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Exploring the scientific, historic, and popular basis behind the ancient art of astrology, this title provides an understanding of basic astrology. It includes a table of astrological glyphs and abbreviations, a section on casting a chart, and a chapter that explains and interprets every planet in every house and sign.

Celebrating the impact of African Americans on U.S. society, culture, and history! Traces African American history through four centuries of profound changes and amazing accomplishments. Walking readers through a rich but often overlooked part of American history, The Handy African American History Answer Book addresses the people, times, and events that influenced and changed African American history. An overview of major biographical figures and history-making events is followed by a deeper look at the development in the arts, entertainment, business, civil rights, music, government, journalism, religion, science, sports, and more. Covering a broad range of the African American experience, showcasing interesting insights and facts, this helpful reference answers 700 commonly-asked questions including ... What is the significance of the Apollo Theater? What were the effects of the Great Depression on black artists? Who were some of America's early free black entrepreneurs? What is the historical role of the barbershop in the African American community? and What was Black Wall Street? What does ¿40 acres and a mule¿ mean? What was the Black Arts Movement? Who were the Harlem Hellfighters? Who was the first black saint? Who was called the ¿Father of Blood Plasmä? What caused African Americans to lose their fidelity to ¿the Party of Lincoln¿? What was the impact of Negro Leagues Baseball on American culture? Blending trivia with historical review in an engaging question-and-answer format, The Handy African American History Answer Book is perfect for browsing and is ideal for history buffs, trivia fans, students and teachers and anyone interested in a better and more thorough understanding of the history of black Americans. With many photos and illustrations this fun, fact-filled tome is richly illustrated. Its helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness.

From atomic bombs to zealous zombies, this cinefiles guidebook reviews 1,000 of the wickedest, weirdest, and wackiest scary movies from every age of horror. With reviews on many overlooked, underappreciated gems such as Alice Sweet Alice, Daughters of Darkness, and Zombie, as well as the numerous Stephen King adaptations and modern updates such as Night of the Living Dead 3D and The Wolfman, new devotees as well as the discriminating darkcinema enthusiast will love this big, beautiful, endall, beall guide to an always popular film genre. Established directors, including Wes Craven, John Carpenter, Tim Burton, David Cronenberg, and Guillermo del Toro are given their due, as are the new generation, represented by Larry Fessenden, James Wan, Alexandre Aja, and others. In addition to the hundreds of horror film reviews, this guide includes fascinating and fun top10 lists and sidebars that are designed to lead fans to similar titles they might not have known about.

Language "e;Appealing As Sunlight After a Storm."e;A sentence should read as if its author, had he held a plough instead of a pen, could have drawn a furrow deep and straight to the end. -Henry David ThoreauProse consists of phrases tacked together like the sections of a prefabricated hen-house. -George OrwellWhether it invokes hard work or merely a hen-house, a good simile is like a good pictureit's worth a thousand words. Packed with more than 16,000 imaginative, colorful phrasesfrom abandoned as a used Kleenex to quiet as an eel swimming in oilthe Similes Dictionary will help any politician, writer, or lover of language find just the right saying, be it original or banal, verbose or succinct. Your thoughts will never be "e;as tedious as a twice-told tale"e; or "e;dry as the Congressional Record."e; Choose from elegant turns of phrases as useful as a Swiss army knife and varied as expressions of the human face.Citing more than 2,000 sourcesfrom the Bible, Socrates, Shakespeare, Mark Twain, and H. L. Mencken to popular movies, music, and television showsthe Similes Dictionary covers hundreds of subjects broken into thematic categories that include topics such as virtue, anger, age, ambition, importance, and youth, helping you find the fitting phrase quickly and easily.Perfect for setting the atmosphere, making a point, or helping spin a tale with economy, intelligence, and ingenuity, the vivid comparisons found in this collection will inspire anyone.Love comforteth like sunshine after rain. -William ShakespeareA face like a bucket -Raymond ChandlerA man with little learning is like the frog who thinks its puddle a great sea. -Burmese proverbPeace, like charity, begins at home -Franklin Delano RooseveltYou know a dream is like a river ever changing as it flows. -Garth BrooksFit as a fiddle -John Ray's ProverbsHe's not to be allowed to fall into his grave like an old dog. -Arthur MillerRing true, like good china. -Sylvia PlathMusic yearning like a God in pain -John KeatsBusy as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest. -Pat ConroyEnduring as mother love -Anonymous

