“These stories . . . offer a peephole into a distinct fictional world . . . they attest to the author’s gift as an observer and archivist of emotion.” —The New York Times The thirty-four stories in this seminal collection powerfully display what have become Lydia Davis’s trademarks—dexterity, brevity, understatement, and surprise. Although the certainty of her prose suggests a world of almost clinical reason and clarity, her characters show us that life, thought, and language are full of disorder. Break It Down is Davis at her best. In the words of Jonathan Franzen, she is “a magician of self-consciousness.” Praise for Lydia Davis “Davis is one of the most precise and economical writers we have.” —Dave Eggers, McSweeney’s “An American virtuoso of the short story form.” —Salon “The best prose stylist in America.” —Rick Moody “[Davis has] a capacity to make language unleash entire states of existence.” —Siddhartha Deb, The New York Times

Heres a witty, engaging, and dynamic interactive guide that uses sparkling dialogue, riveting characters, and appealing graphics to pique and hold the interest of students even those who dont like to read to help them in college-level reading comprehension. Break It Down! tries to improve and sharpen the students study skills, critical thinking, and test-taking strategies in a fun, funny, and refreshing way. It introduces unique steps, methods, and approaches like Brainups -- to aid them in college. Educators and authors Vicki Vernon Lott and Clifton Estus Laird aim to provide students good strategies for life-long learning. Start discovering them now! What Students Are Saying About Break It Down! It really made English fun! Not only did it help in English, but it also helped to improve my study habits for other classes. -- Jacqwese Stephens. Established a new and easy way to learn at a level I could enjoy. -- Jessica Smith. Helped me understand a subject that I couldnt comprehend. -- Devon McVea. Its the primary reason why I changed my major from Criminal Justice to English. It helped me expand my vocabulary and think more critically. -- Danielle Cooper. Improved my college-level comprehension 100%. -- Tristain Bell. An amazing book that, I believe, all students should read. Because of this book, I now know how to express myself properly in a society full of confusion. -- Asia Terry. What Instructors Are Saying Students respond to Break it Down. The books tips and tricks are presented in a way that encourages students and helps them not only improve their reading and writing skills, but also offers an accessible approach to academia. Michael Salerno. Break It Down does a great job of preparing students to meet the various academic challenges they will face throughout their college years. The book truly earns its name and is a wonderful tool for standardized test preparation. -- Randolph Walker

It has been my pleasure to know Roy since he assumed his final pastorate prior to retirement, Westgate Baptist Church in Lancaster, Pa. As the shepherd of our small, older congregation, he brought the priceless lessons of biblical relevance and human relationships gained from his outreach in pulpits and prisons. Out of his work and that of his wife, Judy, Westgate became a multicultural congregation with a vision of mission that has engaged hearts and hands. And in all of his work, Roy has given uncompromising credit to God, and to the journey of ministry and understanding in which God has guided him. In the pages that follow you will experience many chapters and moments from that journey. You will feel the painful anguish of broken lives, and the joyous renewal of wholeness through Gods love. You will indeed meet the least of these, and the faithful response of seeing Christ in them. You likely will see possibilities for your own ministry, your own spiritual growth. Almost certainly, you will be challenged, enlightened and inspired. I invite you now to begin a story that reveals in so many ways Gods care and provision, a narrative of one mans life of trust in Gods leading and in what can be accomplished through that trust. ---Richard W. Schramm, former Deputy General Secretary for Communication, American Baptist Churches USA

"[We need] a grassroots, bottom-up movement that understands the challenge in front of us, and then organizes against monopoly power in communities across this country. This book is a blueprint for that organizing. In these pages, you will learn how monopolies and oligopolies have taken over almost every aspect of American life, and you will also learn about what can be done to stop that trend before it is too late." —From the foreword by Bernie Sanders. A passionate attack on the monopolies that are throttling American democracy. Every facet of American life is being overtaken by big platform monopolists like Facebook, Google, and Bayer (which has merged with the former agricultural giant Monsanto), resulting in a greater concentration of wealth and power than we've seen since the Gilded Age. They are evolving into political entities that often have more influence than the actual government, bending state and federal legislatures to their will and even creating arbitration courts that circumvent the US justice system. How can we recover our freedom from these giants? Anti-corruption scholar and activist Zephyr Teachout has the answer: Break 'Em Up. This book is a clarion call for liberals and leftists looking to find a common cause. Teachout makes a compelling case that monopolies are the root cause of many of the issues that today's progressives care about; they drive economic inequality, harm the planet, limit the political power of average citizens, and historically-disenfranchised groups bear the brunt of their shameful and irresponsible business practices. In order to build a better future, we must eradicate monopolies from the private sector and create new safeguards that prevent new ones from seizing power. Through her expert analysis of monopolies in several sectors and their impact on courts, journalism, inequality, and politics, Teachout offers a concrete path toward thwarting these enemies of working Americans and reclaiming our democracy before it’s too late.

One of the last divas of jazz, Nina Simone (1933-2003) was one of the finest songwriters and musicians of her day. Jazz lover and music journalist Hampton met and befriended the soul diva in the 1950s. After that they corresponded regularly throughout Simone's career. Hampton and her brother delve into their memorabilia to create a vivid portrait of the singer.

The days are long, but the years are short. No matter if it’s your child’s first step, first day of school, or first night tucked away in a new dorm room away from home, there comes a moment when you realize just how quickly the years are flying by. Christian music artist Nichole Nordeman’s profound lyrics in her viral hit “Slow Down” struck a chord with moms everywhere, and now this beautiful four-color book will inspire you to celebrate the everyday moments of motherhood. Filled with thought-provoking writings from Nichole, as well as guest writings from friends including Shauna Niequist and Jen Hatmaker, practical tips, and journaling space for reflection, Slow Down will be a poignant gift for any mom, as well as a treasured keepsake. Take a few moments to reflect and celebrate the privilege of being a parent and getting to watch your little ones grow—and Slow Down. Nichole Nordeman has sold more than 1 million albums as a Christian music artist and has won 9 GMA Dove Awards, including two awards for Female Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. Nichole released a lyric video for her song “Slow Down,” and it struck a chord with parents everywhere, amassing 14 million views in its first five days. She lives in Oklahoma with her two children.