In 1992 Christina Lamb reported on the war the Afghan people were fighting against the Soviet Union. Now, back in Afghanistan, she has written an extraordinary memoir of her love affair with the country and its people. Long haunted by her experiences in Afghanistan, Lamb returned there after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre to find out what had become of the people and places that had marked her life as a young graduate. This time seeing the land through the eyes of a mother and experienced foreign correspondent, Lamb's journey brings her in touch with the people no one else is writing about: the abandoned victims of almost a quarter century of war. 'Of all books about Afghanistan, Christina Lamb's is the most revealing and rewarding...a personal, perceptive and moving account of bravery in the face of staggering difficulties.' Anthony Sattin, Sunday Times 'As an account of how Afghanistan got into its present state, and of the making of the grotesque regime of the... Views: 45
SUMMARY:Revised and Expanded Edition. In this age of supposed scientific enlightenment, many people still believe in mind reading, past-life regression theory, New Age hokum, and alien abduction. A no-holds-barred assault on popular superstitions and prejudices, with more than 80,000 copies in print,Why People Believe Weird Thingsdebunks these nonsensical claims and explores the very human reasons people find otherworldly phenomena, conspiracy theories, and cults so appealing. In an entirely new chapter, "WhySmartPeople Believe in Weird Things," Michael Shermer takes on science luminaries like physicist Frank Tippler and others, who hide their spiritual beliefs behind the trappings of science. Shermer, science historian and true crusader, also reveals the more dangerous side of such illogical thinking, including Holocaust denial, the recovered-memory movement, the satanic ritual abuse scare, and other modern crazes.Why People Believe Strange Thingsis an eye-opening resource for the most gullible among us and those who want to protect them. Michael Shermer, Ph. D., is the founding publisher ofSkepticmagazine (www.skeptic.com), the director of the Skeptics Society, the host of the Skeptics Lecture Series at the California Institute of Technology, and a contributing editor and monthly columnist forScientific American.He is the author ofHow We Believe: The Search for God in an Age of Science, Denying HistoryandThe Borderlands of Science. Why do so many people believe in mind reading, past-life regression therapy, abductions by extraterrestrials, and ghosts? What has led to the rise of "scientific creationism" and the belief that the Holocaust never happened? Why, in this age of supposed scientific enlightenment, do people seem to be more impressionable than ever? With a no-holds-barred assault on popular superstitions and prejudices, science historian Michael Shermer debunks these extraordinary claims and explores the very human reasons people find otherworldly phenomena, conspiracy theories, and cults so appealing. But Shermer also reveals the more dangerous side of such thinking, including the recovered memory movement, satanic rituals, modern witch crazes, and ideologies of racial superiority. Shermer concludes by describing his own confrontations with those who take advantage of people's gullibility to advance their own, often self-serving agendas. In a brand-new chapter to this 2002 edition, he explores the trend among major, respected researchers to corrupt the scientific process in support of their own nonscientific belief systems.Why People Believe Strange Thingsis not only an insightful portrait of our immense capacity for self-delusion but, ultimately, a celebration of the scientific spirit. "Brilliant, informed, and incisive dissections of bogus science and history are a major contribution to what one dares hope is a backlash against the still-rising tide of New Age nonsense and public gullibility."Martin Gardner, author ofScience: Good, Bad, and Bogus "For a very soundly documented and reasoned set of specifics, I know of no better single volume than this one. Give it to everyone you know whose head and heart you respect, but who is flirting with irrationality."The Baltimore Sun "Why People Believe Weird Thingsis a tour de force and a literary delight, and it should be required reading for anyone who celebrates intellectual integrity."Frank Sulloway, author ofBorn to Rebel "Brilliant, informed, and incisive dissections of bogus science and history are a major contribution to what one dares hope is a backlash against the still-rising tide of New Age nonsense and public gullibility."Martin Gardner, author ofScience: Good, Bad, and Bogus "This is a book that Views: 45
