*A SCOTSMAN TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR* Stranded at Schiphol airport, Ben Coates called up a friendly Dutch girl he`d met some months earlier. He stayed for dinner. Actually, he stayed for good. In the first book to consider the hidden heart & history of the Netherlands from a modern perspective, the author explores the length & breadth of his adopted homeland & discovers why one of the world`s smallest countries is also so significant & so fascinating. It is a self-made country, the Dutch national character shaped by the ongoing battle to keep the water out from the love of dairy & beer to the attitude to nature & the famous tolerance. Ben Coates investigates what makes the Dutch the Dutch, why the Netherlands is much more than Holland & why the colour orange is so important. Along the way he reveals why they are the world`s tallest people & have the best carnival outside Brazil. He learns why Amsterdam`s brothels are going out of business, who really killed Anne Frank, & how the Dutch manage to be richer than almost everyone else despite working far less. He also discovers a country which is changing fast, with the Dutch now questioning many of the liberal policies which made their nation famous. A personal portrait of a fascinating people, a sideways history & an entertaining travelogue, Why the Dutch are Different is the story of an Englishman who went Dutch. & loved it. ...

A hilarious guessing game of facial reactions created by the author of bestselling This Is Not A Book Jean Jullien tickles the funnybone once again with a book of facial overreactions. Faces are presented first, allowing the reader to wager predictions of what may have prompted such an expression, before the dramatic answer is revealed. Why the face? reads the text alongside an agitated boy with eyes & nose scrunched up. Pick up the full-page flap to reveal a whole mess of smelly items, from stinky socks to an oozing trash can, & the text, Whoa, that stinks. Jullien masterfully provides enough clues for the reader to piece together the narrative, including both predictable & surprising scenarios. Based on young children`s natural fascination with faces, this book encourages readers to practice empathy & build emotional intelligence, with cleverly simplified & humorously satisfying vignettes. A brilliant addition to Phaidon`s growing Jean Jullien board book library. Ages 2-4 ...

In the middle of the eighteenth century, British entrepreneurs unleashed the astounding energies of steam & coal & the world changed forever. Factories, railways & gunboats then propelled the West`s rise to power, & computers & nuclear weapons in the twentieth century secured its global supremacy. Today, however, many worry that the emergence of China & India spell the end of the West as a superpower. How long will the power of the West last? In order to find out we need to know: why has the West been so dominant for the past two hundred years? With flair & authority, historian & achaeologist Ian Morris draws uniquely on 15, 000 years of history to offer fresh insights on what the future will bring. Deeply researched & brilliantly argued, Why The West Rules
- For Now is a gripping & truly original history of the world.
...

This is an exciting adventure & friendship story by a much-loved, award winning author. Gracie & her friend, Daniel have always been warned to stay away from the Birdman & his side of the isl&. But then, they find a message in the sand & discover the Birdman is not who they thought. They build up a lovely friendship with him, but when the children get stranded on Samson Island they don`t know whether to believe the birdman`s story that the island is cursed. Set on a remote island against the backdrop of World War I, this story will captivate & delight young readers. ...

The Conservative Party wants to win the 2015 general election with an outright majority. But what should be the party`s purpose in government? In this unique guide, Conservative MP Nick Herbert explores the values that have ensured the party`s success for the better part of the last hundred years, & sets out how they should be applied to build another Conservative century. Why Vote Conservative 2015 proposes a radical Conservative agenda to reform political institutions, bring government closer to the people, personalise public services & lower taxes. ...

With a foreword by Ed Miliband Will the 2015 general election herald the return of a Labour-dominated government? Could another coalition be on the cards with a rival party, or will the Labour Party be doomed to remain in opposition for another term? In this concise & authoritative guide, Dan Jarvis MP brings together a cast of Labour`s brightest & best to explain how the Labour Party proposes to address the problems facing the nation today if they win power in 2015. Exploring the party`s key policies, agendas & traditional commitments, with case studies & contributions from experts & members of the public, Why Vote Labour 2015 will prove invaluable in helping you decide where to place your vote on 7 May. ...

Is it time to leave the EU? MEP & award-winning political writer Daniel Hannan argues for a British exit ahead of the coming referendum. Hannan argues that the EU is past its sell-by date, rendered obsolete by technological advances, shrinking economically & less relevant to our economic needs than ever. He shows that any renegotiation is doomed to fail: the EU can`t reform, can`t be democratic & can`t be divorced from its goal of ever-closer political union. Staying in does not mean staying the same & a vote to leave
- far from being the risky choice
- is actually the safe one. Finally Hannan demonstrates that Britain doesn`t have to stay in the EU to remain at the heart of Europe & considers the global role a confident nation freed from EU strictures could play.

...

The 2010 general election saw the largest popular vote for the Liberal Democrats since the party`s creation, but will they build on that success in 2015? Could they become partners in another coalition government or will they join the ranks in opposition? In this concise & accessible guide, Liberal Democrat Jeremy Browne explains how the Lib Dems are best placed to tackle both the problems facing the nation today & those of its future
- & why they deserve your vote on 7 May. By exploring the party`s key policies, agendas & traditional commitments, Why Vote Liberal Democrat 2015 will prove invaluable in helping you decide where to place your vote.
...

Will UKIP follow their European election success of 2014 & make unprecedented gains at the next general election? In this concise & accessible guide, UKIP`s deputy chairman Suzanne Evans explains what the UK would look like under the leadership of Nigel Farage, & why a vote for UKIP is a vote for Britain. By exploring the party`s key policies, agendas & commitments, Why Vote UKIP 2015 will prove invaluable in helping you decide where to place your vote. ...

In this deeply informed book, renowned historian Jeremy Black addresses the crucial question of why wars happen, bridging the disciplines of history, political science & international relations, & spanning over the centuries. Black marshals an astonishing range of material from all corners of the globe, & demonstrates the universalities of conflict. What then causes wars? Do they primarily reflect bellicosity in societies & states, or do they arise as the result of the breakdown of diplomatic systems? How far are the causes of war related to changes in the nature of warfare, of the international system or of the internal character of states? Black looks at the problems of deepening war, & analyses the three main forms of conflict: wars across cultures, wars within cultures & civil war. He also assesses the present situation & asks where we are heading in terms of future wars. ...