A major history of Afghanistan and its changing political culture Afghanistan traces the historic struggles and the changing nature of political authority in this volatile region of the world, from the Mughal Empire in the sixteenth century to the Taliban resurgence today. Thomas Barfield introduces readers to the bewildering diversity of tribal and ethnic groups in Afghanistan, explaining what unites them as Afghans despite the regional, cultural, and political differences that divide them. He shows how governing these peoples was relatively easy when power was concentrated in a small dynastic elite, but how this delicate political order broke down in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries when Afghanistan's rulers mobilized rural militias to expel first the British and later the Soviets. Armed insurgency proved remarkably successful against the foreign occupiers, but it also undermined the Afghan government's authority and rendered the country ever more difficult to govern as time passed. B
In this incisive analysis of generals, John Keegan examinesthe meaning of heroism as represented by Alexander the Great,Wellington, Grant, and Hitler, and argues that generalship, likewarfare itself, is a cultural activity that has, through the years,required a change in the very nature of leadership. 16 pages ofphotos.
At the beginning of thetwentieth century, the South Pole was the most coveted prize in thefiercely nationalistic modern age of exploration. In this brilliantdual biography, the award-winning writer Roland Huntford reexaminesevery detail of the great race to the South Pole between Britain'sRobert Scott and Norway's Roald Amundsen. Scott, who died along theway with four of his men only eleven miles from his next cache ofsupplies, became Britain's beloved failure, while Amundsen, who notonly beat Scott to the Pole but returned alive, was largelyforgotten. This account of their race is a gripping, highlyreadable history that captures the driving ambitions of the era andthe complex, often deeply flawed men who were charged with carryingthem out. The Last Place on Earth is the first of Huntford's masterly trilogyof polar biographies. It is also the only work on the subject inthe English language based on the original Norwegian sources, towhich Huntford returned to revise and update this edition.
How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly is thetranscendent story of a young woman who, in a twenty-four hourperiod, journeys through startling moments of self-discovery thatlead her to a courageous and life-altering decision.
The long-awaited, complete guide to the popular, vigorousAmerican method of yoga that is deeply rooted in ancient wisdom and*ures “In this day and age of health and fitness trends, it is assuringto know that Sharon and David encourage their students to drawinspiration from the classical texts of Yoga and timeless*ural sources. What I appreciate so much about David andSharon is how they help their Yoga students to understand andappreciate the wisdom of all the great saints and jivamuktas whohave contributed to raising consciousness. Ultimately, it isSelf-Realization, that is the true goal of Yoga.” –SRI SWAMI SATCHIDANANDA Creators of the extremely popular Jivamukti Yoga method andcofounders of the New York City studios where it is taught, SharonGannon and David Life present their unique style of yoga for thefirst time in book form. As they explain their intensely physicaland spiritual system of flowing postures, they provide inspiringexpert instruction to guide you
From the serpentine "Champie" of Lake Champlain to thevenerable "Nessie" of Loch Ness, extraordinary-andun-explained-creatures of the deep have been reported in sightingsthroughout the twentieth century. Now, two of the world's leadingcryptozoological investigators provide a globetrotting field guideto when, where, and what kind of mysterious aquatic beasts havegripped the public-and sometimes the scientific-imagination. Filledwith comprehensive drawings, classifications, and maps, their bookoffers an invaluable and unusual resource for the intrepidlycurious to investigate these sightings firsthand or to simply enjoythe fascinating accounts that others have given.
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation is filled witheasy-to-understand rules,real-world examples, dozens ofreproducible exercises, and pre- and post-tests. This handy workbook is ideal for teachers, students in middleschool through college, ESL students, homeschoolers, andprofessionals. Valuable for anyone who takes tests or writesreports, letters, Web pages, e-mails, or blogs, The Blue Bookoffers instant answers to everyday English usage questions.
Most people think of yoga as a solitary activity that isinherently therapeutic. While that is generally true, yoga posesand breathing practices can also be prescribed for specific healthproblems—often in combination with dietary advice taken fromAyurveda, traditional Indian medicine. Yoga Therapy is an essentialguide for yoga teachers, advanced practitioners, and anyone whowants to make therapeutic use of yoga. A. G. and Indra Mohanprescribe postures, breathing techniques, and basic Ayurvedicprinciples for a variety of common health problems, includingasthma, back pain, constipation, hip pain, knee pain, menstrualproblems, and scoliosis. Yoga Therapy is one of the few books that shows yoga teachers howto put together appropriate yoga sequences and breathing techniquesfor their students. Mohan details how to correctly move into, hold,and move out of poses, how to breathe during practice to achievespecific results, and how to customize a yoga practice by creatingsequences of yoga poses for a particular pers
From one of the nation’s most trusted experts on children’sbedtime and nap time comes a new guide for sleep-training twins sothat everybody (including Mom and Dad) will be rested andhappy! As parents of twins and multiples know, double the fun can bedouble the sleep deprivation. Now, in Healthy Sleep Habits, HappyTwins, beloved pediatrician and renowned sleep authority Dr. MarcWeissbluth combines specialized advice for parents of twins withhis tried-and-true sleep-training methods to show exhausted momsand dads how to get their babies to sleep on their own, stayasleep, and sleep regularly. This essential step-by-step guide toestablishing good sleep patterns reveals how to build healthyhabits in twins’ natural slumber cycles, including · how healthy sleep differs from “junk” sleep, plus a helpfultutorial on the techniques of sleep training for new parents · the five ingredients of healthy sleep, and why daytime sleep isdifferent from nighttime sleep but equally important to
One of the country's leading researchers updates hisrevolutionary approach to solving--and preventing--your children'ssleep problems Here Dr. Marc Weissbluth, a distinguished pediatrician and fatherof four, offers his groundbreaking program to ensure the best sleepfor your child. In Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, he explainswith authority and reassurance his step-by-step regime forinstituting beneficial habits within the framework of your child'snatural sleep cycles. This valuable sourcebook contains brand newresearch that - Pinpoints the way daytime sleep differs from night sleep andwhy both are important to your child - Helps you cope with and stop the crybaby syndrome, nightmares,bedwetting, and more - Analyzes ways to get your baby to fall asleep according to hisinternal clock--naturally - Reveals the common mistakes parents make to get their childrento sleep--including the inclination to rock and feed - Explores the different sleep cycle needs for differentt
Achieve the lean, fit look of a professional athlete in justtwelve weeks with this straightforward fitness plan. New studies are confirming what Paul Goldberg has alreadyobserved in his high-profile clients: getting leaner—not justthinner—is the single most important change that we can make tofeel and look our best. What many Americans struggle with today isknown as normal weight obesity: normal body weight, but highbody-fat percentage, which can lead to serious health problems. NowGoldberg has developed an effective plan to lower body fat byeating the right foods and building muscle. The twelve-week Lean Look program requires no fancy equipment,takes thirty minutes a day, six days a week, and can easily be doneat home. Goldberg shows how to add foods to your diet that promotemuscle development, cut back on foods that encourage fat storage,time your meals for optimal nutrition, and exercise to burn fat.With over 100 photographs, a Lean Look journal, body-fat tables,and a four-week meal