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Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction introduces the reader to the teachings of the Buddha and to the workings of Buddhism in daily life. Damien Keown looks at the distinctive features of Buddhism, examining who the Buddha was and what his teachings were. By considering how Buddhist thought has developed over the centuries, Keown considers how contemporary dilemmas can be faced from a Buddhist perspective. In this new edition Keown provides new perspectives on Buddhist thought, including up-to-date material about the evolution of Buddhism throughout Asia, the material culture of Buddhism and its importance, new teachings on the ethics of war and peace, and changes to ethnicity, class, and gender. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

'An incredible story, and so well told' Bear Grylls'Honesty, integrity and real experience that puts you in the thick of the action.' Billy BillinghamThere were three patrols that fateful January 1991 morning: Bravo One Zero, Bravo Two Zero and Bravo Three Zero. It was the opening hours of the Gulf War and the SAS were flown deep behind enemy lines to hunt down Saddam's Scud missiles, the use of which threatened a Third World War.The men of Bravo One Zero stepped off the chopper, took one look at the flat desert devoid of any cover and decided no way were they deploying into all of that. But Andy NcNab's famed Bravo Two Zero patrol did deploy, with fatal results - all bar one being captured or killed.And then there was Bravo Three Zero. These men were different. Thought differently. Acted differently. Treating as gospel the SAS's saying 'any fool can be uncomfortable', they deployed with vehicles, and while there was nowhere to hide they could make a dash for the border if desperate.Even as warnings came in that McNab's patrol was on the run, Bravo Three Zero remained undetected - the furthest Coalition forces behind Iraqi lines. Slipping through enemy positions, a string of targets were taken out. But with the desert turning bitter and snow starting to fall, they were forced to fight a running battle against the elements as much as the enemy.Though overshadowed by the fate of Bravo Two Zero, the achievements of this highly-decorated patrol are the stuff of elite forces legend. Now, for the first time, SAS veteran Des Powell reveals their story in gritty, blow-by-blow detail. Written with acclaimed military author Damien Lewis, this is a tale of edge-of-the seat daring deep inside enemy lands. Brutal, savage, unrelenting - prepare to be blown away, in a tale that proves utterly the SAS motto - who dares wins.

A WARTIME MISSION UNLIKE ANY OTHERAutumn 1943: the SAS hijack a train, raid deep into enemy territory, and liberate a concentration camp. A mission so extraordinary, yet so secret, that barely any record exists.Via first-hand testimonies and long-hidden files, Damien Lewis has unearthed the incredible details, bringing to life an astonishing tale of bravery, daring and determination which showcases the SAS at their very finest.****PRAISE FOR SAS THE GREAT TRAIN RAID'A staggering feat of bravery kept secret for decades, but now the SAS train raid on a concentration camp during the Second World War is detailed in an incredible new book' SUNDAY EXPRESS'Long-hidden files and unseen personal accounts reveal a daring rescue mission from an Italian concentration camp' DAILY TELEGRAPH'There is an enduring appeal about the SAS in Britain, the United States and beyond, in an age when we need heroes who were fighting the good fight more than ever' SUNDAY TIMES'In autumn 1943 the SAS pulled off one of the most audacious missions of the Second World War. And yet the Great Train Raid to liberate Pisticci concentration camp has been relatively unknown until now' TIMES RADIO'Fittingly titled as it features a train and was totally crazy. An unbelievable mission deep into enemy territory to free prisoners from arguably the first concentration camp to come to the attention of the allies... I've read the book cover to cover and it's absolutely astonishing what these people did' TONY LIVESEY, BBC RADIO 5 LIVE

