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';A wonderfully vivid portrait of the man behind Sherlock Holmes . . . Like all the best historical true crime books, it's about so much more than crime.'Tana French, author ofIn the WoodsA sensational Edwardian murder. A scandalous wrongful conviction. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to the rescuea true story. After a wealthy woman was brutally murdered in her Glasgow home in 1908, the police found a convenient suspect in Oscar Slater, an immigrant Jewish cardsharp. Though he was known to be innocent, Slater was tried, convicted, and consigned to life at hard labor. Outraged by this injustice, Arthur Conan Doyle, already world renowned as the creator of Sherlock Holmes, used the methods of his most famous character to reinvestigate the case, ultimately winning Slater's freedom.With ';an eye for the telling detail, a forensic sense of evidence and a relish for research' (TheWall Street Journal), Margalit Fox immerses readers in the science of Edwardian crime detection and illuminates a watershed moment in its history, when reflexive prejudice began to be replaced by reason and the scientific method.Praise forConan Doyle for the Defense';Artful and compelling . . . [Fox's] narrative momentum never flags. . . .Conan Doyle for the Defensewill captivate almost any reader while being pure catnip for the devotee of true-crime writing.'The Washington Post';Developed with brio . . . [Fox] is excellent in linking the 19th-century creation of policing and detection with the development of both detective fiction and the science of forensicsballistics, fingerprints, toxicology and serologyas well as the quasi science of ';criminal anthropology.''The New York Times Book Review';[Fox] has an eye for the telling detail, a forensic sense of evidence and a relish for research.'The Wall Street Journal';Gripping . . . The book works on two levels, much like a good Holmes case. First, it isa fluid story of a crime. . . . Second, and more pertinently, it isa deeper story of how prejudice against a class of people, the covering up of sloppy police work and a poisonous political atmosphere can doom an innocent. We should all heed Holmes's salutary lesson: rationally follow the facts to find the truth.'Time

';Attentionreveals a fresh, vital literary voice as it covers seemingly every imaginable topic relating to modern life.'Entertainment Weekly';Joshua Cohen may be America's greatest living writer.'The Washington PostNAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY WIRED One of Granta's Best of Young American Novelists, Joshua Cohen arrives with his first collection of nonfiction, the culmination of two decades of writing and thought about life in the digital age. In essays, memoir, criticism, diary entries, and lettersmany appearing here for the first timeCohen covers the full depth and breadth of modern life: politics, literature, art, music, travel, the media, and psychology, and subjects as diverse as Google, Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, fictional animals, Gustav Mahler, Aretha Franklin, John Zorn, landscape photography, fake Caravaggios, Wikipedia, Gertrude Stein, Edward Snowden, Jonathan Franzen, Olympic women's fencing, Atlantic City casinos, the closing of the Ringling Bros. circus, and Azerbaijan. Throughout ATTENTION, Cohen directs his sharp gaze at home and abroad, calling upon his extraordinary erudition and unrivaled ability to draw connections between seemingly unlike things to show us how to live without fear in a world overflowing with information. In each piece, he projects a quality of thought that is uniquely his, and a voice as witty, profound, and distinct as any in American letters. At this crucial juncture in history, ATTENTION is a guide for the perplexeda handbook for anyone hoping to bring the wisdom of the past into the culture of the future.Praise for ATTENTION';Dazzling in its scope . . . If curiosity is a writer's greatest innate gift, Joshua Cohen may be America's greatest living writer.'The Washington Post';Cause for celebration and close study . . . [Cohen] will hunt after neglected shards of the past, minor histories, and charge them with an immediacy in the present. . . . He is experimenting with the essay form much more, and more cleverly, than any major American writer today.'The Wall Street Journal ';InAttention, Joshua Cohen makes an eclectic argument for how to improve our lives. . . . [He] tackles a surprising range of subjects to underline distraction's role in our fraught predicament and to argue that paying attention could help us get out of it. . . . When it comes to making sense of our times with verve and imagination, few authors are more rewarding.'Financial Times

';Part love story, part supernatural thriller and completely engrossing' (People)from the acclaimed author ofYou,now a hit Netflix series';A dark beauty of a book,Providencekept me up at night with characters that made my heart a little bigger.'Jessica Knoll,New York Timesbestselling author ofLuckiest Girl AliveBest friends in small-town New Hampshire, Jon and Chloe share an intense, near-mystical bond. But before Jon can declare his love for his soul mate, he is kidnapped, and his plans for a normal life are permanently dashed. Four years later, Jon reappears. He is different now: bigger, stronger, and with no memory of the time he was gone. Jon wants to pick up where he and Chloe left offuntil the horrifying instant he realizes he possesses strange powers that pose a grave threat to everyone he cares for. Afraid of hurting Chloe, Jon runs away, embarking on a journey for answers.Meanwhile, in Providence, Rhode Island, healthy college students and townies with no connection to one another are inexplicably dropping dead. A troubled detective prone to unexplainable hunches, Charles ';Eggs' DeBenedictus suspects there's a serial killer at work. But when he starts asking questions, Eggs is plunged into a shocking whodunit he never could have predicted.With an intense, mesmerizing voice, Caroline Kepnes makes keen and powerful observations about human connection and how love and identity can dangerously blur together.NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BYREAL SIMPLE';Providence is a novel that doesn't fit into one boxit's tender and dark, eerie and cool, heartbreaking but also an affirmation of the power of love. Kepnes perfectly captures each character's struggle and pain in such a unique, unconventional way that every pageevery sentenceis a delightful surprise.'Sara Shepard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars';Caroline Kepnes is cool right this minute. . . . [Providenceis] terrifically conceived and executed. . . . Kepnes has an exhilarating, poppy, unexpected voice.'The New York Times Book Review';Anaddictivehorror-tinged romance that'llkeep you guessing.'Entertainment Weekly

