Academic Life

He has been called the greatest surgeon of the 20th century. The son of Lebanese immigrants, Michael DeBakey rose from humble beginnings in a backwater Louisiana town to dominate the landscape of modern medicine. His contributions to our understanding and treatment of cardiovascular disease, in particular, were innumerable and epoch-making. DeBakey led a life of high drama, from the streets of Jazz Age New Orleans and the operating theaters of pre-war Europe, to the battlefields of World War II and the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina.

J. P. Morgan is more than just the name on one of the largest banks in America. He was a man who altered the course of American finance and the chief financier for the strategic interests of the titans of the day, such as Carnegie and Rockefeller. He also financed new and ingenious technologies developed by Thomas Edison and was a visionary who saw the potential in Nikola Tesla. Hear all about him and find areas that you may have in common with this towering titan.

For Gregory A. Duncan, life began with a series of uphill battles. Raised as the middle child in a family of five by a single mother, Gregory grew up in the shadow of an absent father and the challenges of standing out-literally. His fair skin, fiery reddish-light brown hair, and bright brown eyes marked him in ways that made childhood uniquely difficult. But Gregory's spirit of perseverance carried him forward, transforming adversity into fuel for success.

On February 20, 1962, John Glenn became a national star. That morning at Cape Canaveral, the small-town boy from Ohio took his place atop a rocket and soared into space. The Last American Hero is a stunning examination of the layers that formed the man: a hero of the Cold War, a two-time astronaut, a veteran senator, a devoted husband and father, and much more.

No Lucks Given, by Chef Brother Luck, is a powerful reflection on the most vital parts of the human experience: identity, community, and work. Packed with pain, passion, honor, and hope, No Lucks Given is an encouragement to everyone who has ever doubted themselves or God, whether they grew up on the streets or not—life is hard, but there is hope.

Out of Line describes Lynch's remarkable process of self-invention, including her encounters with colorful characters of the food world, and vividly evokes the magic of creation in the kitchen. It is also a love letter to South Boston and its vanishing culture, governed by Irish Catholic mothers and its own code of honor. Through her story, Lynch explores how the past - both what we strive to escape from and what we remain true to - can strengthen and expand who we are.

Equal parts coming-of-age tale, civil rights history, and reflection on the power of education, Overnight Code is the inspiring story of a Raye Montague, a groundbreaking African American female engineer who created the first computer-designed ship for the US Navy.

In this compelling new biography, historian Niccol Capponi frees Machiavelli (1469-1527) from centuries of misinterpretation. Exploring the Renaissance city of Florence, where Machiavelli lived, Capponi reveals the man behind the legend. A complex portrait of Machiavelli emerges - at once a brilliantly skillful diplomat and a woefully inept liar; a sharp thinker and an impractical dreamer; a hard-nosed powerbroker and a risk-taking gambler; a calculating propagandist and an imprudent jokester.

Fay Stender was a giant among movement lawyers from the McCarthy Era to the 1970s intent on forcing society to change. Friends could easily picture her as the heroine of a grand opera. A child prodigy, she abandoned the concert piano to become a zealous advocate for society's most scorned and vilified criminal defendants: from the Rosenberg espionage case during the Cold War to militant black clients, Black Panther Party leader Huey Newton, and revolutionary prisoner George Jackson, to prisoners in maximum security.

Louis Bromfield was a World War I ambulance driver, a Paris expat, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist as famous in the 1920s as Hemingway or Fitzgerald. But he cashed in his literary success to finance a wild agrarian dream in his native Ohio. The ideas he planted at his utopian experimental farm, Malabar, would inspire America's first generation of organic farmers and popularize the tenets of environmentalism years before Rachel Carson's Silent Spring.

The early years of venture capital were a far cry from today’s very public dealings. Alan Patricof, one of the pioneers of the venture arena, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the past 50 years of the industry. From buying stock in Apple when its market valuation was only $60 million to founding New York Magazine to investing in AOL, Audible, and more recently, Axios, his discerning approach to finding companies is almost peerless.

"Spectacular" is a mild word for describing the strange experiment with life that comprises the story of Nikola Tesla, and "amazing" fails to do adequate justice to the results that burst from his experiences like an exploding rocket. It is the story of the dazzling scintillations of a superman who created a new world.

This is the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of John Muir, the rugged individualist and passionate protector of the wild who saw that the encroachment of civilization into nature would threaten civilization itself.

Michael W. Allison is a self-made entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to helping others by sharing his own story of dedication, resiliency, and faithfulness. As a US Armed Forces Veteran, he was the recipient of a number of awards during his career, including several Navy Achievement medals with two Bronze Stars, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the distinguished Purple Heart.

Before he had a driver's license, Ryan Merket was leading a global software cracking group from his Texas bedroom—the only business school he ever attended. Hacker's Edge is the improbable story of how that unconventional education propelled him from the digital underground to the halls of Facebook, Amazon, and Reddit. But this is not a story about stock options and catered lunches. It's an unflinching look at the brutal cost of ambition.

George W. Romney was a remarkable person. As chairman of American Motors Corporation from 1954 to 1962, he saved that company from sure destruction and led it to its greatest success. He later became the most popular governor in Michigan history, a Republican stalwart beloved in a Democratic state. He ran for the presidency in 1967 and served as Secretary of HUD in the first Nixon administration before leaving over concerns about the president.

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.

Examining the life of Jeff Bezos from his humble beginnings in Albuquerque to the present day, as CEO of Amazon, this book talks about the inspirations and influences that made Jeff Bezos the man he is today. Be inspired as you learn about some of the principles that have guided Jeff Bezos to success.

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.

According to Mark Zuckerberg, success begins with an impossible dream. The Facebook that you are enjoying today is a product of his iron willpower and never-give-up attitude. If you want to know how to achieve a dramatic success transformation in life, this book will not only discuss the biography of Mark Zuckerberg, but it will also reveal his rules for success.