Best regional us biographies according to redditors
We found 133 Reddit comments discussing the best regional us biographies. We ranked the 69 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 133 Reddit comments discussing the best regional us biographies. We ranked the 69 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Didn't Pat Riley say he was unaware they had planned that, and he thought it was a bad idea?
edit: I think it was in either The Soul of Basketball by Ian Thomsen or Return of the King by Brian Windhorst. I don't own either book, anyone interested in checking?
He didn't play very long because of knee issues, I believe. He may have played 1 year in the 80s, but his career ended rather abruptly considering that he was an all star from 77-79. I find that not many people that I talk basketball with know much about 70s basketball anyway, so I'm not too surprised. If you've never read Pistol:The Life of Pete Maravich, you should, it reads pretty well for a sports biography.
Other posters have touched on the heart of it, but here is a little elaboration if you want to know more:
The only recorded instance of pirates burying treasure anywhere is when Captain William Kidd buried a portion of his ship's cargo on Long Island before meeting with Richard Coote, Earl of Bellomont and Governor of New York. It bears mentioning that he didn't bury this treasure specifically to dig it up later, but because he was facing charges of murder and piracy and his goods were likely to be seized.
He buried the treasure to use as a bargaining chip with Bellomont, hoping it would give him leverage and help him avoid going to trial (Bellomont was one of his benefactors and had even financed a previous voyage). This tactic failed completely, and Kidd's treasure was simply dug up. There are rumors that portions of it remain buried, but this is almost certainly nonsense.
I'd also like to point out that Kidd, in terms of what we usually refer to as 'pirates', hardly qualifies at all. He was well known and respected among the colonial nobility, went to sea with the funds and blessings of many high-ranking people, and happened to end up on the wrong end of a political scandal and with his hand in the cookie jar, so to speak. His trial was rushed, and he may have even had a legitimate letter of marque, making him a privateer, not a pirate.
Robert Louis Stevenson used Kidd (or rather, the fictionalized Kidd-as-pirate that had persisted to the late 19th century) as a prototype for Long John Silver, and embellished the part about burying his treasure. Treasure Island is really the root of so many of the pirate icons we know and love (peg legs, parrots, buried treasure, etc.).
If you're interested in learning more, I recommend you take a look at Captain Kidd and the War Against the Pirates, The Pirate Hunter, and Under the Black Flag.
Edit: It's actually Gardiner's Island, as one of the above posters mentioned, which is near Long Island, but is separate.
https://www.amazon.com/Bootleggers-Boy-Barry-Switzer/dp/0688093841
It doesn't look like it's in print any more, but it's a fun read. He tells the story you just related in there. That's not the fun part, to say the least.
Thank you for sharing. That's a great story.
windhorst and dave mcmenamin wrote a book chronicling the comeback, here.
From the guy that wrote Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer (which is an awesome book)
"Angel of Darkness" by Dennis McDougal, about Randy Kraft and the other serial killers in the 1970s and very early 1980s in Southern California.
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Angel-Darkness-Story-Heinous-Murder-ebook/dp/B002PXFY42
"Freed to kill", by Gera-Lind Kolarik (Author), Wayne Klatt (Author). A book about Midwestern serial killer Larry Eyler.
https://www.amazon.com/Freed-Kill-Story-Serial-Murderer-ebook/dp/B00USC6V8K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1536896023&sr=1-1&keywords=freed+to+kill
"Bluebeard" by Valerie Odgen, a book about Gilles De Rais.
https://www.amazon.com/Bluebeard-Valerie-Ogden-ebook/dp/B07H9KKXSY/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1536896221&sr=1-4&keywords=Bluebeard
The Killer of Little Shepherds: A True Crime Story and the Birth of Forensic Science by Douglas Starr.
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Little-Shepherds-Forensic-Science-ebook/dp/B003F3PMK2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1536895941&sr=1-1&keywords=killer+of+little+shepherds
The man with the candy, by Jack Olsen.
https://www.amazon.com/Man-Candy-Jack-Olsen/dp/0743212835
"Deranged" by Harold Schechter, about Albert Fish.
https://www.amazon.com/Deranged-Shocking-Americas-Fiendish-Killer/dp/0671025457/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=JHBKDXB0BVQEGP8KN1A2
"Killer Clown: the John Wayne Gacy murders" by Terry Sullivan.
https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Clown-John-Wayne-Murders-ebook/dp/B00BPVV2T6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1536896171&sr=1-1&keywords=killer+clown+Gacy
"The Want-Ad killer" by Ann Rule.
https://www.amazon.com/Want-Ad-Killer-True-Crime/dp/0451166884/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1536896281&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=want+ad+killer
"Lust Killer" by Ann Rule about Jerry Brudos.
https://www.amazon.com/Lust-Killer-Updated-Ann-Rule/dp/0451166876/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1536896309&sr=1-2&keywords=lust+killer+Ann+Rule
"Monsters of Weimar: The Stories of Fritz Haarmann and Peter Kurten" by Theodor Lessing / Karl Berg / George God.
