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A Beginner's Guide to Paradise: A True Story for Dreamers, Drifters, and Other Fugitives from the Ordinary
by Alex SheshunoffSo You Too Can: - Move to a South Pacific Island - Wear a Loincloth - Read a Hundred Books - Diaper a Baby Monkey - Build a Bungalow And Maybe, Just Maybe, Fall in Love! * * Individual results may vary.The true story of how a quarter-life crisis led to adventure, freedom, and love on a tiny island in the Pacific. From the author of a lot of emails and several Facebook posts comes A Beginner’s Guide to Paradise, a laugh-out-loud, true story that will answer your most pressing escape-from-it-all questions, including: 1. How much, per pound, should you expect to pay a priest to fly you to the outer islands of Yap? 2. Classic slumber party stumper: If you could have just one movie on a remote Pacific island, what would it definitely not be? 3. How do you blend fruity drinks without a blender? 4. Is a free, one-hour class from Home Depot on “Flowerbox Construction” sufficient training to build a house? From Robinson Crusoe to Survivor, Gilligan’s Island to The Beach, people have fantasized about living on a remote tropical island. But when facing a quarter-life crisis, plucky desk slave Alex Sheshunoff actually did it. While out in Paradise, he learned a lot. About how to make big choices and big changes. About the less-than-idyllic parts of paradise. About tying a loincloth without exposing the tender bits. Now, Alex shares his incredible story and pretty-hard-won wisdom in a book that will surprise you, make you laugh, take you to such unforgettable islands as Yap and Pig, and perhaps inspire your own move to an island with only two letters in its name. Answers: 1) $1.14 2) Gas Attack Training Made Simple 3) Crimp a fork in half and insert middle into power drill 4) No.From the Hardcover edition.
A Beginner's Guide to Recognizing Trees of the Northeast
by Mark MikolasIdentify maple, ash, oak, and more with easy-to-learn visual techniques. In this friendly and approachable field guide, writer and avid hiker Mark Mikolas shares a unique approach for year-round tree identification. His method, which centers on the northeastern United States where 20 species make up the majority of trees, will prepare readers to recognize trees at a glance, even in winter when leaves and flowers are not present. Mikolas’s secret is to focus on the key characteristics of each tree—black cherry bark looks like burnt potato chips; beech and oak trees keep their leaves in winter; spruce needles are pointed while balsam fir needles are soft and rounded at the ends. Some trees can even be identified by scent. Location maps for each of the 40 species covered and more than 400 photographs illustrating key characteristics make the trees easy to identify. Mikolas also explains how to differentiate between similar and commonly confused trees, such as red maple and sugar maple. A Beginner’s Guide to Recognizing Trees of the Northeast is a book to keep close at hand wherever trees grow.
The Beginner's (Idiot's) Guide to Long-Haul Flights
by Captain JockMost travellers find long-haul flights far from enjoyable. Long queues, bustling airports, endless security checks, more queues and, finally, cramped seating with pretty average food. Have you ever rushed through an airport, sweating to make a connection, only to find yourself sitting squashed between two people you would normally avoid at all costs and wondered 'There must be a better way'? Or are you a long-haul virgin, daunted by your upcoming trip? Then now is your chance to make the whole experience better. From booking your flight to arriving de-stressed at your destination, this little book will guide you through your long-haul flight trauma, step by step, enabling you to at least escape with your sanity and, at best, perhaps spread out on an extra seat or two where you can relax, get fed first and enjoy an extra mini bottle of wine to soothe away your stress.
The Beginning
by Ryszard KapuscinskiA Vintage Shorts Travel Selection As British rule came to an end in Ghana, Polish journalist Ryszard Kapuscinski journeyed to the country to witness the birth of a new republic. Here Kapuscinski shares stories and insights about the time he spent crisscrossing Ghana in 1957. From meeting with the charismatic Kofi Baako, then Minister of Education and Information, to discussing witchcraft and clan structures with a fellow reporter in Kumasi, Kapuscinski investigates what it means to be Ghanaian at a time of immense change and upheaval. Rich with anecdotes and honesty, selection from his travelogue The Shadow of the Sun is a remarkable firsthand account into the sights and sounds of Ghana. An eBook short.
