1971-

Presents vital information on the most-studied short stories at the high school and early-college levels. Each entry contains author biography, plot summary, characters, themes, style, historical context, critical overview, and criticism.

Provides critical overviews of novels from various cultures and time periods. Includes discussions of plot, characters, themes and structure as well as the work's cultural and historical significance.

Explores the arrests and trials of Erik and Lyle Menendez who were convicted of the killing of their parents Kitty and Jose Menendez in Beverly Hills, California in 1989.

Jada Pinkett Smith recounts her story from her unconventional upbringing in Baltimore, to her unconventional marriage to Will Smith, and to discovering her power as a woman.

A World Cup-winning Olympic gold medalist and U.S. Women's soccer goalie shares how she fought her way back from depression--and to herself--after a career-ending injury in 2010.

A collection of eight true cat stories involving the author's own pets.

"For centuries, works of art have been stolen in countless ways from all over the world, but no one has been quite as successful at it as the master thief St?phane Breitwieser. Carrying out more than two hundred heists over nearly ten years-in museums and cathedrals all over Europe-Breitwieser, along with his girlfriend who worked as his lookout, stole more than three hundred objects, until it all fell apart in spectacular fashion. In The Art Thief, Michael Finkel brings us into Breitwieser's strange and fascinating world. Unlike most thieves, he never stole for money, keeping all his treasures in a single room where he could admire them to his heart's content. Possessed of a remarkable athleticism and an innate ability to assess practically any security system, Breitwieser managed to pull off a breathtakingly number of audacious thefts. Yet these strange talents bred a growing disregard for risk and an addict's need to score, leading Breitwieser to ignore his girlfriend's pleas to stop-until one final act of hubris brought everything crashing down"--Provided by publisher.

"The author relates how her cousin was imprisoned at the age of fifteen for attempted carjacking and how she took him in upon his release, only to lose him to the deadly streets of South Central L.A."--OCLC.

"This title focuses on Jeff Gordon and gives information related to his early life, his time racing in NASCAR, and the legacy he leaves behind"--Provided by publisher.

"After having a nationally televised panic attack, Dan Harris knew he had to make some changes. A lifelong nonbeliever, he found himself on a bizarre adventure involving a disgraced pastor, a mysterious self-help guru, and a gaggle of brain scientists. Eventually, Harris realized that the source of his problems was the very thing he always thought was his greatest asset : the incessant, insatiable voice in his head, which had propelled him through the ranks of a hypercompetitive business, but had also led him to make the profoundly stupid decisions that provoked his on-air freak-out. Eventually Harris stumbled upon an effective way to rein in that voice, something he always assumed to be either impossible or useless : meditation, a tool that research suggests can do everything from lower your blood pressure to essentially rewire your brain. 10% Happier takes readers on a ride from the outer reaches of neuroscience to the inner sanctum of network news to the bizarre fringes of America's spiritual scene, and leaves them with a takeaway that could actually change their lives. This fifth anniversary edition features a new preface by Harris and new guided meditations from his favorite teachers, including Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg."--taken from back cover.