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They Eat Horses, Don't They?: The Truth About the French
by Piu Marie EatwellThey Eat Horses, Don't They?:The Truth About the French tells you what life in France is really like. Do the French eat horses? Do French women bare all on the beach? What is a bidet really used for?In this hilarious and informative book, Piu Marie Eatwell reveals the truth behind forty-five myths about the French, from the infamous horsemeat banquets of the nineteenth century that inspired an irrepressible rumor, to breaking down our long-held beliefs about French history and society (the French are a nation of cheese-eating surrender monkeys, right?).Eatwell lived in France for many years and made the most of long French weekends, extended holidays, and paid time off to sit on French beaches, evaluate the sexual allure of the French men and women around her, and, of course, scan café menus for horses and frogs. As a result, They Eat Horses, Don't They? reveals a fascinating picture of historical and contemporary France—a country that has both changed radically in the twenty-first century, but yet still retains much of the mystery, romance, and allure that has seduced foreigners for decades. Truth, as always, is stranger than fiction. . . .
They Only Eat Their Husbands: Love, Travel, and the Power of Running Away
by Cara Lopez LeeAfter a lover threatens to kill her, 26-year-old Cara Lopez Lee runs away to Alaska. There, she finds herself in a complicated love triangle with two alcoholics: Sean, the martial artist, and Chance, the paramedic. Nine years later, sick of love and the abuse that destroyed it, she runs away again, this time to backpack alone around the world. Recounting one woman's journey to self-discovery with dazzling honesty and humor, this memoir follows her year-long trek through Thailand, China, Nepal, Spain, and Ireland.
The Retire-in-Thailand Handbook (The First Six Months): Book 1 in the Retirees Travel Guide Series
by Gerald HoggMy first six months in Thailand were frustrating. When I dreamt about retiring in Thailand, I thought that when I arrived, I would get my retirement visa, rent a condo, buy a vehicle, then spend my time exploring my new country, going to the beach, going out for meals and meeting new friends. Unfortunately, reality took over and I spent most of my time dealing with Thai bureaucracy and trying to sort out the endless problems that arise when moving to a new country. Back in Australia, I already had a visa, my own house, my own car, medical insurance, driving licence, bank accounts, credit rating, doctor and dentist. Moving to another country, I was more or less starting my life over and I needed to establish myself within the Thai system. Government, banking, medical, everything that was just part of my everyday life at home, I had to recreate in Thailand. Hopefully, this book will give you the information you need to avoid most of the problems that I had and allow you to retire to this wonderful country with confidence and assurance, as well as saving you time, money and your sanity. I wish I had been able to read this book before I left Australia.
Thicker Than Water: New Writing from the Caribbean
by Funso AiyejinaThe latest release from Caribbean publisher Peekash Press celebrates some of the major new voices in Anglophone Caribbean literature.Difficult parents and lost children, unfaithful spouses and spectral lovers, mysterious ancestors and fierce bloodlines—the stories, poems, and memoirs in this new anthology tackle everything that’s most complicated and thrilling about family and history in the Caribbean. Collecting new writing by finalists for the Hollick Arvon Caribbean Writers Prize, a groundbreaking award administered by the Bocas Lit Fest, Thicker Than Water shows us how a new generation of Caribbean authors address perennial questions of love, betrayal, and memory in small places where personal and collective histories are often troublingly intertwined.Featuring brand-new writing from: Lisa Allen-Agostini, Nicolette Bethel, Danielle Boodoo-Fortuné, Vashti Bowlah, Richard Georges, Zahra Gordon, Barbara Jenkins, Lelawatee Manoo-Rahming, Ira Mathur, Diana McCaulay, Sharon Millar, Monica Minott, Philip Nanton, Xavier Navarro Aquino, Shivanee Ramlochan, Judy Raymond, Hazel Simmons-McDonald, Lynn Sweeting, and Peta-Gaye V. Williams.