Beginning Go
by Susan Long Peter ShotwellBeginning Go is a clear and thorough introduction to the intricacies of Go that is perfect for first time players. The straightforward instructions and detailed examples make it simple to understand how to play. You'll learn how to keep score, as well as effective strategies and tactics to make the game more competitive and fun.By the time you've finished the instructional sections, you'll have all the confidence, skill and strategies you need to enjoy playing this fascinating game. What's more, Go's unique handicapping system, which the book explains, allows even absolute beginners to play competitive games with experienced players.
Beginning Go
by Peter Shotwell Susan LongBeginning Go is a clear and thorough introduction to the intricacies of Go that is perfect for first time players. The straightforward instructions and detailed examples make it simple to understand how to play. You'll learn how to keep score, as well as effective strategies and tactics to make the game more competitive and fun.By the time you've finished the instructional sections, you'll have all the confidence, skill and strategies you need to enjoy playing this fascinating game. What's more, Go's unique handicapping system, which the book explains, allows even absolute beginners to play competitive games with experienced players.
Begums, Thugs, and White Mughals: The Journals Of Fanny Parkes
by Fanny ParkesFanny Parkes lived in India between 1822 and 1846 and was the ideal travel writer – courageous, indefatigably curious and determinedly independent. Her journals trace her transformation from prim memsahib to eccentric, sitar-playing Indophile, fluent in Urdu, critical of British rule and passionate in her appreciation of Indian culture. Fanny is fascinated by the trial of thugs, the adorning of a Hindu bride and swears by the efficacy of opium on headaches. To read her is to get as close as one can to a true picture of early colonial India – the sacred and the profane, the violent and the beautiful, the straight-laced sahibs and the ‘White Mughals’ who fell in love with India, married Indian wives and built bridges between the two cultures.
Behind God's Back
by Harri Nykanen Kristian LondonPraise for Harri Nykänen's Nights of Awe:"The clever combination of classic Jewish themes with the traditions of Nordic crime makes for a refreshing tale with wide appeal. And the subtle humor makes it even better."--Booklist"Professional responsibility and ethnic affiliation clash in Nykänen's intriguing first novel. The resolution will satisfy noir fans."--Publishers Weekly"Ariel Kafka wins the award for most intriguing name for a fictional detective, and it suits this impressively labyrinthine mystery series."--Time OutThe second in the Ariel Kafka series.There are two Jewish cops in all of Helsinki. One of them, Ariel Kafka, a lieutenant in the Violent Crime Unit, identifies himself as a policeman first, then a Finn, and lastly a Jew. Kafka is a religiously non-observant forty-something bachelor who is such a stubborn, dedicated policeman that he's willing to risk his career to get an answer. Murky circumstances surround his investigation of a Jewish businessman's murder. Neo-Nazi violence, intergenerational intrigue, shady loans--predictable lines of investigation lead to unpredictable culprits. But a second killing strikes closer to home, and the Finnish Security Police come knocking. The tentacles of Israeli politics and Mossad reach surprisingly far, once again wrapping Kafka in their sticky embrace.Harri Nykänen, born in Helsinki in 1953, was a well-known crime journalist and is now dedicated to writing fiction. The first in the Ariel Kafka series was Nights of Awe. Nykänen's work exposes the local underworld through the eyes of the criminal, the terrorist, and now from the point of view of an eccentric Helsinki police inspector.
Behind the Red Veil: An American Inside Gorbachev's Russia
by Frank ThomsFrank Thoms went to the Soviet Union not to judge but to learn. As a result, he gained the trust and confidence of the people he befriended—and discovered much about himself. Behind the Red Veil recounts Frank&’s quest to understand the Russian people. He spent his initial twenty-five years as a teacher, during which time he pursued his understanding of Marxism, Russian history, and Soviet Communism. His first venture to the Soviet Union occurred in October 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev&’s first year as general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. In his following six trips, Frank served twice as a US–Soviet exchange teacher of English in Leningrad (St. Petersburg), and on his own taught English in schools in Moscow and Alma-Ata (Almaty), Kazakhstan. His final journey, which was to the new Russia in 1994, three years after Gorbachev&’s resignation, took him to Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains. Through it all, Frank sought the love and respect of the Russians he came into contact with. Behind the Red Veil is the story of how they opened their hearts to him—and, in doing so, opened his.
