- Table View
- List View
The Worst-Case Scenario Pocket Guide: New York City
by David BorgenichtEscape a stalled subway car or a swarm of pigeons; stop a runaway hot dog cart; defeat cockroaches--what every native and visitor needs to survive in the Big Apple.
The Worst-Case Scenario Pocket Guide: San Francisco
by David Borgenicht Ben WintersHow to stop a runaway cable car, stay warm in the summer, park on a hill, eat sushi, escape from Alcatraz, and tell if you've gone too "green."
The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Travel (Worst-case Scenario Ser.)
by Joshua Piven David Borgenicht“What will no doubt become popular airport reading for stranded passengers . . . another eminently practical, enjoyable survival guide.” —Publishers WeeklyIf you have to leave home, TAKE THIS BOOK! The team that brought you the bestselling The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook now helps you navigate the perils of travel. Learn what to do when the tarantula crawls up your leg, the riptide pulls you out to sea, the sandstorm’s headed your way, or your camel just won’t stop. Find out how to pass a bribe, remove leeches, climb out of a well, survive a fall onto subway tracks, catch a fish without a rod, and preserve a severed limb. Hands-on, step-by-step instructions show you how to survive these and dozens of other adventures. An appendix of travel tips, useful phrases, and gestures to avoid will also ensure your safe return. Because you just never know . . .Praise for the Worst-Case Scenario Survival series“The scenarios owe a debt to action flick clichés—how often do you find yourself leaping from rooftop to rooftop?—but their utter implausibility doesn’t make this read any less riveting.” —People“What this book lacks in spiritual enlightenment, it more than makes up for with the practical advice you thought you’d never need.” —The Irish Times“There is something for everyone. It has a wide range of scenarios from dangerous to just downright irritating . . . It is fun, witty, entertaining and you learn something along the way too.” —Quill Quotes
The Wrecking of La Salle's Ship Aimable and the Trial of Claude Aigron
by Robert S. WeddleWhen Robert Cavelier, sieur de La Salle, landed on the Texas coast in 1685, bent on founding a French colony, his enterprise was doomed to failure. Not only was he hundreds of miles from his intended landfall--the mouth of the Mississippi--but his supply ship, Aimable, was wrecked at the mouth of Matagorda Bay, leaving the colonists with scant provisions and little protection against local Indian tribes. In anger and disgust, he struck out at the ship's captain, Claude Aigron, accusing him of wrecking the vessel purposely and maliciously. Captain Aigron and his crew escaped the doomed colony by returning to France on the warship that had escorted the expedition on its ocean crossing. Soon after reaching France, Aigron found himself defendant in a civil suit filed by two of his officers seeking recompense for lost salary and personal effects, and then imprisoned on order of King Louis XIV while La Salle's more serious accusations were being investigated. In this book, Robert Weddle meticulously recounts, through court documents, the known history of Aigron and the Aimable, and finds that despite La Salle's fervent accusations, the facts of the case offer no clear indictment. The court documents, deftly translated by François Lagarde, reveal Captain Aigron's successful defense and illuminate the circumstances of the wreck with Aigron's testimony. Much is also revealed about the French legal system and how the sea laws of the period were applied through the French government's L'Ordonnance de la Marine.
The Writing on the Wall: Rediscovering New York City's "Ghost Signs"
by James Trager Ben PassikoffThe New York Times' pick in "A Holiday Gift Guide for Hardcover Fans"A Publishers Weekly pick in "Holiday Gift Guide 2017: Illustrated Gift Books"A Photographic and Historical Record of the City’s Vanishing Advertisements As the great city of New York moves, changes, and evolves every day, the few remnants of its past go unnoticed. New York City’s "ghost signs” -advertisements painted across the facades of buildings that date back to the 19th century-are often invisible to the busy New Yorker, but defiantly conspicuous if only we turn our eyes and look upwards. These faded representations of the city’s rich economic and social history are slowly disappearing before our eyes, but not before they were captured by this photographer’s lens.At the tender age of sixteen, Ben Passikoff roamed around Manhattan with his camera to document these fascinating signs-hand-painted messages written all over the city. This photographic collection features signs painted in the 1800s as well as in the 21st century; signs that advertise funeral homes, meat, and underwear; signs stretched across iconic buildings; and even signs that are no longer legible. Using his photographs as a looking-glass into the past, Passikoff provides insightful commentary on the economic, social, and historical significance of commerce in New York City, and its vanishing ghost signs, now preserved in this photographic record.
