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Book Synopsis'Tense, gripping and atmospheric' - CHRIS WHITAKER'Gripped me from its shocking start' - SARAH YARWOOD-LOVETT'I highly recommend it' - LYNDA LA PLANTE CBE________________TWO MISSING BACKPACKERS. ONE VAST OUTBACK.DS Lucas Walker is on leave in his hometown, Caloodie, taking care of his dying grandmother. When two young German backpackers, Berndt and Rita, vanish from the area, he finds himself unofficially on the case.But why all the interest from the Federal Police when they have probably just ditched the heat and dust of the outback for the coast? Working in the organised crime unit has opened Walker's eyes to the growing drug trade in Australia's remote interior - and he becomes convinced there is more at play.As the number of days since the couple's disappearance climbs, Walker is joined by Rita's older sister. A detective herself with Berlin CID, she has flown to Australia - desperate to find her

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Book SynopsisIt can be hard to decide what we really want to achieve in our lives; our ambitions are often scattered, diverse and difficult to pin down. This is a tool for helping us focus on what we need to be fulfilled so that we can direct our energies and thoughts most effectively. It contains 160 cards detailing our most common ambitions and longings, along with instructions on how to reflect on our goals, arrange them in a logical order of priorities and, where necessary, weigh up trade-offs. Using the cards will help us to reveal our true purpose. The cards can be displayed, photographed or kept close to hand as a reminder of the path ahead. This is a simple-seeming but ingenious psychological tool for converting hunches and dreams into a realisable future.

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Book SynopsisA 15th anniversary collection of The School of Life’s most popular and essential essays on self-knowledge, relationships, work and culture. The School of Life is an organisation with a focused mission at its heart: to help foster calm, self-understanding and greater emotional maturity. In celebration of The School of Life’s 15th anniversary, we have gathered together ten of our landmark essays on key topics in a collectible edition. Among these, we find: Self-Knowledge, On Confidence, What is Psychotherapy?, How to Find Love, The Sorrows of Love, Why You Will Marry the Wrong Person, Why We Hate Cheap Things, How to Reform Capitalism, The Sorrows of Work and What is Culture For? In elegant and always clear prose, the essays take us on a tour around the central topics of emotional life, leaving us enlightened, calmer and readier to greet our inevitable challenges. With a new introduction from The School of Life, this book amounts to nothing less than a concise compendium of some of the wisest things we’ll ever need to know.

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Book Synopsis Features 350 entries, from the Fokker DR.1 triplane through the Mil Mi-24 helicopter gunship to the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter Ranges from the World Wars to the present day Includes photographs or colour artworks for each entry

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Book SynopsisSpark steamy discussions and add a dash of spice to any date night with this deck of 52 erotic conversation starters!Dive into a world of passion and pleasure with these naughty ice breakers, designed to ignite the flames of curiosity and deepen connections. Ranging from playful to provocative, each card unveils a tantalizing question or scenario, encouraging participants to share their most intimate fantasies, desires and experiences, for a truly unforgettable night.Ideal for couples seeking to enhance their connection or adventurous groups looking to push boundaries, these cards promise to elevate your conversations to new, thrilling heights. From steamy hypotheticals to tempting confessions, the Dirty Date Deck is sure to unleash the passion and set tongues wagging.Questions include: - What is the kinkiest thing anyone has asked you to do? - Have you ever had an erotic dream about someone you shouldn''t have? - What is one dirty t

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. From the author of Irreversible Damage, an investigation into a mental health industry that is harming, not healing, American childrenIn virtually every way that can be measured, Gen Z’s mental health is worse than that of previous generations. Youth suicide rates are climbing, antidepressant prescriptions for children are common, and the proliferation of mental health diagnoses has not helped the staggering number of kids who are lonely, lost, sad and fearful of growing up. What’s gone wrong with America’s youth?In Bad Therapy, bestselling investigative journalist Abigail Shrier argues that the problem isn’t the kids—it’s the mental health experts. Drawing on hundreds of interviews with child psychologists, parents, teachers, and young people, Shrier explores the ways the mental health industry has transformed the way we teach, treat, discipline, and even talk to our kids. She reveals that most of the therapeutic approaches have serious side effects and few proven benefits. Among her unsettling findings: Talk therapy can induce rumination, trapping children in cycles of anxiety and depression Social Emotional Learning handicaps our most vulnerable children, in both public schools and private “Gentle parenting” can encourage emotional turbulence – even violence – in children as they lash out, desperate for an adult in charge Mental health care can be lifesaving when properly applied to children with severe needs, but for the typical child, the cure can be worse than the disease. Bad Therapy is a must-read for anyone questioning why our efforts to bolster America’s kids have backfired—and what it will take for parents to lead a turnaround.

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Book SynopsisWritten by an expert author, Fitness Training offers a total fitness programme for both body and mind. Special exercises and routines will help the reader improve strength, stamina and agility. There are also chapters on diet and nutrition, mental agility and self-defence to help cope with the challenges of modern life the SAS way.

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Book SynopsisA Uyghur poet''s piercing memoir of life under the most coercive surveillance regime in history''Essential reading''AI WEIWEI, author of 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows''Deserves to be read widely''FINANCIAL TIMESAs his friends disappeared one by one, it became clear to Tahir Hamut Izgil that fleeing his home in Xinjiang was his family's only hope.In this unforgettable story of courage and survival, Tahir charts the Chinese government's ongoing destruction of the Uyghur community and way of life in spare, gripping, finely tuned prose.Waiting to Be Arrested at Night is an urgent call for the world to awaken to a humanitarian catastrophe, and a moving tribute to those Uyghurs whose voices have been silenced.

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Book SynopsisThe first in a new series of guided journals, leading the customer on a journey of self-reflection.

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Book SynopsisTimothy Snyder has been called the leading interpreter of our dark times'. As a historian, he has given us startling reinterpretations of political collapse and mass killing. As a public intellectual, he has turned that knowledge towards counsel and prediction, working against authoritarians and populists.He teaches history and global affairs at Yale University and his books, which have been published in over forty languages, include Bloodlands, Black Earth, On Tyranny, Road to Unfreedom and Our Malady. His work has inspired poster campaigns and exhibitions, sculptures, a punk rock song, a rap song, a play and an opera, and he has appeared in over fifty films and documentaries.

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Book SynopsisFrom his numerous contacts across the region, the author has produced an account drawn from individual experiences on the ground in and around Kyiv.

