Any word might be knocked and buffeted, subjected to twists and turns, expansions and contractions, happy and unhappy accidents. There are intriguing tales behind even the most familiar terms, and they can say as much about the present as they do the past.Busking, for instance, originally meant piracy. Grin meant to snarl. A bimbo was a man; nice meant ignorant; glamor was magic, and a cupboard was a table. Buxom used to mean obedient; a cloud was a rock; raunchy originally meant dirty.Focusing on one hundred surprising threads in the evolution of English, The Accidental Dictionary reveals the etymological origins and quirky developments that have led to the meanings we take for granted today. It is a weird and wonderful journey into words.So, let's revel in its randomness and delight in its diversity—our dictionary is indeed accidental.

    In it she has made her name as a wickedly subversive commentator on the world in which we live. Her central themes are the classics, universities and teaching—and much else besides. What are academics for? Who was the first African Roman emperor? Looting—ancient and modern. Are modern exams easier? Keep Lesbos for the Lesbians. Did St Valentine exist? What made the Romans laugh? That is just a small taste of this selection (and some of the choicer responses) which will inform, occasionally provoke and cannot fail to entertain.

    This candid autobiography will demystify medical education and inspire you. Equal parts heartfelt, self-deprecating humor, and irreverent storytelling, John takes us along for the ride as he tracks his transformation from uncertain, head injured, liberal-arts student to intern, resident and then medical doctor.

    In her first book, The Word Spy, she shared with us the secrets she'd learnt about English, from the first alphabet in 4000 BC right up to the tricks of modern texting. In The Return of the Word Spy she continues the fascinating journey through language, with chapters on language families, how we learn to speak, grammar and written forms of communication. In an accessible, engaging style, the WORD SPY explains the meaning of nouns, verbs, pronouns, 'dead' languages, word origins and other wordy wonders.Packed with cartoons, games, facts and puzzles, The Return of the Word Spy continues the WORD SPY's fascinating journey through the English language.

    Hodgkinson offer you a wry look inside the mirrored palaces of high culture.Read this book and you'll never again mistake Hegel for Engels, you'll know when precisely to drop Foucault's name into a conversation and how to pronounce "Borgesian," and you'll learn many more essential pointers for the intellectual life.

    A long-standing favorite of English speaking tourists and visitors, Chinglish is now quickly becoming a culture relic: in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the Chinese government was determined to wipe out incorrect English usage.

    Which is the most romantic spot to say 'je't'aime'? And the sexiest?Where to see fantastic art, away from all the crowds?Why Parisian men feel compelled to pee in the street?How to choose a hotel room where you might actually get a good night's sleep?Stephen Clarke goes behind the scenes to reveal everything Parisians know about their city - but don't want to tell you.

    The things he says and does, decisions he makes, reverberate in ways he can’t begin to fathom.”In the year since his tenure as Governor of Montana came to an end, Carson Wirth’s life has been little more than a victory lap with time spent back in his hometown of Helena, free to make the perfunctory rounds as something of a minor celebrity. Someone to give the occasional guest lecture at the local college or to offer a sound bite on the evening news.His existence isn’t without its benefits, but when an opportunity presents itself to insert himself into a newly vacated United States Representative seat, Wirth jumps at it, envisioning an entirely new act for his career.An act that many others aren’t nearly as excited to see come to pass.Hours after stepping off the stage to receive his endorsement from the outgoing representative, Wirth wakes up alone in an old farm outbuilding. Handcuffed to a steel chair bolted to the floor, he embarks on a night painstakingly put together by his captors, each moment meant to impart the full repercussions of every decision he made overseeing the state.Some with consequences reaching far beyond anything he ever intended…or even imagined.

    Yes, she is a geek, a very cool geek at that, and when Maya and her family move into the old three-story house that belonged to her grandpa, Maya’s life changes. Her grandmother always claimed that the house was filled with hidden wonders and Maya is not prepared for what lies in wait for her arrival. With the encouragement of her best friend, Tammy, Maya learns to tackle the challenges in her path including Dexter Rose, the boy Maya has a little crush on (a very little one) and who is also her biggest class rival. If you’re a fan of the Diary of a Super Girl series, you are sure to enjoy this series too! It’s packed full of humor, action and lots of fun, a fabulous book for girls 9 – 12.

    Despite illegally entering the US and being abandonned by her father, Blanc’s mother has always made a way from them. Hustling in more ways than one, Magda carries her daughter on her back while gaining ranks and respect in the streets until envy causes Magda and her daughter to be deported. Nicolas DuBois is hood royalty. With his laid back and smooth persona he was able to conquer the game, flipping his earnings into streams of multi-million dollar businesses that had him set for life. Nicolas lived the life every men envied except he was missing something, a wife. Struggling in her native country, Blanc agrees to marry Nicolas for an opportunity to re-enter the states to live a life of glitz and glam. The fancy clothes, cars, shoes, and money does nothing to fill the void Blanc feels from being tied to a man she has no connection to. Milli, next in line to take over his Uncle Nicolas' empire, is different than his uncle in more ways than one. Unlike Nicolas, Milli is a ruthless thug who lives life on the edge. When instructed to look after his uncle's wife in his absence, the unthinkable happens. In Milli’s eyes, Blanc is the perfect fit for him. Without warning, an intense love affair begins to brew between the two Desperately pursing that hood love she so badly craved, Blanc is willing to risk it all but to what extent?

    Included are "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," "Rodrick Rules," "The Last Straw, Dog Days," "The Ugly Truth," "Cabin Fever," " The Third Wheel," " and Hard Luck," ""as well as the "The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book," all in a specially designed package.

    Angry Birds, the world's favorite mobile game franchise, is now the world's favorite digital comic! This issue's featured story, "Propiganda" by Jeff Parker and César Ferioli is sure to slingshot it's way into your heart!

    

    But when Mandy and one of her friends miss the cruise ship after a port of call on Kauai, how will they adjust and get back home? Find out in this brand new romance from New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, writing with her daughter-in-law Jean Brunstetter.

    But a few brave souls struck out into that desolate wilderness, desperate to free themselves from the restrictions of the civilized world…KING OF THE MOUNTAIN: Nathaniel King doesn’t need much incentive to escape the confining, bustling city of New York. When his uncle starts spinning tales of a great treasure hidden in the wilderness, Nathaniel finds the lure of the West impossible to resist. Nathaniel’s trail leads from danger to danger, and into the uninhabited Rocky Mountains. If he can survive, Nathaniel will unearth a treasure far more valuable than he ever imagined.LURE OF THE WILD: Nineteen-year-old Nathaniel King and a rugged mountain man named Shakespeare McNair are headed to a rendezvous of trappers and fur traders in the Rocky Mountains. But hostile Utes and Blackfeet Indians pursue them relentlessly, determined to have their scalps. Despite the protection of a friendly band of Shoshone, Nathaniel and his companion risk the loss of their freedom…and their lives.