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In Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Illustrated, explore the logograms for popular concepts such as "sun," "house," and "mountain," as well as more complex ideas such as Ajet, or "sun rising over mountains"; marvel at Tutankhamun's full name as marked on his tomb; and wonder at the Ouroboros, a symbol that shows a snake-like animal that swallows its own tail, representing eternal struggle. Each of more than 150 entries includes a description of the written form and an explanation of its meaning.

First revealed by a Tibetan monk in the fourteeenth century, Bardo Thodol--known more commonly as The Tibetan Book of the Dead--describes the experience of human consciousness in the bardo, the interval between death and the next rebirth. The teachings are designed to help the dying regain clarity of awareness at the moment of death, and by doing so achieve enlightened liberation. This classic translation by Kazi Dawa Samdup is divided into 21 chapters and is presented in a high-quality, Chinese-bound format.

From early submersibles to nuclear-powered subs, Submarines is an accessible guide for those interested in naval history. Submarines features the most significant submarines built, from the German U-9 - which sank three British cruisers on September 22, 1914 - to the huge Japanese I-400 class and the great nuclear-powered submarines of the Cold War, such as USS Los Angeles and the Soviet Oscar class. Also included are the 'undersea cruiser' Surcouf; the highly successful Type VII U-boats of World War II; and the latest attack and ballistic missile submarines, such as HMS Astute, USS Virginia, the Chinese Type 094, and the Russian Yasen class. Each entry includes a brief description of the submarine's development and history, a color profile or cutaway, key features, and specifications.

Beautifully produced in traditional Chinese binding and with a timeless design, Bushido: The Soul of Japan includes the classic Inazo text with a new introduction. "Chivalry is a flower no less indigenous to the soil of Japan than cherry blossom" are the opening words to Inazo Nitobe's Bushido: The Soul of Japan. It was 1900 and Inazo, a Japanese academic living in the USA, had been prompted to write the book after an American professor had wondered how the Japanese imparted moral education on their children if schools didn't offer any religious instruction. The answer, Inazo realized, was through Bushido. Bushido is the chivalric code of moral principles that the Samurai followed: rectitude, courage, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor, and loyalty. Influenced by Confucianism, Shinto, and Zen Buddhism, it tempers the violence of a warrior with wisdom and serenity. Alongside Sun Tzu's The Art of War and Machiavelli's The Prince, Inazo's book has become influential among military and corporate leaders looking for ways to manage their people and overcome their opponents.

Produced using beautiful traditional Chinese bookbinding techniques, Five Rings is presented in an exquisite edition with a brand-new modern translation and new cover design. Written around 1645, Miyamoto Musashi's Five Rings is a classic Japanese work on mastery in swordsmanship, leadership, and conflict. Musashi was a swordsman, philosopher, and strategist, and today his work remains of influence not only in the realm of martial arts but in the business world as well. Musashi's no-nonsense approach to the martial arts and combat includes eliminating technical flourishes, understanding that technique should simply be understood as defeating your opponent, and appreciating that the same qualities apply in both small-scale and large-scale conflicts. Repeatedly, he stresses the importance of learning through practice, rather than merely reading about it.

With a new cover design, Haiku is an expert introduction and celebration of one of the most beautiful and accessible forms of poetry in the world. Haiku--seventeen-syllable poems that evoke worlds despite their brevity--have captivated Japanese readers since the seventeenth century. Today the form is practiced worldwide and has become established as part of our common global heritage. This beautiful traditionally hand-bound volume presents new English translations of classic poems by the four great masters of Japanese haiku--Matsuo Bashō, Yosa Buson, Kobayashi Issa, and Masaoka Shiki--accompanied by both the original Japanese and a phonetic transcription.

With a new cover design, this complete edition of the Analects, which is made up of 20 books of brief passages from Confucius and his disciples, is presented with a new introduction and new editorial notes. The Analects of Confucius has been one of the most widely read and studied books in China for the last 2,000 years, and continues to have a substantial influence on thought and values today. His words largely concern ethics, morality within the family, within marriage and within government, social relationships, justice and sincerity, valor and virtue. But whether you regard this as high philosophy or self-help for all the ages, whether your interest is in Chinese culture or leadership, whether it is spirituality or success that occupies your thoughts, Confucius has wise and accessible things to say about them all. Beautifully produced in traditional Chinese binding and with a timeless design, Confucius: The Analects will appeal to anyone interested in philosophy, spirituality, and Chinese culture.

