penguin essentials

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER | OVER 500,000 COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE Why do some products capture our attention while others fade into obscurity? What makes us check our phones, open an app, or scroll a feed without even thinking? Is there a repeatable pattern behind how technology hooks us? In Hooked, Nir Eyal reveals the secret psychology behind the world's most engaging products. Introducing the groundbreaking Hook Model - Trigger ? Action ? Variable Reward ? Investment - Eyal uncovers how products from Apple, Twitter, Instagram and Google create lasting user habits and how you can ethically harness these principles to build products people love. Packed with cutting-edge behavioural science, case studies, and practical frameworks, Hooked is both a manual for product designers and a mirror for anyone curious about their own habits. 'Hooked changed my life. It's essential reading for anyone who wants to better understand their actions and habits' Steven Bartlett , Diary of a CEO 'Nir Eyal taught Silicon Valley how to design behaviour - and then reminded us to use that power responsibly; Mark Manson , Solved Podcast 'Our challenges go beyond technology; they stem from the internal discomfort that Nir Eyal's work helps us understand' Ali Abdaal , Deep Dive Podcast 'In Hooked, Nir Eyal shows the fine line between persuasion and coercion - and why ethical design matters more than ever' Jim O'Shaughnessy , Infinite Loops Podcast

A balanced and thought-provoking guide to all the big questions about AI and ethics Can computers understand morality? Can they respect privacy? And what can we do to make AI safe and fair? The artificial intelligence revolution has begun. Today, there are self-driving cars on our streets, autonomous weapons in our armies, robot surgeons in our hospitals - and AI's presence in our lives will only increase. Some see this as the dawn of a new era in innovation and ease; others are alarmed by its destructive potential. But one thing is clear: this is a technology like no other, one that raises profound questions about the very definitions of human intelligence and morality. In Moral AI, world-renowned researchers in moral psychology, philosophy, and artificial intelligence - Jana Schaich Borg, Walter Sinnott-Armstrong and Vincent Conitzer - tackle these thorny issues head-on. Writing lucidly and calmly, they lay out the recent advances in this still nascent field, peeling away the exaggeration and misleading arguments. Instead, they offer clear examinations of the moral concerns at the heart of AI programs, from racial equity to personal privacy, fake news to autonomous weaponry. Ultimately, they argue that artificial intelligence can be built and used safely and ethically, but that its potential cannot be achieved without careful reflection on the values we wish to imbue it with. This is an essential primer for any thinking person.

Harriet Beecher Stowe's timeless and moving novel, an incendiary work that fanned the embers of the struggle between free and slave states into the fire of the Civil War.   Uncle Tom's Cabin is the story of the slave Tom. Devout and loyal, he is sold and sent down south, where he endures brutal treatment at the hands of the degenerate plantation owner Simon Legree. By exposing the extreme cruelties of slavery, Stowe explores society's failures and asks a profound question: What is it to be a moral human being? And as the novel that helped to move a nation to battle, Uncle Tom's Cabin is an essential part of the collective experience of the American people.   With an Introduction by Darryl Pinckney and an Afterword by Jonathan Arac

"From the world-renowned sommelier Aldo Sohm, a dynamic, essential wine guide for a new generation Aldo Sohm is one of the most respected and widely lauded sommeliers in the world. He's worked with celebrated chef Eric Ripert as wine director of three-Michelin-starred Le Bernardin for over a decade, yet his philosophy and approach to wine is much more casual. Imbued with Aldo's insatiable passion and eagerness to teach others, Wine Simple: perfect pairings is accessible, deeply educational, and lively and fun, both in voice and visuals. This essential guide begins with the fundamentals of wine in easy-to-absorb hits of information and pragmatic, everyday tips--key varietals and winemaking regions, how to taste, when to save and when to splurge, and how to set up a wine tasting at home. Aldo then teaches you how to take your wine knowledge to the next level and evolve your palate, including techniques on building a "flavor library," a cheat sheet to good (and great) vintages (and why you shouldn't put everything on the line for them), tips on troubleshooting tricky wines (corked? mousy?), and, for the daring, even how to saber a bottle of champagne. This visual, user-friendly approach will inspire readers to have the confidence, curiosity, and enthusiasm to taste smarter, drink boldly, and dive headfirst fearlessly into the exciting world of wine"-- Provided by publisher.

