Books published by Open Road Media

Saucy, brash, irreverentThe Book Of Phoebe is an extraordinary novel about a young woman's six-month sojourn in Paris, where she has a baby, falls madly in love, and discovers a great deal about the capacities of the human heart.

Tom Miller's On the Border frames the land between the United States and Mexico as a Third Country, one 2,000 miles long and twenty miles wide. This Third Country has its own laws and its own outlaws. Its music, language, and food are unique. On the Border, a first-person travel narrative, portrays this bi-national culture, "unforgettable to every reader lucky enough to discover this gem of southwestern Americana." (San Diego Union-Tribune) It's a "deftly written book," said the New Times Book Review. "Mr. Miller has drawn a lively sketch of this unruly, unpredictable place." Traveling from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean, Miller offers "cultural history and fine journalism." (Dallas Times Herald) Among his stops is Rosa's Cantina in El Paso, the Arizona site where a rancher sadistically tortured three Mexican campesinos, and the 100,000-watt XERF radio station where Wolfman Jack broadcasts nightly. He interviews children in both countries, all of whom insist that the candy on the other side is superior. On the Border, translated into Spanish, French, and Japanese, was the first book to identify and describe this land as a Third Country. Miller "knows this country," says Newsday, "feels its joys and sorrows, hears its music and loves its soul."

“Leslie Ullman traces through her speaker one woman’s attempt to find herself and then to live that discovered self within an alien wilderness that ranges from the indifferent to the frankly dangerous. This volume edges toward the growing certainty to plain chance and lucky or unlucky coincidence. Perhaps in response to the uncertain nature of the external world in Dreams by No One’s Daughter, Ullman’s are very much poems of metamorphosis, of becoming rather than static being.” —Stephen C. Behrendt

The Stuff of a Lifetime is a book to help people understand what they are doing with their lives. Addressing its readers directly and as individuals, this book allows them to move through it in their own way. It takes them on a wide-ranging expedition into their lives, so that they may be better guided by their own uniqueness. It seeks to enkindle within people the desire to reclaim their bodies, recover their souls, and re-enter the world.

When John Gabriel Stedman’s Narrative of Five Years Expedition was first published in 1796—a bowdlerized edition “full of lies and nonsense”—Stedman claimed to have burned two thousand copies. It nevertheless became an immediate popular success. A first-hand account of an eighteenth-century slave society, including graphic accounts of the worlds of both masters and slaves, it also contained vivid descriptions of exotic plants and animals, of military campaigns, and of romantic adventures. Illustrated by William Blake, Francesco Bartolozzi, and others, Stedman’s work was quickly translated into a half-dozen languages and was eventually published in over twenty-five different editions.   The Prices’ acclaimed critical edition is based on Stedman’s original, handwritten manuscript, which offers a portrait at considerable variance with the 1796 classic. The unexpurgated text, presented here with extensive notes and commentary, constitutes one of the richest and most evocative accounts ever written of a flourishing slave society. The Prices restore early omissions involving Stedman’s horror at the Dutch planters’ use of casual torture to discipline their slaves; his love and admiration for Joanna, his mulatto mistress; his strong belief in racial equality; and his outrage that “in 20 Years two millions of People are murdered to Provide us with Coffee & Sugar.” Freed from its original publisher’s censorship, Stedman’s Narrative stands as one of the strongest indictments ever to appear against New World slavery.

';The Art of Dying speaks to modern readers with refreshing frankness and wit. It covers the subject thoroughly, from how to inform relatives of impending death, to coping with pain and fear, to death rituals, to preparing for a possible afterlife or, depending on one's viewpoint, the end of it all.' Publishers Weekly ';Along with our caring presence, this book may be the finest gift we can give someone facing the last stage of life.' Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People ';Dr. Weenolsen... doesn't duck the tough questions.' M. Brewster Smith, PhD, former president, American Psychological Association ';This book gives the same things a good support group doescompassionate sympathy and practical advice for people sharing pain. It will be a godsend.' Rebecca Brown, author of Gifts of the Body ';Begins with ';the day you receive the diagnosis' and the sudden realization that ';never again will you be as you were. Even if by some miracle you heal, it will be only temporary.' Weenolsen takes the panic and paralysis out of such news through wise, aggressive, no-holds-barred approaches.' Patricia Holt, San Francisco Chronicle ';A book everyone can benefit from reading.' Nancy Pearl, author of More Book Lust ';Also for family and friends of dying persons, for professionals in the health-care fields, and for those who train them.' Hannelore Wass, PhD, founding editor, Death Studies

An acclaimed exploration of the ways in which success within our career culture can produce hidden emotional and value conflicts for men and women. Sheds new light on the path to success and personal fulfillment in today's workplace.

