TheBestseller
Observatory

Best Sellers

Hardcover Nonfiction

Week of April 20, 2014

FictionNonfiction
WeekMonth
Jump to
1
NEW
FLASH BOYS
Michael Lewis
Cover of FLASH BOYS

FLASH BOYS

by Michael Lewis · Norton

4 wks at #1 · 1 on list

El nuevo libro de Michael Lewis trata sobre el Trading de Alta Frecuencia y la manipulación de los índices bursátiles por operadores con acceso privilegiado. Son operaciones realizadas mediante algoritmos matemáticos, pero haciéndolas con enorme velocidad. Millones de operaciones que se realizan en poco tiempo, normalmente en milésimas de segundo. Hoy se estima que un 30% de las transacciones bursátiles realizadas son de algoritmos de High Frequency Trading (HFT). Buscan hacer muchas pequeñas operaciones en las que se obtenga una pequeñísima ganancia que poco a poco se va acumulando. Los mercados cada vez están más concentrados en grandes operadores, la tecnología y los algoritmos tienen un papel fundamental y los grandes bancos intentan recuperar cuota de mercado apoyando a estas máquinas que operan en pocos segundos. En el libro conoceremos ejemplos divertidos, apabullantes y curiosos. Su valor fundamental es que, como siempre, vuelve a poner el dedo en la llaga sobre las ineficiencias creadas en un mercado donde los grandes operadores mandan.

2
NEW
DON'T HURT PEOPLE AND DON'T TAKE THEIR STUFF
Matt Kibbe
Cover of DON'T HURT PEOPLE AND DON'T TAKE THEIR STUFF

DON'T HURT PEOPLE AND DON'T TAKE THEIR STUFF

by Matt Kibbe · Morrow/HarperCollins

1 wks on list

Do you believe in the freedom of individuals to determine their own future and solve problems cooperatively? Don't hurt people, and don't take their stuff. Simple and straightforward, that's liberty in a nutshell—no assembly required. And yet it seems like, more and more, the decisions Washington makes about what to do for us, or to us, or even against us, are having an increasingly adverse impact on our lives. Young people can't find jobs, millions of Americans are losing the health care plans they were promised they could keep, and every one of us is somehow being targeted, monitored, snooped on, conscripted, induced, taxed, subsidized, regulated, or otherwise manipulated by someone else's agenda, based on someone else's decisions made in some secret meeting or closed-door legislative deal. What gives? Our government is out of control. But setting things right again requires that you step up and take your freedom back. From Matt Kibbe, the influential leader of FreedomWorks, Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff is the first true manifesto of a new libertarian grassroots movement. As political powermongers and crony corporatists in Washington continue to consolidate their control and infringe on our most fundamental liberties, Kibbe makes the libertarian case for freer people, more voluntary cooperation, and solving problems from the bottom up. He calls out the tyranny of faceless bureaucrats with too much power and discretion, laying out a clear road map for restoring liberty. A witty yet piercing critique of government's expanding control over you and your future, Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff is a vital read for all those who cherish personal liberty and the unalienable right to choose your own path in life.

