Other books that might interest you

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  Europe's Hidden Gems - A Tour of...

  Daniel Cornwallis

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  Uncover Europe's Best Kept Secrets: Your Passport to the Continent's 25 Most Enthralling Destinations 
   
  Europe's Hidden Gems: A Tour of the 25 Most Mesmerizing Vacation Spots is your passport to an unforgettable journey through the old continent. Every page of this riveting guide brings you closer to the heart of Europe, revealing its spirit and charm in a way that is palpable, engaging, and utterly mesmerizing. 
   
  Let yourself be whisked away to the romantic boulevards of Paris, the serene lavender fields of Provence, the timeless grandeur of Rome, and the enchanting canals of Venice. Each locale unveils its unique allure, sparking curiosity and stirring the soul. 
   
  Our tour doesn't stop at Europe's celebrated cities. Discover the majestic highlands of Scotland, the awe-inspiring fjords of Norway, and the otherworldly landscapes of Iceland's Golden Circle. Each destination is a testament to Europe's diverse and beguiling topography. 
   
  But, the real gems are those often overlooked. Unearth the medieval charm of Bruges, the breathtaking tranquility of Zermatt, the iconic allure of Dubrovnik, and the picture-perfect Hallstatt. These clandestine treasures offer a fresh perspective of Europe — serene, captivating, and truly unforgettable. 
   
  Though unique, these destinations are bound by the quintessential European essence — a sublime amalgamation of history, culture, culinary prowess, and warmth that permeates every nook and cranny of this enchanting continent. 
   
  Let this guide be more than a book. Let it be your ticket to unforgettable adventures, unseen landscapes, and transformative experiences. Venture into the unknown and return with unforgettable memories etched in your heart. For isn't that the magic of travel?

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  Tips for the Savvy Traveler -...

  Deborah Burns

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  Planes, trains, automobiles and ships… Whatever your mode of transportation, Tips For The Savvy Traveler can help you—the businessperson, family with children, senior, or solo vacationer—avoid the inconveniences and pitfalls of travel within the U.S., or around the world. From the essential items that can’t be left behind (passports, visas) to the last-minute details that ensure a well-planned trip, this audiobook covers many common, and not-so-common, travel situations. And when you’re at your destination, Tips For the Savvy Traveler helps with jet lag, shopping, exchange rates and even your safety, health and security, in addition to suggestions for duties, customs and the unexpected culture shock of returning home. Pick up Tips For The Savvy Traveler and be prepared to make your next trip the best it can be!

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  The Pharaoh's Cities - Urban...

  Omar Khalil

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  The emergence of ancient Egyptian cities was a direct result of environmental, political, and cultural forces that converged around the Nile River. The geography of Egypt—with its fertile riverbanks and harsh surrounding deserts—encouraged people to settle in concentrated areas where water and arable land were accessible. These early settlements began as small agricultural communities but gradually expanded into organized urban centers. 
  The Nile River played an essential role in this transformation. It provided not only irrigation for crops but also a natural transportation route that linked various parts of the country. The regular flooding of the Nile deposited nutrient-rich silt onto the land, ensuring a reliable agricultural cycle. This dependable environment allowed food surpluses to develop, leading to population growth and the specialization of labor—both critical components for urbanization. 
  As Egypt became unified under strong rulers, cities took on new roles beyond agriculture. Administrative centers emerged to coordinate the collection of taxes, the management of resources, and the oversight of large-scale projects like irrigation canals and temple construction. Memphis, established as the first capital of a unified Egypt, became a powerful political and religious hub. Likewise, Thebes rose in prominence as a center of worship and royal authority, especially during the Middle and New Kingdoms.

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  The Han Dynasty - Golden Age of...