'Rare and riveting' LYSE DOUCET 'Blistering . . . a genuinely remarkable achievement' THE TIMES 'Compulsively readable . . . unputdownable' JON LEE ANDERSON 'Dramatic, personal and often heartbreaking' GUARDIAN 'Rarely has a book been so timely . . . Essential reading' LINDSEY HILSUM 'One of the most perceptive books on modern Iran in years' NEW YORK TIMES The moving, riveting and immersive story of six Iranians who, together, lived the entire arc of modern Iranian history: from the promise of the 1979 revolution to its betrayal by the Islamic mafia state and a people's undying spirit of resistance. Fuelled by Iranians' dreams of social justice and political freedom, the 1979 revolution swept aside the shah's ailing, repressive monarchy. But in its place the revolution's leader Ayatollah Khomeini and his acolytes built a system that served his narrow Islamic fundamentalist faction and worsened every failing and brutality that had existed under the shah. In this landmark new book, award-winning journalists Bozorgmehr Sharafedin and Yeganeh Torbati tell the entwined stories of six Iranians, providing a powerful new lens on Iran's recent history in all its bitter twists and stubborn hope: ¿ Mehdi Karroubi : a devotee of Khomeini, he rose to the heights of power on the wave of the revolution, before being cast out of its inner circle. ¿ Hila Sedighi : a young activist, who gave voice through her poetry to her peers' hopes during the reform years and ultimately immortalised their shattered dreams. ¿ Amir Moghadam : an ambitious government bureaucrat, who witnessed corruption and graft on a scale that impelled him to take enormous risks to expose the truth. ¿ Said Rahmani : a successful global tech entrepreneur who returned to Iran to spark a start-up boom in his native country, and encountered a ruthless security state that wanted his company for itself. ¿ Rozhin Yousefzadeh and Kosar Eftekhari : both born in the 1990s, they escaped their gendered destinies by leaving their hometowns for Tehran, where they joined a mass movement that confronted a ferocious state apparatus: the Woman Life Freedom protests. Each paid an enormous price. Through vivid and original reporting, Stolen Revolution offers a compulsively readable new story of Iran, centring ordinary Iranians' lives, whilst providing a visceral understanding of how life is actually lived under a modern authoritarian state. This is a harrowing story of power, corruption and greed - and those brave individuals who fought back. 'The definitive inside story of how the ideals behind Iran's revolution were subverted and crushed - and of the brave Iranians who still keep those dreams alive' CATHERINE BELTON, author of PUTIN'S PEOPLE 'Profoundly affecting . . . One of the most incisive works on Iranian society in a generation' SCOTT ANDERSON, author of KING OF KINGS 'Excellent . . . tells the tragic but often inspiring story of Iran over the last fifty years . . . Essential' JASON BURKE, author of THE REVOLUTIONISTS 'Extraordinarily powerful' JACK STRAW

DELVE INTO THE SCIENCE BEHIND YOUR PRACTICE WITH THIS ESSENTIAL AND PRACTICAL GUIDE TO MEDITATION 'This is a book that really can change your life' Arianna Huffington, author of the New York Times bestseller The Sleep Revolution Meditation is fascinating, but often it feels elusive. How can simple exercises change your mental state? How can focussing your breathing lead to changes in your personality? For the first time, Harvard collaborators Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson share the science behind the practice. Drawing on cutting edge research and sweeping away common misconceptions, they show how to improve your technique, how smart practice can cultivate selflessness, equanimity, love and compassion, and even redesign our neural circuitry. Whether you're a beginner or have meditated for years, bring mindfulness and meditation into your life with an essential read for the world we live in now. 'A happy synthesis of the authors' remarkable careers.' Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Full Catastrophe Living and Mindfulness for Beginners

NATIONAL BESTSELLER From Caldecott Medal winning author Peggy Rathmann, this beloved classic tells the story of a mischievous gorilla and his bedtime pals perfect for fans young and old! A clever, comforting bedtime story. School Library Journal (starred review) An ALA Notable Children s Book A Parenting Magazine Best Children s Books of the Year An E.B. White Read Aloud Award Finalist One of The Atlantic s 65 Essential Children s Books Good night, Gorilla . . . Good night, Elephant . . . It s bedtime at the zoo, and all the animals are going to sleep. Or are they? Who s that short, furry guy with the keys in his hand and the playful grin? Little night owls will love sneaking along with Gorilla and all his nighttime animal friends in this delightful, hilarious board book that s sure to become a cherished part of children s bedtime routines.

