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The Envoy: From Kabul to the White House, My Journey Through a Turbulent World
by Zalmay KhalilzadZalmay Khalilzad grew up in a traditional family in the ancient city of Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. As a teenager, Khalilzad spent a year as an exchange student in California, where after some initial culture shocks he began to see the merits of America's very different way of life. He believed the ideals that make American culture work, like personal initiative, community action, and respect for women, could make a transformative difference to his home country, the Muslim world and beyond. Of course, 17-year-old Khalilzad never imagined that he would one day be in a position to advance such ideas.With 9/11, he found himself uniquely placed to try to shape mutually beneficial relationships between his two worlds. As U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq, he helped craft two constitutions and forge governing coalitions. As U.S. Ambassador to the UN, he used his unique personal diplomacy to advance U.S. interests and values. In The Envoy, Khalilzad details his experiences under three presidential administrations with candid behind-the-scenes insights. He argues that America needs an intelligent, effective foreign policy informed by long-term thinking and supported by bipartisan commitment. Part memoir, part record of a political insider, and part incisive analysis of the current Middle East, The Envoy arrives in time for foreign policy discussions leading up to the 2016 election.
The Envoy: Mastering the Art of Diplomacy with Trump and the World
by Gordon SondlandThis is a behind-the-scenes look at Trump, his cabinet, and an international diplomacy you&’ve never seen before—written by someone with no scores to settle, no hidden agenda, no check to cash, and no fucks to give.If you&’ve heard of Gordon Sondland, it&’s likely for one of the following two reasons: one, that he served as the US ambassador to the European Union as a political appointee of President Trump; or two, that he appeared as a pivotal witness in Trump&’s impeachment trial. Yes, Sondland is the &“quid pro quo&” guy. But as it turns out, he has plenty to say that&’s far more memorable. People still stop Sondland at the grocery store or in the airport—Republicans and Democrats alike—and offer him high-fives. Business associates, strangers, and even close friends still ask him: &“How did you do that?&” What they&’re really asking is: How did he survive Trump? How did he handle being grilled by the Senate intelligence committee? How did he come out of the situation intact, able to move on? These are just a few of the questions Sondland wants to answer in The Envoy—a surprising and endlessly amusing account of inflated egos, botched phone calls, bad behavior, and international jujitsu.
Envoy Extraordinary: A Study of Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit and Her Contribution to Modern India (Routledge Revivals)
by Vera BrittainFirst published in 1965, Envoy Extraordinary is a detailed biographical study of Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit and her contribution to India. Drawing on a wealth of interviews, press-cuttings, speeches, letters, and more, the book delves into Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit’s political and diplomatic career and explores her personal values and ideals. It adopts an objective and truthful approach that does not steer away from the more difficult or disconcerting aspects of Pandit’s private and public life. In doing so, it provides a thorough study of her career and a detailed insight into India’s political history.
Enzo Ferrari: The definitive biography of an icon
by Luca Dal Monte**DAILY MAIL BOOK OF THE WEEK**Soon to be an AppleTV+ series, this is the definitive account of how Enzo Ferrari became the master of motor racing, and one of the most complex, important and imposing figures in the 20th century.The book draws upon years of original research, conducted in Italy and abroad, and unveils hidden aspects of Ferrari's career - from his early days as a racer, to how he founded the Ferrari company, and even his dealings with the Italian Fascist government and Communist leaders.Learn how Ferrari pushed his drivers to the brink of disaster, revolutionised the automobile industry and overcame family and company infighting on his rise to greatness.
Enzo Ferrari: The definitive biography of an icon
by Luca Dal Monte**DAILY MAIL BOOK OF THE WEEK**Soon to be an AppleTV+ series, this is the definitive account of how Enzo Ferrari became the master of motor racing, and one of the most complex, important and imposing figures in the 20th century.The book draws upon years of original research, conducted in Italy and abroad, and unveils hidden aspects of Ferrari's career - from his early days as a racer, to how he founded the Ferrari company, and even his dealings with the Italian Fascist government and Communist leaders.Learn how Ferrari pushed his drivers to the brink of disaster, revolutionised the automobile industry and overcame family and company infighting on his rise to greatness.
Enzo Ferrari
by Brock YatesThis book contains everything from Ferrari's bizarre relationship with his illegitimate son to his brilliant marketing of the famous Ferrari image; from his sordid affairs to his work with the fascists in the Second World War; from his fanatic passion for speed to his manipulative yet enormously successful management techniques. Also presents a complete inside history of high-performance cars and motor sports from the First World War to the present.
