At 41, Daymond John might not seem old enough to be writing his second autobiography, but after perusing "The Brand Within," I'm convinced that far more important than chronological age are a person's accomplishments and ability to share pearls of wisdom in an engaging and informative fashion.

Looking for some thumb candy? Try The Skanner's Games of the Week

During the tempestuous decades leading up to the Civil War, both plantation owners and abolitionists relied primarily on Christianity to rationalize their diametrically-opposed positions on slavery.

Have you ever wondered why some people are able to keep advancing their careers while others are not? Is it because of their graduate degrees, family background, or is it just plain luck?

This guide offers practical suggestions for Black Americans to develop mental awareness, a psychological game plan, and an increased level of business savvy in order to negotiate the minefield of the White work world.

Book Review: Losing My Cool: How a Father's Love and 15,000 Books Beat Hip-Hop Culture by Thomas Chatterton Williams

Who knows how many of the unflattering revelations in this unauthorized tome are accurate, even if the author brags about never having been successfully sued for libel before?

by Hampton Sides, nonfiction, researcher, writer . The book's endnotes and bibliography total more than 50 pages, and Sides says the work "nearly gave me an aneurysm." But the richness of detail -- gathered from all kinds of sources, from interviews and autopsy reports to archival news footage and FBI files -- really makes the story.

"Hellhound on His Trail: The Stalking of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the International Manhunt for His Assassin" (Doubleday, 459 pages, $28.95), by Hampton Sides: Nonfiction doesn't have to be a rote regurgitation of established truths.
In fact, the best works in this genre are the ones that locate the dramatic within the known.

Obamistan! It's the nation you've always dreamed about. damali ayo's sarcastic and insightful new book guides you through the new utopia that America has become – a land without racism! Author damali ayo will be in Portland to sign and talk about "Obamistan!" at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday April 28 at Powell's City of Books on Burnside.