As a rule, male escort Mike never delved into the personal lives of his clients. One day, he recognised one his regular clients on TV: he was the Reverend Ted Haggard, who, as President of the National Association of Evangelicals, influenced millions of believers, condemning homosexuality and advocating virulently against gay rights and same-sex unions. On November 1, 2006, Mike made his relationship with Ted Haggard public. Within days, Haggard resigned from all his positions of power, admitting to a sexual immorality that shook the evangelical world.
A veteran journalist discovers an ancient system of speech techniques for overcoming the fear of public speaking—and reveals how they can profoundly change our lives. In 2010, award-winning journalist John Bowe learned that his cousin Bill, a longtime extreme recluse living in his parents’ basement, had, at the age of fifty-nine, overcome a lifetime of shyness and isolation—and gotten happily married. Bill credited his turnaround to Toastmasters, the world's largest organization devoted to teaching the art of public speaking. Fascinated by the possibility that speech training could foster the kind of psychological well-being more commonly sought through psychiatric treatment, and intrigued by the notion that words can serve as medicine, Bowe set out to discover the origins of speech training—and to learn for himself how to speak better in public. From the birth of democracy in Ancient Greece until two centuries ago, education meant, in addition to reading and writing, years of learning specific, easily taught language techniques for interacting with others. Nowadays, absent such education, the average American speaks 16,000 to 20,000 words every day, but 74 percent of us suffer from speech anxiety. As he joins Toastmasters and learns, step-by-step, to successfully overcome his own speech anxiety, Bowe muses upon our record levels of loneliness, social isolation, and political divisiveness. What would it mean for Americans to learn once again the simple art of talking to one another? Bowe shows that learning to speak in public means more than giving a decent speech without nervousness (or a total meltdown). Learning to connect with others bestows upon us an enhanced sense of freedom, power, and belonging.
At this school, there are some children who push and tease and bully. Sometimes they hurt other kids by just ignoring them. The girl in this story sees it happening, but she would never do these mean things herself. Then one day something happens that shows her that being a silent bystander isn't enough. Will she take some steps on her own to help another kid? Bright, fluid, realistic watercolors illustrate the story, set in a school with lots of diversity. Resources at the end of the book will help parents and children talk about teasing and bullying and find ways to stop it at school. One child at a time can help change a school.
This is the story of the sexual relationship between Michael Forest Jones, a Denver man who worked as an escort, and the Reverend Ted Haggard, founder and pastor of the New Life Church of Colorado Springs. As a rule, Mike never delved into the personal lives of his clients. He entertained celebrities, clergyman, politicians, pro-football players, and just regular guys. In 2003, a man named "Art" called Mike to set up an appointment. For almost three years, Art came to see him at least once a month. It was simply a business relationship for Mike, yet he sensed that for Art, it was more. Like many clients who were closeted, Art revealed his vulnerabilities as he struggled to deny his true desire for sexual contact and affection with a man. One day, while working out at his gym, Mike recognized "Art" preaching hate on a religious cable channel. He soon discovered that Art was actually the Reverend Ted Haggard, who, as President of the National Association of Evangelicals, influenced the daily lives of millions of believers, condemning homosexuality and advocating virulently against gay rights and same-sex unions. On November 1, 2006, Mike made public his relationship with Ted Haggard. Within days, Haggard resigned from all his positions of power, admitting to a "sexual immorality" that shook the evangelical world, right before Election Day 2006. Once Haggard was outed, Mike's clients stopped calling. He had effectively put himself out of business and put himself at risk of being trivialized and dismissed, as sex workers often are. It was Mike’s courage and strength of conscience that ultimately led him to come forward about the hypocrisy of Haggard’s life. Here is the disarming story of how one man’s deceit inspired another man to become a spokesperson for telling the truth and for not being ashamed of who you are.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO INDULGE IN DEF LEPPARD, THEN THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY FOR YOU! This book includes 37 chapters all about Def Leppard, featuring in-depth write-ups on the band's studio albums and select single releases **PLUS** never-before-told personal stories **AND** never-before-seen pictures! Includes: * IN-DEPTH write-ups spotlighting the band's original studio albums (plus the Retro Active compilation) and select single releases. This compendium is completely refreshed from the original versions that were written for The Lep Report. Also, a brand new, rare, from-the-inside look at the Vault greatest hits release ("Peeks Inside Vault's Vault & More")! * BRAND NEW write-ups spotlighting the Hysteria singles WOMEN, LOVE BITES, and ROCKET (And A Personal One At That!). * Numerous chapters featuring NEVER-BEFORE-TOLD personal stories (along with NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN pictures) from my time working at the band's record label in the mid-'90s, with some of my favorite memories and interactions involving the band. Chapters include "Stumping Sav," "Meet. Greet. Repeat.," "Poor