Politics, Philosophy & Society Books

Book SynopsisIn the summer of 1940, Britain stood alone. For three long months, brave young RAF pilots took off every day, ready to defend British skies against large-scale Luftwaffe raide. 'The Few' were young, but they were trained and they were determined. Eighty years on the last of the pilots to fly in the Battle of Britain are feted, and their part in World War II is widely remembered.This pocket manual covers the training that these young pilots would have had, and the air combat tactics they were taught to use against the German raiders. It also covers the role of the ground crews; control and command systems; anti-aircraft defences; and radar and raid detection.Trade ReviewA good and affordable one-stop shop for all sorts of useful info. * The Aviation Historian Magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Pilot Training 2. Radar and Raid Detection 3. Command and Control 4. Anti-Aircraft Defence 5. Air Combat Tactics 6. Ground Crew Operations

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Book SynopsisFrom farmer, lawyer and political activist John Klar comes a bold, solutions-based plan for Conservatives that gets beyond the fatuous pipe dreams and social-justice platitudes of the dominant, Liberal “Green” agenda – offering a healthy way forward for everyone. While many on the Left have taken up the mantle of creating a “green” future through climate alarmism, spurious new energy sources and technocratic control, many on the Right continue to deny imminent environmental threats while pushing for unbridled deregulation of our most destructive industrial forces. Neither approach promises a bright future. In a time of soil degradation, runaway pollution, food insecurity and declining human health, the stakes couldn’t be higher, and yet the dominant political voices too often overlook the last best hope for our planet – supporting small, regenerative farmers. In fact, politicians on all sides continue to sell out the interests of small farmers to the devastating power of Big Ag and failed ‘renewable energy’ incentives. It’s time for a new vision. It’s time for bold new agriculture policies that restore both ecosystems and rural communities. In Small Farm Republic, John Klar, an agrarian conservative in the mold of Wendell Berry and Joel Salatin, offers an alternative that puts small farmers, regenerative agriculture and personal liberty at the center of an environmental revival – a message that everyone on the political spectrum needs to hear.Trade Review“I have read at least 20 books a year for the past 25 years and Small Farm Republic is absolutely one of the very best that I have ever read. John Klar describes in great detail the fallacies of the current agricultural production model and the changes that need to be made for the sake of our natural resources and humanity. A must-read not only for those involved in all facets of agriculture but policy makers and consumers as well.”—Gabe Brown, regenerative rancher, author of Dirt to Soil“John Klar makes a strong case in Small Farm Republic that Republicans could use support of small farms as a way to shift the party’s identity toward improving the environment and reducing the dangers of climate change. In the process, he makes a refreshing case for conservative Republicans reclaiming their traditional role in the political mainstream.”—David E. Gumpert, author of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Food Rights“John Klar makes a compelling case for thoughtful Republicans to put aside their differences with Democrats on divisive political issues and to focus on solving the environmental, social, and economic problems caused by today’s corporately controlled, industrial agri-food system. The same case could be made for thoughtful Democrats to join forces with Republications to demand government programs and policies that incentivize and support small-scale, regenerative family farms and locally controlled, community-based food systems. Current US farm and food policies are the work of both Democrats and Republicans, and it will take a bipartisan consumer-taxpayer revolution to change them. Klar’s Small Farm Republic is a clarion call for the revolution to begin.”—John Ikerd, agricultural economist; professor emeritus, University of Missouri; author of Small Farms Are Real Farms

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Book SynopsisRecipient of the 2020 NAGC Curriculum AwardThe word astronaut comes from the Greek words meaning star sailor, and that is exactly what students will become in Astronaut Academy. This 30-lesson interdisciplinary science unit: Is designed to teach high-ability second and third graders how to think like real-world astronauts. Requires students to explore the far regions of the solar system. Was designed using the research-based Integrated Curriculum Model. Features challenging problem-based learning tasks and engaging resources. Includes detailed teacher instructions and suggestions for differentiation. In this unit, students study the concept of exploration, journey to each planet, and create their own space station, all while acquiring scientific knowledge and habits, including how to follow the scientific method and properly conduct research and experiments. Suggestions and guidance are included on

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Book SynopsisStop Walking on Eggshells has already helped more than a million people with friends and family members suffering from borderline personality disorder (BPD) understand this difficult disorder, set boundaries, and help their loved ones to stop relying on dangerous behaviors. This fully revised and updated third edition includes the very latest BPD research, extensive new information on narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), comorbidity and the effectiveness of schema therapy, and includes coping and communication skills readers can use to stabilize their relationship with the BPD or NPD sufferer in their life.Isn't it time you stopped walking on eggshells? Learn how with this fully revised and updated third edition of a self-help classic-now with more than one million copies sold!Do you feel manipulated, controlled, or lied to? Are you the focus of intense, violent, and irrational rages? Do you feel you are 'walking on eggshells' to avoid the next confrontation? If the answer is 'yes,' someone you care about may have borderline personality disorder (BPD)-a mood disorder that causes negative self-image, emotional instability, and difficulty with interpersonal relationships.Stop Walking on Eggshells has already helped more than a million people with friends and family members suffering from BPD understand this difficult disorder, set boundaries, and help their loved ones stop relying on dangerous BPD behaviors. This fully revised third edition has been updated with the very latest BPD research on comorbidity, extensive new information about narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), the effectiveness of schema therapy, and coping and communication skills you can use to stabilize your relationship with the BPD or NPD sufferer in your life.This compassionate guide will enable you to: ·Make sense out of the chaos ·Stand up for yourself and assert your needs ·Defuse arguments and conflicts ·Protect yourself and others from violent behavior If you're ready to bring peace and stability back into your life, this time-tested guide will show you how, one confident step at a time.

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Book SynopsisJoe Biden’s victory in 2020 was a remarkable end to four tumultuous years. But beyond removing Donald Trump from the White House, what is the mandate that the new President’s voters expect him to fulfil? Can he meet the expectations of the biggest electoral coalition in American history? How did Trump expand his support to win more votes than any previous Republican? And what are the chances of a new era of consensus and unity in America after years of division? Drawing on four years of groundbreaking research among voters across the United States, Lord Ashcroft examines the success of Biden, the appeal of Trumpism, and the prospects for the next chapter in American politics.

