Star Tales
Star Tales

Author: Ian Ridpath

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2018-01-01

Total Pages: 226

ISBN-13: 0718894782

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Every night, a pageant of Greek mythology circles overhead. Perseus flies to the rescue of Andromeda, Orion faces the charge of the snorting Bull, and the ship of the Argonauts sails in search of the Golden Fleece. Constellations are the invention of human imagination, not of nature. They are an expression of the human desire to impress its own order upon the apparent chaos of the night sky. Modern science tells us that these twinkling points of light are glowing balls of gas, but the ancient Greeks, to whom we owe many of our constellations, knew nothing of this. Ian Ridpath, award-winning astronomy writer and popularizer, has been intrigued by the myths of the stars for many years. Star Tales is the first modern guide to combine all the fascinating myths in one book, illustrated with the beautiful and evocative engravings from two of the leading star atlases: Johann Bode’s Uranographia of 1801 and John Flamsteed’s Atlas Coelestis of 1729. This classic book, now in a revised and expanded edition, presents additional information on the constellations with new and enchanting illustrations. For anyone interested in the stars and classical mythology, for anyone who is an armchair astronomer, this is the perfect gift.

Seven Deadly Sins
Seven Deadly Sins

Author: David Walsh

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2013-06-06

Total Pages: 466

ISBN-13: 1471129810

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THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS BOOK OF THE CENTURY SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR MADE INTO THE FILM, THE PROGRAM, STARRING BEN FOSTER AND CHRIS O'DOWD AS THE AUTHOR The true story of the greatest deception of our time. From award-winning journalist David Walsh, the definitive account of the author’s twelve-year quest to uncover and make known the truth about Lance Armstrong’s long history of performance-enhancing drug use, which ultimately led to the cyclist’s being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles. When Lance Armstrong fought back from life-threatening cancer to win the 1999 Tour de France - the so-called 'Tour of Renewal' - it seemed almost too good to be true. It was. Sunday Times journalist David Walsh was one of a small group who was prepared to raise awkward questions about Armstrong's seemingly superhuman feats. And so began a long battle to reveal the truth that finally ended in October 2012 when the cyclist was banned from the sport for life. Walsh's gripping and moving personal account of his struggles is a revealing insight into the murkier end of professional cycling - a place where having the right doctor can make all the difference and where there existed a conspiracy of silence. As he shows, it never was about the bike. However, spurred on by a few brave people who were prepared to speak out in the hope of saving the sport they loved, Walsh continued to probe, and eventually he was vindicated when Armstrong's reputation was ruined. In this updated edition, covering Armstrong's confession to Oprah, Seven Deadly Sins takes the reader into a world of doping and lies, but shows that there is always hope for a better future.

White Man's Problems
White Man's Problems

Author: Kevin Morris

Publisher: Open Road + Grove/Atlantic

Published: 2015-01-19

Total Pages: 161

ISBN-13: 0802191428

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Short stories by an author who offers “shrewd, bitingly funny commentary on his own privileged class” (Time). In nine stories that move between nouveau riche Los Angeles and the working class East Coast, and strike a balance between comedy and catastrophe, Kevin Morris explores the vicissitudes of modern life. Whether looking for creative ways to let off steam after a day in court or enduring chaperone duties on a school field trip to the nation’s capital, the heroes of White Man’s Problems struggle to navigate the challenges that accompany marriage, family, success, failure, growing up, and getting older. “Kevin Morris is that rare writer who bridges the class divide, illuminating the lives of working class characters and affluent professionals with equal authenticity and insight. White Man’s Problems is a revelatory collection that marks the arrival of striking new voice in American fiction.” —Tom Perrotta “The echoes here are of a former generation of American writers—John Cheever, John Updike, Raymond Carver.” —USA Today “Life undermines the pursuit of success and status in these rich, bewildering stories . . . A finely wrought and mordantly funny take on a modern predicament by a new writer with loads of talent.” —Kirkus Reviews