Free DownloadThe Curious Life of the Cuckoo: A beautifully illustrated celebration of the iconic bird from Britain’s finest nature writer by John Lewis-Stempel
English | 6 Mar. 2025 | ISBN: 0857526413, 9781473566651 | True EPUB | 112 pages | 47.4 MB
Is there any bird more mysterious than the cuckoo?
Free DownloadStalin’s General: The Life of Georgy Zhukov by Geoffrey Roberts
English | January 1, 2013 | ISBN: 1848315171 | 400 pages | PDF | 5.63 Mb
It is arguable that Georgy Zhukov was the greatest of the Allied generals of the Second World War, surpassing Eisenhower, Montgomery or Patton in military effectiveness. Unlike his rival Red Army generals he was prepared to stand up to Stalin when necessary and although charming in his private life, was a brutal and decisive commander. This is the first major biography of the Soviet hero, drawing on newly available sources in the Russian archives and previously unpublished excerpts from Zhukov’s own memoirs. Slightly off-mint.
Free DownloadRush : Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Excellence By Robert Freedman
2014 | 178 Pages | ISBN: 1628940840 | PDF | 1 MB
Rush is often referred to as a libertarian rock band, but really what the band is channeling is an Aristotelian individualism, a philosophy that strongly resonates with today’s 40-somethings. This helps explain the band’s resurgence in popularity, culminating in its 2013 induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. ‘Rush: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Excellence’ brings together the excitement of the band’s progressive music, performed by three musicians whose mastery of their instruments has won them the admiration of their peers, and the surprising philosophical sophistication of their music’s lyrics. The book is a systematic look at the Aristotelian philosophy embedded in the band’s lyrics over its 40-year recording career. Although the topic of the book is academic, the writing is sharp, down-to-earth, and leavened with a dry wit. Anyone interested in the band’s music, popular culture, and philosophical ideas simply explained will enjoy this entertaining and thought-provoking work. As a cultural phenomenon, Rush is worthy of serious study, and although other books have looked at the philosophical character of the band’s music, this is the first time the music over the band’s entire 40-year career is demonstrated to fall under a single, unified theory: Aristotelian individualism. Even readers who have pored over earlier books on Rush will enjoy this unifying theme. ‘Rush, Rock Music and the Middle Class’ (by Chris McDonald), says Rush is an avatar of middle class values. While the work ethic and value structure of the middle class is part of the band’s philosophy, that is just a subset of the band’s Aristotelianism, as shown by Robert Freedman here. The unified Aristotelian philosophy is also different from what’s discussed in ‘Rush and Philosophy’ (edited by Durrell Bowman and Jim Berti) looks at the band’s music through multiple philosophical filters and no attempt is made to look at the music through a single, unifying lens. Another book that studies Rush lyrics, ‘Mystic Rhythms’ (Carol Selby Price ad Robert M. Price), provides an interpretation of selected lyrics but does not systematically look at any philosophy. Rather, it approaches the lyrics as literary analysis and provides no overarching theoretical framework.
Free DownloadRudolf II: The Life and Legend of the Mad Emperor (Renaissance Lives) by Thomas DaCosta Kaufmann
English | April 9, 2025 | ISBN: 1836390610 | 288 pages | PDF | 23 Mb
A reinterpretation of the Habsburgian ruler’s reign as exemplary rather than reclusive.
Free DownloadLife Stories and Sociological Imagination : Music, Private Lives, and Public Identity in France and Sweden By Alexandra D’Urso
2013 | 124 Pages | ISBN: 1443865648 | PDF | 1 MB
What happens when public figures’ private selves are put forth for examination by public audiences? How do the personal struggles of music artists, specifically those with immigrant backgrounds, compare to the private struggles of other individuals? At a time when many countries in the European Union are experiencing an increase in far-right political party activities, how do individuals from the margins negotiate new ways of thinking about identity, offering hope for a greater understanding of shared struggles across societies?This book offers interpretations of identity and belonging by examining the work of two music artists, Faudel Belloua from France and Adam Tensta from Sweden. By analyzing texts produced by these individuals, the author argues that ongoing engagement with the materials produced by Belloua and Tensta, a process which she refers to as living biography, presents a unique window into the process of how Belloua and Tensta connect personal struggles to public issues, providing a compelling departure point for further discussions on how interpretations of national identity are changing in France, Sweden and beyond.
