Michael Ryan

"The twin ancient powers of poetry are story and song," Michael Ryan said in a recent interview. "I like a lot of both." And both are here in This Morning in glorious abundance: graceful complex narratives and tight formal lyrics, edgy humor, affecting music, and insistent clarity always in the service of the heart. He can be deeply funny and extremely moving, often at the same time. No other living poet possesses Ryan's range of tone and technique...

Astrology in the Middle Ages was considered a branch of the magical arts, one informed by Jewish and Muslim scientific knowledge in Muslim Spain. As such it was deeply troubling to some Church authorities. Using the stars and planets to divine the future ran counter to the orthodox Christian notion that human beings have free will, and some clerical authorities argued that it almost certainly entailed the summoning of spiritual forces considered diabolical....

"By consulting the work of well-known and obscure al-Qaeda theoreticians, Michael W. S. Ryan finds jihadist terrorism strategy has more in common with the principles of Maoist guerrilla warfare than mainstream Islam. Encouraging strategists and researchers to devote greater attention to jihadi ideas rather than jihadist military operations, Ryan builds an effective framework for analyzing al-Qaeda's plans against America and constructs a compelling...

Do you believe our republic is under a grave threat, as polls say most Americans do? Are you astonished by America's one-of-a-kind system of self-governance, or just would like to be? Enter YouRule! – How Saving America Depends Entirely on You And What You Can Do About It. It's a short, uplifting Owner's Manual for the American citizen, since you, in fact, run the United States of America. You do, indeed, rule. YouRule! describes in fun fashion...

A fully immersive audiobook featuring original music and sound effects, "You and Me" is a laugh-out-loud compilation of travel stories written and narrated by husband-and-wife creatives, Michael S. Ryan and Kristen Herrington. From the textured rainforest of Costa Rica to the streets of Bangkok, this book is about the journey of falling in love, at times beautifully evocative and at others wildly amusing. The authors give tips for wary travelers and...

Caleb Fleischer bags groceries and slays monsters. Armed with his magical tome and scythe, Caleb has spent his whole life keeping the small town of Orion, Illinois safe from mystical threats. But all he wants, all he's ever wanted, was to live a normal, simple life. No magic. No monsters. No fighting. Then Heather O'Brien shows up and drags Caleb to Chicago to assist with her mysteriously ill mother. It should be a simple job, but not all is, as it...

"Big Nate and his Fear The Mollusk bandmates are destined for superstardom--that is, if they can do something about the earsplitting vocals of their lead singer. Nate's always been the front man, but he might have to swallow his ego if he wants his friends to shine."--