Thomas Lawrence is a 17 year old Canadian with an Arabic heritage that he knows very little about. He has been sent to Damascus to meet his grandfather and learn about his heritage. He is uncomfortably hot and he's not sure that he wants to listen to an old man drone on about family history. However this visit to the ancient home land will unfold in ways unexpected and leave a lasting impression on the young Thomas Lawrence.
Darby Hollinger only made one mistake in life. He mentioned Intelligent Design in one of his papers and immediately lost his place in the respectable world of science. When he attempts to commit suicide, he wakes up, not in heaven or hell, but in an academic world that no one knew existed, one where any scientific idea is acceptable as long as it is viable.A story about love, death and Survival of the Fittest.
An alternative history where a Kaiser rules in Germany, a King rules in Canada, and a new naval treaty between them means only one thing, the invasion of the Socialist Republic of England. Only two people can stop it from happening, or is there a third - someone whose destiny will change a nation?
Dreaming in Arabic is the story of growing up in a church that preached end-time prophecies that were soon going to overtake the world, starting with God's people fleeing to a place of safety in Petra, Jordan. Despite each prophecy failing, dates continued to be set for the end of the world. Starting at an archaeological dig site in Israel, the author goes back in history to highlight the times the Holy Land has been conquered and whether this has any relevance for Christians today. A modern memoir about ancient promises and conflicting visions of the Middle East and how history can be very personal.
Fingers and toes with no pruning. No rigor mortis. No livor mortis. Blood glucose levels that revealed a recent death. Neighbors who saw Samira Frasch alive two and a half hours after her husband left the house. Phone records and eyewitnesses to support his alibi. A prison snitch who told a story filled with contradictions. A golf club that mysteriously appeared in the master bedroom a year after the controversial death. A handyman who lied repeatedly. Mental health issues that were ignored. A prosecutor with a grudge. It all said the same thing, that Dr. Adam Frasch had not killed his wife. The true and frightening story of how the State of Florida created a case out of planted evidence and disjointed testimonies to put an innocent man in prison.
The inside story of the making of Mean Girls – and our enduring 20-year obsession with it Released in 2004, iconic teen comedy Mean Girls remains as relevant now as ever. But what made an adaptation of a parenting guide by little-known SNL writer Tina Fey so successful? And why, two decades later, can we all just not stop quoting it? Drawing on revealing interviews with the director, cast and crew, Jennifer Keishin Armstrong takes us behind the scenes of the film’s genesis, production and release. From how it shaped the Millennial generation to how it has intertwined with tabloid, meme and LGBTQ+ culture, So Fetch is also the first deep dive into what makes Mean Girls such an influential phenomenon. Part love letter, part cultural commentary, this is an unmissable read for anyone who is still ‘like, obsessed’ with all things Mean Girls twenty years on.
New and Noteworthy —New York Times Book ReviewMust-Read Book of March —Entertainment WeeklyBest Books of March —HelloGiggles“Leaps at the throat of television history and takes down the patriarchy with its fervent, inspired prose. When Women Invented Television offers proof that what we watch is a reflection of who we are as a people.” —Nathalia Holt, New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Rocket GirlsNew York Times bestselling author of Seinfeldia Jennifer Keishin Armstrong tells the little-known story of four trailblazing women in the early days of television who laid the foundation of the industry we know today.It was the Golden Age of Radio and powerful men were making millions in advertising dollars reaching thousands of listeners every day. When television arrived, few radio moguls were interested in the upstart industry and its tiny production budgets, and expensive television sets were out of reach for most families. But four women—each an independent visionary— saw an opportunity and carved their own paths, and in so doing invented the way we watch tv today.Irna Phillips turned real-life tragedy into daytime serials featuring female dominated casts. Gertrude Berg turned her radio show into a Jewish family comedy that spawned a play, a musical, an advice column, a line of house dresses, and other products. Hazel Scott, already a renowned musician, was the first African American to host a national evening variety program. Betty White became a daytime talk show fan favorite and one of the first women to produce, write, and star in her own show.Together, their stories chronicle a forgotten chapter in the history of television and popular culture.But as the medium became more popular—and lucrative—in the wake of World War II, the House Un-American Activities Committee arose to threaten entertainers, blacklisting many as communist sympathizers. As politics, sexism, racism, anti-Semitism, and money collided, the women who invented television found themselves fighting from the margins, as men took control. But these women were true survivors who never gave up—and thus their legacies remain with us in our television-dominated era. It's time we reclaimed their forgotten histories and the work they did to pioneer the medium that now rules our lives.This amazing and heartbreaking history, illustrated with photos, tells it all for the first time.
