FINALIST FOR THE NEW ENGLAND BOOK AWARD IN POETRY “Themes of praise and debt pervade this rhapsodic, rigorous poetry collection, which pays homage to everyday Black experience in the U.S. . . . Bennett conjures a spirit of kinship that, illuminated by redolent imagery, borders on mythic, and boldly stakes claim to ‘some living, future / English, & everyone in it / is immortal.’” —The New Yorker “Bennett captures the beauty of what really matters in life—the memories, youth sports, family traditions and little moments that many of us take for granted . . . [ Owed] couldn't have been more timely.” —Salon “Not only are these poems eloquent but also lyrical, intelligent, and, occasionally, funny. Most reflect upon and communicate the pain, joy, and intensity of the current Black experience . . . In a time when many confront and protest the racism prevalent in our society, Bennett’s new book is vital.” —Library Journal (starred review) “[ Owed] intertwines the author’s multifaceted professions as poet, performer, and professor through powerful, crisp poems that celebrate the complexity, joy, and heartbreak of the Black experience in America . . . Bennett’s poems are more necessary than ever.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “[A]stonishing poems that explore the past, childhood, family relationships, identity, and memory among many other themes, all expertly rendered through a mixture of forms . . . [Bennett] has a gift for building and setting vivid scenes and complex stories within the small frames of his stanzas.” —Booklist “We’re lucky to have Joshua Bennett’s Owed at this hour in America. The resonances of ‘ode’ and ‘owed’ underscore his tremendous acts of invention amid ‘an ever-expanding grand Black Epilogue.’ Lyrical and political fibers are woven through narratives as clear and idiosyncratic as the plastic on your grandmother’s couch. Owed fights for the ‘ground where the children can play & come home whole.’ Bennett swings with song and exaltation; he swings with resistance and defense. I’m glad to have his amazing collection right now. I will be glad to have it tomorrow.” —Terrance Hayes, author of American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin “ Owed is an indictment of the state even as it is an ode to the ongoingness of Black imagination. Here, a single moment shimmers with a million resonances of attention. So the world is loved this much. And what has been taken has been taken this much. Bennett insists on repair even as he mourns what is utterly irreparable. This book is part of a breathful, bodied fight for Black life. I am emboldened and sharpened by Bennett's genius and by his love made plain across each of these shimmering pages.” — Aracelis Girmay, author of The Black Maria

Susan Bliss is torn between two lives. Her husband Alcott has decided only one will be remembered. 'A magnificent debut' CLARE LESLIE HALL, author of BROKEN COUNTRY 'Intelligent and very moving' ROSIE PRICE, author of WHAT RED WAS 'A truly sublime novel' HANNAH BEER, author of I MAKE MY OWN FUN 'Delivers heartache, euphoria and the unfathomable puzzle of family with singular brilliance' SIERRA GREER, author of ANNIE BOT It's the 1990s. Susan Bliss is trying to make it all work. Her growing stardom in L.A., where she's a regular on one of the nation's favourite daytime TV soaps. And her less lauded role in New England, where she's wife to a history professor and raising young twins. It's the 2000s. Susan Bliss died tragically young, and Viola and Sebastian have little idea of their mother's fame. But the past can't stay hidden forever, and as the teenaged twins pursue the secrets their mother left behind, they spin off in different directions. Sebastian plunges down an investigative rabbit hole. Viola falls for the movie star Orson Grey, who was once her mother's co-star. Obsession, ambition, love, pain, wonder, mystery. Every family has its dramas. But what happens when someone else tells your story? Perfect for fans of Maggie O'Farrell, Ann Napolitano or Claire Lombardo, Family Dramais an exquisite debut novel about the fantasies we create and the people we become. What early readers are saying about Family Drama... 'EXQUISITE! ... I can't wait to read this again and discuss it with my book clubs' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'A soap star mom living a double life ... This book is fully of messy families, complicated women and just enough drama to keep things juicy!' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'A love story that has so many obstacles' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'Nostalgic, poetic ... each storyline came back around in a circle' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'This book was written like a work of art' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'I loved it' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'Wow. That was a hell of a debut ... Her commentary on life, love and legacy felt thought-provoking and impactful' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'The writing in this novel pulls you in and the characters keep you there' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'Weaves together moments of heartbreak with scenes of high drama' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'A family drama that will pull you in from the beginning' ¿¿¿¿¿ Why booksellers love this book... 'One of the most moving books I've read in a long time ... It's extraordinary when a debut novel is this good about family drama!' 'I cried for the lost childhoods, the struggle to find a middle ground. Please read this so we can talk' 'A story of sibling love, loss, and the cost of following your dreams ... and all the drama that the title promises, this novel is a must-add for book club calendars'

'Dripping with secrets.' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ Discover this brand new, puzzle-box murder mystery that's guaranteed to keep you hooked until the very last page... Agatha Christie meets Stephen King, and perfect for fans of The Ending Writes Itself. ' Irresistible - bright, sharp and rife with danger .' A.J. FINN In the centre of New York stands the city's most notorious library. It has a history of mysterious disappearances and freak accidents. But tonight, it opens its doors to welcome a group of strangers for an exclusive after-hours tour. The famous author. The journalist. The professor. The bookseller. The architect. They are here to see a legendary book - one of the most valuable in the world. But each visitor also has other, more sinister reasons for being in the library after dark. As the tour takes them deeper into the building, one of the guests meets a gruesome, inexplicable end - and the others realise they are living on borrowed time. The search for the murderer forces them to confront awful truths about themselves and decide which secrets are worth dying - or killing - to keep. Readers can't get enough of The Library After Dark: ' Obsessed. This is 100% getting a permanent spot on my bookshelf . Constant twists.' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ' A wild ride. If you love a twisty whodunnit , you'll absolutely love this book.' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ 'Perfect for lovers of thrillers, books-about-books and mysteries to keep you on your toes. Highly recommend! ' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ 'WOW! One of the best books I have read in 2026 .' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ 'Twists and turns everywhere . I really couldn't put it down until I finished.' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ 'This is a must-read. So good, I couldn't put it down .' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ' I loved this book - a fantastic thriller. ' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ' Devilishly clever and gripping right until the end.' IAN MOORE ' A spine-chilling thriller .' - Kirkus ' Atmospheric, chilling and brilliantly clever. ' -Sian Gilbert, author of She Started It ' Stephen King meets Agatha Christie in this brilliant thriller - a triumph. Do not miss this.' - Hank Phillippi Ryan, bestselling author of All This Could Be Yours ' 'Richly imagined and wonderfully atmospheric ... a fast-paced, locked room thriller.' - Mary Watson, Sunday Times Bestselling author of The Cleaner 'The Library After Dark is Agatha Christie by way of the Brothers Grimm ' - Kelsey Cox, bestselling author of Party of Liars ' I devoured it in one breathless, brilliant sitting ' - Ryan Pote, author of Blood and Treasure 'Smart, edgy, and utterly unique , The Library After Dark will beckon you in... but it might never let you out ' - Tara Goedjen, author of Please Enjoy Your Stay ' A chilling and highly addictive locked-room thriller. Get ready for a ride !' - Darby Kane, international best-selling author of Pretty Little Wife

