Already famous throughout Europe, this international bestseller plumbs recently opened archives in the former Soviet bloc to reveal the actual, practical accomplishments of Communism around the world: terror, torture, famine, mass deportations, and massacres. Astonishing in the sheer detail it amasses, the book is the first comprehensive attempt to catalogue and analyze the crimes of Communism over seventy years. "Revolutions, like trees, must be judged by their fruit," Ignazio Silone wrote, and this is the standard the authors apply to the Communist experience―in the China of "the Great Helmsman," Kim Il Sung's Korea, Vietnam under "Uncle Ho" and Cuba under Castro, Ethiopia under Mengistu, Angola under Neto, and Afghanistan under Najibullah. The authors, all distinguished scholars based in Europe, document Communist crimes against humanity, but also crimes against national and universal culture, from Stalin's destruction of hundreds of churches in Moscow to Ceausescu's leveling of the historic heart of Bucharest to the widescale devastation visited on Chinese culture by Mao's Red Guards. As the death toll mounts―as many as 25 million in the former Soviet Union, 65 million in China, 1.7 million in Cambodia, and on and on―the authors systematically show how and why, wherever the millenarian ideology of Communism was established, it quickly led to crime, terror, and repression. An extraordinary accounting, this book amply documents the unparalleled position and significance of Communism in the hierarchy of violence that is the history of the twentieth century.
A comprehensive and authoritative exploration of Bitcoin and its place in monetary history When a pseudonymous programmer introduced “a new electronic cash system that’s fully peer-to-peer, with no trusted third party” to a small online mailing list in 2008, very few people paid attention. Ten years later, and against all odds, this upstart autonomous decentralized software offers an unstoppable and globally accessible hard money alternative to modern central banks. The Bitcoin Standard analyzes the historical context to the rise of Bitcoin, the economic properties that have allowed it to grow quickly, and its likely economic, political, and social implications. While Bitcoin is an invention of the digital age, the problem it purports to solve is as old as human society itself: transferring value across time and space. Author Saifedean Ammous takes the reader on an engaging journey through the history of technologies performing the functions of money, from primitive systems of trading limestones and seashells, to metals, coins, the gold standard, and modern government debt. Exploring what gave these technologies their monetary role, and how most lost it, provides the reader with a good idea of what makes for sound money, and sets the stage for an economic discussion of its consequences for individual and societal future-orientation, capital accumulation, trade, peace, culture, and art. Compellingly, Ammous shows that it is no coincidence that the loftiest achievements of humanity have come in societies enjoying the benefits of sound monetary regimes, nor is it coincidental that monetary collapse has usually accompanied civilizational collapse. With this background in place, the book moves on to explain the operation of Bitcoin in a functional and intuitive way. Bitcoin is a decentralized, distributed piece of software that converts electricity and processing power into indisputably accurate records, thus allowing its users to utilize the Internet to perform the traditional functions of money without having to rely on, or trust, any authorities or infrastructure in the physical world. Bitcoin is thus best understood as the first successfully implemented form of digital cash and digital hard money. With an automated and perfectly predictable monetary policy, and the ability to perform final settlement of large sums across the world in a matter of minutes, Bitcoin’s real competitive edge might just be as a store of value and network for the final settlement of large payments―a digital form of gold with a built-in settlement infrastructure. Ammous’ firm grasp of the technological possibilities as well as the historical realities of monetary evolution provides for a fascinating exploration of the ramifications of voluntary free market money. As it challenges the most sacred of government monopolies, Bitcoin shifts the pendulum of sovereignty away from governments in favor of individuals, offering us the tantalizing possibility of a world where money is fully extricated from politics and unrestrained by borders. The final chapter of the book explores some of the most common questions surrounding Bitcoin: Is Bitcoin mining a waste of energy? Is Bitcoin for criminals? Who controls Bitcoin, and can they change it if they please? How can Bitcoin be killed? And what to make of all the thousands of Bitcoin knockoffs, and the many supposed applications of Bitcoin’s ‘block chain technology’? The Bitcoin Standard is the essential resource for a clear understanding of the rise of the Internet’s decentralized, apolitical, free-market alternative to national central banks.
