Jo Durden Smith – författare

The ability to see into the future and to accurately predict events has fascinated and yet frightened man for thousands of years. As far back as 4000 BC, the Sumerians consulted sages who would pronounce on important matters and advise on courses of action.In this riveting, illustrated account, the predictions of the most famous sages and seers from the dawn of civilization are looked at in detail. One of the best known of these visionaries was Nostradamus, and indeed his prophecies, in the form of the original cantos, are analyzed in this book.Discover the prophecies that predicted:• The French Revolution• Pearl Harbor• 9/11• The Iraq WarNostradamus and Other Prophets and Seers examines the role of astrology, alchemy, and arcane knowledge in prophecy. It tries to answer that age-old question of whether there is such a thing as ''secret knowledge'', and whether it is possible for mere mortals to access it.

There are few people alive who are so cruel, so heartless and so undeniably evil that they will kill again and again. Yet at any one time, there are between 25 and 50 active serial killers in the USA, and their chilling crimes have fascinated us since the days of Jack the Ripper. Here you will discover how these heartless killers committed their gruesome deeds, what motivated them to kill and how, eventually, they were caught.This collection features more than 50 compelling stories, including:• Ed Kemper, who dismembered the bodies of his victims once he had finished with them;• Ted Bundy, who abducted, raped and brutally killed more than 30 women;• Charles Manson, who led a cult of mayhem and murder;• Jeffrey Dahmer, who stored a human head in his freezer;• Randy Kraft, who was pulled over for drunk driving with a body in the trunk of his car;• Alexander Pichushkin, who aimed to kill a person for every square on the chessboard.

An indispensable introduction to the darker side of life, revealing the often strange and grisly stories behind the world''s most infamous murderers, swindlers and crooks.100 Most Infamous Criminals is an astounding compendium of crimes and their perpetrators. The range of crimes is extraordinary, from the bizarre to horrific, and from the heart-breaking to the ridiculous. The book tells in vivid detail the story of the history''s most infamous criminals; lives they led, the crimes they committed, and the destruction and sorrow left in their wake.• Jack the Ripper, the man who terrorized Victorian London. • Ted Bundy, the serial killer beloved by his neighbours.• Jeffrey Dahmer, the creator of real-life zombies. • Al Capone, the king of gangsters. • Harold Shipman, Britain''s angel of death.

The Mafia began on the small Mediterranean island of Sicily. It grew to become a major political force in Italy, while its tentacles penetrated every aspect of life in the United States. Through drugs, it spread its influence around the world. This is its story.

The life of Siddhartha Buddha (which means ''Awakened One'') is that of one who awakened from the sleep of ignorance and saw conditions as they really were. Through his example every one of us can do the same - awaken from the sleep of non-awareness and understand the experience or ''sufferings'' of birth, sickness, ageing and death that ultimately lead to enlightenment.The Essence of Buddhism provides a clear, straightforward approach to the rich traditions of the Buddhist faith and its ideological foundations. It explains the power of karma, the practice of Zen, and the notion of the life of the Buddha and his influence throughout the world.Through its elucidation of the definitive Buddhist texts, this splendid introduction puts into perspective one of the world''s most significant religions and reveals that it is as relevant now as at any time in its 3,000-year history.

Die Mafia - was im 19. Jahrhundert als Geheimbund auf Sizilien begann, ist zum Inbegriff des weltweit organisierten Verbrechens geworden. Der Einfluss der Mafia reicht schon lange in alle Bereiche der westlichen Gesellschaft hinein - bis in die höchsten Ränge der Politik. Weil es fast unmöglich scheint, die Mauer des Schweigens um die "ehrenwerte Gesellschaft" zu durchbrechen, konnten Bosse wie Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Bugsy Siegel, John Gotti und der unvergessliche Don Calò zu Legenden werden. Was ein "Pate" ist, glauben wir durch Hollywood zu wissen. Wissen wir es wirklich?In diesem Buch geht der investigative Journalist Jo Durden Smith den Schattengestalten hinter dem Mafia-Mythos nach. Er verfolgt die Geschichte dieser Verbrecherorganisation bis in ihre Anfänge zurück und zeigt, wie sie - mit Glücksspiel, Prostitution und Drogenhandel - vor allem in Amerika zur Macht wurde, die Recht und Gesetz nicht fürchtet. Von Sizilien nach New York, von Montreal nach Buenos Aires durchleuchtet er die Ereignisse und die Personen, die das mörderische Gangstermilieu der letzten hundert Jahre bestimmt haben.