With a new cover design, this dual-language edition of Tao Te Ching presents the original Chinese characters with a new translation on the facing page. No understanding of Chinese civilization is possible without a grasp of Taoism, the philosophy that has shaped not just Chinese spirituality but also art, science, and politics. And it was in the Tao Te Ching, written around 300 BCE, that the fundamental beliefs of Taoism were first gathered. This short, wise but very humble book went on to influence philosophy, religion, and politics. In a compellingly simple rhetorical style, the book addresses how to live a simple, peaceful, and harmonious life, and how to rid oneself of desires and free society of institutions that promote greed. With a new introduction that discusses the questioned authorship of the text and editorial notes, all 81 brief chapters are included, ranging from advice for politicians to wise words for the everyday person. Of immense influence across millennia, Tao Te Ching is a classic text richly deserving this exquisite edition.

The Periodic Table is a compact guide to the currently known 118 elements and their properties. The periodic table provides the most convenient way of organizing chemical elements by specific icons and is widely used in chemistry and physics as a quick and easy resource for scientists and students. In this guide, you'll find out about copper (Cu), a reddish metal that has been used since ancient times for making utensils, weapons and piping, and has proved to be a good conductor of heat; learn about aluminum (Al) and its strong, lightweight properties, which has led to it being used in aircraft manufacture and building construction; marvel at carbon (C), which makes up 0.025 percent of Earth's crust, and which is also one of the main elements of diamond, the hardest known natural material; and discover radon (Rn), a radioactive, odorless gas that is considered a toxic health hazard. This book will inform and fascinate anyone interested in the core chemical elements that make up our world and which are found in everything we make.

In Fairies, discover the charming story behind these best-loved magical characters, including the Fairy Godmother, Shakespeare's Titania, and the beloved Tinker Bell. For centuries we have been fascinated with fairies, mythical beings often possessing intriguing magical powers to curse, trick, or heal humans. The label of fairy has at times applied only to specific magical creatures with human appearance, magical powers, and a penchant for trickery. At other times it has been used to describe any magical creature, such as goblins and gnomes. Myths and stories about fairies do not have a single origin, but are rather a collection of folk beliefs from disparate sources. Various folk theories about the origins of fairies include casting them as either demoted angels or demons in a Christian tradition, as deities in Pagan belief systems, as spirits of the dead, as prehistoric precursors to humans, or as spirits of nature. Fairies is a pocketful of delight, packed with beautiful images and full of fascinating tales.

History of the World provides a sumptuous, pictorial guide to the most significant events in human history, from the Bronze Age to the 21st century. Beginning in the sixth millennium BCE, in the Indus Valley, Mesopotamia and along the Nile River, human civilization expanded to develop writing systems, farming methods, social organization, and modes of government. Today, humans inhabit every part of the planet, connected by digital technology and modern infrastructure. Arranged chronologically, History of the World offers a broad overview of the most important events in human history, including the building of great funerary tombs in Ancient Egypt, the Trojan War, the development of democratic forms of government in Ancient Athens under Pericles, the birth of Christ, the expansion of Islam from Arabia, the Viking raids across northwest Europe, the capture of Jerusalem during the Crusades, Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Copernicus proposing a new model of the universe, the rule of the Tokugawa shoguns in Japan, the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution, Napoleon's domination of Europe following the French victory at Austerlitz, Stephenson's development of the steam locomotive, the breakup of great empires following the end of World War I, the use of nuclear weapons at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the advent of the modern computer, beginning with Alan Turing's codebreaking Bombe machine at Bletchley Park during World War II.

With full captions explaining the history, behavior, and feeding habits of more than 150 species, Snakes is a fascinating examination of these highly colorful reptilian killers in vivid photographs, now in a handy pocket format. Few animals strike as much fear as snakes, which kill either through their poisonous venom or through suffocation. Numbering more than 3,000 species, snakes can be found in virtually every environment other than Antarctica, from the jungles of the Amazon to the Gobi Desert and Australian Outback. Some snakes even inhabit the rivers and seas. Presented in a handy pocket-size format, Snakes offers an engaging pictorial introduction to these prehistoric predators. Find out about the black mamba, which is feared because it possesses an extremely potent venom that kills most of its victims--animal and human; see the banded krait, whose venom is a neurotoxin that induces instant paralysis; learn about the reticulated python, the world's longest constrictor, regularly reaching over 20 feet in length; and marvel at the tiny Barbados threadsnake, which typically grows to a length of 4 inches and has been compared to a spaghetti noodle!

