A collection of short stories and flash fiction that makes magical realism a fresh and powerful new genre. These stories range from humor to heartbreak, often in the same brief tale; a unique and wildly entertaining collection.
This Naked Mind has ignited a movement across the country, helping thousands of people forever change their relationship with alcohol. Many people question whether drinking has become too big a part of their lives, and worry that it may even be affecting their health. But, they resist change because they fear losing the pleasure and stress-relief associated with alcohol, and assume giving it up will involve deprivation and misery. This Naked Mind offers a new, positive solution. Here, Annie Grace clearly presents the psychological and neurological components of alcohol use based on the latest science, and reveals the cultural, social, and industry factors that support alcohol dependence in all of us. Packed with surprising insight into the reasons we drink, this book will open your eyes to the startling role of alcohol in our culture, and how the stigma of alcoholism and recovery keeps people from getting the help they need. With Annie’s own extraordinary and candid personal story at its heart, this book is a must-read for anyone who drinks. This Naked Mind will give you freedom from alcohol. It removes the psychological dependence so that you will not crave alcohol, allowing you to easily drink less (or stop drinking). With clarity, humor, and a unique blend of science and storytelling, This Naked Mind will open the door to the life you have been waiting for. “You have given me my live back.” —Katy F., Albuquerque, New Mexico “This is an inspiring and groundbreaking must-read. I am forever inspired and changed.” —Kate S., Los Angeles, California “The most selfless and amazing book that I have ever read.” —Bernie M., Dublin, Ireland
Thousands of people have forever regained control of their drinking through This Naked Mind. Now, they're telling their stories.This Naked Life offers forty-eight raw and real stories of people who have found freedom from alcohol. In these pages, discover how Bryan went from hopeless certainty that drinking would eventually kill him to absolute peace over the course of a single day.See how reading one book gave Jennifer total freedom after twenty years of binge drinking.Witness Becca thrive in ways she had never thought possible, all because she learned it was okay to question her relationship with alcohol before she hit rock bottom.Find out how Kari broke a family legacy of deadly alcohol abuse that stretched back generations.Alternately poignant and humorous, This Naked Life will surprise, challenge, and inspire you. These stories, written by relatable humans from all walks of life, pull no punches and prove that, no matter where you are in your journey with alcohol, you are not alone. Witness the power of transformed minds today in This Naked Life, the collection Annie Grace calls "the most important book I never wrote."From This Naked Life"I'm finally able to move forward into the future with confidence and poise, interacting with others on my own terms instead of through the haze of alcohol." -Nancy"It feels good to be alive-truly alive!" -Ryan"Past me-the me who drank-wouldn't recognize present me. But over those intervening years, I was able to design my lifestyle, to purposefully choose who I want to be without alcohol. . . . And in place of alcohol, I found a life I'm in love with that's only getting better. I love who I am today." -Mike J.
"Can it still be hurricane season? Must be, because here come Serge A. Storms and his perpetually stoned bro, Coleman, in Tim Dorsey’s gonzo crime caper.” –The New York Times Book Review The “compulsively irreverent and shockingly funny” (Boston Globe) Tim Dorsey returns with an insanely entertaining tale in which the inimitable Serge A. Storms sees dead people and investigates a creepy urban myth that may be all too real. Though another devastating hurricane is raking Florida, its awesome power can’t deter the Sunshine State’s most loyal son, Serge A. Storms, from his latest scenic road trip: a cemetery tour. With his best bro Coleman riding shotgun, Serge hits the highway in his gold ’69 Plymouth Satellite, putting pedal to the metal on a grand tour of the past. Beginning in Key West, the sunshine boys’ odyssey includes a forgotten mass grave in Palm Beach County holding the remains of African Americans killed by the Great Hurricane of 1928, and the resting place of one world-famous television dolphin (RIP Flipper) from the 1960s. But one deadland—a haunted old sugar field—holds more than just the bones of those who’ve passed. For years, local children have whispered about a boogeyman hiding among the stalks. Could it be the same maniac known as Naked Florida Man, who’s been raising hell all over the place? There are few things Serge loves more than solving a good mystery and bestowing justice on miscreants who sully his beloved home’s good name. With his partner Bong Man, Florida’s psycho superhero will find the truth in this hilariously violent delight—packed with history, lore, and plenty of motel antics—from the insanely ingenious Tim Dorsey.
A former paramedic’s "thrilling, captivating" (Booklist), and mordantly funny account of a decade spent as a first responder in Atlanta saving lives and connecting with the drama and occasional beauty that lies inside catastrophe. In the aftermath of 9/11 Kevin Hazzard felt that something was missing from his life—his days were too safe, too routine. A failed salesman turned local reporter, he wanted to test himself, see how he might respond to pressure and danger. He signed up for emergency medical training and became, at age twenty-six, a newly minted EMT running calls in the worst sections of Atlanta. His life entered a different realm—one of blood, violence, and amazing grace. Thoroughly intimidated at first and frequently terrified, he experienced on a nightly basis the adrenaline rush of walking into chaos. But in his downtime, Kevin reflected on how people’s facades drop away when catastrophe strikes. As his hours on the job piled up, he realized he was beginning to see into the truth of things. There is no pretense five beats into a chest compression, or in an alley next to a crack den, or on a dimly lit highway where cars have collided. Eventually, what had at first seemed impossible happened: Kevin acquired mastery. And in the process he was able to discern the professional differences between his freewheeling peers, what marked each—as he termed them—as “a tourist,” “true believer,” or “killer.” Combining indelible scenes that remind us of life’s fragile beauty with laugh-out-loud moments that keep us smiling through the worst, A Thousand Naked Strangers is an absorbing read about one man’s journey of self-discovery—a trip that also teaches us about ourselves.
