“A delightful compendium of the kind of facts you immediately want to share with anyone you encounter . . . . Simon Winchester has firmly earned his place in history . . . as a promulgator of knowledge of every variety, perhaps the last of the famous explorers who crisscrossed the now-vanished British Empire and reported what they found to an astonished world.”—New York TimesFrom the creation of the first encyclopedia to Wikipedia, from ancient museums to modern kindergarten classes—this is award-winning writer Simon Winchester’s brilliant and all-encompassing look at how humans acquire, retain, and pass on information and data, and how technology continues to change our lives and our minds.With the advent of the internet, any topic we want to know about is instantly available with the touch of a smartphone button. With so much knowledge at our fingertips, what is there left for our brains to do? At a time when we seem to be stripping all value from the idea of knowing things—no need for math, no need for map-reading, no need for memorization—are we risking our ability to think? As we empty our minds, will we one day be incapable of thoughtfulness?Addressing these questions, Simon Winchester explores how humans have attained, stored, and disseminated knowledge. Examining such disciplines as education, journalism, encyclopedia creation, museum curation, photography, and broadcasting, he looks at a whole range of knowledge diffusion—from the cuneiform writings of Babylon to the machine-made genius of artificial intelligence, by way of Gutenberg, Google, and Wikipedia to the huge Victorian assemblage of the Mundanaeum, the collection of everything ever known, currently stored in a damp basement in northern Belgium.Studded with strange and fascinating details, Knowing What We Know is a deep dive into learning and the human mind. Throughout this fascinating tour, Winchester forces us to ponder what rational humans are becoming. What good is all this knowledge if it leads to lack of thought? What is information without wisdom? Does Rene Descartes’s Cogito, ergo sum—“I think therefore I am,” the foundation for human knowledge widely accepted since the Enlightenment—still hold?And what will the world be like if no one in it is wise?Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. Read more

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This lavishly illustrated visual encyclopedia tells the story of our world in depth and detail from the dawn of civilization to the present day.Charting human endeavor from every angle, SI History chronicles the significant events, ground-breaking ideas, political forces, and technological advances that have shaped our planet. Every historical episode is explored and explained with the help of stunning images that bring the authoritative text to life. Important points in history, from the battle of Hastings and the storming of the Bastille to D-Day and 9/11, have clear but concise coverage, together with profiles of influential figures, such as Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and Nelson Mandela. It's time to head back in time and explore the past with this striking history book, which features: - Profiles of key people who have made history.- Features on inventions, discoveries, and ideas that changed the world.- Graphics lend immediacy and impact to key statistics.- National Histories section separately chronicles key events of every countryAs each moment in history is defined and detailed, supporting panels note the causes and consequences, providing wider context and broadening our horizons. New and enhanced coverage of recent events - such as the Arab Spring - and contemporary issues such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, bring the book firmly into the present. With its broad-themed approach to important historical events, this book shows that ours is a history with genes and viruses, not just battle and treaties - and the stories and biographies of men and women from every corner of the globe who have shaped today's world reaffirm that SI History is the story of humankind in which everyone has a part to play. Read more

A truly global view of history covering over 350 of the world's most important turning points. This is an essential audiobook for every history buff.World History is the most accessible guide to the history of human civilization, covering the Neanderthals, the Assyrian Empire, Chinese dynasties, Vikings, World War I, apartheid, the rise of ISIS, and everything in between. This remarkable audiobook offers the most up-to-date coverage of global history, up to and including the Arab Spring, global terror, Russia and Ukraine, and the rise of populism in the EU.Historical moments and movements from across the globe are brought to life. Follow humanity's journey and discover all the key thinkers, leaders, ideas, and inventions that shaped the modern world.Joan Walker has narrated over 150 audiobooks as well as appearing in over 500 plays on BBC radio. Joan has won awards for her voiceover work, including the Golden Earphones from AudioFile USA plus the American Library Journal Best Audio of 2016, and narrated an array of documentaries, created voices for animations and video games and is the voice of audio guides in some of the greatest art galleries and museums in the world. Read more