“Angels do not belong to any one single religion, system, or dogma,” teaches Damien Echols. “They are almost pure energy - the very substance the cosmos is made of. They’re also incredibly willing to work with us if asked.” With Angels and Archangels, this bestselling author presents an essential resource for understanding what angels are, how they make themselves available, and magickal practices to invoke their power to transform your life.Invoking angels and archangels gives you access to incredible potential for manifestation, healing, and spiritual growth. In this lucid and information-packed guide, Damien shares his unique understanding and experience of magickal practices refined in the crucible of his wrongful death row imprisonment. Illustrations include Damien’s original artwork, with a sigil for each of the primary archangels.“When working with angels and archangels,” says Damien, “I’ve come to realize that they don’t carry out the tasks we charge them with just because we ask them to - they do it because they perceive the divine within us.” Now available in paperback, Angels and Archangels is an essential resource for every magickal library, an invitation by one of the most exciting modern teachers of the art to discover the enormous potential waiting for your call.

AN ENDLESS VOID. A POWERFUL ANOMALY. A QUEST FOR REVENGE.When The Sinker was a child, her home was destroyed by The Construct, a floating machine that consumes all in its path. To survive, she fled into the void, a seemingly infinite nothingness where few dare venture, filled with floating, vertically stacked rocks. Some of these rocks are giant magnets, some burn with eternal flame and some are influenced by the presence of seemingly magical objects – anomalies that defy physical laws.For half a lifetime, The Sinker has wandered the void on a quest for knowledge, for understanding and for peace. But when rumours reach her that The Construct is near again, she knows fate has come full circle. With the help of Crooked Arm – the heir to a shattered throne, who happens to possess the most powerful anomaly of all – the two of them set out on a mission to end the tyranny of The Construct forever.From one of the visionary writers of the Netflix series The OA comes a reality unlike anything you have ever encountered before. If you're ready, enter the void...

A comparative international perspective challenges conventional narratives about unacknowledged intervention"Covert action" is generally understood as politically motivated and plausibly deniable interference by one state in the affairs of another state. It includes propaganda, political or economic subversion, paramilitary action, and assassinations. Covert action is the most consequential and controversial form of secret statecraft, and it has become a ubiquitous feature of international politics. However, it is often sensationalized or seen through a narrow, US-centric lens.Covert Action challenges this conventional narrative and redefines secret statecraft by offering a groundbreaking comparative international perspective that explores the practice of unacknowledged intervention across twenty countries and a range of eras. Bringing together leading scholars from around the world, this volume moves beyond the American, and wider, anglosphere perspectives to examine covert action practices across states, regime types, and time.This book will be important reading for historians, political scientists, and policymakers, and it provides a foundational study of the hidden mechanisms of international power. It takes a global perspective and thus transforms the understanding of how nations truly interact behind the scenes, revealing covert action as a complex form of international statecraft.

AN ENDLESS VOID. A POWERFUL ANOMALY. A QUEST FOR REVENGE.When The Sinker was a child, her home was destroyed by The Construct, a floating machine that consumes all in its path. To survive, she fled into the void, a seemingly infinite nothingness where few dare venture, filled with floating, vertically stacked rocks. Some of these rocks are giant magnets, some burn with eternal flame and some are influenced by the presence of seemingly magical objects – anomalies that defy physical laws.For half a lifetime, The Sinker has wandered the void on a quest for knowledge, for understanding and for peace. But when rumours reach her that The Construct is near again, she knows fate has come full circle. With the help of Crooked Arm – the heir to a shattered throne, who happens to possess the most powerful anomaly of all – the two of them set out on a mission to end the tyranny of The Construct forever.From one of the visionary writers of the Netflix series The OA comes a reality unlike anything you have ever encountered before. If you're ready, enter the void...

