Patti Smith Wins 2010 National Book Award

Just Kids
Musician, poet and visual artist Smith chronicles her intense life with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe during the 1960s and ’70s, when both artists came of age in downtown New York. Despite separations, the duo remained friends until Mapplethorpe’s death in 1989. Like the best of Smith’s music and Mapplethorpe’s art, this book is haunting and unforgettable. Beautifully written, JUST KIDS is a gift to everyone who has ever been touched by their art, and to everyone who’s ever been in love.

Switchblade

Sal Mineo: A Biography
One of the hottest stars of the 1950s, Sal Mineo’s life was tragically cut short when he was murdered at the age of 37. Author Michael Gregg Michaud captures the actor’s passionate, freewheeling lifestyle, and his narrative is dotted with those who worked with him: Dennis Hopper, Janet Leigh, Eva Marie Saint, and James Whitmore. Especially revealing are the intimate insights of Mineo’s fiancée, Jill Haworth, and his male lover Courtney Burr.

Brother, Can You Spare a Million?

Bailout Nation: How Greed and Easy Money Corrupted Wall Street and Shook the World Economy
Barry Ritholtz, one of today’s most popular economic bloggers and a well-established industry pundit, mixes financial history with an insider’s knowledge of modern finance to reveal how we’ve arrived at one of the worst economic crises ever. Engaging and informative, this book skillfully explores how the United States evolved from a rugged independent nation to a soft Bailout Nation-where financial firms are allowed to self-regulate in good times, but are bailed out by taxpayers in bad times.

So Here’s to You, Really Nice Guy!

Tough Guy: My Life on the Edge
In a notorious career with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks, Bob Probert established himself as one of the most feared enforcers in the history of the NHL. Probert died unexpectedly of a heart attack at the age of 45, but wanted to tell his story in his own words to set the record straight. This is that story.

Hello Paulo

Paulo Coelho: A Warrior’s Life
International bestseller Paulo Coelho has captured the imaginations of millions of readers with his mystical, semi-autobiographical fiction. Despite his success, few readers know anything about him. This authorized biography plunges into the details of Coelho’s life, from his perilous birth to his time in asylums to his staggering 25-year writing career.

Attitude is Altitude

Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life
Born without arms or legs, Nick Vujicic overcame his disability to live not just independently but a rich, fulfilling life, becoming a model for anyone seeking true happiness. Now an internationally successful motivational speaker, his central message is that the most important goal for anyone is to find their life’s purpose despite whatever difficulties stand in their way.

The Power of Friendship

Let’s Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship
Pulitzer Prize winner Gail Caldwell offers a powerful memoir of her brief but strong friendship with fellow writer Caroline Knapp, author of Drinking: A Love Story. Knapp died of lung cancer at the age of 42. Caldwell’s story of her bosom buddy is more than a personal tribute; it is a celebration of friendship itself and a study in surviving loss.