For forty-three years, Francis I of Austria ruled a vast heterogenous Empire that came to dominate the continent of Europe. Ascending Charlemagne’s thousand-year throne of the Holy Roman Empire at the age of twenty-four on the unexpected death of his father, this scion of the ancient Habsburg dynasty became the first Emperor of Austria and for two years, the only Double Emperor in history. Both the father in law of Napoleon Bonaparte and his chief rival for dominance of the continent of Europe, Francis eventually led a coalition of nations to Paris in 1814 and sent Napoleon into exile. The exiled Napoleon’s only son and heir lived with his grandfather thereafter in Vienna until his tragic early death. Kings, ministers, generals and the glitterati of Europe gathered under his watchful eye at the Congress of Vienna to decide the fate of a continent in the wake of the Napoleonic Wars in which he played a pivotal role. The Congress saw the emergence of his new Austrian Empire as the most dominant power in continental Europe until long after his death twenty years later. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, his modest lifestyle and simple tastes that set the tone of the Biedermeier era concealed a complex and calculating ruler whose initial, cautious liberalism gradually evolved into a stoic conservatism. No other life-biography in English has been written about this mysterious but powerful figure of early 19th century Europe whom Metternich and Radetzky called their master.
This gripping true story--a surprise #1 Amazon New Releases Top Seller--takes readers on an emotional journey of triumph and self-discovery. A 14-year-old boy learns to fly gliders and develops as a top sailplane racing pilot to emerge from the shadow of his All-American father. After a violent crash on the national stage alters his life forever, he battles failure and overcomes adversity while redefining success as a pilot, as a professional, as a Boston Marathon veteran, as a husband and father, and, ultimately, as a man. This compelling account of that tragic day and its aftermath will inspire and motivate readers, who will: Learn how to overcome their own life's challenges and never give up on their dreams. Be emotionally moved by the compelling tale of personal growth and transformation. Gain a newfound appreciation for the power of resilience. Enjoy an uplifting and heart-warming story of success in the face of adversity. Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air is beloved by those who will never set foot on Mt. Everest. Likewise, Goodbye, Papa Golf is: A flying book for pilots and non-pilots. A marathoning book for runners and non-runners. An adventure story written in the universal human language of doubt, fear, success, tragedy, failure, comeback, triumph, love, and ultimate redemption in a remarkable life's journey. If you'd like an insider's look at the somewhat arcane sports of flying gliders and running marathons or simply need an uplifting tale to spur you to pursue your own dreams, read this book now!
SHORTLISTED: Business Book Awards 2022 - International Business Book category CATEGORY SILVER WINNER: Axiom Awards 2022 - Business Commentary Category The greatest challenge facing leaders is activating and actioning purpose based brands to the people who matter inside the company and out. Recent statistics prove that more than 87% of consumers would purchase a product because a company advocated for an issue they cared about, and more than two-thirds would refuse to do so if the company supported an issue contrary to their beliefs. We live in an age of activism - the conscious consumer is more socially aware than ever before, and this is reflected in their buying habits. Yet, activism on behalf of brands is lagging. While many claim to be 'purpose driven', far too often this purpose is relegated to a plaque above the CEO's desk, and never goes any further. Or, worse, the 'purpose' is transparently used as a marketing ploy, but never acted upon in any real way. Activate Brand Purpose shows readers how to transform their brand's purpose into meaningful action by sparking a company wide cultural movement, beginning internally and permeating externally. Regardless of whether your purpose is lofty and socially conscious, or all business, focus on galvanizing people, and they will respond if you can prove that you care about that purpose, and that you're working to realize it, rather than simply chasing the next dollar. This book contains a clearly explained, proven framework that will make this happen.
