A few short years ago, Michael Rectenwald was a Marxist professor at NYU, pursuing his career and contemplating becoming a Trotskyist, when the political climate on campus - victimology, cancel-culture, no-platforming, and political correctness run-amok - began to bother him. He responded by creating a Twitter handle, @AntiPCNYUProf (now @TheAntiPCProf), and began bashing campus excesses with humor and biting satire. Predictably, he was soon discovered and pushed out of his job.

Rectenwald struck back by publishing Springtime for Snowflakes, a memoir of his experiences in academia, which included criticism and analyses of the leftism now dominating campus culture. He followed that book with Google Archipelago,, which delves into the seeming enigma of why big business embraces far-left politics - hint: self-interest is involved - and the rapid growth of consumer/citizen surveillance. The foundation for a robust leftist totalitarianism is being carefully laid.

With this new volume, Rectenwald returns with his characteristic sharp wit and incisive analysis and continues to fine tune his critique of modern leftism. In Beyond Woke, he brings his unique perspective as an ex-Marxist and civil libertarian to bear on leftist culture, with its abandonment of traditional morality and emphasis on collective social identities - which are ironically increasingly atomized, as overwhelming centrifugal forces break up any previously stable social cohesion.

The revolution is here and it's winning. Find out why, and how to combat it. Get Beyond Woke.

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 

“Brilliant and enthralling.” —The Wall Street Journal

A paradigm-shifting book from an acclaimed Harvard Medical School scientist and one of Time’s most influential people.

It’s a seemingly undeniable truth that aging is inevitable. But what if everything we’ve been taught to believe about aging is wrong? What if we could choose our lifespan?

In this groundbreaking book, Dr. David Sinclair, leading world authority on genetics and longevity, reveals a bold new theory for why we age. As he writes: “Aging is a disease, and that disease is treatable.”

This eye-opening and provocative work takes us to the frontlines of research that is pushing the boundaries on our perceived scientific limitations, revealing incredible breakthroughs—many from Dr. David Sinclair’s own lab at Harvard—that demonstrate how we can slow down, or even reverse, aging. The key is activating newly discovered vitality genes, the descendants of an ancient genetic survival circuit that is both the cause of aging and the key to reversing it. Recent experiments in genetic reprogramming suggest that in the near future we may not just be able to feel younger, but actually become younger.

Through a page-turning narrative, Dr. Sinclair invites you into the process of scientific discovery and reveals the emerging technologies and simple lifestyle changes—such as intermittent fasting, cold exposure, exercising with the right intensity, and eating less meat—that have been shown to help us live younger and healthier for longer. At once a roadmap for taking charge of our own health destiny and a bold new vision for the future of humankind, Lifespan will forever change the way we think about why we age and what we can do about it.

Apocalypse got you down? Whatever you do, don't think about it!

"Hilarious would be an understatement to describe this book and I found myself lost for words." - Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

 An unknown terrorist has released a biological weapon onto the American public. Anyone with an IQ over 84 is in danger - people's heads are exploding - the country is on lockdown. Everything is about to change forever.

 Luckily, some people are still alive. Like the President of the United States. And Congress. And millions of idiots determined to figure out why their heads aren't blowing up. Which brings us to David Dingle. He's the not-too-bright guy whom this whole story revolves around. A lot of people revolve around David Dingle. Some of them include a Las Vegas cocktail waitress, an ineffective jihadist, a Grand Dragon of the KKK, a creationist and his very extended family, a pill-popping doctor, a drop-dead sexy clepto-nympho-suicidal-maniac, and a rogue Illuminati mastermind to name just a few. 

 Now David Dingle doesn't know much about these people, but frankly, he doesn't know much about much. He's just a simple American with a government job and a fantastic phone who one day finds himself at the epicenter of the biggest biological terrorist attack perpetrated on American soil. And now everyone's after him. Not cool. All the while, the President of the United States has to keep voters’ heads from blowing up before re-elections - things couldn’t get worse.

 A timely satire that dives into the darkest corners of American Culture, IQ84 examines some of the most controversial issues in America today. It’s a book about freedom.

Don't miss a moment of the How to Train Your Dragon series, the bestselling, funny, action-packed books that inspired the hit movies!

The story begins when Hiccup, his friend Fishlegs, and his cranky dragon Toothless get separated from their class during Boarding-an-Enemy-Ship practice. They accidentally board a prowling Roman galley intent on provoking war. When they rescue a tiny nanodragon, they uncover a plot to steal every dragon on the Isle of Berk!

This is just the start to an epic adventure that will have kids laughing from start to finish, and shines with Cressida Cowell's trademark blend of action, humor, heart, and engaging illustrations.

The New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz is at the top of her game with Truth or Dare.