From the New York Times bestselling author of Seinfeldia comes the totally fetch story of one of the most iconic teen comedies of all time, Mean Girls, revealing how it happened, how it defined a generation, “like, invented” meme culture, and why it just won’t go away, filled with exclusive interviews from the director, cast, and crew. Get in, loser. We’re going back to 2004.It’s been 20 years since Mean Girls made “fetch” happen. But, Mean Girls was never meant to be the global phenomenon it became. Given a mid-Spring release date—the film industry’s equivalent of a wasteland—and up against the much more hyped 13 Going on 30, the studio, writer Tina Fey, and director Mark Waters, could only hope that their little film would be a modest success at best. Despite the odds, and thanks in no small part to Fey’s infinitely quotable script and the burgeoning social media era, Mean Girls has gone to be one of the biggest pop culture influences of the past 20 years.In So Fetch, the first comprehensive book on the story of Mean Girls, the making of the movie, and its impact on pop culture, social media, and more, New York Times-bestselling author Jennifer Keishin Armstrong takes readers through the entire Mean Girls journey, from its conception in Saturday Night Live’s offices to Fey’s battle to keep a “wide-set vagina” in the script; from peak Lohan to the high school vibe on the movie’s Toronto set; from its hot-pink brand of feminism to its place in the rise of 2000s tabloid culture; from its instant catchphrases to its enduring internet popularity and hit Broadway adaptation. The limit truly does not exist when it comes to Mean Girls’ enduring legacy.
"We live in a society where sex is used against women as much as it's used by women. Sexy Feminism calls foul on that (and other) double standards--and makes manifest my frequent observation that feminists are almost always the sexiest people in the room." --Jennifer Baumgardner, author of F'em : Goo Goo, Gaga, and Some Thoughts on BallsNot your mother's feminism A humor-filled action plan for an accessible, cool, and, yes, even sexy brand of 21st-century feminism Feminism can still seem like an abstract idea that is hard to incorporate into our hectic, modern lives, but Jennifer Keishin Armstrong and Heather Wood Rud lph show how the everyday things really matter. In an age when concern-trolling, slut-shaming, and body-snarking are blogosphere bywords, when reproductive rights are back under political attack, and when women are constantly pressured to "have it all," feminism is more relevant than ever. For many young women the radicalism of the Second Wave is unappealing, and the "do me" and "lipstick" feminism of the Third Wave feels out of date. Enter Sexy Feminism. It's an inclusive, approachable kind of feminism--miniskirts, lip gloss, and waxing permitted. Covering a range of topics from body issues and workplace gender politics to fashion, dating, and sex, Sexy Feminism is full of advice, resources, and pop culture references that will help shape what being a feminist can look like for you. "Genius Sexy Feminism is a delicious primer for budding feminists (and the feminist-curious), as well as a sigh of relief for long-term third-wave feminists who long to be understood and are tired of explaining our beliefs. Jennifer and Heather do an outrageously good service to us all by bringing feminism into its sexy, confident maturity." --Katie Goodman, feminist comedian and actress
From the New York Times bestselling author of Seinfeldia, the definitive story of the creation and legacy of Parks and Recreation, with exclusive interview content from its cast, crew, and creators, as well as an introduction by Nick Offerman More than fifteen years after Parks and Recreation premiered, it has become a streaming and pop culture staple. It's beloved for its jokes, characters, and expressions--the show even created a now widely observed holiday, Galentine's Day. How did it all happen and how did the show transform from a ratings disappointment into a cult classic? Pop culture historian Jennifer Keishin Armstrong reveals all this and more in the definitive history of the show, which is as full of humor, optimism, and heart as Parks and Recreation itself. Through new and exclusive interviews, as well as deep insight and smart and entertaining pop culture analysis, Armstrong tells the story of how Parks and Recreation came to be: how it grew from The Office's success and Obama-inspired optimism, how producers assembled one of TV's most lovable casts but barely survived a mediocre first season, how the show found its voice by getting more political and more romantic, and how it became a cultural force despite middling ratings during its network run, going on to become a television savior of the Trump era and a modern classic. Lovingly told and deeply researched, Parks and Rec is the ultimate history of the show that taught us what's important in life: friends, waffles, and work.