He could tame any wild mustang—but no woman had come close to taming Rand Blackhawk. Yet one lady spitfire dared enter the arena with the tantalizing Texas maverick. Socialite Grace Sullivan desperately needed Rand's expertise, but she didn't figure her pleas to save a herd of horses would lead to a world of sensual self-discovery in Rand's strong arms. He branded her as his own, taking her virginity one powerful night and searing her guarded soul. But when their mission ended, would Grace be forced to release her untamable Blackhawk...or could she hold her unbridled lover forever? Views: 45
Captain Gringo-pinned down by pistoleros in Panama!But it's worth the risk because this time The Renegade is actually working for Uncle Sam. The payoff? Thousands of dollars and a full pardon from the President of the United States. Except to get that money and a trip back home, he's got to start by taking on a pack of hammerhead sharks, and then working his way up to fighting the crack Colombian Army! But that's nothing compared to the danger he's in from his own allies; a bloodthirsty revolutionary and the beautiful and nubile Inocencia—whom Gringo discovers is anything but innocent... Views: 45
Suffering from amnesia, a young pharmaceutical executive discovers she's the victim of a hypnotist Megan Phillips wakes up on the fourteenth hole. Her clothes are grass-stained, her back is aching, and the last two days are a total blank. She's not hungover—she doesn't drink—her mind has simply been erased. Desperate for answers, she turns to her puzzle-addicted neighbor, Gus Bilinski, a frustrated genius who spends his time learning Persian for fun. He refers her to an unorthodox psychiatrist, Dr. Henrietta Snooks, who believes the symptoms are unmistakable: Megan has been hypnotized. But who would want to hypnotize her? How has the hypnotist taken control of her, and what does he want her to do next? And most importantly, just what fun did she miss during her two days of amnesia? The answers, Megan fears, may cause her to lose what's left of her mind. Views: 45
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Ayla et Jondalar, son compagnon, poursuivent leur traversée des steppes immenses du continent européen. La femme aux cheveux d'or et le géant blond suscitent le trouble et l'effroi sur leur passage. Les peuples rudes qu'ils rencontrent vivent de la chasse et de la cueillette mais n'ont jamais vu d'animaux domestiques. Or, ce couple étrange se déplace à cheval, en compagnie d'un loup apprivoisé. D'où tient-il donc ces pouvoirs ? En quête d'un lieu qui deviendrait le foyer de leur union, Ayla et Jondalar affrontent les mille périls qui menaçaient nos ancêtres il y a 35 000 ans, entre Lascaux et Néanderthal, et nous font assister à l'éveil de la pensée humaine. " Le Grand Voyage " est la première partie du quatrième tome des " Enfants de la Terre ", où Jean M. Auel, préhistorienne irréprochable et romancière inspirée, nous démontre que, de l'âge du silex à celui de l'atome, les grands sentiments humains n'ont peut-être pas beaucoup changé. Views: 44
A Prequel to The Loflin Legacy series by Catherine Wolffe Seth Loflin didn't expect to discover the love of his young life bathing in the creek on Loflin land. Yet Celia satisfies his body and his heart the moment he sees her. But trouble isn't far away when his father finds out about his oldest son's summer romance with the beautiful Comanche half-breed. Views: 44
Wendy Hodene wants for nothing except, like every woman, extra closet space. But even that whim lies within reach when she and her devoted husband Jim win the lottery and launch a renovation of the cozy, antique New England home that has been in the family for generations. Wendy is certain life can't get any better than this, until a surprise comes her way--surprise that will change her world forever.At first, winning the lottery jackpot seems to be the answer to the Hodenes' unspoken prayers. Now they can secure their son's college education, pay off debts--perhaps even splurge a little. But the sudden windfall will drastically alter the most reliable reassuring aspects of Wendy's life, as well as the people who master most in it. Now everything hangs in the balance: her home, her child, her marriage. It isn't long before Wendy realizes that the mans he thought she knew best has become a virtual stranger, and that a mans he hardly knows at all holds the key to her husband's startling past--and her family's precarious future...From Library JournalWinning the lottery is just about everyone's fantasy, and when Wendy Hodene's husband, Jim, wins more than $10 million in a Powerball jackpot, life seems just about perfect. But then the past unexpectedly catches up with Jim, and Wendy suddenly realizes that her safe, secure life has been built on nothing more solid than sand. Well-drawn, sympathetic characters, exceptional writing, and an intriguing premise that puts a new spin on a classic plot combine to produce a riveting story of selfishness, betrayal, and love that readers will find hard to put down. Stockenberg (Tidewater) is a RITA Award-winning author and is noted for her compelling, emotionally involving stories, sometimes with a paranormal twist. