New Releases by Brian Williams

Nearly 100,000 U.S. soldiers are deployed to Afghanistan, fighting the longest war in the nation''s history. But what do Americans know about the land where this conflict is taking place? Many have come to have a grasp of the people, history, and geography of Iraq, but Afghanistan remains a mystery. Originally published by the U.S. Army to provide an overview of the country''s terrain, ethnic groups, and history for American troops and now updated and expanded for the general public, Afghanistan Declassified fills in these gaps. Historian Brian Glyn Williams, who has traveled to Afghanistan frequently over the past decade, provides essential background to the war, tracing the rise, fall, and reemergence of the Taliban. Special sections deal with topics such as the CIA''s Predator drone campaign in the Pakistani tribal zones, the spread of suicide bombing from Iraq to the Afghan theater of operations, and comparisons between the Soviet and U.S. experiences in Afghanistan. To Williams, a historian of Central Asia, Afghanistan is not merely a theater in the war on terror. It is a primeval, exciting, and beautiful land; not only a place of danger and turmoil but also one of hospitable villagers and stunning landscapes, of great cultural diversity and richness. Williams brings the country to life through his own travel experiences—from living with Northern Alliance Uzbek warlords to working on a major NATO base. National heroes are introduced, Afghanistan''s varied ethnic groups are explored, key battles—both ancient and current—are retold, and this land that many see as only a frightening setting for prolonged war emerges in three dimensions.

Presents a history of the special forces; examines their roles in the Civil War, World War II, and in Afghanistan; and discusses what they do today.

Explores the lives and work of sailors throughout history.

Presents information about the history of air warfare and notable stories featuring heroic pilots.

The New York Times Bestseller! The story of an outcast boy, his eccentric dad, and the scary underground world they discover through secret TUNNELS.14-year-old Will Burrows has little in common with his strange, dysfunctional family. In fact, the only bond he shares with his eccentric father is a passion for archaeological excavation. So when Dad mysteriously vanishes, Will is compelled to dig up the truth behind his disappearance. He unearths the unbelievable: a secret subterranean society. "The Colony" has existed unchanged for a century, but it''s no benign time capsule of a bygone era--because the Colony is ruled by a cultlike overclass, the Styx. Before long--before he can find his father--Will is their prisoner....

From The Birth Of A Nation To The Death Of Journalism Since its founding by a bloodthirsty tyrant in 1756, The Onion has not merely changed the way we think about the news -- it has changed whether we think about the news at all. As the first decade of this new millennium draws to a close, Our Front Pages shows us the first thing that presidents, kings, prime ministers, and popes saw when they opened their eyes each morning for the last 21 years. Now you, the common reader and citizen, can see what they saw and be as informed as they were with this important retrospective of the past two decades. You, too, will realize what generations before have realized and generations yet unborn will some day realize in turn: The Onion is not merely the chronicle of America. The Onion is America.

After Deeper, can the Tunnels adventure be any more dangerous? And where will it end? Will Burrows and his gang are far from finished as they free-fall down a subterranean pore. As they experience reduced gravity, the dark mysteries of the deep unfold and they discover a strange fungal shelf, which reveals not only artifacts from ancient civilisations, but also clues to a lost land at the end of the Earth.

Explores the achievements, social problems, and progress resulting from the scientific and technological revolution.

This series explores key dates in history: what happened on the day and the background and consequences of the event. Each title tells the story in a crisp, fast-paced style and colour and black and white photos, map and timeline support the text. The books are perfect quick-read introductions to the dramatic events, and equally useful as high interest / low reading level books. On 4th July 1776, America declared their independence after almost 200 years of British rule. This key date in the American Revolution changed the course of history. Today the Declaration of Independence is a treasured document and 4 July is the most important national holiday and celebration in the USA.

A basic overview of the history, geography, climate, and culture of Canada.

This title discusses topics such as what archeologists discovered about the Indus Valley, how the Indus people lived, as well as the aspects of Indus trading.

This title discusses topics such as the soldiers of Ancient Rome, descriptions of gladiator battles and the conspiracies of emperor murders.

This title discusses topics such as ancient Egyptian life, how and why the pyramids were built as well as how mummies were made.

"Describes new technologies that are helping make road transport, railways, ships, aeroplanes, and space travel more efficient and discusses how transport will change in the future"--Provided by publisher.

This unique book of astounding facts is impossible to put down. Did you know that Canada has the longest coastline of an country? Or that the longest speech ever delivered lasted for 22 hours? These and thousand more incredible facts are packed into over 200 pages covering eight subject areas. Colour images combine with highly readable text and superlative tables give short, sharp bursts of information. More detailed information can be found in fact boxes and Did you know? panels. An unforgettable reading experience from start to finish.

This series provides a quick-read introduction to key events in history. This volume looks at the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001.

A basic overview of the history, geography, climate, and culture of Canada.

Selected letters to presidents with contextual commentary.

A biography of Alexander Graham Bell showing how his work in creating a device to amplify sound lead to his landmark invention of the telephone.

How did the Victorian attitude toward poverty affect Charles Dickens? What was London like in the 1800s? What kind of education did Victorian children get? Discover how appalling conditions in Victorian factories inspired a novel that demanded better rights for children.

Combat Soldiers played a major role in wartime. Basic training took around six weeks. It was hard work. All soldiers looked forward to free time, when they could relax, play cards, listen to records or read letters from home. Even better was time off, called leave or furlough. Find out more about the life of a combat soldier in this fact-filled title.

What was it like to be a fighter pilot during wartime? This title examines what these pilots went through in the air and on the ground. Their training, types of aircraft, and the role they played in the battles are all examined in great detail.

The Blitz on Britain had a profound impact on the war. This title examines how the battles were fought and who played the important roles in the outcomes. The title is filled with amazing facts and photos.

A moving account of a trip to New York to pursue a new cancer treatment. This is the story of an Englishwoman''s search for a cure for a rare form of the disease. An inspiration for all cancer sufferers.

This is a salute to those who fought in the forces and on many fronts, recalling days of hardship and loss, but also the forging of life-long friendships and community spirit for which World War II will always be remembered. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel, specially more titles in this series. More titles in the History of Britain Series Ancient Britain Invaders in Britian Elizabethan England Kings & Queens Maritime Britain Medieval England Romans in Britain Tudor England Victorian Britain

Can a victim''s experience really be improved purely by diminishing the rights of offenders and increasing penalties for offending? Dr Williams lays bare the assumptions about victims and offenders that currently restrict efficient policy-making.