General and world history Books
John Murray Press The Golden Thread
Book Synopsis** A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK **''Fascinating . . . The history of the world through the eye of a needle . . . I recommend this book to anyone'' THE SPECTATOR''A charming, absorbing and history that takes us on a journey from the silk roads to sportswear, from ruffs to spacesuits . . . I devoured this quietly feminist book'' SUNDAY TIMES''Joyful and beautiful'' NATURE''Will make you rethink your relationship with fabric'' ELLE DECORATIONAll textiles begin with a twist. From colourful 30,000-year old threads found on the floor of a Georgian cave to what the linen wrappings of Tutankhamun''s mummy actually meant; from the Silk Roads to the woollen sails that helped the Vikings reach America 700 years before Columbus; from the lace ruffs that infuriated the puritans to the Indian calicoes and chintzes that powered the Industrial Revolution, our continuing reinvention of cloth tells fascinating stories of human ingenuity. When we talk of lives hanging by a thread, being interwoven, or part of the social fabric, we are part of a tradition that stretches back many thousands of years. Fabric has allowed us to achieve extraordinary things and survive in unlikely places, and this book shows you how -- and why.With a cast that includes Chinese empresses, Richard the Lionheart and Bing Crosby, Kassia St Clair takes us on the run with escaped slaves, climbing the slopes of Everest and moonwalking with astronauts. Running like a bright line through history, The Golden Thread offers an unforgettable adventure through our past, present and future.Trade ReviewA history of fabric might not sound immediately exciting, but St Clair's book is a refreshing treat, every page bursting with surprising insights. Clothing, she argues, is central to history, from myths and legends to trade and technology. The threads woven by the Greek Fates, the bandages that wrapped Egyptian mummies, the wool that made medieval England rich, the lace in Vermeer's paintings : it all makes for a smart and entertaining historical tapestry * SUNDAY TIMES, History Book of the Year *The history of the world through the eye of a needle... Fascinating... I recommend this book to anyone * THE SPECTATOR *A charming, absorbing and quietly feminist history that takes us on a journey from the silk roads to sportswear, from ruffs to spacesuits... I devoured this book * SUNDAY TIMES *Remarkable . . . hugely ambitious, sparklingly erudite and wonderfully engaging -- Peter Frankopan, Book of the Year * HISTORY TODAY *A joyful commingling of text and textiles in 13 beautifully wrought stories. We visit a cave where dyed fibres more than 30,000 years old have been discovered; goggle at the starched intricacy of sixteenth-century lace ruffs; flinch over astronauts' nappies and the sodden sleeping bags of early polar expeditions; and savour the idea of materials spun from spiders' webs. * NATURE *The Golden Thread will make you rethink your relationship with fabric * ELLE DECORATION *Superb... this dazzling book puts fabric at the very heart of human history. * STRONG WORDS *A curious and illuminating history of fabric * HOUSE AND GARDEN *Vividly drawn . . . this beautifully presented tome is perfect for dipping in and out of * HISTORY REVEALED *The Golden Thread is worth a read for informing your political thinking, and it will entertain you far more than most 'political' books * Resurgence and Ecologist Magazine *Such a captivating read its likely you'll want to devour this engrossing patchwork of textile history in one sitting * Embroidery *
£9.74
Yale University Press A Little History of Art
Book Synopsis
£10.44
Yale University Press Iran and the Revolution
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£23.75
Verso Books The Holocaust Industry
Book SynopsisIn his iconoclastic and controversial study, Norman G. Finkelstein moves from an interrogation of the place the Holocaust has come to occupy in global culture to a disturbing examination of Holocaust compensation settlements. It was not until the Arab-Israeli War of 1967, when Israel’s evident strength brought it into line with US foreign policy, that memory of the Holocaust began to acquire the exceptional prominence it has today.Recalling Holocaust fraudsters such as Jerzy Kosinski and Binjamin Wilkomirski, as well as the demagogic constructions of writers like Daniel Goldhagen, Finkelstein contends that the main danger posed to the memory of Nazism’s victims comes from some of the very people who profess most passionately to defend it. Drawing on a wealth of untapped sources, he exposes the double shakedown of European countries and legitimate Jewish claimants, and concludes that the Holocaust industry has become an outright extortion racket
£11.39
HarperCollins Publishers Poland
Book SynopsisAdam Zamoyski first wrote his history of Poland two years before the collapse of the Soviet Union. This substantially revised and updated edition sets the Soviet era in the context of the rise, fall and remarkable rebirth of an indomitable nation.In 1797, Russia, Prussia and Austria divided Poland among themselves, rewriting Polish history to show that they had brought much-needed civilisation to a primitive backwater. But the country they wiped off the map had been one of Europe's largest and most richly varied, born of diverse cultural traditions and one of the boldest constitutional experiments ever attempted. Its destruction ultimately led to two world wars and the Cold War.Zamoyski's fully revised history of Poland looks back over a thousand years of turmoil and triumph, chronicling how Poland has been restored at last to its rightful place in Europe.Trade Review‘Invaluable and eye-opening’ Boyd Tonkin, Independent ‘An excellent book’ Financial Times ‘Fresh, different and brilliantly readable…It is the perfect introduction for those who know nothing about the country, yet will also provide some positive food for thought to those who imagined they knew it all too well’ Spectator ‘A dramatic history of Poland that captures the spirit of its people…Such an extraordinary national trajectory demands an accessible and scholarly accounting. Zamoyski succeeds admirably in providing both’ Daily Telegraph ‘For the past 25 years, thanks to the efforts of Adam Zamoyski, we have been better informed about the history and character of Poland than about any other East European country…Zamoyski’s new perspective on an old culture and its modern political liberty is…presented with a new, confident sense of freedom’ The Times ‘Eminently readable’ TLS ‘Shrewd…an excellent section on the country and its politics since ’89’ Independent on Sunday
£11.04
Orion Publishing Co The Fall of Carthage
Book SynopsisThe greatest conflict of antiquity, the struggle for supremacy between Rome and Carthage.The struggle between Rome and Carthage in the Punic Wars was arguably the greatest and most desperate conflict of antiquity. The forces involved and the casualties suffered by both sides were far greater than in any wars fought before the modern era, while the eventual outcome had far-reaching consequences for the history of the Western World, namely the ascendancy of Rome. An epic of war and battle, this is also the story of famous generals and leaders: Hannibal, Fabius Maximus, Scipio Africanus, and his grandson Scipio Aemilianus, who would finally bring down the walls of Carthage.
