Daniel Houle has narrated 62 audiobooks on Listento.it by 9 authors, with an average listener rating of 4.3★ across 17 ratings. The most-rated is Celle qui ne pleurait jamais.
SETI: The History and Legacy of the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Summary
The question of man’s place in the extended universe has been pondered by every known culture since the beginning of recorded history. Lacking the means to prove otherwise, discussions of an alternative to Earth’s solitary existence have remained conceptual. The ongoing debate is spurred by the appearance of unexplainable phenomena through the centuries in the atmosphere and the space beyond, so much so that contact with alien civilizations has been depicted in some of the most ancient examples of representational art. In the rock drawings of Valcamonica on Italy’s Lombardy Plain, tantalizing etchings suggest that ancient man experienced the same type of appearances as those revealed to modern man. These drawings dating back to 10,000 BC serve as the counterpart to the present day’s alleged evidence of such contact. In addition to aerial craft, depictions include light-emitting, helmeted human figures carrying unidentifiable artifacts. Such examples are to be found not only in the terrain of the world’s land mass, but also in ancient tablets, temples, and vast western cathedrals. In both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, the appearance of what seems like supernatural beings are commonly typified by Ezekiel’s visions of the “wheel”, interpreted by many to represent a “heavenly” craft or creature from the Seraphic realm. Similar appearances range to angelic visitations at the birth of Christ and on to the Book of Revelation at the New Testament’s conclusion. Lacking scientific language with which to analyze these appearances, the angelic metaphor within the “heavenly hierarchy” model became the chosen designation of a scientifically uneducated population. The representations are esteemed and worshipped as the veritable reality of those times by millions throughout the world. If they depict actual events and beings, the Garden of Eden’s angel of the flaming sword, the annunciation to Mary, and the appearance of heralds to the shepherds may be reinterpreted as any manner of phenomena through a scientific perspective. Naturally, as technological advances and the creation of flying aircraft became realities, the sighting of UFOs increased, as did the interest in potential contact with aliens. While incidents like the one at Roswell led to conspiracies and a craze among those who insisted the government was hiding proof of extraterrestrials’ existence, governments across the world were actually secretly studying UFO sightings by the mid-20th century. By the end of the 1950s, the Cold War was ramping up, but so were scientists’ efforts to collaborate on the search for signs of extraterrestrial life, particularly through radio. Proceeding under the forthright moniker of Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, the broadly defined mission of organized searches was to “explore, understand, and explain the origin and nature in the universe and the evolution of intelligence”. Among its fellow organizations, SETI was unquestionably the most highly interdisciplinary, bringing together elements of cosmology, planetology, atmospheric science, the study of evolution, evolutionary biology, psychology, technology, and sociology. In the more than 60 years since, the efforts of countless scientists, astronomers, and even amateur observers have produced both interesting and controversial results, and the work has led to further speculation surrounding the nature of extraterrestrial life and why scientists have thus far not established definitive results of alien contact.
©2020 Charles River Editors (P)2020 Charles River Editors
The Sandinistas
Summary
"I will not abandon my resistance until the... pirate invaders...assassins of weak peoples...are expelled from my country...I will make them realize that their crimes will cost them dear....There will be bloody combat...Nicaragua shall not be the patrimony of Imperialists. I will fight for my cause as long as my heart beats... If through destiny I should lose, there are in my arsenal five tons of dynamite which I will explode with my own hand. The noise of the cataclysm will be heard 250 miles. All who hear will be witness that Sandino is dead. Let it not be permitted that the hands of traitors or invaders shall profane his remains." (Augusto César Sandino) For much of the 20th century, Latin American governments in large part lived under a system of military junta governments. The mixture of indigenous peoples, foreign settlers and European colonial superpowers produced cultural and social imbalances into which military forces intervened as a stabilizing influence. The proactive personalities of military heads and the rigid structures of such a hierarchy guaranteed the “strong man” commanding officer an abiding presence in the form of executive dictator. Such leaders often bore the more collaborative title of “President”, but the reality was, in most cases, identical. Likewise, the gap between rich and poor was often vast, and a disappearance of the middle class fed a frequent urge for revolution, reenergizing the military’s intent to stop it. With no stabilizing center, the ideologies most prevalent in such conflicts alternated between a federal model of industrial and social nationalization and an equally conservative structure under privatized ownership and autocratic rule drawn from the head of a junta government. Whichever belief system was in play for the major industrial nations of Central and South America, a constant bombardment of foreign influence pushed the people of states such as Nicaragua, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, and others toward overthrow, in one direction or the other. To the left came Stalinist influences from the Soviet Union and Castro’s Cuba, while the German World War II model and an anti-communist mindset from the United States worked behind the scenes to upset any movement toward extreme liberalism. The tacit acceptance of these right-wing dictators across South America was part of an overarching effort known as Operation Condor, consisting mostly of CIA operations that are as infamous and controversial as ever, with a lasting legacy that affects current events such as reactions to the ongoing unrest in Venezuela. Few examples remain as memorable as the conflict in Nicaragua, where the Frente Sandinista de Liberation Nacional (FSLN), a left-wing revolutionary party, seized power in the small Central American nation of Nicaragua in July 1979, toppling four decades of dictatorial rule perpetrated by the Somoza dynasty. A decade later, on February 25, 1990, in an election organized by the FSLN, one that the party was fully confident it would win, the FSLN suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of a coalition generally thought to be associated with the American-funded Contra movement. This was a sobering moment for the Latin American leftist revolution, and, as many were apt to see it, a triumph for American policy in the region. What happened in that critical decade in Nicaragua, what was the Sandinista movement that led Nicaragua into a leftist revolution, and why did the Americans vehemently oppose the Sandinistas with force? The Sandinistas: The Controversial History and Legacy of Socialist Resistance, Civil War, and Politics in Nicaragua looks at the turbulent 20th century in Nicaragua, and the various roles the Sandinistas have played; you will learn about the Sandinistas like never before.
