Most Popular Books by Bob Drury

The explosive true saga of the legendary adventurer Jedediah Smith and the Mountain Men who explored the American frontier, written by New York Times bestselling authors of Blood and Treasure Bob Drury and Tom Clavin. It is the early 19th century, and the land recently purchased by President Thomas Jefferson stretches west for thousands of miles. Who inhabits this vast new garden of Eden? What strange beasts and natural formations can be found? Thus was the birth of Manifest Destiny and the resulting bloody battles with Indigenous tribes encountered by white explorers. Also in this volatile mix are the grizzled fur trappers and mountain men, waging war against the Native American tribes whose lands they traverse. This is the setting of Throne of Grace, and the guide to this epic narrative is arguably America’s greatest yet most unsung pathfinder, Jedediah Smith. His explorations into the forested frontiers on both sides of the Rocky Mountains and all the way to the West Coast would become the stuff of legend. Thanks to painstaking research and riveting writing, the story of the making of modern America is told through the eyes of both the ordinary and memorable men and women, settlers and Indigenous, who witnessed it. But it's Smith who drives the narrative with his trailblazing path through the unexplored terrain of the American West. Throne of Grace is a gripping yarn that drops the reader into the center of an underreported era and introduces one of the great explorers in American history.

Map of Red Cloud's territory at the height of his power on lining papers.

He was one of the most decorated cops in the history of NYPD. From his "wiseguy" relatives, he learned the meaning of honor and loyalty. From his fellow cops, he learned the meaning of betrayal. MAFIA COP His father, Ralph "Fat the Gangster" Eppolito, was stone-cold Mafia hit-man. Lou Eppolito, however, chose to live by different code; he chose the uniform of NYPD. And he was one of the best -- a good, tough, honest cop down the line. Butu even his sterling record, his headline-making heroism, couldn't protect him when the police brass decided to take him down. Although completely exonerated of charges that he had passed secrets to the mob, Lou didn't stand a chance. They had taken something from him they couldn't give back: his dignity and his pride. Now, here's the powerful story, told in Lou Eppolito's own words, of the bloody Mafia hit that claimed his uncle and cousin...of his middle-of-the-night meeting with "Boss of Bosses" Paul Castellano...of one good cop who survived eight shootouts and saved hundreds of victims, who was persecuted, prosecuted, and ultimately betrayed by his own department. Full of hard drama and gritty truth, Mafia Cop gives a vivid, inside look at life in the Family, on the force, and on the mean streets of New York.

A decade ago, former military counterintelligence officer Terry Henry joined his precocious young daughter, Kyria, on a trip to a nursing home in order to allow its residents to play with their family dog, a golden retriever named riley. Terry was astounded by the transformations that unfolded before his eyes. Soon after, Terry and Kyria started their service dog organization, paws4people, with the goal of pairing dogs with human beings in need of healing, including traumatized and wounded war veterans and children living with physical, emotional, and intellectual disabilities. In A Dog's Gift, award-winning journalist and author Bob Drury movingly captures the story of a year in the life of paws4people and the broken bodies and souls the organization mends. The book follows the journey of pups bred by the organization from their loving, if rigorous, early training to an emotional event that terry and Kyria have christened "the bump," where each individual service dog chooses its new owner through an almost mystical connection that ignites the healing process. Incorporating vivid storytelling, insights into canine wisdom, history, science, and moving tales of personal transformation, A Dog's Gift is a story of miracles bound to be embraced by not only the 60 million Americans who own dogs, but by anyone with a full heart and a loving soul.

Provides an account of the challenges faced by the 210th Alaska Pararescue Squadron during their daring rescue of three English climbers on the West Rib route of Mount Denali--the highest peak in North America.

