Rebel Island
The gripping history of Taiwan, from the flood myths of indigenous legend to its Asian Tiger economic miracle--and the renewed threat of invasion by China. Once dismissed by the Kangxi Emperor as nothing but a 'ball of mud', Taiwan has a modern GDP larger than that of Sweden, in a land area smaller than Indiana. It is the last surviving enclave of the Republic of China, a lost colony of Japan, and claimed by Beijing as a rogue province--merely the latest chapters in its long history as a refuge for pirates, rebels, settlers, and outcasts. Jonathan Clements examines the unique conditions of Taiwan's archaeology and indigenous history, and its days as a Dutch and Spanish trading post. He delves into its periods as an independent kingdom, Chinese province, and short-lived republic, and the transformations wrought by 50 years as part of the Japanese Empire. He examines the traumatic effects of its role as a lifeboat in 1949 for two million refugees from Communism, and the conflicts emerging after the suspension of four decades of martial law, as its people debate issues of self-determination, independence, and home rule.
The American Revolution on Trial
A master historian uncovers a spellbinding story illustrating the stakes for the new nation in the American War for IndependenceHow does a new country demonstrate to the world that it is prepared to uphold the rule of law? During the winter of 1778, in the midst of revolution, a bizarre and dramatic court-martial forced an American community to confront the full implications of its independence from Great Britain--and produced a frank reexamination of a struggling nation's cultural and political values. British General John Burgoyne, a prisoner of war, accused an American colonel of mistreating fellow British prisoners. Angry and embarrassed after surrendering his army at Saratoga, he demanded an unprecedented full trial before an American jury. In a stunning decision, American military officers not only acquiesced to an unprecedented request for a court-martial but also allowed Burgoyne, an enemy commander, to serve as prosecutor.Why were the Americans so accommodating of this audacious request? Burgoyne's challenge, as T. H. Breen shows, had become about much more than an American soldier's individual transgression--it sparked an emotional rejection of aristocratic privilege that went to the heart of the revolutionary cause itself. The American Revolution on Trial spectacularly illustrates how the platform provided to Burgoyne offered the new, rebellious republic an opportunity to demonstrate, to themselves and the world, that they were sufficiently civilized to deliver genuine justice. This saga and its larger significance address questions about the rule of law and a nation's honor that challenge us to this day.
Worship Through Latin American Eyes
Every Sunday, millions of Christians worldwide gather for public worship. They may use different languages, sing distinct melodies, and perform rituals according to different traditions and in diverse styles, but there is a common element among all Christians: the practice of worship. In this book, eight Latin American Christian scholars reflect on contextual worship practices using various disciplinary lenses and methodologies. Each contributor to this book observes, describes, and interprets worship through Latin American eyes. These authors are women and men from different countries, are experts in varied academic fields, and represent a range of Protestant Christian traditions. They bring diverse religious backgrounds and worship experiences to this work. As our world becomes increasingly interconnected on a global scale, this book provides an opportunity to listen to underrepresented voices and develop a more nuanced and multifaceted understanding of worship beyond familiar settings.
Samurai
Explores the reality and myths of the samurai from medieval times to today's popular cultureThe figure of the samurai is unique in its global intelligibility, read both as a symbol of Japan and as a universal icon of the virtuous and fearless warrior. While the term is now common worldwide, there is little understanding of the historical reality, or of the wide variety of ways in which the stereotype has been used over time. This is the first book to explore the centuries-long trajectory of the samurai through objects from international collections. It discusses the warrior class's historical origins in the medieval period's civil wars and stories they told of their own achievements. With the establishment of peace, the samurai became an official class fulfilling a bureaucratic role. The ideal of the medieval warrior took on legendary status. Although the samurai social class was abolished in 1876, with the full opening of Japan to international visitors, the concept of the samurai was packaged for foreign tourists and repurposed as a model for the modern soldier in a period of military conflict and colonial expansion. The image of the samurai has been interpreted and reimagined in Japan and across the world in myriad ways. Discussions of national myth and global samurai bring the story up to the present day through a selection of films, television shows, manga, anime, video games, and more.
The Sudetenland Betrayal
Most people know the image of leaders smiling for cameras after a hurried conference, promising that a signed paper had secured peace. Far fewer know how, in the same weeks, one of Europe's most prepared small states watched its fortifications and borderlands handed away without a shot being fired. This book asks what really happened when a modern democracy was sacrificed at the altar of the Munich Agreement.Across clear, narrative chapters, it follows the making and unmaking of Czechoslovakia, from its precarious beginnings to the Sudetenland crisis. Readers are taken inside British and French discussions, where fear of another war and rearmament gaps drove British-French cabinet debates, and into Prague, where Benes diplomacy fought to keep alliances alive. The story also moves through factory floors and design offices, showing how the Skoda armaments industry and Czech border fortifications shaped both hope and illusion about deterrence.This is a book for readers of European diplomatic history who want more than easy moral lessons. It explains how appeasement, at the time, looked like a way to protect small states while buying time, and why that judgement proved so costly. By the end, readers will have a sharper sense of the real options facing leaders in 1938, and of the enduring lessons of appeasement when powerful states weigh the fate of vulnerable allies.
The World on Edge
What if the most important year before global war was not 1939, but the forgotten twelve months just before it? This book takes readers back to 1938, when headlines screamed about Anschluss and the Sudetenland while cinemas, churches, and trading floors carried on as if normal life could still be protected.Month by month, it reconstructs how societies experienced a mounting crisis in real time. Drawing on newspapers, diaries, market commentary, and diplomatic cables, it shows how the origins of World War 2 appeared to people who did not yet know a world war was coming. From the Anschluss and the Sudetenland to the anxious celebrations around appeasement and Munich, it traces the arguments in cabinet rooms, editorials, and church pulpits that persuaded many citizens that each concession would be the last.The book places the violence of Kristallnacht within this wider pattern of denial, tracing how a flood of new reports and intelligence warnings in the 1930s collided with tight immigration controls and a cautious politics of delay. It uses vignettes from civilian life before the war alongside the decisions of Britain and France in 1938 to show how fear of another slaughter shaped every choice. Readers interested in interwar diplomacy, Europe, and 20th-century European history will find a close, unsentimental portrait of a world on edge. By the end of 1938, it had become a case study of how much a society can know about danger and still choose to look away.
Blood on the Steppes
Before the German invasion began, another war was already raging across the Soviet Union. Villages emptied by collectivisation, camps filled by the Great Terror, and borderlands torn by deportations formed the real front line of soviet union terror. This book asks what happens when a state drills its people in fear and obedience, then expects them to fight a modern industrial war.Across its chapters, the narrative follows the machinery of the great terror NKVD, the building of the gulag forced labour economy, and the human consequences of policies that turned food into a weapon in this stark collectivisation famine book. It shows how officer purges and the Stalin Red Army purge hollowed out command structures, just as clashes like the Khalkhin Gol tested doctrine and leadership. Readers see how preparations for Soviet World War 2 were shaped by commissars, with Stalin enforcing loyalty even when it damaged clarity.This is a study for serious readers of military and political history who want to understand why the intelligence failures in 1941 were not accidents but the result of years of internal war. By linking the Soviet five-year plans to mobilisation, terror, and silence, the book offers a clear, unsentimental picture of a society entering 1941 already wounded. It will help readers recognise how similar patterns of internal violence and external ambition continue to shape states today.