The foundational and wildly popular go-to resource for the science of influence and persuasion―a renowned international bestseller, with over 5 million copies sold―now revised adding: new research, new insights, new examples, and online applications. In the new edition of this highly acclaimed bestseller, Robert Cialdini―New York Times bestselling author of Pre-Suasion and the seminal expert in the fields of influence and persuasion―explains the psychology of why people say yes and how to apply these insights on human behavior ethically in business and everyday settings. Using memorable stories and relatable examples, Cialdini makes this crucial aspect of behavioral science surprisingly easy to understand. With Cialdini as a guide, you don’t have to be a scientist to learn how to use this science in your own decision-making. You’ll learn Cialdini’s Universal Principles of Influence, including new research and new uses so you can become an even more skilled persuader―and just as importantly, you’ll learn how to defend yourself against unethical influence attempts. You may think you know these principles of social psychology, but without understanding their intricacies, you may be ceding their power to someone else. Cialdini’s Principles of Persuasion: * Reciprocation * Commitment and Consistency * Social Proof * Liking * Authority * Scarcity * Unity, the newest principle for this edition Understanding and applying the principles ethically is cost-free and deceptively easy. Backed by Dr. Cialdini’s 35 years of evidence-based, peer-reviewed scientific research―including a three-year field study on what leads people to change―Influence, New and Expanded EPB is a comprehensive guide to using these principles to move others in your direction.
The acclaimed New York Times bestselling history of financial crises Throughout history, rich and poor countries alike have been lending, borrowing, crashing, and recovering their way through an extraordinary range of financial crises. Each time, the experts have chimed, “this time is different”—claiming that the old rules of valuation no longer apply and that the new situation bears little similarity to past disasters. With this breakthrough study, leading economists Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff definitively prove them wrong. Covering sixty-six countries across five continents and eight centuries, This Time Is Different presents a comprehensive look at the varieties of financial crises—including government defaults, banking panics, and inflationary spikes—from medieval currency debasements to the subprime mortgage catastrophe. Reinhart and Rogoff provocatively argue that financial combustions are universal rites of passage for emerging and established market nations. A remarkable history of financial folly, This Time Is Different will influence financial and economic thinking and policy for decades to come.
Look at these mamas and their babies in a book that’s indestructible! Who snuggles in the sunshine? Mama kangaroo and her joey! Who swims side by side? Mama duck and her duckling! Who hugs in the moonlight? Mama and her owlet! Indestructibles is the trusted series for easing little ones into story time. Beloved by babies and their parents, Indestructibles are built for the way babies “read” (i.e., with their hands and mouths) and are: * Rip Proof—made of ultra-durable tight-woven material * Waterproof—can be chewed on, drooled on, and washed! * Emergent Literacy Tool—bright pictures and few or no words encourage dialogic reading * Portable—lightweight books can go anywhere, perfect for the diaper bag and for travel * Safe for Baby—meets ASTM safety standards
******NOW UPDATED – April 22nd Edition****** This is the new, revised, and enhanced edition of the Ethiopian Bible – Sacred Books Beyond the Canon. Based on valuable reader feedback, we have completely reformatted and improved the content for better readability, deeper clarity, and higher quality. Please note: any negative reviews reflect earlier versions of this work, not the current edition. From today, April 22nd, this volume represents a refined and expanded version, with modernized language, corrected structure, and a spiritual presentation faithful to the Ethiopian tradition. Inside you will find: * Modern English versions of sacred Ethiopian texts * Complete books like 1 Enoch, Jubilees, Meqabyan I–III, Psalms of Solomon, and more * Restored apostolic writings like 1 & 2 Clement and the Didascalia * A bonus QR code to access additional canonical resources online 📖 Ethiopian Bible in English Complete LARGE PRINT with Apocrypha & Sacred Ethiopian Scriptures ✨ Explore One of the Oldest and Most Complete Bibles in History! ✨ The Ethiopian complete Bible is one of the oldest, most complete, and unique biblical collections in the world. Unlike Western Bibles, it contains 88 books, including the Apocrypha and other sacred Ethiopian scriptures preserved for centuries. Now available in English, this unabridged edition allows readers to experience the Ethiopian Scriptures like never before! 📜 What Makes This Bible Unique? ✅ Complete 88 Book Collection – Includes the Apocrypha and rare sacred Ethiopian texts. ✅ Authentic Ethiopian Orthodox Canon – Preserved for generations in Ethiopian Christianity. ✅ Ancient Scriptures Restored – Discover lost biblical texts that provide deep historical and theological insights. ✅ A Must-Have for Scholars & Believers – Perfect for those seeking a broader biblical perspective beyond the Western canon. This is not just another Bible—it’s the most complete Ethiopian Bible in English Complete large print edition, featuring 88 books, 🔹 The Bible as it was meant to be – Discover scriptures kept intact for centuries. 🔹 Lost books, lost wisdom – Insights into early Christianity and ancient Jewish traditions. 🔹 Perfect for study & devotion – Essential for scholars, believers, and history enthusiasts. 📖 Perfect for: ✔ Bible scholars and historians exploring early Christianity. ✔ Christian believers seeking a more complete biblical understanding. ✔ Students of religion and theology interested in ancient sacred texts. ✔ Collectors of rare and historic biblical texts. 📚Ethiopian bible in english complete large print This Complete 88 Book Large Print Edition in English is the most accurate and accessible version available today.