'Dripping with secrets.' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ Discover this brand new, puzzle-box murder mystery that's guaranteed to keep you hooked until the very last page... Agatha Christie meets Stephen King, and perfect for fans of The Ending Writes Itself. ' Irresistible - bright, sharp and rife with danger .' A.J. FINN In the centre of New York stands the city's most notorious library. It has a history of mysterious disappearances and freak accidents. But tonight, it opens its doors to welcome a group of strangers for an exclusive after-hours tour. The famous author. The journalist. The professor. The bookseller. The architect. They are here to see a legendary book - one of the most valuable in the world. But each visitor also has other, more sinister reasons for being in the library after dark. As the tour takes them deeper into the building, one of the guests meets a gruesome, inexplicable end - and the others realise they are living on borrowed time. The search for the murderer forces them to confront awful truths about themselves and decide which secrets are worth dying - or killing - to keep. Readers can't get enough of The Library After Dark: ' Obsessed. This is 100% getting a permanent spot on my bookshelf . Constant twists.' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ' A wild ride. If you love a twisty whodunnit , you'll absolutely love this book.' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ 'Perfect for lovers of thrillers, books-about-books and mysteries to keep you on your toes. Highly recommend! ' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ 'WOW! One of the best books I have read in 2026 .' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ 'Twists and turns everywhere . I really couldn't put it down until I finished.' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ 'This is a must-read. So good, I couldn't put it down .' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ' I loved this book - a fantastic thriller. ' ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ' Devilishly clever and gripping right until the end.' IAN MOORE ' A spine-chilling thriller .' - Kirkus ' Atmospheric, chilling and brilliantly clever. ' -Sian Gilbert, author of She Started It ' Stephen King meets Agatha Christie in this brilliant thriller - a triumph. Do not miss this.' - Hank Phillippi Ryan, bestselling author of All This Could Be Yours ' 'Richly imagined and wonderfully atmospheric ... a fast-paced, locked room thriller.' - Mary Watson, Sunday Times Bestselling author of The Cleaner 'The Library After Dark is Agatha Christie by way of the Brothers Grimm ' - Kelsey Cox, bestselling author of Party of Liars ' I devoured it in one breathless, brilliant sitting ' - Ryan Pote, author of Blood and Treasure 'Smart, edgy, and utterly unique , The Library After Dark will beckon you in... but it might never let you out ' - Tara Goedjen, author of Please Enjoy Your Stay ' A chilling and highly addictive locked-room thriller. Get ready for a ride !' - Darby Kane, international best-selling author of Pretty Little Wife

Iberia negra provides textual and methodological resources to investigate and study the African Diaspora and early modern Iberian Studies with a transatlantic and global perspective. This unique and timely volume renovates the study of Black African lives in the Iberian Peninsula during the 16th and 17th centuries, contextualizing and illuminating Afro-Iberian experiences and representations through unpublished or little-known documents. Across twelve chapters, Iberia negra explores the Afro-Iberian presence and the construction of Black identity in the Iberian Peninsula through the era's social practices and cultural representations. In dialogue with a vast critical production from different disciplines such as philology, history, anthropology, musicology, cultural studies, and Black and race studies, this volume offers a more complex vision of Black Iberia, moving away from stereotypes and giving an account of the life experiences of Black men and women. Iberia negra covers an existing gap in current academic production: within one comprehensive volume, it unites disciplines that until now have dealt with aspects of the diaspora but without dialogue between each other and it also allows access to a broad spectrum of texts on the diaspora in the Iberian Peninsula. With this double objective, Iberia negra is a fruitful resource for graduate and undergraduate students of Spanish, History, and Race, and for professors and researchers in these areas. Iberia negra propociona recursos textuales y metodológicos para estudiar y enseñar la diáspora africana y los estudios ibéricos modernos con una perspectiva transatlántica y global. Este volumen tan pertinente como único renueva nuestro conocimiento sobre las vidas de las personas negras de la Península Ibérica durante los siglos XVI y XVII, contextualizando e ilustrando las experiencias y representaciones afroibéricas con documentos inéditos o poco conocidos. A lo largo de doce capítulos, Iberia negra explora la presencia afroibérica y la construcción de la identidad negra en la Península Ibérica a través de las prácticas sociales y las representaciones culturales de la época. En diálogo con una vasta producción crítica procedente de diferentes disciplinas como la filología, la historia, la antropología, la musicología, los estudios culturales y los estudios negros y de raza, este volumen ofrece una visión profunda y compleja de la Iberia negra, alejándose de los estereotipos y dando cuenta de las experiencias vitales de las personas negras. Iberia negra cubre una laguna en la producción académica actual. Integra en un volumen disciplinas que han tratado aspectos de la diáspora sin apenas dialogar entre ellas hasta ahora. Además, permite acceder a un amplio espectro de textos sobre la diáspora en la Península Ibérica. Con este doble objetivo, Iberia negra constituye un fructífero recurso para estudiantes de grado y posgrado de español, historia y temas relacionado con la raza, así como para profesores e investigadores de estas áreas.