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Book SynopsisThe Cold War roots of liberalism’s present crisisTrade Review“[A] daring new book.”—Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post“A fascinating and combative intellectual history of what Moyn calls ‘cold war liberalism.’”—Gideon Rachman, Financial TimesListed in New Statesman’s Best Books of the Academic Presses, 2023“[A] provocative analysis of the early Cold War’s leading liberal intellectuals. . . . Moyn’s critique is hard-hitting.”—John Nilsson-Wright, Global Asia“Samuel Moyn’s new book offers a refreshingly different approach that neither wants to share naive defences nor conservative swan songs. . . . [Moyn] locates the confused debate about the fate of ‘liberalism’ in strictly historical terms.”—Julian Nicolai Hofmann, Soziopolis“Skeptical of received wisdom and over-burnished reputations, Liberalism against Itself is a continuously bracing and necessary exercise in intellectual iconoclasm. It not only rescues a distinguished Western tradition from its skittish cold-war exponents and bellicose neo-conservative exegetes; it also alerts us to the many political and intellectual possibilities still open to us.”—Pankaj Mishra, author of Age of Anger: A History of the Present“In this compelling critique of Cold War liberalism, Samuel Moyn shows how, in the second half of the 20th century, liberalism lost its nerve, and its idealism. Today, with liberalism under siege, Moyn bids liberals to emerge from their blinkered, defensive crouch to reclaim a bold, progressive project of human agency and moral improvement. This is intellectual history at its best—by reminding us of wrong turns, it points us to new possibilities.”—Michael J. Sandel, author of Democracy’s Discontent: A New Edition for Our Perilous Times“A striking, poignant account of how liberalism lost its way. Through a set of fascinating intellectual portraits, Samuel Moyn prompts us to confront liberalism’s Cold War capitulation to a reactionary pessimism, and invites us to imagine a liberalism oriented toward emancipation. Liberalism against Itself is vital reading for all those concerned with liberalism’s failures and possibilities.”—Amia Srinivasan, author of The Right to Sex“Throughout my life, liberalism has been a politics of timidity and anxiety rather than freedom and equality. In his sterling reconstruction of recent history, Samuel Moyn shows that it was the Cold War that made liberalism what it is today. If there is to be a liberalism of tomorrow, liberals must leave the Cold War behind. If they do, Moyn claims in a brilliant provocation, there is an older idea of liberal perfection and progress to be recovered and a new world of freedom and equality to be won.”—Corey Robin, author of The Enigma of Clarence Thomas

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Book SynopsisWriting Empirical Research Reports: A Basic Guide for Students of the Social and Behavioral Sciences, Ninth Edition, offers clear and practical guidance on how to write research proposals, reports, theses, and dissertations.The book describes the types of information that should be included, how this information should be expressed, and where various types of information should be placed within a research report. The organization is designed to walk students through all the elements required when writing an original research report for a class, for a thesis/dissertation, or for publication. Most guidelines are illustrated with examples from actual (and recent) research reports published in peer-reviewed journals across the social and behavioral sciences. The new edition includes fully updated examples and chapter exercises, expanded material on qualitative methods, significant new material on research ethics, and new content on online research including social media.Table of Contents1: Structuring a Research Report 2: Writing Simple Research Hypotheses 3: A Closer Look at Hypotheses 4: Writing Research Objectives and Questions 5: Writing Titles 6: Writing Introductions and Literature Reviews 7: Writing Definitions 8: Writing Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations 9: Writing Method Sections 10: Describing Experimental Methods 11: Writing Analysis and Results Sections 12: Writing Discussion Sections 13: Writing Abstracts 14: A Closer Look at Writing Reports of Qualitative or Mixed Methods Research 15: Preparing Reference Lists; Appendix A: A Checklist of Guidelines Appendix B: Thinking Straight and Writing That Way Appendix C: The Null Hypothesis and Significance Testing

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Book SynopsisJürgen Habermas’s book The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere, first published in 1962, has long been recognized as one of the most important works of twentieth-century social thought. Blending philosophy and social history, it offered an account of the public sphere as a domain that mediates between civil society and the state in which citizens could discuss matters of common concern and participate in democratic decision-making through the formation of public opinion. Now, in view of the digital revolution and the resulting crisis of democracy, he returns to this important topic. In this new book Habermas focuses on digital media, in particular social media, which are increasingly relegating traditional mass media to the background. While the new media initially promised to empower users, this promise is being undermined by their algorithm-steered platform structure that promotes self-enclosed informational ‘bubbles’ and discursive ‘echo chambers’ in which users split into a plurality of pseudo-publics that are largely closed off from one other. Habermas argues that, without appropriate regulation of digital media, this new structural transformation is in danger of hollowing out the institutions through which democracies can shape social and economic processes and address urgent collective problems, ranging from growing social inequality to the climate crisis. Table of ContentsPreface Reflections and Hypotheses on a Further Structural Transformation of the Political Public Sphere Deliberative Democracy. An Interview What is Meant by ‘Deliberative Democracy’? Objections and Misunderstandings

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Book SynopsisStep into Stephen Fry's richly colourful world of magic, mayhem, monsters and maniacal gods in MYTHOS: THE ILLUSTRATED STORY . . .No one loves and quarrels, desires and deceives as boldly or brilliantly as Greek gods and goddesses.In Stephen Fry''s vivid retelling, we gaze in wonder as wise Athena is born from the cracking open of the great head of Zeus and follow doomed Persephone into the dark and lonely realm of the Underworld. We shiver in fear when Pandora opens her jar of evil torments and watch with joy as the legendary love affair between Eros and Psyche unfolds.Mythos: The Illustrated Story captures these extraordinary myths for our modern age in striking colour - in all their dazzling and deeply human relevance.