The Wrong Goodbye
by Toshihiko YahagiA classic slice of Japanese hard-boiled noir paying homage to the master of the genre: Raymond ChandlerThe Wrong Goodbye pits homicide detective Eiji Futamura against a shady Chinese business empire and U.S. military intelligence in the docklands of recession Japan. After the frozen corpse of immigrant barman Tran Binh Long washes up in midsummer near Yokosuka U.S. Navy Base, Futamura meets a strange customer from Tran's bar. Vietnam vet pilot Billy Lou Bonney talks Futamura into hauling three suitcases of "goods" to Yokota US Air Base late at night and flies off leaving a dead woman behind. Thereby implicated in a murder suspect's escape and relieved from active duty, Futamura takes on hack work for the beautiful concert violinist Aileen Hsu, a "boat people" orphan whose Japanese adoption mother has mysteriously gone missing. And now a phone call from a bestselling yakuza author, a one-time black marketeer in Saigon, hints at inside information on "former Vietcong mole" Tran and his "old sidekick" Billy Lou, both of whom crossed a triad tycoon who is buying up huge tracts of Mekong Delta marshland for a massive development scheme. As the loose strands flashback to Vietnam, the string of official lies and mysterious allegiances build into a dark picture of the U.S.-Japan postwar alliance. Translated from the Japanese by Alfred Birnbaum
The Wrong Goodbye
by Toshihiko YahagiA classic slice of Japanese hard-boiled noir paying homage to the master of the genre: Raymond ChandlerThe Wrong Goodbye pits homicide detective Eiji Futamura against a shady Chinese business empire and U.S. military intelligence in the docklands of recession Japan. After the frozen corpse of immigrant barman Tran Binh Long washes up in midsummer near Yokosuka U.S. Navy Base, Futamura meets a strange customer from Tran's bar. Vietnam vet pilot Billy Lou Bonney talks Futamura into hauling three suitcases of "goods" to Yokota US Air Base late at night and flies off leaving a dead woman behind. Thereby implicated in a murder suspect's escape and relieved from active duty, Futamura takes on hack work for the beautiful concert violinist Aileen Hsu, a "boat people" orphan whose Japanese adoption mother has mysteriously gone missing. And now a phone call from a bestselling yakuza author, a one-time black marketeer in Saigon, hints at inside information on "former Vietcong mole" Tran and his "old sidekick" Billy Lou, both of whom crossed a triad tycoon who is buying up huge tracts of Mekong Delta marshland for a massive development scheme. As the loose strands flashback to Vietnam, the string of official lies and mysterious allegiances build into a dark picture of the U.S.-Japan postwar alliance. Translated from the Japanese by Alfred Birnbaum(P)2021 Quercus Editions Limited
The Xenophobe's Guide To The Americans
by Stephanie FaulA preparatory travel guide for the apprehensive.
The Xenophobe's Guide to the English
by Antony MiallA preparatory travel guide for the apprehensive.
The Yangtze Valley and Beyond: An Account of Journeys in China, Chiefly in the Province of Sze Chuan and Among the Man-Tze of the Somo Territory
by Isabella Lucy BirdIsabella Bird was one of the greatest travelers and travel writers of all time, and this is her last major book, a sympathetic look at inland China and beyond into Tibet at the end of the 19th century. In describing the journey, Isabella provides a rich mix of observations and describes two occasions when she is almost killed by anti-foreign mobs. It many ways, Isabella created the model for travel writing today, and this one of her greatest works.