Weapons Before War
Why did so many leaders insist the world wanted peace while factories quietly retooled for tanks, bombers and submarines? How did careful language, creative finance and technical innovation turn the 1930s into a decade of hidden acceleration towards disaster?This book follows the 1930s arms race from the inside out, tracing how German rearmament unfolded through workarounds, front companies, and Mefo bills. Readers are taken into cabinet rooms, design bureaus and dockyards to see how the supposed peace of the interwar years rested on fragile assumptions. It shows how military technology evolved unevenly during the interwar period, why some governments hesitated, and how others pushed ahead.Across its chapters, the narrative connects the origins of World War 2 to choices about budgets, treaties, and radar masts along cold coastlines. It explains the financing of Meffo bills in plain language, unpacks radar development in Britain, and follows the collapse of the limits that once promised stability under naval treaties. Along the way, it examines U-boat warfare history and Allied rearmament debates to show why democracies struggled to match authoritarian speed.For readers of serious history who want more than battles and personalities, this book offers a clear mental model of how weapons, money and ideas interact. It shows how weapons before World War I can shape the conflicts that follow, and invites readers to recognise early warning signs when technology and fear begin to outrun diplomacy.
The Fall of France
How does a state that survived Verdun and the Somme fall in a matter of weeks? Why did Europe place such faith in France as a continental shield, only to watch German armour reach the Channel in a single campaign? This book follows those six weeks in 1940 from calm expectation to stunned collapse.Readers are taken through plans, personalities, and battlefield realities to understand the true shape of the fall of france 1940. The narrative explains how the Manstein plan strategy emerged, why Allied leaders misjudged the Ardennes Offensive, and what actually happened along the Maginot Line, reality - far from the lazy caricature of a nation hiding behind concrete. It places the Battle of France within the wider story of World War II in Europe, from the BEF's narrow escape to the first stirrings of Vichy and Free France.Rather than celebrating or condemning, the book offers a clear-eyed examination of the French army's collapse and recovery. It is written for readers who enjoy a serious military history book that still moves, and for anyone who wants to know whether defeat was truly inevitable. By the end, the campaign no longer looks like a simple morality tale about courage and cowardice, but a warning about how institutions, ideas, and leaders can fail under pressure.
Weapons Before War
Why did so many leaders insist the world wanted peace while factories quietly retooled for tanks, bombers and submarines? How did careful language, creative finance and technical innovation turn the 1930s into a decade of hidden acceleration towards disaster?This book follows the 1930s arms race from the inside out, tracing how German rearmament unfolded through workarounds, front companies, and Mefo bills. Readers are taken into cabinet rooms, design bureaus and dockyards to see how the supposed peace of the interwar years rested on fragile assumptions. It shows how military technology evolved unevenly during the interwar period, why some governments hesitated, and how others pushed ahead.Across its chapters, the narrative connects the origins of World War 2 to choices about budgets, treaties, and radar masts along cold coastlines. It explains the financing of Meffo bills in plain language, unpacks radar development in Britain, and follows the collapse of the limits that once promised stability under naval treaties. Along the way, it examines U-boat warfare history and Allied rearmament debates to show why democracies struggled to match authoritarian speed.For readers of serious history who want more than battles and personalities, this book offers a clear mental model of how weapons, money and ideas interact. It shows how weapons before World War I can shape the conflicts that follow, and invites readers to recognise early warning signs when technology and fear begin to outrun diplomacy.
Blood on the Steppes
Before the German invasion began, another war was already raging across the Soviet Union. Villages emptied by collectivisation, camps filled by the Great Terror, and borderlands torn by deportations formed the real front line of soviet union terror. This book asks what happens when a state drills its people in fear and obedience, then expects them to fight a modern industrial war.Across its chapters, the narrative follows the machinery of the great terror NKVD, the building of the gulag forced labour economy, and the human consequences of policies that turned food into a weapon in this stark collectivisation famine book. It shows how officer purges and the Stalin Red Army purge hollowed out command structures, just as clashes like the Khalkhin Gol tested doctrine and leadership. Readers see how preparations for Soviet World War 2 were shaped by commissars, with Stalin enforcing loyalty even when it damaged clarity.This is a study for serious readers of military and political history who want to understand why the intelligence failures in 1941 were not accidents but the result of years of internal war. By linking the Soviet five-year plans to mobilisation, terror, and silence, the book offers a clear, unsentimental picture of a society entering 1941 already wounded. It will help readers recognise how similar patterns of internal violence and external ambition continue to shape states today.
Blitzkrieg Begins
The invasion of Poland in 1939 is often reduced to a slogan about lightning war. This book slows events down, showing what blitzkrieg in practice meant for soldiers on the roads, commanders with incomplete maps, and families staring up at incoming bombers. It asks how a messy, improvised campaign turned into a polished legend that still shapes how we talk about force and speed.Drawing on battle narratives and diplomatic moves alike, the narrative follows the German-Polish campaign from the first shots near Danzig to the soviet invasion of Poland from the east. Readers see how the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact carved the map in advance, how Stukas made Stuka dive bombing a new kind of terror, and why the Polish Bzura counterattack briefly upset German plans. Alongside generals and foreign ministers, the book keeps returning to civilian life under occupation, tracing refugees on the roads and communities caught between two regimes.For readers who want to understand the origins of World War II beyond a few famous dates, this is a clear, grounded guide. It explains why British and French guarantees mattered, why they did not save Poland, and how the phrase' invasion of Poland 1939 'became shorthand for a whole style of warfare. The result is a tightly focused history that replaces myth with detail and helps readers think more clearly about how modern wars really begin.
The Fall of France
How does a state that survived Verdun and the Somme fall in a matter of weeks? Why did Europe place such faith in France as a continental shield, only to watch German armour reach the Channel in a single campaign? This book follows those six weeks in 1940 from calm expectation to stunned collapse.Readers are taken through plans, personalities, and battlefield realities to understand the true shape of the fall of france 1940. The narrative explains how the manstein plan strategy emerged, why Allied leaders misjudged the ardennes offensive explained, and what actually happened along the maginot line reality - far from the lazy caricature of a nation hiding behind concrete. It sets the battle of france history within the wider story of world war ii europe, from the BEF's narrow escape to the first stirrings of vichy and free france.Rather than celebrating or condemning, the book offers a clear-eyed examination of french army collapse and recovery. It is written for readers who enjoy a serious military history book that still moves, and for anyone who wants to know whether defeat was truly inevitable. By the end, the campaign no longer looks like a simple morality tale about courage and cowardice, but a warning about how institutions, ideas, and leaders can fail under pressure.
