Résultats de recherche de titre
Articles 1 à 20 sur 5609
Why Humans Build Up: The Rise of Towers, Temples and Skyscrapers (Orca Timeline #1)
Par Gregor Craigie. 2022
★“This great STEAM offering has multiple applications and will be useful for report writers and aspiring architects alike.”—Booklist, starred review…
★“Finely detailed inside and outside...Broad in scope, perceptively organized, and enriched with fascinating entries.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review Why did they build it so high? People have been constructing tall buildings for thousands of years, for many different reasons. Castle walls kept people safe. Utility towers transmit TV and cell-phone signals. Observatories give people a bird’s-eye view of the world. Beautiful buildings stand out in the crowd. Skyscrapers provide housing for a lot of people. There are some good reasons for building up, and a few bad ones as well. With a growing global population, we will need more and more space to live, learn and work in. But what does that mean for the health of the planet? Can we do it sustainably? Tall buildings may be part of the answer. From the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Leaning Tower of Pisa to the Burj Khalifa and the Shanghai Tower, Why Humans Build Up asks why and how we build higher and higher, and what that means for the planet.Good Data: An Optimist's Guide to Our Digital Future
Par Sam Gilbert. 2021
AN FT BUSINESS BOOK OF THE MONTHThe book that will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about data,…
privacy and the future of Big Tech. 'We are currently living in a moment of extreme pessimism about data. This book will change your mind.' Almost everything we do generates data.Digital technology is now so pervasive that it's very hard to escape its influence, and with that growth comes fear. But whatever the news has told you about data and technology, think again.Data expert and tech insider Sam Gilbert shows that, actually, this data revolution could be the best thing that ever happened to us.Good Data examines the incredible new ways this information explosion is already helping us – whether that's combating inequality, creating jobs, advancing the frontiers of knowledge or protecting us from coronavirus – and explains why the best is yet to come.Data touches everything, from our biggest hates (online advertising) to our greatest loves (our pets), and in this fascinating new book, Gilbert explores how, if we can embrace the revolution (even the ads), we could all live vastly improved lives.We are standing on the edge of greatness, we just need to know how to get there.The Book of Sea Shanties
Par Nathan Evans. 2021
An epic journey through sea shanties, high tides and seven seasFrom the international bestselling singer comes The Book of Sea…
Shanties.The world sang in harmony with Nathan Evans, the Glaswegian postie turned singer of sea shanties. Join him as he takes you through time and seafaring history to discover the true meaning of Wellerman, and who and what exactly was the Drunken Sailor?Featuring over 35 best loved shanties, Nathan will share the meaning behind each of his favourite shanties and show how they have shaped and inspired him. Beautifully illustrated throughout, it will also include original shanties and bonus content written exclusively for this book.Whether you're young or old, gather around and discover the riotous world of sea shanties.Praise for Nathan Evans:A 'Sea Shanty sensation' Rolling Stone'An artist who really lifts the mood when he performs' Daily Telegraph'Too good to miss' Brian May, Daily ExpressMeltdown: Stories of nuclear disaster and the human cost of going critical
Par Joel Levy. 2020
Meltdown investigates and recreates the dramatic events behind the most notorious nuclear accidents in history, as well as those shrouded…
in secrecy. Combining human tragedy with intriguing science, each account reveals new aspects of humanity's complex relationship with nuclear power and the ongoing struggle to harness and control it. From the pioneers of Los Alamos who got up close and personal with the cores of atomic bombs, to the hapless engineers in Soviet fuel-processing plants who unwittingly mixed up a disaster in a bucket, and from the terrifying impact of a tsunami at Fukushima to the mystery of the recent Russian incident, Meltdown explores the past and future of this extraordinary and potentially lethal source of infinite power.Beirut 2020: The Collapse of a Civilization, a Journal
Par Charif Majdalani. 2020
'The author's home town is falling apart. Lebanon's capital [...] has morphed into a symbol of devastation and hatred and…
