'The best book on games I've read in years' G.T. KARBER, the number one Sunday Times bestselling author of MURDLE'Clare is a fabulous tour guide through the history of table games' Tom Brewster, presenter of Shut Up & Sit DownWhy is playing games a universal human instinct?Why did the same games evolve across wildly different civilisations?And how can those games make your life happier, healthier and more fulfilled?The history of board games is really the history of human civilisation. Through it we see how our species has learned to live with one another, make deals, take on different roles and manage the ups and downs of luck.In this entertaining and thought-provoking look at games through the ages, Tim Clare explores the legal highs of a good dice roll, the thrills of a predatory race game and the tactile pleasures of the games that age with us through our lives to discover how, through play, we become fully ourselves.Drawing on Roman anti-cheating devices, organised crime card syndicates and the combative domestic bonding ritual of Monopoly, The Game Changers explains why games are more popular now than ever, and how playing them helps us learn to be better losers, make smarter decisions and become more human.
In August 1989, a group of Hungarian activists organized a picnic on the border of Hungary and Austria. But this was not an ordinary picnic-it was located on the dangerous militarized frontier known as the Iron Curtain. Tacit permission from the highest state authorities could be revoked at any moment. On wisps of rumor, thousands of East German "vacationers" packed Hungarian campgrounds, awaiting an opportunity, fearing prison, surveilled by lurking Stasi agents. The Pan-European Picnic set the stage for the greatest border breach in Cold War history: hundreds crossed from the Communist East to the longed-for freedom of the West.Drawing on dozens of original interviews-including Hungarian activists and border guards, East German refugees, Stasi secret police, and the last Communist prime minister of Hungary-Matthew Longo tells a gripping and revelatory tale of the unraveling of the Iron Curtain and the birth of a new world order. Just a few months after the Picnic, the Berlin Wall fell, and the freedom for which the activists and refugees had abandoned their homes, risked imprisonment, sacrificed jobs, family, and friends, was suddenly available to everyone. But were they really free? And why, three decades since the Iron Curtain was torn down, have so many sought once again to build walls?Cinematically told, The Picnic recovers a time when it seemed possible for the world to change. With insight and panache, Longo explores the opportunities taken-and the opportunities we failed to take-in that pivotal moment.
Did the ancient Greeks and Romans have conspiracy theories? Did they come close to an industrial revolution? Did they drink beer?In a series of fast-paced essays, this book answers forty questions that ancient historian Garrett Ryan has been asked in the classroom and through his popular YouTube channel ToldinStone. As in Dr. Ryan's previous book. Naked Statues, Fat Gladiators, and War Elephants, the emphasis is on the fascinating details of daily life in the classical world.Discover the answers to: Did the ancient Greeks and Romans have tattoos?Did they practice Buddhism?Did they know when the Pyramids were built?Did a tsunami inspire the story of Atlantis?How deadly was the eruption that destroyed Pompeii?What was it like to live through the fall of the Roman Empire?Why are ancient cities buried?What happened to the treasures of the Roman emperors?How much was lost when the Library of Alexandria burned?
"The award-winning journalist and staff writer for The Atlantic follows up his New York Times bestseller American Carnage with this timely, rigorously reported, and deeply personal examination of the divisions that threaten to destroy the American evangelical movement."--Publisher's description.
