Pope Benedict XVI

by Clifford W Mills

Published 30 November 2006
Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI on April 19, 2005, replacing the late John Paul II, one of the most popular pontiffs of recent times. Now, following 2,000-year-old church traditions, Benedict XVI leads some one billion followers worldwide by both command and consent. His controversial past as head of the Catholic agency formerly known as the Inquisition may be prologue to his future leadership; as such, he remains a controversial and complex counterforce to liberal and radical forces in the church. This timely biography examines the pope's life and times, and ponders an important question for both Catholics and non-Catholics: How will Benedict XVI use his newfound influence?

Angela Merkel

by Clifford W Mills

Published 30 December 2007
Born in West Germany but raised in East Germany, Angela Merkel has known both repression and freedom. With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Merkel started her meteoric rise to become Germany's first female chancellor and one of the world's most powerful women. A scientist by training, Merkel possesses analytical skills seldom seen in a world leader, and she confronts not only German problems but European and world issues with diplomacy and tact. Enhanced by a chronology, bibliography, and suggestions for further reading, this new full-color biography is the inspiring account of an intriguing leader who's a tireless force for progress.