Laurie R. King'sNew York Timesbestselling series featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes is ';the most sustained feat of imagination in mystery fiction today' (Lee Child)!The last thing Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes, need is to help an old friend with her mad, missing aunt. Lady Vivian Beaconsfield has spent most of her adult life in one asylum after another, since the loss of her brother and father in the Great War. Although her mental state seemed to be improving, she's now disappeared after an outing from Bethlem Royal Hospital . . . better known as Bedlam.Russell wants nothing to do with the casebut she can't say no. To track down the vanished woman, she must use her deductive instincts and talent for subterfugeand enlist her husband's legendary prowess. Together, the two travel from the grim confines of Bedlam to the murky canals of Veniceonly to find the shadow of Benito Mussolini darkening the fate of a city, an era, and a tormented English lady of privilege.Praise forIsland of the Mad';Full of lush details and clever twists.'Booklist';Once again validates Laurie R. King as the preeminent Holmes writer working today.'Bookreporter';A truly memorable mystery . . . Laurie King brings her always amazing imagination to the page to enthrall readers, as only she can do.'Suspense Magazine';Superb . . . shocking . . . Come for the mystery, stay for the sightseeing, the gibes at fascism, and the heroine's climactic masquerade as silent film star Harold Lloyd.'Kirkus Reviews';There's no shortage of entertainment. . . . If you are a fan of the series, you won't be disappointed!'San Francisco Book Review ';Well-plotted . . . This ranks as one of the better recent installments in this popular series.'Publishers Weekly

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *;An all-new, official prequel novel toThe Battle for Azeroth, Blizzard Entertainment's next expansion to the critically acclaimedWorld of Warcraftvideogame.Azeroth is dying.The Horde and the Alliance defeated the demonic Burning Legion, but a dire catastrophe is unfolding deep below the surface of the world. There is a mortal wound in the heart of Azeroth, struck by the sword of the fallen titan Sargeras in a final act of cruelty.For Anduin Wrynn, king of Stormwind, and Sylvanas Windrunner, warchief of the Horde and queen of the Forsaken, there is little time to rebuild what remains and even less to mourn what was lost. Azeroth's devastating wound has revealed a mysterious material known as Azerite. In the right hands, this strange golden substance is capable of incredible feats of creation; in the wrong ones, it could bring forth unthinkable destruction.As Alliance and Horde forces race to uncover the secrets of Azerite and heal the wounded world, Anduin enacts a desperate plan aimed at forging a lasting peace between the factions. Azerite jeopardizes the balance of power, and so Anduin must gain the trust of Sylvanas. But, as ever, the Dark Lady has her own machinations.For peace to be possible, generations of bloodshed and hatred must be brought to an end. But there are truths that neither side is willing to accept and ambitions they are loath to relinquish. As Alliance and Horde alike grasp for the Azerite's power, their simmering conflict threatens to reignite all-out wara war that would spell doom for Azeroth.Praise for Before the Storm';This is easily the best book in the World of Warcraft series, and I don't say that lightly. . . . It's so much more than a tie-in novel. . . . It's a beautiful book.'Blizzard Watch

The Pulitzer Prizewinning author ofThe Pope and Mussolinitells the story of the bloody revolution that stripped the pope of political power and signaled the birth of modern Europe. ';[David I.] Kertzer's brilliant treatment of the crisis in the papacy between 1846 and 1850 reads like a thriller. All the characters, from the poor of Rome to the king of Naples, stand out with a vividness that testifies to his mastery of prose.'Jonathan Steinberg,The New York Review of Books NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BYTHE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITORANDTHE SEATTLE TIMES Only two years after Pope Pius IX's election in 1846 had triggered great popular enthusiasm across Italy, the pope found himself a virtual prisoner in his own palace. The revolutions that swept through Europe and shook Rome threatened to end the popes' thousand-year reign over the Papal States, if not the papacy itself. The resulting dramawith a colorful cast of characters, from Louis Napoleon and his rabble-rousing cousin Charles Bonaparte to Garibaldi, Tocqueville, and Metternichwas rife with treachery, tragedy, and international power politics. David Kertzer, one of the world's foremost experts on the history of Italy and the Vatican, brings this pivotal moment vividly to life. Praise forThe Pope Who Would Be King ';Engaging, intelligent, and revealing . . . essential reading for those seeking to understand the perennial human forces that shape both power and faith.'Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prizewinning author ofThe Soul of America ';Subtle and brilliantly told.'Christopher Clark,London Review of Books ';Richly rewarding . . . church history at its most fascinating.'TheChristian Science Monitor ';Required, and riveting, reading that shares many of the qualities of Kertzer's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece:an exceptionally deep archival and scholarly foundation, and a rare capacity to tell the story of a critical chapter in European history with novelistic verve.'Kevin Madigan,author ofMedieval Christianity ';Aremarkable achievementboth a page-turner and a major contribution to scholarship accomplished with outstanding clarity and economy. Kertzer gives this story a notable degree of freshness, and brings out vividly the determination, passions, blood, and gore of this dramatic moment in European history.'John Davis, editor, Journal of Modern Italian Studies

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *; The riveting inside story of three heroic astronauts who took on the challenge of mankind's historic first mission to the Moon, from thebestselling author of Shadow Divers.';Robert Kurson tells the tale of Apollo 8 with novelistic detail and immediacy.'Andy Weir, #1 New York Timesbestselling author of The Martianand ArtemisBy August 1968, the American space program was in danger of failing in its two most important objectives: to land a man on the Moon by President Kennedy's end-of-decade deadline, and to triumph over the Soviets in space. With its back against the wall, NASA made an almost unimaginable leap: It would scrap its usual methodical approach and risk everything on a sudden launch, sending the first men in history to the Moonin just four months. And it would all happen at Christmas. In a year of historic violence and discordthe Tet Offensive, the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert Kennedy, the riots at the Democratic National Convention in Chicagothe Apollo 8 mission would be the boldest, riskiest test of America's greatness under pressure. In this gripping insider account, Robert Kurson puts the focus on the three astronauts and their families: the commander, Frank Borman, a conflicted man on his final mission; idealistic Jim Lovell, who'd dreamed since boyhood of riding a rocket to the Moon; and Bill Anders, a young nuclear engineer and hotshot fighter pilot making his first space flight. Drawn from hundreds of hours of one-on-one interviews with the astronauts, their loved ones, NASA personnel, and myriad experts, and filled with vivid and unforgettable detail, Rocket Men is the definitive account of one of America's finest hours. In this real-life thriller, Kurson reveals the epic dangers involved, and the singular bravery it took, for mankind to leave Earth for the first timeand arrive at a new world.';Rocket Menis a riveting introduction to the[Apollo 8] flight. . . . Kurson details the mission in crisp, suspenseful scenes. . . . [A] gripping book.'The New York Times Book Review

