Set against the corridors of power from the New Deal through the early Cold War, this sweeping novel traces the intertwined lives of a prominent Washington family and the politicians, journalists, and social climbers who orbit them. Through ambition, scandal, shifting alliances, and private betrayals, it explores how power is won, wielded, and lost in the nation’s capital. Blending real historical figures with richly drawn fictional characters, the book offers a panoramic portrait of American political life in the mid‑20th century. Themes of loyalty, ideology, media influence, and personal compromise run throughout, revealing the gap between public image and private reality. Gore Vidal—celebrated novelist, essayist, and sharp-tongued critic of American politics—brings wit, intelligence, and insider knowledge to this incisive portrait of Washington’s ruling class. Ideal for readers who enjoy political fiction, historical drama, and sophisticated social satire.
A concise yet profound exploration of love as a skill rather than a mere emotion, this classic work argues that loving is an art that requires knowledge, effort, discipline, and maturity. Drawing on psychoanalysis, philosophy, and social theory, the author examines different forms of love—romantic, parental, self-love, and love of humanity—while critiquing modern society’s tendency to treat love as a passive experience or a marketplace exchange. Written by a renowned social psychologist and humanistic thinker, the book offers thoughtful, accessible reflections on connection, responsibility, and personal growth. It remains a compelling read for anyone interested in relationships, ethics, and the deeper dimensions of human fulfillment.
It is the summer of 1983, and young Nick Guest, an innocent in matters of politics and money, has moved into an attic room in the Notting Hill home of the Feddens: Gerald, an ambitious new Tory MP, his wealthy wife Rachel, and their children, Toby and Catherine. As the boom years of the mid-80s unfold, Nick becomes caught up in the Feddens’ world, while also pursuing his own private obsession, with beauty – a prize as compelling to him as power and riches are to his friends. An early affair with a young black council worker gives him his first experience of romance; but it is a later affair, with a beautiful millionaire, that brings into question the larger fantasies of a ruthless decade. (back cover)
A lively and accessible exploration of the human body, this book introduces readers to the structure, functions, and evolutionary story of our physical being. Written for a general audience, it combines clear scientific explanation with a sense of wonder at the complexity and adaptability of the human organism. The author, a British writer and broadcaster known for his work in popular science and anthropology, brings together insights from biology, medicine, and evolution to show how the body works as an integrated whole. Engaging and informative, it will appeal to readers interested in science, natural history, and the remarkable mechanics of everyday life.
In this parenting guide, the bestselling relationship author of the “Mars/Venus” series turns his attention to children, applying his ideas about emotional differences and communication to family life. He argues that boys and girls often express needs and feelings differently, and that understanding these differences can help parents raise confident, resilient, and compassionate children. Blending practical advice with anecdotes and accessible psychology, the book explores discipline, motivation, and emotional support. It will appeal to readers interested in relationship dynamics and those seeking a gender-conscious approach to parenting rooted in empathy and positive reinforcement.
A frank, funny, and unapologetically opinionated guide to pregnancy, this book delivers tough love and practical advice for expectant mothers who want to stay healthy and informed. Written by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin, authors of the bestselling *Skinny Bitch* series, it approaches prenatal health from a plant-based, holistic perspective. Blending humor with research, the authors discuss nutrition, weight gain, prenatal testing, childbirth, and the cultural pressures surrounding pregnancy. Their signature no-nonsense tone challenges conventional wisdom while encouraging women to make conscious choices about what they eat and how they care for their bodies. Ideal for readers who appreciate straight talk and a vegan-friendly approach to pregnancy.
A concise and influential study of the formative years of the Cold War, this work examines American foreign policy from the end of World War II through 1960. Norman A. Graebner, a respected historian of U.S. diplomatic history associated with the “realist” school, analyzes the strategic assumptions, political pressures, and global power shifts that shaped relations between the United States and the Soviet Union. Focusing on containment, alliance systems, nuclear strategy, and key crises in Europe and Asia, he emphasizes the role of statesmen, national interests, and geopolitical calculation over ideological rhetoric. Clear and analytical, the book remains valuable for readers interested in the origins of Cold War tensions and the evolution of modern American diplomacy.
A gripping contemporary romance that blends first love with dark secrets, this novel follows Sky, a high school senior who meets the intense and mysterious Dean Holder. Their undeniable connection quickly unearths buried memories and painful truths that will change both of their lives forever. As the past resurfaces, Sky is forced to confront trauma, identity, and the meaning of trust and healing. Colleen Hoover, known for her emotionally charged storytelling and bestselling new adult romances, delivers a story that is both tender and unsettling. Exploring themes of love, resilience, and the lasting impact of abuse, this novel will appeal to readers who appreciate passionate relationships intertwined with serious, thought‑provoking subject matter.