Sometimes history seems like a laundry list of malevolent monarchs, pompous presidents and dastardly dictators. But are they really the ones in the driving seat? Sapiens: A Graphic History - The Masters of History takes us on an immersive and hilarious ride through the human past to discover the forces that change our world, bring us together, and - just as often - tear us apart. Grab a front-row seat to the greatest show on earth and explore the rise of money, religion and empire. Join our fabulous host Heroda Tush, as she wonders: which historical superhero will display the power to make civilisations rise and fall? Will Mr Random prove that luck and circumstance prevail? Will Lady Empire convince us of the irrefutable shaping force of conquerors? Or will Clashwoman beat them all to greatness by reminding us of the endless confrontations that seem to forever plague our species?In this next volume of the bestselling graphic series, Yuval Noah Harari, David Vandermeulen and Daniel Casanave continue to present the complicated story of humankind with wit, empathy and originality. Alongside the unlikely cast of new characters, we are rejoined by the familiar faces of Yuval, Zoe, Professor Saraswati, Bill and Cindy (now Romans), Skyman and Captain Dollar. As they travel through time, space and human drama in search of truth, it's impossible not to wonder: why can't we all just get along?This third instalment in the Sapiens: A Graphic History series is an engaging, insightful, and colourful retelling of the story of humankind for curious minds of all ages, and can be browsed through on its own or read in sequence with Volumes One and Two. Praise for Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens:'I would recommend Sapiens to anyone who's interested in the history and future of our species.' Bill Gates'Interesting and provocative . . . It gives you a sense of how briefly we've been on this Earth' Barack Obama'Jaw-dropping from the first word to the last . . . It may be the best book I've ever read' Chris Evans'Contains a remarkable piece of information on almost every page and reminds us that we should be grateful to be human.' Matt Haig'Sweeps the cobwebs out of your brain . . . Radiates power and clarity, making the world strange and new' Sunday Times 'Provocative and fascinating and opinionated...it makes the familiar seem unfamiliar. It altered how I view our species and our world.' Guardian
As European empires crumbled in the 20th century, the power structures that had dominated the world for centuries were up for renegotiation. Yet instead of a rebirth for democracy, what emerged was a silent coup - namely, the unstoppable rise of global corporate power. Exposing the origins of this epic power grab as well as its present-day consequences, Silent Coup is the result of two investigative journalist's reports from 30 countries around the world. It provides an explosive guide to the rise of a corporate empire that now dictates how resources are allocated, how territories are governed, and how justice is defined.
The Instant New York Times Bestseller“Engaging and entertaining… a glimpse of the economy of the future.” —Tim Wu, New York Times Book ReviewFrom the New York Times bestselling author of The Signal and the Noise, the definitive guide to our era of risk—and the players raising the stakes In the bestselling The Signal and the Noise, Nate Silver showed how forecasting would define the age of Big Data. Now, in this timely and riveting new book, Silver investigates “the River,” the community of like-minded people whose mastery of risk allows them to shape—and dominate—so much of modern life. These professional risk-takers—poker players and hedge fund managers, crypto true believers and blue-chip art collectors—can teach us much about navigating the uncertainty of the twenty-first century. By immersing himself in the worlds of Doyle Brunson, Peter Thiel, Sam Bankman-Fried, Sam Altman, and many others, Silver offers insight into a range of issues that affect us all, from the frontiers of finance to the future of AI. Most of us don’t have traits commonly found in the River: high tolerance for risk, appreciation of uncertainty, affinity for numbers—paired with an instinctive distrust of conventional wisdom and a competitive drive so intense it can border on irrational. For those in the River, complexity is baked in, and the work is how to navigate it. People in the River have increasing amounts of wealth and power in our society, and understanding their mindset—and the flaws in their thinking— is key to understanding what drives technology and the global economy today. Taking us behind the scenes from casinos to venture capital firms, and from the FTX inner sanctum to meetings of the effective altruism movement, On the Edge is a deeply reported, all-access journey into a hidden world of power brokers and risk-takers.
"What would you do if you grew up repeatedly seeing your home raided? Your parents arrested? Your mother shot? Your uncle killed? Try, if just for a moment, to imagine this was your life. How would you want the world to react?" Ahed Tamimi's father was born in 1967, the year that the Israeli occupation of the West Bank began, and every aspect of their family's life has been touched by it. One of Ahed's earliest memories is visiting her father in prison, poking her three-year-old fingers through the fence to touch his hand. The ubiquitous security checkpoints and armed guards even found their way into her childhood fairytales and playdates. Her grandmother regaled her not with nursery rhymes, but with the sage of her family and its tragedies. Instead of cops and robbers, there was Jaysh o 'Arab, or "Army and Arabs," where children roleplayed as Israeli soldiers opposing a community of Palestinians. She recounts all of this and more in her vivid and riveting memoir, one of the first to deal directly with what life in occupation actually means for the people in it, beyond geography or policy. It brings readers into the daily life of the young woman seen as a freedom-fighting hero by some and a naèive agitator by others. Beyond recounting her well-publicized interactions with Israeli soldiers, there is her unwavering commitment to family and her fearless command of her own voice, despite threats, intimidation, and even incarceration"--
In Ihya 'Ulum ad-Din (The Revival of the Religious Sciences), the author explores the spiritual depth of virtually every aspect of Islam. The book presents Imam al-Ghazali's profound insights regarding man's lifelong struggle to draw closer to Allah in a simple framework, providing the reader with a step-by-step tried and proven method for spiritual development. The result is an essential guide to improving one's relationship with both the Creator and the creation and a perfect introduction to Imam al-Ghazali's other great works.About the AuthorThe Proof of Islam Imam Abu Hamid Müammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali (d. 1111)-jurist, legal theorist, logician, theologian, and mystic was a master of both the outer and inner sciences of the Shari'ah who is regarded by many as the greatest Muslim thinker to have lived after the Pious Predecessors. Credited with dealing a death blow to Aristotelian philosophy in the Muslim world and bringing authentic Islamic spirituality into the mainstream, his life and thoughts were highly influential in shaping medieval society's spiritual values and practices and are no less relevant today.
