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The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is widelyconsidered the archetypical ‘predatory state’. At the national level, politicalelites rely on the state to enrich themselves. On a local level, civil servants‘fend for themselves’ in the absence of a state salary. Corruption, though, isabout much more than this – it is part of a broader structure of informalrevenue extraction, with multiple layers of accountability, negotiation andinvention. In this unique book, Titeca and Nkuku analyse these processes indetail, revealing how corruption is organised and contested in the DRC’s capitalKinshasa. Exploring a variety of ‘spaces’ within the city – from transportation-and police-services (street spaces) to businessmen and markets (market spaces)to football and bars (spaces of pleasure) – the authors shows how the variousactors navigate, contest andcircumvent this predatory environment. In doing so, the book not only sheds light on corruption andcontestation, but also on the myriad ways in which a key African capital city itselfis organised.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is widelyconsidered the archetypical ‘predatory state’. At the national level, politicalelites rely on the state to enrich themselves. On a local level, civil servants‘fend for themselves’ in the absence of a state salary. Corruption, though, isabout much more than this – it is part of a broader structure of informalrevenue extraction, with multiple layers of accountability, negotiation andinvention. In this unique book, Titeca and Nkuku analyse these processes indetail, revealing how corruption is organised and contested in the DRC’s capitalKinshasa. Exploring a variety of ‘spaces’ within the city – from transportation-and police-services (street spaces) to businessmen and markets (market spaces)to football and bars (spaces of pleasure) – the authors shows how the variousactors navigate, contest andcircumvent this predatory environment. In doing so, the book not only sheds light on corruption andcontestation, but also on the myriad ways in which a key African capital city itselfis organised.

Any new book by poet, essayist, writer, and translator Hans Magnus Enzensberger, one of the most influential and internationally renowned German intellectuals, is cause for notice, and Mr. Zed’s Reflections is no exception. Every afternoon for almost a year, a plump man named Mr. Zed comes to the same spot in the city park and engages passersby with quick-witted repartee. Those who pass ask, who is this man? A wisecracker, a clown, a belligerent philosopher? Many shake their heads and move on; others listen to him, engage with him, and, again and again, end up at the same place. He doesn’t write anything down, but his listeners often take notes. With subversive energy and masterful brevity, Mr. Zed undermines arrogance, megalomania, and false authority. A determined speaker who doesn’t care for ambitions, he forces topics that others would rather keep to themselves. Reluctant to trust institutions and seeing absolutely nothing as “non-negotiable,” he admits mistakes and does away with judgment.  He is no mere ventriloquist dummy for his creator—he is too stubborn for that. And at the end of the season, when it becomes too cold and uncomfortable in the park, he disappears, never to be seen again.Collected in this thought-provoking and unique work are the considerations and provocations of this squat, park-bench philosopher, giving us a volume of truths and conversations that are clear-cut, skeptical, and fiercely illuminating.

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER'The most brilliant and fascinating book I have read in my entire life' Dan Snow'A huge contribution... remarkable' Antony Beevor, BBC RADIO 4'Extremely interesting ... a serious piece of scholarship, very well researched' Ian KershawThe Nazis presented themselves as warriors against moral degeneracy. Yet, as Norman Ohler's gripping bestseller reveals, the entire Third Reich was permeated with drugs: cocaine, heroin, morphine and, most of all, methamphetamines, or crystal meth, used by everyone from factory workers to housewives, and crucial to troops' resilience - even partly explaining German victory in 1940.The promiscuous use of drugs at the very highest levels also impaired and confused decision-making, with Hitler and his entourage taking refuge in potentially lethal cocktails of stimulants administered by the physician Dr Morell as the war turned against Germany. While drugs cannot on their own explain the events of the Second World War or its outcome, Ohler shows, they change our understanding of it. Blitzed forms a crucial missing piece of the story.

