Other books that might interest you

• 

  The Sentinel State -...

  Minxin Pei

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  China watchers long argued that economic liberalization and prosperity would be harbingers of democracy. Instead, the Communist Party's grip has strengthened. How? The answer lies in the effectiveness of the surveillance state. And the source of that effectiveness is not just facial recognition AI and phone tracking. Technology is important, but what matters more is China's vast army of domestic spies.Central government surveillance data is confidential, so Minxin Pei turned to local reports, police gazettes, leaked documents, and interviews with exiled dissidents to provide a detailed look at the evolution, organization, and tactics of the surveillance state. Following the 1989 Tiananmen uprising, the Party invested in a coercive apparatus operated by a small number of secret police capable of mobilizing millions of citizen informants. The Party's Leninist bureaucratic structure—whereby officials and activists penetrate every sector of the economy and civil society, from universities to delivery companies to monasteries—ensures that Beijing's eyes and ears are everywhere.Rigorously empirical and rich in historical insight, The Sentinel State is a singular contribution to our knowledge about Chinese state coercion and, more generally, the survival strategies of authoritarian regimes.

  Show book

• 

  Surviving the 21st Century

  Saúl Alvídrez, Noam Chomsky,...

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Explore freedom, power, and the biggest challenges of the twenty-first century with two extraordinary thinkersTwo world-renowned figures of contemporary politics come together to debate alternatives for the future: José "Pepe" Mujica, former President of Uruguay and an ex-guerrilla who acquired an international following for his message of sustainability and common sense, and Noam Chomsky, who revolutionized linguistics and has become a beacon for radical thinking around the world. From the meeting of these peerless figures emerge reflections on the major global issues of our time: climate change, corruption, populism, the crisis of capitalism, and the logic of the market economy, among many others. Speaking especially to younger generations who inherited an unstable world, Chomsky and Mujica emphasize the values required to survive the challenges of the twenty-first century and to build a new world: democracy, freedom, humility, and friendship. Brought together by Mexican activist Saúl Alvídrez, Chomsky and Mujica offer a wise and passionate guide to salvaging the future.

  Show book

• 

  Men Want A Three Piece - The...

  Dr. Dewayne T. Washington

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Unlock the Secrets to a Happy, Fulfilling Relationship 
  If you’ve ever wanted to truly understand your man and take your relationship to the next level, Men Want a Three Piece: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Your Man is the book for you. 
  Dr. Dewayne T. Washington, a renowned relationship expert, senior pastor of the Love Church in Arlington, Texas, and 20-year veteran marriage counselor, has dedicated his career to helping couples thrive. Drawing from decades of professional counseling and personal experience, Dr. Washington delivers practical, proven insights into the simple yet profound needs of men. 
  In this game-changing guide, you’ll discover:What men really mean and how to interpret their words.How to communicate effectively with your partner.Powerful strategies to get the best out of your man.Tips on how to get men to listen and engage in conversations.How to foster meaningful conversations with your son.And so much more! 
  Dr. Washington offers a unique perspective as both an expert and a man who’s been happily married for 30 years with four children. The advice in this book has been validated by men from diverse backgrounds, making it an indispensable tool for wives, partners, and even mothers looking to connect with the men in their lives. 
  Whether you’re in a long-term relationship, newly married, or preparing for your future, Men Want a Three Piece provides you with the insights you need to foster peace, connection, and intimacy. 
  Start building the relationship of your dreams today—because understanding your man has never been easier.

  Show book

• 

  Bound by the Corporate Spy (Gay...

  Archer Vale

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  I work in a restricted area. I have access to precious, sensitive secrets… 
  My junior engineer is into “cognitive enhancement”. He says wearing a chastity cage can improve mental focus and job performance. 
  But…it’s having the opposite effect on me. 
  He sealed me into chastity. He bound me to his bed. He turned on his laptop and began playing hours of gay porn. 
  I’m not into that stuff, but it felt so good to watch. I couldn’t stop staring. 
  Something strange is happening to me. I’m developing cravings… 
  --- 
  CONTAINS EXPLICIT GAY SEXUAL CONTENT. 
  For exclusive stories, visit www.ArcherVale.com.

  Show book

• 

  First Guns The: The History and...

  Editors Charles River

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The Chinese developed what were later dubbed the “Four Great Inventions of China,” and one of those was none other than gunpowder, which was developed no later than the 9th century and was being used for military purposes by the 11th century. Its use slowly spread through South Asia and the Middle East before making it to Europe in the late 13th century.  
  For a time it was a mere curiosity, but its destructive power and military potential would be realized quickly. The first record of a cannon in Europe comes from a manuscript written in 1326, which has an illustration showing an armored man with what looks like a slow match lighting a vase-shaped object. This crude cannon was called a pot de fer in French and vasi in Italian.  
  While medieval engineers developed new types of cannons and explosives capable of destroying walls and castles, others were making the first handguns possible. European sources first mentioned the widespread use of handgonnes, as they were often called, in the late 14th century, precisely the time when gunpowder became cheaper. These were short metal barrels stuck on the end of wooden hafts that could be tucked under the arm, the powder being lit through a touchhole with the free hand. While they were not terribly accurate and had a shorter range and slower rate of fire than longbows or crossbows, they had the advantage of being better able to punch through armor than longbows and crossbows, and they were simple to make and use.  
  By the late 15th century, handgonners had become a major part of the leading armies, and weapons that relied on gunpowder would remain a staple of warfare throughout the 19th century, paying deadly homage to one of history’s most important inventions. Of course, that would also bring about innovative new military strategies, and some of the first people to think outside of the box would be credited with putting together the makings of the first modern armies. 

  Show book

• 

  90 Degrees to Zamboanga -...

  Rick Bibbero

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Sometimes comedic and sometimes deadly serious; the story is told by one of its major participants. Naive college students in the late 1960s, looking for excitement and adventure, smuggle kilos of marijuana on their backs over the Mexican border and into the United States. This memoir follows their lives, the cast of characters they meet along the way, and their smuggling adventures for the next two decades as their business ventures rise and fall and their escapades circle the globe, developing into a major criminal enterprise."November 1974: we were still ten days sail from our destination in Thailand where the four of us planned to load our 41-foot sailboat with a ton of the best marijuana on the face of the planet. This would be the largest single load of Thai sticks ever brought to the U.S. to date… if we made it home to California. However, we'd just survived a category four storm that had battered us and left all of our primary navigational equipment waterlogged and useless and us lost somewhere in the Sulu Sea. I figured that we may have been blown some 200 miles off course to the south and were now in some of the most notorious pirate infested waters in the world.

  Show book