First published in 2001, Barren Lands is the classic true story of the men who soughtand founda great diamond mine on the last frontier of the far north. From a bloody 18th-century trek across the Canadian tundra to the daunting natural forces facing protagonists Chuck Fipke and Stewart Blusson as they struggle against the mighty DeBeers cartel, this is the definitive account of one of the world's great mineral discoveries. Combining geology, science history, raw nature, and high intrigue, it is also a tale of supreme adventure, taking the reader into a magicaland now fast-vanishingwild landscape. Now in a newly revised and updated edition.

It is an astonishing discovery: a bloodstained burial shroud entombed in the crumbling walls of a historic French Monastery. Carbon dating concludes the fabric is from the time of Christ. A molecular biologist conducts a daring experiment: the cloning of genetic material recovered from the cloth. Now two menFather Laurent Carriere and scientist Josh Francisare plunged into the center of a worldwide religious and political power struggle. But even as Washington and the Vatican vie for control of the relic, members of a secret society take steps to reclaim the holy artifact they have sworn to protectby any means necessary. Selected by the Literary Guild(R) and the Doubleday Book Club(R).

';The title poem, ';Entering Another Country,' is dedicated to a male friend who has died. There are exuberant, rich landscapes of imagined travel, journeys into the visual worlds of Grandma Moses and Rousseau, and the painful realization that what the poet means by travel is change and growth, the raw experience of self-birthing, a process into a place as unknown as the death place of her friend. Here Ortner connects with her female heritage. It is a courageous poem of breaking out, and the unfamiliar terrain into which this takes her almost robs the poet of speech.' Helen Cooper, Motheroot Journal

“The chapbook is about the experience of being in a mental hospital although it could have been about being in any kind of prison. The specifics are here, and it is well written.” —Judy Hogan, Motheroot Journal

Dream in Pienza was originally published by the Timberline Press in a hand-set and hand-printed limited edition. The title poem, written in Rome, sings of the passion of unrequited love in another century. From birth through resurrection, we sweep our separate shores for sight of stars. Although the angels may have left us to our devices, we become the measure of what we believe. This is God's gift to each of us.

In a flash, Valerie's world comes tumbling down. She and Peter were sharing their dreams. Now she and Peter share a problem... Except it turns out to be Val's problem. Peter says he loves her, but he has to get on with his life. Valerie wishes she could get on with her life. But she lives each day with the reality Peter wants to forgetand it is she who must make the impossible choices... when love has no answers.

Fortunes is the story of one woman’s rise through the world of corporate intrigue. By the use of her charms—physical and intellectual—she makes it to the top—and then some!

Beverly Hills, an enclave of the super-rich, where passion has its price. Rodeo Drive, a street where lives are bought and sold.

Barney Leason's sizzling tales of intrigue and desire among the rich and beautiful have sold over three million copies and won him spots on the New York Times and Los Angeles Times bestseller lists. Now Leason exposes what really goes on in the sexy milieu of world-class winemakers! Clara Morelli's small Sonoma Valley vineyard produces a luscious cabernet. Bertram Hill, a corporation of dubious reputation, wants to take over Morelli Vineyards, making juicy offers almost too good to refuse. But something smells a little "off" about the pushy Bertram Hill people-especially when they will not take "no" for an answer . . .

"Was fiction ever so true? . . . Here is divorce rendered by an emotional naturalist. And pass it on: She's funny." -Sandra Scofield "Susan Dundon captures the nuances of relationships so skillfully that anyone who is-or hopes to be, or has been, or never wants to be-married will find some points of identification with Emily's homespun wisdom." -Cleveland Plain Dealer "Rich and funny stuff." -Ellen Goodman "Full of those little moments that leave one thinking, Yes! It was exactly that way for me." -Alain De Botton

"Barr's imaginative, humorous story celebrates the sweetness of literary life, the freshness and promise of the newly printed page." -Publishers Weekly "A sweet-tempered, low-key story that has been justly compared to 84 Charing Cross Road." -Kirkus Reviews

"We called it THE VUE, and without a doubt, that was the most complimentary nickname Bellevue Hospital ever had." So begins The View from the Vue, an "entertaining, colorful recall" (Publishers Weekly) of life a half-century ago at New York City's medical court of last resort. Between 1959 and 1965, Dr. Larry Karp served as medical student, intern, and resident physician at Bellevue. During these six years, he came to know and understand the people who wended their way through the dingy hallways and roach-infested subterranean passages, and inhabited the sparsely furnished wards of the fabulous hospital whose origins date back to 1811. It's not surprising that Dr. Karp has never been able to forget The Vue. Writing in a style both human and humorous, he recalls some of the astonishingly funny and dramatic events he lived through, involving bizarre patients and grotesque working conditions. In the process, he gives us a clear picture of what it was like at Bellevue in the early sixties . . . for both doctors and patients.

