Author Alley 2024

ILLUMINATING PHILOSOPHY: STORIES BEYOND BOUNDARIES

$20.00

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In these 25 true stories, a widely published philosopher recounts 60 years of interaction with people in all walks of life - some extremely famous, others complete strangers - from hospitals to restaurants, concert halls to airplanes, in private conversations and nationally broadcast interviews. Stories can be heartbreaking, distracting, funny, shocking, inspiring, revealing, and sometimes unforgettable - and all those attributes appear here. There's no substitute for learning what it's like to be someone else, to see the world as that other person does and reconsider our own views in light of that learning. These compelling and accessible stories motivate and enable us to do that, illuminating the unexpected relationships among all domains of human concern, the wellsprings of creativity, the elusive character of good judgment, and the pathways to social justice. They help us see more clearly what we care most about: deep features of human character and difficult choices, of social structures, of the power of imagination, of how to take account of the importance of what cannot be counted, and of bogus boundaries and assumptions that can repress clear thinking in any domain. These stories will make the reader more powerful in service of those values.

Isla Vulnerable: Based on a True Story

$19.00

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1st PLACE WINNER OF THE C.I.B.A. HEMINGWAY AWARD

"An inherently compelling read from start to finish that deftly combines the elements of espionage and romance." -MBR Bookwatch

"Absolutely enthralling and entertaining. Kept me engaged to the very end." -Bare Books Podcast

"A wonderfully rendered story." -Denton Record-Chronicle

In late 1950's Cuba, the island's allure as an elite global paradise was cloaked by a revolution that brought down its rich and powerful.

When a poor native farm boy named Victor Gomez is suddenly orphaned and adopted by one of the most influential families in his hometown, he meets and falls for Sarita Rodriguez-a supermodel and media empire heiress-just before Fidel Castro overthrows President Fulgencio Batista and takes control of the island. After Castro raids Victor's new family's estate and imprisons his father, Victor narrowly escapes and flees to the US where he accepts an unconventional, deadly deal as a spy to save his country. Still just a teen, Victor finds himself in a cycle of betrayal-struggling to find truth and purpose, while torn between protecting his now powerless parents, finding his disbanded biological siblings, and secretly pursuing Sarita as she rises to international fame from New York.

Based on the true story of the author's family, Isla Vulnerable weaves a captivating tale of love, sacrifice, and human resilience in the face of extraordinary historical events-including the Cold War, the Cuban missile crisis, the CIA's covert operations in foreign affairs, Operation Mongoose, and the assassination of JFK. A dynamic cast of real-life-inspired characters, meticulous attention to historical detail, edge-of-your-seat spy scenes, and a love story that transcends social classes compose an ideologically-unbiased, heartwarming, cinematic journey in this author's first published book.

Just As Heavy: A Collection of Poetry

$9.99

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JUST DO NOTHING

$14.95

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Is there a space between where you are and where you want to be? Do you resist overwhelming situations, wanting to avoid discomfort (while telling yourself you just need more motivation)? Do you feel intoxicated with inspiration one minute, only to find yourself binge-watching "Real Housewives" not long thereafter, having slayed nothing other than the snack cabinet?

You want to do things differently, but something keeps getting in your way. Maybe you spend too much time in your head. Maybe you panic when things start to feel "too much."

The solution? JUST DO NOTHING.

Through this humorous, insightful guide, you will discover data-driven, science-backed tools that:

empower you to understand and respond to your emotions

break through the barriers holding you back

show you how to create your own sliding scale of distress, so you can increase your ability to tolerate discomfort

help you learn to let feelings be instead of letting them go

As counterintuitive as it may sound, when you learn how to just do nothing with the chaotic thoughts and feelings swimming in your head, your life will change for the better. And, before you know it, you'll be comfortably engaging in experiences that once had you running for that snack cabinet.