In The Unauthorized Version: Truth and Fiction in the Bible, historian Robin Lane Fox takes an uncompromising look at the historical proof - or refutation - of biblical events.The Bible is moving, inspirational and endlessly fascinating - but is it true? Starting with Genesis and the implicit background to the birth of Christ, Robin Lane Fox sets out to discover how far biblical descriptions of people, places and events are confirmed or contradicted by external written and archaeological evidence. He turns a sharp historian's eye on when and where the individual books were composed, whether the texts as originally written exist, how the canon was assembled, and why the Gospels give varying accounts even of the trial and condemnation of Jesus.'So clear, so lively, and, in many respects, so just'Frank Kermode, Guardian'A marvellously absorbing book'Financial Times'Magnificent ... Learned but never pedantic, he is unfailingly incisive, thought-provoking, human, courteous and often entertaining'EconomistRobin Lane Fox is a Fellow of New College, Oxford, and a University Reader in Ancient History. His other books include Alexander the Great, Pagans and Christians and The Classical World. He was historical advisor to Oliver Stone on the making of Stone's film Alexander, for which he waived all his fees on condition that he could take part in the cavalry charge against elephants which Stone staged in the Moroccan desert.

A masterful introduction to world mythology, shedding light on the impact it has had on cultures past and present and untangling the complex web of deities, monsters and myths.From the signs of the zodiac to literature and art, the influence of world mythology can still be seen in everyday life. With a stunning array of fascinating tales, World Mythology in Bite-sized Chunks gets to grips with the ancient stories of Aboriginal, Sumerian, Egyptian, Mesoamerican, Maori, Greek, Roman, Indian, Norse and Japanese cultures, encompassing legends from the most diverse societies and the most ancient cultures from across the globe.Learn about why Odin, the Father of the Gods in Norse mythology, was so keen to lose an eye, the importance of the Osiris myth of Ancient Egypt, and much more besides.Entertaining, authoritative and incisive, this is an enlightening journey into the fascinating world of mythology.

An entertaining and accessible introduction to the fascinating world of Greek and Roman history, covering the people, events, art and mythology that have shaped the Western world.Perhaps more than any other period in history, the era of classical antiquity shaped the Western world as we know it today. From the pioneering schools of Greek philosophy to the far-reaching influence of the Roman Empire, so much of what we consider fundamental to our contemporary civilization can trace its roots back to Mediterranean Europe during this time.Whether you're interested in myths and legends, ancient civilization or classical history, this compact book covers all bases. Divided into eight chapters, each covering an aspect of the classical world – gods, heroes and monsters, rulers and government, war, art, philosophy, literature and science – this is the perfect primer for any reader looking for an introduction to one of the most captivating periods in history.With dozens of easy-to-digest entries on the most important people, events, art and mythology of the era, accompanied by maps and illustrations, The Classical World in Bite-Sized Chunks gives you everything you need to know about Roman and Greek history in one compelling and compact package.Also available: The History of the World in Bite-sized Chunks (9781782437079) World Mythology in Bite-sized Chunks (9781782435754) The History of Europe in Bite-sized Chunks (9781789294163) The Universe in Bite-sized Chunks (9781789295023) The History of Science in Bite-sized Chunks (9781789290714)

Modern society is in a state of information overload. Neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin investigates how and why our brains are struggling to keep up with the demands of the digital age.Why is email so addictive? Is multitasking really possible? And what do successful people keep in their junk drawer? The Organized Mind debunks myth and presents one simple idea - storing information in the physical world instead of the mind - to revolutionize twenty-first century living.In a world where information is power, The Organized Mind holds the key to harnessing that information and making it work for you.

History is a rich, varied and fascinating subject, so it's rare to find the whole lot in one book ... until now. The History of the World in Bite-Sized Chunks pulls it all together, from the world's earliest civilizations in 3500 BC to the founding of the United Nations in 1945, passing by the likes of Charlemagne, the Ottoman Empire and the Crimean War, to name a few.Here's your chance to introduce yourself to the full spectrum of world history, and discover just how the modern world came to be.

Sally Urwin and her husband Steve own High House Farm in Northumberland, which they share with two kids, Mavis the Sheepdog, one very Fat Pony, and many, many sheep. Set in a beautiful, wild landscape, and in use for generations, it's perfect for Sally's honest and charming account of farming life. From stock sales to lambing sheds, out in the fields in driving snow and on hot summer days, Diary of a Pint-Sized Farmer reveals the highs, lows and hard, hard work involved in making a living from the land. Filled with grit and humour, newborn lambs and local characters, this is the perfect book for anyone who has ever wondered what it's like on the other side of the fence.'I am going to do the whole bloody lambing. I'm going to lamb all the lambs. I imagine myself lean and strong, with thin thighs, in attractive waterproof overalls, striding through the lambing shed like I own it.I spend the rest of the evening searching through eBay for waterproof trousers, short leg, size 14, that don't look like a pair of plastic bags stitched together at the crotch.'

