Hero Dogs: How a Pack of Rescues, Rejects, and Strays Became America's Greatest Disaster-Search Partners


Wilma Melville - 2019
    Cody was rejected from seven different homes. Ace had been sprayed with mace and left for dead on a train track. They were deemed unadoptable. Untrainable. Unsalvageable. These would become the same dogs America relied on when its worst disasters hit.In 1995, Wilma Melville volunteered as a canine search-and-rescue (SAR) handler with her Black Labrador Murphy in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing. At the time, there were only fifteen FEMA certified SAR dogs in the United States. Believing in the value of these remarkable animals to help save lives, Wilma knew many more were needed in the event of future major disasters. She made a vow to help 168 dogs receive search-and-rescue training in her lifetime—one for every Oklahoma City victim.Wilma singlehandedly established the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) to meet this challenge. The first canine candidates—Ana, Dusty, and Harley—were a trio of golden retrievers with behavioral problems so severe the dogs were considered irredeemable and unadoptable. But with patience, discipline, and love applied during training, they proved to have the ability, agility, and stamina to graduate as SARs. Paired with a trio of firefighters, they were among the first responders searching the ruins of the World Trade Center following 9/11—setting the standard for the more than 168 of the SDF’s search-and-rescue dogs that followed. Beautiful and heart-wrenching, Hero Dogs is the story of one woman’s dream brought to fruition by dedicated volunteers and firefighters—and the bonds they forged with the incredible rescued-turned-rescuer dogs to create one of America’s most vital resources in disaster response.

The Healthy Mind Toolkit: Quit Sabotaging Your Success and Become Your Best Self


Alice Boyes - 2018
    Sound familiar? Whether we’re aware of it or not, most of us are guilty of self-sabotage. These behaviors can manifest in seemingly innocuous ways, but if left unchecked can create stress and cause problems in all areas of your life. In The Healthy Mind Toolkit, Dr. Alice Boyes provides easy, practical solutions that will help you identify how you’re holding yourself back and how to reverse your self-sabotaging behaviors. Blending scientific research with techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, this engaging book will take you through the steps to address this overarching problem, including how to:   • Identify the specific ways you're hurting your success in all aspects of your life    • Capitalize on the positive aspects of your extreme traits instead of the negatives    • Find creative solutions to curb your self-defeating patterns    • Practice self-care as a problem-solving strategy Filled with quizzes and insightful exercises to personalize your journey from harmful behaviors to healthy habits, The Healthy Mind Toolkit is the essential guide to get out of your own way and get on the path to success.

Thirst Of The Rain God (Secrets of the Maya)


J.A. Kalis - 2019
    Ancient secrets.A fast-paced adventure where danger lurks around every corner.While exploring ancient ruins nestled deep in the lush Guatemalan jungle, a team of international archaeologists makes a stunning discovery. They find a sprawling network of tunnels and caves filled with man-made structures, intricately carved stone statues, inscriptions and murals that hint at the mythical Mayan underworld, Xibalba.Eager to learn more about the shadowy place, they descend further underground and stumble upon hidden passageways that seem to stretch forever, treasure-laden tombs and secluded chambers which show signs of ritual usage. But it soon becomes apparent that they are not alone in the vast subterranean maze. Someone else is there. Someone who is ready to kill to protect the sinister secrets that lay hidden there for centuries.Fans of gripping action adventure thrillers laced with archaeological mystery will love Thirst Of The Rain God. Also recommended for anyone interested in the ancient Maya.

Decoding Communication: A Complete Handbook for Effective Communication


Girish Jain
    From day-to-day conversations to professional meetings, from candid talks to consequential discussions, the book explains the nitty-gritty of impactful communication.How to make the best of this book?Go in the chronological order, comprehending each chapter in-depth, and participating in the exercises. Make a note of important points of reference. Practice and rehearse the skills that you learnt. Once you complete all the chapters, following the same method, re-visit previous chapters if required. Involve in the activities suggested and have a real-life experience on showcasing the skills that you learn.