£13.49
Yale University Press Ruthless
£22.50
Orion Publishing Co The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Book SynopsisA revelatory new history of the ancient world told through its seven greatest monuments, by bestselling author and TV historian Bettany Hughes
£11.69
Pan Macmillan The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£10.44
PublicAffairs,U.S. Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through
Book SynopsisThe Western narrative of world history largely omits a whole civilization. Destiny Disrupted tells the history of the world from the Islamic point of view, and restores the centrality of the Muslim perspective, ignored for a thousand years.In Destiny Disrupted, Tamim Ansary tells the rich story of world history as it looks from a new perspective: with the evolution of the Muslim community at the center. His story moves from the lifetime of Mohammed through a succession of far-flung empires, to the tangle of modern conflicts that culminated in the events of 9/11. He introduces the key people, events, ideas, legends, religious disputes, and turning points of world history, imparting not only what happened but how it is understood from the Muslim perspective.He clarifies why two great civilizations-Western and Muslim-grew up oblivious to each other, what happened when they intersected, and how the Islamic world was affected by its slow recognition that Europe-a place it long perceived as primitive-had somehow hijacked destiny.With storytelling brio, humor, and evenhanded sympathy to all sides of the story, Ansary illuminates a fascinating parallel to the world narrative usually heard in the West. Destiny Disrupted offers a vital perspective on world conflicts many now find so puzzling.Trade ReviewBaptist Standard "Reading [Tom] Friedman, I was motivated to learn more about the Muslim view of world history. I found a remarkable guide in Tamim Ansary's Destiny Disrupted."General Anthony C. Zinni, USMC (Ret)"Tamim Ansary has written a truely superb history of the Islamic world. His excellent analysis provides the reader with an insightful understanding of how that world and its people were shaped by events. This is a must read for all those who want to understand the evolution of a significant global society and how it has interacted with the rest of the world.' Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns "Ansary has written an informative and thoroughly engaging look at the past, present and future of Islam. With his seamless and charming prose, he challenges conventional wisdom and appeals for a fuller understanding of how Islam and the world at large have shaped each other. And that makes this book, in this uneasy, contentious post 9/11 world, a must-read." Dave Eggers, TheRumpus.net "I'm in the middle of Tamim Ansary's Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World through Islamic Eyes, and it's incredibly illuminating. Ansary pretty much covers the entire history of Islam in an incredibly readable and lucid way. I've been recommending this book to everyone I know. Especially when people are looking for a comprehensive-but-approachable way to look at world history through the lens of Islam, there's no better book." San Francisco Chronicle"A must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about the history of the Islamic world. But the book is more than just a litany of past events. It is also an indispensable guide to understanding the political debates and conflicts of today, from 9/11 to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, from the Somali pirates to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. As Ansary writes in his conclusion, "The conflict wracking the modern world is not, I think, best understood as a 'clash of civilizations.' ... It's better understood as the friction generated by two mismatched world histories intersecting." Portland Oregonian "Never apologist in tone, meticulously researched and balanced, often amusing but never glib, Destiny Disrupted is ultimately a gripping drama that pulls the reader into great, seminal events of world history, a book which offers a wealth of knowledge and insight to any reader who wants to understand the movements and events behind the modern-day hostilities wracking Western and Islamic societies." St. Louis Post-Dispatch"If you want to put today's headlines about jihadist suicide bombings into the much larger context of history, you'd be well advised to settle in with Destiny Disrupted. It's the story of a civilization that suddenly found itself upended by strangers and now wants to put itself right. And if author Ansary stops short of calling the result a clash of civilizations, he feels free to call it two one-sided views of world history. His book is a valuable tool for opening up a view of the other side." Shelf Awareness"A lively, thorough and accessible survey of the history of Islam (both the religion and its political dimension) that explores many of the disconnects between Islam and the West." DAWN.com (Pakistan), August 15, 2010
£14.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Money
Book Synopsis‘A breathtaking, expansive and imaginative ride through the history and future of money from an author who truly understands it' PROFESSOR BRIAN COX 'A cracking book that is as enjoyable as it is readable' PETER FRANKOPAN ‘Equally entertaining and insightful’ YANIS VAROUFAKIS ‘If, as David McWilliams complains, economists take the fun out of money, then he is the exception that proves the rule: a man who could not write a boring sentence if he tried’ TOM HOLLAND _______________________________________________________ MONEY.The object of our desires.The engine of our genius.Humanity’s greatest invention. Money is everything. It brings freedom and it takes it away. It inspires and corrupts us. But what is money? Is it the main thing holding us back from utopia or is it
£23.75
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Letters from a Stoic
Book SynopsisTable of ContentsAn Introduction ix About Donald Robertson xxxiii About Tom Butler-Bowdon xxxiv Chapter One On the Use of Time 1 Chapter Two On Discursiveness in Reading 5 Chapter Three On True and False Friendship 9 Chapter Four On the Terrors of Death 13 Chapter Five On the Philosopher’s Mean 19 Chapter Six On Sharing Knowledge 23 Chapter Seven On Crowds 27 Chapter Eight On the Philosopher’s Seclusion 33 Chapter Nine On Philosophy and Friendship 39 Chapter Ten On Living to Oneself 49 Chapter Eleven On the Blush of Modesty 53 Chapter Twelve On Old Age 57 Chapter Thirteen On Groundless Fears 63 Chapter Fourteen On the Reasons for Withdrawing from the World 71 Chapter Fifteen On Brawn and Brains 79 Chapter Sixteen On Philosophy, the Guide of Life 85 Chapter Seventeen On Philosophy and Riches 91 Chapter Eighteen On Festivals and Fasting 97 Chapter Nineteen On Worldliness and Retirement 105 Chapter Twenty On Practising What You Preach 113 Chapter Twenty One On the Renown Which My Writings May Bring You 119 Chapter Twenty Two On the Futility of Half-Way Measures 125 Chapter Twenty Three On the True Joy Which Comes from Philosophy 133 Chapter Twenty Four On Despising Death 139 Chapter Twenty Five On Reformation 151 Chapter Twenty Six On Old Age and Death 155 Chapter Twenty Seven On the Good Which Abides 161 Chapter Twenty Eight On Travel as a Cure for Discontent 167 Chapter Twenty Nine On the Critical Condition of Marcellinus 171 Chapter Thirty On Conquering the Conqueror 177 Chapter Thirty One On Siren Songs 185 Chapter Thirty Two On Progress 191 Chapter Thirty Three On the Futility of Learning Maxims 195 Chapter Thirty Four On a Promising Pupil 201 Chapter Thirty Five On the Friendship of Kindred Minds 203 Chapter Thirty Six On the Value of Retirement 207 Chapter Thirty Seven On Allegiance to Virtue 213 Chapter Thirty Eight On Quiet Conversation 217 Chapter Thirty Nine On Noble Aspirations 219 Chapter Forty On the Proper Style for a Philosopher’s Discourse 223 Chapter Forty One On the God Within Us 231 Chapter Forty Two On Values 237 Chapter Forty Three On the Relativity of Fame 241 Chapter Forty Four On Philosophy and Pedigrees 243 Chapter Forty Five On Sophistical Argumentation 247 Chapter Forty Six On a New Book by Lucilius 253 Chapter Forty Seven On Master and Slave 255 Chapter Forty Eight On Quibbling as Unworthy of the Philosopher 265 Chapter Forty Nine On the Shortness of Life 273 Chapter Fifty On Our Blindness and Its Cure 279 Chapter Fifty One On Baiae and Morals 283 Chapter Fifty Two On Choosing Our Teachers 289 Chapter Fifty Three On the Faults of the Spirit 297 Chapter Fifty Four On Asthma and Death 303 Chapter Fifty Five On Vatia’s Villa 307 Chapter Fifty Six On Quiet and Study 313 Chapter Fifty Seven On the Trials of Travel 321 Chapter Fifty Eight On Being 325 Chapter Fifty Nine On Pleasure and Joy 341 Chapter Sixty On Harmful Prayers 351 Chapter Sixty One On Meeting Death Cheerfully 353 Chapter Sixty Two On Good Company 355 Chapter Sixty Three On Grief for Lost Friends 357 Chapter Sixty Four On the Philosopher’s Task 365 Chapter Sixty Five On the First Cause 371
£10.79
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Palestine
Book SynopsisProfessor Nur Masalha is a Palestinian writer, historian and academic. He is currently a member of the Centre for Palestine Studies, SOAS, University of London. He is editor of the Journal of Holy Land and Palestine Studies. His books include: Expulsion of the Palestinians (1992); A Land Without a People (1997); The Politics of Denial (2003); The Bible and Zionism (Zed 2007); The Palestine Nakba (Zed 2012); and An Oral History of the Palestinian Nakba (with Nahla Abdo, Zed 2018).Trade ReviewNur Masalha has produced an impressive work that challenges those who are trying to erase the Palestinians from history. * International Socialism *The attention to detail, as well as the rigorous explanation is impeccable. Every reading, or re-reading, of this book, will provoke new contemplation. * Middle Eastern Monitor *A sharp, powerfully understated denunciation of Israel’s founding mythology. Masalha’s narratives provide ballast and backstory to the contemporary claims of the dispossessed. * Publishers’ Weekly *Masalha has done an extraordinary job, collating evidence from an abundance of rich sources, to give us a stunning narrative substantiating these identities. * Socialist Review *The most comprehensive English language history of Palestine to date. This book is a painstakingly researched and well-documented deconstruction of the myths too many Zionists and their western apologists have convinced the world to be factual history. * Counterpunch *Masalha has now admirably unearthed this forgotten Palestine. He settles securely and authoritatively into a narrative that commands respect and is not impaired by the passion behind it ... Masalha’s confidence that all will not be extinguished offers hope in the face of a still-uncertain future. He has written his history to encourage the survivors and to enlighten those who sympathise with them. He strives to keep alight the flame of Palestinian culture that, despite every attempt to snuff it out, still burns brightly in the poetry of Mahmoud Darwish and in the world he never left behind. * New York Times Review of Books *A work of broad and impressive scholarship. It fills a critical gap in our knowledge of Palestinian history and provides a long overdue corrective to traditional histories. * Ghada Karmi, author of Return: A Palestinian Memoir *This book by Nur Masalha is the fullest and richest text he has produced to date, bringing together his decades of work as a historian to produce a master narrative on Palestine. * Haim Bresheeth, SOAS, University of London *A significant contribution to the restoration of the history of ancient Palestine, written by a prolific indigenous historian of international repute. Brilliantly explicating the relationship between history and colonial ideology in Palestine, with this book Masalha puts Palestinian history back on track. * Hamdan Taha, archaeologist and former Deputy Minister for Tourism and Antiquities, Palestine *An amazing book, long overdue. A tour de force which demystifies the distortions and fabrications around Palestine and the people living in it. * Ilan Pappé, author of The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine *A masterpiece of history writing. It serves to set the record straight, methodically and rigorously debunking the myth that Palestine is a new concept. * Mazin Qumsiyeh, Founder and Director of the Palestine Museum of Natural History *This erudite, comprehensive study of Palestine explodes many myths. Essential reading for a proper understanding of the efforts to deny the deep historical rootedness of this name, and of its indigenous people. * Rashid Khalidi, Columbia University *Masalha’s meticulous and multifaceted coverage of the history of Palestine from the late Bronze Age to modern times is essential reading for all who hope to understand its people’s irrepressible struggle against occupation and exile. * Rosemary Sayigh, author of The Palestinians: From Peasants to Revolutionaries *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. The Philistines and Philistia as a Distinct Geo-political Entity: Late Bronze Age to 500 BC 2. The Conception of Palestine in Classical Antiquity and During the Hellenistic Empires (500?135 BC) 3. From Philistia to Provincia ‘Syria Palaestina’ (135 AD?390 AD): The Administrative Province of Roman Palestine 4. The (Three in One) Provincia Palaestina: The Three Administrative Provinces of Byzantine Palestine (4th?Early 7th Centuries AD) 5. Arab Christian Palestine: The Pre-Islamic Arab Kings, Bishops and Poets and Tribes of Provincia Palaestina (3rd?Early 7th Centuries AD) 6. The Arab Province of Jund Filastin (638?1099 AD): Continuities, Adaption and Transformation of Palestine under Islam 7. Between Egypt and al-Sham: Palestine during the Ayyubid, Mamluk and Early Ottoman Periods 8. Palestinian Statehood in the 18th Century: Early Modernities and Practical Sovereignty in Palestine 9. Being Palestine, Becoming Palestine: Rediscovery and New Representations of Modern Palestine and their Impact on Palestinian National Identity 10. Settler-colonialism and Disinheriting the Palestinians: The Appropriation of Palestinian Place Names by the Israeli State
£10.99
Profile Books Ltd Earth Shapers
Book SynopsisFor many of us, geography has an inexorable quality. Brimming with real and imaginary objects like mountains, oceans, and borders, our world seems quite literally set in stone. But over time, we have become experts at reshaping our surroundings, both through ingenuity and brute force. From the Qhapaq Ñan, South America's 'Great Road', to the Panama Canal; from Mozambique's railways to Korea's sacred Baekdu-daegan mountain range, Samson explores how humans have etched our needs onto the natural landscape, and in doing so, changed the very course of history. A sweeping work that touches on ecology, sociology, history and politics, Earth Shapers argues that, far from being prisoners to the inevitability of geography, we are instead fundamental and intrinsic to it.