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *; Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jon Meacham helps us understand the present moment in American politics and life by looking back at critical times in our history when hope overcame division and fear.NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR *; The Christian Science Monitor *; Southern Living Our current climate of partisan fury is not new, and in The Soul of America Meacham shows us how what Abraham Lincoln called the ';better angels of our nature' have repeatedly won the day. Painting surprising portraits of Lincoln and other presidents, including Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and Lyndon B. Johnson, and illuminating the courage of such influential citizen activists as Martin Luther King, Jr., early suffragettes Alice Paul and Carrie Chapman Catt, civil rights pioneers Rosa Parks and John Lewis, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and Army-McCarthy hearings lawyer Joseph N. Welch, Meacham brings vividly to life turning points in American history. He writes about the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the birth of the Lost Cause; the backlash against immigrants in the First World War and the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s; the fight for women's rights; the demagoguery of Huey Long and Father Coughlin and the isolationist work of America First in the years before World War II; the anti-Communist witch-hunts led by Senator Joseph McCarthy; and Lyndon Johnson's crusade against Jim Crow. Each of these dramatic hours in our national life have been shaped by the contest to lead the country to look forward rather than back, to assert hope over fear—a struggle that continues even now.While the American story has not always—or even often—been heroic, we have been sustained by a belief in progress even in the gloomiest of times. In this inspiring book, Meacham reassures us, ';The good news is that we have come through such darkness before'—as, time and again, Lincoln's better angels have found a way to prevail.Praise for The Soul of America ';Brilliant, fascinating, timely . . . With compelling narratives of past eras of strife and disenchantment, Meacham offers wisdom for our own time.'—Walter Isaacson ';Gripping and inspiring, The Soul of America is Jon Meacham's declaration of his faith in America.'—Newsday';Meacham gives readers a long-term perspective on American history and a reason to believe the soul of America is ultimately one of kindness and caring, not rancor and paranoia.'—USA Today

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *; The disappearance of a beautiful, charismatic mother leaves her family to piece together her secrets in this propulsive novel for fans of Big Little Liesfrom the bestselling author of All We Ever Wanted Was Everythingand the upcomingPretty Things.';Watch Me Disappear is just as riveting as Gone Girl.'San Francisco Chronicle Who you want people to be makes you blind to who they really are. It's been a year since Billie Flanagana Berkeley mom with an enviable lifewent on a solo hike in Desolation Wilderness and vanished from the trail. Her body was never found, just a shattered cellphone and a solitary hiking boot. Her husband and teenage daughter have been coping with Billie's death the best they can: Jonathan drinks as he works on a loving memoir about his marriage; Olive grows remote, from both her father and her friends at the all-girls school she attends. But then Olive starts having strange visions of her mother, still alive. Jonathan worries about Olive's emotional stability, until he starts unearthing secrets from Billie's past that bring into question everything he thought he understood about his wife. Who was the woman he knew as Billie Flanagan? Together, Olive and Jonathan embark on a quest for the truthabout Billie, but also about themselves, learning, in the process, about all the ways that love can distort what we choose to see. Janelle Brown's insights into the dynamics of intimate relationships will make you question the stories you tell yourself about the people you love, while her nervy storytelling will keep you guessing until the very last page. Praise for Watch Me Disappear';Watch Me Disappear is a surprising and compelling read. Like the best novels, it takes the reader somewhere she wouldn't otherwise allow herself to go. . . . It's strongest in the places that matter most: in the believability of its characters and the irresistibility of its plot.'Chicago Tribune';Janelle Brown's third family drama delivers an incisive and emotional view of how grief and recovery from loss can seep into each aspect of a person's life. . . . Brown imbues realism in each character, whose complicated emotions fuel the suspenseful story.'Associated Press';When a Berkeley mother vanishes and is declared dead, her daughter is convinced she's alive in Janelle Brown's thriller, calling to mind Big Little Lies and Gone Girl.'Variety

';Summons up a small American town at precisely the right moment in our history . . . a bold, vital, and view-expanding novel.'George SaundersA rural working-class New England town elects as its mayor a New York hedge fund millionaire in this inspired novel for our timesfiction in the tradition of Jonathan Franzen and Jennifer Egan.A WASHINGTON POST NOTABLE BOOK Mark Firth is a contractor and home restorer in Howland, Massachusetts, who feels opportunity passing his family by. After being swindled by a financial advisor, what future can Mark promise his wife, Karen, and their young daughter, Haley? He finds himself envying the wealthy weekenders in his community whose houses sit empty all winter. Philip Hadi used to be one of these people. But in the nervous days after 9/11 he flees New York and hires Mark to turn his Howland home into a year-round ';secure location' from which he can manage billions of dollars of other people's money. The collision of these two men's very different worldsrural vs. urban, middle class vs. wealthyis the engine of Jonathan Dee's powerful new novel. Inspired by Hadi, Mark looks around for a surefire investment: the mid-decade housing boom. Over Karen's objections, and teaming up with his troubled brother, Gerry, Mark starts buying up local property with cheap debt. Then the town's first selectman dies suddenly, and Hadi volunteers for office. He soon begins subtly transforming Howland in his imagewith unexpected results for Mark and his extended family. Here are the dramas of twenty-first-century Americarising inequality, working class decline, a new authoritarianismplayed out in the classic setting of some of our greatest novels: the small town. The Locals is that rare work of fiction capable of capturing a fraught American moment in real time. Praise for The Locals';After 9/11, New York hedge fund billionaire Philip Hadi retreats to his summer home in the Berkshires. In thrall to his new town, he runs for office to keep it sleepy, sweet and free from tax hikes. Is he benevolent, arrogant or both? No one gets off the moral hook in this propulsive, brilliantly observed study.'People (Book of the Week) ';Thoughtful . . . [Jonathan Dee's] prescient sensitivity has never been more unnerving. . . . Amid the heat of today's vicious political climate, The Locals is a smoke alarm. Listen up.'Ron Charles, The Washington Post

