Been There Done That Now What

Why do Americans feel so badly about themselves? One after another, today's social commentators tell us it's because contemporary America has lost its sense of values, absolutes, and meaning. The problem, maintains Ed Young, is not life, but perspective. Here he provides the only perspective that works--God-given meaning--and tells readers how to discover pleasant surprises about the meaning of life.

A rollicking, myth-busting history of sex that sets the record straight on subjects ranging from contraception and STIs to courtship and reproduction, pushing back against plenty of present-day taboos and urban legends along the way. With curiosity and irreverent insight, science writer Rachel Feltman breaks down the long, weird, illustrious history of sex. She guides readers through the kaleidoscopic archives of centuries-old porn and erotica, as well as the bizarre history of treatments for erectile dysfunction, including radium suppositories and goat testicle transplants. Feltman provides the history of huge scientific questions--e.g., How are babies made?--and considers the ancient from a modern perspective: What was it like to have herpes several millennia ago? Even from unlikely sources like Hildegard von Bingen's treatise on the female orgasm, there's a lot we can learn about our modern-day sexual proclivities and practices from the historical record. And these figures from the past, from gay cowboys to polyamorous Vikings, prove that when it comes to how we have sex and who we do it with, there's no such thing as normal.

Don't let the word "Woman" in Experience fool ya! If anybody knows me, EVERYBODY will benefit from the hilarious, real, brash, inspiring, and empowering writing that can have you laughing and crying at the same time... realizing you're worth something pretty special!!! And if you don't know me yet, then this is a fabulous introduction! This book will show you that by switching the genders... the inspiration is no different!!! And although there are tons of experiences in our lives, these are just 50 of them. Maybe we didn't experience them in the same way... but we've experienced them in some way! And that's just it: WE. The Woman Experience!!! We're all in this together... no matter the age, race, size, shape, sexual preference, gender, or culture! One experience at a vibe! So don't judge a book by the number, size, or title of its chapters. You just might be surprised what you find inside!!! HERE'S A GLIMPSE ON OUR BACK BOOK COVER: Whether 25, 35, or 85... we've all done some sh*t in our lives. We've learned from it, moved on & revitalized our growth from it, or we've hibernated with it and allowed it to linger in our daily routine... giving it VIP access to move back in at its own convenience. Some of us have gotten to a point of adjustment awareness, and us others may have not been able to locate our frame of consciousness. It's okay. It's all a part of the Woman Experience. And to each our own. Because although we're interlinked to a species of feminine production, our experiments can entail quite a distinction of perception. And movement is progress no matter the speed or direction. We're either going to get better going forward, or going to get better at going backwards. "For better or for worse" in time: Our Reality! So why not expand our mind's navigation system with some hilarious, fun, loving, brash, real, extremely honest and self-empowering material that can get our mental stimulated? Tools to help awaken and enhance all of our magnificence! Because that is what this book is all about: For the fun, fab, fearless female in us who likes to dish it out with a little sass, class, and confidence! Yet, may need to take our own advice more than twice! A lighter side of spirituality, sexuality, & Womanology. No men bashing. Simply woman enhancing! Even if some of us haven't found our sassy sauce yet hidden deep within our tote bags, we can trust that something's going to come out... even if it's a realization about our true selves. Because past, present, or future... we are continuous. Doing what we do for the reasons we choose; enjoying the experience from our view. We are neither here nor there... WE ARE PERFECT! And today, we open up and welcome all others the opportunity to be in our presence. "We are all Supermodels! Super ROLE MODELS!" - from chapter 47 Love, light, awareness, and dareness, Mikki L. Padilla

School is in session as celebrated authors share their real-life academic experiences and turn them into fiction! To some kids, school means homework, bus rides, or band practice. To others it means bullies, tough teachers, or pranking the substitute. In this second collection in the Been There, Done That series, authors describe a standout story from their school days. As with the first anthology, each author will contribute a narrative nonfiction account that serves as the inspiration for an original fictional short story. The contributing award-winning and best-selling middle-grade authors include Holly Goldberg Sloan, Kelly Starling Lyons, Tommy Greenwald, Wendy Mass, Bruce Hale, Jacqueline West, Ellen Yeomans, Vince Evans, Nate Evans, Sarah Prineas, Steve Sheinkin, Shaun David Hutchinson, Don Tate, Varian Johnson, Howard Cruse, Meg Medina, C. Alexander London, and Bruce Coville.