madness. Majdalani is a survivor who still finds in himself the elegance to smile and hope' Amin Maalouf, Prix Goncourt winner'It is rare to capture the moment when it first occurs, in real time, with these seemingly humble details that describe the instant in all its depth' Alexandra Schwartzbrod, Libération'A short narrative that strikes straight at the heart' Gaëtane Morin, Le ParisienWhen Charif Majdalani begins to walk the streets of his city, and to write down what he sees, the first hints of unrest within a vibrant culture creep to the fore. Majdalani's reportage through the months of 2020 bears witness to the ways in which an ancient civilization slowly, then rapidly, descends into the abyss: corruption and vice infect the corridors of power; currency plummets into freefall, rats scurry between piles of rotting rubbish that grow higher along the pavements. Born from the rancour of existential pestilence, violence erupts and Beirut's citizens find themselves in high-voltage stand-offs with law enforcement.Then, the unexpected, Beirut collapses under the explosive force of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate. The blast kills hundreds and injures thousands. But through the rubble and the sirens, a people finds its strength to survive and its heart to unite. The city becomes the metaphor for each of our cultural capitals throughout the world.The Voyages of the Discovery: The Illustrated History of Scott's Ship
Par Ann Savours. 2013
Discovery was built for Captain Scott's first Antarctic expedition of 1901-04 and was launched more than 100 years ago in…
1901, at Dundee. She had a long and intriguing career before her final voyage back there in 1986; this book tells the story of that chequered history.Despite a number of expeditions to the Southern Ocean during the nineteenth century, the continent of Antarctica remained mostly a mystery by the turn of the twentieth. To remedy this the Royal Geographical Society proposed a National Antarctic Expedition, and a purpose-built vessel, the Discovery, was designed. Based on a whale ship, she was massively built to withstand ice, and was equipped with a hoisting propeller and rudder. Sh set sail from Cowes of 6 August and six months later was in the Ross Sea. The southern sledging expedition, of Scott, Shackleton and Wilson, reached within 500 miles of the South Pole.In 1905, a year after her return to Britain, she was purchased by the Hudson's Bay Company and worked as a simple cargo carrier between London and their trading posts in the Canadian Arctic. Later she was sent to rescue Shackleton's men on Elephant Island. In 1925 she became a research ship, and in 1929-31 she was used to survey what became Australian Antarctic territory. Moored on the Thames Embankment, she survived the London blitz before returning to Dundee where she is now on permanent display.Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream
Par Adam W. Shepard. 2008
“DON’T believe the naysayers. The American Dream—the fable that says if you work hard and follow the rules, you’ll make…
it—is alive and well.”—New York PostAdam W. Shepard’s Scratch Beginnings is the fascinating and eye-opening account of the grand social experiment the author undertook in response to Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed. Subtitled “Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream,” Scratch Beginnings chronicles Shepard’s successful efforts to raise himself up from self-imposed rock bottom in one year’s time—a personal odyssey that is sure to inspire anyone who reads about it, instilling new faith in the solid principles on which our democracy was built.A Visitor's Guide to Victorian England: Victorian England (A Visitor's Guide #1)
Par Michelle Higgs. 2014
An &“utterly brilliant&” and deeply researched guide to the sights, smells, endless wonders, and profound changes of nineteenth century British…
history (Books Monthly, UK). Step into the past and experience the world of Victorian England, from clothing to cuisine, toilet arrangements to transport—and everything in between. A Visitor&’s Guide to Victorian England is &“a brilliant guided tour of Charles Dickens&’s and other eminent Victorian Englishmen&’s England, with insights into where and where not to go, what type of people you&’re likely to meet, and what sights and sounds to watch out for . . . Utterly brilliant!&” (Books Monthly, UK). Like going back in time, Higgs&’s book shows armchair travelers how to find the best seat on an omnibus, fasten a corset, deal with unwanted insects and vermin, get in and out of a vehicle while wearing a crinoline, and avoid catching an infectious disease. Drawing on a wide range of sources, this book blends accurate historical details with compelling stories to bring alive the fascinating details of Victorian daily life. It is a must-read for seasoned social history fans, costume drama lovers, history students, and anyone with an interest in the nineteenth century.The Queen: A Life in Brief
Par Robert Lacey. 2012
A short biography of one of the most recognized yet still mysterious women in the world, Queen Elizabeth II, from…
