puzzlemaster Will Shortz

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Crusie comes Faking It, a deliciously sassy novel of intrigue, seduction, blackmail, art forgery, split personalities, and really great sex.Meet the Goodnights, a respectable family who run a respectable art gallery-and have for generations. There's Gwen, the matriarch, who likes to escape reality; Eve, the oldest daughter, who has a slight identity problem (she has two); Nadine, the granddaughter, who's ready to follow in the family footsteps as soon as she can find a set that isn't leading off a cliff. And last, Matilda, the youngest daughter, who has inherited the secret locked down in the basement of the Goodnight Gallery, a secret she's willing to do almost anything to keep, even break into a house in the dead of night to steal back her past. Meet the Dempseys, or at least meet Davy, a reformed con man who's just been ripped off for a cool three million by his financial manager, who then gallantly turned it over to Clea Lewis, the most beautiful sociopath Davy ever slept with. Davy wants the money back, but more than that, he'll do anything to keep Clea from winning, including break into her house in the dead of night to steal back his future. One collision in a closet later, Tilda and Davy reluctantly join forces to combat Clea, suspicious art collectors, a disgruntled heir, and an exasperated hit man, all the while coping with a mutant dachshund, a jukebox stuck in the sixties, questionable sex, and the growing realization that they can't turn their backs on the people they were meant to be . . . or the people they were born to love.

Doug Glanville, a former major league outfielder and Ivy League graduate, draws on his nine seasons in the big leagues to reveal the human side of baseball and of the men who play it. "Filled with sharp insights, keen observations, and great stories, his book is championship caliber." -The Philadelphia InquirerIn The Game from Where I Stand, Glanville shows us how players prepare for games, deal with race and family issues, cope with streaks and slumps, respond to trades and injuries, and learn the joyful and painful lessons the game imparts. He also tells us with insight and humor what he learned from Jimmy Rollins, Alex Rodriguez, Randy Johnson, Barry Bonds, Curt Schilling, and other legendary and controversial stars. In his professional career, Glanville experienced every aspect of being a player-the first-round pick, the prospect, the disappointment, the can't-miss, the cornerstone, the veteran, the traded, the injured, the comeback kid. His eye-opening book gives fans a new level of understanding of day-to-day life in the big leagues.

"...as slick and enjoyable as a brand-new tube of lip gloss."--People From the New York Times bestselling author of Shoe Addicts Anonymous and Secrets of a Shoe Addict comes a tale of old friends, new loves, and the undeniable power of a little face cream.Twenty years ago, Allie Denty was the pretty one and her best friend, Olivia Pelham, was the smart one. Throughout high school, they were inseparable . . . until a vicious rumor about Olivia---a rumor too close to the truth---ended their friendship.Now, on the eve of their twentieth high school reunion, Allie finds herself suddenly single, a little chubby, and feeling old. Olivia, successful beauty editor in New York, realizes she's lonely, and that she's finally ready to face her demons.Sometimes hope lives in the future; sometimes it comes from the past; and sometimes, when every stupid thing goes wrong, it comes from a prettily packaged jar filled with scented cream and promises. Beth Harbison has done it again. A hilarious and touching novel about friendship, Love's Baby Soft perfume, Watermelon Lip Smackers, bad run-ins with Sun-In, and the healing power of "Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific." Hope in a jar: We all need it.

This is the one-step guide for all the problems you must confront. Whether you are just realizing your marriage must come to an end, or are embarking on your new life as a single person, or are at any stage in between, Divorcing reassuringly and clearly answers all the vexing questions-emotional, legal, financial-you are facing.Mel Krantzler, Ph.D., America's foremost divorce psychologist, offers uplifting advice to bring you through the emotional turmoil of divorce and let you use it as an opportunity for personal growth. His techniques for dealing with stress, coping with estrangement from spouse and children, and forming new relationships have brought Dr. Krantzler's many clients to new levels of confidence and self-esteem.Melvin M. Belli, Sr., the renowned trial attorney, gives you the same counsel his famous clients pay thousands of dollars for: How to choose the right lawyer, protect your finances, obtain the best conditions for custody and visitation, and keep your new relationships from adversely affecting child custody and support.Thoroughly up-to-date, Divorcing is one source that will keep you together, even if your marriage is breaking up.