Depicts a tired penguin clutching a steaming coffee mug, with the bold text 'But First Coffee'. Captures the essential morning routine for caffeine lovers. Embrace the pre-caffeine struggle with this funny penguin graphic. Designed for coffee drinkers, early risers, and those who cherish their morning coffee. Dual-wall insulated stainless steel construction keeps beverages hot or cold, dishwasher safe and BPA free Leak-proof flip lid includes BPA free plastic drinking straw

A radical retelling of human history through collapse - from the dawn of our species to the urgent existential threats of the twentieth-first century and beyond - based on the latest research and a database of more than 440 societal lifespans over the last 5,000 years. 'Absolutely essential reading for understanding why past civilisations collapsed, and how to protect our own from the same fate' LEWIS DARTNELL 'A brilliant, utterly convincing account of the evolution of human society' HENRY MARSH For the first 200,000 years of human history, hunter-gathering Homo sapiens lived in fluid, egalitarian civilizations that thwarted any individual or group from ruling permanently. Then, around 12,000 years ago, that began to change. As we reluctantly congregated in the first farms and cities, people began to rely on novel lootable resources like grain and fish for their daily sustenance. And when more powerful weapons became available, small groups began to seize control of these valuable commodities. This inequality in resources soon tipped over into inequality in power, and we started to adopt more primal, hierarchical forms of organization. Power was concentrated in masters, kings, pharaohs and emperors (and ideologies were born to justify their rule). Goliath-like states and empires - with vast bureaucracies and militaries - carved up and dominated the globe. What brought them down? Whether in the early cities of Cahokia in North America or Tiwanaku in South America, or the sprawling empires of Egypt, Rome and China, it was increasing inequality and concentrations of power that hollowed these Goliaths out before an external shock brought them crashing down. These collapses were written up as apocalyptic, but in truth they were usually a blessing for most of the population. Now we live in a single global Goliath. Growth obsessed, extractive institutions like the fossil fuel industry, big tech and military-industrial complexes rule our world and produce new ways of annihilating our species, from climate change to nuclear war. Our systems are now so fast, complex and interconnected that a future collapse will likely be global, swift and irreversible. All of us now face a choice: we must learn to democratically control Goliath, or the next collapse may be our last. 'A comprehensive overview of societal collapse, based on the analysis of dozens of cases spanning thousands of years from the Paleolithic to today. Highly recommended' PETER TURCHIN 'A deeply sobering and strangely inspiring history of how societies collapse - and how we can still save ours. Read it now, or your descendants will find it in the ruins' JOHANN HARI

From the author of Masters and Commanders, Andrew Roberts' The Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War has been hailed as the finest single-volume account of this epic conflict . The Second World War lasted for 2,174 days and claimed the lives of over 50 million people. Why did it take the course that it did? Why did the Axis lose? And could they, with a different strategy, have won? Ranging from the Western front to North Africa, from the Baltic to the Far East, he brings the story of the war - and those who fought it - into focus as never before. 'One of the greatest historians of our time ... His masterpiece' Oliver Marre, Observer 'An undoubted triumph. This, simply, is the best one-volume history of the Second World War currently available' Laurence Rees 'Magnificent ... Stylish penmanship, gritty research and lucid reasoning, coupled with poignant and haunting detours into private lives ruined and shortened' Economist 'Moving, thought-provoking, enlightening' Roger Moorhouse, Independent 'An exceptional accomplishment ... the definitive single-volume history of the war ... Essential' Peter Watts, Time Out 'In what might be his best book yet, Roberts gives us the war as seen from the other side of the hill - the German Reich' Nigel Jones, Sunday Telegraph Andrew Roberts's Masters and Commanders was one of the most acclaimed, bestselling history books of 2008. His previous books include Salisbury: Victorian Titan (1999), which won the Wolfson History Prize and the James Stern Silver Pen Award for Non-Fiction, Hitler and Churchill: Secrets of Leadership (2003), which coincided with four-part BBC2 history series.

Get more out of reading with this radical guide to shelf-improvement, which reveals your core preferences and helps you choose books based on why you read, not what you’ve read before. Includes the viral Read Your Color quiz taken by more than two million people! “A fun and insightful approach to cultivating both a habit of reading and a love of reading.”—Karen Swallow Prior, author of On Reading Well Read Your Color introduces a six-type system that identifies the essential desires you have as a reader and builds a personalized plan from there. Are you a Red reader who craves intensity and stakes? A Blue reader seeking emotional resonance and truth? A Green reader looking for clarity and real-world application? Whoever you are, this framework gives you a vocabulary for your reading impulses and a map for reading well. The book isn’t just a diagnostic manual; it’s a step-by-step guide to transformation designed to help you fall (or fall back) in love with books. Think of it as a personal trainer for your reading life. In Read Your Color, you'll learn how to break free from algorithmic and genre-based reading habits expand your literary range without losing your core preferences build a sustainable rhythm that makes reading feel less like a chore and more like a reward With honest cultural observations, tested psychological insights, and a practical 120-day plan, Read Your Color meets you where you are—scrolling; burned out, distracted—and shows you what’s possible on the other side of a truly meaningful reading life. Read Your Color doesn't ask you to try harder. It gives you the tools to fall in love with reading, and with who you become when you read the right way.