the New York Times bestselling author of The KingdomElizabeth of York was not born to be Queen. She came into the world on April 21st, 1926, the equivalent of the modern Princess Beatrice, first-born daughter of the Duke of York, destined to flutter on the royal fringe. So while Lilibet was brought up with almost religious respect for the crown, there seemed no chance of her inheriting it. Her head was never turned by the personal prospect of grandeur—which is why she would prove so very good at her job. Elizabeth II’s lack of ego was to prove the paradoxical secret of her greatness.For more than thirty years acclaimed author and royal biographer Robert Lacey has been gathering material from members of the Queen’s inner circle—her friends, relatives, private secretaries, and prime ministers. Now, in The Queen, Lacey offers a life of the celebrated monarch, told in four parts that capture the distinctive flavor of passing eras, and reveal how Elizabeth II adapted—or, on occasions, regally declined to adapt—to changing times.The Lightless Sky: A Twelve-Year-Old Refugee's Harrowing Escape from Afghanistan and His Extraordinary Journey Across Half the World
Par Gulwali Passarlay, Nadene Ghouri. 2016
An Afghan child refugee chronicles his harrowing journey across the world in this “gripping account of a life-threatening journey to…
freedom” (Independent, UK).After his father was killed in 2006, Gulwali Passarlay was caught between the Taliban who wanted to recruit him, and the Americans who wanted to use him. To protect her son, Gulwali’s mother sent him away. The search for safety would lead the twelve-year-old across eight countries, from the mountains of eastern Afghanistan through Iran and Europe to Britain. On his yearlong trek, Gulwali endured imprisonment, hunger, cruelty, brutality, loneliness, and terror—and nearly drowned crossing the Mediterranean Sea. Eventually granted asylum in England, Gulwali was sent to a good school, learned English, won a place at a top university, and was chosen to help carry the Olympic Torch in the 2012 London Games. In The Lightless Sky, Gulwali recalls his remarkable experience and offers a firsthand look at the modern refugee crisis.In this New York Times bestseller, the author of A Night to Remember and The Miracle of Dunkirk revisits the…
Titanic disaster. Walter Lord&’s A Night to Remember was a landmark work that recounted the harrowing events of April 14, 1912, when the British ocean liner RMS Titanic went down in the North Atlantic Ocean, a book that inspired a classic movie of the same name. In The Night Lives On, Lord takes the exploration further, revealing information about the ship&’s last hours that emerged in the decades that followed, and separating myths from facts. Was the ship really christened before setting sail on its maiden voyage? What song did the band play as water spilled over the bow? How did the ship&’s wireless operators fail so badly, and why did the nearby Californian, just ten miles away when the Titanic struck the iceberg, not come to the rescue? Lord answers these questions and more, in a gripping investigation of the night when approximately 1,500 victims were lost to the sea.Agricultural Heritage Systems in Europe, Asia, Africa, Central and South America (Environmental History #16)
Par Mauro Agnoletti, Antonio Santoro, Beatrice Fiore, Francesco Piras, Federica Romano, Alessandra Bazzurro. 2023
Agriculture is often considered as one of the main threats to ecosystems. Unsustainable farming practices often result in habitat loss,…
inefficient use of water, soil degradation, pollution, genetic erosion, among other negative impacts on human life, including hunger, low food quality, reduced access to food resources, as well as the abandonment of rural areas. Nevertheless, when agriculture is practiced in a sustainable way, it can contribute to the preservation of many habitats, to the protection of watersheds, to the preservation and improvement of soil health.The use of sustainable and ecological practices is the key feature distinguishing traditional agriculture from intensive one. It may not provide very high yields, but ensures sustainable harvests over time, thanks to time-tested technologies and traditional know-hows and also represent examples of adaptation to harsh environmental conditions. Based on this approach, in 2002, FAO launched the concept of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme, to identify and safeguard agricultural systems that are ensuring food and livelihood security, while maintaining magnificent landscapes, agricultural biodiversity, traditional knowledge, cultural and social values.This book presents 18 examples of these traditional agriculture systems around the world, with a special focus on Europe, Asia, Africa, Central and South America, as a result of the “GIAHS Building Capacity” project co-funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI) of the University of Florence (Italy).A scholarly exploration of the British armoured regiment and its part in the Allied campaign to liberate Europe during World…