Enzo Ferrari (Movie Tie-in Edition): The Man and the Machine
by Brock YatesThe sweeping biography of the enigmatic racer and sports car mogul who built the Ferrari brand—the inspiration for the major motion picture Ferrari directed by Michael Mann—featuring a new foreword, epilogue, and photo insertGenius? Tyrant? Power broker? Enzo Ferrari is the impressively researched, fully detailed biography of one of the most powerful men of the twentieth century. Brock Yates penetrated Ferrari&’s inner circle and reveals everything, from his early days in the town of Modena to his bizarre relationship with his illegitimate son; from his fanatic passion for speed to his brilliant marketing of the famous Ferrari image; from his manipulative but enormously effective management tactics to his own frustrated dreams. Fast, fun, and scandalous, Enzo Ferrari more than lives up to its remarkable subject.
EOTHEN: Traces of Travel Brought Home from the East
by Alexander William KinglakeThis is an extraordinary work of travel writing that is more about the author's personal exploration than it is about monuments and museums. Inspired by a journey with an Eton colleague ten years prior, this memoir exemplifies how travel can become a personal experience and change who we are. Though over a century and half old, Eothen, Traces of Travel Brought Home from the East feels as strikingly modern as any contemporary literary memoir. Kinglake's intimate, conversational style and his sense of humor and irony made Eothen-meaning "from the early dawn" or "from the East"-an instant success when it was first published in 1844. Even today, in the 21st century, it maintains its fresh and original feel. For lovers of travel, the Middle East, or self discovery this book will become an instant favorite.
Epic Athletes: (stephen Curry, Alex Morgan, Serena Williams, Tom Brady, Lebron James, Lionel Messi) (Epic Athletes #6)
by Dan WetzelRenowned sports journalist Dan Wetzel shoots and scores with Epic Athletes: Lionel Messi, an inspiring young readers biography of a soccer great who rose from an underdog to a champion!Featuring comic-style illustrations by Jay Reed! Lionel Messi has taken the soccer world by storm. He scored the most goals in a season. He's racked up championships. There was even a statue built in his honor. Despite the accolades, he's still hungry for more goals, more championships, more opportunities to shine on the soccer pitch. Messi's drive to succeed has motivated him ever since he first stepped on his local, worn down field as a kid.Yet his success didn't come without bumps in the road. Diagnosed with a career-threatening medical condition at ten, Messi refused to give up on his dream, and went on to amass one of the greatest careers in sports history. Filled with sports action and bold illustrations, this thrilling biography details the rise of a living soccer legend.Praise for Epic Athletes* "An unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." —Booklist, starred review for Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry
Epic Athletes: Alex Morgan (Epic Athletes #2)
by Dan WetzelKicking off his new series of sports biographies for young readers, journalist Dan Wetzel tells the inspiring true life story of a US Women's Soccer star in Epic Athletes: Alex Morgan. Featuring graphic-style illustrations by Cory Thomas! Fierce competitor. World Cup winner. Role model. U.S. Women's Soccer star Alex Morgan has earned each of these impressive titles throughout her incredible career. As a young girl growing up in Southern California, she dreamed of being a professional soccer player, fighting to compete on the international stage against the world's greatest athletes. Flash forward to the present and Alex Morgan has emerged as the face of U.S. Women's soccer, famous for her clutch, late-game goals, and an inspiration to kids across the country. Bestselling author Dan Wetzel details the rise of an American champion in this uplifting biography for young readers, complete with dynamic comic-style illustrations.
