Book picks similar to
Dead Before Their Time by Diana Karanikas Harvey


true-crime
biographies
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Street Justice


Chuck Zito - 2002
    From Hells Angel to celebrity bodyguard. The revealing autobiography of an American man.Chuck Zito comes by his reputation honestly as one of the toughest, most uncompromising men ever to sit astride a Harley. Now, with tales both hilarious and chilling, violent and truthful, Zito tells his life story in his own words.From growing up on the mean streets of Brooklyn and the Bronx, where fighting was a way of life, to becoming president of the New York chapter of the Hells Angels, to the wild and crazy life of protecting some of the world's biggest celebrities, Zito might be seen as a latter-day outlaw, the last of a dying breed of men. But throughout his tempestuous days, one thing defined him: his unfailing sense of justice, of what's really right and what's really wrong. That's how Zito found himself facing his biggest challenge: refusing to cooperate with a federal investigation into his brothers, the Hells Angels, and in the process losing the very thing he cherished most-his freedom.Zito's astonishing recovery from this experience, and the unique kind of stardom he forged based on hard work and sheer will, is a testament to his courage, his ambition, and his indomitable heart-a testament now recorded unflinchingly in Street Justice.

Hammered: Memoir of an Addict


Geoff Brown - 2012
    Drugs, crime and ennui pervaded every part of his day-to-day alienation. He dragged his way out of the pit without resorting to God or alcohol or any of the other crutches people commonly use. Here is his story. Pray your children don't make the same mistakes.~ ~ ~This is the 2019 expanded edition of the 2012 bestselling memoir Hammered, telling the true story of the author's twenty years plus of drug dependency and the resultant lifestyle as experienced in Australia.This new edition contains more than 20,000 extra words and gives a better insight into the emotional impact of the journey and more detail on the recovery.~ ~ ~"Fascinating, and very easy reading."~Joe Lansdale, author of the Hap & Leonard series~ ~ ~"This is a hard journey well shared and a book that risks real sadness to tell its human truth."~Kris Saknussemm, cult novelist and multimedia artist~ ~ ~"This book is to Australia what Trainspotting is to Scotland."~R.B. Clague, author

Nobody Will Believe You: A Story of Unbreakable Courage


Mary Manning - 2015
    I was completely isolated. He made sure of that.’ Mary was ten years old when she first met her stepfather, Sean McDarby. From the very beginning he seemed to pay her special attention; his praise and compliments quickly won her trust. Then he started touching her in ways she didn’t like. When she was twelve, he raped her. The next twenty years were filled with harrowing abuse as McDarby continued to rape Mary, leading to the birth of five of her children. Finally, after years of abuse – years when justice was denied at every turn – Mary found the strength and courage to break free. Against the odds she created a safe place for her children and reclaimed her life. This is Mary’s inspirational story of courage and survival.

Double Jeopardy


Bob Hill - 1995
    It is a law intended to protect the innocent from unfair harassment and persecution.But sometimes it protects the guilty as well.Guilty As SinThe circumstantial evidence against southern businessman Mel Ignatow was solid -- effectively damning him for the savage 1988 sex torture/slaying of his former girlfriend, Brenda Schaefer. There was motive, unimpeachable forensic evidence . . . even testimony from an eyewitness who took photographs of the gruesome, horrific crime. But in a Kentucky courtroom, frustration, ignorance, incompetence and fate pulled a supposedly open-and-shut case in shocking, unexpected directions -- and tied the concept of American justice into knots that might never be undone.

Change Up: How to Make the Great Game of Baseball Even Better


Buck Martinez - 2016
    Currently the play-by-play announcer for the Toronto Blue Jays, Martinez has witnessed enormous change in the game he loves, as it has morphed from a grassroots pastime to big business. Not all of the change has been for the better, and today’s fans struggle to connect to their on-the-field heroes as loyalty to club and player wavers and free agency constantly changes the face of every team’s roster.In Change Up, Martinez offers his unique insights into how Major League Baseball might reconnect with its fanbase, how the clubs might train and prepare their players for their time in “The Show,” and how players might approach the sport in a time of sagging fan interest. Martinez isn’t shy with his opinions, whether they be on pitch count, how to develop players through the minor-league system, and even if there should be a minor-league system at all. Always entertaining, ever insightful, Martinez shares brilliant insights and inside pitches about summer’s favourite game.

Pro Bono The 18year defense of Caril Ann Fugate


Jeff McArthur - 2012
    With him when he was captured was his 14-year-old ex-girlfriend Caril Fugate. The question soon arose, was Caril a kidnapped victim, or a heartless accomplice?Appointed to her case, attorney John McArthur initially accepted the assignment out of a sense of constitutional duty. But as he delved deeper, he found that the truth was far more complicated than anyone was letting on. Up against incredible odds, and with a strong conviction of her innocence, McArthur remained with Caril and fought for her freedom for 18 years. For this service, he took no pay, accepting the case pro bono.This book follows the long struggle of McArthur, his partner Merril Reller, and John's son James as they took on the Nebraska legal system and a public that had already determined Caril's guilt before ever hearing a word of testimony. The story continues through all it influenced, such as Stephen King, who became a horror writer because of it, Bruce Springsteen, who wrote a whole album about it, Terrence Malick, Oliver Stone, Martin Sheen, and Peter Jackson, who wrote his first major movie based on the Starkweather-Fugate incident.Pro Bono explores aspects of this incredible story that have never been revealed before, and sheds new light on these terrifying and complex events.

