History and Archaeology

A radical retelling of human history through collapse - from the dawn of our species to the urgent existential threats of the twentieth-first century and beyond - based on the latest research and a database of more than 440 societal lifespans over the last 5,000 years.

Why do civilisations collapse?

For the first 200,000 years of human history, hunter-gather

** THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER **

'Extraordinary' DOMINIC SANDBROOK, SUNDAY TIMES * 'An epic thriller . . . droll, moving, with a cinematic eye and not a boring line in it' OBSERVER * 'Fascinating . . . gripping' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH * 'Excellent . . . a fresh, unexpected take on the liberation of Paris' JULIAN JACKSON, author of

An overview of the lost peoples and cultures who flourished and fought for survival alongside the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans.

Who were the Philistines?
What was a Pyrrhic victory?
Were the Vandals really vandals?
Why should you speak to a Samaritan?

Beyond the Greeks, Romans and Hebrews of the Classical and biblical eras, a rich diversity of peo

A concise, readable and revelatory biography of the most powerful man in the world.

The definitive story behind the self-destruction of the autocratic Romanov dynasty, by the world's foremost expert.

A beautifully imaginative work of non-fiction about the Rhine, from its birth to the present day, told through stories of those who lived along its shores.

PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • An epic, extraordinary account of scientific rivalry and obsession in the quest to survey all of life on Earth “[An] engaging and thought-provoking book, one focused on the theatrical politics and often deeply troubling science that shape our definitions of life on Earth.”—The New York Times “A fluent and engaging account of the eighteenth-century origins of Da

In 1929 Stalin launched his policy of agricultural collectivization—in effect a second Russian revolution—which forced millions of peasants off their land and onto collective farms. The result was a catastrophic famine, the most lethal in European history. At least five million people died between 1931 and 1933 in the USSR. But instead of sending relief the Soviet state made use of

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A groundbreaking exploration of the ancient rules women unwittingly follow in order to be considered “good,” revealing how the Seven Deadly Sins still control and distort our lives and illuminating a path toward a more balanced, spiritually complete way to live Why do women equate self-denial with being good? We congratulate ourselves when we resist the donut in

A concise, readable and thoroughly revised overview of Cuba written by Cubans for anyone interested in quickly understanding the island country´s turbulent history. Cuba: A Brief History covers the pre-Hispanic period, through Cuba´s struggle to maintain the revolution in the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union, to the period after Fidel Castro´s decision to step down from office,

Blending the allure of the supernatural with keen historical insights and more than 500 photos, this enchanting chronicle of magic around the world will bewitch skeptics and true believers alike.

Magic and the occult have held humanity in their thrall for thousands of years. This sweeping history traces its origins across time and culture-from the protective amulets of ancient Eg

“Arguably the greatest living travel writer” (Outside magazine), Pico Iyer has called Japan home for more than three decades. But, as he is the first to admit, the country remains an enigma even to its long-term residents. In A Beginner´s Guide to Japan, Iyer draws on his years of experience—his travels, conversations, readings, and reflections—to cra

The most fatal virus known to science, rabies-a disease that spreads avidly from animals to humans-kills nearly one hundred percent of its victims once the infection takes root in the brain. In this critically acclaimed exploration, journalist Bill Wasik and veterinarian Monica Murphy chart four thousand years of the history, science, and cultural mythology of rabies. From Greek myths to zombie

From the author of the acclaimed New York Times bestseller Lawrence in Arabia, a stunningly revelatory narrative history of one of the most momentous events in modern times, the jaw-dropping stupidity of the American government, and the dawn of the age of religious nationalism. “A must-read that is both urgent and unforgettable.” —Steve Coll, author of The Achilles Trap, Directorate S, w

A power-hungry baroness with two lovers disrupts life on an Eden-like island in the Galápagos, and an isolated community descends into madness and murder—a true story of utopia gone wrong from New York Times bestselling author Abbott Kahler. “Abbott Kahler´s wickedly gothic tale confronts an essential truth about those who ditch civilization: Try as we might, humans cannot elude the

A sweeping chronicle of four tumultuous years in 1980s New York that changed the city forever—and anticipated the forces that would soon divide the nation—from the bestselling author of Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning “A rip-roaring, sweeping, essential work of history . . . a deeply reported and brilliantly observed account of how the modern city was born and why all of us

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, TIME, THE ECONOMIST, NPR, THE NEW YORKER, THE SMITHSONIAN, AND KIRKUS REVIEWS A “thrilling and superbly crafted” (The Wall Street Journal) account of the most momentous voyage of the Age of Exploration, which culminated in Captain James Cook´s death in Hawaii, and left a complex and controversial legacy still de

The instant New York Times bestseller • Named the #1 Nonfiction Book of the Year by TIME, A Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, Slate, Vanity Fair, Buzzfeed, Smithsonian, BookPage, KCUR, Kirkus, and Boston Globe “It literally changed my outlook on the world…incredible.” —Shonda Rhimes "The Barn is serious history and skillful journalism, but with the nuance and wallop

A powerful and heartwarming exploration of cuisine in conflict zones, highlighting the courageous persistence of people struggling to protect their food culture in the face of war, genocide, and violence. “The Last Sweet Bite tells the powerful and personal stories of the heroic home cooks fighting to keep their food—and their identity—alive.”—José Andrés, founder

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Rachel Maddow traces the fight to preserve American democracy back to World War II, when a handful of committed public servants and brave private citizens thwarted far-right plotters trying to steer our nation toward an alliance with the Nazis.   “A ripping read—well rendered, fast-paced and delivered with the same punch and assurance that she