Bread bakers have been clamoring for more of Linda Rehberg and Lois Conway's magic. They've responded with More Bread Machine Magic, a collection of 140 of their best new recipes!More Bread Machine Magic offers perfected recipes for an array of baked delights, from sourdough and pumpernickel loaves to sweet, savory, fat-free, whole grain, and sugar-free breads. More imaginative than the generic recipes that come with the machine, each recipe-tested in more than a dozen machines-features step-by-step instructions, hints, and creative suggestions for baking the perfect loaf, every time. There are also recipes for doughs that you prepare in the bread machine, fashioned by hand, and bake in a traditional oven, such as pizza crusts, focaccia, flatbreads, rolls,and even bagels. All recipes are adapted for 1-, 1 1/2-, and 2-pound bread machines.Recipes include: cinnamon-raisin bagels, Scandinavian rye bread, Irish soda bread, pesto spiral loaf, New England maple syrup bread, heavenly herb rolls, petite brioche, butterscotch apple bread pudding, challah, sun-dried tomato mozzarella bread, and many more!

Leo Mazzone was one of pro baseball's premier pitching coaches. In his years with the Atlanta Braves, he trained several Cy Young Award winners and helped lead his team to the World Series. In Pitch like a Pro, Mazzone and coauthor Jim Rosenthal offer step-by-step instructions for players and coaches in Little League through high school. They teach all of the pitching basics and give athletes advice on how they can use the right training techniques to grow stronger and stay healthier. Contents include:Mazzone's between-starts throwing programHow to grip different pitchesProper mechanics and delivery techniquePitching strategies and tacticsField the positionPitch like a Pro offers contributions by such well known pitchers as Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smotz, and Denny Neagle, along with black-and-white instructional photographs.

Tired of worrying about your financial situation but aren't sure what to do or where to start? Stop stressing! No matter how much you earn (or how much you owe) you can take control of your money-and it won't be nearly as hard as you think. Millions of people already benefit from the expert advice Laura D. Adams dispenses in her weekly Money Girl podcast and know firsthand that little changes can lead to big rewards. Laura doesn't tell you what you can and can not buy with your own hard-earned money; instead, she gives you guidance, tips, and tricks you need to make the most of it by finding out how to:- Assess your current financial situation and set achievable, realistic goals - Get out of debt faster-and stay out for good - Manage your 401(k) or Roth IRA like a pro - Take advantage of every available tax deduction to owe less and save more - Choose smarter investments so you can watch your money grow - Use the most up-to-date technology to make managing your money much easier Whether you're learning the quickest way to improve your credit score or the seven essential tips for preventing identity theft, you'll be surprised-and relieved-at just how doable it all is. Chock-full of quick and dirty tips that explain what you need to know without bogging you down with what you don't, Money Girl's Smart Moves to Grow Rich will ensure you have the kind of life you want and the future you've always dreamed of.Money Girl's Smart Moves to Grow Rich won the prestigious Excellence in Financial Literary Education (EIFLE) Award for 2011.

Sarah Culberson was adopted one year after her birth by a loving, white, West Virginian couple and was raised in the United States with little knowledge of her ancestry. Though raised in a loving family, Sarah wanted to know more about the birth parents that had given her up. In 2004, she hired a private investigator to track down her biological father. When she began her search, she never imagined what she would discover or where that information would lead her: she was related to African royalty, a ruling Mende family in Sierra Leone and that she is considered a mahaloi, the child of a Paramount Chief, with the status like a princess. What followed was an unforgettably emotional journey of discovery of herself, a father she never knew, and the spirit of a war-torn nation. A Princess Found is a powerful, intimate revelation of her quest across the world to learn of the chiefdom she could one day call her own.

