Memoir.Everyone has a story.
Read a few and be inspired. 2019 Readers' Favorite Gold Award Winner-Nonfiction Sports Fight to the End by Eric Hanna |
Balance Pedal Breathe: A Journey Through Medical School by Claire Unis (Soft Cover)
$17.95
When I was on my mountain bike, I knew that perseverance would pay off, that every uphill climb would end, that I could handle sudden drops and quick swerves and even most of the rocks that might appear in the road. My biking skills seemed irrelevant to learning medicine, but if nothing else, they kept my self-esteem off the floor.
When she received her acceptance to medical school, Claire Unis was an idealistic twenty-two-year-old waitress living in a small town in the Eastern Sierra. She arrived confident that caring about people would carry her through. But the trails she found herself traveling in medical school were more treacherous than she had imagined. As she emerged from the dark tunnel of endless studying into the labyrinth of the hospital, she found herself wrestling self-doubt while placating irascible patients, fighting sleep-deprivation, and sinking in the quicksand of empathy before arriving at the crux that plagues physicians today: how to retain compassion for others while struggling to stay whole.
By beautifully juxtaposing the often-tempestuous landscape of becoming a doctor with one young woman’s wide-ranging adventures in nature, this smartly written memoir explores the heart and sinew of medicine, discovering places where knowledge and meaning diverge—and, unexpectedly, intertwine.
Balance Pedal Breathe: A Journey Through Medical School by Claire Unis (Hard Cover)
$29.95
When I was on my mountain bike, I knew that perseverance would pay off, that every uphill climb would end, that I could handle sudden drops and quick swerves and even most of the rocks that might appear in the road. My biking skills seemed irrelevant to learning medicine, but if nothing else, they kept my self-esteem off the floor.
When she received her acceptance to medical school, Claire Unis was an idealistic twenty-two-year-old waitress living in a small town in the Eastern Sierra. She arrived confident that caring about people would carry her through. But the trails she found herself traveling in medical school were more treacherous than she had imagined. As she emerged from the dark tunnel of endless studying into the labyrinth of the hospital, she found herself wrestling self-doubt while placating irascible patients, fighting sleep-deprivation, and sinking in the quicksand of empathy before arriving at the crux that plagues physicians today: how to retain compassion for others while struggling to stay whole.
By beautifully juxtaposing the often-tempestuous landscape of becoming a doctor with one young woman’s wide-ranging adventures in nature, this smartly written memoir explores the heart and sinew of medicine, discovering places where knowledge and meaning diverge—and, unexpectedly, intertwine.
Wake Up, Annie Mather by Mike Dorsey
$12.95
Despite being a poor widow and mother of four, Annie Mather stayed strong for her family and refused to let the hateful people in her life bring her down. Even when her own mother favored Annie’s twin sister simply because she was rich and had “normal” children, Annie turned the other cheek and showed everyone the love and grace they didn’t always deserve.
On top of it all, Annie remained a pillar of strength for her son Mike, who lives with cerebral palsy and deafness. Life was not often kind to Mike, just as it wasn’t to Annie, so they relied on each other’s love and support to navigate life’s many challenges.
Written with equal parts melancholy and hope, Wake Up, Annie Mather! tells the story of Mike Dorsey’s strong and beautiful mother, who somehow always managed to enjoy life to the fullest.
Grandson of a Slave (Soft Cover) by Samuel Carter
$14.95
Life is a gift from God …
Every person on this earth has
the right to choose their own destiny,
but we must have the
will and the determination
to fight for what is ours.
Growing up as one of fifteen children to black sharecroppers in the Jim Crow South, Samuel was raised to fight for what he believed in. From an early age, he was taught to speak out against injustice, follow his dreams, trust in God, and never forget his roots. From the Alabama plantation where his grandfather Nute was a slave, to riding the family wagon to church on Sundays, to working his way through the ranks as a factory employee in Niagara Falls, first-time author Samuel Carter shares his life story and family history with honesty and deep poignance. At times heart wrenching, and at times laugh-out-loud funny, Grandson of a Slave teaches readers that while systemic racism is still a global institution, hope, love, and perseverance will always overcome.