©2020 Charles River Editors (P)2020 Charles River Editors
The Gangs of Chinatown
Summary
San Francisco, Chinatown, September 4, 1977, 2:00 a.m. Despite it being the middle of the night, Chinatown was still a hive of activity. Fresh produce glistening with dew was being delivered by vegetable vendors at grocery stores. Chinese barbeque chefs at neighborhood restaurants were preparing juicy roast duck and sticky sweet red barbeque pork for both the late-night crowd and tomorrow’s lunch rush. Walking down the dense streets, vibrant Cantonese could be heard from Chinatown residents, some jockeying for a seat at late-night dim sum restaurants, a favorite Cantonese staple of little steamed and fried dumplings and pastries. The restaurant Golden Dragon was no different, except on this night, instead of a peaceful late-night meal, a barrage of bullets would spray into the restaurant, unleashed by gunmen from the notorious Chinese Joe Boys street gang. The gangsters were aiming for their archrivals, the Wah Ching and the Hop Sing Boys. The attack was a revenge strike, as a Joe Boys street soldier had been killed in a running gun battle after a Wah Ching gang ambush on the Fourth of July at the Ping Yuen housing project in Chinatown. The Joe Boys were furious for revenge, and two months later, the death of their fellow gangster still fresh in their minds, the Joe Boys struck. An opportunity presented itself when a lookout spotted Wah Ching and Hop Sing gangsters at the Golden Dragon Restaurant. Ultimately, the gang shooting failed to kill a single street gang member. Instead, five innocent people were killed along with another 11 wounded. Chinatown and the city were shocked. Chinese gangs, once only a subject spoken in hushed tones among the residents of Chinatown, was now front-page news in America. Although the shooting was a shock to mainstream America, the attack represented a culmination of years of gang violence in the Chinese community. For years, gangs had killed dozens of people in Chinatown, an area that was both a tourist attraction and home to thousands of poor, mostly Chinese-born, immigrants. Most casualties in the gang wars of Chinatown had been criminals, combatants in vicious street combat. But the Golden Dragon shooting was different. This time the battle occurred in a popular restaurant, with victims being innocent civilians with no connection or knowledge to gangs or the revenge origins of the shooting. Chinatown would be changed forever after the Golden Dragon Massacre. Chinese gangs have been a part of the fabric of American Chinatowns since the first Chinese immigrants arrived in the nineteenth century to work on the railroads. Faced with intense racism and systematic oppression from mainstream society, secret societies called tongs were organized in the urban Chinatowns. These societies provided much needed social and financial support for the Chinese migrants who were treated as pariahs by American society. Eventually, as Chinese immigration increased after the passage of the 1965 Immigration Act, Chinese gangs evolved too. Chinese street gangs, ranging from the Ghost Shadows of urban New York Chinatown to the middle-class Taiwanese Americans that filled the gangs of Southern California, underground Chinese crime groups have continued to evolve and change in America. The Gangs of Chinatown: The History and Legacy of Chinese Street Gangs in America looks at how some of the gangs formed, what their activities were like, and their impact.
