penguin essentials

One of Time Magazine's 100 Must-Read Books of 2020 and an FT Best Book of the Year Thought-provoking and deeply consoling, a perfectly distilled set of essays on the strangest year many of us have experienced, from one of our wisest and most humane thinkers 'As well as offering a new guide to living in a wild, messy and unfair world, Smith provides a reminder that we can use this crisis to imagine a better one' Evening Standard Deeply personal and powerfully moving, a short and timely series of essays on the experience of lockdown, by one of the most clear-sighted and essential writers of our time From the critically acclaimed author of Feel Free, Swing Time, White Teeth and many more 'There will be many books written about the year 2020: historical, analytic, political and comprehensive accounts. This is not any of those - the year isn't half-way done. What I've tried to do is organize some of the feelings and thoughts that events, so far, have provoked in me, in those scraps of time the year itself has allowed. These are above all personal essays: small by definition, short by necessity.' Crafted with the sharp intelligence, wit and style that have won Zadie Smith millions of fans, and suffused with a profound intimacy and tenderness in response to these unprecedented times, Intimations is a vital work of art, a gesture of connection and an act of love - an essential book in extraordinary times. 'Zadie Smith is a marvel - her soulfulness, her sensitivity, her ability to write . . . She doesn't try to make grand statements but just leaves you with the sense that you're in the company of someone who can help you feel things deeply' Tom Hollander in the Guardian

Welcome to your brand-new wordplay obsessionFrom the creators of the hugely popular online puzzle platform, Minute Cryptic, comes this step-by-step guide to the fun and excitement of cryptic puzzles. With over 160 different clues for you to solve, each chapter takes you through a different wordplay concept essential for unlocking cryptic crossword clues. As you complete the book, you'll build your skills and combine what you've learned so far, so that, by the end, you'll be able to take on the full cryptic crossword puzzle with total confidence. This is a must-have games book for anyone who loves wordplay, brain training or simply some puzzling fun. Give yourself a new challenge and step into the world of Minute Cryptic...

Misha Glenny's acclaimed account of the war in former Yugoslavia contains substantial new material that discusses the end of the five-year conflict and looks ahead to an uneasy future in this turbulent region. Writing in the Evening Standard, Fitzroy Maclean said 'Misha Glenny's deeply disturbing book is, to my mind, essential reading for anyone trying to understand, or even just follow, events in what was once Yugoslavia'.

WINNER OF THE 2026 PULITZER PRIZE FOR OPINION WRITING When Gessen speaks about autocracy, you listen. The New York Times A reckoning with what has been lost in the past few years and a map forward with our beliefs intact. Interview As seen on MSNBC s Morning Joe and heard on NPR s All Things Considered: the bestselling, National Book Award winning journalist offers an essential guide to understanding, resisting, and recovering from the ravages of our tumultuous times. This incisive book provides an essential guide to understanding and recovering from the calamitous corrosion of American democracy over the past few years. Thanks to the special perspective that is the legacy of a Soviet childhood and two decades covering the resurgence of totalitarianism in Russia, Masha Gessen has a sixth sense for the manifestations of autocracy and the unique cross-cultural fluency to delineate their emergence to Americans. Gessen not only anatomizes the corrosion of the institutions and cultural norms we hoped would save us but also tells us the story of how a short few years changed us from a people who saw ourselves as a nation of immigrants to a populace haggling over a border wall, heirs to a degraded sense of truth, meaning, and possibility. Surviving Autocracy is an inventory of ravages and a call to account but also a beacon to recovery and to the hope of what comes next.