“A zany and provocative cultural history” of LA’s infamous air pollution and the struggle to combat it from the 1940s to today (Kirkus). The smog beast wafted into downtown Los Angeles on July 26, 1943. Nobody knew what it was. Secretaries rubbed their eyes. Traffic cops seemed to disappear in the mysterious haze. Were Japanese saboteurs responsible? A reckless factory? The truth was much worse—it came from within, from Southern California’s burgeoning car-addicted, suburban lifestyle. Smogtown is the story of pollution, progress, and how an optimistic people confronted the epic struggle against airborne poisons barraging their hometowns. There are scofflaws and dirty deals aplenty, plus murders, suicides, and an ever-present paranoia about mass disaster. California based journalists Chip Jacobs and William J. Kelly highlight the bold personalities involved, the corporate-tainted science, the terrifying health costs, the attempts at cleanup, and how the smog battle helped mold the modern-day culture of Los Angeles.
“Inside this mesmerizing tale of sexual desire and discovery, naive newlyweds Henry and Effie are honeymooning in Cape May, N.J., in 1957, tentatively navigating intimacy. Then they meet Clara and Max, hard-partying lovers who dazzle the innocent pair until they’ve lost more than their virginity. Cheek’s sensual first novel leaves you wanting more.” – PEOPLE "Henry and Effie’s honeymoon is meant to be their introduction to the pleasures of the body, but in the company of Clara and her promiscuous cohort they lose all track of boundaries. A dozy, luxurious sense of enchantment comes over the story, until the rude awakening at its finale.... Cape May does something better than critique or satirize: It seduces." – The Wall Street Journal Cape May is a raw, provocative portrayal of a young 1950s couple on the cusp of a sexual awakening, and the temptations that upturn their honeymoon and reshape their marriage. In this erotic and intimate debut novel, a naïve southern couple is exposed to a group of raucous, debauched urbanites. Arriving for their honeymoon in Cape May, New Jersey, during the off season, Henry and Effie are startled to find the beach town deserted. The abandoned homes and desolate beaches make them shy of each other, and, isolated in their new marriage, they decide to cut their trip short. But before they leave, they encounter their glamorous, sensual neighbors and become swept up by their drama. Clara, a beautiful socialite who feels her youth slipping away; Max, a wealthy playboy and Clara’s lover; and Alma, Max’s aloof, mysterious, and evocative half-sister, to whom Henry is irresistibly drawn. Slowly, agonizingly, these deeply-flawed, profoundly human characters pull Henry and Effie out of themselves and expose them to a side of desire they never expected. While they discover new truths in each other and in their marriage, the empty beach town becomes their playground. And as they sneak into the vacant summer homes, go sailing, walk naked under the stars, make love, and drink an enormous amount of gin, Henry and Effie slip from innocence into betrayal, with irrevocable consequences. Seductive and moving, this is a novel about marriage, love, raw sexuality, and the ways in which desire and betrayal can reverberate endlessly throughout our lives.
1980. US Naval warships ply the Pacific and Indian Oceans to and from battle-station off the coast of fundamentalist Iran. On one, a Lieutenant JG tries to come to grip with his free/unfree status following a failed marriage back home. On another, a civilian professor tries to maintain moral equilibrium between ethnic rivals in his classes, officers and men on their mess-decks, chaplains and varieties of irreligious types in this hermetically-sealed, yet representative microcosm of America.
Talented, handsome, and personable, Dewayne Jobe rose from humble beginnings in rural Mississippi to play college football in Southern California and beyond. One of the best wide receivers in college ball, Dewayne is assured a promising career in professional football and easily finds success both on and off the field. Not only is he a great player, he's got the wife, the kids, and the pristine white picket fence to boot. But catastrophe looms right around the corner and ultimately strikes with a crushing vengeance. Will Dewayne's faith and character stand the test of such tragedy? Or will he lose everything--including the love of his life? This modern retelling of the story of Job will capture readers with the age-old question of why bad things happen to good people--and how good people can survive.
Crossroads is an imaginative but realistic story, enriched by spiritual overtones and positioned in historically recognizable situations. Into a cauldron of persecution, slavery and dehumanizing Roman power-two lives collide. A sweeping saga of intrigue, faith, courage and love-Crossroads has it all; a clandestine plot, designed to silence prophets and priests who would upset the status quo; a drama of hope, cynicism and arrogance; a story where pride and shame wear different faces but hide the same condition.
Kelly and Elyse accidentally stumble upon a doorway which leads them to another time and place, and their only hope of returning is their brother Evan.
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