Other books that might interest you

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  Andean Economies - Shaping...

  Anya Solace

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  Andean Economies explores the economic paths of three key countries—Bolivia, Chile, and Peru—that make up the backbone of the Andean region. This 3-in-1 volume traces how natural resources, policy choices, and historical legacies have shaped the rise and fall of economic fortunes across these nations. From copper and lithium to agriculture and tourism, the Andes are not just mountains—they’re economic lifelines that have brought both prosperity and hardship to those who call this region home. 
  In From Prosperity to Peril, the book examines how sudden wealth from resource booms often led to financial crises and social unrest, especially in countries like Bolivia, where inequality and political tensions persist. Chile’s economic journey highlights one of the most stable and market-driven economies in South America, marked by both praise for reform and criticism for inequality. Finally, Peru’s economic evolution tells a story of resilience—how a country historically plagued by instability and poverty transformed into one of the region’s fastest-growing economies in recent decades. 
  This comprehensive overview is ideal for anyone seeking to understand the forces behind economic change in South America’s Andean corridor—where every boom comes with risk, and every crisis opens the door for transformation.

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  Fragmentation and Conflict - A...

  Rolf Hedger

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  The grand narrative of Chinese history is often presented as a seamless succession of unified dynasties. Yet between these periods of unity, China experienced crucial eras of division that profoundly shaped its cultural and political development. "Fragmentation and Conflict: A Divided China" examines three fascinating periods when competing states vied for dominance across the Chinese landscape. 
  Following the collapse of the Han Dynasty, the Three Kingdoms period (220-280 CE) saw China fractured into the competing states of Wei, Shu, and Wu. This era of military genius, political intrigue, and strategic maneuvering became immortalized in the classic novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," transforming historical figures like Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan into cultural icons. Beyond the battlefield drama, these rival states developed distinct regional cultures and governance approaches while competing for legitimacy as the true inheritors of the Han legacy. 
  The Jin Dynasty (265-420 CE) briefly reunified China before succumbing to internal rebellions and nomadic invasions, leading to further fragmentation. This tumultuous period witnessed massive population movements as northern Chinese fled southward, dramatically reshaping the cultural geography of China while Buddhist influence expanded significantly throughout society. 
  Centuries later, as the Song Dynasty controlled much of traditional China, the Western Xia (1038-1227 CE) emerged as a powerful independent state in the northwest. Founded by the Tangut people, this sophisticated kingdom developed its own unique script, produced remarkable Buddhist art, and maintained a complex relationship with its Chinese and nomadic neighbors before ultimately falling to the Mongol conquest.

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  Flying: Answers From Inside the...

  Hans-Georg Rabacher

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  Get in and fasten your seatbelt. Ready for take-off! 
  Have you ever asked yourself why airplane windows have a small hole? Why your digestive system makes itself known with particular vigor high up in the air? If turbulence is actually as dangerous as it feels? 
  Wouldn't it be great to have these questions answered by someone who actually sits up front in the cockpit? Impossible? Not anymore! Experienced Pilot Hans-Georg Rabacher takes you on board with him and provides exciting insights into the world of flying. 
  The various topics explained in an easy-to-understand manner are ideal for all those interested in aviation. No matter whether you have never set foot in an airplane or fly regularly – many interesting details are waiting to be discovered!

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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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  Bibliomaniac - An Obsessive's...

  Robin Ince

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  A unique, funny picture of Britain... A love letter to bookshops and the vagaries of public transport.' Richard Osman 
   
  Why play to 12,000 people when you can play to 12? In Autumn 2021, Robin Ince's stadium tour with Professor Brian Cox was postponed due to the pandemic. Rather than do nothing, he decided instead to go on a tour of over a hundred bookshops in the UK, from Wigtown to Penzance; from Swansea to Margate. Packed with witty anecdotes and tall tales, Bibliomaniac takes the reader on a journey across Britain as Robin explores his lifelong love of bookshops and books - and also tries to find out just why he can never have enough of them. It is the story of an addiction and a romance, and also of an occasional points failure just outside Oxenholme.

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  Spirit Traffic - A Mother's...

  C. Jane Taylor

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  Spirit Traffic recounts how, at the age of 50, the author learned to ride a motorcycle, overcame the terror of navigating her steep dirt driveway in Vermont, and, three days after her son’s college graduation, set off with him and her yoga-teacher husband (his stepdad) on a 10,000-mile two-wheel adventure that took them all into uncharted territory—both as novice riders, and as a family. As if in the saddle of her dual-sport BMW, the reader will experience the good, the bad, and the heartbreak of her journey as a soon-to-be-empty-nester grappling with impermanence, sexuality, hot flashes, high winds, and tailgating tour buses.  
  Spirit Traffic is at once a colorful travelogue of a bucket-list bikers’ route across America and an unflinching memoir of a middle-aged mom conquering her fears (on and off the bike), unpacking a complicated childhood with an addict father and stoic mother, and ultimately, learning to let go of her only child. (Think Blue Highways meets Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance meets Operating Instructions meets Wild.) 
  With its first-person accounts of legendary rides such as the Burr Trail, Hell’s Backbone Road, and the Pacific Coast Highway, Spirit Traffic will find a ready audience among bikers. But as a midlife memoir, Spirit Traffic will also resonate for anyone who is navigating the departure of a child, negotiating the dynamic tensions of family, or simply yearning for life’s next adventure.

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