Nonfiction World

Alexander Chee, an essayist of “virtuosity and power” (Washington Post), selects twenty essays out of thousands that represent the best examples of the form published the previous year.

What is it like to live in or visit Guatemala? What makes Guatemala’s culture unique? Explore the geography, traditions, and daily lives of Guatemalan people.

The America that Alexander Hamilton knew was largely agricultural and built on slave labor. He envisioned something else: a multi-racial, urbanized, capitalistic America with a strong central government. He believed that such an America would be a land of opportunity for the poor and the newcomers. But Hamilton's vision put him at odds with his archrivals who envisioned a pastoral America of small towns, where governments were local, states would control their own destiny, and the federal government would remain small and weak.

Learn about the great rivers of the World with the iMindsJNR audio-learning series for younger minds. Can you guess which is the world's longest river? According to most scientists, it is the Nile, which passes through several African countries, and is 6,695 kilometers long. Some scientists have recently argued that the Amazon in South America is in fact longer. It all depends on where you start your measurements!

Movies and television shows have turned people of all ages into dinosaur fanatics. But what were these prehistoric creatures really like, and what wiped them out? This high-interest series explores the lives of world-famous dinosaurs, from diets to defenses, and examines what drove these great beasts to extinction. This volume includes Brachiosaurus, Gigantosaurus, and Nasutoceratops.

Sloths spend their days hanging upside down from tree branches. Learn about these slow-moving mammals and their habitats in Sloths.

It might seem lonely at the top of the world, but the North Pole is teeming with life! Polar bears, walruses, and arctic seals make their home on sea ice that can be nine feet thick while the Inuit and other indigenous peoples continue their traditions and means for survival in this harsh climate.

Fifteen thousand years before Europeans stepped foot in the Americas, people had already spread from tip to tip and coast to coast. Like all humans, these Native Americans sought to understand their place in the universe, the nature of their relationship with the divine, and the origin of the world into which their ancestors had emerged. The answers lay in their sacred stories. This collection of those stories - from nations and cultures across two continents, what the Aztecs called the Sea-Ringed World, from the edge of Argentina all the way up to Alaska - is a treasure.

How to Write a Book: A Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Your Story, Finding Your Voice, and Sharing Your Message with the World Have you always dreamed of writing a book but didn’t know where to start? How to Write a Book is your ultimate companion on the journey from blank page to published masterpiece. Whether you're an aspiring novelist, a non-fiction storyteller, or someone with a personal journey worth sharing, this guide will walk you through every step—from finding your purpose and building a writing habit, to revising, marketing, and publishing your work. Packed with expert advice...

One of the NASCAR circuit's greatest celebrity racers, Jeff Gordon is a favorite of motorsports fans around the country. This is the 100 percent true story of the making of an American racing legend. After competing in BMX races at just four years old, Jeff ran his first quarter-midget car race at the tender age of five years old. Can you imagine that? At that age most kids don't even know how to ride a bicycle, let alone drive a race car! He began racing stock cars in 1991 and soon after started competing for the most prestigious trophy in all of motorsports, the coveted Winston Cup.

As German tanks rolled toward Paris in late May 1940, the US Ambassador to France, William Bullitt, was determined to stay put, holed up in the Chateau St. Firmin in Chantilly, his country residence. Bullitt told the president that he would neither evacuate the embassy nor his chateau. As German forces closed in on the French capital, Bullitt wrote the president, "In case I should get blown up before I see you again, I want you to know that it has been marvelous to work for you."

The national soccer teams of Mexico and the United States have a rivalry spanning decades. What made the teams fierce competitors? How are both country’s fans involved in keeping this rivalry going?

Movies and television shows have turned people of all ages into dinosaur fanatics. But what were these prehistoric creatures really like, and what wiped them out? This high-interest series explores the lives of world-famous dinosaurs, from diets to defenses, and examines what drove these great beasts to extinction. This volume includes Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus Rex, and Velociraptor.

Between 1941 and 1945, more than eight hundred shiploads of supplies were delivered to the Soviet Union protected by allied naval forces. Each journey was a battle against the elements, with turbulent seas, extreme cold, and the constant dread of torpedoes. These Arctic convoys have been mythologized as defenseless vessels at the mercy of deadly U-boats—but was this really the case?

King Ashoka was a fearsome conqueror in ancient India. After seeing the destruction and death from his battles, he decided to forgo war and institute peace and Buddhism in his kingdom. Learn about his peaceful reign and the lasting changes he created in India.

When Derek Jeter was eight years old, he announced that he was going to play baseball for the New York Yankees. Jeter earned the attention of major league scouts in high school and was drafted to the New York Yankees in 1992. Named Rookie of the Year, he helped the Yankees win the World Series five times and became team captain in 2003. With his good looks, easygoing personality, and sense of humor, Derek has always been a fan favorite. Retiring from baseball in 2014, Derek Jeter leaves behind a legacy.

Vietnam is famous for Ha Long Bay, a unique bay that formed over millions of years. Its scenic isles draw tourists from around the world. It is one of several marvels in Vietnam. Listeners will explore other geographic features of Vietnam as well as the culture and traditions of the Vietnamese people.

You can always recognize a painting by Kahlo because she is in nearly all of them, with her black braided hair and colorful Mexican outfits. A brave woman who was an invalid most of her life, she transformed herself into a living work of art. As famous for her self-portraits and haunting imagery as she was for her marriage to another famous artist, Diego Rivera, this strong and courageous painter was inspired by the ancient culture and history of her beloved homeland, Mexico. Her paintings continue to inform and inspire popular culture around the world.

What would it be like to live in El Salvador? How is El Salvador's culture unique? Explore the sights, traditions, and daily lives of El Salvadorians!

King cobras slither across the ground. Learn all about these venomous snakes and their habitats in King Cobras.