A moving story about how autism and a shared appreciation for superheroes brought two brothers together. Author Josh Stehle learned everything he knows about superheroes from his older brother and best friend, Zach. From the worlds they live in, to the writers who created them, and studios who produced them--Zach is an expert in all things superhuman and heroic. He is also on the autistic spectrum. Detailing the unique experience of growing up with an autistic brother, this emotional memoir provides a glimpse into the challenges people with autism often face and highlights the indescribable beauty it can bring to the world. Told through the eyes of bonded siblings communicating through pop culture, Josh and Zach's story offers a new perspective on how fictional tales about powerful heroes transcended the page and screen to teach two young men incredible lessons about love, family, and brotherhood.

Spend the day in the life of a detection dog! Tucker the beagle is more than just a friendly face at the airport. As part of the “Beagle Brigade,” he helps keep out invasive species that could hurt the environment. It’s a job that would be almost impossible for humans—but for Tucker, it’s all in a day’s work. Told from the dog’s perspective, this story also includes back matter about the breed and role of the working dog.

Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Wonder Woman, the Avengers, the X-Men, Watchmen, and more: the companion volume to the PBS documentary series of the same name that tells the story of the superhero in American popular culture. Together again for the first time, here come the greatest comic book superheroes ever assembled between two covers: down from the heavens—Superman and the Mighty Thor—or swinging over rooftops—the Batman and Spider-Man; star-spangled, like Captain America and Wonder Woman, or clad in darkness, like the Shadow and Spawn; facing down super-villains on their own, like the Flash and the Punisher or gathered together in a team of champions, like the Avengers and the X-Men! Based on the three-part PBS documentary series Superheroes, this companion volume chronicles the never-ending battle of the comic book industry, its greatest creators, and its greatest creations. Covering the effect of superheroes on American culture—in print, on film and television, and in digital media—and the effect of American culture on its superheroes, Superheroes: Capes, Cowls, and the Creation of Comic Book Culture appeals to readers of all ages, from the casual observer of the phenomenon to the most exacting fan of the genre. Drawing from more than 50 new interviews conducted expressly for Superheroes!—creators from Stan Lee to Grant Morrison, commentators from Michael Chabon to Jules Feiffer, actors from Adam West to Lynda Carter, and filmmakers such as Zach Snyder—this is an up-to-the-minute narrative history of the superhero, from the comic strip adventurers of the Great Depression, up to the blockbuster CGI movie superstars of the 21st Century. Featuring more than 500 full-color comic book panels, covers, sketches, photographs of both essential and rare artwork, Superheroes is the definitive story of this powerful presence in pop culture.

Penelope Akk wants to be a superhero. She's got superhero parents. She's got the ultimate mad science power, filling her life with crazy gadgets even she doesn't understand. She has two super powered best friends. In middle school, the line between good and evil looks clear. In real life, nothing is that clear. All it takes is one hero's sidekick picking a fight, and Penny and her friends are labeled supervillains. In the process, Penny learns a hard lesson about villainy: She's good at it. Criminal masterminds, heroes in power armor, bottles of dragon blood, alien war drones, shape shifters and ghosts, no matter what the super powered world throws at her, Penny and her friends come out on top. They have to. If she can keep winning, maybe she can clear her name before her mom and dad find out.

Part road-trip comedy and part social science experiment, a scientist and a journalist travel the globe to discover the secret behind what makes things funny, questioning countless experts, including Louis C.K., along the way.

We instinctively know that exercise, eating the right things, and taking vitamins sustains our health, maintains our youth, and offers a sense of wellbeing. Traditional fitness publications do a great job telling you what to do, but lack any explanation as to the why and how. They offer a map to youth by micromanaging your diet, exercise and or supplements. You blindly follow their lead in expectation of finding your fountain of youth through their training. Every body is different, which is why one map may work for one person, but not another; maybe it failed you, so you try another. What you may not realize is that although they offer step by step instruction to find the fountain, they are not teaching you how to read the map. Although the map is the same, the directions are different for each of us to find the fountain of youth. the difference between the layperson and expert is their ability to read the map as a whole; that map is our anatomy. That cartography lesson is learned by teaching you how exercise, diet and supplements work rather than being told what in the same to follow. At the end of the lesson, you may now understand that your journey may require parts of many methods, rather than the single direction of one. the author shares his own journey as he teaches you how to read the map, so you understand how one has successfully read the map to discover his fountain of youth.

This thoroughly revised second edition draws on the author’s decades of observations and experiences in academia, Written in a clear and concise style, the book provides fully updated, forthright and practical counsel on achieving and maintaining a successful, balanced career from PhD to retirement.