Other books that might interest you

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  Extinguished - A Fire Chief's...

  Steve Serbic, Lori Yohannes

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  What do you do when you lose more than you can afford, when the stable bridge you’ve been crossing suddenly gives way and you find yourself plummeting into a chasm of fear and self-doubt? 
  After losing a dear friend and fellow firefighter to suicide, Steve is left shaken and leaves the fire service forever – or so he thinks. While trying to decide what his future holds, Steve takes us through his past. From Firefighter to Assistant Chief, a winning lottery ticket to a twist of fate, a series of strange health problems and devastating injury, Steve pulls us along the dizzying journey with him. And just when we think it can’t possibly get any worse for him, he leads us to the edge. And then the healing begins. 
  Although a sequel to his first book, The Unbroken, Extinguished is a story of its own, stranger than fiction, and another incredible example of Steve’s willingness to lay everything on the line to help anyone suffering from mental illness. At the same time, this isn’t a book just for them, or just for first responders. It is powerfully human and will resonate with everyone who reads it.

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  Islamic Golden Age - A History...

  Kelly Mass

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  The Islamic Golden Age, a period marked by extraordinary cultural, economic, and scientific prosperity, spanned roughly from the 8th to the 14th century. This era is often considered to have begun during the reign of the Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid (786–809), particularly with the establishment of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad. At this time, Baghdad was the world's largest city, serving as the epicenter of intellectual activity. The House of Wisdom became a hub for scholars and polymaths from a diverse range of backgrounds who were tasked with gathering, translating, and preserving the classical knowledge of the ancient world. Key works from Greek, Syriac, Middle Persian, and Sanskrit texts were translated into Arabic and Syriac, with some later making their way into Latin and Hebrew. This immense intellectual undertaking played a significant role in preserving and expanding upon the knowledge that would later form the foundation of the Renaissance in Europe. 
  The decline of the Abbasid caliphate, culminating in the Mongol invasions and the Siege of Baghdad in 1258, is commonly regarded as marking the end of this flourishing period. However, the exact timeline of the Golden Age’s conclusion is debated among scholars. Some place the end around 1350, coinciding with the Timurid Renaissance, while others extend it until the 15th or even the 16th century, linking it with the rise of the Islamic Gunpowder Empires. 
  One of the driving forces behind the Islamic Golden Age was the emphasis placed on learning within Islamic teachings. The Quran and Hadiths, which contain numerous references to the pursuit of knowledge, were fundamental in motivating Muslims during this period to engage in scientific, philosophical, and literary endeavors.

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  Gaius Marcus - The Controversial...

  Kelly Mass

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  Gaius Marius was one of the most influential military commanders and statesmen of the late Roman Republic. Born into a well-off, provincial Italian family in Arpinum, Marius rose from relatively humble beginnings to become a key figure in Rome’s transformation from a republic to an empire. Known for his military prowess and political savvy, Marius served as consul an unprecedented seven times, a record that set him apart from other Roman leaders. 
  His career began in earnest during the Siege of Numantia in 134 BC, where he gained valuable military experience under the command of Scipio Aemilianus. Marius was not born into the traditional aristocracy of Rome but quickly ascended through the ranks of Roman politics. In 119 BC, he was elected as tribune of the plebs, where he passed significant legislation that aimed to curb the influence of the aristocracy in Roman elections. His political career continued to build momentum as he was elected praetor in 115 BC and later became the governor of Further Spain, where he fought against bandit forces. Marius’s personal life also intertwined with the leading families of Rome—he married Julia, the aunt of the future dictator Julius Caesar, cementing ties with one of Rome’s most powerful clans. 
  Marius’s most famous military achievements came in the course of the Jugurthine War in Numidia, which he brought to a successful conclusion in 107 BC. That same year, he was appointed to command Roman forces in the war against the Germanic tribes, the Cimbri and Teutones, who threatened Rome’s existence. He was elected consul for the second time in 104 BC, a post he would hold consecutively for five years. His victories at the battles of Aqua Sextiae in 102 BC and Vercellae in 101 BC cemented his reputation as one of Rome’s greatest military leaders, and he was hailed as the “third founder of Rome,” a title that reflected his role in securing the republic’s future.

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  Hope and Honor - Jewish...

  Rachel L. Einwohner

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  A powerful account of Jewish resistance in Nazi-occupied Europe and why such resistance was so remarkable. 
   
   
   
  Most popular accounts of the Holocaust typically cast Jewish victims as meek and ask, "Why didn't Jews resist?" But we know now that Jews did resist, staging armed uprisings in ghettos and camps throughout Nazi-occupied Europe. In Hope and Honor, Rachel L. Einwohner illustrates the dangers in attempting resistance under unimaginable conditions and shows how remarkable such resistance was. She draws on oral testimonies, published and unpublished diaries and memoirs, and other written materials produced both by survivors and those who perished to show how Jews living under Nazi occupation in the ghettos of Warsaw, Vilna, and Lódz reached decisions about resistance. Using methods of comparative-historical sociology, Einwohner shows that decisions about resistance rested on Jews' assessments of the threats facing them, and somewhat ironically, armed resistance took place only once activists reached the critical conclusion that they had no hope for survival. Rather than ask the typical question of why Jews generally didn't resist, this powerful account of Jewish resistance seeks to explain why they resisted at all when there was no hope for success, and they faced almost certain death.

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  Fighting Back - Stan Andrews and...

  Jeffrey Weiss, Craig Weiss

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  Fighting Back is the story of Stan Andrews, an assimilated American Jew and World War II veteran who became one of the first fighter pilots in the history of the Israeli Air Force. 
   
   
   
  In 1948, Stan Andrews left a comfortable postwar life in Los Angeles to travel to the war-torn Middle East, where a four-front Arab invasion threatened to destroy the newly-declared State of Israel. There he joined the Israeli Air Force and became one of its first fighter pilots. Andrews was an unexpected volunteer for the fight for a Jewish state. He was many things—an artist, writer, assimilated Jew, ladies' man, pilot, and combat veteran of the Pacific War. He had previously been aloof from the struggle for Jewish independence but found himself so roused by the anti-Semitism of 1940s America that he decided to go to Israel and risk everything. Stan made the most of his time in Israel, serving in fighter and bomber squadrons and leaving his mark on an Israeli Air Force that has since become the stuff of legend.

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  Useless Life Facts That Will Put...

  Smart Sleep

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  "**Useless Life Facts That Will Put You to Sleep Fast**" is the perfect audiobook for anyone who struggles with falling asleep. This quirky and calming collection of utterly trivial facts is designed to lull your mind into a peaceful state, free from the day’s worries. From the obscure history of everyday objects to the strange habits of animals, each fact is more unimportant than the last, providing just enough mental engagement to keep your thoughts from wandering but not enough to keep you awake. 
  Narrated in a soothing, monotone voice, this audiobook is a gentle, non-intrusive companion for bedtime. Whether you're curious about the origin of the toothbrush or interested in learning why certain fish can blink, you’ll find these tidbits amusingly irrelevant yet oddly comforting. Perfect for those who want to drift off without focusing on anything too stimulating, “Useless Life Facts That Will Put You to Sleep Fast” is your ticket to a good night’s rest. Simply press play, close your eyes, and let the stream of inconsequential information carry you into the world of dreams.

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