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This classic, authoritative translation brings the full meaning and power of the sacred book of Islam to Western readers. "Certainly the most beautiful English version, and among those by non-Muslim translators, the one that comes closest to conveying the impressions made on Muslims by the original".--Wilfred Cantwell Smith, Harvard University.

From the author of the bestselling How to Read a Book comes a comprehensive and practical guide for learning how to speak and listen more effectively.With over half a million copies in print of his “living classic” How to Read a Book in print, intellectual, philosopher, and academic Mortimer J. Adler set out to write an accompanying volume on speaking and listening, offering the impressive depth of knowledge and accessible panache that distinguished his first book. In How to Speak How to Listen, Adler explains the fundamental principles of communicating through speech, with sections on such specialized presentations as the sales talk, the lecture, and question-and-answer sessions and advice on effective listening and learning by discussion.

Sharpen your pencils! The classic, bestselling crossword series returns, with 300 never-before-published Thursday to Sunday-size puzzles.Simon & Schuster published the first-ever crossword puzzle book back in 1924. Now, more than ninety years later, the classic crossword series lives on, with a brand-new collection of crosswords from expert puzzle constructor, John M. Samson. Designed with convenience in mind, this mega crossword puzzle book features perforated pages so you can tear out the crosswords individually and work on them when you’re on the go. Samson delights die-hard fans and challenges new puzzle enthusiasts as they work through this timeless and unique collection of entertainment.

Includes discussion questions and a conversation with the author.

The chess community’s favorite pair of authors Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld bring players the world’s greatest collection of stories, cartoons, and amusing anecdotes in this exciting read.The Fireside Book of Chess brings readers into the world of chess with a comprehensive and exciting collection of stories and illustrations regarding the game. Including curious and interesting chess games, Chernev and Reinfeld have put together the memories, anecdotes, puzzles, lists, and trivia that surrounds the world of chess. Perfect for those who have a deep abiding passion for chess and those who only dabble in the game, The Fireside Book of Chess shares fake histories, tongue-in-cheek stories, poignant memories and more.

This “fact-filled and amusing trek through nature’s dark side” (Kirkus Reviews) reveals the fascinating, weird, and often perverted ways that Mother Nature fends only for herself.It may be a wonderful world, but as Dan Riskin (host of the Animal Planet’s TV show Monsters Inside Me) explains, it’s also a dangerous, disturbing, and disgusting one. At every turn, it seems, living things are trying to eat us, poison us, use our bodies as their homes, or have us spread their eggs. In Mother Nature Is Trying to Kill You, Riskin is our tour guide through the natural world at its most gloriously ruthless. Using the seven deadly sins as a road map, Riskin offers dozens of jaw-dropping examples that illuminate how brutal nature can truly be. From slothful worms that hide in your body for up to thirty years to wrathful snails with poisonous harpoons that can kill you in less than five minutes to lustful ducks that have orgasms faster than you can blink, these fascinating accounts reveal the candid truth about “gentle” Mother Nature’s true colors. Riskin’s passion for the strange and his enthusiastic expertise bring Earth’s most fascinating fauna and flora into vivid focus. Through his adventures—which include sliding on his back through a thick soup of bat guano just to get face-to-face with a vampire bat, befriending a parasitic maggot that has taken root in his head, and coming to grips with having offspring of his own—Riskin makes unexpected discoveries not just about the world all around us but also about the ways this brutal world has shaped us as humans and what our responsibilities are to this terrible, wonderful planet we call home.

The wryly amusing and revealing story of one man’s journey into the swinger lifestyle that “transcends most of the usual boundaries of sexuality…and leaves the vanilla world behind” (The New York Times Book Review).An estimated fifteen million strong worldwide, swingers are everywhere—a huge community hiding in plain sight, whose erotic pastime remains a complete mystery to the rest of us. In Swingland, Daniel Stern outs himself and the secretive society he loves, recounting his ten-year transformation from a lonely guy who couldn’t get a date into a veteran sexual adventurer. With wit and infectious enthusiasm, Stern shares all the hard-earned wisdom he’s acquired in America’s swinging underground. He encounters plenty of bumps and bruises along the way, including countless rejections, missed opportunities, and one particular AARP orgy. But slowly and surely, through an impressive series of threesomes, foursomes, and moresomes, this “Vanilla” newbie becomes a much sought-after partner for couples looking to spice up their relationships. Travel with Stern on his exploits, learn a whole new lexicon (there aren’t many single women swingers, or “Unicorns,” but plenty of MFMs, FMFs, MMFMs, and MMMFMs), and gain free, invaluable advice should you decide to take the plunge (be honest, sensitive, and hygienic!). “Equal parts memoir and guide book” (New York Post), Swingland is much more than a “unique, voyeuristic exposé” (Kirkus Reviews). Lovingly written, with a keen sensibility regarding the sensitive and often misunderstood subject, Stern’s narrative is as improbably safe as it is fun—and impossible to put down.

