Buy from our bookstore and 25% of the cover price will be given to a school of your choice to buy more books. *15% of eBooks.
Audiobooks Narrated by Troy W. Hudson
Browse audiobooks narrated by Troy W. Hudson, listen to samples and when you're ready head over to Audiobooks.com where you can get 3 FREE audiobooks on us
The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman is a gripping and thought-provoking play that delves into the destructive power of lies and societal prejudice. Set in an all-girls boarding school, the story follows Karen Wright and Martha Dobie, two dedicated teachers whose lives are upended when a vengeful student, Mary Tilford, fabricates a shocking accusation against them. The malicious lie not only jeopardizes their school but also exposes the fragility of their reputations and relationships in a judgmental society. First performed in 1934, the play examines themes of morality, truth, and the devastating consequences of unchecked rumors. A timeless exploration of human behavior, The Children's Hour remains a powerful critique of societal norms and the cost of prejudice.
'Ethiopia and the Origin of Civilization' by John G. Jackson is a seminal work that challenges traditional Eurocentric perspectives on the origins of civilization. Originally published in 1939, Jackson's book seeks to highlight the significant contributions of African civilizations, particularly Ethiopia, to the development of human culture and civilization.
Through meticulous research and historical analysis, Jackson addresses the historical misrepresentations and biases that have marginalized the achievements of African societies. The title underscores the importance of Ethiopia, delving into its ancient history, kingdoms, and cultural accomplishments. Jackson explores various aspects of African history, including contributions to science, mathematics, and the early foundations of civilization.
The book serves as a powerful critique of prevailing Western-centric views and encourages readers to reconsider their understanding of Africa's historical role. Jackson's work is part of a broader movement that advocates for a more inclusive and accurate portrayal of African history. While it has been both praised for its groundbreaking efforts and criticized for its polemical style, 'Ethiopia and the Origin of Civilization' remains a significant text that challenges readers to reevaluate and appreciate the rich historical heritage of African civilizations.
'The Art of Dramatic Writing' by Lajos Egri, a groundbreaking work first published in 1946, stands as a timeless guide for playwrights, screenwriters, and storytellers. At its core is Egri's concept of the 'premise,' emphasizing the need for a central idea that shapes the entire narrative. This premise serves as the foundation, offering writers a clear direction and audiences a cohesive experience.
Egri's focus on character development is a highlight. He argues that characters must possess well-defined motivations rooted in their psychological makeup. By delving into these psychological aspects, Egri teaches writers how to craft characters with depth, authenticity, and a genuine sense of purpose within the story.
The book explores various storytelling elements, including plot, conflict, and dialogue. Egri's insights into conflict are particularly noteworthy, emphasizing its role as the driving force in a narrative. He guides writers on building and escalating tension to captivate and engage audiences.
Practical and instructive, Egri provides a framework for writers to analyze and enhance their work. Numerous examples from classical and contemporary literature illustrate his principles, making the book a theoretical guide and hands-on manual for improving storytelling skills.
'The Art of Dramatic Writing' has left a lasting impact, influencing generations of writers and remaining a staple in creative writing programs. Its enduring relevance lies in its timeless principles, applicable across genres and mediums. Whether crafting a play, screenplay, or novel, Egri's teachings inspire writers to create impactful and emotionally resonant stories.
At the core of the drama is Brick, an alcoholic son mourning the death of his friend, Skipper, and his strained marriage to Maggie. Maggie, resilient yet desperate for love, grapples with Brick's emotional withdrawal. The family is entrenched in mendacity, with each member harboring secrets, particularly about Big Daddy's terminal cancer.
As the layers of deception unravel, characters confront uncomfortable truths, and the Southern setting intensifies the tension. Williams masterfully explores identity, truth, and the consequences of denial. The title, 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,' symbolizes the characters' internal struggles and societal expectations.
The play's success lies in its exploration of taboo subjects, richly drawn characters, and evocative dialogue. Williams captures Southern speech's nuances, infusing authenticity. The stifling heat enhances the palpable unease. 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' resonates for its bold portrayal of human frailty, earning critical acclaim and enduring as a classic in American literature and theater.
Ever since the Alibaba Group went public on September 19, 2014-with an initial public offering of a record-breaking $25 billion-Jack Ma, the founder and charismatic 'spiritual leader' of the e-commerce behemoth, has been making headlines around the world. In 2014, the company's online transactions totaled $248 billion-more than those of Amazon and eBay combined. The first Chinese entrepreneur to appear on the cover of Forbes, Ma is the now the second-richest man in China, with a net worth that is estimated to be north of $29 billion.
Despite Ma's massive influence in China and in the global tech world, his inspirational rags-to-riches story is relatively unknown to the general American public. Never Give Up: Jack Ma In His Own Words is a comprehensive guide to the inner workings of arguably the most prominent figure in the global tech world in the past 20 years-comprised entirely of Ma's own thought-provoking and candid quotes.
In this audiobook, more than 200 quotes on business values, innovation, entrepreneurship, competition, management, teamwork, life, and more provide an intimate and direct look into the mind of this modern business icon and philanthropist. Many of these quotes are translated directly from the Chinese press and interviews. For listeners who do not know Chinese and have no other access to these materials, this audiobook provides invaluable insight into the mind of one of the world's most successful business magnates.
