Collection: Adult

A surprising history of human hair in nineteenth-century America, where length, texture, color, and coiffure became powerful indicators of race, gender, and national belonging.

Hair is always and everywhere freighted with meaning. In nineteenth-century America, however, hair took on new significance as the young nation wrestled with its identity. During the colonial period, hair was usually seen as bodily discharge, even "excrement." But as Sarah Gold McBride shows, hair gradually came to be understood as an integral part of the body, capable of exposing truths about the individuals from whom it grew.

As the United States diversified--and divisions over race, class, and citizenship status intensified--Americans sought to understand one another through the revelatory power of hair. Hair's biological properties came to be seen as a reliable indicator of whether a person was a man or a woman; Black, white, Indigenous, or Asian; Christian or heathen; healthy or diseased. Hair was even thought to illuminate aspects of personality--whether one was courageous, ambitious, or criminally inclined. Yet hair was also readily turned to purposes of deception in ways that empowered some and alarmed others. Indeed, hair helped many Americans to fashion statements about political belonging, to engage in racial or gender passing, and to reinvent themselves in new cities.

A history inscribed in bangs, curls, and chops, Whiskerology illuminates the emergence of hair as an enduring and deeply fraught index of American belonging.

Combining modern reportage with historical revelations, a multifaceted portrait of Caitlin Clark's game-changing superstardom and the cultural foundation it was built upon

Caitlin Clark has established herself as one of the global faces of the WNBA and has ignited popular interest in women's sports. Her ascent to dominance and international celebrity represents the continuation of a surprisingly deep lineage for women's basketball in the state of Iowa where Clark was born and raised, and where she wrote her name throughout the NCAA history books as a Hawkeye.

Spanning 100 years and several generations, Becoming Caitlin Clark traces the arc between the revered women who played the wildly popular game of 6-on-6 basketball in the 1920s and Clark in the 2020s, examining her fame and style of play in the context of her predecessors, while telling the story of the basketball-loving community that rallied behind her in college and beyond.

Howard Megdal's storytelling incorporates in-depth conversations with Clark; her coach Lisa Bluder; her Iowa teammates, including WNBA star Kate Martin; the top assistant coach at Iowa, Jan Jensen; the Caitlin Clark of the 1970s, Molly Bolin; vital figures in the growth of Iowa basketball like C. Vivian Stringer and Jolette Law; and even Jensen's grandmother Dorcas Andersen, who scored 89 points in the Iowa state tournament in 1921 and kept journals as she did so, brought to light here for the first time.

From rural auditoriums to the Indiana Fever's Gainbridge Fieldhouse, this intimate yet kaleidoscopic perspective on the modern game and its newest icon makes this an essential read for WNBA and college basketball fans.

Fearless freelance reporter Shona Sandison might be about to get her biggest scoop yet--if she can make it to the end of the investigation alive.

The third installment of the Shona Sandison Investigations is perfect for fans of Ian Rankin, John le Carré, and Denise Mina.

In a post-COVID Britain, investigative reporter Shona Sandison is seeking meaning and the next big story; her reclusive contact inside the government has promised her something huge, but she has no idea what kind of danger she's in. Meanwhile, her old journalist friend Hector Stricken has taken on a position in communications for a new state agency, where he stumbles across a sinister, top-secret project code-named Grendel. Finally, an aging former MI6 director now living in seclusion grieves for his murdered son and ponders revenge.

Little do they know they are caught in the web of a dark conspiracy at the heart of the United Kingdom, facing a rot so deep that the only way to cure it may be to cut it out--or burn the whole thing down. Written in beautiful, immersive language and peopled with iconic characters grappling with issues far larger than themselves, Philip Miller's new mystery depicts the reality of the ongoing fight against state oppression.

Capturing the stories of sixteen women who made significant contributions to the development of quantum physics, this anthology highlights how, from the very beginning, women played a notable role in shaping one of the most fascinating and profound scientific fields of our time. Rigorously researched and written by historians, scientists, and philosophers of science, the findings in this interdisciplinary book transform traditional physics historiography. Entirely new sources are included alongside established sources that are examined from a fresh perspective. These concise biographies serve as a valuable counterweight to the prevailing narrative of male genius, and demonstrate that in the history of quantum physics, women of all backgrounds have been essential contributors all along. Accessible and engaging, this book is relevant for a wide audience including historians, scientists and science educators, gender theorists and sociologists.