David Susskind was the first TV producer to become a TV star. His freewheeling discussion program Open End, later known as The David Susskind Show, brought the turbulent issues of the 1960s and provocative social trends of the 1970s into the nation's living rooms at a time when television was tame. Susskind grilled everyone from a Mafia hit man to transsexuals to a famously hilarious Mel Brooks. Behind the camera, he was a high-minded, flamboyant New York impresario who took risks and railed against the Hollywood establishment. He battled the TV network practice of blacklisting, brought great actors such as Sir Laurence Olivier to prime time and fought to make gritty shows (East Side/West Side, N.Y.P.D., Death of a Salesman) that accurately reflected the human condition. His feature film output included such groundbreaking works as A Raisin In the Sun and Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. Through it all, Susskind was an enfant terrible with an insatiable appetite for women and a scorn for the business side of his profession that left his career hanging by a thread more than once. David Susskind: A Televised Life is a wild ride through an expansive and glamorous time in the entertainment industry and an incisive look at one of its most colorful and influential players.

After Hazen Wood kidnaps twelve-year-old Gemma Sullivan, the two embark upon a cross-country journey that tests the limits of Gemma's endurance. In scenes of physical and sexual violence, Hazen tries to destroy the young girl's will. When she does manage to escape he drags her back and threatens to have her arrested for the violent acts he performs. It is only Gemma's resilience and fertile imagination that protects her from the worst of the trauma she suffers. And, in the end, it is the healing power of unconditional love that gives Gemma the courage to speak out against her abuser at last and claim the life she deserves.Alternating between the voices of Gemma and Hazen Wood, Meg Tilly has brilliantly brought to life powerful and unforgettable characters that will leave you thinking about them long after you turn the last page.

Women are major consumers and highly proactive when it comes to attending to their health care. In the tradition of the mega-bestseller, THE PILL BOOK, comes a medication guide just for women-a book that addresses their needs, concerns, and questions about the plethora of prescription and over-the-counter drugs available. A mix of narrative and reference, THE WOMEN'S PILL BOOK is speaks directly to the specific health challenges women face: - Unique Reproductive- Chronic Pain- Autoimmune Disorder- Heart Disease- Hormonal Challenges- Prescription Drug Abuse Plus profiles of hundreds of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including generic and brand name, benefits, side effects, and alternative treatment options.

Market turbulence has made opening monthly 401(k) statements shocking rather than reassuring. Michael "Waxie" Parness can help.The standard approach for managing your retirement accounts is NOT working. Many 401(k)s are now 201(k)s, and it may get worse. Rule Your Freakin' Retirement, through practical and pragmatic advice and examples, will teach you alternatives to the "buy, hold and pray" strategies that many investment advisers push. Building on his successful Rule the Freakin' Markets, master trader and motivational speaker Michael Parness applies the same aggressive strategies to normally ignored or undermanaged 401(k), IRA and other retirement accounts. Contrary to conventional wisdom, Parness argues that no matter what age you are, NOW is the time to adopt active, aggressive and controlled strategies to ensure a fully funded, real retirement on your own terms, not subject to market gyrations out of your control. He outlines, in plain language, bold but practical strategies, emphasizing research and tailoring approaches to individual needs.Rule Your Freakin' Retirement offers tangible, proven, no-nonsense advice that will help you take control of your retirement, and your life.

