In the years following its near-bankruptcy in 1976 until the end of the 1980s, New York City came to epitomize the debt-driven, deal-oriented, economic boom of the Reagan era. Exploring the interplay between social structural change and political power during this period, John Mollenkopf asks why a city with a large minority population and a long tradition of liberalism elected a conservative mayor who promoted real-estate development and belittled minority activists. Through a careful analysis of voting patterns, political strategies of various interest groups, and policy trends, he explains how Mayor Edward Koch created a powerful political coalition and why it ultimately failed.

"PHOENIX ASCENDING; Rise From Your Ashes" is a motivational memoir written by Movita Johnson-Harrell, the first Muslim woman elected to the Pennsylvania legislature. This memoir is a raw and brutally honest depiction of survival against all odds. Movita tells her story of sexual abuse, drug addiction and trauma which lends inspiration and hope to others that have faced challenges in their own lives.

Legend says a phoenix will rise again—but all that remains of the immortal bird are ashes and whispered fairy tales... Lyra Adams enjoys her job as a rare books dealer, but when an angry wizard barges into her store and demands she fork over a unique tome from the antiquities section, she's not about to let him get away with grand larceny without a fight. Except it's suddenly very difficult to defend her wares, seeing as the wizard turned her into some kind of weird red bird by flinging a handful of ashes in her face. Her only hope of returning to her normal, human self lies in the hands of the one man she never wanted to see again: her lying, stealing, sorcerous scumbag ex, James Pierce. The same light-fingered thief who tried to steal that very same tome from her a few days before. She knows she can’t trust James with her heart or her inventory. Can she trust him to turn her back?

An illustrated Slice of Life novel. Three lives entwine because of a subtle coincidence. A girl on the edge of society, an extremely rich weird kid and one of the most popular pop stars of the planet.Fade lives a life left on her own, struggling constantly to survive in a society that swallows everyone who doesn’t keep up with its pace; her only company is a kitchen knife and a scar embedded in her leg that reminds her every day of who she is and why she is there. While she’s stealing in a supermarket, she meets Jag, a boy with a disturbing appearance who convinces her to join him in his weird plan: to become the main sponsor of one of the most successful bands of the moment, of which he’s a huge fan, and – apparently – he doesn’t lack the money to do so. She allows herself to be convinced to meet Nef, a typical playboy, who eventually will learn that the world isn’t all at his feet like he thought...

Arising triumphantly from the ashes of its predecessor, the phoenix has been an enduring symbol of resilience and renewal for thousands of years. But how did this mythical bird become so famous that it has played a part in cultures around the world and throughout human history? How much of its story do we actually know? Here to offer a comprehensive biography and engaging (un)natural history of the phoenix is Joseph Nigg, esteemed expert on otherworldly creatures from dragons to gryphons to sea monsters. Beginning in ancient Egypt and traveling around the globe and through the centuries, Nigg's vast and sweeping narrative takes readers on a brilliant tour of the cross-cultural lore of this famous, yet little-known, immortal bird. This entertaining and informative look at the life and transformation of the phoenix will be the authoritative source for anyone fascinated by folklore and mythology, re-igniting our curiosity about one of myth's greatest beasts.

Oregon, the final frontier. Early in our nation’s history, the land west of the Mississippi River was unmapped and unexplored. Only the local indigenous peoples were familiar with the mysterious Pacific Northwest. The states we know as Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Wyoming and Montana were part of the vast Oregon Territory. The history of the current Central Oregon region is filled with popular tales of Native Americans, fur trappers, sheepherders, cattlemen, homesteaders, railroads, lumber mills, and most recently, recreation. The lesser known but equally intriguing stories talk of ghost towns, mining, moonshine, cults, and everything in between. Secret Bend, Oregon: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure weaves together these tales from the past with stories from the present. It delves deeper into history and local peculiarities to uncover why the region is so fascinating. From natural beauty to the origins of our towns, from pristine lakes to colorful alley art, and from fantasy Hobbit houses to astronaut training, the unique narrative of Central Oregon is enthusiastically shared in this book. Both educational and entertaining, locals and visitors who read Secret Bend, Oregon will walk away with a greater understanding and deeper appreciation for the area. They will also have many new places to explore!

Usually books on partition are sob stories, but not this one. ‘Rising from the Ashes of Bengal’s Partition’ is an untold story of the journey of a child born around the time of partition, who battled many hurdles and aspired to lead a new life - like a Phoenix. This is a story of his - and his generation’s - unflinching determination to move ahead. This is the story of the real people who did not curse their fate and sit idle shedding tears. It covers a child’s - and his generations - torturous journey from refugee camps and colonies to the world above the sky. The story covers a span of seven decades of time and space - people and events, politics and economics, corporates and their leaders and above all the kaleidoscopic panorama across the journey through Bengal and India. The book opens up several untraveled terrains - personal experiences, a person’s struggle, sufferings, tears, joys and smiles. It documents people’s perception about critical contemporary events, which conventional history does not cover. The author writes from the ringside, for example on how it was to work for the most reputed corporate of the country and, what happened in the business and economy when the ‘Tiger’ was ‘Uncaged.’ Sure, readers would like to run through the author’s experiences. The author has poured his heart and soul out into writing this story.