5 results for "Biography"

Nothing is true and everything is possible: the surreal heart of the new Russia

Pomerantsev, Peter
A journey into the glittering, surreal heart of 21st century Russia: into the lives of Hells Angels convinced they are messiahs, professional killers with the souls of artists, bohemian theatre directors turned Kremlin puppet-masters, supermodel sects, post-modern dictators and oligarch revolutionaries. This is a world erupting with new money and new power, changing so fast it breaks all sense of reality, where life is seen as a whirling, glamorous masquerade where identities can be switched and all values are changeable. It is home to a new form of authoritarianism, far subtler than 20th century strains, and which is rapidly expanding to challenge the global order. An extraordinary book - one which is as powerful and entertaining as it is troubling - Nothing is True and Everything is Possible offers a wild ride into this political and ethical vacuum
PublicAffairs 2014 243 pages

The dressmaker of Khair Khana: five sisters, one remarkable family, and the woman who risked everything to keep them safe

Lemmon, Gayle Tzemach
The incredible true account of Kamila Sidiqi who, when her father and brother were forced to flee Kabul, became the sole breadwinner for her five siblings. Armed only with grit and determination, she picked up a needle and thread and created a thriving business of her own and held her family together.
Harper 2011 256 pages

Inside Austria: new challenges, old demons

Lendvai, Paul
Austria experienced remarkable economic and social growth in the years following World War II, especially considering the troubled nature of its politics. A small, land-locked country, Austria has emerged as the European Union's fourth richest state, yet it still wrestles with old decisions and demons. Merging personal observation with rich historical scholarship, a renowned journalist and award-winning memoirist tracks Austria's unique trajectory, beginning the origins of its peoples and following through to the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian empire in 1918. Paul Lendvai investigates whether Austrians have come to terms with Hitler s Anschluss and the Waldheim affair and how they have met the challenge of Jorg Haider s radical right-wing ascendancy. Lendvai identifies a positive moral toughness, internal cohesion, and social discipline within Austria, especially during the years of occupation and subsequent crises, such as the Hungarian Revolution, the Prague Spring, and the Yugoslav wars. A probing study of Austria's long quest for nationhood, this volume offers a firsthand look at the factors and players that have influenced an evolving power.Praise for the German edition: Daring, exciting, unmasking...Lendvai presents hitherto hardly known facts and] incredible details.& mdash; NEWS (Vienna Weekly)Lendvai seeks to explain what Austria is like. He has succeeded exactly in this endeavor.& mdash; Die Wel
Columbia University Press 2010 199 pages

Whither England?

Leon Trotsky
""Whither England?"" is a political analysis by Leon Trotsky, a prominent Marxist revolutionary and theorist, originally published in 1925. The book examines the social and economic conditions of England during the early 20th century, and the potential for a socialist revolution in the country. Trotsky argues that the capitalist system is in crisis, and that the working class is increasingly discontented and ready to overthrow the ruling class. He also critiques the Labour Party and other reformist movements, arguing that they are not radical enough to bring about true social change. The book is an important contribution to Marxist theory and provides insight into the political climate of England during the interwar period.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
Literary Licensing, LLC 2011-05 192 pages

Bootstraps need boots: one Tory's lonely fight to end poverty in Canada

Segal, Hugh
"For more than four decades, Hugh Segal has been one of the leading voices of progressive conservatism in Canada. A self-described Red Tory warrior who disdained "boot strap" approaches to poverty, he has always promoted policies, especially a basic annual income, to help the most economically vulnerable. Why would a life-long Tory support something so radical? In this revealing memoir, Segal shares how his life and experiences brought him to this most unlikely of places, beginning with his childhood in a poor immigrant family in Montreal to his time as a chief of staff for Prime Minister Mulroney and to his more recent work as an advisor on basic income for the Ontario Liberal government. This book is a passionate argument for why a basic annual income makes economic sense - and for why it is the right thing to do."
On Point Press, a UBC Press imprint 2019 197 pages