While some Latin American superstars have overcome discrimination to strike gold in baseball's big leagues, thousands more Latin American players never make it to "The Show." Stealing Lives focuses on the plight of one Venezuelan teenager and documents abuses that take place against Latin children and young men as baseball becomes a global business. The authors reveal that in their efforts to secure cheap labor, Major League teams often violate the basic human rights of children. As a young boy growing up in Venezuela, Alexis Quiroz dreamed of playing in the Major Leagues. Alexis's dreams were like those of thousands of other boys in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, and Major League teams encouraged such dreams by recruiting Latin children as young as 10 and 11 years old. Determined to become a big league player, Alexis finished high school early and dedicated himself to landing a contract with a Major League team. Alexis signed with the Chicago Cubs in 1995 at age 17 and then began a harrowing ordeal of exploitation, mistreatment, and disrespect at the hands of the Chicago Cubs, including playing for the Cubs' Dominican Summer League team in appalling living conditions. Alexis's baseball career came to an abrupt end by an injury for which the Cubs provided no adequate medical treatment. The story continues, however, with Alexis's pursuit of justice in the United States to ensure that other Venezuelan and Dominican boys do not encounter similar experiences. What happened to Alexis is not an isolated case-Major League teams routinely deny Latin children and young men the basic protections that their U.S. counterparts take for granted. This exploitation violates international legal standards on labor standards and the human rights of children. Stealing Lives concludes by analyzing various reforms to redress the inequities big league baseball creates in its globalization.

"Stealing Lives" is a courageous and inspiring memoir written by Ashaki Noni Nichols. With raw honesty, Ashaki shares her deeply personal journey of survival, forgiveness, and healing. The book explores her harrowing experience of childhood abuse and the profound impact it had on her life. Through the pages of her memoir, Nichols takes readers on a transformative journey, from the initial innocence stolen to the long and challenging road toward forgiveness. As Ashaki navigates the aftermath of abuse, she bravely confronts the questions that plague survivors: Why did this happen to me? How can I overcome the pain and reclaim my life? With unwavering determination, she embarks on a path of self-discovery, seeking answers, and finding the strength to redefine herself. "Stealing Lives" delves into the complex emotions, self-doubt, and psychological challenges faced by survivors. Ashaki shares her experiences of self-empowerment, refusing to be defined solely by her past, and ultimately finding the transformative power of forgiveness. The book showcases her journey of embracing personal growth, self-love, and reclaiming her identity. Through her candid storytelling, Ashaki shines a light on the lasting effects of abuse while imparting valuable lessons about resilience, faith, and the capacity of the human spirit to heal. "Stealing Lives" is a poignant and powerful memoir that offers hope, encouragement, and a testament to the power of forgiveness and self-discovery. This book serves as a source of inspiration for survivors, a call for empathy and understanding, and a guide for anyone seeking personal growth and healing. "Stealing Lives" is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the transformative power of forgiveness and resilience.

A story about baseball, family, the American Dream, and the fight to turn Los Angeles into a big league city. Dodger Stadium is an American icon. But the story of how it came to be goes far beyond baseball. The hills that cradle the stadium were once home to three vibrant Mexican American communities. In the early 1950s, those communities were condemned to make way for a utopian public housing project. Then, in a remarkable turn, public housing in the city was defeated amidst a Red Scare conspiracy. Instead of getting their homes back, the remaining residents saw the city sell their land to Walter O'Malley, the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Now LA would be getting a different sort of utopian fantasy -- a glittering, ultra-modern stadium. But before Dodger Stadium could be built, the city would have to face down the neighborhood's families -- including one, the Aréchigas, who refused to yield their home. The ensuing confrontation captivated the nation - and the divisive outcome still echoes through Los Angeles today.

Martin Arkenhout found his true calling on a lonely Florida highway -- with a sharp rock to the skull of an injured friend. He didn't just take the boy's life; he went on to live it. When that life became too risky, he found another, and another, changing his name, papers and style at will, until he chose the wrong life -- a scholarly thief on the run from the determined and troubled John Costa. The two men will meet, and there will be murder. But there is something much worse: the sweet seduction of taking another's life to be your own. Chillingly suspenseful, brilliantly executed and truly disturbing, Taking Lives is an entertainment to make you think and shiver.

Here's everything you need to know about how business really operates courtesy of Dogbert.

It’s just another job… right? Nicco Salarum is a thief, and a good one. In the rough-and-tumble city of Azbatha, where every street hustler has an enchantment in his back pocket, Nicco prides himself on using his skills – and the best technology money can buy – to get him into the houses and boardrooms of the wealthy. But Nicco’s last job went sour, leaving him in debt to a powerful gang boss, and deep in trouble. When a foreign wizard offers him a vast sum for a visiting diplomat’s trinket, he leaps at the opportunity. But nothing happens in a vacuum. Caught in a game where the futures of whole nations are at stake, Nicco finds himself racing against time to right his wrongs… and save his own skin.

Examines the growing problem of identity theft, explaining how easy it is for anyone to assume someone else's identity, the devastating impact of such a crime, ways identity thieves work, and concrete ways to protect oneself against the crime.