James Wolcott’s career as a critic has been unmatched, from his early Seventies dispatches for The Village Voice to the literary coverage made him equally feared and famous to his must-read reports on the cultural weather for Vanity Fair. Bringing together his best work from across the decades, this collection shows Wolcott as connoisseur, intrepid reporter, memoirist, and necessary naysayer. We begin with “O.K. Corral Revisited,” Wolcott’s career-launching account of the famed Norman Mailer–Gore Vidal dust-off on the original Dick Cavett Show. He goes on to consider (or reconsider) the towering figures of our culture, among them Lena Dunham Patti Smith, Johnny Carson, Woody Allen, and John Cheever. And we witness his legendary takedowns, which have entered into the literary lore of our time. In an age where a great deal of back scratching and softball pitching pass for criticism, Critical Mass offers a bracing taste of the real thing.

In 1975 I went to Peking for a year, together with nine other British students who had been exchanged by the British Council for ten Chinese students. The latter knew exactly what they were doing: learning English in order to further the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. We were less sure. From 1966, China had been turned upside down by young Red Guards who were encouraged to Bombard the Headquarters'. Professors, surgeons, artists, pianists, novelists and film directors were attacked for their bourgeois pursuit of excellence or their attachment to decadent Western ideas. Though by 1975 there were no longer violent street battles or badly beaten bodies floating down the Pearl River, we found Peking University governed by a Revolutionary Committee of workers, peasants and Party members determined that we should not learn too much and become experts divorced from the masses. With our Chinese classmates, we spent half our time in factories, getting in the way of workers making railway engines, or in the fields, learning from peasants how to bundle cabbage or plant rice seedlings in muddy water. Heroically, we stayed up half the night to dig rather shallow underground shelter

It's 1945, and the world is in the grip of war. Hideki lives with his family on the island of Okinawa, near Japan. When the Second World War crashes onto his shores, Hideki is drafted to fight for the Japanese army. He is handed a grenade and a set of instructions: Don't come back until you've killed an American soldier. Ray, a young American Marine, has just landed on Okinawa. This is Ray's first-ever battle, and he doesn't know what to expect -- or if he'll make it out alive. All he knows that the enemy is everywhere. Hideki and Ray each fight their way across the island, surviving heart-pounding ambushes and dangerous traps. But then the two of them collide in the middle of the battle... And choices they make in that single instant will change everything. Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee, returns with this high-octane story of how fear and war tear us apart, but how hope and redemption tie us together. Reviews for Refugee: "An absolute must read for people of all ages" - Hannah Greendale, Goodreads "Like RJ Palacio's Wonder, this book should be mandatory reading..." - Skip, Goodreads "I liked how the book linked history with adventure, and combined to make a realistic storyline for all three characters" - AJH, aged 11, Toppsta

Theses concise and informative guides provide an excellent source of references on modern contemporary weapons and military equipment. Each features technical line profiles, a wealth of photographs and informative text written by experts in the field.

Allowing the user to inflict damage on his opponent within throwing range without leaving cover, the portable, lethally efficient hand grenade is a ubiquitous weapon of modern warfare, and has now found its way into law-enforcement arsenals too. Featuring specially commissioned full-colour artwork and an array of revealing photographs of grenades in use and in close-up, this engaging study explores and assesses the origins, development, combat use, and lasting legacy of the formidable military hand grenade.

A collection of poems focusing on the Black experience

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

In 'Hand Grenades: A handbook on rifle and hand grenades', Graham Montgomery Ainslie provides a comprehensive guide on the use of rifle and hand grenades in combat situations. The book delves into the history, mechanics, and tactical deployment of these explosive weapons, written in a clear and concise style aimed at military personnel and enthusiasts. Ainslie's authoritative voice and attention to detail make this book a valuable resource for understanding the role of grenades on the battlefield, from World War II to modern warfare. This work stands out as a practical manual in the literary context of military strategy and weaponry. Graham Montgomery Ainslie, a former military officer with firsthand experience in combat situations, brings a unique perspective to 'Hand Grenades'. His expertise and dedication to sharing knowledge on warfare tactics are evident throughout the book. Ainslie's background in the military serves as the driving force behind the creation of this informative handbook. For readers interested in military history, tactics, or weaponry, 'Hand Grenades' by Graham Montgomery Ainslie is a must-read. Whether you are a soldier, history buff, or simply curious about military technology, this book offers valuable insights into the world of grenades and their significance in armed conflicts.

All practical Shelby Stewart wants is to build her PR career at the Boston zoo, and maybe find some nice guys to date. But long-buried memories of a childhood incident keep interrupting her plans, affecting her health one way after another. And when will she actually date someone her friends think is good enough for her? Ambitious Astrid Ericcson thinks she wrote the book on How to Get Ahead by Flirting. But she is forced to re-visit her career advancement strategy when her PR agency boss takes the innuendos to a whole new level, threatening her job and her safety. The two frenemies-turned-real-friends reach new highs and lows in life, work and romance, while struggling to make sense of the relationships that torment them. In the end, they realize “almost” counts in much more than horseshoes and hand grenades.