The World on Edge
What if the most important year before global war was not 1939, but the forgotten twelve months just before it? This book takes readers back to 1938, when headlines screamed about Anschluss and the Sudetenland while cinemas, churches, and trading floors carried on as if normal life could still be protected.Month by month, it reconstructs how societies experienced a mounting crisis in real time. Drawing on newspapers, diaries, market commentary, and diplomatic cables, it shows how the origins of World War 2 appeared to people who did not yet know a world war was coming. From the Anschluss and the Sudetenland to the anxious celebrations around appeasement and Munich, it traces the arguments in cabinet rooms, editorials, and church pulpits that persuaded many citizens that each concession would be the last.The book places the violence of Kristallnacht within this wider pattern of denial, tracing how a flood of new reports and intelligence warnings in the 1930s collided with tight immigration controls and a cautious politics of delay. It uses vignettes from civilian life before the war alongside the decisions of Britain and France in 1938 to show how fear of another slaughter shaped every choice. Readers interested in interwar diplomacy, Europe, and 20th-century European history will find a close, unsentimental portrait of a world on edge. By the end of 1938, it had become a case study of how much a society can know about danger and still choose to look away.
The Sudetenland Betrayal
Most people know the image of leaders smiling for cameras after a hurried conference, promising that a signed paper had secured peace. Far fewer know how, in the same weeks, one of Europe's most prepared small states watched its fortifications and borderlands handed away without a shot being fired. This book asks what really happened when a modern democracy was sacrificed at the altar of the Munich Agreement.Across clear, narrative chapters, it follows the making and unmaking of Czechoslovakia, from its precarious beginnings to the Sudetenland crisis. Readers are taken inside British and French discussions, where fear of another war and rearmament gaps drove British-French cabinet debates, and into Prague, where Benes diplomacy fought to keep alliances alive. The story also moves through factory floors and design offices, showing how the Skoda armaments industry and Czech border fortifications shaped both hope and illusion about deterrence.This is a book for readers of European diplomatic history who want more than easy moral lessons. It explains how appeasement, at the time, looked like a way to protect small states while buying time, and why that judgement proved so costly. By the end, readers will have a sharper sense of the real options facing leaders in 1938, and of the enduring lessons of appeasement when powerful states weigh the fate of vulnerable allies.
World Atlas 2025-2026
Confused by outdated, complicated atlases that leave you more puzzled than informed? Wondering how to quickly understand world geography without feeling overwhelmed? You`re not alone-and that`s exactly why World Atlas 2025-2026 exists.In today's fast-changing world, many students, teachers, travelers, and curious minds are asking: "Where can I find an updated, easy-to-understand atlas that actually makes learning about the world engaging and clear?"The problem? Most atlases are either too technical, outdated, or overloaded with jargon and data that's hard to digest.This book is the solution.World Atlas 2025-2026: Updated Geography Guide with Maps, Countries, Capitals, & Facts is your modern, go-to reference for everything you need to know about our planet-designed for real people who want to learn and explore without frustration.Written in simple, conversational English, this comprehensive world atlas takes you on a journey across continents, through countries, over mountains, and into the heart of global cultures-all in a clear, visual, and compelling format. Whether you're a student needing accurate and current geography for school, a teacher planning lessons, a traveler curious about your next destination, or just someone eager to understand our changing world-this atlas speaks to you.Inside, you'll discover: Fully updated maps reflecting the 2025-2026 global landscape Country-by-country breakdowns with essential facts, flags, and population insights Clear explanations of geopolitics, borders, capitals, climates, and cultures A powerful yet accessible overview of how the world is evolving today Content designed for all ages-easy enough for beginners, rich enough for deeper studyThis isn`t just another reference book-it's a gateway to global awareness. Every map, fact, and feature is crafted to make you see the world differently-with more clarity, confidence, and curiosity.Why choose this atlas over the rest?Because it's more than a book-it's a learning experience. One that simplifies, clarifies, and inspires. Unlike complex academic resources, this atlas is written like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend-easy to follow, visually engaging, and filled with real-world relevance.Whether you`re building a classroom, planning an adventure, or simply expanding your understanding of our interconnected world, this atlas gives you the tools to explore with confidence.Don't settle for outdated or dull. Embrace the world-clearly, confidently, and completely.Grab your copy of World Atlas 2025-2026 now and open your mind to the world like never before.
The Africa Ship
Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck, who commanded Imperial German forces in East Africa during the First World War, is widely regarded as one of the finest military leaders of the war, on either side. He and his men managed not only to evade capture or destruction, but to truly instill fear within their primarily British opposition. This was despite being not only vastly outnumbered but also nearly impossible to resupply from Europe. The Royal Navy smothered East Africa with an incredibly effective blockade, while the Allied forces on the ground controlled all major rail lines. In late 1917, the German navy devised a desperate plan to resupply von Lettow-Vorbeck's army via airship. The plan called for a lone airship, L 59, to be piloted by Captain Ludwig Bockholt and an all-volunteer crew from Bulgaria directly to the East African colony. There was no consideration of a return journey; L 59 would be disassembled for supplies and her crew would join the fight on the ground. This work details the planning, execution, and eventual failure of this ambitious operation, along with the sad fate of L 59 and her crew.
I'm Ready To Talk Three
122 stories by 59 authorsWhen Bob Babcock and I first discussed inviting AVVBA members to share their Vietnam stories, we thought it would make a nice gift for our grandkids. But as submissions came in, we realized the project was becoming much more-a powerful record of firsthand experiences forming a historically accurate view of the entire Vietnam War.The more we read, the more we urged members to contribute, and the clearer it became that this effort was far more significant than we'd imagined. Every phase of the war was represented-from advisory to withdrawal-every service type included, and every branch, from the Coast Guard to the Army.Bob knew each of us had meaningful stories to tell, but together they reveal The Story of Vietnam, complete and authentic. Our grandkids will still enjoy these accounts, but this book now stands as both a family heirloom and an essential piece of history. - John Butler, Past President, AVVBA
Asia in Flames
Most histories still tell the story of Asia's war as if it suddenly erupted over Hawaii in 1941. Long before that morning, cities in China had burned, civilians had fled into caves, and diplomats had watched a supposed regional dispute turn into a test of global will. This book asks what the Second World War would look like if you start not at Pearl Harbour but at the Second Sino-Japanese War.Step by step, it follows the Japanese invasion of China, from the Marco Polo Bridge to the Nanjing massacre history, the bombing of Chongqing, and the struggle to keep supplies flowing along the Burma Road history. It shows how the failures of collective security at Geneva became a textbook example of the League of Nations' failure, how Soviet aid to China and the battles of Khalkhin Gol reshaped Japanese strategy, and how U.S.-China relations in the 1940s moved from sympathy to hard calculation. Along the way, readers see why the Chongqing bombing campaign mattered to planners in London and Washington, and how the Asia-Pacific War's origins cannot be understood without China at the centre.For readers of serious history who want a clear, narrative guide rather than myth or nostalgia, this book offers a new mental map of Asia's long war and its place in the global conflict.