The Rhodesian war and then post-war situation produced certain schizoid states due to the psychological pain of processing various forms of physical and psychological violence. This is from the point of view of a daughter of the war, on the white side. The processing of the material still remains difficult in this memoir style of writing, but this manner of delivery is intentional and reflects the mental states of the ousted whites.
In this "fast-paced and charming...absorbing cultural history" (Publishers Weekly), Jennifer Keishin Armstrong presents an engaging behind-the-scenes look at the making of a classic and groundbreaking TV show that defined the sitcom genre and revolutionized the way women were portrayed on television, as experienced by its producers, writers, and cast. When writer-producers James L. Brooks and Allan Burns dreamed up an edgy show about a divorced woman with a career, the CBS executives they pitched replied: "American audiences won't tolerate divorce in a series' lead any more than they will tolerate Jews, people with mustaches, and people who live in New York." Forty years later, The Mary Tyler Moore Show is one of the most beloved and recognizable television shows of all time. It was an inspiration to a generation of women who wanted to have it all in an era when everything seemed possible. Jennifer Keishin Armstrong's Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted tells the stories behind the making of this popular classic, introducing the groundbreaking female writers who lent real-life stories to their TV scripts; the men who created the indelible characters; the lone woman network executive who cast the legendary ensemble--and advocated for this provocative show--and the colorful cast of actors who made it all work. James L. Brooks, Grant Tinker, Allan Burns, Valerie Harper, Cloris Leachman, Betty White, Gavin MacLeod, Ed Asner, Ted Knight, Georgia Engel--they all came together to make a show that changed women's lives and television itself. Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted is the tale of how they did it.
The New York Times bestseller about two guys who went out for coffee and dreamed up Seinfeld—“A wildly entertaining must-read not only for Seinfeld fans but for anyone who wants a better understanding of how television series are made” (Booklist, starred review).Comedians Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld never thought anyone would watch their sitcom about a New York comedian sitting around talking to his friends. But against all odds, viewers did watch—first a few and then many, until nine years later nearly forty million Americans were tuning in weekly. Fussy Jerry, neurotic George, eccentric Kramer, and imperious Elaine—people embraced them with love. Seinfeldia, Jennifer Keishin Armstrong’s intimate history is full of gossipy details, show trivia, and insights into how famous episodes came to be. Armstrong celebrates the creators and fans of this American television phenomenon, bringing readers into the writers’ room and into a world of devotees for whom it never stopped being relevant. Seinfeld created a strange new reality, one where years after the show had ended the Soup Nazi still spends his days saying “No soup for you!”, Joe Davola gets questioned every day about his sanity, and Kenny Kramer makes his living giving tours of New York sites from the show. Seinfeldia is an outrageous cultural history. Dwight Garner of The New York Times Book Review wrote: “Armstrong has an eye for detail….Perhaps the highest praise I can give Seinfeldia is that it made me want to buy a loaf of marbled rye and start watching again, from the beginning.”