New to cooking? Don’t worry about it! You can cook Korean like a pro. If you’ve always wanted to make your favorite Korean dishes at home, Simply Korean is for you. With streamlined techniques, minimal ingredients, and clear instructions, you'll learn the easiest methods to make fried rice, bulgogi, kimchi, and more without sacrificing taste. Master the art of banchan and impress your guests with an epic K-BBQ party. Can't travel to Seoul? Recipes for tteokbokki and hotteok bring these street food favorites to your kitchen.  Simply Korean includes: Introduction to Korean cuisine, including essential ingredients and preparation methods How to make restaurant-quality meals at home—shortcuts for boosting flavor and reducing prep Easy-to-remember formulas for Korean sauces to make any dish more delicious

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On Anarchism is an essential introduction to Noam Chomsky's political theory. On Anarchism sheds a much needed light on the foundations of Chomsky's thought, specifically his constant questioning of the legitimacy of entrenched power. The book gathers his essays and interviews to provide a short, accessible introduction to his distinctively optimistic brand of anarchism. Refuting the notion of anarchism as a fixed idea, and disputing the traditional fault lines between anarchism and socialism, this is a book sure to challenge, provoke and inspire. Profoundly relevant to our times, it is a touchstone for political activists and anyone interested in deepening their understanding of anarchism, or of Chomsky's thought. 'Arguably the most important intellectual alive' New York Times

An accessible, engaging and essential introduction to the British empire for readers aged 9+, by bestselling author of Empireland, Sathnam Sanghera. You've probably heard the word 'empire' before. Perhaps because of the Roman empire. Or maybe even the Star Wars films. But what about the British Empire? Why don't we learn much about this? And what even is an empire, anyway? This book will answer all the important questions about Britain's imperial history. It will explore how Britain's empire once made it the most powerful nation on earth, and how it still affects our lives in many ways today - from the words we use, to the food we eat, the sports we play and even to every grown-up's fixation with a good cup of tea. Because how can we ever make the world a kinder, better place for the future, if we don't know the truth about the past? "I've resisted suggestions that I write a kids' book on empire on the grounds that I didn't want to sanitise the history. But I think I've found a tone that allows me to be both honest and entertaining. I'm really excited that kids might soon have access to knowledge about the British Empire that I only stumbled across at the age of 45. Becoming at ease with this history is essential to Britain becoming a saner country." - Sathnam Sanghera SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE WEEK

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 BRAND NEW EDITION WITH AN UPDATED FOREWORD 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

The woman's place of power within each of us is neither white nor surface; it is dark, it is ancient, and it is deep The revolutionary writings of Audre Lorde gave voice to those 'outside the circle of this society's definition of acceptable women'. Uncompromising, angry and yet full of hope, this collection of her essential prose - essays, speeches, letters, interviews - explores race, sexuality, poetry, friendship, the erotic and the need for female solidarity, and includes her landmark piece 'The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House'. 'The truth of her writing is as necessary today as it's ever been' Guardian

'Pay attention: If you are human, you must read this book' Jaron Lanier We all feel it: something is seriously wrong. Our attention-that essential ability to give our minds and senses to the world-is being trapped, gutted, and sold out from under us by an industry of immense technological and financial power. The heedless exploitation of this vital capacity by a handful of tech companies is harming us all, reducing our very selfhood to that which can be quantified, bought, and sold-and shaking the foundations of our democracy. To push back against this 'human fracking,"'we need more than individual willpower or isolated efforts. We need a movement of collective resistance. Such a movement is beginning to bloom, and in this radical, first-of-its-kind guide, The Friends of Attention show us how to join the fight. We meet welders, nurses, poets, and surfers, all of whom are engaged in attentional practices. We learn to seek out sanctuaries-theatres and museums, houses of worship, dance parties-where together we can take refuge from the frackers. Drawing on a rich legacy of critical intellectuals and the creative wisdom of diverse traditions, Attensity! takes our apocalyptic present, turns it on its head, and reveals new vistas of human flourishing.

'A masterwork... an almost unbearable, tumultuous, blood-pounding experience' Washinton Post When Another Country appeared in 1962, it caused a literary sensation. James Baldwin's masterly story of desire, hatred and violence opens with the unforgettable character of Rufus Scott, a scavenging Harlem jazz musician adrift in New York. Self-destructive, bad and brilliant, he draws us into a Bohemian underworld pulsing with heat, music and sex, where desperate and dangerous characters betray, love and test each other to the limit. 'In Another Country, Baldwin created the essential American drama of the century' Colm Tóibín

