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.
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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. ...

The recent groundswell of support for the Greens has made them something of a dark horse in British politics. Will the party build on Caroline Lucas`s 2010 breakthrough & convince the electorate that they will govern for more than just the environment? Deputy leader Shahrar Ali recruits some of the Greens` leading thinkers & activists to explore how the party provides a credible left-wing alternative to Labour in 2015. Setting out the party`s key policies, commitments & ambitions, Why Vote Green 2015 creates a compelling case for the Greens as a party of government, & will prove invaluable in helping you decide where to place your vote. With a foreword by Jenny Jones ...

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. ...

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.
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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. ...

Why We Climb is a celebration, in word & image, of those aspects of the climbing life that are most universal, meaningful, & long lasting- the strong connection to partners & nature; the physical & mental mastery required (and how to achieve it); the rewards of exploring oneself & the world through climbing. Through interviews with some of North America`s most notable climbers the book undertakes a quest to find the soul of climbing- asking what compels men & women to dedicate their lives to the challenges & deprivations of living in a vertical world? What are the sacrifices & what are the rewards? & most importantly, can the lessons learned on cliff faces, frozen waterfalls, & alpine peaks- lessons of respect, discipline, commitment, humility & simplicity-be brought home & used to benefit society as a whole? ...

Climate change is not `a problem` waiting for `a solution`. It is an environmental, cultural & political phenomenon which is re-shaping the way we think about ourselves, our societies & humanity`s place on Earth. Drawing upon twenty-five years of professional work as an international climate change scientist & public commentator, Mike Hulme provides a unique insider`s account of the emergence of this phenomenon & the diverse ways in which it is understood. He uses different standpoints from science, economics, faith, psychology, communication, sociology, politics & development to explain why we disagree about climate change. In this way he shows that climate change, far from being simply an `issue` or a `threat`, can act as a catalyst to revise our perception of our place in the world. Why We Disagree About Climate Change is an important contribution to the ongoing debate over climate change & its likely impact on our lives. ...