Ghost Front - Charles Whiting - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

Civil War Barons - Jeffry D. Wert - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

Before the robber barons there were Civil War barons--a remarkable yet largely unknown group of men whose contributions won the war and shaped America''s future. The Civil War woke a sleeping giant in America, creating unprecedented industrial growth that not only supported the struggle but reshaped the nation. Energized by the country''s dormant potential and wealth of natural resources, individuals of vision, organizational talent, and capital took advantage of the opportunity that war provided. Their innovations sustained Union troops, affected military strategy and tactics, and made the killing fields even deadlier. Their ranks included men such as: John Deere , whose plows helped feed large armies Gail Borden , whose condensed milk nourished the Union army The Studebaker Brothers , whose wagons moved war supplies from home front to war front Robert Parrott , whose rifled cannon was deployed on countless battlefields. and many others. Individually, these men came to dominate industry and amass great wealth and power; collectively, they helped save the Union and refashion the economic fabric of a nation. Utilizing extensive research in manuscript collections, company records, and contemporary newspapers, historian Jeffry D. Wert casts a revealing light on the individuals most responsible for bringing the United States into the modern age.

The Defeat Of Imperial Germany, 1917-1918 - Rod Paschall - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

"Genuinely original perspectives on and insight into WWI''s blood-soaked endgame."-- Kirkus January 1917. On the Western Front the armies of Imperial Germany, Great Britain, and France were locked in grim stalemate. Repeated attempts by both sides to achieve breakthrough in the face of machine-gun fire, barbed wire, long-range artillery, and poison gas had brought only enormous casualties. The Defeat of Imperial Germany focuses on the innovative plans created by generals on both sides in their struggles to dislodge the entrenched enemy and to restore maneuver and victory on the Western Front. In a series of vivid analyses of successive offensives, Paschall examines the problems of command and what happened when the massed soldiery sought to carry out their orders. These strategies and tactics developed by the military leadership in 1917-1918, though largely failing to shatter the deadlock, would prove successful when implemented twenty years later in World War II. The first volume in the Major Battles and Campaigns series published under the general editorship of John S.D. Eisenhower, The Defeat of Imperial Germany has been designed for the "armchair strategist." Dozens of photographs, many never before published, as well as clearly drawn theater and battlefield maps help to make this book an outstanding, challenging, and original contribution to the history of the Great War. Introduction by John S. D. Eisenhower

Impact - Benjamin King - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

During World War II, when the V1s and V2s soared in their thousands against London, Antwerp and other targets, they were launched by Germans who had made a technological leap over their Allied scientific counterparts. Ultimately, as the German front fell back, the V launch-sites and factories were overrun. Nevertheless, for a time, the Germans had wielded a revolutionary new weapon that we now know pointed to the future of warfare. This intensely researched book overturns many of the myths about the V-weapons by tracing their development under pressure, their employment in combat, and the massive effect their existence had on operations.

The Ambulance Drivers - James Mcgrath Morris - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

After meeting for the first time on the front lines of World War I, two aspiring writers forge an intense twenty-year friendship and write some of America''s greatest novels, giving voice to a "lost generation" shaken by war. Eager to find his way in life and words, John Dos Passos first witnessed the horror of trench warfare in France as a volunteer ambulance driver retrieving the dead and seriously wounded from the front line. Later in the war, he briefly met another young writer, Ernest Hemingway, who was just arriving for his service in the ambulance corps. When the war was over, both men knew they had to write about it; they had to give voice to what they felt about war and life. Their friendship and collaboration developed through the peace of the 1920s and 1930s, as Hemingway''s novels soared to success while Dos Passos penned the greatest antiwar novel of his generation, Three Soldiers . In war, Hemingway found adventure, women, and a cause. Dos Passos saw only oppression and futility. Their different visions eventually turned their private friendship into a bitter public fight, fueled by money, jealousy, and lust. Rich in evocative detail -- from Paris cafes to the Austrian Alps, from the streets of Pamplona to the waters of Key West -- The Ambulance Drivers is a biography of a turbulent friendship between two of the century''s greatest writers, and an illustration of how war both inspires and destroys, unites and divides.