Instant New York Times Bestseller! New York Times Editors' Choice One of People's 15 Most Anticipated Books of Summer The Next Big Idea Club's July 2026 Must-Read Books One of the New York Times Nonfiction Everyone Will Be Reading This Summer Sunset Magazine's 15 New Books You Don't Want to Miss From Annie Jacobsen, the author of the bestselling Nuclear War: A Scenario, a book on a subject that has long orbited her reporting: biological warfare. A lab accident, a bio-attack, a global pandemic, and the collapse of human society. In this essential new book, based on dozens of new interviews with experts with high-level political, governmental, medical, and military responsibility, Annie Jacobsen examines this very scenario. It would be only a matter of days from such a global infection before the infrastructure built to handle this gravest of situations would be in a battle for human existence. The fallout: mass death, total societal breakdown, widespread insurrection, anarchy, and a plague-ravaged wasteland that no longer resembles modern civilization. In other words: dystopia. Following the gripping narrative style that launched Nuclear War to the New York Times bestseller list, Jacobsen looks deeply at a situation that is in some ways the opposite of a nuclear bomb: There is no mushroom cloud, no shock wave or blast. Instead, the scenario that could end the world as we know it begins with something so small, and something so malicious, that when used for evil, only evil can result. This is what could happen; a ticking-clock roadmap to the hours, days, and weeks following the release of a biological agent, that serves as the most essential, forward-looking journalism in preparation for urgent societal upheaval.

Welcome to your brand-new wordplay obsessionFrom the creators of the hugely popular online puzzle platform, Minute Cryptic, comes this step-by-step guide to the fun and excitement of cryptic puzzles. With over 160 different clues for you to solve, each chapter takes you through a different wordplay concept essential for unlocking cryptic crossword clues. As you complete the book, you'll build your skills and combine what you've learned so far, so that, by the end, you'll be able to take on the full cryptic crossword puzzle with total confidence. This is a must-have games book for anyone who loves wordplay, brain training or simply some puzzling fun. Give yourself a new challenge and step into the world of Minute Cryptic...

A sturdy board book edition of the first-ever lift-the-flap book! With hide-and-seek fun on every page, this interactive classic has had children across the globe searching for everyone’s favorite pup, who’s gone on to sell over 65 million copies worldwide! “Spot is one of the essential experiences of childhood.” —Parents Spot hasn’t eaten his dinner yet, but where can he be? Help Spot’s mom Sally as she searches for her pup throughout the home. As Sally searches, readers will discover the names of many household objects and the hidden animals they hold. Could he be behind the door? Inside the piano? Under the stairs? Along the way, Sally meets some interesting critters, including a brown bear, a crocodile, a trio of penguins, and more! With its soothing rhythm, easy-to-understand vocabulary, and engaging, charming illustrations, Where’s Spot? is an essential addition to every child’s growing library.

National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist From the acclaimed, award-winning author of Alexander Hamilton: here is the essential, endlessly engrossing biography of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. the Jekyll-and-Hyde of American capitalism. In the course of his nearly 98 years, Rockefeller was known as both a rapacious robber baron, whose Standard Oil Company rode roughshod over an industry, and a philanthropist who donated money lavishly to universities and medical centers. He was the terror of his competitors, the bogeyman of reformers, the delight of caricaturists and an utter enigma. Drawing on unprecedented access to Rockefeller s private papers, Chernow reconstructs his subjects troubled origins (his father was a swindler and a bigamist) and his single-minded pursuit of wealth. But he also uncovers the profound religiosity that drove him to give all I could ; his devotion to his father; and the wry sense of humor that made him the country s most colorful codger. Titan is a magnificent biography balanced, revelatory, elegantly written.

Preorder the essential lifeline for any start out cook, whether you're off to university or you're moving out for the first, third . . . or sixth time, this is your quick and easy guide to truly delicious meals, even on a budget. Inside you'll find simple, quick, affordable, mouthwatering recipes you'll really want to cook - and eat - each one promising to stave off the temptation to order in. From learning foolproof methods for the basics, like ultimate cheese sauce and perfect poached eggs, to the classics like Spaghetti Carbonara, the best gooey Brownie recipe going, essential pick-me-ups, Chicken Noodle Soup and hangover cures, Sausage & Egg Muffins to quick and convenient meals to cook all week long for yourself and your housemates, 15-minute Thai Chicken Curry, Pork & Pineapple Tacos, One Pot Mac & Cheese, Five-A-Day Veggie Frittata, Spiced Lamb Kebab, One Tray Veggie Pasta and so many more, talented chef Sam Holland uses his professional knowledge and skills to create, healthy, delicious, easy-to-follow recipes for anyone who is just starting out.