A BARACK OBAMA AND A BILL GATES SUMMER READING PICK 2022A NEW YORK TIMES AND WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER'This book helped me understand modern politics better' - Bill Gates, Summer Reading Pick 2022'Superbly researched and written' - Francis Fukuyama, The Washington Post'It's been a long time since I learned so much from one book.' - Rutger Bregman author of Utopia for Realists'Powerful [and] intelligent.' - Fareed Zakaria, CNNAmerica's political system isn't broken. The truth is scarier: it's working exactly as designed.In Why We're Polarized, Ezra Klein reveals the structural and psychological forces behind America's deep political divisions, revealing how a system filled with rational, functional parts can combine into a dysfunctional whole. Neither a polemic nor a lament, this book offers a clear framework for understanding everything from Trump's rise to the Democratic Party's leftward shift to the politicisation of everyday culture.Klein shows how and why American politics polarised in the twentieth century, what that polarisation did to Americans' views of the world and one another, and how feedback loops between polarised political identities and polarised political institutions drive the system toward crisis. This revelatory book will change how you look at politics, and perhaps at yourself.

Written in 1957, when North African independence movements were gaining momentum, The Colonizer and the Colonized studies the enduring legacy, political as much as psychological, of colonisation throughout the world. Albert Memmi depicts colonialism as a disease of the European but crucially he demonstrates that colonialism destroys both the colonizer and the colonized, providing penetrating insights into colonial inheritance and resistance that remain as relevant today. One of the great works of twentieth-century political thought, The Colonizer and the Colonized speaks to experiences in the Global South as well as European countries such as Britain and France, who are still struggling with their imperial pasts. In revealing the mechanisms of colonial oppression, it also highlights the origins of all oppression of one group by another. This edition includes introductions by two of the greatest writers of the twentieth-century: South African novelist and Nobel laureate Nadine Gordimer, and Jean-Paul Sartre.

Since ancient times, we have tried to make sense of our universe by observing objects far beyond our abilities to see or touch – from the smallest atom to the farthest star.This book covers, in chronological order, all the key discoveries and remarkable minds in each scientific field, including Aristotle’s geocentric model of the cosmos, Darwin’s theory of evolution, Newton’s theory of gravity and Einstein’s theory of relativity. Also included are fascinating anecdotes about the lives of influential scientists: learn how Ptolemy fixed his results to match his theories; Freud used cocaine to expand his mind; and Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, was banned from using university computers after being caught hacking.Revealing how human curiosity knows no bounds, and how the field of science has evolved over the last 2,500 years, this book breaks everything down into easily digestible sections to give a broad overview of the fascinating history of science.

An accessible and succinct account of the story of Europe from its ancient foundations to the twenty-first century, The History of Europe in Bite-sized Chunks details the events, personalities, ideas and disasters that have shaped our continent.The book is broken down into six easily digestible chapters:Classical Antiquity (2600 BCE to 600 CE); Medieval (600-1500); Reform and Enlightenment (1500-1780); Age of Revolutions (1780-1914); the Wars (1914-45); and the Making of Contemporary Europe (1945 to present). It begins with the first ancient culture to emerge in Europe: the Minoans. It then proceeds chronologically to the present day, taking in not just significant historical events but also overarching social, technological and cultural trends and their impact.Throughout the book there are mini-biographies of notable individuals (such as Julius Caesar, Catherine the Great and Napoleon Bonaparte) who have been most significant in European history. It is also packed with amazing facts, details and maps that will give the reader a vivid understanding of Europe’s past.

Since the earliest humans walked the earth, the vast mysteries and wonders of the night sky have fascinated and beguiled us, as we’ve struggled to understand our place in the cosmos.Even after the last century, which saw important and startling discoveries about our own planet, our solar system and the stars and galaxies beyond, there remain more questions than answers. But those questions – What is dark matter? Are we alone in the universe? Is time travel possible? – provide a fascinating insight into the vastness and infinite possibilities of space that we’re yet to determine. The sheer scale of the universe can be intimidating, but in this easily digestible book we embark on an incredible journey through all the essential astronomical discoveries, from the beliefs of ancient civilizations, through to the recent groundbreaking observations of the gravitational waves predicted by Einstein over 100 years ago. There’s never been a better time to get to grips with the universe and this essential guide to the cosmos is the perfect place to start!