John Updike’s sixteenth novel takes place in a stylized Brazil where almost anything is possible, if you are young and in love. Tristao Raposo, a nineteen-year-old black child of the Rio slums, and Isabel Leme, an eighteen-year-old upper-class white girl, meet on Copacabana Beach; their flight into marriage takes them to the farthest reaches of Brazil’s wild west. Privation, violence, captivity, and reversals of fortune afflict them; his mother curses them, her father harries them with hirelings, and neither lover is absolutely faithful. Yet Tristao and Isabel hold to the faith that each is the other’s fate for life, as they pass – in Shakespeare’s phrase – through nature to eternity. Spanning twenty-two years, from the mid-Sixties to the late Eighties, Brazil surprises and embraces the reader with its celebration of passion, loyalty, and New World innocence.
Volume dedicato alla tradizione gastronomica dell’Istria, pensato come guida per il viaggiatore curioso e per l’appassionato di cucina regionale. Attraverso ricette, descrizioni di prodotti tipici e richiami alle consuetudini locali, il libro offre un percorso tra sapori di terra e di mare, vini, oli e specialità che riflettono l’incontro di culture diverse in questa regione adriatica. L’approccio è divulgativo e insieme attento al contesto storico e territoriale, così da collegare la cucina ai paesaggi e ai centri urbani istriani. Una lettura interessante per chi ama la cucina tradizionale, il turismo enogastronomico e le identità locali dell’area mitteleuropea e mediterranea.
A darkly comic, deeply humane novel about loneliness in a fragmented America, this late work by the celebrated American satirist best known for blending science fiction with social critique follows Wilbur Swain, an improbably ugly child who grows up to become the last President of the United States. Alongside his brilliant twin sister, he hatches a plan to cure national alienation by inventing vast artificial families built around shared middle names. By turns absurd and tender, the story explores identity, kinship, and the aching need to belong. Readers drawn to offbeat dystopias, bittersweet humor, and sharp cultural commentary will find much to savor here.
This exciting new novel, inspired by John Dillinger’s life, rages with the raw power of a Kansas tornado. This is the legendary Johnnie, driven by crazy dreams, explosive violence, and a thousand hungry desires. This is the wild young man who lived a lifetime in a few short months of glory, a life filled with fat bank accounts and blazing guns – till the woman in red betrayed him. Powerful in language, towering in scope, this is Johnnie at his zenith – the stuff of legends and the soul of the American Dream.
The Bible is not the word of God. Biblical Nonsense is a broad look at the tremendous problem of associating divinity with the world’s most popular book. This part-philosophical, part-scientific overview explores the Bible’s divine treachery, scientific mistakes, historical errors, false prophecies, and comical absurdities. Biblical Nonsense also expands beyond these standard reasons for skepticism by tackling the rationale behind the emergence and perpetuation of Christianity, psychological and sociocultural reasons that drive Christians to cling to their beliefs, and illogical methods of argumentation invoked in the defense of the Bible. Author Dr. Jason Long is a former Christian who condenses the most significant biblical problems into this single volume. Unlike other books in the field that delve into only one topic, this manuscript, comprehensible even to those who have never opened a Bible, is a full-fledged attempt to demonstrate that God’s supposed word is a product of human minds, not divine inspiration. Dr. Long’s fresh experiences in the church and advanced levels of educational enlightenment make him the perfect individual to present this vehemently unpopular, yet undeniably appealing topic.
This dazzling novella by the author of *The Great Gatsby* is a sharp and fantastical satire of wealth, privilege, and the American Dream. The story follows John T. Unger, a young man from the Midwest who is invited to spend the summer at his classmate’s extraordinarily secluded family estate—home to a diamond so vast it defies belief. As John is drawn deeper into a world of unimaginable luxury and dangerous secrecy, Fitzgerald explores the seduction and corruption of extreme wealth, the illusion of permanence, and the moral cost of excess. Blending romance, irony, and social critique, this Jazz Age tale will appeal to readers who enjoy Fitzgerald’s wit and his piercing insight into ambition and desire.
Franchise Your Growth Expert franchise consultant Mark Siebert delivers the ultimate how-to guide to employing the greatest growth strategy ever–franchising. Siebert tells you what to expect, how to move forward, and avoid costly mistakes as he imparts decades of experience, insights, and practical advice to help grow your business exponentially through franchising. Learn how to: Evaluate your existing businesses for franchisability Identify the advantages and disadvantages of franchising Develop a business plan for growth on steroids Evaluate legal risk, obtain necessary documents, and protect intellectual property Create marketing plans, build lead generation, and branding for a new franchise Cultivate the franchisee-franchisor relationship
A compact collection of short stories by one of America’s most beloved storytellers, this volume showcases O. Henry’s gift for wit, irony, and humane observation. Best known for his surprise endings and keen eye for everyday life, O. Henry (the pen name of William Sydney Porter) wrote about shop girls, drifters, clerks, swindlers, and dreamers with warmth and gentle satire. His tales often explore themes of love, sacrifice, chance, and the quiet dignity of ordinary people, frequently set against the bustling backdrop of early twentieth‑century city life. Ideal for readers who enjoy clever plotting and heartfelt storytelling, this pocket edition offers a charming introduction to a master of the American short story.
