Search:

Results 111 to 120 of 133 | « previous |

A most extraordinary ride : space, politics, and the pursuit of a Canadian dream / by Garneau, Marc,author.;
"A captivating and inspiring memoir by Canada's first man in space. On October 5th, 1984, Marc Garneau made history. Blasting off from the Kennedy Space Center aboard the U.S. Space Shuttle and reaching a speed of 28,000 km/hour, he became the first Canadian to fly to outer space. That monumental achievement, now etched in Canadian history as one of our country's proudest moments, inspired a nation and ushered in a new era of space exploration for Canada. Twenty-four years later, Garneau made history yet again, becoming the first astronaut to be elected as a Member of Parliament. In between those two milestones in Garneau's unprecedented career, he was the first Canadian, and the first non-American, to serve as CAPCOM, the voice of Mission Control for the astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle. In the years that followed his historic first voyage to space, Garneau returned to space two more times, becoming the first Canadian to log three trips into orbit, and lead the Canadian Space Agency through its most dynamic years. In the House of Commons, Garneau would ultimately serve in two cabinet posts as Minister of Transport and Minister of Foreign Affairs during some of the biggest events of the past decade: the onset of one of the worst pandemics in modern times; the arbitrary detention of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor by China; the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban; and the death of 85 Canadian citizens and permanent residents aboard Ukrainian Airlines Flight 752, shot down by a missile over Iran. It was no surprise, then, that when Marc Garneau announced his retirement after fourteen years in government, many Canadians lamented the loss of an upstanding parliamentarian who was not afraid to speak up for causes he believed in, even if that meant bucking his own party and its leader. In Making History: Space, Politics, and The Pursuit of a Canadian Dream, Garneau chronicles his once-improbable ascent from a mischievous teenager and rebellious military officer to a decorated astronaut and statesman who represented Canada on the world stage -- both on and off the planet. With candour and humour, Garneau describes the highs and lows of his life and career, including the awe he experienced first seeing the earth from space, the tragic loss of his first wife to mental illness and suicide, sailing across the Atlantic and back in a sailboat improbably called "the Pickle," and witnessing the tragedy of the doomed shuttle Challenger. Honest and illuminating, Making History is a rare journey into the early years of Canada's space program and an inside account of the joys and challenges of governing from one of Canada's most distinguished citizens"--
Subjects: Autobiographies.; Biographies.; Garneau, Marc.; Astronauts; Politicians;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

An accidental villain : a soldier's tale of war, deceit and exile / by MacIntyre, Linden,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."The bestselling, prize-winning novelist and broadcast journalist draws back the curtain on the shadowy life of Sir Hugh Tudor, Winston Churchill's lifelong friend, who, as head of the notorious Black and Tans in Ireland post-WWI, met civil strife and terror with state-sanctioned murder, and changed the course of Irish history. After distinguishing himself on the battlefields of the First World War, Major-General Sir Hugh Tudor could have sought a respectable retirement in England, his duty done. But, in 1920, his old friend Winston Churchill, minster of war in Lloyd George's cabinet, called Tudor to serve in a very different kind of conflict -- one fought in the Irish streets and countryside against an enemy determined to resist British colonial authority to the death. And soon Tudor, newly responsible for policing Ireland, was directing a brutal campaign of terror against rebel "terrorists" in the Irish War of Independence, a conflict he didn't entirely understand but was determined to win at all costs. Which included utilizing police death squads and inflicting brutal reprisals against IRA members and supporters and Sinn Féin politicians. Tudor left few traces of his time in Ireland. No diary or letters that might explain his record as commander of the notorious Black and Tans. Nothing to justify his role in Bloody Sunday, November 21, 1920, when his men infamously slaughtered Irish football fans. Was this retaliation for the IRA's earlier murder of British military officers? Also, why did a man knighted for his efforts in Ireland leave his family and homeland in 1925, moving across the sea to Newfoundland where he remained in quiet obscurity until he died forty years later? Linden MacIntyre -- a storyteller and journalist long fascinated with the toll of violence and war -- has spent four years tracking Tudor through archives, contemporaries' diaries and letters, and the body count of that Irish war, in search of answers. And in An Accidental Villain, he delivers up a consequential and fascinating account of how events can bring a man to the point where he acts against his own training, principles and inclination in the service of a cause -- and ends up on a long journey towards personal oblivion"--
Subjects: Biographies.; Personal narratives.; Tudor, Hugh, 1871-1965.; Royal Irish Constabulary Reserve Force.; Soldiers;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