Iberia negra provides textual and methodological resources to investigate and study the African Diaspora and early modern Iberian Studies with a transatlantic and global perspective. This unique and timely volume renovates the study of Black African lives in the Iberian Peninsula during the 16th and 17th centuries, contextualizing and illuminating Afro-Iberian experiences and representations through unpublished or little-known documents. Across twelve chapters, Iberia negra explores the Afro-Iberian presence and the construction of Black identity in the Iberian Peninsula through the era's social practices and cultural representations. In dialogue with a vast critical production from different disciplines such as philology, history, anthropology, musicology, cultural studies, and Black and race studies, this volume offers a more complex vision of Black Iberia, moving away from stereotypes and giving an account of the life experiences of Black men and women. Iberia negra covers an existing gap in current academic production: within one comprehensive volume, it unites disciplines that until now have dealt with aspects of the diaspora but without dialogue between each other and it also allows access to a broad spectrum of texts on the diaspora in the Iberian Peninsula. With this double objective, Iberia negra is a fruitful resource for graduate and undergraduate students of Spanish, History, and Race, and for professors and researchers in these areas. Iberia negra propociona recursos textuales y metodológicos para estudiar y enseñar la diáspora africana y los estudios ibéricos modernos con una perspectiva transatlántica y global. Este volumen tan pertinente como único renueva nuestro conocimiento sobre las vidas de las personas negras de la Península Ibérica durante los siglos XVI y XVII, contextualizando e ilustrando las experiencias y representaciones afroibéricas con documentos inéditos o poco conocidos. A lo largo de doce capítulos, Iberia negra explora la presencia afroibérica y la construcción de la identidad negra en la Península Ibérica a través de las prácticas sociales y las representaciones culturales de la época. En diálogo con una vasta producción crítica procedente de diferentes disciplinas como la filología, la historia, la antropología, la musicología, los estudios culturales y los estudios negros y de raza, este volumen ofrece una visión profunda y compleja de la Iberia negra, alejándose de los estereotipos y dando cuenta de las experiencias vitales de las personas negras. Iberia negra cubre una laguna en la producción académica actual. Integra en un volumen disciplinas que han tratado aspectos de la diáspora sin apenas dialogar entre ellas hasta ahora. Además, permite acceder a un amplio espectro de textos sobre la diáspora en la Península Ibérica. Con este doble objetivo, Iberia negra constituye un fructífero recurso para estudiantes de grado y posgrado de español, historia y temas relacionado con la raza, así como para profesores e investigadores de estas áreas.

The New York Times bestseller "Blinder's book deserves its likely place near the top of reading lists about the crisis. It is the best comprehensive history of the episode... A riveting tale." - Financial Times One of our wisest and most clear-eyed economic thinkers offers a masterful narrative of the crisis and its lessons. Many fine books on the financial crisis were first drafts of history—books written to fill the need for immediate understanding. Alan S. Blinder, esteemed Princeton professor, Wall Street Journal columnist, and former vice chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, held off, taking the time to understand the crisis and to think his way through to a truly comprehensive and coherent narrative of how the worst economic crisis in postwar American history happened, what the government did to fight it, and what we can do from here—mired as we still are in its wreckage. With bracing clarity, Blinder shows us how the U.S. financial system, which had grown far too complex for its own good—and too unregulated for the public good—experienced a perfect storm beginning in 2007. Things started unraveling when the much-chronicled housing bubble burst, but the ensuing implosion of what Blinder calls the “bond bubble” was larger and more devastating. Some people think of the financial industry as a sideshow with little relevance to the real economy—where the jobs, factories, and shops are. But finance is more like the circulatory system of the economic body: if the blood stops flowing, the body goes into cardiac arrest. When America’s financial structure crumbled, the damage proved to be not only deep, but wide. It took the crisis for the world to discover, to its horror, just how truly interconnected—and fragile—the global financial system is. Some observers argue that large global forces were the major culprits of the crisis. Blinder disagrees, arguing that the problem started in the U.S. and was pushed abroad, as complex, opaque, and overrated investment products were exported to a hungry world, which was nearly poisoned by them. The second part of the story explains how American and international government intervention kept us from a total meltdown. Many of the U.S. government’s actions, particularly the Fed’s; were previously unimaginable. And to an amazing—and certainly misunderstood—extent; they worked. The worst did not happen. Blinder offers clear-eyed answers to the questions still before us, even if some of the choices ahead are as divisive as they are unavoidable. After the Music Stopped is an essential history that we cannot afford to forget, because one thing history teaches is that it will happen again.

Iberia negra provides textual and methodological resources to investigate and study the African Diaspora and early modern Iberian Studies with a transatlantic and global perspective. This unique and timely volume renovates the study of Black African lives in the Iberian Peninsula during the 16th and 17th centuries, contextualizing and illuminating Afro-Iberian experiences and representations through unpublished or little-known documents. Across twelve chapters, Iberia negra explores the Afro-Iberian presence and the construction of Black identity in the Iberian Peninsula through the era's social practices and cultural representations. In dialogue with a vast critical production from different disciplines such as philology, history, anthropology, musicology, cultural studies, and Black and race studies, this volume offers a more complex vision of Black Iberia, moving away from stereotypes and giving an account of the life experiences of Black men and women. Iberia negra covers an existing gap in current academic production: within one comprehensive volume, it unites disciplines that until now have dealt with aspects of the diaspora but without dialogue between each other and it also allows access to a broad spectrum of texts on the diaspora in the Iberian Peninsula. With this double objective, Iberia negra is a fruitful resource for graduate and undergraduate students of Spanish, History, and Race, and for professors and researchers in these areas. Iberia negra propociona recursos textuales y metodológicos para estudiar y enseñar la diáspora africana y los estudios ibéricos modernos con una perspectiva transatlántica y global. Este volumen tan pertinente como único renueva nuestro conocimiento sobre las vidas de las personas negras de la Península Ibérica durante los siglos XVI y XVII, contextualizando e ilustrando las experiencias y representaciones afroibéricas con documentos inéditos o poco conocidos. A lo largo de doce capítulos, Iberia negra explora la presencia afroibérica y la construcción de la identidad negra en la Península Ibérica a través de las prácticas sociales y las representaciones culturales de la época. En diálogo con una vasta producción crítica procedente de diferentes disciplinas como la filología, la historia, la antropología, la musicología, los estudios culturales y los estudios negros y de raza, este volumen ofrece una visión profunda y compleja de la Iberia negra, alejándose de los estereotipos y dando cuenta de las experiencias vitales de las personas negras. Iberia negra cubre una laguna en la producción académica actual. Integra en un volumen disciplinas que han tratado aspectos de la diáspora sin apenas dialogar entre ellas hasta ahora. Además, permite acceder a un amplio espectro de textos sobre la diáspora en la Península Ibérica. Con este doble objetivo, Iberia negra constituye un fructífero recurso para estudiantes de grado y posgrado de español, historia y temas relacionado con la raza, así como para profesores e investigadores de estas áreas.