The First to Go West
Previously published under the title Throne of Grace The explosive true saga of the legendary adventurer Jedediah Smith and the Mountain Men who explored the American frontier, written by New York Times bestselling authors of Blood and Treasure Bob Drury and Tom Clavin. It is the early 19th century, and the land recently purchased by President Thomas Jefferson stretches west for thousands of miles. Who inhabits this vast new garden of Eden? What strange beasts and natural formations can be found? Thus was the birth of Manifest Destiny and the resulting bloody battles with Indigenous tribes encountered by white explorers. Also in this volatile mix are the grizzled fur trappers and mountain men, waging war against the Native American tribes whose lands they traverse. This is the setting of First to Go West, and the guide to this epic narrative is arguably America's greatest yet most unsung pathfinder, Jedediah Smith. His explorations into the forested frontiers on both sides of the Rocky Mountains and all the way to the West Coast would become the stuff of legend. Thanks to painstaking research and riveting writing, the story of the making of modern America is told through the eyes of both the ordinary and memorable men and women, settlers and Indigenous, who witnessed it. But it's Smith who drives the narrative with his trailblazing path through the unexplored terrain of the American West.The First to Go West is a gripping yarn that drops the reader into the center of an underreported era and introduces one of the great explorers in American history.
A History of the Crockett Family of Crockett's Ridge, Norway, Maine
A detailed history of the extended family of Ephraim Crockett, Jr. and his wife Sally (Wentworth) Crockett, who settled Lee's Grant (then part of Norway, Maine) in 1814. The book is written by the couple's fourth-great granddaughter Jennifer Wixson, who in the late seventies and early eighties lived with her grandmother Winona (Young) Palmer at the old Crockett homestead. (The book's editor, Yvette Young, is also a fourth-great granddaughter of Ephraim and Sally Crockett.) The history covers the early settlement of Lee's Grant and Ephraim Crockett's initial purchase of Lot 45 there in 1812 from land speculator (and later, Auburn benefactor) Edward Little. Wixson covers the early days of the family on Crockett's Ridge (named for Ephraim Crockett, Jr.) and the marriage and settlement of Ephraim and Sally's children, four of whom wed children of Captain John Penley of Danville (Auburn). The story of the second generation of Crocketts is richly detailed with Penley and Crockett history, including land purchases in the greater Crockett's Ridge neighborhood. The story also follows the family of William Robinson Crockett (and his wife Lydia Stetson), who purchase the homestead from his parents. In 1850, William built the brick house, which still stands on the original homestead today. The early and unexpected illness and subsequent deaths of William and Lydia Crockett alters the course of history, as the family homestead is willed to their eldest daughter Emma Tuell (Crockett) Young, rather than the couple's son Abel Stetson Crockett. Emma and her new husband George P. Young promise to care for her minor sisters in exchange for the property. After George Young's shocking suicide a few years later, Emma finds salvation in the arms of Baptist minister John Harding, her second husband. Emma and John Harding travel New England furthering his career in Christian evangelism. Prior to her travels, Emma turns the Crockett homestead over to her and George's only child, son William "Bill" Foss Young. A lonely Bill immediately takes a wife, marrying Adalade Chaplin of Gorham, a teacher in the local neighborhood. The book's final chapter covers the dramatic story of Bill and Addie's challenging yet rewarding life together. When Bill's new (and very modern) dairy barn burns--taking with it their livelihood and money--Addie conceives of Young's Turkey Farm, which rises at the old Crockett homestead from the ashes of the fire. Over the course of a long agricultural career, the couple raise tens of thousands of turkeys (as well as three children and four grandchildren) at Young's Turkey Farm, which becomes a well-known landmark in Maine. Wixson's book is rich with maps, photographs, newspaper clippings, genealogies, and information from deeds and public records (sources are included in well-documented and informative footnotes), and will be a treasure trove for historians, historical societies, genealogists, Crockett, Penley, Richardson, Chaplin, and Young descendants, and those doing research on other families in the often overlooked Lee's Grant section of Norway. A helpful and extensive Index is included. Wixson's practiced prose (she is the author of numerous works of fiction) and personal connection to the story make "A History of the Crockett Family of Crockett's Ridge, Norway, Maine" a compelling and informative read.
Reshaping the State
'Based on extensive fieldwork and impressive analytic skills, Wen-Hsuan Tsai has produced the most detailed and informative account of the evolving political system in Xi Jinping's China that I have ever read. It is essential reading for everyone seeking to understand the management and deployment of political power in contemporary China. The book convincingly shows that even though Xi Jinping may have centralized power in his own hands, institutions still matter. Indeed, they are holding China together.'-Kjeld Erik Br繪dsgaard, Copenhagen Business School'This engaging and thought-provoking academic work reflects the scholar's dedication to enhancing our understanding of Chinese governance. It blends institutional resonance with leadership dynamics, addressing the knowledge gap in the West about the complexities of the Chinese Communist Party's resilience and institutions. By examining the idiosyncrasies, risks and challenges of contemporary China-both a major global influence and the world's second-largest economy-it encourages readers to reflect deeply on its governance and implications.'-Hon S. Chan, City University of Hong Kong'As a leading scholar on China's elite politics, Dr Wen-Hsuan Tsai reveals how Xi Jinping reshaped the party-state to achieve institutional centralization and made and implemented domestic and foreign policy as the supreme leader of China. This book opens the "black box" of Chinese leadership politics, policymaking and implementation. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to gain deep knowledge about political dynamics in contemporary China.'-Suisheng Zhao, University of Denver
The Craziest Stories of World War 2
"The Craziest Stories of WWII" plunges readers into the war's most outlandish moments, where ingenuity met desperation and ordinary people achieved the extraordinary amid global chaos. From inflatable tanks fooling enemies to animals turned spies and miraculous survivals in hostile terrains, this book evokes the raw thrill of human resilience and the high stakes of a conflict that redefined heroism, reminding us how unpredictability shaped the fate of nations.It opens with a world on edge, tracing post-WWI tensions and extremist rises that ignited odd early events like lightning invasions and evacuation miracles. Strange technologies emerge, with codebreaking triumphs and deceptive ghost armies turning tides in unexpected ways.Unbelievable missions behind lines showcase sabotage feats and daring rescues, while animal strategies and bizarre plans add whimsy to warfare's grim reality. Miscommunications lead to lucky escapes, as deception tactics like audio illusions baffle foes.Spies and codebreakers weave lies that alter outcomes, with unexpected alliances forging strange friendships. Weapons shocking the world range from buzz bombs to atomic power, spotlighting innovation's dark side.Wildest characters from leaders to everyday heroes inspire, as naval adventures and submarine tales thrill with high-seas drama. Miraculous survivals defy odds, from rubble traps to ocean drifts.Peculiar prisoner escapes and camp lore blend ingenuity with hardship, while home front oddities like rationing creativity humanize the era. Propaganda's power spreads weird influences, with medical marvels saving lives in curious ways.Hidden treasures and strange finds intrigue, as near-end twists like Ardennes surprises prolong suspense. Aftermath mysteries linger, from trials to unresolved searches.Comparable to Rick Beyer's "The Greatest Stories Never Told," which delights with obscure WWII anecdotes, this volume aligns with 2025 trends in entertaining military histories blending facts with narrative flair. Its broad marketability appeals to war buffs, trivia fans, and casual readers, promising strong sales for bookstores in WWII sections. By weaving emotional stakes like courage amid absurdity and survival through wit, it connects readers to the war's human side, inspiring reflection on how bizarre moments defined a global turning point.
