A "vastly entertaining" history of urban centers—from the ancient world to today ( Time).From the earliest example in the Ancient Near East to today's teeming centers of compressed existence, such as Mumbai and Tokyo, cities are home to half the planet's population and consume nearly three-quarters of its natural resources. They can be seen as natural cultural artifacts—evidence of our civic spirit and collective ingenuity.This book gives us the ec...

This is the story of the search for human origins - from the Middle Ages, when questions of the earth's antiquity first began to arise, through to the latest genetic discoveries that show the interrelatedness of all living creatures. Central to the story is the part played by fossils - first, in establishing the age of the Earth; then, following Darwin, in the pursuit of possible 'Missing Links' that would establish whether or not humans and chimpanzees share a common ancestor. John Reader...

**#1 New York Times bestseller • #1 Washington Post bestseller • #1 Indie Bestseller • USA Today BestsellerJohn Green, award-winning author and passionate advocate for global healthcare reform, tells a deeply human story illuminating the fight against the world’s deadliest infectious disease.**AN ACCLAIMED BEST BOOK OF 2025: NPR, Scientific American, Science News, Booklist, BookPage, Chicago Sun-Time...

Set Norse-inspired world, and packed with myth, magic, and vengeance, The Shadow of the Gods begins an epic fantasy saga from bestselling author John Gwynne.A century has passed since the gods fought and drove themselves to extinction. Now only their bones remain, promising great power to those brave enough to seek them out.As whispers of war echo across the land of Vigrid, fate follows in the footsteps of three warriors: a huntress on a dangerous ...

The first book in acclaimed epic fantasy author John Gwynne's Faithful and Fallen series, Malice is a tale of blind greed, ambition, and betrayal set in a world where ancient monsters are reawakening -- and a war to end all wars is about to begin.The world is broken. . .and it can never be made whole again.Corban wants nothing more than to be a warrior under King Brenin's rule -- to protect and serve. But that day will come all too soon. A...

“Masterful. The Anthropocene Reviewed is a beautiful, timely book about the human condition—and a timeless reminder to pay attention to your attention.” —Adam Grant, #1 bestselling author of Think Again and host of the podcast Re:ThinkingInstant #1 bestseller! A deeply moving collection of personal essays from John Green, the author of The Fault in Our Stars and Turtles All the Way Down.“Glorious...

Discover an American masterpiece. This unassuming story about the life of a quiet English professor has earned the admiration of readers all over the globe.William Stoner is born at the end of the nineteenth century into a dirt-poor Missouri farming family. Sent to the state university to study agronomy, he instead falls in love with English literature and embraces a scholar’s life, so different from the hardscrabble existence he has known. And yet as the years pas...

A sweeping American epic about family, sin, and the choice to choose good over evil Why readers call it Steinbeck’s masterpiece Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck called East of Eden “the first book” – the one he’d been preparing to write his entire life. Set in California’s fertile Salinas Valley at the turn of the 20th century, this powerful novel traces the intertwined lives of the Trask and Hamilton families across two generations. As their stories unfold, Steinbeck retells the biblical...

"East of Eden" by John Steinbeck is an epic novel that traverses generations, exploring the intricate tapestry of human relationships and the eternal struggle between good and evil. Set in California's Salinas Valley, the story revolves around the intertwined destinies of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons. At its heart is the retelling of the biblical tale of Cain and Abel, as themes of morality, free will, and the pursuit of identity unfold. The characters, vividly drawn and deep...

A masterpiece of Biblical scope, and the magnum opus of one of America’s most enduring authors, in a commemorative hardcover editionIn his journal, Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck called East of Eden "the first book," and indeed it has the primordial power and simplicity of myth. Set in the rich farmland of California's Salinas Valley, this sprawling and often brutal novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—who...

“A remarkable novel. . . . A Prayer for Owen Meany is a rare creation. ... An amazingly brave piece of work ... so extraordinary, so original, and so enriching. . . . Readers will come to the end feeling sorry to leave [this] richly textured and carefully wrought world.” —STEPHEN KING, Washington PostI am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice—not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother's dea...

Perfect for an entry-level sci-fi reader and the ideal addition to a veteran fan’s collection, John Scalzi's Old Man’s War will take audiences on a heart-stopping adventure into the far corners of the universe.John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army.The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce-and alie...