In this New York Times bestseller, "you'll see star births described in pen and ink, antimatter realized in collage, and a hand-painted black hole" ( Discover Magazine).A science book like no other, The Where, the Why, and the How turns loose seventy-five of today's hottest artists onto life's vast questions, from how we got here to where we are going. Inside these pages some of the biggest (and smallest) mysteries of the natural world are explaine...

Follow the real lives of seven kids from Italy, Japan, Iran, India, Peru, Uganda, and Russia for a single day! In Japan Kei plays Freeze Tag, while in Uganda Daphine likes to jump rope. But while the way they play may differ, the shared rhythm of their days—and this one world we all share—unites them. This genuine exchange provides a window into traditions that may be different from our own as well as a mirror reflecting our common experiences. Inspired by his own travels, Matt Lamothe tra...

Stories and portraits of sixty-five unsung heroes behind some of history's greatest achievements in the arts, politics, science, and technology.Explore the secret stories of the individuals behind some of the most legendary figures in the arts, politics, science, and technology in this fascinating compendium of historical fact and biographical trivia. Learn about Michael and Joy Brown, who gifted Harper Lee a year's worth of wages to help her write To Kill a Moc...

“Readers will probably go right to their own state―and then find themselves hooked.”― Booklist, Starred Review"A rich, thought-provoking work that proves that despite our differences, there's much that we share." ―Kirkus, Starred ReviewA gorgeously illustrated companion to Matt Lamothe’s This Is How We Do It featuring 50 kids from across the United States.From the rocky coastline of Maine ...

With an experienced CIA officer as your teacher, you’ll gain the knowledge and necessary tools to protect yourself and the ones you love.No matter where we go, we leave tracks and clues of our existence without even knowing. Our electronic footprint becomes our invisible trail. In this day in age where the world seems to be at our fingertips and social media plays a huge role in our daily lives, it’s hard not to leave part of our digital selves for others to find.

"A mesmerizing account that illuminates not just the Napoleonic wars but all of modern history . . . It reads like a novel" (Lynn Hunt, Eugen Weber Professor of modern European history, UCLA).The twentieth century is usually seen as "the century of total war." But as the historian David A. Bell argues in this landmark work, the phenomenon actually began much earlier, in the era of muskets, cannons, and sailing ships—in the age of Napoleon.In a sweeping, evo...

From the #1 New York Times bestselling World Almanac comes a brand-new, full-color book celebrating the National Parks––"America's best idea"––and providing a valuable resource for first-time visitors and longtime park fans alike.From the rugged, rocky coasts of Acadia to the geysers and hot springs of Yellowstone to the in-your-face beauty of the Grand Canyon, the national parks of North America offer visitors a new sight or bucket-list-worthy experience ...

An in-depth history exploring the evolution, impact, and ultimate demise of what was known in the 1930s and '40s as FDR's Black Cabinet.In 1932 in the midst of the Great Depression, Franklin Delano Roosevelt won the presidency with the help of key African American defectors from the Republican Party. At the time, most African Americans lived in poverty, denied citizenship rights and terrorized by white violence. As the New Deal began, a "black Brain Trust" joined th...

A journey into the alien depths of the sea, and into our possible future, from a marine biologist known for "nature writing at its most engaging" ( Sunday Express).A golden era of deep-sea discovery is underway as revolutionary studies rewrite the very notion of life on Earth and the rules of what is possible. In the process, the abyss is being revealed as perhaps the most amazing part of our planet, its topography even more varied and extreme than its lan...

Discover how to create a weed-free, sustainable, abundant garden with the no-till gardening method!The no-dig or no-till gardening method is an easy and climate-smart technique that is gaining in popularity and revolutionizing the gardening world. This book teaches you everything you need to start and care for a kitchen garden without any digging, watering, or weeding. Too good to be true? Find out for yourself! No-dig gardening is better for the environme...

“An elegant and accessible” investigation of quantum mechanics—“highly recommended” for students of the sciences, sci-fi fans, and anyone interested in the strange world of quantum physics (Forbes)Rules of the quantum world seem to say that a cat can be both alive and dead at the same time and a particle can be in two places at once. And that particle is also a wave; everything in the quantum world can described in terms of waves—or entirely in terms of pa...

The author of GCHG describes covert missions that "are worthy of spy fiction, but the entire book is utterly fascinating and informative. Brilliant!" (Books Monthly)Written by the renowned expert Nigel West, this book exposes the operations of Britain's overseas intelligence-gathering organization, the famed Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, and traces its origins back to its inception in 1909. In this meticulously researched account, its activities and str...