A More Perfect Heaven: How Copernicus Revolutionized the Cosmos


Dava Sobel - 2011
    Over the next two decades, Copernicus expanded his theory through hundreds of observations, while compiling in secret a book-length manuscript that tantalized mathematicians and scientists throughout Europe. For fear of ridicule, he refused to publish.In 1539, a young German mathematician, Georg Joachim Rheticus, drawn by rumors of a revolution to rival the religious upheaval of Martin Luther's Reformation, traveled to Poland to seek out Copernicus. Two years later, the Protestant youth took leave of his aging Catholic mentor and arranged to have Copernicus's manuscript published, in 1543, as De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres)-the book that forever changed humankind's place in the universe.In her elegant, compelling style, Dava Sobel chronicles, as nobody has, the conflicting personalities and extraordinary discoveries that shaped the Copernican Revolution. At the heart of the book is her play And the Sun Stood Still, imagining Rheticus's struggle to convince Copernicus to let his manuscript see the light of day. As she achieved with her bestsellers Longitude and Galileo's Daughter, Sobel expands the bounds of narration, giving us an unforgettable portrait of scientific achievement, and of the ever-present tensions between science and faith.

An Incomplete Education: 3,684 Things You Should Have Learned But Probably Didn't


Judy Jones - 1987
    Now this instant classic has been completely updated, outfitted with a whole new arsenal of indispensable knowledge on global affairs, popular culture, economic trends, scientific principles, and modern arts. Here's your chance to brush up on all those subjects you slept through in school, reacquaint yourself with all the facts you once knew (then promptly forgot), catch up on major developments in the world today, and become the Renaissance man or woman you always knew you could be! How do you tell the Balkans from the Caucasus? What's the difference between fission and fusion? Whigs and Tories? Shiites and Sunnis? Deduction and induction? Why aren't all Shakespearean comedies necessarily thigh-slappers? What are transcendental numbers and what are they good for? What really happened in Plato's cave? Is postmodernism dead or just having a bad hair day? And for extra credit, when should you use the adjective continual and when should you use continuous? An Incomplete Education answers these and thousands of other questions with incomparable wit, style, and clarity. American Studies, Art History, Economics, Film, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religion, Science, and World History: Here's the bottom line on each of these major disciplines, distilled to its essence and served up with consummate flair.

Coming of Age in the Milky Way


Timothy Ferris - 1988
    From the first time mankind had an inkling of the vast space that surrounds us, those who study the universe have had to struggle against political and religious preconceptions. They have included some of the most charismatic, courageous, and idiosyncratic thinkers of all time. In Coming of Age in the Milky Way, Timothy Ferris uses his unique blend of rigorous research and captivating narrative skill to draw us into the lives and minds of these extraordinary figures, creating a landmark work of scientific history.

Crock Pot Cookbook: 440 Slow Cooker Recipes


Robert Wilson - 2010
    It was pretty obvious that people found something on the internet for free and put it on Amazon to sell, but for only 99 cents I figured there wasn't much to lose so I bought one. Turned out to be totally useless. There was no table of contents and there were two or three blank pages between each recipe. That meant a lot of clicking on the Kindle just to see what's there. I didn't bother trying to click through all the recipes - I was afraid I'd wear out my little clicker. Instead, I went to google and immediately found what people were downloading, a .pdf file with 470 recipes in alphabetical order. Hence "Artichoke Chicken and Olives" was next to "Artichoke and Cheese Dip" but if you want to browse all the chicken recipes you're out of luck. So I converted this .pdf file to something I could work with and proceeded to reorganize the recipes into categories and build a table of contents. Now if you've got a chicken sitting in your fridge screaming at you to do something before it gets too old you can go to the "Chicken and Turkey" section of the table of contents and scan through the titles or click on the first one and start glancing at the recipes until you find something that strikes your fancy. I also standardized the recipe formats and abbreviations and included a little information about converting the U.S. measurements for those of you that have advanced on to the metric system and now only use teaspoons for stirring your tea. Some of these recipes mention brand name products. If those products aren't available where you are you're just going to have to call me bad names and either wing it or try another recipe. There are plenty of recipes that only call for natural and/or fresh ingredients though. Revised: 30 August 2011

History Lover's Cookbook


Roxe Anne Peacock - 2012
    Lee stood under an apple tree to dispatch his surrender to General Grant. Do you know what he was eating when he surrendered?Prepare a picnic of lemonade, raspberry shrub, mint julep, fried chicken, ham sandwiches, potato salad with boiled dressing, cold slaw, soda biscuits and quince marmalade to observe one of the many Civil War re-enactments throughout the United States.Enjoy eating tea cakes while viewing more than 150 full-color photos of replica Civil War items, re-enactors portraying Abraham Lincoln, Generals Custer, Lee and Grant, foods and recipes inspired by the nineteenth century.Share in the Union’s Thanksgiving holiday by preparing recipes from the chapter, Siege at Petersburg.Find out what General Grant ate every morning with his breakfast.Roxe Anne Peacock brings the nineteenth century and Civil War era to life through the wonderful photography depicted throughout the book.