INCIDENT AT HOWARD BEACH A CASE FOR MURDER BY CHARLES J. HYNES and Bob Drury THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION The murder that shocked a city and nation and how our justice system works at its best. Late on the night of December 19, 1986, four black men were driving through the all-white community of Howard Beach, in the New York City borough of Queens, when their car broke down. By the early hours of the next morning, one of them lay dead on the Belt Parkway and one had been beaten nearly to death with a tree limb and a baseball bat by a dozen local teenagers. In the months to come, Howard Beach became a code all over the world for the worst in racial tensions. The story behind the Howard Beach incident, its investigation and the subsequent trial is a story of hatred, brutality and deceit; of media outcry, political shuffling and public manipulation; of a cast of characters ranging from petrified politicians to outraged black activists to the quiet citizens of an insular neighborhood. But it was up to one man to bring the case to trial and steer it to its fair conclusion: Special Prosecutor Charles J. Joe Hynes. Incident at Howard Beach is his storya riveting and candid expos of his fight to discern what really happened that night, his struggle to make a coherent case out of those events, and the battles and tactics he used during the trial a year later in state supreme court. From the on-site investigation through jury selection, behind-the-scenes deal-making, and trial deliberation, here is everything that led to the convictions of the ringleaders and helped to quiet a city in turmoil. Charles J. Hynes Charles J. Hynes, the District Attorney of Brooklyn, New York, has been in public service for more than forty years. He has been chief of the Brooklyn DA's Rackets Bureau, a Special State Prosecutor investigating Medicaid Fraud, a Special State Prosecutor for Criminal Justice who prosecuted the Howard Beach case and a New York City Fire Commissioner. He has been the Brooklyn District Attorney since 1990. Bob Drury Contributing Editor and Chief Military Correspondent of Men's Health, Bob Drury has been nominated for three National Magazine Awards and a Pulitzer Prize. He is also the author, co-author, or editor of nine nonfiction books. Re-reading Hyness excellent account of this awful racial crime with 25 years of perspective once again brings the blood to rapid boil. I covered that crime. I watched Hynes fight for justice as a special prosecutor in the courtroom. I interviewed him during the trial. I believe that had it not been for his tenacious prosecution in this vile murder New York City would today be a much uglier city. Reading his new Forward and Epilogue reminds me of just how far we have come in race relations in New York since Howard Beach. History will not forget that Hynes had a helluva lot to do with that desperately needed change. For that reason alone this compelling, page-turning book deserves this second look. Denis Hamill Columnist New York Daily News

Nominated for The National Magazine Awards, Public Interest category Every war has its "signature wounds," injuries inflicted by frightening new weapons and tactics the U.S. military has never faced before. Blistered flesh from mustard gas in World War I. Petroleum burns from oil and gas igniting on the surface of the Pacific in World War II. And now, lost legs, hands, and most devastating of all, genitals, as a result of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in today's war in Afghanistan. Men's Health contributing editor Bob Drury, a veteran reporter of both the Afghan and Iraq wars, delivers his most hard-hitting and important dispatch yet--the unforgettable accounts of U.S. soldiers who have suffered these very personal wounds. Their intense tales of battlefield survival are just a prologue to the unimaginable fights they face once they're stateside. This is essential reading for truly understanding what our fighting forces put on the line--and lose--every single day.

