Most Popular Books by Philip Wilkinson

A look at the life, death, and continuing influence of Joan of Arc.

Everything you want to know about the world’s religions: from beliefs and ceremonies to gods and sacred texts From Hinduism to Zoroastrianism take an in-depth look at all the major global religions, past and present. Discover how each religion started, exploring their origins and history, from the moment of its founding to its spread across the world today. Find out all about the Gods and prophets from a comprehensive who’s who profiling deities and holy figures of each faith. Plus learn about the religious practices and traditions of each belief system, from day-to-day devotions to key events in the religious calendar. An exciting addition to Eyewitness Companions; the visual reference series covering favourite hobbies and pastimes from Whisky and Opera to Horse Riding.

This remarkable book explores the history and practice of Buddhism, beginning with the life of Buddha and continuing to the spread of Buddhism from Asia to the Western world. Beautiful photographs show the rituals, artifacts, and architecture that are important to the Buddhist tradition. See Buddha statues from many different countries and the Dalai Lama’s palace. Learn about the Wheel of Life and what the lotus flower symbolizes. Discover the Four Noble Truths, what life is really like for Buddhist monks, what happens during the Hana Matsuri festival, and much, much more! Explore the teachings and traditions of this ancient religion

In 1978, faced with the pressure to modernize and a declining budget, the Chinese People''s Liberation Army (PLA) reluctantly agreed to join China''s economic reform drive, expanding its internal economy to market-oriented civilian production. This work examines PLA''s role in the economy up to 1998.

Myths and legends are deeply rooted in the world''s literature, language, and history. But what does the phrase "Achilles heel" refer to, and what did Oedipus or Beowulf actually do? Gather round for enthralling stories of gods, danger, heroes, and great cosmic events. With over 1000 illustrations, Myths and Legends explores epic global stories, bringing to life the greatest creation myths of all time, such as that of Brahma and Vishnu, and the Inca god Viracocha. It brings you monstrous creatures and terrifying people including the witch Baba Yaga, as well as epic adventures such as King Arthur''s search for the Holy Grail and Jason''s capture of the Golden Fleece. It tells how the Masai first got their cattle, or how the Greeks discovered fire and shares legends that explain death, including the story of the Maori god Tane. Originally passed down from one generation to the next, these sagas from all over the world are part of our heritage and touch our hearts. Myths and Legends provides context and meaning to each one, and is a treasure trove for everyone interested in their cultural legacy.

"Creation stories, Gods, Heroes, Monsters, Mythical places"--Cover.

"Mary Shelley''s gothic tale is the world''s most famous work of horror fiction. The story concerns Victor Frankenstein, whose obsession with fashioning a new being leads him to create a pathetic, but monstrous creature--an act that has terrifying consequences."--P. [4] of cover.

Presents volume one of a four-volume set for children ages seven and up on science and technology and covers the story of flight from the pioneers of aviation to the jet fighters of the twenty-first century.

Includes insights into the lives of the current royal family Britain''s heritage told through the colourful lives of its kings and queens The monarchy is at the heart of British life. If you''re going to understand Britain and its history, you need to understand the story of its royal family. This lively guide walks you through the history of the British monarchy from the earliest times to the present day and covers the colourful characters, extraordinary events, power struggles, and politics that have shaped one of the most famous institutions in the world. Discover The origins of the British monarchy How the monarchy works The relationship between the royal family and the general public How the role of the monarch has changed over time What the monarch and the rest of the royal family do all day

Originally told to explain the mysteries of the world—such as creation, divine will, fertility, death, and love—myths are a major part of many cultures throughout the world, and each area has its own myths. Organized by geographic region, each myth is placed within the civilization’s history and context. The key elements of world mythology, such as the hero, his divine connection, the labyrinth, the initiation, and the transformation,are explored in boxes and features throughout the book. Philip Wilkinson has more than 50 titles to his credit in the fields of mythology, history, and the arts, including DK’s Illustrated Dictionaries of Mythology and Religions. Neil Philip is the author of many books on folklore and mythology, including The Illustrated Book of Myths and Myths and Legends Explained. Synopses of the great myths that have inspired human creativity from antiquity to the present Covers mythology around the globe, from the classic Greek to lesser known Malaysian Catalogs of gods by subject enable comparisons of distant civilizations

A shy, serious boy, Mahatma Gandhi would later lead India to nationhood and change the course of history. After studying law in London, he championed Indian rights in South Africa for two decades. He returned to India in 1914, leading a campaign of nonviolent protest and civil disobedience against British rule. Philip Wilkinson''s lively narrative takes us through his remarkable life, up to India''s independence in 1947, and the tragic conclusion; in 1948 Gandhi was assassinated by a fanatic opposed to his program of tolerance for all creeds and religions.

In a series of 50 accessible essays, Philip Wilkinson introduces architectural movements and styles throughout history, as well as describing some of the greatest architects'' most important and representative works. From the Pyramids of Giza to the Guggenheim, the classical orders of Vitruvius to the most recent contemporary trends today, 50 Architecture Ideas You Really Need to Know is a complete introduction to the most important architectural concepts in history.

Provides information on daily life in medieval castles, their different architectural styles, and the ways in which they were attacked and defended.

