Hitting the Books: Meet the man who helped Microsoft break into the entertainment business

Some of us are destined to lead successful lives thanks to the circumstances of our birth. Some of us, like attorney Bruce Jackson, are destined to lead such lives in spite them. Raised in New York's Amsterdam housing projects and subjected to the daily brutalities of growing up a black man in America, Jackson's story is ultimately one of tempered success. Sure he went on to study at Georgetown Law before representing some of the biggest names in hip hop — LL Cool J, Heavy D, the Lost Boyz and Mr. Cheeks, SWV, Busta Rhymes — and working 15 years as Microsoft's associate general counsel. But at the end of the day, he is still a black man living in America, with all the baggage that comes with it.In his autobiography, Never Far from Home (out now from Atria), Jackson recounts the challenges he has faced in life, of which there are no shortage: from being falsely accused of robbery at age 10 to witnessing the murder of his friend at 15 to spending a night in lockup as an adult for the crime of driving his own car; the shock of navigating Microsoft's lillywhite workforce following years spent in the entertainment industry, and the end of a loving marriage brought low by his demanding work. While Jackson's story is ultimately one of triumph, Never Far from Home reveals a hollowness, a betrayal, of the American Dream that people of Bill Gates' (and this writer's) complexion will likely never have to experience. In the excerpt below, Jackson recalls his decision to leave a... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2023-02-19 15:30:33 UTC ]
News tagged with: #television shows #thousand miles #black culture #civil rights #bill clinton #digital media

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Books in the Media: The Every by Dave Eggers hits the spot

The Every by Dave Eggers (Hamish Hamilton) took the media by storm this week picking up mentions in The Guardian, Telegraph, Sunday Times, Times, iNews and Scotsman.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-22 14:18:03 UTC ]
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Auto-narration 'can help close gap' between e-books and audiobooks

Auto-narrated audiobooks will not replace human narration but will help "elevate" text-heavy books and help eliminate the gap between e-books and accompanying audiobooks, says Ani Attamian, head of publishing partnerships for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Google. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-20 01:45:35 UTC ]
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Polish Business Book Publisher Looks for Foreign Expansion

The focus of Poland's MT Biznes is on small companies' needs. A title the house has translated for sales in the UK has gone well. The post Polish Business Book Publisher Looks for Foreign Expansion appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-11-01 15:41:51 UTC ]
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How Agnes Chu and Helen Estabrook are breaking Condé Nast Entertainment further into Hollywood

Under new leadership experienced in TV and film, Condé Nast’s entertainment arm is working more closely with its publications to develop articles and short stories into shows and movies. The post How Agnes Chu and Helen Estabrook are breaking Condé Nast Entertainment further into Hollywood... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2021-10-26 04:01:00 UTC ]
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Hitting the Books: The genetic fluke that enabled us to drink milk

It may not contain our recommended daily allowance of Vitamin R but milk — or "cow juice" as it's known on the streets — is among the oldest known animal products repurposed for human consumption. Milk has been a staple of our diets since the 9th century BC but it wasn't until a fortuitous... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-10-23 15:30:38 UTC ]
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Hitting the Books: How Amazon's aggressive R&D push made it an e-commerce behemoth

Amazon is the Standard Oil of the 21st century. Its business operations and global reach dwarf those of virtually every other company on the planet — and exceed the GDP of more than a few countries — illustrating the vital importance innovation has on the modern economy. In his latest book, The... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-10-16 15:30:33 UTC ]
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China crackdown on Apple store hits holy book apps, Audible

Amazon’s audiobook service Audible and phone apps for reading the holy books of Islam and Christianity have disappeared from the Apple store in mainland China Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2021-10-15 21:01:46 UTC ]
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The Book Club That Helped Spark the Gay-Rights Movement

In the nineteen-fifties, the Cory Book Service quietly connected a community. Then it was forgotten. Continue reading at New Yorker

[ New Yorker | 2021-10-05 21:58:03 UTC ]
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The 2021 Business Book of the Year Award Announces a Shortlist

Issue-driven nonfiction brings cultural and science topics into the business context in the 16th Business Book of the Year Award shortlist. The post The 2021 Business Book of the Year Award Announces a Shortlist appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-09-24 14:26:05 UTC ]
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This book explains actually helpful actions you can take to fight climate change

You may be sick of hearing over and over to recycle more or use a reusable bag. A new book called ‘Regeneration’ explains how you can support the changes that are truly needed. There’s one clear antidote for climate anxiety: If you can take strategic steps to address climate change, it begins to... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2021-09-21 07:00:55 UTC ]
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Non-fiction and TikTok-boosted YA help children’s book market surge

​The children’s book market has increased by more than 11% this year, boosted by picture books, non-fiction and a remarkable 61% growth in YA sales.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-20 01:05:47 UTC ]
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Hitting the Books: A look at the 1920s airship that nearly made it to the North Pole

During the Roaring '20s just about everybody was convinced that dirigibles were not just the future of luxury travel but that these lumbering airships could also serve as platforms for scientific exploration and adventure. Why slog through malaria-infested jungles, parched deserts and frozen... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-09-18 15:30:21 UTC ]
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Hitting the Books: What exactly did Jodi Foster hear in 'Contact'?

Art may imitate life but it rarely does so with realistic fidelity. As Naomi Pequette, Space Science Programs Specialist at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, argues in her essay "The Sounds of Contact" as part of The Science if Sci-Fi Cinema: Essays on the Art and Principles of Ten Films,... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-09-04 15:30:43 UTC ]
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Booksellers Hit the Books

A newly launched professional bookseller certification program aims to boost indie bookselling skills. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-09-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
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An App Called Libby and the Surprisingly Big Business of Library E-Books

Increasingly, books are something that libraries do not own but borrow from the corporations that do. Continue reading at New Yorker

[ New Yorker | 2021-09-02 10:00:00 UTC ]
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Zillow's children's book aims to help families cope with moving

Fictional story created with Fig expands on previous ad and prepares kids with transition to a new abode. Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2021-08-31 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Hitting the Books: How Tesla engineers solved the problem of exploding EV batteries

Between CEO Elon Musk's often erratic antics, strident competition from existing industry titans, and a public that is still not fully sold on the idea of traveling via electrical charge, Tesla's road to prominence has not been a smooth one. But facing a federal investigation into its driver... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-08-21 15:00:52 UTC ]
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FT/McKinsey Business Book of the Year longlist revealed

The 15-strong longlist for the £30,000 Financial Times & McKinsey Business Book of the Year has been announced, featuring a line-up where workplace culture, climate change and the pandemic loom large. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-15 18:06:07 UTC ]
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Hitting the Books: How a radio telescope cost this West Virginia town its modernity

Deep in the heart of Appalachia, modern science and America's bucolic past meet at a unique crossroad of scientific discovery and luddite lifestyles. The Quiet Zone, by journalist Stephen Kurczy, is the story of a sleepy small town that hosts the Green Bank radio telescope. But the presence of... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-08-14 15:30:30 UTC ]
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Define 'Reasonable': Can Maryland's New E-book Law Help Change the Marketplace?

Maryland's recently passed library e-book law will require any publisher offering to license "an electronic literary product" to consumers in the state to also offer to license the content to public libraries "on reasonable terms." The question now is: what are reasonable terms? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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