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I’D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE
Aug 26, 2010 -- 9:28am
Since her debut, Laura Lippman’s work has won scores of awards and acclaim. Beloved for her classic Baltimore-based series featuring the tough and tenacious P.I. Tess Monaghan, she uses her stand-alone novels to tell intense, morally ambiguous stories centered on women who could be the readers’ friends or neighbors. Now in her latest, I’D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE, Laura Lippman crafts a complex study of guilt, anger and forgiveness. And she asks readers to contemplate what they might do if given the power to decide what justice really is.
THE STORY: The arrival of a slim, neatly addressed envelope, containing what her children refer to as a “real letter,” at Eliza Benedict’s home collapses her hard-fought sense of safety. The letter is from Walter Bowman, the man who kidnapped Eliza the summer she was fifteen. From the moment she was taken Eliza vowed to do whatever it took to remain alive. It worked: She survived and Bowman’s two other victims were killed. Eliza has walled off this part of her past, yet can never forget Bowman’s final victim, Holly Tackett, whose murder led to Walter’s death sentence. When Walter begins pressuring Eliza to communicate with him, her instinct is to refuse. But her more pressing concern is to protect her children, who know nothing of her past. She agrees to write back, then take his phone calls, but each new privilege only leads Walter to press for more, increasingly intimate contact. Eliza is troubled to discover that she can’t quite say no to Walter, and not just because he hints that he might be close to confessing to other crimes of which he has long been suspected. Eliza realizes she is desperate to ask Walter a question that only he can answer: Why was she allowed to live? Haunting and provocative I’D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE affirms Laura Lippman’s reputation as an astute chronicler of the secrets concealed in seemingly ordinary lives.
About the Author: Laura Lippman was a reporter for twenty years, including twelve years at the Baltimore Sun. Her Tess Monaghan books: By a Spider's Thread, The Last Place, The Sugar House, Baltimore Blues, Charm City, Butchers Hill, No Good Deeds, and In Big Trouble have won every major mystery prize including the Edgar, Shamus, Agatha, Anthony, and Nero Wolfe awards, and her novel In a Strange City was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. She is also the author of four previous stand-alone novels: To the Power of Three, Every Secret Thing and What the Dead Know (winner of the Quill Award for Best Mystery)
THE BEST KIND OF DIFFERENT
Aug 13, 2010 -- 9:17am
In THE BEST KIND OF DIFFERENT (William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; on-sale March 23, 2010), Shonda Schilling, wife of retired Boston Red Sox All-Star pitcher Curt Schilling, shares the painful and joyous story of her son Grant's struggle with Asperger's Syndrome, how it changed the lives of her and her husband, and what other parents can learn about this increasingly common diagnosis.While Asperger's has been part of the psychological lexicon since the early 1980s, it has only been in the last decade that people have begun to diagnose it on a much larger scale. Part of the dramatic rise in autism diagnoses, Asperger's falls high on the autism spectrum, meaning that it can often go misunderstood or misdiagnosed because the children seem typical in many other ways. Until the summer of 2007, the word “Aspergers” was not part of Shonda Schilling’s vocabulary, but that summer changed everything. By then, her household was in chaos as her son Grant spiraled out of control. His acting out and refusal to listen had grown to epic proportions, but even worse was his apparent inability to relate to the people around him. None of the Schillings’ other three kids ever acted like Grant; his behavior wasn’t just unruly, it was irrational. Complicating matters was the fact that Shonda’s husband Curt was constantly on the road pitching for the Boston Red Sox, so he wasn’t always around to see Grant’s behavior firsthand. Seemingly everyone Shonda encountered had an opinion — “he’s too spoiled,” “he needs a good spanking,” “he needs more discipline” — but a disastrous first attempt at summer camp told Shonda something was definitely wrong. It was then that a neurologist diagnosed Grant with Asperger’s Syndrome. In THE BEST KIND OF DIFFERENT Shonda details every step in her family’s journey through Asperger’s, offering an intimate and candid portrait of this condition from a parent’s point of view. Shonda chronicles Grant’s early years, confronts the guilt and pain that engulfed her after learning of her son’s condition, and celebrates Grant’s success in the two years since his diagnosis. With insight and helpful advice for parents, she provides an honest and moving glimpse inside her family—as two parents struggle to understand the complex beauty of their son.
