The star of Parks and Recreation and author of the New York Times bestseller Paddle Your Own Canoe returns with a second book that humorously highlights twenty-one figures from our nation’s history, from her inception to present day—Nick’s personal pantheon of “great Americans.” To millions of people, Nick Offerman is America. Both Nick and his character, Ron Swanson, are known for their humor and patriotism in equal measure. After the great success of his autobiography, Paddle Your Own Canoe, Offerman now focuses on the lives of those who inspired him. From George Washington to Willie Nelson, he describes twenty-one heroic figures and why they inspire in him such great meaning. He combines both serious history with light-hearted humor—comparing, say, Benjamin Franklin’s abstinence from daytime drinking to his own sage refusal to join his construction crew in getting plastered on the way to work. The subject matter also allows Offerman to expound upon his favorite topics, which readers love to hear—areas such as religion, politics, woodworking and handcrafting, agriculture, creativity, philosophy, fashion, and, of course, meat.

Peter's been invited to go on a safari. He's brought: 1. Uncle Nigel, who's an explorer 2. hiking shorts 3. a canteen But what he will need most is a bit of gumption. (Gumption: n. Courage; spunk; fortitude; resourcefulness; good sense.) Oh, wait...there are crocodiles in the river? Then he might need a lot of it!

Are YOU in any of the following situations - - •Struggling financially? •Don’t have any set goals in life? Unable to set any? •Unfit, obese, and don’t know where to turn for motivation - - or practical advice? •Constantly feeling “down”, and not sure where to turn? •An entrepreneur or business person that is tired of all the “get rich quick” and “pie in the sky” pseudo-motivation out there? •Depressed about not being able to achieve your goals? •Never having any motivation to “git her done”? •Easily swayed and dissuaded from your goals by family members, colleagues, or others? •Not being able to attract what you want in life despite using the “Law of Attraction” religiously and on a daily basis? …. And so forth. If so, this book is for YOU. If not, this book is STILL FOR YOU! So, who am I? And what qualifies me to write this piece - - or this book, for that matter? Well, I've been in the trenches, my friend - and THAT at the end of the day is what qualifies me, along with my experience from the SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS. I know what it feels like … •To be broke. So penniless that it was a toss up (at the time) between buying milk for my daughter and cheese for the entire family. •To have no-one on your side when you need them the MOST •To have family and friends (well, most) do the exact opposite of what I thought they would do when I set goals for myself - - that being to encourage me. •To beat my head against the wall in frustration when “nothing seemed to work” despite my numerous tries and iron jawed attempts. •I know what it feels like to be born with terrible genetics, a body that lumps on fat about three times as fast as the average person - - family that castigated me for trying to get fitter and stronger, and yet emerge past all that unscathed and victorious at the end of the day. •I know what it’s like to start your own business, and be told (repeatedly) that you’re no good - - and then SUCCEED at the business. And more, much more. And I've put all this together into an easy to read format that will help YOU achieve what YOU WANT out of life - WITHOUT having to go through the same school I went through. What will you GET from this book? 50 motivational, workable, and real world PRACTICAL tips that will put you firmly on the road to success and give the bird to "old man failure" every time he rears his ugly head. This book will build determination, spirit, courage and GUMPTION in spades! This book will inspire you to keep fighting - and keep going - despite all the odds stacked up against you! These tips will tell you about MY own story - and others that have been in the trenches before me - and how they GOT OUT of whatever predicament they were facing. This book will teach you - that YOU, and YOU alone are ultimately responsible for either being a "drifter" and watching others "take the prize" - - or RISING up - - and making life write a ticket - - on YOUR OWN TERMS! You'll eliminate procrastination from your life - and get MORE done - in LESS time. You'll infuse a new energy into your current projects and bring 'em to life faster - with spectacular results! You will learn about the power of visualization. You'll see how you can use the power of emotion and the RIGHT WORDS to literally catapult yourself to DIZZYING levels of success. And much, much more, my friend. Grab your copy now - while they last - and write back and tell me about your tales of SUCCESS. I'll share 'em with the WORLD!

No one wants to fall out of relationship with their kids. It’s easier when they are little to stay engaged with them because they require so much physical presence. On the other hand as they get older and become more self-sufficient, being in relationship with our children can be a slippery slope. IF we haven't been laying the groundwork and investing in our littles in the years prior, we will pay the price when they become “big.” This book teaches us lovingly and gently how to invest in our kids at every stage of their life from 0 to young adult. But not only that, when you read tips like "Do the Next Right Thing," we are reminded that it is never too late. There are all kinds of voices around us and inside of us quick to feed us lies about what is possible and what is not when it comes to growing or reconciling relationships. This book is practical, truthful, and hopeful.

A granddaughter explores the stark contrasts in her grandmother's life before and after the Great Depression. The author blends family lore, memoir and research to investigate the mystery of the banished father her grandmother never met. The Mother Lode region of California is featured in one section set in Calaveras County from 1948-1959. Other prominent settings are 19th and early 20th century Galesburg, Illinois, northwestern Nebraska, Drayton North Dakota, Wellington County Ontario and Saskatchewan.

‘If both banks grew at the rate they have achieved in the past four years, ICICI Bank will overtake State Bank in four years in terms of deposits’—Business World, July 2007 ‘Even a casual glance at SBI . . . reveals a bank fuelled by growth . . . SBI has swamped almost every segment of industry it has stepped into’—Business India, August 2009 This is the story of the carefully planned resurgence of the State Bank of India (SBI) from a laid-back incumbent under threat from private players to a customer-oriented competitive organization that has outperformed rivals despite several constraints. The leadership at SBI succeeded in reshaping perspectives and profitability at the bank, which employs a staggering 200,000 people, notwithstanding salary restrictions and regulatory bottlenecks. While the primary thrust was on changing employee attitude towards their own organization and, of course, its customers, the transformation exercise was broadbased, encompassing fundamental changes in technology, processes and business-mix alike. In about three years beginning 2006, SBI not only defended its own lair against the siege of younger, leaner, meaner rivals, but actually took the battle to the attackers’ domains. SBI’s size and setting make the story an inspiring example to other organizations, particularly in the public sector. Written in a fluid and engaging style, and backed by facts, figures, analysis and anecdotes, the book challenges several stereotypes and dogmas common in today’s management circles.

A 1983 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, O.P. Singh donned various roles in the state and central services. Through his tenure, he witnessed several challenges, from the tackling of militancy in Kheri to managing disasters such as the April 2015 Nepal earthquake and the Srinagar and Chennai floods of 2014 and 2015, respectively. The Ayodhya verdict, Citizenship Amendment Act protests, the Kumbh Mela and Lok Sabha polls of 2019 all tested this officer's mettle. From the dusty plains of Gaya, Bihar, to the swampy and terror-infested wetlands of Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, Crime, Grime and Gumption is an honest and hard-hitting account of law enforcement and governance in the Hindi belt of India. As the ‘policewallah’ gives you a peek into the world of the khaki in this memoir, you will be left thirsting for more.

The daring women of Maryland made their mark on history as spies, would-be queens and fiery suffragettes. Sarah Wilson escaped indentured servitude in Frederick by impersonating the queen's sister. In Cumberland, Sallie Pollock smuggled letters for top Confederate officials. Baltimore journalist Marguerite Harrison snuck into Russia to report conditions there after World War I. From famous figures like Harriet Tubman to unsung heroines like "Lady Law" Violet Hill Whyte, author Lauren R. Silberman introduces Maryland's most tenacious and adventurous women.