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万本电子书0元读

Sherlock Holmes and The Shadows of St Petersburg
Sherlock Holmes and The Shadows of St Petersburg
Victor, Daniel D
¥68.57
"e;A psychological account of a crime"e; - that's how Fyodor Dostoyevsky described his novel Crime and Punishment, which tells of two horrific axe murders in St. Petersburg. It becomes much more than a mere "e;account,"e; however, when a pair of dead bodies turn up in London's East End, their heads split open by an axe-blade. To Scotland Yard, the crimes are murders to solve. To Sherlock Holmes, they present an intriguing puzzle. But to the literary man, Dr. John H. Watson, they seem a deliberate re-staging of the brutal murders depicted in Dostoyevsky's narrative. If Watson is right, what can be the purpose behind an actual recreation of the fictional killings? Blocking the answer to that question is a mysterious assortment of English and Russian eccentrics, and one can only wonder if the startling revelation at the end will be dramatic enough to set matters straight.
Titanic, A Very Peculiar History
Titanic, A Very Peculiar History
Pipe, Jim
¥58.76
It boasted libraries, palm trees, swimming pools, a 50-phone switchboard and was nearly as tall as the Eiffel Tower... No, she's not a skyscraper, she's the Titanic! Marking the centenary of the sinking of the White Star Liner RMS Titanic in 1912, 'Titanic, A Very Peculiar History' delves into the human stories of both crew and passengers and the incredible feats of engineering and design involved in the ship's construction. The ebook also takes a look at events that occurred once the ship was wrecked, from discovering what dead passengers had tried to take with them to assessing the likelihood of us ever being able to raise the wreck for more study. Featuring letters from the liner's passengers and crew and a taste of the superstitions and creepy coincidences that surround the ship's sinking, it's a great all-round look at the incredible facts and stories at the heart of the Titanic's conception, construction and maiden voyage.
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Utility
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Utility
Kenny, Anthony
¥132.34
A volume on the nature, ingredients, causes and consequences of human happiness by the father and son team of Anthony and Charles Kenny.
Queen Elizabeth II, A Very Peculiar History
Queen Elizabeth II, A Very Peculiar History
Arscott, David
¥58.76
EIIR Queen Elizabeth II, 60 Years a Queen, A Very Peculiar History' uniquely explores the life and times of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as we approach her 2012 Diamond Jubilee. The story that unfolds is one of doughty determination - the story of a young monarch who finds herself thrust into a new world of relentless public exposure, whose own family turns out to be as frail as everyone else's, but who somehow, for a full 60 years and counting, manages to steer the institution through the choppy waters intact. David Arscott provides an eccentric account of the trials and tribulations that have beset the Queen's reign, from the glamour of her coronation, through the gloom of her 'annus horribilis' to the impending dawn of her Diamond Jubilee.
Rations, A Very Peculiar History
Rations, A Very Peculiar History
Arscott, David
¥58.76
When war broke out in 1939, few knew that they would soon be fighting to survive, let alone how or when it would end. 'Rations: A Very Peculiar History' looks at the measures the British government took to ensure the wellbeing of its people during wartime, and how the British public dealt with it. With some stealing, some hoarding, but most just trying to get by, it was one of the bleakest periods in British history. But there's a reason they called it 'the Blitz spirit' - this title features amazing tales of camaraderie and good humour in the face of bombs and hunger. Featuring incredible food-and-energy-saving recipes used at the time, along with quotes from survivors, 'Rations: A Very Peculiar History' will transport you back to a time when even Buckingham Palace and the Ritz hotel weren't above swapping a bit of venison for a bit of lobster.
What Is History?
What Is History?