The Year 1000: When Explorers Connected the World—and Globalization Began
by Valerie Hansen*A New York Times Book Review Editors&’ Choice* From celebrated Yale professor Valerie Hansen, a &“vivid&” and &“astonishingly comprehensive account [that] casts world history in a brilliant new light&” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) and shows how bold explorations and daring trade missions first connected all of the world&’s societies at the end of the first millennium.People often believe that the years immediately prior to AD 1000 were, with just a few exceptions, lacking in any major cultural developments or geopolitical encounters, that the Europeans hadn&’t yet reached North America, and that the farthest feat of sea travel was the Vikings&’ invasion of Britain. But how, then, to explain the presence of blond-haired people in Maya temple murals at Chichén Itzá, Mexico? Could it be possible that the Vikings had found their way to the Americas during the height of the Maya empire? Valerie Hansen, an award-winning historian, argues that the year 1000 was the world&’s first point of major cultural exchange and exploration. Drawing on nearly thirty years of research, she presents a compelling account of first encounters between disparate societies, which sparked conflict and collaboration eerily reminiscent of our contemporary moment. For readers of Jared Diamond&’s Guns, Germs, and Steel and Yuval Noah Harari&’s Sapiens, The Year 1000 is a &“fascinating…highly impressive, deeply researched, lively and imaginative work&” (The New York Times Book Review) that will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about how the modern world came to be.
The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country
by Helen RussellGiven the opportunity of a new life in rural Jutland, Helen Russell discovers a startling statistic: Denmark, often thought of as a land of long dark winters, cured herring, Lego and pastries, is the happiest place on earth. So what's their secret? Helen decides there's only one way to find out: she will give herself a year there, trying to uncover the formula for Danish happiness. From childcare, education food and interior design to SAD and taxes, The Year of Living Danishly records a funny, poignant journey, showing us what the Danes get right, what they get wrong, and how we might all benefit from living a little more Danishly ourselves.
The Yellow Envelope: One Gift, Three Rules, and A Life-Changing Journey Around the World
by Kim DinanWhat Would You Do with a Yellow Envelope?After Kim and her husband decide to quit their jobs to travel around the world, they're given a yellow envelope containing a check and instructions to give the money away. The only three rules for the envelope: Don't overthink it; share your experiences; don't feel pressured to give it all away.Through Ecuador, Peru, Nepal, and beyond, Kim and Brian face obstacles, including major challenges to their relationship. As she distributes the gift to people she encounters along the way she learns that money does not have a thing to do with the capacity to give, but that giving—of ourselves—is transformational.
The Yellow Wind
by David Grossman Haim WatzmanThe Israeli novelist David Grossman's impassioned account of what he observed on the West Bank in early 1987--not only the misery of the Palestinian refugees and their deep-seated hatred of the Israelis but also the cost of occupation for both occupier and occupied--is an intimate and urgent moral report on one of the great tragedies of our time. The Yellow Wind is essential reading for anyone who seeks a deeper understanding of Israel today.
The Yogurt Man Cometh: Tales of an American Teacher in Turkey
by Kevin RevolinskiPart travelogue, part memoir, The Yogurt Man Cometh is the story of Kevin Revolinski's year-long adventure as an English teacher in Turkey. Revolinski relates in candid style his encounters in a foreign culture, all told with an open mind and a sense of humor. An enjoyable read for anyone who has spent time in Turkey or who plans to do so.
The Yosemite: Illustrated Edition (Mobi Classics Series)
by John MuirAn essential companion for visitors, this book by the famed conservationist offers informed appraisals of Yosemite's plant and animal life and exudes an almost mystical love for its natural beauty.
The Young Investigator's Guide to Ancient Aliens
by History ChannelAs a tie-in to the wildly successful History Channel show, here's a book filled with fascinating tales, ancient folklore, and compelling evidence of the role extraterrestrials may have played in human history. What really happened to the dinosaurs? Who actually built the ancient pyramids in Egypt? Are airplanes really as modern as we think they are? This book takes a close look at landmark events throughout history and asks the question: What if aliens were involved? Spanning history, from the earliest of human civilizations to the modern period, this book exposes evidence of the presence of extraterrestrials in some of our most triumphant and devastating moments.