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Book SynopsisNo Worries! is an interactive self-care activity book for children aged 7+ to colour and doodle their way to happiness, calm and confidence. The encouraging and simple activities and exercises tackle anxiety, sadness and stress; children will enjoy using their creativity to combat negative feelings, work out why they feel worried and how to put stress back in its place through writing, colouring, doodling and drawing.Featuring the charming and quirky illustrations of Katie Abey, a UK-based illustrator. Her quirky pictures will keep the reader entertained and focused as they work through the book, or simply dip into the pages for ten minutes of calm colouring. Part of Mindful Kids a thoughtful new range of activity books for children from Studio Press.Includes an introduction and notes for grown-ups by consultant Dr. Sharie Coombes, Child & Family Psychotherapist. Dr Sharie Coombes is a former primary teacher, headteacher and local authority adviser who retrained as a child and family psychodynamic psychotherapist, neuropsychotherapist, solution-focused therapist, and specialist paediatric hypnotherapist. Sharie gained a doctorate in education from the University of Brighton in 2007 and is an expert in the therapeutic use of linguistic patterns. Alongside a busy private therapy practice in Brighton, she has worked part-time as a child, adolescent and family psychotherapist at the NHS Tavistock Clinic in London with adopted and fostered children, young people and families. She now works with the psychosocial team in the British Red Cross Refugee Support and International Family Tracing team. Sharie has 2 adult children.Trade ReviewThis book is written in association with Dr Sharie Coombes. This is an interactive self-care activity book for children aged 7+ to colour and doodle their way to happiness, calm and confidence. The encouraging and simple, yet well designed, activities and exercises tackle anxiety, sadness and stress; children will enjoy using their creativity to combat negative feelings, work out why they feel worried and how to put stress back in its place through writing, colouring, doodling and drawing. Whether working systematically through the book, or just dipping in and out for a few minutes relaxation, this is an excellent new series that will benefit both children and adults, and make it easier for them to express their feelings. * Parents in Touch *

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Book SynopsisThe new SAS epic from bestselling military historian Damien LewisWe share the triumphs and tragedies of a group of elite soldier trailblazers as they commit daring raids behind enemy lines in 1944, manage an against the odds escape to victory, and then seek post-war retribution for the terrible murder of their captured comrades.SAS BAND OF BROTHERS is replete with action, peppered with great characters, and features two of the most daring escapes of WWII. It ends with the hunted becoming the hunters - a group of men intent on seeking out the Nazis responsible for their brethren's deaths, on an ultra-deniable SAS mission to avenge a war crime.This is the new bestseller from Damien Lewis. It bears all his hallmarks - an epic, page-turning special forces narrative based on hitherto unavailable personal testimony and private family archives.

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Book SynopsisThe essential guide to understanding the environment and climate change from multi-award-winning children's magazine The Week Junior, perfect for children determined to make a difference.

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Book SynopsisA guide to being the best humans we can be for our cats' Focus'Fascinating. A must for every cat owner' Philippa Perry A trail-blazing guide to feline mental health from a leading veterinary psychiatristIs your cat happy? What can you do to help? And what can cats teach us? The relationship between humans and cats has never been simple. Cats are mysterious and contradictory, independent and affectionate, predator and prey. Their true nature continues to elude us, and their subtle and complex behavioural problems can often seem unsolvable or incomprehensible. In this ground-breaking book a huge bestseller in its native France veterinary doctor and psychiatrist Claude Béata draws on cutting-edge research and decades of experience with cats, to revolutionize our understanding of pets and transform our appreciation of feline mental wellbeing. Here, we meet Nougatine, a Siamese suffering from bipolar dysthymic disorder, Tabatha, an anxious Ragdoll with attachment issues, and Melly, an Abyssinian struggling with a feline form of schizophrenia as well as their owners who seek advice and support. Charming, surprising, and offering illuminating insight into a range of disorders, Béata's book calls for greater compassion and provides a new way of understanding cat psychiatry so we can care for the mental, and physical wellness of our beloved pets.

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Book SynopsisA peak inside the life and career of Selena Gomez.This unofficial and unauthorized pocket book to Selena Gomez is a must-have for all hardcore Selenators.For more than two decades, Selena Gomez has charmed the world as one of the most influential celebrities.Given the impossible task of trying to squeeze all of Selena?s successes into one small selection, The Pocket Selena Gomezreveals as much of this girl wonder?s greatest hits as possible, from major milestones to important dates, professional highs to personal lows, wisest quotes to funniest quips, and everything else in-between.From her time as a Disney child star to her current status as an activist and makeup mogul, this pocket-sized guide celebrates the global icon?s triumphs as well as providing fans with an intimate portrait of her life.Gemini PocketsFrom little guides to soothe your soul to all-access passes to the lives of pop icons, and from quizzes and puzzles for literature lovers to books on food, nature, fashion and more, Gemini Pockets are the perfect fit for your life and interests.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisAn unforgettable and illuminating exploration of the legends of the British Isles.From the misty centuries of British and Irish prehistory to the height of the dark age, comes tales of giants and fairy-folk, druids and saints. From King Lear and King Arthur, to Fingal, Beowulf, Gwendolen and Guinevere these are the legendary characters who shaped the nation.But who were they?In Mythology of the British Isles, Geoffrey Ashe explores these compelling and ancient stories, seeing how they have taken on fresh significance as historical and archaeological research has uncovered the truth behind each legend.

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Book SynopsisFall asleep effortlessly every night with this little book of sleep meditations that will leave you feeling rested and revitalizedSlipping into slumber isn''t as dreamy as it sounds for the staggering 79 per cent of the population who struggle to switch off at bedtime. For many, it is the reel of worries and an overwhelming to-do list that can hamper a good night''s sleep, not to mention the added threat of our devices lighting up throughout the early hours. It''s no wonder so many of us are scraping by each day with low energy levels.Thankfully, this book is here to help you change your sleep habits via the power of mindfulness and meditation. Inside its pages you will find:- Information on why sleep is so important and a breakdown of the sleep cycle- Advice on sleep hygiene and how to make your bedroom a peaceful environment- A beginner''s guide to meditation and the benefits it brings- 5-, 10- and 15-minute meditations that will help you ease your anxious thoughts- Other meditative exercises to help you relax, including mindful body scanning, visualizations, counting and breathing exercises, and movement-based meditationYour journey towards better sleep starts now.

