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Recent polls identify Jane Goodall to be the most recognizable
living scientist in the Western world. Her work with chimpanzees at
the Gombe Stream Reserve in Tanzania has been renowned as one of
the great achievements of scientific research. Her approach to
field study, once ridiculed and challenged by the scientific world,
has now become the model for other ethologists to use.
In this insightful biography, Meg Greene tells the story of
Goodall's life from her early days growing up in England under the
influence of her mother, through her experiences as a young protege
of anthropologist Louis Leakey pioneering new techniques of
investigating chimpanzee behavior in Africa, to her mature career
as an expert on chimpanzee social life and her ongoing efforts
today to promote the conservation of wildlife.
Greene describes how Goodall's work challenged and changed
perceptions of the relations between the primate and human worlds.
Contrary to accepted scientific opinion of the time, which viewed
chimpanzees as brutish, Goodall found chimps to be capable of a
wide range of emotions, including affection, compassion, and love.
She also showed that chimps could reason, think, and solve
problems. Perhaps most startling, Goodall discovered that
chimpanzees could fashion primitive implements from grass, twigs,
and leaves, dispelling the notion that humans are the only species
that can make tools.
On the personal side, Greene reveals that Goodall found solace in
her home at Gombe from the trials of life that included a divorce,
the death of her second husband, criticisms from fellow scientists,
and a deep spiritual crisis.
This is a fascinating story of a naive young woman who started her
work without even a college degree and eventually developed into a
dedicated scientist and a world-famous conservationist and
humanitarian. For more than 45 years, Jane Goodall has reached out
to the world to join in her efforts to aid those who cannot speak
for themselves, and to promote respect for all living creatures.
Fascinating Books Provide Information on What It Takes to Take on
One of These All-important, Rewarding Careers The harrowing events
of September 11, 2001, put in the spotlight heroic individuals who
choose to work as search and rescue specialists. Whether it's the
Coast Guard, FEMA, emergency medical response teams, police
departments, the National Guards, or fire departments, when
disaster strikes, we can be thankful that these men and women are
there--fully trained, on the alert, and ready to go. These books
celebrate what it takes to be one of these brave individuals as
well as discuss what day-to-day life on the job is like--all
written in an informative yet easy-to-read manner that gives young
readers insight into how they too can aspire to make a difference.
Only hours after the 9/11/01 attacks on the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon, the National Guards were ready to join in the search
and rescue efforts. This well-written title alerts readers to the
important role these citizen-soldiers play as the first line of
defense for many types of state and federal emergencies. More than
just militia men and women, members of the Army and Air National
Guards provide emergency relief during floods, blizzards, rescue
missions, energy blackouts, and civil unrest. Complete with
first-person accounts, this book contains the fascinating history
of the National Guard, enlistment requirements for men and women,
and training opportunities.
This insightful biography introduces readers to Justice Sonia
Sotomayor, a remarkable woman with a single-minded pursuit of
educational excellence, who rose from poverty in a Bronx housing
project to a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. Sonia Sotomayor: A
Biography is an overview of Justice Sotomayor's life and career
from her childhood to her ascent to the Supreme Court. It is also
an early assessment of her performance on the court, her
relationships with her colleagues, and the particular influence she
is likely to exert on future decisions. Sharing an inspirational,
rags-to-riches story, the book begins with Sotomayor's childhood in
an East Bronx housing project. It follows her to Princeton, where
she was a student activist, and to Yale Law School. Equally
important to an understanding of this influential judge is the
discussion of her career as a prosecutor for the City of New York
and as a judge in the District Court for the Southern District of
New York and the Second Circuit Court. Examining her reputation as
a tough but fair jurist, the book explores the influence of these
years which, at the time of her appointment, established her as the
only Supreme Court justice with experience as a trial judge.
Photographs of the justice at various times A chronology of
Sotomayor's life An annotated bibliography of selected resources
including books, magazine articles, and television programs
This full-length biography explores the multifaceted-and altogether
fascinating-life, opinions, and accomplishments of African American
scholar and writer Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: A
Biography is the first comprehensive volume about a man hailed as
one of America's most influential scholars. Tracing Gates's life
from his West Virginia birth, the book follows him through his
undergraduate education at Yale and then to Cambridge, where he
became the first African American to receive a doctorate. His
current activities as a Harvard University professor, director of
the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American
Research, and editor-in-chief of TheRoot.com, a daily, online
magazine focusing on issues of interest to the African American
community, are explored as well. The biography also provides
insights into Gates's groundbreaking work as a critic, scholar, and
author, probing his wide-ranging interests, his many
accomplishments, and his invaluable revelations about the
contributions of African Americans to the nation's literature and
history. Most important, the book provides readers with a fuller
understanding of African American history and literature-and of the
nature of today's racial politics. A chronology of Henry Louis
Gates's life Photographs of Gates and others who have played a role
in his biography A bibliography of resources
Billie Holiday (1915-1959), the legendary jazz singer whose vocal
stylings were deeply affecting, continues to enthrall. This
biography conveys her hard-luck youth, career triumphs, and then
decline and early death. At age 14, despite growing up with an
absentee musician father, little schooling, a rape at 10, and jail
time for prostitution, this extraordinary girl moved to New York
City to find work as a dancer or singer. She soon became the toast
of Harlem and went on to tour and record with the biggest names in
jazz. Holiday's career took off in the 1930s, during the
Depression, and the biography evokes the era and atmosphere of the
jazz club scene. The state of race relations in the country is
discussed as Holiday tours with white bandleaders such as Artie
Shaw and even as she sings about lynching in the controversial
"Strange Fruit." The narrative further chronicles Holiday's
relationships, descent into drug addiction, the subsequent
diminishment of her talent, and tragic early death. Readers today
will then want to seek out Holiday's recordings to more fully
appreciate her interpretations of the songs of that classic era.
