Nonfiction World

Declaring the church corrupt and urging rationality over revelation, Thomas Paine’s The Age of Reason directly opposed the existing political and religious order of his time. Initially printed in pamphlet form, his work audaciously employed “vulgar” everyday language, as Paine sought to bring his message, and the appeal of deism, to the masses.

Taken from his mother at age three, Steve Klakowicz lives in the clutches of a cruel foster family. He finds his only refuge in a box of books given to him by a kind stranger, books that take him to new worlds he can only imagine. He begins to hope that one day he might have a different life. As he grows, Steve is determined to unravel the mystery of his origins and find his birth family. A light-skinned boy with blue eyes, a curly Afro, and a Polish last name, he embarks on an extraordinary quest for his identity, armed with only one clue. Yet nothing is as it appears.

Did you know that Pennsylvania is home to the Groundhog Day tradition? Are you aware that the Liberty Bell is three feet tall? Including information on civilizations dating back to 10,000 years ago in the region, this book explores Pennsylvania's storied history, from its importance in the founding of the United States to the creation of the Philly cheesesteak.

Did you know that the state is named after King George II? Are you aware that Martin Luther King Jr. was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia? Or that the Cherokee Nation is responsible for peaches in the region? Including information on the area's first residents from 15,000 years ago, this book explores the complex and captivating history of Georgia, from the historic rock mounds of the Woodland Period to the birth of Coca-Cola in Atlanta in 1886.

Did you know that Walt Disney World has over 58 million visitors each year? Are you aware that NASCAR is headquartered in Florida? Or that there are over 800 Florida Keys with 42 bridges connecting the tiny islands? Including information on the first people who arrived in the area 12,000 years ago, this book explores Florida's rich history and diverse landscape, from the wetlands of the Everglades to the state's famous sandy beaches. Florida truly is the Sunshine State!

Did you know that seven US presidents have been born in Ohio? Are you aware that the Ohio state flag is not a rectangle? Or that more than half of the state is made up of farmland? Including information on the region’s many Indigenous groups, this book explores how Ohio is truly at the heart of it all, from its roots as the new American frontier to its legacy as the home of rock and roll.

Did you know that nearly one in three Texans speak Spanish at home? Are you aware that Texas is home to thousands of natural caves? Or that the largest urban bat colony in the world lives in this state? Including information on the many pre-Columbian groups traced to the region, this book explores what makes the history of Texas exceptionally unique, from its Spanish influences to the Texas Revolution. Discover the state’s distinct identity and why everything’s bigger in Texas!

Did you know Illinois was the first state to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment? Are you aware that the Chicago River flows backwards? Or that the state is home to President Barack Obama? Including information on the Cahokia region and early French settlers, this book on Illinois history and culture will engage all readers, from the story of why the northern border of Illinois was altered twice to the deadly Great Chicago Fire.

Did you know that the Statue of Liberty was originally copper-colored? Are you aware that Niagara Falls is the oldest state park in the country? Or that the Dutch were the first Europeans to settle in New York? Including information on the region's earliest Native groups and the Harlem Renaissance, this book explores New York's varied history and dynamic landscapes, from the dazzling skyscrapers of Manhattan to the striking waters of the Great Lakes and the Finger Lakes. There’s a reason it’s the most-visited state in the country!

Did you know that the Golden Gate Bridge isn't actually gold? Are you aware that Southern California experiences around 10,000 earthquakes each year? Or that you might spot your favorite celebrity's name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? Including information on the region's many Indigenous groups, this book explores California's rich history and culture, from its nine national parks to the filming sites of most American movies. No wonder it’s the most populous state in the country!

Conozca la historia de la vida de Jesús y los orígenes de la fe cristiana en este libro, que es una lectura perfecta para Pascua, Navidad o cualquier otro día del año.

In the 1850s, gold fever swept the West, but people had to walk, sail, or ride horses for months on end to seek their fortune. The question of faster, safer transportation was posed by national leaders. But with 1,800 miles of seemingly impenetrable mountains, searing deserts, and endless plains between the Missouri River and San Francisco, could a transcontinental railroad be built? It seemed impossible.

Get Informed! Get Inspired! Get Going! In an audiobook that tackles the biggest challenges facing us today, Chelsea Clinton combines facts, charts, photographs, and stories to give listeners a deep understanding of the world around them - and how anyone can make a difference. With stories about children and teens who have made real changes big and small - in their families, their communities, in our country and across the world - this audiobook will inspire listeners of all ages to do their part to make our world a better place.

Although her family and friends know her as Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso, the world refers to her simply as Celia Cruz. Starting her career in 1950, Celia grew increasingly popular as the new lead singer of the Cuban band Sonora Matancera. Her exceptional vocal range and flashy costumes made fans fall in love with her.

Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic and third woman appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States, was a young girl when she dared to dream big. Her dream? To become a lawyer and a judge. Sonia did not let the hardships of her background - which included growing up in the rough housing projects of New York City's South Bronx, dealing with juvenile diabetes, coping with parents who argued and fought personal demons, and worrying about money - stand in her way. Always, she believed in herself. Her determination propelled her ever forward.

Robert Stone was a singular American writer, a visionary whose award-winning novels - including Dog Soldiers, Outerbridge Reach, and Damascus Gate - earned him comparisons to literary lions ranging from Samuel Beckett to Ernest Hemingway to Graham Greene. Stone had an almost prophetic grasp of the spirit of his age, which he captured with crystalline clarity in each of his novels. Of course, he was also a sharp and brilliant observer of American life, and his nonfiction writing is revelatory.

When her parents make the dangerous and illegal trek across the Mexican border in pursuit of the American dream, Reyna and her siblings are forced to live with their stern grandmother, as they wait for their parents to build the foundation of a new life. But when things don’t go quite as planned, Reyna finds herself preparing for her own journey to “El Otro Lado” to live with the man who has haunted her imagination for years: her long-absent father.

"عالم البنات" لمؤلفته الكاتبة نهلة حسين، يشمل الكتاب كل ما يخص عالم ومحيط البنات من مختلف الأعمار، كما يتناول المواضيع التي تُعايشها الفتاة والأفكار التي تتقافز إلى ذهنها بين الفينة والأخرى. وتوجه الكاتبة الفتاة، للوجهة الإسلامية الصحيحة المرضية لشرع الله، مستخدمة أسلوباً أخوياً من القلب إلى القلب.

The year 2020 marks 75 years since the end of World War II, yet even as the war slips from living memory, its legacies continue to influence current political and military thinking. This anthology will analyze these legacies for a number of countries and regions, including China, Russia, the United States, the Near East, and Germany, illustrating in detail how World War II is not merely a historical event, but a defining moment for current military and political thinking around the globe.

On remote Codfish Island off the southern coast of New Zealand live the last 91 kakapo parrots on earth. These trusting, flightless, and beautiful birds - the largest and most unusual parrots on earth - have suffered devastating population loss. Now, on an island refuge with the last of the species, New Zealand’s National Kakapo Recovery Team is working to restore the kakapo population. With the help of 14 humans who share a single hut and a passion for saving these odd ground-dwelling birds, the kakapo are making a comeback in New Zealand.