Behind the Scenes at the Museum of Baked Beans: My Search for Britain's Maddest Museums
by Hunter Davies'I am fascinated by people turning their daft dreams into a reality. How did they do it and why?'Driven by his own passion for collecting Hunter Davies has packed his notepad and set off in search of Britain's maddest museums. As he explores these hidden gems he soon discovers that they are everywhere and that they celebrate just about everything, from lawnmowers in Southport to pencils in Keswick.But as Hunter travels up and down the country he comes to realise that it isn't only the collections that are fascinating, it's also the people who have put them together. Whether they're a man who loves his Heinz so much he's changed his name to Captain Beany or a kleptomaniac Vintage Radio buff, these eccentric collectors are Britain's finest and could live in no other country in the world.Once you discover these museums and get to know their curators, Great Britain won't look quite the same again...
Behind the Smile: The Working Lives of Caribbean Tourism
by George GmelchBehind the Smile is an inside look at the world of Caribbean tourism as seen through the lives of the men and women in the tourist industry in Barbados. The workers represent every level of tourism, from maid to hotel manager, beach gigolo to taxi driver, red cap to diving instructor. These highly personal accounts offer insight into complex questions surrounding tourism: how race shapes interactions between tourists and workers, how tourists may become agents of cultural change, the meaning of sexual encounters between locals and tourists, and the real economic and ecological costs of development through tourism. This updated edition updates the text and includes several new narratives and a new chapter about American students' experiences during summer field school and home stays in Barbados.
Behind the Wall: A Journey Through China
by Colin ThubronThis is a book about Thubron's journey through Red China of the 1980s. He visits both ends of the Great Wall and meanders around this vast country.
Beijing Welcomes You
by Tom ScoccaA definitive, and highly entertaining, account of contemporary Beijing, the undisputed capital of the twenty-first century. Within the past decade, Beijing has debuted as the defining city of the now and foreseeable future, and China as the ascendant global power. Beijing is the ultimate representation of China's political and cultural capital, of its might-and threat. For so long, the city was closed off to the world, literally built around the Forbidden City, the icon of all that was ominous about China. But now, the country is eager to show off its new openness, its glory and magnanimity, and Beijing is its star. When Tom Scocca arrived in 2004-an American eager to see another culture-Beijing was looking toward welcoming the world to its Olympics four years later, and preparations were in full swing to create a renewed city. Scocca talked to the scientists tasked with changing the weather; interviewed designers and architects churning out projects; checked out the campaign to stop public spitting; documented the planting of trees, the rerouting of traffic, the demolition of the old city, and the construction of the new metropolis. Beijing Welcomes You is a glimpse into the future and an encounter with an urban place we do not yet fully comprehend, and the superpower it is essential we get to know better. .
Being a Tourist: Finding Meaning in Pleasure Travel
by Julia HarrisonIn this study, Harrison (anthropology, Trent U., Canada) conducted a series of 32 lengthy interviews with Canadians who regularly travel for pleasure to foreign countries. The study investigates why people engage in tourism, how they view and interact with local people when abroad, how they plan their travels, and how their travels affect their view of home.
Being and Dwelling through Tourism: An anthropological perspective (New Directions in Tourism Analysis)
by Catherine PalmerMuch of the existing literature seeks to make sense of tourism based on singular approaches such as visuality, identity, mobility, performance and globalised consumption. What is missing, however, is an overarching framework within which these valuable approaches can be located. This book offers one such framework using the concept of dwelling taken from Heidegger and Ingold as the starting point from which to consider the interrelatedness of being, dwelling and tourism. The anthropological focus at the core of the book is infused with multidisciplinary perspectives that draw on a variety of subjects including philosophy, material cultural studies and cultural geography. The main themes include sensuous, material, architectural and earthly dwelling and each chapter features a discussion of the unifying theoretical framework for each theme, followed by an illustrative focus on specific aspects of tourism. This theoretically substantive book will be of interest to anyone involved with tourism research from a wide range of disciplines including anthropology, sociology, geography, cultural studies, leisure studies and tourist studies.