This gargantuan, 704-page hardcover book is chock-full of that information and more, covering pop culture, nature, technology, food, sports, art, history, religion, crime, and tales of the just plain weird. Prepared to get lost perusing page after page of unusual facts, enthralling stories, and amusing anecdotes because The Book of Extraordinary Facts will keep you busy for hours! Learn about the strange collaboration between surrealist painter Salvador Dalí and comedy icon Harpo Marx.Read about what it was like to live during the London Blitz, and debunk popular urban legends.Get lassoed into facts about fascinating wedding customs around the world, and discover the reason behind one of the deadliest fires in American history.What Hollywood star used her twin sister as her body double in a film?How do card sharks mark a deck?Where in California can you find the world s oldest living tree?Which U.S. president spent some pre-politics time as a male model?  Read more

PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • “A brilliant piece of military history which proves up to the hilt the force of Winston Churchill’s statement that the first month of World War I was ‘a drama never surpassed.’”—Newsweek   Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best nonfiction books of all timeIn this landmark account, renowned historian Barbara W. Tuchman re-creates the first month of World War I: thirty days in the summer of 1914 that determined the course of the conflict, the century, and ultimately our present world. Beginning with the funeral of Edward VII, Tuchman traces each step that led to the inevitable clash. And inevitable it was, with all sides plotting their war for a generation. Dizzyingly comprehensive and spectacularly portrayed with her famous talent for evoking the characters of the war’s key players, Tuchman’s magnum opus is a classic for the ages.   The Proud Tower, the Pulitzer Prize–winning The Guns of August, and The Zimmermann Telegram comprise Barbara W. Tuchman’s classic histories of the First World War era Read more

A wonderfully written, sweeping narrative history of the United States that will help Americans discover the land they call homeHigh School and College Age StudentsThe Original Land of Hope Narrative in Paperback Edition We have a glut of text and trade books on American history. But what we don't have is a compact, inexpensive, authoritative, and compulsively readable book that will offer to intelligent young Americans a coherent, persuasive, and inspiring narrative of their own country. Such an account will shape and deepen their sense of the land they inhabit, and by making them understand that land's roots, will equip them for the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship in American society, and provide them with a vivid and enduring sense of membership in one of the greatest enterprises in human history: the exciting, perilous, and immensely consequential story of their own country. The existing texts simply fail to tell that story with energy and conviction. They are more likely to reflect the skeptical outlook of specialized professional academic historians, an outlook that supports a fragmented and fractured view of modern American society, and that fails to convey to young people the greater arc of that history. Or they reflect the outlook of radical critics of American society, who seek to debunk the standard American narrative, and has an enormous, and largely negative, effect upon the teaching of American history in American high schools and colleges. This state of affairs cannot continue for long without producing serious consequences. A great nation needs and deserves a great and coherent narrative, as an expression of its own self-understanding: and it needs to convey that narrative to its young effectively. It perhaps goes without saying that such a narrative cannot be a fairy tale or a whitewash of the past; it will not be convincing if it is not truthful. But there is no necessary contradiction between an honest account and an inspiring one. This account seeks to provide both.  Read more

Follow the fascinating threads of human history in this monumental volume, amply illustrated with maps, archival imagery, and revealing photographs.From the dawn of humankind to the modern age, every era and civilization, war and innovation, is revealed in this comprehensive work.History comes to life in this complete overview of humankind, from earliest times to the present day. Stunning visuals, imagery past and present, informative maps, and thought-provoking text make this book an instant classic.From the Babylonian Empire to the Persian Gulf War, from the Xia and Shang Dynasties of Bronze Age China to the new space race, from Egyptian hieroglyphics to the digital age―here, in vivid color and crisp narrative, is the sweeping story of the history of civilization.Perfect for browsing, for reference, and for study, this National Geographic masterpiece offers the full picture of the history of the world, sure to satisfy everyone in the family.Chapters include:Timelines of notable datesTelling quotations from the periodExplanatory mapsFascinating sidebar storiesPhotographs of artifacts & landscapesArt works ancient and contemporary depicting key momentsFrom young readers still learning history in school to anyone wanting to refresh their understanding of the trends and key events that have shaped our world over millennia, anyone seeking an illuminating dive into world history will be fascinated and satisfied by this book. Read more

