Most Popular Books by Hal Marcovitz

Peyton and Eli Manning grew up in the culture of football--their father, Archie Manning, was a star quarterback for the NFL''s New Orleans Saints during the 1970s. Peyton has gone on to carve out a Hall of Fame career with the Indianapolis Colts, while Eli is starting to emerge as one of the league''s top quarterbacks as he leads the New York Giants. In 2006, Peyton led his team to victory in the Super Bowl, garnering honors as the game''s MVP. A year later Eli led the Giants to an upset victory in the Super Bowl while capturing the MVP trophy for himself.

Dream Big: American Idol Superstars shares with the reader the bright and colorful journeys made from the ordinary to the realm of superstar.

Dream Big: American Idol Superstars shares with the reader the bright and colorful journeys made from the ordinary to the realm of superstar.

Each title will cover a specific controversial topic in a narrative format. The primary focus will be on exploring all the varying and contrasting perspectives of the issue in a balanced and insightful way.

A history of the nation of Jordan and a discussion of its role in the Middle East.

A detailed biography of Ron Howard, whose acting career began when he was just two years old, grew into television and film success, and led to superstardom as a director of feature films.

Highlights the lives and careers of the actor brothers known for their roles in "The Royal Tenenbaums," "Alex and Emma," and "The Wedding Crashers."

Organized around a narrative-driven, pro-con formal designed specifically for students writing essays and research papers, The Future of Renewable Energy series explores what lies ahead for solar, wind, biofuels, and other forms of renewable energy. Books in this new series examine the topics that dominate public discourse including cost, environmental impact, practicality when measured against fossil fuels, and the role of government in renewable energy''s future. Important ideas are supported throughout each book by current and relevant facts, quotes, full-color statistical illustrations, and anecdotes. Source notes, related organizations and other sources for further research, along with a thorough index provide additional tools for students researchers. Book jacket.

A biography of the Spanish explorer whose explorations of the northern coast of South America led him to discover the Pacific Ocean.

Features drug and alcohol abuse and examines alcohol and drugs in America.

Discusses blindness, what causes it, how people live with blindness, and information about treatment and prevention.

Offers a history of medical care in the United States, along with statistical charts of past and present attitudes about the issue and a discussion of such current health topics as health insurance, malpractice, legal decisions on the right to die, and unhealthy lifestyles.

Examines how Americans of all backgrounds feel about divisive race-related issues such as affirmative action, racial profiling, race riots, the re-segregation of schools, and police brutality.

Biography profiles the African American tennis playing sisters, Venus and Serena Williams, and describes each of their professional accomplishments, the Olympic games, and other related topics.

Details the events surrounding the 1995 terrorist bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City, as well as the investigation and trial of those responsible for the blast and the execution of Timothy McVeigh.

A biography of the second president of the United States, focusing on his childhood and young adulthood.

A lot of people believe in ghosts; many of them believe they can also communicate with the spirits of the dead. Others believe fortune tellers can predict the future, witches cast magical spells and that Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, vampires, and other eerie creatures are real. People''s fascination with the strange and spooky shows how a belief in the supernatural has become part of the culture of the modern world.

A guide to the most important people and places in Islam discusses the lives and contributions of the Prophet Muhammad, Saladin, Malcolm X and other leaders and the role of Mecca and other sacred sites.

Even as a young boy, Eddie Murphy knew how to make people laugh. He first took the stage at the age of 15, emceeing an amateur talent show. At 19, he was discovered by the producers of Saturday Night Live and soon emerged as the sketch comedy program''s biggest and most controversial star, creating such memorable characters as Buckwheat, Mr. Robinson, and Little Richard Simmons. After Murphy turned to making movies, he quickly established himself as one of the hottest stars in Hollywood, playing such streetwise characters as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop. Murphy has since expanded his range by starring in more family-friendly films and playing multiple characters in movies like The Nutty Professor, as well as acting in more dramatic roles, such as his portrayal of soul singer James Thunder Early in Dreamgirls. Read how this talented, wise-cracking actor has made audiences laugh, from the small screen to movie hits.

Dream Big: American Idol Superstars shares with the reader the bright and colorful journeys made from the ordinary to the realm of superstar.

Members of the LGBTQ community have suffered through a particularly ugly form of bias for decades--many have been the victims of violent acts. In the 1990s the brutal murder of a gay man, Matthew Shepard, brought attention to the violence faced by LGBTQ individuals. Since then, lawmakers and prosecutors have stepped up efforts to bring perpetrators to justice; nevertheless, violence against the LGBTQ community continues to persist in American society.

The In Controversy series examines the complex, controversial issues of the day by breaking them into smaller pieces. By studying a specific issue, for example the ethics of embryonic stem cell research, rather than the entire stem cell research debate, students gain a more solid and focused understanding of a topic as a whole. Each book in the series provides a clear, insightful discussion of the issues, integrating facts and a variety of contrasting opinions for a solid, balanced perspective. Personal accounts and direct quotes from academic and professional experts, advocacy groups, politicians, and others enhance the narrative. Sidebars add depth to the discussion by expanding on important ideas and events. For quick reference, a list of key facts concludes every chapter. Source notes, an annotated organizations list, bibliography, and index provide student researchers with additional tools for papers and class discussion. Book jacket.

