united states

Presents a biography of legendary basketball great for the Boston Celtics, Bill Russell, and chronicles his childhood in the segregated south, his education and career which included two NCAA titles, Olympic gold medal, and eleven NBA championships, and later years as coach and general manager.

Presents over sixty essays in which the authors present opinions and defenses of frequently challenged and/or censored books from the period between 1985 and 2000.

Fifty celebrities, including Maya Angelou, Tyra Banks, Stuart Scott, and Gabrielle Union, discuss why they think it is important for Americans to vote.

A collection of essays in which inmates at American prisons who were sentenced to death while still in their teens share their thoughts and feelings about how they ended up in prison and how they feel about capital punishment.

Examines the life and career of basketball star Shaquille O'Neal, tracing his progress from high school to the major leagues, and discussing his success as a center for the Los Angeles Lakers. Includes photographs and statistics.

Scientist J. Craig Venter recounts his involvement in the mapping of the human genome, discussing how his training and interest in science and medicine helped prepare him for the daunting task, how his research consumed his life, and how his discoveries impacted his views on life and evolution.

Scientist James Watson shares the secrets he has learned throughout his career for getting along with others and getting ahead in highly competitive work settings, recounting how he managed to make friends and get ahead in the scientific world while researching the structure of DNA.

Chronicles Jackie Robinson's first spring training in 1946, during which his minor league team, the Montreal Royals, faced racism in segregated Florida.

Discusses the concept of intelligent design (ID), addressing its claims of irreducible complexity and looks at related philosophical issues and the problem of replacing modern science with a theistic science that could adversely influence society.

Chronicles Jackie Robinson's first season in major league baseball from behind the scenes, dispelling myths, examining the challenges Robinson faced, and tracing the Brooklyn Dodgers' path to the World Series.