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Book Synopsis'A wonderful book about the deep backstories and the tangled histories of N. S. Nuseibeh's own multiple identit[ies]' MARK HADDON'Explores vulnerability, fragility, anxiety, and ambivalence as ways of beautifully coming to terms with the wounds and worries of the world' HOMI K. BHABHAI may not be brave enough, but somewhere deep inside of me there is, perhaps, the kernel of someone who is.That brave someone was the legendary Nusayba bint Ka'ab al Khazrajia, who fought alongside the Prophet Muhammad at the dawn of Islam, the author N.S Nuseibeh's ancestor. In drawing on Nusayba's stories, Nuseibeh delves into the experience of being an Arab woman today and in the distant past - taking her from superheroes and the glorification of violence to the rise of Arab feminism, to what courage looks like in the context of interminable conflict. By seeking to understand her namesake in the context of her own twenty-first century concerns, Nuseibeh links our current ideas of Muslims and Arabs with their origins, exploring myth-making and identity, religion and nationhood, feminism and race.As intimate as they are thoughtful, these linked essays offer a dazzling exploration of heritage, gender and the idea of home, while also showing how connecting with our history can help us understand ourselves and others today.Trade ReviewAt once vulnerable and intellectually rigorous, here is an illuminating and trenchant exploration of Muslim feminism . . . An essential read in the war against lazy stereotypes, cultural annihilation and every form of apartheid -- DINA NAYERI * * Guardian * *A wonderful book about the deep backstories and the tangled histories of N. S. Nuseibeh's own multiple identit[ies]. She is self-deprecating and thoughtful and always interesting, a rare instance of a writer who seems to listen as much as she informs -- MARK HADDONA wonderfully inventive blend of personal insight and contemporary commentary with Islamic history, myth and culture . . . Intuitive and profound * * Big Issue * *N.S. Nuseibeh conjures her diverse identities and interests to create a world that is free and hospitable. English-Palestinian, author-cook, mythologist-feminist, at home in Jerusalem, at work in Oxford, and at play in New York, Nuseibeh confronts the divisive and discriminatory issues that dog our times with a cosmopolitan ethic of justice and equality that seeks to build arguments, rather than to win them . . . Namesake explores vulnerability, fragility, anxiety and ambivalence as ways of beautifully coming to terms with the wounds and worries of the world -- HOMI K. BHABHANamesake is a brilliantly written book that will enrich how you think about feminism, identity, connection and home. A collection of fascinating and rigorous essays, it's a generous, intimate invitation to reflect on the different ways we might understand ourselves and one another -- OCTAVIA BRIGHTThe life of Nusayba - a mother, a warrior - becomes the prism through which N.S. Nuseibeh deftly and lyrically reflects the contemporary world back to us, illuminating not only the layers of a physical landscape shaped by empire and colonialism, but of our mental landscapes of myth and story. Probing questions of identity, inheritance, faith, feminism and home, Namesake is a masterful tapestry. It will leave you seeing both self and world with new eyes -- ERICA BERRYNuseibeh deftly probes a wide range of topics - history, feminism, religion, culture, nostalgia, racism, violence, anxiety, illness and motherhood - in ways that are deeply personal, specific and nuanced . . . Perhaps most beautifully and importantly, Nuseibeh's writing demands of her what it asks of her reader: self-examination, honesty and grace. It's no small thing to achieve in writing something so deeply personal that also graciously extends to others -- DIMA ALZAYATFascinating, insightful and eye-opening. Namesake taught and entertained me in equal measure with its warmth, originality and vision. I loved how N.S. Nuseibeh seamlessly navigated between the brutally personal and breathtakingly universal, how she wove in such an eclectic and impressive range of voices and ideas -- VIOLET MOLLERSuch a brave, insightful and important book. A collection of essays exploring the author's Palestinian, Arab, British, Muslim, female, academic and privileged identities through deep thinking and rigorous research while using an ancestor as her touchstone . . . I learned so much from this book -- ZEBA TALKHANIIncredible . . . A very warmly told and a very human book filled with tenderness, ample food and sensory descriptions -- CAROLINE EDEN

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Book Synopsis'Focusing' is a technique first developed 25 years ago by American psychologist and philosopher Eugene Gendlin. Hugely influential, it offers six specific steps you can take to open up your inner world of deeper feelings and intuition - and shows you how to listen to others with more empathy. Short, very accessible yet also profound, this book is even more relevant today than it was when originally published.Trade ReviewFocusing is a beautiful and meditative approach to psychotherapy and personal growth. It offers a deep parallel to the practice of mindfulness in a carefully developed and sensitive way. -- Jack KornfieldLearning to access and dissolve personal problems by focusing on the language and wisdom of the body was a historic discovery. Gendlin's genius has stood the test of time and Focusing has become a classic. -- Harville HendrixThe focusing skill can be learned by anyone in or out of therapy * Washington Post *An original, innovative, exciting book -- Carl RogersAt once a manual and a philosophy. It talks about the body's wisdom, the steps of the focusing technique, and how to discover the richness in others by learning to listen. It looks at the potential for a new kind of relationship and a new kind of society -- Marilyn Ferguson, author of The Aquarian Conspiracy

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Book SynopsisAl-Ghazali on Invocations and Supplications is a translation of the ninth chapter of the Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya'' ''Ulum al-Din). This chapter falls in the sections dealing with the requirement of religion. The present volume is probably the most widely read compendium of such material, popular not only for its comprehensiveness and beauty, but also for the analytical approach of its author, who explores the psychological and spiritual effects of prayer and the celebration of God''s name.This new fourth edition includes the invocations and supplications in Arabic for those readers who would like to use them in their prayers and a translation of Imam Ghazali''s own Introduction to the Revival of the Religious Sciences, which gives the reasons that caused him to write the work, the structure of the whole of the Revival, and places each of the chapters in the context of the others.