This is not simply the memoir of a cancer survivor. Nor is it just the memoir of a respected senator. This is an unprecedented glimpse into a man who is both. It is inspiration for people of all political persuasions; of how to persevere and succeed---despite what the doctors may say, despite what the tests might show.In early 2004, Senator Specter was in the midst of a grueling primary race, facing significant opposition from the right as he worked to win his party's nomination to run for reelection for his Pennsylvania senate seat. It would be the most difficult election in his quarter-century career in the Senate. Following on its heels were two more challenges---the general-election race and opposition to his elevation as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, his lifelong ambition. He overcame all three challenges in time for his seventy-fifth birthday.But exhaustion and fatigue---initially thought to be the aftereffects of months of vigorous campaigning---were found to be far more serious. After a series of tests and consultation with several doctors, Specter was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, Stage IVB, the most advanced stage. He had received death sentences before and lived to tell about it. To Senator Specter, this diagnosis was another challenge. After all, he still had a job to do.His cancer treatments came as he reached the height of his power---surrounded by political storms that polarized Washington and threatened to shut the Senate down. His leadership positions made it his job to manage Supreme Court nominations and public- health appropriations as he faced his own illness. He had fought on public-health issues for years, but now it added potency to the message that the messenger was ailing himself.The phrase "Never give in" became Specter's mantra, invoking the famous words from Churchill in his battle with cancer. This moving book describes the treatment the Senator received and offers his advice on how to handle the side effects (both visible and private), hair loss, and of course, maintain a nearly daily squash regimen. So, how does one move forward when faced with mortality? It's simple. Work."Never Give In brims with the singular tenacity and humor that have characterized Arlen Specter's nearly thirty years in the United States Senate. This book is both an entertaining read and an unflinching account of the experience of fighting an intensely personal battle on a highly public stage."---Michael J. Fox"Working with Arlen for many years on the Senate Judiciary Committee, I have witnessed firsthand his spirited battles on the political stage. Even while confronting his physical trials, Senator Specter continued to be a great asset to Pennsylvania, the Senate, and our country. Highlighted by insight that only Arlen could provide, Never Give In portrays a life of courage and fortitude." ---Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT)"Understanding Arlen Specter's steely endurance is a key to understanding his success in the Senate and in life. Look up tenacity in the dictionary and you'll find Arlen's picture. Trial by fire has tempered him and made him stronger, and wiser."-- Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee)"Written in Senator Specter's trademark candor, Never Give In is a compelling tale of survival - both personal and political - from one of the Senate's most independent voices. Riding the train home with him now for almost 25 years, I count Arlen among my closest friends in the Senate. The words courageous and inspiring hardly do him justice - but trust me, he is both."-- Senator Joe Biden (D-DE)"I've been privileged to work side by side with Arlen for over 18 years. While I respect his intelligence and honesty, and value his friendship, perhaps most of all I have admired his toughness in the face of adversity. He just never gives up."-Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)

Authentic Patriotism presents a provocative, inspiring account of our neglected American ideals and the people who are living them today.Patriotism has become a loaded word: one that is wielded against people with whom we might disagree, or whose cultural origins don't match our own. But our founding fathers--Washington, Jefferson, Adams, and others--saw patriotism as a dynamic force: an act of service, in an evolving nation that defined its purpose by offering all people a better way of life. In Authentic Patriotism, author and award-winning journalist Stephen P. Kiernan explores the original ideals that have been lost in our current climate, where war and economic turmoil have eroded our sense of civic obligation. Kiernan describes "a nation adrift," out of touch with its origins--and then introduces a range of inspiring people who have revived our national purpose by taking action: - The out-of-work college graduate who led an economic and environmental renewal of her blighted home community. - The retired executive who pioneered a revolutionary concept in health care for people without insurance. - The minister who created a legendary choir, with the goal of uniting children of different races, genders, and classes in one voice. - The family who donated their daughter's heart, so that another might live. These and other "New Americans" are profiled in a book that offers hope, ideas, examples, and practical resources for readers who want to renew the American spirit.

There's a reason The Nation, America's leading progressive magazine, named Robert Wexler the country's "Most Valuable Congressman." It's the same reason right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh refers to him as "disgusting." It's because for the last twelve years Wexler has been Congress's most outspoken liberal -- taking on George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, Alberto Gonzales, General David Petraeus, and, when necessary, even his own party.In Fire-Breathing Liberal, Wexler brings readers onto the floor of the House and puts them at the center of some of the last decade's biggest controversies. He passionately describes how he defended Bill Clinton from impeachment and how he stood up against the Bush brothers when the "butterfly" ballots in his Florida district wrongly decided the 2000 presidential election. He also offers an honest and brutal assessment of the Iraq war and explains why he has become a leader in the movement to impeach Vice President Cheney. And, with warmth and wit, Wexler shares some of the funniest stories from the corridors of Congress, including how he became The Colbert Report's most talked-about guest.This is a remarkably candid first-person account of recent political history that shows government as it has rarely been seen -- by a Democrat in the middle of the storms.