From Publishers Weekly

Zoe Luce, psychic interior decorator, has finally settled down to domestic life in Whispering Springs, Ariz., with private investigator Ethan Truax after their tempestuous courtship in Krentz's previous romantic thriller, Light in Shadow. However, sinister cobwebs of energy confront her when she enters certain rooms, threatening to make her lose her tenuous grip on sanity. Meanwhile, Arcadia Ames, Zoe's old friend from Candle Lake Manor Psychiatric Hospital, fears the husband she sacrificed her identity to escape has finally tracked her down. Krentz never fully explains exactly why Grant, Arcadia's husband, wants her dead, relying instead on facts revealed in Light in Shadow. Indeed, from beginning to end, this sequel feels more like an appendix to the last book than a novel in its own right, as Krentz forgoes a strong central plot to focus on the kind of warm and fuzzy details about Zoe and her Whispering Springs friends that most novels relegate to the epilogue. She fattens the story with pizza dinners, heartfelt talks and proffered slices of lemon meringue pie, but scrimps when the action picks up and offers limp, far-fetched conclusions to the book's various subplots. Though no one will begrudge the goodhearted characters from Whispering Springs their tasty tidbits, in her rush to get to the happy endings, Krentz leaves readers hungry for a more substantial story.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

In her latest paranormal tale, Krentz takes up the story of psychic interior designer Zoe and private investigator Ethan, who met and fell in love in Light in Shadow [BKL N 1 02]. They are now working to create a successful marriage, but different events in their pasts keep interfering with their hopes for wedded bliss. Still haunted by his brother's murder and his own pursuit of justice in that case, Ethan expects Zoe to dump him, just as his previous three wives did. Zoe is plagued by memories of her imprisonment in a private psychiatric sanatorium, as she unexpectedly encounters psychic "spider webs" clinging to several places she has recently visited. As Ethan and Zoe struggle with their pasts, both become caught up in the dilemma of Zoe's friend, Arcadia, who fears that her ex-husband has returned from the dead to settle an old score. With its potent combination of danger and thrills, sexy romance, and polished writing suffused with a deliciously tart sense of humor, the best-selling Krentz's sophisticated brand of romantic suspense will never go out of style with readers. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

My Point and I Do Have One by Ellen Degeneres - Paperback VINTAGE 1996 Like New Condition
isbn:  9780553573619

In this #1 New York Times bestseller, Ellen DeGeneres shares her  hilarious take on everything from our most baffling human  foibles–including how we behave in elevators, airplanes, and restrooms,  and why we’re so scared of the boogeyman–to fashion trends, celebrity,  and her secret recipe for Ellen’s Real Frenchy French Toast. Most of  all, this witty, engaging book offers insights into the mind of one of  America’s most beloved comics.…

Dear Reader,
I was awfully  excited when I was asked to write a book. I was however, nervous. I was  afraid I didn’t have anything important to say. But when I began  writing, I realized that although I don’t know a lot about any one  thing, I know a little about a whole bunch of things: baking a pie;  dancing; curing the common cold; running the Iditarod–it’s all in the  book. And I realized I notice things that maybe some people don’t notice  (or they don’t notice that they don’t notice). That’s all in the book,  too.

Time Flies by Bill Cosby - Paperback VINTAGE 1988 Remarkable Very Good Condition
isbn:  9780553277241

WE'RE ALL GETTING OLDER,

AND BILL COSBY KEEPS GETTING BETTER

America's best-loved humorist, media personality and bestselling author now brings his unique warmth, wisdom and wit to a subject common to all: aging. From five to fifty and beyond, Bill Cosby takes us on a hilarious romp through the trials and tribulations of growing—and being—older. Funny, highly personal, and with just the right tugs on the heartstrings, Time Flies is Cosby at his best.

A month from now, you'll wish you had started today.

Yes, a month is all it takes to see long-term results.

And seriously-even YOU can lose that weight!

Food and exercise fads come and go, mainly because they just aren't sustainable. After a few days, you're hungry, bored, or hungry AND bored. That's why the Today show's very first lifestyle and fitness correspondent, Jenna Wolfe, created her famous 30-Day Fitness Challenge for her viewers. The challenge was wildly successful because of its unprecedented and simple approach to everyday health and fitness-one small tip a day for 30 days.

Now, in Thinner in 30, Jenna takes her foolproof program to the next level, giving you the tools and motivation you'll need to achieve your wellness goals with thirty small changes that add up to big results-in as few as 30 days. It's all possible without joining a gym, counting calories, or signing up for a trendy class you can't even pronounce. The perfect plan for busy men and women of all ages and fitness levels, Thinner in 30 puts the focus on small, bite-size tips which lead to long-term weight loss.

Jenna blends athletic wisdom, laugh-out-loud humor, and easy-to-follow advice, like how many times to chew your food per bite, what the heck carbs are all about, and how to sneak in workouts without any time, money, equipment, or energy (pretty much covering any excuse you may have). Thinner in 30 will help you discover just how easy it is to get healthy without having to deprive yourself or work out 12 hours a day.

