The compelling and insightful account of a "New York Times" reporter's abduction by the Taliban, and his wife's struggle to free him. Invited to an interview by a Taliban commander, "New York Times" r...[More]

The compelling and insightful account of a "New York Times" reporter's abduction by the Taliban, and his wife's struggle to free him. Invited to an interview by a Taliban commander, "New York Times" reporter David Rohde and two Afghan colleagues were kidnapped in November 2008 and spirited to the tribal areas of Pakistan. For the next seven months, they lived in an alternate reality, ruled by jihadists, in which paranoia, conspiracy theories, and shifting alliances abounded. Held in bustling towns, they found that Pakistan's powerful military turned a blind eye to a sprawling Taliban mini-state that trained suicide bombers, plotted terrorist attacks, and helped shelter Osama bin Laden.

In New York, David's wife of two months, Kristen Mulvihill, his family, and "The New York Times" struggled to navigate the labyrinth of issues that confront the relatives of hostages. Their methodical, Western approach made little impact on the complex mix of cruelty, irrationality, and criminality that characterizes the militant Islam espoused by David's captors.
In the end, a stolen piece of rope and a prayer ended the captivity. The experience tested and strengthened Mulvihill and Rohde's relationship and exposed the failures of American effort in the region. The tale of those seven months is at once a love story and a reflection of the great cultural divide-and challenge-of our time.[Less]

Reimagining American Influence in a New Middle East. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author examines the cardinal failing of Washington's war on terror. This book distills eleven years of expert rep...[More]

Reimagining American Influence in a New Middle East. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author examines the cardinal failing of Washington's war on terror. This book distills eleven years of expert reporting for "The New York Times," Reuters, and "The Atlantic Monthly" into a clarion call for change. An incisive look at the evolving nature of war, Rohde exposes how a dysfunctional Washington squandered billions on contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan, neglected its true allies in the war on terror and failed to employ its most potent nonmilitary weapons: American consumerism, technology, and investment. Rohde then surveys post-Arab Spring Tunisia, Turkey, and Egypt, and finds a yearning for American technology, trade, and education. He argues that only Muslim moderates, not Americans, can eradicate militancy. For readers of Steve Coll, Tom Ricks, and Ahmed Rashid, "Beyond War" shows how the failed American effort to back moderate Muslims since 9/11 can be salvaged.[Less]

How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. Who has looked on the ancient Maya or classical Mediterranean cities and not wondered why they were abandoned? Or whether they hold a message for us? In...[More]

How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. Who has looked on the ancient Maya or classical Mediterranean cities and not wondered why they were abandoned? Or whether they hold a message for us? In this fascinating book, Jared Diamond seeks to understand the fates of past societies that collapsed for ecological reasons, combining one of the most important policy debates of our generation with the romance and mystery of lost worlds.

Citizens of first world societies look around and tend not to see signs of imminent ecological collapse: the supermarkets are full of food; water gushes from our faucets; we live amidst trees and green grass. Actually, though, many past civilizations--with far smaller populations and less potent destructive technologies than those of today--have inadvertently committed ecological suicide: the Polynesian societies on Easter Island and other Pacific islands or the Anasazi civilization, for example.

Ecocide asks why some societies make disastrous decisions, and how can we in the modern world learn better problem solving? Ecocide is an ecological history of human societies that considers why societies in some regions have been more vulnerable than those in other regions, and also compares the trajectories of past civilizations with likely trajectories of our own. Why did Greenland fail where Iceland succeeded? What links Rwanda and Australia? What can contemporary Montana learn from the ancient Mayans and modern Chinese?

"I've set myself the modest task of trying to explain the broad pattern of human history, on all the continents, for the last 13,000 years. Why did history take such different evolutionary courses for peoples of different continents? This problem has fascinated me for a long time, but it's now ripe for a new synthesis because of recent advances in many fields seemingly remote from history, including molecular biology, plant and animal genetics and biogeography, archaeology, and linguistics." Jared Diamond. (Publisher)[Less]

By admiring her finer points and showing that she can take care of herself and have fun even when there's no one else around, a charming pig proves the best friend you can have is yourself. (ages 3-6)...[More]

By admiring her finer points and showing that she can take care of herself and have fun even when there's no one else around, a charming pig proves the best friend you can have is yourself. (ages 3-6)

"The ebullient pig-heroine is a happy adherent to the adage "Love Thyself." "I like me!" she exclaims from the cover and goes on to say, "I like my curly tail, my round tummy and my tiny little feet." The fresh-faced piggy elaborates: she always treats herself with respect by keeping herself clean, eating good food and exercising properly. She takes care of other important needs, too, drawing lovely pictures, reading good books and cheering herself up when she's feeling down. Never too hard on herself for failures, she points out that when she makes mistakes, she tries again. The formation of a healthy self-image, the cornerstone of a happy and successful life, is what this book is all about. Bright, colorful pictures complement the bouncy, upbeat text; Carlson skillfully imparts a positive message without denying that life holds embarrassing even sad moments. The book and its heroine are loaded with appeal." (Publisher's Weekly)[Less]

One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time. The inspiring account of one man's campaign to build schools in the most dangerous, remote, and anti-American reaches of Asia.
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One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time. The inspiring account of one man's campaign to build schools in the most dangerous, remote, and anti-American reaches of Asia.

In 1993 Greg Mortenson was the exhausted survivor of a failed attempt to ascend K2, an American climbing bum wandering emaciated and lost through Pakistan's Karakoram Himalayas. After he was taken in and nursed back to health by the people of an impoverished Pakistani village, Mortenson promised to return one day and build them a school. From that rash, earnest promise grew one of the most incredible humanitarian campaigns of our time-Greg Mortenson's one-man mission to counteract extremism by building schools, especially for girls, throughout the breeding ground of the Taliban.

Award-winning journalist David Oliver Relin has collaborated on this spellbinding account of Mortenson's incredible accomplishments in a region where Americans are often feared and hated. In pursuit of his goal, Mortenson has survived kidnapping, fatwas issued by enraged mullahs, repeated death threats, and wrenching separations from his wife and children. But his success speaks for itself. At last count, his Central Asia Institute had built fifty-five schools. Three Cups of Tea is at once an unforgettable adventure and the inspiring true story of how one man really is changing the world-one school at a time. (recommended by Bill Tibert and Steve Goode)[Less]

In what are billed "culture wars," people on the political right and the political left cite Jesus as endorsing their views. Garry Wills argues that Jesus subscribed to no political program. He was fa...[More]

In what are billed "culture wars," people on the political right and the political left cite Jesus as endorsing their views. Garry Wills argues that Jesus subscribed to no political program. He was far more radical than that. In a fresh reading of the gospels, Wills explores the meaning of the "reign of heaven" Jesus not only promised for the future but brought with him into this life. It is only by dodges and evasions that people misrepresent what Jesus plainly had to say against power, the wealthy, and religion itself. But Wills is just as critical of those who would make Jesus a mere ethical teacher, ignoring or playing down his divinity. An illuminating analysis for believers and nonbelievers alike, "What Jesus Meant" is a brilliant addition to our national conversation on religion. (recommended by Bill Tibert)[Less]