Imagine traveling back in time to the fourteenth century, hundreds of years before electricity, indoor plumbing, and modern medicine. What would you eat? What would you wear? Where do you live? How do you travel? Was life really better for a lord or a king?In "The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England," Ian Mortimer strips away the names, dates, and battles to put the reader in the starring role, walking through daily life in England in the Middle Ages. He shows what it really would have been like to live through this time, detailing everything from the horrors of war to the haute couture of the day. As a historical guidebook, "The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England" answers questions typically ignored in traditional histories. Readers will learn how to greet people on the street, what to use as toilet paper, why a physician might want to taste blood, among other esoteric tidbits. Mortimer's book shows readers that the past is not just something to be studied, but something to be lived.

Based on breakthrough techniques developed by Rockport Institute, "The Pathfinder," now fully revised and updated, offers invaluable advice and more than 100 self-tests and diagnostic tools that will help readers choose an entirely new career--or view a current job from a new, more positive perspective.

The American debut of an award-winning novel about a lady’s maid’s awakening as she journeys from the confines of Victorian England to the uncharted far reaches of Egypt’s Nile Valley.When Lady Duff Gordon, paragon of London society, departs for the hot, dry climate of Egypt to seek relief from her debilitating tuberculosis, her lady’s maid, Sally, doesn’t hesitate to leave the only world she has known in order to remain at her mistress’s side. As Sally gets farther and farther from home, she experiences freedoms she has never known—forgoing corsets and wearing native dress, learning Arabic, and having her first taste of romance. But freedom is a luxury that a lady’s maid can ill afford, and when Sally’s newfound passion for life causes her to forget what she is entitled to, she is brutally reminded she is mistress of nothing. Ultimately she must choose her master and a way back home—or a way to an unknown future. Based on the real lives of Lady Duff Gordon and her maid, The Mistress of Nothing is a lush, erotic, and compelling story about the power of race, class, and love

Taboo, Grammy Award–winning performing artist and founding member of the Black Eyed Peas, shares the inspiring story of his rise from the mean streets of East L.A. to the heights of international fame. Few bands can ever hope to achieve the sort of global success that the record-breaking Black Eyed Peas have attained, selling more than 30 million albums since their formation in 1995. From their album The E.N.D., which debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts, to The Beginning, the Black Eyed Peas continue to dominate the music scene. The group recently broke the all-time record for longest successive stay at the #1 position on Billboard’s Hot 100 list, and their song “I Gotta Feeling” became the first single to surpass six million digital downloads in the United States. But in this revealing autobiography—the first book to emerge from the group—founding member Taboo reminds us that great accomplishments are often rooted in humble beginnings. Born in East L.A. in an area notorious for street gangs and poverty, Taboo was haunted by that environment, which seemed certain to shape his destiny. Yet, steered by his dreams to be a performer and assisted by fate, the young Taboo was thrown a rope when he discovered the world of hip-hop, where talent and love of the music itself transcended all. Supported by his one true champion, his grandmother Aurora, Taboo chased his dreams with a relentless tenacity. He refused to surrender, regardless of what life threw at him— including becoming a father at age eighteen. But even after the Black Eyed Peas beat seemingly insurmountable odds and achieved stardom, it wasn’t all Grammys and platinum albums. Taboo delivers a searingly honest account of his collision with fame’s demons, including his almost career-ending struggle with drug addiction and alcoholism. He takes us deep into a world few of us can even imagine: a show-business heaven that became a self-made hell. But inspired by the love of his family and tapping anew into the wellspring of self-belief that had sustained him in the past, Taboo learns to keep his demons at bay, his addictions in check. Full of intimate glances into the highest reaches of the music industry—including a visit to Sting’s castle, hanging out with Bono and U2, and, at forty-one thousand feet, the high-flyingest karaoke ever—Fallin’ Up takes readers on a revealing, personal journey through stardom—and one man’s triumph over adversity times two.

SHOSHANA HOLDS NOTHING BACK in this harrowing account of an ordinary woman caught in extraordinary circumstances. She reveals decisions made by chain of command that may have led to her twenty-two-day imprisonment, describes the pain of post-traumatic stress disorder, and shares the surprising story of how a specialist in a maintenance company ended up on the front lines of war. Told with exceptional bravery and candor, "I'm Still Standing "is at once a provocative look at the politics of war and the unforgettable story of a single mom and soldier who became an American hero. In March 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom made world headlines when a U. S. army convoy was attacked en route to Baghdad. Shoshana Johnson became the first black female prisoner of war in United States history.