The history of Ethiopia could also be called the history of humanity. The question is not if this history is well documented, but why it is not thought widely in schools. The time necessary to study the tomes that refer to the Nubians as the forbearers of our civilization is enormous. The world owes Ethiopia for its history, astronomy, agriculture and all the other sciences, and John G. Jackson gave ample references to validate this claim. Ethiopia’s history is incredible and a treasure to the world and it is a shame that it has been distorted by the persistent Eurocentrism.
Among the many 'how-to' playwriting books that have appeared over the years, there have been few that attempt to analyze the mysteries of play construction. Lajos Egri's classic, The Art of Dramatic Writing, does just that, with instruction that can be applied equally well to a short story, novel, or screenplay. Examining a play from the inside out, Egri starts with the heart of any drama: its characters. All good dramatic writing hinges on people and their relationships, which serve to move the story forward and give it life, as well as an understanding of human motives -- why people act the way that they do. Using examples from everything from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, Egri shows how it is essential for the author to have a basic premise -- a thesis, demonstrated in terms of human behavior -- and to develop the dramatic conflict on the basis of that behavior. Using Egri's ABCs of premise, character, and conflict, The Art of Dramatic Writing is a direct, jargon-free approach to the problem of achieving truth in writing.
Nickerson restates his formula for success in real estate, which, in case you've not heard it lately, goes like this: purchase residential property in need of rehabilitation, provide the necessary improvements, and sell the property for a minimum 25% profit. Case examples are used to illustrate refinements such as looking for opportunities in inner cities and keeping an open mind to creative financing possibilities. Nickerson is an experienced pro whose How I Turned $1,000 into a Million in Real Estate in My Spare Time is a classic. There are many obvious ways to make a fortune. One is to gamble. You might get rich overnight. But gambling is not a sure thing-that's why they call it gambling. There are other speculative, get-rich quick schemes-like buying real estate with dangerous nothing down balloon-payment financing and bleeding, rather than improving, the property - but most easy-money fantasies turn into nightmares and breed negative losses instead of positive profits. By far the surest road to a fortune that can match or surpass your golden dreams is to buy, with sound financing, fixer-upper properties that you can improve. You can choose from millions of deteriorated or obsolescent properties with repair and improvement challenges that you can readily correct. Many owners just do not have the gumption to fix up wounded properties that have bled their lives away with age and neglect. If you have a little courage and imagination, you can buy such distress properties at a bargain, correct imperfections, and make a sure and spectacular profit. This gives you a built-in safety factor that guards you against going wrong. If you faithfully follow my principles it is just about impossible to go broke. The only question is not whether you will make a profit, but how much you will make!
Among the many 'how-to' playwriting books that have appeared over the years, there have been few that attempt to analyze the mysteries of play construction. Lajos Egri's classic, The Art of Dramatic Writing, does just that, with instruction that can be applied equally well to a short story, novel, or screenplay.
Examining a play from the inside out, Egri starts with the heart of any drama: its characters. All good dramatic writing hinges on people and their relationships, which serve to move the story forward and give it life, as well as an understanding of human motives - why people act the way that they do. Using examples from everything from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, Egri shows how it is essential for the author to have a basic premise - a thesis, demonstrated in terms of human behavior - and to develop the dramatic conflict on the basis of that behavior.
Using Egri's ABCs of premise, character, and conflict, The Art of Dramatic Writing is a direct, jargon-free approach to the problem of achieving truth in writing.
The place is Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692, an enclave of rigid piety huddled on the edge of a wilderness. Its inhabitants believe unquestioningly in their own sanctity. But in Arthur Miller's edgy masterpiece, that very belief will have poisonous consequences when a vengeful teenager accuses a rival of witchcraft - and then when those accusations multiply to consume the entire village.
About this author: Arthur Asher Miller was an American playwright and essayist. He was a prominent figure in American literature and cinema for more than 61 years, writing a wide variety of plays, including celebrated plays such as The Crucible, A View from the Bridge, All My Sons, and Death of a Salesman, which are still studied and performed worldwide.
Miller was often in the public eye, most famously for refusing to give evidence against others to the House Un-American Activities Committee, being the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama among other awards, and for marrying Marilyn Monroe. At the time of his death, Miller was considered one of the greatest American playwrights.
This is the article in which Maslow first presented his hierarchy of needs. It was first printed in his 1943 paper 'A Theory of Human Motivation'. Maslow subsequently extended the idea to include his observations of humans' innate curiosity. His theories parallel many other theories of human developmental psychology, some of which focus on describing the stages of growth in humans. Maslow described various needs and used the terms Physiological, Safety, Belongingness and Love, Esteem, Self-Actualization, and Self-Transcendence' to describe the pattern that human motivations generally move through. Maslow studied what he called exemplary people such as Albert Einstein, Jane Addams, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Frederick Douglass rather than mentally ill or neurotic people.
This classic is still making its mark over 80 years since its debut. Author Johanna Brandt shares a personal journey of living with cancer and her discovery of how the beneficial properties of grapes cured her disease by refreshing and purifying cell structures. The virtues of naturopathy are extolled, and listeners are encouraged to detoxify their bodies and prevent disease (namely cancer) through a combination of fasting and a diet of grapes.