This book chronicles the story of the single most daring Special Forces operation since World War Two - Operation Barras; the attempted rescue by the SAS of the British Forces who were being held captive by guerrilla gang the West Side Boys in the Sierra Leone jungle. The West Side Boys were a strange-looking bunch, wearing pink shades, shower caps, fluorescent wigs and voodoo charms they believed made them invulnerable to bullets - an impression re-enforced by ganja, heroine, crack cocaine and gallons of sweet palm wine. In 1999 a twelve man patrol of Royal Irish Rangers, who were training government troops in Sierra Leone, were captured and held hostage by the West Side Boys. They were held prisoner in a fortified jungle hideaway, with severed heads decorating the palisades, defended by some 400 heavily armed soldiers. Operation Barras, the rescue mission, was a combined force of 100 Paras, twelve members of the Special Boat Squadron, helicopters from the Navy and RAF and, spearheading the operation, 40-strong D squadron of the SAS. Against amazing odds the hostages were rescued - over 150 of the enemy were killed. Operation Certain Death is a thrilling true story of all out war. No hostages taken. Blood-letting on a vast scale inflicted on a very blood-thirsty enemy. A gripping piece of true military history, perfect for fans of action adventure stories and anyone interested in the top secret division of the British Army.

"A must read for all Damien Lewis fans" Compass ---------------------------------------------------------The most explosive true war story of the 21st CenturyIt is the winter of 2001. A terror ship is bound for Britain carrying a horrifying weapon. The British military sends a crack unit of SAS and SBS to assault the vessel before she reaches London. So begins a true story of explosive action as this band of elite warriors pursues the merchants of death from the high seas to the harsh wildlands of Afghanistan. The hunt culminates in the single greatest battle of the Afghan war, the brutal and bloody siege of an ancient mud-walled fortress crammed full of hundreds of Al-Qaeda and Taliban. Fighting against impossible odds and bitter betrayal, our handful of crack fighters battle to rescue their fellow soldiers trapped by a murderous, fanatical enemy. ---------------------------------------------------------"The most dramatic story of a secret wartime mission you will ever read" News of the World"The author has been given unprecedented access" Zoo"Gripping" Eye Spy

Why does a newspaper look different than a magazine or a book? What effect does using a certain typeface or a specific grid have? And why do some layouts just seem right, and others seem simply wrong? This comprehensive handbook and reference volume elaborates by means of sketches and explanations on the basics and terminology that are indispensable for the design and production of print media. From the initial layout and the correct use of color and typefaces to the right column width and line spacing: “Design, Typography, etc.” covers all aspects of good design for books, posters and advertising.

40 years have passed since the release of PIECE OF MIND. More than an album, it was a thunderous statement of intent by a band whose meteoric rise from the East End of London would propel them to the world stage, thrusting them into the realms of legend. This commemorative tome, containing comics, art, and remembrances from acclaimed writers, artists, musicians and storytellers, is a powerful celebration of the unparalleled vision which inspired them -- the living legend that is IRON MAIDEN.

'A high-paced thriller' Radio TimesIt was supposed to be a quiet family weekend away. But for Senior MI6 officer Kate Henderson, nothing is ever that simple...Kidnapped in Venice by a Russian defector, Kate knows she's in trouble. But all is not as it seems. The spy offers her conclusive evidence that the British Prime Minister is a live agent working for Moscow. Kate's holiday quickly becomes the start of her next mission.With proof of the PM involved in a sordid scandal and a financial paper trail that undeniably links him to the Russians, the evidence seems bulletproof. But the motives of the defector are anything but clear. And, more worryingly, it seems that there are key people at the heart of the British Establishment who refuse to acknowledge the reality in front of them.Kate can trust no one, and this mission will push her dangerously close to the edge... but is that the price to pay for the truth?Readers are gripped by Double Agent:***** 'Couldn't put it down. A thrilling tale.'***** 'Loved everything about this book, especially the lead character.'***** 'A page turning and addictive read!'BOOK 3: Triple Cross is out in hardback on 13 May 2021