Being British
by Kieran Hughes Maureen HughesA smashing guide to the customs, history, and idiosyncrasies of Great Britain—from geography and landmarks to education, food, language, and royalty. Being British is the perfect book for everyone who lives (or wishes they lived) in our wonderful country. Here the British will discover what they already suspected, and that is that many of the GREAT historical figures of all time were British, many of the GREATEST inventions were British, as well as many other patriotic facts. They will also be reminded of all great and unique customs and traditions inherent in our beautiful land, and probably learn of some they never knew existed too, as well as laughing at the things that only The British could do! Being British is also an excellent companion for all tourists and new inhabitants who are struggling to come to terms with and understand the way in which we British live and conduct ourselves and our lives. &“As it gives a &‘once-over lightly&’ introduction to &‘British&’ culture, this volume will probably have wide appeal. Tourists and potential immigrants are likely to peruse it with great and earnest interest.&” —NZ Crown Mines
Being Dead in South Carolina
by Jacob WhiteStories of the modern South, of people who no longer recognize themselves, who have arrived, like the Sunbelt itself, to a strange day that seems disconnected from all the old days, the old stories. Yet it's on this day we must always answer for ourselves&emdash;right an overturned car, recover a brother's body, convince a son of our worth and his.
Beirut Diary
by Charles L. BreindelThe book recounts Dr. Breindel's professorship in Beirut in 1982, how fighting broke out, and how he and others were daptured. The book shows how the experience changed his life. Really interesting. "This book has been a long time in formulation. It has been an idea gestating in my mind and in those of many dear friends who wanted to hear the story of my third and final trip to the American University of Beirut. It was well known by many that I kept detailed diaries during those early days of international travel. Because of that, many have been requesting the publication of the diary from that fateful trip 23 years ago. But I was not ready to share my story, nor the significance that those days in Beirut in the spring of 1982 had on my life. I was still an "open book," naive and looking for meaning in life, after I got back home. What I found in Beirut was not apparent to me until many years later when good hindsight brought into better perspective the life-changing experience of Beirut. I went to Beirut as a young visiting assistant professor to teach a short course in health planning. I returned still the same professional, but with a different worldview, a budding sense of God in my life, and a new hunger for understanding and wisdom that was unparalleled in my prior life. Before Beirut, I was "putting in time," existing, not being particularly satisfied, yet not dissatisfied. Not knowing the possibilities available in my life, I was unaware that there were other possibilities, other realities."
