Self Memoir

After nearly drowning in Greece, Christine Stovell was determined never to get on a boat again. The sailing kind? Definitely not. Yet when she married a keen sailor and became joint owner of a vintage wooden yacht, she somehow managed to sail halfway round Britain, despite never finding her sea legs. Insightful, funny and raw, Christine’s story captures the joy, terror and wonder of a novice, seasick sailor out on the waves in a small wooden boat. Her adventures have taken her through sleepy backwaters and high seas, from Essex to west Wales and across to France. Along the way, she’s ...

In A CASTILIAN ADVENTURE former teacher Jane Holden relates the story of her move to northern Spain. At fifty-seven she feels that life may be passing her by, so she decides to put her Spanish studies into practice and sets off on an open-ended trip in order to immerse herself in another culture. Starting in Madrid and intending to tour Castile and León, she soon decides to go with the flow and allow new friendships to influence her eventual destination. This amusing and informative account is a must-read for all those interested in the possibilities Spain offers away from the crowded coast.

Dr. Justin D. Key takes you on an inspiring journey through the transformative power of curiosity. As a multi-hyphenate—actor, entrepreneur, mathematician, writer, and speaker—Dr. Key reflects on his diverse path of self-discovery and the pivotal role curiosity has played in shaping his personal and professional life. From his childhood adventures in Sunday school to navigating the bustling streets of Hollywood, Dr. Key reveals how curiosity has sparked his creativity, fueled his passion, and helped him overcome challenges.

Written with the passion of an obsessive, Nicotine addresses a lifelong addiction, from the thrill of the first drag to the perennial last cigarette. Reflecting on his experiences as a smoker from a young age, Gregor Hens investigates the irreversible effects of nicotine on thought and patterns of behavior. He extends the conversation with other smokers to meditations on Mark Twain and Italo Svevo, the nature of habit, and the validity of hypnosis.

Who doesn't want to know how to achieve real confidence - and who better to pass on the secrets than a woman who has overcome such gruelling physical and emotional hurdles and emerged on the other side smiling? In 2008 Katie Piper survived a brutal rape and acid attack which left her severely burned and disfigured and changed her life forever. Her previous audiobooks told the story of her long and painful journey back towards health and happiness. Now, in Confidence: The Secret, Katie takes the next step from recovery to empowerment.

When I set off for Australia, I had no idea what I would find. There were moments of pure joy, times of struggle, and situations that, looking back, were downright ridiculous. Through it all, I found something I hadn't even realized I was looking for. As a teenager, I watched Australia's Bicentennial celebrations and felt something click. I didn't just want to visit—I needed to go. Over a decade later, after university and a stressful first job, I finally made it happen. I packed my bags, left everything familiar behind, and entered a year of the unknown. Inside, you'll find: • ...

Failing UP was recognized as one of only 2% of books reviewed to earn a Kirkus STAR—the most prestigious designation in the book industry in awarding books of exceptional merit. When people first meet Barbara Hong, they often conclude that her life must have always been enriched. They assume she had loving, successful parents and all the support she needed to reach her goals. Nothing could be further from the truth. Hong’s path to an Ivy League university and beyond started in a filthy tenement in Singapore where she lived with an abusive father and an illiterate mother. Even as a child...

Christine has always felt she is just half: Half American, half Japanese. As a biracial Japanese American who was born in Tokyo but raised in the US, she knows all too well what it’s like to be a part of two different worlds but never feeling as though you belong to either. Now on the brink of adulthood, Christine decides it’s time to return to the place she once called home. So she sets forth on a year abroad in Tokyo, believing that this is where she truly belongs. After years of feeling like an outsider, she will finally be complete. Except Tokyo isn’t the answer she thought it would be.

Broken Child Mended Man is a remarkably compelling memoir touching on childhood neglect, years in foster care, and overcoming the odds to graduate college. Highlighting the emotional and psychological ups and downs during his formative years, Adam Starks manages to reveal human resilience in its most authentic form. Through a life of trial and error, the author displays bountiful courage by achieving life's milestones without a role model.

Life After Losses is a memoir with a message. Author James LaVeck offers help for grieving while taking listeners on an intimate journey of love, loss, healing, recovery, and discovery.