Things Become Other Things: A Walking Memoir
by Craig ModA transformative 300-mile walk along Japan&’s ancient pilgrimage routes and through depopulating villages inspires a heartrending remembrance of a long-lost friend, documented in poignant, imaginative prose and remarkable photography.&“An epic, exquisitely detailed journey, on foot, through a rural Japan few of us are likely to experience. Uniquely unforgettable.&”—William Gibson, New York Times bestselling author of NeuromancerPhotographer and essayist Craig Mod is a veteran of long solo walks. But in 2021, during the pandemic shutdown of Japan&’s borders, one particular walk around the Kumano Kodō routes—the ancient pilgrimage paths of Japan&’s southern Kii Peninsula—took on an unexpectedly personal new significance. Mod found himself reflecting on his own childhood in a post-industrial American town, his experiences as an adoptee, his unlikely relocation to Japan at nineteen, and his relationship with one lost friend, whose life was tragically cut short after their paths diverged. For Mod, the walk became a tool to bear witness to a quiet grace visible only when &“you&’re bored out of your skull and the miles left are long.&”Tracing a 300-mile-long journey, Things Become Other Things folds together history, literature, poetry, Shinto and Buddhist spirituality, and contemporary rural life in Japan via dozens of conversations with aging fishermen, multi-generational inn owners, farmers, and kissaten cafe &“mamas.&” Along the way, Mod communes with mountain fauna, marvels over evidence of bears and boars, and hopscotches around leeches. He encounters whispering priests and foul-mouthed little kids who ask him, &“Just what the heck are you, anyway?&” Through sharp prose and his curious archive of photographs, he records evidence of floods and tsunamis, the disappearance of village life on the peninsula, and the capricious fecundity of nature.Things Become Other Things blends memoir and travel writing at their best, transporting readers to an otherwise inaccessible Japan, one made visible only through Mod&’s unique bicultural lens.
Things Great and Small: Collections Management Policies (American Alliance Of Museums)
by John E. SimmonsCare of the collections is a core responsibility for all museums and related cultural institutions. The foundation of collections care and stewardship is good collections management policies. <p><p>This revised edition of Things Great and Small is a comprehensive resource for preparing and implementing collections management policies. Drawing on his extensive experience as a collections manager, educator, consultant, and surveyor for the AAM’s Museum Assessment Program, John E. Simmons reviews current ideas and literature on the subject, highlights the issues that collections management policies should address, and explains the pros and cons of choosing some policy options over others. <p><p>In the second edition, coverage of several key areas is greatly expanded or new. Information includes: <p>• digital collections, <p>• intellectual property rights, <p>• deaccessioning and use of deaccessioning proceeds, <p>• laws & regulations, <p>• changes in standards and benchmarks for collections care, <p>• the way US museums are funded and administered, and <p>• new standards and practices for collection storage environments. <p><p>Featuring more than 40 tables and charts and nearly 20 model policy templates, this major publication is aimed at museums of all kinds, historic houses and sites, and other cultural institutions.
Things Korean
by O-Young Lee John HolsteinThings Korean is a useful guide to traditional life in Korea, presented in an accessible and attractive format. O-Young Lee, former Korean Minister of Culture gives us a survey of native objects from Korea, from totems(Changsung) to hair-pins(binyo), crock pots(Changdokdae) to temple bells(Jong), scissors(Kawi) to graves(mudon) explaining their significance and place in everyday Korean life.Each item in the book is listed under its English and Korean name; a glossary is provided to further assist the reader. Lavishly illustrated with more than 100 color illustrations, Things Korean is a magnificent celebration of Korean culture.
