Biographies & Memoirs
Explore the stories of remarkable lives in our Biographies & Memoirs section at Thryft. Discover firsthand accounts of influential figures and captivating memoirs that'll inspire and educate. Our collection is carefully curated to ensure you find the perfect narrative to delve into.
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Bernard Henri-Levy
Public Enemies
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If you're drawn to the minds of prominent intellectuals clashing on profound topics, "Public Enemies" could provide that stimulating encounter you're craving. Imagine the crescendo of a debate, the sharpness of pointed arguments, all while enveloping literature, politics, and personal views. This book is like eavesdropping on an electrifying conversation you never want to end.
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Allan E. Goodman, Arthur Burr Darling, Bruce D. Berkowitz
The Central Intelligence Agency: An Instrument of Government, to 1950
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If you're fascinated by the intricate world of espionage and government secrecy, "The Central Intelligence Agency" could be an eye-opener. Authored by the CIA's first historian, this book not only offers a detailed account of the agency's formative years but also comes with the credibility of being penned by an insider. The once-classified nature of the manuscript only adds to the allure, promising an authentic glimpse into the shadows of post-WWII intelligence.
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More Than a Carpenter
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If you're wrestling with the question of who Jesus really was, 'More Than A Carpenter' could be a pivotal read for you. Josh McDowell approaches Jesus's divinity and historical impact with the scrutiny of a skeptic, which might resonate with you if you appreciate a logical and evidential basis for faith claims. It's a compelling blend of personal journey and academic inquiry that has changed countless perspectives.
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James S. Liebman
The Wrong Carlos: Anatomy of a Wrongful Execution
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If you've ever pondered the grim reality of wrongful convictions, "The Wrong Carlos" is a startling deep-dive into such a nightmare. The meticulous research by the Columbia Law team unravels the chilling story of Carlos DeLuna, creating a compelling narrative that’s as much about the failings of the criminal justice system as it is about DeLuna himself. Engrossing and unsettling, it’s a poignant reminder of the human cost of judicial errors and a call to reform.
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Herbert V. Prochnow
A Treasure Chest of Quotations for All Occasions
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This book is perfect for public speakers, speech writers, or anyone who wants to add a little extra to their conversations. The unique feature of this book is its extensive collection that covers a wide range of topics and occasions. Reviewers have praised the book for being a valuable reference tool that is both informative and entertaining.
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Khushwant Singh
UNFORGETTABLE KHUSHWANT SINGH : His Finest Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry and Humour
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This book is an ideal choice for those who love reading exceptional works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and humor. Khushwant Singh's remarkable writing skills are showcased in each of the 99 stories, essays, extracts, poems and articles- one for each year of his life. The book is attractively divided into 15 sections- each concentrated on a genre that Singh excelled in, from family matters to natural history and literature. It is a must-read for those who appreciate a diverse range of well-written stories, articles, and poems from an accomplished writer.
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Richard E. Palmer, Hans-Georg Gadamer
The Gadamer Reader : A Bouquet of the Later Writings
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"The Gadamer Reader" could be intriguing for readers who are already well-versed in Gadamer's work. This compilation of later writings covers a wide range of topics, including hermeneutics, aesthetics, and practical philosophy. Richard E. Palmer's translation and commentary aims to make Gadamer's work accessible to English-speaking audiences. The essays also include introductory remarks that provide context and define key terms, making it easier for readers to understand the significance of each essay.
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D.J. Enright
Interplay : A Kind of Commonplace Book
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A "commonplace book," must, by its very nature, be unique, a mixture of personal, critical, playful, and profound musings. In Interplay , the noted critic and poet D. J. Enright has arranged and expanded his jottings, thoughts, observations, and impressions from over the years, resulting in amoving, lucid, and inviting mixture of autobiography and commentary.Much of what Enright shares concerns literary the eccentricities of reviewing; the reductiveness of current fiction; reflections on modern biography; the necessity and impossibility of censorship; irony and sentimentality; treason among intellectuals; linguistic hanky-panky; literarytheory and literary practice (Proust versus Paul de Man); and some of his new poetry. Interspersed are such fascinating asides as a layman's look at Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Freud, and Barthes; curious points of theology; an account of racial stereotypes, their use and limitations; ars eroticaancient and modern; sidelights on Chinese and Japanese thought; the obsolete notion of integrity in politics and business; and dreams in life and literature.To all of these questions and subjects Enright brings his inimitable style and manner, as well as varying moods--sad, humorous, ironic--bound together by his overwhelming humanism that makes life and literature inseparable. This is a brilliant book, full of wit, insight, and intriguing miscellany,one that serves as an eclectic self-portrait of a leading literary mind and a very telling account of modern attitudes and life as we know it.