Exploring the fascinating world of dreams, this comprehensive reference examines more than 250 dream-related topics, from art to history to science, including how factors such as self-healing, ESP, literature, religion, sex, cognition and memory, and medical conditions can all have an effect on dreams. Dream symbolism and interpretation is examined in historical, cultural, and psychological detail, while a dictionaryupdated with 1,000 symbols and explanationsoffers further insights. Dreaming about teeth, for instance, can indicate control issues, and dreaming of a zoo can indicate that the dreamer needs to tidy up some situation. Examining these concepts and more, this is the ultimate dreamer's companion.

A look at Witches, Witchcraft and the Wicca tradition from the author of Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft From Abracadabra to Aleister Crowley to Gardnerian Witchcraft to Rosemary's Baby to sorcery and Zoroaster, The Witch Book by the late, great Raymond Buckland is unmatched in its coverage of witchcrafts historical, practical, and cultural aspects. A student of the late Wicca pioneer Dr. Gerald Gardner, Raymond Buckland has been widely credited with introducing Wicca to the United States. He was one of the worlds foremost experts on Witchcraft, Wicca, and Earth religions. With 560 entries, a resource section, and 114 photos and illustrations, this is an exhaustive exploration of Witchcraft, Wicca, paganism, magic, people, places, events, literature, and more. It shows how, in pre-Christian and early Christian times, Witchcraft (with a capital W) was a magical and healing practice associated with early spirtual beliefs, including how the word Witch comes from the Old Anglo-Saxon wicce or wicca, meaning a wise one: the wiseman or -woman of the common people who had knowledge of herbs, healing, augury, and magic. It also tackles how Witchcraft and paganism were erroneously linked with Satanism, black magic, and pop-culture distortions. It defines both the darker Christian concept and the true concept of Wicca, concentrating on the Western European and later New World versions of Witchcraft and magic. The Witch Book is a broad and deep look at witches, witchcraft and the Wicca tradition.

What is El Nino and how does it affect the oceans and the weather? What is a riptide? Where does the salt in seawater come from? This book tackles these and other questions on ocean life, waterspouts, whirlpools, ocean shelves, tides and quakes, ocean bottoms, navigation, famous shipwrecks, and the effects of pollution and global warming.

The story of the United States military is the story of the countryitself. Both have grown and changed over time. Learn about the uniquehistories, traditions, weapons, leaders, stats, and fun facts of theArmy, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Space Force,and their roles within the military in this fun and fascinatingguide! From the few hundred soldiers in its ranks when it was first established,to the over one million service members today, the U.S. military hasgrown in power and size over its 250-year history. Its organizationand branches have changed to adapt to new technologies and nationalneeds. The Handy Armed Forces Answer Book: Your Guide to theWhats and Whys of the U.S. Military looks at each branch ofthe U.S. military. It answers more than 500 of the most intriguing questions,including Howis the U.S. military organized?Howdo the branches work together?Whendid the Army Air Corps become the U.S. Army Air Force?Whatis the selection process like for Special Forces?Whowas the Continental Armys first Commander in Chief?Howdoes the military rank structure function?Howdoes somebody become an Air Force officer?Whatwas the Brown Water Navy?Whatis the motto of the Coast Guard?Howmany bases does the military have?Whatis the Marine Corps Hymn?Didany Coast Guard vessels serve in combat?Whattype of aircraft is Air Force One?Whosaid Retreat? Hell! We just got here!Whowere the Buffalo Soldiers?Whatare the Blue Angels?Whatis the most challenging USAF plane to fly?Whatis the origin of the Coast Guard racing stripe?Doesthe Space Force have any operational bases?Howdid a mutiny help establish the United States Naval Academy?Whatis the longest-serving personal weapon used by the American soldier?Whatis the difference between a UAV and a drone?Whatattack submarines does the Navy deploy?Whodefends the United States against cyberattacks and other digitalthreats?The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Space Forceare uniquely American, each in their own way. Learn what makes eachbranch special in The Handy Armed Forces Answer Book!With more than 140 photos and graphics, this fascinating to me isrichly illustrated. Its helpful bibliography and extensive index addto its usefulness.