THE BEST KIND OF DIFFERENT discusses:
- Shonda and Curt’s surprising reaction to learning their then 7-year-old son Grant has Asperger's syndrome
- What it’s like in a household where all four of the Schilling children, as well as Curt, have ADHD
- Shonda and Curt's post-diagnosis guilt as they learned they’d been incorrectly parenting Grant for years
- How Shonda and Grant both wound up on medication, one for depression, the other for ADHD
- Shonda’s embarrassment of Grant’s behavior in public, especially with the added pressure of everyone knowing who they are because of Curt’s MLB status
- How as the wife of a MLB star, Shonda was essentially a single parent for years, and how the realities of life in a baseball family made the situation with Grant even more difficult
- How the Schilling’s eldest son Gehrig, developed anorexia in the middle of the family's struggle with the Asperger's diagnosis and how they discovered it
- How the couple went into marriage counseling to save their relationship
- The real reason why Curt Schilling retired from baseball
About the Authors:
Shonda and Curt Schilling have been married for seventeen years. In addition to her newfound work raising awareness about Asperger’s syndrome, Shonda is a survivor of malignant melanoma skin cancer, an experience which led her to create the Shade Foundation of America. Curt is a retired All Star pitcher who has won three World Series titles and has pitched for teams including the Philadelphia Phillies, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Boston Red Sox. They have four children and live in Medfield, MA.
BEST KIND OF DIFFERENT: Our Family’s Journey with Asperger’s Syndrome
by Shonda Schilling , introduction by Curt Schilling
Sizzling Sixteen
Jul 26, 2010 -- 7:00am
Just in time for Summer beach reading, Janet Evanovich will be releasing her newest novel Sizzling Sixteen from her Stephanie Plum series! Trenton, New Jersey, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has inherited a “lucky” bottle from her Uncle Pip. Problem is, Uncle Pip didn’t specify if the bottle brought good luck or bad luck...
BAD LUCK:
Vinnie, of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, has run up a gambling debt of $786,000 with mobster Bobby Sunflower and is being held until the cash can be produced. Nobody else will pay to get Vinnie back, leaving it up to Stephanie, office manager Connie, and file clerk Lula to raise the money if they want to save their jobs.
GOOD LUCK:
Being in the business of tracking down people, Stephanie, Lula, and Connie have an advantage in finding Vinnie. If they can rescue him, it will buy them some time to raise the cash.
BAD LUCK:
Finding a safe place to hide Vinnie turns out to be harder than raising $786,000. Vinnie’s messing up Mooner’s vibe, running up pay-per-view porn charges in Ranger’s apartment, and making Stephanie question genetics.
GOOD LUCK:
Between a bonds office yard sale that has the entire Burg turning out, Mooner’s Hobbit-Con charity event, and Uncle Pip’s lucky bottle, they just might raise enough money to save the business, and Vinnie, from ruin.
BAD LUCK:
Saving Vincent Plum Bail Bonds means Stephanie can keep being a bounty hunter. In Trenton, this involves hunting down a man wanted for polygamy, a turnpike toilet paper bandit, and a drug dealer with a pet alligator named Mr. Jingles.
GOOD LUCK:
The job of bounty hunter comes with perks in the guise of Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, and the dark and dangerous security expert, Ranger. With any luck at all, Uncle Pip’s lucky bottle will have Stephanie getting lucky---the only question is . . . with whom?
Sizzling Sixteen . . . so hot, the pages might spontaneously combust!
About Janet - Janet Evanovich is the #1 Bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum novels, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author. She lives in New Hampshire and Florida.
The Genius in All of Us
Jul 23, 2010 -- 10:49am
The debate over "Nature vs. Nurture "is over. The paradigm of "innate talent" is dead. With THE GENIUS IN ALL OF US: Why Everything You've Been Told About Genetics, Talent, and IQ is Wrong, David Shenk shrugs off out-dated concepts of genes, inborn intelligence, and proves what we all wanted to believe was true: that talent is not a thing, but a process. Shenk heralds a revolutionary and deeply optimistic message based in scientific findings and research of how we develop and can ultimately flourish.
David Shenk is a national-bestselling author. His books include The Forgetting ( "remarkable" ...Los Angeles Times), Data Smog ( "indispensable " ...New York Times) and most recently, The Immortal Game ( "superb" ...Wall Street Journal). His blog "The Genius in All of Us" is featured on The Atlantic.com.
Both astonishing and liberating, Shenk's concept of human potential has direct, lasting significance and makes THE GENIUS IN ALL OF US a profoundly important and compelling read.
Five Surprising Truths about Talent and Intelligence from THE GENIUS IN All OF US
Genes don't work the way you think they do.
Contrary to what we've been taught, genes do not determine physical and character traits on their own. Rather, they interact with the environment in
a dynamic, ongoing process that produces and continually refines an individual. Genes are not blueprints; rather, they are switches that get turned on and off. Knowing this as scientists now do, the concept of innate intelligence and talent no longer makes biological sense.
IQ is not innate. Intelligence is all about developing abilities.