£18.00
Penguin Books Ltd The Burning Earth
Book SynopsisStunningly written This global history of the environment of the last 500 years shows that the other side of the coin called progress is destruction. Amrith writes like the finest novelist' - Neel Mukherjee, New Statesman, Books of the YearDazzling brilliant exactly the kind of history that we need on our crisis-ridden planet' - Tom Simpson, TLSA must-read an engaging guide, with a lyrical style and a talent for storytelling... beautifully and clearly written' - Michael Marshall, New ScientistIn this paradigm-shifting global history of how humanity has reshaped the planet, and the planet has shaped human history, Sunil Amrith twins the stories of environment and Empire, of genocide and eco-cide, of the expansion of human freedom and its costs. Drawing on an extraordinarily rich diversity of primary sources, he reckons with the ruins of Spanish silver mining in Peru, British gold mining in South Africa, and oil extraction in Central Asia. He explores the railways and highways that brought humans to new terrains of battle against each other and against nature. Amrith's account of the ways in which the First and Second World Wars involved the massive mobilization not only of men, but of other natural resources from around the globe, provides an essential new way of understanding war as an irreversible reshaping of the planet. He also reveals the reality of migration as consequence of environmental harm. The imperial, globe-spanning pursuit of profit, joined with new forms of energy and new possibilities of freedom from hunger and discomfort, freedom to move and explore, has brought change to every inch of the Earth. Amrith relates, on the largest canvas, a mind-altering epic vibrant with stories, characters, and vivid images in which humanity might find the collective wisdom to save itself.
£11.69
Penguin Books Ltd CrackUp Capitalism
Book Synopsis''Gonzo brilliance ... unique and highly entertaining'' Financial Times''Revelatory reading'' Adam Tooze, author of Crashed''After reading Quinn Slobodian''s new book, you are not likely to think about capitalism the same way'' JacobinLook at a map of the world and you''ll see a neat patchwork of nation-states. But this is not where power actually resides. From the 1990s onwards, globalization has shattered the map, leading to an explosion of new legal entities: tax havens, free ports, city-states, gated enclaves and special economic zones. These new spaces are freed from ordinary forms of regulation, taxation and mutual obligation - and with them, ultracapitalists believe that it is possible to escape the bonds of democratic government and oversight altogether.Historian Quinn Slobodian follows the most notorious radical libertarians - from Milton Friedman to Peter Thiel - around the globe as they search for the perfect home for their free market fantasy. The hunt leads from Hong Kong in the 1970s to South Africa in the late days of apartheid, from the neo-Confederate South to the medieval City of London, and finally into the world''s oceans and war zones, charting the relentless quest for a blank slate where capitalism and democracy can be finally uncoupled.Crack-Up Capitalism is a propulsive history of the recent past, and an alarming view of our near future.
£10.44
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Utopia for Realists
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIn this surprising, accessible and often counterintuitive book Bregman explores some brilliant but simple ideas for making a better world -- Brian EnoThis is a Read Now book. Nothing dystopian about this one: a practical set of ideas for how the next generation can do better -- Jeanette WintersonIf you're bored with hackneyed debates, decades-old right-wing and left-wing clichés, you may enjoy the bold thinking, fresh ideas, lively prose, and evidence-based arguments in Utopia for Realists -- Steven Pinker, author of 'The Language Instinct'This is a book stuffed full of ideas, presented persuasively and pithily, but it is also just a part of the new zeitgeist – which is why it is one for today’s dreamers and tomorrow’s realists -- Danny Dorling * Times Higher Educational Supplement *Rutger Bregman is the most exciting radical thinker of my generation. If you read him and you aren’t thrilled, mentally expanded, and infused with hope, call for the undertaker - I suspect you’ve died. Oh - and did I mention he is a beautiful writer too? -- Johann Hari, Sunday Times bestselling-author of 'Lost Connections'Listen out for Rutger Bregman. He has a big future shaping the future -- Andrew Anthony * Observer *The Dutch wunderkind of new ideas * Guardian *An excellent read and full of well-told stories and details I didn’t know -- Tim Harford, author of The Undercover EconomistIf you’re fed up with moaning, you owe it to yourself to read this book * Evening Standard *If energy, enthusiasm and aphorism could make the world better, then Rutger Bregman’s book would do it ... The writing is powerful and fluent ... A boisterously good read * Independent *It’s a wonderful, well-written book, easily the crispest and least dry explanation of the research and history behind basic income as an idea I’ve seen in print. The sixth chapter, on the bizarre history of Richard Nixon’s 1970 plan for a negative income tax, is worth the price of admission alone * Vox *I was moved and convinced by Bregman saying we might not achieve Utopia but could find solace in working towards a fairer world ... This book is energetic, passionate and rigorously intelligent. His commonsensical ideas deserve to be gratefully welcomed -- Jake Kerridge * Sunday Express *You may not dream the same dreams as Bregman – but he invites you to take dreaming seriously. For that alone, this book is worth a read -- Will Hutton * Observer *Brilliant, comprehensive, truly enlightening, and eminently readable Obligatory reading for everyone worried about the wrongs of present-day society and wishing to contribute to their cure -- Zygmunt Bauman, Professor Emeritus of Leeds University and one of the world's most eminent social theoristsA wonderfully readable breath of fresh air, a window thrown open to a better future ... Bregman combines deep research with wit, challenging us to think anew about how we want to live and who we want to be. Required reading -- Philipp Blomm, author of 'The Vertigo Years'Superbly written, upbeat, insightful -- Philippe van Parijs, Harvard University professor and co-founder of the Basic Income Earth NetworkIf you'd like to see a fairer world but don't know how to get there, this book is for you. Bregman brilliantly shows how ideas commonly dismissed as utopian are eminently possible, indeed have almost happened -- Ben Rawlence, Ben Rawlence, author of 'City of Thorns: Nine Lives in the World's Largest Refugee Camp'Bregman shows us we’ve been looking at the world inside out. Turned right way out we suddenly see fundamentally new ways forward. If we can get enough people to read this book, the world will start to become a better place -- Richard Wilkinson, co-author of The Spirit LevelA boisterously good read -- John Rentoul * Independent *Rutger Bregman makes a compelling case for Universal Basic Income with a wealth of data and rooted in a keen understanding of the political and intellectual history of capitalism. He shows the many ways in which human progress has turned a Utopia into a Eutopia – a positive future that we can achieve with the right policies -- Albert Wenger, entrepreneur and partner at Union Square Ventures, early backers of Twitter, Tumblr, Foursquare, Etsy and KickstarterThe impact of this book in the Netherlands has been huge. Not only did Rutger Bregman launch a highly successful and long-running debate in the media, he also inspired a movement across the country that is putting his ideas into practice. Now it’s time for the rest of the world -- Joris Luyendijk, author of Swimming with SharksI loved it … Bregman takes an idea you think sounds daft and does a brilliant job of persuading you it isn’t daft at all -- James Rebanks, author of 'The Shepherd’s Life'A wonderful call to utopian thinking around incomes and the workweek, and a welcome antidote to the pessimism surrounding robots taking our jobs -- Charles Kenny, senior fellow at the Center for Global Development and author of The Upside of DownA bold call for utopian thinking … Highly recommended! -- Nick Srnicek, co-author of Inventing the FutureA short, sharp big ideas book set to make waves * Sunday Express *Superbly written, upbeat, insightful -- Philippe van Parijs, Harvard University professor and co-founder of the Basic Income Earth NetworkUtopia for Realists is tipped to be a bestseller in English as it was in its original Dutch -- Bryan Appleyard * Sunday Times *Bregman writes with energy, verve and panache … Utopia for Realists will probably be a terrific hit -- Ian Martin * The Times *Bregman has many tightly-spun arguments, case studies, and statistics … He treats his topic with an accessible style and touch of humour * Western Mail *Bregman’s book is breezy, wide-ranging and littered with interesting examples and research. It has something of the flavour of Freakonomics * Sunday Times *Energetic, passionate and rigorously intelligent. His commonsensical ideas deserve to be gratefully welcomed * Sunday Express *A brilliantly written page-turner. It goes into serious depth, without ever feeling dense, as it weaves its way through the challenges we face and onto proposals for doing things differently -- Caroline Lucas * Independent *Fantastic… Bregman will help you raise your spirits and banish your Brexit blues * The National *The questions that Bregman poses must be addressed, and urgently * The New Scientist *
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd A Short History of Japan
Book Synopsis''A history that somehow manages to be at once succinct and sweeping: essential reading for anyone interested in this most fascinating of countries'' - Tom HollandIn this enormously enjoyable introduction to a remarkable country, Christopher Harding traces Japan''s rich history over several millennia. Beginning with its earliest coastal communities through to the spread of Buddhism, the rise of the warlords, the promise and menace of the West and Japan''s own empire-building, Harding explores how a distinctly Japanese society and culture was forged.Drawing on the latest scholarship, A Short History of Japan moves beyond traditional tourist-board clichés to consider Japan''s own view of its past, values and culture, from ceramics and theatre to food and architecture. The result is a sensory, tactile history, where the reader experiences all the pleasures of a visit to Japan: a bolt of silk or a warm bowl of ramen; the feel and scent of tatami underfoot; the warmth of slipping into a hot spring bath. Harding skilfully shows how these everyday details are intimately bound up with the bigger historical picture, as an expression of the values that have been extraordinarily successful in helping the country to cope with centuries of radical change.