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Michael Ruse
Charles Darwin
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The definitive work on the philosophical nature and impact of thetheories of Charles Darwin, written by a well-known authority onthe history and philosophy of Darwinism.
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Mario Bunge
Between Two Worlds : Memoirs of a Philosopher-Scientist
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Between Two Worlds is a captivating memoir written by Mario Bunge, a well-known philosopher-scientist who shares his personal and professional experiences, including his love for science. Bunge writes with passion and sincerity, sharing details about his successes, losses, emotions, relationships, debates, impressions, and opinions. This book is a great read for those interested in science and culture or for those who value memories holding the trauma of life. Bunge's memoir will appeal to individuals seeking inspiration from a remarkable 20th-century figure who has dedicated his life to science and the power of ideas.
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Stuart Jeffries
Grand Hotel Abyss : The Lives of the Frankfurt School
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“Marvelously entertaining, exciting and informative.” — Guardian“An engaging and accessible history.” — New York Review of BooksThis group biography is “an exhilarating page-turner” and “outstanding critical introduction” to the work and legacy of the Frankfurt School, and the great 20th-century thinkers who created it ( Washington Post ).In 1923, a group of young radical German thinkers and intellectuals came together to at Victoria Alle 7, Frankfurt, determined to explain the workings of the modern world. Among the most prominent members of what became the Frankfurt School were the philosophers Walter Benjamin, Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer, and Herbert Marcuse. Not only would they change the way we think, but also the subjects we deem worthy of intellectual investigation. Their lives, like their ideas, profoundly, sometimes tragically, reflected and shaped the shattering events of the twentieth century.Grand Hotel Abyss combines biography, philosophy, and storytelling to reveal how the Frankfurt thinkers gathered in hopes of understanding the politics of culture during the rise of fascism. Some of them, forced to escape the horrors of Nazi Germany, later found exile in the United States. Benjamin, with his last great work—the incomplete Arcades Project —in his suitcase, was arrested in Spain and committed suicide when threatened with deportation to Nazi-occupied France. On the other side of the Atlantic, Adorno failed in his bid to become a Hollywood screenwriter, denounced jazz, and even met Charlie Chaplin in Malibu.After the war, there was a resurgence of interest in the School. From the relative comfort of sun-drenched California, Herbert Marcuse wrote the classic One Dimensional Man , which influenced the 1960s counterculture and thinkers such as Angela Davis; while in a tragic coda, Adorno died from a heart attack following confrontations with student radicals in Berlin.By taking popular culture seriously as an object of study—whether it was film, music, ideas, or consumerism—the Frankfurt School elaborated upon the nature and crisis of our mass-produced, mechanized society. Grand Hotel Abyss shows how much these ideas still tell us about our age of social media and runaway consumption.
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Asad-ul Iqbal Latif, Huay Leng Lee
George Yeo On Bonsai, Banyan And The Tao
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Since his undergraduate days in Cambridge, George Yeo has spoken and written much in and out of government. Many remember the things which he said or wrote years ago. This book is a compilation of some of his best speeches and writings which were selected by Asad Latif and Lee Huay Leng in consultation with him. The book has a rather unusual title because there are many aspects to George Yeo which makes him difficult to classify. As a student leader, he was radical but conciliatory. In the Singapore Armed Forces, he was atypical, moving from the Army to the Air Force before becoming Director of Joint Operations and Planning. In politics, he is fondly remembered by artists, journalists, doctors, businessmen and foreign diplomats, and by his colleagues and constituents. His own staff said he had a curious mind. They complained that he rarely used the drafts which they had prepared for him. George Yeo describes himself as a Taoist even though he is a Roman Catholic and is now on the Papal staff. Buddhists are surprised he championed the revival of Nalanda University as an international project. He remains close to Singaporeans of different races and religions even though he has a deep sense of his own ancestral roots and religion. In politics, he has been described both as a liberal and a conservative. In his Parliamentary maiden speech, he spoke of the importance of democracy but has repeated many times that democracy is only a means and not an end in itself. He has a deep interest in history which partly explains his seeing the re-emergence of China and India earlier than most others. The bonsai and the banyan are metaphors he uses for Singapore. Singapore is a city-state and must never have an inflated view of itself. The bonsai describes Singapore modestly, but he adds that the bonsai can be intensely interesting and valuable. The banyan provides shade and we are grateful for it, but too much makes us weak. As for the Tao, that perhaps is what gives unity to his many interests.
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Georg M.A. Gaston
The Pursuit Of Salvation - A Critical Guide To The Novels Of Graham Greene
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Recommendation: This book would be an excellent pick for literature students who are interested in understanding the works of Graham Greene better. The book provides an in-depth analysis of Greene's unique approach towards themes of redemption and salvation, and how his life experiences influenced his writing. The extensive references to other critical studies also make it a valuable resource for academic research.