War II. On June 14, 1944, the tanks of the 144th Regiment Royal armored Corps disembarked on Gold Beach during the Normandy landings. A long and bitter campaign began, taking them across Northwest Europe into the heart of Germany. During that advance the regiment took part in several important actions. These included Operation Pomegranate (July 1944), Operation Totalize, an innovative night attack which was one of the final steps to breaking out of the Caen bridgehead (7/8 August 1944), the siege and capture of Le Havre, the fighting in Holland during late 1944, the crossing of the Rhine, and the capture of Bremen just before the end of the war in Europe. The author investigates the regiment&’s service through interviews with his late father-in-law, Captain R.W. Thorne, who had been an officer in it during the war. This book also draws on a variety of contemporary sources—not least of which are the archives of fellow officer Marcus Cunliffe, a distinguished British scholar and author, who specialized in American Studies after the war (particularly military and cultural history). From Arromanches to the Elbe is a serious contribution to World War II history. It explores all aspects of army life, such as training and the social history of an active service unit, and will appeal to those interested in the European campaign, the use of tanks and armored warfare, and, of course, the final battles to defeat Hitler&’s Third Reich.Africa: Crossing The Rubicon
Par Guy Arnold. 1992
The end of World War II signaled the end of the European African empires. In 1945, four African countries were…
independent; by 1963, 30 African states created the Organization of African Unity. The 1960s were a time of optimism as Africans enjoyed their new independence, witnessed increases in prosperity and prepared to tackle their political and economic problems in their own way. By the 1990s, however, these high hopes had been dashed. Dictatorship by strongmen, corruption, civil wars and genocide, widespread poverty and the interventions and manipulations of the major powers had all relegated Africa to the position of an aid "basket case," the world's poorest and least-developed continent. By exploring developments over the last 15 years, including the impact of China, new IT technology and the Arab Spring, the rise of Nigeria as Africa's leading country and the recent refugee crisis, Guy Arnold brings his landmark history of modern Africa up to date and provides a fresh perspective on this misunderstood continent.Gambatte: A Memoir
Par David Tsubouchi. 2013
”Gambatte” means do your best and never give up, and that spirit is at the heart of David Tsubouchi’s life…
story. This memoir of the former Ontario cabinet minister begins as his family strives for acceptance amid the imprisonment of Canadians of Japanese descent and the confiscation of their property, possessions, and businesses by the Mackenzie King Liberal government in 1941. Despite growing up on the outside looking in, Tsubouchi never felt disadvantaged because he had a good family and was taught to persevere. Gambatte outlines his unusual career path from actor to dedicated law school student/lumber yard worker to politician. Tsubouchi was the first person of Japanese descent elected in Canada as a municipal politician and, as an MPP, to serve as a cabinet minister. His story also reveals an insider’s perspective of Mike Harris’s “Common Sense Revolution.”SAS Action in Africa: Terrorists, Poachers & Civil War C Squadron Operations: 1968–1980
Par Michael Graham. 2019
A historical overview of the operations undertaken by the Rhodesian Special Air Service in the second half of the twentieth…
century. This gripping action-packed book is the eagerly awaited sequel to the best-selling Secret SAS Missions in Africa. C Squadron SAS, comprising dedicated battle-hardened veterans, operated against ruthless terrorist groups, trained and equipped by the Chinese and Russians between 1968 and 1980. The author, who rose to be the Squadron Second-in-Command, is superbly qualified to tell the inside story of their daring and deadly operations undertaken regardless of international borders in former Southern Rhodesia, Zambia, Angola and Mozambique. These include actively supporting Renamo, who were bitterly opposed to the Marxist/Leninist Frelimo regime in Mozambique. Operation DINGO, the Squadron&’s largest mission, destroyed a large ZANU training base and almost tipped the balance of power against Mugabe. We learn the story behind the shooting down of two civilian aircraft in what is now Zimbabwe and the special force follow-up to exact revenge. Also described are anti-poaching operations against breakaway groups intent on trading ivory and rhino horns. With its fast pace, colorful characters and behind-the-lines operations, SAS Action in Africa is a superb and thrilling read.First published in 1965, The English Militia in the Eighteenth Century directs light on English politics and government, through studying…
the militia, from the Restoration to the days of the younger Pritt. The militia occupied a significant place both in the quarrels between king and parliament in the later seventeenth century and in the struggle for power between the elder Pitt and the Duke of Newcastle. Raised and officered by the county and parish authorities, its maintenance constantly posed the problem of how to harness the machinery of local government to national purposes. The gentry had to be induced to help and the militia, like other institutions national and local, was shaped by the fashion and extent to which they responded. The book will be of interest to students of history, political science, and literature.Papillon
