| The Templars: The rise and spectacular fall of God's holy warriors by Dan JonesIn 1119, after the First Crusade, a remnant of Christian warriors formed a new kind of religious order: the Knights of Templar, devoted to protecting pilgrims from Europe to the Holy Land. An enduring legend grew up around the Templars, producing speculation, conspiracy theories, and eventually, charges of heresy. In The Templars, historian Dan Jones has separated myth from reality and allegation from truth. Fans of medieval history, especially those intrigued by the Knights Templar, won't want to miss this engaging and unbiased account. |
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| The Cold War: A world history by Odd Arne WestadThe immediate historical roots of the Cold War sprouted after World War II, when Soviet-led countries faced off against the U.S. and its allies. Though the division of Germany into East and West, the Iron Curtain cutting off Eastern Europe, and the American anticommunist frenzy of the 1940s and '50s come readily to mind, award-winning historian Odd Arne Westad traces the Cold War's origins to the Industrial Revolution and illuminates its effects throughout the world. In a starred review, Library Journal calls this "one of the best written" books on the subject. |
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Everybody lies: Big data, new data, and what the Internet can tell us about who we really are
by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
How much sex are people really having? How many Americans are actually racist? Is America experiencing a hidden back-alley abortion crisis? Can you game the stock market? Does violent entertainment increase the rate of violent crime? Do parents treat sons differently from daughters? How many people actually read the books they buy? In this work, Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, a Harvard-trained economist, former Google data scientist, and New York Times writer, argues that much of what we thought about people has been dead wrong. The reason? People lie. By analyzing the digital goldmine of the Internet, we can now learn what people really think, what they really want, and what they really do. Sometimes the new data will make you laugh out loud. Sometimes the new data will shock you. Sometimes the new data will deeply disturb you. But, always, this new data will make you think.
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The rise of the outsiders: How mainstream politics lost its way
by Steve Richards
Politics in the West has become unpredictable and tumultuous. In recent years, voters have deserted the political centre like never before. Whether it's Trump, Brexit, Le Pen, Tsipras, or even Corbyn, why have outsiders and populists flourished on far left and far right? Why is the political landscape shifting so rapidly? In this landmark book, celebrated political commentator Steve Richards provides a clear and penetrating analysis of the biggest political story of the past fifty years. He argues that despite charismatic outsiders dominating the headlines, the real answers lie in the failure of the mainstream to evolve in a world still suffering the fallout of the financial crash in 2008.
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The full transcripts of the Putin interviews: With substantial material not included in the documentary
by Oliver Stone
Academy Award winner Oliver Stone was able to secure what journalists, news organizations, and even other world leaders have long coveted: extended, unprecedented access to Russian President Vladimir Putin. This book presents the filmmaker's interviews with the Russian leader covering a wide range of political and personal issues, issued in conjunction with the documentary film of the same name.
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No wall too high: One man's daring escape from Mao's darkest prison
by Hongci Xu
Originally published in Hong Kong, Xu Hongci's remarkable memoir recounts his life from childhood through his final prison break. After discovering his story in a Hong Kong library, the journalist Erling Hoh tracked down the original manuscript and complied this condensed translation, which includes background on this turbulent period, an epilogue that follows Xu Hongci up to his death, and Xu Hongci's own drawings and maps. Both a historical narrative and an exhilarating prison break thriller, No Wall Too High tells the unique story of a man who insisted on freedom even under the most treacherous circumstances.
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Enemies and neighbors: Arabs and Jews in Palestine and Israel, 1917-2017
by Ian Black
An authoritative account of more than a century of violent confrontation, war and occupation in Palestine and Israel, published on the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration and the 50th anniversary of the Six-Day War, draws on a wide range of sources to offer new insights into major events and present-day challenges.
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Myths that shaped our history: From Magna Carta to the Battle of Britain
by Simon Webb
All nations and peoples have a body of legendary tales and semi-historical episodes which explain who they are and help to define their place in the world. The British are no exception and in this book Simon Webb explores some of the most well-known episodes from British history; stories which tell the British about themselves and the country in which they live. Examining these events in detail reveals something rather surprising. In every case, the historical facts are greatly at variance with what most British people think that they know about such things as the Battle of Waterloo, Magna Carta, the suffragettes and so on. Indeed, in many cases the reality is precisely the opposite of what is commonly believed. This book shows that much of what the British believe about their history has been either grossly distorted or is just plain wrong; revealing some of the misconceptions which are held about famous incidents from the nations past.
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Predicting the next president: The keys to the White House
by Allan J Lichtman
Do you think that Mitt Romney’s “47%” comment caused him to lose the 2012 presidential election? Or that Richard Nixon lost the 1960 presidential election because he sweated on TV? Maybe John Kerry was “swiftboated” out of the presidency in 2004? Think again! In Predicting the Next President, political analyst and historian Allan J. Lichtman presents thirteen historical factors, or “keys” (four political, seven performance, and two personality), that determine the outcome of presidential elections. In the chronological, successful application of these keys to every election since 1860, Lichtman dispels much of the mystery behind electoral politics and challenges many traditional assumptions.
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What's Your bias?: The surprising science of why we vote the way we do
by Lee De-wit
What's Your Bias? gets under the skin to reveal what really drives us whichever way we vote. In this absorbing book, psychologist and neuroscientist Lee de-Wit explores the subtle and often surprising factors that could be influencing our votes, from our personality traits and unconscious biases to our susceptibility to campaign targeting and fake news.; Whether we're debating nationalism, immigration, welfare or equality, psychology can help us to better understand the decisions we make in modern politics. If you want to know more about yourself, your friends and family, or the bigger political picture, this is essential reading.
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The 9th floor: Conversations with five New Zealand Prime Ministers
by Guyon Espiner
Based on the acclaimed RNZ podcast series, and including new material, The 9th Floor by journalists Guyon Espiner and Tim Watkin presents in-depth interviews with five former Prime Ministers of New Zealand. Geoffrey Palmer, Mike Moore, Jim Bolger, Jenny Shipley and Helen Clark reflect on their time occupying the prime ministerial offices on the 9th floor of the Beehive. Their recollections amount to a fascinating record of the decisions that shaped modern New Zealand.
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What happened
by Hillary Rodham Clinton
A new book of essays by the former secretary of state includes entries describing her experiences in the 2016 presidential campaign and incorporates hundreds of inspirational quotes that have shaped her life and work. The former Secretary of State relates her experiences as the first woman candidate nominated for president by a major party, discussing the sexism, criticism, and double standards she had to confront, and how she coped with a devastating loss.
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