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Book SynopsisNOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE, STARRING MICHAEL B. JORDAN, JAMIE FOXX, AND BRIE LARSON. A NEW YORK TIMES, WASHINGTON POST, BOSTON GLOBE, ESQUIRE, AND TIME BOOK OF THE YEAR. A #1 New York Times bestseller, this is a powerful, true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix America’s broken justice system, as seen in the HBO documentary True Justice. The US has the highest rate of incarceration in the world. One in every 15 people born there today is expected to go to prison. For black men this figure rises to one in 3. And Death Row is disproportionately black, too. Bryan Stevenson grew up poor in the racially segregated South. His innate sense of justice made him a brilliant young lawyer, and one of his first defendants was Walter McMillian, a black man sentenced to die for the murder of a white woman — a crime he insisted he didn’t commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, startling racial inequality, and legal brinkmanship — and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever. At once an unforgettable account of an idealistic lawyer’s coming of age and a moving portrait of the lives of those he has defended, Just Mercy is an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of justice.Trade Review‘Bryan Stevenson is America's young Nelson Mandela — a brilliant lawyer fighting with courage and conviction to guarantee justice for all.’ -- Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Laureate‘From the frontlines of social justice comes one of the most urgent voices of our era. Bryan Stevenson is a real-life, modern-day Atticus Finch who, through his work in redeeming innocent people condemned to death, has sought to redeem the country itself. This is a book of great power and courage. It is inspiring and suspenseful. A revelation.’ -- Isabel Wilkerson, author of The Warmth of Other Suns‘Bryan Stevenson is one of my personal heroes, perhaps the most inspiring and influential crusader for justice alive today, and Just Mercy is extraordinary. The stories told within these pages hold the potential to transform what we think we mean when we talk about justice.’ -- Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow‘This is so important. Stevenson explains how deep-rooted racism is, while giving hope that it doesn’t have to exist.' -- Gloria Steinem‘Our American criminal justice system has become an instrument of evil. Bryan Stevenson has labored long and hard, and with great skill and temperate passion, to set things right. Words such as important and compelling may have lost their force through overuse, but reading this book will restore their meaning, along with one's hopes for humanity.’ -- Tracy Kidder, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Mountains Beyond Mountains‘Just Mercy is as deeply moving, poignant and powerful a book as has been, and maybe ever can be, written about the death penalty, and the failures of the administration of criminal justice … [It] will make you gasp at the inhumanity of humankind.’ -- Raymond Bonner * Financial Times *‘Powerful … This book will shock, anger and inspire you.’ * Sunday Independent (Ireland) *‘Unfairness in the justice system is a major theme of our age … This book brings new life to the story by placing it in two affecting contexts: Stevenson's life work and the deep strain of racial injustice in American life … You don't have to read too long to start cheering for this man. Against tremendous odds, Stevenson has worked to free scores of people from wrongful or excessive punishment, arguing five times before the Supreme Court … The book extols not his nobility, but that of the cause, and reads like a call to action for all that remains to be done … The message of the book, hammered home by dramatic examples of one man's refusal to sit quietly and countenance horror, is that evil can be overcome, a difference can be made. Just Mercy will make you upset and it will make you hopeful … Bryan Stevenson has been angry about [the criminal justice system] for years, and we are all the better for it.’ * New York Times *‘Inspiring … A work of style, substance and clarity … Stevenson is not only a great lawyer, he's also a gifted writer and storyteller. His memoir should find an avid audience among players in the legal system — jurists, prosecutors, defense lawyers, legislators, academics, journalists — and especially anyone contemplating a career in criminal justice.’ -- Rob Warden * Washington Post *‘After the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., I wrote a couple of columns entitled When Whites Just Don’t Get It. The reaction to those columns — sometimes bewildered, resentful or unprintable — suggests to me that many whites in America don’t understand the depths of racial inequity lingering in this country. This inequity is embedded in our law enforcement and criminal justice system, and that is why Bryan Stevenson may, indeed, be America's Mandela … Stevenson, 54, grew up in a poor black neighborhood in Delaware and ended up at Harvard Law School. He started the Equal Justice Initiative, based in Montgomery, Ala., to challenge bias and represent the voiceless. It's a tale he recounts in a searing, moving and infuriating memoir that is scheduled to be published later this month, Just Mercy.’ -- Nick Kristof * New York Times *‘Not since Atticus Finch has a fearless and committed lawyer made such a difference in the American South. Though larger than life, Atticus exists only in fiction. Bryan Stevenson, however, is very much alive and doing God’s work fighting for the poor, the oppressed, the voiceless, the vulnerable, the outcast, and those with no hope. Just Mercy is his inspiring and powerful story.’ -- John Grisham‘A distinguished NYU law professor and MacArthur grant recipient offers the compelling story of the legal practice he founded to protect the rights of people on the margins of American society ... Emotionally profound, necessary reading.’ STARRED REVIEW * Kirkus Reviews (Kirkus Prize Finalist) *‘Just Mercy is every bit as moving as To Kill a Mockingbird, and in some ways more so … [It] demonstrates, as powerfully as any book on criminal justice that I’ve ever read, the extent to which brutality, unfairness, and racial bias continue to infect criminal law in the United States. But at the same time that [Bryan] Stevenson tells an utterly damning story of deep-seated and widespread injustice, he also recounts instances of human compassion, understanding, mercy, and justice that offer hope ... Just Mercy is a remarkable amalgam, at once a searing indictment of American criminal justice and a stirring testament to the salvation that fighting for the vulnerable sometimes yields.’ -- David Cole * The New York Review of Books *‘Stevenson's contributions to social justice have been remarkable. But his efforts, on top of his continuing legal practice, to provide this inside glimpse of the criminal justice system are priceless.’ * The Seattle Times *New York Times ‘100 Notable Books of 2014’‘Lawyer Bryan Stevenson has saved more than 135 people from death row, the majority of them Black men, who are disproportionately found at every stage of the US criminal justice system. In Just Mercy, he paints a picture of a system riddled with racial inequality that sentences children to die in prison and, he says, provides a better outcome if you are rich and guilty than if you are poor and innocent. The message of this astonishing memoir is that mercy is most powerful when it is freely given. -- Dua Lipa * The Guardian *‘A passionate account of the ways our nation thwarts justice and inhumanely punishes the poor and disadvantaged.’ STARRED REVIEW -- Vanessa Bush * Booklist *‘This powerful book is a damning indictment of the US “justice” system, which has the world’s highest rate of incarceration … A gifted narrator as well as a great lawyer, from his long dedication to helping the poor to achieve justice and mercy, he has learned that “each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.’ -- Brian Maye * The Irish Times *‘[T]he author’s experience with the flaws in the American justice system add extra gravity to a deeply disturbing and oft-overlooked topic.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘Stevenson reveals how much of a difference believing in someone and fighting their cause can make. An incredible story … may help fuel the fire on your own journey.’ * Wellbeing *‘Just Mercy presents a scathing exposé of the inequalities, racial bias and discrimination that has characterised the US justice system ... A profoundly important work.’ -- Natalie Platten * Readings *‘Stevenson’s revelatory and thought-provoking memoir, Just Mercy, is a read that alters one’s empathy meter and forever sits deep within the psyche.’ -- Jessica Bailey * Grazia *‘A confronting look at the corrupt and prejudiced trappings of the current criminal justice system in the United States and a moving window into the lives of those persecuted by it.’ * Citizens of the World *