Iberia negra provides textual and methodological resources to investigate and study the African Diaspora and early modern Iberian Studies with a transatlantic and global perspective. This unique and timely volume renovates the study of Black African lives in the Iberian Peninsula during the 16th and 17th centuries, contextualizing and illuminating Afro-Iberian experiences and representations through unpublished or little-known documents. Across twelve chapters, Iberia negra explores the Afro-Iberian presence and the construction of Black identity in the Iberian Peninsula through the era's social practices and cultural representations. In dialogue with a vast critical production from different disciplines such as philology, history, anthropology, musicology, cultural studies, and Black and race studies, this volume offers a more complex vision of Black Iberia, moving away from stereotypes and giving an account of the life experiences of Black men and women. Iberia negra covers an existing gap in current academic production: within one comprehensive volume, it unites disciplines that until now have dealt with aspects of the diaspora but without dialogue between each other and it also allows access to a broad spectrum of texts on the diaspora in the Iberian Peninsula. With this double objective, Iberia negra is a fruitful resource for graduate and undergraduate students of Spanish, History, and Race, and for professors and researchers in these areas. Iberia negra propociona recursos textuales y metodológicos para estudiar y enseñar la diáspora africana y los estudios ibéricos modernos con una perspectiva transatlántica y global. Este volumen tan pertinente como único renueva nuestro conocimiento sobre las vidas de las personas negras de la Península Ibérica durante los siglos XVI y XVII, contextualizando e ilustrando las experiencias y representaciones afroibéricas con documentos inéditos o poco conocidos. A lo largo de doce capítulos, Iberia negra explora la presencia afroibérica y la construcción de la identidad negra en la Península Ibérica a través de las prácticas sociales y las representaciones culturales de la época. En diálogo con una vasta producción crítica procedente de diferentes disciplinas como la filología, la historia, la antropología, la musicología, los estudios culturales y los estudios negros y de raza, este volumen ofrece una visión profunda y compleja de la Iberia negra, alejándose de los estereotipos y dando cuenta de las experiencias vitales de las personas negras. Iberia negra cubre una laguna en la producción académica actual. Integra en un volumen disciplinas que han tratado aspectos de la diáspora sin apenas dialogar entre ellas hasta ahora. Además, permite acceder a un amplio espectro de textos sobre la diáspora en la Península Ibérica. Con este doble objetivo, Iberia negra constituye un fructífero recurso para estudiantes de grado y posgrado de español, historia y temas relacionado con la raza, así como para profesores e investigadores de estas áreas.

Susan Bliss is torn between two lives. Her husband Alcott has decided only one will be remembered. 'A magnificent debut' CLARE LESLIE HALL, author of BROKEN COUNTRY 'Intelligent and very moving' ROSIE PRICE, author of WHAT RED WAS 'A truly sublime novel' HANNAH BEER, author of I MAKE MY OWN FUN 'Delivers heartache, euphoria and the unfathomable puzzle of family with singular brilliance' SIERRA GREER, author of ANNIE BOT It's the 1990s. Susan Bliss is trying to make it all work. Her growing stardom in L.A., where she's a regular on one of the nation's favourite daytime TV soaps. And her less lauded role in New England, where she's wife to a history professor and raising young twins. It's the 2000s. Susan Bliss died tragically young, and Viola and Sebastian have little idea of their mother's fame. But the past can't stay hidden forever, and as the teenaged twins pursue the secrets their mother left behind, they spin off in different directions. Sebastian plunges down an investigative rabbit hole. Viola falls for the movie star Orson Grey, who was once her mother's co-star. Obsession, ambition, love, pain, wonder, mystery. Every family has its dramas. But what happens when someone else tells your story? Perfect for fans of Maggie O'Farrell, Ann Napolitano or Claire Lombardo, Family Dramais an exquisite debut novel about the fantasies we create and the people we become. What early readers are saying about Family Drama... 'EXQUISITE! ... I can't wait to read this again and discuss it with my book clubs' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'A soap star mom living a double life ... This book is fully of messy families, complicated women and just enough drama to keep things juicy!' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'A love story that has so many obstacles' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'Nostalgic, poetic ... each storyline came back around in a circle' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'This book was written like a work of art' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'I loved it' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'Wow. That was a hell of a debut ... Her commentary on life, love and legacy felt thought-provoking and impactful' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'The writing in this novel pulls you in and the characters keep you there' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'Weaves together moments of heartbreak with scenes of high drama' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'A family drama that will pull you in from the beginning' ¿¿¿¿¿ Why booksellers love this book... 'One of the most moving books I've read in a long time ... It's extraordinary when a debut novel is this good about family drama!' 'I cried for the lost childhoods, the struggle to find a middle ground. Please read this so we can talk' 'A story of sibling love, loss, and the cost of following your dreams ... and all the drama that the title promises, this novel is a must-add for book club calendars'