Epic Athletes: Kevin Durant (Epic Athletes #8)
by Dan WetzelIn Epic Athletes: Kevin Durant, award-winning sports journalist Dan Wetzel tells the inspirational true-life story of an NBA superstar in this thrilling biography for young readers!Featuring comic-style illustrations by Marcelo Baez!In 2016, Kevin Durant shocked the basketball world when he decided to sign with the Golden State Warriors. Many questioned why one of the league's best players would join a team that was already stacked with talent—didn't he want to make a name for himself as the sole leader of a team? Kevin would have the last laugh, winning two championships and putting to rest any questions about his incredible legacy. In choosing to tune out the noise, he instead set his sights on success, maintaining the same winning attitude that has helped him achieve and overcome ever since he was kid. Even after his father abandoned the family when he was a young boy, when he was told he was too skinny to make an impact in the NBA, Kevin ignored the critics and forged his own path to victory. Filled with sports action and comic-style illustrations, this inspiring biography recaps the life of one of the most talented scorers in NBA history.Praise for Epic Athletes:* "Wetzel knows how to organize the facts and tell a good story. . . an unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." —Booklist, STARRED review of Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry
Epic Athletes: LeBron James (Epic Athletes #5)
by Dan WetzelEpic Athletes: LeBron James is an inspiring young readers biography of the best basketball player of the modern era from celebrated sports journalist Dan Wetzel! Featuring comic-style illustrations by Setor Fiadzigbey! Whether you call him King James or simply LeBron, one thing is certain: LeBron James is THE face of the NBA. At just eighteen, and facing sky-high expectations, LeBron headed straight from high school to the pros. Cool under pressure, he went on to shatter the record books and become the most popular athlete in America.Yet nothing was ever handed to LeBron. As a kid, he had to move homes constantly, even separating from his mother for a time. But through all the adversity, he took his natural talent and combined it with hard work to set himself on a path to greatness. Filled with sports action and bold illustrations, this exciting biography tells the story of a living NBA legend. Praise for Epic Athletes* "An unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." —Booklist, starred review for Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry
Epic Athletes: Patrick Mahomes (Epic Athletes #9)
by Dan WetzelIn this uplifting illustrated middle-grade biography, acclaimed sports journalist Dan Wetzel tackles the real-life story of the NFL's brightest rising star, quarterback Patrick Mahomes! In 2018, Patrick Mahomes stepped onto the gridiron as the new, inexperienced quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. Just twenty-two-years old at the time, football fans wondered if this young man could live up to lofty expectations. Little did they know, a star was about to be born.By season's end, Patrick threw a whopping fifty touchdowns, the youngest to ever do so, and took his team nearly all the way to the Super Bowl. And the next season, he became the youngest quarterback ever to win Super Bowl MVP! With limitless potential, Patrick not only emerged as the NFL's most dynamic and exciting player, but he's also become a role model to kids across the country. Filled with sports action and comic-style illustrations by Marcelo Baez, this inspiring biography tells the story of the new king of pro football. Praise for Epic Athletes* "Wetzel knows how to organize the facts and tell a good story. [A]n unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." —Booklist, starred review“Dan Wetzel has a winning formula in his Epic Athletes series, sure to appeal to young sports fans.” —The Buffalo News
Epic Athletes: Serena Williams (Epic Athletes #3)
by Dan WetzelEpic Athletes: Serena Williams is an inspiring middle-grade biography of the most celebrated women's tennis player ever from acclaimed sports journalist Dan Wetzel! Featuring comic-style illustrations by Sloane Leong! Serena Williams is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. From growing up in a tough neighborhood to combatting racism to weathering severe health issues, there is no challenge she can't defeat, no hurdle that will get in the way of her unwavering desire to be the best tennis player in the world. As a little girl, Serena spent years training at her local court with her father and older sister, Venus, dreaming of one day winning Grand Slam titles and earning the number one ranking in the world. After more than twenty years of dominating the world of tennis, there's no doubt that Serena has made her dreams come true. In this inspiring biography, bestselling author Dan Wetzel brings to life the story of an athlete and trailblazer who broke records and racial barriers.Featuring action-packed comic-style interior art, this uplifting biography of the most celebrated women's tennis player of all time is sure to be a hit with young sports fans across the country.Praise for Epic Athletes* "An unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." —Booklist, starred review for Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry
Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry (Epic Athletes #1)
by Dan WetzelIn Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry, acclaimed journalist and bestselling author Dan Wetzel tells the inspiring, electrifying story of the NBA superstar, beginning a new series of sports biographies for young readers! Featuring comic-style illustrations by Zeke Peña!When you think of Stephen Curry, one word comes to mind: greatness. From shooting three-pointers with laser precision to his clutch ability to hit buzzer-beaters time and again, he has established himself as one of the best players in pro basketball.But greatness was never a guarantee for Steph. The son of a talented NBA player, he dreamed of one day playing professionally just like his dad. Yet Steph, who was always smaller and weaker than the competition, was told over and over that he would never be talented enough to be a college star or NBA player--let alone the MVP of the entire league. Through tenacity and hard work, he proved them all wrong and went on to dismantle the record books.With the high energy of a TV commentator, and featuring dynamic comic-style illustrations, this engaging biography tells the story of an NBA All-Star and the path he took to achieve his dreams. * "Wetzel knows how to organize the facts and tell a good story. . . an unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." —Booklist (starred review) A Junior Library Guild selection!