Described as the new "bible" for pilots Classic Routes is the ultimate guidebook to the world's ultimate free flight destinations. Whether you fly a lightweight paraglider or a topless hang glider, there is something in this book for you. Published by the makers of Cross Country Magazine, the international paragliding and hang gliding magazine, and edited by Bob Drury, Classic Routes is a unique tour through 20 of the world's premier free flight destinations. From the classic 90km Bingara Run in Manilla, Australia, to flying the convergence line in Piedrahita, Spain, to the Grand Tour of Annecy to chasing miles in Governador Valadares, Brazil, many of the world's best-known sites are all in here. Each chapter is written by a pilot who has flown the route and is familiar with the territory. They explain how you can fly it too, and what to look for along the way. House thermals are pointed out, secret glide lines explained, intricate meteorology unravelled and local rules unveiled. However, you don't have to be embarking on a world tour to get full advantage of Classic Routes. The book stands alone as a unique teaching and learning aid, explaining better than any textbook how to fly cross country. It lets you see inside the heads of pilots like Will Gadd or Jocky Sanderson as they reveal the tricks of their trade and share their secrets. The print version of Classic Routes is a classic coffee table book, with beautiful photography laid out over 200 pages. This digital version has been reformatted specifically for the Kindle, and features all the articles and chapters just as they are in the book, but without all the gorgeous photos available in the print version. You don't have to be an adventure sports enthusiast or an extreme sports addict to enjoy this book, or even a paraglider pilot or hang glider pilot – armchair travellers and sofa adventurers will enjoy the well written tales, which are written by some of the best writers in the sport. The list of places featured and who wrote them includes: Americas Will Gadd steps into the Rocky Mountain Trench for a 100km classic in Golden, Canada Nate Scales tip-toes 75km through Idaho’s Sun Valley, USA Mitch McAleer rides the ridges of California’s Lake Elsinore Jocky Sanderson goes 100km dot-to-dot from Governador Valadares, Brazil Europe Simon Coe and Arne Kristian Boiesen go troll hunting in Norway’s mountains Bob Drury shrugs off the rain for a classic tour of Snowdonia, Wales Hugh Miller dodges airspace and chases cloudbase as he boots it downwind across the flats from Combe Gibbet in England Matthew Whittall swaps his office BlackBerry for a vario on a 100km tour of King Ludwig’s castles in Bavaria Kelly Farina flies an FAI triangle in Austria’s ‘racing valley’, the Zillertal Felix Wolk top-lands Marmolada on his hang glider Roland Mader dares to ride the giant for a 200km FAI triangle starting from Fiesch, Switzerland J C Skiera surfs the limestone cliffs around Annecy’s Grand Tour du Lac Marcus King goes into the freezer on a 100km blast through the Ecrins in France Bob Drury rides wild horses on the 100km Dormillouse Run in southern France Bob Drury flies a blinder using the classic convergence in Piedrahita, Spain Rest of the world Greg Hamerton goes for 133km in Porterville, South Africa’s most popular site Adam Hill takes us by the hand around the Korchon Circuit in Pokhara, Nepal Jim Mallinson flies along the mountains from Bir to Dharamsala on an Indian Himalayan classic Download your copy now – reading means learning, and learning helps you fly better. Blue Skies! The Classic Routes Team

This title tells the untold story of Red Cloud, the great Sioux chief who witnessed the opening of the West, and the only Plains Indian to defeat the United States Army in a war. At the peak of their chief's powers, the Sioux could claim control of one-fifth of the United States. But unlike Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, or Geronimo, the fog of history has left Red Cloud strangely obscured. Now, thanks to painstaking research by two authors, his incredible story can finally be told.

Nube Roja fue el único indio americano de la historia en derrotar al Ejército de EE. UU. en una guerra, obligando al Gobierno a procurar la paz bajo los términos impuestos por el jefe indio. En la cima del poder de Nube Roja, los sioux llegaron a reclamar el control sobre una quinta parte de lo que serían los contiguos Estados Unidos y disfrutaron de la lealtad de miles de guerreros feroces. Sin embargo, las neblinas de la historia han ensombrecido extrañamente su figura. Ahora, gracias al redescubrimiento de una autobiografía perdida y a la investigación meticulosa de dos galardonados autores como Bob Drury y Tom Clavin, puede contarse al fin la historia del guerrero indio más poderoso del siglo XIX. En este documento, los autores devuelven a Nube Roja su lugar en la historia. Repasando los acontecimientos que desembocaron en la Guerra de Nube Roja, nos ofrecen retratos íntimos de las muchas vidas con las que se cruzó el jefe indio: hombres de montaña como Jim Bridger, generales estadounidenses como William T. Sherman, exploradores intrépidos como John Bozeman, y memorables guerreros a quienes Nube Roja preparó, como el legendario Caballo Loco. En el centro de la historia se encuentra el gran jefe sioux, luchando por la mera existencia de la forma de vida de los indios.