Free DownloadCarbon: The Book of Life by Paul Hawken
English | March 18, 2025 | ISBN: 0525427449 | 256 pages | PDF | 4.72 Mb
A journey into the world of carbon, the most versatile element on the planet, by the New York Times bestselling author Paul Hawken
Free DownloadThis Heart Holds Many: My Life as the Nonbinary Millennial Child of a Polyamorous Family by Koe Creation, Dr. Elisabeth Sheff
English | March 29, 2019 | ISBN: 1944934723 | 141 pages | PDF | 2.17 Mb
Many of us were asked by our mother to do the dishes as children. Perhaps some of us would need to be asked more than once. Koe Creation was the type who’d get asked three times, by three different mothers. Crowded parent-teacher conferences, queer youth summer camp, and parental adoptions over potluck dinner were typical of Koe’supbringing in a queer, polyamorous family. Taught from young age to embrace sex-positivity and LGBT acceptance, Koe had an experience of "family values" that differs wildly from many raised in conservative North America. Still: all families know conflictand all hearts know struggle, no matter how loved. Though a poster childfor the alternative Seattle community, Koe yearned for a realization of theirself beyond the "shadow of their tribe." This drive for a singular identity led Koe to leave the alt-Seattle scene to find the self that no one person orfamilycould make for them. This Heart Holds Many is a testament of transformative, communal love, as told by an educator and life-long learner who has dedicated their life to helping others grasp their extraordinary love.
Free DownloadThe Life of the USS Midway by Donald Yates
English | June 28, 2023 | ISBN: N/A | ASIN: B0C9PXPKQZ | 120 pages | EPUB | 9.08 Mb
Did you know that the aircraft carrier USS Midway was once the largest ship in the world? Or that its anchor weighed 20 tons. The Midway was fast enough that a person could ski behind it. It could launch an aircraft once every 45 seconds.
Free DownloadThe Life of the USS Intrepid by Donald Yates
English | January 13, 2025 | ISBN: N/A | ASIN: B0DSYWT9HH | 76 pages | EPUB | 13 Mb
Donald Yates, a distinguished United States military veteran and prolific author, has once again delivered an extraordinary contribution to military history with his new book, The Life of the USS Intrepid. With over 50 books to his name, Yates has cemented his reputation as a leading voice in capturing the stories of America’s armed forces. His latest work, a meticulously researched 79-page volume, delves into the incredible legacy of one of the most iconic aircraft carriers in U.S. Navy history. The USS Intrepid (CV-11) earned its place in history as "The Fighting I," a moniker that reflects its remarkable service during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Yates takes readers on a journey from the carrier’s construction at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Virginia to its critical missions in the Pacific Theater during World War II. The ship’s role in battles like Leyte Gulf and Okinawa, as well as its resilience in surviving multiple kamikaze attacks, is brought to life in vivid detail. What sets this book apart is its visual storytelling. With over 80 historical photographs, many of which have never been seen before, The Life of the USS Intrepid offers readers a rare glimpse into the daily lives of the sailors and airmen who served aboard this legendary vessel. From dramatic combat scenes to moments of camaraderie, the images provide a compelling backdrop to Yates’ engaging narrative. The book also highlights the USS Intrepid’s post-war missions, including its service during the Space Race as a recovery vessel for NASA’s Mercury and Gemini programs. Decommissioned in 1974, the Intrepid’s legacy continues as a museum in New York City, where it educates millions about naval history and honors the sacrifices of those who served. The Life of the USS Intrepid is a must-read for history enthusiasts, veterans, and anyone interested in the stories of courage and perseverance that define America’s military heritage. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the life of a ship that became a symbol of American resilience, as told by an author who has dedicated his career to preserving these vital stories.
Free DownloadThe Life of the USS CORAL SEA by Donald Yates
English | August 2, 2023 | ISBN: N/A | ASIN: B0CDNY4D1Y | 81 pages | EPUB | 17 Mb
Donald Yates, a U.S. 20-year military veteran, has released another fine military periodical short read. Yates, the author of over 15 military history pictorials, has released his latest book, The Life of the USS Coral Sea. Yates, who released a similar book on the Coral Sea’s sister ship, the USS Midway, takes the reader on a decade-by-decade tour of the Coral Sea’s history. The ship’s weaponry changed over the decades of service as new technology facilitated better defense systems. The Coral Sea bore the brunt of missions to Vietnam including multiple deployments to Southeast Asia in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, and 1974. You’ll see the many different aircraft that launched off the Coral Sea and get a look at the living conditions of the men who ran one of the most well-known carriers to ever exist. You’ll also be able to view over 60 mostly color photos of the Coral Sea from its early years in the 1940s until its final days in Baltimore. Most of these photos were taken by the Coral Sea crew members themselves.