From Simon & Schuster, Managing Up, Managing Down is Mary Ann Allison and Eric Allison's guide to being a better manager and getting what you want from your boss and your staff.Managing Up, Managing Down explains how to develop better relations with one's boss as well as one's subordinates, and discusses raises, motivation, firings, authority delegation, and business ethics

From the author of Happy Birthday or Whatever, an outright hilarious and heartfelt collection of personal essays about everything from underwear to musical theater.ANNIE CHOI HATES MUSICAL THEATER. SHE THINKS SANDWICHES ARE BORING. She likes camping, except for the outdoors part. At fifteen, her father made her read the entire car manual before allowing her to sit in the driver’s seat. Her neighbor, who has no cur­tains, is always naked. And she once chased down a man who stole her handbag. All this is to say that Choi is one part badass and one part curmudgeon, with a soft spot for savage bears. Mostly she wants to ask the world: WTF?! Written in Choi’s strikingly original and indignant voice, Shut Up, You’re Welcome paints a revealing portrait of Annie in all her quirky, compelling, riotous glory. Each of Choi’s personal essays begins with an open letter to someone (babies) or something (the San Fernando Valley) she has a beef with. From the time her family ditched her on Christmas to her father’s attach­ment to the World's Ugliest Table, Choi weaves together deeply personal experiences with laugh-out-loud observations, all of which will delight and entertain you.

A one-of-a-kind guide to shiatsu, providing step-by-step instructions for performing this unique and effective therapy.With shiatsu (a Japanese word meaning "finger pressure") you can release and stimulate the energy flowing through your body -- using just your hands and fingers -- to awaken your body's natural healing modalities. The Book of Shiatsu is the authoritative, step-by-step guide to this uniquely effective therapy. The techniques offered are simple and can be used to treat a variety of health problems, particularly: • Arthritic conditions • Backaches • Emotional stress • Headaches and migraines • Intestinal disorders • Menstrual and reproductive problems • Muscular pain and tension Here you'll find more than 240 color drawings and photographs in a brand-new, accessible format, demonstrating how to give both whole-body and specialized massages, diagnose specific conditions, and work with the body's energy meridians to promote sustained health and well-being.

Revised edition of: Indivisible: how America divided against itself. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, c2012.

Three former government officials rethink the foreign policy decisions of America’s leaders as they detail their failures and inadequacies and propose effective new moves the nation could make to self-correct.The authors of Our Own Worst Enemy, each of which have held high positions in the State Department and Pentagon, argue that for more than 20 years the United States has been experiencing a nervous breakdown concerning the making of foreign policy. As foreign policy continuously becomes more partisan and ideological, and each president disavows his predecessor as he starts anew, the authors describe how America has watched its leaders repeatedly trap themselves in foreign policy debacles. Within the pages of this book, I.M. Destler, Leslie H. Gelb, and Anthony Lake propose clear and effective measures by which America may extricate itself from the political quagmire it is repeatedly placed in.

Collects autobiographical illustrated essays and cartoons from the author's blog and related new material that humorously and candidly deals with her own idiosyncrasies and battles with depression.

"The true love story of Florence and Guy Weadick and the beginning of the Calgary Stampede"--Cover.

In the tradition of John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, this incredibly moving and harrowing true story of a teenager diagnosed with cancer is “a resounding affirmation of how music can lift one’s spirits beyond gray skies and bad news (Kirkus Reviews).”Punk’s not dead in rural West Virginia. In fact, it blares constantly from the basement of Rob and Nat Rufus—identical twin brothers with spiked hair, black leather jackets, and the most kick-ass record collection in Appalachia. To them, school (and pretty much everything else) sucks. But what can you expect when you’re the only punks in town? When the brothers start their own band, their lives begin to change: they meet friends, they attract girls, and they finally get invited to join a national tour and get out of their rat box little town. But their plans are cut short when Rob is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that has already progressed to Stage Four. Not only are his dreams of punk rock stardom completely shredded, there is a very real threat that this is one battle that can’t be won. While Rob suffers through nightmarish treatments and debilitating surgery, Nat continues on their band’s road to success alone. But as Rob’s life diverges from his brother’s, he learns to find strength within himself and through his music. Die Young with Me is a “raw, honest picture of the weirdness of growing up” (Marky Ramone) and the story of a brave teen’s battle with cancer and the many ways music helped him cope through his recovery.

What if Rapunzel was Snow White’s evil stepmother? Classic fairy tales collide in this imaginative retelling about the endurance of first love, the resentment of being left behind, and the impossibility of reliving the past.In this kingdom, only one fairy tale can end with happily ever after. In an enchanted forest, the maiden Rapunzel’s beautiful voice captivates a young prince hunting nearby. Overcome, he climbs her long golden hair to her tower and they spend an afternoon of passion together, but by nightfall, the prince must return to his kingdom…and his betrothed. After the prince becomes king, he weds his intended and the kingdom rejoices when a daughter named Snow White is born. Beyond the castle walls, Rapunzel waits in her crumbling tower, gathering news of her beloved from those who come to her seeking wisdom. She tries to mend her broken heart, but her love lingers, pulsing in the magic tendrils of her hair. The king, too, is haunted by his memories, and after his queen’s mysterious death, he is finally able to follow his heart into the darkness of the forest. But can Rapunzel trade the shadows of the forest for the bright light of the castle—and behave as the innocent beauty he remembers?

Ian Fleming's world of spies, love, and passion comes back to life when a young woman inherits Fleming's long-lost account of his own spying during World War II, and must finish it to find out why people are trying to kill her.

This beloved sports classic from Sports Illustrated writer Dan Jenkins is a hilarious love-hate celebration of golfers and their game.