Set amid the spontaneous, uninhibited surf culture of Malibu and Mexico in the late 1970s, this riveting memoir, written in crisp Hemingwayesque prose, recalls Ollestad's childhood and the magnetic man whose determination and love infuriated and inspired him--and ultimately saved his life.

A father shares his autistic son's story and offers inspiration and advice for families facing similar challenges. Like any other teen boy, Austin loves pizza, movies, dancing, and girls. But unlike most other eighteen-year olds, he has a rare brittle-bone disease, was locked in a mental ward as a child, and is autistic. Yet Austin doesn't let any of that stop him.

In 1981, Chris Gardner was a struggling salesman. His wife worked double shifts to support the family including their young son, Christopher. In the face of this difficult life, Chris has the desperate inspiration to try for a stockbroker internship where one in twenty has a chance of a lucrative full time career. Even when his wife leaves him because of this choice, Chris clings to this dream. The odds become more daunting by the day. Together, father...

Nick Naylor is a sexy, smart and charismatic spin-doctor for Big Tobacco who will fight to protect American's right to smoke. At the same time he is trying to maintain the idea of a perfect role model for his 12-year-old son. When Nick incurs the wrath of a senator bent on snuffing out cigarettes, Nick's powers of "filtering the truth" will be put to the test.