"Brand X and his fellow coyotes . . . are meticulously observed in the desert environment that Ms. Popham seems to know like her backyard. And so are the people of this fable-old Hallie and Albert . . . and the several varmint-hunters, callous or alcoholic or both. There is a parable of how we might relate to the creatures that share the world with us; and a parable of dreams versus realty; and a parable of home, of known territory with its comparative safety; and a parable of making the best of a world short of everything. The people and the creatures of Ms. Popham's fable are right, they belong, and they mean." -Wallace Stegner "This spare and affecting novel has the precision and the stinging sweetness of a fable. A wonderful book." -Thomas McGuane "Refreshing . . . Life-affirming . . . The first book I've read in a long time that left me with teary eyes at the end."-The San Diego Tribune "Captivating . . . The animals' arduous westward journey down the Colorado River to the Gulf suggests a coyote world view that is subtly sustained by their mysterious ways." -Publishers Weekly "With dramatic urgency and imaginative tenderness, Melinda Popham has given the world a painful, poetic, and delightfully unpredictable story that pulsates with hope and healing meaning." -Al Young, California Poet Laureate Emeritus "Rich with poetic resonance." -Los Angeles Times Book Review "Evoking a rich sense of place and animal behavior, [Popham] lets us see through very different eyes." -The Seattle Times "A daring and visionary tale. [Popham] dares to tell us what a coyote thinks and sees and feels and dreams. . . . A hero of the classic kind-a furry, howling, water-seeking version of the Hero with a Thousand Faces." -James D. Houston "Masterful . . . Astonishing . . . Remarkable . . . Put down the latest technothriller and bask awhile in the descriptive prose of Skywater." -L.A. Life

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of Grit tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Angela Duckworth’s book. Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This short summary and analysis of Grit by Angela Duckworth includes: Historical contextChapter-by-chapter summariesImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About Angela Duckworth’s Grit: Psychologist Angela Duckworth blows the lid off of theories that suggest IQ and socioeconomic status are the sole predictors of success. Not intellectually gifted, according to her traditional, Asian-American father, Duckworth nevertheless became a MacArthur “Genius.” Winning the award led her to reflect upon the qualities that got her there: perseverance and passion. Interviewing dozens of the world’s winners, Duckworth ventures into the playing fields of achievement, speaking with CEOs and coaches, and visits West Point, competitive swim teams, and even the National Spelling Bee to discover the common threads. Pulling from history, as well as cutting-edge neuroscience and behavioral science, Grit offers tips and advice for everyone—from parents to athletes to entrepreneurs—about how getting gritty can help you to succeed. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? Get an in-depth summary of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, the #1 bestseller about science, race, and medical ethics. For decades, scientists have been using “HeLa” cells in biological research, from developing the polio vaccine and studying the nature of cancer to observing how human biology behaves in outer space. This famous cell line began as a sample taken from a poor African American mother of five named Henrietta Lacks. A cancer patient, Henrietta Lacks went through medical testing but never gave consent for the use of her cells. She died of cervical cancer in 1951, without ever knowing that the samples were intended for extensive medical research. This summary of the #1 New York Times bestseller by Rebecca Skloot tells Henrietta’s story and reveals what happened when her family found out that her cells were being bought and sold in labs around the world. With historical context, character profiles, a timeline of key events, and other features, this summary and analysis of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? Get the key points of The Lean Startup—the bestseller about creativity, efficiency, and building a sustainable business. Through successes and failures with tech companies, Eric Ries began to realize there was a better way to develop a startup. Using his experiences, as well as valuable lessons learned from other industries, Ries identifies the difficulties a startup faces and how to build a more efficient—and successful—business. In the end, all of his advice comes down to saving the most important resource of all: time. This summary of that bestselling business book covers such topics as: How to shorten project-development cyclesValidated learning and rapid scientific experimentationMeasuring progress accuratelyIdentifying your customers’ desiresHow to adapt to changing circumstances quickly With chapter-by-chapter overviews, definitions of key terms, context and analysis, important quotes, and other features, this summary and analysis of The Lean Startup is intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of Outliers tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Malcolm Gladwell’s book. Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This short summary and analysis of Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell includes: Historical contextChapter-by-chapter summariesProfiles of the main charactersImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell: What makes high achievers, like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and members of the Beatles so successful? Is it pure talent? Personal drive? An off-the-charts IQ? In Outliers, bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell explores the subject of success and argues that there is more to the story than individual exceptionalism. In addition to inherent talent or intelligence, there are other factors that have come into play for the innovators, artists, athletes, and prodigies who have become household names. Many who have attained rock-star status in their fields may have education, culture, access to a specific technology or opportunity, and ten thousand hours of practice to thank for their reaching their goals. Through a wide range of examples and anecdotes, learn what makes outliers so extraordinary. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