Oakeshott, Michael
¥220.63
This highly readable new collection of thirty pieces by Michael Oakeshott, almost all of which are previously unpublished, covers every decade of his intellectual career, and adds significantly to his contributions to the philosophy of historical understanding and political philosophy, as well as to the philosophy of education and aesthetics. The essays were intended mostly for lectures or seminars, and are consequently in an informal style that will be accessible to new readers as well as to those already well acquainted with Oakeshott's works. Early pieces include a long essay 'On the Relations of Philosophy, Poetry, and Reality', and Oakeshott's comments on 'The Cambridge School of Political Science' through which he himself had passed as an undergraduate. The collection also reproduces a substantial wartime essay 'On Peace with Germany'. There are two new essays on the philosophy of education, and the essay which gives the work its title, 'What is History?', is just one of over half a dozen discussions of the nature of historical knowledge. Oakeshott's later sceptical, 'hermeneutic', thought is also well represented by pieces such as 'What is Political Theory?' and 'The Emergence of the History of Thought.' Reviews of books by English and European contemporaries such as Butterfield, Hayek, Voegelin, and Arendt also help to place him in context more clearly than before. The book will be indispensable for all Oakeshott's readers, no matter which area of his thought concerns them most.
Blitz, A Very Peculiar History
Blitz, A Very Peculiar History
Arscott, David
¥58.76
Taking a unique look at how Britain survived the bombing of its major cities, 'The Blitz, A Very Peculiar History' tells a story of blackouts, Bletchley Park and bravery during the darkest (literally) period of World War II. From Dunkirk to Dad's Army, explore the many ways in which Britain tried to foil the incoming bomber planes, featuring quirky stories and fascinating trivia about this period of history. Were German paratroopers really dropped disguised as nuns? Find out the answer to this question and many more even more bizarre ones throughout the course of this amazing tale of sacrifice and survival in the face of adversity.
Avatar-Philosophy (and -Religion) or FAITHEISM
Avatar-Philosophy (and -Religion) or FAITHEISM
Wright, Edmond
¥63.67
Are you prepared, either as an atheist or a religious believer, to have your ideas of God, the self, other people, the body, the soul, spirituality, and faith challenged in an unexpected and original way? Here is a book that moves out from under and away from the received notions of those ponderous topics, whether or not you believe in the divine. The author is a confessed atheist but one who rejects the approach of Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Michel Onfray and the rest when they depart from their justifiable criticisms of the historical record of the established creeds and endeavour to rubbish what faith could actually be. The book takes its origin from an exploration of the idea of an avatar; the writing of it was stimulated by seeing the Cameron film, though it subjects that film itself to an assessment of its hidden assumptions. The book finally arrives at specific recommendations for our time, ones to which the argument of the book has been directed throughout.
Vampires, A Very Peculiar History
Vampires, A Very Peculiar History
Macdonald, Fiona
¥58.76
Dragged from the deepest, darkest depths of the 'Very Peculiar History' vaults, this book collects tales of terror, morbid myths and frightening facts that will chill you witless. Introduced by everyone's favourite bloodsucker, Count Dracula, 'Vampires: A Very Peculiar History' features the origin of vampire-like creatures and a biological and mythological look at human blood (including the best places to bite if you were a vampire!) alongside tales of the real-life vampires that may have inspired the first vampire stories. It includes advice on how to spot a vampire as well as how to become one! Even vampires of film, graphic novel and manga get a taste of the action! Don't be scared, be prepared...with 'Vampires, A Very Peculiar History'!
Against All Authority
Against All Authority
Shantz, Jeff
¥132.34
This volume examines historical and contemporary engagements of anarchism and literary production. Anarchists have used literary production to express opposition to values and relations characterizing advanced capitalist (and socialist) societies while also expressing key aspects of the alternative values and institutions proposed within anarchism. Among favoured themes are anarchist critiques of corporatization, prisons and patriarchal relations as well as explorations of developing anarchist perspectives on revolution, ecology, polysexuality and mutual aid. A key component of anarchist perspectives is the belief that means and ends must correspond. Thus in anarchist literature as in anarchist politics, a radical approach to form is as important as content. Anarchist literature joins other critical approaches to creative production in attempting to break down divisions between readers and writer, audience and artist, encouraging all to become active participants in the creative process.