3
1
THRIVE
Arianna Huffington
Cover of THRIVE

THRIVE

by Arianna Huffington · Harmony

4 wks on list

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Arianna Huffington’s impassioned and compelling case for the need to redefine what it means to be successful in today’s world—now in a 10th anniversary edition featuring a new preface “A captivating look at what it takes to live a more meaningful, satisfying life. Brimming with passion, supported by science, and crowned with practical insights, Arianna Huffington’s exceptional book will transform our workplaces, schools, and families.”—Adam Grant, bestselling author of Think Again Arianna Huffington’s personal wake-up call came in the form of a broken cheekbone and a nasty gash over her eye—the result of a fall brought on by exhaustion. The cofounder and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group—which became one of the fastest growing media companies in the world—and celebrated as one of the world’s most influential women, she was, by any traditional measure, extraordinarily successful. Yet as she found herself going from brain MRI to CAT scan to echocardiogram to find out if there was any underlying medical problem beyond exhaustion, she wondered, Is this really what success is like? In the past decade, and especially in today’s post-pandemic world, people are realizing there is far more to living a truly successful life than just earning a bigger salary and climbing the career ladder. Our relentless pursuit of the two traditional metrics of success—money and power—has led to an epidemic of burnout and illness, and an erosion in the quality of our relationships, our family life, and, ironically, our careers. In being connected to the world 24/7, we’re losing our connection to what truly matters. We need a new way forward. In Thrive, Huffington has written a passionate call to arms, as timely today as it was when it was first published more than ten years ago, looking to redefine what it means to be successful in today’s world. Huffington likens our drive for money and power to two legs of a three-legged stool. It may hold us up temporarily, but sooner or later we’re going to topple over. We need a third leg—a Third Metric for defining success. In this deeply personal book, Huffington talks candidly about her own challenges with managing time and prioritizing the demands of a career and a family, the harried dance that led to her collapse—and to her “aha moment.” Drawing on the latest groundbreaking research and scientific findings in the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and physiology that show the transformative effects of our five foundational daily behaviors—sleep, food, movement, stress management, and connection—Huffington shows us the way to a revolution in our culture, our thinking, our workplaces, and our lives.

5
3
A CALL TO ACTION
Jimmy Carter
Cover of A CALL TO ACTION

A CALL TO ACTION

by Jimmy Carter · Simon & Schuster

2 wks on list

In the highly acclaimed bestselling A Call to Action, President Jimmy Carter addresses the world’s most serious, pervasive, and ignored violation of basic human rights: the ongoing discrimination and violence against women and girls. President Carter was encouraged to write this book by a wide coalition of leaders of all faiths. His urgent report covers a system of discrimination that extends to every nation. Women are deprived of equal opportunity in wealthier nations and “owned” by men in others, forced to suffer servitude, child marriage, and genital cutting. The most vulnerable and their children are trapped in war and violence. A Call to Action addresses the suffering inflicted upon women by a false interpretation of carefully selected religious texts and a growing tolerance of violence and warfare. Key verses are often omitted or quoted out of context by male religious leaders to exalt the status of men and exclude women. And in nations that accept or even glorify violence, this perceived inequality becomes the basis for abuse. Carter draws upon his own experiences and the testimony of courageous women from all regions and all major religions to demonstrate that women around the world, more than half of all human beings, are being denied equal rights. This is an informed and passionate charge about a devastating effect on economic prosperity and unconscionable human suffering. It affects us all.

6
NEW
THE WOMEN OF DUCK COMMANDER
Kay Robertson and others with Beth Clark
Cover of THE WOMEN OF DUCK COMMANDER

THE WOMEN OF DUCK COMMANDER

by Kay Robertson and others with Beth Clark · Howard Books

1 wks on list

"Matriarch Miss Kay, Korie, Missy, Jessica, and Lisa Robertson speak out in this insightful book about their roles in the crazy Robertson family and the core values that make this family work. Fans of Duck Dynasty already know that the women behind the men with the beards know their own minds and know how and when to speak out to their men. But this insightful book will give readers a look into what goes on behind the scenes and the real character and spunk of the women who love these bearded men. In this delightful book, readers will find that the Duck Commander women have real depth and character and, in addition to being the perfect companions for the Duckmen, are strong women of substance in their own rights. In each section of this book, our leading ladies share their hearts and their thoughts on the spiritual foundation that guides their lives as well as some of the difficulties and challenges they have faced in a chapter titled "'Happily Ever After' Sometimes Takes a While." They share about how each one became a Robertson and challenge myths about their motives for marriage into this family. The wives of these beloved men share precious stories about their love for Phil and Kay--with chapters titled "Oh, Kay!" and "Getting Our Phil"--as well as the core values that govern their lives. You'll learn about all their children, their own parents and grandparents and what made them the women they are today"--