John Prine: In Spite of Himself


Eddie Huffman - 2015
    Across five decades, Prine has created critically acclaimed albums--John Prine (one of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time), Bruised Orange, and The Missing Years--and earned many honors, including two Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting from the Americana Music Association, and induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. His songs have been covered by scores of artists, from Johnny Cash and Miranda Lambert to Bette Midler and 10,000 Maniacs, and have influenced everyone from Roger McGuinn to Kacey Musgraves. Hailed in his early years as the "new Dylan," Prine still counts Bob Dylan among his most enthusiastic fans. In John Prine, Eddie Huffman traces the long arc of Prine's musical career, beginning with his early, seemingly effortless successes, which led paradoxically not to stardom but to a rich and varied career writing songs that other people have made famous. He recounts the stories, many of them humorous, behind Prine's best-known songs and discusses all of Prine's albums as he explores the brilliant records and the ill-advised side trips, the underappreciated gems and the hard-earned comebacks that led Prine to found his own successful record label, Oh Boy Records. This thorough, entertaining treatment gives John Prine his due as one of the most influential songwriters of his generation.

Hello Charlie: Letters from a Serial Killer


Charlie Hess - 2008
    It was legendary homicide detective Lou Smit who finally broke the case, sending Robert Charles Browne, a forty-three-year-old Louisiana drifter and career criminal, to prison for life.But the savage saga of Robert Browne did not end there. In 2000, Smit, now retired, joined forces with Charlie Hess, an ex-FBI agent and former CIA operative, to reexamine the cold-case murder files of the local Sheriff's Department. With the addition of amateur forensics buff Scott Fischer, the Apple Dumpling Gang was born.As their volunteer work continued, Smit, Hess, and Fischer came upon a taunting letter written by Browne, hinting that the death of Heather Church was only the tip of the iceberg. What other law enforcement officials had simply ignored, the Apple Dumpling Gang took on with single-minded determination. Charlie Hess began a correspondence with Browne in which, over the course of dozens of letters, the killer teasingly spun out the details of a horrific killing spree spread over thirty years and nine states. The tally, according to Browne: forty-nine deaths, making him one of the most prolific serial murderers in the annals of American crime.Hess's unique insight into criminal psychology, honed over his years developing informants and working as a polygraph operator, made him uniquely suited to match wits with the cagey and canny killer. But Browne was every bit the retired cop's equal: quickwitted, mercurial, and charismatic, with a penchant for riddles and a lifetime full of grisly secrets.A riveting account of the complex and chilling cat-and-mouse game Hess and Browne played over five years, "Hello Charlie" details Browne's bloody swath of murder -- by strangulation, poisoning, and dismemberment -- even as it explores the special bond forged between the cop and the killer, allowing Hess unprecedented access into the mind of a remorseless psychopath.As compulsively readable as any crime novel, "Hello Charlie" picks up where "The Silence of the Lambs" left off, with the incredible true story of one man's search for justice with a murderer as his guide.

Center of Attention: A True Crime Memoir


Jami D. Brown Martin - 2020
    The photo looks completely out of place on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list where it’s been since December, 8, 2007. For eight of those years, Jason appeared directly beside Osama Bin Laden. Bin Laden is long gone, but Jason is still wanted for armed robbery and murder.For years, his sister, Jami D. Brown Martin has watched the true crime programs and read the amateur investigative blogs devoted to Jason, his crime, and the efforts to apprehend him knowing the story wasn’t as simple, nor was it just Jason’s. To be the sister, brother, or relative of one of the world’s most wanted men is to live every day with the horrible truth and many consequences of his brutal act.CENTER OF ATTENTION is the story of a former Mormon missionary turned murderer. It is also a riveting look behind the facade of the genetically blessed, seemingly prominent and pious Brown family of Laguna Beach, California. It is a tale of the family patriarch, John Brown, who disappeared without a trace ten years before his son. More important, it is the gripping and ultimately hopeful story of the sister of one of the world’s most wanted fugitives and her journey to accept that despite being a product of the same crazy environment as her brother, her life and path are her own.

Manorama Yearbook 2016


Mammen Mathew - 2015
    It is the most sought-after book for youngsters preparing for various competitive exams ranging from Civil services, Banks, Railways, UPSC and PSC exams and Quiz Competition across the country. It also serves reference purpose covering varied topics besides Science and Medicine, Environment, Literature, Entertainment, History, 1000 Quiz and Sports, policies of government, census reports, election results, economic indicators, art forms, etc. It also features more than 20 articles by people of eminence such as former President APJ Abdul Kalam, Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi, Philip Min, Dr Valson Thampu and many others. Manorama Yearbook also offers free Concise Britannica Encyclopedia, a set of 4 ebooks, Learner's Dictionary on CD and free online subscription to Britannica Online."