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Book SynopsisA man commanding unjustly and ruling tyrannically has in that no power from God.When Lex, Rex was written, the Reformation in England and Scotland was in crisis. The English Civil War had just begun after Charles I tried to impose popish rituals on the church and asserted his divine right as king to overrule parliament. Against these grandiose claims the Scottish pastor Samuel Rutherford wrote a book and changed western political philosophy forever as it led to the thinking that enabled the American revolution. In his very learned work, Rutherford shows from Scripture, classical authors, and scholastic theologians that the king is not above the law; and that when the king violates it flagrantly, the people are right to resist him, even to the point of war. The title Lex Rex is Latin for Law is King. Divine right theorists had said that the King was the law, but Rutherford reverses this and shows that natural law is above the king, and thus there are times when citizens can and must obey God rather than man.Rutherford was a practical and pastoral theologian who could soar to great heights of glorious consolation. . . But Rutherford was also a bare-knuckle brawler who was clearly able to hold his own in the theological bar fight that was the seventeenth century. You are now holding in your hands the evidence of that. ~ Introduction by Douglas Wilson

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Working Well by MSW

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Book Synopsis Best Food Book of 2014 by The AtlanticLooking at the historic Italian American community of East Harlem in the 1920s and 30s, Simone Cinotto recreates the bustling world of Italian life in New York City and demonstrates how food was at the center of the lives of immigrants and their children. From generational conflicts resolved around the family table to a vibrant food-based economy of ethnic producers, importers, and restaurateurs, food was essential to the creation of an Italian American identity. Italian American foods offered not only sustenance but also powerful narratives of community and difference, tradition and innovation as immigrants made their way through a city divided by class conflict, ethnic hostility, and racialized inequalities.   Drawing on a vast array of resources including fascinating, rarely explored primary documents and fresh approaches in the study of consumer culture, Cinotto argues that Italian immigrants created a dTrade Review"Written with passion and clarity, The Italian American Table represents a stunning achievement. While tackling an irresistible topic--the meaning of food in the lives of Italian immigrants and their children--Simone Cinotto has managed to write a book that should please a wide range of interdisciplinary scholars and readers."--The Journal of American History "Insightful, pathbreaking research. . . . a new perspective on the linkage between food and family. Recommended."--Choice "In clear, bright prose Cinotto focuses on the period spanning from 1920 to 1940, and thus extends beyond the years of intense Italian immigration to include generational change and later cultural reproduction… The book appropriately cleaves between Italian American immigrant's food culture and later attempts at selling 'Italian' food to white Americans… Food is part of a larger cultural economy here, and Cinotto sheds some light on its production as a symbol and commodity over several generations."--American Historical ReviewTable of ContentsCoverTitle PageContentsIllustrationsAcknowledgmentsIntroductionPart I: The Social Origins of Ethnic TraditionChapter 1: The Contested TableChapter 2: "Sunday Dinner? You Had to Be There!"Chapter 3: An American FoodscapePart II: Producing and Consuming Italian American IdentitiesChapter 4: The American Business of Italian FoodChapter 5: "Buy Italian!"Chapter 6: Serving EthnicityEpilogueNotesIndex

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisNow in paperback, Thi Sui's intimate and moving portrait of her family's journey from their war-torn home in Vietnam to their new lives in AmericaTrade Review“In The Best We Could Do, Bui poignantly depicts her parents’ journey and struggle from war-torn Vietnam in comic form—and it’s one book you can’t miss.” Medium "This is a stunning graphic novel that is not only enjoyable but important. It’s a memoir about Thi’s story of immigration, family, and hardship. It is a book that proves yet again how powerful the graphic novel medium can be in creating empathy and understanding." Tillie Walden, author of On a Sunbeam’ “In telling the story of her childhood in the U.S. and, later, the birth of her son, Bui explores her relationship with her mother and father, reflecting on how their experiences shaped them as individuals.” The Chicago Reader online “…a cinematic epic, following several generations through the travails of immigration and emotional dislocation.” PBS NewsHour Online “The book delves as much into her family's history as it does Vietnam's; traumatic things her parents had seen as children and young adults in the years before and during the war… For now, she's reconciled her story with her parents' — and she says hopes her book can provide a starting point for others to do the same.” All Things Considered, NPR

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Book SynopsisIllustrated with detailed artworks of modern military aircraft and their markings with exhaustive captions and specifications, Technical Guide: Modern Military Aircraft is an extensively researched review of the military aircraft deployed by the world’s air forces in recent conflicts in the Balkans, the Caucasus, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere. Organised alphabetically by manufacturer, this book includes every type of aircraft in use in the world today, from the F-22 Raptor through the Dassault Mirage 2000 to the MiG-29 and Su-33. The book includes multirole fighters, ground attack aircraft, high-level bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, carrier aircraft, and unmanned drones. The guide is illustrated with profile artworks, three-views, and special cutaway artworks of the more famous aircraft in service, such as the F-15E Strike Eagle, Sukhoi Su-27 and Eurofighter Typhoon. Illustrated with more than 110 artworks, Technical Guide: Modern Military Aircraft is an essential reference guide for modellers and enthusiasts with an interest in modern military aircraft.Table of ContentsContents to include: Fifth Generation Fighters Su-57 J-20 F-35 F-22 4.5 Generation Fighters Su-30 Su-35 Su-33 and J-15 J-11 & J-16 J-10 MiG-29K and MiG-29M/MiG-35 Typhoon F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet EA-18G Growler F-16 Fighting Falcon Mitsubishi F-2 F-15 Eagle and Advanced Eagle LCA Tejas JF-17 Saab JAS 39 Gripen Rafale Fourth Generation Fighters F-CK-1 Ching-Kuo MiG-29 Su-27 MiG-31 Mirage 2000 F-14 Tomcat (Iranian) F-5 Tiger II Bombers Tu-160 Tu-22M3 Tu-95MS B-1B Lancer B-2 Spirit B-52H Stratofortress H-6 Strike/Attack Aircraft Su-34 Xian JH-7 Tornado Jaguar A-10 Thunderbolt II AV-8B Harrier II Su-25 Su-24 AMX L-159 ALCA FA-50 Golden Eagle Transport and Reconnaissance Airbus A400M C-130J Hercules C-17 Globemaster III Y-9 Y-20 Airbus C295 Leonardo C-27J Spartan Mitsubishi C-2 Embraer C-390 Beriev A-50 and KJ-2000 737 AEW&C Saab Erieye E-2D Hawkeye