IQ tests measure certain academic abilities, not inborn aptitude -- as the inventor of IQ recognized a century ago. IQ scores can change, and the brain can be trained to do remarkable things. Busting through the myths of innate intelligence allows us to understand that there is enormous potential in virtually every human being.
Talent is not a thing, but a process.
The legend of great achievers like Mozart and Ted Williams is that they were natural-born geniuses. But looking closely at their lives tells a very
different story. Talents are not innate gifts, but the result of a slow, invisible gathering of skills developed from the moment of conception and continuing through adulthood. Everyone is born with differences, to be sure, and some with unique advantages for certain tasks. But no one is genetically designed into greatness and very few are biologically restricted from attaining it. Most importantly, no individual can possibly know what his/her own limits are until they develop powerful ambition, get first-class training, and learn how to practice in a particular way for many, many years.
Failure is your friend.
Most of us get discouraged and give up when we encounter serious disappointment or a stinging loss. It turns out that high achievement
demands an entirely different attitude toward failure: embracing it. Aspiring to excel means that you have to learn to actually want to experience failure, to revel in it. In the sometimes counterintuitive world of success and achievement, weaknesses are opportunities. The only true failure is giving up. The great success stories in our world come about when individuals learn to turn straight into the wind and gain satisfaction from
marching against its ever-increasing force.
Parenting pitfalls and opportunities
As parents, we all want our children to be happy and to excel. While we certainly cannot guarantee success for our children, there is much we can do to foster it.
1. Have faith in your child. Rather than wonder if their child is among the "gifted," chosen few, each parent should believe deeply in the extraordinary
potential of his or her children. Without that parental faith, it is highly unlikely that significant achievement will occur.
2. Support, Don't Smother. Fostering prodigy-like talent at an extremely early age has serious risks and drawbacks in the long run.
3. Don't attach love or affection to achievement.
4. Teach persistence.
5. Avoid instant gratification. Model self-control. Behave as you'd want your child to behave, now and in the future. Don't buy, eat, grab whatever
you want whenever you want it. The more self-control you demonstrate, the more your child will absorb.
"David Shenk sweeps aside decades of misconceptions about genetics, and shows that by overstating the importance of genes, we've understated the potential of ourselves. The enius in All of Us is a persuasive and inspiring book that will make you think anew about your own life and our shared future."
...Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and A Whole New Mind
GxE IS THE NEW NAME OF THE GAME: We know now that our environment and practice have a drastic effect on our genetic composition and our talent potential. Genes are not blueprints that bless some and doom others. Instead, genes multiplied by our environment (GxE) produces an outcome. Intelligence is malleable and human potential is not predetermined.
THE PROOF IS IN THE SCIENCE: THE GENIUS IN ALL OF US utilizes in-depth research in cognitive science, psychology, and genetics to explain and analyze the science behind the concept of human potential. Shenk breaks down complex scientific theories and conveys them in an immediate and accessible way.
MYTH-BUSTING: Throughout, Shenk dissects common myths from Mozart and other child prodigies to Jamaican runners' "giftedness" to misleading twin studies. Instead, like with his examples of Ted Williams and Michael Jordan, he convincingly proves how apparent phenomenon can be explained by GxE.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE FUTURE: Shenk reveals the GxE implications for parents, educators, and policy makers, and what it means for the human race overall as the developing field of epigenetics proves that our environment can not only impact our genes, but can also biologically alter them.
Both astonishing and liberating, Shenk's concept of human potential has direct, lasting significance and makes THE GENIUS IN ALL OF US a profoundly important and compelling read.
Five Surprising Truths about Talent and Intelligence from THE GENIUS IN All OF US
Genes don't work the way you think they do.
Contrary to what we've been taught, genes do not determine physical and character traits on their own. Rather, they interact with the environment in
a dynamic, ongoing process that produces and continually refines an individual. Genes are not blueprints; rather, they are switches that get turned on and off. Knowing this as scientists now do, the concept of innate intelligence and talent no longer makes biological sense.
IQ is not innate. Intelligence is all about developing abilities.
IQ tests measure certain academic abilities, not inborn aptitude -- as the inventor of IQ recognized a century ago. IQ scores can change, and the brain can be trained to do remarkable things. Busting through the myths of innate intelligence allows us to understand that there is enormous potential in virtually every human being.
Talent is not a thing, but a process.
The legend of great achievers like Mozart and Ted Williams is that they were natural-born geniuses. But looking closely at their lives tells a very
different story. Talents are not innate gifts, but the result of a slow, invisible gathering of skills developed from the moment of conception and continuing through adulthood. Everyone is born with differences, to be sure, and some with unique advantages for certain tasks. But no one is genetically designed into greatness and very few are biologically restricted from attaining it. Most importantly, no individual can possibly know what his/her own limits are until they develop powerful ambition, get first-class training, and learn how to practice in a particular way for many, many years.