This memoir by a leading figure in Czechoslovak military intelligence offers a firsthand account of the secret war against Nazi Germany. František Moravec headed Czechoslovak intelligence in the years surrounding the Second World War and later worked in exile in London alongside British intelligence services. In these pages, he recounts the tense prewar period, the dramatic escape of intelligence officers from Prague in 1939, and the complex world of espionage, resistance networks, and covert operations that followed. Written with the authority of an insider, the book sheds light on the moral dilemmas, strategic calculations, and personal risks faced by those operating in the shadows. It provides valuable perspective on the collaboration between Czechoslovak and Allied intelligence and on the broader struggle against totalitarianism in Europe.
A sharply observed and often darkly ironic portrayal of life in the Soviet Army, this work draws on the author’s own experience as a tank officer. Set against the backdrop of the Red Army’s presence in Czechoslovakia after the Prague Spring, it explores the mentality, discipline, and internal culture of a force that called itself “liberators” while enforcing Soviet control. Viktor Suvorov, a former Soviet military intelligence officer who later defected to the West, brings insider knowledge and a dissident’s eye to his depiction of military life, ideology, and power. Both memoir and critique, the book offers readers a rare, candid glimpse behind the façade of Soviet might and will interest those drawn to Cold War history and firsthand accounts from within closed regimes.
Set in a provincial English town between the wars, this novel introduces Lewis Eliot, Snow’s recurring narrator, and the magnetic, controversial figure of George Passant. Ambitious, self-educated, and politically radical, Passant gathers around him a circle of younger followers, challenging the social conventions and quiet hierarchies of their community. Through Eliot’s observant and increasingly reflective voice, the story explores friendship, class, intellectual aspiration, and the moral complexities of influence and loyalty. As the opening volume of Snow’s celebrated *Strangers and Brothers* sequence, it lays the groundwork for a sweeping portrait of mid‑20th‑century British society. Snow, himself a scientist, civil servant, and author of *The Two Cultures*, brings psychological insight and social realism to his portrait of idealism colliding with circumstance.
A revealing memoir by a career CIA officer, this book offers an insider’s view of American intelligence work during the height of the Cold War. Joseph Burkholder Smith recounts his years in covert operations, reflecting on the culture, ambitions, and moral ambiguities of the Agency as it navigated global tensions with the Soviet bloc. Blending personal narrative with institutional history, he explores the motivations that drove Cold War policy and the disillusionment that followed controversial operations and political shifts at home. Smith, who later became a vocal critic of aspects of U.S. intelligence practices, writes with the authority of experience and the candor of hindsight. The result is both a personal journey and a thoughtful meditation on secrecy, patriotism, and accountability. Readers interested in espionage history, government transparency, or the human side of intelligence work will find this a compelling and reflective account from within the clandestine world.
In this powerful autobiography, the author recounts her childhood in rural Mississippi and her coming of age amid the harsh realities of poverty, segregation, and racial violence in the Jim Crow South. Growing up in a Black family struggling to survive, she gradually becomes aware of the systemic injustices shaping her world and ultimately joins the Civil Rights Movement as a college student. She participated in sit-ins and worked with organizations such as the NAACP and CORE, witnessing both the courage and the dangers faced by activists. Honest, unsparing, and deeply personal, this memoir offers an essential firsthand account of the emotional toll of racism and the moral urgency of the fight for equality. It remains a vital read for those interested in American history and social justice.
A journalistic account of Israel’s intelligence service, this book explores the origins, structure, and early operations of the Mossad. Written by reporters Dennis Eisenberg, Uri Dan, and Eli Landau—journalists with experience covering Israeli military and political affairs—it draws on interviews and contemporary sources to sketch portraits of key figures and missions that shaped the agency’s reputation. The narrative examines the strategic challenges facing Israel in its first decades and the covert methods employed in response, offering insight into espionage, counterterrorism, and intelligence-gathering during a tense period in Middle Eastern history. Blending reportage with dramatic storytelling, it will interest readers curious about modern intelligence services, Israeli history, and the real-world complexities behind headline-making operations.
Set in 1920s Paris, this historical novel follows a young American woman who travels to France after the First World War, seeking independence and a sense of purpose following personal loss. Finding work at the famed Shakespeare and Company bookshop, she becomes immersed in the vibrant expatriate literary scene of the Lost Generation. As friendships form and a tentative romance develops with a wounded veteran, she must confront grief, healing, and the possibility of hope in a city alive with art and reinvention. Jennifer Robson, known for her meticulously researched historical fiction, brings postwar Paris to life with rich atmosphere and emotional depth. This is an appealing read for fans of character-driven stories, literary history, and evocative settings.
In this influential work of popular science, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins sets out a clear and passionate defense of Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Challenging the argument that complex life must be the product of an intelligent designer, he uses the metaphor of the “blind watchmaker” to show how cumulative, non-random selection can produce the intricate adaptations seen in nature without foresight or purpose. Dawkins explains difficult concepts—such as probability, gradualism, and the power of small incremental changes—with vivid examples and accessible language. Written for the general reader, the book combines rigorous reasoning with imaginative illustrations, including early computer simulations that demonstrate evolutionary processes. Both a classic statement of modern evolutionary thought and a spirited response to creationist claims, it remains a compelling introduction to how complexity can arise from simple natural laws.
