"Through the discoveries of modern archaeologists excavating the site of Tell Makor, [this book] re-creates life in an ancient city and traces the profound history of the Jewish people--from the persecution of the early Hebrews, the rise of Christianity, and the Crusades to the founding of Israel and the modern conflict in the Middle East"--Amazon.com.

"Arguably the most celebrated and revered writer of our time now gives us a new nonfiction collection--a rich gathering of her essays, speeches, and meditations on society, culture, and art, spanning four decades."--Publisher's description.

The most celebrated and revered writer of recent times releases a new non-fiction collection: a rich gathering of her essays, speeches, and meditations on society, culture, and art, spanning four decades.

Author Martin Doyle tells the epic story of America and its rivers, from the U.S. Constitution?s roots in interstate river navigation, the origins of the Army Corps of Engineers, the discovery of gold in 1848, and the construction of the Hoover Dam and the TVA during the New Deal, to the failure of the levees in Hurricane Katrina and the water wars in the west. Along the way, he explores how rivers have often been the source of arguments at the heart of the American experiment?over federalism, sovereignty and property rights, taxation, regulation, conservation, and development. Through his encounters with experts all over the country?a Mississippi River tugboat captain, an Erie Canal lock operator, a dendrochronologist who can predict the future based on the story trees tell about the past, a western rancher fighting for water rights?Doyle reveals the central role rivers have played in American history?and how vital they are to its future. 20 illustrations.

Self-help books like The Secret promise that we can tap into the 'law of attraction' to control our destiny, simply by changing our thoughts. If we strip away the mystique, at the heart of this idea is a fundamental truth that is backed up by the latest breakthroughs in neuroscience: most of the things we want from life health, happiness, wealth, love are governed by our ability to think, feel and act; in other words, by our brain. Dr Tara Swart, a neuroscientist and executive coach with a background in psychiatry, is convinced beyond all doubt of our ability to alter how our brains work and transform our lives. In The Source, she draws on the latest cognitive science and her experience coaching highly successful people to reveal the secret to mastering our minds. With a four-step plan to awaken the power of your brain, this unique guide to life combines science and spirituality in a way that is open-minded and practical. Discover how to: Challenge 'autopilot' thinking and rewire your brain's pathways to fulfil your potential ; Manifest the things you want by directing your energy towards your deepest values and ambitions ; Harness the power of visualisation to prime your brain to grab opportunities and take control of your future ; Attack life with confidence, dispel fear and avoid negative thinking. Unlock your potential today you are just four steps away from building a new confident you.

"Do you know how many flowers it takes to produce a kilo of rose oil? One million roses, each handpicked. When it comes to nature, Dominique Roques is a unique authority. He has spent the last thirty years working closely with local communities across the globe to establish a sustainable supply of natural ingredients crucial to perfume making. From resin cultivated by traditional methods in El Salvador to rose oil distilleries in India as old as the Taj Mahal, his network reveals an elusive trade built on the fault lines of tradition and modernity. With In Search of Perfumes, Roques tells the story of seventeen of the industry's most precious ingredients-where they come from, their cultural and historic significance, and why we love them--from Indonesian patchouli to the "Damask rose," interweaving his own recollections and reflections on his life and work. From Andalusia to Somaliland, Roques takes us on an exclusive tour of a vast but delicate ecosystem wholly sustained by the artisans who are its caretakers. Isolated and rural, the tropical jungles of northern Laos remain to this day the only source of benzoin that centuries earlier wafted through the air of Louis XIV's court. In Madagascar, where every transaction is made in cash, a caravan of porters carry pallets bearing $500,000 dollars to exchange for vanilla beans. The Venezuelan tonka bean, as fickle as the weather, may refuse to flower for years but is so esteemed by perfumers that patience becomes its truest virtue. Everywhere Roques takes us, his infectious curiosity and amiability illuminate an immersive world of the uncharted. Entertaining and eye-opening, decorated with beautiful black-and-white illustrations, In Search of Perfumes is an irresistible exploration of the smells that fuel our nostalgia and suffuse our fantasies"--Provided by publisher.