Early Political Writings 1925-30
Early Political Writings 1925-30
Oakeshott, Michael
¥220.63
Michael Oakeshott (1901-90) made his reputation as a political philosopher, but for a long time it seemed as if he had little interest in politics before 1945. His major pre-war work, Experience and its Modes (1933) was an examination of the nature of philosophy and its relation to other forms of thought that made almost no mention of politics. However, it has become increasingly clear that this initial judgment was misleading. A posthumous collection of early essays, Religion, Politics, and the Moral Life (1993), proved that political philosophy was a lifelong concern. Nevertheless, the belief that Oakeshott was relatively uninterested in politics, at least in the 1920s, has persisted. This volume dispels that notion for good. It contains two previously unpublished works, a manuscript entitled 'A Discussion of some Matters preliminary to the Study of Political Philosophy', and the first version of a course of lectures on 'The Philosophical Approach to Politics' that Oakeshott gave between 1928 and 1930. These works establish that politics was a central concern in the first decade of his intellectual career, and show beyond any doubt that the ideas of Experience and its Modes actually grew out of Oakeshott's prior philosophical interest in politics.
World Cup, A Very Peculiar History
World Cup, A Very Peculiar History
Arscott, David
¥58.76
In 'The World Cup, A Very Peculiar History', author David Arscott tackles the big subjects at the heart of the beautiful game, including how the tournament first kicked off, the dirty tactics used throughout the years and the most memorable managers in the history of football. Filled to the brim with quirky quotes, fantastic facts and surprising statistics, this is the perfect accompaniment to any post-match celebration (or commiseration!) during the season. At its heart 'The World Cup, A Very Peculiar History' is a look at the many amusing, amazing and sometimes alarming stories that lie behind this great sporting tournament.
Moon and Madness
Moon and Madness
McCrae, Niall
¥132.34
Lunacy, the legendary notion of minds unhinged by the moon, continues to captivate the popular imagination. Although it violates the assumptions of modern science and psychiatry, such belief remains common among mental health workers. Furthermore, several studies have found a small, unexplained correlation between behaviour and the lunar cycle. The book is divided into two parts. It begins with a historical account of the lunacy concept, followed by an investigation of hypothetical mechanisms for a lunar effect.
Yorkshire, A Very Peculiar History
Yorkshire, A Very Peculiar History
Malam, John
¥58.76
Yorkshire is well known for its miners, pudding and cricket, but 'Yorkshire, A Very Peculiar History' scrapes beyond the surface and past the cliches. Featuring a host of characters from Yorkshire past and present, it's not all grit and grime! Tracing Yorkshire's history back through Roman and Viking rule, to the various tribes which populated the area in prehistoric times, this book covers the largest county in England from all angles. Featuring quirky tales of Yorkshire's crucial role in the industrial revolution, and detailed stories about the famed Wars of the Roses, it tells the astonishing tale of this large and historic county and its people and culture.
Royal Weddings, A Very Peculiar History
Royal Weddings, A Very Peculiar History
Macdonald, Fiona
¥58.76
With the echo of regal church bells still ringing in the ears of royalists and well-wishers worldwide, Fiona Macdonald take a look at the quirky, odd and downright bizarre circumstances surrounding the weddings of the kings, queens, princes and princesses of Britain. One must leave one's sense of decorum at the palace gates as the author tells the wacky stories surrounding the preparations, dresses, ceremonies and national moods that went with the excitement of a royal wedding, from England's resident marriage addict Henry VIII, through Anne Hyde, the 'commoner' who birthed two queens, right up to Prince Charles, Princess Diana and their son and daughter-in-law to be. Featuring facts, figures and family trees, Royal Weddings, A Very Peculiar History is sure to keep one in the spirit of things, even after the last fleck of confetti has touched the ground.
Economic Imperative
Economic Imperative
Zerilli, John
¥63.67
The book explores the role of leisure in modern life. It was written in the belief that leisure sets us apart as a species, that what is "e;useless"e; by commercial standards is probably the best thing we have going for us, and that leisure is under attack, in high danger of being lost, and has been for some time (since at least the end of the Second World War). The source of the problem is the ascendancy of the economic imperative, the subordination of the science of means (philosophy) by the science of ends (economics). The book argues that our leisurely impulse has been so squandered that boredom is now a significant problem in modern life. The essays canvass the distinctive contributions of art, science and religion, and provide a synthetic account of these three forces driving human culture. Although the book covers the science/religion question, this book differs from others on the science/religion debate in that it connects the traditional discussion to questions of economics and social policy. It takes an innovative approach in weaving the fundamentals of human life (art, science, economics and so on) into one fabric, namely, leisure.