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *;A magnificent collection of Outlander short fictionincluding two never-before-published novellasfeaturing Jamie Fraser, Lord John Grey, Master Raymond, and many more, from Diana GabaldonAmong the seven spellbinding pieces there is ';The Custom of the Army,' which beginswith Lord John Grey being shocked by an electric eel and ends at the Battle of Quebec.Then comes ';The Space Between,' where it is revealed that the Comte St. Germain is not dead, Master Raymond appears, and a widowed young wine dealer escorts a would-be novice to a convent in Paris. In ';A Plague of Zombies,' Lord John unexpectedly becomes military governor of Jamaica when the original governor is gnawed by what probably wasn't a giant rat. ';A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows' is the moving story of Roger MacKenzie's parents during World War II. In ';Virgins,' Jamie Fraser, aged nineteen, and Ian Murray, aged twenty, become mercenaries in France, no matter that neither has yet bedded a lass or killed a man. But they're trying. . . . ';A Fugitive Green' is the story of Lord John's elder brother, Hal, and a seventeen-year-old rare book dealer with a sideline in theft, forgery, and blackmail. And finally, in ';Besieged,' Lord John learns that his mother is in Havanaand that the British Navy is on their way to lay siege to the city. Filling in mesmerizing chapters in the lives of characters readers have followed over the course of thousands of pages, Gabaldon's genius is on full display throughout this must-have collection.';Gabaldon is in fine form . . . weaving together characters' lives, connecting plot points, and showing tantalizing glimpses of the larger Outlander world, of which this reader can never get enough.'Historical Novels Review

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *; A modern American epic set against the panorama of contemporary politics and culturea hurtling, page-turning mystery that is equal parts The Great Gatsby and The Bonfire of the VanitiesNAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR *; PBS *; HARPER'S BAZAAR *; ESQUIRE *; FINANCIAL TIMES *; THE TIMES OF INDIA On the day of Barack Obama's inauguration, an enigmatic billionaire from foreign shores takes up residence in the architectural jewel of ';the Gardens,' a cloistered community in New York's Greenwich Village. The neighborhood is a bubble within a bubble, and the residents are immediately intrigued by the eccentric newcomer and his family. Along with his improbable name, untraceable accent, and unmistakable whiff of danger, Nero Golden has brought along his three adult sons: agoraphobic, alcoholic Petya, a brilliant recluse with a tortured mind; Apu, the flamboyant artist, sexually and spiritually omnivorous, famous on twenty blocks; and D, at twenty-two the baby of the family, harboring an explosive secret even from himself. There is no mother, no wife; at least not until Vasilisa, a sleek Russian expat, snags the septuagenarian Nero, becoming the queen to his kinga queen in want of an heir. Our guide to the Goldens' world is their neighbor Rene, an ambitious young filmmaker. Researching a movie about the Goldens, he ingratiates himself into their household. Seduced by their mystique, he is inevitably implicated in their quarrels, their infidelities, and, indeed, their crimes. Meanwhile, like a bad joke, a certain comic-book villain embarks upon a crass presidential run that turns New York upside-down. Set against the strange and exuberant backdrop of current American culture and politics, The Golden House also marks Salman Rushdie's triumphant and exciting return to realism. The result is a modern epic of love and terrorism, loss and reinventiona powerful, timely story told with the daring and panache that make Salman Rushdie a force of light in our dark new age.Praise for The Golden House';[A] modern masterpiece . . . telling a story full of wonder and leaving you marveling at how it ever came out of the author's head.'Associated Press ';Wildly satiric and yet piercingly real . . . If F. Scott Fitzgerald, Homer, Euripides, and Shakespeare collaborated on a contemporary fall-of-an-empire epic set in New York City, the result would be The Golden House.'Poets & Writers ';A tonic addition to Americanno, world!literature . . . a Greek tragedy with Indian roots and New York coordinates.'San Francisco Chronicle

NEW YORK TIMESBESTSELLER *; The first official Minecraft novel!The author ofWorld War Ztells the story of a herostranded in the world of Minecraftwho must unravel the secrets of a mysterious island in order to survive.';A rollicking adventure yarn;Robinson Crusoefor the digital age.'NPRWashed up on a beach, the lone castaway looks around the shore. Where am I? Who am I? And why is everything made of blocks? But there isn't much time to soak up the sun. It's getting dark, and there's a strange new world to explore!The top priority is finding food. The next is not becoming food. Because there are others out there on the island . . . like the horde of zombies that appears after nightfall.Crafting a way out of this mess is a challenge like no other. Who could build a home while running from exploding creepers, armed skeletons, and an unstoppable tide of hot lava? Especially with no help except for a few makeshift tools and sage advice from an unlikely friend: a cow. In this world, the rules don't always make sense, but courage and creativity go a long way. There are forests to explore, hidden underground tunnels to loot, and undead mobs to defeat. Only then will the secrets of the island be revealed.Collect all of the official Minecraft books:Minecraft: The IslandMinecraft: The CrashMinecraft: The Lost JournalsMinecraft: The Survivors' Book of SecretsMinecraft: Exploded Builds: Medieval FortressMinecraft: Guide to ExplorationMinecraft: Guide to CreativeMinecraft: Guide to the Nether & the EndMinecraft: Guide to RedstoneMinecraft: MobestiaryMinecraft: Guide to Enchantments & PotionsMinecraft: Guide to PVP MinigamesMinecraft: Guide to FarmingMinecraft: Let's Build! Theme Park AdventureMinecraft for Beginners

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *; A scorching forbidden love threatens to tear a rift through the Black Dagger Brotherhood in J. R. Ward's newest novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series. Xcor, leader of the Band of Bastards, convicted of treason against the Blind King, is facing a brutal interrogation and torturous death at the hands of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Yet after a life marked by cruelty and evil deeds, he accepts his soldier's fate, his sole regret the loss of a sacred female who was never his: the Chosen Layla. Layla alone knows the truth that will save Xcor's life. But revealing his sacrifice and his hidden heritage will expose them both and destroy everything Layla holds deareven her role of mother to her precious young. Torn between love and loyalty, she must summon the courage to stand up against the only family she has for the only man she will ever love. Yet even if Xcor is somehow granted a reprieve, he and Layla would have to confront a graver challenge: bridging the chasm that divides their worlds without paving the way for a future of even greater war, desolation, and death. As a dangerous old enemy returns to Caldwell, and the identity of a new deity is revealed, nothing is certain or safe in the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, not even true love . . . or destinies that have long seemed set in stone. Praise for J. R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series ';Utterly absorbing and deliciously erotic.'Angela Knight ';To die for . . . I love this series!'Suzanne Brockmann