Fact or fiction? Real or impossible? Movement through time explored, examined and explained!Albert Einstein's theory of relativity postulates, and scientists have proven, that the faster you travel, the slower time moves. Clocks on airplanes, satellites and rockets are slower than clocks on Earth, and time travel is indeed real. Can time machines, time-tunnel wormholes or tales of fictional time-traveling heroes be so far-fetched? Covering the history of time travel in both reality and fiction, Time Travel: The Science and Science Fiction investigates the long history, myths, science and stories of movement from the present to the past and into the future. Timely in its telling, Time Travel chronicles more than 30 instances, accounts, stories and famous examples of time slips, such as The theory of relativity showing the link between time and space H.G. Wells' epic novel of 1895: The Time Machine British physicist Stephen Hawking's famous paradoxes surrounding time travel Charlton Heston's character Taylor in the Planet of the Apes discovering that he is home, 2,000 years in the future Wormholes, the shortcuts through both space and time And many more!The idea of time travel fascinates because it offers the possibility, however remote, of revisiting and recapturing moments from our youth. And if travelers of the future have secretly visited us-well, that proves that our future is secure. Stories of time travel abound in books and film, and it's been a source of endless fascination-and speculation-surrounding UFO sightings and conspiracy theories. This richly researched reference ripples with fascinating information. With more than 120 photos and graphics, this tome is nicely illustrated. Time Travel also includes a helpful bibliography and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness. Time will fly by as you ponder the possibilities. Don't hesitate. There's no time like the present. Get your copy today. The future is waiting!

Strange science facts! Hilarious history facts! Informative and Fun! A treat of science and history stories and trivia that will inform and entertain anyone curious about the world! From astonishing, amazing and surprising science and history facts to the little-known stories hidden inside bigger events, The Big Book of Facts is a fascinating tour through our weird and interesting world. You'll learn about the earth and its history through absorbing stories and interesting tidbits. Did you know Babies start laughing at just a few weeks old; there are ten discernible types of laughter; and laughter spurs our appetite for food?Like fingerprints, every tongue on Earth has a unique print?The history of the U.S. Postal Service, including the Pony Express, and the short-lived (but legal) practice of mailing children?Hand washing was not always common through history; toilet paper was invented in the 1400s, and Sir John Harington invented the flushable toilet for Queen Elizabeth I?Though they are all differently shaped by virtue of being an assembly of water droplets, there are ten basic kinds of clouds?A basic and quick history of cash in America, including Alexander Hamilton and the Bank of the United States, Benjamin Franklin's efforts to thwart counterfeiting, $100,000 bills, and the fact that more than 85% of the world's money is digital only?Though Shakespeare mentioned Valentine's Day in "e;Hamlet,"e; sending paper cards to a beloved wasn't a fad until the eighteenth century, and by the 1840s, insulting Valentine cards also became common? Government agencies in the U.S. and France both agree that the measure of a second is determined by how long it takes a cesium atom to vibrate just over nine billion times?The history of children's games such as hide-and-seek, blindman's bluff, and jacks that date back to the ancient Greeks and Romans?And much, much more.Engrossing, engaging, and enlightening, The Big Book of Facts lets you discover the fun oddities that make up our world. Wide-ranging and fact-filled with nearly 160 illustrations, this information-rich tome also includes a helpful bibliography and an extensive index for those scrambling for more information.