Prince Philip revealed / by Seward, Ingrid,author.;
Included bibliographical references and index.The son of Greek and Danish royalty, consort to the queen, and the grandfather of Princes Harry and William, Prince Philip has been at the heart of the royal family for decades-yet he remains an enigma to many. Now, Ingrid Seward, the editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, brings her decades of experience covering the royal family to this fascinating and insightful biography of Queen Elizabeth II's husband, and father, grandfather, and great-grandfather of the next three kings of England. From his early childhood in Paris among aristocrats and his mother's battle with schizophrenia to his distinctive military service during World War II and marriage to Elizabeth in 1947, Seward chronicles Philip's life and reveals his many faces-as a father, a philanthropist, a philanderer, and a statesman. Though it would take years for Philip to find his place in a royal court that initially distrusted him, he remains one of the most complex, powerful, yet confounding members of Britain's royal family. Entertaining, eye-opening, and informative, Prince Philip is perfect for any anglophile and fans of the series The Crown.
Subjects: Biographies.; Philip, Prince, consort of Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain, 1921-; Princes;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

By the ghost light : war, memory, and families / by Thomson, R. H.,author.;
Includes bibliographical references."From one of Canada's most beloved performing artists comes an audacious work of non-fiction that explores the stories that shape us and the reach that the past can have across generations. Growing up north of Toronto, R.H. Thomson's imagination was captured by romantic notions of war. He spent his days playing with toy soldiers on the carpet of his grandmother's house, recreating the Battle of Britain with model planes in his bedroom, or sitting at the local theatre watching World War II B movies--ones that offered a very clear perspective on who were the heroes and who the villains; which side were the victors and which the vanquished. Yet Thomson's childhood was also shaped by the spirits of real-life warriors in his family, their fates a brutal and more complicated reminder of the true human cost of war. Eight of Robert's great uncles--George, Joe, Jack, Harold, Arthur, Warren, Wildy, and Fred--fought in the First World War, while his great Aunt Margaret served as a wartime surgical nurse in Europe. Five of the great uncles--George, Joe, Fred, Wildy, and Warren--were killed in battle while two others--Jack and Harold--would return home greatly diminished, spending the rest of their lives in and out of sanitariums, their lungs scarred by disease and poison gas. Throughout their lives, the great uncles, as well as great aunts and cousins, were faithful letter writers, their correspondence offering profound insights into their experiences on the front lines to their loved ones back home, a somber record of the sacrifice the family paid. In By the Ghost Light, R.H. Thomson offers an extraordinary look at his family's history while providing a powerful examination of how we understand war and its aftermath. Using his family letters as a starting point, Thomson roams through a century of folly, touching on areas of military history, art, literature, and science, to express the tragic human cost of war behind the order and calm of ceremonial parades, memorials, and monuments. In an urgent call for new ways to acknowledge the dead, R.H. has created "The World Remembers," an ambitious international project to individually name each of the millions killed in the First World War. Epic in its scope and incredibly intimate in its exploration of lives touched by the tragedy of war, By the Ghost Light is a truly original book that will challenge the way we approach our history"--
Subjects: Biographies.; Personal narratives.; Thomson, R. H.; Thompson family; World War, 1914-1918;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