Never Missed: Lessons Learned From Forty-Five Years of Running Without Missing a Day by Mark Covert
$15.95
What started as a hobby quickly became a life’s passion and a legacy for Mark Covert, holder of the second-longest running streak in history. Join Mark as he shares stories from the roads and trails he ran to cover an astonishing 159,000 miles, and the wisdom learned during the 16,436 consecutive days he kept the streak alive. From his first national championship, to competing in the 1972 Olympic trials wearing the first Nike pair of Nike shoes, Mark’s story is one of toughness, perseverance, and unwavering dedication to the sport of running.
How to Remodel a Life by Hope Andersen (soft cover)
$16.95
Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in her forties, though having lived with its effects since childhood, Hope Andersen struggled for years to find inner peace. Her journey led her to alcoholism, pills, sexual promiscuity, turbulent and abusive relationships, and the brink of suicide. But it was her husband’s brush with death as they entered their sixties that opened Hope’s eyes, allowing her to begin her life anew. With a fresh lease, she remodeled her life and began seeking its deeper wisdom. Ultimately, what she found was hope.
Tuxedos & Pickup Trucks by Bill Thompson
$14.95
Tuxedos and pickup trucks, bow ties and beauty queens, sweet tea, fried chicken, and lazy dogs. Bill Thompson knows the South as well as the creases in his old white bucks. Told through the lenses of family, friends, a couple of celebrities, and even a few Presidents, this first memoir from best-selling author and self-proclaimed Southern Gentleman Bill Thompson is an homage to Southern living.
For over forty years, Bill Thompson has traveled throughout North Carolina and the South as a speaker for hundreds of organizations from local civic clubs to trade conferences to international conventions. He has been a master of ceremonies and entertainer, speaking and singing for hundreds of events, and celebrating the things that make communities special––from the Hollering Contest in Spivey’s Corner, North Carolina to the Wooly Worm Festival in Banner Elk; the Grits Festival in St. George, South Carolina to the Chitlin Strut in Sally; and from the grape stompin’ contest in Tennessee to judging a sweet tea contest in Georgia. In the process, Thompson has had a chance to meet a lot of people and to hear their stories.
Helene-True Story of a German Girl's Resilience Growing Up During World War II by Helga Long and Helene Witzmann
$14.95
Imagine living in a time when planes overhead meant something far more terrifying than travel. Picture yourself on a train, cowering in fear as bombs explode around you. Imagine the sound of glass shattering and screams permeating smoke-filled air as you wait for the end you know is coming. From food rations to air raids, Helene paints a tale of what life was like for German citizens during World War II. Based on recordings from Helene Witzmann translated by her daughter, Helga Long, this book offers a unique perspective on history detailing World War II from a German point of view.
95 Days in the NICU by Avie Banks (Hard Cover)
$21.95
95 Days in the NICU tells the incredible story of how one tiny life can invite huge kindness. Avie Banks details her son's first few months on the planet as a micro preemie while highlighting how her family, community, and faith helped ease the copious challenges he faced. Written from the perspective of little Clayton Banks, we hear the voice of an innocent explaining how he feels, how he's treated, and how much determination he has to get home. Each member of the family plays a vital role in Clayton's development as we hear about his big sister (also born prematurely) showing bravery and selflessness, his parents' methods of bonding with and nurturing their son, and the overwhelming emotional, financial, and tangible support of their community. Banks allows us to feel the emotional breadth of Clayton's journey through his own words while never losing sight of all the positive that comes even with premature births. 95 Days in the NICU is more than a medical history or a personal narrative, it's a well-balanced tale of hope, perserverance, and belief.