Grab a stake, a fistful of garlic, a crucifix and holy water as you enter the dark, blood-curdling world of the original pain in the neck in this ultimate collection of vampire facts, fangs, and fiction!What accounts for the undying fascination people have for vampires? How did encounters with death create centuries-old myths and folklore in virtually every culture in the world? When did the early literary vampiresas pictured by Goethe, Coleridge, Shelly, Polidori, Byron, and Nodier as the personifications of mans darker sidetransform from villains into todays cultural rebels? Showing how vampire-like creatures organically formed in virtually every part of the world, The Vampire Almanac: The Complete History by renowned religion expert and fearless vampire authority J. Gordon Melton, Ph.D., examines the historic, societal, and psychological role the vampire has playedand continues to playin understanding death, mans deepest desires, and human pathologies. It analyzes humanitys lusts, fears, and longing for power and the forbidden!Today, the vampire serves as a powerful symbol for the darker parts of the human condition, touching on death, immortality, forbidden sexuality, sexual power and surrender, intimacy, alienation, rebellion, violence, and a fascination with the mysterious. The vampire is often portrayed as a symbolic leader advocating an outrageous alternative to the demands of conformity. Vampires can also be tools for scapegoating such as when women are called vamps and bosses are described as bloodsuckers.Meet all of the villains, anti-heroes, and heroes of myths, legends, books, films, and television series across cultures and todays pop culture in The Vampire Almanac. It assembles and analyzes hundreds of vampiric characters, people, and creatures, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vlad the Impaler, Edward Cullen and The Twilight Saga, Bram Stoker, Lestat De Lioncourt and The Vampire Chronicles, Lon Chaney, True Blood, Bela Lugosi, Dracula, Dark Shadows, Lilith, Vampire Weekend, Batman, Nosferatu, and so many more. There is a lot to sink your teeth into with this deep exhumation of the undead. Quench your thirst for facts, histories, biographies, definitions, analysis, immortality, and more! This gruesomely thorough book of vampire facts also has a helpful bibliography, an extensive index, and numerous photos, adding to its usefulness.

A celebration of achievement, accomplishments, and pride!The first African American president, U.S. senator, and the first black lawyer in the Department of Education. The first black chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and the first African American commissioned officer in the Marine Corps. The first black professors in a variety of fields. The first African American advertising agency. The first African American Olympian. The first black pilot for a scheduled commercial airline. The first recorded slave revolt in North America. The first African American cookbook writer. Revel and rejoice in the renowned and lesser-known, barrier-breaking trailblazers in all fields-arts, entertainment, business, civil rights, education, government, invention, journalism, religion, science, sports, music, and more. Black Firsts: 500 Years of Trailblazing Achievements and Ground-Breaking Events, Fourth Edition bears witness to the long and complex history of African Americans! Expanded, updated, and revised for the first time in over eight years, Black Firsts collects more than 500 all-new achievements and previously unearthed firsts. This massive tome proves that African American accomplishments are wide-ranging and ongoing, documenting thousands of personal victories and triumphs. Who was the first black American depicted on a postage stamp? (1940 Booker Taliaferro Washington)Who was the first African American bookseller? (1834 David Ruggles, New York City)Where was the first black car dealership? (1941 Edward Davis, Detroit, Studebaker)When was the first black-owned company listed on a major stock exchange? (1971 Johnson Products)Who was the first black U.S. senator? (1870 Hiram Rhoades [Rhodes] Revels, Mississippi)Who was the African American columnist who won a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary? (1989 Clarence Page)Who was the U.S. Supreme Court's first black justice? (1967 Thurgood Marshall)Who first broke the color barrier to become a flight attendant? (1958 Ruth Carol Taylor)Who became the first black to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point? (1877 Henry Ossian Flipper)Which model was the first black to grace Sports Illustrated cover? (1997 Tyra Banks)Who became the American Medical Association's first black president? (1995 Lonnie Bristow)What is the oldest surviving black church in America? (The African Meeting House, built in 1806 and known as the Joy Street Baptist Church, in Boston)Who became the first black pitcher to win a World Series game? (1952 Rookie of the Year, Joe Black, of the Brooklyn Dodgers)Who was the first regularly recognized black physician in the United States? (1780s James Durham [Derham])Who was the first black actress to receive an Emmy Award? (1969 Gail Fisher)Who became the first black professional football player? (1904 Charles W. Follis)What was first short story published by a black woman in the United States? (1859 Frances Ellen Watkins Harper's "e;The Two Offers"e;)Who was the black explorer who joined the Lewis and Clark expedition? (York)Who was the first black lawyer to argue a case before the Supreme Court? (1880 Samuel R. Lowery)Which two songs by black Americans were the first to be send out of the solar system? (1977 Chuck Berry's song "e;Johnny B. Goode"e; and Blind Willie Johnson's "e;Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground"e; on Voyager I)What famous inventor and agronomist has a national monument named after him in Diamond, Missouri? (1960 George Washington Carver)What movie featured the first black female lead in a Disney animated feature? (2009 "e;The Princess and the Frog"e; starred Anika Noni Rose)Who was the first black American to win a gold medal in the women's all-around final competition.? (2012 Gabrielle "e;Gabby"e; Christina Victoria Douglas)Who were the Tuskegee Airmen and why are they so famous? (1941 The U.S. Congress established the first combat unit for blacks in the Army Air Corps with a training facility for black airmen, known as the Tuskegee Airmen, located at Tuskegee Institute, Alabama)Who participated in the first armed encounter of the American Revolution and later became the first black to receive an honorary master's degree? (Lemuel Haynes)Who was the author of a book of poetry that won the first Pulitzer Prize awarded to a black American? (1950 Gwendolyn Brooks for "e;Annie Allen"e;)What was the first black record company? (Pace Phonograph Company established 1921 by Henry Pace)Who was the black hero who sacrificed himself at the Boston Massacre, an event that would help inspire the American Revolution? (1770 Crispus Attucks)Who was the first black entertainer to host his own talk show on national television? (1989 Arsenio Hall)Who was the first African American to lead the NASA space program? (2009 Charles Frank Bolden Jr.)Who was the first black American to win the Nobel Peace Prize? (1944 Ralph Johnson Bunche) Who was the first black American athlete to win an Olympic gold medal? (1908 John Baxter "e;Doc"e; Taylor Jr. winner of the 4 X 400-meter relay in London)Which inventor had the first patent granted an African American? (1872 Elijah McCoy)Who was the first African American to win a Grammy Award? (1959 Count [William] Basie)Who is thought to be the United States' first black millionaire? (1890 Thomy Lafon, New Orleans real estate speculator and moneylender)Who was the first black named Association of College and Research Librarian of the Year? (1985 Jessie Carney Smith)Which black first sang a principal role with the Metropolitan Opera? (1955 Marian Anderson)When was the first black judge appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals? (1966 Spottswood Robinson)Which black artist was the first to be featured in a solo exhibit at New York's Museum of Modern Art? (1937 William Edmondson)When was the first black mayor of Dallas elected? (1995 Ron Kirk)Who was the first elected black chairman of Republican National Convention? (1884 John Roy Lynch)Who was the first known black to graduate from an American college? (1823 Alexander Lucius Twilight received a bachelor's degree from Middlebury College in Vermont)With more than 350 photos and illustrations, this information-rich book also includes a helpful bibliography and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness. This vital collection will appeal to anyone interested in America's amazing history and resilient people.