Return to the river : reflections on life choices during a pandemic / by Pelzer, David J.,author.;
From #1 international bestselling author, speaker, and humanitarian Dave Pelzer comes the next chapter in his life--how, after spending decades saving others in the military, as a fire captain, and an internationally acclaimed advocate, he needs to confront a way to save himself. On the surface, Dave Pelzer's life seems like an action movie--he's walked the red carpet with celebrities and stood shoulder to shoulder with soldiers in Iraq; he's flown top-secret missions for the U.S. Air Force, obtaining the rank of chief, and battled wildfires in California as a volunteer fire captain. And now--on the eve of the 50-year anniversary of this rescue from horrific childhood of abuse and into the safety of the foster care system--he reflects on the battles he's fighting in his own heart. From a lifetime spent serving and saving others, can he learn how to serve and save himself? Banished to his basement at age five, Dave Pelzer had cried a river of tears before most children learned to tie their shoes. His now classic books, A Child Called "It" and The Lost Boy, chronicled how he was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother: a mother who nearly killed him multiple times. But despite the odds stacked against him, he rose to become a #1 New York Times bestselling author, inspirational speaker, and internationally recognized humanitarian. After fighting for years to vanquish his pain and to channel it into service for others, Pelzer sifts through the psychological rubble of a life that has seemingly crumbled around him. What he shares is deeply transformative and unflinchingly honest. In his struggle to simply survive, he never learned how to just be. Reeling from the loss of a love--and a broken spirit--Pelzer must reconcile his life choices and free himself of blame and shame to find peace and renewed purpose. Amidst the towering redwood trees and the serenity of his childhood utopia of the Russian River, Pelzer reflects on having the courage to move forward in your life, the peace to accept yourself, the vulnerability to strip yourself of facades, and to find the tenacity to carry on when life doesn't turn out the way you planned. For anyone who has been hurt, victimized, or feels alone, there is hope and there is always a way to rewrite your own story. Pelzer's soulful and inspiring story will remind you to keep your faith, live with gratitude, and find the well of resilience deep within you.
Subjects: Biographies.; Autobiographies.; Personal narratives.; Pelzer, David J.; Adult child abuse victims; Choice (Psychology); COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-; Resilience (Personality trait); Self-acceptance.; Self-esteem.; Self-realization.;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

Drone warrior : an elite soldier's inside account of the hunt for America's most dangerous enemies / by Velicovich, Brett,author.; Stewart, Christopher S.,author.;
"For nearly a decade Brett Velicovich was at the center of America's new warfare: using unmanned aerial vehicles--drones--to take down the world's deadliest terrorists across the globe. One of an elite handful in the entire military with the authority to select targets and issue death orders, he worked in concert with the full human and technological network of American intelligence--assets, analysts, spies, informants--and the military's elite operatives, to stalk, capture, and eliminate high value targets in al-Qaeda and ISIS"--Amazon.com.
Subjects: Velicovich, Brett.; Drone aircraft; Targeted killing; Uninhabited combat aerial vehicles; Iraq War, 2003-2011; Afghan War, 2001-; Iraq War, 2003-2011; Afghan War, 2001-; Terrorism;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