©2020 Charles River Editors (P)2021 Charles River Editors
The Book of Revelation: The History and Legacy of the Apocalyptic Final Book of the Bible
Summary
“And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” - The Book of Revelation 6:2 About 2,000 years ago, a prophet named John wrote a book about his strange visions while he was in Patmos, a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea. This John, the Seer, the Revelator, was long believed to be one of Jesus’ apostles, but recent historians have determined that he was a second-generation disciple. In fact, he was likely a political exile, writing for Christians under the threat of persecution by the Roman Empire, and his book, the Book of Revelation, was controversial, obscure, and rejected by many local churches as early as the 2nd century CE. Even after it managed to slip into the Bible as the last book of the canon, for years many doubted its authenticity, and others later branded it as the heretical hallucinations of a madman. Despite those controversial origins, the Apocalypse or Revelation of John remains firmly embedded in the Bible as the final chapter of the great saga that opens with Genesis, the beginning of everything. As a bookend to Genesis, Revelation provides a narrative of the end times, the completion of history, and the end of the world. Genesis and Revelation thus constitute the Alpha and the Omega, a surprising expression that the Book of Revelation applies to the divinity. In the opening verses of the Book of Revelation, God says to John, “I am the Alpha and the Omega - the beginning and the end. I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come.” John proclaims, “On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: `Write on a scroll what you see.’” His esoteric narrative, impenetrable to most of his readers, is full of symbols, keys, and metaphors, abounds in strange visions and prophecies, monsters, natural catastrophes, and describes terrifying scenes that are typically described as apocalyptic. This fascinating book also features some of the most well-known religious concepts in the West, things that have provoked fear and fascination for centuries, including the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, the famous number of the Beast (666), the Antichrist (whom Revelation calls "the beast"), and the whore of Babylon. Perhaps inevitably, the interpretation of the Book of Revelation has also generated significant controversy. Once it obtained its canonical status, meaning it was accepted by the whole Church as a divinely inspired text, countless generations immersed themselves in its verses in an effort to decode the visions of the prophet John. Theologians of many ages, and even recent Biblical scholars, have dissected the sentences and found clues regarding the work’s authorship, context, and date of composition. One position is that Revelation is the literal truth of things to come, those who await the return of Christ in the clouds, commanding the Heavenly army, while others take a more spiritual interpretation. Still another position is that the book narrates events that were happening while John composed the tractate, and that it is a codified description, in terms which were understandable to the readers of its time, of the persecution of Christians under Emperor Nero or Emperor Domitian. A more intriguing proposition says that Revelation, in its primitive form, consisted of two or more shorter texts, and interestingly, that it originally formed a Jewish document that originally had nothing to do with Jesus.
©2020 Charles River Editors (P)2020 Charles River Editors
Mafia Hitmen and Assassins
Summary
Are you fascinated by the mafia? Do you want to learn the stories of some of the deadliest men of the past 100 years? Do you want to know one of the many ways that the mafia managed to keep control over the USA for so many years? One of the easiest ways that mafia bosses would keep control is to have hit men working for them. Dangerous, coldhearted men who killed without any thought, whatsoever. Who were these men? How did they become the way they were? How did they kill? Why did they kill? In this audiobook, we’ll talk about many infamous mafia hit men and answer the above questions about them. Just a few of the hit men we’ll be talking about include: Sammy “The Bull” Gravano and the reasons he became one of the most important flips on the mafia to date, plus, how he ended up in prison again for the second time Richard “The Iceman” Kuklinski and the crazy ways he would get away with his murders and all the genius ways he’d get rid of a body Thomas Pitera and the years he spent in Japan studying samurai Giuseppe Greco and his death crew Joseph Barboza and the actual, totally crazy reason he was often referred to as “The Animal” Abe Reles and his mysterious death; he thought he was safe, and he really wasn’t. Was he actually trying to escape or is there something far more sinister at play here? Alexander Solonik and the absolutely incredible things he could do with two guns, and his never-ending determination to stay out of prison Benjamin Siegel, the father of Las Vegas and the only one who says it’s potential to become what it is today It’s hard to pinpoint the reason to why hearing about these people and their horrific crimes are so fascinating, but we’re not here to explain that. We’re just here to give you enjoyable, fascinating stories, and there’s no shame in that. The stories in here are shocking, twisted, and pretty amazing. So, if you’re interested in finding out about any of these men and how they got away with their crimes or just interested in hit men in general, this audiobook is definitely a good place to start listening to enjoyable stories.
