Thomas E. Ricks, senior Pentagon correspondent for the Washington Post , puts forth in Fiasco a masterfulreckoning with the planning and execution of the American militaryinvasion and occupation of Iraq, now with a preface on recentdevelopments. Ricks draws on the exclusive cooperation of anextraordinary number of American personnel—including more than onehundred senior officers—and access to more than 30,000 pages ofofficial documents, many of them never before made public.Tragically, it is an undeniable account—explosive, shocking, andauthoritative—of unsurpassed tactical success combined withunsurpassed strategic failure that indicts some of America’s mostpowerful and honored civilian and military leaders.

As a defender of national unity, a leader in war, and theemancipator of slaves, Abraham Lincoln lays ample claim to beingthe greatest of our presidents. But the story of his rise togreatness is as complex as it is compelling. In this superb,prize-winning biography, acclaimed historian Richard Carwardineexamines Lincoln’s dramatic political journey, from his early yearsin the Illinois legislature to his nation-shaping years in theWhite House. Here, Carwardine combines a new perspective with acompelling narrative to deliver a fresh look at one of the pillarsof American politics. He probes the sources of Lincoln’s moral andpolitical philosophy and uses his groundbreaking research to cutthrough the myth and expose the man behind it.

Tying into the official theme for the 2009 Inauguration, “A NewBirth of Freedom” from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Penguinpresents a keepsake edition commemorating the inauguration ofPresident-elect Barack Obama with words of the two great thinkersand writers who have helped shape him politically, philosophically,and personally: Abraham Lincoln and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Having Lincoln and Emerson’s most influential, memorable, andeloquent words along with Obama’s much-anticipated historicalinaugural address will be a gift of inspiration for every Americanand a keepsake for generations. Includes: * Barack Obama, Inaugural Address, 2009 * Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address, 1865 * Abraham Lincoln, The Gettysburg Address, 1863 * Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural Address, 1861 * Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance, 1841

The catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has broughtnew attention to the huge costs of our oil dependence. In thisstunning and revealing book, Peter Maass examines the social,political, and environmental impact of petroleum on the countriesthat produce it. Every unhappy oil-producing nation is unhappy in its own way, butall are touched by the “resource curse”—the power of oil toexacerbate existing problems and create new ones. Peter Maasspresents a vivid portrait of the troubled world oil has created.From Saudi Arabia to Equatorial Guinea, from Venezuela to Iraq, thestories of rebels, royalty, middlemen, environmentalists,indigenous activists, and CEOs—all deftly and sensitivelypresented—come together in this startling and essential account ofthe consequences of our addiction to oil.

Queen Elizabeth I and England’s First Spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham’s official title was principal secretaryto Queen Elizabeth I, but in fact this pious, tight-lipped Puritanwas England’s first spymaster. A ruthless, fiercely loyal civilservant, Walsingham worked brilliantly behind the scenes to foilElizabeth’s rival Mary Queen of Scots and outwit Catholic Spain andFrance, which had arrayed their forces behind her. Though he cut anincongruous figure in Elizabeth’s worldly court, Walsingham managedto win the trust of key players like William Cecil and the Earl ofLeicester before launching his own secret campaign against thequeen’s enemies. Covert operations were Walsingham’s genius; hepioneered techniques for exploiting double agents, spreadingdisinformation, and deciphering codes with the latest code-breakingscience that remain staples of international espionage.

Cooper Ramo is Managing Director and a partner at Kissinger Associates, one of the world's leading strategic advisory firms. Prior to joining Kissinger Associates, he was Assistant Managing Editor of Time and worked in the advisory and banking business in China.

Since it was first published in 1952, Lincoln and HisGenerals has remained one of the definitive accounts ofLincoln’s wartime leadership. In it T. Harry Williams dramatizesLincoln’s long and frustrating search for an effective leader ofthe Union Army and traces his transformation from a politician withlittle military knowledge into a master strategist of the CivilWar. Explored in depth are Lincoln’s often fraught relationshipswith generals such as McClellan, Pope, Burnside, Hooker, Fremont,and of course, Ulysses S. Grant. In this superbly writtennarrative, Williams demonstrates how Lincoln’s persistent“meddling” into military affairs was crucial to the Northern wareffort and utterly transformed the president’s role ascommander-in-chief.

Kati Marton’s bestselling Hidden Power is an engrossing lookat twelve presidential marriages–from Edith and Woodrow Wilson toLaura and George W. Bush–that have profoundly affected America’shistory. Marton uncovers the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the ultimatepower couples, showing how first ladies have used their privilegedaccess to the president to influence staffing, promote causes, andengage directly in policy-making. Edith Wilson secretly ran thecountry after Woodrow’s debilitating stroke. Eleanor Roosevelt wasFDR’s moral compass. And Laura Bush, initially shy of any publicrole, has proven to be the emotional ballast for her husband.Through extensive research and interviews, Marton reveals thesubstantial–yet often overlooked–legacy of presidential wives,providing insight into the evolution of women’s roles in thetwentieth century and vividly depicting the synergy of these uniquepolitical partnerships.