Pandemics can come in waves-like tidal waves. They change societies. They disrupt life. They end lives. As far back as 3000 B.C.E. (the Bronze Age), plagues have stricken mankind. COVID-19 is just the latest example, but history shows that life continues. It shows that knowledge and social cooperation can save lives.Viruses are neither alive nor dead and are the closest thing we have to zombies. Their only known function is to replicate themselves, which can have devastating consequences on their hosts. Most, but not all, bacteria are good for us. Some are truly horrific, including those that caused the bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic plagues. And viruses and bacteria are always morphing, evolving, and changing, making them hard to treat. Plagues, Pandemics, and Viruses: From the Plague of Athens to Covid 19 is an enlightening, and sometimes frightening, recounting of the destruction wrought by disease, but it also looks at what man has done and can do to overcome even the deadliest and bleakest of contagions. More than two years in the making, author Heather E. Quinlan was deep into her research and writing when COVID hit. She quickly saw the similarities to plagues from the past. Plagues, Pandemics, and Viruses: From the Plague of Athens to Covid 19 not only covers the history, causes, medical treatments, human responses, and aftermath of the world's biggest pandemics, but it also draws parallels to the present. It chronicles the diseases that have inflicted man throughout the millennia, including The differences (and similarities) between COVID-19 and other coronavirusesThe bubonic plague/black plague, which wiped out 30% to 60% of Europe's populationThe devastation to the indigenous population during the European colonization of the AmericasThe 1918 Spanish Flu, which did not come from SpainHow disease "e;inspired"e; The Canterbury Tales, Wuthering Heights, the pop art of Keith Haring, and other art and literatureAIDS' "e;patient zero"e;How climate change will affect future pandemicsThe aftermath of various pandemicsSeveral modern diseases making a comeback and much, much more. Along with investigating some of history's most notorious pandemics and diseases, Plagues, Pandemics, and Viruses takes a look at human resilience and what we've learned from the past. It looks at how science, the medical community, and governments have conquered or mitigated most epidemics even before they can turn into pandemics. It reviews the science of pandemics, preventative measures, and medical interventions and it includes an exclusive interview with Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as well as other experts in the medical community. Richly illustrated, it also has a helpful bibliography and extensive index. This invaluable resource is designed to help you understand, and protect you from, plagues, pandemics, epidemics, viruses, and disease!

