Non-Fiction Books

Created by local writers and photographers, Compass American Guides are the ultimate insider's guides, providing in-depth coverage of the history, culture and character of America's most spectacular destinations.  Covering everything there is to see and do as well as choice lodging and dining, these gorgeous full-color guides are perfect for new and longtime residents as well as vacationers who want a deep understanding of the region they're visiting. Witty, insightful text captures the best of the city Rarely published archival imagery from the city's past Spectacular never previously published photography The best dining in Manhattan, from hot knishes to haute cuisine More than 100 recommended hotels in all budget categories Over a dozen detailed color maps covering every section of the island Literary excerpts from Manhattan notables including Henry James and JD Salinger About the authors Gil Reavill is a journalist, screenwriter, playwright, and novelist.  He is also the author of Compass American Guides' Hollywood & the Best of Los Angeles. Jean Zimmerman, his wife, grew up 25 minutes north of Manhattan and has made her home in the city for the last 17 years.  Her book, Tailspin: Women at War in the Wake of Tailhook, was published in 1995. About the Photographer Photographer Michael S. Yamashita has been shooting pictures for National Geographic Society magazines and books since 1979.  He is a frequent contributor to Travel & Leisure and Portfolio.  His work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of American History, the National Gallery in Washington, and Kodak's Professional Photographer's Showcase at EPCOT Center in Florida.  Mr. Yamashita's photagraphy is also featured in the San Francisco and Las Vegas titles from Compass American Guides.

Created by local writers and photographers, Compass American Guides are the ultimate insider's guides, providing in-depth coverage of the history, culture, and character of America's most spectacular destinations. Covering everything there is to see and do as well as choice lodging and dining, these gorgeous full-color guides are perfect for new and longtime residents as well as vacationers who want a deep understanding of the region they're visiting. Outstanding color photography, plus a wealth of archival images Topical essays and literary extracts Detailed color maps Great ideas for things to see and do Capsule reviews of hotels and restaurants

A liberal columnist and father of a middle-school-aged daughter argues for greater control of publicly aired sexual content in forums outside of parental control, calling for more balanced measures that would enable the private accessibility of mature subject material while equally protecting the rights of minors and individuals who find such content objectionable. 50,000 first printing.

The founders of a bio-remediation company known as Aftermath, Inc. describe how it was formed to provide professional services to families of suicide and homicide victims after the police leave, in an account that shares the stories of some of their more remarkable cases.

Mafia Summit is the true story of how a small-town lawman in upstate New York busted a Cosa Nostra conference in 1957, exposing the Mafia to America In a small village in upstate New York, mob bosses from all over the country―Vito Genovese, Carlo Gambino, Joe Bonanno, Joe Profaci, Cuba boss Santo Trafficante, and future Gambino boss Paul Castellano―were nabbed by Sergeant Edgar D. Croswell as they gathered to sort out a bloody war of succession. For years, FBI director J. Edgar Hoover had adamantly denied the existence of the Mafia, but young Robert Kennedy immediately recognized the shattering importance of the Appalachin summit. As attorney general when his brother JFK became president, Bobby embarked on a campaign to break the spine of the mob, engaging in a furious turf battle with the powerful Hoover. Detailing mob killings, the early days of the heroin trade, and the crusade to loosen the hold of organized crime, fans of Gus Russo and Luc Sante will find themselves captured by this momentous story. Reavill scintillatingly recounts the beginning of the end for the Mafia in America and how it began with a good man in the right place at the right time.

From a nickel to an empire, the extraordinary rise of one man, a nation and America's favorite snack. Before the gut-busting eating contests and franchise stores across the country, there was a single man, Nathan Handwerker. An Eastern European Jewish immigrant who left the small provincial world he knew for a fresh start in America, Nathan arrived at Ellis Island speaking not a word of English, unable to read or write, and with twenty-five dollars hidden in his shoes. He had a simple goal: work hard and carve out a piece of the American dream. But history had bigger plans for Nathan. Beginning in 1916, with just five feet of counter space on Coney Island’s Surf Avenue, Nathan sells his frankfurters for five cents. As New York booms, bringing trains and patrons to the seashore, so too does Nathan’s humble frankfurter stand. Soon Nathan’s Famous takes over the whole block, and Nathan gathers around him a dedicated core of workers (many who stay for decades) who help launch the hot dog as an American food staple. Even as the business soars, Nathan remains fiercely loyal to what matters most: his customers, workers, and family. There’s Ida, the wife he fell in love with because no one could peel an onion faster; Sammy, the counterman who could serve an astonishing sixty franks per minute; and then there are the heirs to the empire, Murray and Sol, whose differing visions for the future lead to clashes with their eternally demanding father. Success brings difficulties, and as the two sons vie over control of the family business, a universal story of success and ambition plays out, mirroring the corporatization of the American food industry. Written by Nathan’s own grandson, and at once a portrait of a man, a family, and the changing face of a nation through a century of promise and progress, Famous Nathan is a dog's tale that snaps and satisfies with every page.