TheBestseller
Observatory

Best Sellers

Hardcover Nonfiction

Week of October 12, 1997

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ANGELA'S ASHES
Frank McCourt
Cover of ANGELA'S ASHES

ANGELA'S ASHES

by Frank McCourt · Scribner

56 wks on list

<b><i>Angela's Ashes</i>, imbued on every page with Frank McCourt's astounding humor and compassion, is a glorious book that bears all the marks of a classic.</b><br><br><i>"When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I managed to survive at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while. Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood."</i><br> <br> So begins the luminous memoir of Frank McCourt, born in Depression-era Brooklyn to recent Irish immigrants and raised in the slums of Limerick, Ireland. Frank's mother, Angela, has no money to feed the children since Frank's father, Malachy, rarely works, and when he does he drinks his wages. Yet Malachy -- exasperating, irresponsible and beguiling-- does nurture in Frank an appetite for the one thing he can provide: a story. Frank lives for his father's tales of Cuchulain, who saved Ireland, and of the Angel on the Seventh Step, who brings his mother babies. Perhaps it is story that accounts for Frank's survival. Wearing rags for diapers, begging a pig's head for Christmas dinner and gathering coal from the roadside to light a fire, Frank endures poverty, near-starvation and the casual cruelty of relatives and neighbors--yet lives to tell his tale with eloquence, exuberance and remarkable forgiveness.

4
THE PERFECT STORM
Sebastian Junger
Cover of THE PERFECT STORM

THE PERFECT STORM

by Sebastian Junger · Norton

18 wks on list

"There is nothing imaginary about Junger's book; it is all terrifyingly, awesomely real." —Los Angeles Times It was the storm of the century, boasting waves over one hundred feet high—a tempest created by so rare a combination of factors that meteorologists deemed it "the perfect storm." In a book that has become a classic, Sebastian Junger explores the history of the fishing industry, the science of storms, and the candid accounts of the people whose lives the storm touched. The Perfect Storm is a real-life thriller that makes us feel like we've been caught, helpless, in the grip of a force of nature beyond our understanding or control. Winner of the American Library Association's 1998 Alex Award.

5
NEW
DIRTY JOKES AND BEER
Drew Carey
Cover of DIRTY JOKES AND BEER

DIRTY JOKES AND BEER

by Drew Carey · Hyperion

1 wks on list

The enigmatic star of the hugely popular Drew Carey Show divulges the secrets of his rise to stardom and his life as a standup comedian in the audiobook versionof Dirty Jokes and Beer: Stories of the Unrefined. Despite the title's promise, this isn't just three hours of filth and debauchery--well, not quite. Carey also shares an unexpected admission about being molested as a child, a surprisingly serious and moving moment. This solemnity, however, is a brief respite from almost three hours of bawdy humor--fables of all things dirty and odes to everything politically incorrect. Carey's jokes are nothing new or original, but he doesn't profess them to be. These are characterizations of people he has met throughout his life: grotesque slobs, cheap hookers, and lousy drunks. They're not exactly inspirational characters, but Carey manages to see--and relate--their funny sides. Carey borrows his jokes from barroom culture, leaving them raw and uncensored. Listening to the tape, you can almost smell the stale tobacco and taste the draft beer. Some listeners will delight in Carey's anecdotes about anatomically astonishing penises and his other jokes, while others may feel slightly nauseated. Dirty Jokes and Beer leaves little middle ground; you'll either love it or rip your headphones off in disgust.

6
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INTO THIN AIR
Jon Krakauer
Cover of INTO THIN AIR
7
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CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD: Book 1
Neale Donald Walsch
Cover of CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD: Book 1

CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD: Book 1

by Neale Donald Walsch · Putnam

43 wks on list

In a world where organized religion fails to resonate with a growing number of people, Neale Donald Walsch's Conversations with God offers a refreshing and thought-provoking alternative. Delve into thought-provoking discussions on free speech, creativity, and discernment, as Walsch's empathetic and empowering words guide you towards a life of inner harmony and awakening. Unveiling the secrets to unlocking your true potential, this timeless classic explores the profound connection between humanity and the divine presence. With unwavering honesty and startling clarity, Walsch invites you to embrace love over fear, reminding you that you hold the power to transform your reality.