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Weimar-Stories-Haarmann-Kurten/dp/1897743106/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1536896338&sr=1-1&keywords=monsters+of+weimar
"Strangers On The Street - Serial homicide in South Africa" by Micki Pistorius.
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Strangers-Street-Serial-homicide-Africa-ebook/dp/B06XDPS3DL/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1536896393&sr=1-1&keywords=strangers+on+the+street+South+Africa
"Gruesome: The crimes and criminals that shook South Africa" by De Wet Potgieter.
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Gruesome-crimes-criminals-shook-Africa-ebook/dp/B015JFIQH4/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1536896451&sr=1-8&keywords=south+Africa+crime+ebook
"Profiling Serial Killers: And other crimes in South Africa" by Micki Pistouris.
https://www.amazon.com/Profiling-Serial-Killers-crimes-Africa-ebook/dp/B06XDCNQGR/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1536896451&sr=1-6&keywords=south+Africa+crime+ebook
"Murder in Tamden: when two people kill." by Paul Wilson.
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Tandem-Paul-Wilson/dp/0732267730
"Australia's serial killers: Never to be released." by Paul B. Kidd.
Link: https://www.amazon.com/Australias-Serial-Killers-Never-Released/dp/1743532253/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1536896675&sr=1-13
I'm glad we're getting interest from some Yankees! College football in the SEC (and in particular the University of Alabama) is second to none in all of sports. That includes all professional sports in the US and professional soccer in Europe.
I think the advice that has already been given is pretty accurate. For a major SEC opponent (LSU, UT, and maybe even Ole Miss this year) tickets will no doubt be more expensive but worth the experience. What's more important, IMO, are your plans for lodging. There are not a ton of hotels in the Tuscaloosa area and rooms usually sell out on game weekends at least 6 months in advance.
If you're coming with friends, look into renting an RV for the weekend and you'll have the time of your life with our RV family. (Read this book to prepare yourself for the experience.)
You can ALWAYS find a ticket from a scalper outside the stadium even if you come down without one. Have cash in hand close to kickoff and you'll find a pretty good deal. If you have some coin to spend, come down with a ticket so you can experience the pregame traditions inside the stadium. They're pretty incredible. Our pregame video is new every year and gets better every year. I can't wait to see this year's.
PM me when/if you decide to come and I can try to give you some more specific tips once I know what you're really looking for.
RMFT!
Links:
Old man catches football instead of woman
Woman takes baseball from kid
Original, evil Grimace
David Dinkins
The Flaming Carrot
Antoine's
Naomi Grossman
Bruce Campbell
Kelly Frye
Dave Bautista and Michael Rooker
Jason Momoa
Highest grossing franchises
Cake Boss busted
Adam Richman's comment and controversy
Mike plays volleyball at the beach
Kim Kardashian on H8r
Funny ... H8r reminds me of something else entirely ...
Funeralz of a different sort
Levi Johnston, forced to attend the 2008 Republican National Convention to keep up appearances
The Barry Bonds "needles" cover
Breathalyzer ignitions
Apps that block texting while driving
The guy who made phone-shaped cookies
Charles Manson and his new bride ... compare to Susan Atkins, a member of the Family from the good ol' days
Wife with shaved head and carving
Some facts on the Manson Family
Manson in His Own Words
BTK crime scene photos -- you don't want to click that
What the Octomom (more accurately, the Tetradecamom) is up to these days
Dirty Mercury
I've read Pistol Pete's biography. They mention this fact somewhere around the beginning
Pistol Pete - A boy pushed at incredible lengths to achieve what his father never could, becomes a basketball phenom, or "basketball android" in his own terms, becomes one of the first 'great white hopes' in the game, begins breaking down, abusing alcohol, searches for some kind of spiritual release from the pressure he's faced his whole life, mends fences with his dad, dies too young.
There is already a film called Pistol about PP, but I recall it not being very good.