Things We Never Say: Family secrets, love and lies – this gripping bestseller will keep you guessing …
by Sheila O'FlanaganSheila O'Flanagan's unputdownable bestseller THINGS WE NEVER SAY is a must-read for fans of Marian Keyes and Veronica Henry. The things we never say:A daughter doesn't say how she feels about the past...A husband is afraid to say that selling the house his wife loves is the only option...A woman hasn't said that even though they live thousands of miles apart, this man is always on her mind...If those things were said, the results could be life-changing. As Abbey - and a whole family she knew nothing of - are about to find out in this warm-hearted, thought-provoking and touching novel.What readers are saying about Things We Never Say: 'The pace was lively - I just flew through the book. Lots of drama, family skeletons to be dug up, relationship dynamics to be explored and all in a fun, breezy writing style' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'A truly feel-good story with lots of twists and turns' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars'What I enjoyed about this book was I never quite knew what was going to happen next. Families, greed, deception, secrets and a touch of romance - all I would ask for in a story' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Another brilliant book from Sheila O'Flanagan. I was drawn into the story right from the first chapter. Great characters and a great storyline' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
Things We Never Say: Family secrets, love and lies – this gripping bestseller will keep you guessing …
by Sheila O'FlanaganSheila O'Flanagan's unputdownable bestseller THINGS WE NEVER SAY is a must-read for fans of Marian Keyes and Veronica Henry.The things we never say:A daughter doesn't say how she feels about the past...A husband is afraid to say that selling the house his wife loves is the only option...A woman hasn't said that even though they live thousands of miles apart, this man is always on her mind...If those things were said, the results could be life-changing. As Abbey - and a whole family she knew nothing of - are about to find out in this warm-hearted, thought-provoking and touching novel.What readers are saying about Things We Never Say:'The pace was lively - I just flew through the book. Lots of drama, family skeletons to be dug up, relationship dynamics to be explored and all in a fun, breezy writing style' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'A truly feel-good story with lots of twists and turns' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars'What I enjoyed about this book was I never quite knew what was going to happen next. Families, greed, deception, secrets and a touch of romance - all I would ask for in a story' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Another brilliant book from Sheila O'Flanagan. I was drawn into the story right from the first chapter. Great characters and a great storyline' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
Things We Never Say: Family secrets, love and lies – this gripping bestseller will keep you guessing …
by Sheila O'FlanaganSheila O'Flanagan's unputdownable bestseller THINGS WE NEVER SAY is a must-read for fans of Marian Keyes and Veronica Henry. The things we never say:A daughter doesn't say how she feels about the past...A husband is afraid to say that selling the house his wife loves is the only option...A woman hasn't said that even though they live thousands of miles apart, this man is always on her mind...If those things were said, the results could be life-changing. As Abbey - and a whole family she knew nothing of - are about to find out in this warm-hearted, thought-provoking and touching novel.(P)2012 Headline Publishing Group Ltd
Thinking Heritage Through China (Routledge Cultural Heritage and Tourism Series)
by Andrew Scott JohnstonThinking Heritage Through China explores major themes in international heritage through the lens of heritage practice in China.China is a dynamic proving ground of heritage practice where international ideas are debated, fought over, and realized in many forms within the context of complex economic, political, and reputational forces. Preservation in China engages with many of the central themes of international heritage practice, shedding new light on considerations of authenticity and intangible heritage, politics and nationalism, and tourism and development. These forces lie at the heart of contemporary heritage practice, not only in China but also all over the world. Written by an architectural historian, architect, and heritage professional with experience in China, this book uses an architecturally and spatially focused analysis bridging critical heritage studies and the study of the built environment as shaped through heritage practice, exploring a wide range of contemporary heritage themes for a broad audience including China scholars.This book will be of interest to scholars, practitioners, and both undergraduate and post-graduate students interested in contemporary international heritage practice, heritage studies, theory and methods of heritage, comparative heritage practice, and heritage practice in China and Asia.