This magazine subscription comes from our newsstand.  Every other month, we will ship from our book store in Flint, Michigan the freshest copy of MAD Magazine PLUS a MAD bonus item every month.  A year of dreck to your door!

About the Author

MAD is the world's leading magazine of humor and satire (at least according to the staff). For over sixty years, MAD has been a cultural touchstone, publishing twisted comedy from the truly disturbed minds of its many contributors, the "The Usual Gang of Idiots." This ragtag crew of social misfits has traditionally been overworked, underpaid and, thankfully, not internet savvy enough the insults posted about them online!

An anthology of new, original stories by bestselling science fiction authors, inspired by science fiction great Frederik Pohl

It isn’t easy to get a group of bestselling SF authors to write new stories for an anthology, but that’s what Elizabeth Anne Hull has done in this powerhouse book. With original, captivating tales by Greg Bear, Gregory Benford, Ben Bova, David Brin, Cory Doctorow, Neil Gaiman, Joe Haldeman, Harry Harrison, Larry Niven, Vernor Vinge, Gene Wolfe, and others, Gateways is a SF event that will be a must-buy for SF readers of all tastes, from the traditional to the cutting edge; from the darkly serious to the laugh-out-loud funny.

Each author has written a story that he or she feels reflects the effect Pohl has had on the field—in the style of writing, the narrative tone, or the subject matter. It says a lot about Pohl's career that the authors represented here themselves span many decades and styles, from the experimental SF of British SF author Brian W. Aldiss to the over-the-top humor of Harry Harrison and Mike Resnick, from the darkly powerful drama of Hollywood screenwriter Frank Robinson to the satiric pungency of multiple Hugo Award-winner Vernor Vinge. Every story here is uniquely nuanced; all of them as entertaining and thought provoking as Pohl's fiction.

In a career dating back to 1939, Pohl has won all the awards science fiction has to offer: Hugos, Nebulas, the SFWA Grand Master Award. Having written more than two million words of fiction and edited the groundbreaking Star anthologies and Hugo Award-winning magazines and books, Pohl is an SF icon. This anthology of brilliant, entertaining SF stories is a testament to his stature in the field.

“Sheila Roberts makes me laugh. I read her books and come away inspired, hopeful and happy.” ―Debbie Macomber, New York Times bestselling author

Erin Merritt has returned to her scenic hometown of Heart Lake to plan her wedding, but when she repeatedly runs into her childhood crush, she wonders if she's engaged to the wrong man. To make matters worse, all the stress is making her eat, and now she can't fit into her wedding dress.

Erin enlists the help of her cooking club--Angela, Megan and Kizzy--and the Teeny Bikini Diet Club is born. The women make a pact to get slim enough to wear their bikinis to the lake by summertime, a pact that changes their lives forever. With a little help from her friends, Angela faces her fear that her marriage is crumbling. Megan confronts the self-esteem issues that have always held her back. Kizzy deals with her husband's efforts to sabotage her diet and keep her overweight. And Erin learns some important truths about love.

“[Roberts'] characters are warm and engaging, and their interactions are full of humor. This book is perfect for a summer day with a margarita.” ―RT Book Reviews

Pull up your favorite beach chair and savor this funny, inspiring story about being true to yourself and following your heart, and the women who enrich our lives.

Toxic Relationships : Strategies for Dealing with People That Are Difficult and How to Deal with Toxic Personalities and People In Life by Luke Gregory - Paperback Interpersonal Relations

Around you are very toxic people who will try to keep you down and hurt you. These people should be avoided right away---Do you think you can cope with toxic people?

Change the way you think and manage stressful situations with difficult people:

• How to deal with self centered people, control freaks, disruptive, clingy, needy people, complainers, jealous, procrastinators, etc.
• Introduction: Welcome to the Real World.
• What exactly do you mean by “Toxic”?.
• Kill ‘em with kindness.
• Ignore toxic people and cheer them up.
• How to: Pro-act Instead of React, Set Consequences, Have Good Personal Boundaries, Confront Behavior Safely, Get Away.
• Learn how to say no and give them other options.
• How to: Pick Your Battles, Put Humor Into It, Separate The Person From The Issue, Put The Spotlight On Them.
• Do not fall for their tricks and when you spot one, run.
• So much, much more information in this book.

Who this book is for:

• People who have problems communicating with difficult people in their lives
• Those who have gone through a difficult moment and were blocked at a time
• Those who want to learn how to manage a difficult situation with toxic people
• Those who want to learn more about the cause and effect of toxic people.