A scathing exposé of the U.S. government's deplorable neglect of American servicemen and women-in the works before the Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital scandal.After members of our armed forces bravely serve their nation, they sometimes come home to find themselves battling another enemy-within their own government. Using decades of case histories, statistics, and firsthand accounts, award-winning Washington journalist Martin Schram exposes a shocking culture of antagonism toward veterans by the very agency-the Department of Veterans Affairs-that was formed to serve them. Vets Under Siege reveals the shameless lack of care shown to our young servicemen and -women, from recruiters' deceptions and a lack of armor in battle to shoddy, disgusting conditions at Walter Reed and other medical facilities, and looks back to examine the innumerable postwar battles our veterans have had to wage for proper treatment, from World War II to today. Martin Schram's bold bugle call, sounded on behalf of our nation's beleaguered servicemen and -women, lays bare a chilling pattern of institutional negligence, delay, and denial, and points the way forward with definitive solutions to a national disgrace.

A much-needed and hard-hitting plan, from one of the great Democratic minds of our time, to reform America''s broken health-care system. Undoubtedly, the biggest domestic policy issue in the coming years will be America''s health-care system. Millions of Americans go without medical care because they can''t afford it, and many others are mired in debt because they can''t pay their medical bills. It''s hard to think of another public policy problem that has lingered unaddressed for so long. Why have we failed to solve a problem that is such a high priority for so many citizens? Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle believes the problem is rooted in the complexity of the health-care issue and the power of the interest groupsΓÇödoctors, hospitals, insurers, drug companies, researchers, patient advocatesΓÇöthat have a direct stake in it. Rather than simply pointing out the major flaws and placing blame, Daschle offers key solutions and creates a blueprint for solving the crisis. Daschle''s solution lies in the Federal Reserve Board, which has overseen the equally complicated financial system with great success. A Fed-like health board would offer a public framework within which a private health-care system can operate more effectively and efficientlyΓÇöinsulated from political pressure yet accountable to elected officials and the American people. Daschle argues that this independent board would create a single standard of care and exert tremendous influence on every other provider and payer, even those in the private sector. After decades of failed incremental measures, the American health-care system remains fundamentally broken and requires a comprehensive fix. With his bold and forward-looking plan, Daschle points us to the solution.

With a breakneck pace and cat-and-mouse twists, Spring Break is the ultimate beach read. "Help me . . ." These are the last words Chanetelle hears from her friend Ashley, in a static-filled phone call that soon goes dead. Their trip to the island paradise of Artula started the way any trip should, and soon Chanetelle and her friends find themselves in sun-drenched days and party-hopping nights. The vacation is not without its conflicts, however, and old rivalries and new jealousies come to light as the week passes. But no one expects things to turn as ugly as they do. No one expects that they won't all return. And no one expects that murder might be the ultimate souvenir. When Ashley disappears, the question is asked: Was it a random act of violence? Or is something more sinister going on? And is Ashley really dead, after all? "Drawing on real-life tragedies, Perrin creates an unforgettable and chilling tale of the seamy side of an island paradise." - Booklist

"Tom Oliphant is one of the true chroniclers of America. He uses his wit and wisdom to offer critical, insightful, and loving observations of our politics, culture, and society. He is the Will Rogers of our time." ---Madeleine AlbrightThe collapse of the Bush presidency is a broadly acknowledged fact. By any fair assessment, much of the past seven years has been disastrous. The challenge is to understand why.From domestic policy to international goofs, from soaring energy prices to the health care crisis---Thomas Oliphant tackles it all, closely inspecting the initial projections and promises of Bush and his key senior of?cials, and the ways in which they lost control of these well-publicized and overcon?dent plans. By comparing their rhetoric to their dismal record, Oliphant provides a historic analysis of the Bush administration---showing how a system so seemingly competent and mechanized could fail so miserably, and with such frequency. Utter Incompetents is at its heart a searching look at the George W. Bush administration, its policies, and the legacy that it will leave behind on January 20, 2009.

Reverend Buzz Thomas knows there are millions of Americans out there who just want honest answers to life's biggest questions. In 10 Things Your Minister Wants to Tell You, Rev. Thomas cuts through all the agendas the Bible is used for today and finally says what many ministers are afraid to say when someone asks...- How did it all begin?- Why are we here?- What is the Bible?- Is there really such a thing as a miracle?- How do I please God?- What about women?- What about homosexuality?- What about other faiths?- What happens after we die?- How will it all end? Filled with humor and warmth, Rev. Thomas's answers are long on love, short on judgment, filled with surprises and replete with faith for whatever the twenty-first century may hold.