Houdini: A Life Worth Reading


Higher Read - 2014
    He was also a pilot, an author, an actor, and a rabid opponent of the Spiritualist movement. He was impatient of charlatans and imitators and loving to his family. He had an impressive ego. If any of these facts are new to you, then Houdini: A Life Worth Reading is the perfect primer on the man who was, by the end of his life, known only as Houdini. From his Nude Cell Escape (yes, that is exactly like it sounds) to his methodical debunking of mediums, Houdini orchestrated his talent, persona, and career with care, enthusiasm, and determination. With an easy-to-read biography, writings from Houdini himself, and quick-fact introductions to each chapter, Houdini: A Life Worth Reading will tell you what you want most to know about the King of Handcuffs, also known as Ehrich Weisz, also known as the great Houdini.

Sleep Secrets: How to Fall Asleep Fast, Beat Fatigue and Insomnia and Get A Great Night's Sleep


Ronald M. Bazar - 2015
    Insomnia, sleep deprivation, snoring and sleep apnea — this comprehensive resource has it all. … Dr. Andrew Weil Andrew Thomas Weil is an American medical doctor, teacher, and best-selling author on holistic health. He is founder, professor, and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. * * * * * * * * After decades of research, author, Ronald M. Bazar, presents Sleep Secrets, an all-inclusive guide to discovering the underlying causes of your insomnia and how to cure it. From ancient time-proven sleep wisdom to cutting-edge products, from expert sleep-doctor advice to insightful tips, from new research insights to highly successful mind-body methodologies and breakthrough practices, this remarkable resource gives you all of the information you need to change your sleep habits forever. Bazar has had decades of direct experience in natural and alternative health solutions as well as manufacturing and retailing good-sleep products. In the author’s own words: My research in those fields has aided me in my pursuit to find as many pieces as I could to the puzzle of insomnia. What I realize from my research is that every one of us is unique and the problems that stand in our way of having a good night’s sleep are individual to each of us. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to solving your sleep difficulties. And that’s where my new book, Sleep Secrets, displays its strength. Sleep Secrets will give you the information you need to discover the underlying causes of your insomnia. As well, it will encourage you to choose the solutions that work for you, your lifestyle and your special requirements. Sleep Secrets is for you if: • You have trouble sleeping even when you are tired. • You worry instead of falling asleep. • You take more than 30 minutes to fall asleep. • You wake in the night and take more than 30 minutes to fall back to sleep. • You have sleep patterns that negatively affect your sex life. • You want to stop taking sleeping pills. • You wake up exhausted. • You are fatigued at work. • You are drowsy and have difficulty concentrating. • You are moody or depressed. • You suffer from increasing health issues. • You suffer from snoring or sleep apnea. • You realize lack of sleep is affecting your work, your relationships and possibly your physical safety. • You are young or old and suffer from sleep deprivation. Sleep Secrets is a comprehensive, educational, and entertaining resource guide designed to help you find your unique sleep solutions and enjoy deep, restful, rejuvenating sleep. Scroll back to the top of the page and select the Buy button.

The Great Train Robbery


Michael Crichton - 1975
    Rich, handsome, and ingenious, he charms the city's most prominent citizens even as he plots the crime of his century, the daring theft of a fortune in gold. But even Pierce could not predict the consequences of an extraordinary robbery that targets the pride of England's industrial era: the mighty steam locomotive. Based on remarkable fact, and alive with the gripping suspense, surprise, and authenticity that are his trademarks, Michael Crichton's classic adventure is a breathtaking thrill-ride that races along tracks of steel at breakneck speed.

A Christmas Memory, One Christmas, & The Thanksgiving Visitor


Truman Capote - 1996
    Taking its place next to Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Blood on the Modern Library bookshelf is this new and original edition of Capote's most famous short stories: "A Christmas Memory, " "One Christmas, " and "The Thanksgiving Visitor." All three stories are distinguished by Capote's delicate interplay of childhood sensibility and recollective vision, evoking a strong sense of place.

Lorna Doone


R.D. Blackmore - 1869
    He is just a boy when his father is slain by the Doones, a lawless clan inhabiting wild Exmoor on the border of Somerset and Devon. Seized by curiosity and a sense of adventure, he makes his way to the valley of the Doones, where he is discovered by the beautiful Lorna. In time their childish fantasies blossom into mature love—a bond that will inspire John to rescue his beloved from the ravages of a stormy winter, rekindling a conflict with his archrival, Carver Doone, that climaxes in heartrending violence. Beloved for its portrait of star-crossed lovers and its surpassing descriptions of the English countryside, Lorna Doone is R. D. Blackmore’s enduring masterpiece.

Strange Tales of Scotland


Jack Strange - 2017
     The first chapter tells of the ghost that appeared at the wedding of King Alexander II, and the second one of monsters such as the Shellycoat and Water-horse that were thought to inhabit Scotland’s lochs. Another part of the book deals exclusively with Loch Ness and the strange happenings at that mysterious body of water. Later, we have a look at the mysterious deaths at the Flannan Islands Lighthouse, and at the strange creatures that were once believed to infest the hills and glens of Scotland, including the terrifying brollachan and the slaugh. Tales of Mermaids and Fin-men are unearthed, as are terrible stories of Scotland’s caves, including human sacrifice at Moray’s Sculptor’s Cave. The legends of Roslin Chapel and its nearby castle are examined, with the possible connection to the Knights Templar. Finally, we have a look at the legend of the phantom armies of Scotland; soldiers who refuse to fade away even centuries after their wars have been fought, and their causes faded in history. Welcome to the Strange Tales of Scotland.