Beirut Noir (Akashic Noir #0)
by Rawi Hage Muhammad Abi Samra Leila Eid Hala Kawtharani Marie Tawk Bana Baydoun Hyam Yared Najwa Barakat Alawiyeh Sobh Mazen Zahreddine Abbas Beydoun Bachir Hilal Zena El Khalil Mazen Maarouf Tarek Abi Samra"No book could possibly describe the myriad different faces of twenty-first century Beirut better than Beirut Noir, yet another in the fabulous Akashic Noir series that should dominate at least one shelf of any crime fan's library."--CrimeReads, included in Paul French's Column on Beirut Crime Fiction"Humaydan writes in her introduction to this haunting anthology that 'all of the stories are somehow framed by the Lebanese civil war, which lasted from approximately 1974 until 1990...' The crimes in this Akashic noir volume are often submerged in the greater tragedy of a beautiful city constantly torn within and without by violence."--Publishers Weekly"The stories' individual approaches to noir are as diverse as the Beirut landscape, its residents and exiles."--Middle East Monitor"In Beirut Noir, Iman Humaydan has selected a beautiful and often heartbreaking jigsaw portrait of its eponymous city....These are writers, multiple generations of Beiruti, who live and breathe the neighborhoods of their capital, and each seems to care about even the worst of it. And there is occasional humor to be found in the darkest of its spaces. Beirut, as Humaydan explains in her introduction, is a 'city that dances on its wounds.' This is a book that transcends its place in a series and stands on its own as something terrific."--World Literature Today"The Lebanese authors featured in the collection draw from a much broader palette of Beirut life, and, true to the genre, they tap into their city's dark past and uncertain present. Some stories are absurd and humorous, but almost all are haunted in some way by a nagging memory, a war, a death."--The NationalTranslated by Michelle Hartman.Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each story is set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book.Featuring brand-new stories by: Rawi Hage, Muhammad Abi Samra, Leila Eid, Hala Kawtharani, Marie Tawk, Bana Baydoun, Hyam Yared, Najwa Barakat, Alawiyeh Sobh, Mazen Zahreddine, Abbas Beydoun, Bachir Hilal, Zena El Khalil, Mazen Maarouf, and Tarek Abi Samra.Most of the writers in this volume are still living in Beirut, so this is an important contribution to Middle East literature--not the "outsider's perspective" that often characterizes contemporary literature set in the region.From the introduction by Iman Humaydan (translated by Michelle Hartman):"Beirut is a city of contradiction and paradox. It is an urban and rural city, one of violence and forgiveness, memory and forgetfulness. Beirut is a city of war and peace. This short story collection is a part of a vibrant, living recovery of Beirut. Beirut Noir recovers the city once again through writing, through the literary visions of its authors..."From within this collection of stories, a general attitude toward Beirut emerges: the city is viewed from a position of critique, doubt, disappointment, and despair. The stories here show the vast maze of the city that can't be found in tourist brochures or nostalgic depictions of Beirut that are completely out of touch with reality. Perhaps this goes without saying in a collection of stories titled Beirut Noir. But the 'noir' label here should be viewed from multiple angles, and it takes on many different forms in the stories. No doubt this is because it is imbricated in the distinct moments that Beirut has lived through and how they are depicted in the stories."
Bel Vino
by Isabella DusiIsobel and Lou moved to Montalcino and became Isabella and Luigi ten years ago and they have now been embraced by the locals and immersed in their antiquated customs and age-old feuds. In BEL VINO Isabella takes the reader on a winding journey to discover the true aristocratic orgins of the world-renowned wine Brunello di Montalcino on whose vintage the fortunes of many of the Montalcinesi depend. Taking us through the seasons of the wine harvest, Dusi weaves a path that brings in the local white-hooded monks who have lived in the Abbey of Sant' Antimo since at least 814; the last remaining local shoemaker; the harvesting of mushrooms, olives and truffles; an archery contest with a local village at which passions run high; and the fight to save a 1000-year-old church with no foundations. As an insider, Dusi is able to portray Tuscan life with all its idyllic charms whilst also giving an intriguing insight into the daily workings of the ancient village of Montalcino.
Belarus - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
by Anne CoombesDon't pack anxiety in your suitcase! By reading Culture Smart! Belarus before you go, will ease your travel, help you to make friends and avoid confusion. Culture Smart! Belarus will help you to understand Belarus manners, customs and laws. Culture Smart! Belarus goes the extra mile to help you brush up on your cultural small talk and will make you confident in leaving your comfort zone far behind. Walk hand in hand with a Culture Smart! guide and avoid misunderstandings that could cost you valuable time, money and enjoyment. . . With Culture Smart! Belarus you will learn about daily living, historical perspectives, taboos, business etiquette, eating and drinking and much more, allowing you to experience NAME like a native. Be responsible, be Culture Smart!
Belding (Images of America)
by Cindy M. HughesBelding is located in the northwest corner of Ionia County along the Flat River. The land was first settled by Charles Broas in 1837 and became known as Broas Rapids. The name was later changed to Patterson Mills, and in 1871 the small village was renamed Belding in honor of the Belding family. The Belding brothers manufactured silk and brought much activity to the community. Between 1885 and 1917, the Beldings operated four silk mills, two dormitories, Hotel Belding, a hospital, an opera house, a library, and many more downtown businesses. The silk mills alone employed more people than all other area factories combined. With the brothers controlling 90 percent of the American silk market, Belding became known as "Silk Capital of the World."