Spy tells, for the first time, the full, authoritative storyof how FBI agent Robert Hanssen, code name grayday, spied forRussia for twenty-two years in what has been called the “worstintelligence disaster in U.S. history”–and how he was finallycaught in an incredible gambit by U.S. intelligence. David Wise, the nation’s leading espionage writer, has called onhis unique knowledge and unrivaled intelligence sources to writethe definitive, inside story of how Robert Hanssen betrayed hiscountry, and why. Spy at last reveals the mind and motives of a man who was awalking paradox: FBI counterspy, KGB mole, devout Catholic,obsessed pornographer who secretly televised himself and his wifehaving sex so that his best friend could watch, defender of familyvalues, fantasy James Bond who took a stripper to Hong Kong andcarried a machine gun in his car trunk. Brimming with startling new details sure to make headlines, Spydiscloses: -the previously untold story of how the FBI got the a

The series of essays that comprise The Federalist constitutes one of the key texts of the American Revolution and thedemocratic system created in the wake of independence. Written in1787 and 1788 by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay topromote the ratification of the proposed Constitution, these papersstand as perhaps the most eloquent testimonial to democracy thatexists. They describe the ideas behind the American system ofgovernment: the separation of powers; the organization of Congress;the respective positions of the executive, legislative, andjudiciary; and much more. The Federalist remains essentialreading for anyone interested in politics and government, andindeed for anyone seeking a foundational statement about democracyand America. This new edition of The Federalist is edited by Robert Scigliano, aprofessor in the political science department at Boston College.His substantive Introduction sheds clarifying new light on thehistorical context and meaning of The Federalist . Scig

“An alarming but necessary book that reads like a thriller. Byraising uncomfortable questions, Ken Timmerman has performed asignificant public service.” –Michael Medved, nationally syndicated talk radio host Some have called it the CIA’s greatest covert operation of alltime. It is an intelligence war conducted behind the scenes, aimed atconfusing, misleading, and ultimately defeating the enemy. The goalis nothing less than toppling the regime in power. A network ofagents has been planted at key crossroads of power, stealingsecrets, planting disinformation, and cooking intelligence. Theplan involves sophisticated political sabotage operations thatbring in opposition forces who can challenge the regime openly, ina way the CIA cannot. The scope is breathtaking. Who is the target of this vast, sophisticated CIA operation? Notthe mullahs in Tehran or North Korea’s power-mad Kim Jong Il; thetarget is America’s president, George W. Bush. Drawing on exclusive informati

Uranium occurs naturally in theearth s crust-yet holds the power to end all life on theplanet. This is its fundamental paradox, and its story is afascinating window into the valor, greed, genius, and folly ofhumanity. A problem for miners in the Middle Ages, an inspirationto novelists and a boon to medicine, a devastat?ing weapon at theend of World War II, and eventually a polluter, killer, excuse forwar with Iraq, potential deliverer of Armageddon and a possiblelast defense against global warming- Uranium is the rivetingstory of the most powerful element on earth, and one which willshape our future, for better or worse.

Starred Review。 Some failures lead to phenomenal successes，andthis American nurse’s unsuccessful attempt to climb K2，the world’ssecond tallest mountain，is one of them。Dangerously ill when hefinished his climb in 1993，Mortenson was sheltered for seven weeksby the small Pakistani village of Korphe； in return， he promised tobuild the impoverished town’s first school， a project that grewinto the Central Asia Institute， which has since constructed morethan 50 schools across rural Pakistan and Afghanistan。 CoauthorRelin recounts Mortenson’s efforts in fascinating detail，presenting compelling portraits of the village elders，con artists，philanthropists，mujahideen， Taliban officials，ambitious schoolgirls and upright Muslims Mortenson met along the way。As the bookmoves into the post-9/11 world， Mortenson and Relin argue that theUnited States must fight Islamic extremism in the region throughcollaborative efforts to alleviate poverty and improve access toeducation，

As the world's largest democracy and a rising internationaleconomic power, India has long been heralded for its great stridesin technology and trade. Yet it is also plagued by poverty,illiteracy, unemployment, and a vast array of other social andeconomic issues. Here, noted journalist and former Financial TimesSouth Asia bureau chief Edward Luce travels throughout India's manyregions, cultures, and religious circles, investigating its fragilebalance between tradition and modernity. From meetings with keypolitical figures to fascinating encounters with religious pundits,economic gurus, and village laborers, In Spite of the Gods is afascinating blend of analysis and reportage that comprehensivelydepicts the nuances of India's complex situation and its place inthe world.