A fun reading scheme that uses the 'look and say' approach to learning to read. Essential key words are introduced and regularly repeated to assist with pronunciation and meaning. Level three is for the improving readers.

Make your comfort food dreams come true with Comfy, the essential cookbook for simple, indulgent and joyful dinners to make your heart sing. Creator of the renowned food blog Don't Go Bacon My Heart, Chris Collins has curated a collection of feel-good dinners that put flavour first, combining accessible ingredients, straightforward methods and failproof cooking advice for unforgettable meals every time. - Burrata Caprese Pasta - Cottage Pie Baked Potatoes - Easy Bloomer Bread Pizza - Brown Butter Gnocchi with Sage and Butternut Squash - Soul Soothing Chicken Orzo Soup - Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing - Harissa Halloumi Skewers - Katsu Curry Everything from plates piled high with pasta, takeaway classics reinvented for the home kitchen, set-and-forget slow-cooker favourites and dinner-worthy soups and salads. This is year-round food that you'll never want to stop cooking. The only book you need to create cosy and delicious evenings for you, your family and your friends.

LEARN HOW TO REST BETTER WITH THIS ESSENTIAL BOOK Do you regularly find yourself too tired after a long day to do anything other than binge TV? Do you go on holiday and still compulsively check your email? Do you work through your lunch-break, often not even leaving your desk and getting some fresh air? For most of us, overwork is the new norm, and we never truly take the time to rest and recharge. But as Silicon Valley consultant Alex Soojung-Kim Pang explains in this groundbreaking book, rest needs to be taken seriously and to be done properly, because when you rest better you work better. Drawing on emerging neuroscience, Rest is packed full of practical and easy tips for incorporating rest into our everyday: - Stopping work on a task when you know exactly what the next step is will make it easier to get started the next day - Take a long walk when you're stuck on a task; it will help stimulate new ideas and creativity - Have deliberate rest periods - scheduled into your diary - and use this time on trying a new activity When you rest better you'll find that it won't just be your work which improves - you'll have more time for hobbies, stronger relationships and you'll sleep better, too. "An incredibly timely read for my own increasingly rest-starved life. This might be the book to finally persuade us that downtime isn't in conflict with good work; rather, it's an essential ingredient of it" Oliver Burkeman, Guardian "Take a break and read Rest: you'll make smarter decisions, have better relationships, and be happier and more creative" James Wallman, author of Stuffocation

'This is not only history reclaimed, this is history at its best!' Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, author of Persians: the Age of the Great Kings 'A bravura re-telling' Daily Mail Carthage was a power that dominated the western Mediterranean for almost six centuries before its fall to Rome. The history of the realm and its Carthaginians was subsumed by their conquerors and, along the way, the story of the real Carthage was lost. An ancient North African kingdom, Carthage was the home of Hannibal and of Dido, of war elephants and enormous power and wealth, of great beauty and total destruction. In this landmark new history, Eve MacDonald tells the essential story of the lost culture of Carthage and of its forgotten people, using brand new archaeological analysis to uncover the history behind the legend. A journey that takes us the Phoenician Levant of the early Iron Age to the Atlantic and all along the coast of Africa, Carthage puts the city and the story of North Africa once again at the centre of Mediterranean history. Reclaimed from the Romans, this is the Carthaginian version of the tale, revealing to us that, without Carthage, there would be no Rome.

The woman's place of power within each of us is neither white nor surface; it is dark, it is ancient, and it is deep The revolutionary writings of Audre Lorde gave voice to those 'outside the circle of this society's definition of acceptable women'. Uncompromising, angry and yet full of hope, this collection of her essential prose - essays, speeches, letters, interviews - explores race, sexuality, poetry, friendship, the erotic and the need for female solidarity, and includes her landmark piece 'The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House'. 'The truth of her writing is as necessary today as it's ever been' Guardian

Usage and Abusage takes a long, hard look at the use - and constant misuse - of English. Declaring war on bad grammar, woolliness of expression and poor choice of vocabulary, this essential guide sets out both to highlight problems and pitfalls and to offer constructive advice on the proper use of English.

