The Last Empty Places: A Past and Present Journey Through the Blank Spots on the American Map

The author of At the Mercy of the River chronicles his journey into unmapped regions of Pennsylvania, Oregon and other states where he emulates the travels of famous frontiersmen and discovers traces of significant historical events.
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Red Families V. Blue Families: Legal Polarization and the Creation of Culture

Red Families v. Blue Families identifies a new family model geared for the post-industrial economy. Rooted in the urban middle class, the coasts and the "blue states" in the last three presidential elections, the Blue Family Paradigm emphasizes the importance of women's as well as men's workforce participation, egalitarian gender roles, and the delay of family formation until both parents are emotionally and financially ready. By contrast, the Red Family Paradigm--associated with the Bible Belt, the mountain west, and rural America--rejects these new family norms, viewing the change in moral and sexual values as a crisis. In this world, the prospect of teen childbirth is the necessary deterrent to premarital sex, marriage is a sacred undertaking between a man and a woman, and divorce is society's greatest moral challenge. Yet, the changing economy is rapidly eliminating the stable, blue collar jobs that have historically supported young families, and early marriage and childbearing derail the education needed to prosper. The result is that the areas of the country most committed to traditional values have the highest divorce and teen pregnancy rates, fueling greater calls to reinstill traditional values.
Featuring the groundbreaking research first hailed in The New Yorker, this penetrating book will transform our understanding of contemporary American culture and law. The authors show how the Red-Blue divide goes much deeper than this value system conflict--the Red States have increasingly said "no" to Blue State legal norms, and, as a result, family law has been rent in two. The authors close with a consideration of where these different family systems still overlap, and suggest solutions that permit rebuilding support for both types of families in changing economic circumstances.
Incorporating results from the 2008 election, Red Families v. Blue Families will reshape the debate surrounding the culture wars and the emergence of red and blue America. 
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Dark Harbor: The War for the New York Waterfront

Traces the historical influence of the Mafia on New York's waterfront, drawing on the investigative series of New York Sun reporter Malcolm "Mike" Johnson into the region's racketeering, violent territorial disputes, and union corruption.
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The Oral History Workshop: Collect and Celebrate the Life Stories of Your Family and Friends

In a book that includes hundreds of thoughtful questions guaranteed to make interviewing a friend or family member a success--plus tips on setting up an interview, recording, filming, archiving, scrapbooking and more--the authors break down a seemingly daunting task into easy, manageable steps and help readers form a living history of their loved ones.
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Prospero Lost

Surviving with her family members for 400 years after the events of The Tempest, sorcerer's daughter Miranda enlists her siblings in a search for their missing father after receiving a warning about ancient demons who would harness their powers.
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The Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-aged Mind

A New York Times science editor draws on new research to examine the brain's peak capacity in middle age, explaining how a growth of white matter and brain connectors enables improved judgment, cognitive function and problem solving. By the author of The Primal Teen.
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A Murderous Procession

Ordered to safeguard the daughter of Henry II while en route to her wedding, wisewoman Adelia Aguilar teams up with Rowley to identify a killer who is targeting members of the wedding procession.
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