Have you forgotten all you ever learned about the essentials of climate and weather? Barely remember what a tectonic plate is and what it does? In this book you’ll find the answers to these questions and many more – broken down into fascinating bite-sized chunks. Written in a highly accessible and engaging style, the subject is broken down into fundamental topics including the physical world, the human world, global issues, climate change, industry and the hydrological cycle. As a concise guide to key geographical topics, this book is the perfect starting point for anyone who is curious and concerned about planet earth, or who just wants to refresh the long-forgotten knowledge they learned at school.

The internet is everywhere. But how did it start? How has it changed? And what will it look like in the future?No development in human history has changed the world as radically, or as quickly, as the advent of the internet. There’s almost no aspect of 21st-century life that it hasn’t shaped or fundamentally altered, for better or for worse. But the history of the internet is longer than you might think. Its foundations stretch as far back as the 1960s, decades before it would become an accessible and inescapable part of everyday life.In this new entry in the bestselling Bite-Sized Chunks series, author and journalist Chris Stokel-Walker traces the internet from its (relatively) humble beginnings to the ubiquitous force that exists today, from email and dial-up to social media and the metaverse. Breaking down complex concepts around how the world wide web works, how it has changed over time, and the effects it has had on the world as we know it, as well as explaining key terminology and spotlighting important figures, The History of the Internet in Byte-Sized Chunks explains everything you need

Explore the fascinating world of Greek and Roman history in this new entry in the bestselling Bite-Sized Chunks series.Perhaps more than any other period in history, the era of classical antiquity shaped the Western world as we know it today. From the pioneering schools of Greek philosophy to the far-reaching influence of the Roman Empire, so much of what we consider fundamental to our contemporary civilization can trace its roots back to Mediterranean Europe during this time.Divided into eight chapters, each covering an aspect of the classical world – the gods, heroes and monsters, rulers and government, war, art, philosophy, literature and science – this is the perfect primer for any reader looking for an introduction to one of the most captivating periods in history.With dozens of easy-to-digest entries on the most important people, events, art and mythology of the era, accompanied by maps and illustrations, The Classical World in Bite-Sized Chunks gives you everything you need to know about Greek and Roman history in one compelling and compact package.

Artificial intelligence is headline news with the launch of the latest ChatGPT and Google Gemini. But when did we start making computers mimic the human mind? And what is the reality of the capabilities of AI now, and in the future?AI has always stirred emotions, and caused great excitement as well as great concern. Since the launch of large language models such as ChatGPT, the scope and capabilities of AI look set to transform our technology, in both good and bad ways. AI can help teach us how to write better or help us generate amazing artworks. But in the wrong hands, AI can create fake images and fake information that can be used to damage our societies. A new addition to the popular Bite-sized Chunks series, this expert-led book will explore how AI has developed from humble beginnings in the 1950s to today’s extraordinary AIs that have more neurons than the human brain. Focusing on specific AIs and their creators over the years, it explains the science and engineering behind each AI, discusses ethical issues and covers all the most fascinating information about one of the most important and contentious developments in human technology (including the latest on generative AI/ChatGPT), as well as what we can expect to see in the future of this field – all in short, accessible bite-sized chunks.

Artificial intelligence is headline news with the launch of the latest ChatGPT and Google Bard. But when did we start making computers mimic the human mind? And what is the reality of the capabilities of AI now, and in the future?AI has always stirred emotions, and caused great excitement as well as great concern. Since the launch of large language models such as ChatGPT, the scope and capabilities of AI look set to transform our technology, in both good and bad ways. AI can help teach us how to write better or help us generate amazing artworks. But in the wrong hands, AI can create fake images and fake information that can be used to damage our societies. A new addition to the popular Bite-sized Chunks series, this expert-led book will explore how AI has developed from humble beginnings in the 1950s to today’s extraordinary AIs that have more neurons than the human brain. Focusing on specific AIs and their creators over the years, it explains the science and engineering behind each AI, discusses ethical issues and covers all the most fascinating information about one of the most important and contentious developments in human technology (including the latest on generative AI/ChatGPT), as well as what we can expect to see in the future of this field – all in short, accessible bite-sized chunks.

