Books published by Taylor Trade Publishing

This book is a friendly, entertaining collection of stories, anecdotes, amusing quotations, funny signs, some classic Texas jokes, and even some surprisingly sound advice from the often wacky but always wonderful world of Texans. Features in Texas Wit and Wisdom include the bumper sticker hall of fame, amusing T-shirt slogans, and some interesting photographs. This book is a true classic collection of Texas hilarity.

Did the famous Davy Crockett surrender at the Alamo or die fighting like a tiger according to Texas tradition? Did Sam Houston lie when he said he ordered James Bowie to blow up the Alamo? What happened to James C. Neill, the real commander of the Alamo? You be the judge.After years of researching all available Alamo records, including primary letters and accounts by participants, government documents from the period, newspaper articles, diary entries, and even receipts, Wallace O. Chariton has answered these and many more of the perplexing Alamo questions. No punches are pulled in this hard hitting investigation. Some of the answers presented may excite your patriotic yearnings: other more controversial answers may ignite your historical anger. In either event, some new light has been cast onto a few of the shadows of the Alamo legends.

In the beginning it was happy trails. Then some dummy invented the horseless carraige and things haven't been the same since. As ribbons of concrete spread over the horse trails, so did the fun and frustration. This book explores some of that highway fun, both past and present. Included are unique pictures of strange vehicles, early gas stations, convenience stores, the evolutions of the stop light, unusual roadside signs, the Texas billboard hall of fame, unusual accidents, strange things seen when driving, and much, much more.

Cold facts and impersonal statistics may be the bacon of Texas history, but the tall tales and interesting side stories are the sizzle. In this book, C.F. Charlie Eckhardt presents some of the Texas history sizzle that is often ignored when pure historians write about the Lone Star State. He adds to the flavor of Texas history with tales about such things as the first Texas revolution, the first English speaking person in Texas, and the little known counterrevolution of 1838-1840. Charlie examines the expulsion of the Cherokees from Texas and provides details of some of the more famous Indian fights. Charlie also shows his romantic side with the legend of the famous Yellow Rose of Texas.

One year before Jackie Robinson broke the color line in major league baseball in 1947, four black players joined the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams to become the first professional football players of African-American descent in the modern era. While blacks had played on professional teams in the early days of pro football, none had joined a team since 1934. In this book twelve players who began their careers from 1946 to 1955 not only reminisce about the violence they faced on and off the field, the segregated hotels and restaurants, and general hostility that comes with being a trailblazer, but also of white players and coaches who assisted and supported them at various stages of their lives. Among the oral histories presented here are those of such Hall of Famers Bill Willis, Joe Perry, and George Taliaferro.

The follow-on to the best-selling That's Not in My American History Book explains in everyday language both the ordinary and the bizarre technological marvels that we take for granted and the laws of nature that serve as the baseline for life on earth. Beginning with clear, concise, and entertaining descriptions of the important discoveries that form the basis of our scientific knowledge--Newtonian mechanics, Einstein's theory of relativity, evolution, and germ theory, to name a few--the book goes on to tell scientific stories that "e;are lost between the pages."e; These include the discovery of the periodic table of elements (and why it matters), the development of miracle drugs such as aspirin and penicillin, the invention of television, the prospects for earthquake prediction, and the genesis of the Internet.Whether it's a fascinating anecdote about the role of zebrafish as stand-in patients for humans or the history of the computer, That's Not in My Science Book will prove to be an engaging read for armchair scientists and students alike.

In this delightful history of the sport, Frommer captures the flavor, smell, and craziness of the early days of baseball. Starting with its invention in 1842 by the descendant of a British sea captain (and not Abner Doubleday), Frommer traces the development of the sport from the first games on a vacant lot at 27th and Madison in New York to the turn of the century, when the National League was emerging as the preeminent forum for truly professional baseball.

An encyclopedic account of search and rescue in the national parks from 1870 to the present. New edition contains SAR from 1998-2004.

Author Kathleen Nosek offers dyslexic adults a unique approach that gets to the heart of the biggest problem they face-the shame and battered self-esteem resulting from decades of struggling with this frustrating and often misunderstood learning disability.