The Zanzibar Wife: The new novel from the internationally bestselling author of The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul
by Deborah Rodriguez'A lovely novel of female friendship and support when East meets West, of magic and things we may not understand, of hope, of comfort, and in the background the enticing salty, fishy, spicy aromas of Zanzibar.' - Dinah Jeffries'Heart-warming and poignant. A story of female courage and friendship sprinkled with magic - what's not to love?' - Rosanna Ley'a compelling account of three very different women, each challenged by circumstances that reveal the inner conflict in their lives, and their refusal to conform. An endearing read.' - Vaseem KhanA beautiful, exotic, sweeping, emotional story, perfect for fans of The Little Coffee Shop of KabulAn internationally best selling author****************Oman. The ancient land of frankincense, wind-swept deserts, craggy mountaintops and turquoise seas. Into this magical nation come three remarkable women, each facing a crossroad in her life. Rachel, an American war photographer, who is struggling to shed the trauma of her career. Now she is headed to Oman to cover quite a different story - for a glossy travel magazine. Ariana Khan, a bubbly English woman who has rashly volunteered as Rachel's 'fixer', a job she's never heard of in a country she knows nothing about. And Miza, a young woman living far from her beloved homeland of Zanzibar. As the second wife of Tariq, she remains a secret from his terrifying 'other' wife, Maryam. Until the day that Tariq fails to come home...As the three women journey together across this extraordinary land, they quickly learn that, in Oman, things aren't always what they appear to be...The Zanzibar Wife is a bewitching story of clashing cultures and conflicting beliefs, of secrets and revelations, of mystery and magic, by the author of the beloved international bestseller The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul.'As if Maeve Binchy had written 'The Kite Runner' - Kirkus Reviews
The Zoo Memoirs: A Zoo in My Luggage, The Whispering Land, and Menagerie Manor (The Zoo Memoirs #3)
by Gerald DurrellThe British naturalist and bestselling author of the Corfu Trilogy—the inspiration for the Masterpiece production The Durrells in Corfu—founds a zoo. In this trio of delightful memoirs, British wildlife preservation pioneer and national bestselling author Gerald Durrell recounts the ups and downs he faces in transforming his lifelong dream of creating a new kind of zoo into a reality. A Zoo in My Luggage: In 1957, Durrell and his wife travel to the British Cameroons in West Africa to begin assembling his menagerie. The greater challenge proves to be in safely transporting their exotic animals back to Britain and finding a home for them. &“Animals come close to being Durrell&’s best friends. . . . He writes about them with style, verve, and humor.&” —Time The Whispering Land: On an eight-month journey in South America to expand his menagerie, Durrell and his wife travel across windswept Patagonian shores and through tropical forests in the Argentine, encountering fur seals, ocelots, penguins, parrots, pumas, and more. &“An amusing writer who transforms this Argentine backcountry into a particularly inviting place.&” —San Francisco Chronicle Menagerie Manor: In 1959, on the grounds of an old manor house on the Channel Island of Jersey, Durrell finally opens the Jersey Zoo—now known as the Durrell Wildlife Park. Along with the satisfaction of providing a safe habitat for rare and endangered species come the trials of operating a fledgling zoo, including overdrawn bank accounts and escaped animals. &“No one can be funnier than Mr. Durrell in relating his own adventures or the antics of the claw and paw set.&” —The Christian Science Monitor
The Zoo on the Road to Nablus: A Story of Survival from the West Bank
by Amelia ThomasThe last Palestinian zoo stands on a dusty, dead-end street in the once prosperous farming town of Qalqilya, on the very edge of the West Bank. The zoo's bars are rusting; peacocks wander quiet avenues shaded by broad plane trees; a teenage baboon broods in solitary confinement; walls bear the pockmarks of gunfire. And yet the zoo is an extraordinary place, with a bizarre, troubling and inspiring story to tell. At the center of this story is Dr. Sami Khader, the only zoo veterinarian in the Palestinian territories. Family man, amateur inventor, and dedicated taxidermist, he is fiercely independent, apolitical, and resourceful in times of crisis. Dr. Sami dreams of transforming the zoo into one of an international caliber. In The Zoo on the Road to Nablus, Amelia Thomas brings the reader into a world rarely glimpsed from the outside, weaving the stories of the zoo's animals, its staff, and its visitors into a rich, colorful chronicle of the indomitability of the human-and animal-spirit.