My Story Of The War - Mary Livermore - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

"Provides a testament to the enormous and wide-ranging contributions made by Union women and suggests how these women began to undermine traditional conceptions of womanhood."--Nina Silber When secessionist chaos turned to bloodshed in 1861, Mary A. Livermore (1820-1905), editor, lecturer, and abolitionist, left her family and volunteered for the U.S. Sanitary Commission, becoming one of a handful of women to achieve national prominence and a position of leadership within the Commission. Her efforts-from nursing wounded soldiers at the front to organizing the Sanitary Fairs that raised more than a million dollars for relief work-earned the respect of Grant, Sherman, and Lincoln. My Story of the War presents Livermore''s remarkable war experiences, including personal reminiscences of Grant, Lincoln, "Mother" Bickerdyke, and Dorothea Dix; and chronicles the vast and varied wartime activities of women-their work as nurses, their agricultural labors, and even their military contributions. In a vivid, anecdotal style Livermore reveals the everyday operations of military hospitals while preserving the individual stories of healers, soldiers, patients, and refugees. Superbly designed, generous in its use of soldiers'' letters, and supplemented by illustrations and histories of nearly fifty Union and Confederate regimental flags, My Story of the War appeals to a broad range of Civil War enthusiasts, but stands most firmly as an invaluable testament to women''s power to carve out an impressive sphere of influence behind the lines and at the front.

The Healing Power Of Movement - Lisa Hoffman - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

Recent clinical studies show that exercise rather than rest may be the best therapy for someone undergoing cancer treatments. The Healing Power of Movement addresses this significant shift in care recommendations and clearly illustrates fifty specific exercises-from simply sitting up or moving in bed to walking or lifting light weights-for different stages of cancer treatments, and for many different types of cancers. Written in consultation with a leading oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Center in Manhattan and based on practical advice gleaned from the front lines of the author''s physical-therapy practice, The Healing Power of Movement will be recommended and empowering reading for all cancer patients, whether they are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, or are recovering from surgery.

Frederick The Great On The Art Of War - Jay Luvaas - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

Frederick the Great (1712-1786), King of Prussia, initiated the Seven Years'' War in 1756; outfought the formidable French, Russian, and Austrian armies aligned against him; and established Prussia as a major power, thereby decisively influencing the next two centuries of European history. He was also a brilliant military thinker whose observations arose from extensive battlefield experience.This volume presents a balanced selection from Frederick''s writings on strategy, tactics, and mobility; the problems of logistics and a two-front war; the combined use of infantry, cavalry, and artillery; the history of the Prussian army; the critical battles of the Seven Years'' War; generalship as an art; and much more. A majority of this material is translated here for the first time in English and available nowhere else. The result is an invaluable glimpse into the inner thoughts of a military genius.

Bipolar Kids - Rosalie Greenberg - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

Once considered an adult illness, bipolar disorder is one of the fastest growing categories in child psychiatry, touching the lives of an estimated one million children. But often it goes misdiagnosed, and kids can be prescribed medication that only worsens the condition. With her twenty-five years' experience, child psychiatrist Rosalie Greenberg offers parents and professionals alike an innovative approach to help bipolar youngsters locate that elusive inner calm. Gathering stories from families on the front lines, she shows parents how best to navigate the peaks and valleys of the disorder, addresses family relationships, and guides parents in making meaningful choices about their child's education and treatment options. A masterful book that recognizes the brilliance and creativity in bipolar kids, it will give hope that every child can, with the proper interventions, lead a full, productive life.

Thomas Morris Chester, Black Civil War Correspondent - R.j.m. Blackett - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

In 1864 the Philadelphia Press commissioned Thomas Morris Chester, son of an ex-slave to cover the activities of black troops on the Virginia front. The only black correspondent for a major daily during the Civil War, Chester covered the crucial final year of the war around Richmond. His dispatches constitute the most sustained and extensive first-hand account of black soldiers in existence. As the war came to a close, Chester richly described the responses of Confederate troops and civilians to encounters with black soldiers, as he joined the black troops of the 25th Army Corps as they led the victorious Union forces into Richmond. In this volume, R.J.M. Blackett provides a concise biography of Chester and reproduces in annotated form his Civil War dispatches, which are remarkable for their detail and their graphic accounts of the destruction, the excitement and the liberation of the Civil War experience.