FINALIST FOR THE KIRKUS PRIZE FOR NONFICTION • ONE OF TIME'S 100 MUST-READ BOOKS OF THE YEAR • ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW'S CRITICS' PICKS • ONE OF THE BOSTON GLOBE’S 55 BOOKS WE LOVED THIS YEAR • ONE OF KIRKUS’S BEST NONFICTION BOOKS OF THE YEAR• An intimate, insightful, at times even humorous blend of memoir and philosophy that examines why the thought of death is so compulsive for some while demonstrating that there’s always another solution—from the acclaimed writer and philosophy professor, based on his viral essay, “I’m Still Here.” “A deep meditation that searches through Martin’s past looking for answers about why he is the way he is, while also examining the role suicide has played in our culture for centuries, how it has evolved, and how philosophers have examined it.” —Esquire “A rock for people who’ve been troubled by suicidal ideation, or have someone in their lives who is.” —The New York Times “If you’re going to write a book about suicide, you have to be willing to say the true things, the scary things, the humiliating things. Because everybody who is being honest with themselves knows at least a little bit about the subject. If you lie or if you fudge, the reader will know.” The last time Clancy Martin tried to kill himself was in his basement with a dog leash. It was one of over ten attempts throughout the course of his life. But he didn’t die, and like many who consider taking their own lives, he hid the attempt from his wife, family, coworkers, and students, slipping back into his daily life with a hoarse voice, a raw neck, and series of vague explanations. In How Not to Kill Yourself, Martin chronicles his multiple suicide attempts in an intimate depiction of the mindset of someone obsessed with self-destruction. He argues that, for the vast majority of suicides, an attempt does not just come out of the blue, nor is it merely a violent reaction to a particular crisis or failure, but is the culmination of a host of long-standing issues. He also looks at the thinking of a number of great writers who have attempted suicide and detailed their experiences (such as David Foster Wallace, Yiyun Li, Akutagawa, Nelly Arcan, and others), at what the history of philosophy has to say both for and against suicide, and at the experiences of those who have reached out to him across the years to share their own struggles. The result combines memoir with critical inquiry to powerfully give voice to what for many has long been incomprehensible, while showing those presently grappling with suicidal thoughts that they are not alone, and that the desire to kill oneself—like other self-destructive desires—is almost always temporary and avoidable.

#1 New York Times Bestseller “THIS. This is the right book for right now. Yes, learning requires focus. But, unlearning and relearning requires much more—it requires choosing courage over comfort. In Think Again, Adam Grant weaves together research and storytelling to help us build the intellectual and emotional muscle we need to stay curious enough about the world to actually change it. I’ve never felt so hopeful about what I don’t know.” —Brené Brown, Ph.D., #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dare to Lead The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential, Originals, and Give and Take examines the critical art of rethinking: learning to question your opinions and open other people's minds, which can position you for excellence at work and wisdom in life Intelligence is usually seen as the ability to think and learn, but in a rapidly changing world, there's another set of cognitive skills that might matter more: the ability to rethink and unlearn. In our daily lives, too many of us favor the comfort of conviction over the discomfort of doubt. We listen to opinions that make us feel good, instead of ideas that make us think hard. We see disagreement as a threat to our egos, rather than an opportunity to learn. We surround ourselves with people who agree with our conclusions, when we should be gravitating toward those who challenge our thought process. The result is that our beliefs get brittle long before our bones. We think too much like preachers defending our sacred beliefs, prosecutors proving the other side wrong, and politicians campaigning for approval--and too little like scientists searching for truth. Intelligence is no cure, and it can even be a curse: being good at thinking can make us worse at rethinking. The brighter we are, the blinder to our own limitations we can become. Organizational psychologist Adam Grant is an expert on opening other people's minds--and our own. As Wharton's top-rated professor and the bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take, he makes it one of his guiding principles to argue like he's right but listen like he's wrong. With bold ideas and rigorous evidence, he investigates how we can embrace the joy of being wrong, bring nuance to charged conversations, and build schools, workplaces, and communities of lifelong learners. You'll learn how an international debate champion wins arguments, a Black musician persuades white supremacists to abandon hate, a vaccine whisperer convinces concerned parents to immunize their children, and Adam has coaxed Yankees fans to root for the Red Sox. Think Again reveals that we don't have to believe everything we think or internalize everything we feel. It's an invitation to let go of views that are no longer serving us well and prize mental flexibility over foolish consistency. If knowledge is power, knowing what we don't know is wisdom.

#1 New York Times Bestseller “THIS. This is the right book for right now. Yes, learning requires focus. But, unlearning and relearning requires much more—it requires choosing courage over comfort. In Think Again, Adam Grant weaves together research and storytelling to help us build the intellectual and emotional muscle we need to stay curious enough about the world to actually change it. I’ve never felt so hopeful about what I don’t know.” —Brené Brown, Ph.D., #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dare to Lead The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential, Originals, and Give and Take examines the critical art of rethinking: learning to question your opinions and open other people's minds, which can position you for excellence at work and wisdom in life Intelligence is usually seen as the ability to think and learn, but in a rapidly changing world, there's another set of cognitive skills that might matter more: the ability to rethink and unlearn. In our daily lives, too many of us favor the comfort of conviction over the discomfort of doubt. We listen to opinions that make us feel good, instead of ideas that make us think hard. We see disagreement as a threat to our egos, rather than an opportunity to learn. We surround ourselves with people who agree with our conclusions, when we should be gravitating toward those who challenge our thought process. The result is that our beliefs get brittle long before our bones. We think too much like preachers defending our sacred beliefs, prosecutors proving the other side wrong, and politicians campaigning for approval--and too little like scientists searching for truth. Intelligence is no cure, and it can even be a curse: being good at thinking can make us worse at rethinking. The brighter we are, the blinder to our own limitations we can become. Organizational psychologist Adam Grant is an expert on opening other people's minds--and our own. As Wharton's top-rated professor and the bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take, he makes it one of his guiding principles to argue like he's right but listen like he's wrong. With bold ideas and rigorous evidence, he investigates how we can embrace the joy of being wrong, bring nuance to charged conversations, and build schools, workplaces, and communities of lifelong learners. You'll learn how an international debate champion wins arguments, a Black musician persuades white supremacists to abandon hate, a vaccine whisperer convinces concerned parents to immunize their children, and Adam has coaxed Yankees fans to root for the Red Sox. Think Again reveals that we don't have to believe everything we think or internalize everything we feel. It's an invitation to let go of views that are no longer serving us well and prize mental flexibility over foolish consistency. If knowledge is power, knowing what we don't know is wisdom.