£17.00
Penguin Books Ltd Hiroshima
Book SynopsisWhen the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in August 1945, killing 100,000 men, women and children, a new era in human history opened. This book presents an account of six men and women who struggled to cope with catastrophe and with often crippling disease.Table of ContentsA noiseless flash; the fire; details are being investigated; panic grass and feverfew; the aftermath.
£9.49
Arcturus Publishing A History of the Modern World
Book SynopsisJeremy Black MBE is one of the leading historians in Britain today. He is Visiting Professor to the Indonesian Staff College, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Exeter, Distinguished Fellow in the Center for Military History and Strategy at Hillsdale College, Senior Research Fellow of the British Foreign Policy Group, and Senior Fellow of the Foreign Policy Research Institute. In 2008, he won the Samuel Eliot Morison Prize from the Society for Military History. He has written over 100 books covering 18th-century transatlantic history, international relations, the role of the press and the nature of warfare among other subjects. Many of his books have become staples of university courses across the United Kingdom. Some of his recent titles include A History of the 20th Century (2020), A Brief History of the Pacific (2023) and The Atlantic Slave Trade in World History (2024).
£16.99
Old Street Publishing The Shortest History of Austria
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£13.49
Michael O'Mara Books Ltd A Short History of the World in 50 Failures
Book SynopsisExplore the failures, mistakes and missed opportunities that shaped history in this new entry in the bestselling series.From the botched attempt to create a life-extending elixir that produced gunpowder, to the unsuccessful stint in medical school which led to a career in naturalism for Charles Darwin, to the missile detection system malfunction that almost sparked a nuclear war, the course of human history has so often been shaped by failures of all magnitudes.In fifty bite-sized chapters spanning thousands of years, A Short History of the World in 50 Failures details how the world as we know it has been defined by plans gone awry, opportunities not seized upon and schemes that were always fated to end in catastrophe.Whether it’s the pharaoh Akhenaten’s misplaced attempt to found a new religion or Napoleon’s doomed invasion of Russia, discover a fascinating collection of outsized tales and historical snafus
£11.69
Princeton University Press Eros the Bittersweet
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£13.29
Penguin Books Ltd The Boundless Sea
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE WOLFSON HISTORY PRIZE 2020A SUNDAY TIMES, FINANCIAL TIMES, THE TIMES AND BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE BOOK OF THE YEARFor most of human history, the seas and oceans have been the main means of long-distance trade and communication between peoples - for the spread of ideas and religion as well as commerce. This book traces the history of human movement and interaction around and across the world''s greatest bodies of water, charting our relationship with the oceans from the time of the first voyagers. David Abulafia begins with the earliest of seafaring societies - the Polynesians of the Pacific, the possessors of intuitive navigational skills long before the invention of the compass, who by the first century were trading between their far-flung islands. By the seventh century, trading routes stretched from the coasts of Arabia and Africa to southern China and Japan, bringing together the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific and linking half the world through the international spice trade. In the Atlantic, centuries before the little kingdom of Portugal carved out its powerful, seaborne empire, many peoples sought new lands across the sea - the Bretons, the Frisians and, most notably, the Vikings, now known to be the first Europeans to reach North America. As Portuguese supremacy dwindled in the late sixteenth century, the Spanish, the Dutch and then the British each successively ruled the waves.Following merchants, explorers, pirates, cartographers and travellers in their quests for spices, gold, ivory, slaves, lands for settlement and knowledge of what lay beyond, Abulafia has created an extraordinary narrative of humanity and the oceans. From the earliest forays of peoples in hand-hewn canoes through uncharted waters to the routes now taken daily by supertankers in their thousands, The Boundless Sea shows how maritime networks came to form a continuum of interaction and interconnection across the globe: 90 per cent of global trade is still conducted by sea. This is history of the grandest scale and scope, and from a bracingly different perspective - not, as in most global histories, from the land, but from the boundless seas.Trade ReviewIn its mixture of supreme storytelling, beautifully drawn characters, fearless scope and rigorous scholarship, it ranks with the very best of world histories. ... From Morocco to Hawaii, Australia to the Persian Gulf, he delivers an intense and thrilling tour de force, filled with pirates, kings, scholars, monsters, conquerors, sailors, merchants, adventurers, slavers and slaves, taking us from the age of triremes and longships, hulks and cogs, dhows and junks, galleons and dreadnoughts, all the way up to the container ship. -- Simon Sebag-Montefiore * Daily Telegraph *His grasp of the material is not so much encyclopaedic as breathtaking ... this is a tour de force. Writing history on this scale is challenging and enormously impressive; the author deserves applause for a magisterial achievement. -- Peter Frankopan * Sunday Times *The Boundless Sea is a work of immense scholarship, a forensic tribute to human enterprise. ... After reading this book your horizons will be wonderfully expanded, and you'll be as eager as the Ancient Mariner to retell its stories... Abulafia's masterpiece has the potential to alter the way we understand the human story and our place within it. -- Horatio Clare * Spectator *David Abulfia's The Boundless Sea is a hugely ambitious masterpiece and quite rightly was the winner of this year's Wolfson prize for history. It is a mighty thassolo-gasm and a triumphant successor to his wonderful history of the Mediterranean. Remarkably, it manages to stitch together and make accessible some diverse and often intractable bits of ocean history, and is an astonishingly accomplished work of both scholarly synthesis and fluent narrative history. -- William Dalrymple * The Spectator Books of the Year *Nothing less than a history of humanity written from the perspective of the sea -- Jerry Brotton * Financial Times *He tells, in broad strokes and pin-sharp detail, the story of how humanity has crossed the oceans to explore, trade and fight ... A big book, full of surprises. I can open it at any page and be engrossed in his incredible scholarship and vivid narrative. -- Hugh Johnson * Daily Mail *
£17.09
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Approaches to Global History
Book SynopsisChoice Outstanding Academic Title 2023This volume brings together 25 defining texts in global history. These pieces cover approaches to the subject from antiquity to the present century and, taken together, show the development of the discipline, providing a solid historiographical, theoretical and methodological overview that will be invaluable for students. The collection gives a unique sense of how, at different times, in different cultural circumstances, students of the past have approached the problems of encompassing the world in a single narrative or theory. This is a reader with an implicit story to unfold. Felipe Fernandez-Armesto tracks how a global understanding of history originated in prophetic writings, how the Renaissance discovery of the world multiplied the opportunities for historians to think about history globally, how scientific investigations of change came to exert influence and inspire new thinking among global historians, how culture wars ensued between advoTrade ReviewIn spirit, global history is an age-old endeavour. At the same time, each manifestation is highly specific to its moment, with its own particular set of constraints and possibilities. Prof. Fernández-Armesto shows this with aplomb for the Western tradition, not just through the essays, which are judiciously chosen, but also through his introductory remarks, which are written with flare and a telling eye, highlighting the import of their subject for both students and scholars. * Gagandeep S. Sood, Associate Professor, International History Department, London School of Economics, UK *Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I: Prophecy and Providentialism 1. The Book of Daniel, Chapters 7-12 2. Paulus Orosius, Seven Books Against the Pagans, Dedication, From Book I, Section 1 and from Books II (Section 1), V (Sections 1-2) and VII (Sections 1-3) 3. M. Reeves, Joachim of Fiore and the Prophetic Future, From Chapter 1, “Joachim and the Meaning of History” 4. From Ibn Khaldun, The Muqaddimah: An Introduction to History Part II: From Providence to Progress 5. Johann Gottfried Herder, Outlines of a Philosophy of the History of Man, Book XV, Chapters 1-5 6. Immanuel Kant, Idea for a Universal History from a Cosmopolitan Point of View, On History [1784] 7. G.W.F. Hegel, Lectures on the Philosophy of World History, “The Course of the World’s History,” vol. iii, sections 60-99. 8. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Manifesto of the Communist Party [1848], Chapter 1 9. Leopold von Ranke, Universal History: The Oldest Historical Group of Nations and the Greeks [1884], Preface Part III: The Scientific Temptation 10. Herbert Spencer, “Progress: Its Law and Consequences” [1886], Chapter 1 11. Christopher Dawson, The Age of the Gods [1928], “Introduction” 12. David Christian, “World History in Context” [2003] 13. Richard Lewontin and Joseph Fraccia, “Does Culture Evolve?” [1994] 14. Felipe Fernández-Armesto, “How to be Human: A Historical Approach” [2010] 15. Daniel Lord Smail, “Neuroscience and the Dialectics of History” [2012] Part IV: Comparative and Contextual Approaches 16. Ian G. Simmons, ‘“To Civility and Man´s Use”: History, Culture, and Nature’ [1998] 17. Jared M.Diamond, “Colonization Cycles in Man and Beast” [1977] 18. Kenneth Pomeranz, “Social History and World History from Daily Life to Patterns of Change” [2007] 19. Bruce Mazlish, “Comparing Global History to World History” [1998] Part V: The Eurocentrism Controversies 20. Arnold J. Toynbee, “My View of History” [1948] 21. Samuel Huntington,. “The Clash of Civilizations” [1993] 22. J.C. van Leur, Indonesian Trade and Society: Essays in Asian Social and Economic History [1967], Chapter 1: “On Methodology and Theory” 23. W.H. McNeill, “A Defence of World History” [1982] Envoi: The New Narratives 24. David Christian, “The Return of Universal History” [2010] 25. David Northrup, “Globalization and the Great Convergence: Rethinking World History in the Long Term” [2008]
