Books with author John Woodruff

Many people know the dangers of coming in contact with different types of bacteria, but what they may not be familiar with are the good types of bacteria. This accessible text explains the various types of good and bad bacteria and their value to different ecosystems. Readers will deepen their understanding of these organisms after seeing what they look like under a microscope. Informative fact boxes and bright, full-color photographs presented as part of an engaging design add extra insight into this interesting science curriculum topic, and help make learning about science fun.

Many maps present weather patterns, which can aid in helping people predict hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, and other forms of extreme weather. These maps can help people understand the normal patterns of everyday weather as well. Readers are introduced to these kinds of weather maps through accessible main text. Detailed diagrams, useful graphic organizers, interesting fact boxes, and full-color examples of maps serve as additional resources to help readers understand this science and social studies curriculum topic.

Plankton are microscopic organisms living in large bodies of water. They are a major food source for several kinds of sea creatures, and although they are tiny, they have a major impact on many other living things. Accessible explanations of marine life, food chains, and other essential science curriculum topics enhance readers' knowledge of the natural world and the part every living thing plays in it. Additional features, such as fact boxes and full-color photographs deepen readers' understanding of these tiny yet hugely important creatures.

John Wood discovered his passion, his greatest success, and his life's work not at business school or helping lead Microsoft's charge into Asia in the 1990s but on a soul-searching trip to the Himalayas. He made the difficult decision to walk away from his lucrative career to create Room to Read, a nonprofit organization that promotes education across the developing world. By the end of 2007, the organization will have established over 5,000 libraries and 400 schools, and awarded long-term scholarships to more than 3,000 girls, giving more than one million children the lifelong gift of education. If you have ever pondered abandoning your desk job for an adventure and an opportunity to give back, Wood's story will inspire you. He offers a vivid, emotional, and absorbing tale of how to take the lessons learned at a hard-charging company like Microsoft and apply them to the world's most pressing social problems.

In 1992, the centennial year of the University of Alabama football program, the Crimson Tide won its 12th national championship. Few major college football programs can claim as many. Through the medium of photography, this book tells the story of the greatness of University of Alabama football, from its origins as a club sport in 1892, through the death of its most famous head coach, Paul W. Bryant. Over the course of those nine decades, Alabama would win 11 of its 12 national championships and forever change the face of college football. What began as a sport dominated by elite teams in the Northeast and Midwest, would, by the time of Bryant’s death, be the hallmark sport of the American South. And the University of Alabama would, for many of those years, be the premier team in one of America’s greatest football conferences, the Southeast Conference. Historic Photos of University of Alabama Football provides a window into a storied past that is the foundation upon which the program’s future greatness will stand.

While Back to the Future's hovering skateboards hasn't become reality yet, hoverboards can certainly help people get around today. From driverless cars to Japan's amazing bullet train, travel technology has advanced by leaps and bounds for both individuals and large groups of people. Readers climb aboard these incredible inventions in this book, discovering the coolest ways technology is improving travel while learning about many STEM curriculum supporting topics along the way. Full-color photographs enhance a dynamic design that draws in readers for a wild ride.

John Wood discovered his passion, his greatest success, and his life's work—not at business school or leading Microsoft's charge into Asia in the 1990s—but on a soul-searching trip to the Himalayas. Wood felt trapped between an all-consuming career and a desire to do something lasting and significant. Stressed from the demands of his job, he took a vacation trekking in Nepal because a friend had told him, "If you get high enough in the mountains, you can't hear Steve Ballmer yelling at you anymore."Instead of being the antidote to the rat race, that trip convinced John Wood to divert the boundless energy he was devoting to Microsoft into a cause that desperately needed to be addressed. While visiting a remote Nepalese school, Wood learned that the students had few books in their library. When he offered to run a book drive to provide the school with books, his idea was met with polite skepticism. After all, no matter how well-intentioned, why would a successful software executive take valuable time out of his life and gather books for an impoverished school?But John Wood did return to that school and with thousands of books bundled on the back of a yak. And at that moment, Wood made the decision to walk away from Microsoft and create Room to Read—an organization that has donated more than 1.2 million books, established more than 2,600 libraries and 200 schools, and sent 1,700 girls to school on scholarship—ultimately touching the lives of 875,000 children with the lifelong gift of education.Leaving Microsoft to Change the World chronicles John Wood's struggle to find a meaningful outlet for his managerial talents and entrepreneurial zeal. For every high-achiever who has ever wondered what life might be like giving back, Wood offers a vivid, emotional, and absorbing tale of how to take the lessons learned at a hard-charging company like Microsoft and apply them to one of the world's most pressing problems: the lack of basic literacy.

The Arctic is home to many different animal species. These animals make their habitats in this regions chilly climate, which can sometimes be difficult to survive in because of the subzero temperatures and scarce amount of food. This accessible text provides readers with fun facts about life in the Arctic, along with eye-catching, full-color photographs. Animal lovers will be captivated by the creatures that call this extreme environment home, and their Arctic adventure will introduce them to essential science concepts, including the adaptations these animals developed to survive in the coldest places on Earth.