With their elaborate armour, fierce swordsmanship and code of honour, the samurai have become iconic figures whose influence can still be felt today . From Kurosawa's epic Seven Samurai to the figure of Darth Vader in Star Wars, to Manga comics and video games, the figure of the fighting samurai still inspires us today. In John Man's new book we discover the truth behind the legend.From his birth in the shadow of the great volcano Sakurajima, to his glorious death by ritual suicide and disembowelment, Saigo Takamori was the ultimate Samurai leader. His fall brought about the end of hundreds of years of Samurai tradition and in many ways marks the birth of modern Japan. Saigo was a man trapped by paradox: a faithful servant to the emperor, and yet a leader of rebel troops; a mighty Samurai warrior, and also a master of Chinese poetry. His life, and ultimately his death, offer a window into the hundreds of years of culture and tradition that defined the samurai.

    Her lovely singing voice and good looks lead her to her great ambition - to go on the stage and see her name top of the bill. She becomes a music hall star both in her native town and in the south, after an appearance in the theatre at Brighton - she even performs in Paris, to tremendous acclaim. But when her first love, an ambitious shoemaker in her home town, becomes engaged to someone else Poppy is devastated. She disappears, believing that she will never return to her life of stardom. But her fame cannot be kep a secret...

    Packed with fruit and vegetables, a smoothie can increase energy, add fibre to your diet and provide valuable antioxidants. In Green Kitchen Smoothies, bestselling authors David and Luise share their favourite smoothie recipes, as well as some new and exciting ideas. Starting with the basics, you will learn about what basic equipment you will need, as well as some excellent tips and tricks on how to make the most out of your smoothies. The book is divided into simple smoothies, which feature three to five ingredients, to post-workout favourites, breakfast ideas, energizers, desserts and more. David and Luise will also share their recipes for nut milks and butters, granola, muesli, as well as their favourite juices, which can be added to the smoothie recipes. Recipes include the Green Bowl, Sleeping-in Smoothie, Green Stamina Workout, The Warm Smoothie and Apple Pie in a Glass. Green Kitchen Smoothies will also feature smoothies with textures and layers, making them much more than just a drink. For anyone reluctant to switch breakfast for just a drink, there are some smoothie snacks to go along with the recipes. And for any smoothie experts who are looking for some new ideas, this is the perfect book.

    Age twenty-eight and fed up with the office job he settled for, Paul Barach decided to travel to Japan to follow a vision he had in college: to walk the ancient 750-mile Shikoku pilgrimage trail. Here are some things he did not decide to do: learn Japanese, do any research, road test his hiking shoes, or check if it’s the hottest summer in history. And he went anyway, hoping to change his life. Fighting Monks and Burning Mountains is the absurd and dramatic journey of one impulsive American’s search for answers on a holy path in an exotic land. Along the pathway connecting 88 Buddhist temples, he’ll face arduous mountain climbs, hide from guards in a toilet stall, challenge a priest to a mountaintop karate battle, and other misadventures. He’ll also delve into the fascinating legends of this ancient land, including a dragon-fighting holy man, a berserker warrior-priest, haunted temples, all manner of gods and monsters, and a vendetta-driven ghost that overthrew a dynasty. Told with humor and humility, Fighting Monks and Burning Mountains is a funny, engaging memoir about the consequences of impulsive decisions, and the things you can discover while you’re looking for something else. Also that boars are terrifying in person.

    In Think Yourself Thin, Smith helps you uncover the root of your struggle and address the spiritual or emotional issues tied to your eating behavior. By applying the strategies outlined in this book, you will have the tools you need to take control of your weight, and thus your health, and experience the joy of having your dream body. Divided into four parts, Smith’s book uncovers the five psychological stages required to lose weight and keep it off. Smith also introduces the all-new SUCCESS System detailing the mental habits and approaches necessary for permanent weight loss. Filled with inspiring, motivational success stories and user-friendly principles that provide the guidance you need to eat in a manner that helps the body burn fat and lose weight, Think Yourself Thin makes long-term weight loss a reality by starting with what matters most.