Depicts a tired penguin clutching a steaming coffee mug, with the bold text 'But First Coffee'. Captures the essential morning routine for caffeine lovers. Embrace the pre-caffeine struggle with this funny penguin graphic. Designed for coffee drinkers, early risers, and those who cherish their morning coffee. Dual-wall insulated stainless steel construction keeps beverages hot or cold, dishwasher safe and BPA free Leak-proof flip lid includes BPA free plastic drinking straw

"The riveting investigative account of Nvidia, the tech company that has exploded in value for its artificial intelligence computing hardware, and Jensen Huang, Nvidia's charismatic, uncompromising CEO In June of 2024, spurred by the frenzy of investment following the launch of ChatGPT, and thirty-one years after its founding in a Denny's restaurant, Nvidia became the most-valuable corporation on Earth. In The Thinking Machine, acclaimed journalist Stephen Witt recounts the unlikely story of how a manufacturer of video game components shocked Silicon Valley by conquering the market for AI hardware, and in the process re-invented the computer. Essential to Nvidia's meteoric success is its visionary CEO Jensen Huang, who more than a decade ago, on the basis of a few promising scientific results, bet his entire company on AI. Through unprecedented access to Huang, his friends, his investors, and his employees, Witt documents for the first time the company's epic rise and its iconoclastic CEO, who emerges as a compelling, single-minded, and ferocious leader, and now one of Silicon Valley's most influential figures. The Thinking Machine is the story of how Nvidia evolved from providing components for circuit boards to supplying hundred-million dollar supercomputers. It is the story of a determined entrepreneur who defied Wall Street to push his radical vision for computing, in the process becoming one of the wealthiest men alive. It is the story of a revolution in computer architecture, and the small group of renegade engineers who made it happen. And it's the story of our awesome and terrifying AI future, which Huang has billed as the "next industrial revolution," as a new kind of microchip unlocks hyper-realistic avatars, autonomous robots, self-driving cars, and new movies, art, and books, generated on command"--

WINNER OF THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD 2021 WINNER OF DEBUT NOVEL OF THE YEAR AT THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS 2022 A No.1 BESTSELLER IN THE TIMES 'A tender and touching love story, beautifully told' Observer 'Hands-down the best debut I've read in years' The Times 'A beautiful and powerful novel about the true and sometimes painful depths of love' Candice Carty-Williams, bestselling author of QUEENIE 'An unforgettable debut... it's Sally Rooney meets Michaela Coel meets Teju Cole' New York Times 'A love song to Black art and thought' Yaa Gyasi, bestselling author of HOMEGOING and TRANSCENDENT KINGDOM Two young people meet at a pub in South East London. Both are Black British, both won scholarships to private schools where they struggled to belong, both are now artists - he a photographer, she a dancer - trying to make their mark in a city that by turns celebrates and rejects them. Tentatively, tenderly, they fall in love. But two people who seem destined to be together can still be torn apart by fear and violence. At once an achingly beautiful love story and a potent insight into race and masculinity, Open Water asks what it means to be a person in a world that sees you only as a Black body, to be vulnerable when you are only respected for strength, to find safety in love, only to lose it. With gorgeous, soulful intensity, Caleb Azumah Nelson has written the most essential British debut of recent years. 'An amazing debut novel. You should read this book. Let's hear it for Caleb Azumah Nelson, also known as the future' Benjamin Zephaniah 'A short, poetic and intellectual meditation on art and a relationship between a young couple' Bernardine Evaristo, author of GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER 'A very touching and heartfelt book' Diana Evans, award-winning author of ORDINARY PEOPLE 'A lyrical modern love story, brilliant on music and art, race and London life, I enjoyed it hugely' David Nicholls, author of ONE DAY and SWEET SORROW 'Caleb is a star in the making' Nikesh Shukla, editor of THE GOOD IMMIGRANT and BROWN BABY 'A stunning piece of art' Bolu Babalola, bestselling author of LOVE IN COLOUR 'For those that are missing the tentative depiction of love in Normal People, Caleb Azumah Nelson's Open Water is set to become one of 2021's unmissable books. Utterly transporting, it'll leave you weeping and in awe.' Stylist ' An exhilarating new voice in British fiction' Vogue ' A poetic novel about Black identity and first love in the capital from one of Britain's most exciting young voices ' Harper's Bazaar 'An intense, elegant debut' Guardian WINNER OF THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD WINNER OF DEBUT NOVEL OF THE YEAR AT THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS SHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES YOUNG WRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER OF THE BAD FORM BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD SHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR LONGLISTED FOR THE DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE, THE DESMOND ELLIOTT PRIZE A