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The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures Read more

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There are reasons why some of the most famous serial killers in the world have names that stick in our memories, send shivers up our spines, make us double-check to make sure the doors are locked at night, and maybe peek under the bed to be sure nothing is lurking there before we turn off the lights. These are monsters who are real, whose crimes are so reprehensible, so horrific, that they become seared in our memories. For this true crime anthology, we've combed the serial killer files to give you a closer, more intimate look at some of the worst of the worst from the world of serial killer, combining multiple stories into one perfect late-night book that's just the thing to keep you up at night, unable to stop listening. For those who love criminology, who can't put down the latest true crime stories, this collection of stories rivals the best serial killer books, and give you deeper insight into killers ranging from the charismatic, cunning Ted Bundy to the long-abused Aileen Wuornos, whose unimaginable troubles finally came to a very violent head. This diverse collection of serial killer stories, culled from the annals of history, is an ideal choice for the true crime buff who wonders why the monsters of our imaginations came to life and walked the streets, lurking in dark corners to wait for their next victim. Read more

There is little more terrifying than those who hunt, stalk, and snatch their prey under the cloak of darkness. These hunters search not for animals, but for the touch, taste, and empowerment of human flesh. They are cannibals, vampires, and monsters, and they walk among us. These serial killers are not mythical beasts with horns and shaggy hair. They are people living among society, going about their day-to-day activities until nightfall. They are the Dennis Rader's, the fathers, husbands, church-going members of the community. This A-Z encyclopedia of 150 serial killers is the ideal reference audiobook. Included are the most famous true crime serial killers, like Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, Richard Ramirez, and not to mention the women who kill, such as Aileen Wuornos, and Martha Rendell. There are also lesser known serial killers, covering many countries around the world, so broad is the range. Each of the serial killer files includes information on when and how they killed the victims, the background of each killer, or the suspects in some cases, such as the Zodiac killer, their trials and punishments. For some there are chilling quotes by the killers themselves. The Big Book of Serial Killers is an easy-to-follow collection of information on the world's most heinous murderers. Read more

Chart the course of history through the ages with this collection of oversize foldout charts and timelines.Timeline of World History is a unique work of visual reference from the founders of the Useful Charts website that puts the world's kingdoms, empires, and civilizations in context with one another. A giant wall chart shows the timelines and key events for each region of the world, and four additional foldout charts display the history of the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and Africa and the Middle East. Packed with maps, diagrams, and images, this book captures the very essence of our shared history.   Read more

Selected testimonies to living history-speeches, letters, poems, songs-offered by the people who make history happen, but are often left out of history books: women, workers, nonwhites. Featuring introductions to the original texts by Howard Zinn.New voices featured in this 10th Anniversary Edition include Chelsea Manning, speaking after her 35-year prison sentence; Naomi Klein, speaking from the Occupy Wall Street encampment in Liberty Square; a member of Dream Defenders, a youth organization that confronts systemic racial inequality; members of the Undocumented Youth movement, who occupied, marched, and demonstrated in support of the DREAM Act; a member of the Day Laborers movement; Chicago Teachers Union strikers; and several critics of the Obama administration, including Glenn Greenwald, on governmental secrecy. Read more

The completely updated edition of J. M. Roberts and Odd Arne Westad's widely acclaimed, landmark bestseller The Penguin History of the World For generations of readers The Penguin History of the World has been one of the great cultural experiences - the entire story of human endeavour laid out in all its grandeur and folly, drama and pain in a single authoritative book. Now, for the first time, it has been completely overhauled for its 6th edition - not just bringing it up to date, but revising it throughout in the light of new research and discoveries, such as the revolution in our understanding of many civilizations in the Ancient World. The closing sections of the book reflect what now seems to be the inexorable rise of Asia and the increasingly troubled situation in the West. About the authors: J.M. Roberts, CBE, published The Penguin History of the World in 1976 to immediate acclaim. His other major books include The Paris Commune from the Right, The Triumph of the West (which was also a successful television series), The Penguin History of Europe and The Penguin History of the Twentieth Century. He died in 2003. Odd Arne Westad, FBA, is Professor of International History at the London School of Economics. He has published fifteen books on modern and contemporary international history, among them The Global Cold War, which won the Bancroft Prize, and Decisive Encounters, a standard history of the Chinese civil war. He also served as general co-editor of the Cambridge History of the Cold War. Read more