    Meditators relax! An esteemed modern Tibetan Buddhist teacher presents a system of meditation instructions he devised especially for those affected by the too-fast-paced Western world (i.e., most all of us)—to help them relax, as a way of deepening their meditation practice.In the late 1990s, shortly after arriving in the United States, it became clear to Dza Kilung Rinpoche that his Western students responded to traditional meditation instructions differently from his students back in Asia.  The Westerners didn't know how to relax  -- our pressured, fast-paced lifestyles carried over into meditation.  The Relaxed Mind contains instructions for the seven-phase meditation practice Dza Kilung Rinpoche developed for students in the West.  It's adapted from traditional instructions to counteract the overwhelming distraction that is becoming a global culture these days, not only in the West.  Experienced meditators may be surprised to find their practice deepening through letting go of tension.  This is also an excellent meditation manual for any beginner.

    But Max Leonard, himself an accomplished amateur cyclist, does not forget the pain, the glory, the sweat, and the tears that go into these grueling climbs.  After all, cycling up a mountain is hard.  So hard that, to many, it can seem absurd. But for others, climbing a mountain gracefully (and beating your competitors up the slope) represents the pinnacle of cycling achievement. It is where legends are forged.Many books tell you where the mountains are, or how long and how high. None of them ask why. Why are mountain ranges professional cycling’s Coliseum? Why do amateurs also make pilgrimages to these high, remote roads? Why are the roads even there in the first place to lure us on to these obsession inducing climbs?   Just why are mountains so enthralling? “This is real cycling, where the glory is and where dreams come true,” according to Bradley Wiggins. Mountains are where cycling's greatest heroes have made their names. Every amateur rider wishes they could climb better, too.  Are all these people addicted to the pain? To the achievement? Or to the allure of the peaks? Some spend their weekends and holidays cycling up mountains from start to finish. But how does a rider push themselves beyond their limits to get up a 10% gradient on pedal power alone? What is happening when they do?A Higher Calling explores the central place of mountains in the folklore of road cycling. Blending adventure and travel writing with the rich narrative of racing, Max Leonard takes the reader from the battles that created the Alpine roads to the shepherds tending their flocks on the peaks, and to a Grand Tour climax on the “highest road in Europe.” And he tells stories of courage and sacrifice, war and love, obsession and even elephants, along the way.

    These recipes range from those that you yourself can use as well as those that can benefit your beloved pets and home. If you are someone with minimal or no essential oils experience, this book will be good for you. This can help you get started really quick. If you're someone who has a little more experience with essential oils before, this book is also for you. This book offers tons of essential oils recipes resources laid out in a quick, concise, and easy to read format. In this book, you will learn the following awesome information: The basic information about the different essential oils that you can use! Brief information regarding the effectivity of the essential oils! The 100% best way to ensure that you are mixing the right essential oils together to achieve maximum effect! A step-by-step tutorial on how you can mix the essential oils to achieve the right blend or right essential oil product! The definitive guide that contains tons of awesome essential oils recipes! Our professional tips about these essential oil recipes! We’d love to share these to you! Several recipes for essential oil blends and products which are good for you, your kids, your pets, and even your home! and much much more…. So, what are you waiting for? Get started today and experience the various benefits that essential oils can do to you!!! ***SPECIAL OFFER!!!*** LIMITED TIME OFFER 40% OFF (Regular Price $4.99) This #1 Best Selling Critically Acclaimed Book is now available Globally on Amazon - Download it Now!

    I am blown away by the results I have achieved and the energy that I have felt. I'm happy too! I haven't felt genuinely giddy and happy in a while. I am so thankful to have found a program that works." —Brandi O. "When I tell you that FASTer Way changed my life, it CHANGED MY LIFE. When I look at my before photo, I see someone who was unhappy with herself, someone who hated taking pictures, someone who was always exhausted and couldn't figure out why! But the person I see now? She's happy! She's confident! She's full of energy! She's ready to take on her day! I'm never going back." —Deanna S. "I can now say that FASTer Way has saved my life and brought ME back!" —Kelly P.