The Resistance Training Revolution - Sal Di Stefano - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

Burn fat, build lean, sexy muscles, lose inches, and feel healthier, more energetic, and youthful than you ever have in your life…with a revolutionary new approach to resistance training. Tired of spending hours on the treadmill? Dealing with the joint paint of high impact exercise? And seeing very few results in terms of fat-burning and weight loss? If so, it’s time to join the revolution. Brought to you by Sal Di Stefano, the founder of the mega popular Mind Pump podcast, The Resistance Training Revolution reveals how resistance training is the best form of exercise to burn fat, boost metabolism, and achieve health benefits you cannot obtain from other forms of exercise. Di Stefano breaks down fitness misconceptions, shares his decades of industry knowledge, and brings you a comprehensive, accessible guidebook that will give you the body you’ve always wanted—in as little as 60 minutes a week. This book features: - Over 60 fat-burning, metabolism-boosting workouts you can do at home to sculpt your body and maximize your health and longevity - Raw fitness truths that will show you what works and what doesn’t. You’ll be shocked at how easy it is to build lean muscle and lose fat once you understand these truths, and once you train your body the right way - The newly discovered health benefits of resistance training in terms of heart health, bone strength, joint protection, and especially antiaging - The exact formula for nutrition that makes losing fat, while sculpting your body a breeze and for the long term. - Dozens of self-assessments to track your progress, and much more The Resistance Training Revolution also reveals how to optimize your workout time following Mind Pump’s Muscular Adaptation Programming System (MAPS)—a system that ensures that you keep making progress without the frustrating plateaus. Isn’t it time you joined the revolution?

Winston Churchill Reporting - Simon Read - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

Long before his finest hour as Britain''s wartime leader, Winston Churchill emerged on the world stage as a brazen foreign correspondent, covering wars of empire in Cuba, India, the Sudan, and South Africa. In those far-flung corners of the world, reporting from the front lines between 1895 and 1900, Churchill mastered his celebrated command of language and formed strong opinions about war. He thought little of his own personal safety, so convinced was he of his destiny, jumping at any chance to be where bullets flew and canons roared. "I have faith in my star that I am intended to do something in the world," he wrote to his mother at the age of twenty-three before heading into battle. Based on his private letters and war reportage, Winston Churchill Reporting intertwines young Winston''s daring exploits in combat, adventures in distant corners of the globe, and rise as a major literary talent experiences that shaped the world leader he was to become.

Foot Soldier - Roscoe C. Blunt - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

Through the prism of ultimate victory, the greatest generation that fought World War II has been seen as triumphant. But the brutal reality of the war as endured by combat infantrymen has remained little documented. In Foot Soldier , Roscoe C. Blunt provides an all-too-rare glimpse into the experience of fighting at the Allied front. Nineteen-year-old "Rockie" arrived on the continent in November 1944, when burnt-out U.S. vehicles still littered the beaches. His 84th Infantry Division fought at the Roer, through the Battle of the Bulge, and at the crossing of the Rhine all the way to the Elbe; he was briefly taken prisoner by an SS Panzer unit. Drawing upon his numerous letters home and the journals he scrawled in foxholes and tents, he has given us one of the most detailed, immediate accounts of the Second World War ever written, a memoir sure to take its place among the classics of war literature.

The War North Of Rome - Thomas Brooks - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

