Books in Influential Lives series

Introduce your readers to the woman behind the cape, tiara, and wrist bands. Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot has a life as fascinating as the Amazonian princess she plays on the big screen. This captivating biography examines the influential life of former Miss Israel and combat trainer in the Israeli Defense Forces. From her Hollywood acting debut in Fast and Furious films to her domination of the DC Extended Universe, Gal Gadot has charmed audiences around the world by being an inspirational superhero on-screen and a dedicated activist and mother off-screen.

Even though he was born with an otherworldly athletic gift, Cristiano Ronaldo's early life was anything but easy. A poor kid from Portugal, he was expelled from school at age fourteen and then diagnosed with an abnormal heart condition. But through hard work and an intense desire to succeed, he soon blossomed into one of the greatest soccer players in the world. When he transferred to Real Madrid for a record-breaking salary, Ronaldo transformed himself into a worldwide celebrity, reinventing the ideal of an international sports icon. Sports fans will be inspired by this soccer superstar's rags-to-riches story.

Hillary Clinton is arguably one of the most polarizing political figures in American history. She burst into the national spotlight during her husbands presidential campaign, when she managed to both impress and offend the American public. Since then, Clinton has proven herself a capable public servant, with successful terms in the US Senate and as secretary of state. But controversy continually threatens to undermine her accomplishments, and it often seems that her ambitions get the best of her. This biography tells the story of the rise of remarkable woman, from her humble Midwestern beginnings to a historic run for the White House.

In June 2013, the news organization The Guardian first published articles revealing the shocking revelations that the National Security Agency (NSA) was conducting mass surveillance on all American citizens in secretive bulk-data collection programs. Hundreds of thousands of top-secret documents were leaked from the NSA by a computer programmer named Edward Snowden. This enlightening biography examines the life of Edward Snowden, his reasons for leaking classified documents, his ongoing controversy as a whistleblower, and the revelations and changes in data collection laws that resulted from the massive disclosure.

The greatest entertainers of our time often combine talent, instincts, hard work, and perseverance. Chris Rock has drawn on all four to become one of the most revered, respected, and consistently successful comedians of the last two decades. This book explores his roots, highs and lows, and recent work, including his milestones in stand-up, television, and film, and his maturation as a directorial talent. Vivid imagery, memorable quotes, a career timeline, and more round out this fascinating narrative of striving for success and maintaining creative integrity, making it a compelling biography for comedy fans and casual readers alike.