New & Notable

Charting the birth and growth of craft beer across the United States, Tom Acitelli offers an epic, story-driven account of one of the most inspiring and surprising American grassroots movements. In 1975, there was a single craft brewery in the United States; today there are more than 2,000. Now this once-fledgling movement has become ubiquitous nationwide—there's even a honey ale brewed at the White House. This book not only tells the stories of the major figures and businesses within the movement, but it also ties in the movement with larger American culinary developments. It also charts the explosion of the mass-market craft beer culture, including magazines, festivals, home brewing, and more. Read More...

Good advice for toasting times: "There comes a time in every woman’s life when the only thing that helps is a glass of champagne." —Bette Davis.  They say that wine is bottled poetry, so whether your poison is crisp champagne or a velvety Merlot, raise your glass and toast the good times, the not so good, and the downright awful. Here's a book packed with zesty and full-bodied quotations to keep the spirits up and the glass half-full. Read More...

In this second mystery featuring Chief Inspector Peter Cammon, the veteran detective is lured out of retirement once more. With a familiar cast of characters reacquainting themselves with readers of the series, the novel follows Peter as he embarks on his seemingly simple assignment: travel to Canada to retrieve the body of a murdered Scotland Yard colleague. But Peter can’t resist delving into the oddities of the crime. His colleague was brutally attacked, run over by a car, and then dumped into a canal—all seemingly for the theft of three letters from the American Civil War era, one of which is signed by John Wilkes Booth. Meanwhile, Alice Nahri, the girlfriend of the dead man, looms over the investigation.  Read More...

This thoughtful, lively introduction to Pope Francis’s life and his promising future in the Vatican details the historic events surrounding Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation, the subsequent election of Pope Francis, and the particulars of the new pope’s spirituality and thought. The book, jointly crafted by a Vatican Radio editor and journalist and the editor of the internet news service Catholic World News, artfully combines European and American perspectives and looks at the implications of the election of the first pope from the Americas who also is the first Jesuit pope in history. This beautiful volume features an accessible format, anecdotes and additional background information broken into boxes, and full-color photography on nearly every page, all the while relating the gripping stories of a man who has confronted poverty, dictatorship, and revolution. Read More...

A firsthand look at one of the world’s most livable cities, this fun take on the guidebook genre explores the atmosphere of Portland, Oregon, versus detailing its landmarks and restaurants. It both explains and embraces how beautiful and ridiculous Portland life can be, and includes essays on everything from the rain and bicycling to beards and tater tots. With its approachable and often hilarious tone, this book is perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about the city that is earning its way onto more and more top cities lists each year. Read More...

Through stunning photographs and step-by-step instructions, designer and lifestyle expert Kelly Edwards brings a myriad of looks, tastes, and approaches to chic home design in this guidebook. From the kitchen and the bedroom to the home office and the out-of-doors, Kelly illustrates how to achieve the best color, texture, proportion, and overall design aesthetic and passes along decorating tips from amazing designers and tastemakers. Individual chapters contain a wide array of images and inspiration for the respective spaces along with an assortment of do-it-yourself “recipes” to achieve just the right personality.  Read More...

Lou Gramm rose from humble, working-class roots in Rochester, New York, to become one of rock’s most popular and distinctive voices in the 1970s and ’80s, singing and cowriting more than a dozen hits with the band Foreigner. Songs such as “Cold As Ice,” “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” “Double Vision,” “Urgent,” and “Midnight Blue” are among 20 Gramm songs that achieved Top 40 status on the Billboard charts and became rock classics still played often, nearly three decades after they first hit the airwaves and the record store shelves. Read More...

Utilizing easy-to-find and inexpensive materials, this handy resource teaches desktop warriors how to build a multitude of medieval siege weapons for the modern era. Novice combatants will learn to build 35 defense weapons, including a marshmallow catapult, a chopstick bow, a bottle cap crossbow, and a clothespin ballista. In addition to beefing up their Dark Age arsenal, would-be warriors are provided with a number of targets on which practice their shooting skills. Clear diagrams, instructions, and safety tips for each project are included, making construction of each of these weapons simple, safe, and fun. Read More...