You’re about to discover how to deal with difficult people in your life. While the rest of this book will be covering specific situations and ways to deal with difficult people, there is one critical thing that must be included first, and that is your responsibility in any situation. Relationships with toxic people can be detrimental to your well-being, and you have to be proactive in ensuring that you know what to do if you ever were to meet one. The purpose of this book is to do more than just identify one of two types of difficult persons you can meet in the workplace. It also reveals the characteristics of these kinds of people along with providing you with valuable tips on what you can do to manage these unforeseen relationships.Life is one of the most precious gifts that we will ever come to own. How you choose to live it is entirely up to you; however, there is nothing wrong with getting a little bit of advice from time to time on what you can do to make the journey a tad bit easier. That is where this book comes in.

I am here to help you to manage something that everyone will deal with at some point in their life: difficult people. Before I can go any further, we have a few things that we have to get out of the way first. There are a lot of ways to define a difficult person for the simple fact that there are so many different types of difficult people out there. For simplicity's sake, we will begin by starting with a working definition that works for all of them. A difficult person is someone who has the potential to impact both you and your livelihood negatively. In other words, it’s a person that is utterly bad for you. The reason that a difficult person is so dangerous is that often they are not readily recognized as being very toxic. You could go days, months, or even years with associating with these type of toxic people and never even know how much damage that they are causing in your life. Luckily, this is where this book will be most helpful. To protect yourself from a toxic person, you have to be able to know one when you see one. There are always signs. It’s just a point of being able to identify them. Pull up a chair, because I’m quite sure that some of these descriptions will hit home for you.I'm sure my book will guide you through your life and your path.

From Taraji P. Henson, Academy Award nominee, Golden Globe winner, and star of the award-winning film Hidden Figures, comes an inspiring and funny memoir—“a bona fide hit” (Essence)—about family, friends, the hustle required to make it in Hollywood, and the joy of living your own truth.

"Taraji P. Henson, a Golden Globe winner and an Academy and Emmy Award nominee, shares her rocky road to fame in a bona fide hit memoir."—Essence Magazine

With a sensibility that recalls her beloved screen characters, including Katherine, the NASA mathematician, Yvette, Queenie, Shug, and the iconic Cookie from Empire, Taraji P. Henson writes of her family, the one she was born into and the one she created. She shares stories of her father, a Vietnam vet who was bowed but never broken by life’s challenges, and of her mother who survived violence both at home and on DC’s volatile streets. Here, too, she opens up about her experiences as a single mother, a journey some saw as a burden but which she saw as a gift.

Around the Way Girl is also a classic actor’s memoir in which Taraji reflects on the world-class instruction she received at Howard University and how she chipped away, with one small role after another, at Hollywood's resistance to give women, particularly women of color, meaty significant roles. With laugh-out-loud humor and candor, she shares the challenges and disappointments of the actor’s journey and shows us that behind the red carpet moments, she is ever authentic. She is at heart just a girl in pursuit of her dreams in this “inspiring account of overcoming adversity and a quest for self-discovery, written with vitality and enthusiasm” (Shelf Awareness).

Imagine a former French major getting vocabulary tips from her young children! That was the experience of Kristin Espinasse, an American who fell in love with a Frenchman and moved to his country to marry him and start a family. When her children began speaking the language, she found herself falling in love with it all over again. To relate the stories of her sometimes bumpy, often comic, and always poignant assimilation, she created a blog called "French Word a Day," drawing more admirers than she ever could have imagined.

With an approach that is as charming as it is practical, Espinasse shares her story through the everyday French words and phrases that never seem to make it to American classrooms. "Comptoir" ("counter") is a piece about the intricacies of grocery shopping in France, and "Linge" ("laundry") swoons over the wonderful scent the laundry has after being hung out in the French countryside while "Toquade" ("crush") tells of Espinasse's young son, who begins piling gel onto his hair before school each morning when he becomes smitten with a girl in class.

Steeped in French culture but experienced through American eyes, Words in a French Life will delight armchair travelers, Francophiles, and mothers everywhere.

When we published James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small, we called it a "miracle between covers." In the first major review of the book, Alfred Ames said: "If there is any justice, All Creatures Great and Small will become a classic of its kind. The publishers call it a miracle-- not too strong a word for a book that offers something for everyone: gusto, humor, pathos, information, romance, insight, style. It is vicarious living with one of the happiest and most admirable of people, a veterinary surgeon in the Yorkshire dales who can write superlatively well."

James, the miracle worker, has done it again. All Things Bright and Beautiful is precisely the warm and joyful sequel that readers all over America have been asking for. James is now married, and he and Helen live on the top floor of Skeldale House, while his former boss, now partner, Siegfried lives downstairs with Siegfried's brother Tristan. James continues the rich and rewarding day-to-day life of a small-town veterinarian, and we journey with him across the dales meeting a whole new cast of unforgettable characters-- humans, dogs, horses, lambs, parakeets-- all of them drawn with the same infinite fascination, affection, and insight that have made Herriot one of the most beloved authors of our time. This is the most loving book of the year to have-- or to give.