FINALIST FOR THE KIRKUS PRIZE FOR NONFICTION ONE OF TIME'S 100 MUST-READ BOOKS OF THE YEAR ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW'S CRITICS' PICKS ONE OF THE BOSTON GLOBE’S 55 BOOKS WE LOVED THIS YEAR ONE OF KIRKUS’S BEST NONFICTION BOOKS OF THE YEAR An intimate, insightful, at times even humorous blend of memoir and philosophy that examines why the thought of death is so compulsive for some while demonstrating that there’s always another solution—from the acclaimed writer and philosophy professor, based on his viral essay, “I’m Still Here.” “A deep meditation that searches through Martin’s past looking for answers about why he is the way he is, while also examining the role suicide has played in our culture for centuries, how it has evolved, and how philosophers have examined it.” —Esquire “A rock for people who’ve been troubled by suicidal ideation, or have someone in their lives who is.” —The New York Times “If you’re going to write a book about suicide, you have to be willing to say the true things, the scary things, the humiliating things. Because everybody who is being honest with themselves knows at least a little bit about the subject. If you lie or if you fudge, the reader will know.” The last time Clancy Martin tried to kill himself was in his basement with a dog leash. It was one of over ten attempts throughout the course of his life. But he didn’t die, and like many who consider taking their own lives, he hid the attempt from his wife, family, coworkers, and students, slipping back into his daily life with a hoarse voice, a raw neck, and series of vague explanations. In How Not to Kill Yourself, Martin chronicles his multiple suicide attempts in an intimate depiction of the mindset of someone obsessed with self-destruction. He argues that, for the vast majority of suicides, an attempt does not just come out of the blue, nor is it merely a violent reaction to a particular crisis or failure, but is the culmination of a host of long-standing issues. He also looks at the thinking of a number of great writers who have attempted suicide and detailed their experiences (such as David Foster Wallace, Yiyun Li, Akutagawa, Nelly Arcan, and others), at what the history of philosophy has to say both for and against suicide, and at the experiences of those who have reached out to him across the years to share their own struggles. The result combines memoir with critical inquiry to powerfully give voice to what for many has long been incomprehensible, while showing those presently grappling with suicidal thoughts that they are not alone, and that the desire to kill oneself—like other self-destructive desires—is almost always temporary and avoidable.

#1 New York Times Bestseller “THIS. This is the right book for right now. Yes, learning requires focus. But, unlearning and relearning requires much more—it requires choosing courage over comfort. In Think Again, Adam Grant weaves together research and storytelling to help us build the intellectual and emotional muscle we need to stay curious enough about the world to actually change it. I’ve never felt so hopeful about what I don’t know.” —Brené Brown, Ph.D., #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dare to Lead The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential, Originals, and Give and Take examines the critical art of rethinking: learning to question your opinions and open other people's minds, which can position you for excellence at work and wisdom in life Intelligence is usually seen as the ability to think and learn, but in a rapidly changing world, there's another set of cognitive skills that might matter more: the ability to rethink and unlearn. In our daily lives, too many of us favor the comfort of conviction over the discomfort of doubt. We listen to opinions that make us feel good, instead of ideas that make us think hard. We see disagreement as a threat to our egos, rather than an opportunity to learn. We surround ourselves with people who agree with our conclusions, when we should be gravitating toward those who challenge our thought process. The result is that our beliefs get brittle long before our bones. We think too much like preachers defending our sacred beliefs, prosecutors proving the other side wrong, and politicians campaigning for approval--and too little like scientists searching for truth. Intelligence is no cure, and it can even be a curse: being good at thinking can make us worse at rethinking. The brighter we are, the blinder to our own limitations we can become. Organizational psychologist Adam Grant is an expert on opening other people's minds--and our own. As Wharton's top-rated professor and the bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take, he makes it one of his guiding principles to argue like he's right but listen like he's wrong. With bold ideas and rigorous evidence, he investigates how we can embrace the joy of being wrong, bring nuance to charged conversations, and build schools, workplaces, and communities of lifelong learners. You'll learn how an international debate champion wins arguments, a Black musician persuades white supremacists to abandon hate, a vaccine whisperer convinces concerned parents to immunize their children, and Adam has coaxed Yankees fans to root for the Red Sox. Think Again reveals that we don't have to believe everything we think or internalize everything we feel. It's an invitation to let go of views that are no longer serving us well and prize mental flexibility over foolish consistency. If knowledge is power, knowing what we don't know is wisdom.

Film 1: Sex after kids Film 2: Denial Film 3: How to seduce difficult Women Film 4: Giovani, belle... probabilmente ricche Film 5: La Moglie vergine Film 6: What's Good for the Goose Film 7: Sex Pot Film 8: Rock´n Roll Fantasy, Sorority House Party Film 1: Sex after kids / Kanada / 2013 / 102 Min. / Sex trotz Kindern? Das ist nicht so einfach, wenn es dem Nachwuchs nicht gefällt. Die kleinen Wonneproppen scheinen ein untrügliches Gespür dafür zu haben, wenn Papa sich an Mama ran macht. Doch Mama gehört dem Baby. Mit Haut und Haaren und jederzeit! Sechs Eltern, ob alleinerziehnd, zu zweit, ob hetreo oder homo, alle haben ihre liebe Müh’, ihre körperlichen Bedrüfnisse nach der Geburt eines Kindes wieder auf die Reihe zu bekommen. Und die Ideen, die sie haben sind manchmal echt zum schreien komisch. Film 2: Die nackte Wahrheit über Männer und Frauen / USA / 1998 / 89 Min. / Monogamie ist Verleugnung - alle Paare gehen fremd... das zumindest behauptet Schriftsteller Art bei einer Party. Die anwesenden Paare bestreiten dies heftig. Aber wie das Leben so spielt: Joel lässt sich Entspannungsmassagen verpassen, während Ehefrau Sophie mit ihrem Professor schläft, Isaac geht mit einem Aufriss ins Bett und seine Frau Claudia mit Art - sollte er doch Recht haben? Film 3: Wie bekomme ich schwierige Frauen ins Bett? / USA / 2009 / 93 Min. / Philippe, ein französisch-amerikanischer Autor, der in Manhattan lebt, beschließt, sich zehn beziehungsgestörter Männer anzunehmen, um ihnen die Kunst der Verführung beizubringen. Doch wie sieht es beim Lehrmeister selbst aus? Als ihm eine wunderschöne Frau begegnet, stellt dieser sich selbst mehr als hilflos an. Der selbsternannte „Date-Doktor“ erkennt schnell, dass die von ihm propagierten Verführungskünste in der Theorie zwar sehr vernünftig klingen, doch mit der Realität draußen auf den Straßen von New York nur sehr schwer vereinbar sind… Film 4: Seitensprünge lohnen sich / Italien / 1982 / 81 Min. / Es waren einst vier Freundinnen, alles heiße Girls, die machten die ganze Männerwelt Italiens unsicher. Bis drei sich verliebten und heirateten. Als die alleingebliebene Vierte nun überraschend verstirbt, merken die drei, dass ihre Freundin wohl nicht so begeistert davon war, dass ihre Freundinnen ins Eheleben wechselten. Deshalb will sie ihnen noch einen reindrücken und vermerkt in ihrem Testament, das jede 333 Millionen Lire erben wird, wenn sie einen Seitensprung begeht. Die Beweisfotos müssen an den Notar gesendet werden... Film 5: Komm wir machen Liebe / Italien / 1975 / 89 Min. / Die Flitterwochen verliefen für Giovanni und Valentina mehr als enttäuschend. Giovannis Potenzschwäche frustriert umso mehr, da seine Mitmenschen allesamt ausgiebig ihren Trieben frönen. Alle gutgemeinten Ratschläge der Familie fruchten wenig und die missliche Situation entwickelt sich zur Familienschande. Doch die Schwiegermutter weiß Rat. Der Weg zur Tochter führt über die Mutter, oder? Film 6: Der Schlappschwanz / UK / 1969 / 82 Min. / Ein braver Bankangestellter hat sich fleißig hochgedient, farblos und unauffällig. Auf einer Dienstfahrt nimmt er 2 junge Hippie-Mädchen mit, die wissen wo es lang geht! Die späterwachten Triebe des „Schlappschwanz“ führen unseren Helden in pikante Abenteuer… und peinliche! Film 7: Sex Pot / USA / 2011 / 92 Min. / Zwei überzeugte Kiffer stolpern über eine herrenlose Tüte Gras. Wie sie herausfinden, handelt es sich um ein ganz besonderes Kraut, welches eine fast magische aphrodisierende Wirkung hat. Damit beginnt das absolute Chaos. Film 8: Sex Pot 2 / USA / 1992 / 83 Min. / Was passiert, wenn einer der coolsten Rockstars der Welt, Jamie Z. (Attila), von den besonders heißen Studentinnen Alex (April Lerman) und Bre(Kim Little), in deren Verbindungshaus auf dem Campus als Geisel gehalten wird? Ganz klar, dass müsste die größte und geilste Rock n' Roll Party geben, die das College je gesehen hat. Dumm nur, dass Jamie ZsManager nicht daran denkt ein Lösegeld zu zahlen und seinen Star längst a