£35.14
Simon & Schuster Ltd The World Within
Book SynopsisWhat value does solitude bring to the creative mind? How can withdrawing from the world help us endure in times of crisis? As an author himself, Guy Stagg has long been fascinated by the role that retreat plays in the lives of writers and artists. Determined to see if seclusion could help his own work, he decided to follow in the footsteps of three seminal figures of the twentieth century: Ludwig Wittgenstein, David Jones and Simone Weil. Beautifully written and researched, THE WORLD WITHIN sees Stagg trace each of their journeys to isolation, hoping to see what they saw. He shadows Wittgenstein to the monastery outside Vienna where he worked as a gardener's assistant, and sails to the forbidding holy island off the Welsh coast where Jones immersed himself in his art. He visits the Solesmes Abbey in France that Weil found so transformative, and travels to Norway to stay in Wittgenstein's famous, rustic lake cabin. With an eye for natural beauty and sharp social observation, Stagg me
£17.00
Orion Publishing Co After the Fall
Book SynopsisTobias Buck arrived in Madrid in December 2012, in time to celebrate the bleakest Christmas the city had seen in a generation. Capital and country were reeling from a series of economic shocks that had brought Spain to the brink of ruin. The housing boom had dramatically turned to bust, a large chunk of the nation''s banking system was in state hands, businesses were closing across the country, debt was spiralling out of control and unemployment levels had reached a record high.AFTER THE FALL presents a rich and vivid portrait of contemporary Spain at a critical moment in the country''s history. The book tells the story of Spain''s long boom and sudden bust, the brutal economic crisis that followed, and the political and social aftershocks that reverberate to this day. It explores the origins of the separatist movement in Catalonia, and its bitter clash with the Spanish government that culminated in a failed secession referendum and a divisive declaration of independence. It lo
£17.00
Penguin Books Ltd A Short History of Drunkenness
Book SynopsisTHE PERFECT GIFT FOR ANYONE WHO ENJOYS A TIPPLE . . . OR TWO . . . OR TEN! Almost every culture on earth has drink, and where there''s drink there''s drunkenness. But in every age and in every place drunkenness is a little bit different. Tracing humankind''s love affair with booze from our primate ancestors through to Prohibition, it answers every possible question:What did people drink? How much? Who did the drinking? Of the many possible reasons, why? On the way, learn about the Neolithic Shamans, who drank to communicate with the spirit world (no pun intended), marvel at how Greeks got giddy and Romans got rat-arsed, and find out how bars in the Wild West were never like the movies.This is a history of the world at its inebriated best.''This book is a laugh riot. I mean the way the author has presented it is hilarious and to the point'' Goodreads Reviewer ''Highly entertaining. Cheers! Bottoms up! Good health!'' Goodreads Reviewer''It can make a good gift for someone with a sense of humour and appreciation for the magical powers of alcohol'' Goodreads ReviewerTrade ReviewMy favourite book of this and possibly any other Christmas is Mark Forsyth's A Short History of Drunkenness -- Marcus Berkmann * The Spectator *Forsyth's jokes are snappy and well delivered. Unlike most comical writers he never falls into the trap of confusing long-windedness with irony -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *Haha! . . . Highly suitable for Xmas! -- Margaret AtwoodThis entertaining study of drunkenness makes for a racy sprint through human history -- Christopher Hart * Sunday Times *A brisk and brilliant romp through our hiccoughing history, drenched with wit. Bloody marvellous from first sip to last burp -- Jason Hazeley, co-author of the Ladybird series (including 'The Ladybird Book of the Quiet Night In' and 'The Ladybird Book of the Hangover'Reading like a TED talk delivered by a stand-up comedian, this made me laugh out loud more than my first ever night out on absinthe. As essential as a hip flask or a pack of pork scratchings for any true connoisseur of booze. A Short History of Drunkenness is this year's Châteauneuf-du-Pape of Christmas books, no less. Bloody entertaining. -- Emlyn Rees, author of 'The Very Hungover Caterpillar' and 'We're Going on a Bar Hunt'Sometimes you see a book title that simply gladdens the heart. Everyone I showed this book to either smiled broadly or laughed out loud . . . This is a book of some brilliance - probably best consumed with a restorative glass of something by your side. -- Marcus Berkmann * Daily Mail *As Mark Forsyth brilliantly shows, civilisation is built on booze. Egypt (beer), Greece and Rome (wine) depended on alcohol to create their mighty works. Where man drinks, he prospers, and vice versa. A toast to this spirits-fuelled spirits-lifter. Staggering! -- Harry Mount, editor of The OldieI thought I knew quite a bit about drinking but A Short History of Drunkenness made me look at inebriation anew. Each chapter amazed, challenged and stimulated me so much that I needed a stiff drink at the end of it. -- Henry Jeffreys, author of Empire of BoozeWith a great eye for a story and a counterintuitive argument, Mark Forsyth has enormous fun breezing through 10,000 years of alcoholic history in a little more than 250 pages. -- Henry Jeffreys * The Guardian *Well researched and recounted with excellent humour, Forsyth's alcohol-ridden tale is sure to reduce anyone to a stupor of amazement. -- William Hartson * Daily Express *This charming book proved so engrossing that while reading it I accidentally drank two bottles of wine without realising. -- Rob Temple, author of Very British ProblemsEverything we ever thought about Christmas is wrong! Great stuff -- Matthew Parris on 'A Christmas Cornucopia'Mark Forsyth wears his considerable knowledge lightly. He also writes beautifully -- David Marsh, on 'The Elements of Eloquence' * Guardian *This year's must-have stocking filler ... the essential addition to the library in the smallest room is Mark Forsyth's The Etymologicon -- Ian Sansom * Guardian *Mark imparts knowledge about Christmas traditions from the essential to the (very) abstruse in wry and sardonic style. An effortless and enjoyable way to learn more about this fulcrum of our calendar -- Paul Smiddy, Former Head of pan-European retail research, HSBC, on 'A Christmas Cornucopia'With his casual elegance and melodious voice, Mark Forsyth has an anachronistic charm totally at odds with the 21st century * Sunday Times South Africa on'The Horologicon' *[The Etymologicon is] a perfect bit of stocking filler for the bookish member of the family, or just a cracking all-year-round-read. Highly recommended * The Spectator *A treat for the connoisseur who enjoys a robust anecdote from the past with his drink -- Sumit Chakrabarti * The Telegraph, India *As good as promised - could have been thrice as long -- Ben Schott, on 'The Elements of Eloquence'
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co What Is History Now
Book SynopsisThis groundbreaking new collection addresses the burning issue of how we interpret history today. What stories are told, and by whom, who should be celebrated, and what rewritten, are questions that have been asked recently not just within the history world, but by all of us. Featuring a diverse mix of writers, both bestselling names and emerging voices, this is the history book we need NOW.WHAT IS HISTORY, NOW? covers topics such as the history of racism and anti-racism, queer history, the history of faith, the history of disability, environmental history, escaping imperial nostalgia, hearing women''s voices and ''rewriting'' the past. The list of contributors includes: Justin Bengry, Leila K Blackbird, Emily Brand, Gus Casely-Hayford, Sarah Churchwell, Caroline Dodds Pennock, Peter Frankopan, Bettany Hughes, Dan Hicks, Onyeka Nubia, Islam Issa, Maya Jasanoff, Rana Mitter, Charlotte Riley, Miri Rubin, Simon Schama, Alex von Tunzelmann and Jaipreet Virdi.Trade ReviewWhat is History, Now? demonstrates how our constructs of the past are woven into our modern world and culture, and offers us an illuminating handbook to understanding this dynamic and shape-shifting subject. A thought-provoking, insightful and necessary re-examination of the subject for all students and lovers of history, which brings the past into the present * Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five *The importance of history is becoming more evident every day, and this humane book is an essential navigation tool. Urgent and utterly compelling * Sathnam Sanghera, author of Empireland *Important and exciting * Kate Williams, author of Rival Queens *THE history book for now. This is why and how historians do what they do. And why they need to. * Dan Snow *Engaging and personal * Spectator *A timely collection, varied and thought-provoking * New Statesman *What is excellent about this collection is the passion with which it champions pluralism of historical study, as well as the sheer quality of the writing... the essays in this collection are models of lucidity and literary skill. * The Critic *Simple yet intellectually sharp . . . The new volume is an active realization of the trajectory Carr proposes in What is History?, a filling of the archival gaps * Retrospect Journal *I recommend this book for tutors seeking to provoke critical thinking in their students or general readers . . . Ultimately, Lipscomb and Carr's editing shows diversity in history. It is contentious, diverse, intimate, and public, a space that contains gatekeepers and anarchists * Australian Policy and History *Fascinating * BBC History Magazine *