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Book SynopsisA hands-on approach to exploring the human mindToo often, textbooks turn the noteworthy theories, principles, and experiments of psychology into tedious discourse that even Freud would want to repress. Psych 101 cuts out the boring details and statistics, and instead, gives you a lesson in psychology that keeps you engaged - and your synapses firing.From personality quizzes and the Rorschach Blot Test to B.F. Skinner and the stages of development, this primer for human behavior is packed with hundreds of entertaining psychology basics and quizzes you can''t get anywhere else.So whether you''re looking to unravel the intricacies of the mind, or just want to find out what makes your friends tick, Psych 101 has all the answers - even the ones you didn''t know you were looking for.

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Book SynopsisA new collection of botanical British folk tales about plants and wild flowers, journeying through the seasons of the yearTrade Review"A wonderful collection suitable for all ages and filled with pretty florals too." * The Independent *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review'A scholarly, compassionate and courageous examination of a subject that’s sparked an unhelpful civil war within the LGBTQ community. Unlike those of her online counterparts, Joyce’s arguments are well researched, soundly made and avoid the toxicity that mars so much conversation on this topic.’ * Observer, Books of the Year *‘A frighteningly necessary book: well-written, thoroughly-researched, passionate and very brave.’ -- Richard Dawkins‘A courageous, intelligent and important work, rooted in good science and common sense.’ -- Jenni Murray'I'm off the fence...This rigorous and brave book nails the absurd idea that sex is just a “social construct”' -- David Aaronovitch, The Times'A superlative critical analysis...With this fact-filled, humane, and brave book, a grown-up has entered the room.' -- The Telegraph'Reasonable, methodical, sane, and utterly unintimidated by extremist orthodoxy, Trans is also a riveting read.' -- Lionel Shriver‘Thank goodness for Helen Joyce… Trans is a searing and at times devastating analysis of an ideological shift that has had a profound influence on many institutions in the West… With the rigour of an investigative journalist, she looks at the history of the trans movement over the past century.’ -- Christina Patterson, Sunday Times'A tour de force. With a fine eye for detail, she brings all the elements of gender ideology together with clarity and precision...simply a must-read' -- Evening Standard‘anyone wanting to understand how transgender rights became such a flashpoint in identity politics – and why a generation of feminists is so determined to stand its ground – should start here with this polemical book by Helen Joyce.’ -- Patrick Maguire * Times, Books of the Year 2021 *'An intelligent, thorough rejoinder to an idea that has swept across much of the liberal world seemingly overnight. Even those outraged by Joyce’s positions would benefit from understanding them...Open conversation about such fraught issues is the only realistic path forward.' -- Jesse Singal, New York Times'A passionate defence' * Financial Times *‘Incisive, compassionate and nuanced…In the first decade of this century, it was unthinkable that a gender-critical book could even be published by a prominent publishing house, let alone become a bestseller.’ -- Louise Perry, New Statesman‘I was knocked out by Trans… Biology vs magical thinking has become such a violent debate that most people involved (myself included) can’t set verbal foot in it without effing and jeffing till the air is blue. But Joyce is always cool, calm and in complete possession of her extensive collection of facts.’ -- Spectator Books of the Year'A sane, humane book.' -- Daniel Dennett, author of Consciousness Explained‘There are few subjects which need treatment that is at once delicate, thoughtful and brave. Helen Joyce manages all of these things in Trans. Anyone looking to understand this most fraught of issues should start here.’ -- Douglas Murray, author of The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race, Identity'How do we want to live? How do we want our children to live? Helen Joyce tackles this matter. Buy her book for your teenagers. Give it to your boss. Send it to the head of HR. Place it on a bench at the Royal Academy. Sex matters. Tell everyone.' -- The Article'Helen Joyce has written a very important, enlightened and powerfully-argued book on one of the most controversial issues of our times. For anyone who wants to understand the spirit of the age, its complexities and challenges, and how to map a truly progressive way forward. Riveting from start to finish.' -- Matthew d'Ancona, Editor and Partner, Tortoise Media‘A searing analysis of the transgender debate that has dominated much of public discourse in Scotland in recent years, at least among feminists… I urge you to read Helen Joyce’s book… It may well offer you a new perspective on this most troubling of national conversations. It may even change your mind.’ -- Susan Dalgety addressing Nicola Sturgeon in the Scotsman‘This is the book every woman should read. It explains how we’re being erased, how our arguments are being distorted, and the cost of standing up...Brilliant, coruscating, brave.’ -- Joan Smith, author of Misogynies'The author brave enough to take on the trans lobby' -- Mail Online‘If… you look to grasp the extent to which gender identity ideology, both academic and popular, bears comparison with the worst sort of pseudoscience, then Joyce is your pick… Perhaps because of her use of biology, Joyce’s feminism is disciplined and thoughtful… [a] careful use of science.’ -- CapX'Well-researched, compelling...a deeply compassionate reminder that there are real trade-offs to be made in human rights activism.’ -- Ayaan Hirsi Ali‘[Joyce] is sharp, lucid and brilliant in analysing how the recent surge of sexual ‘transitioning’ and insistence on self-declared ‘gender identity’, has undermined feminism’s achievements.’ * Spiked *'The book I wish I’d had the foresight to pitch and the insight to write.' -- Jo Bartosch, The Critic'An ambitious, wide-ranging, yet incredibly economical book… Trans is an enormously readable and widely accessible book, full of righteous anger and common-sense feminism.' -- The Radical Notion