#1NEW YORK TIMESBESTSELLER *;From the People's Choice Award winner for Favorite YouTube Starand host of NBC's upcomingA Little Late with Lilly Singhcomes thedefinitive guide to being abawse: a person who exudes confidence, hustles relentlessly, and smiles genuinely because he or she has fought through it all and made it out the other side. Lilly Singh isn't just a superstar. She's Superwomanwhich is also the name of her wildly popular YouTube channel. Funny, smart, and insightful, the actress and comedian covers topics ranging from relationships to career choices to everyday annoyances. It's no wonder she's garnered more than a billion views. But Lilly didn't get to the top by being luckyshe had to work for it. Hard. Now Lilly wants to share the lessons she learned while taking the world by storm, and the tools she used to do it. How to Be a Bawse is the definitive guide to conquering life. Make no mistake, there are no shortcuts to success, personal or professional. World domination requires real effort, dedication, and determination.Just consider Lilly a personal trainer for your lifewith fifty rules to get you in the game, including *; Let Go of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): Temptation will try to steer you away from your goals. FOMO is just a test of your priorities, a test that a bawse is ready to pass. *; Be Nice to People: Treat niceness like an item on your daily to-do list. People will go out of their way to help and support you because you make them feel good. *; Schedule Inspiration: Lack of motivation isn't permanent or a sign of weakness. Expect it and proactively schedule time to be creative. *; Be the Dumbest: Challenge yourself by surrounding yourself with people who know more than you do. It's a vital way to learn and improve. Told in Lilly's hilarious, bold voice and packed with photos and candid stories from her journey to the top, How to Be a Bawse will make you love your life and yourselfeven more than you love Beyonce. (Yes, we said it!) WARNING: This book does not include hopeful thoughts, lucky charms, or cute quotes. That's because success, happiness, and everything else you want in life need to be worked for, not wished for. In Lilly's world, there are no escalators, only stairs. Get ready to climb. ';Lilly is a bona fide #girlboss, boss, and bawse. Her meteoric rise has come with so many incredible lessons that we are all lucky to have access to. This book is a must-have for the hustler in all of us.'Sophia Amoruso, founder and CEO, Girlboss

A fascinating, accessible introduction to Islam from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Zealot and host ofBelieverFINALIST FOR THEGUARDIAN FIRST BOOK AWARDIn No god but God, internationally acclaimed scholar Reza Aslan explains Islamthe origins and evolution of the faithin all its beauty and complexity. This updated edition addresses the events of the past decade, analyzing how they have influenced Islam's position in modern culture. Aslan explores what the popular demonstrations pushing for democracy in the Middle East mean for the future of Islam in the region, how the Internet and social media have affected Islam's evolution, and how the war on terror has altered the geopolitical balance of power in the Middle East. He also provides an update on the contemporary Muslim women's movement, a discussion of the controversy over veiling in Europe, an in-depth history of Jihadism, and a look at how Muslims living in North America and Europe are changing the face of Islam. Timely and persuasive, No god but God is an elegantly written account that explains this magnificent yet misunderstood faith.Praise for No god but God ';Grippingly narrated and thoughtfully examined . . . a literate, accessible introduction to Islam.'The New York Times ';[Reza] Aslan offers an invaluable introduction to the forces that have shaped Islam [in this] eloquent, erudite paean to Islam in all of its complicated glory.'Los Angeles Times Book Review ';Wise and passionate . . . an incisive, scholarly primer in Muslim history and an engaging personal exploration.'The New York Times Book Review ';Acutely perceptive . . . For many troubled Muslims, this book will feel like a revelation, an opening up of knowledge too long buried.'The Independent (U.K.) ';Thoroughly engaging and excellently written . . . While [Aslan] might claim to be a mere scholar of the Islamic Reformation, he is also one of its most articulate advocates.'The Oregonian

In Infinite Ascent, David Berlinski, the acclaimed author of The Advent of the Algorithm, A Tour of the Calculus, and Newtons Gift, tells the story of mathematics, bringing to life with wit, elegance, and deep insight a 2,500-year-long intellectual adventure.Berlinski focuses on the ten most important breakthroughs in mathematical historyand the men behind them. Here are Pythagoras, intoxicated by the mystical significance of numbers; Euclid, who gave the world the very idea of a proof; Leibniz and Newton, co-discoverers of the calculus; Cantor, master of the infinite; and Gdel, who in one magnificent proof placed everything in doubt. The elaboration of mathematical knowledge has meant nothing less than the unfolding of human consciousness itself. With his unmatched ability to make abstract ideas concrete and approachable, Berlinski both tells an engrossing tale and introduces us to the full power of what surely ranks as one of the greatest of all human endeavors.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *; WINNER OF THE MAN BOOKER PRIZEThe';devastatingly moving' (People)first novel from the author of Tenth of December: a moving and original father-son story featuring none other than Abraham Lincoln, as well as an unforgettable cast of supporting characters, living and dead, historical and inventedNamed One of Paste's Best Novels of the Decade *; Named One of the Ten Best Books of the Year by The Washington Post, USA Today, and Maureen Corrigan, NPR *;One ofTime's Ten Best Novels of the Year *; ANew York TimesNotable Book*;One ofO: The Oprah Magazine's Best Booksof the Year February 1862. The Civil War is less than one year old. The fighting has begun in earnest, and the nation has begun to realize it is in for a long, bloody struggle. Meanwhile, President Lincoln's beloved eleven-year-old son, Willie, lies upstairs in the White House, gravely ill. In a matter of days, despite predictions of a recovery, Willie dies and is laid to rest in a Georgetown cemetery. ';My poor boy, he was too good for this earth,' the president says at the time. ';God has called him home.' Newspapers report that a grief-stricken Lincoln returns, alone, to the crypt several times to hold his boy's body.From that seed of historical truth, George Saunders spins an unforgettable story of familial love and loss that breaks free of its realistic, historical framework into a supernatural realm both hilarious and terrifying. Willie Lincoln finds himself in a strange purgatory where ghosts mingle, gripe, commiserate, quarrel, and enact bizarre acts of penance. Within this transitional statecalled, in the Tibetan tradition, the bardoa monumental struggle erupts over young Willie's soul.Lincoln in the Bardois an astonishingfeat of imagination and a bold step forward from one of the most important and influential writers of his generation. Formally daring, generous in spirit, deeply concerned with matters of the heart, it is a testament to fiction's ability to speak honestly and powerfully to the things that really matter to us. Saunders has invented a thrilling new form that deploys a kaleidoscopic, theatrical panorama of voices to ask a timeless, profound question: How do we live and love when weknow that everything we love must end?';A luminous feat of generosity and humanism.'Colson Whitehead, The New York Times Book Review ';A masterpiece.'Zadie Smith

