travel

In this invigorating mix of natural history and adventure, artist-naturalist Ellen Meloy uses turquoise?the color and the gem?to probe deeper into our profound human attachment to landscape. From the Sierra Nevada, the Mojave Desert, the Yucatan Peninsula, and the Bahamas to her home ground on the high plateaus and deep canyons of the Southwest, we journey with Meloy through vistas of both great beauty and great desecration. Her keen vision makes us look anew at ancestral mountains, turquoise seas, and even motel swimming pools. Throughout, Meloy invites us to appreciate along with her the endless surprises in all of life and celebrates the seduction to be found in our visual surroundings.

Details what the author learned about the state of hockey in the early twenty-first century on a journey across North America, discussing junior and college teams, Hispanic programs, the minor league, fans, and other related topics.

"A personal, lyrical, and idiosyncratic ode to our national parks"--.

From elite marathoner and Olympic hopeful Becky Wade comes the story of her year-long exploration of diverse global running communities from England to Ethiopia?9 countries, 72 host families, and over 3,500 miles of running?investigating unique cultural approaches to the sport and revealing the secrets to the success of runners all over the world.

Ten-hour shifts in a high-end department store and catering to snooty customers...Nellie Bennett's life wasn't supposed to turn out this way. But maybe all she needs to do is infuse a little passion into her routine?through flamenco dance lessons, for instance. What Nellie doesn't realize is that flamenco is not just a dance?it's a way of life that seems much more enticing than her depressing retail gig. So she packs her suede dance shoes and leaves everything she knows behind, flying halfway around the world to seek the authentic experience in Seville, where the dark-eyed gypsy boys and mouth-watering tapas are enough to make Nellie want to stay in Spain forever. And why shouldn't she? Only in Spain is a foot-stomping, full-on firecracker of a memoir?crackling with energy, food, dance, gypsies, and love?that will capture your heart with the first "Ol?!".

Based on hundreds of interviews and documents, this book chronicles the life of Barack Obama and the forces that shaped him, from early childhood through his adult years, as he became the first black president of the United States.

Recounts the author's journey on the Appalachian Trail after his wife died from breast cancer and he sensed a call in his life for change.

"Travel writer Weiner sets out to examine the connection between our surroundings and our most innovative ideas. He explores the history of places, like Vienna of 1900, Renaissance Florence, ancient Athens, Song Dynasty Hangzhou, and Silicon Valley, to show how certain urban settings are conducive to ingenuity."--Provided by publisher.

Presents a portrait of Yemen, based upon the author's thirteen years exploring the landscape and people of the Arab country.

Jeanne Marie Laskas reveals personal stories of working class Americans, including coal miners, cowboys, and air traffic controllers.