Louis Armstrong has been called the most important improviser in the history of jazz. Although his New Orleans neighborhood was poor in nearly everything else, it was rich in superb music. Young Louis took it all in, especially the cornet blowing of Joe King Oliver.
But after a run in with the police, 11-year-old Louis was sent away to the Colored Waif's Home for Boys where he became a disciplined musician in the school's revered marching band. By the time he returned to his neighborhood, the King himself became his mentor and invited Armstrong to play with him in Chicago. Here is a joyful tribute to the virtuoso musician and buoyant personality who introduced much of the world to jazz.
Christopher Columbus had a dream-to reach the fabled lands of the East, rich with spices, jewels, silver, and especially gold. Having studied the travels of other explorers, Columbus was convinced he could reach his destination by traveling west across the seas. After convincing Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand to fund his expedition, he set sail in August of 1492. In this account, the voyage Columbus undertook is told in his own voice through his journal entries of that year. He tells of excitement, drama, and terror on the high seas, as well as the doubts he faces from his own crew, as together, they weather the path to victory.
Growing up the youngest of seven children in Puerto Rico, Roberto Clemente had a talent for baseball. His incredible skill soon got him drafted into the big leagues where he spent 18 seasons playing right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Who Was Roberto Clemente? tells the story of this remarkable athlete: a twelve-time All-Star, World Series MVP, and the first Latin American inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
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.
With over 110 million viewers every year, the Super Bowl is one of the most watched television events in the United States. The final showdown between the two best football teams in the NFL attracts some of the biggest musicians to perform at the half-time show. But the Super Bowl is more than just a spectacle - it's a high-stakes game to win the championship and claim a place in history. Go back in time and relive all the magic from years past - from excruciating fumbles to game winning plays.
Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. won the world heavyweight championship at the age of 22, the same year he joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. He would go on to become the first and only three-time (in succession) World Heavyweight Champion. Nicknamed "The Greatest," Ali was as well known for his unique boxing style, consisting of the Ali Shuffle and the rope-a-dope, as he was for the catchphrase "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." He was an uncompromising athlete who brought beauty and grace to a very rough sport and became one of the world's most famous cultural icons. Read Who Is Muhammad Ali? and discover "The Greatest."
After breaking or tying more than sixty records in hockey, it's no wonder that Wayne Gretzky is known as "The Great One." Born in Brantford, Ontario, on January 26, 1961, in a nation obsessed with the sport, he threw himself into the game practically from the time he first laced up a pair of skates. When he retired from the NHL in 1999, he had led several teams to Stanley Cup victories, competed in the Olympics, and changed the way hockey was played forever. Known for his love for family and as a truly decent human being, Wayne Gretzky is revealed as more than a sports legend in this easy-to-read biography.
A hilarious biography from YouTube sensation Caspar Lee (and his mom)!
This is an audiobook about me.
Unfortunately, I didn't write it--my mom did. WTF!
Let me tell you now that 98% of it is total lies. Actually, I'm pretty sure this book is illegal. So if you've bought it, you've basically supported a criminal. How does that feel?
I think she's getting me back for my first day in this world when I may have tried to kill her. She won't not be able to mention that. You might also find out about my first day at school, why my head is so massive, how I've always been a hit with the ladies and other things like that.
You know, important stuff.
Anyway, I found the book at the printer and you'll see I've corrected some of her most outrageous lies.
So, you know, enjoy. Just remember only the bits that make me look good are true . . .
Siebzehn Tage nach dem Tod von Johannes Paul II. wurde unerwartet rasch und mit offenbar großer Stimmenzahl der deutsche Kardinal Joseph Ratzinger zu dessen Nachfolger gewählt und die Freude in aller Welt war übergroß, als der Papst auf den Balkon über dem Petersplatz trat, um sein Amt zu beginnen als einfacher Arbeiter im Weinberg des Herrn, wie er sich selbst beschreibt. Hinter ihm liegen schwere Wochen: vor den Augen der Welt hielt er für seinen Vorgänger den Trauergottesdienst. Das nahezu öffentliche Sterben von Johannes Paul II. hat zahllose Menschen tief bewegt und die Fernsehbilder von der Trauerfeier im Vatikan waren überwältigend: Staatsoberhäupter, Kirchen- und Religionsführer aus allen Erdteilen verneigten sich gemeinsam mit einer riesigen Menge einfacher Gläubiger vor dem schlichten Sarg des Papstes. Eines der längsten und wohl bedeutendsten Pontifikate war zu Ende gegangen. Andreas Englisch, Jahrgang 1963, hat Johannes Paul II. rund um den Erdball begleitet; auch das Hörbuch seines Bestsellers 'Johannes Paul II.' erschien bei Audiobuch. Er lebt seit 1987 als Journalist in Rom und berichtet regelmäßig aus dem Vatikan. In 'Habemus Papam' berichtet Englisch über die Entwicklungen im Vatikan am Lebensende des schwerkranken Johannes Paul II.; er schildert im Detail die Umstände des Konklaves, zeichnet ein lebendiges Portrait des neuen Papstes und erklärt, warum Insider genau wussten, dass er zu den aussichtsreichsten Papabile zählte.
Über achtzehn Jahre hat Andreas Englisch Papst Johannes Paul II. als Journalist im Vatikan und auf seinen Reisen rund um die Welt begleitet. Durch ihn bekommt der Zuhörer Einblicke in das Geschehen hinter den Kulissen des Kirchenstaats. Durch ihn lernt man Karol Wojtyla aus nächster Nähe kennen und verstehen. Woher bezog dieser ebenso umstrittene wie hochverehrte Papst seine Glaubensstärke? Andreas Englisch skizziert mit großem Insiderwissen eine ebenso einfühlsame wie humorvolle Biographie.
Even as a kid, everyone thought Jeff Kinney was talented. People loved his drawings, and when he went to college, his comic strip Igdoof was so popular that it spread to other universities! Still, Jeff faced challenges. His cartoons were rejected by syndicates that claimed his art was unprofessional. Then, an idea struck: Jeff would write a journal from the perspective of a child, illustrated with doodles just like a kid might do. And so, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series was born-and it was a hit! In this biography, Jeff's brother, Patrick Kinney, provides a knowledgeable look at the life of this best-selling author/illustrator. From Jeff's childhood pranks to his job developing online games, kids will love the chance to learn more about the creator of the popular Wimpy Kid books.
Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books, based on her own childhood and later life, are still beloved classics almost a century after she began writing them. Now young readers will see just how similar Laura's true-life story was to her books. Born in 1867 in the "Big Woods" in Wisconsin, Laura experienced both the hardship and the adventure of living on the frontier.
