Legends of the Wild West


Book Description

For several hundred years, the West had been the land of dreams, an extraordinary region of hope, expansion and opportunity where European countries—and then the young USA itself—sent their finest explorers to plant seeds in a seemingly untapped, open landscape. This spirit captured the popular imagination in the Wild West, those raucous 30 years between the end of the Civil War and the beginning of a new century. Within these pages, readers will explore true tales of rebels and heroes such as General George Custer, Buffalo Bill, Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Annie Oakley, and Sitting Bull, among others. The Wild West was the American Dream on steroids. It was an age of gunfights and gold rushes, cowboys and Comanches, with the likes of Buffalo Bill, Jesse James and Billy the Kid making their names. It forged extraordinary legends and even bigger lies, with everything fueled by dime novels written back East that encouraged folks to grab their share of a promise that was difficult for this hard land to keep. This book looks at all these mythical characters, the start of the railroad across the nation, the cost it all dealt to the Native Americans whose land was lost, and the way Hollywood still keeps the dream alive. As historian Richard White says, “People could go west and no matter their failures elsewhere, they had an opportunity to remake themselves. It’s a symbol for a kind of individualism that actually doesn’t exist in the West, but mythically it does.”




Women & Weed


Book Description

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the newfound power of buying and using pot. So, first things first - here's a basic look at the plant. What is it? Where has it been? And how do you use it? Even if you consider yourself a pro, a little refresher could not hurt. As cannabis moves towards legalization and declining social stigma, the green rush has ignited an entrepreneurial spark and that means blazing new trails, and inspiring others. Entrepreneurs are known for heading out into uncharted territory with superhuman dedication. Add to that the grey area of working in the cannabis industry and you’ve got possibilities…challenging but feasible. One thing is for certain, women are flocking to the industry and don’t mind working in high-risk, unchartered territory. Women are starting businesses, growing and extracting, working in real estate and the medical community. Today, at least 25% of executive-level roles in the industry are held by women and that is a slight edge over U.S. businesses as a whole (23%). However, when it comes to cannabis, it’s rarely obvious what to do next in the ever-changing political, social and medical scene, and, traditionally a woman would have relied on herself when challenges arise. In this premium book, the power of personal narratives brings a better understanding to these complex issues. When asked to share their own stories within the context of the industry, the women on these pages made connections between their own biographies and the industry, and happily pass on that knowledge. Maybe the reader will see herself in these pages or perhaps she is still learning and unlearning. (Don’t worry, we’ve got a primer for you!) Either way, readers will soon realize that they are not alone and there are resources to get more involved.




Forever Lucy


Book Description

Celebrate the woman behind the iconic character: a comic genius, perfectionist, loyal wife and friend, savvy businesswoman and devoted mother. We’ll explore how the shy girl from Jamestown, N.Y., made the move from model to showgirl to B-movie actress and ultimately became the undisputed Queen of Comedy; tell how she fell head-over-heels for a Cuban dynamo and the two went on to realize the greatest show-business success story ever. More than thirty years after her death, Lucille Ball still reigns supreme as the Queen of Comedy. The first woman to run a major Hollywood studio is best known for her iconic television series I Love Lucy, but the New York native worked for years as a model, chorus girl and supporting actress in the movies before finding superstardom on the small screen. Forever Lucy takes a look back at the Hollywood treasure's life, from her tumultuous early days being raised by a widowed mom, to her bit parts in Fred Astaire and Marx Brothers movies, to her love affair with a Cuban bandleader named Desi Arnaz and their overwhelming success as America's most beloved TV couple. We explore what drove Lucy to break down barriers in Tinseltown and her career resurgence in the 1970s and '80s. This book examines the public and private life of a beloved Hollywood legend. It is the remarkable story of a comic genius who was light-years ahead of her time.




LIFE Secret Societies


Book Description

Mysterious and insular associations are a phenomenon as old as the pyramids. People have formed clandestine organizations, with idiosyncratic rules, rites and practices that have attracted the wealthy, respected, and powerful. From Freemasons and Knights Templar, to Sons of Liberty, Black Hand, and Skull and Bones, these groups have been religious, political, nefarious or just plain silly, and now this special edition from LIFE unlocks the door to these secretive worlds. From those organizations that were hidden behind the Founding Fathers that helped shape the course of history to those that have dabbled in the occult, this beautifully illustrated edition takes you deep inside these fascinating organizations.