All new second edition: Young children deserve to be armed early against internet dangers. Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr. makes it easy for parents to protect their young kids ages 3 to 8. Using gentle, age-appropriate messages, children will learn to Turn, Run & Tell when they are accidentally exposed to inappropriate content. Written by best-selling author Kristen A. Jenson of the original Good Pictures Bad Pictures book, the Jr. version is a comfortable, effective way for proactive parents to empower their young kids with their first internal filter! REVIEWS: “It’s never too early to start teaching kids healthy media habits! Reading Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr. to your young children is a beautiful way to empower them to make safe internet choices.” Sean Covey, Executive Vice President FranklinCovey Co. and international bestselling author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens "Our kids deserve to be warned about the very real dangers of pornography in a simple way they can understand. As a mom of two preschoolers growing up in a digital world, I am thrilled to recommend Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.!. We loved the hidden cameras inside!" Dawn Hawkins, VP & Executive Director, National Center on Sexual Exploitation "For the sake of the children, I wholeheartedly recommend Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr. As a grandfather, father and pastor, I can think of no better gift for a child than the ability to reject pornography. Our kids’ future marriages depend on it."Josh McDowell, Josh McDowell Ministries "Earlier is definitely better when it comes to arming children against pornography. This is a beautiful way to begin protecting your youngest children without jeopardizing their innocence. Get it! Share it!” Matt Fradd, Director at Integrity Restored, Speaker, Author, parent
Immerse yourself in Middle-earth with J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic high fantasy masterpieces behind the films... The three volumes that make up J.R.R. Tolkien's epic classic The Lord of the Rings are here presented in beautiful cloth editions, including large format fold-out maps of Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age, as well an extensive appendices. This complete box set contains The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, with jackets and a box designed by celebrated Tolkien illustrator Alan Lee. One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. This landmark of epic fantasy, The Lord of the Rings, tells of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring: Gandalf the Wizard; the hobbits Merry, Pippin, and Sam; Gimli the Dwarf; Legolas the Elf; Boromir of Gondor; and a tall, mysterious stranger called Strider. This complete three-volume box set is the perfect way to experience the entire legendary saga: * An Epic Quest: Follow the hobbit Frodo Baggins as he and his companions undertake a perilous journey to destroy the One Ring and save Middle-earth from the Dark Lord Sauron. * A Timeless Fellowship: Join an unforgettable band of heroes, from Gandalf the Wizard and Legolas the Elf to Gimli the Dwarf and the mysterious Strider, as they unite to protect the Ring-bearer. * Legendary World-Building: Explore the vast and detailed landscape of Middle-earth, brought to life with large format fold-out maps and extensive appendices included in the books. * The Ultimate Collector's Edition: This beautifully designed cloth-bound box set features the complete trilogy―The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King―with iconic jacket art by celebrated illustrator Alan Lee.
The third entry into the New York Times bestselling series, To Challenge Heaven brings another thrilling adventure from the masters of military science fiction, David Weber and Chris Kennedy. In a universe teeming with predators, humanity needs friends. And fast. We've come a long way in the forty years since the Shongairi attacked Earth, killed half its people, and then were driven away by an alliance of humans with the other sentient bipeds who inhabit our planet. We took the technology they left behind, and rapidly built ourselves into a starfaring civilization. Because we haven't got a moment to lose. Because it's clear that there are even more powerful, more hostile aliens out there, and Earth needs allies. But it also transpires that the Shongairi expedition that nearly destroyed our home planet ... wasn't an official one. That, indeed, its commander may have been acting as an unwitting cats-paw for the Founders, the ancient alliance of very old, very evil aliens who run the Hegemony that dominates our galaxy, and who hold the Shongairi, as they hold most non-Founder species, in not-so-benign contempt. Indeed, it may turn out to be possible to turn the Shongairi into our allies against the Hegemony. There's just the small matter of the Shongairi honor code, which makes bushido look like a child's game. We might be able to make them our friends -- if we can crush their planetary defenses in the greatest battle we, or they, have ever seen...