    It's for the woman who doesn't want to trade in her champagne for skinny jeans. It's for the woman who is done with dieting, and ready to start paying attention to her health before that number on the scale. It's for the woman who is ready to stop letting her weight define her, and is ready to understand why it always did. This is not a diet book. This is a lifestyle guide. This book will change the way you view your weight and yourself forever. You will walk away feeling empowered, inspired, and downright sexy (and probably craving a glass of bubbly). You will learn how to celebrate yourself and your body. You will learn to make your health a priority, always. And most importantly – you will learn to love yourself, exactly as you are. So get ready to embark on a complete dieting and lifestyle overhaul, sister. You are now on The Champagne Diet! "The Champagne Diet will resonate with every woman with it’s realistic and simple approach to dieting. Alwill delivers a personal, relatable, and funny guide to shedding pounds without deprivation." - Kim Barnouin Co-Author, Skinny Bitch

    And do it by eating some delicious home cooked Indian food that you love ! If you have heard about the Keto Diet but don't know what meals to cook, and would love to cook some delicious Indian food whilst sticking to your diet plan, then This book could be your Answer ... Imagine having recipes for an entire month with FULL Nutritional Information that can get you started on this exciting journey ... Trying to be healthy is hard in today's world when coping with modern day stresses. Being overweight is a modern day disease that in turn leads to so many lifestyle based disorders including Type 2 Diabetes. India already has the most number of diabetics. But we can change this ! By simply substituting carbs with healthy fats, the Keto Diet or the Ketogenic Diet forces the body to burn fat for fuel instead of carbs for fuel. This leads to weight loss, a decrease in appetite and an increase in mental focus. Let us educate ourselves about food and nutrition and learn how by making these small minor changes in our diets we can reclaim our health. Rima Pai will show you how can you can make Indian dishes including Mains, Sides, Snacks and Desserts that fit your Keto calculations. She reveals her secret recipes that she developed to help you lose weight and feel great! This guide to the Ketogenic Indian diet, uses local ingredients that we can find in most super markets. The recipes featured in this book are popular and easy to make. In this book, you will learn ... * How to make over 50 tasty Indian Keto approved food dishes * An easy to understand overview of the Ketogenic Diet * Whats foods to eat and what foods to avoid * What are the side effects of the Keto diet and how you can avoid them Bonus: Get Additional Ketogenic Indian Recipes Here are just a few of interesting recipes you will find in the book * Paneer Methi Cheese Marke Chilla * Cauliflower Tikkis * Juggad Wale Vegetables * Desi Chinese Style Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry * Jhatpat Jhinga * Soya Paneer Cheese Kebabs * Millie Aur Julie Wali Sabji * Shrikhand * Gulab Kulfi * Kesar Kalakand Let lack of food options not derail your ketogenic journey, get your copy today! About the Author Rima Pai is an Engineer based in the Silicon Valley in the United States. With a high profile job and fast paced life with 2 kids, health had always been ignored. As the years went by she discovered that her weight kept fluctuating and she developed medical conditions. Finally last year she decided that it was time to take charge and that's when she heard about the Keto Diet through a friend and discovered its health benefits while losing weight!! The only hurdle was everywhere she looked she could only find Western Recipes and she loved her Indian Desi food. That's when the creative spark came to light and she had fun creating mouth watering Indian Recipes that adhered to the diet. This was one diet which she just loved being on! And to add to it, she was amazed to see the health benefits it had. She vowed to share her work with as many Indians as possible and this book is her attempt at it.

    Jenna was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension, an extremely rare illness that, after a double lung transplant, ultimately led to her untimely death, four months before her 21st birthday.In this riveting and brutally honest memoir, in all its terrible truth, pain and beauty, Gabi Lowe shares her family’s extraordinary four-year battle to save Jenna’s life.Despite the tragic loss of Jenna, Get Me to 21 will leave the reader deeply inspired and reminded of the capabilities and depths of the human spirit. Embracing grit, resilience and never turning her back on the hope to save her daughter’s life, Gabi Lowe encourages us to believe that the ability to face darkness lives deep within us all.

    As a result of this, more and more people every day are searching for Information relating to this condition.It can be very confusing when a person is first diagnosed.I know that is true, because I am type 2 myself.If you DO find that your glucometer readings are a bit high, don't panic - stress causes the body to release hormones which further aggravate the situation.Just keep calm and snack on these super foods to lower your blood sugar levels quickly!

    

    Communication between these two factions is paramount.It is our hope that this booklet will be read individually or in groups, discussed openly and, after putting some of the tips now learned into practice, discussed again. Always remember, each patient is unique, but at the same time, the disease can often be manageable with the use of common sense, diligence and, most importantly, with love.