Summer of '95 serious
It's not an uncommon style, and one I'm fond of.
If you liked that, you'll also like Ship of Gold in a Deep Blue Sea, The Perfect Storm and Blackhawk Down. The books, not the movies.
I recommend Roll Tide/War Eagle on ESPN or SEC Network if you have it. This short, funny book is also excellent.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0609807137/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_bgfJBbXDTZZ8G
Pretty sure you're thinking of RANDOM FAMILY by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc.
http://www.amazon.com/Random-Family-Drugs-Trouble-Coming/dp/0684863871
A more scholarly source on the history of Captain Kidd is Robert C. Ritchie's Captain Kidd and the War against the Pirates. Zacks doesn't provide that sources for where he gets his conclusions that Kidd was innocent.
http://www.amazon.com/Captain-Kidd-War-against-Pirates/dp/0674095022
Though he is occasionally up for parole, he will never get it.
On a side note, if anyone would like a fascinating read about both this case and what Houston was like in the 50s~70s, Jack Olson wrote The Man with the Candy several years back. Describes an atmosphere in Houston that was towards the end of the "big small town" culture of police and government, and a socioeconomic geographical layout of the city that you will have a hard time believing if you moved to Houston in the past 20 years.
An excellent piece of both Houston history and true crime.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0743212835/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/183-8900631-3764067
A little. It's a bit understudied because academics can be a bit finicky about cultural studies, but Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer is probably the best that has been written about Alabama. I'm not sure about Auburn material that isn't simply rhapsodic remembrances of great games or based around the unchallenged mythos of the Auburn family. As an academic, I hope to get a chance to write something like that some day, though.
I once read this book called Heat Wave by Eric Klinenberg. In it, he mentioned how the most vulnerable population during the catastrophic heat wave of Chicago in 1995 was elderly men. This was because women tend be in charge of social affairs in heterosexual marriages, and when older men widow they are less likely to make new friends or reach out to family members for help.
I'm in a very happy relationship with someone who is even more introverted than me (and also shy). I worry about being alone without him, because I would just be sad and miss him, but I worry more about him being alone without me, because I could totally see him falling into that vulnerable group.
NC basketball is a particularly sore case.
I'm mostly a basketball guy so...
You don't need to have ever seen a basketball game to appreciate these first two books.
Breaks of the Game by David Halberstam which it probably the best NBA book. It follows the 1978 Portland Trail Blazers and gets way more access than anyone could get now. Plus Halberstam was a great writer so he gets the most out of excellent material.
The Last Shot by Darcy Frey this is probably my favorite basketball book. It follows high school basketball players and it works as biography as well as an exploration of sports culture, race, class, and youth. The Hoop Dreams of books. Great journalism on a great subject.
Freedarko's The Undisputed Guide to Basketball History Captures the visceral and intellectual thrill of watching basketball better than any other book. Manages to capture big picture and little picture.
Seven Seconds or Less Lifelong basketball writer follows one of the funnest teams in NBA history for a year
Pistol Biography of Pistol Pete and his insanely driven father. Manages the rare feat for a sports biography of not slipping into hagiography.
Baseball
Moneyball How baseball teams were run a decade ago. Really well written and somehow manages to make baseball and business really entertaining. Great for fans and non-fans.
I have three.
The first that comes to mind is an older book, called "Storm." It inspired my dad to become a meteorology major (sadly, the U.S. Air Force put him to use as a navigator instead of weather forecaster). The hero / heroine of the fictional story is a massive El Niño / atmospheric river event that rocks California, told in part from the perspective of a young meteorologist. It's an older book (copyright 1941), but despite being short on contemporary weather science, it's solid on the fundamentals, and the major criticism of it is that it's too technical. As a record of a storm pattern that often afflicts the U.S. West Coast (and historically has been catastrophic at times) and is only now coming to be fully appreciated, it's still relevant, even though it's out of print, but Amazon offers it used.
"Isaac's Storm" is a national bestseller about the greatest natural disaster in U.S. history, the 1900 Galveston hurricane, which killed 6,000 people. It talks a lot about the weather that created it and how meteorologists of the time failed to anticipate it (and why). It's a gripping, well-written account of a storm that shocked the nation and devastated a city that might have otherwise become Texas' largest. It's written by Erik Larson, who is one of the great nonfiction writers of our time.