Sweet Home Feliciana
In this tapestry of intersecting stories, including those of her own family, Rashauna Johnson charts the global transformation of a rural region in Louisiana from European colonialism to Jim Crow. From her ancestor Virgil to her cousin Veronica and her hand-sewn Mardi Gras memorial suit more than a century later, this history is one of triumphs and trauma, illustrating the ways people of African descent have created sites of endurance, belonging, and resistance. Johnson uses her grandmother's birthplace in East Feliciana as a prism to illuminate foundational, if fraught, aspects of US history including colonialism, slavery, war, citizenship, and unfinished freedom. The result is a portrait of the world in a family, a family in a region, and a region in the world that insists on the bristling and complicated relationships of people to place and creates a new understanding of what it means to be American.
Life in the Medieval Town
An original work of social history focusing on numerous fascinating aspects of life in an English town in the late Middle Ages.Welcome to a world which ordered people not to leave their homes after nightfall and not to let their pigs wander the streets, where butchers who sold bad meat to the public were locked into a pillory with the meat burning beneath them, and where dirt heaps, common scolds, and attempts to cure diseases with dead animal flesh were a normal part of life. Were medieval towns really as filthy as we might think? If not, how did people wash themselves and their clothes? What did being drawn on the hurdle mean? What did people eat, and where did they buy it? What happened to criminals? Did women work outside the home, and if so, in which professions? What were people's houses like? How did they entertain themselves? How much did they earn, and how much did things cost? What kind of medical treatment was available? Did people travel to other towns, and if so, how did they get there?
The Forgotten Peoples
Have you always wondered if there was a lot more to the history of the slave trade than you were ever told? Do you want to discover the roots of the subject, the how and the why that slaves were captured, by whom and for what purpose? In fact, why did slavery as a trade ever exist? Did Governments, the church, and others play an active role, and if so, how did they sanction such a cruel and barbaric trade? Do you want to know if there were White and Gypsy Roma slaves, too? Do you want to know who were those figures in history who played a leading role behind this terrible trade? Do you want to discover its real history? If so, then this book is just for you.
From a Yankee to a Rebel Diary
A rare, firsthand Civil War chronicle told by two soldiers-one Union, one Confederate-writing in the same diary.When Private Jacob Elsesser of the 9th Pennsylvania Reserves carried a small Daily Remembrancer into the 1862 Peninsula Campaign, he had no idea his diary would one day be continued by the enemy. After months of recording the grinding uncertainty of war, Elsesser abandoned the book in the chaos following the battle of Beaver Dam Creek near Richmond.The diary did not remain abandoned for long - fast on the heels of the 9th Pennsylvania Reserves was the 14th Georgia Infantry, including Private George Washington Hall, who discovered the small book in the smoldering ruins of the deserted Union camp. Claiming it as his own, he vowed to turn "a Yankee diary into a Rebel one"-and proceeded to fill its remaining pages for nearly three years. Hall's entries trace his spiritual transformation, the brutal realities of combat, the monotony of camp life, and his survival through illness and nine punishing months as a prisoner of war at Fort Delaware.Edited by Hall's great-granddaughter, history professor Mary Hall, this extraordinary manuscript includes George Washington Hall's additional journal writings from 1862-1863 and a unit history written by Elsesser and preserved by his descendants. Together, these sources create an unparalleled dual portrait of two ordinary men swept into an extraordinary conflict.Through their alternating voices, readers witness: - The ferocity of the Eastern Theater's most decisive battles- The emotional and physical toll of soldiering on both sides- The longing for home that united men divided by allegiance- The faith, sense of duty, and resilience that shaped their post-war livesElsesser returned to Pennsylvania and served for decades as a respected justice of the peace. Hall, determined to fulfill his wartime promise to spend his life spreading God's word, became a Baptist preacher and missionary in north Florida.Their writings-preserved across generations-offer a rare, deeply human window into America's defining struggle. This is a singular "blue-gray" diary that bridges enemy lines, generations, and the enduring search for meaning in the midst of war.
White Supremacy
When did whiteness begin? Was its rise inevitable? In this powerful history, John Broich traces the emergence, evolution and contradictions of white supremacy, from its roots in the British empire, to the racial politics of the present. Focussing on the English-speaking world, he examines how ideas of whiteness connect to the history of slavery, Enlightenment thought, European colonialism, Social Darwinism and eugenics, fascism and capitalism. Far from being the natural order of things, Broich demonstrates that white supremacy is a brittle concept. For centuries, it has been constantly shifting, rebranding, and justifying itself in the face of resistance. The oft-repeated excuse that its architects were simply "men of their time" collapses under scrutiny. With brutal honesty, Broich exposes the lies embedded in the grim biography of an invented race. White Supremacy calls for a deeper understanding of the past, that we might undo its grip on the present.
Tipping Out of Trouble
What kind of trouble lies ahead? How can we successfully transition towards a sustainable future? Drawing on a remarkably broad range of insights from complex systems and the functioning of the brain to the history of civilizations and the workings of modern societies, the distinguished scientist Marten Scheffer addresses these key questions of our times. He looks to the past to show how societies have tipped out of trouble before, the mechanisms that drive social transformations and the invisible hands holding us back. He traces how long-standing practices such as the slave trade and foot-binding were suddenly abandoned and how entire civilizations have collapsed to make way for something new. Could we be heading for a similarly dramatic change? Marten Scheffer argues that a dark future is plausible but not yet inevitable and he provides us instead with a hopeful roadmap to steer ourselves away from collapse-and toward renewal.
The Roman Empire in Crisis, 248-260
"Simply stated, no personal, community, or academic library Roman History collection can be considered up to date without the inclusion of Paul N. Pearson's The Roman Empire in Crisis, 248-260." - Midwest Book ReviewThis book is a narrative history of a dozen years of turmoil that begins with Rome's millennium celebrations of 248 CE and ends with the capture of the emperor Valerian by the Persians in 260. It was a period of almost unremitting disaster for Rome, involving a series of civil wars, several major invasions by Goths and Persians, economic crisis, and an empire-wide pandemic, the 'plague of Cyprian'. There was sustained persecution of the Christians. A central theme of the book is that this was a period of moral and spiritual crisis in which the traditional state religion suffered greatly in prestige, paving the way for the eventual triumph of Christianity.The sensational recent discovery of extensive fragments of the lost Scythica of Dexippus sheds much new light on the Gothic Wars of the period. The author has used this new evidence in combination with in-depth investigations in the field to develop a revised account of events surrounding the great Battle of Abritus where the army of the emperor Decius was annihilated by Cniva's Goths. The reigns of the emperors Gallus, Aemilian and Valerian are treated in detail, and new ideas are presented regarding mysterious characters of the age such as Silbannacus and Sponsian.This period is pivotal for understanding the transition between Classical civilisation and the period known as Late Antiquity.
