From Naptown to Tinseltown—legendary stand-up comedian and actor Mike Epps finally tells all in this outrageous, hilarious, no-holds-barred memoir. Before starring in Def Comedy Jam and Showtime at the Apollo—before the sold-out comedy shows, Uncle Buck, and becoming his hero Richard Pryor in a biopic—there was Indianapolis. And not the good part. Mike Epps is one of America’s favorite and funniest people, but the path to fame was paved with opportunities to mess it up. And mess it up he did. Growing up in “Naptown”—what people who live there really call rough-around-the-edges Indianapolis—Epps found himself forced to hustle from an early age. Despite his mother’s best efforts, and the love of his well-behaved brother, “Chaney,” and his beloved sister, Julie, Epps was drawn to a life of crime, but as he quickly discovered, stealing and dealing didn’t really fit his sweet sensibilities. Not to mention he wasn’t very good at it—take, for example, the day he had to call the cops on himself when a dog wouldn’t let him leave a house he was burgling. After several arrests and more than a few months in jail, Epps finally realized that he was an unsuccessful thug, and instead turned to the next most obvious career path: stand-up comedy. Heading first to New York, then all over the country, and finally to Hollywood, Mike Epps carved out a unique place in American comedy, combining hysterical tales of his family and friends with a mordant take on life in the Naptowns of America. Comedy saved Mike Epps, and here he reveals exactly how he finally grew up and got out, barely. And when describing how he survived when so many of his friends didn’t, Epps makes clear what he’s thankful for and sorry about. Unsuccessful Thug is about growing up black in America, facing down racism in Hollywood, and ultimately how it feels to fail at thugdom, pull yourself up by the bootstraps, and end up selling out arenas and starring in movies across the country.

If anyone purchases a book in 2021, ‘What A Man Really Wants To Say About Relationships’ should be at the top of everyone’s list! This is literally one of the best relationship books ever written. There are subjects as fiery as ‘Entanglement’, PTSD in Relationships, Using Kids As Weapons, etc. which talks about parents using their kids to get back at one another. This book goes even deeper with Chapters called Why Men and Women Cheat. If anyone is looking for a relationship book that literally talks about every issue that can cause relationship problems, this is it. The Author doesn’t leave anyone hanging, he not only talks about the problems that may arise in relationships, he tells the readers how to fix or avoid these issues. Anything that couples go threw from messy family members getting in the middle of the relationship, to how PTSD and mental illness can affect the relationship. This is a book for both women and men! There are a lot of fellas that don’t like to read books, but you will definitely want to read this one. It will not only save marriages or relationships, it will teach you how to avoid the ones that aren’t healthy for you. Couples, please do yourselves a favor and purchase this book!

'You have given a faithful portrait of a Thug's life, his ceremonies, and his acts' Often overshadowed by Kipling's Kim or Forster's A Passage to India, Philip Meadows Taylor's forgotten classic, Confessions of a Thug (1839), is nevertheless the most influential novel of early nineteenth-century British India. This was the first dramatic account to expose a European readership to the fantastic world of the murderous Thugs, or highway robbers, who strangled their victims and who have ever since been a stable of Western popular culture. Writing in the voice of a captured Thug, Taylor presents an Orientalist fantasy that is part picaresque adventure and part colonial expos?. Confessions of a Thug offers a unique glimpse of the colonial world in the making, revealing how the British imagined themselves to be omniscient and in complete control of their Indian subjects. This unique critical edition makes available a fascinating and significant work of Empire writing, in addition to excerpts from the original colonial texts that inspired Taylor's narrative.

Centuries ago, an angel's betrayal left the plane of Celestia reeling. Not long after, mortals and celestials alike fought demons in the War of the Races, mistakenly thinking a battle against the demons would never happen again. Unfortunately, now nearly two thousand years later, rumors are circulating that the Lord of the Hells has a daughter, and demonic activity in the mortal plane of Elyshaeza is increasing. Neil is a rogue demon who has left the Hells for Elyshaeza. But when he encounters Shara Aotallin, an elf ordered to take him to be judged, he is suddenly thrust into a mystery that leads him and several elves to a gruesome discovery. Artemis is a young celestial left on the mortal plane who is questioning its abilities and identity. Another celestial tries to perform his duties, but is haunted by the past and the present. After a village girl, Collie, is brought to Celestia, an incident with a demonic mirror literally leads her to the Hells and back. And it is only the beginning for all of them. Rising Star, the first of the Rain of Stars trilogy, is an exciting fantasy tale that pitches celestials and mortals into the repetition of history as demons lurk in the shadows and all await their destinies.

I will destroy you. Druzeel realizes that his actions have opened another path, one of evil and deceit, but the path of righteousness still lies before him. Choosing which one to follow is the difficult part, but one thing is certain - nothing will ever be the same. A tiny seed of virtue still lies inside of him, but as he travels through a city full of sin, hatred, and evil, it gets harder to feel that goodness. He knows it will take only the slightest push to fall into a hole of darkness, so he clings tightly to that shinning light. But the pull of the gloom is strong and when a new figure enters his life and offers him power, it may be impossible to resist. With power comes fear and with that fear comes respect. All he wanted was the respect of his peers and the trust of those he admired. Is this new power enough to give him both? Can it make him into the man he always wanted to be? Or will it turn him into a monster? The power is enchanting, but it comes with a heavy price. If he chooses to ignore those consequences, then there may be no pulling him from a dark descent.

Listen up, ladies! Shirley Strawberry, co-host of the nationally syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show, delivers more of the no-nonsense woman-to-woman straight talk her listeners have come to love. Shirley tells it like it is—from the heart. Now, in this uplifting motivational guide, she brings her vivacious, inspirational, and down-to-earth message to women everywhere: Get up, get out, and be the best you can be! This call to action helps women look at their lives with a candid eye and tackle such issues as: • Love and Relationships: the highs and lows of dating, marriage, and breakups • Family: the challenges of being a great mom • Sisterhood: ways to get (and give) the support you need to stay sane • Self: tips for overcoming low self-esteem and depression, and finding balance, faith, and acceptance Full of motivating “Strawberry Tips,” personal stories, and helpful suggestions for drama-stuck girlfriends, this book encourages you to love yourself and your life!