Best Selling Books by Dan Taylor

Many in baseball consider the scout to be the most important figure in any organization: It is the scout''s work in the high school and college bleachers that unearths future legends. Few have achieved more--and in such grand style--than George Genovese. In a game that values numbers, Genovese''s are staggering. No other scout has been responsible for more players in a single lineup, more home runs by players signed or more All-Star and World Series highlights than Genovese. Genovese''s eye for talent is unmatched, his advocacy for the players he discovers is unrivaled, and the investment he makes toward their success is a difference maker. This autobiography is the story of his seven decades in baseball as a player, manager and scout.

Laugh Hard, Laugh Loud, Laugh Often Of all the gifts God give us, laughter is definitely one of the sweetest. Delight in this good-for-the-soul collection of humor dedicated to the many ways laughter can surprise, amaze, comfort and enrich your life like nothing else. Drawing on his experience as a preacher''s kid and a former youth pastor, humorist Dan Taylor shares hilarious anecdotes, such as mentally willing hungry parishioners away from primo potluck cookies dealing with the disappointment of not getting fork-stabbed at church camp running errands with a donut-loving driver''s ed instructor Learn that those with the ability to laugh at themselves are truly blessed—because their well of good humor will never run dry.

The Hollywood Stars were the most inventive team in baseball history, known for their celebrity ownership and movie star following during the Golden Age of Hollywood. In Lights, Camera, Fastball: How the Hollywood Stars Changed Baseball, Dan Taylor delivers a fascinating look at the Hollywood Stars and their glorious twenty-year run in the Pacific Coast League. Led by Bob Cobb, owner of the heralded Brown Derby restaurant and known more famously as the creator of the Cobb salad, the Hollywood Stars took professional baseball to a new and innovative level. The team played in short pants, instigated rule changes, employed cheerleaders and movie-star beauty queens, pioneered baseball on television, eschewed trains for planes, and offered fans palatable delicacies not before served at ballparks. On any given night, Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Barbara Stanwyck, Humphrey Bogart, and dozens more cheered on their favorite team from the boxes and grandstands of Gilmore Field. During the Hollywood Stars’ history, its celebrity owners pushed boundaries, challenged existing baseball norms, infuriated rivals, and produced an imaginative product, the likes of which the game had never before seen. Featuring interviews with former players, Lights, Camera, Fastball is an inside look at a team that was far ahead its time, whose innovations are still seen in professional baseball today.

Few would dispute the pitching greatness of Sandy Koufax--but was Paul Pettit better? Jim Baxes was once compared to the great Pie Traynor yet few baseball fans have ever heard of him. John Elway was undeniably one of the greatest quarterbacks in pro football history but could he have been an even better baseball player? For most fans greatness is measured in trophies and awards and confirmed by consistency over time. During his 70 years in baseball, renowned scout George Genovese witnessed some of the most talented players ever to play the game--some of them unknown to fans. He recalls the careers of unsung greats like Nestor Chavez, Matt Harrington and Derek Tatsuno, who never gained lasting fame despite unrivaled talent.

The inspirational story of African American trailblazer Kenny Washington, the first player to reintegrate the NFL. On September 29, 1946, football star Kenny Washington made history. When he trotted onto the field for the Los Angeles Rams, Washington broke the color barrier in the NFL. In Walking Alone: The Untold Journey of Football Pioneer Kenny Washington, Dan Taylor reveals Washington’s immeasurable impact on his sport and beyond. Legends of the game hailed Washington as one of the greatest players in football history. He was also a baseball star, and Taylor recounts never-before-told details of the efforts to make Washington the first Black player in big league baseball along with Jackie Robinson. Taylor also delves into the heinous verbal and physical abuse Washington was subjected to, his refusal to play in the South, and how he positively impacted ignorant teammates and rivals through his character and talent. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, there was no more popular athlete in Los Angeles than Kenny Washington. Walking Alone chronicles for the first time the life story of this trailblazing football legend.