With full captions explaining the different species, behavior, and feeding habits, Sharks is a lively examination of these elemental killers through vivid color photographs, now in a handy pocket format. With fossil records dating back 400 million years, sharks have outlived the dinosaurs and many other forms of life currently on earth--they are even older than trees. There are more than 1,000 species of sharks and rays, with new species discovered every year. Through their evolution, sharks have shaped our oceans into the rich habitats we know today. As apex predators, sharks play an important role in the ecosystem by maintaining the species below them in the food chain--helping remove the weak and sick, and keeping the ocean and fish populations healthy. Learn about the dwarf lantern shark, which is so small it can fit in the palm of your hand; or the whale shark, which grows up to 40 feet in length and is the largest known fish species in the oceans today; or the great white shark, the oceans' top predator and capable of chewing up dolphins and seals with its 300 teeth.

Arranged in chapters covering family, working dogs, companion dogs, senses, and behavior, Puppies features a huge range of breeds from around the world. Humans are instinctively drawn to care for animals that are young, fluffy, and cute, in much the same way that they want to look after their own young. And puppies are especially appealing, being energetic, enthusiastic companions always ready for fun and frolics. Did you know that puppies cannot open their eyes until the age of two weeks, and they are not able to walk straight after birth? However, they are able to smell their mother's milk and fight their way to a teat. Most puppies are entirely dependent on their mother for the first four weeks and then spend more time away from her. They are weaned around week eight. From a shaggy Alaskan Malamute to a sparky little Corgi, this book expertly examines the cuddliest pets on the planet. With informative captions on every page, Puppies is a compact, engaging celebration of young dogs in outstanding photographs.

Arranged in chapters covering family, shorthairs, longhairs, senses, and behavior, Kittens features a huge range of breeds from around the world. There is nothing more cute or appealing than a little kitten who wants to play or to curl up on their owner's lap for a well-deserved snooze. Kitten affection is a unique experience, and kittens can very quickly become attached to their owners. Although they do not open their eyes for the first 7-10 days of their young life, kittens very soon begin to explore the world around them, demonstrating an insatiable thirst for knowledge, adventures, and new experiences. From a fluffy Maine Coon and Scottish Fold to a short-haired Abyssinian or Siamese, this book expertly examines the cuddliest pet on the planet. With well-informed captions on every page, Kittens is a compact, engaging celebration of young cats in outstanding photographs.

Presented in a pocket-size volume, Haiku is an expert introduction and celebration of one of the most beautiful and accessible forms of poetry in the world. Haiku--seventeen-syllable poems that evoke worlds despite their brevity--have captivated Japanese readers since the seventeenth century. Today the form is practiced worldwide and has become established as part of our common global heritage. This handy pocket-size volume presents modern English translations of classic poems by the four great masters of Japanese haiku--Matsuo Bashō, Yosa Buson, Kobayashi Issa, and Masaoka Shiki--accompanied by both the original Japanese and a phonetic transcription, and a photograph or artwork highlighting or echoing the poem's theme.

Military Jet Aircraft provides a detailed look at more than 50 of the most important jet-engine aircraft developed between 1945 and the present day. Aircraft featured include such famous types as the Avro Vulcan, Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, Northrop B-2A Spirit, and Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21. Accessible and comprehensive, Military Jet Aircraft will appeal to anyone interested in discovering more about modern military aviation.

Arranged chronologically, Ancient Egypt offers a compact photographic guide, from the 4000 BC Naqada culture to the end of the Ptolemaic dynasty with the suicide of Cleopatra in 30 BC. In between, discover the Narmer Palette, a 31st-century BC stone tablet that records the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt by King Narmer; learn about Amenhotep the Magnificent, during whose reign Egypt reached the peak of its artistic and international power; and discover how Egypt was ruled by Archaemenid Persia for almost 200 years, until the arrival of Alexander the Great and his all-conquering Macedonian army.