No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy – 10th Anniversary Edition


Fr. Donald E. Calloway - 2019
    Now, in this 10th anniversary edition of No Turning Back, the Very Rev. Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, looks back on the past decade in a new introduction to this Christian classic, a perennially powerful witness to the transforming grace of God and the Blessed Mother's love for her children. His witness proves a key truth of our faith: Between Jesus, the Divine Mercy, and Mary, the Mother of Mercy, there's no reason to give up hope on anyone, no matter how far they are from God.

Accidental Weatherman


Sam Mac - 2021
    

Shades of the Heart


Ann Marie Bryan - 2015
    He was actively involved in ministry at church, employed by a great company, and to top it all off, he was happily married to Gabrielle, and awaiting the new addition to his family. Gabrielle found the love of her life. From the moment they met, their chemistry was undeniable. But, Blake had to work tirelessly to tear down the wall she had built up against ever loving again, and she was glad he did. They shared a love they attributed only to the grace of God on their lives…a love so rare. When a dramatic turn of events disclosed shocking secrets, everything changed. As their marriage explodes and their lives shift in unexpected directions, both must learn to relinquish control and trust God in order to embrace the future. Life-altering struggles can be the pathway to new beginnings. Will they find the courage to forgive and create a love for all times?

Beating Patellar Tendonitis


Martin Koban - 2013
     The author’s story: “Back when I suffered from patellar tendonitis, I thought I was doing everything possible to treat this injury. I was stretching regularly, warming up before games, strengthening my legs, and doing whatever else doctors suggested might help. However, the pain never stopped. Sure, some days were better than others were, but I was still in pain and my athletic performance was severely handicapped. I was frustrated with my lack of progress, and I couldn’t believe that for all the effort and dedication I put into my training, I was being punished with pain that was impossible to get rid of. The worst part was that every time I thought I had made progress, the pain returned. The whole experience was so depressing that I almost quit playing my sport. Today, my knees are completely pain-free. I can play my favorite sports and train exercises that are extremely tough on my knees, such as deep single-leg squats, without having to worry about knee pain. I would have never imagined this to be possible. Today, my legs are stronger than before my injury, and the best part is that I know exactly how I can continue to get them into even better shape without any risk. The reason I struggled with patellar tendonitis for so long wasn’t my fault. I already knew some of the things I had to do, but to beat the odds, I needed to fix a number of hidden causes for patellar tendonitis and learn how to strengthen my weakened knees without reinjuring them. It took 3 years of research and self-experimentation to collect this knowledge, but now it is easily available in this book.” – Martin Koban, Author of Total Knee Health The reason people struggle with healing jumper’s knee is because they’re using an outdated treatment approach that is based on research just as outdated. Your rehab efforts are doomed to fail if you don’t eliminate all hidden causes for patellar tendonitis. These often ignored causes determine how much stress you patellar tendon is subjected to when you’re moving and if you don’t correct them, you will continue to overload your patellar tendon and the injury will simply reappear.Beating Patellar Tendonitis will hand you a proven treatment formula to fix these hidden causes of jumper’s knee and give you the tools you need to stay pain-free for life. The advice in this book is based on 3 years of self-experimentation through trial and error, hundreds of research studies published in academic journals, and the combined knowledge of thought leaders in the fitness industry. You Need to Buy This Book If: You’re an athlete with patellar tendonitis and you want to set new personal records You want to get rid of tendonitis knee pain once and for all You play volleyball, basketball, or any other sport that requires a lot of jumping and you want to stay on top of your competition You’re an athletic trainer and want your clients to stay healthy You’re a doctor and want to learn more ways how you can help your patients beat patellar tendonitis

WALT DISNEY: The Man Behind The Magic: A Walt Disney Biography


A.A. Christiansen - 2017
    His work as an American film producer, animator, voice actor, and entrepreneur would lead to a variety of enhancements in the way that we make cartoons and his personal style would touch the world and forever leave his mark. Regardless of the negative connotations associated with his name since his death, none can deny his importance in film and animation history and in the cultural fabric of the United States. The awards and commendations he has won and been awarded speak for themselves, but so does his work and the innovations he’s brought into the future of animation and filmmaking. His movies are still shown, re-released, and adapted quite frequently, and his legacy lives on with Disney as a film company, the Disney amusement parks that now span several countries, and so much more. His high standards and expectations live on in the Disney company’s continued efforts in the production of popular entertainment and they inspire other innovators in the field of entertainment, film, television, and animation as well. No matter what your opinion of Walt Disney may be, none can argue against the extraordinary magnitude of the span of contact that his work has had on the world. The physical proof of his existence is everywhere. Walk into any mall, scan the channels on your television on any day, or even just walk out of your house and chances are, something that was created by Disney will cross your path. This book looks at the life and work of this great animator, and the legacy he leaves behind.