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  Secret Earth - Places You...

  P Agrawal

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  This audiobook is narrated by an AI Voice.   
  The world as we know it feels mapped, photographed, and documented—a planet where satellites sweep the skies and every mountain, desert, and shoreline is marked with coordinates. Yet, beneath this illusion of total knowledge, lie hidden corners humanity was never meant to see. Secret Earth: Places You Weren’t Meant to Find is a compelling journey into those forbidden zones—territories of secrecy, danger, and mystery that resist the light of exposure. 
  Across twenty richly told chapters, the book reveals a global atlas of the hidden and the unreachable. Some places are locked away by governments, their gates sealed with silence. Consider Area 51, that infamous desert base where secrecy turned into myth, or Pine Gap, Australia’s “eye in the sky,” where satellites and signals weave webs of global surveillance. Others are shielded by cultural guardianship—lands like North Sentinel Island, where an indigenous people reject all contact, or the Vatican Archives, whose shelves hide manuscripts and histories beyond public reach. Still others are guarded by nature itself, such as Snake Island in Brazil, where thousands of lethal vipers forbid human settlement, or the fragile chambers of the Lascaux Caves, sealed because a single breath could erase art that has survived for 17,000 years. 
  The book moves fluidly from ancient ruins to modern fortresses, from legendary sites to contemporary phenomena. We descend into the underground labyrinth of Derinkuyu in Turkey, where entire towns once lived in secret, and stand before India’s haunted Bhangarh Fort, abandoned to legend and cursed memory. We explore Mezhgorye in Russia, a mysterious closed city guarding subterranean secrets, and enter the strange exclusivity of Bohemian Grove, California, where the powerful retreat into ritual behind towering redwoods.

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  Memoirs of a Cab Driver - The...

  Anonymous

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  After 10 years of professional driving, a taxi driver invites you into his cab to hear all the interesting, salacious, and humorous things that went on and were said. “I’ve seen more shit than most people see in a lifetime,” one young homeless man commented, proud of such a distinguished accomplishment. After a while, this cabbie began feeling the same way, and states: “some entertaining, weird, and even paranormal things took place in my cab, which you won’t want to miss!” These are his memoirs and the account of the haunting dynamics that occurred on his graveyard shifts, when things go bump in the night.

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  France’s Most Famous Palaces:...

  Editors Charles River

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  For the French, and those who study their history, Versailles is a symbol of, as Charles Dickens once put it, “the best of times…the worst of times.” It was here that the Sun King, Louis XIV, built a palace worthy of a great nation during a time when peace was, at best, short-lived. It was at Versailles that Russian Tsar Peter the Great studied the palace’s architecture and gardens so that he could recreate them in his home country. Indeed, the greatest minds and artistic geniuses of the later stages of the Renaissance came to Versailles to build and paint, and it was here that Madame de Pompadour and her successor, Madame du Barry, used their wit and beauty to charm a king into doing their bidding. 
  	France, like all European countries, has had its fair share of palaces over time, but none suffered the rise and fall of fortune like the Tuileries. Built by a widow with a flair for architecture, it grew for more than a decade, along with the royal family that it housed. Then, during the French Revolution, it fell from grace with that family and even became a sight of execution, its famous gardens providing the background for the infamous guillotine.  
  	The Louvre's very name conjures up scenes of art and elegance, and of long halls filled with beauty and people strolling through them whispering quietly among themselves about the glories they are witnessing. Even those who have never been to the Louvre know some of its most prized possessions, from ancient statues to Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”. As the world’s largest museum, the Louvre is unquestionably the cultural highpoint of Paris, a city that has long been considered the cultural center of Europe. 

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  Sherpa Hospitality as a Cure for...

  Mark Horrell

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  The heroic story of how Sherpas stood up and took control of their destiny 
  Ever since Europeans started exploring the world’s highest mountains and trying to reach their summits in the early 20th century, Sherpas have been an integral part of mountaineering expeditions to the Himalayas. In this anthology curated from his popular Footsteps on the Mountain blog, Mark Horrell explores the evolution of Sherpa mountaineers, from the porters of early expeditions to the superstar climbers of the present day. 
  Writing with trademark warmth and humour, he starts by bringing to life the Sherpa characters of the early days, describing their customs and superstitions, and putting their contributions and achievements into context. 
  In the deeply personal second section of the book, he covers some of the conflicts of the 21st century, when a series of high-profile controversies highlighted the tensions between Sherpas and western climbers on Everest. He was a witness to a devastating avalanche in the Khumbu Icefall that killed 16 Nepali mountain workers and led to a labour dispute, and he describes the events that followed from a commercial client’s perspective. 
  In the final section of the book, he brings the story up to date and looks to the future, as Sherpas have moved out of the limelight of westerners, running successful mountaineering expedition companies and becoming celebrated climbers in their own right.

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  Highland American Empires -...

  Rolf Hedger

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  Highland American Empires: Kingdoms in the Clouds (3 in 1) explores the rise, achievements, and legacies of three remarkable civilizations that flourished in the rugged highlands of South America: Tiwanaku, the Wari Empire, and the Tairona Civilization. These cultures adapted to extreme altitudes, developing sophisticated cities, engineering feats, and complex societies that influenced later Andean and Mesoamerican civilizations.   
  Journey into the world of Tiwanaku, a spiritual and political center near Lake Titicaca, known for its massive stone structures, intricate carvings, and advanced understanding of agriculture and irrigation. Its influence spread across the Andean region, shaping cultural and religious traditions that endured for centuries.   
  Discover the Wari Empire, one of the first true imperial powers of the Andes, which established extensive road networks, administrative centers, and urban planning techniques that prefigured the later Inca civilization. Their mastery of terraced farming and state organization allowed them to dominate the region for hundreds of years.   
  Uncover the Tairona Civilization, a lesser-known yet sophisticated society that thrived in the mountainous regions of present-day Colombia. Renowned for their breathtaking gold craftsmanship, elaborate stone cities, and harmonious integration with the surrounding environment, the Tairona left a legacy that still resonates among their modern descendants, the Kogi people.   
  From sacred temples to vast road systems, these highland empires demonstrated remarkable resilience and ingenuity. This book is perfect for history enthusiasts seeking to explore the hidden civilizations that once ruled the mountain landscapes of the Americas.

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  Western Han Dynasty - The...

  Rolf Hedger

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  The Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 9 CE) emerged following the collapse of the Qin Dynasty, a period marked by harsh legalist rule and widespread rebellion. The fall of the Qin created a power vacuum, leading to years of conflict between rival warlords. Among them was Liu Bang, a peasant-born general who would go on to establish one of China’s most influential dynasties. His leadership, pragmatic policies, and ability to gain the support of both the military and the common people played a crucial role in shaping the early Han state. 
  Liu Bang, later known as Emperor Gaozu, rose to prominence during the rebellion against the Qin. Unlike his rival Xiang Yu, a nobleman known for his military prowess, Liu Bang relied on strategy, diplomacy, and alliances to gain an advantage. In 202 BCE, he decisively defeated Xiang Yu at the Battle of Gaixia, solidifying his control over China and declaring himself the first emperor of the Han Dynasty. His rule marked a shift away from the oppressive policies of the Qin, emphasizing stability, leniency, and bureaucratic governance. 
  One of Gaozu’s first major reforms was the reduction of harsh legalist laws that had caused unrest under the Qin. He abolished extreme punishments, lowered taxes, and granted land to military leaders and allies. However, in order to maintain control, he adopted a semi-feudal system, granting large territories to loyal kings while keeping direct control over the central government. This system helped secure loyalty but later posed challenges as regional rulers sought more autonomy.

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