Defeat and Division
Defeat and Division launches a definitive new account of France in the Second World War. In this first volume, Douglas Porch dissects France's 1940 collapse, the dynamics of occupation, and the rise of Charles de Gaulle's Free France crusade, culminating in the November 1942 Allied invasion of French North Africa. He captures the full sweep of France's wartime experience in Europe, Africa, and beyond, from soldiers and POWs to civilians-in-arms, colonial subjects, and foreign refugees. He recounts France's struggles to reconstruct military power within the context of a global conflict, with its armed forces shattered into warring factions and the country under Axis occupation. Disagreements over the causes of the 1940 debacle and the subsequent requirement for the armistice mirrored long-standing fractures in politics, society, and the French military itself, as efforts to reconstitute French military power crumbled into Vichy collaboration, De Gaulle's exile resistance, Alsace-Moselle occupation struggles, and a scuffle for imperial supremacy.
American History for Beginners
Stop Forgetting History: The Essential Three-in-One Guide That Makes America's Story StickDid you sleep through history class? Do names like Jamestown, Gettysburg, and the Emancipation Proclamation sound familiar, but you can't remember why they matter? You don't need a history degree to understand America's past-you just need a book that actually brings the story to life.Three manuscripts in one book: The History of the United States for Beginners: The Story of America Simplified for People Who Slept Through History ClassThe American Revolution for Beginners: The Story of the Revolutionary War Simplified for People Who Slept Through History ClassThe Civil War for Beginners: The Story of the War Between the States Simplified for People Who Slept Through History ClassWritten in a fast-paced, conversational style designed to be as enjoyable and captivating as a novel, this is the book that will finally make you laugh, gasp, and truly understand how the United States became what it is today.Imagine finally knowing the real answers to questions like: How did millions of Indigenous people build vast cities long before European contact?Why did Jamestown settlers resort to cannibalism, and how did tobacco fuel the rise of American slavery?What really pushed ordinary colonists to fight the most powerful empire on Earth?How did the profound contradictions of liberty and slavery coexist in 1776, and why do they still define our politics?What was the brutal truth behind legendary battles like Gettysburg and Antietam?How did Abraham Lincoln rise from a self-taught lawyer to the Great Emancipator?What really happened during Reconstruction, and why did its promise fall so short?And much, much more!
And the Lights Dimmed
And the Lights Dimmed is a revelatory book about the causal events that distorted Nigeria's electric power supply sector and agelong efforts.It follows the author from his childhood and early education in Benin City, Edo State, to the start of his career in the power supply industry from Ijebu-Ode and Sagamu in Ogun State to Yaba in Lagos. The author lays out his journey, challenges and successes in diagnosing technical and human problems in the power sector, and the rocky path of resolving issues for the present and the future.Readers will enjoy learning about the early days of the development of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), up to the birth of the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA). They will also gain insight into the complexities of finding measures to structure and sustain the sector.
Escape From Holland
Just before dawn on May 10, 1940, German parachute troops rain down on Holland. Watching from his home on the Dutch coast is former international footballer Billy Marsden. It is ten years to the day since the Germans saved his life in a Berlin hospital after he suffered a devastating injury while playing for England - and now it is the German invasion of Holland that is putting his life in jeopardy. In The Hague, Margot Fonteyn and the Sadler's Wells Ballet watch the dogfights from the roof of their hotel. In Amsterdam journalist David Woodward and his American wife, NBC war correspondent Margaret Rupli, are trying to find a way to file the story of the invasion, while young British diplomat Peers Carter attempts to organise an evacuation just eight months into the job.Set across one weekend in May 1940, this is the story of how these people came together to escape with the last official boatload of British evacuees out of Holland before the country capitulated. This is not just the tale of their escape, but the story of why these fascinating characters were in Holland to begin with.
Resilience, Vision, and Community
Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina, Rosy Crumpton returns to the Gulf Coast where, as a young Red Cross volunteer, she first witnessed the devastation and the resilience of a community in crisis. Through then-and-now photography, original journal entries, and present-day interviews, Resilience, Vision, and Community captures not only the heartbreak of 2005 but also the extraordinary journey of renewal that followed. This moving collection is both a personal memoir and a testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit.
American History for Beginners
Stop Forgetting History: The Essential Three-in-One Guide That Makes America's Story StickDid you sleep through history class? Do names like Jamestown, Gettysburg, and the Emancipation Proclamation sound familiar, but you can't remember why they matter? You don't need a history degree to understand America's past-you just need a book that actually brings the story to life.Three manuscripts in one book: The History of the United States for Beginners: The Story of America Simplified for People Who Slept Through History ClassThe American Revolution for Beginners: The Story of the Revolutionary War Simplified for People Who Slept Through History ClassThe Civil War for Beginners: The Story of the War Between the States Simplified for People Who Slept Through History ClassWritten in a fast-paced, conversational style designed to be as enjoyable and captivating as a novel, this is the book that will finally make you laugh, gasp, and truly understand how the United States became what it is today.Imagine finally knowing the real answers to questions like: How did millions of Indigenous people build vast cities long before European contact?Why did Jamestown settlers resort to cannibalism, and how did tobacco fuel the rise of American slavery?What really pushed ordinary colonists to fight the most powerful empire on Earth?How did the profound contradictions of liberty and slavery coexist in 1776, and why do they still define our politics?What was the brutal truth behind legendary battles like Gettysburg and Antietam?How did Abraham Lincoln rise from a self-taught lawyer to the Great Emancipator?What really happened during Reconstruction, and why did its promise fall so short?And much, much more!
Ghost Nation
Chris Horton is a freelance reporter in Taiwan, having covered cross-strait politics, domestic politics, the economy, culture and breaking news in Taiwan for The New York Times, Bloomberg, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Financial Times and Quartz. He has lived in Taiwan since 2015 and in China and Hong Kong for the decade preceding that. He is the last foreign journalist to interview former president Lee Teng-hui, arguably the midwife of Taiwanese democracy and one of the most underappreciated post-war Asian leaders.
Saving Lives
Saving Lives is a tribute to the "life savers" during the Vietnam War: the medics, corpsmen, nurses, doctors, and dustoff pilots who not only rescued but tried desperately to repair the estimated 200,000 soldiers, sailors, Marines, and civilians who were sick or wounded during that war. The stories contained in these pages are "in their own words" from interviews conducted many years later with these incredible men and women. Their stories of bravery, sacrifice, and dedication will never be forgotten.
Adventures in Child's Play
Ray Wills writes a fascinating and often personal account in depth history of children's play provision in the UK. Much of which is based on Ray's own experiences working in the inner cities, new towns and rural communities over many decades. He writes of a time when child's play was in its infancy, from the days when children were playing on bombed wastelands of the cities. He writes of the junk playgrounds of the post war years to the modern day supervised adventure playgrounds and play facilities. The book is packed throughout with accounts and recollections of those years, along with the people, places, campaigns, and events which shaped children's play provision in the UK. Here are detailed histories and accounts from adults and children of those early adventure playgrounds, play centres and schemes, many of which are based on Ray's own recollections and personal involvement at the time as a Play Worker and Play Organiser.
