Most people can name some famous artists and recognize their best-known works. But what's behind all that painting, drawing, and sculpting? What was Leonardo da Vinci's snack of choice while he painted Mona Lisa's mysterious smile? Why did Georgia O'Keeffe find bones so appealing? Who called Diego Rivera "Frog-Face"? And what is it about artists that makes both their work and their lives so fascinating-to themselves, to their curious neighbors, and...

The lives of twenty composers and musicians, ranging from Vivaldi, Mozart, and Bach to Gershwin, Gilbert & Sullivan, and Woody Guthrie, are profiled in this eclectic, humorous, and informative collection.

"You might know that Columbus discovered America, Lewis and Clark headed west with Sacajawea, and Sally Ride blasted into space. But what do you really know about these bold explorers? What were they like as kids? What pets or bad habits did they have? And what drove their passion to explore unknown parts of the world? With juicy tidbits about everything from favorite foods to first loves, Lives of the Explorers reveals these fascinating adventurers...

Every kid knows that pirates talk funny, swing a big sword, and seek buried treasure-don't they? What do we really know about Blackbeard, Madame Cheng, Sir Francis Drake, and other men and women of pirate history? What drove them to sail the high seas? What were their bad habits, favorite foods, and silly quirks? And did they actually talk like that? A lively style, lots of surprises, and solid research have made the Lives of... series of collective...

Aristocrat. Catholic. Patriot. Founder. Before his death in 1832, Charles Carroll of Carrollton-the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence-was widely regarded as one of the most important Founders. Today, Carroll's signal contributions to the American Founding are overlooked, but the fascinating new biography American Cicero rescues Carroll from unjust neglect. Drawing on his considerable study of Carroll's published and unpublished...

The kids show icon lost it all when he was caught in a compromising position. But with a streaming comeback and a legend that will never die, Paul Reubens got the last laugh.

Bad boy actor Johnny Depp, famous for throwing punches, overcame the spotlight of the biggest celebrity trials of the decade to live on and act another day.

From reality TV trailblazer to activist, Paris Hilton rewrote her life story from tabloid punchline to a voice for the silent--proving that she's more than just her last name.

Starting as a child prodigy golfer, Tiger Woods tore up his life, body, and romantic relationships on the way to become golf's GOAT.

Hulk Hogan body-slammed his way to fame and into our hearts, but when scandals derailed all he built, Hogan proved his brand is as enduring as his iconic biceps.