Academic Life

Written by a marine scientist (and winner of French eloquence competitions), this work of narrative nonfiction blends Bill François’ personal story with that of sea creatures to create an original and exciting work. In poetic prose, he describes his unlikely journey from being a Parisian child, afraid of the water and crippled by self-consciousness, to an eloquent and self-assured young man with a passion for the ocean and all who inhabit it.

A posthumously published memoir of one of the most renowned Entertainment Industry Attorneys in Hollywood History.

Born months before the start of World War I, William L. Adams left the North Carolina cotton fields behind forever in 1929 and moved to Baltimore as part of the Great Migration. At the age of 15, he became a numbers runner to support himself. With a preternatural understanding of finance and business, he rapidly ascended, becoming the head of his own illegal gambling operation. His leadership of the racket led to an attempt on his life by the Mafia, repeated criminal prosecutions, testimony before a special investigative committee of the U.S. Senate, and a landmark Supreme Court case.

Are you—or is your daughter—nervous about starting college and unsure what to expect socially, emotionally, or academically? Do typical “college tips” feel outdated, impersonal, or just not written for your experience? You’re not alone—and this audiobook is here to help. Thriving in College: A Young Woman’s Guide goes beyond the surface to offer heartfelt mentorship, practical strategies, and grounded advice for navigating real college life. Whether you're heading to campus for the first time or trying to find your footing, this guide speaks to what young women truly face.

Considered to be one of the most financially successful people in the world when he was alive, Howard Hughes attracts attention even 40 years after his death. From being a business tycoon to an aerospace engineer and inventor to being a maverick filmmaker, Hughes seemed to have tried it all.

Crush Your Freshman Year: Mastering Academics, Social Life, Time Management, and Freedom for College Success is your guide to navigating the complex world of college. From time management to social skills, this book has it all.

Claus Spreckels (1828-1908) emigrated from his homeland of Germany to the United States with only seventy-five cents in his pocket, built a sugar empire, and became one of the richest Americans in history. Migrating to San Francisco after the gold rush, Spreckels built the largest sugar beet factory of its kind in the United States. When Spreckels gave America its first sugar cube, he became the “Sugar King.” The indomitable Spreckels was a colorful and complicated character on both sides of the Pacific.

Looking across six systems – the police and the recording of hate crimes; dating apps and digital desire; outness in the film and television industry; borders and LGBTQ asylum seekers; health and fitness activities; and DEI initiatives in the workplace – Rainbow Trap documents how inclusive interventions – such as new legislation, revamped diversity policies and tech fixes – have attempted to bring historically marginalized communities out of the shadows.

American Urbanist shares the life and wisdom of a man whose advocacy reshaped many of the places we know and love today—from New York's bustling Bryant Park to preserved forests and farmlands around the country.

Sir Bob Reid is former chairman of Shell UK, British Rail, ICE Futures Europe, and deputy governor of the Bank of Scotland, among much else. His is a story of determination and achievement shot through with political upheaval, economic reversal, and industrial catastrophe. His first posting was to Borneo. Stints in Africa, Thailand, and Australia followed, after which he became chair of Shell UK, responsible for all oil exploration, production, refineries, and coastal shipping.

Erin Soto was living the life of the average overly committed mom and wife, managing her kids' schedules and myriad household duties while struggling to find time for herself. She had shrugged off the warning signs that something was physically "off" until, finally, she could not ignore her health any longer. Her world came to a crashing halt when the mother of four was delivered a shocking diagnosis at age 37: stage 3 colon cancer. The Mother of All Fights is an uncensored glimpse into the often harrowing and sometimes shocking twists and turns encountered on Erin's journey.

Erin Soto was living the life of the average overly committed mom and wife, managing her kids' schedules and myriad household duties while struggling to find time for herself. Her world came to a crashing halt when the mother of four was delivered a shocking diagnosis at age 37: stage three colon cancer. The Mother of All Fights is an uncensored glimpse into the often harrowing and sometimes shocking twists and turns of life encountered on Erin's journey toward healing her mind, body, and soul.

From his working class roots in New Jersey to the “tune in, turn on, drop out” cliffs of Big Sur and the pinnacles of the human potential movement; from launching his company Age Wave and coming to terms with his own aging process, Ken Dychtwald’s Radical Curiosity makes sense of his first 70 years of life, offering invaluable life lessons through the lens of a man constantly seeking truth and self-discovery - giving listeners a glimpse into a visionary's extraordinary world, and a guide for claiming a powerful vision of one’s own.

Grada was only 17 years old when she met her soulmate, Peter. By 19 she was married and had migrated from Holland to live in Peter’s homeland, Tasmania, Australia. Grada lived her dream - homesteading at the "back of beyond" with the love of her life, six children, and a menagerie of farm animals. In 2000 she and Peter opened a wellness clinic in their back yard. At the pinnacle of her life, Grada was hit by a truck - literally. During the near-death experience that followed, Grada had to make the decision to return to her body.

Frank Savage's is an unlikely success story. Raised in segregated Washington, DC, by his mother, a hairdresser and entrepreneur with little formal education, Savage's career has taken him around the world as a globetrotting financier. From his first banking job at Citibank to his current position as Chairman Emeritus of Howard University, The Savage Way shares the life and business lessons he learned along the way.

Paul Owhadi’s improbable entrepreneurial journey began as a first-generation immigrant coming to America with just a few hundred dollars in his pocket. Having learned a remarkable level of self-reliance, as a child sent to a French boarding school at age four, he was educated in London—and then headed to New York City and a whole new life. After an education and a career in urban planning and city management—one of the youngest city managers in the country—he excelled at creating and transforming cities for the betterment of its people.

I thought country club living at home in Long Island during college, with no job or accountability, was the perfect life. Then came a trip to Africa during the Congo Crisis.... That started a nine-year downhill spiral. Back in the US, it was one illness and surgery after another. When my brother Michael returned a completely different person, I accepted an invite to visit him in Los Angeles. There the most shocking awakening happened. Instantly I knew: all is well. An associate once asked me, "How come things happen to you that don't happen to us?" The answers are what this book is all about.

What does it take to rise from struggle to success? Jewish Humans of Brooklyn: New York Street Interviews with Brooklyn Jews Who Beat the Odds and Built Real Wealth explores the raw, inspiring stories of Jewish individuals in Brooklyn who turned hardship into prosperity. Through candid street interviews, this book captures the lives of immigrants, entrepreneurs, rabbis, and more from neighborhoods like Crown Heights and Williamsburg. These are unfiltered accounts of people who overcame poverty, anti-Semitism, and trauma to build wealth—not just in money, but in legacy and community.

Cameron West was in his thirties, a successful businessman, happily married and the father of a young son when he spoke these words. The “voice” he heard belonged to Davy, the first of twenty-four alter personalities to emerge over a period of several months as West began to recall memories of horrific abuse he’d repressed since childhood. With distinct characteristics, mannerisms, and memories, all twenty-four were created by West to protect his psyche from the trauma of repeated sexual abuse at the hands of family members.

When Ronald Reagan chose C. Everett Koop to be Surgeon General of the United States in 1981, liberal politicians, women's groups, and even the public health community opposed the nomination because of his conservative social views and strong anti-abortion beliefs. By the time he left office in 1989, the same people who had vilified him as "Dr. Kook" were singing his praises, and many conservative politicians and activists were criticizing him as a traitor.