7
2
NOT COOL
Greg Gutfeld
Cover of NOT COOL

NOT COOL

by Greg Gutfeld · Crown Forum

3 wks on list

Behind every awful, dangerous decision lurks one evil beast: the Cool. From politics to the personal, from fashion to food, from the campus to the locker room, the desire to be cool has infected all aspects of our lives. At its most harmless, it is annoying. At its worst, it is deadly, on a massive scale. The Cool are the termites of life, infiltrating every nook and cranny and destroying it from within. The Cool report the news, write the scripts, teach our children, run our government—and each day they pass judgment on those who don’t worship at the altar of their coolness. The cool fawn over terrorists, mock the military, and denigrate employers. They are, in short, awful people. From what we wear and what we eat, to what we smoke and who we poke, pop culture is crafted and manipulated by the cool and, to Greg Gutfeld, that's Not Cool. How do the cool enslave you? By convincing you that: - If you don't agree with them no one will like you. - If you don't follow them you will miss out on life. - If you don't listen to them you will die a lonely loser How do you vanquish the cool and discover your own true self? Read this book. In Not Cool, Greg Gutfeld, bestselling author of The Joy Of Hate, lays out the battle plan for reclaiming the real American ideal of cool--building businesses, protecting freedom at home and abroad, taking responsibility for your actions, and leaving other people alone to live as they damn well please. Not Cool fights back against the culture of phonies, elitists, and creeps who want your soul. It’s not a book, it’s a weapon—and one should be armed with it at all times.

8
5
UGANDA BE KIDDING ME
Chelsea Handler
Cover of UGANDA BE KIDDING ME

UGANDA BE KIDDING ME

by Chelsea Handler · Grand Central

5 wks on list

In this uproarious collection of travel essays, Chelsea Handler sneaks her sharp wit through airport security and delivers her most absurd and hilarious stories ever. On safari in Africa, it's anyone's guess as to what's more dangerous: the wildlife or Chelsea. But whether she's fumbling the seduction of a guide by not knowing where tigers live (Asia, duh) or wearing a bathrobe into the bush because her clothes stopped fitting seven margaritas ago, she's always game for the next misadventure. The situation gets down and dirty as she defiles a kayak in the Bahamas, and outright sweaty as she escapes from a German hospital on crutches. When things get truly scary, like finding herself stuck next to a passenger with bad breath, she knows she can rely on her family to make matters even worse. Thank goodness she has the devoted Chunk by her side-except for the time she loses him in Telluride. Complete with answers to the most frequently asked traveler's questions, hot travel trips, and travel etiquette, none of which should be believed, Uganda Be Kidding Me has Chelsea taking on the world, one laugh-out-loud incident at a time.

9
3
KILLING JESUS
Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
Cover of KILLING JESUS

KILLING JESUS

by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard · Holt

28 wks on list

Millions of readers have thrilled to bestselling authors Bill O'Reilly and historian Martin Dugard's Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln, page-turning works of nonfiction that have changed the way we read history. The basis for the 2015 television film available on streaming. Now the iconic anchor of The O'Reilly Factor details the events leading up to the murder of the most influential man in history: Jesus of Nazareth. Nearly two thousand years after this beloved and controversial young revolutionary was brutally killed by Roman soldiers, more than 2.2 billion human beings attempt to follow his teachings and believe he is God. Killing Jesus will take readers inside Jesus's life, recounting the seismic political and historical events that made his death inevitable - and changed the world forever.