With excitement building as One Direction fans count down the days until the band’s summer tour reaches North America and their upcoming movie, 1D in 3D, hits theaters, this inside source provides everything loyal followers need to know about Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry, and Louis. This account details the band’s meteoric rise in 2012, as both Up All Night and Take Me Home debuted at No. 1 and One Direction sold out arenas from New York to New Zealand. Readers discover Air Force One Direction, the private plane the band takes from concert to concert, and the famous venues on the upcoming tour, including London’s O2 Arena and the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Read More...

An important resource for umpires, coaches, leagues, and serious fans of Major League Baseball (MLB), this handbook lists the dos and don’ts of the national pastime. Fully up-to-date, this book contains the official and sanctioned MLB rules and their interpretations per the Playing Rules Committee, the sole group that determines baseball’s regulations. Read More...

This commemorative book on Louisville’s 2013 NCAA men’s basketball championship provides a visual account of the Cardinals’ road to glory. Through unique words and images from the Louisville Cardinal, this celebratory book takes readers from the season’s first games in November and on through the unique 2012–2013 season, the Big East tournament, and the road to the Final Four in Atlanta. Including nearly 100 color photographs and profiles of star players such as Russ Smith, Peyton Siva, and Gorgui Dieng and head coach Rick Pitino, this keepsake book is an essential part of any fan’s collection. Read More...

A fresh and gripping debut about growing up in Zimbabwe during the recent years of violent change Elise loves the farm that is her home; she loves playing with beetles and chameleons in the garden, buying sweets from the village shop, and listening to the stories of spirits and charms told by her nanny, Beauty. As a young white girl in 1990s Zimbabwe, her life is idyllic. Her clothes are always clean and ironed, there is always tea in the silver teapot, gin and tonics are served on the veranda, and, in theory at least, black and white live in harmony. However this dream-world of her childhood cannot last. As Elise gets older, her eyes are opened to the complexities of adult existence, both through the changes wrought in her family by the arrival of her stepfather Steve, and through her growing understanding of the tensions in Zimbabwean society. As Mugabe's presidency turns sour, the privileged world of the white farmers begins to crumble into anarchy. Read More...

Entertaining and occasionally shocking facts and trivia about Austen's life and work. Two hundred years after her death, Jane Austen is the world's bestselling novelist. Readers seem to have a neverending appetite for the swooning of Sense & Sensibility and the smoldering passion of Pride & Prejudice, resulting in a near constant supply of film adaptations and spin-off books. This book reveals the real Jane—bitchy, gossipy, and badly behaved at times—as well as showing the side we all love—the writer, the sister, and the true romantic. It also covers her best loved characters like Mr. Darcy and Marianne, novel and film locations, gossip and flirting, hangovers and fashion, and holidays and writing advice. Read More...

As tense as a thriller, as vivid as an undercover documentary, a brilliant first novel from Argentina takes readers right into the streets and slums of Buenos Aires as one young man fights for his lifeIn Buenos Aires the economy has collapsed and people are protesting on the streets. But in the barrio, life goes on—the slums of the city are ruled by gangs, drugs, and guns. Gringo and Chueco are almost adults, and joining the gang warfare that governs their community seems inevitable. Chueco thinks he can join El Jetita’s gang but remain his own man, while Gringo knows this can't happen—you obey the leader or else. As they two get drawn ever deeper into the turf war between El Jetita and his rival Charly, Gringo sees an alternative way of life, and love, pass before his eyes. A few days ago he and Chueco were joking about killing cats; now he's fighting to save his skin. Matias Nespolo's bold and brilliant first novel takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride through a place of crime and deprivation. Read More...