£10.44
Princeton University Press Olympia
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£20.90
Oxford University Press Disorder
Book SynopsisGetting to grips with the overlapping geopolitical, economic, and political crises faced by Western democratic societies in the 2020s. The 21st century has brought a powerful tide of geopolitical, economic, and democratic shocks. Their fallout has led central banks to create over $25 trillion of new money, brought about a new age of geopolitical competition, destabilised the Middle East, ruptured the European Union, and exposed old political fault lines in the United States. Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century is a long history of this present political moment. It recounts three histories - one about geopolitics, one about the world economy, and one about western democracies - and explains how in the years of political disorder prior to the pandemic the disruption in each became one big story. It shows how much of this turbulence originated in problems generated by fossil-fuel energies, and it explains why as the green transition takes place the long-standing predicaments energy iTrade ReviewHelen Thompson's book stands tallest among the recent titles that attempt to make sense of our age of crises. Disorder is a singular work owing to the skill with which Thompson maps the intersecting relationships between energy, global monetary policy, and the state of liberal democracy. * New Statesman *Fascinating * Simon Nixon, The Times *A stimulating read. * Howard Davies, Literary Review *Exceptional * Gavin Jacobson, New Statesman *Excellent. * Peter Franklin, Unherd *Bold and brilliant, studded with insights...one of the year's most essential books. * Christopher Bray, The Tablet *A powerful guide to modern Hard Times...any reader will finish it with a deeper understanding of our contemporary challenges. * Paschal Donohoe, Irish Times *Most of us struggle to keep up [with the news], but not Helen Thompson - she doesn't merely grip each strand, but ties them together. * Tom Clark, Prospect *Bursting with ideas. * James Barr, The Critic *[Disorder is] as disturbing as it is thought-provoking. * Martin Wolf, Financial Times, Summer Books 2022: Economics *If you are looking for a well-developed and convincing theory of our time, I advise you to start here. * Gilles Gressani, Le Grand Continent, 'What to read this summer' *We are on the verge of a fascinating epoch that Thompson might write about in a second volume, but that doesnt invalidate her first. Instead, it underscores her larger point that energy and finance are often at the heart of geopolitics. * Tony Yates, Chatham House *Disorder is a brilliant extended essay on the troubles of the era in terms of energy, global finance, governance and democracy...So much of this tortuously fascinating book gives the background to the global crisis now upon us, specifically in energy and governance. * Robert Fox, Reaction *If you want to understand why Russia invaded Ukraine then this book will help * Richard Lofthouse, QUAD *Deftly weaving together the history of energy, economics, and politics, Disorder restores depth to contemporary history. Refusing familiar stereotypes, Thompson offers a truly eye-opening account of our current predicament and points the way to a deeper understanding of the energy transition that lies ahead. Challenging and essential reading. * Adam Tooze, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of History, Director of the European Institute, Columbia University *A remarkable history of the complex ways in which the global energy economy has shaped the wealth and politics of nations. Helen Thompson's command of her subject is second to none. Disorder is revelatory, sobering, and indispensable. * Gary Gerstle, author of The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order: America and the World during the Free Market Era *To read Thompson on the history of the past century is to see it in a sudden sharp definition. It is akin to looking through glass after the window-cleaner has been. * Tom Holland, bestselling author and co-host of The Rest is History podcast *There could be no better guide than Helen Thompson to the turbulence of the 21st century, with its successive disruptions, from financial crisis to energy transition, from Brexit to emerging geopolitical conflicts. When history seems to have come for us with a vengeance since the turn of the millennium, this magisterial book brings into focus the key structural forces driving, not only recent events, but also the inevitable changes still to come. * Diane Coyle, Bennett Professor of Public Policy, University of Cambridge *In this absorbing and wide-ranging study Helen Thompson unravels the complex intersections of oil, money, and democracy for understanding the politics of the last century. She provides an indispensable and illuminating guide to our current predicaments. * Andrew Gamble, Professor of Politics, University of Sheffield *Thompson's conceptual work is...elaborate...full of revelations. * Thomas König, Austrian Journal of Political Science *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Disruption I: Geopolitics 1: Eurasian limits 2: The impossible oil guarantee 3: Eurasia remade II: Economy 4: Our currencies, your problem 5: Made in China, need dollars 6: We are not in Kansas any more III: Democratic politics 7: Democratic time 8: The democratic tax state 9: Whither reform Conclusions: The more things change Afterword Index
£12.34
Pushkin Press Shooting Stars: 10 Historical Miniatures
Book SynopsisTen turning points in history, vividly sketched by the great Stefan Zweig "Such dramatically concentrated, such fateful hours, in which a timeless decision hangs on a single date, a single hour, even just a single minute, rarely occur in everyday life, and only rarely in the course of history." One of the twentieth century's great humanists and a hugely popular fiction writer, Stefan Zweig's historical works bring the past to life in brilliant Technicolor. This collection contains ten typically breathless and erudite dramatizations of some of the most tense and important episodes in human history. From General Grouchy's failure to intervene at Waterloo, to the miraculous resurrection of George Frideric Handel, this, Stefan Zweig's selection of historical turning points, newly translated by Anthea Bell, is idiosyncratic, fascinating and as always hugely readable. The perfect stocking-filler for the Europhile in your life' Philosophy Football 'Shooting Stars forms part of an ambitious project by Pushkin Press to bring Zweig's work to the attention of the English-reading public, an enterprise that has been entirely successful. Zweigmania seems to break out with the publication of each book, with readers discovering his work by word-of-mouth and by accident.' Guardian 'Zweig's impassioned pursuit of personal freedom seems more relevant than ever' Newsweek About the Author Stefan Zweig (1881-1942) was born in Vienna, into a wealthy Austrian-Jewish family. He studied in Berlin and Vienna and was first known as a poet and translator, then as a biographer. Zweig travelled widely, living in Salzburg between the wars, and was an international bestseller with a string of hugely popular novellas including Letter from an Unknown Woman, Amok and Fear. In 1934, with the rise of Nazism, he moved to London, where he wrote his only novel Beware of Pity. He later moved on to Bath, taking British citizenship after the outbreak of the Second World War. With the fall of France in 1940 Zweig left Britain for New York, before settling in Brazil, where in 1942 he and his wife were found dead in an apparent double suicide. Much of his work is available from Pushkin Press. About the Author Stefan Zweig (1881-1942) was born in Vienna, into a wealthy Austrian-Jewish family. He studied in Berlin and Vienna and was first known as a poet and translator, then as a biographer. Zweig travelled widely, living in Salzburg between the wars, and was an international bestseller with a string of hugely popular novellas including Letter from an Unknown Woman, Amok and Fear. In 1934, with the rise of Nazism, he moved to London, where he wrote his only novel Beware of Pity. He later moved on to Bath, taking British citizenship after the outbreak of the Second World War. With the fall of France in 1940 Zweig left Britain for New York, before settling in Brazil, where in 1942 he and his wife were found dead in an apparent double suicide. Much of his work is available from Pushkin Press.Trade ReviewGems of literary perfection. I felt I had seldom read such lucid, liquid prose Simon Winchester, Telegraph Shooting Stars forms part of an ambitious project by Pushkin Press to bring Zweig's work to the attention of the English-reading public, an enterprise that has been entirely successful. Zweigmania seems to break out with the publication of each book, with readers discovering his work by word-of-mouth and by accident. Guardian The perfect stocking-filler for the Europhile in your life Philosophy Football A source of great pleasure, even enlightenment Jewish Quarterly Pacey and animated The Herald
£11.69
Penguin Books Ltd Byzantium
Book SynopsisFor a thousand years an extraordinary empire made possible Europe's transition to the modern world: Byzantium. An audacious and resilient but now little known society, it combined orthodox Christianity with paganism, classical Greek learning with Roman power, to produce a great and creative civilization which for centuries held in check the armies of Islam. Judith Herrin's concise and compelling book replaces the standard chronological approach of most histories of Byzantium. Instead, each short chapter is focused on a theme, such as a building (the great church of Hagia Sophia), a clash over religion (iconoclasm), sex and power (the role of eunuchs), an outstanding Byzantine individual (the historian Anna Komnene), a symbol of civilization (the fork), a battle for territory (the crusades). In this way she makes accessible and understandable the grand sweeps of Byzantine history, from the founding of its magnificent capital Constantinople (modern Istanbul) in 330, to its fal