From the Origin of Humans to Today ... All in One Volume!Highlights. Low lights. The twists and turns of social, political, and cultural history gathered in one fun and fascinating title! The Handy History Answer Book: From the Stone Age to the Digital Age takes a riveting walk through the ages, looking at the most important events of the past 5,000 years, including wars, disasters, pandemics, births, lives, and more. It supplies context to the past with a wealth of information on invention, philosophy, science, politics, culture, sports, business, law, media, and religion. A concise guide to all things historical, this feast of facts and compelling stories recounts the revolutionary ideas, acts, and inventions that changed the world. It surveys significant people, times, and events worldwide, with a special focus on U.S. history from its beginnings to the present. Fully revised and updated, this new edition of The Handy History Answer Book answers over 1,600 of the most frequently asked, most interesting, and unusual history questions, including What was the Stone Age?Why was Julius Caesar murdered?What are the origins of the religion of Islam?Why is the COVID-19 pandemic so significant?Why is the shamrock the symbol of St. Patrick?What is the legacy of the Crusades today?What are England's royal "e;houses"e;?Did Marie Antoinette really say, "e;Let them eat cake"e;?When did people first migrate to North America?Who are the Cajuns?What is the Hubble Space Telescope?What were the first political parties in the United States? Who was Black Elk?When did chain stores first appear? Were the Nazi's socialists? How long have hurricanes been given names?Who was Typhoid Mary?What happened at Pearl Harbor?What was the Bataan Death March?What is NATO?What is habeas corpus?Who was Emmett Till?Who was Genghis Khan?What was the triangular trade?Who is called the "e;Father of the Interstate System"e;?Who is Bernie Madoff? Who were the Wobblies?What was the Beat movement?Who is Ralph Nader??What is the Occupy movement?What is the strongest earthquake ever measured?What happened on Apollo 13?What is Gray's Anatomy?What is origin of ListerineWhat is the problem with antibiotics today?Who developed the first MRI machine? How does it work?What are the Ivy League colleges?Who were the Brothers Grimm?Why does the Leaning Tower of Pisa lean?What was the Motion Picture Production Code?Which entertainers were in the Rat Pack?Who wrote the first computer program?What is unique about the Trump presidency?If "e;History doesn't repeat itself but it often rhymes"e; (as Mark Twain is reputed to have said) then The Handy History Answer Book is a lyrical and poetic treat. Clear, concise, and straightforward, this informative primer is a resource for brushing up on the events, terms, and history-makers many of us remember from school but can't completely recall. Wide-ranging and comprehensive with nearly 250 illustrations, this information-rich tome also includes a helpful bibliography and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness. A perfect companion for history buffs of all ages.

Difficult philosophy made easy. The universe and our place in it, the meaning of life, the nature of justice and the good society, and the powers of reason. All these topics explored, questioned, and explained.Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Stoicism, Skepticism, Cynicism, Continental philosophy, ethics, government and governing, virtue, love, life, and death. Heidegger, Husserl, Merleau-Ponty, Derrida, Bertrand Russell, and Michel Foucault From famous figures in the history of philosophy to the deepest questions of religion to the relationship between knowledge and power, The Handy Western Philosophy Answer Book: The Ancient Greek Influence on Modern Understanding makes esoteric ideas and the jumble of names easy to understand, enriching readers' lives and answering the question, What does philosophy have to teach us about life and society? Today many people experience a loss of trust in government and organized religion. There's increased social isolation and a rise in insult politics. Seeking an alternative, some have experimented with new forms of politics, social organization, and spirituality. All these developments have led to a great deal of confusion and puzzlement. Who and what can we believe, and how can we know it is correct? From its beginning, philosophy was conceived as a conversation or dialogue, and The Handy Western Philosophy Answer Book raises and offers answers to questions like these What is philosophy? What is metaphysics? What is logic? How is ethics different than morality? How did Pre-Socratic philosophy get started? What is the arrow paradox? Who was Pythagoras? How did Stoicism inspire modern cognitive psychotherapy? Who was the founder of Western philosophy? What is a harmonic sequence in music? What are the four cardinal virtues? Was pederasty condoned in ancient Greece? How, according to Plato, is philosophy like making love? What are the three parts of the soul? How does democracy degenerate into tyranny? What is the history of Alexander the Great's military campaigns? How did Alexander the Great change the course of the history of philosophy? What did Aristotle say about the social nature of human beings? What is Aristotle's conception of the soul? What is the soul of a plant? What is virtue? What is an emotion? Why do we need friends? Why did Aristotle believe that the state has a responsibility to educate its citizens? What did Aristotle think about money? What is the meaning and origin of the Serenity Prayer? What impact did the Epicureans have on the modern world? What was the museum of Alexandria? How did Stoicism inspire modern cognitive psychotherapy? What is the problem with the sentence "e;The present king of France is bald"e;? What is the postmodern condition?Philosophy is the pursuit of answers to big questions about the purpose of life, death, and existence. Philosophy is about how to reason and find the answers for yourself. Philosophy is a puzzle. You collect clues. You make connections. The Handy Western Philosophy Answer Book is a perfect companion for anyone seeking wider truths and happiness. It is an informative, accessible, easy-to-understand guide to the big questions about living. With more than 120 photos and graphics, it is richly illustrated. Plus, its helpful bibliography, glossary of terms, and extensive index add to its usefulness.