"Scientists have been warning about the catastrophes that could be caused by climate change for several decades, governmental leaders have done relatively little to address the problem. Many governmental leaders fear that reigning in the industries and lifestyles responsible for warming the planet''s atmosphere would severely impact the economies of their nations, leading to job loss, poverty and other ills. In the face of this inaction, Thunberg''s activism to combat global warming has ignited a spark-particularly among teens and other young people"--

"In October 2023 fighters from the Hamas militant group in the Gaza territory crossed over into neighboring Israel where they attacked civilians-ultimately killing some 1,200 people-while kidnapping nearly 230 Israelis and taking them back to Gaza as hostages. The incident touched off the Israel-Hamas War in which Israel used its formidable military to attack Gaza. As of early 202430,000 Palestinians had lost their lives in the conflict. The Israel-Hamas War is the latest conflict in the long history of hostility between Israelis and Palestinians, sparking intense divisions across the globe as political leaders and citizens debated the justification for the harsh Israeli response"--

For nearly four years the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) spread war and terror across the Middle East. ISIS saw itself as the ruler of the world''s 1.8 billion Muslims, who would be forced to live under a caliphate based on seventh-century beliefs and laws. In 2015 the United States and some forty other nations launched a war against ISIS, making a stand against one of the world''s most brutal terrorist groups.

Life in Nazi Germany represented one of the darkest chapters in human history as the regime of Adolf Hitler took dictatorial control while leading the country into war. Among the topics discussed in this social history are the powers of the Gestapo, which arrested and tortured ordinary citizens, domination of the news media by Hitler''s propaganda machine, the schooling of young people in Nazi ideology, and the persecution of the Jews who were stripped of their citizenship and property and eventually shipped off to Hitler''s notorious death camps.

What are the defining characteristics of the sprawling era known as the Middle Ages? What sets ancient Egypt apart from other ancient civilizations? And what is the legacy of the twentieth-century genocide known as the Holocaust? These are some of the ideas explored in Understanding World History, a series that surveys the political, social, and cultural trends of major periods and events in world history. Primary and secondary source quotes bring historical events to life. Source notes, a bibliography for further research, and index provide additional tools for student researchers. Book jacket.

This timely volume examines the use and abuse of marijuana, the effects of the drug on the body and on society as a whole, its medical uses, and the debate over legalization. Readers are given a concise understanding into pot culture, and what this drug has meant to humans throughout the ages.

Gene therapy has the potential to wipe out many horrific and debilitating diseases, including Parkinson''s disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer. As doctors pursue breakthroughs in gene therapy, they must overcome many ethical questions that surround the research as well as the unknown consequences of replacing faulty genes. This title examines the science behind gene therapy research in the following chapters: What is Gene Therapy? The Ideal Gene-Delivery Vehicle: Viruses, Attacking Bad Genes with Drugs, Stem Cells, Cloning and Gene Therapy, What is the Future of Gene Therapy?

Graffiti is largely illegal in most American communities, but that hasn''t stopped street artists from rendering large and very public demonstrations of exquisite art. Some graffiti artists, among them Shepard Fairey, Jim Clay Harper, Danielle Bremner, and the mysterious British artist Banksy have become world famous. The Art of Graffiti discusses what today''s artists are doing, how they attract a following, and what they are saying through their artwork.

Johnny Knoxville wondered what it would be like to be subjected to pepper spray-a substance police officers use to subdue unruly people. He offered to write a story about the experience for a skateboarder''s magazine, which suggested Knoxville film the stunt. He did make a video, including the pepper-spray stunt as well as other bizarre and oddball antics. When executives at MTV saw the video, they saw the potential for a reality TV show. In October 2000, the program, titled Jackass, premiered on the network. For three seasons Knoxville and his friends Bam Margera, Steve "Steve-O" Glover, Chris Pontius, and others continually placed themselves in danger, always with a comical touch. In fact, the Jackass stunts always seemed funnier when they didn''t work. During the show''s run, Knoxville and crew developed a devoted following-each week, as many as 3 million fans tuned in. Book jacket.

The Fall of the Soviet Union occurred after decades of economic chaos and a nuclear arms race with the West. Through thoughtful narrative supported by fully documented quotes this title begins with A Brief History of the Soviet Union¿s Collapse and then examines these questions: How Did Czarist Policies Contribute to the Rise of Communism? How Did Soviet Economic Polices Lead to Collapse? What Role Did the Cold War Weapons Buildup Play in the Soviet Collapse? How Did the Collapse of the Soviet Union Lead to War and Ethnic Conflict?

For Americans, 2020 was a year in which hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives in a deadly pandemic. Meanwhile, protesters took to the streets to demonstrate against racial injustice, terrible storms and wildfires swept across the country, and a divisive and caustic campaign for the presidency dominated life. Pandemic, Protest, and Politics: A Look Back at 2020 examines these issues and their impacts on life in America.

The period of history known as the Renaissance helped Europe break away from the dismal medieval era. The conditions that led to the Renaissance as well as the work of the writers, artists, dramatists and scientists who emerged during the era will be examined in this social history.

The Compact Research series offers a concise, relevant, and conveniently organized collection of information covering a variety of topics including illegal immigration and deforestation to diseases such as anorexia and meningitis. Each book introduces a timely topic in a tightly organized format to hold readers'' interest. Lively objective overviews, primary source quotes, and illustrated facts and statistics present an inviting full-color and user-friendly format. Other subsets in the Compact Research series include: Diseases and Disorders Drugs Book jacket.

Tells the story of 50 Cent, the rap musician.