The untold story behind one of baseball’s biggest scandals and the men who saved a tarnished game. In the winter of 1926, Major League Baseball became enveloped in scandal. Two of baseball’s biggest stars, Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker, were accused of fixing and betting on games. Sportswriters called the scandal worse than that of the infamous “Black Sox.” The reputation of baseball was in tatters. In Baseball at the Abyss, Dan Taylor reveals the behind-the-scenes story of how baseball was saved after the banishment of Cobb and Speaker. It was all set in motion by one unlikely individual—Christy Walsh, the business manager for Babe Ruth and baseball’s first player agent. Taylor follows Walsh and Ruth as the agent arranges for the Babe to star in a motion picture and presses for Ruth to hire a fitness guru, change his habits, and train while in Hollywood. The results were astonishing. The scandal was soon forgotten as a reinvigorated Babe Ruth enjoyed his greatest season in 1927, slugging 60 home runs and powering his New York Yankees to heights never seen before. Baseball at the Abyss features fascinating details of the 1926 scandal and the incredible resurgence of the national pastime when it seemed the game was permanently tarnished. It’s the story of a remarkable year in baseball history and the men who restored glory to a troubled game.

Imagine pulling up a stool to the bar and sipping a frosty pint of your favorite beverage as you listen in on the conversations of the "regulars" that frequent the neighborhood tavern. But, this establishment is unlike any other bar. The HIDEOUT BAR & GRILL caters to the super heroes of First City. And, this watering hole serves as more than just a place to wash away the troubles of serving and protecting society as crime-fighting crusaders. For the regular heroes it is "a place where everyone knows your name," secret identity or not.

The The Rise of the Bulldogs tells the extraordinary story of the unranked 2008 Fresno State Bulldogs and their remarkable journey from a seemingly lost season to NCAA National Champions. Baseball fans across America were held spellbound by Fresno State''s nail-biting and improbable adventure through the NCAA playoffs. A record viewing audience of almost 2 million households tuned in to ESPN''s live coverage as Fresno State grabbed their crown. Now in this gripping on-the-field account, readers can experience what Baseball America magazine columnist John Manuel described as "the biggest upset winners in College World Series history, perhaps all of college sports." Only a handful of people close to the team know the inside truth about the turmoil—the injuries, the conflicts, and the betrayals that took place during the Bulldogs'' momentous season. Television sportscaster Dan Taylor is one of those insiders, and he reveals the real story in these pages. Taylor shows how late-season tumult forced a reevaluation of the commitment, direction, and relationships among the players themselves; how the team bonded as a unit and developed leadership from within; and how these changes led to a positive and carefree brand of baseball. Ultimately, the group found the belief they needed in one another in the midst of the most unlikely crowning of a national champion in the history of collegiate sports. This is the ultimate underdog story, with a long shot coming out on top against overwhelming odds.

A comprehensive and empathetic program for addressing, planning, and putting into effect long-term parent care. Long-term care for aging parents is a sensitive, often difficult, but ultimately inevitable issue all of us must face. The Parent Care Conversation offers a step-by-step approach for families to follow that will enable them to develop workable plans of action. By first addressing the emotional aspects of long-term care that take into account the parents feelings and wishes, then integrating the practical and financial components, this book will open the door for a critical exchange of information and honest discussion among adult children and their aging parents that has long been the major roadblock to successful elder care. Filled with factual information, useful tips, real-life stories, and practical exercises, The Parent Care Conversation provides a proactive and collaborative solution to the long-term care issues that eventually everyone must face.

The City—an immense megalopolis of urban sprawl that stretches far and wide horizontally as well as towering and lofty vertically. Within the dichotomy of the soaring Spires and the deep Downs, Kitty Kane leads a double-life. As the only daughter of Commissioner Kurt Kane she is an influential socialite among the upper echelon who live privileged lives amid the Spires. But, far below among the downtrodden that dwell within the Downs she is a lethal street samurai, a vigilante, a mercenary known as the Gritty Kitty.

"The Road Aces have been saving money for a picnic. But when two guys come into Lucky''s Auto Shop with problems on their car, the money is suddenly missing. Were they the ones who took it? Susie, Jim, and Greg try to find out"--Page 4 of cover

Writer and BoingBoing.net co-editor Cory Doctorow has won acclaim for his science-fiction writing as well as his Creative Commons presentation of his material. Now, IDW Publishing is proud to present six standalone stories adapted from Doctorow''s work, each featuring cover art by some of comics'' top talents including Sam Kieth, Scott Morse, Paul Pope, Ben Templesmith, Ashley Wood, and more. Stories collected include: The Locus Award-winning "When Sysadmins Ruled the Earth;" "Anda''s Game", a story selected for inclusion in the Michael Chabon edited 2005 Best American Short Stories; "Craphound", a story selected for Year''s Best Science Fiction XVI; "Nimby and the D-Hoppers", selected for Year''s Best Science Fiction 9; The Hugo-nominated and Locus Award-winning "I Robot;" and "After the Siege."