Thinking on My Feet: The small joy of putting one foot in front of another
by Kate Humble'An enticing read that makes every walk Humble describes an adventure' - Ranulph Fiennes'A beautiful and magnificent book. A paean to a simple act. I defy you to read this book and not be inspired to walk, march or hike - and as a result live a better life more connected with nature and the world around you.' - Simon Reeve'A lovely book, fast-flowing yet at every turn giving the reader pause for thought. Kate Humble makes a delightful companion, her words full of sunshine and the raw pleasure she radiates as she encounters life in its many unexpected forms.' - Benedict Allen'I've discovered that going for a daily walk has become as essential to me feeling good for the rest of the day as that first cup of tea. But I would argue that all I am doing is responding to a natural need we all have. Humans have always been migrants, the physiological urge to be nomadic is deep-rooted in all of us and perhaps because of that our brains are stimulated by walking. I solve all sorts of problems, formulate ideas, work things out to that gentle rhythm of self-propelled movement.' - Kate HumbleThinking on My Feet tells the story of Kate's walking year - shining a light on the benefits of this simple activity. Kate's inspiring narrative not only records her walks (and runs) throughout a single year, but also charts her feelings and impressions throughout - capturing the perspectives that only a journey on foot allows - and shares the outcomes: a problem solved, a mood lifted, an idea or opportunity borne. As she explores the reasons why we walk, whether for creative energy, challenge and pleasure, or therapeutic benefits, Kate's reflections and insights will encourage, motivate and spur readers into action.Also featured are Kate's walks with others who have discovered the magical, soothing effect of putting one foot in front of the other - the artist who walks to find inspiration for his next painting; the man who takes people battling with addiction to climb mountains; the woman who walked every footpath in Wales (3,700 miles) when she discovered she had cancer.This book will inspire you to change your perspective by applying walking to your daily endeavours.
Thinking on My Feet: The small joy of putting one foot in front of another
by Kate Humble'I've discovered that going for a daily walk has become as essential to me feeling good for the rest of the day as that first cup of tea. But I would argue that all I am doing is responding to a natural need we all have. Humans have always been migrants, the physiological urge to be nomadic is deep-rooted in all of us and perhaps because of that our brains are stimulated by walking. I solve all sorts of problems, formulate ideas, work things out to that gentle rhythm of self-propelled movement.' - Kate HumbleThinking on My Feet is an inspiring journal of walks divided into seasonal sections. Discover the joys and benefits of walking, encounters with the natural and urban world, with the familiar and strange, with animals, people and events. Kate charts her feelings and impressions throughout, capturing the perspectives that only a journey on foot allows. Find out what makes you curious, what makes something memorable.Also included are Kate's walks with other people who have discovered the magical, soothing effect of putting one foot infront of the other - the artist who walks to find inspiration for his next painting; the man who takes people battling with addiction to climb mountains; the woman who walked every footpath in Wales (3,700 miles) when she discovered she had cancer. This book will inspire you to change your perspective by applying walking to your daily endeavours.(p) 2018 Octopus Publishing Group
Thinking on My Feet: The small joy of putting one foot in front of another (Kate Humble)
by Kate Humble** SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE**** SHORTLISTED FOR THE EDWARD STANFORD TRAVEL WRITING AWARD - TRAVEL MEMOIR OF THE YEAR **A lovely, civilised and transporting read, that should have all of us stepping out to meet the world with fresh eyes.' - Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall'An enticing read that makes every walk Humble describes an adventure' - Ranulph Fiennes'A beautiful and magnificent book. A paean to a simple act. I defy you to read this book and not be inspired to walk, march or hike - and as a result live a better life more connected with nature and the world around you.' - Simon Reeve'A lovely book, fast-flowing yet at every turn giving the reader pause for thought. Kate Humble makes a delightful companion, her words full of sunshine and the raw pleasure she radiates as she encounters life in its many unexpected forms.' - Benedict Allen'I've discovered that going for a daily walk has become as essential to me feeling good for the rest of the day as that first cup of tea. But I would argue that all I am doing is responding to a natural need we all have. Humans have always been migrants, the physiological urge to be nomadic is deep-rooted in all of us and perhaps because of that our brains are stimulated by walking. I solve all sorts of problems, formulate ideas, work