Most Popular Books by Ben Hubbard

The true nature of the samurai warrior is an elusive and endlessly fascinating enigma for those in the west. From their inauspicious beginnings as barbarian-subduing soldiers, the samurai lived according to a code known as bushido, or ‘Way of the Warrior’. Bushido advocated loyalty, honour, pride and fearlessness in combat. Those who broke the code were expected to perform seppuku, or suicide through belly-slitting. By its very design, seppuku aimed to restore honour to disgraced warriors by ensuring the most painful of deaths. But as the samurai grew into large warrior clans, the bushido virtues of loyalty and honour fell into question, as control was seized and the emperor supplanted by a powerful military ruler, the shogun. Samurai tells the story of the ensuing centuries-long struggle for power between the clans, as Japan’s martial elite rose and fell.

A NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS’ CHOICE • A gripping, behind-the-scenes portrait of the rise of Saudi Arabia’s secretive and mercurial new ruler “Revelatory . . . a vivid portrait of how MBS has altered the kingdom during his half-decade of rule.”—The Washington Post Finalist for the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, Kirkus Reviews MBS is the untold story of how a mysterious young prince emerged from Saudi Arabia’s sprawling royal family to overhaul the economy and society of the richest country in the Middle East—and gather as much power as possible into his own hands. Since his father, King Salman, ascended to the throne in 2015, Mohammed bin Salman has leveraged his influence to restructure the kingdom’s economy, loosen its strict Islamic social codes, and confront its enemies around the region, especially Iran. That vision won him fans at home and on Wall Street, in Silicon Valley, in Hollywood, and at the White House, where President Trump embraced the prince as a key player in his own vision for the Middle East. But over time, the sheen of the visionary young reformer has become tarnished, leaving many struggling to determine whether MBS is in fact a rising dictator whose inexperience and rash decisions are destabilizing the world’s most volatile region. Based on years of reporting and hundreds of interviews, MBS reveals the machinations behind the kingdom’s catastrophic military intervention in Yemen, the bizarre detention of princes and businessmen in the Riyadh Ritz-Carlton, and the shifting Saudi relationships with Israel and the United States. And finally, it sheds new light on the greatest scandal of the young autocrat’s rise: the brutal killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul, a crime that shook Saudi Arabia’s relationship with Washington and left the world wondering whether MBS could get away with murder. MBS is a riveting, eye-opening account of how the young prince has wielded vast powers to reshape his kingdom and the world around him.

Are you ever overwhelmed with the amount of information online? Find out how to navigate the online world easily and safely.

Delve into the past and explore the life and reign of Henry VIII in this biography for children brought to you by the publisher of Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Jubilee Celebration and King Charles III. The third book in this captivating series on British monarchs, Henry VIII covers all the key moments in the fascinating man''s life, from his struggles to father a son and the fates of his six wives, to the formation of the Church of England and wars with France and Scotland. Bright, playful illustrations and simple, age-appropriate text ensure that this book is the perfect introduction to the infamous Tudor king for little historians everywhere. It will supplement your child''s learning and curiosity as it reveals the secrets of a larger-than-life king from long ago.

Ever wonder what goes on inside your computer? Take a look into how processors, networks, and more are all connected.

Digital technology can sometimes be overwhelming. Find out what computers are used for. Learn how to store information, search online, play games, and more.

Poison documents the tales of the users and victims of these mysterious substances. Profiles of the most commonly used toxins of each era reveal how poisoners have harnessed these natural killers to achieve their ends.

The Gladiator is an icon of Roman culture, of sports economy, and of brave and brutal combat. This title in the Conquerors and Combatants series reveals the importance of gladiators as cultural heroes, enslaved athletes who were vital to the economy, and as political actors whose victories and sacrifices both entertained and subdued the Roman population. Illustrations, photos, and artifacts complement details about the gladiatorsu0092 lives, fighting styles, revolts, and political impacts. In Gladiators readers discover who gladiators were, how they shaped their society, and why they remain glorified icons of combat and culture.

This book takes the mystery out of computer programming. Learn about coding, algorithms and more.

What are the current issues facing our digital world? How do digital communities and the problems they face change and expand? Discover the challenges and opportunities our digital world provides in this topical guide.

