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. ...

Politicians are consistently voted the least trusted professional group by the UK public. They`ve recently become embroiled in scandals concerning sexual harassment & expenses. Every year, they introduce new legislation that doesn`t do what it sets out to achieve
- often with terrible financial & human costs. But, with some notable exceptions, they are decent, hard-working people, doing a hugely difficult & demanding job. In this searching examination of our political class, award-winning journalist Isabel Hardman tries to square this circle. She lifts the lid on the strange world of Westminster & asks why we end up with representatives with whom we are so unhappy. Filled with forensic analysis & revealing reportage, this landmark & accessible book is a must read for anyone who wants to see a future with better government.
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We don`t think we hate cheap things, of course, but we rather behave as if we do, in the sense that we rarely properly appreciate what is always around us & doesn`t appear to cost very much, for example, the night sky, pencils, fried eggs, zips & the holding of hands. This volume explores the way we can easily grow disenchanted with our immediate circumstances & pine for what is exotic, costly & out of reach
- & it gently returns us to ourselves, full of new found wonder & gratitude. Combining literature, economics & sheer good sense, Why We Hate Cheap Things reawakens us to the world immediately around us & to the latent beauty & interest of what we have.
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On January 21, 2017, over 5 million people in 673 cities around the globe gathered in solidarity for the Women`s March, carrying signs that shone with unwavering hope & determination & demanded the protection of women`s rights, opposed the newly inaugurated U.S. president, & championed equality & justice for all. Why We March presents 300 of the most powerful, uplifting, clever, & creative signs from these marches. ” Nasty Women Unite.” ” Make America Think Again.” ” Build Bridges, Not Walls.” ” Girls Just Wanna Have Fundamental Rights.” ” Love Trumps Hate.” ”A Woman`s Place Is in the Resistance.” These images--featuring messages about reproductive rights & cabinet picks, immigration & police violence, climate change & feminism--together paint a striking portrait of resistance, despair, humour, & most of all, hope. This book will serve as a rallying cry for this burgeoning movement, & a valuable & timely encapsulation of an unprecedented moment in political history. ...

THE TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERTLS, OBSERVER, SUNDAY TIMES, FT, GUARDIAN, DAILY MAIL & EVENING STANDARD BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2017` Vital.. . a life-raft` Guardian`A top sleep scientist argues that sleep is more important for our health than diet or exercise` The Times` It had a powerful effect on me` Observer`I urge you all to read this book` Times Higher Education Sleep is one of the most important aspects of our life, health & longevity & yet it is increasingly neglected in twenty-first-century society, with devastating consequences: every major disease in the developed world
- Alzheimer`s, cancer, obesity, diabetes
- has very strong causal links to deficient sleep. Until very recently, science had no answer to the question of why we sleep, or what good it served, or why its absence is so damaging to our health. Compared to the other basic drives in life
- eating, drinking, & reproducing
- the purpose of sleep remained elusive. Now, in this book, the first of its kind written by a scientific expert, Professor Matthew Walker explores twenty years of cutting-edge research to solve the mystery of why sleep matters. Looking at creatures from across the animal kingdom as well as major human studies, Why We Sleep delves in to everything from what really happens during REM sleep to how caffeine & alcohol affect sleep & why our sleep patterns change across a lifetime, transforming our appreciation of the extraordinary phenomenon that safeguards our existence.



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THE TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER` Vital.. . a life-raft` Guardian`A top sleep scientist argues that sleep is more important for our health than diet or exercise` The Times` It had a powerful effect on me` Observer`I urge you all to read this book` Times Higher Education Sleep is one of the most important aspects of our life, health & longevity & yet it is increasingly neglected in twenty-first-century society, with devastating consequences: every major disease in the developed world
- Alzheimer`s, cancer, obesity, diabetes
- has very strong causal links to deficient sleep. Until very recently, science had no answer to the question of why we sleep, or what good it served, or why its absence is so damaging to our health. Compared to the other basic drives in life
- eating, drinking, & reproducing
- the purpose of sleep remained elusive. Now, in this book, the first of its kind written by a scientific expert, Professor Matthew Walker explores twenty years of cutting-edge research to solve the mystery of why sleep matters. Looking at creatures from across the animal kingdom as well as major human studies, Why We Sleep delves in to everything from what really happens during REM sleep to how caffeine & alcohol affect sleep & why our sleep patterns change across a lifetime, transforming our appreciation of the extraordinary phenomenon that safeguards our existence.



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Mike doesn`t get why people think he`s boring. Sure, he doesn`t have many friends. (OK, zero friends.) & everyone laughs at him when he reads his essays out loud in class. & he`s never invited to parties. But one day Tschick, the odd new boy at school, shows up at Mike`s house out of the blue. He dares him to go on a road trip with him. No parents, no map, no destination. Will they get hopelessly lost in the middle of nowhere? Probably. Will they meet crazy people & get into serious trouble? Definitely. But will they ever be called boring again? Not a chance. ” You will see the world with different eyes after reading this novel”. (Rolling Stone Winner of the German Teen Literature Prize). ...

A charming collection of stories & fables inspired by Britain`s nineteen species of native trees, written by nineteen of Britain`s leading authors. Why Willows Weep is edited by Tracy Chevalier, bestselling author of Girl with a Pearl Earring, & contains beautiful colour illustrations by Canadian artist Leanne Shapton. With sales in hardback of 10, 000 this collection has already helped the Woodland Trust plant nearly 50, 000 trees across the United Kingdom, & it is now available in paperback for the first time. ...