The British had a song for it: "Oh, we are the D-Day Dodgers," based on a comment from a female member of Parliament that dismissed all those not on the beaches at Normandy as draft evaders. Indeed, after the invasion of France the Allied armies in Italy found themselves in a forgotten theater of war. Until now, their eleven-month saga of bitter combat and gallant sacrifice has been ignored.The problem for the Allies was that the fall of the Italian capital on June 4, 1944- although a spectacular public relations triumph- did not end the campaign. The Germans had simply conducted a short strategic withdrawal, conceding one objective while proceeding to fortify additional defense lines.From Salerno to Rome, and most famously at Cassino, the Germans took advantage of the mountains, ridges and rivers that crisscross Italy to exact every drop of blood from the Allied forces. Although the press was no longer paying attention, in the north of Rome the process of continued Allied offensives met by a German resistance that alternated between ferocity and flexibility.A notable feature of the combat in Italy was the large mixture of Allied nationalities involved. Although the American Fifth and the British Eighth Armies were the major forces, on different parts of the line fought South Africans, Canadians, Greeks, Nisei, Jews, Poles, French, Gurkhas, Indians and others. The first U.S. black division fought here, as well as the Brazilian contingent (a curiosity to the Germans, who constantly probed their front). The War North of Rome features a forward by Senator Bob Dole, who fought in this neglected theater of war. He was one of 364 wounded (98 killed) in his regiment''s attack on a series of German-held hills. Though he barely survived the battle he states, "I always felt I was fortunate . . ."By the time Allied forces vanquished the enemy in Italy, Russian soldiers were already dancing on Hitler''s grave. Nevertheless, our young men north of Rome fought as bravely, and suffered as much, as troops on any front in WWII. Their record of courage and sacrifice is described here in a long-overdue, comprehensive account.

Panzer Operations - Erhard Raus - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

Drawing from post-war reports commissioned by U.S. Army intelligence, World War II historian Steven H. Newton has translated, compiled, and edited the battle accounts of one of Germany''s finest panzer commanders and a skilled tactician of tank warfare. Throughout most of the war, Erhard Raus was a highly respected field commander in the German-Soviet war on the eastern front, and after the war he wrote an insightful analysis of German strategy in that campaign.The Raus memoir covers the Russian campaign from the first day of the war to his relief from command at Hitler''s order in the spring of 1945. It includes a detailed examination of the 6th Panzer Division''s drive to Leningrad, Raus''s own experiences in the Soviet winter counteroffensive around Moscow, the unsuccessful attempt to relieve Stalingrad, and the final desperate battles inside Germany at the end of the war. His battlefield experience and keen tactical eye make his memoir especially valuable for scholars, and his narrative is as readable as Heinz Guderian''s celebrated Panzer Leader.

Four Years With The Iron Brigade - Sherry Murphy - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

The recently discovered journal of William Ray of the Seventh Wisconsin is the most important primary source ever of soldier life in one of the war''s most famous fighting organizations. No other collection of letters or diaries comes close to it.Two days before his regiment left Wisconsin in 1861, the twenty-three-year-old blacksmith began, as he described it, "to keep account" of his life in what became the "Iron Brigade of the West." Ray''s journal encompasses all aspects of the enlisted man''s life-the battles, the hardships, the comradeship. And Ray saw most of the war from the front rank. He was wounded at Second Bull Run, again at Gettysburg, and yet a third time in the hell of the Wilderness. He penned something in his journal almost every day-occasionally just a few lines, at other times thousands of words. Ray''s candid assessments of officers and strategy, his vivid descriptions of marches and the fighting, and his evocative tales of foraging and daily army life fill a large gap in the historical record and give an unforgettable soldier''s-eye view of the Civil War.

Where Dreams Die Hard - Carlton Stowers - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

Down Farm Road 308, an hour''s drive south of Dallas, amidst sprawling fields of cotton lies a small community--Penelope, Texas (population 211). Here, where the only thriving businesses are the granary and the post office, unless you count the soft-drink machine in front of the fire station, two-time Edgar Award-winning writer Carlton Stowers discovered a special town that came together, not only to support their six-man highschool football team--the Penelope Wolverines--through thick and a lot of thin, but also, and more importantly, each other. Where Dreams Die Hard is a warm and revealing portrait of the American heartland--and of one small town''s love affair with the team that unites it. "Through his unforgettable depiction of innocence, goodness, loyalty, and friendship...Carlton Stowers gives us a moving portrait of a community that, in the words of one of the Penelope faithful, is like ''stepping into a Norman Rockwell painting.''" (Billie Letts, author of Where the Heart Is ) "High school football in Texas is both sport and religion, and Stowers brilliantly brings this to light in Where Dreams Die Hard." (Jim Dent, author of The Junction Boys )

Staying Connected to Your Teenager (Revised Edition) - Michael Riera - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