Warplanes of World War II provides a detailed look at 50 key aircraft in service between 1939 and 1945. Warplanes profiled include fighters, bombers, fighter-bombers, ground attack and other aircraft from the US, USSR, Germany, UK, Japan, France, Poland, and Italy. A large-format side-on photograph shows every detail of each aircraft, with notes pointing out features that made it unique. This is followed by an in-depth description of the aircraft's development, manufacturing history, and technical profile.

German Aircraft of World War II features 52 of the greatest aircraft to fly for the Luftwaffe from 1939 to 1945. The flyers of the Luftwaffe spearheaded the German blitzkrieg during the early years of World War II, providing a key aerial element to the German war machine that swept all before it. Later in the war, the Luftwaffe concentrated on defense, producing the world's first rocket- and jet-propelled fighters. Packed with more than 200 artworks and photographs, German Aircraft of World War II is an exciting guide for the military historian and aviation enthusiast.

This dual-language edition of Tao Te Ching presents the original Chinese characters with a new translation on the facing page, and is illustrated throughout to make an attractive pocket gift edition. With a new introduction that discusses the questioned authorship of the text and editorial notes, all 81 brief chapters are included, ranging from advice for politicians to wise words for the everyday person. Of immense influence across millennia, Tao Te Ching is a classic text richly deserving of this handy pocket edition.

D-Day provides a photographic exploration of this monumental military and political event that helped bring about the end of Nazi Germany's four-year occupation of Europe. The book is divided into chapters covering the first days of the landings on the five beaches: Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno, and Sword; separate chapters cover the airborne landings of the famous American 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions and the British 6th Airborne, as well as the crucial help of French Resistance fighters in providing intelligence and disrupting German communications and supply lines.

Elephants is an outstanding collection of photographs and captions showing these majestic animals in their natural habitat in a handy pocket format. You'll discover how African and Asian elephants differ, but also about the different species or subspecies in each continent. You will learn how herds of female elephants and their young are formed, how they feed and use their tusks as weapons or for moving objects or digging, how they use their ears to cool themselves, how intelligent they are, and much more.

Beautifully produced in a handy pocket-size format and with a timeless design, Bushido: Code of the Samurai includes the classic Inazo Nitobe text with a new introduction and colorful illustrations throughout. Alongside Sun Tzu's The Art of War and Machiavelli's The Prince, Inazo's book has become influential among military and corporate leaders looking for ways to manage their people and overcome their opponents.

Did you know that porpoises are often shy creatures and therefore most of us will very rarely encounter them in the wild? Among their species is the vaquita, tragically the most endangered species of any whale, dolphin, or porpoise. Whales and dolphins alike are renowned for their intelligent nature and fascinating social rituals. With full captions explaining the different species, behavior, and feeding habits, Whales & Dolphins is a vibrant look at these marine mammals in vivid photographs.

Wolves features a wide variety of wolf species from around the world, including the Eurasian Wolf, Timber Wolf, Arctic Wolf, Northwestern Wolf, Yukon Wolf, and many more. With full captions explaining how they hunt and feed, rear their young, and migrate, this book is a brilliant examination in outstanding color photographs of these fascinating animals.

Penguins is a handy pocket-size guide showing these intriguing animals in their natural habitat. The book features a variety of species, from the Emperor, Chinstrap, and Adélie penguins in the Antarctic to the Magellanic, Southern Rockhopper, and Yellow-Crested Macaroni penguins of Chile.

From Pripyat in Ukraine to Bodie in California to English villages requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence during World War II, from Greek leper colonies to deserted Italian mountain villages, Abandoned Towns is a brilliant pictorial work examining lost worlds. With reasons ranging from the collapse of local industry to being pushed aside to make way for a new industry, from earthquakes and volcanoes to man-made chemical spills, from war zones to demilitarized zones, the book explores a wide range of desolate urban environments from around the globe.

Birds of prey--or raptors--are some of the most captivating bird species in the world. Think of eagles and condors, vultures, hawks, and kites, but also owls and ospreys. From the New World Caracaras to the Oriental Hobby, the Northern Goshawk to the Swamp Harrier to the European Merlin, Birds of Prey explores the fascinating lifecycles, habitats, diets, and, where applicable, migratory patterns, of more than 100 species from all around the world.

Arranged in chapters covering the different types of bear, their habitats, their family life, and cubs, this book reveals little-known facts on their anatomy, lifecycle, feeding, and their young. Bears is an outstanding collection of photographs showing these fascinating animals in their natural habitats in a handy pocket format.