This provocative book investigates China’s claim that Western hegemony, led by the US, harms the international community. Putting China’s geopolitical intent aside, Robert Walker assembles a breadth of independent evidence to examine the consequences of the West’s hegemonic power for individuals rather than nation states.Using the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights as an evaluative framework, this wide-ranging book assesses the robustness and consequences of Western values an...

"Walker here pairs off proto-architect Filippo Brunelleschi and doormaker Lorenzo Ghiberti in an often engaging version of Quattrocento Smackdown." — Library JournalJoining the bestsellers Longitude and Galileo's Daughter, this is a lively and intriguing tale of two artists whose competitive spirit brought to life one of the world's most magnificent structures and ignited the Renaissance.The dome of the Santa Maria del Fiore, the gr...

Joining the bestsellers Longitude and Galileo’s Daughter, a lively and intriguing tale of two artists whose competitive spirit brought to life one of the world’s most magnificent structures and ignited the RenaissanceThe dome of the Santa Maria del Fiore, the great cathedral of Florence, is among the most enduring symbols of the Renaissance, an equal to the works of Leonardo and Michelangelo. Its designer was Filippo Brunelleschi, a temperamental architect and inventor who rediscov...

In the heart of Norway's Isdalen Valley, a chilling discovery unfolds—a woman's charred remains lie amidst the rugged landscape, her identity shrouded in a web of mystery. As investigators delve into her past, they uncover a series of aliases, coded notebooks, and a possible connection to Cold War espionage. The Isdal Woman's case becomes a haunting enigma, captivating the public imagination and challenging societal norms surrounding gender, crime, and the pursuit of truth....

**Lowell Thomas Annual Travel Book Award Silver Medal Winner 2015**Travel to the most inspiring tropical islands on the planet! Everything you need is in this one convenient Okinawa travel guide—including a large pull-out map.Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands is the first comprehensive travel guide to the 150 sub-tropical island chain that stretches across 600 miles from Japan to Taiwan. These are some of the most stunningly beautiful islands in the w...

They were five boys with bombs in their pockets and a dream of freedom in their hearts. Their target was an empire.On the morning of June 28, 1914, the city of Sarajevo was a stage set for pageantry, ready to welcome the heir to the mighty Habsburg throne . But hidden in the cheering crowds, a conspiracy was about to unfold. Scattered along the parade route were young assassins, their nerves fraying, their hands clutching Belgian pistols and crude bombs, ready to d...

Step into the hallowed halls of the Vatican and witness the untold story of its diplomatic struggles during the tumultuous years of World War I and II. "Silent Diplomacy" reveals the complex balancing act faced by the Church as it sought to maintain neutrality while confronting the rise of totalitarian regimes and the horrors of war.Through meticulous research and gripping narrative, this book explores the moral dilemmas faced by Popes Benedict XV, Pius XI, and Pius XII as they nav...

Ever noticed how history's greatest empires have the shelf life of a carton of milk? One minute, they're conquering the world; the next, they're a tourist attraction with a gift shop.The Gravity of Glory is a brutally funny tour through five millennia of human striving and spectacular collapse. This isn't your high school history class; it's a look at the petty grievances and terrible decisions that topple civilizations. Witness Rome perfect the art of turning enemies into...

They were nurses, spies, soldiers, factory workers, abolitionists, and mothers.The American Civil War was not just fought by men on battlefields. Behind the lines, a hidden army of women waged their own war – a war for survival, for freedom, and for a future where their voices would be heard.Clara Barton, the "Angel of the Battlefield" who revolutionized battlefield medicine and founded the American Red Cross.Harriet...

In a world where corruption and injustice often lurk in the shadows, investigative journalists serve as the guardians of truth, shining a light on the darkest corners of society. But their relentless pursuit of the truth often comes at a high price.This book tells the stories of real journalists who have faced threats, intimidation, and even death in their quest to expose wrongdoing. From Dorothy Kilgallen's investigation into the Kennedy assassination to Jamal Khashoggi's brutal m...

Dr. Mara Sutton, a top FBI hostage negotiator with a perfect record, faces her most dangerous challenge yet when a series of incidents suggests the existence of a clandestine mind-control program known as Project Threshold. As Mara investigates, she uncovers a network of sleeper agents programmed to respond to specific triggers embedded in everyday communications.But the deeper she digs, the more she realizes that the program never truly ended, and that its architects are now using...

Using the concept of musical effervescence, a collective state of synchronized and focused intersubjectivity through music, Gavin Robert Walker reveals how and why songs have become such a ubiquitous and formidable force within the AIDS epidemic in Africa.Drawn from a rich and powerful cultural history, music has been used to inspire HIV/AIDS activism and advocacy, facilitate local psychosocial healing, communicate life-saving health information, motivate communiti...