The rich Duke Brothers wager on whether a born loser like Billy Ray Valentine, a hustler from the ghetto, can become as successful as Winthorpe, a wealthy investment executive, if put in the proper environment--and would a prig like Winthorpe turn to a life of crime if he were to lose it all.

"When her best friend Madison mysteriously disappears, Caroline feels compelled to get involved in the investigation. She has her own reasons not to trust the police, and she owes Madison - big time. Suddenly Caroline realizes how little she knew of what her friend was up to. Caroline has some uncomfortable secrets about the hours before Madison disappeared, but they're nothing compared to the secrets Madison has been hiding. Why do all paths seem...

A revelatory look at why we dehumanize each other, with stunning examples from world history as well as today's headlines. "Brute." "Lice." "Vermin." "Dog." These and other monikers are constantly in use to refer to other humans--for political, religious, ethnic, or sexist reasons. Human beings have a tendency to regard members of their own kind as less than human. This tendency has made atrocities like the Holocaust, the genocide in Rwanda, and the...

"In a world where zygotes need preschool applications and the wrong stroller can label you an unfit mother, pregnant professionals turn to Katie Johnson, San Francisco's most prestigious baby planner, long before their baby bumps become obvious under their Armani suits. But setting up her clients with the latest must-have baby gadgets, top-notch doulas, and most desirable playgroups is just the start. For the anxious mommies who have her on speed...

"Omar must contend with being treated like a second-class citizen when he gets a scholarship to an elite boarding school"--

Labor Day, 1976, Martha's Vineyard. Summering at the family beach house along this moneyed coast of New England, Fern and Edgar—married with three children—are happily preparing for a family birthday celebration when they learn that the unimaginable has occurred: There is no more money. More specifically, there's no more money in the estate of Fern's recently deceased parents, which, as the sole source of Fern and Edgar's income, had allowed them...

When he accompanies his son on a college tour, a man begins to compare himself with his old college buddies and examines his life.

Professor Higgins succeeds in transforming an unkempt London flower girl into a society belle.

A Chinese peasant overcomes the forces of nature and the frailties of human nature to become a wealthy landowner.