More than 50 poems and an accompanying CD introduce poetry with a beat.

Debut albums are among the cultural artefacts that capture the popular imagination especially well. As a first impression, the debut album may take on a mythical status, whether the artist or group achieves enduring success or in rare cases when an initial record turns out to be an apogee for an artist. Whatever the subsequent career trajectory, the debut album is a meaningful text that can be scrutinized for its revelatory signs and the expectations that follow. Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself: Essays on Debut Albums tells the stories of 23 debut albums over a nearly fifty year span, ranging from Buddy Holly and the Crickets in 1957 to The Go! Team in 2004. In addition to biographical background and a wealth of historical information about the genesis of the album, each essay looks back at the album and places it within multiple contexts, particularly the artist’s career development. In this way, the book will be of as much interest to sociologists and historians as to culture critics and musicologists.

Her life. Her rules. Finally. A page-turning novel about the dark side of social media, perfect for fans of The List or How to Kill Your Family. Anuri Chinasa has had enough. She was the unwilling star of her stepmother’s social media empire before “mumfluencers” were even a thing. For years, Ophelia documented every birthday, every skinned knee, every milestone and meltdown for millions of strangers to fawn over and pick apart. Now twenty-five years old, Anuri is desperate to escape her public past and start living on her own terms. But so far, it’s not going well. She can barely walk down the street without being recognised, her PhD application is still unfinished and her drinking problem is getting worse. She wants her stepmother out of her life, but Ophelia has made it very clear she won’t let go without a fight. But when Ophelia starts pushing Anuri's five-year-old sister, Noelle, down a similar path, she reaches breaking point. Anuri won't watch history repeat itself. Allow Me to Introduce Myself is a darkly funny, heartfelt satire about the dangers of social media and the deceptive allure of the picture-perfect existence. 'Nwabineli is magic with words' Bolu Babalola 'Nwabineli is one to watch' Red Magazine

The poems within this book demonstrate some of life's ups and downs. Its pages bring both confrontation and joy. It gives the reader a chance to see different points of view, seeing how the other person might feel. For example, "You Do Understand" and "An Endless Love Says Good Night" both help you to see joy of a loved one and helps the heart of someone who has lost love. This book is like having a good friend who listens and counsels.

Proven communication strategies to help you sell yourself effectively in any interview, presentation, or impromptu business meeting “The invaluable advice in How to Wow guarantees your success in any situation.”—Keith Ferrazzi, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Never Eat Alone Every encounter with your colleagues, clients, employers—even your competitors—is an opportunity to make a positive impression. Your words, your tone of voice, and your body language all speak volumes. But the question is: What are they saying about you? As a corporate coach, Frances Cole Jones has helped countless CEOs, celebrities, and public figures present their best selves in the boardroom and in-person, on-camera and onstage. Now she shares the skills that are essential to professional and personal success. In How to Wow, you’ll learn how to • make a lasting impression with a simple introduction • effectively employ the twelve most persuasive words in the English language • read nonverbal responses accurately—and shift negative ones immediately • motivate your team under deadline • interview fearlessly and flawlessly • persuade investors to buy in to your product or idea—and help you sell it to others • write the perfect pitch, résumé, cover letter, or email • deliver speeches that bring people to their feet • transform a PowerPoint presentation into a power move Featuring tips and tricks you can employ right away, How to Wow will teach you how to ask the right questions, respond with confidence, and wow anyone, anywhere, anytime. “Wow is not optional. Neither is this book. Buy it, study it, put it into action—and wow your bank account!”—Jeffrey Gitomer, author of Little Red Book of Selling “No matter if you’re at the top of your game or just starting out, this book will swiftly refocus the message that you are sending to the world.”—David Beal, co-CEO and co-founder, Green Hummingbird Entertainment “Read How to Wow if you want to change a great idea from a concept to a reality that clearly means business. It’s the best makeover I ever got.”—Veronica Webb, television host

Debut albums are among the cultural artefacts that capture the popular imagination especially well. As a first impression, the debut album may take on a mythical status, whether the artist or group achieves enduring success or in rare cases when an initial record turns out to be an apogee for an artist. Whatever the subsequent career trajectory, the debut album is a meaningful text that can be scrutinized for its revelatory signs and the expectations that follow. Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself: Essays on Debut Albums tells the stories of 23 debut albums over a nearly fifty year span, ranging from Buddy Holly and the Crickets in 1957 to The Go! Team in 2004. In addition to biographical background and a wealth of historical information about the genesis of the album, each essay looks back at the album and places it within multiple contexts, particularly the artist’s career development. In this way, the book will be of as much interest to sociologists and historians as to culture critics and musicologists.

"For over thirty years, Lon Milo DuQuette has written incisively about tarot, magick, qabalah, divination, and provided introductory material for the most renowned authors on these topics, such as Aleister Crowley, Israel Regardie, John Dee, Frater Achad, Rodney Orpheus, H. P. Lovecraft, Phyllis Seckler, John Michael Greer, Susan Montag, Donald Michael Kraig, and many others. Collected here are Lon's best writings, each crafted with an eye toward the importance and immortality of the work with his studied insight and scholarship, along with his renowned sense of humor. Considered as a whole, this collection of writings provides an invaluable introduction to many aspects and personalities of the occult and esoteric world by one of the foremost authorities on such arcane subjects"--

By engaging deeply with American legal and political history as well as the increasingly rich material on gender history, Gendered Citizenship illuminates the ideological contours of the original struggle over the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) from 1920 to 1963. As the first comprehensive, full-length history of that struggle, this study grapples not only with the battle over women’s constitutional status but also with the more than forty-year mission to articulate the boundaries of what it means to be an American citizen. Through an examination of an array of primary source materials, Gendered Citizenship contends that the original ERA conflict is best understood as the terrain that allowed Americans to reconceptualize citizenship to correspond with women’s changing status after the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. Finally, Rebecca DeWolf considers the struggle over the ERA in a new light: focusing not on the familiar theme of why the ERA failed to gain enactment, but on how the debates transcended traditional liberal versus conservative disputes in early to mid-twentieth-century America. The conflict, DeWolf reveals, ultimately became the defining narrative for the changing nature of American citizenship in the era.

A revelation for small business owners: creating a profitable business is possible without getting into a slash-and-burn price war with your competitors. Petty and Verbeck inspire you to live your passion and pass your enthusiasm on to your customers, without succumbing to the pressure to discount.

Have you ever lost out on a promotion? Struggled with a difficult conversation? Been put on the spot and blanked? Imagine if... ...you were better at persuading others and negotiating for what you want. ...you were more fluent at introducing yourself, making conversation, and following up. ...you were better at delivering feedback, receiving criticism, and using positive language. ...you were perceived as more diplomatic and charismatic. Smart Talk applies up-to-date communication research to everyday situations and gives smart, practical, step-by-step directions to achieve results. Smart Talk is no ordinary book— it's the Swiss Army Knife of communication—a comprehensive set of tools to build strong relationships and avoid communication breakdowns. With proven strategies and practical action plans, Smart Talk will help you resolve conflicts, strengthen your natural charisma, and master the art of persuasion. Never again will you dread a holiday party or be rendered speechless at a business meeting. Backed by solid research and written in an engaging narrative style with a warm sense of humor, communication expert Lisa B. Marshall translates her wealth of experience into practical, fresh advice to help you navigate any complex situation, and achieve professional success.