Presents 20 major moments that helped shape the course of our lives with accounts of the most imporatant scientific discoveries. Includes the following scientist Gutenberg, Galileo, Newton, James Watt, Louis Daguerre, Darwin Kaifung, Donkin & Hall, Lister, John Logie, Baird, Alex. G. Bell, M. Curie, Wright Bros., Henry Ford, Einstein, Alan Turing, Crick & Watson, Wilkins & Franklin, . Aldrin, Armstrong & Collins.

Learn all about Islam, the world''s fastest growing religion. From Ramadan and the Qur''an, to the traditional dress, feasts, and rich design - all this and more are explained in this unique guide. Filled with colourful photographs and vibrant history, delve into Islam''s culture and communities, and find out the answers to questions such as why Muslims fast, what are the five pillars of Islam, and what happens during the pilgrimage to Mecca? Stunning photography brings the culture alive on the page, while ancient objects, such as inscribed coins and scientific instruments, illustrate the rich history of this influential world religion. Learn how Islam spread across many continents, from Spain to China, and find out about the annual festivals in the Muslim calendar. Understand the layout of a mosque, and Islam''s role in scholarly learning, from astronomy to mathematics and medicine. Learn about the first conquests and the arms and armour of the Islamic world, including gilded battle-axes and decorated shields, and read about Islam''s important figures, including the scholar Avicenna, the traveller Ibn Battuta, and the military leader Saladin. DK Eyewitness Islam also includes a poster for you to hang on your wall. All this and more makes DK Eyewitness Islam the perfect guide to Islam for kids, helping them to understand this important religion, and discover its fascinating history and culture.

Identifies key gods, goddesses, heroes, heroines, themes, and symbols from the mythologies of the world.

A skyscraper one mile high, a dome covering most of downtown Manhattan, a triumphal arch in the form of an elephant: some of the most exciting buildings in the history of architecture are the ones that never got built. These are the projects in which architects took materials to the limits, explored challenging new ideas, defied conventions, and pointed the way towards the future. Some of them are architectural masterpieces, some simply delightful flights of fancy. It was not usually poor design that stymied them – politics, inadequate funding, or a client who chose a ‘safe’ option rather than a daring vision were all things that could stop a project leaving the drawing board. These unbuilt buildings include the grand projects that acted as architectural calling cards, experimental designs that stretch technology, visions for the future of the city, and articles of architectural faith. Structures likeBuckminster Fuller’s dome over New York or Frank Lloyd Wright’s mile-high tower can seem impossibly daring. But they also point to buildings that came decades later, to the Eden Project and the Shard. Some of those unbuilt wonders are buildings of great beauty and individual form like Etienne-Louis Boullée’s enormous spherical monument to Isaac Newton; some, such as the city plans of Le Corbusier, seem to want to teach us how to live; some, like El Lissitsky’s ‘horizontal skyscrapers’ and Gaudí’s curvaceous New York hotel, turn architectural convention upside-down; some, such as Archigram’s Walking City and Plug-in City, are bizarre and inspiring by turns. All are captured in this magnificently illustrated book.

"Ultrarealistic photos are presented with all the information preteens could ever want, and best of all, the books are small, the way kids like them". -- FamilyFun

Investigates ten ancient archeological sites of strange and mysterious ruins located around the world.

Accounts of important world events and the people who took part in them, including Confucius, Marco Polo, Karl Marx, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Chronicles the history, inner workings, passengers, sinking, and impact of the legendary liner.

Presents a study of space exploration and space flight and discusses early discoveries by Galileo, the Hubble Space Telescope, first orbital flights, manned space flight, lunar landings and the Mars Pathfinder, and life in space.

Accounts of the major political acts from past and present, focusing on such figures as Simon Bolivar, Mahatma Gandhi, and Mikhail Gorbachev.

From lightning-wielding Zeus, the supreme Greek god, to protective Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of love - heroes, gods, and monsters are brought to life in these retellings of myths from around the world. Myths, Legends, and Sacred Stories is a children''s book that invites you to explore all the well-known stories from Greek and Norse mythology, and a range of other cultures across more than 100 tales. Discover the fascinating myths of Anansi, the West African trickster god who takes the form of a spider; the story of the Wawilak Sisters of Arnhem Land in northern Australia, who form the land as they walk across it; or the Slavic tale of Ivan as he chases the mischievous Firebird. Read about ferocious, man-eating monsters such as the Minotaur and Fafnir the dragon, and the legendary heroes that fought them, like Theseus and Sigurd. Also included are the legends of Robin Hood, and of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, epics from Asia, such as the Mahabharata and Gilgamesh, and a host of tales from Aztec mythology and a range of other cultures. As well as offering the retellings themselves, Myths, Legends, and Sacred Stories: a visual encyclopedia investigates the meanings of these primal stories, examining why these tales have stood the test of time over thousands of years. Themed features draw together elements that are common to myths from all over the world, such as shapeshifters, mythical beasts, and magical weapons. Panels on modern retellings, such as Percy Jackson and The Little Mermaid, help to show why these myths are still relevant to our lives today.

This book leads a guided time-tour around the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, opening windows through time on life in these places.

An illustrated biography of Michelangelo, the Italian Renaissance painter and sculptor.