Tyler Merritt's video "Before You Call the Cops" has been viewed millions of times. He's appeared on Jimmy Kimmel and Sports Illustrated and has been profiled in the New York Times. The viral video's main point-the more you know someone, the more empathy, understanding, and compassion you have for that person-is the springboard for this book. By sharing his highs and exposing his lows, Tyler welcomes us into his world in order to help bridge the divides that seem to grow wider every day. In I Take My Coffee Black, Tyler tells hilarious stories from his own life as a black man in America. He talks about growing up in a multi-cultural community and realizing that he wasn't always welcome, how he quit sports for musical theater (that's where the girls were) to how Jesus barged in uninvited and changed his life forever (it all started with a Triple F.A.T. Goose jacket) to how he ended up at a small Bible college in Santa Cruz because he thought they had a great theater program (they didn't). Throughout his stories, he also seamlessly weaves in lessons about privilege, the legacy of lynching and sharecropping and why you don't cross black mamas. He teaches readers about the history of encoded racism that still undergirds our society today. By turns witty, insightful, touching, and laugh-out-loud funny, I Take My Coffee Black paints a portrait of black manhood in America and enlightens, illuminates, and entertains-ultimately building the kind of empathy that might just be the antidote against the racial injustice in our society.

A top Hollywood party planner on how to design a wide range of fabulous fêtes Jes Gordon knows that girls just want to have fun. In Party Like A Rock Star, she shows them how. Gordon—a party-planner extraordinaire who has helmed events for the likes of Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Nicolas Cage, and Jennifer Lopez—presents a fun, comprehensive guide to event planning that reveals her tried-and-true secrets, culled over twenty years in the biz. With color photos throughout, but with step-by-step details that make the book much more than another impossibly perfect photo shoot, Gordon shows readers exactly how to create a unique event, one that reflects their own personalities and individual aesthetics. This hip, easy-to-follow guide will transform anyone's approach to entertaining—from birthday parties to baby showers to anniversaries. Topics include: *Creating a concept for any party—a concept that reflects you *How to budget—from a small soiree to a big bash *Stocking a home bar and whipping up smart cocktails *Whetting guests' appetites—with insider secrets from chefs *Being a flawless host—or guest *Etiquette guidelines and gift ideas *How to produce a party from beginning to end—colorful case studies and detailed instructions

This fun and fast-paced rock-and-roll memoir from hit singer-songwriter J.T. Harding shows what it takes to go from South Detroit to the top of the Nashville charts. In PARTY LIKE A ROCKSTAR, J.T. Harding charts his life from a kid growing up in Michigan to a chart-topping songwriter living in Nashville and working with country music stars like Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney. As a kid playing rock n' roll in his parents' garage, Harding's was a world in which every taste of new music—from KISS to Prince and everyone in between—was a revelation. Inspired by his favorite artists, Harding abandons the classic "American Dream" and runs away to Los Angeles, where he forms a band and becomes part of the music scene there, all the while selling records to his favorite artists and producers at Tower Records. A story of youth, rebellion, and determination, PARTY LIKE A ROCKSTAR is a memoir for music lovers and an invaluable how-to guide for anyone who wants to learn how to write a hit song. Fun and heartfelt, Harding's memoir is the story of one man's unshakable love for rock and roll, how it guided him through some of the greatest tragedies—and greatest triumphs—of his wild and unvarnished life.

Reveals the core marketing and branding strategies behind the success of the world's greatest bands. This book helps readers learn inside information about the world's most popular bands that translates directly and memorably into actionable business practices.

Being a ROCKSTAR is a frame of mind. I don't care what you listen to, where you hang out or what you wear, just be sure that whatever it is you're doing you're being yourself. People will like you for who you are and people will dislike you for who you are too, so knowing that, who gives a shit what anyone thinks? Just do you. You're the only one who can.

Have you noticed that some people in infosec simply have more success than others, however they may define success? Some people are simply more listened too, more prominent, make more of a difference, have more flexibility with work, more freedom, choices of the best projects, and yes, make more money. They are not just lucky. They make their luck. The most successful are not necessarily the most technical, although technical or "geek" skills are essential. They are an absolute must, and we naturally build technical skills through experience. They are essential, but not for Rock Star level success. The most successful, the Infosec Rock Stars, have a slew of other equally valuable skills, ones most people never develop nor even understand. They include skills such as self direction, communication, business understanding, leadership, time management, project management, influence, negotiation, results orientation, and lots more . . . Infosec Rock Star will start you on your journey of mastering these skills and the journey of moving toward Rock Star status and all its benefits. Maybe you think you can’t be a Rock Star, but everyone can MOVE towards it and reap the benefits of vastly increased success. Remember, “Geek” will only get you so far . . .

Filled with memorable photographs, Rock Star will appeal to anyone interested in modern American popular culture or music history.