At last, a book of sage advice that will help frustrated parents reconnect with their teenager and keep that connection even in today''s often-crazy world.The first step is simple: realizing that inside every teen resides two very different people-the regressed child and the emergent adult. The emergent adult is seen at school, on the playing field, in his first job, and in front of his friends'' families. Unfortunately, his parents usually see only the regressed child-moody and defiant-and, if they''re not on the lookout, they''ll miss seeing the more agreeable, increasingly adult thinker in their midst.With ingenious strategies for coaxing the more attractive of the two teen personalities into the home, family psychologist Mike Riera gives new hope to beleaguered and harried parents. From moving from a "managing" to a "consulting" role in a teen''s life, from working with a teen''s uniquely exasperating sleep rhythms to having real conversations when only monosyllables have been previously possible, Staying Connected to Your Teenager demonstrates ways to bring out the best in a teen-and, consequently, in an entire family.

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn (New edition) - Penny Simkin - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

Parents love this book because it puts them in control; experts love it because it''s based on the latest medical research and recommendations from leading health organizations. Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn provides the information and guidance you need to make informed decisions about having a safe and satisfying pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period--decisions that reflect your preferences, priorities, and values.Unlike pregnancy guides that can overwhelm and alarm by telling you up front all the things that can possibly go wrong, this book first describes normal, healthy processes, their typical variations, and the usual care practices for monitoring them. Only then does it cover possible complications and the care practices and procedures for resolving them. Throughout, the presentation is crystal-clear, the tone is reassuring, and the voice is empowering. And the language is inclusive, reflecting today''s various family configurations such as single-parent families, blended families formed by second marriages, families with gay and lesbian parents, and families formed by open adoption or surrogacy. From sensible nutrition advice to realistic birth plans, from birth doulas when desired to cesareans when needed, from reducing stress during pregnancy to caring for yourself as well as your baby after birth, this pregnancy guide speaks to today''s parents-to-be like no other.

Staying Sane When You're Dieting - Evelyn Fazio - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

Have you ever told yourself that bingeing after 10 p.m. doesn''t really count? You''re not alone. Good intentions and logic fly out the window when you''re hungry. Now, from the front lines of dieting hell, here are true stories to get you over dieting hurdles large and small. Funny, encouraging, and motivating, this book satisfies the dieter''s appetite for distraction until they''ve reached their weight goal. Misery loves company and sometimes the only advice we''ll take is from someone who has already stood in our shoes. Whether it is about giving up smoking, trying to lose weight, or having in-laws move in for a month, the Staying Sane series provides readers with just this kind of been-there, done-that commiseration. Each Staying Sane volume is filled with sometimes humorous (laughter is the best medicine, after all!), sometimes inspiring but always sanity-saving success stories of how other people have overcome obstacles or have risen above the situations in question. Practical tips and coping strategies lighten the reader''s load throughout. Bibliotherapy of the first order, the Staying Sane guides will support beleaguered readers as they strive to persevere through the duration of their particular challenge.

Blood - Allison Moorer - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

The Grammy- and Academy Award- nominated singer-songwriter''s haunting, lyrical memoir, sharing the story of an unthinkable act of violence and ultimate healing through art Mobile, Alabama, 1986. A fourteen-year-old girl is awakened by the unmistakable sound of gunfire. On the front lawn, her father has shot and killed her mother before turning the gun on himself. Allison Moorer would grow up to be an award-winning musician, with her songs likened to "a Southern accent: eight miles an hour, deliberate, and very dangerous to underestimate" ( Rolling Stone ). But that moment, which forever altered her own life and that of her older sister, Shelby, has never been far from her thoughts. Now, in her journey to understand the unthinkable, to parse the unknowable, Allison uses her lyrical storytelling powers to lay bare the memories and impressions that make a family, and that tear a family apart. Blood delves into the meaning of inheritance and destiny, shame and trauma -- and how it is possible to carve out a safe place in the world despite it all. With a foreword by Allison''s sister, Grammy winner Shelby Lynne, Blood reads like an intimate journal: vivid, haunting, and ultimately life-affirming.