The Prey novels are wildly entertaining with their clever plotting, mordant humor, and smart-ass dialogue.”—Booklist 

Lucas Davenport tracks a prolific serial killer in the newest nail-biter by #1 New York Times-bestselling author John Sandford.

Clayton Deese looks like a small-time criminal, muscle for hire when his loan shark boss needs to teach someone a lesson. Now, seven months after a job that went south and landed him in jail, Deese has skipped out on bail, and the U.S. Marshals come looking for him. They don't much care about a low-level guy--it's his boss they want--but Deese might be their best chance to bring down the whole operation.

Then, they step onto a dirt trail behind Deese's rural Louisiana cabin and find a jungle full of graves.

Now Lucas Davenport is on the trail of a serial killer who has been operating for years without notice. His quarry is ruthless, and--as Davenport will come to find--full of surprises . . .

Praise for John Sandford’s Prey Novels
 
“Relentlessly swift...genuinely suspenseful...excellent.”—Los Angeles Times
 
“Sandford is a writer in control of his craft.”—Chicago Sun-Times
 
“Excellent...compelling...everything works.”—USA Today
 
“Grip-you-by-the-throat thrills...a hell of a ride.”—Houston Chronicle
 
“Crackling, page-turning tension...great scary fun.”—The New York Daily News
 
“Enough pulse-pounding, page-turning excitement to keep you up way past bedtime.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
“One of the most engaging characters in contemporary fiction.”—Detroit News
 
“Positively chilling.”—St. Petersburg Times
 
“Just right for fans of The Silence of the Lambs.”—Booklist
 
“One of the most horrible villains this side of Hannibal.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch
 
“Ice-pick chills...excruciatingly tense...a double-pumped roundhouse of a thriller.”—Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

John Sandford is the pseudonym for the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Camp. He is the author of twenty-eight Prey novels; four Kidd novels; ten Virgil Flowers novels; three YA novels coauthored with his wife, Michele Cook; and three other books.

Hall of Fame disc jockey Tom Joyner uses his signature brand of humor to discuss everything from business to careers to relationships as he shares the insights and lessons he's learned along the way.  Now the host of a radio show that is the most popular media outlet ever among African Americans, Joyner started his career at a small AM radio station in his home state of Alabama, working his way across the midwest, and eventually landing in Chicago.  In 1985, he made headlines as "The Hardest Working Man in Radio" when he worked a morning show in Dallas in addition to his afternoon show in Chicago. His daily commute earned him the nickname "The Fly Jock." In 1994, he convinced ABC Radio to syndicate his program, and The Tom Joyner Show—a mix of comedy music, and guests who range from Stevie Wonder to Tipper Gore—was born.

Freshly minted look, from the beloved author of The Woman’s Book of Courage. Sue Patton Thoele has written a dozen books, sharing the wisdom of her own life and her practice as a therapist. Women of all ages will find reassurance, humor, and stories that help them access the confidence they need to make their lives and dreams their own.

Thoele encourages us to weave a safety net, befriend our fears and see what we can take away from them, become our own parent when we need one, accept what is, and change what we can. These brief meditations, read daily, help reclaim dreams, tap into your intuitive wisdom, and find the strength to live fearlessly each and every day.

Confidence is not some big, abstract “out there” thing, accessible only to movie stars, brainiacs, and billionaires. It’s the stuff daily life is made of. Sue Thoele inspires and encourages us to find and grow our own confidence.

The sequel to How to Ace Calculus, How to Ace the Rest of Calculus provides humorous and highly readable explanations of the key topics of second and third semester calculus―such as sequences and series, polar coordinates, and multivariable calculus―without the technical details and fine print that would be found in a formal text.

The acclaimed author of The Borrower returns with a dazzlingly original, mordantly witty novel about the secrets of an old-money family and their turn-of-the-century estate, Laurelfield. 

“[A] gleeful tale of ghosts, vengeance and family secrets…The darkly funny Makkai seeds the narrative with so many mysteries and surprises...that those 100 years race by.”—People, “The Best New Books”

Meet the Devohrs: Zee, a Marxist literary scholar who detests her parents’ wealth but nevertheless finds herself living in their carriage house; Gracie, her mother, who claims she can tell your lot in life by looking at your teeth; and Bruce, her step-father, stockpiling supplies for the Y2K apocalypse and perpetually late for his tee time. Then there’s Violet Devohr, Zee’s great-grandmother, who they say took her own life somewhere in the vast house, and whose massive oil portrait still hangs in the dining room.