In this essential Star Wars Legends novel, Mace Windu must journey to his long-forgotten homeworld to confront a terrifying mystery with dire personal consequences. The jungle planet of Haruun Kal, homeworld of the legendary Jedi Master Mace Windu, has become a battleground in the increasing hostilities between the Republic and the renegade Separatist movement. The Jedi Council has sent Depa Billaba Mace s former Padawan and fellow Council member to Haruun Kal to train the local tribesmen as a guerrilla resistance force. But now the Separatists have pulled back, and Depa has not returned. The only clue to her disappearance is a cryptic recording left at the scene of a brutal massacre: a recording that hints of madness and murder, and the darkness in the jungle . . . a recording in Depa s own voice. Mace Windu trained Depa. Only he can find her. Only he can learn what has changed her. Only he can stop her. He will leave behind the Republic he serves, the civilization he believes in, everything but his passion for peace and his devotion to his former Padawan. And he will learn the terrible price that must be paid when keepers of the peace are forced to make war. . . .

An intellectual tour de force: the major essays of the esteemed author of international bestseller The Sleepwalkers Christopher Clark's The Sleepwalkers has become one of the most influential history books of our century: a remarkable rethinking of the origins of the First World War, which has had a huge impact on how we see both the past and the present. For the many readers who found the narrative voice, craftsmanship and originality of Clark's writing so compelling, Prisoners of Time will be a book filled with surprises and enjoyment. Bringing together many of Clark's major essays, Prisoners of Time raises a host of questions about how we think about the past, and both the value and pitfalls of history as a discipline. The book includes brilliant writing on German subjects: from assessments of Kaiser Wilhelm and Bismarck to the painful story of General von Blaskowitz, a traditional Prussian military man who accommodated himself to the horrors of the Third Reich. There is a fascinating essay on attempts to convert Prussian Jews to Christianity, and insights into everything from Brexit to the significance of battles. Perhaps the most important piece in the book is 'The Dream of Nebuchadnezzar', a virtuoso meditation on the nature of political power down the ages, which will become essential reading for anyone drawn to the meaning of history.

*FULLY UPDATED WITH A NEW FOREWORD* THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER WINNER OF THE BRITISH ARMY MILITARY BOOK OF THE YEAR 2016 'Truly essential' Simon Sebag Montefiore The final destruction of the Ottoman Empire - one of the great epics of the First World War, from bestselling historian Eugene Rogan For some four centuries the Ottoman Empire had been one of the most powerful states in Europe as well as ruler of the Middle East. By 1914 it had been drastically weakened and circled by numerous predators waiting to finish it off. Following the Ottoman decision to join the First World War on the side of the Central Powers the British, French and Russians hatched a plan to finish the Ottomans off: an ambitious and unprecedented invasion of Gallipoli... Eugene Rogan's remarkable book recreates one of the most important but poorly understood fronts of the First World War. Despite fighting back with great skill and ferocity against the Allied onslaught and humiliating the British both at Gallipoli and in Mesopotamia (Iraq), the Ottomans were ultimately defeated, clearing the way for the making, for better or worse, of a new Middle East which has endured to the present.

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER FINALIST FOR THE 2022 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR NONFICTION Named one of the BEST BOOKS OF 2022 by NPR, The New Yorker, Time, and Vogue "Remarkable." -Andrew Solomon, The New York Times Book Review "At once a rigorous work of scholarship and a radical act of empathy."-Esquire "A ray of light into those isolated cocoons of darkness that, at one time or another, may afflict us all." -The Wall Street Journal "Essential."-The Boston Globe A landmark exploration of one of the most consequential and mysterious issues of our time: the rise of chronic illness and autoimmune diseases A silent epidemic of chronic illnesses afflicts tens of millions of Americans: these are diseases that are poorly understood, frequently marginalized, and can go undiagnosed and unrecognized altogether. Renowned writer Meghan O'Rourke delivers a revelatory investigation into this elusive category of "invisible" illness that encompasses autoimmune diseases, post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, and now long COVID, synthesizing the personal and the universal to help all of us through this new frontier. Drawing on her own medical experiences as well as a decade of interviews with doctors, patients, researchers, and public health experts, O'Rourke traces the history of Western definitions of illness, and reveals how inherited ideas of cause, diagnosis, and treatment have led us to ignore a host of hard-to-understand medical conditions, ones that resist easy description or simple cures. And as America faces this health crisis of extraordinary proportions, the populations most likely to be neglected by our institutions include women, the working class, and people of color. Blending lyricism and erudition, candor and empathy, O'Rourke brings together her deep and disparate talents and roles as critic, journalist, poet, teacher, and patient, synthesizing the personal and universal into one monumental project arguing for a seismic shift in our approach to disease. The Invisible Kingdom offers hope for the sick, solace and insight for their loved ones, and a radical new understanding of our bodies and our health.

