Peter Frankopan

Atomic Steppe tells the untold true story of how the obscure country of Kazakhstan said no to the most powerful weapons in human history. With the fall of the Soviet Union, the marginalized Central Asian republic suddenly found itself with the world's fourth largest nuclear arsenal on its territory. Would it give up these fire-ready weapons—or try ...

Discover the controversial history and modern-day significance of eugenics in Control. Geneticist Adam Rutherford reveals how this theory, inspired by Darwin's ideas, was embraced by presidents and Gilded Age monopolists and even became the ideological cornerstone for the Third Reich. Despite its horrific past, eugenics still figures large as modern genetics advances. Rutherford dissects recurring questions about the effectiveness of eugenics in Nazi Germany and its validity today, exposing the intellectual bankruptcy of the idea and the scientific impossibility of its realization.

A woman takes an 11,000-kilometer bicycle journey across the troubled Middle East, documenting her encounters with the landscapes, history, culture, and people she encounters along the way. Through challenges such as temperature extremes and repressive police states, she survived through the kindness and hospitality of the locals. This richly entertaining and evocative travelogue offers enlightening insights into the beauty, complexities, and humanity of the region.

Discover the inspiring story of the remarkable group of rebels who transformed our world forever. A band of young poets, novelists, and philosophers in 18th century Germany put the self at center stage, sparking conversations about identity, freedom, and the creative potential of the individual. Through their epic quarrels, passionate love stories, and radical ideas, they launched Romanticism onto the world stage and inspired some of the greatest thinkers of the time. This exhilarating book explores the modern tensions between the dangers of selfishness and the possibilities of free will.

Exploring the hidden history in everyday objects, this hilarious and fascinating book uncovers surprising facts about everything from alarm clocks to toilets. Written by popular historian and podcaster Greg Jenner, readers will learn about the first biscuit tin TV, the anti-war movement sparked by paperclips, and even how cat poo was once used as a fashion statement. With humorous illustrations and entertaining stories, this unconventional history book is a must-read for anyone curious about the world around them.

Discover how Russia transformed from a budding democracy to a repressive regime under the leadership of Vladimir Putin. Former Moscow Bureau Chief for The Economist, Edward Lucas, offers a harrowing portrait from inside Russia and a sobering political assessment of what the New Cold War will mean for the world. Learn how Russia is pursuing global energy markets, coercing neighboring nations, silencing journalists and dissidents, defrauding foreign investments and private enterprises, and planning Putin's new role as prime minister. With new and reported material, The New Cold War brilliantly anticipates what is in store for the new Russia and what the world should be doing.

A popular history book that challenges the common misperceptions of the European Middle Ages, revealing the beautiful side of this complex and fascinating period. The Bright Ages takes readers on a journey through 10 centuries, revisiting familiar events and people with new insights. From the rise of Byzantium and the genius of Hildegard to the power of queens and the epic poem of Dante, this book sheds new light on a world "lit only by fire". With its beautiful illustrations and fresh perspective, The Bright Ages is an engaging read for anyone curious about the past.

Explore the untold story of how modern Asia emerged from the shadowy networks of revolutionaries who fought against European imperialism in the early twentieth century. This epic tale follows the interconnected lives of the most remarkable Marxists, anarchists, and nationalists, including Ho Chi Minh and Tan Malaka, as they built clandestine webs of resistance from imperial capitals to the front lines of insurgency. Discover a world of stowaways, false identities, secret codes, cheap firearms, and conspiracies as these revolutionaries fought with subterfuge, violence, and persuasion to shape Asia's destiny to this day.

Немногие культуры древности вызывают столько же интереса, как культура викингов. Всего за три столетия, примерно с 750 по 1050 год, народы Скандинавии преобразили северный мир, и последствия этого ощущаются до сих пор. Викинги изменили политическую и культурную карту Европы, придали новую форму торговле, экономике, поселениям и конфликтам, распространив их от Восточного побережья Америки до азиатских степей. Кроме агрессии, набегов и грабежей скандинавы приносили землям, которые открывали, и народам, с которыми сталкивались, новые идеи, технологии, убеждения и обычаи. Выдающийся археолог с многолетним опытом Нил Прайс, основываясь на результатах археологических раскопок и полевых исследований, анализирует быт и мировоззрение викингов и отбрасывает глубоко укоренившиеся стереотипы. В сопровождении ученого и неутомимого практика мы проникнем сквозь века в далекое прошлое, чтобы увидеть викингов их собственными глазами: потомками первой пары людей, детьми Ясеня и Вяза. Эта книга, переведенная на несколько языков, снабженная картами, черно-белыми иллюстрациями и цветной вкладкой, содержит превосходный обзор и анализ источников и напоминает нам о том, что прошлое одновременно похоже и не похоже на привычную нам реальность. «В этой книге мы попытаемся взглянуть на мир глазами викингов. Мы будем рассматривать их жизни как неразрывное целое, сплавляющее религию, политику, поиск средств к существованию и все прочие аспекты бытия в общую картину реальности — то есть увидим, каким окружающий мир представлялся им самим. То, что для кого-то служит лишь историческими декорациями, на фоне которых разворачивались все завоевания и достижения викингов в большом мире, здесь составляет саму суть повествования». (Нил Прайс)