Castles, A Very Peculiar History
Castles, A Very Peculiar History
Morley, Jacqueline
¥58.76
Whether you're planning your first seige, building a fortress or just looking for a way to escape the peasants below, 'Castles: A Very Peculiar History' is full of tips, tricks and horror stories from the castle-building trade. We can't all match up to the combined beauty and danger of the Tower of London, but in this title you'll learn who developed the world's first flat-pack castle, the difference between donjeons and dungeons (it's important, trust us) and even the best time of year for a siege. Discover how a fortress was brought down by forty pigs and even how to use a common plant to defect lightning! Gasp in horrible glee at the many horrid substances poured onto beseigers through those dastardly trebuchets (there are things worse than boiling hot oil!). From the keep to the bailey, 'Castles: A Very Peculiar History' is all you need to learn how to build, manage and defend a mighty fortress.
Reaction
Reaction
King, Peter
¥63.67
To call someone a reactionary is to insult them and to end any argument. There is no possible rejoinder: no one could possibly wish to be a reactionary. But what if one were to gratefully accept the label? What would it mean to wilfully and honestly be a reactionary? Referencing thinkers as diverse as Burke, de Maistre, Guenon, Ratzinger, Scruton and the Prince of Wales this book considers the nature of reaction as a justified response to modernity and the constant call for change. Reaction is shown to take two distinct forms: first, as a rejection of progress and a defence of traditional culture and values; and second, as a common sense disquiet and distaste towards elites. These are seen as entirely valid responses to the failure of modernity. 'Reaction' presents an original and thoughtful critique of modernity and a defence of tradition. It will be of interest to anyone concerned that we are heading too far and too quickly in the wrong direction.
Early Years Gardening Handbook
Early Years Gardening Handbook
Ward, Sue
¥127.43
The practical guide to creating a working garden for children in the early years to enjoy year after year.Whatever time of year it is, involving young children in gardening can be an excellent way to develop a wide range of skills for the EYFS and can bring children of all abilities together.This gem of a guide aims to provide a step-by-step guide to creating an early years garden from first conception to eating your own veg! Features: Where to start: how to plan for your garden and get funding Calendar of what to plant and harvest when Tips on plant that are great for cooking, as well as the ones that are guaranteed to give the quickest results A wealth of activities based around your garden, all linked to the ELGsAn essential for any green-minded nursery, whether you are a novice or an experienced gardner.
Exploring Emotions
Exploring Emotions
Bailey, Ros
¥73.48
This practical book from Ros Bayley is designed to enable every practitioner to help children manage their emotions. This title looks at the whole range of emotions that children feel and enable any practitioner to help children recognise these emotions and talk about them. Brimming with ideas for using puppets, toys, pictures, games and stories this is a must-have book for any practitioner looking to manage the emotions of children in their care.
Reality Television Quiz Book
Reality Television Quiz Book
Cowlin, Chris
¥73.48
Are you addicted to reality TV? Do you watch all the shows from Britain's Got Talent to The Apprentice? Can you name every contestant ever to walk through the doors of the Big Brother house? Then The Reality Television Quiz Book is definitely for you. Who can forget Jade Goody, Peter Andre and Jordan, Leona Lewis or Paul Potts? They are all inside in this book alongside the many memorable characters who have become household names by appearing live on our television screens. The 1,000 brain-teasing questions in this quiz book cover every aspect of reality TV, from the celebrities and wannabes to the strange and the bizarre, including all the heroes, villains, tears and tantrums we have come to expect from the genre in recent years. Packed with behind the scenes information about all your favourite shows, this book is guaranteed to provide hours of entertainment for the whole family and is a must have for all fans of reality television.