This refreshing handbookequally useful in the boardroom, the classroom, and the living roomcaptures insightful lessons from personal encounters with diversity. Award-winning author Dr. Joan Lester is a talented storyteller. Her generous voice sheds keen insight, humor and practical advise on the polarizing dilemmas of living with diversity.

Steeling himself against the agonies of returning to his hometown where memories of his lost family can no longer be buried, Matt McKendrick spends a tumultuous summer working on a guest ranch with four of his closest friends and one of his oldest enemies. By summers’ end, each of them will be forced to make an impossible choice.Cutting Loose is the fourth book in the series.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of Alexander Hamilton tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Ron Chernow’s book.Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This short summary and analysis of Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow includes: Historical contextChapter-by-chapter summariesDetailed timeline of key eventsImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow: Ron Chernow’s New York Times–bestselling biography of Alexander Hamilton sets the record straight on the often-misunderstood founding father. Beginning with a thoroughly researched investigation of Hamilton’s controversial origins, the book takes an immersive look at the man who authored the Federalist Papers, fought in the Revolutionary War, crafted the nation’s financial system, and served as George Washington’s right-hand man before being killed in an infamous duel with Aaron Burr. More than a portrait of one man, Alexander Hamilton is the story of America’s birth—and the inspiration for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Pulitzer Prize–winning Broadway musical. The summary and analysis in this ebook are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.

A Finnish-born American entrepreneur builds his dream ship, the first modern sailing cruise ship, with a team of shipping business men, naval architects, and engineers, wise shipbuilders, a temperamental designer and an essential woman. Thirty years later, the ship and her sisters are still in service on the world’s oceans.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of The Underground Railroad tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Colson Whitehead’s book. Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader. This short summary and analysis of The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead includes: Historical contextChapter-by-chapter summariesAnalysis of the main charactersThemes and symbolsImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead: Colson Whitehead’s National Book Award–winning The Underground Railroad is a bold, original, and unflinchingly brutal portrait of slavery during the darkest period in American history. On the cusp of womanhood, Cora is a runaway slave, pursued by her memories of abuse and abandonment, and by the implacable and notoriously cruel slave hunter known as Ridgeway. Her journey on the Underground Railroad—in Whitehead’s conceit, a literal, subterranean railway—propels her journey across a dangerous landscape in search of freedom. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of fiction.

So much to read, so little time? This brief overview of The Euro tells you what you need to know—before or after you read Joseph E. Stiglitz’s book. Crafted and edited with care, Worth Books set the standard for quality and give you the tools you need to be a well-informed reader.This short summary and analysis of The Euro by Joseph E. Stiglitz includes: Historical contextChapter-by-chapter summariesProfiles of the main charactersImportant quotesFascinating triviaGlossary of termsSupporting material to enhance your understanding of the original work About The Euro by Joseph E. Stiglitz: In The Euro, Columbia Business School professor and Nobel Prize–winning economist author Joseph E. Stiglitz argues that the fundamental cause of the Eurozone’s recent economic difficulties was the creation of a single currency without the institutions to support it. The euro bound 19 countries with very different economies—and very different views about economics—together, but it did not include the institutions or rules to make such a union succeed. The results of this union are clear: although the United States has experienced growth since the financial crisis, Europe is stagnant and Eurozone unemployment remains over 10%. New York Times–bestselling author Joseph Stiglitz outlines three possible ways forward: fundamental reforms to the current system, an end to the single currency experiment, or a new system entirely. The Euro is required reading for all citizens of today’s globalized world. The summary and analysis in this book are intended to complement your reading experience and bring you closer to a great work of nonfiction.