Arguably the greatest science fiction writer who ever lived, Isaac Asimov also possessed one of the most brilliant and original minds of our time. His accessible style and far-reaching interests in subjects ranging from science to humor to history earned him the nickname “the Great Explainer.” I. Asimov is his personal story—vivid, open, and honest—as only Asimov himself could tell it. Here is the story of the paradoxical genius who wrote of travel to the stars yet refused to fly in airplanes; who imagined alien universes and vast galactic civilizations while staying home to write; who compulsively authored more than 470 books yet still found the time to share his ideas with some of the great minds of our century. Here are his wide-ranging thoughts and sharp-eyed observations on everything from religion to politics, love and divorce, friendship and Hollywood, fame and mortality. Here, too, is a riveting behind-the-scenes look at the varied personalities—Campbell, Ellison, Heinlein, Clarke, del Rey, Silverberg, and others—who along with Asimov helped shape science fiction. As unique and irrepressible as the man himself, I. Asimov is the candid memoir of an incomparable talent who entertained readers for nearly half a century and whose work will surely endure into the future he so vividly envisioned.

Presents facts and trivia on national events, regional news, foreign affairs, sports, and entertainment from 1923 to 1945

Erika Funke, WVIA Senior Producer/Program Host, recommends this book: "The word "panorama" was introduced in the 1780s by Irish Artist Robert Barker, derived from Greek roots suggesting "a complete view." Barker hoped the viewer would "feel as if really on the spot." In titling his study 1938: American Historical Panorama, Dr. Spear signals his aim in examining this pivotal year, giving us the "big picture" but also human stories that allow us to "feel as if really on the spot." And clarity is a hallmark of his writing. The complex, multilayered Spanish Civil War is narrated with all its contradictions. The factions, alliances and consequences are explained with straightforward comprehensibility, and we feel the suffering of the civilians. Dr. Spear gives us a strong grounding in a critical year while evoking echoes in our own times. He addresses matters of race, gender, justice and the media in the big picture and through people's stories, so we feel the impact." Summary: Isolationism kept the U. S. out of war, but several thousand left-leaning Americans volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil. There was also the diversion of a radio “war” as actor-director Orson Welles orchestrated an on-air version of the H. G. Wells 1890s science fiction classic about a Martian invasion of Earth. Advances in aviation were indeed real, however. The most successful effort belonged to Howard Hughes. Nineteen thirty-eight also marked the advent of the first “superhero,” Superman. But the Great Depression was still on-going. Yet misery in America was not universal. The advent of Swing, pioneered by bandleaders such as Benny Goodman, made the latter thirties a new Jazz Age. And baseball, seemed more exciting than ever. It included the efforts of Detroit’s Hank Greenberg to break Babe Ruth’s record of sixty homeruns set in 1927.

This book is about Oklahoma City, its primary law enforcers and their agency. It is about the controls they have exerted, tried to exert or failed to exert over each other for the last century. It is also about the birth and growth of a town, a city and a state. It's also about Fairlawn and how it became a cemetery...and how it became full.

In this autobiography of a Christian minister, Fred R. Zimmerman tells the story of his life on the stage of world events that affected him either directly or indirectly. Born to be a minister, he first became aware of his calling early on in his boyhood. Orphaned at eighteen months during the flu pandemic of 1918–19, he was fortunate enough to be adopted by a childless couple. In their capacity as committed church-going Christians, he was wisely nurtured in his mission to become a minister. During his college and seminary years, crises accompanying this destiny began to arise. As his ministry developed through the years, destiny and decision became the yoke (Matthew 11:27–30) under which he exercised the burden of being a pastor. This is therefore a story not primarily of a person but of a God-appointed ministry.

"Now ten years after her husband's death, Janet Jeppson Asimov has carefully mined the depths of Asimov's most personal thoughts about his life and work. She lovingly combines these with revealing excerpts from his letters to create an intimate portrait of a genius whose tireless passion for writing is evident on every page.".

When their country calls, Texas Aggies go to war. From the Spanish-American War and World War I to Operation Iraqi Freedom, Aggies have been in the forefront of America’s armed forces, producing more officers than any other school outside the service academies. More than 20,000 Texas Aggies served in World War II, for instance, including more than 14,000 as commissioned officers. Trained in leadership and the knowledge required for warfare, Aggies have served with distinction in all branches of the military service. In this first-ever compilation of the impressive war record of Texas Aggies, stories of individual soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines are displayed with an abundance of statistics, maps, and tables. These narratives include • First-person accounts of Aggie heroism in battle in all the wars in which A&M former students have fought; • The horrific experiences of some of the eighty-seven Aggies who were stationed at Corregidor and Bataan; • The perils of five Aggies who participated in the raid over Tokyo with Jimmie Doolittle; • The heroics of the seven Medal of Honor recipients from Texas A&M during World War II; • James Earl Rudder’s leadership of the Ranger assault at Normandy on D-Day; • Examples of vigorous support and devotion to duty given by Aggies in Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East. Texas Aggies Go to War celebrates the school’s distinctive Corps of Cadets and its military contributions while honoring the individual sacrifices of its members. Those who fought and those who remember them will find here a comprehensive account of the distinguished war record of this school. This book was initiated and sponsored by a group of former students who provided funding through the Texas A&M Foundation. All proceeds from the book will be used to benefit the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.

You really can't believe everything you read . . . A premature newswire report announces the end of World War I, spurring wild celebrations in American streets days before the actual treaty was signed. A St. Louis newspaper prints reviews of theatrical performances that never took place—they had been canceled due to bad weather. New York newspaper reporters plant evidence in the apartment of the man accused of kidnapping the Lindbergh baby and then call him a liar in the courtroom once the trial begins. These are just a few of the many wrongs that have been reported as right over two centuries of American history. All the News Unfit to Print puts the media under the microscope to expose the many types of mistakes, hoaxes, omissions, and lies that have skewed our understanding of the past, and reveals the range of reasons and motivations—from boredom and haste to politics and greed-behind them. Reviewing a host of journalistic slip-ups involving Ben Franklin, Mark Twain, William Randolph Hearst, Theodore H. White, and many others, this book covers the stories behind the stories to refine incorrect "first drafts" of history from the Revolutionary War era to more recent times. "All the News Unfit to Print is a rollicking joyride that careens through the ridiculous, the odd, and the serious malfeasances in American journalistic history and reminds us of the difference between news and facts." —Neal Gabler, author of Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination

Sentimental Journey is a cornucopia of 546 rang portraits that tell the story of America's very own great music, from its beginnings on Tin Pan Alley through its flourishing in step with the rise of the Broadway musical, radio, recordings, the big bands, and the film musical. The book spans 25 years, broken up into three decades entitled The Roaring Twenties, The Depression Years, and The War Years, each of which begins with a prologue giving a general description of the decade. Each year within the decades gives further historical background against which the individual songs were written -- including the political, social and artistic events. Within each year thc songs are portrayed individually, telling what made the song special and gives its vital statistics along with composer, lyricist, publisher, and when, where and by whom it was introduced.The twenty-six chapters of Sentimental Journey is finalized with a set of Appendices containing glossary, bibliography, index of composers and lyricists and an index of songs. No matter from what generation the reader is part of, the music from this book is being constantly rediscovered, and has become part of the American heritage.