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Book SynopsisThroughout our country, atrocities are taking place in doctor’s offices and hospital operating rooms. Physically healthy children and adolescents are being permanently disfigured and sometimes sterilized. Those youth say they’re transgender, and we—their parents, teachers, therapists, and doctors—are supposed to agree with their self-diagnosis and take a back seat as they make the most consequential decision of their lives: to alter their bodies in order to, we are told, “align” them with their minds. Medical, educational, and government authorities advise us to support the “gender journeys” of still developing kids, including medical interventions with poor evidence of long-term improvement. This would not be acceptable in any other field of medicine. Indeed, the treatments our medical authorities and Washington call “crucial” and “life-saving” have been banned in progressive Sweden, Finland, and Britain. Dr. Miriam Grossman is a child and adolescent psychiatrist whose practice consists of trans-identified youth and their families. In Lost in Trans Nation, she implores parents to reject the advice of gender experts and politicians and trust their guts—their parental instincts—in the face of an onslaught of ideologically driven misinformation that steers them and their children toward risky decisions they may end up mourning for the rest of their lives. The beliefs that male and female are human inventions; that the sex of a newborn is arbitrarily “assigned”; and that as a result the child requires “affirmation” through medical interventions—these ideas are divorced from reality and therefore hazardous, especially to children. The core belief—that biology can and should be denied—is a repudiation of reality and a mockery of what hard science teaches about being male and female. Dr. Grossman believes that parents know their child best; they especially know if they have a son or daughter. But currently in our country when it comes to gender identity, everyone knows better than mom and dad. Schools enable students to live double lives—Patrick at home, Patti at school. Activists tell kids their loving homes are “unsafe” when parents voice doubts about the child’s new identity. For refusing to see their son as their daughter, parents might be reported to protective services, a development that can lead to a family’s destruction.Lost in Trans Nation arms parents with the ammunition to avoid, or, if necessary, fight what many families describe as the most difficult challenge of their lives. Parents will learn what to say and how—at home, at school, and if necessary, to police when they appear at the door. “Don’t be blindsided like so many parents I know,” warns Grossman, “be proactive and get educated. Feel prepared and confident to discuss trans, nonbinary, or whatever your child brings to the dinner table.” Whether it’s the “trans is as common as red hair” claim, or the “I’m not your son, I’m your daughter” proclamation, or the “do you prefer a live son or a dead daughter’ threat, says Grossman, no family is immune, and every parent must be prepared. No child is born in the wrong body, Dr. Grossman reassures us, their bodies are just fine; it’s their emotional lives that need healing. Whether you’re facing a gender identity battle in your home right now, or want to prevent one, you need this book to guide you and your loved ones out of the madness.

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Book Synopsis''Compelling and informative... a useful gateway into [Xi Jinping''s] mind'' Rana Mitter, Literary ReviewFrom one of the most admired reporters covering China today, a vital new account of the life and political vision of Xi Jinping, the authoritarian leader of the People''s Republic whose hard-edged tactics have set the rising superpower on a collision with Western liberal democracies.Party of One: The Rise of Xi Jinping and China''s Superpower Future shatters the many myths and caricatures that shroud one of the world''s most secretive political organizations and its leader. Many observers misread Xi during his early years in power, projecting their own hopes that he would steer China toward more political openness, rule of law, and pro-market economics. Having masked his beliefs while climbing the party hierarchy, Xi has centralized decision-making powers, encouraged a personality cult around himself, and moved toward indefiniteTrade ReviewAn authoritative, clear-minded study . . . A penetrating and timely unraveling of the personality and impact of a strongman president * Kirkus (starred review) *More than a decade into the era of Xi Jinping, readers ask, 'Why are there so few penetrating books on China's leader?' The answer is that the Communist Party deems even Xi's birth date too sensitive to disclose. But now, the skilled and energetic journalist Chun Han Wong has drawn on an impressive range of reporting and sources to craft a superb, readable, illuminating portrait of the man and his times. A must-read for China veterans and amateurs alike -- Evan OsnosParty of One brims with insights into the multitude of contradictions that make up Xi's China. It's a captivating read for anyone seeking to more deeply understand China in the Xi Jinping era. * Bonnie Glaser *"In a crowded marketplace of books about Xi Jinping's China, Party of One stands head and shoulders above its competitors. Chun Han Wong has combined rigorous investigative skills with a forensic grasp of an opaque political system to produce an enthralling portrait of the leader, and the party, that sits atop the world's emerging superpower." * Richard McGregor, author of 'The Party' and 'Asia's Reckoning' *Meticulously researched... Wong is a sharp observer of soft authoritarian power and the apparatus of the absolutist state -- Michael Sheridan * Sunday Times *Compelling and informative... Wong's thoughtful book is a useful gateway into [Xi Jinping's] mind -- Rana Mitter * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"What does it mean to say a painting thinks? The central claim of this invigorating book is not that a painting can show thought happening, as in depictions of melancholics musing, head on hand; nor that it can illustrate philosophical concepts. Nor does Hanneke Grootenboer want to argue that a painting is a way of working out a philosophical conundrum; nor even that it can prompt theorisation about the nature of reality, artifice and representation. She argues, instead, for something weirder–and more suggestive. . . . she asks: 'Do we, as viewers, find ourselves pondering these things, or is the painting as such pensive?' Grootenboer wants to affirm the latter." -- Kathryn Murphy * Apollo *"Ideas in Grootenboer’s sense are arresting, Benjaminian, and, therefore, fit for the still medium of painting, where, in her beautiful examples, they crystallize into dangling ribbons, inverted flowers, sliding dewdrops, and teetering gooseberries. . . . Though this book is full of beauty and pleasure, the adjective “pensive” is not, finally, the happiest to attach to the thinking subject—a person or work of art. In Grootenboer’s own words, the pensive image gives rise to an 'uneasy and indeterminate state of openness that allows for the unthought to surface.' As such, the pensive image extends an invitation to take a hard look at things." -- Amy Knight Powell * CAA Reviews *"This deeply thoughtful and compact book, like a self-aware image, also stimulates in its own right, prompting a reader toward unpredictable, wide-ranging pathways during engagement with it. Every sentence, every reference, gives pause, leading to other thoughts or thinkers about art, including contemporary art." -- Larry Silver * Sixteenth Century Journal *"Grootenboer opens up innumerable possible directions in which the reader’s mind could fruitfully err, juxtaposing different viewpoints and insights whose encounters incessantly ignite exciting intellectual sparks . . . one is then mesmerized by the exquisite profundity of some paintings, by the beauty of thinking crystallized into images and then 'melting' once again into a stream of contemplation, and by the lofty level of thinking attained through the collaboration, over centuries and continents, between a few brilliant artists and an attentive, insightful viewer who chose to work as an art historian, transforming visual thought into fine discursive language." -- Itay Sapir * Inquiries into Art, Art History, and the Visual *“Grootenboer’s book provides an accessible, clear, and innovating means of thinking about being by revealing a new philosophical subject: artworks.” * Phenomenological Reviews *“Is there a kind of thinking that painting, or photography, can do, which ‘thinking in words’ cannot? What kind of realm do viewers enter when they go somewhere with an image? Are there pictures that are especially good to think with? These are the questions of Grootenboer’s unflinching, generous book, and her conclusion is pungent: ‘Philosophy . . . needs art to say what it cannot say.’” -- T. J. Clark, author of Heaven on Earth: Painting and the Life to Come“Thinking with Grootenboer is an unequivocal delight. The Pensive Image recuperates the vibrant invitations to contemplate and reflect that lurk in the quiet corners of Dutch art. Grootenboer’s philosophical insight and deft eye for the unexamined detail meld in a book that is refreshingly original and truly engaging at every turn.” -- Marisa Bass, author of Insect Artifice: Nature and Art in the Dutch Revolt“It’s wonderful to finally have this book. For nearly a century now, the history and philosophy of art have been gathering ideas about how pictures seem to embody thought, rather than simply announce narratives or messages. The literature on this subject is bewilderingly diverse, and this is the first book to bring together compatible insights from writers as diverse as Diderot, Winckelmann, Merleau-Ponty, Heidegger, Damisch, Deleuze, Clark, Rancière, Marin, Mitchell, and Barthes. The result is a coherent account of the thought that sounds in ‘stilled images’ of all kinds.” -- James Elkins, coauthor of Visual Worlds: Looking, Images, Visual DisciplinesTable of ContentsArt as a Form of Thinking Part I | Defining the Pensive Image Chapter 1 | Theorizing Stillness Chapter 2 | Tracing the Denkbild Part II | Painting as Philosophical Reflection Chapter 3 | Room for Reflection: Interior and Interiority Chapter 4 | The Profundity of Still Life Chapter 5 |Painting as a Space for Thought Painting’s Wonder Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisNew paperback edition - A complete history of Bomber Command, including its crucial role in WWII and later nuclear role in the Cold War.Trade Review'In this comprehensive and illustrated history, Gordon Wilson, a retired military and commercial pilot, explores the 'human face' of the organisation from its inception just prior to World War II until its final years during the Cold War.' -- Military History Matters, December 21/ January 2022'Overall this book is very well written and the author has the technical detail and knowledge as a former flyer, that has produced a really good read so compliments to the author and a book I would certainly recommend.' -- Ben Davidson Blog'Complemented by a range of images and identifying famous personnel, stations and aircraft, this book will fascinate any enthusiast of 'The Many'.' -- Britain at War Magazine, February 2024

