Showing results for "John" in World

Best-selling historian and philosopher Will Durant devoted his entire life to studying the most significant eras, individuals, and achievements of human history. Here is a summation of Durant's work, as he presents the best of world history. Filled with Durant's renowned wit, knowledge, and unique ability to explain events in simple and exciting terms, it is a concise liberal arts education.

A story of defiance and determination by a controversial scientist, this is Lee Berger's own take on finding Homo naledi, an all-new species on the human family tree and one of the greatest discoveries of the 21st century. In 2013, Lee Berger, a National Geographic explorer-in-residence, heard of a cache of bones in a hard-to-reach underground cave in South Africa. He put out a call around the world for petite collaborators - men and women small and adventurous enough to be able to squeeze through eight-inch tunnels to reach a sunless cave forty feet underground. It worked.

At Will Durant's death at 96, in 1981, his personal papers were dispersed among relatives, collectors, and archive houses. Twenty years later, scholar John Little discovered the previously unknown manuscript of Heroes of History in Durant's granddaughter's garage. Written shortly before he died, these 21 essays serve as an abbreviated version of Durant's best-selling, 11-volume series, The Story of Civilization.

The story of human civilization can be read most deeply in the materials we have found or created, used or abused. They have dictated how we build, eat, communicate, wage war, create art, travel, and worship. Some, such as stone, iron, and bronze, lend their names to the ages. Others, such as gold, silver, and diamond, contributed to the rise and fall of great empires.

Step into the charming world of 19th-century Beckside, a fictional village nestled between Manchester and Bolton, through the captivating tales of John Ackworth, the pen name of Rev. Frederick R. Smith. As a dedicated Methodist minister and circuit preacher, Ackworth brings to life the warmth and quirks of a close-knit community in his acclaimed work, Clog Shop Chronicles. This collection features 12 delightful stories that weave together the lives of an entertaining cast of characters who gather around the clog shop fire. While the narratives are sometimes sentimental, Ackworth masterfully ...

Since its controversial debut, this novel has sparked debate and been banned in various countries for its candid portrayal of a young womans journey through desire and despair. Follow the life of an orphaned girl who finds herself navigating the seedy underbelly of London as she works in a brothel. Though she falls deeply in love with a charming young man named Charles, fate pulls them apart. As she recounts her struggles and experiences as a prostitute, she clings to her humanity and an unwavering belief in the power of true love. - Summary by mlcui

In Areopagitica, John Milton presents a powerful and passionate defense of free speech, published on November 23, 1644, amid the turmoil of the English Civil War. As a staunch supporter of Parliament, Milton fiercely opposed the Licensing Order of 1643, arguing that censorship was alien to the principles of classical Greek and Roman societies. Rich with biblical and classical allusions, he bolsters his case with personal experiences of censorship, having faced his own struggles while advocating for radical views on divorce. This seminal work stands as one of the most influential philosophical ...

Callista, A Tale of the Third Century, is a captivating novel penned by John Henry Newman, an esteemed Anglican theologian who eventually became a Catholic priest and cardinal, guiding many of his Protestant friends into the Roman faith. This compelling story emerged from a friendly challenge with Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman, who also ventured into fiction with his novel Fabiola. Published in 1855, Callista introduces us to a beautiful yet troubled Greek woman living in pagan Roman North Africa during a tumultuous third century. As she grapples with her desires and a growing curiosity about ...

Join the eccentric bohemian Paragot, a wandering scholar with a shadowy past, as he adopts a London street urchin named Asticot, purchasing him from his mother for just half a crown. Together, they embark on thrilling adventures across 19th century Europe, ultimately finding themselves in the vibrant streets of Paris. But as they navigate the citys charm, Paragots dark romantic history begins to resurface, threatening to change their lives forever. (Summary by Simon Evers)

Ashton-Kirk is a master at unraveling mysteries, yet to those closest to him, he remains an enigma. Young, affluent, and well-connected, he immerses himself in his work with an unyielding passion. Though he brushes off the label of detective, preferring to call himself an investigator, his remarkable contributions have drawn a diverse array of visitors to his door. Scholars, scientists, and those steeped in ancient lore often seek his insights, but it’s the myriad of individuals grappling with criminal conundrums that truly pique his interest. “I’m just more curious than most,” he ...

John Calvins Expository Treatises on Pauls Epistles have garnered acclaim from leading critics, a testament to their profound insight despite the challenging circumstances under which they were created. Composed in 1548 during a tumultuous period of conflict with adversaries of the faith, his commentaries reflect a remarkable blend of intellectual rigor and spiritual conviction. Correspondence from this era reveals Calvin’s unwavering faith, as he reassured his friend Brentius, then in exile, that the divine restoration of the Church was a promise of enduring hope—one that would prevail ...

Join North American missionary John Eliot as he passionately argues for post-civil-war England to embrace representative democracy, drawing inspiration from the principles of the Mosaic Law. (Summary by Aaron Decker)

Here is a gripping account of the major postwar trial of the Nazi hierarchy in World War II. The Nuremberg Trial brilliantly recreates the trial proceedings and offers a reasoned, often profound examination of the processes that created international law. From the whimpering of Kaltenbrunner and Ribbentrop on the stand to the icy coolness of Goering, each participant is vividly drawn.

Piña coladas. Mojitos. Hurricanes. Daiquiris. Mai tais. Nothing makes a vacation like one of these delightful rum drinks, right? But whether blended with ice and fruit or sipped neatly from a glass tumbler, this sweet and fiery spirit brings with it a fascinating, complicated history that stretches back to colonial times of the 17th century in the Caribbean.

Language defines us as a species, placing humans head and shoulders above even the most proficient animal communicators. But it also beguiles us with its endless mysteries, allowing us to ponder why different languages emerged, why there isn't simply a single language, how languages change over time and whether that's good or bad, and how languages die out and become extinct.

Join ex-CIA officer John Kiriakou on a very personal deep dive into what makes a spy tick. One of the most famous spies in the whole world, John - a spy with a conscience - ratted out the CIA's torture program after the war on terror and spent 23 months in federal prison for it. As John explains, no spy is ever an "ex-spy". Why is that so? Listen to the podcast and you'll understand why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Puritan classic, first published in the late 17th century, sets forth the biblical teaching of God and his interaction in our lives. No detail is too small or insignificant for God; he is there, working out "all things for good". And in that promise, every believer can take comfort that God truly has a purpose for every single person and will unfold his plan, which includes every detail in our daily lives.

Quantum theory is so shocking that Einstein could not bring himself to accept it. It is so important that it provides the fundamental underpinning of all modern sciences. Without it, we'd have no computers, no science of molecular biology, no understanding of DNA, no genetic engineering. In...

This illuminating study explores the ways in which the shattering defeat of the Japanese in World War II, followed by over six years of American military occupation, affected every level of Japanese society. The author describes the countless ways in which the Japanese met the challenge of "starting over", from top-level manipulations concerning the fate of Emperor Hirohito to the hopes, fears, and activities of ordinary men and women in every walk of life.

What exactly is the Western literary canon? Why does it contain certain works and not others? And what do particular works in the Western canon tell us about the development of literature and civilization? Explore these and other thought-provoking lectures with a thorough investigation of more than 30 key works of the Western canon and the critical roles they played-and continue to play-in the development of Western literature.