Other books that might interest you

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  Walden

  Henry David Thoreau

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  "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." 
   
  "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. 
   
  "Walden" is a literary masterpiece written by the American philosopher and naturalist Henry David Thoreau. It is a book that chronicles Thoreau's experience of living a simple life in a cabin on the shores of Walden Pond in Massachusetts for two years. Thoreau writes about his experiences fishing, hunting, and farming, as well as his observations of the wildlife and natural beauty around him. He also discusses his philosophical beliefs, including his ideas about individualism, self-reliance, and the importance of living in harmony with nature. One of the central themes of "Walden" is the idea that simplicity is the key to a fulfilling life. Thoreau argues that people often become distracted by the material trappings of modern society and lose sight of what truly matters. By living a simple life, Thoreau suggests that people can reconnect with nature, cultivate their creativity and imagination, and develop a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. Another important theme of the book is the idea of self-reliance. Thoreau believes that people should be self-sufficient and not rely on others for their basic needs. He advocates for a life of independence and individualism, arguing that people should strive to be self-reliant and not be swayed by societal pressures. Thoreau also explores the concept of time. He believes that time is a precious resource that should be used wisely. He encourages people to spend their time engaged in meaningful pursuits, such as reading, writing, and contemplation, rather than being consumed by the trivialities of daily life.

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  Hot Lights Cold Steel - Life...

  Michael J. Collins MD

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  When Michael Collins decides to become a surgeon, he is totally unprepared for the chaotic life of a resident at a major hospital. A natural overachiever, Collins's success, in college and medical school led to a surgical residency at one of the most respected medical centers in the world, the famed Mayo Clinic. But compared to his fellow residents Collins feels inadequate and unprepared. All too soon, the euphoria of beginning his career as an orthopedic resident gives way to the feeling he is a counterfeit, an imposter who has infiltrated a society of brilliant surgeons.This story of Collins's four-year surgical residency traces his rise from an eager but clueless first-year resident to accomplished Chief Resident in his final year. With unparalleled humor, he recounts the disparity between people's perceptions of a doctor's glamorous life and the real thing: a succession of run down cars that are towed to the junk yard, long weekends moonlighting at rural hospitals, a family that grows larger every year, and a laughable income.

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  Ulysses S Grant - The War Years

  Michael W. Simmons

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  Apart from Abraham Lincoln the most famous name of the Civil War is undoubtedly that of Ulysses S. Grant. He was the first Lieutenant General created by the American army since George Washington. After the war, he was the only president between Lincoln and Woodrow Wilson to be elected to two successive terms in office. His legacy as a military strategist is unparalleled to this day: American victory in the first and second world wars was achieved by upholding the strategic doctrine of overwhelming force that Grant established in his relentless pursuit of Robert E. Lee during the Overland campaign. 
  In this book, which focuses exclusively on Grant’s military career, you will read about the young infantry officer and quartermaster who served in the Mexican-American War under Zachary Taylor, whose common-sense approach to leadership would serve as a role model for Grant’s own command style. You will also read the highlights of every major battle Grant fought during the Civil War, including his great victories at Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh, and Chattanooga, his near disastrous failure at Cold Harbor, and at last the long campaign through a Wilderness and beyond that ended in Lee’s surrender at Appomattox in 1865.

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  Surviving the Nazi Onslaught -...

  Carole McEntee-Taylor

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  Ted Taylor, 1st Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, was sent to France in May 1940 as part of Calais Force. Initially sent to open up supply lines to the rapidly retreating BEF, they soon found themselves defending Calais against the might of the 10th Panzer Division. Outnumbered by at least three to one they held out for 4 days until they ran out of ammunition and were forced to surrender.For the next five years Ted found himself part of the huge slave labour force in Poland under the administration of Stalag XXA and Stalag XXB. Life in the POW camps bore little resemblance to the cheerful films of the 1950s with casual brutality never far from the surface. As 1945 began and the war entered its final bloody phase, the POWs dared to believe that at last they might be going home. But fate had one more cruel trick to play.As the Russians approached rapidly from the east, the terrified Germans evacuated the camps and, in temperatures below -25c, began marching the malnourished, poorly-clothed POWs back across Europe. The infamous 'death marches' to freedom across the frozen, chaotic, war ravaged landscape of Eastern Europe had begun.

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  Two Years Before the Mast

  Jr. Richard Henry Dana

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  While there are many books upon the subject of sea life, there are few that can compare with Two Years Before the Mast. It is the story of a sailor's life from the forecastle, not a captain, nor a passenger, but a regular hand. The book was a great favorite with the jack tar of Dana's day, and two thousand copies are said to have been sold to Liverpool sailors in a single day. Even those who haven't the faintest idea what reefing topsail is, or which is starboard and which larboard, will find it an engaging story of an era long past told in simple narrative style. (Summary by BethAnne) 
   
  Dedicated Proof-Listener: Gesine & Rapunzelina 
  Meta-Coordinator/Cataloging: Jc Guan & TriciaG

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  Algren - A Life

  Mary Wisniewski

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  Chicago Writers Association Nonfiction Book of the Year (2017) Society of Midland Authors Literary Award in Biography (2017) A tireless champion of the downtrodden, Nelson Algren, one of the most celebrated writers of the 20th century, lived an outsider's life himself. He spent a month in prison as a young man for the theft of a typewriter; his involvement in Marxist groups earned him a lengthy FBI dossier; and he spent much of his life palling around with the sorts of drug addicts, prostitutes, and poor laborers who inspired and populated his novels and short stories. Most today know Algren as the radical, womanizing writer of The Man with the Golden Arm, which won the first National Book Award, in 1950, but award-winning reporter Mary Wisniewski offers a deeper portrait. Starting with his childhood in the City of Big Shoulders, Algren sheds new light on the writer's most momentous periods, from his on-again-off-again work for the WPA to his stint as an uninspired soldier in World War II to his long-distance affair with his most famous lover, Simone de Beauvoir, to the sense of community and acceptance Algren found in the artist colony of Sag Harbor before his death in 1981. Wisniewski interviewed dozens of Algren's closest friends and inner circle, including photographer Art Shay and author and historian Studs Terkel, and tracked down much of his unpublished writing and correspondence. She unearths new details about the writer's life, work, personality, and habits and reveals a funny, sensitive, and romantic but sometimes exasperating, insecure, and self-destructive artist. The first new biography of Algren in over 25 years, this fresh look at the man whose unique style and compassionate message enchanted readers and fellow writers and whose boyish charm seduced many women is indispensable to anyone interested in 20-century American literature and history.

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