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. From BooklistImagine that you're a happily married wife and mother. Your life is very nearly perfect. One day your husband tells you that he has won the lottery. Now you are millionaires. How would you react? How would your life change? Would you want it to? These are the questions facing Wendy Hodene. Wendy is firmly planted in reality, but her husband has big plans. Although the money starts to come between husband and wife, winning the lottery will change Wendy's life in an unexpected and truly devastating way. Meanwhile, Zack Tompkins' beautiful, fragile sister is certain after seeing the newspaper picture of the lottery winner that he is the man who deserted her more than a decade ago. Zack offers to check it out, and is more than surprised when his sister's belief is confirmed. Not sure what to do about it, he hires on as a member of the construction crew working on the Hodene house. Then when Zack meets Wendy, he's even more confused. Moral dilemmas abound in this intriguing and compelling tale. Maria HattonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Views: 44
Austin retires to a comfortable house in South Dakota and finds a previous tenant that never left. A battle ensues, turning the cellar into a bloody horror show. There can be only one victor and the loser will leave in pieces. Views: 44
After switching places with his identical twin to catch a criminal, Mitch is the one who's hooked - on his brother's girl!Grant "Mitch" Mitchell is a cop accustomed to bailing out his charming, irresponsible twin, but his brother's never been mixed up with a criminal before. The plan to get his twin out of trouble is a simple bait and switch.Mitch will go undercover as his brother to gather enough evidence to put the bad guy in jail. It seems easy enough until a blond knockout shows up on his brother's doorstep. She's not only gorgeous, she's spitting mad. Before Mitch knows it, he's trying to keep his hands to himself while winning back his brother's girl!Meanwhile, his twin is living it up while attempting to impress a woman who thinks he's Mitch. Which leaves a doozy of a question: Are the women falling for them or their mirror images?Review"A fun, laugh-a-minute read."-- RT Book Reviews (41⁄2-star review), Oct. 2002"Ms. Gardner has a fresh, romantic voice that will appeal to all readers. If you love engaging characters, funny, laugh out loud humor, and passionate romance, you'll love Bait & Switch!"-- Romance and Friends, Oct. 2002"Bait & Switch is pure rib-tickling entertainment from first page to last."-- ReaderToReader.com, Oct. 2002About the AuthorDarlene Gardner has more than 30 books in print, from single-title romantic comedies to emotionally charged family dramas. Views: 44
A family patriarch's dying proclamation, an enigmatic disappearance, and a century-old curse converge in the shadows of a majestic home on Cape Cod's craggy coast.Thirty-seven-year-old painter Cassandra Mitchell is fourth-generation to live in the majestic Battersea Bluffs, a brooding Queen Anne home originally built by her great-grandparents, Percy and Celeste Mitchell, and still standing despite tragedies that have swept the generations. Local lore has it that there was a curse placed on the family and the house is haunted, though opinions are divided on whether it's by malicious or benevolent spirits. Cassie believes the latter—but now she stands to lose her beloved home to mounting debt and the machinations of her dream-weaving ex-husband.Salvation seems to arrive when a nomadic young couple wanders onto the property with the promise of companionship and much-needed help—until they vanish without a trace, leaving behind no clue to their... Views: 44
Who were the seemingly ordinary teenagers who beat and killed a girl who longed to be their friend? And how could they hide the murder from their parents and teachers and the police for eight days?Drawing on six years of research -- including interviews with the accused -- acclaimed writer Rebecca Godfrey answers these questions in this stunning account of the notorious "Schoolgirl Murder." Through a skillful blend of hard journalism and riveting narrative, Godfrey takes us into the bedrooms and classrooms of a powerful hip-hop-obsessed clique and the loner-victim who just wanted to belong, then into the police stations and courtrooms where adults -- grieving, devastated -- must reckon with the shocking crime. Highlighting along the way the deeply entrenched social tensions that provoked the murder, Under the Bridge is more than a true-crime book -- it is an unforgettable wake-up call. Views: 44