©2019 Tru Nobilis Publishing (P)2019 Tru Nobilis Publishing
The Ottoman-Russian Wars of the 18th Century
Summary
In terms of geopolitics, perhaps the most seminal event of the Middle Ages was the successful Ottoman siege of Constantinople in 1453. The city had been an imperial capital as far back as the fourth century, when Constantine the Great shifted the power center of the Roman Empire there, effectively establishing two almost equally powerful halves of antiquity’s greatest empire. Constantinople would continue to serve as the capital of the Byzantine Empire even after the Western half of the Roman Empire collapsed in the late fifth century. Naturally, the Ottoman Empire would also use Constantinople as the capital of its empire after their conquest effectively ended the Byzantine Empire, and thanks to its strategic location, it has been a trading center for years and remains one today under the Turkish name of Istanbul. In the wake of taking Constantinople, the Ottoman Empire would spend the next few centuries expanding its size, power, and influence, bumping up against Eastern Europe and becoming one of the world’s most important geopolitical players. It was a rise that would not truly start to wane until the 19th century, and in the centuries before the decline of the “sick man of Europe", the Ottomans frequently tried to push further into Europe. Some of those forays were memorably countered by Western Europeans and the Holy League, but the Ottomans’ most frequent foe was the Russian Empire, which opposed them for both geopolitical and religious reasons. From negotiations to battles, the two sides jockeyed for position over the course of hundreds of years, and the start of the fighting may have represented the Ottomans’ best chance to conquer Moscow and change the course of history. For anyone trying to understand the origins of modern Russia and the start of the Russo-Turkish Wars, the search should begin with Tsar Peter I (1672-1725), who titled himself Peter the Great during his lifetime. The moniker is fitting, considering the manner in which Peter brought Russia out of the Middle Ages and into the 18th century. Through a series of campaigns, Peter turned Russia into a formidable empire that would subsequently become a major force on the European continent, while also emulating Western Europe and turning Russia into an international state that interacted with the other continental powers. By revolutionizing and modernizing Russian arms, including the creation of Russia’s first naval force, Peter was able to pursue an aggressive and expansionist foreign policy that set the stage for the way the European map would be redrawn again and again over the coming centuries. In the late 17th century, Peter the Great launched an attack on Azov, an Ottoman fortress near the mouth of the Dnieper as it flows into the Sea of Azov. Conquest of the stronghold would provide Muscovy with a port and the ability to attack Crimea from sea, but even after the Russians accomplished this, the ultimate prize - free access to the Black Sea - remained out of Russia’s reach on account of the strength of the Ottoman fleet in the Black Sea and the logistical challenges of conquering the Crimean Peninsula. Furthermore, soon after the conquest of Azov Peter engaged in a much costlier war in the north against Sweden for the conquest of ports on the Baltic Sea. The Ottoman Empire, which had just signed a humiliating treaty with Austria, Poland and Venice which gave up Hungary and other conquests, was pleased with the respite, but it came unto conflict with Russia again over Peter’s enemy King Charles XII of Sweden, who had taken refuge in Ottoman Moldavia after his defeat at the Battle of Poltava in July 1709.
©2020 Charles River Editors (P)2020 Charles River Editors
The Romans in Scotland
Summary
The Romans were master builders, and much of what they built has stood the test of time. Throughout their vast empire, they have left grand structures, from the Forum and Pantheon in Rome, to the theatres and hippodromes of North Africa, and the triumphal gates in Anatolia and France. Wherever they went, the Romans built imposing structures to show their power and ability, and one of their most impressive constructions was built on the northernmost fringe of the empire. Shortly after Emperor Hadrian came to power in the early second century CE, he decided to seal off Scotland from Roman Britain with an ambitious wall stretching from sea to sea. To accomplish this, the wall had to be built from the mouth of the River Tyne - where Newcastle stands today - 80 Roman miles (76 miles or 122 kilometers) west to Bowness-on-Solway. The sheer scale of the job still impresses people today, and Hadrian’s Wall has the advantage of being systematically studied and partially restored. Of course, the masterful architecture of the wall belied the fact that it was built for defense, because Scotland (known as Caledonia to the Romans) was never fully conquered or incorporated into the Roman Empire, a fact that many modern Scots remain quite proud of today. While the Romans made several efforts to subdue Scotland, it is not entirely clear whether their failure to complete the subjugation of the northern part of the British Isles was due to the ferocity of the Caledonian/Pictish tribesmen or whether the Romans simply came to the conclusion that the region had far too little to offer in the way of resources (either minerals, metals, or slaves) to warrant repeated major campaigns. Scotland in the first century CE had no settlements of any size, so profitable trade was not easy to establish, and so, did not offer any major motivation for military conquest.
©2020 Charles River Editors (P)2020 Charles River Editors
Job Interview Questions and Answers
Summary
If you have to face a job interview and you want to find out the most common interview questions and the right answers to that questions, then keep reading! We often think that we are sufficiently prepared, focused, and know the right answers to give to the interviewer and let us choose among many, but unfortunately, too many times, it is not so simple! In this audiobook, you will learn to impress the interviewer with the right answers to the most common questions that are addressed to candidates in the interview phase. The audiobook will cover these topics: Typical interview process The categories of interview questions The techniques of interview answers Mistakes to avoid Samples of questions and answers So, if you have never done a job interview, if you have already done it but you have not been chosen, or even if you are convinced that you will not be able to have the job of your dreams, with this audiobook, you will discover that all this is very simple. Scroll up and click the "buy now" button!
©2019 Robin Superhalk (P)2019 Robin Superhalk
Intermittent Fasting 101
Summary
Do you want to lose weight quickly and live healthier while still enjoying your favorite foods? If you are tired of complicated diets, calorie-counting, and tasteless food without achieving your desired goals, than there is an alternative for you! You can stop dieting and just follow intermittent fasting, a revolutionary weight loss system that will help you to burn fat, heal your body, and live healthier without giving up your favorite foods. This audiobook will teach you: What intermittent fasting is When you should fast and what you should eat Why you should choose intermittent fasting instead of other diet programs What are the different types of intermittent fasting and how to choose the right one for you What are the benefits of intermittent fasting What is the golden key of autophagy and why it is so important for women What are the tips and tricks to improve your general health Why you should use Intermittent fasting for weight loss What is the best way to use intermittent fasting for muscle gain What are the common mistakes while fasting and how to avoid them This is not some broscience, 1200 calorie white fish and sweet potatoes “diet” which ruins your metabolism and leaves you looking (and feeling) worse off than before. This is a scientifically constructed yet easy-to-follow eating protocol designed for both short- and long-term fat loss and muscle gain. Already, thousands of people have successfully followed this protocol, and the results for 87 percent of them are just outstanding. So, are you ready to start a new healthy way of life? Buy the audiobook today and break free from the diet trap! Scroll up and click the "buy now" button to get the audiobook.