An accessible yet comprehensive guide aimed at those with a keen interest in writing feature film screenplaysUsing case studies, creative exercises, and interviews from the industry, this book will guide readers through the necessary stages of writing a screenplay, from finding and developing ideas to creating and executing characters to shaping structure and constructing scenes. It will also consider how a screenplay might be sold, or used to raise interest in the writer, looking at areas such as finding and working with an agent, networking, using competitions, and raising private production funds. The book's approach is both creative and reflective, giving readers the opportunity to learn a wealth of creative skills alongside skills that will encourage them to think about themselves as writers and the work that they are developing. Read More...

Fully updated guide to over 1,900 restaurants awarded Rosettes by the AA's professional inspectors, this is the food lover's guide to enjoying the best cuisine in Britain. Rosetted restaurants have been inspected and feature purely on merit with no charge for inclusion. There are three national AA Wine Awards, with over 100 notable wine list symbols awarded to the runners up. Other features include the AA Restaurant of the Year Awards for London, England, Scotland and Wales, and the Chef's Chef Award. Read More...

This next installment in the Jim Evans thriller series focuses on what might happen if people had the ability to turn the human body clock back. If we were able to repair telomeres, the tiny proteins found at the end of every strand of human DNA, we could live much longer, perhaps even become immortal, like Hydra. Yet when such a medicine would result in many more billions of people fighting to live among ruins of an ecologically exhausted planet, what would be the point? Professor Cardini sees no point. He plans to deal with seething humanity in a way that will both shock and horrify. Will he succeed in releasing his tiny, but deadly "First Horseman" and wreak bloody havoc on the world? Not if Jim Evans can help it. Read More...

The Bugatti Veyron's statistics are mind-boggling: 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds; a top speed of 253 mph; tyres that cost £20,000 a set and an engine with 10 radiators and four turbos; a launch control system taken from F1; and even windscreen wipers that create sizeable downforce—all delivered complete with a high-end stereo system, luxurious leather seats, and air-conditioning. It was a feat of engineering grandiosity that, in automotive terms, rivals the achievements of the great 19th Century industrialists. Here Martin Roach sets out to track down the mythical beast that is a Bugatti Veyron—and ultimately attempts to drive one. He traces the genesis of this remarkable machine through Bugatti's long and glorious early days and then through its more turbulent modern era. Read More...

The Stig is known to millions as Top Gear’s tame racing driver, famed for his skillful driving and his legendary reluctance to speak. Yet almost nothing is known about the man behind the visor. Where did he come from? What is his motivation? Did he really once punch a horse to the ground? Simon du Marche has devoted more than two years to getting inside that trademark white helmet. He has pursued The Stig—sometimes literally—in a relentless quest to unearth the truth, and now, at last, his findings can be revealed. Through extensive research and in-depth interviews with celebrities, motorsport experts, and Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, du Marche has built up an unprecedented picture of what lies beneath the white suit. Read More...

Ever since Sappho planted roses at the shrine of Aphrodite, no flower has captured the imagination in quite the same way. Here, the acclaimed horticultural historian Jennifer Potter sets out on a quest to uncover the life of a flower that has been viewed so heterogeneously by different cultures in different countries across the centuries. Beginning her story in the Greek and Roman empires, she travels across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas to unravel its evolution from a simple briar of the northern hemisphere to the height of cultivated perfection found in rose gardens today. Whether laying bare the flower's long association with sexuality and secret societies, questioning the Crusaders' role in bringing roses back from the Holy Land, or hunting for its elusive blooms in the gardens of the Empress Josephine at Malmaison, Jennifer Potter reveals why this flower, above all others, has provoked such fascination. More...

Imagine a disused living room in a grand house. In it is a tiger rug and a statue of a little girl. But is the tiger a real tiger, a fake, or a magical carpet? Is the little girl real but bewitched, or just a stone statue, and will she ever come to life? By turns comical and lugubrious, the tiger gives the little girl plenty of versions of the truth, but how will she decide what is true and will she be able to break free? A parable about outgrowing childhood and becoming what you want to be, this is a book for anyone who has ever felt "stuck" in their circumstances. More...