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Book SynopsisThis work provides an authoritative illustrated examination of the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, analyzing both grand strategy, and the tactical decisions of Day Two and the ensuing combat.July 2, 1863 was the bloodiest and most complicated of the three days of the Battle of Gettysburg. On this day, the clash involved five divisions of Confederate infantry and their accompanying artillery battalions, as well as a cavalry skirmish at nearby Hunterstown. The bulk of the Union army engaged on the second day of fighting, including men from the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 11th and 12th Corps.Assisted by superb maps and 3D diagrams, this fascinating work describes the tactical play-by-play, the customary who did what of the battle. Among the famous actions covered are Hunterstown and Benner's Hill, Little Round Top, Devil's Den, the Rose Wheatfield, the Peach Orchard, and Culp's and Cemetery hills. The critical decisions taken on the second day are examined in detail, Table of ContentsTHE END OF DAY ONE ORDERS OF BATTLE OPPOSING PLANS Union plans Confederate plans THE SECOND DAY Hunterstown and Benner’s Hill The Confederate Advance Little Round Top Devil’s Den The Rose Wheat Field The Valley of Death The Peach Orchard Cemetery Ridge Culp’s Hill Cemetery Hill NIGHTFALL BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX

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Book Synopsis'I have always been fascinated by that charismatic hero of the Resistance, Josephine Baker, but it turns out I didn't know the half of it. Lewis' story-telling blew my mind. Again.' - Dan Snow'A story of incredible bravery in the face of tyrants who invaded a free and democratic nation, this will have powerful resonance today.' - Tim SpicerDuring WW2, Josephine Baker, the world's richest and most glamorous entertainer, was an Allied spy in Occupied France. This is the story of her heroic personal resistance to Nazi Germany.Prior to World War II, Josephine Baker was a music hall diva renowned for her singing and exotic dancing, her beauty and sexuality; she was the most highly-paid female performer in Europe. When the Nazis seized her adopted city, Paris, she was banned from the stage, along with all 'negroes and Jews'. Yet, instead of returning to America, she vowed to stay and to fight the Nazi evil. Overnight she went from performer to Resistance spy.In The Flame of Resistance best-selling author Damien Lewis uncovers this little known history of the famous singer's life. During the years of the war, as a member of the French Nurse paratroopers - a cover for her spying work-- she participated in numerous clandestine activities and emerged as formidable spy. In turn, she was a hero of the three countries in whose name she served: the US, the nation of her birth; France, the land that embraced her during her adult career; and Britain, the country from which she took her orders, as one of London's most closely-guarded special agents. Baker's secret war embodies a tale of unbounded courage, passion, devotion and sacrifice, and of deep and bitter tragedy, fueled by her own desire to combat the rise of Nazism, and to fight for all that is good and right in the world.Drawing on a plethora of new historical material and rigorous research, including previously undisclosed letters and journals, Lewis upends the conventional story of Josephine Baker, revealing that her mark on history went far beyond the confines of the stage.'An eye-opening, pulse-quickening history. Josephine Baker led a wartime double life of extraordinary jeopardy and Damien Lewis's needle-sharp narrative is jagged with suspense. Yet he also writes with great warmth and sensitivity, creating a powerfully moving portrait of a woman who fought prejudice and hate in all its forms.' - Sinclair McKay'A gripping true story of a remarkable heroine. The details of Josephine Baker's espionage for the Deuxieme Bureau, the French military intelligence agency during the war, make for a fascinating read in Damien Lewis's meticulously researched account' - Deborah CadburyTrade ReviewScrupulously detailed and honestly researched ... one can easily imagine this material moulded into a gripping Hollywood yarn starring Halle Berry or Thandiwe Newton ... Le Carre fans will be delighted; the intrigues are Byzantine -- Rupert Christiansen * Telegraph *A heroine, a fighter, an icon: Baker stands for everything we should aspire to - and Lewis shines a spotlight on every aspect of her difficult but glittering life * BBC History Magazine *Revealed: the daring wartime exploits of erotic cabaret star Josephine Baker who smuggled Nazi secret to Winston Churchill . . . * Mail on Sunday *Scrupulously detailed and honestly researched ... one can easily imagine this material moulded into a gripping Hollywood yarn starring Halle Berry or Thandiwe Newton ... Le Carre fans will be delighted; the intrigues are Byzantine * Telegraph *This scintillating biography ... draws on newly discovered letters and diaries to paint a vivid portrait of Baker as "a chameleon, a rebel, a warrior and a rule-breaker at heart . . . The result is a thrilling espionage story perfect for fans of Lynne Olson's Madame Fourcade's Secret War * Publishers Weekly, starred review *Rather than crafting a conventional biography, Lewis concentrates on the wartime years, creating a heroic portrait of the selfless, brave, somewhat reckless, pioneering, unswervingly patriotic spy for the Allies . . . A complex, entertaining story of intrigue and sangfroid involving a beloved, courageous hero * Kirkus Reviews *Reveals how the talented Josephine turned her fragility into a deadly weapon to defeat the greatest evil of her ageA great lady, a spy who suffered ... the French knew Ms Baker as "La femme sans peur et sans reproche". When you read The Flame of Resistance you will understand why.Fascinating and riveting. What a story! It has never been told properly, if ever, before now. I know Josephine would be very proud of how she is portrayed.Absolutely fantastic. You have completely captured the essence and nature of Commander Dunderdale's life and work.In 2021 Josephine Baker was inducted into The Pantheon, France's highest honour. This book tells you why. Damien Lewis has written a tremendous account of her life, not only as the most exotic star of 1920s Paris, but more importantly, her exceptionally brave work as an intelligence officer working for the British Secret Service and then the Free French, for which she was awarded The Resistance Medal, the Croix de Guerre and Légion D'Honneur. This is a story of courage and determination in the face of adversity told with great flair and excitement. A story of incredible bravery in the face of tyrants who invaded a free and democratic nation, this will have powerful resonance today.