Epic Athletes: Tom Brady (Epic Athletes #4)
by Dan WetzelBestselling author Dan Wetzel delivers an action-packed biography of the legendary quarterback and Super Bowl champ in Epic Athletes: Tom Brady.Featuring comic-style illustrations by Kazimir Lee Iskander!Throughout eighteen incredible seasons, Tom Brady has led his team to five Super Bowl championships and earned three Most Valuable Player Awards, cementing his status as one of the best quarterbacks ever. Only one question remains unanswered--is he THE greatest of all time? From the moment Tom Brady stepped on the gridiron wearing a New England Patriots jersey, the National Football League was forever changed. A star, a legend, a future hall-of-famer was born. Over the years, he's mounted comeback after comeback win, finding the open man for a touchdown just when victory seemed out of reach. In this inspirational biography of a living legend, acclaimed sports writer and bestselling author Dan Wetzel chronicles Tom Brady's rise from a backup quarterback at the University of Michigan to an MVP on the biggest stage in sports--the Super Bowl. This fantastic biography also includes vibrant comic-style interior illustrations.Praise for Epic Athletes* "An unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." —Booklist, starred review for Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry
Epic Athletes: Zion Williamson (Epic Athletes #10)
by Dan WetzelIn the illustrated sports biography, Epic Athletes: Zion Williamson, acclaimed journalist Dan Wetzel tells the inspirational story of the greatest basketball prospect of his generation.Following Zion Williamson's record-breaking season at Duke University and his electric NBA debut, basketball fans are already calling him the NBA's Crown Prince, drawing comparisons to all-time greats like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant.Now a New Orleans Pelican, he's set out to prove that he truly deserves to be the new King of Basketball. But for all the expectations and accolades, Zion remains a humble, dedicated teammate, and a terrific role model for young basketball fans across the country. Filled with sports action and comic-style illustrations by David SanAngelo, this inspiring biography tells the story of a once-in-a-generation basketball superstar.
Epic Journeys of Freedom
by Cassandra PybusCassandra Pybus adds greatly to the work of [previous] scholars by insisting that slaves stand at the center of their own history . . . Her 'biographies' of flight expose the dangers that escape entailed and the courage it took to risk all for freedom. Only by measuring those dangers can the exhilaration of success be comprehended and the unspeakable misery of failure be appreciated.--Ira Berlin, from the ForewordDuring the American Revolution, thousands of slaves fled their masters to find freedom with the British. Epic Journeys of Freedom is the astounding story of these runaways and the lives they made on four continents. Having emancipated themselves, with the rhetoric about the inalienable rights of free men ringing in their ears, these men and women struggled tenaciously to make liberty a reality in their own lives.This alternative narrative of freedom fought for and won is uniquely compelling; historian Cassandra Pybus's groundbreaking research has uncovered individual stories of runaways who left America to forge difficult new lives in far-flung corners of the British Empire. Harry, for example, one of George Washington's slaves, escaped from Mount Vernon in 1776, was evacuated to Nova Scotia in 1783, and eventually relocated to Sierra Leone in West Africa with his wife and three children. Ralph Henry, who ran away from the Virginia firebrand Patrick Henry in 1776, took a similar path to precarious freedom in Sierra Leone, while others, such as John Moseley and John Randall, were evacuated with the British forces to England. Stranded in England without skills or patronage during a period of high unemployment, they were among thousands of newly freed poor blacks who struggled just to survive. While some were relocated to Sierra Leone, others, like Moseley and Randall, found themselves transported to the distant penal colony of Botany Bay, in Australia. Epic Journeys of Freedom, written in the best tradition of history from the bottom up, is a fascinating insight into the meaning of liberty; it will change forever the way we think about the American Revolution.From the Hardcover edition.
Epic Lives and Monasticism in the Middle Ages, 800-1050
by Anna Lisa TaylorThis is the first book to focus on Latin epic verse saints' lives in their medieval historical contexts. Anna Taylor examines how these works promoted bonds of friendship and expressed rivalries among writers, monasteries, saints, earthly patrons, teachers and students in Western Europe in the central Middle Ages. Using philological, codicological and microhistorical approaches, Professor Taylor reveals new insights that will reshape our understanding of monasticism, patronage and education. These texts give historians an unprecedented glimpse inside the early medieval classroom, provide a nuanced view of the complicated synthesis of the Christian and Classical heritages, and show the cultural importance and varied functions of poetic composition in the ninth, tenth and eleventh centuries.