A classic collection of three of the best from the absolute master of the Western novelRiders of the Purple Sage, Grey's best-known bestseller, is a thrilling saga set on the Utah-Arizona border country that features a despicable villain and a straight-shootin' hero in a tale of passion, rivalry, and revenge. In The Trail Driver, the heroine is disguised as a boy while a cast of hard-bitten, weather-beaten characters drive 4,000 cattle north out of Texas, braving the weather, marauding outlaws, and hostile Indians along the way. Rangers of the Lone Star features Texas Ranger Russ Sittell working undercover on a ranch to break a rustling ring, a dangerous assignment made all the more hazardous by the fact that the ranch owner is the local mayor. These three epic tales represent a wonderful way for Western fans familiar with Zane Grey's work to drift back into his stories of life on the range but are equally attractive for newcomers who would like to sample a little of the wild west. More...

National No-Breathing Day UFO for Sale Turn Your Mouse into a Celebrity Pick-Pocketing Course From Philosophical Gardener for Hire to Missing Box of Matches, these witty and unique photos will have readers laughing out loud. The fun increases further when members of the public engage in genuine replies to the fictitious ads. You will never look at a small ad in the same way again. More...

Sarah Bridge is smart, successful, and single. As a newspaper journalist, she has a hectic day job and a busy social life, and is perfectly happy with both. But something—or someone—is missing. Embarking on a quest to find her soulmate, she tries everything from speed-dating and wine-tasting to Scottish dancing and singles holidays, island-hopping and army assault courses to self-help books and fortune-telling. Whether climbing mountains in Morocco or swimming at midnight in the Caribbean, Sarah is on a mission to meet Mr. Right. But will anything actually work? And how will she feel after putting herself, and her heart, out there? An entertaining, touching, and thought-provoking account of life on the front line of dating, this tale will inspire anyone who has ever been, or wanted to be, in love. More...

An essential read for all devotees of London and of crime, this book features vivid recreations of a series of murders, stretching from the killing of Roger Legett, a notorious "questmonger," during the Peasants' Revolt in 1381, through to the hanging of Styllou Christofi in 1954. Some of the murderers, such as the political assassin John Bellingham, are still remembered. Others, including the 18th-century highwayman John Davis, are largely forgotten. But all their lives and fates have much to tell readers—about London's changing underworld, about the slow evolution of policing in the city, and about the sometimes strange workings of the law. Above all, they provide a fascinating sideways view of London over the centuries, from the crime-ridden alleyways of the Georgian capital to the supposedly respectable suburbs of Finchley, where the notorious "baby-farmers" Amelia Sach and Annie Walters operated at the beginning of the 20th century. More...

Twenty-seven grisly tales from the master of gothic fiction range from chilling horror to suspenseful mystery Few authors' names conjure up such an air of ghoulish terror as that of Edgar Allan Poe. Although best known for his classic gothic horror tales such as "The Pit and the Pendulum," "The Fall of the House of Usher," or "The Premature Burial," he also wrote mystery thrillers like "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" or "The Mystery of Marie Roget," and curious stories like "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether." The best of his chilling horror stories and other suspenseful tales are presented here in one fantastic volume, providing an ideal introduction to this master of the macabre for those unfamiliar with Poe's work, or a welcome return to Poe's dark and mysterious world for committed enthusiasts. Read More...

The Great Train Robbery of 1963 is one of the most (in)famous crimes in British history. The bulk of the money stolen (equivalent to £40 million today) has never been recovered. There has not been a single year since 1963 when one aspect or another of the crime or its participants has not been featured in the media, and there is no sign that public interest in this subject is abating—quite the opposite, in fact. With the 50th anniversary approaching, interest will no doubt increase even more. The Great Train Robbery will examine new evidence (including previously classified documents from the Metropolitan Police, Home Office and Foreign Office) as to why such a meticulously planned crime failed during the getaway, how the establishment conspired to ensure harsh sentences, how the driver of the train was manipulated, and how the police investigation was mishandled, and will reveal what happened to the money. Read More...