A first novelty book about The Little Mermaid, with push, pull and slide mechanisms.First Stories: The Little Mermaid is the perfect introduction, for young children, to this classic fairy tale. Push, pull and turn mechanisms bring the story to life and introduce your favourite characters: the little mermaid, the prince and the fearsome sea witch. This well-loved fairy tale is beautifully re-imagined for a new generation by children''s illustrator Dan Taylor.

Tumble down the rabbit hole and discover Alice''s world of wonder, then complete the Wonderland scenes, magical beyond your wildest dreams Use over 300 stickers to set the table for the Mad Hatter''s tea party and join in the Queen of Hearts'' croquet match. This lively sticker book is packed with activities including mazes, puzzles, connect-the-dots, spot-the-difference and plenty of scenes to color, and puts you in charge of Alice''s amazing adventures. A wonderfully interactive introduction to Lewis Carroll''s classic children''s story, with bright, contemporary illustrations, Alice in Wonderland: First Sticker Activity Book is perfect for curious little hands.

This book contains six confessions of faith which are of great importance to Baptist history. These six confessions, beginning with John Smyth''s (the founder of the Baptist religion), encapsulate the faith and doctrine of the General Baptists.

"Lenny wanted others to like him, so he tried to please everyone. He would follow his friends no matter what, even if they did something Lenny knew was wrong. He just couldn''t say ''no'' to them. That is, until Daniel was thrown into the lions'' den and God chose Lenny to take the lead"--Cover, p. [4].

Duncan the donkey has begun to think that God has given him no purpose in life, but he is chosen to carry Christ into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

In this story, Caleb the camel overcomes his fear of traveling and helps bring the wise men to a very special baby. He finds that God can use even a scared little camel.

Reconceives human freedom in Spinoza as intrinsically social and politically committed Combining careful historical and textual analysis with comparisons across past and present political theory, this book re-establishes Spinoza as a collectivist philosopher. Taking as its starting point the formative role of fear in Spinoza''s thought, Dan Taylor argues that Spinoza''s vision of human freedom and power is realised socially and collectively. He offers a new critical study of the collectivist Spinoza, where we can become freer through desire, friendship, the imagination and transforming the social institutions that structure a given community. A freedom for one and all, attuned to the vicissitudes of human life and the capabilities of each one of us to live up to the demands and constraints of our limited autonomy. This book develops and enriches the continental tradition of Spinozism, drawing on a range of untranslated materials and bringing a fresh perspective to key debates. It repositions Spinoza as the central thinker of desire and freedom and demonstrates how the conflicts within his work inform contemporary theoretical discussions around democracy, the multitude, populism and power. Dan Taylor is a Lecturer in Social and Political Thought at the Open University

Meet Little Miss Jelly Bean and learn about all of the different things that she likes. Little Miss Jelly Bean really, really likes a lot of the same things that other toddlers do, such as dancing, playing in the sand, drawing with crayons, and reading picture books. Little Miss Jelly Bean is inspired by the author''s own bow wearing two-year-old daughter. Recommended for ages 2 to 5.

Warning! This title contains adult themes, subject matter, and humor NOT suitable for readers of a sensitive disposition. It also contains four-letter words you wouldn''t write in a birthday card, and also may contain traces of mystery. The Mystery of the Phone Calls is the fast-paced and action-packed second chapter in the Jake Hancock series of private investigator mysteries, and is the sequel to #1 bestselling comedy The Mystery of the Secret Parents. We hope you enjoy it! Book description of Jake Hancock Private Investigator Mystery series Book 2 Smooth-talking Jake Hancock returns in this thrill-a-minute sequel to The Mystery of the Secret Parents.Hancock has just learned his sister and nephew have been kidnapped. The culprit? An enigmatic criminal who communicates through a voice-modulation device low on batteries. He knows by whom, but not why.Hancock needs to save them, and fast. Over the course of one evening and night, Hollywood''s smoothest private detective pits his wits against the best criminal mind if not in the state, then definitely the city. Well, at least the neighborhood.To get his sister and nephew back, Jake will stop at nothing.Justice just got a makeover, Hancock style. The Mystery of the Phone Calls is the second in a series of private detective mysteries starring a private investigator so cool, you shouldn''t put your tongue anywhere near him. Look for the other fast-paced action books in this series: The Mystery of the Secret Parents, The Mystery of the Abandoned Observation Station, The Mystery of the Forgotten Week, and The Mystery of Two Cases.