What do Richard Branson, Quincy Jones, Yvon Chouinard, David E. Stewart, Elon Musk, Frank Nuovo, John Paul DeJoria and Steve Jobs have in common with Benjamin Franklin, Leonardo da Vinci, Teddy Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson and Sir Isaac Newton? They all share the 12 Essential Traits of the Renaissance Man. BEYOND GENIUS travels through history to determine the 12 essential traits that define a Renaissance Man, then applies those attributes to determine some of the Renaissance Men of today. We tell their stories of determination and perseverance, their expertise in a variety of fields, their insatiable curiosity, the infusion of their wisdom and creativity into our culture. We explore the making of a Renaissance Man and the deep connection these men have to advancements in the sciences, the arts and our way of being. Scott Griffiths & Eric Elfman, and their team, have put more than 1,000 hours of research into studying the history of the Renaissance Man, identifying common attributes that are constant throughout time, and identifying a select group today's most successful Renaissance Men. By understanding these traits, identifying and developing them, the innerRenaissance Man can be unleashed in more men for the betterment of the world.

"LIVING WITH A LEGEND" is the non-fiction musings of Leslie E. Stern growing up in a multi-ethnic home amidst the genius of Iwao Takamoto, designer of Scooby-Doo and 85% of the Hanna-Barbera characters we all know and love.
It tells the story of her step-father's emotion influence on her and never before told humorous anecdotes of her youth. It includes many personal drawings done by Iwao, as well as never before seen family photographs. "LIVING WITH A LEGEND" is filled with funny cartoons and holiday cards done by Iwao and by other animators for Iwao.
A must read for any cartoon lover and a pleasure to read for anyone with a heart.
"I smiled through every page of "LIVING WITH A LEGEND," recognizing the very special man I was privileged to know, Iwao Takamoto, but seeing him through the highly personal perspective of someone who knew him so much better. Leslie Stern has not simply written a loving, funny, and poignant portrait of an important American artist, she has wonderfully set down the record of a unique American family, one whose strength came through its very diversity. To paraphrase Iwao himself, Living With a Legend was not written through the hands, but through the heart."
"-- Michael Mallory, Author of My Life with a Thousand Characters"
"Iwao Takamoto was a man of many talents....including being a magnificent artist, a thoroughly engaging conversationalist and an amazing storyteller. Beyond his talent though, Iwao was a wonderfully kind and generous human being. Always cheerful, a chat with Iwao was the highlight of my day for many years. In this book, Leslie Stern has documented a life of an inspiring man, husband, and step-father. Those of us who had the privilege of knowing Iwao are all the better for it. By reading Leslie's book I'm inspired again by the story of a truly unique American whose well-lived life will hearten us all."
"--Sander Schwartz, President of Kids & Family Entertainment at FremantleMedia Enterprises and past President of Warner Bros. Animation"
If Scooby-Doo could talk, he might be just as grateful for being birthed by Hanna-Barbera's master animator, Iwao Takamoto, as Leslie Stern is for having him for her step-father. In Living with a Legend she doesn't shrink from describing how he taught her to slurp udon noodles and counseled her when her marriage went cold. We are left to appreciate that the spirits in Iwao's characters came from a wise man who spent time in a Japanese internment camp during WWII and - against all odds -- came out with a walloping sense of humor. Leslie's heartwarming book of memories about the stoic, funny, warm-hearted man who married her mother covers a family, a career and an inside view of Hanna-Barbera.
"--Loretta Paraguassu -- writer, artist, filmmaker, and former L.A. Times columnist"

This violent and introspective memoir reveals not only 50 Cent's story but also the story of a generation of youth faced with hard choices and very few options. It is a tale of sacrifice, transformation, and redemption, but also one of hope, determination, and the power of self. Told in 50's unique voice, the narrative drips with the raw insight, street wisdom, and his struggle to survive at all costs -- and behold the riches of the American Dream.

Warren Hahn inherited his family's German work ethic. He knows the meaning of grueling farm labor, the sweat and toil that come from tilling the land, and the endless hours of work that life on an old homestead demands. He's seen many changes in his life, but at the root of everything are the precious seeds of family and history.

