The fourteen personal stories in this delightful coming of age book apply universal elements with characters and situations that everyone will recognize so that only the names, places and times change from our own childhood stories.
Jim May writes the stories of his youth, growing up in the rural Midwest between the Truman and the JFK eras, where trading stories was as common as trading horses, and frequently required the same skills. Neighboring, as his mother called it, was part of the social fabric. These 18 poignant and humorous stories of life's joys and trials told with the freshness of youth, yet tempered with the wisdom of age evoke a simpler time in our nation's history without romanticizing the inherent hardships.
This collection of African-American folktales highlights the unbroken chain of a rich oral tradition. The stories share the richness and variety of a cultural heritage that has crossed the Atlantic, survived slavery, and triumphed over the ignorance of racism and bigotry.
Highly acclaimed, award winning author Donald Davis wants us all to remember and share our family stories. Among other tall tales, he writes about how his uncle hung onto the multitudinous Democratic votes of the Ratherton clan while at the very same time keeping them from shooting Davis' squirrels in a lean year; how he got Phyleete, wife Jolly, their eleven sub-natural sons and one forgettably natural daughter to move their log house from the unlikely place they'd built it; and how he tried to solve the problem of the chatty Misses Lena and Lucy Leatherwood, who clogged up the eight-party telephone line so badly that Uncle Frank paid for his new phone four months before he ever got the chance to talk on it. Davis offers seventeen vintage family stories, including Rainy Weather, The Southern Bells, and Old Man Hawkins' Lucky Day.
High John the Conqueror sometimes called simply High John or John was a slave trickster who always outwits Old Master. Much like Greek slave Aesop's animal characters, High John was the subject of a series of subversive narratives, whose mission was to outsmart his oppressors. Tall tales of High John's exploits flourished during slavery, but after emancipation they fell out of circulation and his antics were all but forgotten.
An eye-opening exploration of the history of the 1909-founded SIS and other British espionage agencies, investigating their typical training and tools as well as the escapades of famous spies.
An examination of the weapons, tactics, and strategies used in the ongoing war against Islamic extremists, from guerilla combat and suicide bombings to high-tech weapons and new laws.
A look at potential future developments in architecture, including self-contained cities, as well as computerized blueprints and other technologies that are currently considered state-of-the-art.
A look at potential future developments in warfare, including advancements in robot technology, as well as satellite-guided bombs and other technologies that are currently considered state-of-the-art.
An eye-opening exploration of the history of the 1942-founded CIA and other American espionage agencies, investigating their typical training and tools as well as the escapades of famous spies.
A look at potential future developments in medicine, including the use of nanotechnology, as well as genetic mapping and other technologies that are currently considered state-of-the-art.
A look at potential future developments in communication, including holograms, as well as the Global Positioning System and other technologies that are currently considered state-of-the-art.
An eye-opening exploration of the history of the 1951-founded Mossad and other Israeli espionage agencies, investigating their typical training and tools as well as the escapades of famous spies.
An eye-opening exploration of the history of the 1954-founded KGB and other Russian espionage agencies, investigating their typical training and tools as well as the escapades of famous spies.
A look at potential future developments in transportation, including privately operated spacecraft, as well as electric cars and other technologies that are currently considered state-of-the-art.
A look at potential future developments in space exploration, including settlements on Mars, as well as orbiting telescopes and other technologies that are currently considered state-of-the-art.
A survey of the highlights and legendary athletes--such as Cuban Teófilo Stevenson--of the Olympic sport of boxing, which officially became a part of the modern Summer Games in 1904.
An examination of the differences in religious and political beliefs between Western nations and Islamic extremists, as well as the ways in which information is shared and manipulated.
A survey of the highlights and legendary athletes--such as American Michael Phelps--of the Olympic sport of swimming, which officially became a part of the modern Summer Games in 1896.
A survey of the highlights and legendary athletes--such as Romanian Nadia Comaneci--of the Olympic sport of gymnastic, which officially became a part of the modern Summer Games in 1896.
An examination of controversial issues and events that have arisen during the ongoing war against Islamic extremists, spotlighting such topics as prisoner treatment and the invasion of Iraq.
An examination of some of the most prominent people in the ongoing war against Islamic extremists, spotlighting such figures as George W. Bush, Osama bin Laden, and Saddam Hussein.
A survey of the highlights and legendary athletes--such as Brazillian Oscar Schimdt--of the Olympic sport of basketball, which officially became a part of the modern Summer Games in 1936.
A survey of the highlights and legendary athletes--such as Soviet Yuri Chesnokov--of the Olympic sport of volleyball, which officially became a part of the modern Summer Games in 1964.
An examination of events that helped create the ongoing war against Islamic extremists, from early-20th-century Western imperialism in the Middle East through escalating terrorist attacks.