The biography of the original Mr. Cool, Steve McQueen. The actor who perhaps, first epitomised the Action Hero; a complex man, prone to casual affairs and violence, yet capable of helping those more unfortunate than him.

Mountains have long inspired the wit and daring of the world's most fascinating explorers. In this definitive collection of mountain lore, Alan Weber exhibits forty-three essays by artists and adventurers to whom climbing was more a mission than a sport. Beginning with the fabled tale of Hannibal's Roman invasion-men, horses, and elephants in tow-through the hitherto impassable Alps, the accounts progress to recent descriptions of high-peaks mountain climbing in Mount Everest and the formidable K-2. Included among the earlier pieces are Petrarcha's introspective journey to the Windy Mount; William Windham's exploration of Montenvers and the "e;Sea of Ice"e; in 1741; and English artist-critic John Ruskin's essay on mountain climate and culture. Literary masters portray the idyllic and imperfect aspects of mountain life: the restoration poet Andrew Marvell offers a hymn to the Barrow hills, while poems from Shelley, Lord Byron, and Matthew Arnold praise the natural beauty and fresh air of the mountain crags. Because It's There pays homage to the spiritual introspection and respect for nature engendered by the looming mountain ranges that have demarcated territories, protecting villages and cities from invasion. The explorations these mountains have inspired have tested human endurance and mental strength.Alan Weber is a research fellow of the Institute for European Studies at Cornell University and a CEMERS Associate Fellow at the State University of New York at Binghamton. He is the editor and author of Nineteenth Century Science: A Selection of Original Texts, and Women Almanac Writers (Forthcoming). A long-time member of the Penn State Outing and Cornell Outing Clubs, he has rock and ice-climbed in the Adirondacks, Green and Shawangunk Mountains, and Mount Rainier.

When Citation (1945-1970) retired in mid-1951, he was horseracing's first and, to that point, only millionaire racehorse. Following his 1948 triumphs at the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont in 1948, it would be twenty-five years before another horse (Secreteriat) would again wear the coveted Triple Crown. Citation, by legendary announcer and longtime horseracing insider Phil Georgeff, reveals all about the thoroughbred, his remarkable career, and those in his inner circle. Georgeff delves into Citation's unusual bloodline; the death of his original rider, Al Snider, swept out to sea while fishing off the Florida keys; Citation's stunning 1948 Triple Crown victory; and the ultimate effects of the horse's excessive, aggressive schedule (racing on little rest after traveling cross-country in sweltering vans and railroad boxcars).Based on interviews from those who knew the thoroughbred, including famed jockey Eddie Arcaro and renowned son-and-father trainers Ben A. and Jimmy Jones; Citation is more than merely the biography of a gifted horse. It the full story of the greatest sports figure in the history of horseracing, a champion who won or placed in thirty different contests in his career and whose spirit continue to captivate the American public.

A follow-up to Helterbrans popular Why Flamingos Are Pink: and 250 other Things You Should Know, this entertaining volume identifies more of the surprising explanations for the facts, tales, and lore associated with day-to-day living and the world around us. Organized into seven categories, this book tells you why birds perched on power lines arent electrocuted; the origins of such expressions as swan song and willy nilly; and the science behind such phenomena as ball lightning, blue glaciers, red tide, and thunder snow. More than a mere compendium of trivia, this book is a springboard for learners of all ages.

The indispensable guide to the best the New York Adirondacks have to offer.

Bob St. John has been writing about Texas and the pro sports scene in Dallas for about 40 years. In the early years of sports reporting, the hijinks and shenanigans of Texas sports reporters were as legendary as the athletes they followed. This book is filled with tales about Texas sports writers.

A collection told by well-known women of Texas who share memories of their mother's influence on their own lives. Susie Kelly Flatau weaves a tapestry of interviews, family recipes and profiles of daughters. Family photographs add a warmth to the book.

When the food of a culture survives, the culture itself continues. Our Texas Heritage celebrates the culture as well as the cuisine of the variety of groups that settled in Texas between the Civil War and World War ll. Each group has its own unique story that contributes to the rich heritage of us all.