How late medieval Middle Eastern peasants adopted Arab cultural identities and formed village clans

During the later Middle Ages, peasants in Egypt and Greater Syria came to view themselves as members of Arab clans that had originated in the Arabian Peninsula. They expressed their Arab identity by wearing Arab headgear, adopting an Arab dialect, and circulating a new genre of popular epic that told heroic tales of pre-Islamic Arabia. In Becoming Arab, Yossef Rapoport argues that this proliferation of Arab village clans did not come about through mass migration and displacement but reflected an internal transformation. Drawing on extensive documentary, literary, administrative, and material evidence, Rapoport shows that the widespread formation of Arab village clans in late medieval Egypt and Greater Syria was a gradual process, the result of mass rural conversion to Islam and a new landholding regime in which peasants shifted from being landowners to being tenants. After the eleventh century, Rapoport contends, Middle Eastern villagers were turning Arab.

These Arab village clans were not merely administrative regimes imposed from above; villagers enthusiastically embraced their new identities. New converts to Islam adopted Arab lineages to claim status and as a counter-identity to urban-based Turkish elites. Arab identity was used by clans to mobilize rural uprisings against the ruling sultans and to resolve disputes among villagers. Challenging traditional historiography of the Middle East, which views Arab clansmen as pastoralists whose identity separated them from that of the wider peasantry, Rapoport argues that the pervasive establishment of Arab village clans was the most important development in the history of the Middle Eastern countryside in the Islamic era.

"Alan Rothenberg was just what soccer needed in the 1990s. Like any true visionary, he had the ability to look around corners and peer into the future and see things that others didn't."
-- Alexi Lalas, from his foreword

A whirlwind, insider account of soccer's hard-won growth in the United States as told by industry veteran and Major League Soccer founder Alan Rothenberg

Recent years have brought home a startling truth: soccer is no longer an also-ran among top U.S. sports. How did we get here? How did we go from having multiple professional soccer leagues flounder to having Major League Soccer prove to its doubters that it's here to stay? How did we evolve from barely having a Women's National Team to a golden era of women's soccer with a captivating style of play, great stars, and unforgettable moments?

It took great belief as well as power, tenacity, and and a willingness to approach the sport through the lens of big business.

In the crucial fifteen years when US soccer made its most important moves--from 1984 to 1999--the pivotal figure behind the scenes was Alan Rothenberg: soccer commissioner for the 1984 Olympics, chairman of the men's World Cup in 1994, president of U.S. Soccer from 1990 to 1998, founder of Major League Soccer, and chairman of the 1999 Women's World Cup.

Rothenberg tells his story for the first time in this definitive account of the Big Bounce that propelled American soccer out of its Wild West past and into the international elite ranks, sharing little-known details of what really happened and why, from the radical to the farcical.

As U.S. soccer fans gear up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil, The Big Bounce chronicles an era of foundational growth for this rapidly growing sport.

From the author of The Missing Course, an essential guide to pedagogy that serves all members of an ever more diverse undergraduate population.

A century ago, nearly all US college students were white men of means. Today, in contrast, half of US undergraduates live at or near the poverty line, and universities are more diverse than ever. But teaching and curricula have not caught up, resulting in stark inequities. Black and Hispanic students graduate at lower rates than their white and Asian counterparts, economically insecure and disabled students face persistent disadvantages, and in STEM disciplines gender imbalances remain the norm.

One Classroom at a Time provides practical, research-based recommendations for narrowing these academic gaps. David Gooblar explains the psychological hardships facing many marginalized students and provides detailed remedies. This wide-ranging guide also offers advice for mitigating burdens of financial insecurity and designing classes that work for all students regardless of disabilities. The emphasis throughout is on helping instructors and administrators understand not just the principles of equitable pedagogy but also why it works.

College courses shouldn't be built for imaginary students of yesteryear. One Classroom at a Time shows how we can tailor pedagogy to the students of today, so that all of them can secure the education and success they deserve.