Expertly written and illustrated with 180 colour and black-&-white photographs, paintings and artworks, Bloody History of Paris tells the vibrant, unromantic tale of one of the world’s most romantic cities.

"What is it like to witness a tornado? This book looks at the Moore, El Reno, and other tornadoes, using firsthand accounts to describe events and people''s experiences, providing multiple perspectives from eyewitnesses, survivors, the emergency services,scientists, and the media."--

Illustrated with more than 200 maps, photographs and artworks, The Viking Warrior examines these fearsome warriors through their origins, social structure, raiding culture, weapons, trading networks and settlements.

Learn about the treacherous journey across the Sierra Nevada mountain range that isolated and trapped a group of pioneers heading to California for an entire winter in this latest addition to the New York Times Bestselling What Was? series. In the winter of 1846-47, a group of eighty-seven pioneers heading from the Midwest to California found themselves snowbound in the Sierra Nevada mountain range with no way forward and no food or supplies. While forty-eight of the group members survived, the others perished due to extreme weather, starvation, and illness. To survive, the remaining people resorted to extreme measures...including cannibalism. Learn about the many miscalculations, bad decisions, and extreme weather that led to the demise of nearly half of the Donner Party in this book for young readers about one of California''s first major disasters.

What do you do online? What digital communities do you belong to? Learn how your digital activity makes you part of a digital community in this timely book, and examine what it means to be a part of an online culture and digital society.

Gray wolves and moose go head-to-head in a fight for survival. Gray wolves are one of the world’s most successful predators. But moose have deadly kicks to defend themselves. Learn more about each animal’s strengths and weaknesses. Who will win in this predator-versus-prey battle? Read to find out!

"3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . blast off! Visit an amazing spinning space hotel. Drive a rover around on a Moon base. Soar over Earth as a space tourist. These activities aren''t just the stuff of science fiction. They''re actually being planned! Get an inspiring look at how scientists have learned from past achievements to plan for the future of space travel. Then find out what our future might hold, from new space robots to crewed missions to the Moon and Mars. Exciting infographics, riveting sidebars, and informative illustrations will give curious young minds a new view of the next frontier"--

The Samurai Warrior describes the major battles of the era, the weapons and armour used, the social structure of Japanese society, myths about the samurai, and finally their decline during the modernization of the Meiji period. Including more than 200 photographs, illustrations and maps, it is a colourful, accessible study of Japan’s warrior elite.

Dive into the ocean where killer whales and penguins swim. Killer whales, called orcas, and king penguins both live in freezing Antarctica. Giant orcas hunt in groups and kill prey with their many teeth. King penguins are much smaller than orcas, but their speed and agility help them get away. Explore their traits and skills to find out which animal would win in a fight!

Illustrated with more than 200 colour and black-and-white photographs, maps and artworks, The Plantagenets is an expertly-written account of a medieval dynasty who have long captured the popular imagination.

How did the mysterious images high in the Nazca Desert in Peru come to be? Find out the truth about these ancient figures in the soil that can only be fully seen from high above the Nazca plain. Presenting What Do We Know About?, an exciting extension of the #1 New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series! The Nazca Lines in Peru have mystified people around the world for centuries. The famous figures, sometimes called geoglyphs, include a hummingbird, a spider, a fish, a monkey, a dog, a cat, human-like figures, geometric designs, and more. These amazing images were believed to have been created between 500 B.C.E. and 500 C.E., and no one is quite sure how or why they were created. Some historians believe that they are ancient irrigation systems, but other researchers believe in a more paranormal origin story. Were the Nazca Lines created by ancient cultures thousands of years ago, or could they have been alien landing sites? Find out the truth about the Nazca Lines in this book for young readers.

Was T. rex related to chickens? Why were dinosaurs so massive? Discover the answers to these questions and more in this astounding book, containing many brilliant books about all your favourite Jurassic creatures. ABOUT THE SERIES: Big Ideas! is a dynamic, high-energy "fun fact" series for children aged seven and up, illustrated throughout with humorous cartoons. Packed with surprising facts, stats, and records that kids will just love to share, it revels in all things weird, unexpected, mind-blowing, funny, and gross! This series really has the "wow" factor. It''s like a roller-coaster ride for your brain!