An outstanding compilation of nature photography, featuring the winners of the annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition The more than 48,000 entries for the Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2012 competition come from 98 different countries, and this stunning, truly international collection features all of the winning and commended photographs. Taken by the world's top professional and amateur photographers, the images are not only technically flawless, but also creative, innovative, and surprising. The album features astonishing and sometimes humorous wildlife photography, and each photograph is accompanied by an extended caption that explains where and how it was taken. Read More...

The life story of Puerto Rican freedom fighter and leader Oscar López Rivera, outlined in this book, is one of courage, valor, and sacrifice. In 1981, Oscar was convicted of seditious conspiracy and other crimes for which he is still imprisoned, making him the longest-held political prisoner in the world. This is the story of his fight for the political independence of Puerto Rico based on letters between him and the renowned lawyer, sociologist, educator, and activist Luis Nieves Falcón. Also included is Oscar’s art, including photography and paintings created in his many years behind bars. Readers will explore his early life as a Latino child growing up in the small towns of Puerto Rico, following him as an adolescent as he and his family move to the big cities of the United States. After serving in Vietnam and earning a Bronze Star, Oscar returned home and worked to improve the quality of life for his people by becoming a community activist, which led to his underground life as a Puerto Rican Nationalist and his subsequent arrest. Read More...

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes contains four of Conan Doyle’s own all-time favorite Holmes mysteries, "The Adventure of the Speckled Band," "The Red-Headed League," "A Scandal in Bohemia," and "The Five Orange Pips." The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes has another three of Conan Doyle’s favorites in "The Adventure of the Reigate Squire," "The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual," and "The Adventure of the Final Problem." It is in "The Final Problem," of course, that Dr. Watson sadly reports the death of Holmes at the Reichenbach Falls near Meiringen in Switzerland. Holmes’s titanic struggle with his arch enemy, Professor Moriarty, had seen them both apparently plunge over a sheer drop, although Watson never actually saw Holmes’s body. This was Conan Doyle’s attempt to bring an end to Holmes’s adventures, but he was to be resurrected by popular demand eight years later. Read More...

Documenting the process of lighting studio portraits from start to finish, this handy manual covers both the artistic and technical aspects of achieving success. Short one- or two-page lessons are amply illustrated to guide the reader through each phase, and before-and-after images—or image sequences showing variations and alternative approaches—are presented to facilitate understanding. Noting that light can present a special challenge that is part art and part science, new photographers are encouraged to bring this guide to practice sessions. By working on replicating or refining the provided examples, a self-study course can be created, allowing for comprehensive learning. Read More...

Inspired by nature and the treasures of ancient cultures, this project book contains 24 patterns for making beautiful socks. Proving that socks can be far more than everyday footwear, Edelgard Janssen and Ute Eismann have incorporated flowers, animals, fish, stars, snow crystals, and other graphics into their stranded knit designs. Basic instructions, knitting techniques, and rich illustrations and diagrams ensure that beginners and advanced knitters alike can enjoy the process of creating these clever socks. Read More...

An enduring keepsake gift for a child that will continue to appeal throughout childhood. A treasury of 250 prayers including traditional, classic, childhood favorites, and new classics from a wide variety of sources. The collection has a stylish and fashionable design and accessible content, containing prayers for every occasion. Similar to The Lion Book of 1000 Prayers for Children, this smaller compendium will suit younger readers and will be treasured for its enduring nature. Read More...

A classic Afrikaans novel full of romance, adventure, and compassion, translated for the first time into English. In a place near Mozambique, drought is causing devastation. Hosts of desperate natives seek refuge in a forgotten outpost, an underresourced clinic run by a small group of volunteers and courageous nuns. But the human flow soon becomes too much for them, and there is no help from outside. Within the small isolated community, a plan takes shape that is as outrageous as it is inspired—a last bid to acquire more supplies. This tale is about the people and the animals of Africa in the heights of their beauty and the depths of their despair. It is a love story and a meditation on the mystery of our powers and the limitations that we share with our brothers, the animals. Read More...