Explore the fascinating world of Greek and Roman history in this new entry in the bestselling Bite-Sized Chunks series.Perhaps more than any other period in history, the era of classical antiquity shaped the Western world as we know it today. From the pioneering schools of Greek philosophy to the far-reaching influence of the Roman Empire, so much of what we consider fundamental to our contemporary civilization can trace its roots back to Mediterranean Europe during this time.Divided into eight chapters, each covering an aspect of the classical world – the gods, heroes and monsters, rulers and government, war, art, philosophy, literature and science – this is the perfect primer for any reader looking for an introduction to one of the most captivating periods in history.With dozens of easy-to-digest entries on the most important people, events, art and mythology of the era, accompanied by maps and illustrations, The Classical World in Bite-Sized Chunks gives you everything you need to know about Greek and Roman history in one compelling and compact package.

The first English-language introduction to the developing science of endobiogeny.Dr Lapraz developed a diagnostic method that, while being rooted in modern science, allows an insight into the true causes of imbalance and disease in a patient. This innovative medical concept, based on a refined view of the neuro-endocrine system, integrates classical medicine with herbs and supplements, essential oils, and dietary and lifestyle modifications to create a truly holistic treatment approach to illness. The book sets out endobiogenic principles and methods, including the modelling system known as the Biology of Functions, and is full of remarkable case histories that attest to the efficacy of this approach. It is aimed both at the general public and at members of the health professions.

Timmy Failure takes to the road in the fourth book in the New York Times bestselling series, perfect for fans of Wimpy Kid, Tom Gates and Barry Loser.Shenanigans abound when Timmy Failure finds himself on a road trip with none other than notorious criminal Molly Moskins. Travelling halfway across the country to help your mother's boyfriend settle into his new job would be inconvenient for any detective, let alone the founder, president and CEO of Total Failure, Inc., the world's greatest detective agency. So when Timmy receives some unexpected news, there's only one thing for it – he must go on the run.After all, Timmy has a case to solve, and nothing can stand in his way.

Ventriloquized Voices is a fascinating examination of the appropriation of the feminine voice by male authors. In a historical and theoretical study of English texts of the early modern period, Elizabeth D. Harvey looks at the transvestism at work in texts which purport to be by women but which are in fact written by men. The crossing of gender in these ventriloquized works illuminates the discourses of patronage, medicine, madness and eroticism in English Renaissance society, revealing as it does the construction of sexuality, gender identity, and power. The author skillfully juxtaposes such canonical works as John Donne's Anniversaries and Spenser's Faerie Queene with pamphlets on transvestism, midwifery books, and treatises on gynaecology and hysteria. By interrogating the fashioning of gender within a broad range of Renaissance culture, Ventriloquized Voices investigates not only the relationship between men, women and language, but also crucial twentieth-century feminist debates such as essentialism and the female voice.

Meet Phil Collen. You may know him as the lead guitarist in Def Leppard, whose signature song Pour Some Sugar on Me is still as widely enjoyed as when it debuted in 1988. Maybe you’ve heard of him as the rock star who gave up alcohol and meat more than 25 years ago. Most likely you’ve seen him shirtless - in photos or in real life - flaunting his impeccably toned body to appreciative female fans.But it wasn’t always like this. Collen worked his way up from nothing, teaching himself guitar from scratch as a teenager by imitating his heroes. He slogged it out in London-based pub bands for years, long before Def Leppard formed and transformed from unknowns to icons (all thanks to a little album called Pyromania), from playing openers in near-empty arenas to headlining in those same stadiums and selling them out every night. But as Collen discovered, true overnight success is a myth. Like the other band members, he had to struggle and fight his way to the top; in the end, he says, 'our work ethic saved us'. Just as it still does.This is Collen’s story, starting with his first real taste of success and wild rock and roll excess as a member of the seminal glam rock outfit Girl. But once he joins Def Leppard, it’s also an amazing underdog tale featuring a bunch of ordinary working-class lads who rose to mega-stardom, overcoming incredible obstacles - such as the drummer, Rick Allen, who lost an arm in a car crash, and the tragic death of guitarist Steve Clark, Phil’s musical soul mate, who lost his fight with alcoholism. Featuring personal, never-before-seen photos of Collen and his band mates on stage and off, Adrenalized is a fascinating account of the failures, triumphs, challenges, and rock-hard dedication it takes to make dreams come true.