For almost five million years, humans have been locked in a relationship with morality, inventing and reinventing the concepts of 'Good' and 'Evil', and weaving them into our cities, laws and customs.Morality is often associated with restraint and coercion; restriction and sacrifice; inquisition, confession and a guilty conscience. Joyless and claustrophobic, it is a device used to shames us into compliance. This impression is not entirely incorrect, but it is certainly incomplete.Using our past as a basis for a new understanding of our future, Hanno Sauer traces humanity's fundamental moral transformations from our earliest ancestors through to the present day, when it seems we have never disagreed more over what it means to be good. Our current political disagreements may feel like the end of the world, but where will the evolution of morality take us next?
The human mind is truly a phenomenal and creative treasure. It has given us dominion over the natural world and set us above all the other life forms we share it with. But in so doing, it has isolated in a world of our own making, one that has imprisoned and so restricted our awareness to a purely mind-based, lower frequency, egoic assessment of Life. The effect has left us chronically insecure, oblivious to the sacred presence of our Source and Creator, mere shadows of our true Eternal Nature on a chaotic, never-ending quest to be and have "more" that is intrinsic to that deception. That dark syndrome has been supported by a truly sinister force that is directly responsible for the evil that has plagued our kind for eons. But take heart, for there exists in the human spirit a profound yearning for truth, Love and a connection to something greater then ourselvers. It is our birthright and spiritual heritage, the reason we have been created and one only you can claim. WithIn these pages, the untapped reservoirs of higher knowledge are explored, transcending the boundaries of conventional thought and thinking. From ancient philosophies to modern insights, this book serves as a guide to the profound wisdom that awaits those willing to embark on a quest for spiritual enlightenment.Drawing on a tapestry of spiritual traditions, personal insights, metaphysical principles, and the timeless teachings of mystics, "The Wisdom of Higher Knowledge" illuminates the path to self-discovery offering glimpses into the profound truths that shape our existence. Whether you are a seeker on a spiritual journey or an explorer of the metaphysical, this book beckons you to transcend the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary. And so, "The Wisdom of Higher Knowledge" would have you embark on a transformative journey through the realms of esoteric wisdom, inviting you to delve into the mysteries that lie beyond the ordinary and where ancient wisdom converges with contemporary insights, where the seeker becomes the sage, and where the profound truths of higher knowledge reveal themselves to those who dare to seek. This book is an invitation to transcend, transform, and tap into the boundless wisdom that resides within and beyond the everyday dictates of mind and thinking and to the truth that will set you free. Allow its wisdom to end your banishment and liberate you from the illusions of life as it educates, inspires and uplifts mind to the higher frequency of our Source and Creator. That omnipresent Spirit is the essence of this very moment, your true Eternal Nature and the love, unity and peace that is our sacred birth right and spiritual heritage. It awaits you here in this the ever present Now Moment within the silent stillness of your own very Beingness. Are you ready and willing to embark on a journey that transcends the ordinary and unlocks the gates to higher knowledge? Late in January of 1967 a "spontaneous Kundalini rising" would unceremoniously awakened Steven from this dream of Life leaving him a confused and frightened stranger to a world he could no longer recognize of partake in. As time passed, he was able to integrate the higher frequency of the Kundalini energy into his daily life, come to terms with the illusion we have all been born into, and reconcile the conundrum of evil that would feed off the mayhem and suffering inherent in our ignorance and neglect. This is Steven's fifth book and the nature of Consciousness.