Sav...And, Go Joe!," "Definitely Not A Wardrobe Malfunction," and much more! * Tribute chapters spotlighting JOE ELLIOTT ("The Ballad of Joe: Reflections & An Appreciation"), "MUTT" LANGE ("The Magical Mysteria Of "Mutt" Lange"), and STEVE CLARK ("A Tribute") * Song By Song: Ranking And Reviewing Def Leppard Songs Chapter Breakdown: Introduction: How It All Started Personal Story: Stumping Sav Personal Story: A Special Radio Request Album Spotlight: On Through The Night Album Spotlight: High 'n' Dry Album Spotlight: Pyromania Album Spotlight: Hysteria Steve Clark: A Tribute Album Spotlight: Adrenalize Album Spotlight: Retro Active Peeks Inside Vault's Vault & More! Album Spotlight: Slang Album Spotlight: Euphoria Album Spotlight: X Album Spotlight: Songs from the Sparkle Lounge Album Spotlight: Def Leppard Personal Story: If It Pleases You, It Pleases...Them Personal Story: An 'Ugly' Situation With A Concert On The Side Personal Story: Definitely Not a Wardrobe Malfunction Personal Story: Where Does Love Go When It Dies? Right Here! Single Spotlight: "Women" Single Spotlight: "Hysteria" Single Spotlight: "Pour Some Sugar On Me" Single Spotlight: "Love Bites" Single Spotlight (And A Personal One At That!): "Rocket" Single Spotlight: "Let's Get Rocked" Single Spotlight: "Make Love Like A Man" Single Spotlight: "Tonight" Single Spotlight: "Promises" Single Spotlight: "Long Long Way To Go" Single Spotlight: "Nine Lives" The Magical Mysteria Of "Mutt" Lange Personal Story: Poor Sav...And, Go Joe! Personal Story: And Now A Quick Break For The Scent Of Glitter Personal Story: The Ballad of Joe (Reflections & An Appreciation) Personal Story: Meet. Greet. Repeat. Song By Song: Ranking And Reviewing Def Leppard's Songs So rise up and gather round -- better yet, get really comfortable and get ready -- to indulge in A LOT of Def Leppard with this must-read, definitive book! From the creator of the Def Leppard fansite The Def Leppard Report (aka The Lep Report). ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!
From the creator of the New York Times bestseller The Word Collector comes an empowering story about finding your voice, and using it to make the world a better place. The world needs your voice. If you have a brilliant idea... say something! If you see an injustice... say something!In this empowering new picture book, beloved author Peter H. Reynolds explores the many ways that a single voice can make a difference. Each of us, each and every day, have the chance to say something: with our actions, our words, and our voices. Perfect for kid activists everywhere, this timely story reminds readers of the undeniable importance and power of their voice. There are so many ways to tell the world who you are... what you are thinking... and what you believe. And how you'll make it better. The time is now: SAY SOMETHING!
A novel about public shaming in the internet age, the power of words, the cumulative destructiveness of microaggressions, and the pressing need for empathy. Before we go any further, I want you to understand this: I am not a good person. We all want to be seen. We all want to be heard. But what happens when we’re seen and heard saying or doing the wrong things? When Winter Halperin—former spelling bee champion, aspiring writer, and daughter of a parenting expert—gets caught saying the wrong thing online, her life explodes. All across the world, people know what she’s done, and none of them will forgive her. With her friends gone, her future plans cut short, and her identity in shambles, Winter is just trying to pick up the pieces without hurting anyone else. She knows she messed up, but does that mean it’s okay for people to send her hate mail and death threats? Did she deserve to lose all that she’s lost? And is “I’m sorry” ever good enough? Decide for yourself.
For readers of Marieke Nijkamp's This Is Where It Ends, a powerful and timely contemporary classic about the aftermath of a school shooting. Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets. Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends, and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life. Jennifer Brown's critically acclaimed novel now includes the bonus novella Say Something, another arresting Hate List story.
In this delightfully witty, provocative book, literature professor and psychoanalyst Pierre Bayard argues that not having read a book need not be an impediment to having an interesting conversation about it. (In fact, he says, in certain situations reading the book is the worst thing you could do.) Using examples from such writers as Graham Greene, Oscar Wilde, Montaigne, and Umberto Eco, he describes the varieties of "non-reading"-from books that you've never heard of to books that you've read and forgotten-and offers advice on how to turn a sticky social situation into an occasion for creative brilliance. Practical, funny, and thought-provoking, How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read-which became a favorite of readers everywhere in the hardcover edition-is in the end a love letter to books, offering a whole new perspective on how we read and absorb them.
Say Something Back will allow readers to see just why the name of Denise Riley has been held in such high regard by her fellow poets for so long. The book reproduces A Part Song, a profoundly moving document of grieving and loss, and one of the most widely admired long poems of recent years. Elsewhere these poems become a space for contemplation of the natural world and of physical law, and for the deep consideration of what it is to invoke those who are absent. But finally, they extend our sense of what the act of human speech can mean - and especially what is drawn forth from us when we address our dead. Lyric, intimate, acidly witty, unflinchingly brave, Say Something Back is a deeply moving book by one of our finest poets, and one destined to introduce Riley's name to a wide new readership.