Every man a hero : a memoir of D-Day, the first wave at Omaha Beach, and a world at war / by Lambert, Ray,author.; DeFelice, Jim,1956-author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index.Seventy-five years ago, he hit Omaha Beach with the first wave. Now Ray Lambert, ninety-eight years old, delivers one of the most remarkable memoirs of our time, a tour-de-force of remembrance evoking his role as a decorated World War II medic who risked his life to save the heroes of D-Day. At five a.m. on June 6, 1944, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Ray Lambert worked his way through a throng of nervous soldiers to a wind-swept deck on a troopship off the coast of Normandy, France. A familiar voice cut through the wind and rumble of the ship's engines. “Ray!” called his brother, Bill. Ray, head of a medical team for the First Division's famed 16th Infantry Regiment, had already won a silver star in 1943 for running through German lines to rescue trapped men, one of countless rescues he'd made in North Africa and Sicily. “This is going to be the worst yet,” Ray told his brother, who served alongside him throughout the war. “If I don't make it,” said Bill, “take care of my family.” “I will,” said Ray. He thought about his wife and son-a boy he had yet to see. “Same for me.” The words were barely out of Ray's mouth when a shout came from below. To the landing craft! The brothers parted. Their destinies lay ten miles away, on the bloodiest shore of Normandy, a plot of Omaha Beach ironically code named “Easy Red.” Less than five hours later, after saving dozens of lives and being wounded at least three separate times, Ray would lose consciousness in the shallow water of the beach under heavy fire. He would wake on the deck of a landing ship to find his battered brother clinging to life next to him. Every Man a Hero is the unforgettable story not only of what happened in the incredible and desperate hours on Omaha Beach, but of the bravery and courage that preceded them, throughout the Second World War-- from the sands of Africa, through the treacherous mountain passes of Sicily, and beyond to the greatest military victory the world has ever known.
Subjects: Autobiographies.; Biographies.; Lambert, Ray.; United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 16th (1869-1957); World War, 1939-1945; Soldiers;
Available copies: 2 / Total copies: 2
unAPI

12 strong : the declassified true story of the horse soldiers / by Stanton, Doug,author.;
Includes bibliographical references (pages 385-395).Documents the post-September 11 mission during which a small band of Special Forces soldiers captured the strategic Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif as part of an effort to defeat the Taliban, in a dramatic account that includes testimonies by Afghanistan citizens whose lives were changed by the war.
Subjects: Personal narratives.; United States. Army. Special Forces; Taliban.; Afghan War, 2001-; Afghan War, 2001-; Afghan War, 2001-; Special operations (Military science); Soldiers; Soldiers; Urban warfare;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

The astronaut wives club : a true story / by Koppel, Lily,author.;
"As America's Mercury Seven astronauts were launched on death-defying missions, television cameras focused on the brave smiles of their young wives. Overnight, these women were transformed from military spouses into American royalty. They had tea with Jackie Kennedy, appeared on the cover of Life magazine, and quickly grew into fashion icons. Annie Glenn, with her picture-perfect marriage, was the envy of the other wives; platinum-blonde Rene Carpenter was proclaimed JFK's favorite; and licensed pilot Trudy Cooper arrived on base with a secret. Together with the other wives they formed the Astronaut Wives Club, meeting regularly to provide support and friendship. Many became next-door neighbors and helped to raise each other's children by day, while going to glam parties at night. As their celebrity rose-and as divorce and tragic death began to touch their lives-they continued to rally together, and the wives have now been friends for more than fifty years. THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB tells the real story of the women who stood beside some of the biggest heroes in American history"--
Subjects: Astronautics; Astronauts' spouses; Women;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

Dog Company : a true story of American soldiers abandoned by their high command / by Vincent, Lynn,author.; Hill, Roger T.,author.;
"Two decorated American war heroes survive combat in Afghanistan only to find themselves on an unfamiliar battlefield--the courtroom--in this true story by the commander of Delta Company, 1/506th a.k.a. Dog Company. The deaths of two of his men is agony for Captain Roger Hill and the agony is intensified when he realizes those responsible--12 Taliban spies--have been working right under his nose on the American base. When unreasonable military regulations demand that he free the spies within 96 hours, and Hill can't get his superior officer to respond to the deadline, he takes action to intimidate the prisoners to confess--and to protect his company from another attack. Instead of being thanked, Hill's superior brings him up on charges making this decorated officer's next battle a personal one--for his honor and for that of 1st Sergeant Tommy Scott, his second in command. Combining the camaraderie and battle action of Band of Brothers with the military courtroom drama of A Few Good Men, Roger Hill's story will leave you impassioned, inspired and forever changed"--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Personal narratives.; Hill, Roger T.; Hill, Roger T.; United States. Army. Parachute Infantry Regiment, 506th. Company D.; United States. Army; Taliban.; Afghan War, 2001-; Soldiers; Courage; Spies; Military courts;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

Results 111 to 120 of 133 | « previous |