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Book SynopsisThe fall of France in 1940 panicked US leaders, leading to their fateful decision to recognize the pro-Nazi Vichy government. Michael Neiberg takes readers back to the fraught early years of World War II, when America’s misguided policy on Vichy alienated its British ally and ensured tensions with Charles de Gaulle and the postwar French Republic.Trade ReviewDeeply researched and forcefully written…shed[s] light on an embarrassing period in American diplomacy…Neiberg offers a mesmerizing account of how the U.S., as it anticipated another European war, stumbled through attempts to neutralize Vichy France…Neiberg deftly explains the confused politics and diplomacy that bedeviled the war against the Nazis. -- Ronald C. Rosbottom * Wall Street Journal *Meticulously researched but extremely readable…[An] excellent book. -- Julian Jackson * Washington Post *Michael Neiberg is one of the very best historians on wartime France, and his approach to the fall of France and its consequences is truly original and perceptive as well as superbly written. -- Antony Beevor, author of The Second World WarIt is difficult to find WWII material that is both interesting and fresh, but this book qualifies. -- Tyler Cowen * Marginal Revolution *The fall of France shattered the illusion that the United States could stay on the sidelines while Nazi Germany carved up Europe. Writing with clarity and verve, deep knowledge of French sources, and a keen eye for human foibles, Neiberg explains how the defeat of June 1940 transformed America’s relationship with France and compelled a rethinking of America’s world role. A smart and fresh analysis of Franco–American relations in the darkest hour of our long friendship. -- William I. Hitchcock, author of The Age of Eisenhower: America and the World in the 1950sNeiberg has rescued an important episode in the history of the Second World War from relative obscurity and done so in great style. His book, with its terrific cast of characters and fast-paced story, reads like a novel and is at the same time an outstanding piece of historical research and analysis. -- Margaret MacMillan, author of War: How Conflict Shaped UsAn utterly gripping account, the best to date, of relations within the turbulent triumvirate of France, Britain, and America in the Second World War. Neiberg vividly brings to life the extraordinary military, domestic, personal, and political pressures on giants such as Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Charles de Gaulle, while also showing the immediate practical effect their interactions had on ordinary people in the struggle against the Nazis. -- Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with DestinyAn excellent book, the product of deep research, clear thought, and gripping writing. Neiberg restores France and the French Empire to its rightful place in the history of the strategy of the Atlantic powers in the Second World War. In so doing, he allows us to understand anew how shocking the French defeat in 1940 was for American policymakers, and the profound consequences that reverberated from that shock for the subsequent course of the war. -- Daniel Todman, author of Britain’s War: A New World, 1942–1947Expertly researched and a pleasure to read, When France Fell fills an important gap in the history of World War II by analyzing American relations with Vichy and Free French forces, how the geopolitical position of France’s colonial holdings steered US policy, and how those decisions deeply strained Anglo–American relations. The story Neiberg tells is one of misguided calculations and ultimately tremendous luck that Americans’ ‘Vichy gamble’ did not cause more political and military turmoil. -- Brooke L. Blower, author of Becoming Americans in Paris: Transatlantic Politics and Culture between the World WarsNeiberg’s fascinating and compelling study places France back at the heart of the story of the Second World War. He crafts a vivid narrative of the extraordinary and radical transformations that accompanied the catastrophe in France. The consequences of defeat were profound for a divided Gallic nation, but they were also defining for Britain and America; the defeat of Europe’s premier land power put a nail in the coffin of one superpower and sparked the rise of another. Highly recommended! -- Jonathan Fennell, author of Fighting the People’s War: The British and Commonwealth Armies and the Second World WarAn important and fascinating book that examines U.S. policy towards Vichy—a policy which not only put the United States at odds with its wartime ally, Great Britain, but also was destined to fail…While numerous books have been written on the fall of France, U.S. policy toward Vichy has been curiously overlooked in recent years. Neiberg remedies this…Highly readable [and] filled with interesting, larger-than-life characters. -- Sean Durns * National Interest *This is an extremely well researched and readable book. And it is a reminder that in wartime, fighting the enemy can often be less complicated than dealing with your allies. -- Calum Henderson * Military History Matters *A superbly crafted synthesis of military, diplomatic, and political history…Neiberg concludes that America’s flirtation with Vichy did not go disastrously wrong, but cautions that this had little to do with wise decision-making in Washington…[An] excellent book. -- Carl Cavanagh Hodge * Michigan War Studies Review *Punctures the myths of the conventional American story of the Second World War…Important, well argued, deeply researched, and a pleasure to read, written by one of the most productive and accomplished American historians of both world wars. -- Richard Fogarty * H-Net Reviews *Neiberg’s important new book, When France Fell, chronicles the often-bungled attempts of the United States to redefine its strategy and navigate its relationship with Vichy France. It is one of the first, if not the first, work in English to address the strategic relationship between the United States and France during the Second World War…A timely reminder of the importance of statecraft in an age where international incivility runs rampant. -- Cameron Zinsou * H-Diplo *