Failure is your friend.
Most of us get discouraged and give up when we encounter serious disappointment or a stinging loss. It turns out that high achievement
demands an entirely different attitude toward failure: embracing it. Aspiring to excel means that you have to learn to actually want to experience failure, to revel in it. In the sometimes counterintuitive world of success and achievement, weaknesses are opportunities. The only true failure is giving up. The great success stories in our world come about when individuals learn to turn straight into the wind and gain satisfaction from
marching against its ever-increasing force.
Parenting pitfalls and opportunities
As parents, we all want our children to be happy and to excel. While we certainly cannot guarantee success for our children, there is much we can do to foster it.
1. Have faith in your child. Rather than wonder if their child is among the "gifted," chosen few, each parent should believe deeply in the extraordinary
potential of his or her children. Without that parental faith, it is highly unlikely that significant achievement will occur.
2. Support, Don't Smother. Fostering prodigy-like talent at an extremely early age has serious risks and drawbacks in the long run.
3. Don't attach love or affection to achievement.
4. Teach persistence.
5. Avoid instant gratification. Model self-control. Behave as you'd want your child to behave, now and in the future. Don't buy, eat, grab whatever
you want whenever you want it. The more self-control you demonstrate, the more your child will absorb.
"David Shenk sweeps aside decades of misconceptions about genetics, and shows that by overstating the importance of genes, we've understated the potential of ourselves. The enius in All of Us is a persuasive and inspiring book that will make you think anew about your own life and our shared future."
...Daniel H. Pink, author of Drive and A Whole New Mind
GxE IS THE NEW NAME OF THE GAME: We know now that our environment and practice have a drastic effect on our genetic composition and our talent potential. Genes are not blueprints that bless some and doom others. Instead, genes multiplied by our environment (GxE) produces an outcome. Intelligence is malleable and human potential is not predetermined.
THE PROOF IS IN THE SCIENCE: THE GENIUS IN ALL OF US utilizes in-depth research in cognitive science, psychology, and genetics to explain and analyze the science behind the concept of human potential. Shenk breaks down complex scientific theories and conveys them in an immediate and accessible way.
MYTH-BUSTING: Throughout, Shenk dissects common myths from Mozart and other child prodigies to Jamaican runners' "giftedness" to misleading twin studies. Instead, like with his examples of Ted Williams and Michael Jordan, he convincingly proves how apparent phenomenon can be explained by GxE.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE FUTURE: Shenk reveals the GxE implications for parents, educators, and policy makers, and what it means for the human race overall as the developing field of epigenetics proves that our environment can not only impact our genes, but can also biologically alter them.
Christ Bars None
Jul 02, 2010 -- 7:40amWhen the sickening thud of the prison cell door fades, and all that’s left is a hopeless inmate and time to think, that’s when the grace and mercy of God are often at their greatest. Christ Bars None tells the compelling, true stories of prison inmates who have gleaned hope from hopeless situations. It also tells the stories of the blessed chaplains who have helped the inmates find the Lord. Christ Bars None is a fascinating collection of information only a prison insider could relate.This book is a must for anyone who knows - or wants to know - God’s greatness, Christ’s transforming power, and the Holy Spirit’s inerrant guidance. Author Mark Vernarelli has won Emmy awards for his compassionate and thorough storytelling during 23 years of television news work.
To hear part 1 of the interview with Mark Vernarelli click here
To hear part 2 of the interview with Mark Vernarelli click here
To hear part 3 of the interview with Mark Vernarelli click here
The Book of Awesome
Jun 21, 2010 -- 8:12am1000 Awesome Things is the blog by Neil Pasricha that celebrates the simple things in life -- the smell of gasoline, thinking it’s Thursday when it’s really Friday, wearing underwear just out of the dryer, or finding treasures in your Spring jacket pocket.
A self-described “average guy” with a typical 9-to-5 job in the suburbs, Pasricha started his blog, 1000 Awesome Things, as a small reminder of the free, easy little joys that make life sweet. Today, his site has a readership of over 10 million people, has won two Webby Awards (“the Internet’s highest honor” according to The New York Times), was named one of PC Magazine’s Top 50 Blogs, and has become a place where people from around the world go to celebrate the simple pleasures of daily life.
Now, Pasricha’s awesome things have made their way into the world of books with THE BOOK OF AWESOME. Combining classic entries from the website with new content and photographs, THE BOOK OF AWESOME is a much-needed reminder of life’s happy little moments -- a hilarious and heartfelt thumbs-up for the awesomeness of everyday life.
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