“A big-hearted gothic novel, an intergenerational mystery, a story of heartbreak and a romance, all crammed into one grand Midwestern estate….A juicy and moving story of art and love and the luck it takes for either to last.”—Los Angeles Times

Violet’s portrait was known to terrify the artists who resided at the house from the 1920s to the 1950s, when it served as the Laurelfield Arts Colony—and this is exactly the period Zee’s husband, Doug, is interested in. An out-of-work academic whose only hope of a future position is securing a book deal, Doug is stalled on his biography of the poet Edwin Parfitt, once in residence at the colony. All he needs to get the book back on track—besides some motivation and self-esteem—is access to the colony records, rotting away in the attic for decades. But when Doug begins to poke around where he shouldn’t, he finds Gracie guards the files with a strange ferocity, raising questions about what she might be hiding. The secrets of the hundred-year house would turn everything Doug and Zee think they know about her family on its head—that is, if they were to ever uncover them.

In this brilliantly conceived, ambitious, and deeply rewarding novel, Rebecca Makkai unfolds a generational saga in reverse, leading the reader back in time on a literary scavenger hunt as we seek to uncover the truth about these strange people and this mysterious house. With intelligence and humor, a daring narrative approach, and a lovingly satirical voice, Rebecca Makkai has crafted an unforgettable novel about family, fate and the incredible surprises life can offer.

“An entertaining, ambitious saga ….Makkai’s lyrical prose quietly lifts off the page while her carefully crafted plot charges forward.”—The Boston Gobe
 
“Ingenious…sharp and ambitious….[brimming] with humor and a fondness for hijinks…..Both clever and heartfelt, this is a book with something for pretty much everyone….You will smile, guaranteed.”—Cleveland Plain-Dealer

Offering an alternative to other methods, the Xtreme series is exciting, modern, and inspirational. It features core lessons, true stories, superstar tips, top tens, and a style guru. Not only an introduction to the techniques needed to play each instrument or learn a skill, Xtreme is designed to inspire a passion for music that will transcend many young adults' fads. The reader will be guided through each area in a humorous and informative way. A CD is included with each book. 

In Xtreme Electric Guitar, resident axe master Marshall guides you through a ten-lesson program that covers everything from strumming patterns and barre chords to mastering techniques such as hammer-ons and pull-offs. Xtreme Electric Guitar will arm wannabe rock guitarists with all they will need to reel out those rocking riffs in no time.

The Blue Day Book is a wonderful collection of amusing, poignant animal photos and inspirational text designed to lift the spirits of anyone who's got the blues. No one who has lips will be able to read it without smiling; it's guaranteed.  The fact is, we all have our bad days-they are an intrinsic part of being human. As prescribed by The Blue Day Book in its delightful photo and text messages, the solution is to see each incident in perspective, recognize that our feelings of failure and loss are not unique, acknowledge the absurdities of our existence, and glory in the potential we all have. In less than 100 sentences, The Blue Day Book conveys this message with great compassion and humor. Its vehicle is charming black-and-white photographs of animals that are strangely human and completely free of judgment or pretension. The humble marriage of easy text and beautiful images takes the reader through the entire evolution of a blue day, examines what it feels like, what causes it, and how to get over it.

Bradley Trevor Greive's inspirational humor books are the luminous "little gems". His volumes are refreshingly original creations, driven by innocent (and often hilarious) animal images combined with just a few well-chosen words of text on each page. His "simple" tomes touch readers in a giant way. 

BTG's Tomorrow, extends his remarkable reputation for creating profound books from life's most basic and enduring questions. Tomorrow reflects on staying sane in a world of change, conflict, confusion, and seeming madness. More than dealing with change, though, Tomorrow advises readers on how to maintain their footing and optimism even when the very ground seems to shift beneath their soles.

New and old fans alike will instantly identify with BTG's inviting format and probing insights. It is impossible to read this little book without smiling and laughing out loud.

Tomorrow's topic undoubtedly resonates with seriousness and concern. But BTG's magic includes his proven ability to mix universal themes with fresh perspectives and howlingly funny photos of animals both in and out of the wild. From a truly bizarre-looking baboon to a tiger that abhors lemon drops, the animal personalities in this book act as irresistible partners in delivering the author's message to the very heart of the reader.

Tomorrow will be here before you know it. Tomorrow is the perfect gift book for our time.

"Why Marry?" was the first play by Jesse Lynch Williams and it was difficult to live up to since it won the first Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1918. Originally titled "And So They Were Married" it is a smart and humorous look at society's view of marriage and love and how the two aren't always the same or even appear to be related. While this theme could still be used today, the play probably wouldn't do very well with a modern audience since it is clearly a product of the early 20th century. Nevertheless, for those who enjoy classic plays, this one is certainly well done. The subjects of the play's title are Helen and Ernest. Helen is a woman with a career as Ernest's lab assistant, and the two have fallen in love Helen has become convinced that the worst thing they can do is get married; after all scientists are not paid well and she does not want to disrupt his career or hers. Ernest is more inclined to get married, but Helen is able to sway him with her arguments.

