For more than five years, Adam Hart-Davis travelled the length and breadth of Britain, bringing to life in his TV series, "Local Heroes", pioneers of science, invention and technology. This book presents 100 of the best stories: ingenious or odd, different or daft, but always entertaining.

Firefighters are the unsung local heroes of every community. They protect our towns and cities, risk their lives, and give up their free time when the alarm sounds. Through beautiful photography and engaging text, take a glimpse into the lives of these men and women, all of them volunteer, including an Emmy-winning songwriter, an arborist, a lawyer, and a topographic mapmaker. Experience a sampling of life at firehouses from around the country: a 100-year-old department in a small New York town, an "Old South" department in one of America's poorest counties, a Midwest department that battled one of the worst fires in Colorado's history, and a California coastline department with only nine members--none younger than 54. Their stories will leave you inspired and thankful for the local heroes we call firemen.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Asbury Park, New Jersey, was the place to be-to stroll along the boardwalk, to sunbathe, and, most importantly, to listen to live music. But since the city fell into ruin, culminating in the race riots of the 1970s, many were left to wonder if the former rock 'n' roll mecca had been silenced forever. In Local Heroes, author Anders Mårtensson and photographer Jörgen Johansson revisit the myths, legends, and romantic visions of the music scene in a town that is striving to make a comeback. While the story of Asbury Park is inseparable from widely popular artists, such as Bruce Springsteen, Steven van Zandt, and Southside Johnny Lyon, Local Heroes pays tribute to these musicians alongside the many other talents who stayed behind, playing in local clubs, helping to forge what became known as the "Jersey Shore sound." In a series of original interviews, readers will hear first-hand from the people who wrote, performed, and lived the music. Accompanied by exclusive photographs, musical personalities such as Max Weinberg, Garry Tallent, Richie "LaBamba" Rosenberg, Danny Federici, Bill Chinnock, Vini Lopez, Pete Yorn, and many others are brought to life. Whether the redevelopment efforts underway in Asbury Park today will someday serve as the stage for music legends of tomorrow is a story that has yet to play out. But for now, rock 'n' roll fans can delight in a stunning tribute to a city and its talents whose music continues to play on.

Using personal narratives and revealing photographs from a traveling photographic exhibition, this unique book celebrates the contributions of ordinary Americans who are working to improve their communities. 35,000 first printing.

A riveting narrative history of food as seen through 100 recipes, from ancient Egyptian bread to modernist cuisine. We all love to eat, and most people have a favorite ingredient or dish. But how many of us know where our much-loved recipes come from, who invented them, and how they were originally cooked? In A History of Food in 100 Recipes, culinary expert and BBC television personality William Sitwell explores the fascinating history of cuisine from the first cookbook to the first cupcake, from the invention of the sandwich to the rise of food television. A book you can read straight through and also use in the kitchen, A History of Food in 100 Recipes is a perfect gift for any food lover who has ever wondered about the origins of the methods and recipes we now take for granted.

Innovating with Integrity presents a comprehensive portrait of the local heroes—front-line public servants and middle managers—who are reinventing state and local government, and it offers practical recommendations for innovating successfully. Based on a study of more than 200 successful government innovations, this book is the first large-scale, systematic analysis of innovation in American government. Sandford Borins identifies the components of integrity that he finds in successful innovators, including the intellectual discipline to plan rigorously and to establish measurable goals; the ability to collaborate with others and accommodate criticism; and a willingness to mobilize both the private sector and the community. In addition to analyzing the common traits driving new initiatives, Borins shows the distinctive differences among six areas of innovation: information technology, organizational redesign, environmental and energy management, policing and community development, social services, and education. This trenchant analysis of what initiatives actually work and why contributes to both the practice and theory of public management. Its practical advice will be especially valuable for front-line government workers, public managers, union leaders, agency heads, politicians, and all concerned with reforming government.