Using essays from renowned archaeologists, historians & scholars as the core of each chapter, this book explains Kazakhstan s long & complex history as a single flowing narrative, complemented by a range of beautiful maps & images, from exquisite museum pieces to landscapes that place you within the hauntingly beautiful environment that molded the region s rich social fabric. The reader is taken on a fascinating journey, from pre-history when changing climate & habitats opened up new areas to human migration, through the globally significant era of the warrior nomads & city-states along the trading routes between East & West, to the colonization of Central Asia by Imperial Russia & the chaos of the Soviet period. Independence for the Central Asian states has seen Kazakhstan take a leading role in the region, & the exciting prospects of this modern state suggest a future as rich & engaging as its past.” ...

This fully illustrated history is divided geographically according to the sequence of succeeding Thai kingdoms. Each section follows a historical chronology, covering accounts of major events during each reign, with an assessment of the character of individual kings & their particular achievements, together with those of other major players. This record of events is blended with descriptive passages about monuments surviving today that are relevant to & help illuminate the history. Political development is thus paralleled by Thailand`s cultural development, especially in relation to the religious & royal architecture. Thailand`s historical progression has been complex, & although the foundations of national identity
- religion & monarchy in particular
- were established in the earliest days of statehood dating back to the 13th century, it is only in comparatively recent times that all elements
- social, political, cultural & linguistic -have cohered into what is recognizable today as Thai & Thail&. By linking the text to existing landmarks the history provides both an enjoyable read in its own right & a fascinating guide to the monuments & buildings that visitors can see on their travels around the country.


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Beginning with a definition of who the people of The Philippines are, this fully illustrated history then tracks back to describe the prehistory of the country through to 1500 AD. The next two chapters chart the colonial experiences under Spain (1500-1896), then the first republic & the subsequent defeat by the United States (1860-1910). Following this are chapters on the Japanese occupation & the third republic (1910-1972). Next comes a description of the Marcos dictatorship & its consequences (1970-1986) & the book ends with a look at the fifth republic & the future of the country. Ray Canoy`s authoritative text describes the history of The Philippines from pre-history to the present day ...

Beautifully written yet considered by some controversial, ” An Image of Africa” asserts Achebe`s belief in Joseph Conrad as a `bloody racist` & his conviction that Conrad`s novel Heart of Darkness only serves to perpetuate damaging stereotypes of black people, while ” The Trouble with Nigeria” is a searing outpouring of Achebe`s frustrations with his country. Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves
- & each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war & revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked & comforted. They have enriched lives
- & destroyed them. This is one of those books
- whether you agree with Achebe`s sentiments or not, you won`t regret reading this collection.


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Born in Britain in 1960, James Orbinski`s family moved to Canada when he was seven years old. As a young man, he became a medic to learn how to help, & deal with, the suffering of others. From then on he was plunged into many highly demanding situations, including being Head of Mission for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) during the Rwandan genocide; engaging with the politics of humanitarian work as the President of MSF; being in New York when the twin towers of the World Trade Center fell on September 11; co-founding Dignitas International (an AIDS charity); & finally, returning to Rwanda on the 10th anniversary of the crisis there. In An Imperfect Offering, Orbinski not only tells his own inspiring story but is also remarkably provocative about what governments & agencies should & shouldn`t be doing to help the world`s poor & very sick. At the same time, he addresses what part each of us can play, so that we never lose sight of the dignity of those being helped, or deny them the right to act in their own lives. His conclusion is blunt & profound: ` Humanity is lost or saved one person at a time, one intention at a time, & one action at a time. There are no utopias waiting to be born. There is only what we do
- what you choose to do...`
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This beach on the South Indian coast is full of activity. By day you can see fishermen bring in the catch, women selling fish, people & animals going about their business...but then, when the sun starts to set, the beach becomes a different place
- now it`s time for everyone to play, talk, sit around, eat & have fun...until the fisherfolk go to sleep, & all the others go home. French artist Joelle Jolivet takes you through a day
- & night
- on an Indian beach. Have fun exploring, colouring, & adding to this never-ending book surrounded by the sea!


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The Ramayana
- the Journey of Rama
- is India`s best-loved book, an inspiration to school-children, monks & moviemakers,

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The jaguar is one of the most mysterious & least-known big cats of the world. The largest cat in the Americas, it has survived an onslaught of environmental & human threats partly because of an evolutionary history unique among wild felines, but also because of a power & indomitable spirit so strong, the jaguar has shaped indigenous cultures & the beliefs of early civilizations on two continents. In An Indomitable Beast: The Remarkable Journey of the Jaguar, big-cat expert Alan Rabinowitz shares his own personal journey to conserve a species that, despite its past resilience, is now on a slide toward extinction if something is not done to preserve the pathways it prowls through an ever-changing, ever-shifting landscape dominated by humans. Rabinowitz reveals how he learned from newly available genetic data that the jaguar was a single species connected genetically throughout its entire range from Mexico to Argentina, making it unique among all other large carnivores in the world. In a mix of personal discovery & scientific inquiry, he sweeps his readers deep into the realm of the jaguar, offering fascinating accounts from the field. Enhanced with maps, tables, & colour plates, An Indomitable Beast brings important new research to life for scientists, anthropologists, & animal lovers alike. This book is not only about jaguars, but also about tenacity & survival. From the jaguar we can learn better strategies for saving other species & also how to save ourselves when faced with immediate & long-term catastrophic changes to our environment. ...

London is a modern, stylish & ever-changing city & this pocket-sized book takes you on a tour with a vibrant, bold & new approach to information that matches the capitol perfectly. Using infographics to bring the nuggets of information to life through images & graphics, you can read & enjoy hundreds of fascinating facts in a beautiful book that`s easy to read & ideal for children. Whether you`re visiting or curious from afar, you can tour London`s boroughs, ride its transport, look back at its disease-ridden history, meet the famous residents
- past & present
- & much more, all within this one packed book. This is non-fiction for the modern generation. With pages filled with vivid colours, graphic visuals & bold designs, this guide brings London`s facts, history & events to life like never before.

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Robert Louis Stevenson was not only a gifted writer; he was also an indefatigable traveller. His thirst for adventure was formed by his boyhood visits to remote Scottish lighthouses, & he spent much of his life fleeing the rigours of cold climes & social orthodoxy. Along the way he travelled through the Cevennes with a donkey, booked passage to & across America, & finally famously settled in Samoa in the South Pacific. The canoeing trip through Belgium & northern France that Stevenson describes in An Inland Voyage was taken in 1876, when the author was 26 years old. Stevenson & his companion, Sir Walter Grindlay Simpson, each had a kayak A-style wooden canoe, with a deck & rigged with a sail. Starting in Belgium & then travelling downriver in France from Maubeuge (near Mons) to Pontoise on the outskirts of Paris, the book paints a charming picture of Western Europe at a more innocent time. ...