Brave indeed is the novelist whose gregarious, anxious, polyglot alter-ego (yes, his name is Ernest) dares to anatomize—even celebrate—that peculiar inertia of beginning to write. In this novel, inspiration eluding the narrator in... Read More

“Many unsuspecting passers-by had to relinquish molars before their ruler’s lust for surgery was satisfied,” the author writes of Peter the Great’s obsession with removing and collecting teeth. He adds that the “teeth in the... Read More

Henry David Thoreau’s rhetoric instructor viewed him as a student with little promise. The instructor was wrong. Thoreau made impressive accomplishments as a natural scientist, a writer, and a social activist. The first chapter will... Read More

Just in time for Earth Day 2003 comes this lovely poetry collection in celebration of nature. Featuring poets ranging from Emily Dickinson to Sappho, this book will especially please parents who have faith in their children’s abilities... Read More

Writers spend long hours alone. Because the act of writing is usually done in isolation, there remains a mystery about the process. An aspiring athlete can go to a game and watch an idol in action, studying the master’s jumpshots to... Read More

In walking, you may encounter long-legged emus and even those huge black-winged, white-breasted red-wattled storks mingling with the chickens where corn is tossed in the yard. They are not afraid, as though by experience they know it is... Read More

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” So said Albert Einstein, a man known equally for his brilliant scientific discoveries and for his white mane of unkempt hair. This book provides a concise, easy-to-understand overview... Read More

If one wants to be happy for a lifetime, write the authors, one should become a gardener. Their love of gardening comes through every page of this comprehensive guide to growing 261 plants, with species-by-species information on each... Read More