©2019 Serena Light (P)2020 Serena Light
Guide to a Winning Interview
Summary
Looking for a way to excel at your next interview? Want to appear more confident in the interview room? Then, keep reading... The truth of the matter is, going through an interview is much harder than it actually looks. No matter what others say, when it comes to being inside the room with the interviewer, everyone falters. If you want to be a success at your interviews, then you need to inculcate or develop a certain frame of mind. This will depend mostly on your pre-interview preparations. If you are aware of what are some of the basic questions that all interviews basically boil down to, then you have much of the territory covered. So, what are these questions that you need to know about that will get you in prime position for the job? This is precisely what is covered in Guide to a Winning Interview. The ultimate aim of the book is to disclose all the properly guarded secrets of being a success at interviews without trying to be someone else. All you need is a little self-confidence and the technical know-how that is associated with the job. Through this audiobook, you will learn: How to determine your career goals and strategies How to go about answering the most common job interview questions in the context of case examples What is a list of things that you should ask the interviewer to know more about the job What to say, if anything, after the interview is over What is a list of do's and don’ts in a job interview, explaining why they need to be followed How to make the best of your body language and its importance What you need to know about your dress code What is the secret to remain calm, which will end up making a positive impression on the interviewer Guide to a Winning Interview will be your bible until you are able to find the job that you have always dreamed of. Not only it will teach you a variety of things that will enable you to crack every interview that you give, it will also help you build certain habits that will stick with you for the entirety of your professional career. Even if you are just starting out and have no idea as to how to go about preparing for an interview, you can still have an edge over others after listening to this book. Preparing for interviews is not rocket science, but it does require certain guidelines that, if you follow religiously, will guarantee you success at every stage of your career. Are you interested in knowing more? Get this book and start preparing for your dream job today. Scroll to the top of the page and click on the "buy now" button.
©2019 Jim Hunting (P)2020 Jim Hunting
Job Interview
Summary
Would you like to drastically improve your chances of getting a new job while mastering the process of a job interview? Have you ever thought if there is a perfect guide that will make you succeed every time? Would you like to have a tool that will tell you what to do, when, and how to do it? Job Interview - a complete book bundle for people who want to master the process of a job interview, everything from A to Z. How many job interviews have you already had in your life? Some people had more, some people had less, but the main thing is that usually people don’t know how to prepare for it and more important than that, how to show everything they need to show for their future to get their so desired workplace. It doesn’t matter that much about what kind of job you are applying to. What matters is that you follow the exact steps of a successful job interview - good preparation, positive attitude, decent dressing, research, communication skills, and many other important aspects. There are some specific, proven to work job interview tricks and rules that you have to master in order to increase your success rate drastically. And it is not even that difficult. Take a look at a couple of things you will get our of this book: Step-by-step pre-interview preparation guide Master interview process plan Research what must be done before the interview Most common tricks to succeed Top mistakes to avoid FAQ chapter How to understand the company? Should you tell the truth about everything? And more.... What makes this book different from other job interview guides? Is this book good for all kinds of jobs? What is the main focus of this book? In this book bundle, we managed to use most proven to work information and explain everything in the simplest way possible. Each book of this bundle covers separate parts and different aspects of a job interview, so you will have the ability to dive deep into each subject. Job Interview mostly focuses on office type of job interviews, but the same rules and strategies apply to almost every other job. In this book, we go deeper on how to detect which is the best job interview model for your future interview. The book mainly focuses on things that matter and neglect things that are useless. From attitude and mindset to preparations and actual behavior in job interviews. Sometimes there are also things that need to be done after an interview as well. If you came to this point, you are more than ready to take this book bundle and dive deep into a fascinating job interview process.