A lot of professors give talks titled "The Last Lecture." Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?

When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave--"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"--wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living.

In this book, Randy Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration and intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an indelible form. It is a book that will be shared for generations to come.

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." --Randy Pausch

Always wanted to be a writer? Stop wasting time and start your writing life today!

“Paulette Perhach is a teacher you can trust. She knows the creative writing process from hard work and constant practice, and everything she says about it rings true. Funny and wise, filled with examples of the joys and sweet agonies of the creative process, Welcome to the Writer's Life is a book both veterans and beginners will enjoy.”
—Charles Johnson, author of The Way of the Writer and Middle Passage

With warmth and humor, the author welcomes you into the writer’s life as someone who has been there on the other side looking in. Like a freshman orientation for writers, this book includes an in-depth exploration of all the elements of a writer's life, from your writing practice to your reading practice, to your writing craft and the all-important and often-overlooked business of writing. Harness the powers of crowdsourcing and social media to grow your writing career, and use the most current research on success, gamification, and lifestyle design to take your writing life to the next level. Complete with writing exercises, tools, checklists, infographics, and behind-the-scenes tips from working writers of all types, this book offers everything you need to jump-start a successful writing life.

“A lively story as delectable as a five-pound box of chocolates . . . a thoroughly engaging chronicle of friendship and the substantive place it holds in women’s lives.”—Anne D. LeClaire,  author of Leaving Eden

The women of Freesia Court are convinced that there is nothing good coffee, delicious desserts, and a strong shoulder can’t fix. Laughter is the glue that holds them together—the foundation of a book group they call AHEB (Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons), an unofficial “club” that becomes much more. It becomes a lifeline. Holding on through forty eventful years, there’s Faith, a lonely mother of twins who harbors a terrible secret that has condemned her to living a lie; big, beautiful Audrey, the resident sex queen who knows that with good posture and an attitude you can get away with anything; Merit, the doctor’s shy wife with the face of an angel and the private hell of an abusive husband; Kari, a wise woman with a wonderful laugh who knows that the greatest gifts appear after life’s fiercest storms; and finally, Slip, a tiny spitfire of a woman who isn’t afraid to look trouble straight in the eye.  

This stalwart group of friends depicts a special slice of American life, of stay-at-home days and new careers, of children and grandchildren, of bold beginnings and second chances, in which the power of forgiveness, understanding, and the perfectly timed giggle fit is the CPR that mends broken hearts and shattered dreams.

“It is impossible not to get caught up in the lives of the book group members. . . . Landvik’s gift lies in bringing these familiar women to life with insight and humor.”—The Denver Post

“A guilty pleasure . . . This light, snappy read may be [Landvik’s] best yet.”—Midwest Living

After being dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Shay Daniels isn't looking to get burned again. But that's before she meets legendary love expert Quinn Anderson at a relationship therapy retreat. Th e jaded travel show host vows to get an exclusive story on the gorgeous, enigmatic Dr. Love.

Shay may not be buying into Quinn's whole relationship philosophy, but boy is he hot. Th en the widowed entrepreneur throws Shay a challenge: he'll teach her the art of seducing a man by becoming her partner in an erotic test run. But he never expects his passionate student to surpass the teacher. Now the only exclusive he'll give is the one on Shay's heart. 

About the Author

An award winning and national best-selling author of over thirty critically acclaimed novels, Celeste O. Norfleet is a prolific writer of both romance and young adult novels. Her young adult novels are realistic with a touch of humor. They depict strong characters with unpredictable plots and have exciting storylines that delve into dramatic fiction reflecting current issues facing American teens. Celeste currently enjoys a quiet life in Virginia with her family.

This book is a collection of passages from lectures by the Dalai Lama. The teacher who speaks here is not the Buddhist philosopher, nor the head of state of the Tibetan people, but the spiritual friend, the one with a sharp, compassionate, and humorous understanding of the human condition. The Dalai Lama answers our concerns about the source of our anxieties, our limitations, the problem of death, and the deepest responsibilities of our lives.

Publisher's Weekly says: "Not a book for beginners in Buddhism, this has considerable, complex depth that transcends the implied simplicity of the subtitle's "Living the Four Noble Truths" by addressing suffering and it cessation. This selection will, however, be of good value to advanced practitioners who can never have too much of a good thing. A notable exception for beginners is the seven pages of "Specific Instructions on Meditation," in which the world's foremost practitioner and proponent of Tibetan Buddhism gives the benefit of his measureless experience in clear, useful terms. For all this cerebral material's weight, the Dalai Lama's charming sense of humor at times pokes through."