£12.34
Transworld Publishers Ltd The War in the West A New History
Book SynopsisFrom Hitler''s invasion of Russia, America''s entry into the conflict and the devastating Thousand Bomber Raids over Germany, to the long grinding struggle in the deserts of North Africa and the crucial Battle of the Atlantic, the middle passage of the Second World War was all about turning back the Nazi tide.These catalytic moments would come to define the course of the war and its outcome. They encompass the most vicious fighting, the most hair-raising strategy and the most breathtaking bravery. Across the battlefronts on land, sea and air, to the streets, fields and factories of Britain, America, Africa and Europe, Holland shows, in his own dramatic and compelling style, how the fortunes of war were changed and what happened when the Allies were finally able to fight back . . .''Impeccably researched and superbly written... Holland''s fascinating sage offers a mixture of captivating new research and well-considered revisionism'' Observer''ExcTrade ReviewJames Holland has established himself as one of the premier World War II Historians * History of War *Holland shoots down the myth of German invincibility . . . All the great turning points of 1941-43 are here. A triumph * Sunday Express *Makes us eager for the third and final part of what now ranks as a towering work of historical research and writing * BBC History Magazine *Holland brings a fresh eye to the ebb and flow of the conflict . . . [A] majestic saga * Literary Review *This second volume easily reaches the benchmark set by it’s predecessor . . . the style is crisp, engaging, absorbing, it really does have the feel of a fresh and revisionist perspective on the momentous events that occurred between 1941 and 1943 * Soldier *
£12.34
Penguin Books Ltd World Order
Book SynopsisIn World Order, Henry Kissinger - one of the leading practitioners of world diplomacy and author of On China - makes his monumental investigation into the ''tectonic plates'' of global history and state relations.World Order is the summation of Henry Kissinger''s thinking about history, strategy and statecraft. As if taking a perspective from far above the globe, it examines the great tectonic plates of history and the motivations of nations, explaining the attitudes that states and empires have taken to the rest of the world from the formation of Europe to our own times.Kissinger identifies four great ''world orders'' in history - the European, Islamic, Chinese and American. Since the end of Charlemagne''s empire, and especially since the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, Europeans have striven for balance in international affairs, first in their own continent and then globally. Islamic states have looked to their destined expansion over regions populated by unbelievers, a position exemplified today by Iran under the ayatollahs. For over 2000 years the Chinese have seen ''all under Heaven'' as being tributary to the Chinese Emperor. America views itself as a ''city on a hill'', a beacon to the world, whose values have universal validity. How have these attitudes evolved and how have they shaped the histories of their nations, regions, and the rest of the world? What has happened when they have come into contact with each other? How have they balanced legitimacy and power at different times? What is the condition of each in our contemporary world, and how are they shaping relations between states now?To answer these questions Henry Kissinger draws upon a lifetime''s historical study and unmatched experience as a world statesman. His account is shot through with observations about how historical change takes place, how some leaders shape their times and others fail to do so, and how far states can stray from the ideas which define them. World Order is a masterpiece of narrative, analysis and portraits of great historical actors that only Henry Kissinger could have written.Trade ReviewHenry Kissinger ... still has remarkable influence. Reading this book, you can see why ... the wit, clarity and concision of his chapters on Europe, America and jihadism are bracing * Economist *Part history, part lecture, part memoir ... Kissinger's conclusion deserves to be read and understood by all candidates ahead of the 2016 presidential election. World order depends on it -- Lionel Barber * Financial Times *
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks
Book SynopsisA history of the world through 12 shipwrecks, from ancient Rome to WW2, by world renowned underwater archaeologist David Gibbins
£10.44
Profile Books Ltd Tracks on the Ocean
Book SynopsisMaps do not show the world as it really is - they instead show us how we see it, and they are the product of centuries of trading, exploring and conquering. The lines on a map are even more revealing: as records of individual journeys, they cast a light on the minds of travellers through history, and they can help us understand how the modern world was made. In Tracks on the Ocean, Sara Caputo tells how our journeys around the globe became fixed lines on our maps - from Captain Cook's route across the South Seas to the disorientating power of digital technology to reshape how we see our cities. The tracks on the ocean, Caputo shows, mark humanity's impact on the planet, whether in the legacy of violence plotted by Christopher Columbus across the New World or in the clouds of exhaust fumes left by ocean liners. Weaving human history, cartography, literature and climate science, Tracks on the Ocean reveals how, on the path to discovery, we have changed the world.
£10.44
Biteback Publishing More Lessons from History: Uncovering the
Book SynopsisWelcome to another round of history's most absurd stories and the timeless lessons that come with them. In More Lessons from History, Alex Deane has unearthed yet more bizarre tales that you certainly haven't heard before. If you're wondering how large, flightless birds might organise themselves against a military regiment, how you should respond to the glare of an international rugby player whose glass eye you just knocked out, exactly why carrots are orange, or whether the world's worst-run battleship ever ceased firing upon her comrades-in-arms, then look no further. In this second volume of his acclaimed series, Alex Deane reminds us that, throughout history, human nature has remained exactly the same, and the way that people responded to the most amusing, horrifying and convoluted of circumstances in the past can teach us everything we need to know about who we are today.
£11.69
C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd Borneo
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£20.90
Pan Macmillan Eighteen
Book SynopsisAlice Loxton is one of Britain's most exciting young historians. She has been a pioneer in bringing history to new audiences through social media, and has a total following of over 2 million across Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. She is an experienced writer and presenter, regularly presenting documentaries on History Hit, Channel 4 and the BBC. She is the author of Eighteen and the acclaimed book UPROAR: Scandal, Satire and Printmakers in Georgian London, nominated for Blackwell's Book of the Year.
£18.70
Old Street Publishing The Shortest History of Greece
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Faber & Faber The Last Emperor of Mexico
Book Synopsis''Hilarious, heartbreaking and utterly extraordinary.'' Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday Times Books of the YearSuperbly entertaining.' Financial TimesJaw-dropping.' Sunday TimesFascinating.' GuardianGripping.' The TimesTerrific . . . A page-turning history of imperial hubris and nemesis, deceit and delusion, love and betrayal on a grand scale.' Sunday TimesIn 1864, a young Austrian archduke by the name of Maximilian crossed the Atlantic to assume a faraway throne. He had been lured into the voyage by a duplicitous Napoleon III. Keen to spread his own interests abroad, the French emperor had promised Maximilian a hero's welcome. Instead, he walked into a bloody guerrilla war. With a head full of impractical ideals and a penchant for pomp and butterflies the new emperor' was singularly ill-equipped for what lay in store.This is the vivid history of this barely known, barely b
£11.69
Ebury Publishing Carthage
Book SynopsisDr Eve MacDonald is Senior Lecturer in Ancient History at Cardiff University; she is an archaeologist and ancient historian who has worked and published extensively on the history and material culture of Carthage, North Africa and the Middle East. She is one of the world's foremost experts on the region and is the author of Hannibal: A Hellenistic Life that was published in 2015 by Yale University Press. She has also appeared in podcasts (History Hit: The Ancients, Hannibal's Winter War) and documentary films for Channel 4 and PBS' Secrets of the Dead. Carthage is her first book for the trade.
£20.00
Michael O'Mara Books Ltd A History of the World in 80 Lost Women
Book SynopsisJourney through thousands of years of human history (now with the women put back in).From the earliest human civilizations through to the present day, the stories of countless influential women - leaders, artists, warriors, scientists and more - have been ignored, forgotten, or actively suppressed. In What’s Her Name: A History of the World in 80 Lost Women, Olivia Meikle and Katie Nelson restore women’s stories to their rightful place in world history. Based on the acclaimed podcast, What’s Her Name, this is a truly global history that weaves together biographies of incredible women spanning six continents and thousands of years, from Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire to imperial China, the Americas and post-war Europe. This book tells a captivating and funny, thought-provoking and deeply researched historical narrative. Drawing on years of study and interviews with dozens of experts, this is an insightful and enthralling look at the trailblazing women you may not have heard of (but should have).