things out to that gentle rhythm of self-propelled movement.' - Kate HumbleThinking on My Feet tells the story of Kate's walking year - shining a light on the benefits of this simple activity. Kate's inspiring narrative not only records her walks (and runs) throughout a single year, but also charts her feelings and impressions throughout - capturing the perspectives that only a journey on foot allows - and shares the outcomes: a problem solved, a mood lifted, an idea or opportunity borne. As she explores the reasons why we walk, whether for creative energy, challenge and pleasure, or therapeutic benefits, Kate's reflections and insights will encourage, motivate and spur readers into action.Also featured are Kate's walks with others who have discovered the magical, soothing effect of putting one foot in front of the other - the artist who walks to find inspiration for his next painting; the man who takes people battling with addiction to climb mountains; the woman who walked every footpath in Wales (3,700 miles) when she discovered she had cancer.This book will inspire you to change your perspective by applying walking to your daily endeavours.*PRAISE FOR THINKING ON MY FEET *'A diary of sorts, charting a year of wonderful walks through the sun, wind and rain...each entry builds an image of her life in the great outdoors...it sounds idyllic to say the least.' - Sunday Express, S Magazine'These are 365 days of inspiration to get out and, sometimes literally, smell the flowers.' - Wanderlust Magazine'Humble's book about going for a walk can inspire absolutely anyone to make a change. Because all you have to do is step outside the front door.' - Waitrose Weekend'Witty, enlightening and often startlingly profound' - Country Walking Magazine
Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds
by David C. Pollock Ruth E. VanrekenA Nicholas Brealey Publishing bestseller! Third culture kids (TCK)—children of expatriates, missionaries, military personnel, and others who live outside their passport country—have unique issues with personal development and identity. David C. Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken bring to light the emotional and psychological realities that come with the TCK journey.
Third Culture Teacher
by Lucy BaileyDr Lucy Bailey presents a concise and coherent guide for those who are interested in pursuing a teaching career internationally. This book covers all the things you should consider as well as the advantages and disadvantages of living and working in an entirely new culture and country that you might face.If you've ever considered taking the big leap, looking for a new adventure, and relocating to a completely different country, continent or time zone, then this book will guide you through the steps and help you answer all the big questions to figure out if it's really for you. This is a book that is applicable both for those who are looking to take the journey on their own or with their immediate family.Written by someone who has made the move herself and lived in over four different countries with her husband - who is an international school headteacher - and their four daughters, Dr Lucy Bailey provides essential, key information and more than useful advice.
Third Culture Teacher: 2019
by Lucy BaileyDr Lucy Bailey presents a concise and coherent guide for those who are interested in pursuing a teaching career internationally. This book covers all the things you should consider as well as the advantages and disadvantages of living and working in an entirely new culture and country that you might face.If you've ever considered taking the big leap, looking for a new adventure, and relocating to a completely different country, continent or time zone, then this book will guide you through the steps and help you answer all the big questions to figure out if it's really for you. This is a book that is applicable both for those who are looking to take the journey on their own or with their immediate family.Written by someone who has made the move herself and lived in over four different countries with her husband - who is an international school headteacher - and their four daughters, Dr Lucy Bailey provides essential, key information and more than useful advice.
Thirteen Years at the Russian Court: A Personal Record of the Last Years and Death of the Czar Nicholas II. and his Family
by Pierre GilliardNicholas II (1868-1918) was the last Emperor of Russia, ruling from November 1, 1894 until his forced abdication on March 15, 1917. His reign saw the fall of the Russian Empire from one of the foremost great powers of the world to economic and military collapse. He was given the nickname Nicholas the Bloody or Vile Nicholas by his political adversaries due to the Khodynka Tragedy, anti-Semitic pogroms, Bloody Sunday, the violent suppression of the 1905 Russian Revolution, the execution of political opponents, and his perceived responsibility for the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). Soviet historians portrayed Nicholas as a weak and incompetent leader whose decisions led to military defeats and the deaths of millions.Following author Pierre Gilliard’s return to Europe in September 1920, having been “cut off from communication with the rest of the world for many months,” he was dismayed to read of the recent publications on the subject of the Czar Nicholas II. and his family. Upon realizing that the general public appeared to have accepted the reports as gospel, his indignation grew—and he immediately set out to “rehabilitate the moral character of the Russian sovereigns.” Thirteen Years at the Russian Court, which was first published in 1921, is the result.With 59 illustrations, including portraits.