In this autobiographical work, Warren honors his family and the many hardships they endured to start a new life in America in the mid-1800s. His family grew from hardy and hardworking German people who risked everything to create a better future for their children. Warren grew up on tales of the difficult and dangerous ocean crossings, love, adventure, ambition, death, disaster, hardship, and hope; he knew that these stories needed to be preserved and celebrated.

His ancestors settled in the harsh frontier lands of Texas and scrambled to create a future in a hostile, unforgiving environment and time. Now younger generations can come to know the price these strong-willed settlers paid for their family. Offering more than just a family history, he shares the story of his own life in modern-day Gillespie County, Texas.

Every person has a story worth telling. In honor of his family's rich history, Warren has gathered many lifetimes of those stories to inspire future generations.

Author Christos Tzanetakos adheres to the profound statement of Emile Zola: "Civilization will thrive when the last stone from the last church falls on the last priest." This memoir narrates the stories of Tzanetakos' lifelong adventures and presents his thoughts, philosophy, and work regarding atheism. Augmented with photos, "The Life and Work of an Atheist Pioneer" tells of Tzanetakos's childhood, growing up in Greece with his parents and four siblings, and of the seafaring career that took him around the world for ten years before finally settling in Miami, Florida, in 1969. Here he built his business, married, and started a family with his wife, Alice; he also immersed himself in activism for various social issues. "The Life and Work of an Atheist Pioneer" includes interesting and descriptive details from his life, but also discusses how he became a champion in the cause of the separation of church and state and the advancement of atheism.

There is nothing a twenty-one-year-old man at his first job in New York City needs more than a good mentor, although few of them find one. But author Matthew Phillips found the wild, impetuous, and knowledgeable Marylou Stern. The years Matt spent with Marylou were filled with parties, sex, excess, frivolity, live cows, kidnapped Jewish jewelers, and games that stretch the imagination.

In this memoir, Phillips shares his story of how Marylou, a former model, dancer, and actress, transformed him from an eager, fresh-faced college grad into a sidelines player in chic New York society. Over the course of three years, Marylou taught Matt about New York City, high society, the difference between class and low class, how to make a genuine egg cream, how to milk a cow, why wanton sex is good for your health, why listening is more important than talking, that Sara Lee Vanilla Layer Cakes are the best reward, and that you must never put up with thieves.

In "Everything but Snakes," Phillips narrates how Marylou's undying sense of celebration kept him going and gave him a floor beneath his feet and, along the way, an upside-down roller-coaster ride.

Imbokodo: Women Who Shape Us is a groundbreaking series of books which introduces you to the powerful stories of South African women who have all made their mark and cleared a path for women and girls. These books recognise, acknowledge and honour our heroines and elders from the past and the present. South African women are silent no more on the roles that we have played in advancing our lives as artists, storytellers, writers, politicians and educationists. The title 'Imbokodo' was been chosen as it is a Zulu word that means "rock" and is often used in the saying 'Wathint' Abafazi, Wathint' Imbokodo!', which means "You Strike a Women, You Strike a Rock!" These books were made possible with the support of Biblionef and funding from the National Arts Council. In 10 Curious Inventors, Healers & Creators you will read about the women who shape our world through education, science and maths. You will read about women who became teachers, nurses, social workers, scientists and community workers, overcame obstacles and through their work fought for social change.

This multidisciplinary collection of readings offers new interpretations of Richard Wagner's ideological position in German history. The issues discussed range from the biographical - the reasons for Wagner's travels, his political life - to the aesthetic and ideological, regarding his re-creation of medieval Nuremberg, his representations of gender and nationality, his vocal iconography, his anti-Semitism, his vegetarian and Christian arguments, and, finally, his musical heirs. The essays avoid journalistic or iconoclastic approaches to Wagner, and depart from the usual uncritical admiration of earlier scholars in an attempt to develop a stimulating and ultimately cohesive collection of new perspectives.