War, Sports...and Butterflies is a compilation of Bob Drury's best columns. Drury is a Men's Health Contributing Editor and Military Correspondent. Drury has been nominated for three National Magazine Awards and a Pulitzer Prize. He has reported from Iraq, Afghanistan, Liberia, Bosnia, Northern Ireland and Darfur among other sites. He is also the author, co-author or editor of nine nonfiction books, including the New York Times bestselling HALSEY'S TYPHOON, LAST MEN OUT, THE LAST STAND OF FOX COMPANY and THE HEART OF EVERYTHING THAT IS. From the Introduction by best-selling author Tom Clavin: "In the Acknowledgments of one of my books I referred to Bob Drury as 'the best writer I know.' Was that written because he is a friend? No. Reading just a handful of the pieces in War, Sports and Butterflies will convince you that Bob is the best writer you know too. Of course, you may not 'know' Bob in the sense of bending an elbow beside him at a local saloon. The next best thing is reading what he's written. There is an immediacy and intimacy in these columns that will give readers a sense of what it is like to be in the company of an especially engaging story teller. I've read and enjoyed most of the novels of Ernest Hemingway, but his short stories reveal the depth of his talent. My point? Bob is a masterful writer of books but in this collection you'll find pieces that can be considered his 'Three Day Blow' and 'Hills Like White Elephants.' The challenge for you, dear readers, will be to stop reading, to press that button or whatever you have to do to take a break from War, Sports and Butterflies. The columns are addictive, and you'll soon find yourself keeping your eyes pasted to the screen the same way viewers have binge-watched episodes of "House of Cards" and "Breaking Bad." Know what? So what! Turn the phone off, switch off the TV, tell the kids to keep texting their friends, hand your significant other a credit card and directions to the mall . . . do whatever you have to do to open a big enough window of time to indulge. It's that good. Prepare yourselves to get to know Bob Drury." "Here's the thing about Bob Drury: When he goes somewhere, he always takes you with him. Which is saying something because Drury fearlessly visits the most godforsaken, psyche-rattling, awe-inspiring places on Earth. Welcome to Hell and Heaven. Mr. Drury will be your tour guide." - Ellis Henican, Best-Selling Author of How To Catch a Russian Spy "Depth, breadth and rollicking good prose. Bob Drury is as good as it gets when it comes to telling stories. This collection of his magazine nonfiction is a wonderful introduction to Drury at his best." - Richard Esposito, Senior Executive Producer of NBC News' Investigative Unit "Bob Drury has rightfully earned the "Big J" as a journalist's journalist. He has gone there, done that and met them all in pursuit of great stories. Whether it is far away, across the street, under fire, or over a beer, he captures the heart of the tale and brings it home in all its' glory. Drury offers sharp-eyed insight into the world of unforgettable characters-military heroes, twisted despots, and legends of sports. A Bob Drury byline says he has done the hard work. You're in for a for a wild ride." - Pamela K. Browne, Senior Executive Producer, FOX News

Guerrier accompli, leader et stratège redoutable, Red Cloud (« Nuage Rouge », 1821-1909), est le seul Indien de l'histoire américaine à avoir remporté une campagne militaire et imposé ses conditions à Washington. À l'apogée de son pouvoir, les Sioux contrôlaient un cinquième du territoire américain et comptaient des milliers de combattants dans leurs rangs. Mais que connaît-on vraiment de son histoire, jusqu'alors restée dans l'ombre ? Né dans l'actuel Nebraska, Red Cloud, orphelin très jeune, connaît une ascension fulgurante au sein d'un peuple qu'il va élever au rang de véritable puissance militaire et politique. Le conflit qu'il mènera entre 1866 et 1868, baptisé « la guerre de Red Cloud », s'achèvera par la défaite des soldats américains, comme un avertissement adressé à Washington : les Indiens des Plaines se battront jusqu'au bout pour défendre leurs terres et leurs traditions. Inspiré par une autobiographie inédite et récemment retrouvée, Sur la terre des Sioux retrace la légende de l'un des plus grands chefs indiens et offre une perspective inédite sur la guerre que les Sioux, dont Crazy Horse et Sitting Bull entre autres, ont menée contre l'envahisseur blanc. « Un récit fascinant, implacable et tristement véridique. » USA Today

Depicting his rise to football stardom, the celebrated Hall of Famer discusses both the mayhem and hilarity of football of the bygone era and addresses the dramatic changes that have come over football with television coverage