“In this book I have endeavoured to bring Nicholas II. and his family back to life. My aim is to be absolutely impartial and to preserve complete independence of mind in describing the events of which I have been an eyewitness. It may be that in my search for truth I have presented their political enemies with new weapons against them, but I greatly hope that this book will reveal them as they really were, for it was not the glamour of their Imperial dignity which drew me to them, but their nobility of mind and the wonderful moral grandeur they displayed through all their sufferings.”—Pierre Gilliard, Introduction
Thirteen: The Apollo Flight That Failed
by Henry S. Cooper Jr.An &“exciting&” minute-by-minute account of the Apollo 13 flight based on mission control transcripts from Houston (The New York Times). On the evening of April 13, 1970, the three astronauts aboard Apollo 13 were just hours from the third lunar landing in history. But as they soared through space, two hundred thousand miles from Earth, an explosion badly damaged their spacecraft. With compromised engines and failing life-support systems, the crew was in incomparably grave danger. Faced with below-freezing temperatures, a seriously ill crewmember, and a dwindling water supply, a safe return seemed unlikely.Thirteen is the shocking and miraculous true story of how the astronauts and ground crew guided Apollo 13 back to Earth. Expanding on dispatches written for the New Yorker, Henry S. F. Cooper Jr. brings readers unparalleled detail on the moment-by-moment developments of one of NASA&’s most dramatic missions.
Thirty Great North Carolina Science Adventures: From Underground Wonderlands to Islands in the Sky and Everything in Between (Southern Gateways Guides)
by Sarah J. CarrierNorth Carolina possesses an astonishingly rich array of natural wonders. Building on this abundance, April C. Smith passionately seeks to open the world of nature to everyone. Her popular science guidebook features thirty sites across North Carolina that are perfect for exploration and hands-on learning about the Earth and the environment. A stellar group of naturalists and educators narrate each adventure, explaining key scientific concepts by showing you exactly where and how to look. This guidebook is for anyone—teens, kids, families, hikers, teachers, students, and tourists alike—who loves to be outside while learning.* All you need to plan trips and discover new attractions* Organized by the state's Mountain, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain regions* The 30 adventures spotlight wonderful places to hike, fascinating geological formations to find, animals and plants to observe, and hands-on learning activities* Explains clearly the scientific processes that made North Carolina the state it is today* Richly illustrated with photographs, diagrams, and maps; includes an indispensable science glossary
Thirty Years in the Arctic Regions: The Narrative of a Polar Explorer (Explorers Club)
by David Welky Sir John FranklinIn an age when polar exploration was akin to space exploration today, Sir John Franklin's journeys of discovery captured the popular imagination. Originally published in 1859, Thirty Years in the Arctic Regions is Franklin's own record of his two overland expeditions, begun in 1816 and 1825, which took him to what is now the Northwest Territory of Canada.But it was Franklin's final expedition, to discover the sea route connecting the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, that cemented his place in the history of Arctic exploration. Franklin and his crew set out in two ships, the Erebus and the Terror. Their search for the Northwest Passage was doomed, and the fate of Franklin and his 129-man crew remained a mystery for many years, despite the fact that more than thirty missions were sent to look for survivors or remains. The bodies of several of its members were eventually found. By 2016, both ships had been discovered, bringing an end to a 168-year-old Arctic mystery.This book includes Franklin's record of the hardship and suffering his men endured from his earlier expeditions, during which he and his crew charted 1,700 miles of Artic coastline. Also, it includes Franklin's detailed descriptions of a region that in the 19th century must have seemed as alien as a lunar landscape. The book's final entries include a letter from Franklin dated July 12, 1845—the last communication from the expedition received in England—and letters sent by the leaders of subsequent search expeditions. Thirty Years in the Arctic Regions describes an era when British exploration of the Far North was at its peak, in the words of one its most prominent and ill-fated explorers.