©2019 Robin Superhalk (P)2020 Robin Superhalk
The Lost City of Mari
Summary
For a period of just under 100 years, the city of Mari in northern Mesopotamia (Eastern Syria) was one of the most - if not the most - important cities in the Near East. Mari was ruled by a dynasty of powerful Amorite kings who were not afraid to use their military power to keep subordinate provinces in line and their enemies at bay, but more often, they relied upon a combination of diplomacy and trade to establish their dominance. Founded by seminomadic Amorite tribes, Mari was gradually transformed over the span of centuries from a sleepy stop along the Euphrates River to the premier power in Near East during the early second millennium BCE. It remained a relatively obscure city for quite some time, overshadowed by more powerful dynasties and city-states in Akkad and Ur, until its kings took advantage of the collapse of the Ur III Dynasty and the return to the process of competing city-states that so often marked interregnum periods throughout ancient Mesopotamian history. If it were not for some very fortunate events and circumstances, the modern world might never have known about Mari. After Mari was conquered by Babylonian King Hammurabi, its cultural and political influence quickly diminished, until it was literally relegated to being a backwater on the Euphrates. As time went on, later rulers ignored the site, and it was eventually all but forgotten, so when modern scholars began deciphering and studying the enigmatic cuneiform script in the late 1800s and early 1900s, they noticed that though the city of Mari was mentioned in numerous important texts, no one knew where it was nor how big it was. The city was finally discovered and excavated in the 1930s, and almost as soon as the first picks went into the soil, there was the realization that it was one of the most important sites of its time was made. When archaeologists uncovered one of the greatest caches of cuneiform documents from ancient Mesopotamia at the site of Mari, it instantly expanded modern scholarly knowledge, not just of the city, but of ancient Mesopotamia in the early second millennium BCE. The “Mari Archives”, as they became known, brought the lost city to life, relating many different aspects of the city-state’s culture and what made it important and unique, as well as what made it similar to other Mesopotamian city-states of the era. The Mari archives ultimately showed the world that for a brief moment in history, there was no other city as important as Mari. The Lost City of Mari: The History and Legacy of an Ancient Mesopotamian Power Center chronicles the dramatic rise and fall of the mysterious city and why it was forgotten for so long.
©2020 Charles River Editors (P)2020 Charles River Editors
The Ottoman-Russian Wars of the 19th Century
Summary
In terms of geopolitics, perhaps the most seminal event of the Middle Ages was the successful Ottoman siege of Constantinople in 1453. The city had been an imperial capital as far back as the fourth century, when Constantine the Great shifted the power center of the Roman Empire there, effectively establishing two almost equally powerful halves of antiquity’s greatest empire. Constantinople would continue to serve as the capital of the Byzantine Empire even after the western half of the Roman Empire collapsed in the late fifth century. Naturally, the Ottoman Empire would also use Constantinople as the capital of its empire after their conquest effectively ended the Byzantine Empire, and thanks to its strategic location, it has been a trading center for years and remains one today under the Turkish name of Istanbul. In the wake of taking Constantinople, the Ottoman Empire would spend the next few centuries expanding its size, power, and influence, bumping up against Eastern Europe and becoming one of the world’s most important geopolitical players. It was a rise that would not truly start to wane until the 19th century, and in the centuries before the decline of the “sick man of Europe,” the Ottomans frequently tried to push further into Europe. Some of those forays were memorably countered by Western Europeans and the Holy League, but the Ottomans’ most frequent foe was the Russian Empire, which opposed them for both geopolitical and religious reasons. From negotiations to battles, the two sides jockeyed for position over the course of hundreds of years, and the start of the fighting may have represented the Ottomans’ best chance to conquer Moscow and change the course of history. By the 19th century, the tsar was notoriously referring to the Ottoman Empire as the “sick man of Europe”, and by the start of World War I, the Ottoman Empire was often described as a dwindling power, mired by administrative corruption, using inferior technology, and plagued by poor leadership. The general idea is that the Ottoman Empire was “lagging behind”, likely coming from the clear stagnation of the empire between 1683 and 1826. Yet, it can be argued that this portrayal is often misleading and fails to give a fuller picture of the state of the Ottoman Empire. The fact that the other existing multicultural empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, also did not survive World War I should put into question this “accepted narrative”. Looking at the reforms, technological advances, and modernization efforts made by the Ottoman elite between 1826 and the beginning of World War I, one could really wonder why such a thirst for change failed to save the Ottomans when similar measures taken by other nations, such as Japan during the Meiji era, did in fact result in the rise of a global power in the 20th century. During the period that preceded its collapse, the Ottoman Empire was at the heart of a growing rivalry between two of the competing global powers of the time, England and France. The two powers asserted their influence over a declining empire, the history of which is anchored in Europe as much as in Asia. However, while the two powers were instrumental in the final defeat and collapse of the Ottoman Empire, their stance toward what came to be known as the “Eastern Question” - the fate of the Ottoman Empire - is not one of clear enmity. Both England and France found, at times, reasons to extend the life of the Sick Man of Europe until it finally sided with their shared enemies.
©2020 Charles River Editors (P)2021 Charles River Editors
Job Interview Guide
Summary
If you want to know all the secrets of job interviews, know what to do before and during it, then keep reading! The crucial moment in the search for the job of your dreams is the preparation of the interview. To best prepare for the interview, it is necessary to know the secrets to prepare yourself in the best possible way. For this reason, I have created a complete guide that explains, step by step, what to do before and during the interview. In this audiobook, you'll find information on: An introduction to the process Resume and cover letter Company research Details of your story Professional standards Other tips and standards Common questions Answering techniques Mistakes to avoid Post-interview protocol Even if you are attending an interview for the first time and you are about to face one, with my guide, you will be able to stand out among the other candidates and get the job you want. Scroll to the top and click the "buy now" button!