"In this updated and expanded edition of climate scientist Steven Koonin's groundbreaking book, go behind the headlines to discover the latest eye-opening data about climate change-with unbiased facts and realistic steps for the future. With a new introduction, this edition now features reflections on an additional three years of eye-opening data, alternatives to unrealistic "net zero" solutions, global energy inequalities, and the energy crisis arising from the war in Ukraine"--
Comprehensive guide on Special Forces Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP).
An epic new novel of Ancient Egypt, from the Master of Historical Adventure, Wilbur Smith.FROM THE RUINS OF BATTLEA HERO MUST RISEFOR THE GLORY OF EGYPTYears of Hyksos rule have seen the plunder of once-mighty Egypt. Though the two kingdoms have now been reunited by the armies of the true Pharaoh, his position is perilous, his rule under threat from those who seek to take advantage of the turmoil created by the overthrow of the Hyksos. Desperate to keep Egypt united, Taita the Magus summons his protégé, Piay, to solve a millennia-old riddle which has the power to secure Egypt's future forever.But in the tumult of war, an evil has thrived. Malevolent followers of Seth, the god of chaos, are determined to claim this power and usher in a new age of darkness.The fate of Egypt is at stake. Can Piay prevent their land falling into the hands of those who would see its ruin?Book 3 in The New Kingdom Sequence and book 9 in the Ancient Egyptian series from the master historical adventure writer, Wilbur Smith. Don't miss House of Two Pharaohs, the next action-packed Egyptian adventure from Wilbur Smith. Coming August 2025.
"Perhaps it is not surprising that Nicolas Werth, the French historian who cowrote The Black Book of Communism, has decided in Cannibal Island to return to an incident he merely mentioned in that vast book. He was right to do so: in its way, this small, brilliant work, the description of a single incident, is every bit as powerful a condemnation of Communist ideology as the Black Book itself."--Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Gulag: A History"In this gripping new work, Nicolas Werth documents the horrifying story of the forced deportation of 'socially-dangerous elements' from Moscow and Leningrad to the forbidding island of Nazino. With the use of dramatic new documents from previously classified Soviet archives, he chronicles for the first time in English the atrocities that unfolded on 'cannibal island.' This is an absorbing, indeed chilling tale of savagery, highlighting in microcosm the brutal realities of Stalinist socialism in action."--Lynne Viola, author of The Unknown Gulag: The Lost World of Stalin's Special Settlements"Werth has as solid a command of the Soviet-era archival documentation as anyone. But while he lays out a synthetic, institutional panorama of a segment of Soviet bureaucracy, he can write at the same time a story full of suspense, in a crisp and lucid style. He certainly does both with shattering effect in his Cannibal Island."--Jan T. Gross, author of Neighbors: The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland
A major new translation of the explosive book that transformed our world Karl Marx (1818-1883) was living in exile in England when he embarked on an ambitious, multivolume critique of the capitalist system of production. Though only the first volume saw publication in Marx's lifetime, it would become one of the most consequential books in history. This magnificent new edition of Capital is a translation of Marx for the twenty-first century. It is the first translation into English to be based on the last German edition revised by Marx himself, the only version that can be called authoritative, and it features extensive commentary and annotations by Paul North and Paul Reitter that draw on the latest scholarship and provide invaluable perspective on the book and its complicated legacy. At once precise and boldly readable, this translation captures the momentous scale and sweep of Marx's thought while recovering the elegance and humor of the original source. For Marx, our global economic system is relentlessly driven by "value"--to produce it, capture it, trade it, and most of all, to increase it. Lifespans are shortened under the demand for ever-greater value. Days are lengthened, work is intensified, and the division of labor deepens until it leaves two classes, owners and workers, in constant struggle for life and livelihood. In Capital, Marx reveals how value came to tyrannize our world, and how the history of capital is a chronicle of bloodshed, colonization, and enslavement. With a foreword by Wendy Brown and an afterword by William Clare Roberts, this is a critical edition of Capital for our time, one that faithfully preserves the vitality and directness of Marx's German prose and renders his ideas newly relevant to modern readers.
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