Publisher: Forbes Books
In the game of polo, "following the line of the ball" means staying on the optimal path to maintain momentum and control. For Dr. Beh Chun Chuan, this principle has guided not just his polo playing but his entire approach to business and life.
In terms of geopolitics, perhaps the most seminal event of the Middle Ages was the successful Ottoman siege of Constantinople in 1453. The city had been an imperial capital as far back as the 4th century, when Constantine the Great shifted the power center of the Roman Empire there, effectively establishing two almost equally powerful halves of antiquity’s greatest empire. Constantinople would continue to serve as the capital of the Byzantine Empire even after the Western half of the Roman Empire collapsed in the late 5th century. Naturally, the Ottoman Empire would also use Constantinople as the capital of its empire after their conquest effectively ended the Byzantine Empire, and thanks to its strategic location, it has been a trading center for years and remains one today under the Turkish name of Istanbul. The Ottoman conquest of Constantinople also played a decisive role in fostering the Renaissance in Western Europe. The Byzantine Empire’s influence had helped ensure that it was the custodian of various ancient texts, most notably from the ancient Greeks, and when Constantinople fell, Byzantine refugees flocked west to seek refuge in Europe. Those refugees brought books that helped spark an interest in antiquity that fueled the Italian Renaissance and essentially put an end to the Middle Ages altogether. In the wake of taking Constantinople, the Ottoman Empire would spend the next few centuries expanding its size, power, and influence, bumping up against Eastern Europe and becoming one of the world’s most important geopolitical players. It was a rise that would not truly start to wane until the 19th century, and the Ottomans would maintain their empire until the end of World War I.Show book
"What I Need to Know Before I Die" by Mavis Beneby Walton is a heartfelt and reflective book that began as a personal letter to the author's daughters but evolved into a universal message for all sons and daughters. The book explores the challenges of expressing the attributes of God to young adults and emphasizes the power of written communication, aiming to provide answers to life's purpose and the reason for existence. In contrast to the incident of personal loss, including the author's experience of losing two brothers within a short span and the impact of the pandemic on friends and family, the book delves into the universal questions surrounding life, death, and the afterlife. It encourages readers to reflect on their life journeys, acknowledging moments of regret and the desire for second chances. With a focus on the importance of faith and a relationship with God, the book aims to resonate with readers, offering solace and guidance during times of loss and uncertainty. Mavis Beneby Walton hopes that the words within the book will not only reach hearts but also draw individuals closer to God while still on Earth, emphasizing the significance of completing one's earthly assignment before the journey to the afterlife.Show book
What if your biggest challenge became your greatest adventure? One day, Dr Rhona Morrison was a respected forensic psychiatrist planning for retirement. The next, on her birthday, she became a widow, stepping into an uncertain and unplanned future alone. But as Rhona soon discovered, an ending can also be a beginning - if you grasp the opportunities life presents. In this warm, witty, and inspiring memoir, Rhona shares how she navigated the twists and turns of her loss and subsequent reinvention, transforming her grief into opportunity. From launching an art business and writing her first book, I Don't Talk to Dead Bodies, to becoming a cruise ship lecturer and embarking on global adventures, she tackled each step with an open heart. Along the way, she discovered unexpected joys, new passions, and a renewed sense of purpose. From Crime Scenes to Cruise Ships is an uplifting story of resilience, reinvention and embracing the unknown. Whether you're facing loss, retirement, or a major life shift, Rhona's journey is a reminder that even when life feels uncertain, you still have the power to shape your future. It may not look like you once imagined, but it can still be rich with meaning, adventure and possibility. Your story isn't over; the next chapter is waiting. So, let's turn the page and step into what comes next - together.Show book
"Life in the Backwoods" is a memoir written by Susanna Moodie, a British author who immigrated to Upper Canada (now Ontario, Canada) in the early 19th century. The book provides a vivid and often challenging portrayal of Moodie's experiences as a settler in the Canadian wilderness. She recounts the hardships, struggles, and triumphs of pioneer life, offering insights into the daily routines, relationships, and encounters with nature that defined her existence in the backwoods.Show book
Since 1991, only three albums have sold more than 15 million copies---Metallica (Metallica), Come on Over (Shania Twain), and Jagged Little Pill, by Alanis Morissette. JLP won Grammys, Junos, and stayed in the Billboad 200 for more than a year. The record remains a touchstone for many listeners, as evidenced by the Tony Award-winning musical by the same name that premiered in 2018. If you listened to the radio in 1995, you probably recognize "You Oughta Know," "One Hand in My Pocket," and several other songs if only for Morissette's distinctive voice (or, as the author puts it, "this aggressively female noise"). Megan Volpert works through Alanis Morissette's career via JLP, her best-known record. Each chapter dives into one of the 13 tracks from the album, dissecting that song while connecting to later work that extends the relevant theme. For instance, the first chapter makes the point that "All I Really Want" reflects a highly sensitive person rather than an angry one, and discusses Morissette's producing on the documentary Sensitive (2015). Later chapters take up mental health, queer symbolism, skepticism vs. Catholicism, as well as more explicitly feminist concerns. As with most of the books in this series, her own experience is an occasional but consistent lens. As she writes in the prologue, JLP got the author through high school and it captures a "specifically female existential anger" that suggests deploying some memoir is appropriate. References to Derrida, Sophocles, and the films of Kevin Smith among others balance the personal side. Publication of this book will coincide with the 30th anniversary of Jagged Little Pill. (Officially released on June 13, 1995.)Show book
ELON MUSK Driven by idealism and the desire to be actively involved in the progression of humankind, Elon Musk has been dubbed a “thrillionaire” by The New York Times; a tech entrepreneur using his wealth to turn science fiction into science fact. Musk wants to save planet Earth, send civilians into space, and colonize Mars. He wants to create artificial intelligence that will aid humanity, and he wants to treat spinal and other neurological diseases and injuries by implanting computer chips in people’s brains. This book aims to serve as a biography-to-date of this interesting entrepreneur. By the completion of this book, you will have a much clearer understanding of who exactly Elon Musk is, how he got to where he is, and what might be next for him!Show book
