Sayings and quotes that people place on a desktop or post on an office wall often represent a personal credo, a statement of values, a guiding principle they intend to follow on a path to success. By placing the sign "The Buck Stops Here" on his desk, President Truman was stating categorically that he was responsible for all decisions made in the Oval Office. It was his constant reminder that no one else would the blame for the way the country was governed. Just as his desk sign came to express Truman's decisiveness and accountability, we have found many other examples, 77 to be exact, in which successful people have used words of wisdom as daily inspiration. The compelling collection of desk signs and office wall mottos in this book offer a reminder of the importance of individual vision and commitment as they display values, purpose and beliefs, aspirations and philosophy. It's a fascinating view into social, economic and political history, as well as the individual influences on a remarkable group of accomplished men and women. You'll love discovering the secrets of their success.

Given its ubiquity in popular culture and its place in the hearts of generations of moviegoers, one wonders, after all this time, if there could be anything more we don't already know about "Casablanca." No matter how familiar the images, how memorable the lines, how timeless the story, the answer is, yes, there's a whole book worth of things most will be "shocked, shocked" to learn. "The Essential Casablanca" is brimming with amazing true stories, corrected myths, and particular particulars about the most popular movie in the history of cinema. It's not meant to provide a comprehensive nor com-plete academic reference, but rather an accessible distillation, a delightful confection in its own right, about a film that is one of the most beloved pieces of motion picture art and one that has resonated across nearly three-quarters of a century.

Considering the magnitude of the event of November 22, 1963, and the government's attempt to blame a lone gunman, it is astonishing that a clear majority of Americans suspect there was a conspiracy behind the killing of John F. Kennedy. Since the passage of fifty years has obscured so much about what happened that day, it's finally time to shed fresh light on this American nightmare. There's a whole book worth of things we know now that we didn't know then. Anatomy of an Assassination is brimming with amazing true stories, corrected myths, and particular particulars about the greatest unsolved crime of the twentieth century. It's not meant to provide a comprehensive nor complete academic reference, but rather an accessible guide to the tragic sequence that shaped history and the world in a manner never seen before or since.

By 1937, Cary Grant had invented a man-of-the-world, the epitome of sophistication, class, and refinement. In his words, "I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be and I finally became that person. Or he became me. Or we met at some point."This fizzy cocktail of a book lifts the veil off the debonair screen persona to reveal a real-life man full of inconsistencies and incongruities. It provides an unvarnished portrait of someone constantly in conflict - antic, serious, funny, poised, and a romantic who struggled in his own love life. You get a little history and a bit of sociology. But the most fun comes from an abundant helping of bon mots. His contemporaries as well as subsequent observers have plenty to say about the man who became Cary Grant. And his own undisguised words provide a sublime, truthful, and candid portrait of a curiously uncommon character.

At a time when American businesses could use some help in an increasingly competitive environment, the world of sports may offer an answer. Like sports, success in business takes self-discipline, drive, ambition, focus, building a team and having a game plan. One of America's most widely-published authors, Horace Martin Woodhouse, takes an inside look at the higher wisdom of 101 extraordinary coaches and their approach to winning. This brilliant compilation of quotes displays a dedication to values, purpose and beliefs, aspirations and philosophy - relevant to the sports field and the marketplace. It offers valuable lessons in selfless teamwork, overcoming adversity, and the joy of victory from a remarkable group of accomplished men and women. In a business world that's more uncertain than ever, it pays to be able to think like a coach.