This book addresses one of the most important issues in international relations – how wars are ended. The volume draws on the direct experience of both soldiers and academics, who in each case have also been advisers on fighting and ending wars. Unlike more theoretical works, the book draws on first-hand experiences in the case studies, which include the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and Indonesia, among others. The volume is constructed around a series of themes. The first theme is why wars start and how they can be understood, based on the assumption that knowing how, and why, wars start is fundamental to understanding how they might end. The second is what sustains wars and what makes them difficult to end. Again, once wars start, understanding what keeps them going is critical to how to end them. The third focuses on the role of external intervention in ending wars, including as a belligerent partner in war, as a peacemaking or peacekeeping force, and as a mediator between warring parties. The fourth addresses the issue of ‘ripeness’ and the right conditions for ending wars. The fifth addresses the modalities for ending wars and creating peace, with the sixth theme being focused on transitions to peace and what is required to help make those transitions successful. The book will be of interest to students of military, strategic and security studies, peace studies and International Relations.

The Light That Shines is a striking catalogue published to accompany the exhibition of the same name – one of Damien Hirst’s most ambitious, awe-inspiring exhibitions yet. Opening 2 March 2024 and showing until 23 June 2024, the exhibition spans the entire 500-acre estate of Château La Coste, Provence and its five exhibition pavilions, each designed by some of the world’s most renowned architects, including Renzo Piano, the late Richard Rogers and Oscar Niemeyer. The Light That Shines harnesses the nature/culture question that has consistently permeated Hirst’s practice, setting his artworks in the beautiful landscapes of one of France’s oldest winemaking regions. Works range from the iconic formaldehyde sculptures to never-before-seen artworks, including the sculptures of ‘Meteorites’ and ‘Satellites’, as well as ‘Cosmos Paintings’ – all inspired by Hirst’s encounter with space in 2003 with the Beagle 2 mission to Mars. Compiled into a stunning catalogue encased within an illustrated French-fold jacket, the artworks are meticulously reproduced, their images extending into the gatefolds, and are prefaced by an introductory essay by Ellen Mara De Wachter, as she insightfully comprehends the complexity and vastness of the artworks and ideas that have emerged over Hirst’s nearly four-decades-long career.

A car PC or carputer is a car tricked-out with electronics for playing radio, music and DVD movies, connecting to the Internet, navigating and tracking with satellite, taking photos, and any electronic gadget a person wants in a car. All these devices are managed and controlled through a single screen or interface. The only place car PC enthusiasts can go for advice, tips and tools is a handful of hard-to-find Web sites - until now. "Car PC Hacks" is your guide into the car PC revolution. Packing MP3 players, handheld devices, computers and video-on-demand systems gives you a pile too heavy to carry. But add a car and put them together, you've got a powerful and mobile multimedia center requiring no lifting. The next time you give kids a lift, you won't hear, "Are we there yet?" Instead, expect "We're there already?" as they won't want to leave the car while playing video games from multiple consoles. "Car PC Hacks" is the first book available to introduce and entrench you into this hot new market. You can count on the book because it hails from O'Reilly, a trusted resource for technical books.Expect innovation, useful tools, and fun experiments that you've come to expect from O'Reilly's "Hacks" Series. Maybe you've hacked computers and gadgets, and now you're ready to take it to your car. If hacking is new and you would like to mix cars and computers, this book gets you started with its introduction to the basics of car electrical systems. Even when you're unclear on the difference between amps and watts, expect a clear explanation along with real-life examples to get on track. Whether you're venturing into car PC for the first time or an experienced hobbyist, hop in the book for a joy ride.

The Italian giallo was a sleazy, violent, and stylistically baroque form of horror film that was produced in the hundreds from the 1960s to the 1980s. Sound and Horror in the Giallo Film listens closely to these films, asking how their soundtracks and their use of the human voice can help us understand the giallo's significance at a time when Italy was undergoing profound postwar social, economic, political, and cultural change.Throughout the history of Italian cinema, soundtracks have been a site of concerted and sustained intervention by political and economic forces. In Sound and Horror in the Giallo Film, author Damien Pollard argues that, because the giallo film pushed the boundaries of film form while also touting unapologetic commercialism, the voices on its soundtracks were both aesthetically exaggerated and directly shaped by commercial imperatives, which were influenced by Italy's turbulent postwar years. Featuring case studies of several well-known giallo films, including The Girl Who Knew Too Much, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, and Tenebrae, Sound and Horror in the Giallo Film is an original analysis that reveals how the cinematic voice binds film and history.