£9.89
Bloomsbury USA Coalition Aircraft Vs Iraqi Sams
£18.75
Princeton University Press 1177 B.C.
Book SynopsisTrade Review"The memorable thing about Cline's book is the strangely recognizable picture he paints of this very faraway time. . . . It was as globalized and cosmopolitan a time as any on record, albeit within a much smaller cosmos. The degree of interpenetration and of cultural sharing is astonishing."---Adam Gopnik, New Yorker"A fascinating look at the Late Bronze Age, proving that whether for culture, war, economic fluctuations or grappling with technological advancement, the conundrums we face are never new, but merely renewed for a modern age."---Larry Getlen, New York Post"Cline has created an excellent, concise survey of the major players of the time, the latest archaeological developments, and the major arguments, including his own theories, regarding the nature of the collapse that fundamentally altered the area around the Mediterranean and the Near East."---Evan M. Anderson, Library Journal"A remarkable book that brings forth not just a piece of history, but also lessons from the past."---Mihai Andrei, ZME Science"Fresh and engaging."---Andrew Robinson, Current World Archaeology"The 12th century BCE is one of the watershed eras of world history. Empires and kingdoms that had dominated late Bronze Age western Asia and the eastern Mediterranean collapsed." * Choice *"Cline explores a vast array of variables that could have led to the disruption of the society of this era, including earthquakes, famines, droughts, warfare, and, most notably, invasions by the 'Sea Peoples.'" * Publishers Weekly *"A detailed but accessible synthesis. . . . [O]ffers students and the interested lay antiquarian a sense of the rich picture that is emerging from debates among the ruins."---Scott McLemee, Inside Higher Ed"In this enjoyable new book, Eric H. Cline has set himself an ambitious task: Not only must he educate a popular audience about the wealth and power of the eastern Mediterranean civilizations of the Bronze Age, he must then make his readers care that, some time around the year 1200 B.C., these empires, kingdoms, and cities suffered a series of cataclysms from which they never recovered."---Susan Kristol, Weekly Standard"[An] engaging book. . . . Cline builds a convincing case for his theory over a long and absorbing tour of the Late Bronze Age.”"---Josephine Quinn, London Review of Books"A wonderful example of scholarship written for the non-expert. Cline clearly pulls together the engaging story of the interactions among the major empires of the Late Bronze Age and puts forth a reasonable theory explaining why they seem to have evaporated as quickly as moisture on a hot afternoon."---Fred Reiss, San Diego Jewish World"Cline's work reveals eerie parallels between the geopolitics of the first years of 12th century B.C. and today's 21st century. 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed is history, but reads like a good mystery novel. Cline draws readers into his tale, revealing surprises throughout. It is all the more fascinating for being true, and for its relevance to today's world."---Mark Lardas, Daily News"Cline has written one of this year's most interesting books."---Jona Lendering, NRC Handelsblad"Extremely valuable for scholars, yet . . . easily understandable by general readers."---Richard A. Gabriel, Military History Quarterly"Cline is clearly in command of the textual record and his reading of it is the book's real strength."---A. Bernard Knapp, History Today"Written in a lively, engaging style."---Michael McGaha, Middle East Media and Book Reviews"1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed is a thoughtful analysis of one of the great mysteries of human history. . . . Highly recommended."---James A. Cox, Midwest Book Review"[T]his work masterfully incorporates the present state of research into a welcome reevaluation of a period less known to the general public, the crisis of Late Bronze Age civilization. . . . [E}ven more brilliant is the spin on the similarities between the predicament of this area three millennia ago and now."---Barbara Cifola, American Historical Review"There are few published titles which focus on the tumultuous events that took place in the Eastern Mediterranean at approximately 1200 BCE. . . . Cline's 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed stands out among the rest as one of the best and most thoroughly researched. . . . This book is presented as a mystery novel. . . . One thing is for certain, once started, you will not want to put it down." * Ancient Origins *"A gripping mystery story with clues to follow and evidence to analyze."---SG, Ancient Egypt Magazine"Essential."---Thomas F. Bertonneau, Brussels Journal"Well-written, very fairly argued, and excellent value, it will set the agenda for Late Bronze Age studies for some time to come."---Peter Jones, Classics for All"Fascinating. . . . [A]voids the tedium of so many academic writers."---Bruce Beresford, filmmaker"Eric H. Cline has written a work of great scholarship, but has written in a manner so that the non-expert . . . can not only understand, but also appreciate it."---Don Vincent, Open History"I don't know when I've appreciated a book as much as 1177 B.C. If you enjoy learning, you will enjoy this book! Highly recommended."---Thomas A. Timmes, UNRV History"Cline expertly and briskly takes the reader through the power politics of the fifteenth, fourteenth, and thirteenth centuries BC with excursuses on important archaeological discoveries and introductions for each of the major players. No reader with a pulse could fail to be captivated by the details."---Dimitri Nakassis, Mouseion"Cline's book is something special in ancient history writing. . . . The book is up to date in its research, covers a lot of ground, is careful in its conclusions, and will be referred to and cited by students of Aegean and eastern Mediterranean prehistory, discussed by the scholarly community, as well as read by the interested public. Cline has done a good job of bringing the Late Bronze Age eastern Mediterranean to a very wide audience."---Guy D. Middleton, American Journal of Archaeology"Remarkably prescient. . . . [A] convincing case for the relevance of ancient history to the modern world." * Canadian Journal of History *"The end of the Late Bronze Age, around the turn of the twelfth century BCE, was a civilizational collapse similar to the much better known fall of the Roman Empire seventeen centuries later. . . . The causes of this collapse have been among the enduring mysteries of ancient history and archaeology, a complicated detective story for which Eric Cline deftly serves as guide. Cline . . . presents for educated general readers a survey of the evidence and scholarship concerning the end of the Late Bronze Age. He also engagingly establishes the historical and geographical context of the collapse, complete with a motley and compelling cast of characters."---Matthew A. Sears, Canadian Journal of History"This collapse has been a popular subject for scholars, not least our author, for a very long time. Here he usefully assembles the evidence and deduces that it was the very complexity of powers, their interrelationships through trade or war, that brought about the collapse, and he is probably right."---John Boardman, Common Knowledge"The most analytically satisfying, accessible, and of course up-to-date treatment of one of the great enigmas of the ancient world."---Christoph Bachhuber, Historian"Cline admirably acknowledges areas of existing scholarly controversy, while understandably emphasizing the consensus view in order to maintain the flow of his narrative. . . . He has a firm command of the textual, archaeological, and environmental evidence, and brings together a wealth of recent scholarship in an accessible form, a treatment which has been sorely lacking for this pivotal period. . . . [A] fine book."---Erin Warford, European Legacy"1177 BC still offers the best treatment of the subject that is currently available. If you haven’t read it yet, I recommend that you do."---Josho Brouwers, Ancient World Magazine
£14.24
Headline Publishing Group Fake History: Ten Great Lies and How They Shaped
Book Synopsis'A brilliant and important book ... Five Stars!' Mark Dolan, talkRADIO'An important new book' Daily Express An alternative history of the world that exposes some of the biggest lies ever told and how they've been used over time.Lincoln did not believe all men were created equal.The Aztecs were not slaughtered by the Spanish Conquistadors.And Churchill was not the man that people love to remember.In this fascinating new book, journalist and author Otto English takes ten great lies from history and shows how our present continues to be manipulated by the fabrications of the past.He looks at how so much of what we take to be historical fact is, in fact, fiction. From the myths of WW2 to the adventures of Columbus, and from the self-serving legends of 'great men' to the origins of curry – fake history is everywhere and used ever more to impact our modern world.Setting out to redress the balance, English tears apart the lies propagated by politicians and think tanks, the grand narratives spun by populists and the media, the stories on your friend's Facebook feed and the tales you were told in childhood. And, in doing so, reclaims the truth from those who have perverted it.Fake History exposes everything you weren't told in school and why you weren't taught it.Trade Review'A brilliant and important book ... Five Stars!' -- Mark Dolan, talkRADIO'An important new book' * Daily Express *'A wonderful dissection of some of history's heroes and villains who are unfairly castigated or wrongly glorified' * Scotsman *
£10.44
Arcturus Publishing Ltd Tyrants
Book SynopsisI have committed many acts of cruelty and had an incalculable number of men killed, never knowing whether what I did was right. But I am indifferent to what people think of me.- Genghis KhanA spine-chilling chronicle of dictators and their crimes against humanity, Tyrants introduces the most bloodthirsty madmen - and women - ever to wield power over their unfortunate fellow human beings.From Atilla the Hun, who killed his own brother to rule the Hun Empire, to Adolf Hitler, mass murderer and instigator of the most devastating war the world has ever known, this book examines history''s most infamous despots and tells in vivid detail the story of the lives they led, their ruthless climb to the top and the destruction and sorrow they left in their wake.Includes:• Herod the Great, King of Judaea • Pheidon of Argos, Tyrant of Athens • Richard III, King of
£9.49