This modern classic of LGBT writing includes an introduction from Carmen Maria Machado, author of Her Body and Other Parties, and a new afterword from Lillian Faderman. Born in 1940, Lillian Faderman is the only child of an uneducated and unmarried Jewish woman who left Latvia to seek a better life in America. Lillian grew up in poverty, but fantasised about becoming an actress. When her dreams led to the dangerous, seductive world of the sex trade and sham-marriages in Hollywood of the fifties, she realised she was attracted to women, and that show-biz is as cruel as they say. Desperately seeking to make her life meaningful, she studied at Berkeley; paying her way by working as a pin-up model and burlesque dancer, hiding her lesbian affairs from the outside world. At last she became a brilliant student and the woman who becomes a loving partner, a devoted mother, an acclaimed writer and ground-breaking pioneer of gay and lesbian scholarship. Told with wrenching immediacy and great power, Naked in the Promised Land is the story of an exceptional woman and her remarkable, unorthodox life.
The Naked CEO's guide to achieving your dream, starting now From suspended schoolboy to disruptive CEO, Alex Malley, The Naked CEO, has led a life rich in successes and mistakes. Through it all he has learned a lot about what it takes to successfully build not only a big career, but also a big life. Gain insights from a successful CEO who's lived a big life. Be inspired by his unabashed real-life stories. Learn how to dream big and have the courage to pursue your passions and be willing to fail in that quest. Take the practical tips and apply them to your own career. Whether you're a student, jobseeker, professional, new to the workforce or just stuck in a rut, this book is your guide through the hurdles of the career journey to a big life. As a father of seven, Alex knows that this is the perfect book for parents or mentors looking to inspire the next generation. Career-readiness is a skill that people need. It can be learned the hard way, after years on the job and many potentially serious missteps, or it can be learned ahead of time by listening to those who have been there. The Naked CEO helps graduates, jobseekers, and professionals learn the lessons and limit their mistakes. Learn how to: Become a leader Successfully stand out and get noticed Harness the power of being yourself Network and create a profile Establish rapport with colleagues and turn around an under-performing team Get organised, spot opportunities, and learn how to say no Set priorities, build confidence, learn how to delegate, and more The Naked CEO is the truth you need to build a big life.
In a class for the newly deaf, former musician Simon meets G and his quest to create an entirely new form of music helps him better understand her, himself, and his relationship to the hearing world.
"Josh Stallings is the kind of writer who shouldn't have to publish for himself, but here he is slugging it out the hard way. Just like one of the hardasses in his own books. The man knows what to do with paper and ink. Read the damn thing." -Charlie Huston "Someone once said of Raymond Chandler that he wrote 'as if pain hurt and life mattered.' That's true of Josh Stallings, too. Hop on, kick the starter, and let him lead you on a long, painful, but entertaining ride through Moses McGuire's world. One hint: wear your helmet and your leathers. It might get messy." -Tad Williams BEAUTIFUL, NAKED AND DEAD is hard-boiled crime novel. Moses McGuire a suicidal strip club bouncer is out to avenge the death of one of his girls. From his East L.A. home, through the legal brothels of Nevada and finally to a battle with the mob in the mountains above Palo Alto, it is a sex soaked, rage driven, road trip from hell.
This book is for anyone with sincere doubts that their ancestor, to the 10020 degree, was a guppy. "DUDE, YOU’RE NUDE!" offers a thought-provoking and entertaining journey. Using "The Emperor's New Clothes" as a playful backdrop, this book dives into the heart of Darwinian debates with humor and incisive critique. Authored by a former aspiring marine biologist turned courtroom advocate, this narrative peels back the layers of scientific consensus to expose the unanswered questions beneath. With sharp wit, logic, and a dose of sarcasm, the author navigates from dinner table disputes to the core of scientific truths, dismantling the pillars of Darwinian evolution with clarity and simplicity. Drawing a parallel between the classic tale of The Emperor's New Clothes and the contemporary blind acceptance of Darwin's theory of evolution, the book presents a comedic yet provocative critique of the unwavering allegiance to Darwin’s theory of evolution and is a call to action challenging readers to boldly own the right to question and explore when faced with the current disturbing trend in education which shifted from encouraging inquiry to enforcing blind conformity. Whether you're a staunch believer in evolution or harboring doubts, "DUDE, YOU’RE NUDE!" promises a provocative and enlightening exploration. Embracing controversy, it dives headfirst into the tempest of scientific dogma, guided by common sense and everyday observations. Prepare for an intellectual awakening, a challenge to your convictions, and a spark to your natural curiosity. Join this audacious quest for truth, where the only thing more evident than the evidence is the stark nakedness of unchallenged scientific claims.