Belfast Noir (Akashic Noir)
by Adrian Mckinty Stuart Neville"Belfast, with its bleak, murderous history, at last gets an entry in Akashic's acclaimed noir series."--Publishers WeeklyLaunched with the summer '04 award-winning best seller Brooklyn Noir, Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies. Each book is comprised of all-new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book.Reflecting a city still divided, Belfast Noir serves as a record of a city transitioning to normalcy, or perhaps as a warning that underneath the fragile peace darker forces still lurk.Featuring brand-new stories by: Glenn Patterson, Eoin McNamee, Garbhan Downey, Lee Child, Alex Barclay, Brian McGilloway, Ian McDonald, Arlene Hunt, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Claire McGowan, Steve Cavanagh, Lucy Caldwell, Sam Millar, and Gerard Brennan.From the introduction by Adrian McKinty & Stuart Neville:"Few European cities have had as disturbed and violent a history as Belfast over the last half-century. For much of that time the Troubles (1968-1998) dominated life in Ireland's second-biggest population centre, and during the darkest days of the conflict--in the 1970s and 1980s--riots, bombings, and indiscriminate shootings were tragically commonplace. The British army patrolled the streets in armoured vehicles and civilians were searched for guns and explosives before they were allowed entry into the shopping district of the city centre...Belfast is still a city divided...You can see Belfast's bloodstains up close and personal. This is the city that gave the world its worst ever maritime disaster, and turned it into a tourist attraction; similarly, we are perversely proud of our thousands of murders, our wounds constantly on display. You want noir? How about a painting the size of a house, a portrait of a man known to have murdered at least a dozen human beings in cold blood? Or a similar house-sized gable painting of a zombie marching across a postapocalyptic wasteland with an AK-47 over the legend UVF: Prepared for Peace--Ready for War. As Lee Child has said, Belfast is still 'the most noir place on earth.'"
Belgium - Culture Smart!
by Mandy MacdonaldCulture Smart! provides essential information on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in different countries, ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues. These concise guides tell you what to expect, how to behave, and how to establish a rapport with your hosts. This inside knowledge will enable you to steer clear of embarrassing gaffes and mistakes, feel confident in unfamiliar situations, and develop trust, friendships, and successful business relationships.Culture Smart! offers illuminating insights into the culture and society of a particular country. It will help you to turn your visit-whether on business or for pleasure-into a memorable and enriching experience. Contents include* customs, values, and traditions* historical, religious, and political background* life at home* leisure, social, and cultural life* eating and drinking* dos, don'ts, and taboos* business practices* communication, spoken and unspoken"Culture Smart has come to the rescue of hapless travellers." Sunday Times Travel"... the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries." Global Travel"...full of fascinating-as well as common-sense-tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas." Observer"...as useful as they are entertaining." Easyjet Magazine"...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world." New York Times
Bell County
by Tim CornettBell County is a place steeped in history and imbued with a pioneering spirit. Its favorable location in southeastern Kentucky at the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains makes it the gateway to the Bluegrass State and beyond. Formed just after the Civil War from neighboring Harlan and Knox Counties, the area was explored by famous frontiersmen Dr. Thomas Walker and Daniel Boone, opening the nation's door to the West. From the 1750s until the last footfalls of the pioneers had been heard in the West, thousands trekked across this region. As the land became more accessible, travelers began to settle in this remote area. The discovery of coal, the advent of logging, and the coming of the railroad made Bell County a place to live and prosper, and its residents have always taken pride in their town's humble beginnings.Images of America: Bell County celebrates the region's heritage with vintage images and informative text. Black-and-white photographs culled from a variety of sources highlight the spirit of a remarkable community, where self-made millionaires and peg-legged admirals were among the many unforgettable individuals to call the area home. This photo journal invites readers to rediscover Bell County and its treasures.