A radical retelling of human history through collapse - from the dawn of our species to the urgent existential threats of the twenty-first century and beyond. ** FEATURED IN THE NEW BBC SERIES CIVILISATIONS: RISE AND FALL ** ** THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER ** 'A brilliant, utterly convincing account of the evolution of human society and why we are probably reaching humanity's end days' HENRY MARSH 'Absolutely essential reading for understanding why past civilisations collapsed, and how to protect our own from the same fate' LEWIS DARTNELL For the first 300,000 years of human history, hunter-gathering Homo sapiens lived in fluid, egalitarian civilizations that thwarted any individual or group from ruling permanently. Then, around 12,000 years ago, that began to change. As we reluctantly congregated in the first farms and cities, people began to rely on novel lootable resources like grain and fish for their daily sustenance. And when more powerful weapons became available, small groups began to seize control of these valuable commodities. This inequality in resources soon tipped over into inequality in power, and we started to adopt more primal, hierarchical forms of organization. Power was concentrated in masters, kings, pharaohs and emperors (and ideologies were born to justify their rule). Goliath-like states and empires - with vast bureaucracies and militaries - carved up and dominated the globe. What brought them down? Whether in the early cities of Cahokia in North America or Tiwanaku in South America, or the sprawling empires of Egypt, Rome and China, it was increasing inequality and concentrations of power that hollowed these Goliaths out before an external shock brought them crashing down. These collapses were written up as apocalyptic, but in truth they were usually a blessing for most of the population. Now we live in a single global Goliath. Growth obsessed, extractive institutions like the fossil fuel industry, big tech and military-industrial complexes rule our world and produce new ways of annihilating our species, from climate change to nuclear war. Our systems are now so fast, complex and interconnected that a future collapse will likely be global, swift and irreversible. All of us now face a choice: we must learn to democratically control Goliath, or the next collapse may be our last. 'An excellent survey of human history through the collapses of Goliath-like kings, states and empires' OBSERVER 'A comprehensive overview of societal collapse, based on the analysis of dozens of cases spanning thousands of years from the Paleolithic to today. Highly recommended' PETER TURCHIN 'A deeply sobering and strangely inspiring history of how societies collapse - and how we can still save ours. Read it now, or your descendants will find it in the ruins' JOHANN HARI 'Like reading Thomas Piketty filtered through Mad Max' NEW YORK TIMES

A sparkling new translation of the classic work on violence and revolution as seen through mythology and art The Ruin of Kasch takes up two subjects: "the first is Talleyrand, and the second is everything else," wrote Italo Calvino when the book first appeared in 1983. Hailed as one of those rare books that persuade us to see our entire civilization in a new light, its guide is the French statesman Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand, who knew the secrets of the ancien régime and all that came after, and was able to adapt the notion of "legitimacy" to the modern age. Roberto Calasso follows him through a vast gallery of scenes set immediately before and after the French Revolution, making occasional forays backward and forward in time, from Vedic India to the porticoes of the Palais-Royal and to the killing fields of Pol Pot, with appearances by Goethe and Marie Antoinette, Napoleon and Marx, Walter Benjamin and Chateaubriand. At the centre stands the story of the ruin of Kasch, a legendary kingdom based on the ritual killing of the king and emblematic of the ruin of ancient and modern regimes. 'Startling, puzzling, profound . . . a work charged with intelligence and literary seduction' The New York Times 'Unique, idiosyncratic and vaultingly ambitious... essential reading' Independent 'A great fat jewel-box of a book, gleaming with obscure treasures' John Banville

THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER From one of our great thinkers on modern life and the human condition - an unforgettable story of love and marriage from the author of bestselling novel Essays in Love as well as The Consolations of Philosophy, Religion for Atheists and The School of Life 'The Course of Love probes the very heart of marriage , its shifts and squalls, its great adventure, with such forensic tenderness. I laughed a lot, too ' Deborah Moggach Modern love is never easy. Society is obsessed with stories of romance, but what comes after happily ever after? This is a love story with a difference. From dating to marriage, from having kids to having affairs, it follows the progress of a single ordinary relationship: tender, messy, hilarious, painful, and entirely un-Romantic. It is a love story for the modern world, chronicling the daily intimacies, the blazing rows, the endless tiny gestures that make up a life shared between two people. Moving and deeply insightful, The Course of Love offers us a window into essential truths about the nature of love. 'Engaging, sympathetic, acutely perceptive... There's a refreshing honesty in what de Botton has to say ' Guardian

