Other books that might interest you

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  The Pillow Book

  Sei Shōnagon

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  The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon is a fascinating, detailed account of Japanese court life in the closing years of the 10th century. Written by a lady of the court at the height of Heian culture, this book enthrals with its lively gossip, witty observations and subtle impressions.  
   
  Lady Shonagon was an erstwhile rival of Lady Murasaki, whose novel, The Tale of Genji, fictionalized the elite world Lady Shonagon so eloquently relates. Featuring reflections on royal and religious ceremonies, nature, conversation, poetry and many other subjects, The Pillow Book is an intimate look at the experiences and outlook of the Heian upper class.  
   
  Sei Shonagon, born around 965, was lady-in-waiting to Empress Sadako and between the early 990s and 1002, she kept these ‘personal notes’, recording what she saw and encountered with wit, accuracy and intelligence. There is immense variety here. There are more than 320 entries, each with its own heading: ‘Birds’, Trees’, ‘When His Excellency The Chancellor Had Departed’, ‘Unreliable Things’.... Some entries are very brief, no more than ‘asides’, and there are even concise lists. Some reflect the sensitive Japanese response to nature or patterned silk, and there are longer narratives of incidents involving prominent political figures. Her singular humour is often to the fore: ‘Masahiro really is a laughing stock. I wonder what it is like for his parents and friends.’   
   
  But there are also entries which reflect a considerate nature as shown in ‘One of Her Majesty’s Wet-Nurses’. 
   
  While Arthur Waley’s classic translation remains well-known it was abridged, and this Ukemi recording presents the translation by Ivan Morris, the first unabridged English version. It is fluent and lively, and reflects the sparkling character of Sei Shonagon’s writing which, in the 21st century, belies its ancient origins and its academic standing as one of the great works of Japanese literature. This is perfectly captured by in Georgina Sutton’s reading.

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  Hamilcar and Hannibal: The...

  Editors Charles River

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  One overlooked figure in the Punic Wars is Hamilcar Barca, who is now best remembered for being Hannibal’s father. However, before Hannibal marched out of Spain, it was Hamilcar who had positioned forces there, and he was already a significant historical figure in his own right. Indeed, had it not been for his death, his legacy likely would have been more important than that of his illustrious son, who is now remembered as one of history’s greatest generals.  
  	In the history of war, only a select few men always make the list of greatest generals. Napoleon. Caesar. Alexander. They are always joined by Hannibal, who has the distinction of being the only man who nearly brought Rome to its knees before its decline almost 700 years later. Rome never suffered a more horrifying defeat in its history than at Cannae, and indeed, Hannibal nearly rewrote the course of Western history during the Second Punic War. Even today there remains great debate on just how he accomplished his masterful invasion of Italy across the Alps. Since his army included war elephants, historians still argue over exactly where and how he crossed over 2,000 years after he managed that incredible feat.  
  	Although the Romans gained the upper hand in the wake of the First Punic War, Hannibal brought the Romans to their knees for over a decade during the Second Punic War. While military historians are still amazed that he was able to maintain his army in Italy near Rome for nearly 15 years, scholars are still puzzled over some of his decisions, including why he never attempted to march on Rome in the first place. Hannibal will always be listed among history’s greatest generals, and his military campaign in Italy during the Second Punic War will always be studied, but part of the aura and mystique surrounding the Carthaginian legend is that there is still a lot of mystery. 

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  J Robert Oppenheimer: A short...

  5 Minutes, 5 Minute Biographies,...

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  J. Robert Oppenheimer, father of the atomic bomb: Life and work in a short biography! Everything you need to know, brief and concise. Infotainment, education and entertainment at its best!

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  How to Deal with a Narcissist:...

  Emily Scott

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  For anyone facing the difficulties of a narcissistic relationship, "How to Deal with a Narcissist: Strategies for Managing Toxic Relationships—Practical Tips for Protecting Your Mental Health" is an indispensable resource. Dealing with the emotional manipulation, control, and poisonous dynamics of a narcissist in a personal or familial relationship can leave you feeling exhausted, bewildered, and helpless. This book offers helpful advice on how to spot narcissistic behaviors, establish and uphold boundaries, resolve conflicts amicably, and safeguard your mental and emotional health. 
  This thorough book will teach you how to recognize the telltale indicators of narcissistic behavior, comprehend the effects it has on your mind and self-esteem, and acquire the skills you need to remove yourself or end the relationship safely. You'll also get advice on how to mend from narcissistic abuse, reestablish your sense of value, and get help from a specialist to ensure long-term recovery. 
  With compassion and knowledge, "How to Deal with a Narcissist" gives you the tools you need to end the destructive cycle, take back control of your life, and cultivate happier, more satisfying relationships. This book provides the tools and support you need to succeed, whether you are leaving a narcissistic relationship or are in the middle of one and need to cope.

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  Ancient Conspiracy Theories: The...

  Editors Charles River

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  For decades, parodies featuring ominous, mysterious cults have been a favorite gag in pop culture. These fraternal brothers are often depicted in some type of underground lair, dressed in extravagant ceremonial robes with their faces hidden in their hoods, seated around a long table brimming with Gothic chalices, skulls, and glittering dark treasure. Like all art, creativity is sparked by a source of inspiration, and the inspiration for scenes like those have for centuries come from conspiracy theories, which often have profound impact regardless of their veracity. Indeed, conspiracy theories are nothing new: when the Great Fire of Rome occurred in 64 CE, Suetonius and Cassius Dio, two of Nero’s ancient biographers, were adamant that it was the emperor himself who set the fire (or ordered it set), and they are the originators of the myth that Nero played the lyre, danced around his palace, and sang “The Sack of Troy” while Rome burned outside his windows.  
  Perhaps it should also not be surprising that the themes found in contemporary conspiracy theories are often echoed in ancient conspiracy theories. While some people still insist that Lyndon B. Johnson was in on John F. Kennedy’s assassination, it was speculated across the ancient world that the young Macedonian king, Alexander the Great, conspired to have his own father, Philip II of Macedon, assassinated. Likewise, the New Age beliefs that Mesoamerican ruins in Mexico were somehow tied to extraterrestrials find common cause with people who believe the ancient Indus Valley site at Mohenjo-daro was destroyed by a nuclear weapon. And through it all, the lack of surviving documentary evidence about much of antiquity has allowed for all of the unknowns to become highly speculative sources of debate. For example, did Caesar’s men burn the Library of Alexandria in the 1st century BCE, or was it destroyed later, if at all?

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  Digital Grooming - Discourses of...

  Nuria Lorenzo-Dus

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  Illicit digital activity is a substantial and growing problem. Extremists' use of social media over the past decade or so has raised increasing concern among governments and media corporations alike. In Digital Grooming Nuria Lorenzo-Dus analyzes manipulation practices in digital spaces that are situated at, or beyond, the boundaries of law. Lorenzo-Dus identifies and examines in detail the online discourse of adults luring children for sexual abuse and exploitation (digital sexual grooming); extreme ideology groups aligning others to their views (digital ideological grooming); and drug dealers soliciting business in crypto markets (digital commercial grooming). With sophisticated style and stance analyses of large and varied datasets, the book reveals that digital sexual, ideological, and commercial grooming practices have much in common. Three stances—expertise, openness, and avidity—scaffold this manipulative work, which constructs groomers and their targets as sharing a homogenous identity. 
   
   
   
  By shedding new light on grooming practices, this book provides a key resource for discourse analysis, forensic linguistics, communication, and media studies, as well as for practitioners aiming to counter online grooming through policy changes, detection software, and prevention-focused training to promote digital civility and safety.

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