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *; The bestselling author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe is at her superb best in this fun-loving, moving novel about what it means to be truly alive.WINNER OF THE SOUTHERN BOOK PRIZE Elmwood Springs, Missouri, is a small town like any other, but something strange is happening at the cemetery. Still Meadows, as it's called, is anything but still. Original, profound, The Whole Town's Talking, a novel in the tradition of Thornton Wilder's Our Town and Flagg's own Can't Wait to Get to Heaven, tells the story of Lordor Nordstrom, his Swedish mail-order bride, Katrina, and their neighbors and descendants as they live, love, die, and carry on in mysterious and surprising ways. Lordor Nordstrom created, in his wisdom, not only a lively town and a prosperous legacy for himself but also a beautiful final resting place for his family, friends, and neighbors yet to come. ';Resting place' turns out to be a bit of a misnomer, however. Odd things begin to happen, and it starts the whole town talking. With her wild imagination, great storytelling, and deep understanding of folly and the human heart, the beloved Fannie Flagg tells an unforgettable story of life, afterlife, and the remarkable goings-on of ordinary people. In The Whole Town's Talking, she reminds us that community is vital, life is a gift, and love never dies.Praise for The Whole Town's Talking';A witty multigenerational saga . . . [Fannie] Flagg's down-home wisdom, her affable humor and her long view of life offer a pleasant respite in nerve-jangling times.'People ';Fannie Flagg at her best.'The Florida Times-Union ';If there's one thing Fannie Flagg can do better than anybody else, it's tell a story, and she outdoes herself in The Whole Town's Talking. . . . Brilliant . . . equally on the level as her famous Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.'The Newport Plain Talk ';Delightful.'The Washington Post ';A ringing affirmation of love, community and life itself.'Richmond Times-Dispatch

Even before A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin had already established himself as a giant in the field of fantasy literature. The first of two stunning collections, Dreamsongs: Volume I is a rare treat for readers, offering fascinating insight into his journey from young writer to award-winning master. Gathered here in Dreamsongs: Volume I are the very best of George R. R. Martin's early works, including his Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker awardwinning stories, cool fan pieces, and the original novella The Ice Dragon, from which Martin's New York Times bestselling children's book of the same title originated. A dazzling array of subjects and styles that features extensive author commentary, Dreamsongs, Volume I is the perfect collection for both Martin devotees and a new generation of fans. ';Fans, genre historians and aspiring writers alike will find this shelf-bending retrospective as impressive as it is intriguing.'Publishers Weekly ';Dreamsongs is the ideal way to discover . . . a master of science fiction, fantasy and horror. . . . Martin is a writer like no other.'The Guardian (U.K.) PRAISE FOR GEORGE R. R. MARTIN ';Of those who work in the grand epic-fantasy tradition, Martin is by far the best. In fact . . . this is as good a time as any to proclaim him the American Tolkien.'Time ';Long live George Martin . . . a literary dervish, enthralled by complicated characters and vivid language, and bursting with the wild vision of the very best tale tellers.'The New York Times ';I always expect the best from George R. R. Martin, and he always delivers.'Robert Jordan

This engrossing anthology assembles classicNew Yorkerpieces from a complex era enshrined in the popular imagination as the decade of poodle skirts and Cold War paranoiafeaturing contributions from Philip Roth, John Updike, Nadine Gordimer, and Adrienne Rich, along with fresh analysis of the 1950s by some of today's finest writers.The New Yorkerwas there in real time, chronicling the tensions and innovations that lay beneath the era's placid surface. In this thrilling volume, classic works of reportage, criticism, and fiction are complemented by new contributions from the magazine's present all-star lineup of writers. The magazine's commitment to overseas reporting flourished in the 1950s, leading to important dispatches from East Berlin, the Gaza Strip, and Cuba during the rise of Castro. Closer to home, the fight to break barriers and establish a new American identity led to both illuminating coverage, as in a portrait of Thurgood Marshall at an NAACP meeting in Atlanta, and trenchant commentary, as in E. B. White's blistering critique of Senator Joe McCarthy. The arts scene is recalled in critical writing rarely reprinted, including Wolcott Gibbs onMy Fair Lady,Anthony West onInvisible Man,and Philip Hamburger onCandid Camera.Also featured are great early works from Philip Roth and Nadine Gordimer, as well as startling poems by Theodore Roethke and Anne Sexton, among others. Completing the panoply are insightful and entertaining new pieces by present-dayNew Yorkercontributors examining the 1950s through contemporary eyes. The result is a vital portrait of American culture as only one magazine in the world could do it.Including contributions byElizabeth Bishop *; Truman Capote *; John Cheever *; Roald Dahl *; Janet Flanner *; Nadine Gordimer *; A. J. Liebling *; Dwight Macdonald *; Joseph Mitchell *; Marianne Moore *; Vladimir Nabokov *; Sylvia Plath *; V. S. Pritchett *; Adrienne Rich *; Lillian Ross *; Philip Roth *; Anne Sexton *; James Thurber *; John Updike *; Eudora Welty *; E. B. White *; Edmund WilsonAnd featuring new perspectives byJonathan Franzen *; Malcolm Gladwell *; Adam Gopnik *; Elizabeth Kolbert *; Jill Lepore *; Rebecca Mead *; Paul Muldoon *; Evan Osnos *; David RemnickPraise for The 50s ';Superb: a gift that keeps on giving.'Kirkus Reviews (starred review)';[A] magnificent anthology.'Literary Review

BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Diana Gabaldon'sAn Echo in the Bone.This sixth novel in Diana Gabaldon's bestselling Outlander saga is a masterpiece of historical fiction from one of the most popular authors of our time.A Breath of Snow and Ashes continues the extraordinary story of 18th-century Scotsman Jamie Fraser and his 20th-century wife, Claire. The year is 1772, and on the eve of the American Revolution, the long fuse of rebellion has already been lit. Men lie dead in the streets of Boston, and in the backwoods of North Carolina, isolated cabins burn in the forest. With chaos brewing, the governor calls upon Jamie Fraser to unite the backcountry and safeguard the colony for King and Crown. But from his wife Jamie knows that three years hence the shot heard round the world will be fired, and the result will be independencewith those loyal to the King either dead or in exile. And there is also the matter of a tiny clipping from The Wilmington Gazette, dated 1776, which reports Jamie's death, along with his kin. For once, he hopes, his time-traveling family may be wrong about the future.

