History and Archaeology

This new title in this bestselling series relates 37 stories of shipwrecks, great discoveries, mysteries, and disappearances stillthrilling adventure seekers. From the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, from the Baltic Sea to theCaribbean, the Antarctic, and the Indian Ocean; from ancient history tothe present day, these short tales cover all aspects of high-seasadventure and feature prominent human

Artist Debra Luker, on her first trip to India, discovered it to be her personal artistic inspiration and instituted the popular Pigment Trail tours that introduced travelers to the amazing, transforming everyday art found there as they wander through city and countryside. Part travelogue and part artistic insight, this book is a visual adventure that transports the reader to India's creative spir

The 11th SS Freiwilligen (Volunteer) Panzergrenadier Division “Nordland” was formed in 1943. Despite what the name indicated, this was not an all-volunteer or fully Nordic unit. The ranks were filled with men from across Europe, many of them conscripts. A cadre of Norwegians in the Regiment 23 “Norge” and Danes in the Regiment 24 “Danmark” formed the backbone of the new division. Nordland was dep

Due to the specific nature of the Marine Corps' mission, the Marines has a acute need for amphibious vehicles. From the Vietnam War through today, the USMC has relied on four primary types of tracked amphibians: the T46E1/M76 Otter, M116 Husky, LVTP5, and LVTP7/AAV7A1. This new book provides a useful photographic overview of all these vehicles. More than 300 black-and-white and color photos make t

The M60 was the primary battle tank deployed by the US military from 1960 until it was phased out and replaced with the M1 Abrams during/after Operation Desert Storm. More than 10,000 examples were produced, and many examples remain in service with foreign militaries to the present day. This is the most comprehensive photo reference on the type, featuring 340 black-and-white and color images. The

The M42 Duster was a tracked antiaircraft vehicle developed by Cadillac for the US Army in the early 1950s. The vehicle adapted the Bofors 40 mm AA gun to a modified M41/T41 tank chassis. Although never particularly prolific in the intended air defense role, the Duster did find a niche during the Vietnam War. The M42 was relatively small and agile, and the high rate of fire and loud report from it

The M48 Patton entered production in 1952 and remains in service with several major militaries today, a great testament to the design and how it has evolved. The "Patton" is a fast tank with strong armor and a deadly 90 mm gun, and it is an all-rounder, generally accepted as America's first modern "main battle tank" or MBT. The tank was phased out of frontline service by the US military after the

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain and its near twin, the C-53 Skytrooper, formed the backbone of American airborne transport during WWII. In addition to hauling cargo, these aircraft also delivered paratroopers to the front, including for the Normandy invasion. Derived from the Douglas DC-3, the C-47 saw service with US and Allied militaries in Korea and even Vietnam, including notably the heavily armed

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a large, tandem-rotor cargo helicopter. The Chinook and its variants have been in military and civilian service for 60 years. The type's huge cargo and lifting capacity, speed, and rugged reliability have made it not only indispensable, but also widely recognized and appreciated by civilian and military operators all over the world. This new book explains how the Vertol

Lockheed developed the F-104 Starfighter in the late 1950s. The plane was designed to be an all-weather interceptor. Speed, climb, and altitude all were priorities, and the plane did turn out to be extraordinarily fast, but there were costs associated with that top speed: low-speed handling and landing characteristics in particular. The plane had a relatively short service life with the US Air For

In a little-known episode of the early Vietnam War, the CIA hired Norwegian skippers to command fast patrol boats for classified operations. The boats transported South Vietnamese commandos and combat swimmers along the coasts and rivers of North Vietnam. This work will explain who the “Vikings” were, describe their missions, and detail their equipment (primarily Swift- and Nasty-class patrol bo

The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor entered service in 2005, and production ended in late 2011. Despite the appearance of many new designs in the interim, an argument can still be made for the Raptor as the most advanced fighter aircraft on active duty today. The F-22 program cost the US government more than $60 billion; the aircraft generated great hype and scrutiny from the press. Despite this high

This is an action-filled, illustrated history of 17 history-making aircraft, bringing to life the stories of their creation and of the men who flew and fought in them. Each chapter goes beyond the story of the aircraft to relate the experiences of their pilots and aircrew—how the machine resonated in their hands and in their hearts. Colorful characters, iconic missions, and, above all, the

Childress takes us into the fascinating world of maverick sea captains who were Knights Templars and later Scottish Rite Free Masons who battled the Vatican and the Spanish and Italian ships that sailed for the Pope. This Lost Templar Fleet was originally based at La Rochelle in southern France but fled to the deep fjords of Scotland. This banned fleet of ships was later commanded by the St. Clair

Virtually anyone, anywhere knows that six million Jewish human beings were killed in the Jewish Holocaust. But how many African human beings were killed in the Black Holocaust–from the start of the European slave trade (c.1500) to the Civil War (1865)? And how many were enslaved? The Black Holocaust, a travesty that killed millions of African human beings, is the most underreported major eve

AFRICAN HISTORY FOR BEGINNERS explores the rich history of this continent of contrasts. Discover the glory of the Pharaohs and Towers of Zimbabwe, the cosmology of the Yoruba, the courage of the Masai and the golden wonders of Mali, the art treasures of the Bushongo and the sophistication of the Egyptians. It is a unique documentary portrait of the Africans' struggle to preserve their cultural her

ZINN FOR BEGINNERS describes the life and work of the most vital historian of our time. Howard Zinn led a revolution in the writing of history by telling the story not from the standpoint of conquerors and rulers, but from the side of the ordinary people who always bear the brunt of the ambitions of tyrants.Zinn tells the story of Columbus' discovery of America from the standpoint of the native pe

A profusely illustrated, popularly-written volume with original comic art, FDR AND THE NEW DEAL FOR BEGINNERS will shed new light upon a story now regaining visibility thanks to the recent economic crisis and prominent reformer, President Obama, in the White House. The history of the precedent-making FDR administration through the bitter economic depression, with expansive programs empowering arti

“If you would not be forgotten,as soon as you're dead and rotten,either write things worth reading,or do things worth the writing.”– Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790 Benjamin Franklin would seem to be the teller – and quite arguably the protagonist – of the Great American Success Story. As America's prototypical polymath, he excelled – and even defined – a number of professions including printer, writ

Paul Robeson, despite being one of the greatest Renaissance figures in American history, still remains in relative anonymity. An exceptional scholar, lawyer, athlete, stage and screen actor, linguist, singer, and civil rights and political activist, he performed brilliantly in every professional enterprise he undertook. Few humans have achieved his levels of excellence in one field, much less seve