11
NEW
JOHN WAYNE: THE LIFE AND LEGEND
Scott Eyman
Cover of JOHN WAYNE: THE LIFE AND LEGEND

JOHN WAYNE: THE LIFE AND LEGEND

by Scott Eyman · Simon & Schuster

1 wks on list

The New York Times bestselling biography of John Wayne: “authoritative and enormously engaging…Eyman takes you through Wayne’s life, his death, and his legend in a detailed, remarkably knowledgeable yet extremely readable way” (Peter Bogdanovich, The New York Times Book Review). John Wayne died more than thirty years ago, but he remains one of today’s five favorite movie stars. The celebrated Hollywood icon comes fully to life in this complex portrait by noted film historian and master biographer Scott Eyman. Exploring Wayne’s early life with a difficult mother and a feckless father, “Eyman gets at the details that the bean-counters and myth-spinners miss…Wayne’s intimates have told things here that they’ve never told anyone else” (Los Angeles Times). Eyman makes startling connections to Wayne’s later days as an anti-Communist conservative, his stormy marriages to Latina women, and his notorious—and surprisingly long-lived—passionate affair with Marlene Dietrich. He also draws on the actor’s own business records and, of course, his storied film career. “We all think we know John Wayne, in part because he seemed to be playing himself in movie after movie. Yet as Eyman carefully lays out, ‘John Wayne’ was an invention, a persona created layer by layer by an ambitious young actor” (The Washington Post). This is the most nuanced and sympathetic portrait available of the man who became a symbol of his country at mid-century, a cultural icon and quintessential American male against whom other screen heroes are still compared.

13
3
LEAN IN
Sheryl Sandberg with Nell Scovell
Cover of LEAN IN

LEAN IN

by Sheryl Sandberg with Nell Scovell · Knopf

54 wks on list

#1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • “A landmark manifesto" (The New York Times) that's a revelatory, inspiring call to action and a blueprint for individual growth that will empower women around the world to achieve their full potential. In her famed TED talk, Sheryl Sandberg described how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers. Her talk, which has been viewed more than eleven million times, encouraged women to “sit at the table,” seek challenges, take risks, and pursue their goals with gusto. Lean In continues that conversation, combining personal anecdotes, hard data, and compelling research to change the conversation from what women can’t do to what they can. Sandberg, COO of Meta (previously called Facebook) from 2008-2022, provides practical advice on negotiation techniques, mentorship, and building a satisfying career. She describes specific steps women can take to combine professional achievement with personal fulfillment, and demonstrates how men can benefit by supporting women both in the workplace and at home.

14
6
THE PROMISE OF A PENCIL
Adam Braun with Carlye Adler
Cover of THE PROMISE OF A PENCIL

THE PROMISE OF A PENCIL

by Adam Braun with Carlye Adler · Scribner

3 wks on list

Braun was on the way to a successful Wall Street career; while traveling he met a young boy begging on the streets of India, who after being asked what he wanted most in the world, simply answered, "A pencil." He explains how he turned $25 into more than 200 schools around the world-- and shows the steps anyone can take to lead a successful and significant life. Each chapter explains one clear step that every person can take to turn your biggest ambitions into reality, even if you start with as little as $25.

15
4
THINGS THAT MATTER
Charles Krauthammer
Cover of THINGS THAT MATTER

THINGS THAT MATTER

by Charles Krauthammer · Crown Forum

24 wks on list

From America’s preeminent columnist, named by the Financial Times the most influential commentator in the nation, a must-have collection of Charles Krauthammer’s essential, timeless writings. A brilliant stylist known for an uncompromising honesty that challenged conventional wisdom at every turn, Krauthammer dazzled readers for decades with his keen insight into politics and government. His weekly column was a must-read in Washington and across the country. Don’t miss the best of Krauthammer’s intelligence, erudition and wit collected in one volume. Readers will find here not only the country’s leading conservative thinker offering a pas­sionate defense of limited government, but also a highly independent mind whose views—on feminism, evolution and the death penalty, for example—defy ideological convention. Things That Matter also features several of Krautham­mer’s major path-breaking essays—on bioeth­ics, on Jewish destiny and on America’s role as the world’s superpower—that have pro­foundly influenced the nation’s thoughts and policies. And finally, the collection presents a trove of always penetrating, often bemused re­flections on everything from border collies to Halley’s Comet, from Woody Allen to Win­ston Churchill, from the punishing pleasures of speed chess to the elegance of the perfectly thrown outfield assist. With a special, highly autobiographical in­troduction in which Krauthammer reflects on the events that shaped his career and political philosophy, this indispensible chronicle takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the fashions and follies, the tragedies and triumphs, of the last three decades of American life.

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