10
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THE MILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR
Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko

THE MILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR

by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko · Longstreet

38 wks on list

Can you spot the millionaire next door? Who are the rich in this country? What do they do? Where do they shop? What do they drive? How do they invest? Where did their ancestors come from? How did they get rich? Can I ever become one of them? Get the answers in The Millionaire Next Door, the never-before-told story about wealth in America. You'll be surprised at what you find out. "Why aren't I as wealthy as I should be?" Many people ask this question of themselves all the time. Often they are hard-working, well-educated, middle-to-high-income people. Why, then, are so few affluent? The answer lies in The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's wealthy. According to authors Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko, most people have it all wrong about how you become wealthy in America. It is seldom inheritance or advanced degrees or even intelligence that builds fortunes in this country. Wealth in America is more often the result of hard work, diligent savings, and living below your means. - Jacket.

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DOGS NEVER LIE ABOUT LOVE
Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
Cover of DOGS NEVER LIE ABOUT LOVE

DOGS NEVER LIE ABOUT LOVE

by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson · Crown

2 wks on list

The bestselling author of "When Elephants Weep" explores the rich inner landscape of "our best and truest friend". "This searingly honest appraisal of man's best friend will cause many people to think about dogs in an entirely different way".--Dr. Jane Goodall. 16 illustrations. (Animals/Pets)

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WALK THIS WAY
Aerosmith with Stephen Davis
Cover of WALK THIS WAY

WALK THIS WAY

by Aerosmith with Stephen Davis · Avon

1 wks on list

"We believed that anything worth doing was worth overdoing." Steven Tyler AerosmithFive unparalleled musicians who shook the music world out of its '70s doldrums, changing the sound of rock forever -- the band who made living on the edge an art form. Walk This WayAn almost day-by-day account of the high and low life of a rock 'n' roll monster in the words of the guys who made it happen. The complete story of five incomparable and uncompromising musical artists who pulled themselves up out of nowhere to become rock icons; who crashed and burned spectacularly; and who rose up gloriously from the ashes to reclaim their rightful title as World Champoinship Rockers.

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THE GIFT OF FEAR
Gavin de Becker
Cover of THE GIFT OF FEAR

THE GIFT OF FEAR

by Gavin de Becker · Little, Brown

15 wks on list

A carjacker lurking in a shopping mall parking lot. An abusive husband pounding on the door. A disgruntled employee brandishing a gun. These days, no one is safe from the specter of violence. But according to Gavin de Becker, everyone can feel safer, act safer, be safer -- if they learn how to listen to their own sixth sense about danger. De Becker has made a career of protecting people and predicting violent behavior. His firm handles security for many of Hollywood's top celebrities -- Madonna, Michael J. Fox, Geena Davis, Brooke Shields, and John Travolta, among others, according to press reports -- and his computerized risk-assessment system helps analyze threats to members of Congress and the Supreme Court. Now, in this unprecedented guide, de Becker shares his expertise with everyone. Covering all the dangerous situations people typically face -- street crime, domestic abuse, violence in the workplace -- de Becker provides real-life examples and offers specific advice on restraining orders, self-defense, and more. But the key to self-protection, he demonstrates, is learning how to trust -- and act on -- our own intuitions. For everyone who's ever felt threatened, this book is essential reading.

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TEARS OF RAGE
John Walsh with Susan Schindehette

TEARS OF RAGE

by John Walsh with Susan Schindehette · Pocket

2 wks on list

John Walsh tells the story of his own personal tragedy and the conspiracy of events that have kept him from obtaining justice.

15
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THE BIBLE CODE
Michael Drosnin
Cover of THE BIBLE CODE

THE BIBLE CODE

by Michael Drosnin · Simon & Schuster

17 wks on list

Vol. 2 has title: Bible code II: the countdown.

Historical bestseller data sourced from the New York Times Book Review, archived by Hawes Publications.