The first and only official book from one of the world's biggest heavy metal bands, with a foreword by frontman Bruce DickinsonOn board their customized Boeing 757 plane named Ed Force One, and piloted by lead singer and airline captain Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden, their crew, and 12 tons of equipment traversed the planet and broke the mold of traditional touring forever by playing concerts in every continent except Antarctica over the course of the Somewhere Back In Time Tour of 2008–2009 and The Final Frontier Tour of 2010–2011. The band's official photographer, John McMurtrie, accompanied them throughout this mammoth and groundbreaking undertaking, and the exciting results of his fly-on-the-wall coverage are represented in this unique pictorial odyssey. John's unrestricted access has allowed him to capture exclusive images and moments both onstage and off, in nearly 600 spectacular photographs annotated with individual insights and anecdotes. Read More...

Cataloging the legacy of the American punk rock pioneers Black Flag, this photo documentary uses stark, contrasting portraits to share the stories of the die-hard fans who wear the iconic four-barred logo tattooed on their skin. From doctors to homeless punks, stories range from the intensely personal to the absurd as each larger-than-life soul mugs for the camera. Adding to the idea that mixed messages can come from one unifying design, each image is highlighted with a personal quotation, a name and bio, and a Black Flag favorites list. Captured during an extensive tour through the United States, Canada, and Western Europe, this collection serves as a visual testimony to the hyper-distilled mythology that the band is more prevalent now than when it was in service, and serves as a soundtrack for those living as self-imposed cultural outsiders. Read More...

Caillou’s confidence in the water grows in this story drawn from the popular television series. Caillou’s a bit afraid of the big pool and would prefer to stay in the wading pool. But as Daddy teaches him to swim, Caillou soon has lots of fun in the big pool, too. A poster containing fun, interactive activities that reinforce the book’s themes is also included. Read More...

The world's best magician is going blind, but is there a story that can save him? Victor Losa has spent his life studying magic. His mentor, Mario Galvan, taught him not only the practical aspects of the art, but also its history and the lives of famous Victorian magicians, including the most enigmatic of them all, Peter Grouse, a pickpocket who challenged the best of the day. Now, Victor Losa is standing outside a green door, ready to receive an ovation from his colleagues after having been proclaimed the world's best magician. Suddenly a light appears in his eye and he can't see the door anymore. But this is no magic trick—he is diagnosed with a rare degenerative condition of the optical nerve. In short, he is rapidly going blind. As he loses his sight, Victor finds that there are new ways to conjure the world through stories of the past, present, and future. And finally he learns the secret behind his mentor's teachings. Read More...

The thrilling finale to the Stonewylde seriesDisaster has struck. Is this the end for Stonewylde? The community's golden age is over. Now, with their new business in tatters, Yul and Sylvie increasingly estranged and Clip making plans to leave for good, darkness has taken hold of Stonewylde. There is a glimmer of light in the darkness. Leveret's affinity for magic and for healing is blossoming and, alongside it, so is Magpie's art, but as the community's woes grow these are small consolations. Magic is fading from their lives and as the Outside World becomes more important to their survival, so it seems the magic may not return. Painful truths must be revealed, about past wrongs, old lies, and ongoing deceits, if broken relationships are to be mended. There are poisons which have festered for too long, and unless they are healed—and soon—the damage may prove too great to ever recover from. Read More...

Berren is trapped in a temple, forced to learn how to read, write, and recall the histories of the Saints, all he wants is to be given a sword. As a thief-taker's apprentice he imagined a world of daring night-time chases, glorious victories, and a life of excitement. His dreams aren't quite coming true. So when a prince - the first and last prince he'll ever see - hires the thief-taker as a bodyguard, Berren is thrilled. When he hears that a troupe of Dragon Monks - exotic warriors and the best swordsmen in the world - are visiting, he sees an opportunity to learn how to fight. When one of the Monks turns out to be a girl of the same age, his future suddenly seems a lot brighter. But when a shadowy figure launches an attack on the life of Prince Sharda, Berren finds himself plunged into a world of danger, intrigue and terror. He may discover that being trained with a sword isn't enough - sometimes, you have to know who to fight. Sequel to the best-selling The Thief-Taker's Apprentice, The Warlock's Shadow drags the reader back in to the nocturnal and dangerous world of Berren, orphan and reluctant hero. Read More...

