autobiographies

"When Alexi Pappas was four years old, her mother committed suicide, drastically altering the course of Pappas's life and setting her on a perpetual search for female role models. When her father started signing her up for sports teams as a way to keep his bereaved daughter busy, female athletes became some of the first women Pappas looked up to, and she became a girl with a goal: to be an Olympian. Despite setbacks and hardships, Pappas held fast to that dream, putting in the . . . hard work, both mentally and physically, and letting nothing stand in her way until she achieved it, making her Olympic debut as a runner in 2016. [This book] showcases Pappas's signature . . . voice as she reflects upon the touchstone moments in her life and the lessons that have powered her career as both anathlete and artist--chief among them, how to be brave"--Provided by publisher.

The author shares his journey into becoming a well-known actor of the hit sitcom Friends, including his childhood, his addiction struggles, and more.

"In this funny, heartbreaking, timely memoir--told in the form of college admission essays--Irena Smith illuminates the dissonance of working as a college consultant in Palo Alto, California, helping the best and brightest students in the country gain admission to highly selective schools, even as her own children are unraveling"--Provided by publisher.

The author shares his life growing up in Detroit to becoming a Hall of Fall musician, focusing on his personal and professional path.

The Broadway and television actress discusses how cross-stitching, crocheting, painting and other craft projects kept her sane while dealing with an agoraphobic mother, a painful public divorce, and struggles with fertility.

"The actor shares personal stories and observations about illness and health, aging, the strength of family and friends, and how perceptions about time affect the consideration of mortality"--OCLC.

"Mallory Smith shares her innermost thoughts while living with a terminal illness"--Provided by publisher.

"[Cappucci is] a meteorologist for The Washington Post, and you might think of him as Doogie Howser meets Bill Paxton from Twister, with a dash of Leonardo DiCaprio from Catch Me If You Can. Combining reportage and accessible science with personal storytelling and infectious enthusiasm, Looking Up is a riveting ride through the state of our weather and a touching story about parents and mentors helping a budding scientist achieve his improbable dreams. Throughout, readers get a tutorial on the basics of weather science and the impact of the climate"--Provided by publisher.

Former slave Frederick Doublass chronicles his life.

"As a young, misunderstood boy, Fred North was never a fan of the rules. Then, on an unremarkable day in 1969, a helicopter touched down in his hometown of Saint-Louis, Senegal, and turned his world upside down. Fifty years later, he's Hollywood's go-to stunt pilot with a world altitude record and over two hundred film credits to his name, including Inception, James Bond: Spectre, and Fast X. But a lot of incredible things happened in between. Flying Sideways tells the thrilling but heartfelt story of how a misfit boy with nothing but a dream breaks the rules, beats the odds, and learns to bet on himself. Against a vibrant global backdrop that touches down everywhere from New York City to Mongolia to Madagascar, we follow Fred as he deserts the French Army (in roller skates), talks his way into flight school, becomes chief pilot for the world's greatest rally car and adventures races, gets mixed up with DEA in Miami, dodges death (many times), and--perhaps most improbably--falls in love. Flying Sideways is a nonstop thrill ride, reminding us that the most dangerous thing we can do with life is give up on it."--Provided by publisher.