Few people have had as great an impact on the modern environmental movement as has the great writer and scientist Rachel Carson. This readable and up-to-date biography traces the famous environmentalist's development as a writer from earliest childhood through the publication of her best-known work "Silent Spring" (1962). Although Carson is now remembered almost exclusively for "Silent Spring," which exposed the dangers of pesticides, this book was preceded by three best-sellers about the ocean environment: "Under the Sea-Wind" (1941), "The Edge of the Sea" (1955), and "The Sea Around Us"...

Few scientists are as recognizable as Stephen Hawking. Despite having Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease)--an affliction that many experts expected to have killed him decades ago--Hawking remains a vital and influential voice in the scientific community. One of the leading cosmologists studying the celestial phenomenon known as black holes, Hawking has also led the way in popularizing science with his best-selling work A Brief History of Time. This biography of Hawking, written by a physicist, provides an accessible introduction to the life and work of an...

This biography traces Hughes' life and artistic development, from his early years of isolation, which fostered his fierce independence, to his prolific life as a poet, playwright, lyricist, and journalist. Hughes' inspiring story is told through 21 engaging chapters, each providing a fascinating vignette of the artistic, personal, and political associations that shaped his life. Recounted are the pivotal developments in his literary career, with all its struggles and rewards, as well as his travel adventures to Africa, Europe, and Asia, and his political commitments to fight fascism as...

Marie Curie (1867-1934) was one of the most important woman scientists in history, and she was one of the most influential scientists--man or woman--of the 20th century. Curie postulated that radiation was an atomic property, a discovery that has led to significant scientific developments since. She was also the first person to use the term radioactivity. Her perseverance led to the discovery of two new elements, polonium and radium. This combination of creativity and perseverance netted her two Nobel Prizes, one in physics and the second in chemistry. This book, however, looks at more...

Gloria Steinem represents second-wave American feminism. This new biography recounts her truly fascinating life, one that was remarkable even prior to her association with the feminist movement. Steinem was destined to succeed and showed extraordinary strength dealing with difficult family circumstances, a peripatetic upbringing, and financial straights that forced her as a teenager to support herself and her divorced, emotionally troubled mother. Brains and talent became her tickets to Smith College, travel, journalism, and worldwide fame as a feminist icon.

Marcello's...

Billy Graham, the high-profile evangelist, author, and founder of the diverse Billy Graham Evangelical Association, is now in his 80s. Yet his popularity is undiminished, thanks to new generations seeking Christian spiritual fulfillment. Graham is the superstar evangelist who has remained untainted by the financial and sex scandals that have plagued his evangelical peers. His movie-star looks, manner, and propriety have made him a role model, and have brought him into close contact with power. He has had a personal relationship with every president since Dwight D. Eisenhower, serving as an...

From relative obscurity, even at the time of his death in 1969, Jack Kerouac has risen to icon status with invigorated interest at all levels of scholarship and readership. This biography serves an important purpose in cutting through both the hagiography and the critical backlash that still surrounds the figure most closely identified with the Beat movement. Using the same structure--the events of his life-- that Kerouac himself utilized in writing his roman a clef novels such as "On the Road," this biography provides an accessible alternative to current studies that will help readers,...

Three generations of Leakeys have dug in East Africa for fossil evidence that answers questions about human origins. Louis and Mary, husband and wife, began what would turn into decades of research and fieldwork, often disproving common theories and beliefs of the time. Son Richard followed in his parents' foot steps, along with his wife Meave, and made spectacular finds as well. Today, Louise, the oldest daughter of Richard and Meave, continues the family tradition with fieldwork in northern Kenya.

The Leakey family's achievements have had an enormous impact on our knowledge of human...

The son of civic-minded immigrant parents, Ralph Nader was taught from an early age to appreciate the citizen's role in a democracy. For over four decades, Nader has dedicated his life to challenging government and industrial practices--from protecting the environment and battling for consumer and automotive safety to blowing the whistle on corporate corruption. In spite of Congressional distaste for Nader, he has sought the presidency three times, most recently in 2004. His work has inspired countless others to follow his example, and many foundations he established and financed continue...

Samuel Clemens lived 75 years, 50 under the pseudonym Mark Twain. His youth could be characterized as sometimes mischievous, his older years as generally eccentric and his writing as always provocative. Twain left a literary canon of nearly 50 books, hundreds of short stories and essays, and a veritable treasury of quotable epigrams. While his words and his works have stood up to the test of time, knowing the man behind the persona, and understanding what inspired and influenced the writer, is crucial to fully appreciating the contributions Twain made to American literature. By skillfully...