In The Future is History Masha Gessen follows the lives of four Russians, born as the Soviet Union crumbled, at what promised to be the dawn of democracy. Each came of age with unprecedented expectations, some as the children or grandchildren of the very architects of the new Russia, each with newfound aspirations of their own
- as entrepreneurs, activists, thinkers & writers, sexual & social beings. Gessen charts their paths not only against the machinations of the regime that would seek to crush them all (censorship, intimidation, violence) but also against the war it waged on understanding itself, ensuring the unobstructed emergence of the old Soviet order in the form of today`s terrifying & seemingly unstoppable mafia state. The Future is History is a powerful & urgent cautionary tale by contemporary Russia`s most fearless inquisitor.
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In The Future is History Masha Gessen follows the lives of four Russians, born as the Soviet Union crumbled, at what promised to be the dawn of democracy. Each came of age with unprecedented expectations, some as the children or grandchildren of the very architects of the new Russia, each with newfound aspirations of their own
- as entrepreneurs, activists, thinkers & writers, sexual & social beings. Gessen charts their paths not only against the machinations of the regime that would seek to crush them all (censorship, intimidation, violence) but also against the war it waged on understanding itself, ensuring the unobstructed emergence of the old Soviet order in the form of today`s terrifying & seemingly unstoppable mafia state. The Future is History is a powerful & urgent cautionary tale by contemporary Russia`s most fearless inquisitor.
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The 1 bestselling author of The Future of the Mind brings us a stunning new vision of our future in space Human civilization ...

For as long as there have been wars there have been fears about the next war. Where are the new dangers? What is the best defence? How might peace come about? This is the history of how over the last 150 years we have tried
- rightly & wrongly
- to predict war`s future. ` Britain`s leading academic strategist.. . read this book` Economist` Insightful & opinionated.. . expertly covers centuries of evolving mayhem` Gary J. Bass, The New York Times`A bonfire of predictions.. . Freedman`s purpose in this wise book is to discern patterns in the way we have thought about war`s future` Shashank Joshi, Financial Times` It reflects the author`s immense knowledge & wisdom. It should feed our humility, because it reminds us of mankind`s unlimited capacity for folly` Max Hastings, The Times

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A new approach to ideas about war, from one of the UK`s leading strategic thinkers In 1912 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote a short story about a war fought from underwater submersibles that included the sinking of passenger ships. It was dismissed by the British admirals of the day, not on the basis of technical feasibility, but because sinking civilian ships was not something that any civilised nation would do. The reality of war often contradicts expectations, less because of some fantastic technical or engineering dimension, but more because of some human, political, or moral threshold that we had never imagined would be crossed. As Lawrence Freedman shows, ideas about the causes of war & strategies for its conduct have rich & varied histories which shape predictions about the future. Freedman shows how looking at how the future of war was conceived about in the past (and why this was more often than not wrong) can put into perspective current thinking about future conflicts. The Future of War
- which takes us from preparations for the world wars, through the nuclear age & the civil wars which became the focus for debate after the end of the Cold War, to present preoccupations with hybrid & cyber warfare
- is filled with fascinating insights from one of the most brilliant military & strategic historians of his generation.

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Formed of dramatic volcanic scenery & home to marvellous beasts, it is little wonder that the first name for the Galapagos archipelago was Las Encantadas: the enchanted islands. In this captivating natural history, Henry Nicholls builds up the ecology of these famous islands, from their explosive origins to the arrival of the archipelago`s celebrated reptiles & ultimately humans. It`s a story of change, as the islands are transformed from lava-strewn wilderness into a vital scientific resource & a sought-after destination for eco-enthusiasts. Charles Darwin`s five-week visit to the Galapagos in 1835 played a pivotal role in this transformation. At the time, he was more interested in rocks than finches, took the opportunity to ride on the backs of tortoises & fling iguanas into the sea. Yet the Galapagos experience can be an inspiration & it certainly was for Darwin, pointing him towards one of the most important & influential ideas in the history of humankind: evolution by natural selection. & with the Darwin connection, the Galapagos found itself propelled onto a global stage. But worldwide fame has brought with it nearly 200, 000 tourists a year & a human population now estimated at around 30, 000. If Darwin learned from the Galapagos, so we must too. For what happens here in years to come foreshadows the fate of threatened ecosystems everywhere on earth. ...