From planetary movements and the exploration of our solar system to black holes and dark matter, this comprehensive reference simplifies all aspects of astronomy with an approachable question-and-answer format. With chapters broken into various astronomical studiesincluding the universe, galaxies, planets, and space explorationthis fully updated resource is an ideal companion for students, teachers, and amateur astronomers, answering more than 1,00 questions, such as Is the universe infinite? What would happen to you if you fell onto a black hole? What are the basic concepts of Einstein's special theory of relativity? and Who was the first person in space?

Everything you ever wanted to know about the bad guys in comics, film, and television!A must-read for anyone who was ever enthralled with mythic wickedness, The Supervillain Book: The Evil Side of Comics and Hollywood exhaustively explores the extraordinary lives and careers of hundreds of overachieving evildoers. Drawing from sources in comic books, film, live-action and animated television, newspaper strips, toys, and manga and anime, it is the definitive guide to nefarious masterminds, mad scientists, and destructive dominators who have battled super- and other fictional heroes. The Supervillain Book investigates each character's origin, modus operandi, costumes, weapons and gadgetry, secret hideouts, chief henchmen, and minions, while serving up a supersized trove of fascinating trivia. It also takes you behind the scenes, describing the creation and development of these marvelously malicious, menacing, and malevolent characters. With 350 entries on pop culture's most malicious evildoers, this comprehensive resource also includes 125 illustrations, a helpful resource section, and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness. What would a good guy be without the bad guy? Boring. You won't be bored with this indispensable guide to the wicked world of supervillains!

From modern-day challenges such as balancing a checkbook, following the stock market, buying a home, and figuring out credit card finance charges to appreciating historical developments by Pythagoras, Archimedes, Newton, and other mathematicians, this engaging resource addresses more than 1,000 questions related to mathematics. Organized into chapters that cluster similar topics in an easily accessible format, this reference provides clear and concise explanations about the fundamentals of algebra, calculus, geometry, trigonometry, and other branches of mathematics. It contains the latest mathematical discoveries, including newly uncovered historical documents and updates on how science continues to use math to make cutting-edge innovations in DNA sequencing, superstring theory, robotics, and computers. With fun math facts and illuminating figures, The Handy Math Answer Book explores the uses of math in everyday life and helps the mathematically challenged better understand and enjoy the magic of numbers.

Are Nirvana and Heaven the same? Who are the Raelians, and why are they cloning people? What's the difference between Christian Scientists and Jehovah's Witnesses? This book explains the similarities, differences, and original ideologies of believers and skeptics around the world. It also explores 300 key religious figures, prophets, and deities.

A celebration of achievement, accomplishments, and pride! Revel and rejoice in the renowned and lesser-known, barrier-breaking trailblazers in all fields - arts, entertainment, business, civil rights, education, government, invention, journalism, religion, science, sports, music, and more. Black Firsts: 4,500 Trailblazing Achievements and Ground-Breaking Events, 4th edition, bears witness to the long and complex history of African Americans!

It changes societies. It disrupts life. A history of the pandemic, from ancient Greece to the current covid-19 crisis.