Take undersized five-year-old farm girl Elinor, give her the polio that not only cripples her but also nearly kills her, then give her an impossible dream. In her childhood and again as a college student she rebels against the plan. Finally, she embraces the dream, and it leads Elinor to one of the most primitive, rugged places on earth and to a life that brawny international explorers would envy.

*This book was originally released as "His Mother's Son." For additional reader reviews, please visit the book page for "His Mother's Son." In place of his mother's love, her bitter grudge. Instead of a real life, an accidental one. Forced to live a lie, Paul feels trapped behind a wall of blame. Determined to escape the past, he mounts a quest to find the truth. It brings adventures around the world and deep within his soul. In time it even takes him past the point of no return. But when this search reveals the path to what he has pursued, will he have the strength to follow it?

Dear Diary, It Got Weird Again The Works of Mr. Joe This isn’t a diary. It’s a legacy stitched from the strange, the sincere, and the sentences that refused to stay quiet. Inside are fragments that became foundations—moments of insight, humor, heartbreak, and clarity gathered over years and held together by a single thread: the need to make meaning in a world that doesn’t always offer it freely. This collection speaks to those who feel everything a little too deeply, think a little too sideways, and laugh in the middle of their most serious questions. It’s for anyone who’s ever ...

First Lady Barbara Bush was famous for handing out advice. From friends and family to heads of state and Supreme Court justices, and certainly to her staff, her advice ranged from what to wear, what to say or not say, and how to live your life. She especially loved visiting with students of all ages, from kindergartners to college graduates. Full of Barbara Bush's trademark wit and thoughtfulness, Pearls of Wisdom is a poignant reflection on life, love, family, and the world by one of America's most iconic - and beloved - public figures.

Twenty-nine-year-old plus-size blogger Stephanie Yeboah has experienced racism and fat-phobia throughout her life. From being bullied at school to being objectified and humiliated in her dating life, Stephanie's response to discrimination has always been to change the narrative around body-image and what we see as beautiful. Featuring stories of every day misogynoir and being fetishised, to navigating the cesspit of online dating and experiencing loneliness, Stephanie shares her thoughts on the treatment of Black women throughout history.

In this informative and inspirational book, Coach K explains how he motivates peak performances from his players, relying on lessons he learned as a captain in the US Army and applied over four decades as the head of Duke basketball. Throughout his career, Coach K's ethos centered around fostering an environment and culture that focused on openness, hard work and cooperation to ensure excellence on and off the court.

Success is about more than accomplishment—it's about the people on the journey with you. From Start to Finish is more than a memoir from a lifetime educator—it's a legacy of wisdom, woven from a lifetime of stories and lessons meant to inspire future generations. Written with the intent of one day sharing with his grandchildren, this heartfelt, and often humorous, collection offers timeless insights into the value of faith, relationships, and integrity to shape a fulfilling life and career. “If I’ve learned anything at this point on my journey,” says Dr. Alexander, “it’s that ...

Life didn’t do Kenny Tingle any favors. In The Girl in the Italian Bakery, follow his journey from childhood in a tough housing project north of Boston, the abduction and disappearance of a childhood friend, to the complete destruction of a family. His introduction to crime and the years he spent in foster homes. The poor choices he made in high school and the startling climax on prom night. Although he never has trouble meeting girls, the one girl he longs for always seems out of reach. The Girl in the Italian Bakery is the remarkably true story of always keeping hope, even when there is...

"The same energy that created stars and galaxies lies dormant within your belly." So begins Master Yan Ming Li's spell­binding memoir recounting the challenges of growing up as a spiritually gifted child in a land where exploration of the unseen realms was forbidden. Like a Chinese Harry Potter, Li found solace in a mysterious and power­ful force he called the Light. But this is not a work of fiction. It's a true story. In the minutes of this audiobook, we learn how all of us can gain access to this benevolent, healing, and boundless Light. It is, in fact, our birthright.

A tragic near-death accident turns triumphant and even joy-filled as the God of Grace pours his lavish love on Sheila Preston Fitzgerald, a Southern belle who brings her tenacious, can-do spirit to the fight for her life. Join Sheila as she recounts her heartfelt - at times horrific, at times hilarious - journey.