Jeanne Marie Laskas is an American writer whose work often delves into the intricacies of human connection and everyday life. Her essays and features are known for their insightful exploration of personal stories, finding deeper meaning in seemingly ordinary experiences. As a professor of creative writing, she actively shapes the landscape of contemporary literature by nurturing emerging voices. Laskas's distinctive narrative style invites readers to reflect on the world and their place within it.
President Barack Obama received ten thousand letters a day from his constituents. This is the story of the private and profound relationship with letter writers that shaped his presidency. Their voices combine to reveal a diary of a nation. Every evening for eight years, at his request,... číst celé
"Every evening for 8 years, at his request, President Obama received a binder containing ten handpicked letters from ordinary American citizens -- the unfiltered voice of a nation -- from his Office of Presidential Correspondence. He was the first to President to save constituent mail, and this is the story of how those letters affected not only the President and his policies, but also the deeply committed people who were tasked with opening the millions of pleas, rants, thank yous, and apologies that landed in the White House mailroom. Based on the popular New York Times article, 'To Obama, ' Laskas now interviews the letter writers themselves and the White House staff who sifted through the powerful, moving, and incredibly intimate narrative of America during the Obama years emerges: There is Kelli, who saw her grandfathers finally marry -- legally -- after 35 years together; Bill, a lifelong Republican whose attitude toward immigration reform was transformed when he met a boy escaping M-16 gang leaders in El Salvador; Heba, a Syrian refugee who wants to forget the day the tanks rolled into her village; Marjorie, who grappled with disturbing feelings of racial bias lurking within her during the George Zimmerman trial; and Vicki, whose family was torn apart by those who voted for Trump and those who did not. They wrote to Obama out of gratitude and desperation, in their darkest times of need, in search of connection. They wrote with anger and respect. And together, this chorus of voices achieves a kind of beautiful harmony: here is a diary of a nation. To Obama is an intimate look at one man's relationship to the American people, and the the intersection of politics and empathy in the White House"-- Provided by publisher
The brilliant young forensic pathologist had no idea that the body on the slab in front of him would change his life, and ultimately change the world. The body belonged to legendary American Footballer Mike Webster, whose mental health had rapidly declined - he had ended up treating his back pain with a Taser and using Superglue to fix his rotting teeth. Dr Bennet Omalu found that Webster's psychosis was no accident. His autopsy unearthed evidence of a trauma-related disease - the consequence of years of head clashes in games. He knew it would kill scores of other sportsmen unless something was done, and believed the NFL would welcome the discovery. Instead America's most powerful corporation tried to destroy him. Taut and gorgeously told, this is the intensely personal story of one man's fight against a multibillion dollar colossus. A man who stood up for what was right, whatever the cost.
In 2002, forensic pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu picked up a scalpel in a Pittsburgh morgue and made a discovery that would rattle America. The body on the slab in front of him belonged to a fifty-year-old named Mike Webster, aka "Iron Mike," a Hall of Fame center for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After retiring in 1990, Webster had suffered a dizzyingly steep decline. The search for answers put Omalu in the crosshairs of one of the most powerful corporations in America: the National Football League. Iron Mike's mental deterioration was caused by blows to the head that could affect everyone playing the game -- the one truth the NFL wanted to ignore
From Coal Miners to Cowboys, an Extraordinary Exploration of the Unseen People Who Make This Country Work
Recognized as a "Must-Read Book" by Oprah.com, this title promises to engage readers with its compelling narrative and thought-provoking themes. It explores deep emotional journeys, offering insights into personal growth and resilience. The characters are richly developed, each facing unique challenges that resonate with universal experiences, making it a relatable and inspiring read. This book encourages reflection on life's complexities and the strength found in vulnerability.
Zeitgeschichte in Briefen Was tut ein US-Präsident, wenn er wissen will, wie es um sein Land steht? Er liest. Während seiner Amtszeit gingen täglich Zehntausende Briefe im Oval Office ein. Jeden Abend las Barack Obama zehn ausgewählte Schreiben, einige beantwortete er persönlich. Zu Wort kommen Obama-Anhänger ebenso wie politische Gegner, vom Schulkind bis zum Kriegsveteranen. Was sie bewegt: die Folgen der Finanzkrise, die geplante Gesundheitsreform, soziale Gerechtigkeit, Bildungschancen und Start-up-Ideen, das Schicksal der Soldaten im Auslandseinsatz oder schlicht Schulaufgaben. »Briefe an Obama« spiegelt die Lage der Nation in einer Zeit großen Wandels.