The bestselling author of Seinfeldia offers a fascinating retrospective of the iconic and award-winning television series, Sex and the City, in a “bubbly, yet fierce cultural dissection of the groundbreaking show” (Chicago Tribune).This is the story of how a columnist, two gay men, and a writers’ room full of women used their own poignant, hilarious, and humiliating stories to launch a cultural phenomenon. They endured shock, slut-shaming, and a slew of nasty reviews on their way to eventual—if still often begrudging—respect. The show wasn’t perfect, but it revolutionized television for women. When Candace Bushnell began writing for the New York Observer, she didn’t think anyone beyond the Upper East Side would care about her adventures among the Hamptons-hopping media elite. But her struggles with singlehood struck a chord. Beverly Hills, 90210 creator Darren Star brought her vision to an even wider audience when he adapted the column for HBO. Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha launched a barrage of trends, forever branded the actresses that took on the roles, redefined women’s relationship to sex and elevated the perception of singlehood. Featuring exclusive new interviews with the cast and writers, including star Sarah Jessica Parker, creator Darren Star, executive producer Michael Patrick King, and author Candace Bushnell, “Jennifer Keishin Armstrong brings readers inside the writers’ room and into the scribes’ lives…The writing is fizzy and funny, but she still manages an in-depth look at a show that’s been analyzed for decades, giving readers a retrospective as enjoyable as a $20 pink cocktail” (The Washington Post). Sex and the City and Us is both a critical and nostalgic behind-the-scenes look at a television series that changed the way women see themselves.
"Leaps at the throat of television history and takes down the patriarchy with its fervent, inspired prose. When Women Invented Television offers proof that what we watch is a reflection of who we are as a people." --Nathalia Holt, New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Rocket GirlsNew York Times bestselling author of Seinfeldia Jennifer Keishin Armstrong tells the little-known story of four trailblazing women in the early days of television who laid the foundation of the industry we know today. It was the Golden Age of Radio and powerful men were making millions in advertising dollars reaching thousands of listeners every day. When television arrived, few radio moguls were interested in the upstart industry and its tiny production budgets, and expensive television sets were out of reach for most families. But four women--each an independent visionary-- saw an opportunity and carved their own paths, and in so doing invented the way we watch tv today.Irna Phillips turned real-life tragedy into daytime serials featuring female dominated casts. Gertrude Berg turned her radio show into a Jewish family comedy that spawned a play, a musical, an advice column, a line of house dresses, and other products. Hazel Scott, already a renowned musician, was the first African American to host a national evening variety program. Betty White became a daytime talk show fan favorite and one of the first women to produce, write, and star in her own show.Together, their stories chronicle a forgotten chapter in the history of television and popular culture.But as the medium became more popular--and lucrative--in the wake of World War II, the House Un-American Activities Committee arose to threaten entertainers, blacklisting many as communist sympathizers. As politics, sexism, racism, anti-Semitism, and money collided, the women who invented television found themselves fighting from the margins, as men took control. But these women were true survivors who never gave up--and thus their legacies remain with us in our television-dominated era. It's time we reclaimed their forgotten histories and the work they did to pioneer the medium that now rules our lives.This amazing and heartbreaking history tells it all for the first time. Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
"Leaps at the throat of television history and takes down the patriarchy with its fervent, inspired prose. When Women Invented Television offers proof that what we watch is a reflection of who we are as a people." --Nathalia Holt, New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Rocket GirlsNew York Times bestselling author of Seinfeldia Jennifer Keishin Armstrong tells the little-known story of four trailblazing women in the early days of television who laid the foundation of the industry we know today. It was the Golden Age of Radio and powerful men were making millions in advertising dollars reaching thousands of listeners every day. When television arrived, few radio moguls were interested in the upstart industry and its tiny production budgets, and expensive television sets were out of reach for most families. But four women--each an independent visionary-- saw an opportunity and carved their own paths, and in so doing invented the way we watch tv today.Irna Phillips turned real-life tragedy into daytime serials featuring female dominated casts. Gertrude Berg turned her radio show into a Jewish family comedy that spawned a play, a musical, an advice column, a line of house dresses, and other products. Hazel Scott, already a renowned musician, was the first African American to host a national evening variety program. Betty White became a daytime talk show fan favorite and one of the first women to produce, write, and star in her own show.Together, their stories chronicle a forgotten chapter in the history of television and popular culture.But as the medium became more popular--and lucrative--in the wake of World War II, the House Un-American Activities Committee arose to threaten entertainers, blacklisting many as communist sympathizers. As politics, sexism, racism, anti-Semitism, and money collided, the women who invented television found themselves fighting from the margins, as men took control. But these women were true survivors who never gave up--and thus their legacies remain with us in our television-dominated era. It's time we reclaimed their forgotten histories and the work they did to pioneer the medium that now rules our lives.This amazing and heartbreaking history tells it all for the first time. Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
