Stephen Fried Books

In the late hours of July 22, 1991, Detective Patrick "Pat" Kennedy of the Milwaukee Police Department was asked to respond to a possible homicide. Little did he know that he would soon be delving into the dark mind of one of America's most notorious serial killers, the "Milwaukee Cannibal" Jeffrey Dahmer. As the media clamored for details, Kennedy spent the next six weeks, sixteen hours a day, locked in an interrogation room with Dahmer. There the 31-year-old killer described in lurid detail how he lured seventeen young men to his apartment where he strangled, sexually assaulted, dismembered, and in some cases, cannibalized his victims. In GRILLING DAHMER: The Interrogation of "The Milwaukee Cannibal" the reader is taken on a horrifying tour into the mind of evil as Kennedy patiently and meticulously listened to unspeakable horrors so that a monster would be taken off the streets forever.

The book explores the lives of the Harvey Girls, women who transformed the American West by working as waitresses in Fred Harvey's restaurants along the Santa Fe Railroad. It highlights their journey towards independence and empowerment in a male-dominated society, showcasing their impact on the hospitality industry and their roles in shaping community and culture. The narrative is enriched by personal stories, historical context, and the broader societal changes of the time, making it a compelling read on women's history and opportunity.

The book exposes the often misguided trust placed in the pharmaceutical industry, revealing the discrepancies between public perception and reality regarding medication safety. Through meticulous investigation, it uncovers the shortcomings of doctors, drug companies, and regulatory bodies like the FDA. The author, a respected journalist, presents a critical view of the industry's practices, urging readers to reconsider their assumptions about the medications they rely on for health and well-being.

"The remarkable story of Benjamin Rush, medical pioneer and one of our nation's most provocative and unsung Founding Fathers ... One of the youngest signatories [of the Declaration of Independence] ... he was also, among stiff competition, one of the most visionary. A brilliant physician and writer, Rush was known as the "American Hippocrates" for pioneering national healthcare and revolutionizing treatment of mental illness and addiction. Yet medicine is only part of his legacy. Dr. Rush was both a progressive thorn in the side of the American political establishment--a vocal opponent of slavery, capital punishment, and prejudice by race, religion or gender--and close friends with its most prominent leaders. He was the protégé of Franklin, the editor of Common Sense, Washington's surgeon general, and the broker of peace between Adams and Jefferson, yet his stubborn convictions more than once threatened his career and his place in the narrative of America's founding. Drawing on a trove of previously unpublished letters and images, the voluminous correspondence between Rush and his better-known counterparts, and his candid and incisive personal writings ... Stephen Fried ... finally installs Dr. Rush in the pantheon of great American leaders."--Provided by publisher

Focusing on the security vulnerabilities posed by mobile devices, this guide offers practical strategies to protect personal information in an increasingly mobile world. It highlights the potential backdoor threats and provides immediate, actionable steps to enhance security, making it an essential resource for anyone looking to safeguard their data on the go.

At age seventeen, Gia Carangi was working the counter at her father's Philadelphia luncheonette, in Hoagie City. Within a year, Gia was one of the top models of the late 1970's, gracing the covers of Cosmopolitan and Vogue, partying at New York's Studio 54 and the Mudd Club while redefining the industry's standard of beauty. She was the darling of moguls and movie stars, royalty and rockers. Gia was also a girl in pain, desperate for her mother's approval. A drug addict on a tragic slide toward oblivion, who started going directly from $10,000-a-day fashion shoots to the heroin shooting galleries on New York's Lower East Side. Finally blackballed from modeling, Gia entered a vastly different world on the streets of New york and Atlantic City, and later in a rehab clinic. At twenty-six, she became one of the first women in America to die of AIDS; a hospital welfare case visited only by rehab friends and what remained of her family. Drawing on hundreds of interviews with Gia's gamily, lovers, friends, and colleagues, Thing of Beauty creates a poignant portrait of an unforgettable character and a powerful narrative about beauty and sexuality, fame and objectification, mothers and daughters, love and death.

The narrative delves into the complexities of American Judaism, focusing on a landmark congregation facing the challenge of replacing its revered rabbi. Through this transition, the book examines themes of faith, family, and community, highlighting the congregation's efforts to adapt and thrive for future generations. Stephen Fried's intimate portrayal captures the emotional and cultural dynamics at play within the congregation as it navigates this pivotal moment in its history.

Originally published: New Yor: Blue Rider Press, 2015.

"Patrick J. Kennedy, the former congressman and youngest child of Senator Ted Kennedy, details his personal and political battle with mental illness and addiction, exploring mental health care's history in the country alongside his and every family's private struggles." -- Amazon.com