'A moving, essential book . . . Nobody writes about Nature with more beauty and grace than Jay Griffiths' Brian Eno From celebrated author Jay Griffiths comes a unique and heartfelt insight into the healing nature of our relationship with animals All animal-lovers instinctively know that animals heal. This book offers the evidence, drawing widely on scientific discoveries, history, and Indigenous knowledge. Original, playful and wise, How Animals Heal Us explores how animals can have a role in every level of healing, from the individual to the collective, guiding us in how we might create societies that are healthier, fairer and kinder. From a pot-bellied pig who saved her owner's life to dogs who can smell cancer; from birdsong healing the hurt psyche to wolves teaching humanity ethics, How Animals Heal Us puts animals at the heart of a restorative vision of health. 'Fascinating' Observer 'A fabulous and important book' Joanna Lumley 'A pure praise poem to the more than human world' Jackie Morris 'Animal magic in Jay Griffiths's uniquely beautiful voice' Laline Paull 'Marvellous, urgently important and compellingly readable' Charles Foster

"Incredibly rich with wisdom and insight that will leave the reader, whether single or married, feeling uplifted." -The Washington Times Based on the acclaimed sermon series by New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller, this book shows everyone-Christians, skeptics, singles, longtime married couples, and those about to be engaged-the vision of what marriage should be according to the Bible. Modern culture would have you believe that everyone has a soul mate; that romance is the most important part of a successful marriage; that your spouse is there to help you realize your potential; that marriage does not mean forever, but merely for now; and that starting over after a divorce is the best solution to seemingly intractable marriage issues. But these modern-day assumptions are wrong. Timothy Keller, with insights from Kathy, his wife of thirty-seven years, shows marriage to be a glorious relationship that is also misunderstood and mysterious. The Meaning of Marriage offers instruction on how to have a successful marriage, and is essential reading for anyone who wants to know God and love more deeply in this life.

DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL IS SHORTLISTED FOR THE ARTHUR C. CLARK AWARD One man. One cat. One alien invasion. Infinite chaos. Dive into the first explosive Dungeon Crawler Carl adventure - a wild mix of sci-fi, fantasy, and twisted survival comedy. 'If there's a better LitRPG than Dungeon Crawler Carl, I haven't read it' Shirtaloon, author of He Who Fights Monsters -- You know what's worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what's worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic, intergalactic game show. That's what. And now Coast Guard veteran Carl and his ex-girlfriend's cat, Princess Donut, must try to survive the end of the world-or just get to the next level-in a video game-like, trap-filled, fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that's actually the set of a reality TV show with countless viewers across the galaxy. So not only do they have to stay alive, but they also need to earn ratings based on their performance. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain't your ordinary game show. Keeping viewers entertained is essential. Survival, however, is not. --- PRAISE --- 'Fresh. Creative. Hilarious. I'm obsessed...Princess Donut is my queen' Actor, producer and New York Times bestselling author Felicia Day 'I don't always say nice things about a book just because the writer has compromising pictures of me engaging in some very complicated international crimes, but when I do, I say them about Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl! Also, this series has no goddamn business burying so much depth and emotion and complexity under its bawdy, gory surface, but it does so anyway. What a wild-ass and unexpected delight' New York Times bestselling author Scott Lynch '[A] comically cosmic adventure series...often laugh-out-loud funny...Grind your way to dungeon mastery alongside Carl and Princess Donut' The Wall Street Journal 'This is the book for anyone who ever wondered what it would be like to be a role player in a game with the best game master ever. Also for anyone who wants to read a good book. Or maybe anyone who has been outside at night?in their underwear?looking for their cat and wondering 'What's the worst thing that could happen?' Once you start, you won't put it down' Patricia Briggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson series 'One of the most bananapants, funny, inventive books I have read in a while' Book Riot 'Dungeon Crawler Carl is just one big smile all the way through. Put on your best pair of boxer shorts and sit back for a truly fun and enjoyable read' New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson 'Dungeon Crawler Carl is a dangerously addicting tale of chaos and mayhem. I'm thoroughly hooked! - #1 New York Times bestselling author Cal

Naughty Dog Studios and Dark Horse proudly present the essential companion to The Last of Us, a richly detailed and compelling game set in a postpandemic world where humans have become an endangered species. Featuring concept art, character designs, and astonishing settings and landscapes, The Art of The Last of Us provides a unique look at one of the gaming world's most eagerly anticipated titles. * A must-have companion to the game. * Incredible full-color artwork! * The latest project from Naughty Dog Studios. * The Last of Us swept the top Game Critics awards at 2012's E3 conference.

"In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf." The classic children's story, now in in a unique miniature pop-up version. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is one of the most beloved children's stories of all time and is the essential first book for babies. This bright and beautiful fold-out pop-up book follows the Very Hungry Caterpillar's journey from tiny caterpillar to beautiful butterfly. The perfect gift for little readers.