You are probably familiar with the movie "The Perfect Storm" but maybe not with the book that inspired it, also a national bestseller, titled "The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea" which dwells a lot more than the movie on the weather science behind the storm. In fact, the phrase "a perfect storm of" didn't exist before the book. If I recall correctly, it talks about how three separate weather events converged over the NW Atlantic to create a truly wicked storm that caught a number of mariners off guard with deadly consequences for some of them. The movie is pretty good (certainly better than that joke "Twister" that someone recommended), but it's a little short on weather geekery.
Sorry, no colorful pictures in any of these books, but the stories in them are plenty colorful. Congrats on your awesome study choice.
Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer: A Road Trip into the Heart of Fan Mania
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0609807137?pc_redir=1406968942&robot_redir=1
Charles Manson might not fit the true definition of a psychopath, but his memoir, Charles Manson: In His Own Words has got to be my favorite biography of all time. By the end, I almost emphasized with his reasons. It's kind of creepy in that way.
Wow, interesting! I may just have to check that out. Is this the book?
When did Piazza admit using PEDs? He said he would discuss it in his book, and in the book, he says he didn't use them.
Here you go:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0393337014/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_JFfSAb07P7J0J
Desktop link
Congratulations. You've scored a job I would adore!
My suggestions:
Others have already mentioned my other choices (e.g. Of Mice and Men). And for a little non-fiction that might help them visualise some of life's big questions, try Stephen Law's "The Philosophy Files". I've gifted it to a number of teens in the past of all different abilities and have yet to hear criticism of it. "Philosophy Rocks" is another one of his that is also pretty good.
I'm reading Concession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of BTK. It's pretty interesting, lots of correspondence from him regarding the murders and some context from the author.
Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer https://www.amazon.com/dp/1611688418/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_en9rA4TDX8mix
Printed every year in the Daily Tarheel since 1990: Why I Hate Duke.
My first crush ever was on Eric Montross (I was three), and when I met him a few years ago before a game, I thought my heart was going to explode.
I attended UNC. I've lived in Chapel Hill my entire life. My parents attended UNC and made out for the first time in the elevator of the foreign language building. My mother works there. My father lectures there. My grandmother worked there. My grandfather was a professor, chair of the history department, and chair of the faculty.
When anyone on Tobacco Road says that their "blood runs Carolina/Duke blue," everyone needs believe them. I firmly believe in the title of one of the books on the rivalry -- "To Hate Like This Is to Be Happy Forever".
There's definitely a story. It can be found here:
http://www.amazon.com/Long-Shot-Mike-Piazza/dp/1439150230
My wife is the manager of a GED program for 17-24 year olds in Chicago. I've heard many stories similar to Dukie's (and the rest of the child characters for that matter)...parents stealing from their kids, blatant neglect, nowhere to go, living on friends\family's couches, on the street, gang members who want out with nowhere to go. It's quite disturbing just how many kids out there start so far in the hole. These kids I hear about (and met) are also very street smart, but don't have essential skills to be successful beyond a minimum wage job indicative of failed institutions and social neglect that plague our inner city. Season 4 was so hard for me to watch because of these parallels.
If anyone is interested into getting a further glimpse of the inner-city life, there is a great book my wife had me read called "Random Family". While it is considered a work of fiction, it is written by a social worker who gathered her insight from working in the Bronx for about 11 years and most of the characters are based on real people. I had read it before watching The Wire and gave more context to the kid’s environment.
Interesting story but a terrrrrrribly boring book. You can see reviews here, if interested.
A Father's Story https://www.amazon.com/dp/068812156X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bGWcBbE623EJC or check your local library
David James Duncan, author of The Brothers K, The River Why, God Laughs & Plays, and My Story as Told by Water. Honorable mention to Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, although not from around here, important TO the northwest.
Sorry for the late reply! The Man With the Candy is still around, Amazon has it for $14.55 new at the moment: http://www.amazon.com/Man-Candy-Jack-Olsen/dp/0743212835
A Fathers Story by Lionel Dahmer
https://www.amazon.com/dp/068812156X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_TZ7XBbAE5X64W
By Jeffrey’s dad about what he thinks led to him being a murderer, and how he’s tried to come to terms with it. Not the worlds best written book but fascinating.
There's probably going to be a BiblioFriday post later on, but...
After reading the I lost my NFL team today post in the mothersub, I figured I should do some actual reading on CFB and traditions in this long offseason. I'm not a non-fiction reader at all, but I have enough interest that I can probably make it through a few of these.
Anyone of have any recommendations? I don't especially care what school the book's on (since I don't really have an FBS team to cheer for).