Enjoy some sass from Anne Taintor's saucy ladies every month of the year with this wickedly funny wall calendar. Anne Taintor's vintage ladies serve up wicked wit, dark humor, and just the right dose of bad behavior. This hilarious 2026 wall calendar provides irreverent quips for each month of the year. 24-page 12 x 12 inch month-by-month calendar BELOVED ARTIST: Anne Taintor has been making people smile since 1985. She gets funnier every year! BESTSELLING ARTIST: Over 2 million Anne Taintor books, postcard boxes, and calendars sold! PLASTIC-FREE MATERIALS: 100% plastic-free packaging and product! Perfect for: * Anne Taintor fans * Shoppers looking for something fun and witty * Vintage enthusiasts * Snark and humor lovers * Holiday, birthday, Galentine's Day, or girlfriend gift * People looking for humorous office decor
Tres grandes autores. Tres mundos reconocibles. Tres distopías maestras. Presentamos un pack con tres obras fundamentales del siglo XX: Un mundo feliz (1932), 1984 (1949) y Fahrenheit 451 (1953). Sin ninguna duda, pocas novelas de anticipación han sido tan influyentes como estas en la imaginación literaria posterior. Pero las visiones de sus autores no solo han cambiado el rumbo de la literatura, sino que también parecen haber anunciado la realidad de nuestros días. Desde la fractura social vislumbrada por Aldous Huxley hasta la posverdad prevista por George Orwell, pasando por la anestesia consumista denunciada por Ray Bradbury, reconocemos en estas ficciones muchos de nuestros males actuales, hasta el punto de que llegamos a preguntarnos si no estaremos viviendo en una distopía. Sin embargo, estas novelas no se agotan en sus profecías. De un modo quizá más importante, constituyen una poderosa advertencia sobre los futuros que pueden evitarse. En el reverso de las tres historias, cuya fuerza se realza al leerlas en conjunto, se oculta una viva defensa de la libertad, el pensamiento crítico y la responsabilidad individual y colectiva. Sobre las obras: «Un mundo feliz retrata una utopía perfecta o su horrendo opuesto, una distopía: sus hermosos habitantes viven seguros y libres de enfermedades y preocupaciones, pero lo hacen de un modo que, queremos creer, sería inaceptable para nosotros.» Margaret Atwood «Ninguna obra fantástica ha alcanzado el horror lógico de 1984.» Arthur Koestler «De entre todos los infiernos del conformismo, Fahrenheit 451 ofrece el retrato más convincente.» Kingsley Amis «Aldous Huxley fue un hombre extraordinariamente profético, no hay otro novelista en el siglo XX que haya escrito una guía más sagaz del futuro.» J.G. Ballard «La virtud de libros como 1984 es su capacidad para recordarnos que la libertad de los seres humanos responsables no es igual a la de los animales.» Anthony Burgess «Fahrenheit 451 es una fábula perfecta.» Ursula K. Le Guin
La economía de Estados Unidos se encuentra en ruinas. Las empresas cierran, en las tiendas es imposible encontrar los productos básicos y la población empieza a perder la esperanza en recuperar la prosperidad y la autonomía. La respuesta del gobierno es aumentar cada vez más las regulaciones, el control de cualquier actividad y el colectivismo. La rebelión de Atlas es una novela de misterio, pero, como dijo Ayn Rand, «no sobre el asesinato del cuerpo de un hombre, sino sobre el asesinato ―y el renacimiento― del espíritu humano». Es la historia de un hombre que dice que parará el motor del mundo, y lo hace. ¿Es ese hombre un des-tructor malévolo o el mayor de los libertadores? ¿Por qué tiene que luchar, no contra sus enemigos, sino contra aquellos que más le necesitan, incluso contra la heroína a quien ama? Obra cumbre de la gran defensora de la razón y de la libertad individual frente a los excesos del Estado y su mentalidad autoritaria, en ella, Rand expone cómo el declive de la competencia entre las grandes empresas, la desmoralización entre quienes deberían liderar la actividad económica y creativa y la inercia del ciudadano común conducen a la pobreza moral y material. Mezcla de thriller de acción en las altas esferas y de reflexión filosófica sobre el Estado y el individuo, La rebelión de Atlas resume la filosofía de Ayn Rand en una historia que integra de forma magistral cuestiones relacionadas con la ética, la metafísica, la epistemología, la política, la economía y el sexo. Si quieres leer un único libro y entender la visión del mundo de Rand, éste es el libro.