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Book SynopsisA PEN/FAULKNER AWARD FINALIST'Sweeping and quietly devastating' New York Times'A David and Goliath story for our times' O, the Oprah MagazineSet in the fictional African village of Kosawa, this is the story of a people living in fear amidst environmental degradation wrought by an American oil company. Pipeline spills have rendered farmlands infertile. Children are dying from drinking toxic water. Promises of clean-up and financial reparations are made - and broken. Left with few choices, the people of Kosawa decide to fight back. But it will come at a steep price - one which generation after generation will have to pay.How Beautiful We Were is a masterful exploration of what happens when the reckless drive for profit, coupled with the ghost of colonialism, comes up against one community's determination to hold onto its ancestral land and a young woman's willingness to sacrifice everything for the sake of her people's freedom.Trade ReviewSweeping and quietly devastating . . . In Kosawa, Mbue has created a place and a people alive with emotional range . . . Profoundly affecting * * New York Times * *The unforgettable story of a community on the wrong end of Western greed, How Beautiful We Were will enthral you, appal you and show you what is possible when a few people stand up and say "this is not right". A masterful novel by a spellbinding writer engaged with the most urgent questions of our day -- DAVID EBERSHOFF, New York Times bestselling author of THE DANISH GIRLImbolo Mbue would be a formidable storyteller anywhere, in any language. It's our good luck that she and her stories are American -- JONATHAN FRANZENA David and Goliath story for our times, a riveting tale of how people coming together to make change can topple even the fiercest, best-financed foe * * O, The Oprah Magazine * *How Beautiful We Were goes to the heart of one of the most urgent matters of the day. The highly suspenseful story of an African village's struggle for survival and justice in the face of ruthless American corporate greed is written with remarkable acuity and compassion. Mbue has given us a book with the richness and power of a great contemporary fable, and a heroine for our time -- SIGRID NUNEZ, author of THE FRIEND, winner of the National Book AwardImbolo Mbue's revelatory novel of a fictional African village ruined by Big Oil is a mighty addition to the stacks * * ELLE * *What a beautiful book! I can't tell you how many times I cried for these characters, their place and their story . . . Beautifully written with moving and vivid descriptions, engaging complex characters, interesting plots, and tension so tightly wound that at times I found myself holding my breath -- YVONNE BATTLE-FELTON, author of REMEMBEREDTells the story of a people living in fear amidst environmental degradation wrought by an American oil company. Exploring what happens when the reckless drive for profit comes up against one community's determination to hold onto its ancestral land, it makes for unputdownable reading * * Glamour, Best new novel you won't want to put down * *Imbolo Mbue crafts an aching narrative about greed, community and perseverance * * Time * *A generation of narrative voices, many of them children, shape this sweeping, elegiac story of capitalism, colonialism and boundless greed, reminding us of the myriad ways we fail to make a better world for our children * * Esquire * *

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Book SynopsisLeading crime expert Christopher Berry-Dee gained the trust of some of the most infamous convicted killers, having corresponded with them and even entered their prison lairs to discuss their horrific crimes in detail. In this book, he presents six unforgettable prisoners and allows them to tell their stories, as well as giving the details and background of their terrifying cases - making this a must-read for aficionados of the genre and anyone fascinated by the extremes of human behaviour. Beyond the headlines, once the drama of the courtroom has subsided and the prison gates have been locked behind these killers for good, Talking With Serial Killers: Dead Men Talking allows the reader to get up close and personal with torturers, sexual psychopaths and mass murderers, to read the stories that are rarely heard and get the last word from some of the world's most pitiless killers.

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER; New from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Prisoners of Geography; Which side of the fence are you on?; Every story has two sides, and so does every wall. We're in a new era of tribalism and the barricades are going up.; Money, race, religion, politics: these are the things that divide us. Trump's wall says as much about America's divided past as it does its future. The Great Firewall of China separates `us' from `them'. In Europe, the explosive combination of politics and migration threatens liberal democracy itself.; Covering China; the USA; Israel and Palestine; the Middle East; the Indian Subcontinent; Africa; Europe and the UK, in this gripping read bestselling author Tim Marshall delves into our past and our present to reveal the fault lines that will shape our world for years to come.Trade Review***** "Informative and timely ... a readable primer on the world's biggest problems" -- Daily Express; "A timely and exhilarating clamber over the walls of history" -- Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads; "Accomplished, well researched and pacey ... for anyone who wants to look beyond the headlines and explore the context of some of the biggest challenges facing the world today, it is a fascinating and fast read" -- City AM; "Accessible and timely ... ultimately, Marshall's lesson is one that we should all heed: differences can be overcome" -- Prospect; "A very knowledgeable, timely book and a good primer on current problems in a longer-term context" -- Irish News; "Perceptive ... Marshall examines the walls - physical, religious, ethnic, psychological - that fence people off or, at times, pen them in... He has written frankly about the world. We deny this at our own peril" -- The National; "Striking words ... Tim Marshall performs the daunting, yet highly pertinent, task of trying to make sense of one of the biggest issues of our times: in a world that is increasingly globalised, a backlash apparently grows ever stronger. By taking a global view, Divided successfully brings some much-needed perspective" - --Northern SlantTable of ContentsCONTENTS; Introduction 1; 1 The Great Firewall: China 9; 2 Build that Wall!: USA 41; 3 Facts on the Ground: Israel and Palestine 77; 4 Lines in the Sand: The Middle East 109; 5 A Magnet for Migrants: The Indian Subcontinent 135; 6 State of the Nations: Africa 171; 7 Ever Closer Union?: Europe 201; 8 The Groans of the Britons: UK 24; Conclusion: The Spaces in Between 275; Bibliography 289; Acknowledgements 297; Index 299