Considering that Coventry was the birthplace of the British cycle industry, it is perhaps no surprise that the city became heavily involved in the development of the British motor industry during the mid-1890s. From the first velocipedes built here in 1868, most of the later well-established cycle manufacturers quickly turned their attention to motorised vehicles, and many of the early motoring pioneers moved to Coventry to become part of this revolutionary work. Local companies such as Bayliss, Thomas & Co., Coventry Eagle, Humber, Riley, and Swift were just a few of the cycle firms quick to catch on, and steadily new companies were formed solely to manufacture motorcycles.Coventry's Motorcycle Heritage covers the history of all these companies and their products, focussing on the individuals who both founded and worked for such firms. From world-famous companies like Triumph, to the more obscure marques like Wartnaby and Draper, it provides a brief summary of each manufacturer, as well as an insight into the social history of Coventry at the peak of its involvement in motorcycle history. It is sure to appeal to anyone interested in motorcycle history and Coventry's industrial past.

You can change where you live, your hairstyle, the kind of music you listen to, your job, your spouse. But you can’t ever change the team you support.'A book for anyone who has ever screamed at a television and wondered, briefly, why.' Adam Alter, author of Drunk Tank PinkDr Damien Pearse is a level-headed man. A psychologist, he spends his days encouraging patients to adopt a calmer, more grounded approach to life. And yet on match days all this unravels. He becomes anxious, panicked, sometimes belligerent, and if things go well for Wolves, manically ecstatic. And he is not alone – wander through any British town centre on a Saturday night and watch as the aftershocks of wins and losses spill out into the real world. Football means so much to so many.Pearse meets with superfans, scientists, players and trolls, uncovering what drives our unwavering obsession with football. Examining ideas of identity, belonging, shame, modern masculinity and the most extreme acts of football fanaticism, Till I Die offers a poignant reappraisal of an enduring national pastime and passion.'A thought-provoking, funny and ultimately heartbreaking book about how football fandom can evoke our most painful emotions.' Dr Gwen Adshead, author of The Devil You Know

For three decades one of the most secretive units in the British military has been a mystery force known as X Platoon.Officially there was no X Platoon. The forty men in its elite number were specially selected from across the Armed Forces, at which point they simply ceased to exist. X Platoon had no budget, no weaponry, no vehicles and no kit - apart from what its men could beg, borrow or steal from other military units.For the first time a highly decorated veteran of this specialised force - otherwise known as the Pathfinders - reveals its unique story. Steve Heaney became one of the youngest ever to pass Selection, the gruelling trial of elite forces, and was at the cutting edge of X Platoon operations - serving on anti-narcotics operations in the Central American jungles, on missions hunting war criminals in the Balkans, and being sent to spy on and wage war against the Russians.The first non-officer in the unit's history to be award the Military Cross, Steve Heaney reveals the extraordinary work undertaken by this secret band of brothers.

The Sunday Times No.1 bestseller.'Sixty special forces against 100,000 - a feat of British arms to take the breath away' Frederick Forsyth.They were branded as cowards and accused of being the British Special Forces Squadron that ran away from the Iraqis. But nothing could be further from the truth. Ten years on, the story of these sixty men can finally be told. In March 2003 M Squadron - an SBS unit with SAS embeds - was sent 1,000 kilometres behind enemy lines on a true mission impossible, to take the surrender of the 100,000-strong Iraqi Army 5th Corps. From the very start their tasking earned the nickname 'Operation No Return'. Caught in a ferocious ambush by thousands of die-hard fanatics from Saddam Hussein's Fedayeen, plus the awesome firepower of the 5th Corps' heavy armour, and with eight of their vehicles bogged in Iraqi swamps, M Squadron launched a desperate bid to escape, inflicting massive damage on their enemies. Running low on fuel and ammunition, outnumbered, outmanoeuvred and outgunned, the elite operators destroyed sensitive kit and prepared for death or capture as the Iraqis closed their deadly trap. Zero Six Bravo recounts in vivid and compelling detail the most desperate battle fought by British and allied Special Forces trapped behind enemy lines since World War Two. It is a classic account of elite soldiering that ranks with Bravo Two Zero and the very greatest Special Forces missions of our time.