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Book Synopsis"It's a fabulous thing to give life to fabric, to make something move well, the harmony of colour" - Hubert de GivenchyEver since Audrey Hepburn stood outside Tiffany's, croissant in hand, Givenchy has been the last word in elegant couture. The clean, sweeping lines and classic, feminine silhouettes have enthralled women from the Duchess of Sussex to Kendall Jenner, all of whom adore the romanticism and sophistication of a Givenchy ensemble. More sculptor than designer, Hubert de Givenchy created a house that is utterly timeless.This exquisitely illustrated volume explores the story behind the brand, from its creation in 1952 to its current leadership and designs. Through a carefully curated collection of finished designs, close-up details and key moments, this book shines a light on the dazzling world of Givenchy.Table of ContentsIntroduction • The Early Years • The House of Givenchy • The Ultimate Muse • Expanding the House • The Rich and Famous • A New Generation • Fashion in a Multimedia World

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Book SynopsisWith its iconic bubble canopy and advanced helmet-mounted displays, the F-16 Fighting Falcon is one of the supreme Fourth Generation air-superiority fighters in the world today. First flown by the US Air Force in the mid 1980s, Lockheed Martin have since delivered about 4,600 F-16s to over 25 countries and more than 3,000 F-16 fighters are currently operational worldwide. The Fighting Falcon is highly adaptable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack in a variety of conflicts over the last 40 years. The F-16’s versatility and durability has meant it can be adapted to a number of roles, including air superiority, reconnaissance and ground attack. In an air combat role, the F-16’s maneuverability and combat radius exceed that of all potential threat fighter aircraft. USAF F-16 multirole fighters were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm, where more sorties were flown than with any other aircraft. These fighters were used to attack airfields, Scud missiles sites and a key military infrastructure. Other allied air forces, such as Israel, have heavily adapted the F-16 for their own use, and the Israeli F-16I Soufa (Storm) has proved itself in numerous combat situations in the 21st century. Today, constant technology and weapons’ upgrades mean the F-16 is planned to serve through to 2060. Packed with 100 vivid artworks and photographs, F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact reference guide for lovers of this iconic aircraft and aviation enthusiasts.Table of ContentsContents: Introduction: A Lightweight Fighter The F-16 fighting falcon was built under an unusual agreement creating a consortium between the United States and four NATO countries: Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway. These countries jointly produced with the United States an initial 348 F-16s for their air forces. 1: F-16A/B The F-16A, a single-seat model, first flew in December 1976. The first operational F- 16A was delivered in January 1979 to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The F-16B, a two-seat model, has tandem cockpits that are about the same size as the one in the A model. 2: F-16C/D All F-16s delivered since November 1981 have built-in structural and wiring provisions and systems architecture that permit expansion of the multirole flexibility to perform precision strike, night attack and beyond-visual-range interception missions. This improvement program led to the F-16C and F-16D aircraft, which are the single- and two-place counterparts to the F-16A/B, and incorporate the latest cockpit control and display technology. FEATURE: F-16I Sufa (Storm) The F-16I is a two-seat variant of the Block 52 developed for the Israeli Defense Force. Israel issued a requirement in September 1997 and selected the F-16 in preference to the F-15I in July 1999. An initial contract was signed on 14 January 2000 for a total procurement of 102 aircraft. The F-16I, which is called Sufa (Storm) by the IDF/AF, first flew on 23 December 2003, and deliveries to the IDF/AF began on 19 February 2004. 3: F-16N – US Navy model The F-16N was an adversary aircraft operated by the United States Navy. It is based on the standard F-16C/D Block 30. The F-16N has a strengthened wing and is capable of carrying an Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) pod on the starboard wingtip. Although the single-seat F-16Ns and twin-seat (T)F-16Ns are based on the early-production small-inlet Block 30 F-16C/D airframe, they retain the APG-66 radar of the F-16A/B. In addition, the aircraft’s 20mm cannon has been removed, as has the ASPJ, and they carry no missiles. 4: F-16E/F Desert Falcon F-16E (single seat) and F-16F (two seat). The F-16E/F designation now belongs to a version developed especially for the United Arab Emirates Air Force, and is sometimes unofficially called the ‘Desert Falcon’. 5: Export Models: F-16IN Super Viper & F-16V Viper Lockheed Martin has described the F-16IN as ‘the most advanced and capable F-16 ever.’ Based closely on the F-16E/F Block 60 supplied to the UAE, the features on the F-16IN include Conformal fuel tanks (CFTs); AN/APG-80 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, GE F110-132A engine; electronic warfare suite and infra-red searching (IRST); advanced all-color glass cockpit; and a helmet-mounted cueing system. The F-16V is dubbed the ‘Viper’, which is intended to better operate with fifth- generation fighters, and should not be confused with Lockheed's F-16IN Block 70/72 ‘Super Viper. The F-16V is being delivered to the Royal Bahraini Air Force, Hellenic Air Force, Republic of Korea Air Force, Turkish Air Force and Slovak Air Force. 6: Special Mission Variants A-16 – The A-16 began as a late-1980s GD project to develop a close air support (CAS) version of the basic F-16 by adding armor and strengthening the wings for a heavier weapons load, including a 30 mm cannon and 7.62 mm Minigun pods. F/A-16 – The new systems for this "F/A-16" Block 30 included a digital terrain- mapping system and Global Positioning System (GPS) integration for improved navigational and weapons delivery accuracy, as well as an Automatic Target Handoff System (ATHS) to allow direct digital target/mission data exchange between the pilot and ground units. F-16A(R) – About two dozen F-16As of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) were supplied with indigenous Oude Delft Orpheus low-altitude tactical reconnaissance pods transferred from its retiring RF-104G. Designated F-16A(R), the first example flew on 27 January 1983, and they entered service with the RNLAF's 306 Squadron in October 1984. RF-16A/C – The designation RF-16A is used, though, by the Royal Danish Air Force. In early 1994, 10 Danish F-16A were redesignated as RF-16A tactical recce aircraft, replacing the RF-35 Drakens withdrawn at the end of 1993. FEATURE: Mitsubishi F-2 – The basis of the F-2's design is the F-16 Agile Falcon, an unsuccessful offer by General Dynamics to provide a low-cost alternative for the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) competition. Production started in 1996 and the first aircraft entered service in 2000.