ETA: I did already add Running for my Life by Warrick Dunn on my wish list.
Edit 2: Running list:
St. John is a great writer. He wrote Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer too which is a great intro to how fucking crazy Bama fans are
Check out this book. It is awesome.
lovely. Engine 82 is out of West Farms in the South Bronx. here it is today
there is a book written by one of its fire fighters as well
also seen in this vintage BBC documentary The Bronx is Burning
Check out the book 3000 degrees for full story.
Well, I mean, he did write a book.
You will read a book in a day/two days I'm telling you. It's too interesting and fucked up and true to put down.
Absolutely -
The Last Victim by Jason Moss This dude corresponds with Gacy (this is all true) it is definitely something to read, quite disturbing.
Gift of Fear by Gaven de Becker This due has worked with John Douglas. We read his book GoF along side Douglas'
Serial Killers and Mass Murderers by Nigel Cawthorne
Charles Manson's Autobiography Now I read this in 8th grade --- way too old for a 12 year old [young for my grade] um - I'm not positive this is what I read. Only because when I read it I had found it in the library in a dark corner and it was a solid red hardcover that just said "Charles Manson Autobiography" but I couldn't find anything else so I'm assuming this is it. It should be written from his perspective if it's the right one. (A lot of sex too)
Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters
yes, I have read all of these. And in searching for links for you I found that John Douglas released a book I had not read yet about internet crimes. Interesting, especially because the serial killer roaming around on Long Island, well the first four girls identified were Craigs List prostitutes. Anyway there's a couple more books I want to recommend but I have to check my bookcase (all the names start to blur after a while..)
Manson in his own words http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0802130240/ref=tmm_pap_used_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=used&sr=&qid=
Pistol the Life of Pete Maravich
There's a great book on her, which was turned into a documentary - Youtube link. I'd recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the story - The Woman Who Wasn't There (Amazon UK link). Absolutely fascinating and horrifying at the same time.
I know the woman who wrote the book about this The Woman Who Wasn't There
She's a great author! Support her!
This looks like a great place to tell people about Dewey.
I always find it hard to judge how well known a book is, but here are some I loved that I hardly ever see get any mention on Reddit:
Here's the link.
Bootlegger's Boy the Barry Switzer autobiography
3000 degrees was pretty good, about the Worchester cold storage fire.
In the Heart of the Sea tells the true story that inspired Moby Dick, and is a great read.
If you like non-fiction, Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage and The Perfect Storm are also very good.
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World
Link: http://www.amazon.com/Dewey-Small-Town-Library-Touched-World/dp/B005GNJ8ZY
Bootlegger's Boy. Autobiography by Barry Switzer, pretty interesting.
Dahmer's father, Lionel Dahmer, wrote a book in 1994. I've never read it but it had good reviews on an episode of 'Oh No Ross and Carrie' I listened to earlier today.
> It's like the Manson family doing an AMA and saying you want to hear the other point of view on the Tate murders.
> I would absolutely love it if that happened.
http://www.amazon.com/Manson-His-Own-Words-Confessions/dp/0802130240
Not the manson family, but I read it and it was interesting as fuck
For those throwing judgements on this story without knowing the amount of variety upon the subject, I suggest you research manson with an open mind or shut the fuck up and stop siding against the man just because everyone else is. Watch this interview - Or read this book. My opinion? Manson for president 2012.
AL.com is largely clickbait, and leaves you forced to read Kevin Scarbinsky. Roll Bama Roll is an excellent choice, and their EIC, Erik, is a Bama law grad. He tends to keep them from posting stupid stuff.
Read Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer if you can get your hands on a copy. Warren St. John comes off as a bit of a "Yankee by adoption" (which I find regrettable), but the book is a window into what the fanbase looked like pre-Saban, proving we're not just a bunch of bandwagon crazies.
I get a lot of my info from Twitter though, so hit me up if you want some suggestions of good follows.
The Perfect Storm
It was written very well. Even if you've seen the movie, this is worth reading.
Read report from engine co 82 if you are interested. Written in the 60s/70s by a guy at the busiest fire station in the bronx/harlem new york. Fascinating read, right at the beginning of modern firefighting. https://www.amazon.com/Report-Engine-Co-Dennis-Smith/dp/0446675520
guy wrote a few books, but this was the first.
And make sure your emergency response policies are in line.
http://www.amazon.com/Heat-Wave-Autopsy-Disaster-Illinois/dp/0226443221