This Ain't No Holiday Inn
by James LoughDuring its heyday, the Chelsea Hotel in New York City was a home and safe haven for Bohemian artists, poets, and musicians such as Bob Dylan, Gregory Corso, Alan Ginsberg, Janis Joplin, and Dee Dee Ramone. This oral history of the famed hotel peers behind the iconic façade and delves into the mayhem, madness, and brilliance that stemmed from the hotel in the 1980s and 1990s. Providing a window into the late Bohemia of New York during that time, countless interviews and firsthand accounts adorn this social history of one of the most celebrated and culturally significant landmarks in New York City.
This Cold Heaven: Seven Seasons in Greenland
by Gretel EhrlichGretel Ehrlich has been obsessed by an island, a terrain, a culture, and the men and women who long for and love the complex frailties and treacherous beauty of a world defined by ice.
This Contested Land: The Storied Past and Uncertain Future of America's National Monuments
by McKenzie LongOne woman&’s enlightening trek through the natural histories, cultural stories, and present perils of thirteen national monuments, from Maine to Hawaii—now available in paperbackThis land is your land. When it comes to national monuments, the sentiment could hardly be more fraught. Gold Butte in Nevada, Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks in New Mexico, Katahdin Woods and Waters in Maine, Cascade–Siskiyou in Oregon and California: these are among the thirteen natural sites McKenzie Long visits in This Contested Land, an eye-opening exploration of the stories these national monuments tell, the passions they stir, and the controversies surrounding them today. Starting amid the fragrant sagebrush and red dirt of Bears Ears National Monument on the eve of the Trump Administration&’s decision to reduce the site by 85 percent, Long climbs sandstone cliffs, is awed by Ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings and is intrigued by 4,000-year-old petroglyphs. She hikes through remote pink canyons recently removed from the boundary of Grand Staircase–Escalante, skis to a backcountry hut in Maine to view a truly dark night sky, snorkels in warm Hawaiian waters to plumb the meaning of marine preserves, volunteers near the most contaminated nuclear site in the United States, and witnesses firsthand the diverse forms of devotion evoked by the Rio Grande. In essays both contemplative and resonant, This Contested Land confronts an unjust past and imagines a collaborative future that bears witness to these regions&’ enduring Indigenous connections. From hazardous climate change realities to volatile tensions between economic development and environmental conservation, practical and philosophical issues arise as Long seeks the complicated and often overlooked—or suppressed—stories of these incomparable places. Her journey, mindfully undertaken and movingly described, emphasizes in clear and urgent terms the unique significance of, and grave threats to, these contested lands.
This Is Cuba: An American Journalist Under Castro's Shadow
by David AriostoUSA Today "New and Noteworthy" • One of The Washington Post's "10 Books to Read—and Gift—in December""Fascinating." —ForbesFidel Castro is dead. Donald Trump was elected president. And to most outsiders, the fate of Cuba has never seemed more uncertain. Yet those who look close enough may recognize that signs of the next revolution are etched in plain view.This is Cuba is a true story that begins in the summer of 2009 when a young American photo-journalist is offered the chance of a lifetime—a two-year assignment in Havana.For David Ariosto, the island is an intriguing new world, unmoored from the one he left behind. From neighboring military coups, suspected honey traps, salty spooks, and desperate migrants to dissidents, doctors, and Havana’s empty shelves, Ariosto uncovers the island’s subtle absurdities, its Cold War mystique, and the hopes of a people in the throes of transition. Beyond the classic cars, salsa, and cigars lies a country in which black markets are ubiquitous, free speech is restricted, privacy is curtailed, sanctions wreak havoc, and an almost Kafka-esque goo of Soviet-style bureaucracy still slows the gears of an economy desperate to move forward.But life in Cuba is indeed changing, as satellite dishes and internet hotspots dot the landscape and more Americans want in. Still, it’s not so simple. The old sentries on both sides of the Florida Straits remain at their posts, fists clenched and guarding against the specter of a Cold War that never quite ended, despite the death of Fidel and the hand-over of the presidency to a man whose last name isn’t Castro.And now, a crisis is brewing.In This Is Cuba, Ariosto looks at Cuba from the inside-out over the course of nine years, endeavoring to expose clues for what’s in store for the island as it undergoes its biggest change in more than half a century.