'A humbling, inspiring account of some of the real founders of modern day Special Forces soldiering' Bear GryllsPraise for Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author Damien Lewis' SAS mission series:'One of the great untold stories of WWII' - Bear Grylls on SAS Ghost Patrol'A tale of bravery against desperate odds' - Sunday Times on Churchill's Secret Warriors'True adventures laced with staggering bravery and sacrifice' - Sun on Hunting the Nazi BombSAS Nazi Hunters is the incredible, hitherto untold story of the most secret chapter in the SAS's history. Officially, the world's most elite special forces unit was dissolved at the end of the Second World War, and not reactivated until the 1950s. Among their last actions was a disastrous commando raid into occupied France in 1944, which ended in the capture,torture and execution of 31 soldiers.It can now be revealed that the SAS never was dissolved: it lived on, commanded personally by Churchill and hidden even from the British government. They were tasked with hunting through the ruins of the Reich for the SS commanders responsible for the murder of their comrades, including many who had escaped the failed justice of the Nuremberg trials. Along the way, they discovered before anyone else the full horror of Hitler's regime, and the growing threat from Stalin's Russia.Still studied by the SAS today and a central part of their founding myth, the story of the Nazi hunters is now told by bestselling author Damien Lewis.

The newest entry to the bestselling All the Songs series is a deep dive into the music of the cultural phenomenon that is Taylor Swift. Packed with hundreds of photographs, songwriting details, and a behind-the-scenes look at her recording process, Taylor Swift: All the Songs tells of the story of this worldwide mega-star album-by-album and track-by-track. This deep dive into the music of the world-wide phenomenon that is Taylor Swift is a behind-the scenes journey of her life and career told through every song she has ever released.Taylor Swift is the world's most popular musician. From her beginnings as a teenage country singer to her record-breaking Eras Tour, her incomparable career has spanned four major music genres, two decades and six world tours.She is first and foremost, a songwriter and storyteller and her music continues to connect and resonate with millions around the world. Organized chronologically and covering every album Taylor Swift All the Songs is a behind-the-scenes look at each and every song the artist has released. It explores the meanings of Swift's most famous lyrics, including how her real-life experiences with romantic relationships and celebrity feuds influenced her writing throughout the years. There are details from the recording studio including famous collaborations like Ed Sheeran and Lana Del Rey and how her Taylor's Versions albums differ from the originals.Exploring every Easter egg and lyric, and beautifully designed with hundreds photographs, this massive tome is a must-have for every Swiftie.

Mende Nazer's happy childhood was cruelly cut short at the age of twelve when the Mujahidin rode into her village in the remote Nuba mountains of Sudan. They hacked down terrified villagers, raped the women and abducted the children. Mende was them. She was taken and sold to an Arab woman in Khartoum. She was stripped of her name and her freedom. For seven long years she was kept as a domestic slave, an 'abid', without any pay or a single day off. Her food was the leftover scraps and her bed was the floor of the locked-up garden shed. She endured this harsh and lonely existence without knowing whether her family was alive or dead, for seven long years. Passed on by her master, like a parcel, to a relative in London, Mende eventually managed to escape to freedom. Slave is a shocking first-person insight into the modern day slave trade. It is also a fascinating memoir of an African childhood and a moving testimony to a young girl's indomitable spirit in the face of adversity.