Altri libri che potrebbero interessarti

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  Weird Foods of Portugal -...

  WendyLeeHermance

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  “With her typically American intrepidness, her thirst for a good story and her power of observation, Hermance closes-in on the Portuguese she encounters along the way, bringing to us a psychological picture of the Portuguese individual and society that you won´t find on expat guides. Lastly, her unusual grasp for ´Portuguese quaintness´ also makes this book worth buying.” David Peres Rebelo

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  Pandya Empire - Tamil Kingdoms...

  Rolf Hedger

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  The Pandya dynasty was one of the most ancient and influential Tamil kingdoms of South India, with origins deeply rooted in both history and legend. The earliest references to the Pandyas appear in Tamil Sangam literature, which dates back over two thousand years. These texts describe the Pandyas as powerful rulers of Madurai, a city that would become the cultural and political heart of their kingdom. The dynasty’s history is intertwined with mythology, particularly in Tamil literary traditions that claim the Pandyas descended from the gods. Some legends suggest that the first Pandya king was Kulasekara Pandya, a ruler said to be divinely blessed by Lord Shiva himself. 
  Historically, the Pandyas are believed to have established their rule as early as the 6th century BCE, although their presence likely predates this period. The Sangam Age, which spanned from roughly 300 BCE to 300 CE, marks the first well-documented era of Pandya rule. During this time, the kingdom flourished due to its strong trade networks, military strength, and patronage of Tamil poets and scholars. The Pandyas ruled alongside the Chola and Chera dynasties, forming a triad of powerful Tamil polities that competed for dominance in South India. These three kingdoms frequently engaged in alliances, conflicts, and shifting power dynamics that shaped the region’s history. 
  The early Pandyas built their capital in Korkai, an important port city known for its pearl fisheries and maritime trade. However, as their kingdom expanded, Madurai became the political and cultural center of their rule. The Pandyas were known for their patronage of literature and arts, particularly the Tamil Sangam assemblies, where poets and scholars composed some of the most revered works in Tamil history. This period saw the flourishing of Tamil culture, with kings promoting literary works that detailed heroism, love, and governance.

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  Finding Pax - The unexpected...

  Kaci Cronkhite

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  Around the world sailor, Kaci Cronkhite knew better than to buy a wooden boat. But, smitten by the curves of a rare Danish spidsgatter named Pax—she did.Days after the boat’s arrival from Vancouver Island, Canada, to Port Townsend, Washington, startling questions emerged with no answers. Where was proof of the boat’s WWII-era origin and history in Denmark? Had she, as rumors suggested, caught fire and been stolen boat in 1980s Sausalito? How, where, and when had she left Europe to sail in America?Determined to find answers, solve the mystery, and restore Pax’s history, Kaci embarked on an unexpected journey spanning seven years and comprising three countries, thousands of miles, ten families, and a 2,000 year old tree—the oldest living oak in northern Europe.This is a memoir like no other; a quest and love story about a woman and a boat, written in prose that is poetic, spare and full of wisdom. A brave, inspiring story about preserving legacy and following questions wherever they may lead.MountBatten Best Book Award shortlist, 2018.

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  Miles in Meaning

  Reece Davis

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  What if the true purpose of travel isn’t to see the world — but to understand it? 
  In Miles in Meaning, travel writer Reece Davis takes readers on an extraordinary journey across continents and inner landscapes alike. From the rain-soaked alleys of Kyoto to the windswept plains of Patagonia, Davis reveals how every mile walked, train boarded, and stranger met reshaped his idea of home, purpose, and belonging. 
  Blending vivid storytelling with heartfelt reflection, Miles in Meaning explores what happens when curiosity becomes a compass — guiding us toward empathy, connection, and the quiet revelations hidden in ordinary encounters. 
  This is not just a book about travel. 
  It’s a meditation on movement, mindfulness, and the enduring power of wonder.

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  The Cultural Revolution - A...

  Jun Liu

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  The Cultural Revolution, which lasted from 1966 to 1976, was a decade of intense political and social upheaval in China. It was initiated by Mao Zedong, the Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, as a means to reassert his ideological dominance and eliminate perceived threats within the party and society. The roots of the Cultural Revolution can be traced back to the aftermath of the Great Leap Forward, growing political divisions, and Mao’s desire to reshape China’s ideological landscape. 
  One of the key factors that led to the Cultural Revolution was Mao’s declining influence following the disastrous Great Leap Forward (1958–1962). This economic and social campaign, aimed at transforming China into a communist utopia through rapid industrialization and collectivization, resulted in widespread famine and the deaths of millions. The failures of the Great Leap Forward weakened Mao’s credibility, and he was forced to step back from day-to-day governance, allowing more pragmatic leaders such as Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping to implement economic reforms. These leaders promoted policies that prioritized economic stability over radical communist ideology, which Mao saw as a betrayal of the revolution’s goals. 
  In response to his diminished authority, Mao sought to reassert control by launching an ideological campaign against those he deemed “capitalist roaders” within the party. By the early 1960s, internal power struggles intensified as Mao and his radical supporters, including Lin Biao and Jiang Qing, clashed with moderate leaders advocating for a more pragmatic approach to governance. Mao viewed the growing influence of his rivals as a direct threat to his vision for China. To counter their policies, he began promoting the idea of a new revolutionary movement that would purify Chinese society and eliminate counterrevolutionary elements.

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  Orienting - An Indian in Japan

  Pallavi Aiyar

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  How is Tokyo, a city of thirty million people, so safe that six-year-old children commute to school on their own? Why are there no trashcans in Japanese cities? Why are Ganesha idols in Japanese temples hidden from public view? Globe-trotting journalist Pallavi Aiyar moves to Japan and takes an in-depth look at the island country including its culinary, sanitary and floral idiosyncrasies. Steering through the many (mis)adventures that come from learning a new language, imbibing new cultural etiquette, and asking difficult questions about race, Aiyar explores why Japan and India find it hard to work together despite sharing a long civilizational history. Part travelogue, part reportage, Orienting answers questions that have long confounded the rest of the world with Aiyar's trademark humour. Tackling both the significant and the trivial, the quirky and the quotidian, here is an Indian's account of Japan that is as thought-provoking as it is charming.

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