Chosen by National Geographics family of globe-trotting contributors the lavish Best of the World offers in-depth site descriptions; dozens of fun themed Best of the World lists; locator maps; illuminating sidebars several by travel & literary luminaries; & hundreds of dazzling oversized full-colour images to bring to life 500 awe-inspiring locations in a wide variety of categories
- from entire countries to mountaintop villages to pristine lakes to ancient wonders. This broad general interest travel title will appeal to active travellers looking for the next great trip as well as to the many readers who simply love dreaming of visiting far-flung idyllic destinations & for those who love to be in the know of the next travel trend. Five years after Journeys of a Lifetime" hit the stores fans are eager for the next great set of cant-miss travel hits revealed in this beautiful 2012 gift book."
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King Arthur is probably the most famous & certainly the most legendary medieval king. From the early ninth century through the middle ages to the Arthurian romances of Victorian times the tales of this legendary figure have blossomed & multiplied. & in more recent times there has been a continuous stream of books claiming to have discovered the 'facts' about or to unlock the secret or truth behind the 'once & future king'. Broadly speaking there are two Arthurs. On the one hand is the traditional 'historical' Arthur waging a doomed struggle to save Roman civilization against the relentless Anglo-Saxon tide during the darkest years of the Dark Ages. On the other is the Arthur of myth & legend
- accompanied by a host of equally legendary people places & stories: Lancelot Guinevere Galahad & Gawain Merlin Excalibur the Lady in the Lake the Sword in the Stone Camelot the Round Table. The big problem with all this is that ' King Arthur' might well never have existed. & if he did exist it is next to impossible to say anything at all about him. As this challenging new look at the Arthur legend makes clear all books claiming to reveal 'the truth' behind King Arthur can safely be ignored. Not only the 'red herrings' in the abundant pseudo-historical accounts even the 'historical' Arthur is largely a figment of the imagination: the evidence that we have
- whether written or archaeological
- is simply incapable of telling us anything detailed about the Britain in which he is supposed to have lived fought & died. The truth as Guy Halsall reveals in this fascinating investigation is both radically different
- & also a good deal more intriguing.



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An introduction to the life work & art of one of the most influential & exhilarating writers in English. Art critic architectural visionary social reformer climate warner & incomparable teacher: Ruskins words not only transformed Victorian England but speak to us with increasing urgency today. With 165 illustrations printed in full colour
- including 111 images by Ruskin ranging from private notes to presentation drawings to lecture diagrams
- mostly from the collection at the Ruskin Library & many never before published. Published in association with the Ruskin Foundation

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From the dirty to the depraved the barren to the downright boring going off the beaten track isnt always all its cracked up to be. This humorous guide packed with bizarre facts turns the travel genre on its head & uncovers some of the most unusual places the world has to offer. With weird & wonderful destinations from across the globe discover the Kingdom of Dwarves theme park in China an attraction where no-one measures above 5 feet tall. Or theres Kazantip in the Crimea where every year a mix of 150 000 ravers & Russian Mafia bosses with their teen brides in tow go to listen to electronic music on rotation for six weeks. A summer break to the city of Cherrapunji India may be a mistake with an average 29 days of rain in July & 26 in August. Meanwhile the health-conscious among you should probably avoid Evansville Indiana recently declared Americas fattest city. So unpack your bags put away your passport & save yourself some money by reading this guide. Then feel grateful that youll never make the mistake of visiting these places yourself. ...

Worm is the gripping story of the Conficker virus- which since its introduction in November 2008 has infected millions of computers around the world
- & the cyber security elites who have joined forces in a high-tech game of cops & robbers to find its creators & defeat them. This dramatic cybercrime story travels from the Ukraine to the United States (and all parts in between) to explore the next frontier in terrorism. It is the story of a dazzling battle of wits over the future of the Internet. In Worm Mark Bowden delivers an unputdownable account of the ongoing & largely unreported war taking place literally beneath our fingertips.
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Sams family are cursed with a dark & terrible secret. A secret that has its origins in a remote island off the coast of China & has haunted every generation of his family for hundreds of years. Now the curse is about to claim Sam as its next victim. It starts with an itchy rash that spreads all over his body. Then the feeling of something changing within him coming alive. & why has he become obsessed with the marshes & their cool muddy waters? Why has he stopped seeing his friends & going to school? As rumours begin to spread about sightings of a sinister creature on the outskirts of town Sam is forced to face a horrifying truth. One that could destroy him... ...

It is London 1756. In his Bloomsbury attic sits Dr Sabian Blake
- astronomer scientist & master of the Cabala. Dr Blake is in possession
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Do you worry that you'll say the wrong thing wear the wrong outfit or look out of place? Or maybe that you'll make a mistake at work disappoint your partner or overlook a serious health problem? Or perhaps you just worry too much
- constantly running what-if scenarios through your head? Of course you do
- we all do. Worry is a central issue in many people's lives; 38% of people say they worry every day. In this groundbreaking book Dr Robert Leahy offers new insight advice & practical techniques for everyone who has ever had a sleepless night. Using the most recent research & his 25 years of experience treating patients Dr Leahy helps us understand why we worry & how best to defeat it. In his easy-to-follow-programme he tells you how to: Identify productive & unproductive worry; Accept reality & commit to change; Turn 'failure' into opportunity; Use your emotions rather than worry about them. Combining stories from his practice with unique approaches to reducing worry The Worry Cure is an essential companion for everyone who is anxious.

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Is anything bothering you? Problems in class or at home? Don't know where to turn for help? Log on to the Worry Website! Type in your worry & wait for the good advice to flow in. At least that's the plan when Mr Speed sets up his super-cool new Worry Website. Holly Greg Natasha & the rest of the class think they've got shedloads of worries. But as they find out sometimes the best advice comes from the most unexpected place. ...

The son of one of New York's wealthiest families is snatched off the street & held hostage. His parents can't save him because this kidnapper isn't demanding money. Instead he quizzes his prisoner on the price others pay for his life of luxury. In this exam wrong answers are fatal. Detective Michael Bennett leads the investigation. With ten kids of his own he can't begin to understand what could lead someone to target anyone's children. As another student disappears one powerful family after another uses their leverage & connections to turn up the heat on the mayor the press anyone who will listen to stop this killer. Their reach extends all the way to the FBI who send their top Abduction Specialist Agent Emily Parker. Bennett's work life
- & love life
- suddenly get even more complicated. Before Bennett has a chance to protest the FBI's intrusion on his case the mastermind changes his routine. His plan leads up to the most deadly demonstration yet
- one that could bring cataclysmic devastation to every inch of New York.


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