The travels at the turn of the century
by Mario EspinosaThis book is about five accounts of journeys filled with much humour and irony. They are five reports at a time in which travellers didn’t have a digital camera with them able to contain thousands of pictures and not even a mobile phone with a lot of functions in order to solve any unforeseen event. The reader will plunge into an initiatory journey, explore purely adventurous landscapes and will remember an unprecedented historical event that happened at the same time as one of these travels. All these episodes happened at the end of the 20th century as we were starting to live a radical change leading to such an extreme use of technology which changed our way of travelling. While we were reaching this point, we kept looking at the map, there was no GPS and we called home from a phone booth. Get ready to relive all those feelings through these travels; after all, “travelling is worth the money”, isn’t it?
The world in a backpack: fun and hardship in Australia, South Africa, and the Fiji Islands.
by Claudiomar Matias Rolim FilhoIt was supposed to be just another exchange trip. He thought life would be easy, but experienced all the difficulties and hardship of an immigrant in a foreign country. He washed cars under the close inspection and shouts of the Slav mafia, watched blood squirt from his hands in a second-rate kitchen, carried couches in warehouses, washed dishes, walked kilometres with more than 10 kg of pamphlets on his back, made deliveries, unloaded truckloads of plasterboards with deranged brutes, panicked over utility bills and even jumped out of windows, Chavo del Ocho style, to avoid landladies... All in the space of six months. The mucking about, which outdid much of his small victories, is narrated with very personal, razor-sharp wit and the desperation of a 21-year-old man, alone, 13 hours from any known person, who resorted to words to forget the problems of a reality he was literally forced to live one day at a time. He was beaten, suffered, and into some trouble; he had fun, laughed and, above all, had an unforgettable life experience. Join him and put your world in a backpack!
Theater of the World: The Maps that Made History
by Thomas Reinertsen BergA beautifully illustrated full-color history of mapmaking across centuries-- a must-read for history buffs and armchair travelers. Theater of the World offers a fascinating history of mapmaking, using the visual representation of the world through time to tell a new story about world history and the men who made it. Thomas Reinertsen Berg takes us all the way from the mysterious symbols of the Stone Age to Google Earth, exploring how the ability to envision what the world looked like developed hand in hand with worldwide exploration. Along the way, we meet visionary geographers and heroic explorers along with other unknown heroes of the map-making world, both ancient and modern. And the stunning visual material allows us to witness the extraordinary breadth of this history with our own eye
Theater: Participatory Performance And The Making Of Meaning
by Scott MagelssenAt an ecopark in Mexico, tourists pretend to be illegal migrants, braving inhospitable terrain and the U. S. Border Patrol as they attempt to cross the border. At a living history museum in Indiana, daytime visitors return after dark to play fugitive slaves on the Underground Railroad. In the Mojave Desert, the U. S. Army simulates entire provinces of Iraq and Afghanistan, complete with bustling villages, insurgents, and Arabic-speaking townspeople, to train soldiers for deployment to the Middle East. At a nursing home, trainees put on fogged glasses and earplugs, thick bands around their finger joints, and sandbag harnesses to simulate the effects of aging and to gain empathy for their patients. These immersive environments in which spectator-participants engage in simulations of various kinds—or “simming”—are the subject of Scott Magelssen’s book. His book lays out the ways in which simming can provide efficacy and promote social change through affective, embodied testimony. Using methodology from theater history and performance studies (particularly as these fields intersect with cultural studies, communication, history, popular culture, and American studies), Magelssen explores the ways these representational practices produce, reify, or contest cultural and societal perceptions of identity.