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Book Synopsis“Riveting…an electrifying true crime story of the Mafia-smitten eighties and nineties. Suspenseful and multifaceted, The Gotti Wars can’t be missed.” —Esquire, The Best Nonfiction Books of the YearA “meticulous chronicle of good triumphing over evil” (The Washington Post) from the determined young prosecutor who, in two of America’s most celebrated trials, managed to convict famed mob boss John Gotti—and ultimately took down the Mafia altogether. John Gotti was without a doubt the flashiest and most feared Mafioso in American history. He became the boss of the Gambino Crime Family in spectacular fashion—with the brazen and very public murder of Paul Castellano in front of Sparks Steakhouse in midtown Manhattan in 1985. Not one to stay below law enforcement’s radar, Gotti instead became the first celebrity crime boss. His penchant for eye-catching apparel earned him the nickname “The Dapper Don;” his ability to beat criminal charges led to another: “The Teflon Don.” This is the captivating story of Gotti’s meteoric rise to power and his equally dramatic downfall. Every step of the way, Gotti’s legal adversary—John Gleeson, an Assistant US Attorney in Brooklyn—was watching. When Gotti finally faced two federal racketeering prosecutions, Gleeson prosecuted both. As the junior lawyer in the first case—a bitter seven-month battle that ended in Gotti’s acquittal—Gleeson found himself in Gotti’s crosshairs, falsely accused of serious crimes by a defense witness Gotti intimidated into committing perjury. Five years later, Gleeson was in charge of the second racketeering investigation and trial. Armed with the FBI’s secret recordings of Gotti’s conversations with his underboss and consigliere in the apartment above Gotti’s Little Italy hangout, Gleeson indicted all three. He “flipped” underboss Sammy the Bull Gravano, killer of nineteen men, who became history’s highest-ranking mob turncoat—resulting in Gotti’s murder conviction. Gleeson ended not just Gotti’s reign, but eventually that of the entire mob. A spellbinding, page-turning courtroom drama, The Gotti Wars “tells us in electrifying detail how the good guys finally won, how justice triumphed over evil, and how Gleeson himself was transformed by his long war” (Nelson DeMille).Trade Review“A useful reminder, especially for Mafia romanticizers, that we’re dealing with sociopathic knuckle scrapers who settle scores with casual brutality…Gleeson, a lawyer in private practice these days, is an able storyteller [and his book displays] keen insights and neat turns of phrase.” —New York Times “The Gotti Wars is the riveting story of Gleeson’s fight to bring Gotti to justice, which spanned years, brought him into the crosshairs of organized crime, and ultimately took down five major mob families. It’s an electrifying true crime story of the Mafia-smitten 80s and 90s, to be certain, but also a vivid memoir of Gleeson’s development as a lawyer, and an excavation of the celebrity culture that turned a murderer into a superstar. Suspenseful and multifaceted, The Gotti Wars can’t be missed.” —Esquire, "The Best Nonfiction Books of 2022 (So Far)"“In this exceptional debut, former federal prosecutor Gleeson chronicles his efforts to bring Gambino family crime boss John Gotti to justice…A must-read for anyone interested in organized crime.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)“Compelling…Gleeson has crafted this retelling as carefully as he prepped the two cases [against the mobster]. His description of the politics behind the scenes and his interactions with the likes of U.S. Attorney Rudy Giuliani and Attorney General Bill Barr are icing on the cake….Do we need yet another book on Gotti? Gleeson answers the question with a resounding yes.” —Library Journal (starred review)"A memoir from the federal prosecutor who took down the “Teflon Don” 30 years ago…Gleeson is a thorough writer…[The Gotti Wars] offers a realistic portrait of how big cases are pieced together." —Kirkus Reviews“Spellbinding...tells us in electrifying detail how the good guys finally won, how justice triumphed over evil, and how Gleeson himself was transformed by his long war.” —Nelson DeMille, New York Times bestselling author of The Gold Coast and Wild Fire “Vivid, evocative, and genuinely suspenseful…An impressively detailed account of what it was like in the late 80’s and early 90’s to be chasing a flashy, dangerous mobster who had morphed into a pop culture icon…. John Gleeson is one of the most gifted prosecutors ever to match up against the Mafia. As I should have guessed, he is also an immensely gifted storyteller.” —Mary Jo White, former Chair of the SEC, former US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and former Acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York “Unflinchingly honest…contains moments that are both frightening and funny. I covered the rise and fall of John Gotti for seven years—through three trials and a dozen murders. I thought I knew this story inside and out, but this book shows I was mistaken. As John Gleeson tells the full story of how he built his ironclad case, you’ll feel like you’re sitting in the room where it happened—with the same nerve-jangling anticipation of how it will all turn out.” —John Miller, former co-anchor of 20/20 and, currently, Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism for the NYPD “A unique unveiling of the prosecutorial strategy that vanquished the American Mafia's most exalted late 20th century gangster. As a bonus, Gleeson offers candid views of the skills and shortcomings of his main opponents: the Teflon Don's battery of mob lawyers. Perhaps from his former perch on the bench his next book should pinpoint the frailties of our creaky criminal-justice system.” —Selwyn Raab, New York Times bestselling author of The Five Families “John Gotti flashed an arrogance and audacity that became a gauntlet thrown down to law enforcement. To his credit, Gleeson shows, in this absolutely riveting memoir, that Hollywood’s image of a prosecutor who does it all by himself is pure fantasy. Ultimately, The Gotti Wars is a testament to the camaraderie that forms around any consequential prosecution. In these pages, you get to experience how touch and go it actually was.” —Eric Holder, 82nd Attorney General of the United States "Well-written…John Gleeson, who took the swagger away from John Gotti, shares his up-close and personal view of Gotti, his cronies, and the Mafia world he observed before, during, and after his two knock-down, drag-out trials against the late Dapper Don." —Jerry Capeci, reporter-columnist at ganglandnews.com and coauthor of Mob Star: The Story of John Gotti and Murder Machine “Absorbing, even inspiring…Epicenters of media attention, the courtrooms in which the fates of John Gotti and his co-defendants were decided became—over a period of months and ultimately years—scenes of magnificent legal combat…. Second chair in the first case and lead prosecutor in the second, John Gleeson had to continually improvise to thwart defendants who would resort to any ploy, legal or otherwise, to gain their freedom.” —David N. Kelley, former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Carlisle’s book is a finely written and thoughtful introduction to Spinoza’s philosophy for anyone who is curious as to why this thinker, dead for almost 350 years, remains vitally relevant today"---Steven Nadler, Literary Review"[Carlisle] admirably establishes that Spinoza’s philosophy can be interpreted as a distinctive and original form of rational religion."---Carlos Fraenkel, Times Literary Supplement"Carlisle has done us a great service by offering a convincing and newly rounded portrayal—and by reminding us that you can never exhaust the majesty of Spnoza's religious writing."---Alex Dean, Prospect"An intimate, religious reading of Spinoza’s Ethics, which allows his peculiar religion to emerge with all its promise and paradox." * Choice Reviews *"Carlisle’s interpretation of Spinoza is consistently fresh and surprising. . . . This book steps decisively away from the modes of rational reconstruction and conceptual analysis that now dominate Spinoza scholarship in the English language, and is all the better for it. . . . An excellent book that will reward readers of Spinoza of all levels."---Beth Lord, Philosophy"I’m sure I’m not the only person who feels excited to explore the new world of interpretation that Carlisle has opened up by taking Spinoza’s religion seriously."---Alexander Douglas, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews"Spinoza’s Religion is a joy to read. . . . It is a book that has the power to bring Spinoza deeper into our hearts, making his words a companion n our efforts to live with greater equanimity and delight. Spinoza's Religion also poses a compelling challenge to what we think we know about Spinoza."---Hasana Sharp, Journal of the History of Philosophy