Burn Our Bodies Down meets Delicious Monsters in this terrifying new young adult horror by acclaimed master of the macabre Joel A. Sutherland.

Joana and her younger brother Peter aren't used to setting down roots. Ever since the violent murder of their mother, their father can't stay in one place for long, haunted by the literal ghosts of the past. He has what he calls "the Whisperings," and will do anything to protect his children from the horrors that torment him.

When the family moves to Burlington, Vermont, Joana thinks they've finally found a place to call home. They rent the lower half of a creepy yet comfortable mansion downtown, and Joana actually begins to fit in at school, thanks in part to Willem, a handsome (and single) classmate.

But a near-death experience awakens the Whisperings in Joana, and she soon realizes her family isn't the only family living in the house. She meets the Keils -- ghosts forced to relive their own gruesome murders every night. As they say, misery loves company . . . and suddenly, Joana is forced to protect the ones closest to her from a supernatural threat, in this horrifying haunted house story for teen readers.

A competing title to the bestselling BRAIDING SWEETGRASS - a fascinating insight into the Amazon rainforest from scientist and peruivan-born explorer Dr Rosa Espinoza.

"An emotional personal journey that makes you feel like you're living this connection with the Amazon alongside Dr Rosa. The way she describes everything hits every sense and builds an internal excitement if not slight trepidation to make this trip with her. I love the way the scientific explanations begin each chapter and allow a deeper understanding of how the amazon is deeply part of who we are." Isabella Blake-Thomas (Actress, Bee: wild ambassador)

"In The Spirit of the Rainforest, Indigenous wisdom and scientific curiosity come together to show us how to reconnect with the natural world in holistic, meaningful ways." - Dr. Jessica Hernandez

"a remarkable storyteller, which she showcases in her phenomenal debut filled with traditional wisdom, scientific explorations and transformational connections." - MS magazine

"The Spirit of the Rainforest sweeps you into an unforgettable journey where an explorer's insatiable curiosity becomes a bridge between Indigenous wisdom and scientific discovery. With luminous storytelling, it reveals how even the rainforest's tiniest creatures can hold the keys to understanding and protecting our living planet. It's a pulse-quickening ride that will leave you awed by nature's brilliance and hungry to protect it." - Ariel Waldman

Before you step into the jungle, there are a few things you need to know...

Join scientist Dr Rosa Vasquez Espinoza as she uncovers one of the most unexplored regions on the planet.

Dr Rosa is no stranger to the Amazon. Growing up with the rainforest as her back garden, she learnt the lessons of the rainforest from her grandmother, a native healer in natural medicine. She went on to pursue a classical education in science, gaining a PhD in the US, but has always been pulled back to the heart of the Amazon. As a leading biologist in her field, Rosa continues to explore the region through a unique blend of scientific inquiry and ancient insight.

In this debut, you'll learn about Dr Rosa's journeys in the Amazon: her treacherous encounters with a boiling river, her conservation work with stingless bees, her experience of taking ayahuasca as a natural psychedelic - and all the amazing biodiversity of the rainforest.

At the heart of Rosa's expedition is her passion to combine science with the indigenous knowledge of the Amazon. She shares her experience of learning from the indigenous communities that she visits, and shows what they have to teach us - stretching beyond the realm scientific knowledge. Here Rosa learns the most important lessons in how to reconnect to the natural world - and, in turn, will teach us to do the same.

In this book, Rosa celebrates the richness of Amazonian culture, the wonders of biodiversity, and the enduring spiritual connections between humanity and the natural world.