Par Henri Charrière. 1969
Un clásico autobiográfico que relata la increíble evasión de un hombre que vivió una auténtica odisea por perseguir aquello que…
nunca debió perder: la libertad. En 1931, Henri Charrière, apodado Papillon por el tatuaje en forma de mariposa de su pecho, fue condenado a prisión por un asesinato que no había cometido. Sentenciado a cadena perpetua en una colonia penal de la Guayana Francesa, en su mente solo cabía una meta: escapar. Tras varios intentos fallidos de fuga a lo largo de los años, fue enviado a la llamada Isla del Diablo, de donde ningún recluso se había evadido jamás... hasta su llegada. La lucha por la libertad de Papillon sigue siendo una de las más increíbles hazañas que el ingenio, el tesón y la valentía humanos hayan demostrado jamás. Su relato dio lugar a esta extraordinaria autobiografía, la odisea de un hombre inocente para perseguir lo que nunca debió perder: la libertad. Reseñas:«La mayor hazaña de todos los tiempos.»Auguste Le Breton «Un clásico moderno de coraje.»The New Yorker «Una extraordinaria historia de aventuras.»The New York Review of BooksThis book is an interconnected history of the evolution of global health in the decades before 2019, told through the…
prism of six decisive moments in which individuals from the World Health Organization (WHO), philanthropic foundations, academia and bilateral agencies came together to shape the world. These critical junctures are accessed via the life and work of Norwegian immunologist Tore Godal, one of the most influential health physicians of all time. Godal’s career over the past 50 years offers a window into the profound events that have shaped the health and well-being of millions across the globe, including the first free donation of a drug for the treatment of river blindness; the entry of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation into the global health arena with a $750 million start-up grant for GAVI, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization; the 50% reduction in under-five mortality rates this century; the emergence of insecticide bed nets as the cornerstone of WHO malaria control; the rise of maternal and child health on the global political agenda; and the connection between Ebola and the creation of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) in 2017. Exploring the ways in which the trajectory of global health has interwoven with the rich life and legacy of Godal, this book is a crucial resource for any reader interested in global health.Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - 10th anniversary edition: A Year of Food Life
Par Barbara Kingsolver, Steven L. Hopp, Camille Kingsolver, Lily Hopp Kingsolver. 2007
“A profound, graceful, and literary work of philosophy and economics, well tempered for our times, and yet timeless. . .…
. It will change the way you look at the food you put into your body. Which is to say, it can change who you are.” — Boston GlobeA 10th anniversary edition of Barbara Kingsolver's New York Times bestseller that describes her family's adventure as they move to a farm in southern Appalachia and realign their lives with the local food chainSince its publication in 2007, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle has captivated readers with its blend of memoir and journalistic investigation. Updated with original pieces from the entire Kingsolver clan, this commemorative edition explores how the family's original project has been carried forward through the years.When Barbara Kingsolver and her family moved from suburban Arizona to rural Appalachia, they took on a new challenge: to spend a year on a locally-produced diet, paying close attention to the provenance of all they consume. Concerned about the environmental, social, and physical costs of American food culture, they hoped to recover what Barbara considers our nation's lost appreciation for farms and the natural processes of food production. Since 2007, their scheme has evolved enormously. In this anniversary edition, featuring an afterword by the entire Kingsolver family, Barbara's husband, Steven, discusses how the project grew into a farm-to-table restaurant and community development project training young farmers in their area to move into sustainable food production. Camille writes about her decision to move back to a rural area after college, and how she and her husband incorporate their food values in their lives as they begin their new family. Lily, Barbara's youngest daughter, writes about how growing up on a farm, in touch with natural processes and food chains, has shaped her life as a future environmental scientist. And Barbara writes about their sheep, and how they grew into her second vocation as a fiber artist, and reports on the enormous response they've received from other home-growers and local-food devotees.With Americans' ever-growing concern over an agricultural establishment that negatively affects our health and environment, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is a modern classic that will endure for years to come.