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David Crystal
The Penguin Pocket Dictionary of Quotations
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The Penguin Pocket Dictionary of Quotations contains thousands of epigrams and bons mots from public figures famous and infamous. Arranged alphabetically by speaker, and including biographical information, this is an invaluable book for readers, writers, after-dinner speakers and trivia addicts. and French dictionaries to books on spelling and babies' names.
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Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping: The Governance of China
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Compiled by the State Council Information Office of China, the CCCPC Party Literature Research Office and China International Publishing Group, Xi Jinping: The Governance of China is published by Foreign Languages Press in Chinese, English, French, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Japanese, distributed worldwide.This book is a compilation of Xi Jinping’s major works from November 15, 2012 to June 13, 2014; it comprises 79 speeches, talks, interviews, instructions and correspondence in 18 chapters. Each item is accompanied by relevant notes about China’s social system, history and culture for readers’ reference. It also includes 45 photos taken at different stages of Xi’s life, providing readers with more information about his work and life.The publication of this book in various languages is of great significance. It will contribute to interpreting the concepts and principles of governance of the CPC leadership, and help the international community to learn more about and better understand China’s ideas, path of development, domestic and foreign policies, and response to international concerns about China.
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Eduardo Mendieta, Richard Rorty
Take Care of Freedom and Truth Will Take Care of Itself : Interviews with Richard Rorty
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This book could be a good read for those interested in understanding the relevance of philosophy in American political and public life. It provides candid insights into Richard Rorty's political beliefs and his engagement in labor and union traditions in the country. Users would appreciate the colloquial language used throughout the interviews, making it a compelling and accessible read for anyone seeking to engage in social and political commentary.
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Richard Appignanesi
Introducing Freud : A Graphic Guide
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"Introducing Freud: A Graphic Guide" could be a great read for those who are curious about Freud and his groundbreaking views on psychoanalysis. This book is illustrated, engaging and contains a narrative that is witty yet informative. The most captivating feature of this book is its ability to break down complex psychological theories and terminologies into the everyday language people use and understand today. This is a must-read for any individual who wants to gain a basic understanding of Freud's life and his contribution to the world of psychology."
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Michael Watts
Kierkegaard
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A lucid and understandable guide to Soren Kierkegaard, the nineteenth-century Danish philosopher and founding father of Existentialism.
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Paul Arthur Schilpp
Albert Einstein - Philosopher-Scientist
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This book is an excellent choice for those who wish to understand the philosophical underpinnings of Einstein's scientific insights. It provides a comprehensive analysis of Einstein's thoughts on science, religion, politics, and morality. The book contains essays by leading scholars in the fields of physics and philosophy, making it peerless in its depth and breadth of analysis. If you are interested in understanding the genius of one of the greatest scientific minds in the history of humanity, this is the book for you.
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Fred Inglis
Clifford Geertz - Culture Custom And Ethics
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Recommendation:
- Geertz's groundbreaking theory of symbolic action challenges traditional scientific inquiry in the human sciences, making it an essential read for those interested in new perspectives on culture and society.
- This comprehensive overview of Geertz's work provides a lively introduction to his influential essays, such as the celebrated and controversial analysis of the Balinese cock fight, which sparks engaging debates.
- With a focus on cultural studies, this book offers a refreshing approach to understanding the intricate relationship between culture and politics, challenging conventional concepts and offering a more nuanced perspective. Highly recommended for students and scholars in anthropology and cultural studies.
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Chris Horrocks, Zoran Jevtić
Introducing Foucault : A Graphic Guide
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"This book is an insightful guide to understanding the work of Michel Foucault, a philosopher, historian, and political activist. It explores his groundbreaking ideas on the correlation between power and knowledge and how institutions have enforced practices of confinement, confession, and discipline. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the fields of philosophy, history, and politics, and for those who want to expand their knowledge on the concepts of madness, sexuality, and criminality."
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Biographies and memoirs offer unparalleled insights into the lives and minds of individuals who've shaped our world. Be it political icons, celebrities, or unsung heroes, Thryft brings you a rich assortment of stories that reveal extraordinary experiences and life lessons. Embark on a journey through time as you explore the personal tales that have influenced history and culture.
Our collection includes a wide range of biographies, from influential leaders to pop culture icons. Find engrossing memoirs that give insight into personal journeys and historical events.
Consider what aspects of life you’re curious about. Whether it’s artistic journeys, political memoirs, or overcoming adversity, our collection will have something that resonates with you.
Yes, we include stories about notable religious figures. You might also explore our Religion collection for more faith-based narratives.
Yes, we celebrate local voices and histories. Discover the lives of Singaporean figures that have shaped our city-state's unique culture and heritage.