If you''re itching to know your Jurassic from your Triassic, and your Diplodocus from your Dilophosaurus, look no further! How many teeth did T. rex have? What''s the oldest dinosaur fossil ever discovered? Did birds evolve from dinosaurs? Find the answers to these and lots of other dinosaur puzzlers inside this fantastic, fact-packed book. Presented in an accessible Q&A format, this full-colour guide is perfect for curious and dino-crazy kids aged 8+.

Troy tells the story of the Trojan War from its beginnings with the sparring of the gods to the love story between Paris and Helen to the war fleet, the siege, and on to the final battles and destruction of the city.

The What Do We Know About? series explores the mysterious, the unknown, and the unexplained. Are the geometric field patterns fact, myth, or legend? Presenting What Do We Know About: an exciting new addition to the #1 New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series! What Do We Know About Crop Circles? lets curious young readers learn about the phenomenon of crop circles and how they came to be one of the most studied mysteries of the natural world. Read about all of the rational and fanciful explanations for these flattened patterns in crops all over the world, from the United Kingdom to Australia. Artists and hoaxers alike have claimed credit for these massive projects, but some people think that the source could be paranormal. Are these circles an elaborate prank, or could they be something more?

What does it mean to be digitally healthy? This instructive book takes a look at what digital health is and offers tips and strategies for maintaining it.

The What Do We Know About? series explores the mysterious, the unknown, and the unexplained. Will we ever learn the truth about what actually landed at Roswell? From the #1 New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series comes Where Is?, a series that tells the stories of world-famous landmarks and natural wonders and features a fold-out map! In 1947, an unusual object crashed in the New Mexico desert and was recovered by the Roswell Army Airfield officers. People everywhere began to speculate what the object could be. Could it possibly be a flying saucer? Would that be proof of aliens and life beyond Earth? Even decades later, some people still believe that the Roswell Incident is the most famous UFO sighting ever. Still, those who worked at the airfield insist it was just a weather balloon that had fallen from the sky. Was the Roswell Incident evidence of alien life, a government cover-up, or just a myth? Here are the facts about what we do know about Roswell.

The What Do We Know About? series explores the mysterious, the unknown, and the unexplained. Is this celebrated sea creature fact, myth, or legend? Find out all we know about the Kraken and its history in this exciting book! Presenting What Do We Know About?, an exciting new extension the #1 New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series! Sea monsters have a long history in lore and literature. Homer first wrote of them in 700 BCE. What Do We Know About the Kraken? lets curious young readers explore what we actually know about this mysterious sea monster''s long history. Dive into the facts behind this massive squid-like creature that was first described using the word "Kraken" in the beginning of the eighteenth century. For centuries, sailors have feared the Kraken, which they believe lurks in the ocean, waiting to pull ships beneath the surface with its powerful tentacles. Several famous writers such as Alfred, Lord Tennyson and Jules Verne have described monsters inspired by the Kraken. In this book, readers will also learn about the real creature that might have inspired the Kraken -- the giant squid.

North American porcupines have sharp quills that can hurt their predators. Many animals wouldn’t try to get around these quills, but the clever Canada lynx, master of camouflage and hunting, knows a way! Which animal will win in a fight? Learn more about their features and find out who rules the North American forests.

Examines the role women played during the industrial revolution by relating the stories of Elizabeth Fry, Florence Nightingale, Sarah G. Bagley and Mother Jones.

Great white sharks and dolphins face off in a fight. Sharks are skilled hunters, but bottlenose dolphins are one of the ocean’s smartest creatures. Discover the size, speed, attacks, and defenses of these amazing animals. Who will win in this predator-versus-prey showdown? Dive in to find out!

Stress is everywhere. There''s no way to escape it, but there are ways to deal with it. Take a deep breath. Control your schedule. Get rid of distractions. Replace tension and anxiety with relaxation and coping mechanisms that really work

Join Neil Armstrong on his journey to the moon! This book examines the extraordinary life of the first astronaut to set foot on the moon, from his early life to his first trip aboard an American spacecraft. Discover what the space race was and other developments happening at the time. Find out about the rigorous training that astronauts undergo and how they prepare for a journey into the unknown.