Greetings from Amazon.com Delivers Biographies and Memoirs Editor, Jordana Moskowitz FEATURED IN THIS E-MAIL: * What We're Reading: "'Tis," by Frank McCourt; "Lady Bird: A Biography of Mrs. Johnson," by Jan Jarboe Russell; and "My First 79 Years," by Isaac Stern * Mandela's Legacy: Amazon.com explores the impact of South Africa's first black president on his country and its people * Move Over, Bill Gates: "Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller Sr.," by Ron Chernow, is out in paperback * Code Dependant: British cryptographer Leo Marks discusses code making and breaking during WWII * Bad Trips: The most compelling tales of adventure gone bad * Biography Bestsellers * Memoir Bestsellers WHAT WE'RE READING ****************** "'Tis" by Frank McCourt http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684848783/entertainmentsit With the publication of "'Tis," "Angela's Ashes" fans' thirst for more of Frank McCourt's story should at long last be slaked. McCourt recalls his life in America, starting inauspiciously with his arrival in New York as a penniless, pimpled teenager. "Lady Bird: A Biography of Mrs. Johnson" by Jan Jarboe Russell http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684814803/entertainmentsit Lady Bird Johnson's life has been marked by dramatic transitions: LBJ asked her to marry him on their first date; she was unexpectedly thrust into the White House after Kennedy's assassination. "Lady Bird" makes clear that she is an intelligent and determined woman who was instrumental in her husband's success. "My First 79 Years" by Isaac Stern; written with Chaim Potok http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0679451307/entertainmentsit Isaac Stern's passions for the violin, classical music, and projects like rescuing Carnegie Hall from demolition fairly sing from the pages of his memoir, "My First 79 Years," coauthored by novelist Chaim Potok. MANDELA'S LEGACY **************** Nelson Mandela's life story is one of the most inspiring of our times: a tireless champion for a peaceful South Africa, he became an icon of freedom and justice, even during his 27-year-long imprisonment. On the occasion of the publication of Anthony Sampson's "epic biography" of the leader, South African journalist Michael Morris writes about some of the man's conflicts and the impact the first black president of South Africa has had on his country and its people. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search/?keyword=nelson+mandela&tag=entertainmentsit "Mandela: The Authorized Biography" by Anthony Sampson http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375400192/entertainmentsit MOVE OVER, BILL GATES ********************* A century before Windows, John D. Rockefeller controlled 90 percent of America's oil industry--and if you thought the Justice Department's Microsoft probe was tough, try going up against a muckraking investigation led by Theodore Roosevelt. Ron Chernow's "Titan," newly published in paperback, offers rich new insights into how the world's first billionaire amassed his fortune. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search/?keyword=titans&tag=entertainmentsit "Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller Sr." by Ron Chernow http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0679757031/entertainmentsit More recent paperback biographies and memoirs are at: Biographies & Memoirs CODE DEPENDANT ************** British cryptographer Leo Marks spent the Second World War making and breaking codes in London in "some potty outfit in Baker Street, an open house for misfits," as he recounts in his memoir, "Between Silk and Cyanide." In an exclusive interview with Amazon.com's Kerry Fried, Marks discusses espionage, Operation Periwig, and the connection between those two and the film "Peeping Tom." http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search/?keyword=leo+marks&tag=entertainmentsit "Between Silk and Cyanide" by Leo Marks http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684864223/entertainmentsit "Peeping Tom" directed by Michael Powell http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6302969255/entertainmentsit BAD TRIPS ********* From "The Last Place on Earth," the story of Scott and Amundsen's race to the frigid top of the world, to Linda Greenlaw's memoir of battling an angry sea, the saga of an adventure gone bad holds powerful sway over readers. We've compiled a list of the most intriguing and compelling of these tales, so batten down the hatches--you're in for quite a ride. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search/?keyword=misadventure&tag=entertainmentsit "The Last Place on Earth" by Roland Huntford http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375754741/entertainmentsit "The Hungry Ocean" by Linda Greenlaw http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0786864516/entertainmentsit BIOGRAPHY BESTSELLERS ********************* "Bill and Hillary: The Marriage" by Christopher Andersen http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0688167551/entertainmentsit Christopher Andersen draws on important sources--many speaking here for the first time--to take readers on a fascinating journey inside the world's most talked-about marriage. "Diana in Search of Herself" by Sally Bedell Smith http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0812930304/entertainmentsit All of the excruciating details in this biography--including Smith's analysis of how long the Dodi and Diana match would have lasted, had they not been killed that night in Paris-- seem to be carefully researched and attributed when the source allows it, and build to the grand crescendo of the book, in which Smith proffers her diagnosis of the princess's mental health. "Caravaggio: A Life" by Helen Langdon http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0374118949/entertainmentsit Helen Langdon's marvelous biography suggests that rather than destroying painting, the Milanese artist gave it a new lease on life. MEMOIR BESTSELLERS ****************** "Front Row at the White House" by Helen Thomas http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684849119/entertainmentsit With the publication of this book, the general public finally gets an opportunity to learn about how Helen Thomas came to such a prestigious position as the United Press International correspondant. "The Miracle of Castel di Sangro" by Joe McGinniss http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316557366/entertainmentsit Even those who have no interest in soccer will relish the author's vivid account of a team from Castel di Sangro, a tiny town in Italy's poorest region, that against all expectations made it to the national competition. "Rocket Boys" by Homer H. Hickam Jr. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/038533320X/entertainmentsit This story of a young miner's son who liked to build rockets and grew up to be a NASA engineer is rich in humor as well as warm sentiment. More biography and memoir bestsellers are at: Biographies & Memoirs ****** You'll find more great books, articles, excerpts, and interviews in Amazon.com's Biographies & Memoirs section at Biographies & Memoirs
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