Feel-Good Superfoods


Book Description

Let these supercharged ingredients, in their array of vibrant colors, paint a pretty picture of health and vitality for you. The culinary revolution of the past decade has taught us to appreciate high-quality food over inferior industrial ingredients lacking flavor and nutrition. More than ever, food shoppers want to buy foods that are supremely delicious and highly nutritious. Enter superfoods. Power-packed, heart-healthy and disease-fighting, they help us feel satisfied and energized all day long! This premium book guides readers through the world’s healthiest superfoods and how to choose and use them in a comprehensive A (avocado) to Z (zucchini) glossary complete with nutrition information, kitchen tips, and simple recipes anyone can make. From common and inexpensive fruits and veggies to potent and exotic superfood powders that deliver tremendous bang for the buck, this book teaches consumers what they need to know to start incorporating amazing superfood ingredients into their daily diet. And more importantly, it makes readers feel better about consuming what are commonly thought of as vices (like coffee and chocolate) thanks to some surprising health benefits.




Centennial


Book Description

NATIONAL BESTSELLER Written to commemorate the Bicentennial in 1976, James A. Michener’s magnificent saga of the West is an enthralling celebration of the frontier. Brimming with the glory of America’s past, the story of Colorado—the Centennial State—is manifested through its people: Lame Beaver, the Arapaho chieftain and warrior, and his Comanche and Pawnee enemies; Levi Zendt, fleeing with his child bride from the Amish country; the cowboy, Jim Lloyd, who falls in love with a wealthy and cultured Englishwoman, Charlotte Seccombe. In Centennial, trappers, traders, homesteaders, gold seekers, ranchers, and hunters are brought together in the dramatic conflicts that shape the destiny of the legendary West—and the entire country. BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from James A. Michener's Hawaii. Praise for Centennial “A hell of a book . . . While he fascinates and engrosses, Michener also educates.”—Los Angeles Times “An engrossing book . . . imaginative and intricate . . . teeming with people and giving a marvelous sense of the land.”—The Plain Dealer “Michener is America’s best writer, and he proves it once again in Centennial. . . . If you’re a Michener fan, this book is a must. And if you’re not a Michener fan, Centennial will make you one.”—The Pittsburgh Press “An absorbing work . . . Michener is a superb storyteller.”—BusinessWeek




Entertainment Weekly The Ultimate Guide to Harry Potter


Book Description

The world of Harry Potter had grown deeply meaningful for those who came of age using Hogwarts's four houses as shorthand for personality types and seeing the shadow of Voldemort in real-world acts of oppression. For them, Harry Potter is not just a series of books and movies and merchandise but a way of sortingright from wrong that they can remember and draw on for the rest of their lives. For countless readers, Platform 93/4 has served as a gateway into a world in which conflicts between good and evil unfold not in the distant past but the here and now. But it's also doubled as an invitation to explore a long tradition of fantasy literature, fable, folklore and myth, a tradition in which Harry and his friends are now ensconced. Like Oz and Narnia before it, it's a world destined not only to enchant one generation of readers but to be passed down from one to the next. There's magic in that that nothing can undo.




Tarzan: The Centennial Celebration


Book Description

Celebrating one hundred years of Tarzan, Titan Books presents the only official commemorative illustrated history of this worldwide phenomenon. To celebrate the Lord of the Jungle's 100th birthday, internationally-acclaimed Edgar Rice Burroughs expert Scott Tracy Griffin presents the ultimate review of a century of Tarzan. Lavishly illustrated and with fascinating insight into every element of Burroughs' extraordinary legacy - from his first writings to the latest stage musical - this is a visual treasure trove of classic comic strip, cover art, movie stills, and rare ephemera. From the first publication of the smash hit Tarzan of the Apes, Burroughs' ape man captured the hearts and the imaginations of adults and children across the globe, whether by written word, moving image, comic strip or radio. Each of the 24 original novels and the many varied appearances on stage, screen and in print receive a detailed commentary, illustrated with some of the most evocative and beautiful artworks, illustrations and photographs, many rarely seen in print before. With features on Korak, Jane, Tantor and Cheetah, plus their innumerable friends, foes and exotic adventures, this is an amazing collection of all things Tarzan and a vital addition to any Tarzan-lover's library.