Photos & Memories 1960s
The Sixties Down Under: Discover Australia's Era of Extraordinary ChangeStep back into the Australian decade they call "The Swingin' Sixties". From the comfortable certainties of 1960 to the moon landing that ended the decade Photos and Memories 1960s captures the extraordinary transformation of a nation in a time of great change.As Beatlemania swept through our cities and decimal currency replaced pounds, shillings and pence, we witnessed the 1967 referendum that overwhelmingly voted for Aboriginal rights. Relive the controversy of Vietnam, the disappearance of Prime Minister Harold Holt, and the cultural revolution that saw young Australians questioning everything their parents had accepted.Beyond the major events, discover what daily life was really like - from typing pools and record shops to marching girls and Earl's Court adventures. Through personal memories and year-by-year chronicles, this book brings the sights, sounds, and spirit of 1960s Australia vividly to life.Whether you were born in the swinging sixties, went to school or simply want to understand the decade that shaped modern Australia, this nostalgic journey will inform, entertain, and transport you back to one of the most exciting eras in our nation's history.
The Hidden History of America
Revealing America's Untold Struggles: Power, Betrayal, and the Fight for Truth"The Hidden History of America" digs into the events and decisions that official accounts often overlook, showing how key moments in the nation's past reflect ongoing battles for control and freedom. From the founding era's debates over centralized power to modern controversies around surveillance and elections, this book connects historical threads that question familiar stories.It starts with the Revolution, examining how elite interests and foreign ties shaped the push for independence, while Loyalists faced harsh reprisals that set patterns for future divisions. Moving to slavery, it highlights northern profits and international funding that sustained the trade, beyond southern plantations alone.Native American displacements during westward expansion reveal government deceptions and broken promises, fueling resistance that challenged expansionist ideals. The Mexican-American War exposes provoked conflicts and civilian hardships hidden behind manifest destiny rhetoric.The Civil War section uncovers economic pressures like tariffs that drove secession, alongside federal actions that strengthened central authority. Industrial growth brings in the robber barons, whose monopolies and worker exploitations were enabled by favorable policies, eroding fair competition.Imperial ventures, such as the Spanish-American War, show fabricated justifications and media roles in building empire. World War I details financial motivations and suppressed dissent that prolonged suffering for profit.The 1920s expose corruption under prosperity's surface, leading to economic crashes. The New Deal era questions programs that extended hardships while expanding bureaucracy, threatening balances of power.Medical experiments like Tuskegee highlight institutional betrayals eroding trust, especially among minorities. World War II alliances and domestic policies reveal compromises that sacrificed rights for wartime gains.Cold War origins address ignored infiltrations and media narratives that downplayed threats. CIA programs like MKUltra expose unethical tests on citizens, violating personal autonomy.Assassinations and Vietnam bring forward inconsistencies in official reports and elite privileges amid public sacrifices. Scandals from Watergate to later administrations set precedents for political conflicts.The Reagan years shadow includes covert operations and economic shifts with lasting impacts. Gulf Wars and 9/11 raise questions about pretexts and responses that expanded security measures at liberty's cost.Recent presidencies examine surveillance growth and divisive tactics that deepened national rifts. Throughout, the book ties these events to broader stakes: how hidden actions by powerful groups have shaped America's path, often at the expense of individual rights and traditional values.Comparable to "A Patriot's History of the United States" by Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen, which counters biased narratives with a focus on core principles, this work appeals to those questioning standard histories. It fits retail trends toward books exploring societal divisions and hidden influences, drawing in history buffs and skeptics alike. With its broad reach, it promises strong sales in stores catering to thoughtful readers seeking deeper insights into national identity.
Bang in the Middle
A book to put the Midlands back on the map. Everyone knows what they think of the North and South of England - the clich矇s abound. But what about that big, anonymous stretch of land in between: the Midlands? Despite being home to around a third of the English population, it's a region that seems to have neither purpose nor identity. In this humorous exploration, the author - a Midlander exiled in London - sets off on a tour of the country's belly in order to piece together his Midland heritage. What he discovers is nothing short of revelatory: quietly, without fanfare, the Midlands have powered most of English - and not just a little of world - history. The Industrial Revolution was forged there, as were the ideals of the Land of the Free and the theory of evolution. Shakespeare, world literature's greatest genius, was born in the Midlands, as were Margaret Thatcher, Dr Johnson and Robbie Williams. It is the home of Robin Hood, Walker's crisps, Marmite, Raleigh bikes and the balti. And that's not all: music, fashion, sport - almost every domain of contemporary life has been reinvented and remoulded in the stoically self-effacing lands squeezed between the self-mythologising South and the narcissistic North. Why, we even have the Midlands to thank for the modern idea of sex. Join Robert Shore on a fascinating, and very funny, journey to the heart of our great nation.
Emilio Pucci
The Drama of War and Postwar Italy Through the Life of One of Its Most Celebrated IconsWhen people think of fashion designer Emilio Pucci, it is of his bright, swirling colors and easy, freeing fabrics, and everyone from Sophia Loren to Jackie Kennedy donning the eye-catching dresses that personify La Dolce Vita. What few know about Pucci, however, is that before creating his world-famous fashions, he played a critical role in the war against the Nazis, risking his life to smuggle out to the Allies one of the most important documents of World War II. The authors bring to life Italy's darkest and brightest days, with the extraordinary Emilio Pucci at its center. Italy at the end of the war was broken, and Florence, which the Pucci family had called home for seven centuries, lay in ruins. Pucci returned home bruised in body and soul, having endured trials that would have broken many, but, like Italy itself, rose from the ashes, and went on to design some of the most exuberant fashion of all time. He helped usher in a new era of creativity in Italy, which again became a mecca of fashion, art, design, film, and more. A host of supporting characters--including Mussolini's daughter and Allen Dulles, and, most importantly, the timeless city of Florence and the mythic island of Capri--enrich this compelling narrative that will draw readers of all kinds, from war and history buffs, to fashionistas and fans of espionage thrillers along with the millions of readers who devour books about Italy and her many charms.
