Discovery History

A number one New York Times best-selling author, Harvard Law School professor, and tireless defender of civil liberties unearths a little-known letter by his hero, Thomas Jefferson, and shares its secrets. The letter illuminates Jefferson’s views on freedom of speech in a way that has important implications for the country today, particularly in the struggle against terrorism. This book is about the remarkable letter Alan Dershowitz found, how he found it, and why it matters not only to him, but to us today.

With the utterance of a single line - "Doctor Livingstone, I presume?" - a remote meeting in the heart of Africa was transformed into one of the most famous encounters in exploration history. But the true story behind Dr. David Livingstone and journalist Henry Morton Stanley is one that has escaped telling. Into Africa is an extraordinarily researched account of a thrilling adventure - defined by alarming foolishness, intense courage, and raw human achievement.

When Johnson went to work for the US Antarctic Program (devoted to scientific research and education in support of the national interest in the Antarctic), he figured he'd find adventure, beauty, penguins, and lofty-minded scientists. Instead he found boredom, alcohol, and bureaucracy. As a dishwasher and garbage man at McMurdo Station, Johnson quickly shed his illusions about Antarctica.

Situated about 25 miles off the Tanzanian coast, Zanzibar, with its sultans and spices, merchants and mosques, dhows and doorways of richly carved timber, has captured the imagination of travelers and writers for hundreds of years. It has long evoked a romantic mystique, calling up images of an island paradise in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Its gleaming Muslim Swahili town, built of white coralline limestone, can trace approximately 1,000 years of maritime trading.

Delve into the enigmatic world of the Hittites with "Understanding the Hittites: Biblical History, Archaeological Discoveries, and Etymological Clarifications." This comprehensive study bridges the gap between ancient biblical narratives and modern archaeological findings, shedding light on one of the most influential yet mysterious civilizations of the ancient Near East. From their mention in the genealogies and stories of the patriarchs to their significant role in the conquest of Canaan, this book examines the Hittites' presence and impact in biblical accounts. Explore Abraham's ...

The typical military history presents a chronicle of battles and wars and the commanders and troops who fought them. This book takes a different approach. It presents battles and wars and people aplenty, but they are not its ultimate subjects. This book is about the turning points that not only make military history dynamic but crucial to the story of humanity and civilization.

From 1890 and through the early years of the 20th century, Vienna became a dazzling beacon. The city was powered by an unprecedented number of extraordinary people - artists Klimt and Schiele, thinkers such as Theodor Herzl, and fashion icons like the glamorous Empress Sisi. The influence of early 20th century Vienna is still detectable all around us. The way we think about ourselves has been largely determined by Vienna's most celebrated resident: Sigmund Freud. Mortal Secrets is the story of Freud's life, Vienna's golden age, and an essential reappraisal of Freud's legacy.

Discover the fun facts about the world and become a master of geography with this interactive trivia book from Jeopardy! champ and New York Times bestselling author Ken Jennings.

You just tried out for the school play. Who wants the lead part more than anyone? YOU! Imagine sailing the high seas without a care in the world. Storming castles for gold and jewels. Wearing a horned helmet. But be careful what you wish for. That might not be the way it was for an explorer on a Viking ship.…

He fought and beheaded three Turkish adversaries in duels. He was sold into slavery and then murdered his master to escape. He was captured by pirates--twice--and marched to the gallows to be hanged, only to be reprieved seconds before the noose dropped over his head. And all this happened before he was thirty years old. This is Captain John Smith's life.

Dive into the captivating world of "Opals," an engrossing eBook that leaves no stone unturned in its exploration of these magnificent gemstones. Thoughtfully organized into 15 comprehensive chapters, every nuance of opals is thoroughly examined in this illuminating guide. Embark on a journey beginning with the historical discovery of opals, the locations where they are found, and the fascinating process that results in their unique, ethereal shimmer. Understand the difference between precious and common opals, and discover regional varieties like Australian, Mexican Fire, and Ethiopian Welo...

Join the American journalist Henry Morton Stanley on his amazing quest to find David Livingstone, England's most celebrated explorer, in this new addition to the number one New York Times best-selling series!

AD878—Anglo-Saxon Britain is ravaged by the terror of the Vikings. An innocuous deer, Lars, is banished from a superstitious community. In his travels, he makes the acquaintance of an obtuse, crippled raven. Both are outcasts of an unyielding society and therefore, vulnerable in the savage wilderness. Together they trek aimlessly, living from day to day, unsure of their destiny. Their travels are packed with unexpected adventures and perils, but it is not only the warriors and the wild they have to fear, but also the avaricious gods who play fast and loose with them. The twilight of the ...

Two Years Before the Mast is an 1840 memoir by the author Richard Henry Dana. A Harvard graduate, he spent the years 1834 to 1836 as a sailor on a merchant ship on a voyage from Boston to California. The journey took them past Cape Horn on the Tierra del Fuego archipelago where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans meet. Dana provides detailed descriptions of ship life and the technical aspects of sailing. A chapter on California and its inhabitants offers valuable historical insights on the state which was then a foreign land.

‘It didn’t matter that they were now three miles beyond their target site, that communications were dropping out and that they were running low on fuel. All that mattered to Neil as he searched for a safe spot to land was that boulders littered the surface below. “Thirty seconds,” called mission control. In truth, the flight controllers were now no more than spectators, just like everybody else. No more needed to be said. It was down to Armstrong

Human flight is one of the last great challenges on Earth. Not like how the Wright brothers flew, but how we fly in our dreams. This is the goal of the Wingsuit Landing Project: to soar through the sky at speeds up to one hundred miles per hour and to land without the aid of a parachute. This project is the creation of 37-year-old Jeb Corliss, Jr., a Southern Californian who seeks to emulate a mode of flight more like a flying squirrel than bird or plane.

Note: This Volume documents that Robert DePriest was NOT part of the Manakintown Settlement of Huguenots. The DePriest Gang Book Series includes research on the evolution of the DePriest family in America: Volume 1 (c 1650-1750) starts with Robert DePriest, French Huguenot, who immigrated before 1689 and includes a wealth of information about early Virginia. Copies of original documents are included and data were obtained from Parish documents, Tax lists, Processioning Lists, War records, Censuses, Maps, Comparison tables, and more. Documentation includes not only the DePriests and their ...

Brought to you by Penguin. Beautifully written and full of wonderful descriptions and intriguing tales, In Patagonia is an account of Bruce Chatwin's travels to a remote country in search of a strange beast and his encounters with the people whose fascinating stories delay him on the road.

Discover the extraordinary stories behind everyday things! Did you know that the ice cream sundae was invented because of a law forbidding the sale of ice cream on Sundays? Or that the first motorcycle was really just a tricycle with a motor? Would you believe that Mickey Mouse started out as a rabbit? Arranged in alphabetical order, this fascinating book is packed with the stories behind these and over 100 more inventions.

The story of Cara and her love for two rockers, Tyr and Declan. Cara I never meant to fall in love with rockers at all, so twice, no. To begin with, I met Tyr at sixteen. I’d be seventeen on the November cusp, just couldn’t wait until I was eighteen for my freedom. Needed out from under the rents. The last thing I’ll needed once I was free to tie myself down to someone else. I’m leaving before I’m 18. I’ve got the grades, I’m graduating early, and I’ve got my full scholarship. I will live my life. So why did the rock gods send me Tyr? And then Declan? And then Tyr again? D*...