Roberta Bondar's voyage as an astronaut aboard the space shuttle DISCOVERY was the realization of a childhood dream for the Canadian scientist and doctor. Here she shares her remarkable journey. From breathtaking photographs of the planet taken from space to her own stunning photographs of life on Earth, Dr. Bondar's message will change the way you think about humanity's relationship with the planet.

"The feeling in space flight is like hanging by your heels...with all the blood rushing to your head. ...You feel as though you are at the top of a roller coaster when your stomach feels like it is going to lift off." - Dr. Roberta Bondar. This book will be especially fascinating for all readers interested in: biography or space exploration. From the age of eight, Roberta Bondar knew she wanted to be an astronaut. In January 1992 she made Canadian history when she became the first Canadian woman, and first neurologist, to go into space on board Discovery. The story of her journey to become a leading astronaut is a fascinating tale of dedication, commitment, and sheer guts.

By the time Roberta Bondar became Canada's first woman in space in 1992, she already had careers as a doctor, a scientist, and a professional photographer. Today this well known astronaut is working on behalf of the planet, writing, appearing on TV and in documentaries, covering Space Shuttle launches, and shedding new light on the needs of the natural world.

Women in the military? To many, never was too soon. But by 1940, British women were out "doing their bit" for the war effort, and Canadians battled for that same right. Young Canadian women wanted to serve their country, "to free a man to fight," as the recruiting posters urged. By the war’s end almost 50,000 of them were in the forces. Carolyn Gossage has compiled a fascinating collage of anecdotal and documentary material. The colourful story of Canada’s "forgotten women" - those who volunteered for service during World War II in the RCAF Women’s division, the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC) and the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (Wrens) - entertains and enlightens.

Now more than ever, the world is recognizing how strong women and girls are. How strong? In the early 1920s, Aboriginal Alaskan expeditioner Ada Blackjack survived for two years as a castaway on an uninhabited island in the Arctic Ocean before she was finally rescued. And she’s just one example. The Girl Who Rode a Shark: And Other Stories of Daring Women is a rousing collection of biographies focused on women and girls who have written, explored, or otherwise plunged headfirst into the pages of history. Undaunted by expectations, they made their mark by persevering in pursuit of their passions. The tales come from a huge variety of times and places, from a Canadian astronaut to an Indian secret agent and to a Balkan pirate queen who stood up to Ancient Rome. Author and activist Ailsa Ross gives readers a fun, informative piece of nonfiction that emphasizes the boundless potential of a new generation of women. Stunning portraits by artist Amy Blackwell accompany every biography in bold, vibrant colours.

This remarkable book covers over 200 years of history and significant milestones in communication, discovery, electronics, health, and transportation. It tells the stories of important Canadian inventions — from apples to the Blackberry, from vaccines to the laser — that show us that Canada has given the world much more than hockey and maple syrup!

This book is written to encourage people who are struggling to not give up on their dreams. It inspired me to motivate other people who feel that they want to give up in life. Your dreams are valid. It is never too latejust wake up and work on your dreams. Start today; you have nothing to lose. However, you have the whole life to win. Todays pain is tomorrows power. The more you suffer today, the stronger you are tomorrow. Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you. Keep calm and live your dreams. Self-pity is self-defeating. Follow your dreams; they know the way. The book is the new plans for rebuilding a more successful life. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world! Men are nourished by the beautiful visions of their solitary dreams. Believe in the beauty of your dreams. They are given to you for a reason. Never stop dreaming. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, and live the life that you have always imagined.

Profiles eleven women who have contributed significantly to the field of astronautics, from Sally Ride, the first female astronaut, to Julie Payette, the Chief Astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency.

Barbara Novak is one of America's premier art historians, the author of the seminal books American Painting of the Nineteenth Century and Nature and Culture, the latter of which was named one of the Ten Best Books of the Year by The New York Times and was nominated for a National Book Critics Circle Award. Now, with Voyages of the Self, this esteemed critic completes the trilogy begun with the two earlier works, offering once again an exhilarating exploration of American art and culture. In this book, Novak explores several inspired pairings of key writers and painters, drawing insightful parallels between such masters as John Singleton Copley and Jonathan Edwards, Winslow Homer and William James, Frederic Edwin Church and Walt Whitman, and Jackson Pollock and Charles Olson. Through these and other groupings, Novak tracks the varied meanings of the self in America, in which the most salient characteristics of each artist or writer is shown to draw from--and in turn influence--the larger map of American life. Two major threads weaving through the book are the American preoccupation with the "object" and our continuing return to pragmatism. Novak notes for instance how Copley's art mirrors the puritan denial of self found in Jonathan Edwards and how as colonial scientists they share an interest in sensation and observation. She sees Winslow Homer and William James as practitioners of a pragmatic self grounded in an immediate experience that looks for concrete results. Through such fruitful comparisons--whether between Copley and Edwards, or Lane and Emerson, or Ryder and Dickinson--Novak sheds unmatched light on our nation's artistic heritage. Wonderfully illustrated with dozens of black-and-white pictures and sixteen full-color plates, here is a stunning work that yields a wealth of insight into American art and culture--and concludes Novak's landmark trilogy.