Thoroughly investigated by a former Army officer and taken from his review of hundreds of historical and government documents and in-person interviews, this book chronicles more than 100 sightings, events, and discoveries of alien encounters, government conspiracy, and the influence of extraterrestrials on human events throughout history. From prehistoric UFO sightings, cave paintings, and ancient astronauts to modern sightings around the world, this book investigates claims of aliens living among us, abductions of humans to alien spacecraft, and accounts of interstellar cooperation since the UFO crash in Roswell, along with evidence of what the government knows and what it has covered up. This discussion of the government secrets, theories, and mysteries surrounding aliens is packed with thought-provoking stories and shocking revelations of alien involvement in the lives of Earthlings. Read More...

The pioneering memory technique taught in this book removes the major obstacle to learning modern Mandarin Chinese: how to remember the meanings of more than 2,000 of the most common of traditional Chinese characters—enough to read more than 96 percent of the characters in almost any Chinese text. The lessons included here will help to learn new definitions at a breakneck pace, build up new characters using characters already learned, develop memory tricks to associate meanings with these characters, and fix meanings and characters forever in the mind. This unique manual provides a sure-fire way to master the most challenging and intimidating aspect of learning Chinese, vital for any student of the Chinese language. Read More...

From atomic bombs to zealous zombies, this cinefile’s guidebook reviews 1,000 of the wickedest, weirdest, and wackiest scary movies from every age of horror. With reviews on many overlooked, underappreciated gems such as Alice Sweet Alice, Daughters of Darkness, and Zombie, as well as the numerous Stephen King adaptations and modern updates such as Night of the Living Dead 3D and The Wolfman, new devotees as well as the discriminating dark-cinema enthusiast will love this big, beautiful, end-all, be-all guide to an always popular film genre. Established directors, including Wes Craven, John Carpenter, Tim Burton, David Cronenberg, and Guillermo del Toro are given their due, as are the new generation, represented by Larry Fessenden, James Wan, Alexandre Aja, and others. In addition to the hundreds of horror film reviews, this guide includes fascinating and fun top-10 lists and sidebars that are designed to lead fans to similar titles they might not have known about. Read More...

From John Muir pushing a president and a nation into setting aside vast preserves—including Yosemite, Sequoia, Mt. Rainer, and the Grand Canyon—to Julia “Butterfly” Hill saving a 1,000-year-old redwood while bringing to light the devastation of our old-growth forests, Friends of the Earth chronicles the efforts of the men and women who dedicated their lives to protecting the United States’ natural heritage. Other notable profiles include John James Audubon, who introduced the study of birds to North America; Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who worked to conserve the Florida Everglades; and Rachel Carson, who opened the world’s eyes to the dangers of pesticides. Together, these environmentalists’ inspiring life stories tell the history of American environmentalism, from its inception to the present day. In this comprehensive resource, children also learn how to put their concerns into action. Read More...

A fan guide to one of television's most exciting shows, exploring its combination of political intrigue and family dysfunction against an epic fantasy backdropHailed by critics and dubbed The Sopranos meets The Lord of the Rings, HBO's lavish adaptation of George R.R. Martin's series of fantasy novels has cast its spell over audiences thanks to its memorable characters, surprise deaths, and violent action, and this exhaustive guide will document the background dramas that have helped make it such a huge success. Readers will find biographies of the main actors, episode guides, an overview of how the show has already become part of pop culture, an in-depth look into the compelling world that George R.R. Martin created, and more. Read More...