Award-winning and bestselling authors turn their own real-life experiences into captivating works of fiction! Where do authors get their ideas? And how do they turn those ideas into stories? This anthology looks at the process of taking real-life experiences and turning them into works of engaging fiction. The collection features award-winning and bestselling middle-grade authors who provide both original fictional short stories as well as the nonfiction accounts that inspired them. The contributing authors include Julia Alvarez, Karen Cushman, Margarita Engle, Dee Garretson, Nathan Hale, Matthew Kirby, Claire Legrand, Grace Lin, Kate Messner, Linda Sue Park, Adam Rex, Gary Schmidt, Alan Sitomer, Caroline Starr Rose, Heidi Stemple, Rita Williams-Garcia, Tracy Edward Wymer, Lisa Yee, and Jane Yolen.

In Darrien Lee's sequel to All That and a Bag of Chips, readers meet up again with Craig Bennett, who is still wary of love even years after his affair with Venice Taylor. This compelling continuation of the Craig Bennett and Venice Taylor saga reveals Craig to be still smarting from Venice's decision to marry her high school sweetheart despite the passion she and Craig shared during their college romance. Devastated by the loss, Craig has dedicated himself to building his company, Bennett Architectural, Inc., into a multimillion-dollar empire and rising to career success. Unfortunately, his personal life is not quite as fruitful—even though he has had several meaningless flings with beautiful, intelligent women—due to the impenetrable wall of regret preventing him from reaching out to another woman. As fate would have it, Craig finds himself faced with a challenge that tests his will, trust, and capacity to love and forces him to confront the issues that have been plaguing him for the past seven years. In Been There, Done That, Darrien Lee crafts a fascinating novel complete with intricate relationships, life-changing decisions, and painful matters of the heart.

If you only buy one book to improve your life this year, make it this one. Temple Grandin, Liane Holliday Willey, Anita Lesko, Stephen M. Shore, and many other Aspie mentors, offer their personal guidance on coping with the daily stressors that Aspies have identified as being the most significant, in order of urgency - anxiety, self-esteem, change, meltdowns, depression, friendship, love, and much, much more. Based on years of personal experience, this book is packed with advice from Aspie mentors who have all been there and done that! World expert Dr. Tony Attwood rounds up each chapter with professional analysis and extensive recommendations. He includes essential information on destructive strategies that may look attractive, but that have counter-productive effects. Including full color artwork from Aspie artists showing visually how they interpret each stressor, this is THE inspirational guide to life for young adults, the newly diagnosed, and as a life-long reference for anyone on the spectrum - written by Aspies for Aspies.

Life lessons from New York Times bestselling author and Today show personality Al Roker and his wife, globetrotting ABC news journalist Deborah Roberts. Al Roker and Deborah Roberts have sixteen Emmy Awards between them. They have covered everything from the Olympics and the Gulf War to natural disasters and the AIDS crisis in Africa. Now these two married journalists and parents have collaborated on the most personal and important "story" of their lives. Been There, Done That is a funny, heartfelt, and empowering collection of life lessons, hard-won wisdom, and instructive family anecdotes from Al and Deborah's lives, from their parents and grandparents, and from dear friends, famous and not. Here, Al and Deborah candidly share childhood obstacles like obesity and growing up in the segregated south; the challenges and blessings that come from raising very different kids; hard-won truths about marriage and career; the illuminating "little things" that adults can learn from children; and the genuine wisdom that the elderly can share with a younger generation. These are real-life stories told from every perspective--from parent, spouse, daughter, son, and friend, stories that every reader can relate to, appreciate, and share.

Contains advice from students on how to make the most of the college years, discussing money, roommates, orientation, grade point averages, how to choose courses, note-taking, partying, and other topics.

In this delightful book, author Natasha Josefowitz tackles the fun and foibles of growing older. Her witty and often humorous observations on life, love, family, and the revelations that come with aging will make readers laugh, cry, and nod their heads in agreement as they read about the joyful side of living longer.