Me, Myself, and Why: Searching for the Science of Self


Jennifer Ouellette - 2014
    In Me, Myself, and Why, Jennifer Ouellette dives into the miniscule ranges of variation to understand just what sets us apart. She draws on cutting-edge research in genetics, neuroscience, and psychology-enlivened as always with her signature sense of humor-to explore the mysteries of human identity and behavior. Readers follow her own surprising journey of self-discovery as she has her genome sequenced, her brain mapped, her personality typed, and even samples a popular hallucinogen. Bringing together everything from Mendel's famous pea plant experiments and mutations in The X-Men to our taste for cilantro and our relationships with virtual avatars, Ouellette takes us on an endlessly thrilling and illuminating trip into the science of ourselves

Serve Yourself: Nightly Adventures in Cooking for One


Joe Yonan - 2011
    Dishes like Mushroom and Green Garlic Frittata, Catfish Tacos with Chipotle Slaw, and Smoked Trout, Potato, and Fennel Pizza will add excitement to any repertoire and forever dispel the notion that single life means starving, settling for take-out, or facing a fridge full of monotonous leftovers. Yonan also includes shopping and storage tips for the single-chef household, along with creative ideas for making use of extra ingredients. Serve Yourself makes cooking for one a deeply satisfying, approachable pleasure. And with such delectable meals, your solo status could be threatened if you’re forced to share with others!

Love Bites: Love Unleashed / Smookie and the Bandit / Molly Wants a Hero / Dog Tags / Mane Haven


Lori Foster - 2012
    From matchmaking parrots to proposing puppies, the animals in these enchanting stories are determined to lend a helping paw on the road to happily ever after. Don't miss these never-before-published "tails" of couples whose pets give them a new leash on love!The authors are donating all of their proceeds from Love Bites to the Animal Adoption Foundation of Hamilton, OH, a charitable organization.Anthology includes:Love Unleashed by New York Times bestselling author Lori FosterSmookie and the Bandit by New York Times bestselling author Brenda JacksonDog Tags by USA TODAY bestselling author Catherine MannMane Haven by Jules BennettMolly Wants a Hero by Virna DePaul

Public Speaking Essentials: Six Steps to Sizzle on Stage


Ramakrishna Reddy - 2015
    You may be overloaded with too much of information. There are loads of information in form of books and articles out there that can help you. However, would it be nice to have an easy and simple process to follow to handle this area of your life? Discover The Easy Guide To Public Speaking: “Public Speaking Essentials” will reveal 6 steps that’ll help you overcome your fear and speak like a PRO. These are easy to understand and implement solutions coming from someone who was in the trenches and who's now an active and successful public speaker. Since he was a shy kid as he was growing up, Rama ventured into Public Speaking to handle this area of his life. As a result of his learning from mentors, toastmasters and contests, Ramakrishna Reddy has won more than 25 Public Speaking Contests and written 3 books related to Public Speaking. He speaks regularly to people ranging from few dozens to few hundreds. Ramakrishna is dedicated to sharing the lessons he’s learned to help others become confident in public speaking. Public Speaking Revealed in Six Simple Steps: How to overcome Public Speaking Anxiety How to master three pillars of Public Speaking How to Practice for Presentation Day How to Handle the Presentation Day How to create a connection with the audience How to handle glitches during the presentation day Download now to know more about this 'no clutter' guide.

Dog Whisperer


Paul Owens - 1999
    and a certified evaluator for the Delta Society's Animal Assisted Therapy Program, has written a good, basic, reasonably priced introduction to dog training based upon rewarding "successive approximations" of correct behavior. Gone are the leash "pop" and harsher corrections of earlier obedience methods. Nonviolent dog training shapes appropriate behavior with rewards such as food and games. Incorrect behavior is punished by ignoring the dog and by verbal cues such as "oh-oh." There are chapters on clicker training, target stick training, and training gear such as collars and leashes; the nine ingredients of canine optimum health (high-quality diet, play, socialization, quiet time, exercise, employment, rest, training, and healthcare); and human-canine communication. How to teach "sit," "stay," "down," "stand," "come," "heel," "take it," and "drop it" are explained step-by-step and illustrated with photographs. For public libraries.AFlorence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The Link: Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor


Colin Tudge - 2009
    Now, with an astonishing new discovery, everything we thought we knew about primate origins could change. Lying inside a high-security vault, deep within the heart of one of the world's leading natural history museums, is the scientific find of a lifetime - a perfectly fossilized early primate, older than the previously most famous primate fossil, Lucy, by forty-four million years.  A secret until now, the fossil - "Ida" to the researchers who have painstakingly verified her provenance - is the most complete primate fossil ever found. Forty-seven million years old, Ida rewrites what we've assumed about the earliest primate origins. Her completeness is unparalleled - so much of what we understand about evolution comes from partial fossils and even single bones, but Ida's fossilization offers much more than that, from a haunting "skin shadow" to her stomach contents. And, remarkably, knowledge of her discovery and existence almost never saw the light of day. With exclusive access to the first scientists to study her, the award-winning science writer Colin Tudge tells the history of Ida and her place in the world. A magnificent, cutting-edge scientific detective story followed her discovery, and The Link offers a wide-ranging investigation into Ida and our earliest origins. At the same time, it opens a stunningly evocative window into our past and changes what we know about primate evolution and, ultimately, our own.

The Thyroid Solution: A Mind-Body Program for Beating Depression and Regaining Your Emotional and Physical Health


Ridha Arem - 1999
    At any given time, millions of people have an undiagnosed thyroid disorder and experience a chronic mental anguish that almost certainly arises from the very same source. This health crisis flourishes in the shadows of the medical community because many primary-care doctors still don't recognize the importance of the thyroid in mind-body health. In fact, when they do diagnose a thyroid disorder, they treat it as a simple physical problem rather than what it really is: a complex blow to the body and mind--and an increasingly common cause of clinical depression, weight gain, fibromyalgia, high cholesterol, memory loss, anxiety, and other disorders. It's time to treat the source and not the symptom!The Thyroid Solution is the first mind-body approach to identifying and curing thyroid imbalances. Written by a medical pioneer and leading authority in the field of thyroid research, this groundbreaking book offers Dr. Ridha Arem's practical program for maintaining thyroid health through diet, exercise, and stress control--and through his revolutionary medical plan, which combines two types of hormone treatments with astounding results. Inside you'll discover- The thyroid basics--what it is, where it is, what it does- How thyroid hormones affect the brain and alter mood, emotions, and behavior- The difference between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism and why both conditions are often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed- What tests to ask your doctor to give you--and what they mean- The facts your physician may not know about your thyroid, depression, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome- The vital connection between stress and thyroid imbalance- The benefits of antioxidants and essential fatty-acid foods and supplements- How to recognize and cure the deep and lingering effects of a thyroid imbalance- How thyroid hormone can work as an antidepressant when your thyroid gland is normal and conventional antidepressants have failedFilled with remarkable and dramatic patient histories and interviews that document the dramatic results of Dr. Arem's bold new treatments, The Thyroid Solution now gives you and your doctor the tools you need to live a life with peace of mind . . . and body.

How We Eat with Our Eyes and Think with Our Stomachs: The Hidden Influences That Shape Your Eating Habits