The Epic Mentor Guide: Insider Advice for Girls Eyeing the Workforce from 180 Boss Women Who Know
by Illana RaiaImagine if you found the perfect mentor before you actually started work? Now imagine you could ask her anything. The Epic Mentor Guide matches questions from girls eyeing and entering the workforce with answers from 180 boss women already there.Wondering what it&’s like to be the first female coach or general manager of any men&’s professional sports team? Ask Nancy Lieberman or Kim Ng. Want to know what Veronica Beard thinks you should wear to work, why Tyra Banks over-prepares for every meeting, how Haben Girma graduated Harvard Law School deaf and blind, or what Bobbi Brown wants you to do when you hear the word no at work? We did too. Thinking about careers in media, medicine, or metadata? Wish you could interview TheSkimm founders, NASA astronauts, Olympic athletes, or execs at companies like Billboard, Spotify, ESPN, NIKE, LEGO, TikTok, Google, and the NYSE? We felt the same way. You asked. So we asked. Answering girls&’ questions from around the globe about diversity and inclusion, raising hands, speaking up, and standing out, The Epic Mentor Guide is your early inside track to the work world. Created by Illana Raia, founder of the mentorship platform Être, and featuring women who remember what it felt like to take that first step on their career path, this book is for every girl building a future . . . from epic women building a pipeline. Hear from . . . Angela Duckworth … on Getting Your Grit Together Anita Bhatia … on Applying UN Goals to Personal Goals Blake Bolden … on Breaking Glass Ceilings With a Hockey Stick Daisy Auger-Dominguez … on Asking About Inclusion in Interviews Hoda Kotb … on Staying Resilient in the Face of Challenges Kara Goldin … on Taking a Hint and Building an Empire Lilly Ledbetter … on Negotiating a Strong Salary Raise Rebecca Minkoff … on Finding Female-Focused Networks Sudi Green … on Getting Your First Sketch on SNL And so many more!
Epic Survival: Extreme Adventure, Stone Age Wisdom, and Lessons in Living From a Modern Hunter-Gatherer
by Matt Graham Josh YoungMatt Graham, star of the Discovery Channel&’s Dual Survival and Dude, You&’re Screwed, details the physical, mental, and emotional joys and harrowing struggles of his life as a modern-day hunter-gatherer.Early on in his life, Matt craved a return to nature. When he became an adult, he set aside his comfortable urban life and lived entirely off the land to learn from the smallest and grandest of all things. In this riveting narrative that brings together epic adventure and spiritual quest, he shows us what extraordinary things the human body is capable of when pushed to its limits. In Epic Survival, written with Josh Young, coauthor of five New York Times bestsellers, Matt relays captivating stories from his life to show just how terrifying—and gratifying—living off the grid can be. He learns the secrets of the Tarahumara Indians that helped him run the 1,600-mile Pacific Crest Trail in just fifty-eight days and endure temperature swings of 100 degrees. He takes us with him as he treks into the wilderness to live alone for half a year, armed with nothing but a loincloth, a pair of sandals, a stone knife, and chia seeds. He recounts near-death experiences of hiking alone through the snowdrifts at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and tells us about the time he entered a three-day Arabian horse race on foot—and finished third. Above all, Epic Survival is a book about growing closer to the land that nurtures us. No matter how far our modern society takes us from the wilderness, the call remains. Whether you’re an armchair survivalist or have taken the plunge yourself, Matt’s story is both inspiration and invigoration, teaching even the most urbane among us important and breathtaking lessons.
Epic Wanderer
by D'Arcy JenishPopular historian D'Arcy Jenish recreates the adventure and sacrifice of mapmaker David Thompson's fascinating life in the wilderness of North America.Epic Wanderer, the first full-length biography of David Thompson, is set in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries against a broad canvas of dramatic rivalries -- between the United States and British North America, between the Hudson's Bay Company and its Montreal-based rival, the North West Co., and between the various First Nations thrown into disarray by the advent of guns, horses and alcohol.Less celebrated than his contemporaries Lewis and Clark, Thompson spent nearly three decades (1784-1812) surveying and mapping over 1.2 million square miles of largely uncharted Indian territory. Travelling across the prairies, over the Rockies and on to the Pacific, Thompson transformed the raw data of his explorations into a map of the Canadian West. Measuring ten feet by seven feet, and laid out with astonishing accuracy, the map became essential to the politicians and diplomats who would decide upon the future of the rich and promising lands of the West. Yet its creator worked without personal glory and died in penniless obscurity.Drawing extensively on David Thompson's personal journals, illustrated with his detailed sketches, intricate notebook pages and the map itself, Epic Wanderer charts the life of a man who risked everything in the name of scientific advancement and exploration.From the Hardcover edition.