The Clone Wars are over, but for those with reason to run from the new galactic Empire, the battle to survive has only just begun. . . .The Jedi have been decimated in the Great Purge, and the Republic has fallen. Now the former Republic Commandosthe galaxy's finest special forces troops, cloned from Jango Fettfind themselves on opposing sides and in very different armor. Some have deserted and fled to Mandalore with the mercenaries, renegade clone troopers, and rogue Jedi who make up Kal Skirata' s ragtag resistance to Imperial occupation. Othersincluding men from Delta and Omega squadsnow serve as Imperial Commandos, a black ops unit within Vader's own 501st Legion, tasked to hunt down fugitive Jedi and clone deserters. For Darman, grieving for his Jedi wife and separated from his son, it's an agonizing test of loyalty. But he's not the only one who'll be forced to test the ties of brotherhood. On Mandalore, clone deserters and the planet's own natives, who have no love for the Jedi, will have their most cherished beliefs challenged. In the savage new galactic order, old feuds may have to be set aside to unite against a far bigger threat, and nobody can take old loyalties for granted.Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years!

';This is at the top of my list for best books on terrorism.'Jessica Stern, author of Terror in the Name of God: Why Religious Militants KillHow can the most powerful country in the world feel so threatened by an enemy infinitely weaker than we are? How can loving parents and otherwise responsible citizens join terrorist movements? How can anyone possibly believe that the cause of Islam can be advanced by murdering passengers on a bus or an airplane? In this important new book, groundbreaking scholar Louise Richardson answers these questions and more, providing an indispensable guide to the greatest challenge of our age.After definingonce and for allwhat terrorism is, Richardson explores its origins, its goals, what's to come, and what is to be done about it. Having grown up in rural Ireland and watched her friends join the Irish Republican Army, Richardson knows from firsthand experience how terrorism can both unite and destroy a community. As a professor at Harvard, she has devoted her career to explaining terrorist movements throughout history and around the globe. From the biblical Zealots to the medieval Islamic Assassins to the anarchists who infiltrated the cities of Europe and North America at the turn of the last century, terrorists have struck at enemies far more powerful than themselves with targeted acts of violence. Yet Richardson understands that terrorists are neither insane nor immoral. Rather, they are rational political actors who often deploy carefully calibrated tactics in a measured and reasoned way. What is more, they invariably go to great lengths to justify their actions to themselves, their followers, and, often, the world.Richardson shows that the nature of terrorism did not change after the attacks of September 11, 2001; what changed was our response. She argues that the Bush administration' s ';global war on terror' was doomed to fail because of an ignorance of history, a refusal to learn from the experience of other governments, and a fundamental misconception about how and why terrorists act. As an alternative, Richardson offers a feasible strategy for containing the terrorist threat and cutting off its grassroots support. The most comprehensive and intellectually rigorous account of terrorism yet, What Terrorists Want is a daring intellectual tour de force that allows us, at last, to reckon fully with this major threat to today's global order.

NEW YORK TIMESBESTSELLER *; NOW A TNT ORIGINAL SERIES *;';A first-rate tale of crime and punishment that will keep readers guessing until the final pages.'Entertainment Weekly ';Caleb Carr's rich period thriller takes us back to the moment in history when the modern idea of the serial killer became available to us.'The Detroit NewsWhen The Alienist was first published in 1994, it was a major phenomenon, spending six months on the New York Times bestseller list, receiving critical acclaim, and selling millions of copies. This modern classic continues to be a touchstone of historical suspense fiction for readers everywhere.The year is 1896. The city is New York. Newspaper reporter John Schuyler Moore is summoned by his friend Dr. Laszlo Kreizlera psychologist, or ';alienist'to view the horribly mutilated body of an adolescent boy abandoned on the unfinished Williamsburg Bridge. From there the two embark on a revolutionary effort in criminology: creating a psychological profile of the perpetrator based on the details of his crimes. Their dangerous quest takes them into the tortured past and twisted mind of a murderer who will kill again before their hunt is over. Fast-paced and riveting, infused with historical detail, The Alienist conjures up Gilded Age New York, with its tenements and mansions, corrupt cops and flamboyant gangsters, shining opera houses and seamy gin mills. It is an age in which questioning society's belief that all killers are born, not made, could have unexpected and fatal consequences.Praise for The Alienist';[A] delicious premise . . . Its settings and characterizations are much more sophisticated than the run-of-the-mill thrillers that line the shelves in bookstores.'The Washington Post Book World';Mesmerizing.'Detroit Free Press ';The method of the hunt and the disparate team of hunters lift the tale beyond the level of a good thrillerway beyond. . . . A remarkable combination of historical novel and psychological thriller.'The Buffalo News';Engrossing.'Newsweek';Gripping, atmospheric . . . intelligent and entertaining.'USA Today ';A high-spirited, charged-up and unfailingly smart thriller.'Los Angeles Times ';Keeps readers turning pages well past their bedtime.'San Francisco Chronicle