Zoe Griffin's blog, Live Like A VIP, generates a six figure income, and she spends her life partying and writing about it—she explains how in this guide for aspiring bloggers If you're bored with being bossed around, frustrated that nobody is listening to your opinions, and want to work less and earn more, then you need to quit your job—and start a blog. There is no technical knowledge required: all you need is this book, a laptop, and an internet connection, and you could be blogging your way to wealth and happiness. With tips from the authors of the world's most respected and financially successful blogs on fashion, music, film, men's lifestyle, and women's lifestyle, this book explains how anyone can start up a blogging business from scratch. Read More...

Discover how beavers can fell trees, build dams, and create underwater lodges. Read More...

Explaining how the wind works, what windmills have contributed to the past, and why they offer environmental promise today as a source of clean, renewable energy, this revised and updated edition offers a glimpse into all the current and historical uses for wind power. Featuring new information on wind energy technology and wind farms, new photographs, and 24 wind-related activities—from keeping track of household energy use and conducting science experiments to cooking traditional meals and creating arts and crafts—this handy resource offers kids interested in the science of energy and green technologies an engaging, interactive, and contemporary overview of wind power. Read More...

A simple and stylish Bible retelling that sets 50 favorite stories in a meaningful contextAn accomplished author and illustrator team come together to present a children's Bible, full of charm and grace. Lois Rock uses all her understanding and skill as a leading Bible storyteller to retell 50 favorite stories from the Old and New Testaments, with simplicity and sincerity. Each story is prefaced with a one-line introduction explaining its place in the Bible, so children can gain a deeper understanding of the broader sweep and purpose of the Bible's stories as a whole. This beautifully presented keepsake Bible is graced with glowing pencil and watercolor illustrations, which add to its charm and appeal. Read More...

With step-by-step advice and exercises for African American parents and their children, this guide to fiscal responsibility sets out to establish new financial behavior so young people will avoid the personal economic problems that have plagued the culture. This book guides parents through a self-examination of their financial habits, and by performing the exercises included in this book and having candid discussions with their children, parents can become engaged citizens in the world of money. With new financial traditions and a better understanding of money and its meaning, the next generation will realize the true power of wealth and use their money wisely. Read More...

In this shocking exposé, investigative researcher and author S. K. Bain reveals the truth behind the mass-murdering psychopaths responsible for the events of September 11, 2001, and reconstructs the occult-driven script for this Global Luciferian MegaRitual. As Bain uncovers, the framework for the entire event was a psychological warfare campaign built upon a deadly foundation of black magick and high technology. The book details the sinister nature of the defining event of the 21st century and explains the vast scope of the machinery of oppression that has been constructed around us. Read More...

The first book of its kind to fully integrate sabermetrics and scouting, the 2013 Minor League Baseball Analyst provides a distinctive brand of analysis for more than 1,000 minor league baseball players. Features include scouting reports for all players, batter skills ratings, pitch repertoires, performance trends, major league equivalents, and expected major league debuts. A complete sabermetric glossary is also included. This one-of-a-kind reference is ideally suited for baseball analysts and those who play in fantasy leagues with farm systems. Read More...

Drawing from contemporary and traditional texts and music, this is a moving and uplifting guide to commemorating Yom Hashoah—Holocaust Remembrance Day. Enabling the growing audience of individuals, families, schools, and community groups to create new symbols in order to cope, understand, and remember those who were lost, this study includes a CD featuring songs by various artists in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish, providing a musical guide to the lyrics listed in the book itself. Illustrating the significance behind each part of the ritual, this consideration illuminates the rising worldwide movement among Jewish, Christian, interfaith, and secular groups to honor this meaningful occasion. Read More...

Mom's Choice Gold Award Winner for Values and Life LessonsThis fun and original picture book introduces Almigal, a spunky little girl with hearing loss who is now determined to hear every single sound in the universe thanks to her new cotton candy pink cochlear implants. These sounds include a baby’s funny giggle, the robin’s chirps outside the window, the soft song played during ballet class, and especially her best friend Chloe’s teeny-tiny voice. But most of all, Almigal wants to hear her parents whisper to her when they tuck her into bed every night. Almigal’s spirit will have both children and parents alike rooting for her, while the story delivers a positive message about accepting and celebrating differences. Read More...