A sturdy board book edition of the first-ever lift-the-flap book! With hide-and-seek fun on every page, this interactive classic has had children across the globe searching for everyone’s favorite pup, who’s gone on to sell over 65 million copies worldwide! “Spot is one of the essential experiences of childhood.” —Parents Spot hasn’t eaten his dinner yet, but where can he be? Help Spot’s mom Sally as she searches for her pup throughout the home. As Sally searches, readers will discover the names of many household objects and the hidden animals they hold. Could he be behind the door? Inside the piano? Under the stairs? Along the way, Sally meets some interesting critters, including a brown bear, a crocodile, a trio of penguins, and more! With its soothing rhythm, easy-to-understand vocabulary, and engaging, charming illustrations, Where’s Spot? is an essential addition to every child’s growing library.

The essential poems of the inspirational thirteenth-century Persian philosopher, scholar and mystic The founder of the order of the Whirling Dervishes, Rumi was also a poet of transcendental power. His verse speaks with the universal voice of the human soul and brims with exuberant energy and passion. Rich in natural imagery, from flowers to birds and rivers to stars, the poems have an elemental force that has remained undiminished through the centuries. Their themes - tolerance, goodness, the experience of God, charity and awareness through love - still resonate with millions of readers around the world. Translated by Coleman Barks with John Moyne

National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist   From the acclaimed, award-winning author of Alexander Hamilton: here is the essential, endlessly engrossing biography of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. the Jekyll-and-Hyde of American capitalism. In the course of his nearly 98 years, Rockefeller was known as both a rapacious robber baron, whose Standard Oil Company rode roughshod over an industry, and a philanthropist who donated money lavishly to universities and medical centers. He was the terror of his competitors, the bogeyman of reformers, the delight of caricaturists and an utter enigma.   Drawing on unprecedented access to Rockefeller s private papers, Chernow reconstructs his subjects troubled origins (his father was a swindler and a bigamist) and his single-minded pursuit of wealth. But he also uncovers the profound religiosity that drove him to give all I could ; his devotion to his father; and the wry sense of humor that made him the country s most colorful codger. Titan is a magnificent biography balanced, revelatory, elegantly written.

Usage and Abusage takes a long, hard look at the use - and constant misuse - of English. Declaring war on bad grammar, woolliness of expression and poor choice of vocabulary, this essential guide sets out both to highlight problems and pitfalls and to offer constructive advice on the proper use of English.

The essential poems of the inspirational thirteenth-century Persian philosopher, scholar and mystic The founder of the order of the Whirling Dervishes, Rumi was also a poet of transcendental power. His verse speaks with the universal voice of the human soul and brims with exuberant energy and passion. Rich in natural imagery, from flowers to birds and rivers to stars, the poems have an elemental force that has remained undiminished through the centuries. Their themes - tolerance, goodness, the experience of God, charity and awareness through love - still resonate with millions of readers around the world. Translated by Coleman Barks with John Moyne

*WINNER OF THE 2017 PULITZER PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION* 'Beautifully written, thought-provoking, and unforgettable ... If you want a good understanding of how the issues that cause poverty are intertwined, you should read this book' Bill Gates, Best Books of 2017 Arleen spends nearly all her money on rent but is kicked out with her kids in Milwaukee's coldest winter for years. Doreen's home is so filthy her family call it 'the rat hole'. Lamar, a wheelchair-bound ex-soldier, tries to work his way out of debt for his boys. Scott, a nurse turned addict, lives in a gutted-out trailer. This is their world. And this is the twenty-first century: where fewer and fewer people can afford a simple roof over their head. 'Essential. A compelling and damning exploration of the abuse of one of our basic human rights: shelter.' Owen Jones 'If I could require the president to read one book it would be Evicted' Zadie Smith