#1 New York Times Bestseller “THIS. This is the right book for right now. Yes, learning requires focus. But, unlearning and relearning requires much more—it requires choosing courage over comfort. In Think Again, Adam Grant weaves together research and storytelling to help us build the intellectual and emotional muscle we need to stay curious enough about the world to actually change it. I’ve never felt so hopeful about what I don’t know.” —Brené Brown, Ph.D., #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dare to Lead The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential, Originals, and Give and Take examines the critical art of rethinking: learning to question your opinions and open other people's minds, which can position you for excellence at work and wisdom in life Intelligence is usually seen as the ability to think and learn, but in a rapidly changing world, there's another set of cognitive skills that might matter more: the ability to rethink and unlearn. In our daily lives, too many of us favor the comfort of conviction over the discomfort of doubt. We listen to opinions that make us feel good, instead of ideas that make us think hard. We see disagreement as a threat to our egos, rather than an opportunity to learn. We surround ourselves with people who agree with our conclusions, when we should be gravitating toward those who challenge our thought process. The result is that our beliefs get brittle long before our bones. We think too much like preachers defending our sacred beliefs, prosecutors proving the other side wrong, and politicians campaigning for approval--and too little like scientists searching for truth. Intelligence is no cure, and it can even be a curse: being good at thinking can make us worse at rethinking. The brighter we are, the blinder to our own limitations we can become. Organizational psychologist Adam Grant is an expert on opening other people's minds--and our own. As Wharton's top-rated professor and the bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take, he makes it one of his guiding principles to argue like he's right but listen like he's wrong. With bold ideas and rigorous evidence, he investigates how we can embrace the joy of being wrong, bring nuance to charged conversations, and build schools, workplaces, and communities of lifelong learners. You'll learn how an international debate champion wins arguments, a Black musician persuades white supremacists to abandon hate, a vaccine whisperer convinces concerned parents to immunize their children, and Adam has coaxed Yankees fans to root for the Red Sox. Think Again reveals that we don't have to believe everything we think or internalize everything we feel. It's an invitation to let go of views that are no longer serving us well and prize mental flexibility over foolish consistency. If knowledge is power, knowing what we don't know is wisdom.

"Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see." Edgar Allan Poe's tales of the mysterious and the macabre continue to stand as some of the finest examples of the horror genre—and to invite readers into a world where madness whispers, ravens speak, and the line between reality and nightmare blurs. From the chilling precision of The Tell-Tale Heart to the grotesque elegance of The Masque of the Red Death, Poe's stories probe the darkest corners of fear, obsession, and the supernatural. Whether you're drawn to gothic horror, psychological suspense, or poetic melancholy, this complete collection is perfect for lovers of the eerie and the sublime… dare to listen to it with the lights off. The 55+ stories included here are: - A Descent into the Maelstrom - A Predicament - A Tale of Jerusalem - A Tale of the Ragged Mountains - Berenice - Bon-Bon - Diddling - Eleonora - Four Beasts in One - The Homo-Cameleopard - Hop-Frog - How to Write a Blackwood Article - King Pest - Landor's Cottage - Ligeia - Lionising - Loss of Breath - Mellonta Tauta - Mesmeric Revelation - Metzengerstein - Morella - Manuscript Found in a Bottle - Mystification - Never Bet the Devil Your Head - Shadow - A Parable - Silence - A Fable - Some Words with a Mummy - The Assignation - The Black Cat - The Cask of Amontillado - The Colloquy of Monos and Una - The Devil in the Belfry - The Domain of Arnheim - The Duc de L' Omelette - The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar - The Fall of the House of Usher - The Gold-Bug - The Imp of the Perverse - The Masque of the Red Death - The Murders in the Rue Morgue - The Mystery of Marie Rogêt - The Oblong Box - The Oval Portrait - The Pit and the Pendulum - The Power of Words - The Premature Burial - The Purloined Letter - The Spectacles - The Sphinx - The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether - The Tell-Tale Heart - The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade - The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall - Thou Art the Man - Three Sundays in a Week - Von Kempelen and His Discovery - Why the Little Frenchman Wears His Hand in a Sling - William Wilson - X-ing a Paragrab Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) was an American writer, poet, editor and literary critic known for his dark, atmospheric tales and haunting poetry. Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in American literature, Poe helped shape the horror and science-fiction genres and is widely credited with inventing detective fiction in his 1841 short story, Murders in the Rue Morgue. Despite a life marked by personal tragedy and financial hardship, Poe produced a number of enduring classics such as The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Fall of the House of Usher, and since his somewhat mysterious death, he and his writings have had a wide-ranging influence in popular culture. In 1946, the Mystery Writers of America established the annual Edgar award, which honour the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction and film. This audiobook is fully indexed. Once downloaded, each book and chapter will be listed so you can easily navigate to the individual sections.

