"A fast, funny and informative . . .memoir from one of the major comic stars of the 1970s . . .A unique perspective on the perils of modern comedy." — Kirkus ReviewsJimmie Walker was raised in a violent and abusive home in the Bronx. Starting in small clubs and eventually opening for Black Panther rallies, he ultimately became an icon playing J. J. Evans on Good Times. Walker was the first successful young black sitcom star, and h...

Raised in the South Bronx projects, Jimmie Walker made his way out of the perilous ghetto thanks to an ability to make people laugh. Performing in small clubs alongside friends such as Richard Pryor, Freddie Prinze, David Brenner, and Richard Lewis; opening for Black Panther rallies; and emceeing at the Apollo and for Motown tours, he was a young, brash stand-up comedian for a new generation.By landing the role of J.J. Evans on Good Times, Walker became an icon of the ’70s...

The Angels Camp and Copperopolis regions offer a fascinating chapter in the history of the Mother Lode. Calaveras County�s southwest corner has many tales to tell, including one of the earliest settlements of the Native American in California; two of the most famous names in Americana, Mark Twain and Black Bart; and two major events in national history, the Gold Rush and the Civil War. An important Gold Rush town, Angels Camp gained even greater fame through Twain�s �The Celebrated Jumping...

Ambushed in Afghanistan and betrayed by their own leaders—these elite Marines fought for their lives again, back home.A cross between A Few Good Men and American Sniper, this is the true story of an elite Marine special operations unit bombed by an IED and shot at during an Afghanistan ambush. The Marine Commandos were falsely accused of gunning down innocent Afghan civilians following the ambush. The unit’s leader, Maj. Fred Galvin, was summarily relieved of duty...

A Few Bad Men is the incredible true story of an elite team of US Marines set up to take the fall for Afghanistan war crimes they did not commit—and their leader who fought for the redemption of his men.Ambushed in Afghanistan and betrayed by their own leaders, these elite Marines fought for their lives again, back home.A cross between A Few Good Men and American Sniper, this is the true story of an elite Marine special operations...

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The legendary Hollywood star of classic films and TV shows such as The Dick Van Dyke Show, Bye Bye Birdie, and Mary Poppins shares intimate stories from six decades of his renowned career.“Earnest, funny, and appealing . . . captures the essence of an eventful life lived on and off the small screen.”—The Washington PostWith a foreword by Carl ReinerDick...

The Rocky Mountain and Great Basin states are the heart of ghost-town country. Once-bustling pioneer outposts, mining camps, lumber towns, and railroad villages stand today as reminders of the glory days of gold rushes, industrial progress, and that pioneering spirit of the Old West. This book guides readers to the fascinating and scenic ghost towns of Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Nevada. Varney highlights popular tourist destinations as well as out-of-the-way spots unfamil...

"Every state has its own ghost. Every city has a few spirits. In Ghosts Coast to Coast, a friendly apparition named John takes the reader on a spirited journey through the fifty states visiting famous and obscure haunted houses throughout the United States. It's a haunting journey discovering the haunting activity of Ghosts Coast To Coast...."

Hear the stories about the gold-seeking "forty-niners!" in this addition to the #1 New York Times bestselling series.In 1848, gold was discovered in California, attracting over 300,000 people from all over the world, some who struck it rich and many more who didn't. With black-and white illustrations and sixteen pages of photos, a nugget from history is brought to life!

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A New York Times Top 10 Book of the Year • A delicious romp through the heyday of rock and roll and a revealing portrait of Jann Wenner, the man at the helm of Rolling Stone magazine, with candid look backs at the era from major musicians • "Come for the essayist in Hagan, stay for the eye-popping details and artful gossip."–Dwight Garner, The New York Times"Through his nuanced portrait of We...

Start your engines and follow the backroads, the historical paths, and the scenic landscape that were fashioned by geologic Ice Ages and traveled by Big Thicket explorers as well as contemporary park advocatesall as diverse as the Big Thicket itself. From Spanish missionaries to Jayhawkers, and from timber barons to public officials, you will meet some unusual characters who inhabited an exceptional region. The Big Thicket and its National Preserve contain plants and animals from deserts a...

"Funny [and] fascinating . . . If you're a comedy nerd you'll love this book." — Pittsburgh Post-GazetteNamed a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews, National Post, and SplitsiderBased on over two hundred original interviews and extensive archival research, this groundbreaking work is a narrative exploration of the way comedians have reflected, shaped, and changed American culture over the past one hundred years.Starting...