"The story of an alienated Northern professional's quest for redemptive immersion in Southern Black working-class communities"--Encyclopedia Britannica (online).

The remarkable hardcover success of Triumph Without Victory was evidence of the public's need for a three-dimensional behind-the-scenes account of the Gulf War. Now this acclaimed work is available in trade paperback, published to coincide with the war's second anniversary. 15 maps.

A witty, insightful, and delightfully snarky blend of pop culture meets memoir meets real-life Devil Wears Prada as readers learn the stories behind twenty-five years at Vanity Fair from the magazine’s former deputy editor “Dilettante offers the best seat in the house into the workings of one of the great cultural institutions of our time.”—Buzz Bissinger, New York Times bestselling author of Friday Night Lights Dana Brown was a twenty-one-year-old college dropout playing in punk bands and partying his way through downtown New York’s early-nineties milieu when he first encountered Graydon Carter, the legendary editor of Vanity Fair. After the two had a handful of brief interactions (mostly with Brown in the role of cater waiter at Carter’s famous cultural salons he hosted at his home), Carter saw what he believed to be Brown’s untapped potential, and on a whim, hired him as his assistant. Brown instantly became a trusted confidante and witness to all of the biggest parties, blowups, and takedowns. From inside the famed Vanity Fair Oscar parties to the emerging world of the tech elite, Brown’s job offered him access to some of the most exclusive gatherings and powerful people in the world, and the chance to learn in real time what exactly a magazine editor does—all while trying to stay sober enough from the required party scene attendance to get the job done. Against all odds, he rose up the ranks to eventually become the magazine’s deputy editor, spending a quarter century curating tastes at one of the most storied cultural shops ever assembled. Dilettante reveals Brown’s most memorable moments from the halcyon days of the magazine business, explores his own journey as an unpedigreed outsider to established editor, and shares glimpses of some of the famous and infamous stories (and people) that tracked the magazine’s extraordinary run all keenly observed by Brown. He recounts tales from the trenches, including encounters with everyone from Anna Wintour, Lee Radziwill, and Condé Nast owner Si Newhouse, to Seth Rogen, Caitlyn Jenner, and acclaimed journalists Dominick Dunne and Christopher Hitchens. Written with equal parts affection, cultural exploration, and nostalgia, Dilettante is a defining story within that most magical time and place in the culture of media. It is also a highly readable memoir that skillfully delivers a universal coming-of-age story about growing up and finding your place in the world.

NO SUCH THING AS IMPOSSIBLE – From Adversity to Triumph” is the inspiring story of the remarkable life of Jairo Alvarez-Botero, a brave, caring seventy-three years old Colombian immigrant and businessman who is living proof that the American dream is not a myth. His courage and determination will brought him from a difficult life in Colombia, South America, to a prosperous life in the United States. Raised by loving parents who provided a wonderful example of good character and hard work, while also sharing their good fortune with those less privileged, Jairo drew upon his great faith and his father’s profound wisdom to always do the right thing when lesser men would have run quickly and run far from the many difficult challenges that crossed his life path. Extremely well written, this book draws the reader from the tale of Jairo’s simple childhood at a potato farm in the Andes Mountains. As a young man he had ambitions to become a general, but destiny would put him on different course. It was a path that would stop him of his career in the Army, but afford him the opportunity to save his president’s life and avert a coup that would have resulted in the re-establishing of a dictatorship in Colombia. In exchange for his life, at age of twenty-five with one hundred dollars in his pocket and unable o speak a word of English he came in a cargo military plain as a poor immigrant in the United States. He was forced into menial labor in a filthy environment in order to survive; from his humble determination to learn the English language on a statue of Moses in Washington Park, Albany, NY. Within three and a half years he had learned the language well enough to earn an honor degree from Albany Business College in Albany, New York. After years spent struggling, Jairo finally found success in the land development and home construction builder to become the largest in Louisiana, operating his several enterprises with the help of his wife of 44 years and his three children and their families. Today Jairo is an artist, an Olympic athlete, a writer, cancer survivor, motivational speaker and philanthropist who dedicate good part of his fortune to many charities organizations. No Such Thing as Impossible is the compelling story of a courageous, compassionate man who has provided a wonderful example for his children, but also to his readers as he tells the astonishing tale of finding his way from very difficult circumstances to taking great joy in living the American dream. Simply put, this is a great and inspiring read. The proceeds of this book go to recognized charity organizations.

Moving beyond past histories of Viet Nam that have focused on nationalist struggle, this volume brings together work by scholars who are re-examining centuries of Vietnamese history. Crossing borders and exploring ambiguities, the essays in Viet Nam: Borderless Histories draw on international archives and bring a range of inventive analytical approaches to the global, regional, national, and local narratives of Vietnamese history. Among the topics explored are the extraordinary diversity between north and south, lowland and highland, Viet and minority, and between colonial, Chinese, Southeast Asian, and dynastic influences. The result is an exciting new approach to Southeast Asia's past that uncovers the complex and rich history of Viet Nam.

Anthropologist Myerhoff's penetrating exploration of the aging process is brilliant sociology--as well as living history--that tells readers about the importance of ritual, the agonies of aging, and the indomitable human spirit. "(The book) shines with the luminous wit of old age".--Robert Bly.