From food to the spread of political ideas, the landmass from northern Canada to the southern tip of Argentina is complexly bound together, yet these connections are generally ignored. In this groundbreaking and vividly rendered work, leading historian Felipe Fernndez-Armesto tells, for the first time, the story of our hemisphere as a whole, showing why it is impossible to understand North, Central, and South America in isolation, and looking instead to the intricate and common forces that continue to shape the region.With his trademark erudition, imagination, and thematic breadth, Fernndez-Armesto ranges over commerce, religion, agriculture, the environment, the slave trade, culture, and politics. He takes us from mans arrival in North America to the Colonial and Independence periods, to the American Century and beyond. For most of human history, the south dominated the north: as Fernndez-Armesto argues in his provocative conclusion, it might well again. A panoramic yet richly textured story that embodies fresh ways of looking at cross-cultural exchange, conflict, and interaction, The Americas demolishes our traditional ways of looking at the hemisphere, putting in place a compelling and fruitful new vision.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The definitive account of one of the most accomplished, controversial, and polarizing figures in American history Bill Clinton is the most arresting leader of his generation. He transformed American politics, and his eight years as president spawned arguments that continue to resonate. For all that has been written about this singular personalityincluding Clinton's own massive autobiographythere has been no comprehensive, nonpartisan overview of the Clinton presidency. Few writers are as qualified and equipped to tackle this vast subject as the award-winning veteran Washington Post correspondent John F. Harris, who covered Clinton for six of his eight years in officeas long as any reporter for a major newspaper. In The Survivor, Harris frames the historical debate about President William Jefferson Clinton, by revealing the inner workings of the Clinton White House and providing the first objective analysis of Clinton's leadership and its consequences. Harris shows Clinton entering the Oval Office in 1993 primed to make history. But with the Cold War recently concluded and the country coming off a nearly uninterrupted generation of Republican presidents, the new president's entry into this maelstrom of events was tumultuous. His troubles were exacerbated by the habits, personal contacts, and the management style, he had developed in his years as governor of Arkansas. Clinton's enthusiasm and temper were legendary, and he and Hillary Rodham Clintonwhose ambitions and ordeals also fill these pagesarrived filled with mistrust about many of the characters who greeted them in the ';permanent Washington' that often holds the reins in the nation's capital. Showing surprising doggedness and a deep-set desire to govern from the middle, Clinton repeatedly rose to the challenges; eventually winning over (or running over) political adversaries on both sides of the aislesometimes facing as much skepticism from fellow Democrats as from his Republican foes. But as Harris shows in his accounts of political debacles such as the attempted overhaul of health care, Clinton's frustrations in the war against terrorism, and the numerous personal controversies that time and again threatened to consume his presidency, Bill Clinton could never manage to outrun his tendency to favor conciliation over clarity, or his own destructive appetites. The Survivor is the best kind of history, a book filled with major revelationsthe tense dynamic of the Clinton inner circle and Clinton's professional symbiosis with Al Gore to the imprint of Clinton's immense personality on domestic and foreign affairsas well as the minor details that leaven all great political narratives. This long-awaited synthesis of the dominant themes, events, and personalities of the Clinton years will stand as the authoritative and lasting work on the Clinton Presidency.

Tis God gives skill, but not without mens hands: He could not make Antonio Stradivaris violins without Antonio.George EliotAntonio Stradivari (16441737) was a perfectionist whose single-minded pursuit of excellence changed the world of music. In the course of his long career in the northern Italian city of Cremona, he created more than a thousand stringed instruments; approximately six hundred survive. In this fascinating book, Toby Faber traces the rich, multilayered stories of six of these peerless instrumentsfive violins and a celloand the one towering artist who brought them into being.Blending history, biography, meticulous detective work, and an abiding passion for music, Faber embarks on an absorbing journey as he follows some of the most prized instruments of all time. Mysteries and unanswered questions proliferate from the outsetstarting with the enigma of Antonio Stradivari himself. What made this apparently unsophisticated craftsman so special? Why were his techniques not maintained by his successors? How is it that even two and a half centuries after his death, no one has succeeded in matching the purity, depth, and delicacy of a Stradivarius?In Fabers illuminating narrative, each of the six fabled instruments becomes a character in its own righta living entity cherished by artists, bought and sold by princes and plutocrats, coveted, collected, hidden, lost, copied, and occasionally played by a musician whose skill matches its makers.Here is the fabulous Viotti, named for the virtuoso who enchanted all Paris in the 1780s, only to fall foul of the French Revolution. Paganini supposedly made a pact with the devil to transform the art of the violinand by the end of his life he owned eleven Strads. Then theres the Davidov cello, fashioned in 1712 and lovingly handed down through a succession of celebrated artists until, in the 1980s, it passed into the capable hands of Yo-Yo Ma. From the salons of Vienna to the concert halls of New York, from the breakthroughs of Beethovens last quartets to the first phonographic recordings, Faber unfolds a narrative magnificent in its range and brilliant in its detail. A great violin is alive, said Yehudi Menuhin of his own Stradivarius. In the pages of this book, Faber invites us to share the life, the passion, the intrigue, and the incomparable beauty of the worlds most marvelous stringed instruments.

Does Buddhism require faith? Can an atheist or agnostic follow the Buddha's teachings without believing in reincarnation or organized religion?This is one man's confession.In his classicBuddhism Without Beliefs, Stephen Batchelor offered a profound, secular approach to the teachings of the Buddha that struck an emotional chord with Western readers. Now, with the same brilliance and boldness of thought, he paints a groundbreaking portrait of the historical Buddhatold from the author's unique perspective as a former Buddhist monk and modern seeker. Drawing from the original Pali Canon, the seminal collection of Buddhist discourses compiled after the Buddha's death by his followers, Batchelor shows us the Buddha as a flesh-and-blood man who looked at life in a radically new way. Batchelor also reveals the everyday challenges and doubts of his own devotional journeyfrom meeting the Dalai Lama in India, to training as a Zen monk in Korea, to finding his path as a lay teacher of Buddhism living in France. Both controversial and deeply personal, Stephen Batchelor's refreshingly doctrine-free, life-informed account is essential reading for anyone interested in Buddhism.

Decoded is a book like no other: a collection of lyrics and their meanings that together tell the story of a culture, an art form, a moment in history, and one of the most provocative and successful artists of our time.Praise for Decoded';Compelling . . . provocative, evocative . . . Part autobiography, part lavishly illustrated commentary on the author's own work, Decoded gives the reader a harrowing portrait of the rough worlds Jay-Z navigated in his youth, while at the same time deconstructing his lyrics.'Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times ';One of a handful of books that just about any hip hop fan should own.'The New Yorker ';Elegantly designed, incisively written . . . an impressive leap by a man who has never been known for small steps.'Los Angeles Times ';A riveting exploration of Jay-Z's journey . . . So thoroughly engrossing, it reads like a good piece of cultural journalism.'The Boston Globe ';Shawn Carter's most honest airing of the experiences he drew on to create the mythic figure of Jay-Z . . . The scenes he recounts along the way are fascinating.'Entertainment Weekly';Hip-hop's renaissance man drops a classic. . . . Heartfelt, passionate and slick.'Kirkus Reviews (starred review)