©2019 Robin Superhalk (P)2019 Robin Superhalk
The Pleistocene Era
Summary
The Pleistocene spans a period from around 2.5 million years ago (mya) to just over 12,000 years ago, and it was an epoch of enormous change on Earth, mainly characterized by climate changes involving fluctuations between periods of extreme heat and long periods of glaciation. This period is commonly known as the Ice Age, despite the fact there were actually a number of separate periods of cold. Along with the climate challenges, this was also the period that saw the development of modern humans. The origin of our ancient ancestors is still a matter of debate among paleontologists, and classification systems for early hominoids are constantly being updated as new discoveries are made. What is generally agreed upon is the species Homo sapiens belong to the order primates and the suborder anthropoids. Within the anthropoids suborder, humans belong to the family hominids, which also includes other animals such as the orangutan and the great apes. Drilling down even further, humans belong to a subgroup of hominids known as hominin. The subgroup hominin includes humans as well as chimpanzees and gorillas. Discoveries have revealed more than 20 species of the genus Homo, all of which appeared during the Pleistocene Epoch, and all but Homo sapiens became extinct during the same period. The challenge is in understanding which of these groups are predecessors to Homo sapiens and which are separate groups that died out leaving no current representation. Not knowing this information makes it difficult to determine neat classification and establish precisely when hominins separated from the rest of the non-hominin primates. It is generally accepted that hominoids and the first hominins evolved in what is now Africa. Somewhere around seven mya, the common hominoid lineage split into two distinct evolutionary lines: the ancestors of modern chimpanzees and those of modern humans. Around 2.5 mya, a new genus of hominin appeared. Homo had larger brains than their predecessors as well as smaller jaws and teeth. The very first stone tools date to this period, when there were a number of different hominin species. The very first true humans, Homo erectus, appeared around two mya. These new creatures could hardly have chosen a more difficult time to appear. In addition to facing the challenges of simply surviving in a generally hostile environment, the world was about to enter a period of convulsive climatic change. The new humans would face drought and extreme heat, as well as long periods of cooling where glaciers spread across the surface of the planet, but they survived, and by the time the Pleistocene Epoch ended around 12,000 years ago, Homo sapiens had become one of the most significant species on the planet. The Pleistocene Era: The History of the Ice Age and the Dawn of Modern Humans looks at the development of the era, what life on Earth was like, and the origins of archaic humans.
©2020 Charles River Editors (P)2020 Charles River Editors
Job Interview
Summary
Wondering how to excel at your next interview? Looking for a way to properly answer all interview questions? Want to make a great impression in a job interview? Everyone gets the jitters before an interview, but there is a fine difference between those who excel at their job interviews and those who don’t. Much of it can be laid at the feet of being calm, confident, and creative. However, it doesn’t come naturally to everybody. In order to be successful at your next interview, you need to develop a certain frame of mind. Much of this will depend on how well you have prepared for the interview and how confident you come across to the interviewer. At the same time, you do not need to copy someone else’s formula in order to impress the interviewer. The main aim of this audiobook is to provide you with the much-needed tools, tips, and tricks that will enable you to crack the interview, every single time, with your present skills and abilities. All that is required is a little tweak in your approach toward the job interview. Through this audiobook, you will learn: Things you can say in order to convincingly answer job position questions How to convince your interviewer that they need your skills and personality What to focus on while preparing for the interview A list of do’s and don’ts in a job interview, and why they need to be followed How to come across as confident and commanding How to be creative in your answers so you can stand out amongst the candidates All this and much more are covered in Job Interview. With this audiobook you will know the secret of developing certain habits that will not only help you to form a positive impression on the interviewer, but will also assist you in your life. Even if you have never actually prepared for an interview before, you can easily learn to do so in a short amount of time. Interested in knowing more? Get this audiobook today and learn to be successful at every job interview.
©2020 Jim Hunting (P)2020 Jim Hunting
Winning Interview
Summary
If you are getting interviews but not the job, if you have to improve your ability to interview, then keep listening. To have the job of your dreams and to be chosen among the others, it is necessary to know the secrets of the process of the interview and therefore, to have the right attitude. Too often, the failure comes from the lack of knowledge of the techniques and the lack of correct preparation. In this book, you can find: The importance of an interview Preparation for an interview First impressions Communication skills Positive attitude Demonstrating teamwork Goal oriented Flexible and dependable Integrity and intelligence Organization and creative thinking Common mistakes to avoid Even if you have failed sometimes, even if you think you can't do it, with this book, you can understand how to get the job of your dreams and don't miss precious opportunities. Buy now!
