1951-

Collects travel stories about the author's experience as a field naturalist in various countries while learning about turtles, tigers, ants, piranhas, and other dangerous animals.

Gene Cheek describes his childhood in North Carolina with his loving mother and abusive, alcoholic father, tells how he was torn from his mother's home at the age of twelve when his father filed a complaint in court that she was unfit due to her involvement with an African-American man, and discusses the lasting impact of that event on his life.

Reporter Anne Garrels chronicles the experiences she had while staying in Baghdad's Palestine Hotel through the American invasion of Iraq.

Queen Noor, born into an Arab-American family, shares the story of her relationship with her husband King Hussein of Jordan, telling of their first meeting, the time they spent together before their marriage, and her life and work as queen, and discussing Hussein's legacy to his family and country.

Recounts the events surrounding a fistfight between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers in 1977 in which Rudy Tomjanovich was nearly killed by a blow from Kermit Washington and discusses how both men's lives, and the game of basketball, were affected by the fight.

Bestselling author Peter Balakian chronicles his life, focusing on his childhood in the American suburbs and how he felt after learning the truth about his family's experiences during the Armenian Genocide in 1915.

Captain "Sully" Sullenberger describes his life and reflects on how he saved the lives of the passengers and crew aboard US Airways Flight 1549 with an emergency landing onto the Hudson River in January 2009.

Jesse Ventura reflects on his experiences as governor of Minnesota and his life since he held office, discussing the reasons he left, his opinions about the two party system, the events of September 11, 2001, and other topics.