The Power of Positive Confrontation - Barbara Pachter - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

The step-by-step guide to tackling conflict-personal or professional-including a section on navigating sticky situations online .When slighted, misunderstood, cut in front of, annoyed, taken advantage of, or treated rudely, most people avoid their bosses, ignore coworkers, change hairdressers, complain to friends, pound their fists, or rant on social media. They often miss the most positive, effective alternative of all: confronting positively. Now, for everyone who was never taught or never realized that between "bully" and "wimp" is a range of behavior that is positive, dignified, and effective for dealing with life''s bothersome situations, there is The Power of Positive Confrontation. This book teaches you the vital skills you need to confront others, communicate effectively, and live a more conflict-free life. In this updated edition, communications expert Barbara Pachter shares a practical, step-by-step guide to tackling conflicts in any situation. The Power of Positive Confrontation reveals:The consequences of not confronting or of confronting negatively;How to accurately assess what is bothering you and why;Three essential steps of polite and powerful confrontation;Vital verbal and nonverbal skills that make or break communication, including common language pitfalls;Strategies for assertive communication, whether face to face, in writing, by phone, or online.

Business is Personal - Bethenny Frankel - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

A New York Times bestselling author and successful businesswoman shares the advice she used to build a business and maintain balance as a media personality, mogul, and mother. Consider this book your strategic toolbox, full of Bethenny’s smartest and most practical no-nonsense business principles and tactics, illustrated through her own compelling stories and lessons from the entrepreneurial front and experience building the successful Skinnygirl and Bethenny brands, becoming a successful television and podcast producer, and managing her philanthropic foundation. She also shares wisdom from her conversations with highly accomplished people from Mark Cuban to Hillary Clinton, Candace Bushnell to Matthew McConaughey and many more, on what it takes to be successful at every level in an authentic way. So many women, including stay-at-home moms yearning for more, entrepreneurs, and 9-to-5ers see this time of disruption as an open road. As Bethenny says, the snow globe has been shaken. This is THE handbook to navigate what will come next. Whether you are new to business, a seasoned rainmaker, pivoting from a loss or layoff– or just finding your way– you will find value within these pages. This book will inspire you to act without fear, turn mistakes into masterstrokes, and keep you laughing along the way.

Joshua Chamberlain - Edward Longacre - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

Joshua Chamberlain''s exploits on Little Round Top have gained worldwide fame since the release of the film Gettysburg. Several books on Joshua Chamberlain have appeared in recent years, but most have been either hero-worship or have relied too heavily on his own account of his actions.Edward Longacre has joined the front ranks of American Civil War historians with The Cavalry at Gettysburg, General John Buford, and Custer and his Wolverines. Now he provides the first biography of Joshua Chamberlain that places his Civil War career in the full context of his life before and after the war, explores all aspects of his character, and draws on independent, and occasionally contradictory, eyewitness accounts of his battlefield actions. Previously unknown aspects of Chamberlain''s experiences before the war and at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and Appomattox are presented to a wider audience here for the first time. Edward Longacre''s meticulous research suggests that Chamberlain''s own accounts of some of his actions can no longer be taken entirely at face value and that his character had a darker side, but the various flaws and failings of Chamberlain the real man as recounted here serve in the end to emphasize rather than diminish the remarkable nature of his accomplishments.

Innocent When You Dream - Perseus - Bog - Hachette Books - Plusbog.dk

The first collection of writings about Tom Waits -- interviews, profiles, conversations, and more -- spanning the artist''s thirty-year career in music, film and theater Over the past three decades, Tom Waits has achieved the kind of top-shelf cult status most artists only dream about. In his varied career, he has acted alongside Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, and Lily Tomlin; his songs have been covered by artists as diverse as Bruce Springsteen, Sarah McLachlan, the Eagles, and the Ramones; he''s won two Grammys, a Golden Globe, and been nominated for an Oscar; he''s coined unforgettable phrases like "better a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy" and "champagne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends"; and he''s made anyone who''s ever listened to his music just that much cooler. Here is Tom Waits in all his mischievous splendor. From a New Yorker "Talk of the Town" in 1976 to an interview by Terry Gilliam in 1999; from album reviews by Luc Sante and David Fricke to conversations with Elvis Costello and Roberto Benigni; from a recent profile in GQ to "20 Questions" in Playboy and poems by Charles Bukowski that perfectly captures the Waitsian world , this is the must-have book for every fan of the artist Beck has described as a "luminary," and for music fans everywhere.