Our country is being attacked from within. The past several years showed us that the shadow government seeks to assert absolute control over the human cattle, but what if we could stop them? What if we could take away the cabal’s power by exposing their entire playbook?Uncover the hidden web of power and influence that shapes our world with The Deep State Encyclopedia. Delve into the secrets of the shadow government, from dark occult practices to the most notorious secret societies and their unexpected famous members. Explore the titans of industry and banking who have shaped America's early years, as well as the controversies and scandals that still haunt their legacy.From the forces behind Bill Gates and Rockefeller Medicine, to the formation of the Federal Reserve and the scandals of the families who created the institution at Jekyll Island over a century ago, to the tactics used by mainstream media in gaslighting, manipulating, and controlling the masses, to highly censored stories about Jeffrey Epstein and his madam, Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as the real contents of the leaked Podesta emails, no topic is off-limits.With the principle that nothing and no one is above questioning, this book is a guide for those who seek to understand the masked machinations of power behind the cabal. As vital information becomes increasingly censored and hidden, this encyclopedia is your guide to peeling back the layers of secrecy and discovering the truth for yourself.Mystery religions are no longer a mystery…Secret societies are no longer a secret…What was once hidden will be revealed... Read more

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Discover the world's most significant events through a detailed, dynamic, book-long timeline of over 7 million years.When did Hannibal cross the Alps? What caused the War of Jenkins' Ear? Who was Rosa Parks? How did the Arab Spring unfold? Discover history's most decisive moments as and when they happened. Taking a chronological approach, History Year by Year invites you to explore momentous discoveries, ingenious inventions, and important events from around the world in the context of their time. Along the way, you'll meet charismatic leaders, brutal dictators, influential thinkers, and innovative scientists from around the globe.Follow in the steps of your human ancestors as they colonized the planet, developed tools, harnessed fire, and painted cave walls. Learn how their descendants established great civilizations, founded huge empires, domesticated animals, built pyramids, produced great art, authored epic poems, and even traveled into space. There are wars, rebellions, voyages of adventure and discovery, extraordinary technological developments, and incredible sporting feats.In this history book, you will find: -Maps, photography, facts, and statistics about the timeline of the world for over 7 million years. -Chapters with information about the origin of humans, early civilization, trade and invention, technology, and more. -Detailed descriptions and information on significant moments in history that shaped life. Accessible to everyone, History Year by Year's combination of bite-sized information, eye-catching images, crystal-clear maps, and memorable stats will delight history lovers and make an ideal gift for trivia fans wanting facts at their fingertips. If you've ever wondered exactly what happened when - and where it all took place - then this is the book for you. Read more

An A-to-Z historical encyclopedia of US people, places, and events, with nearly 1,000 entries “all equally well written, crisp, and entertaining” (Library Journal).   From the origins of its native peoples to its complex identity in modern times, this unique alphabetical reference covers the political, economic, cultural, and social history of America.   A fact-filled treasure trove for history buffs, The Reader’s Companion is sponsored by the Society of American Historians, an organization dedicated to promoting literary excellence in the writing of biography and history. Under the editorship of the eminent historians John A. Garraty and Eric Foner, a large and distinguished group of scholars, biographers, and journalists—nearly four hundred contemporary authorities—illuminate the critical events, issues, and individuals that have shaped our past. Readers will find everything from a chronological account of immigration; individual entries on the Bull Moose Party and the Know-Nothings as well as an article on third parties in American politics; pieces on specific religious groups, leaders, and movements and a larger-scale overview of religion in America.   Interweaving traditional political and economic topics with the spectrum of America’s social and cultural legacies—everything from marriage to medicine, crime to baseball, fashion to literature—the Companion is certain to engage the curiosity, interests, and passions of every reader, and also provides an excellent research tool for students and teachers. Read more