Addressing deep spiritual concerns by asking key questions such as How can we end our suffering? How can we become truly compassionate? and Does the potential for happiness lie in our own hands?, this collection of meditative dialogues by the Dalai Lama expands and illuminates the Four Noble Truths in his characteristic voice, known for its sharp yet compassionate charm and good humor. Each passage is a skillful transcription of the Dalai Lama’s eight famous addresses at the Institute Karma Ling in Savoie, France in 1997, and includes the question-and-answer exchanges that followed each speech. Speaking to advanced Buddhist practitioners, each address receives the full benefit of the Dalai Lama’s measureless experience in clear, useful terms.

This book is based partly on Tom Saunders experiences as a leader, teacher, and counselor over the last twenty-five years and the lessons God taught him along the way. Religion paints a very different picture of God than the Bible does. The Bible is a wealth of knowledge and wisdom that leads us through the labyrinth of life if we are willing to heed the advice found within its pages; but, God doesn't force us to follow Him; He gives us a choice...

- Do you feel that religion has put God in a box?

- Are you looking for answers to life's toughest challenges?

- Have you ever considered God's sense of humor?

- Are you excited about being a Christian?

- Are you satisfied with the path you are on?

- Where have your choices led you?

This book is a candid look at these concerns.

The Master Algorithm : How the Quest for the Ultimate Learning Machine Will Remake Our World by Pedro Domingos - Paperback

"Wonderfully erudite, humorous, and easy to read." --KDNuggets

In the world's top research labs and universities, the race is on to invent the ultimate learning algorithm: one capable of discovering any knowledge from data, and doing anything we want, before we even ask. In The Master Algorithm, Pedro Domingos lifts the veil to give us a peek inside the learning machines that power Google, Amazon, and your smartphone. He assembles a blueprint for the future universal learner--the Master Algorithm--and discusses what it will mean for business, science, and society. If data-ism is today's philosophy, this book is its bible.

Review

"Pedro Domingos demystifies machine learning and shows how wondrous and exciting the future will be."―Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs and The Innovators

"An impressive and wide-ranging work that covers everything from the history of machine learning to the latest technical advances in the field."―Daily Beast

"Domingos writes with verve and passion."―New Scientist

"Unlike other books that proclaim a bright future, this one actually gves you what you need to understand the changes that are coming."―Peter Norvig, Director of Research, Google and coauthor of Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach

"Domingos is the perfect tour guide from whom you will learn everything you need to know about this exciting field, and a surprising amount about sience and philosophy as well."―Duncan Watts, Principal Researcher, Microsoft Research, and author of Six Degrees and Everything Is Obvious *Once You Know the Answer 

"[The Master Algorithm] does a good job of examining the field's five main techniques.... The subject is meaty and the author...has a knack for introducing concepts at the right moment."―The Economist

"Domingos is a genial and amusing guide, who sneaks us around the backstage areas of the science in order to witness the sometimes personal (and occasionally acrimonious) tenor of research on the subject in recent decades."―Times Higher Education 

"An exhilarating venture into groundbreaking computer science." ―Booklist, starred review

"[An] enthusiastic but not dumbed-down introduction to machine learning...lucid and consistently informative.... With wit, vision, and scholarship, Domingos decribes how these scientists are creating programs that allow a computer to teach itself. Readers...will discover fascinating insights." ―Kirkus Reviews 

"This book is a must have to learn machine learning without equation. It will help you get the big picture of the several learning paradigms. Finally, the provocative idea is not only intriguing, but also very well argued."―Data Mining Research

About the Author

Pedro Domingos is a professor of computer science at the University of Washington. He is a winner of the SIGKDD Innovation Award, the highest honor in data science. A fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, he lives near Seattle.

"George Twelvetrees Hewes wasn't a midget, but he was close. After his funny exploits during the American Revolution, he wrote a journal, and the author uses this journal to weave his tantalizing true story of those great and little known characters who won our independence from England. People like Revere, John Adams and Hancock were not considered heroes by their co-patriots, whereas the eccentric Otis and the crafty Warren were the real leaders, their names are almost forgotten now. A real insight into the courage, humor and day-to-day lives of our revolutionaries."

How to Clone the Perfect Blonde : Using Science to Make Your Wildest Dreams Come True

Clones of Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz. A robotic housekeeper who makes your bed every morning. A permanent size 6 figure. These are all just fantasies . . . or are they? How much do you really know about gene therapy, artificial intelligence, and bionic modification?
In How to Clone the Perfect Blonde, award-winning journalists Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham show how cutting-edge science will eventually make your wildest dreams come true. With amazing anecdotes and breezy humor, they describe the latest discoveries in biotechnology, quantum mechanics, cryogenics, nanotechnology, wormholes, and much more -- complete with ironic "instructions" on How to Build a Robotic Servant, How to Live Forever, How to Turn Back Time, and more. You'll be amazed to learn how many of these "fantasies" are already well within our reach.
In the tradition of bestselling pop-science books such as The Physics of Star Trek and How to Build a Time Machine, this entertaining read explores the science of science fiction -- and proves that anything is possible!