Over half-a-century ago fanciful & exotic stories began to appear in the world`s press about settlers on the remote Galapagos island of Floreana. The tales were of nudism, free love communes, stainless steel dentures
- a latter-day Garden of Eden. But the truth was even stranger. Friedrich Ritter, an eccentric German intellectual, & his long-suffering companion Dora Strauch, were the first arrivals. Once established, they were soon joined by others. Most bizarre & dangerous was the self-styled Baroness Wagner-Bosquet. She ruled her three young male lovers with a riding crop, a pearl-handled revolver & insatiable sexual demands
- terrorising other settlers. Her mysterious disappearance & the discovery of unidentified bodies on a nearby island perplexed the world. Now The Galapagos Affair unravels the whole incredible story.

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Meet Charlie. People think he's crazy. But he's not. People think he's stupid. But he's not. People think he's innocent... He's the Gamal. Charlie has a story to tell, about his best friends Sinead & James & the bad things that happened. But he can't tell it yet, at least not till he's worked out where the beginning is. Because is the beginning long ago when Sinead first spoke up for him after Charlie got in trouble at school for the millionth time? Or was it later, when Sinead & James followed the music & found each other? Or was it later still on that terrible night when something unspeakable happened after closing time & someone chose to turn a blind eye? Charlie has promised Dr Quinn he'll write 1, 000 words a day, but it's hard to know which words to write. & which secrets to tell... This is the story of the dark heart of an Irish village, of how daring to be different can be dangerous & how there is nothing a person will not do for love. Exhilarating, bitingly funny & unforgettably poignant, this is a story like no other. This is the story of the Gamal. ...

With 16 well-researched chapters & 26 useful maps, this new thoroughly updated second edition of Bradt`s The Gambia remains the most comprehensive guide available in any language to what is the smallest country on mainland Africa. Significant development has taken place in recent years & this new edition offers all the latest updates, including new restaurants & hotels, detailed coverage of the many new eco lodges & camps that have sprung up, information on festivals, music workshops & opportunities to experience the unique local culture, & informed advice about birdwatching possibilities in a country very popular with first-time birders to Africa. As well as encompassing the popular coastal resorts, the guide also provides all the detailed information required to explore the relatively undeveloped interior, making it ideal for both visitors on organised packaged holidays & independent travellers alike. Bradt`s The Gambia reveals all the background & practical information needed to explore arguably Africa`s most welcoming & safest country with its plethora of beach resorts
- catering to all tastes & budgets
- that line the 80km stretch of tropical coastline running from the capital Banjul to the remote southern border. Small in size but rich in African character, The Gambia offers perhaps the closest English-speaking `winter sun` destination from Europe & is also an emerging destination for adventure activities such as kayaking, mountain bike tours, quad biking & parachuting. Justifiably popular with birdwatchers, the lush mangrove- & jungle-fringed river is also home to crocodiles, hippos, chimpanzees & a variety of monkeys. Historic attractions include the mysterious megalithic stone circles at Wassu & Ker Batch, & the fortified James Island & former slave-trading village of Juffureh (to where Alex Haley traced his ancestry in the book & TV programme Roots)
- all of which form part of the country`s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites & offer rich pickings to moderately adventurous travellers. All in all, Bradt`s The Gambia is the perfect companion for discovering this safe, welcoming & decidedly tourist-friendly English-speaking country which makes for an ideal short-stay introduction to the unique atmosphere of Africa.


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The Gambia in the Travel Guide series from Bradt; encompassing a comprehensive range of titles to destinations worldwide, with a particular focus on Africa, Central & South America. Bradt are one of the country’s leading independent publishers & have an ethos that focuses on responsible travel, in alliance with a philosophy of sustainability; both in the destinations the guides cover but also in encouraging tourists to limit the impact they have on the local environment. Bradt guides have a reputation for appealing to more independent travelers & often cover destinations that are not available from other publishers. Each guide opens with two comprehensive chapters on Background & Practical Information, covering details of the country’s geography, culture, natural history, government & politics, economy, people, language, religion, education & culture. Important practical advice

Includes:: when to visit, highlights, suggested itineraries, tour operators, red tape, embassies & consulates, getting there & away, health, safety, what to take, money, budgeting, getting around, accommodation, eating & drinking, public holidays, shopping, arts & entertainment, media & communications, business, travel culture & cultural etiquette. Individual sections are organized geographically by region & typically open with information on practicalities & orientation, before focusing on what to see & where to go. Information on what to see, where to stay, where to eat & how to find your way around is provided, with a range of budgets catered for. Simple black & white maps locate key visitor sites & places of accommodation. Bradt Travel Guides include appendices that provide an in-depth introduction to the language of each country, a glossary of terms & a listing of books & internet resources providing further information on the destination.

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