  Jun Liu

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  The Han Dynasty, one of the most influential periods in Chinese history, emerged from the collapse of the Qin Dynasty in 206 BCE. After years of harsh rule under Qin Shi Huang, widespread unrest and rebellion led to the fall of the Qin. In the power vacuum that followed, Liu Bang, a commoner-turned-military leader, rose to prominence and ultimately established the Han Dynasty. His leadership and political acumen laid the foundation for a dynasty that would last over four centuries, shaping China’s governance, culture, and identity. 
  Liu Bang, later known as Emperor Gaozu, was originally a minor official under the Qin. Unlike his aristocratic rivals, he came from humble origins, making him a unique figure in Chinese history. As the Qin administration crumbled due to heavy taxation and forced labor policies, numerous factions vied for control. The most significant of these was the Chu-Han Contention, a prolonged struggle between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, a powerful general of noble descent. Liu Bang, known for his ability to rally support from various social classes, ultimately defeated Xiang Yu at the Battle of Gaixia in 202 BCE. This victory marked the official beginning of the Han Dynasty, with Liu Bang declaring himself emperor. 
  Once in power, Liu Bang sought to distance his rule from the harsh legalist policies of the Qin. He adopted a more lenient and pragmatic approach, blending Confucian ideals with centralized governance. Although he retained elements of Qin’s bureaucratic structure, he reduced the severity of laws and punishments, earning the trust of the people. To ensure stability, he granted land and titles to his loyal followers, creating a semi-feudal system that allowed regional kings to govern under the central authority of the emperor. This balance between centralization and decentralization was a defining characteristic of early Han rule.

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  Off the Tracks - A Meditation on...

  Pamela Mulloy

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  Train travel is having a renaissance. Grand old routes that had been canceled, or were moldering in neglect, have been refurbished as destinations in themselves. The Rocky Mountaineer, the Orient Express, and the Trans-Siberian Railroad run again in all their glory. 
  		 
  Pamela Mulloy has always loved train travel. Whether returning to the Maritimes every year with her daughter on the Ocean, or taking her family across Europe to Poland, trains have been a linchpin of her life. As COVID locked us down, Mulloy began an imaginary journey that recalled the trips she has taken, as well as those of others. Whether it was Mary Wollstonecraft traveling alone to Sweden in the late 1700s, or the incident that had Charles Dickens forever fearful of trains, or the famous actress Sarah Bernhardt trapped in her carriage in a midwestern blizzard in the 1890s, or Sir John A. Macdonald’s wife daring to cross the Rockies tied to the cowcatcher at the front of the train, the stories explore the odd mix of adventure and contemplation that travel permits. 
  		 
  Thoughtful, observant, and fun, Off the Tracks is the perfect blend of research and personal experience that, like a good train ride, will whisk you into another world.

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  The Passenger: Ireland

  Passenger The

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  The best new writing, photography, art, and reportage from and about Ireland—in the series that’s “like a literary vacation” (Publishers Weekly). 
   
  Ireland is a land full of charm and conflict, a country that in just a few decades has gone from being a poor, semi-theocratic society to a thriving economy free from the influence of the Catholic Church. With the 1998 peace agreements, the conflict between nationalists and unionists seemed, if not resolved, at least dormant. But Brexit—with the ambiguous position it leaves Northern Ireland in—caused old tensions to resurface, with ramifications in politics, society, culture, and sport. 
   
  Meanwhile, south of the border, epochal transformation has seen a deeply patriarchal, conservative society give space to diversity, the only country in the world to enshrine gay marriage in law through a referendum. And there’s a whole other Ireland abroad, an Irish diaspora that looks to the old country with newfound pride but doesn’t forget the ugliness it fled from. 
   
  Memory and identity intertwine with the transformations—from globalization to climate change—that are remodeling the Irish landscape, from the coastal communities under threat of disappearing along with the Irish language fishermen use to talk about the sea, inland the peat bogs, until recently important sources of energy and jobs, are being abandoned. Pieces in this collection include: 
   
  The mass is ended by Catherine Dunne and Caelainn Hogan · The Way Back by Colum McCann · A Trip to Westeros by Mark O’Connell · Plus: life on the margins of two unions and right in the middle of Brexit, making war on each other for thirty years while playing on the same national rugby team, emigrating to the great enemy or transforming the country one referendum at a time, digging peat bogs and building cottages, talking of the sea in Gaelic, and much more . . .  
   
  “These books are so rich and engrossing that it is rewarding to read them even when one is stuck at home.” —The Times Literary Supplement

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