According to James Thurber, Columbus-born author and celebrated wit, "Columbus is a town in which almost anything is likely to happen, and in which almost everything has." To prove Thurber's point, your curious author has dug up bits of esoterica - odd, amusing, and little-known strands that make up the city's variegated fabric. You may live here, but how much do you really know about Columbus? Can you name your hometown football heroes, Playboy Magazine playmates, Pop Movement luminary, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, World War I flying ace, the local boxer who became heavyweight champion, or the local girl who became Miss America (twice )? Who was the Columbus-born general the troops called "Old Iron Pants"? Or the local aviator who became the first woman to fly solo around the world? How did a border dispute lead to the greatest rivalry in college football? Where was the city's (and the world's) first service station? What in heaven's name was Abraham Lincoln's body doing here? Readers learn the answers to these intriguing questions and much, much more. Fascinating tangents and tidbits in purposely random sequence (with generous cross-references) create a ready-to-explore trail of knowledge about Columbus and its environs, informing and entertaining, correcting myths and misconceptions, mostly revealing a quaint, curious, and unexpected treasure trove that brings a culture and a place into sharp focus.

After you've browsed through this entertaining and captivating compendium, you will better understand why Elmira, New York, has a greater "quirk" quotient than most places. To prove his point, author Horace Martin Woodhouse has dug up bits of esoterica - odd, amusing, and little-known strands that make up the city's variegated fabric. Can you name Elmira's astronaut, Playboy Magazine centerfold, North Pole explorer, NASCAR champion, TV judge, or the local boxer who fought Joe Louis? What is the Lincoln assassination's connection to Elmira? Who turned a local newspaper into a national media empire? Why is Elmira College obsessed with the color purple? Where was Mark Twain's favorite local saloon? How did Elmira come to be called the "Queen City"? What in the world was the King of France doing here? Readers will learn the answers to these intriguing questions and much, much more. Fascinating tangents and tidbits in purposely random sequence (with generous cross-references) create a ready-to-explore trail of knowledge about Elmira and its environs. It's brimming with amazing true stories, corrected myths, and peculiar particulars about the people and events that have shaped local culture. This winningly irreverent little book is guaranteed to reveal things you never knew about this upstate New York city.

Next to the jar of jelly beans on his Oval Office desk, President Reagan kept a sign that read: It CAN be done Those four words embodied his blend of Midwestern optimism and Western CAN DO spirit. He was a leader who taught us the art of the possible, an eternal optimist who believed America's best days were ahead. He represented the greatness of the United States which now seems to be steadily slipping away. Just in time for the Ronald Reagan Centennial, this book presents our fortieth president in his own words and poses the question of whether, at this moment in time, America is in desperate need of a hero.

Accessing the higher levels of human genius and motivation in today's new reality requires a new mind-set, a new skill-set, a new tool-set. One of America's most widely-published authors, Horace Martin Woodhouse, identifies 101 articles of faith that make leaders more effective in their personal and public lives. These words of wisdom offer a reminder of the importance of individual vision and commitment as they display values, purpose and beliefs, aspirations and philosophy. It's a fascinating view into the individual influences on a remarkable group of accomplished men and women. You'll love discovering the secrets of their success.

After you've browsed through this little book, you will better understand why Ann Arbor has a greater quirk quotient than most places. To prove his point, your curious author has dug up bits of esoterica - odd, amusing, and little-known strands that make up the city's variegated fabric. Sure, you live here, but how much do you really know about Ann Arbor? Can you name your hometown football legends, Playboy Magazine playmates, 1960s radicals, NASA astronauts, the local boxer who fought Jack Dempsey, the brainy UM graduate who attempted the perfect crime, or the local girl who flirted with Humphrey Bogart in "The Big Sleep"? Who was the native industrialist who helped build the Panama Canal? Or the Ann Arborite who created the world's largest technology company? How did a border dispute lead to the greatest rivalry in college football? Where is the city's only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house? What is Ann Arbor's connection a Presidential assassination? Readers learn the answers to these intriguing questions and much, much more. Fascinating tangents and tidbits in purposely random sequence (with generous cross-references) create a ready-to-explore trail of knowledge about Ann Arbor and its environs, informing and entertaining, correcting myths and misconceptions, mostly revealing an unexpected treasure trove that brings a culture and a place into sharp focus.