Language is Music focuses on making learning foreign languages fun, easy and affordable for anyone with a desire to communicate effectively with people around the world. By applying over 100 simple tips to things you already do, such as listening to music or surfing the Web, you can experience the joy of "fluency" in any language without having to study abroad or spend money on private tutors. In Language is Music, Susanna Zaraysky masterfully shares her listening methods so that anyone can have fun learning any language. With over 100 tips and 100 free or low-cost Internet resources, you will learn how to use daily activities, such as watching T.V. or listening to music; conversation partners; and attendance at cultural events to become a masterful speaker of any tongue. "Learning foreign languages is like learning to sing a song or play music," says self-made linguist Susanna Zaraysky and author of Language is Music. Zaraysky has what you might call "an ear" for languages, having used music to successfully learn English, Russian, French, Spanish, Ladino, Italian, Portuguese, and Serbo-Croatian-all with excellent accents. (Third Edition published in January 2014.) Advance Praise for Language is Music Language is Music is music for the mind! Susanna Zaraysky has crammed this little book with big ideas about how to learn a language, including a multitude of extremely practical tips and applications. As one who has dabbled in many languages and speaks a couple fluently, I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to speak another language. -John Perkins, New York Times Bestselling Author of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man "I love it! I think it will help people who want to learn, and those who are curious about additional language learning. Many people want to learn a language but are frightened, or disappointed by the courses they have taken. Reading Language is Music will encourage them to try again, on their own and with friendly supporters." -Dr. Elba Maldonado-Colon, Professor Department of Elementary Education Bilingual Program, San Jose State University "LET IT JUST ROLL OFF YOUR TONGUE. With lyrical insight and solid experience, Susanna Zaraysky, author of Language is Music, provides easy steps for learning a language. Gone are the boring, disconnected strategies that most of us remember from school. You've never learned a language this quickly and easily. Zaraysky's methods embody fun, connection, rhythm, and above all...music." -Suzanne Lettrick, M.Ed Educator and Founder of The Global Education and Action Network "Forget dictionaries and phrase books . . . Susanna Zaraysky's easy-to-use guide to language learning is indispensable for any serious language learner wanting to become fluent--not just conversationally proficient--in another language. Language is Music will teach you how to make language acquisition a part of your daily life, and to recreate the kind of total-immersion environment necessary for fluency. Highly recommended reading for aspiring polyglots. Pick up this book and you too will be all ears!" -Justin Liang, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Marshallese, intermediate Spanish "Back in France, I spent many years learning "academic" English in school. But I progressed much faster when I forced myself to listen to the BBC or not look at the subtitles when watching an American movie. I wish I had Susanna's book with me then. It's full of creative ideas and practical tips that are indispensable complements to the traditional methods of learning foreign languages -- and it's coming from someone you can trust, she speaks so many of them!" -Philippe Levy, French native speaker

Force Structure, Tactics, and Modernization of the Russian Ground Forces The mighty Soviet Army is no more. The feckless Russian Army that stumbled into Chechnya is no more. Today's Russian Army is modern, better manned, better equipped and designed for maneuver combat under nuclear-threatened conditions. This is your source for the tactics, equipment, force structure and theoretical underpinnings of a major Eurasian power. Here's what the experts are saying: "A superb baseline study for understanding how and why the modern Russian Army functions as it does. Essential for specialist and generalist alike." -Colonel (Ret) David M. Glantz, foremost Western author on the Soviet Union in World War II and Editor of The Journal of Slavic Military Studies. "Congratulations to Les Grau and Chuck Bartles on filling a gap which has yawned steadily wider since the end of the USSR. Their book addresses evolving Russian views on war, including the blurring of its nature and levels, and the consequent Russian approaches to the Ground Forces' force structuring, manning, equipping, and tactics. Confidence is conferred on the validity of their arguments and conclusions by copious footnoting, mostly from an impressive array of primary sources. It is this firm grounding in Russian military writings, coupled with the authors' understanding of war and the Russian way of thinking about it, that imparts such an authoritative tone to this impressive work." -Charles Dick, former Director of the Combat Studies Research Centre, Senior Fellow at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, author of the 1991 British Army Field Manual, Volume 2, A Treatise on Soviet Operational Art and author of From Victory to Stalemate The Western Front, Summer 1944 and From Defeat to Victory, The Eastern Front, Summer 1944. "Dr. Lester Grau's and Chuck Bartles' professional research on the Russian Armed Forces is widely read throughout the world and especially in Russia. Russia's Armed Forces have changed much since the large-scale reforms of 2008, which brought the Russian Army to the level of the world's other leading armies. The speed of reform combined with limited information about their core mechanisms represented a difficult challenge to the authors. They have done a great job and created a book which could be called an encyclopedia of the modern armed forces of Russia. They used their wisdom and talents to explore vital elements of the Russian military machine: the system of recruitment and training, structure of units of different levels, methods and tactics in defense and offence and even such little-known fields as the Arctic forces and the latest Russian combat robotics." -Dr. Vadim Kozyulin, Professor of Military Science and Project Director, Project on Asian Security, Emerging Technologies and Global Security Project PIR Center, Moscow. "Probably the best book on the Russian Armed Forces published in North America during the past ten years. A must read for all analysts and professionals following Russian affairs. A reliable account of the strong and weak aspects of the Russian Army. Provides the first look on what the Russian Ministry of Defense learned from best Western practices and then applied them on Russian soil." -Ruslan Pukhov, Director of the Moscow-based Centre for the Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST) and member of the Public Council of the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense. Author of Brothers Armed: Military Aspects of the Crisis in Ukraine, Russia's New Army, and The Tanks of August.