Unshattered Glass
The military prides itself as an unbreakable moral spine-an institution built on camaraderie, honor, and integrity, often upheld as the nation's last true meritocracy. For many, that promise is real. For others, it is complicated. Brooke Walton understands both. A senior Naval officer with an impeccable record and a relentless sense of duty, Brooke enters the military believing-like so many do-that excellence, discipline, and loyalty will be enough. In many ways, they are. The military gives her access to rooms she might never have entered otherwise, challenges her to lead under pressure, and shapes her into a disciplined, capable officer trusted with responsibility and command. But alongside those opportunities exists a harder truth. Behind the uniforms and ceremonies is a closed system that can protect power at the expense of people-one where nepotism and false narratives take root, where silence is rewarded, and where justice is not always evenly applied. Sexual misconduct is too often minimized. Negligence too often escapes accountability. The cost of these failures can be profound. Told with unflinching honesty and sharp, often dark humor, this candid nonfiction account follows Brooke as she navigates both the promise and the peril of the military institution. She is brilliant and meticulous, sensitive and stubborn, deeply committed to the values that first drew her to serve-even when the system itself struggles to live up to them. She believes in order, not blind obedience; in loyalty, not silence. What unfolds is not an indictment, but a reckoning-a portrait of survival, leadership, and discernment inside a culture built on contradiction. Brooke's journey moves through courtrooms and command halls, friendships and betrayals, moments of absurdity and devastating loss. Along the way, she claims her voice, her agency, and her humanity. Based on real events, Unshattered Glass pulls back the curtain with clarity and heart. It honors the opportunities the military provides while confronting the work it still must do. This is a story about growth, accountability, and what it truly means to serve with integrity in an imperfect system. This is not a story about breaking ranks. It is a story about standing upright-and helping the institution stand taller, too.
Unshattered Glass
The military prides itself as an unbreakable moral spine-an institution built on camaraderie, honor, and integrity, often upheld as the nation's last true meritocracy. For many, that promise is real. For others, it is complicated. Brooke Walton understands both. A senior Naval officer with an impeccable record and a relentless sense of duty, Brooke enters the military believing-like so many do-that excellence, discipline, and loyalty will be enough. In many ways, they are. The military gives her access to rooms she might never have entered otherwise, challenges her to lead under pressure, and shapes her into a disciplined, capable officer trusted with responsibility and command. But alongside those opportunities exists a harder truth. Behind the uniforms and ceremonies is a closed system that can protect power at the expense of people-one where nepotism and false narratives take root, where silence is rewarded, and where justice is not always evenly applied. Sexual misconduct is too often minimized. Negligence too often escapes accountability. The cost of these failures can be profound. Told with unflinching honesty and sharp, often dark humor, this candid nonfiction account follows Brooke as she navigates both the promise and the peril of the military institution. She is brilliant and meticulous, sensitive and stubborn, deeply committed to the values that first drew her to serve-even when the system itself struggles to live up to them. She believes in order, not blind obedience; in loyalty, not silence. What unfolds is not an indictment, but a reckoning-a portrait of survival, leadership, and discernment inside a culture built on contradiction. Brooke's journey moves through courtrooms and command halls, friendships and betrayals, moments of absurdity and devastating loss. Along the way, she claims her voice, her agency, and her humanity. Based on real events, Unshattered Glass pulls back the curtain with clarity and heart. It honors the opportunities the military provides while confronting the work it still must do. This is a story about growth, accountability, and what it truly means to serve with integrity in an imperfect system. This is not a story about breaking ranks. It is a story about standing upright-and helping the institution stand taller, too.
Salt and Blood
The most successful pirate in history never sailed the Caribbean.She was a Chinese woman named Ching Shih who rose from a floating brothel to command over seventy thousand pirates-more than most national navies of her era. She defeated the Chinese, Portuguese, and British fleets, negotiated her own amnesty, and retired to run a gambling house. She died wealthy, free, and old.You have probably never heard of her. That is the problem with pirate history.Salt & Blood tears down the Hollywood myths and rebuilds the story of piracy from the waterline up. This is the complete global history-from Bronze Age "Sea Peoples" who collapsed entire civilizations, to Somali fishermen who discovered that hostages paid better than tuna.What you will discover: Pirates operated some of the most democratic societies of their age. They wrote constitutions before America existed. They elected their captains and voted them out for cowardice or cruelty. They shared plunder equally and created disability compensation systems that would not appear in mainstream society for centuries. Black crew members voted alongside white ones-documented in trial records from an era when such equality existed nowhere else.The Barbary corsairs of North Africa enslaved over one million Europeans across three centuries. Their raiding parties reached as far as Iceland and Ireland, emptying entire coastal villages. The young United States built its navy specifically to fight them.Viking pirates founded Russia, served as the Byzantine emperors' personal bodyguards, and reached North America five centuries before Columbus. They navigated Russian rivers to trade-and raid-as far as Baghdad.The "Golden Age" of Caribbean piracy that dominates popular imagination lasted barely a decade. By contrast, piracy in the South China Sea has continued essentially unbroken for over two thousand years.What you will not find: Recycled tales about Blackbeard. Romanticized adventure that ignores the violence. Walking the plank, which probably never happened.Drawing on trial transcripts, ship logs, archaeological discoveries, and contemporary accounts, Salt & Blood reconstructs piracy as it actually was-brutal, strategic, surprisingly progressive in some ways, and absolutely relentless. The violence was real. The democratic experiments were real. The surprising sophistication was real.For three thousand years, wherever ships have carried wealth across water, someone has figured out how to take it by force. This book tells their story-all of it, from every ocean, across every era.They called it the "sweet trade." It was anything but.
The Navigator's Letter
The Navigator's Letter brings to light one of the best untold and dangerous stories of World War II, chronicling a moving and heroic story of patriotic duty, familial bonds, brotherhood, and love. One of the riskiest air raids of World War II occurred on August 1, 1943, over the oil fields at Ploesti, Romania--Nazi Germany's primary fuel source. The Allies believed that the destruction of Hitler's oil refineries would shorten the war. Using an untested strategy, it was worth the gamble, but the mission did not go according to plan--with 53 aircraft and 532 crewmen lost, it was the costliest US air raid of the war. A true story, The Navigator's Letter is a tale of uncanny coincidences: two friends from the same small Illinois town; both joined the Air Corps; both became navigators; both were assigned to B-24 Liberators; both flew missions over Europe; both of their planes were forced down over Ploesti; and both went missing-in-action. Intertwined with events of WWII, the story follows the two B-24 navigators coursing through wartime, both with ties to the same woman. Their lives unfurl with the Air Force's darkest day, Operation Tidal Wave. It was the first-ever zero-altitude air raid, which lead to Operation Reunion, the largest evacuation by air in history repatriating 1,162 POWs from Romania back to American air bases in Italy.
An Injured Solidarity
Upon Israel's inception in 1948 (and even before), the Israeli Labor Party was dominant in the country, and it favored the judicial branch of government.But over the years, with massive Jewish immigration to Israel, as well as high local birth rates, the hegemony of Labor and its preferences have receded.Huge controversies emerged between Jews and Arabs, secular and religious, Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox, Right and Left, and founders and New Immigrants, giving rise to Right Wing domination, which favors control of the Legislative Branch of government. Hence there are the reforms that the present rule legislates, and that all its political adversaries oppose, thus generating extreme divisions within the different layers of the population.(About the Author)Raphael Israeli has taught Islamic, Chinese, and Middle Eastern history at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. A graduate of Hebrew University in history and Arabic literature, he earned a Ph.D. in Chinese and Islamic history from the University of California, Berkeley. Now retired, he has been a Fellow of the Harry Truman Research Institute at Hebrew University and the Jerusalem Center since the1970s. He is the author of more than 115 books and 100 articles.