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Book SynopsisOur brains were designed for tribal life, for getting along with a select group of others (Us), and for fighting off everyone else (Them). But modern life has thrust the world's tribes into a shared space, creating conflicts of interest and clashes of values, along with unprecedented opportunities. As the world shrinks, the moral lines that divide us become more salient and more puzzling. We fight over everything from tax codes to gay marriage to global warming, and we wonder where, if at all, we can find our common ground.A grand synthesis of neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy, Moral Tribes reveals the underlying causes of modern conflict and lights a way forward. Our emotions make us social animals, turning Me into Us. But they also make us tribal animals, turning Us against Them. Our tribal emotions make us fight, sometimes with bombs, sometimes with words, and often with life-and-death stakes. Drawing inspiration from moral philosophy and cutting-edge science, Moral Tribes shows when we should trust our instincts, when we should reason, and how the right kind of reasoning can move us forward.Joshua Greene is the director of Harvard University's Moral Cognition Lab, a pioneering scientist, a philosopher, and an acclaimed teacher. The great challenge of Moral Tribes is this: How can we get along with Them when what they want feels so wrong? Finally, Greene offers a surprisingly simple set of maxims for navigating the modern moral terrain, a practical road map for solving problems and living better lives.Trade ReviewThis is an important synthesising work of great depth and breadth. Time and again Greene nails what is centrally important -- Julian Baggini * Financial Times *With wit and clarity, Greene steers the reader through a mountain of evidence... A challenging and fascinating read. * Independent on Sunday *More than a decade in the making, Moral Tribes is a masterpiece - a landmark work brimming with originality and insight that also happens to be wickedly fun to read. The only disappointing thing about this book is that it ends. -- Daniel GilbertBrilliant and enlightening... This book should be widely read and discussed. -- Peter SingerA decade ago, the wunderkind Joshua Greene helped start the field of moral neuroscience, producing dazzling research findings. In this equally dazzling book, Greene shows that he is also one of the field's premier synthesists. -- Robert SapolskyThere is a wealth of books in this area, but Greene has something new to bring to the debate... Thoughtful and thought-provoking * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisThe Roman statesman and philosopher Seneca (4 BCE-65 CE) recorded his moral philosophy and reflections on life as a highly original kind of correspondence. Letters on Ethics includes vivid descriptions of town and country life in Nero's Italy, discussions of poetry and oratory, and philosophical training for Seneca's friend Lucilius. This volume, the first complete English translation in nearly a century, makes the Letters more accessible than ever before. Written as much for a general audience as for Lucilius, these engaging letters offer advice on how to deal with everything from nosy neighbors to sickness, pain, and death. Seneca uses the informal format of the letter to present the central ideas of Stoicism, for centuries the most influential philosophical system in the Mediterranean world. His lively and at times humorous expositions have made the Letters his most popular work and an enduring classic. Including an introduction and explanatory notes by Margaret Graver and A. A. Long, this authoritative edition will captivate a new generation of readers.

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Book Synopsis''Who would ever think that a book on cod would make a compulsive read? And yet this is precisely what Kurlansky has done'' Express on SundayThe Cod. Wars have been fought over it, revolutions have been triggered by it, national diets have been based on it, economies and livelihoods have depended on it. To the millions it has sustained, it has been a treasure more precious that gold. This book spans 1,000 years and four continents. From the Vikings to Clarence Birdseye, Mark Kurlansky introduces the explorers, merchants, writers, chefs and fisherman, whose lives have been interwoven with this prolific fish. He chronicles the cod wars of the 16th and 20th centuries. He blends in recipes and lore from the Middle Ages to the present. In a story that brings world history and human passions into captivating focus, he shows how the most profitable fish in history is today faced with extinction.Trade ReviewA must-have book for anyone who loves fish. Kurlansky was innovative (and is now much imitated) in writing a book about how a commodity shaped history. * The Week *This is an extraordinary little book, unputdownable, written in the most lyrical, flowing style which paints vivid pictures and, at the same time, punches into place hard facts that stop you dead in your tracks. Who would ever think that a book on cod would make a compulsive read? And yet this is precisely what Kurlansky has done -- Sir Roy Strong * Express on Sunday *An engrossing and timely little epic * Scotsman *To go out and buy a book on the subject (of cod) is to invite glances of suspicion. While a few eccentrics might think this is a good reason to purchase several copies, for the rest of us it requires a certain leap of faith. Cod...amply rewards such a leap. It is compact and beautifully produced * Mail on Sunday *Refreshing and invigorating, full of fascinating facts * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisA key to modern studies of 18th century Western philosophy, the Treatise considers numerous classic philosophical issues, including causation, existence, freedom and necessity and morality. This is abridged edition has an introduction which explains Hume's thought and places it in the context of its times.Table of ContentsA Treatise of Human Nature IntroductionSuggestions for Further ReadingA Note on the TextA TREATISE OF HUMAN NATUREAdvertisementThe ContentsIntroductionBook I: Of the UnderstandingBook II: Of the PassionsBook III: Of Morals

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Book SynopsisIn January 1928 Stalin, the ruler of the largest country in the world, boarded a train bound for Siberia where he would embark upon the greatest gamble of his political life. He was about to begin uprooting and collectivization of agriculture and industry across the entire Soviet Union. Millions would die, and many more would suffer. Where did such great, monstrous power come from? The first of three volumes, the product of a decade of intrepid research, this landmark book offers the most convincing explanation yet of Stalin''s power.Trade ReviewIn its size, sweep, sensitivity, and surprises, Stephen Kotkin's first volume on Stalin is a monumental achievement: the early life of a man we thought we knew, set against the world - no less - that he inhabited. It's biography on an epic scale. Only Tolstoy might have matched it -- John Lewis Gaddis (author of THE COLD WAR)Stalin has had more than his fair share of biographies. But Stephen Kotkin's wonderfully broad-gauged work surpasses them all in both breadth and depth, showing brilliantly how the man, the time, the place, its history, and especially Russian/Soviet political culture, combined to produce one of history's greatest evil geniuses -- William Taubman (author of KHRUSHCHEV: THE MAN AND HIS ERA)Stephen Kotkin's first volume on Stalin is ambitious in conception and masterly in execution ... combines biography with historical analysis in a way that brings out clearly Stalin's great political talents as well as the ruthlessness with which he applied them and the impact his policies had on Russia and the world. This is a magisterial work on the grandest scale -- David Holloway (author of STALIN AND THE BOMB)Stephen Kotkin's biography of Stalin, of which this but the first of three volumes, is a most impressive achievement. Based on both archival and printed sources, it treats in meticulous detail the early years of a tyrant who was destined to become one of the most influential political figures of the twentieth century -- Richard Pipes (author of RUSSIA UNDER THE BOLSHEVIK REGIME)

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