©2019 Robin Superhalk (P)2020 Robin Superhalk
The Dutch Revolt
Summary
During the 17th century, the Netherlands, despite having only 1.5 million people in 1600, became a global maritime and trading power. By contrast, France at the time had 20 million people, Spain had eight million, and England had five million. Nevertheless, Amsterdam became one of the most important urban centers in the world and the location of the world’s first stock market, and Dutch merchant ships and pirates plied the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. The Dutch acquired colonies in the East Indies, where they seized control of the spice trade from the Portuguese, and in the West Indies, they acquired a number of islands from the Spanish (several of which are still Dutch today). They became the only Westerners who were allowed to trade with Shogunate Japan from a small island next to Nagasaki, and they settled the town that ultimately became New York City. Naturally, all of this imperialism generated enormous amounts of wealth that flowed into the Netherlands. The Netherlands has had a complex and turbulent history involving the interplay of multiple political entities, ethnicities, and languages. The term "Netherlands" (Nederland in Dutch, Pay-Bas in French) refers to the low-lying topography of the region and today is used specifically to describe the country bordering Germany and Belgium, but historically it referred to the entire region occupied by Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. In English, the term "Low Countries" is still used in this sense. Located largely on the deltas of the Rhine and Maas Rivers, much of it consisted of sand dunes and peat bogs until, centuries ago, humans began building dikes, pumping out water and laboriously reclaiming the land. Much of the land falls below sea level. As an old saying goes, “God created the earth, but the Dutch created the Netherlands.” The long struggle with nature is an important part of the Dutch identity. What made the Netherlands’ global influence in the 17th century all the more remarkable is that the Dutch had only recently achieved political independence through the process of fighting a long and brutal war of resistance against rule by the Spanish Hapsburgs, starting in 1568. In 1581, the seven northern provinces - Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Gelderland, Overijssel, Friesland, and Groningen - declared their independence, and fighting took place back and forth on land and sea for decades, with the Dutch receiving some much-needed assistance from England’s Queen Elizabeth I. Thousands of civilians were massacred by the rampaging Spanish armies, and on the water, Dutch “sea beggars” attacked and harassed the Spanish fleet. Pro-Spanish privateers operating out of Dunkirk did the same against Dutch shipping. Although there were several issues behind the revolt, like heavy taxation, the war was also in large part a religious revolt. The Dutch in the northern and western provinces had mostly become Protestants, followers primarily of the French theologian John Calvin, and there were some Lutherans and Anabaptists present as well). Calvinism as institutionalized in the Dutch Reformed Church would become the officially recognized faith of independent Netherlands, but Philip II, the Catholic monarch of Spain, was determined to restore Catholicism through the strict use of the Inquisition against “heretics", and the Catholics were strongest in the 10 southern provinces. Religious differences between the north and south were accentuated because of the migration of Protestants and Catholics across the border during the long war, ensuring that there would continue to be tensions even after the fighting stopped and Dutch independence was secured.
©2021 Charles River Editors (P)2021 Charles River Editors
Job Interview Preparation
Summary
If you want to know how exactly a job interview is done and get the job of your dream, then keep reading. If you have experience in job interviews you know how much preparation is needed to deal with them; we often think we are better prepared but in the end we fail and lose an excellent and unique opportunity. In this audiobook I will show you how to prepare for the interview and how to behave during it: Build a resume Create a cover letter Reasearching the company Outlining your story Reducing stress Looking and acting professional How to prepare for the interview Top skills If you think you have failed an interview so many times, or have never faced one, with this audiobook you will understand how simple it is to have the job of your dreams! Get this audiobook now!
©2019 Robin Superhalk (P)2019 Robin Superhalk
Yuri Bezmenov
Summary
“The main emphasis of the KGB is not in the area of intelligence at all. Only about 15 percent of time, money, and manpower is spent on espionage and such. The other 85 percent is a slow process which we call either ideological subversion or active measures...or psychological warfare.” - Yuri Bezmenov The KGB is one of the most famous abbreviations of the 20th century, and it has become synonymous with the shadowy and often violent actions of the Soviet Union’s secret police and internal security agencies. In fact, it is often used to refer to the Soviet state security agencies throughout its history, from the inception of the inception of the Cheka (Extraordinary Commission) in 1917 to the official elimination of the KGB in 1992. Whether it’s associated with the Russian Civil War’s excesses, Stalin’s purges, and even Vladimir Putin, the KGB has long been viewed as the West’s biggest bogeyman during the second half of the 20th century. Inevitably, some of the Cold War’s most shadowy actions involved trying to turn Soviet assets, whether for propaganda or intelligence purposes, but the Soviet system constantly had to worry about defections, as evidenced by the construction of the Berlin Wall in the early 1960s. That said, while the whistleblowers may be celebrated if they damage the public relations of an adversary, they can be controversial if they damage one’s own country, as evidenced by the polarizing reputations of individuals like Edward Snowden and Julian Assange. Yuri Bezmenov was among the first Soviet whistleblowers to attract attention on a global scale, and interest in his story has recently been revived thanks to his surprising cameo in the teaser trailer for Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War in August 2020. This came despite the fact he was far from the first ex-KGB agent or Russian to pull back the curtains on the Russian government and reveal the harrowing “truths” they were once sworn to harbor.
©2020 Charles River Editors (P)2020 Charles River Editors