This new edition takes you off the major highways to discover the sights, scenes, history, and places that make the Lone Star State unique.

Mudville Madness is for baseball fans who seek something beyond the standard boxscores-something new or rarely encountered. This book is a jaunt into the realm of the extraordinary and (at times) outright bizarre. The most uncommon events in three centuries of baseball history are recounted here in glorious detail, beginning with the game's earliest days when the rules were in their infancy, through the deadball years, right up to the 2013 season. The epic brawls, bizarre plays, and landmark achievements covered in this book will leave you shaking your head in disbelief.

Combining off-the-wall trivia questions with hardcore stats and nickname puzzlers, the All-Time, All-Team Pro Football Quiz contains stumpers for even the most well-versed football fan. Whether you're a Cheesehead or a Broncomaniac, you'll find quizzes for every team in the leaguefrom the teams you love to the teams you love to hate. Which former NFL player had a role in Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles?True or False: Gerald Ford was the only U.S. president to play in the NFL?Who was the first black coach in NFL history?How many teams that won NFL championships are now defunct?

Journey Through Brain Trauma is the true story of Louise Morningstar's struggle to help her daughter recover from devastating brain damage. The Morningstars' heroic story will inspire and inform all those who are struggling with rehabilitation from a brain injury.

Veteran educator Kathleen Nosek tells parents the secrets to successfully navigating today's school system and ensuring that dyslexic children receive the quality education they are entitled to by law.

Here, in straightforward language is everything you need to know about BMT's.

Over 200,000 copies of Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults, 3rd edition, have been sold. Since its last revision, dozens of new treatments and philosophies about ADD and ADHD have met with storms of controversy and great media attention. Time and again, Lynn Weiss cuts through the noise and gets down to the point in a human, caring, and professional way. People turn to the Weiss library for a breath of fresh air on the ADD turmoil. This workbook not only touches on and dispels the most recent clinical findings, but it also emphasizes the bigger perspective, focusing on the empowerment and diversity issues facing all of us on the A.D.D. continuum today. It persuades readers to work through their challenges with practical, prescriptive exercises and insights.

The Southern Gardeners Book of Lists, a sourcebook and workbook in one, has all the answers. With more than 200 lists of plants grouped by their horticultural characteristics and uses in the garden, this is the one-of-a-kind guide to spending less time and money on your garden. Veteran gardener and best-selling author Lois Trigg Chaplin recommends hundreds of plants for hundreds of uses, noting the specific Southern regions they grow in and sharing helpful hints and insights. Other special features include the tips, suggestions, and anecdotes of gardeners, nurserymen, designers, and horticulturists from across the South.

Great Texas Getaways details over 50 specialty trips in the Lone Star State.

All too often, highly fictionalized cinematic depictions of the past are accepted as the unassailable truth by those unfamiliar with the "e;real"e; account. This book profiles sixty movies that portray actual moments in history, and compares the mythologized account of each event to what really happened. Movies chronicled include The Ten Commandments, Spartacus, A Man for All Seasons, Gladiator, Gandhi, Apollo 13, The Thin Red Line, Dances with Wolves, Braveheart, The Last Emperor, All the Presidents Men, Mutiny on the Bounty, Gone with the Wind, Bonnie & Clyde, Patton, and Elizabeth. Sanello also contrasts several historical figures with their filmed treatments, including Julius Caesar, Henry V, Christopher Columbus, Joan of Arc, Sir Thomas More, Jesus Christ, Catherine the Great, Sigmund Freud, and Harry Houdini. Lavishly illustrated with sixty film stills, Reel v. Real shows how a happening's genuine details are frequently reshaped and distorted by Hollywood's bottomless appetite for over-the-top flamboyance and melodrama.

Beloved for his thunderous, commanding voice and affable personality, Phil Georgeff, known as "e;The Voice of Chicago Racing,"e; holds the world record for calling the most horse races-an astounding 96,131. During his fifty years in the sport, Georgeff brushed shoulders with every great jockey and saw just about every great horse, from 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation to 1973's Secretariat. Part memoir, part historical analysis, and part nostalgic remembrance, this book is the quintessential guide to the history of thoroughbred racing in the twentieth century.