Even as a young girl, Jane Goodall was fascinated with animals. As
she grew older, she would have the opportunity to begin her
research on chimpanzees under the guidance of notable
anthropologist Louis Leakey. With Leakey's encouragement and
support, Goodall pursued her Ph.D. and began research at the Gombe
Stream Reserve in Tanzania. It was there that she would make
significant discoveries regarding chimpanzee behaviors. These
discoveries, along with her tireless efforts for conservation, have
led to numerous awards during her career of over 40 years.
Goodall's life is revealed from her earlier days growing up in
England and the influence of her mother, to her experiences living
and observing chimpanzees in Africa, and her undying efforts to
promote conservation of wildlife. A timeline lists important events
in her life, and a bibliography of print and electronic sources
provides suggested readings for students and general readers.
In this new biography, students will follow Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu
from her humble Albanian birth to worldwide celebrity as Mother
Teresa. The nun who attended to the dying and diseased in Calcutta,
India, and established her Missionaries of Charity around the world
is revealed to have a singular determination from a young age. As a
woman in the patriarchal Catholic system, she had to prove to the
hierarchy, even the Vatican, that she was capable of handling each
project she proposed. Her vision to live and work among the poorest
of the poor as one of them led to the founding of a new order that
tended to society's outcasts. The narrative chronicles the
expansion and success of the order and the eventual attention that
was showered on her efforts. This increasing attention led to
scrutiny and criticism of ideology, methods of care, and financing.
Why did she reject better medical equipment for her patients yet
receive the latest treatment and best care when she herself was
ailing? Why did she take money from and try to help Charles
Keating, a major player in the savings and loan scandal of the
1980s? The accusation of hypocrisy, among others, are discussed as
is her controversial beatification. Readers will be challenged to
consider for themselves whether Mother Teresa deserves to be
sainted. Mother Teresa is characterized as being ordinary and her
life as mundane. The biography suggests that she transcended her
ordinariness with a singular belief that she was called to life's
work. When this work brought fame, which she never sought, she used
it to further her causes. In a global age, celebrity worship
allowed her to work the system. She became an icon of service and
selflessness, but her human flaws remained behind the saintliness.
The life of Karol Wojtyla would be remarkable even if he never
became the Millennium Pope, revered by millions worldwide. From a
Polish schoolboy who loved outdoor pursuits and quietly coped with
family tragedy, he matured into a talented linguist, actor, and
author, and experienced Nazi occupation, the Iron Curtain, and
Solidarity's overthrow of Communism. His rise through the ranks of
the Catholic Church was accelerated upon recognition of his gifted
mind, combined with his behind-the-scenes activism and rapport with
parishioners, especially youths. The reign of John Paul II has
transcended the Vatican and the Catholic sphere, as he has worked
to heal the rift between Catholics and Jews, and Catholics and the
Eastern Orthodoxy. He has also served as an ambassador to the
world, traveling relentlessly to reach out to the masses, even as
he battles Parkinson's disease and old age. This balanced narrative
conveys the poignancy of his family ties and his admirable
character and intellect, yet it also acknowledges criticism of
conservative papal positions. A bibliography of print and
electronic resources and a timeline complete the volume.
Readers seeking information about Elena Kagan-from her early life
and her ascent to the Supreme Court to how she approaches questions
of fairness, justice, equality, and civil rights-will find this
biography engaging and invaluable. Elena Kagan can be considered a
"wild card" in terms of how she will vote and affect Supreme Court
decisions. While largely considered a liberal, her lack of a
judicial "track record" and previous work as Solicitor General lend
an air of uncertainty as to how she will react to upcoming cases
that have proven highly divisive and controversial. This
full-length biography sheds light on Elena Kagan's life, covering
her college years at Princeton and her experience in law school as
well as her legal career, which eventually led her to a seat on the
U.S. Supreme Court. Appropriate for high school, college, and adult
readers, the book not only documents Justice Kagan's life,
achievements, and the possibilities for the future, but also how
Kagan is an inspiring role model who demonstrated independence,
determination, and high achievement throughout her career. Presents
a clear overview of Kagan's legal thought and writings that reveals
the basic tenets of her philosophies Documents Kagan's
accomplishments while serving as dean of Harvard Law School and her
rise to the bench of the U.S. Supreme Court, giving readers a clear
understanding of the steps and circumstances throughout her
successful career Illustrates the important differences and
similarities between Kagan and recent court appointee Sonia
Sotomayor Provides a complete bibliography that will direct
students to the most important print and electronic sources of
additional information about Kagan
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