Other books that might interest you

• 

  Holy Wars - 3000 Years of...

  Gary L. Rashba

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Holy Wars describes three thousand years of war in the Holy Land with the unique approach of focusing on pivotal battles or campaigns, beginning with the Israelites' capture of Jericho and ending with Israel's last full-fledged assault against Lebanon. Its chapters stop along the way to examine key battles fought by the Philistines, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, and Mamluks—the latter clash, at Ayn Jalut, comprising the first time the Mongols suffered a decisive defeat. 
   
   
    
  The modern era saw the rise of the Ottomans and an incursion by Napoleon, who only found bloody stalemate outside the walls of Akko. The Holy Land became a battlefield again in World War I when the British fought the Turks. The nation of Israel was forged in conflict during its 1948 War of Independence, and subsequently found itself in desperate combat, often against great odds, in 1956 and 1967, and again in 1973, when it was surprised by a massive two-pronged assault. 
   
   
    
  By focusing on the climax of each conflict, while carefully setting each stage, Holy Wars examines an extraordinary breadth of military history—spanning in one volume the evolution of warfare over the centuries, as well as the enduring status of the Holy Land as a battleground.

  Show book

• 

  Why I Became an X Troop Commando...

  Helen Fry

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  A fascinating and moving biography of Colin Anson, the German refugee who became an elite British commando 
   
   
   
  Born in Germany in 1922, Colin Anson's (Claus Ascher) childhood was marked by the trials of Nazism. His father was arrested by the Gestapo in 1937 and transported to Dachau, where he died shortly after. Colin, aged just seventeen, escaped to Britain in the Kindertransport. As soon as he was old enough, Colin volunteered in the Pioneer Corps. Then, in 1942, he was recruited for the elite commando unit X-Troop. 
   
   
   
  Colin took part in the invasions of Sicily and Italy in 1943, where he sustained a near-fatal injury. But just months later, he returned to duty. He fought in the Yugoslav islands, became the first Allied soldier to liberate Corfu, and was stationed in postwar Frankfurt. 
   
   
   
  In this unique biography, Helen Fry traces the remarkable story of Colin's life. Drawing on extensive interviews, Fry recounts his actions in X-Troop and beyond in his own words—and sheds new light on the experience of refugees in the British forces.

  Show book

• 

  The Transgender Issue - Trans...

  Shon Faye

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  An incisive case for trans justice from a powerful new voice 
   
   
   
  In this brilliant introduction to trans politics, journalist Shon Faye gives an incisive overview of systemic transphobia and argues that the struggle for trans rights is necessary to any struggle for social justice. 
   
   
   
  So often, Faye argues, trans people are understood as a "side issue," the subjects of a toxic and increasingly polarized debate which generates reliable controversy for newspapers and talk shows. This media frenzy conceals a simple fact: that we are having the wrong conversation, a conversation in which trans people themselves are reduced to a talking point and denied a meaningful voice. 
   
   
   
  With skill, rigor, and heart, Faye uncovers the reality of what it means to be trans in a transphobic society. In this compellingly readable study, she explores issues of class, family, housing, healthcare, sex work, the prison system, and trans participation in the LGBTQ+ and feminist communities. What she finds, ultimately, is that when we fight for trans liberation, we fight for a better world for us all.

  Show book

• 

  Lyrics & Lines by "Carolus"

  J.P. Parkinson

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Written under the pseudonym "Carolus", Lyrics & Lines is a book of poems written, probably circa 1890 - 1900, as a gift to one he had loved and lost. 
  Love, Humour, Moralisation and the Macabre all come together in a most readable and enjoyable manner.  
   Who he was, when and exactly where he lived and his age at the time he wrote this book are unknown. That he was a modest man can be gleaned from his description of himself as "..a poetaster".  
  Beautifully written; these poems should not only appeal to lovers of poetry but to those who would never normally consider reading verse.

  Show book

• 

  How we save the world - The...

  Jack Jay

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  How We Save The World by Jack Jay is a manifesto for those eager to reshape humanity’s future. Blending philosophy with actionable wisdom, Jay explores pressing global issues like inequality, environmental damage, and AI ethics. 
  Chapter 1: Introduces a new meta-narrative, emphasizing the need for a better global story. 
  Chapter 2: Explores the rapid evolution of technology. 
  Chapter 3: Discusses how information shapes reality through the butterfly effect. 
  Chapter 4: Outlines pragmatic philosophies for creating effective global movements. 
  Chapter 5: Introduces the concept of the “Prodemic” — viral methods anyone can use to upgrade humanity. 
  Chapter 6/7: Focus on hacking dopamine systems to avoid burnout and redefine laziness. 
  Chapter 8: Advocates for simplicity in self-improvement and avoiding over-optimization. 
  Chapter 9: Addresses the AI alignment problem, offering a solution for humanity to collectively manage the risks of AI. 
  Chapter 10: Redefines consumerism and philanthropy through designer goods purchased via tax-deductible donations. 
  Chapter 11: Introduces “storyhacking” to help individuals start global movements. 
  Chapter 12: Emphasizes long-term thinking in a future dominated by AI. 
  Chapter 13: Presents the concept of "spear ritual wisdom" as a catalyst for positive global change. 
  Chapter 14-16: Dive deeper into leading and sustaining such a movement. 
  Chapter 17: Discusses real-world operations for achieving tipping points in society. 
  Chapter 18: Focuses on the strategy behind global leadership and spear rituals. 
  Chapter 19: Recaps the book’s worldview, offering new solutions and missions for a brighter future. 
  The book combines deep reflections with practical approaches for individuals and movements to spark change, encouraging people to take action in reshaping the world.

  Show book

• 

  The Lost World of Byzantium

  Jonathan Harris

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The acclaimed author of Byzantium and the Crusades "offers a fresh take on this fabled but hidden civilization" across eleven centuries of history (Colin Wells). 
   
   
    
  For more than a millennium, the Byzantine Empire presided over the juncture between East and West, as well as the transition from the classical to the modern world. Rather than recounting the standard chronology of emperors and battles, leading Byzantium scholar Jonathan Harris focuses on a succession of archetypal figures, families, places, and events. 
   
   
    
  Harris's introduction presents a civilization rich in contrasts, combining orthodox Christianity with paganism, and classical Greek learning with Roman power. Though frequently assailed by numerous armies, Byzantium survived by dint of its unorthodox foreign policy. Over time, its sumptuous art and architecture flourished, helping to establish a deep sense of Byzantine identity in its people. 
   
   
    
  Synthesizing a wealth of sources to cover all major aspects of the empire's social, political, military, religious, cultural, and artistic history, Harris's study illuminates the heart of Byzantine civilization and explores its remarkable and lasting influence on the modern world.

  Show book