Other books that might interest you

• 

  Herman Melville - A Very Short...

  Maurice S. Lee

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Best known as the author of Moby-Dick (1851), Herman Melville is one of America's greatest writers. His achievements range from popular novels and experimental fiction to powerful poetry. His works are tragic and funny, impassioned and ironic, obsessed with philosophical seeking and attuned to the details of everyday life. Melville engaged the pressing issues of his day, from economic inequality and the American slavery crisis to the rise of science and the fragility of democracy. He dwelled on timeless questions about loneliness and intimacy, moral and political responsibility, the limits of our knowledge and agency, and the place of human beings within nature and the cosmos.Melville's life was dramatic, and his career improbable. He was born into privilege, fell into poverty as an adolescent, hunted whales and lived with the Tai Pi people of Polynesia, served in the United States Navy, skyrocketed to fame as a novelist, ruined his career by challenging religious, political, sexual, and artistic conventions, reinvented himself as a poet, and died in relative obscurity just as readers began to appreciate his genius. The scope and diversity of Melville's literature reflects an artist of restless ambition. Herman Melville: A Very Short Introduction helps listeners explore the richness of his work.

  Show book

• 

  MacArthur Reconsidered - General...

  James Ellman

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  One of America's most controversial generals, Douglas MacArthur's rise through the US Army's ranks was meteoric. However, he did not lead large formations of men in combat until he assumed command of forces in the Philippines in 1941. When war commenced with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, MacArthur's performance on the battlefield was a failure: he underestimated the Japanese, and his poorly trained forces were outmaneuvered and outfought by a much smaller invading force. 
   
   
   
  In his subsequent role as America's shogun in Tokyo, MacArthur was again surprised by an enemy he underestimated. The Korean War yielded his greatest victory, at Inchon, but also his greatest defeat, along the Yalu River. Unwilling to accept anything but complete victory, he openly defied President Truman: MacArthur fatally undermined chances for an early peace and attempted to widen a conflict which threatened to become a third world war. Raging against his subsequent firing, he only truly faded away after he was publicly criticized by a panoply of America's greatest WWII generals. 
   
   
   
  Today, MacArthur still polarizes. Many biographies agree he was a great and patriotic leader marred by a few failures. James Ellman argues the opposite: MacArthur was a lackluster battlefield commander who suffered stunning defeats while undermining the command structure of our military.

  Show book

• 

  Burying the Dead in Ancient...

  Editors Charles River

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Given the abundance of funerary artifacts that have been found within the sands of Egypt, it sometimes seems as though the Egyptians were more concerned with the matters of the afterlife than they were with matters of the life they experienced from day to day. This is underscored most prominently by the pyramids, which have captured the world’s imagination for centuries. The pyramids of Egypt are such recognizable symbols of antiquity that for millennia, people have made assumptions about what they are and why they exist, without full consideration of the various meanings these ancient symbolic structures have had over the centuries. Generations have viewed them as symbols of a lost past, which in turn is often portrayed as a world full of romance and mystery. This verbal meaning has become associated with the structures through the tourism industry, where intrigue obviously boosts ticket sales. In fact, the Egyptian pyramids are so old that they were also drawing tourists even in ancient times. In antiquity, the Great Pyramid of Giza was listed as one of Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, and it is the only one still surviving today. 
  The age and structural integrity of the pyramids also make them symbols of longevity and power, which is only fitting because those are two purposes the ancient pharaohs who commissioned these works intended them to serve. For the pharaohs, the construction of these large monuments presented an opportunity for them to showcase their influence and become something to be remembered by, both in the society they ruled and in the annals of history that would follow. Even as new dynasties came and went, and even as Egypt was subjected to foreign domination and rulers from across the world, the pyramids have continued to stand as a prominent testament to Egypt’s glorious past.

  Show book

• 

  The Dragons and the Snakes - How...

  David Kilcullen

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Just a few years ago, people spoke of the US as a hyperpower—a titan stalking the world stage with more relative power than any empire in history. Yet as early as 1993, CIA director James Woolsey pointed out that although Western powers had "slain a large dragon" by defeating the Soviet Union in the Cold War, they now faced a "variety of poisonous snakes." 
   
   
   
  In The Dragons and the Snakes, the eminent soldier-scholar David Kilcullen asks how, and what, opponents of the West have learned during the last quarter-century of conflict. Applying a combination of evolutionary theory and detailed field observation, he explains what happened to the "snakes"-non-state threats including terrorists and guerrillas-and the "dragons"-state-based competitors such as Russia and China. He explores how enemies learn under conditions of conflict, and examines how Western dominance over a very particular form of warfare since the Cold War has created a fitness landscape that forces adversaries to adapt in ways that present serious new challenges to America and its allies. Within the world's contemporary conflict zones, Kilcullen argues, state and non-state threats have increasingly come to resemble each other, with states adopting non-state techniques and non-state actors now able to access levels of precision and lethal weapon systems once only available to governments.

  Show book

• 

  There Are No Guilty People - The...

  Leo Tolstoy, Tim Zengerink

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  What if the people we punish most severely are the ones we understand least? 
  There Are No Guilty People is Leo Tolstoy’s impassioned outcry against the death penalty, delivered through a mix of storytelling and moral argument. Based on real events and driven by a deep sense of compassion, this work asks the reader to look beyond judgment—and into the heart of what it means to be human. 
  This modern audiobook adaptation preserves the intensity and clarity of Tolstoy’s original message while updating the language for today’s listener. 
  What You’ll Hear in This Modern Translation: 
  •	A moving fictional narrative of a condemned man 
  •	A passionate and persuasive critique of the justice system 
  •	A call to compassion that challenges common ideas of guilt and punishment 
  Included in This Edition: 
  This edition brings new urgency to Tolstoy’s moral message, offering a powerful listening experience that speaks directly to the conscience. 
  Listen now—and reconsider what justice really means.

  Show book

• 

  Boost Your Life: Secrets to...

  Alaric Thistledown

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  'Boost Your Life: Secrets to Unstoppable Productivity' 
  ⭐⭐ Simplified Guidance & Explanations Included ⭐⭐ 
  Are you eager to advance in your career and enhance your expertise by mastering the principles of unstoppable productivity? 
  Looking for a comprehensive guide that offers all the essential elements to transform habits for lasting success and fulfillment today? 
  Your search ends here! 
  This guide is your ultimate companion for deepening your understanding, applying essential skills, and engaging in hands-on exercises. Gear up for success with these transformative insights. 
  Updated for the latest strategies and insights on productivity and personal growth. 
  Key features of this enriched guide: 
  - Profound insights for transforming habits for lasting success 
  - Detailed explanations to unlock personal and professional growth 
  - Effective strategies for preparation and navigating challenges 
  Our guide stands out with its comprehensive coverage, crucial for achieving success. Concepts are explored in depth with precision. 
  Please note, this guide is an independent resource aimed at enhancing your personal growth and is not affiliated with any official entity. 
  Crafted with a clear structure and easy-to-follow language, our guide ensures smooth transitions between topics. Say goodbye to complex jargon and welcome clear, accurate, and engaging content. 
  So, why wait? Click the BUY NOW button to secure your guide and embark on your journey to success today! 
  Secure your path to lasting success and fulfillment today!

  Show book