One of the most talked about books of the decade, an inspiring true story of hope and the healing powers of the natural world. OVER 2 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER INCLUDED IN THE SUNDAY TIMES 2024 LIST OF THE TOP 100 BOOKS OF THE PAST FIFTY YEARS WINNER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE CHRISTOPHER BLAND PRIZE SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA BIOGRAPHY AWARD _________ Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, their home is taken away and they lose their livelihood. With nothing left and little time, they make the brave and impulsive decision to walk the 630 miles of the sea-swept South West Coast Path, from Somerset to Dorset, via Devon and Cornwall. Carrying only the essentials for survival on their backs, they live wild in the ancient, weathered landscape of cliffs, sea and sky. Yet through every step, every encounter and every test along the way, their walk becomes a remarkable journey. The Salt Path is an honest and life-affirming true story of coming to terms with grief and the healing power of the natural world. Ultimately, it is a portrayal of home, and how it can be lost, rebuilt and rediscovered in the most unexpected ways. _________ 'A beautiful, thoughtful, lyrical story of homelessness, human strength and endurance' Guardian 'A tale of triumph: of hope over despair; of love over everything' Sunday Times 'Mesmerising. It is one of the most uplifting, inspiring books that I've ever read' i 'The most inspirational book of this year' The Times 'Luminescent. A literary phenomenon' Mail on Sunday 'This is what you need right now to muster hope and resilience . . . a beautiful story and a reminder that humans can endure adversity' Stylist ' A beautiful book, it really lives up to the hype . . . an enjoyable, gentle yet moving read' Pandora Sykes on The High Low _________ Sunday Times bestseller, September 2023 Winner, Royal Society of Literature Christopher Bland Prize, 2018 Raynor Winn's books have sold over two million copies across all formats and languages, March 2025

A GUARDIAN BEST BOOK OF THE 21ST CENTURY WINNER OF THE PRIX FEMINA ETRANGER 2020 Following on from the critically acclaimed Things I Don't Want to Know, discover the powerful second memoir in Deborah Levy's essential three-part 'Living Autobiography'. 'I can't think of any writer aside from Virginia Woolf who writes better about what it is to be a woman' Observer _________________________________ 'Life falls apart. We try to get a grip and hold it together. And then we realise we don't want to hold it together . . .' The final instalment in Deborah Levy's critically acclaimed 'Living Autobiography', Real Estate, is available now. _________________________________ 'I just haven't stopped reading it . . . it talks so beautifully about being a woman' Billie Piper on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs 'It is the story of every woman throughout history who has expended her love and labour on making a home that turns out to serve the needs of everyone except herself. Wonderful' Guardian 'Wise, subtle and ironic, Levy's every sentence is a masterpiece of clarity and poise . . . a brilliant writer' Daily Telegraph 'A graceful and lyrical rumination on the questions, "What is a woman for? What should a woman be?"' Tatler 'Extraordinary and beautiful, suffused with wit and razor-sharp insights' Financial Times

In this essential Star Wars Legends novel, Mace Windu must journey to his long-forgotten homeworld to confront a terrifying mystery with dire personal consequences. The jungle planet of Haruun Kal, homeworld of the legendary Jedi Master Mace Windu, has become a battleground in the increasing hostilities between the Republic and the renegade Separatist movement. The Jedi Council has sent Depa Billaba Mace s former Padawan and fellow Council member to Haruun Kal to train the local tribesmen as a guerrilla resistance force. But now the Separatists have pulled back, and Depa has not returned. The only clue to her disappearance is a cryptic recording left at the scene of a brutal massacre: a recording that hints of madness and murder, and the darkness in the jungle . . . a recording in Depa s own voice. Mace Windu trained Depa. Only he can find her. Only he can learn what has changed her. Only he can stop her. He will leave behind the Republic he serves, the civilization he believes in, everything but his passion for peace and his devotion to his former Padawan. And he will learn the terrible price that must be paid when keepers of the peace are forced to make war. . . .

New York Times bestseller!  There s a reason this system for time management, goal setting, and intentional living has been adopted by millions around the globe: it works. Not only will you get more done, but you ll get the right things done. All you need is a pen, paper, and five spare minutes a day. In The Bullet Journal Method, Ryder Carroll, the system s founder, provides an essential guide to avoiding all-too-common beginner mistakes and building a core discipline from which you can personalize your practice. You ll not only learn to organize your tasks, but to focus your time and energy in pursuit of what's truly meaningful to you by following three simple steps: * Track the past.  Create a clear and comprehensive record of your thoughts. * Order the present . Find daily calm and clarity by tackling your to-do list in a more mindful, systematic, and productive way. * Design the future.  Transform your vague curiosities into meaningful goals, and then break those goals into manageable action steps that lead to big change. Whether you re a frustrated list maker, an overwhelmed multitasker, or a creative who needs some structure, The Bullet Journal Method will help you go from passenger to pilot of your own life.