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Book SynopsisThe Bhagavad-gita is a guide to self-realization and spiritual wisdom, spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna. A translation by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada offers profound insights on consciousness, the self, the universe, and the Supreme without adulteration, providing timely enlightenment.

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Book SynopsisA TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021 ''Punchy, funny and invigorating ... Pinker is the high priest of rationalism'' Sunday Times ''If you''ve ever considered taking drugs to make yourself smarter, read Rationality instead. It''s cheaper, more entertaining, and more effective'' Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind In the twenty-first century, humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding - and at the same time appears to be losing its mind. How can a species that discovered vaccines for Covid-19 in less than a year produce so much fake news, quack cures and conspiracy theorizing? In Rationality, Pinker rejects the cynical cliché that humans are simply an irrational species - cavemen out of time fatally cursed with biases, fallacies and illusions. After all, we discovered the laws of nature, lengthened and enriched our lives and set the benchmarks for rationality itself. Instead, he explains, we think in ways that suit the low-tech contexts in which we spend most of our lives, but fail to take advantage of the powerful tools of reasoning we have built up over millennia: logic, critical thinking, probability, causal inference, and decision-making under uncertainty. These tools are not a standard part of our educational curricula, and have never been presented clearly and entertainingly in a single book - until now. Rationality matters. It leads to better choices in our lives and in the public sphere, and is the ultimate driver of social justice and moral progress. Brimming with insight and humour, Rationality will enlighten, inspire and empower. ''A terrific book, much-needed for our time'' Peter SingerTrade ReviewSteven Pinker is the high priest of rationalism ... [This book] is an impassioned and zippy introduction to the tools of rational thought ... Pinker wants probability theory and psychological biases to be taught in schools and universities. Punchy, funny and invigorating, this could be the textbook. -- James McConnachie * Sunday Times *Steven Pinker is among the best science writers in history, and with Rationality he applies his talents to one of the most important and misunderstood human abilities - tracking reality with a brain that was designed to do so under some circumstances but not others. If you've ever considered taking drugs to make yourself smarter, read Rationality instead. It's cheaper, more entertaining, and more effective. -- Jonathan Haidt, NYU-Stern School of Business and author of The Righteous MindThe Enlightenment torchbearer is eloquent in his defence of clear thinking ... [reason] is a tool that human beings have to learn to use with care, something this book will help any reader to do. -- Julian Baggini * Financial Times *Rationality ­- like all of Pinker's work - [is] a paen to human potential... what Pinker really trades in are profoundly refreshing, energising sets of explanations for why we do and think the way we do ... harnessing reason is not just useful in all kinds of ways both personal and universal, but a wondrous property of being human. -- Zoe Strimpel * Daily Telegraph *Almost every sentence in Rationality is crisp and intelligible, which is quite a feat, given that explaining logic to humans is like teaching them Sanskrit. Pinker suggests various ways to run our collective affairs more rationally. -- Simon Kuper * New Statesman *A reader-friendly primer in better thinking through the cultivation of that rarest of rarities: a sound argument. * Kirkus *Rationality is a terrific book, much-needed for our time. In addition to drawing together the tools for overcoming obstacles to rational thinking, Pinker breaks new ground with the evidence he provides linking rationality and moral progress. -- Peter Singer

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Book SynopsisVirginia (Roberts) Giuffre's all-American childhood came to an abrupt end by sexual abuse at the age of 7. After her mother exiled her to a school for troubled youth, she ran away to a life on the streets. The FBI rescued her when she was 14 from a violent pedophile and her life seemed to return to normal with a job as spa attendant at Donald Trump's exclusive Mar-a-Lago in Florida. It was there that the teenager was approached by the elegant jet-setter Ghislaine Maxwell who said her millionaire partner Jeffrey Epstein would like to sponsor her to become a professional masseuse... This is the first book to tell Virginia's own extraordinary, tale as an abused penniless high-school drop-out and how she was able to outsmart her rich underage-sex predators and forced an end to their crimes.Trade ReviewPrevious praise for Nigel Cawthorne; 'A strong book.' WASHINGTON POST; 'An irresistible story.' NEWSWEEK; 'Royal watcher tells all.' NEW YORK POST; 'Explosive expose.' GLOBE; 'Controversial.' Omid Scobie; '[A] psychological portrait.' DAILY MAIL; 'Excruciating details.' SUNDAY TIMES; 'Raises deep questions.' A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE WEEK; 'As forensic in detail... as salacious in delivery.' TLS; A must-read.' JEWISH CHRONICLE BOOK OF THE YEAR; 'One of the most explosive investigations to be seen in print in many years.' ON MAGAZINE; 'What makes this biography so powerful is the painstaking detail the book goes into. An investigative look behind the key players, allegations, and counter-allegations... a different departure from the royal family to the others in this round-up.' THE I NEWSPAPER; 'Goes behind the headlines, documentaries, and mini-series to expose... the painstaking detail.' INDEPENDENTTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 A Troubled Childhood 2 Exploited 3 Drug Treatment 4 A Picture of Innocence 5 Flying High 6 Employed 7 Drugs Reunited 8 Training 9 Abortion and Sadomasochism 10 Belgravia, 2001 11 Sweet Seventeen 12 A Golden Cage 13 Virginia's First Victory 14 Thailand 15 Australia 16 The Real FBI 17 Start of a Campaign 18 Justice Is Served 19 Reckoning Epilogue

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