Alex Prud'homme

"In Paris, Julia devoured recipe books, shopped in outdoor markets, consumed all kinds of foods, and whipped through culinary school. And although she wasn't always successful in the kitchen, she was determined to "master the art" of French cooking. Through perseverance and grit, Julia became a chef who shared her passion with the world, making cooking fun, and turning every meal into a special event." --Publisher's website.

"Some of the most significant moments in American history have occurred over meals, as U.S. presidents broke bread with friends or foe: Thomas Jefferson’s nationbuilding receptions in the new capital, Washington, D.C.; Ulysses S. Grant’s state dinner for the king of Hawaii; Teddy Roosevelt’s groundbreaking supper with Booker T. Washington; Richard Nixon’s practiced use of chopsticks to pry open China; Jimmy Carter’s cakes and pies that fueled...

"There may be no more decisive environmental issue in America today than hydrofracking, or 'fracking' as it is commonly called, referring to the use of highly pressurized water and chemicals to extract gas trapped in subterranean shale formations. Opponents decry its pollution of water, ground, and air, and lament the lack of oversight in the industry. Proponents argue that it has created jobs, spurred industry, lowered carbon emissions, and provided...