The story of one of Alaska's last Indigenous strongholds, shut off for a century until a fateful encounter between a shaman, a preacher, and a naturalist.Tucked in the corner of Southeast Alaska, the Tlingits had successfully warded off the Anglo influences that had swept into other corners of the territory. This Native American tribe was viewed by European and American outsiders as the last wild tribe and a frustrating impediment to access. Missionaries and prospe...

In this riveting account of an area of Appalachia known as the Quiet Zone where cell phones and WiFi are banned, journalist Stephen Kurczy explores the pervasive role of technology in our lives and the innate human need for quiet."Captures the complex beauty of a disconnected way of life." — The NationWith a new afterword to the paperback editionDeep in the Appalachian Mountains lies the last truly...

A "fascinating" journey to little-known and contested lands around the globe, from Tibet to the Isle of Man to Elgaland-Vargaland ( Geographical Magazine).What is a country? Acclaimed travel writer and Oxford geography don Nick Middleton brings to life the origins and histories of fifty states that, lacking international recognition and United Nations membership, exist on the margins of legitimacy in the global order. From long-contested lands like Crimea a...

The classic layman's history of the mathematical constant—"A pure delight…. Entirely offbeat, which gives it its charm" ( The Denver Post )."A very readable account."— Science"A cheerful work."— Scientific AmericanThe history of pi, says the author, though a small part of the history of mathematics, is nevertheless a mirror...

From garden to table, the complete guide to adding more protein, fiber, and plant-based meals to your diet through the addition of beans and grains.Beans and grains have been part of the human diet for centuries. Many stories exist of ancient cultures using these foods not only for sustenance, but also in ritual. The Beans & Grains Bible is a complete source of information on enjoying this naturally nutritious cuisine in your own home. Expert tips...

The acclaimed science writer "curates a visually striking, riotously colorful photographic display…of physical patterns in the natural world" ( Publishers Weekly, starred review).Though at first glance the natural world may appear overwhelming in its diversity and complexity, there are regularities running through it, from the hexagons of a honeycomb to the spirals of a seashell and the branching veins of a leaf. Revealing the order at the foundation of th...

"A sharp eye and an ingenious mind are at work on every page. . . . Read this book. . . . Then go forth, enjoy the view, and impress your friends." —Laurence A. Marschall, Natural HistoryHow heavy is that cloud? Why can you see farther in rain than in fog? Why are the droplets on that spider web spaced apart so evenly?If you have ever asked questions like these while outdoors, and wondered how you might figure out the answers, thi...

"Vollman explores, sometimes sensitively, often provocatively, the emotional, psychological, and physical dimensions of poverty" ( Chicago Tribune )."Few writing today can handle writing about the underclasses of the world like Vollman . . .a writer who writes not only beautifully but also responsibly and morally." — San Francisco Chronicle"Why are you poor?" That was the ...

Discover hundreds of intriguing, entertaining & often hilarious origins to the English language's most curious phrases in this trivia book from a bestselling author.English is filled with interesting phrases. This book reveals the surprising, captivating and even hilarious origins behind 400 of them, including:• Read between the Lines• Cat Got Your Tongue?• Put a Sock in It• Close, but No Cigar• Bring Home the Bacon• Caught Red-Handed• Under the Wea...

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • AN AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR SO FAR 2025From the New York Times bestselling authors of The Nazi Conspiracy and The Lincoln Conspiracy comes a true, little-known story about the first assassination attempt on John F. Kennedy, right before his inauguration.Kennedy, the thirty-fifth president o...

**NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Magisterial…A stunning account that brings to the fore the nuclear saga’s surreal combination of ingenuity, fate, and terror.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) • “If you are an intelligent person, or at the very least think you are, you have to read The Devil Reached Toward the Sky…This period in history has never been more relevant and frightening than it is today.” —James Patterson • “Comprehensive and engrossing…Excellent oral...

A NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLERSOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE FROM ACADEMY AWARD–WINNING FILMMAKER JAMES CAMERON“Not since Titanic have I found a powerful, heartbreaking, and inspiring real-life story as found in Ghosts of Hiroshima by Charles Pellegrino. This is an amazing book and a film I am excited to direct.”—James CameronFrom the acclaimed New York T...