Epicurus and His Influence on History
by Ben GazurHow should we live? In ancient Greece one man came up with a pleasingly simple answer to this question. The philosopher Epicurus taught his followers that pleasure and contentment were the aims of the good life. For hundreds of years Epicureanism was one of the dominant schools of philosophy. But by the 6th century it had all but disappeared. Discovering how and why Epicureanism was driven from philosophy and public discourse reveals much about how Western thought developed. Despite attempts to erase him, the lessons of Epicurus have been recovered from the mists of time and the ashes of Vesuvius. How he was restored to his place in history is a story of brilliant Renaissance scholars, chance discoveries, and a hunger for intellectual freedom. This new biography of Epicurus reveals the life of Epicurus and traces how his teachings have influenced thinkers across time. Epicurus still has much to teach us about friendship, happiness, and our place in the world.
The Epicurus Reader: Selected Writings and Testimonia
by Epicurus L. P. Gerson D. S. Hutchinson Brad InwoodTABLE OF CONTENTS: Introduction The ancient biography of Epicurus The extant letters Ancient collections of maxims Doxographical reports The testimony of Cicero The testimony of Lucretius The polemic of Plutarch Short fragments and testimonia from known works: * From On Nature * From the Puzzles * From On the Goal * From the Symposium * From Against Theophrastus * Fragments of Epicurus' letters Short fragments and testimonia from uncertain works: * Logic and epistemology * Physics and theology * Ethics Index
An Epidemic of Absence: A New Way of Understanding Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases
by Moises Velasquez-ManoffA brilliant, cutting-edge exploration of the dramatic rise of allergic and autoimmune diseases and the controversial, potentially groundbreaking therapies that scientists are developing to correct these disorders Whether it is asthma, food or pollen allergies, type-1 diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis, or Crohn's disease, everyone knows someone who suffers from an allergic or autoimmune disorder. And if it appears that the prevalence of these maladies has increased recently, that's because it has--to levels never before seen in human history. These days no fewer than one in five--and likely more--Americans suffers from one of these ailments. We seem newly, and bafflingly, vulnerable to immune system malfunction. Why? Science writer Moises Velasquez-Manoff explains the latest thinking about this problem and explores the remarkable new treatments in the works. In the past 150 years, improved sanitation, water treatment, and the advent of vaccines and antibiotics have saved countless lives, nearly eradicating diseases that had plagued humanity for millennia. But now, a growing body of evidence suggests that the very steps we took to combat infections also eliminated organisms that kept our bodies in balance. The idea that we have systematically cleaned ourselves to illness challenges deeply entrenched notions about the value of societal hygiene and the harmful nature of microbes. Yet scientists investigating the rampant immune dysfunction in the developed world have inevitably arrived at this conclusion. To address this global "epidemic of absence," they must restore the human ecosystem. This groundbreaking book explores the promising but controversial "worm therapy"--deliberate infection with parasitic worms--in development to treat autoimmune disease. It explains why farmers' children so rarely get hay fever, why allergy is less prevalent in former Eastern Bloc countries, and how one cancer-causing bacterium may be good for us. It probes the link between autism and a dysfunctional immune system. It investigates the newly apparent fetal origins of allergic disease--that a mother's inflammatory response imprints on her unborn child, tipping the scales toward allergy. In the future, preventive treatment--something as simple as a probiotic--will necessarily begin before birth. An Epidemic of Absence asks what will happen in developing countries, which, as they become more affluent, have already seen an uptick in allergic disease: Will India end up more allergic than Europe? Velasquez-Manoff also details a controversial underground movement that has coalesced around the treatment of immune-mediated disorders with parasites. Against much of his better judgment, he joins these do-it-yourselfers and reports his surprising results. An Epidemic of Absence considers the critical immune stimuli we inadvertently lost as we modernized, and the modern ills we may be able to correct by restoring them. At stake is nothing less than our health, and that of our loved ones. Researchers, meanwhile, have the good fortune of living through a paradigm shift, one of those occasional moments in the progress of science when a radically new way of thinking emerges, shakes things up, and suggests new avenues of treatment. You'll discover that you're not you at all, but a bustling collection of organisms, an ecosystem whose preservation and integrity require the utmost attention and care.