Melanie Mühl - 2017
    Some of them we know we’re making: What to eat, how to eat it, and many more. What we don’t know is how each of those decisions is influenced by our environment, the food industry, and our own irrational appetites. Now, How We Eat with Our Eyes and Think with Our Stomachs exposes the hidden influences on how we make those decisions and form eating habits—ultimately equipping readers to eat more intelligently. Drawing from the latest research in behavioral psychology, biology, and neuroscience, as well as from pop culture, journalist Melanie Mühl and psychologist Diana von Kopp focus on more than 40 compelling, distinct questions and issues: Why do we like the foods we like? Is it because of our environments? Family? Taste buds? (All three?) Is raw food healthier than cooked food? (No!) Why do people overeat? Keep reading, and find out. Take, for example, “The Color of Flavor”—can the average person taste the difference between red wine and white? What about once the white has been colored red? Is it surprising that they cannot? This may not be news to everyone—but where does this observation lead? That would be the psychological study of product experience, relied upon by the six-hundred-billion dollar food industry—and because of it, our cola is always dark (instead of clear) and butter is artificially colored yellow. Learn how we diet with our brain (Think you’re hungry? Think again.), feast with our feelings (Banning sugared soda? Anticipate a surge in consumption.), eat with our eyes (Don’t look at the buffet!), and other influences on our everyday eating habits. How We Eat with Our Eyes and Think with Our Stomachs enables us to become more intelligent about which questions are being asked, and offers insights that we’ll surely remember the next time we buy groceries, sit down at a restaurant, or go into the pantry looking for something to eat.

In My Father's House: A New View of How Crime Runs in the Family


Fox Butterfield - 2018
    But our reliance on mass incarceration, Fox Butterfield argues, misses the intractable reality: As few as 5 percent of families account for half of all crime, and only 10 percent account for two-thirds. In introducing us to the Bogle family, the author invites us to understand crime in this eye-opening new light. He chronicles the malignant legacy of criminality passed from parents to children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. Examining the long history of the Bogles, a white family, Butterfield offers a revelatory look at criminality that forces us to disentangle race from our ideas about crime and, in doing so, strikes at the heart of our deepest stereotypes. And he makes clear how these new insights are leading to fundamentally different efforts at reform. With his empathic insight and profound knowledge of criminology, Butterfield offers us both the indelible tale of one family's transgressions and tribulations, and an entirely new way to understand crime in America.

Daisy to the Rescue: True Stories of Daring Dogs, Paramedic Parrots, and Other Animal Heroes


Jeff Campbell - 2014
    But sometimes, to our utter amazement and everlasting gratitude, animals literally save our lives, and this heartwarming book collects over 50 real-life stories of animals rescuing people, in which the actions of animals have meant the difference between life and death. Today, scientists vigorously debate questions regarding the sentience, intelligence, and emotions of animals. In particular, they want to know whether animals share with humans the highest emotions of empathy, compassion, and altruism. This book also poses these questions for readers to consider, and using current research on animal minds and emotions, it examines these extreme life-saving situations for possible evidence. Where appropriate, skepticism and doubt surrounding particular stories is included, but gathered together, these anecdotes make a compelling case for the presence of altruism in animals. Thus, this book provides dramatic, thrilling, and moving stories that convey a hopeful message about our world. But these stories also provide startling evidence of the mental and emotional capacities of animals, those being we share the world with.

The American Crisis: What Went Wrong. How We Recover.


Writers of The Atlantic - 2020
    The past four years in the United States have been among the most turbulent in our history—and would have been so even without a global pandemic and waves of protest nationwide against police violence. Drawn from the recent work of The Atlantic staff writers and contributors, The American Crisis explores the factors that led us to the present moment: racial division, economic inequality, political dysfunction, the hollowing out of government, the devaluation of truth, and the unique threat posed by Donald Trump. Today’s emergencies expose pathologies years in the making. Featuring leading voices from The Atlantic, one of the country’s most widely read and influential magazines, The American Crisis is a broad and essential look at the condition of America today—and at the qualities of national character that may yet offer hope. With contributions by: Danielle Allen, Yoni Appelbaum, Molly Ball, David W. Blight, Mark Bowden, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Lizabeth Cohen, McKay Coppins, James Fallows, Drew Gilpin Faust, Caitlin Flanagan, Franklin Foer, David Frum, Megan Garber, Michael Gerson, Elizabeth Goitein, David A. Graham, Emma Green, Yuval Noah Harari, Ibram X. Kendi, Olga Khazan, Adrienne LaFrance, Annie Lowrey, James Mattis, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Angela Nagle, Vann R. Newkirk II, George Packer, Elaina Plott, Jeremy Raff, Jonathan Rauch, Adam Serwer, Matthew Stewart, Alex Wagner, Tara Westover, and Ed Yong.