(Transcribed Score). Calling All Hendrix Fans! Experience the genius of one of the most influential musicians with Jimi Hendrix The Complete Scores . This outstanding hard-cover edition features full transcriptions and lyrics to over 50 original recordings. Commemorate one of rock 'n' roll's preeminent innovators with a comprehensive score book that has everything in one place. Each instrument has been transcribed faithfully so you can dive into the compositions, lyrics, solos, and sounds of Jimi and his band. Guitar and bass parts are in both standard notation and tablature. Purple Box Set All Around Perfect for avid Jimi fans and collectors, this special hardcover edition comes in a purple velvet protective case. It makes a valuable addition to music libraries and rehearsal studios, or a beautiful display piece. With over 1,000 pages and a convenient size, this collection is built for serious use and long-term value. Jam Out to Jimi Including full scores and lyrics to all 52 songs from the albums Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold As Love, Electric Ladyland, and Band of Gypsys, this collection has what you need to recreate your own '69 Woodstock. Appreciate one of the greatest covers ever with "All Along the Watchtower," rock out with your guitar (or air guitar) to "Purple Haze," and vibe out to "Little Wing" at the end of a long day. Celebrate the full legacy of Jimi Hendrix with all the hits: Ain't No Telling * All Along the Watchtower * Are You Experienced? * Bold As Love * Can You See Me * Castles Made of Sand * Come On, Pt. 1 * Crosstown Traffic * Foxey Lady * Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland) * Hey Joe * Little Wing * Manic Depression * Power to Love * Purple Haze * Red House * Spanish Castle Magic * Third Stone from the Sun * Voodoo Child (Slight Return) * The Wind Cries Mary * and more.

Rock art is mankind's oldest artistic expression. The first creation of rock carvings (petroglyphs) and rock paintings (pictographs) by Homo sapiens represented on multiple counts a quantum leap in mental performance.

In Rock Art and its Legacy in Myth and Art Christoph Baumer tells the story of these remarkable creations of early human imagination in Eurasia, Arabia and the Sahara. Petroglyphs not only reflect societal and economic adaptations to climate changes but also encapsulate the worldviews, myths and rituals that prevailed for tens of thousands of years, and even down to the present. In a final chapter the artist Therese Weber describes the work of contemporary artists from different cultures who engage with rock art and introduces her own work which is inspired by her exploration of petroglyphs. Vividly illustrated throughout with 340 full colour images and 10 maps, this book is a celebration of the legacy of petroglyphs as a means of expression and of recording events and coded messages, as well as a source of inspiration for modern-day artists.

The power to be seen. The power to be heard. The power to be adored. . .

NATIONAL BESTSELLER - A woman's life is forever changed by a mysterious perfume in this stunning novel about ambition and untapped desire from the New York Times bestselling author of Ghosts of Harvard.

"An absolutely gorgeous read--the perfect combination of romance, mystery, and magical realism, with a vibrant cast of characters."--Sarah MacLean, author of These Summer Storms

Reeling from a breakup and overlooked at her job as a lighting designer, Iris Sunnegren finds herself stuck, disconnected, and lonely in crowded New York City. Her wealthy friends are married and having babies, while she's trying to pay for freezing her eggs. And the future she longs for feels out of reach.

Then, a mysterious neighbor, an older Frenchwoman, makes her a gift: a bespoke perfume.

One spritz, a dab behind the ears, and Iris feels like a different woman. Suddenly, she is the object of every man's desire, and she can satisfy her own hungers for sex, love, and ambition. She can cast off her inhibitions and use her newfound allure to dazzle the high-profile client, attract a man who excites her like no other, and access all the rarified spaces that once excluded her. Invigorated by the perfume, Iris embodies her maximum power--a flower fully bloomed.

But there is danger in connecting to our primal emotions. Scent awakens buried memories, and nightmares of the childhood house fire she barely survived return to haunt her. As Iris ventures deeper into the glamorous and male-dominated worlds of New York real estate, dimly-lit steakhouses, and beachfront mansions in the Hamptons, she finds herself getting closer to unspeakable truths--about the people she trusted, about the people she loved, and about the new circle of power-players that invited her in.

A sensual and seductive novel set among the upper echelons of New York City, Full Bloom is at once a poignant story of becoming and a riveting mystery that asks: Who are you without your inhibitions? Does being wanted get you what you want, or will you be devoured by desire?

Help Noisy Dinosaur learn to use her voice in this new interactive adventure from Tom Fletcher!

ROOOAAAARRRR!

What's that sound? It sounds like a little Dinosaur has stomped her way into your book. She's bored, and she's making a LOT of noise!

Can you help her find some friends? But make sure to keep everyone quiet or we might wake up... the BIG DINOSAUR!

This playful interactive story helps little ones to learn about inside and outside voices, as they teach Little Dinosaur when to be quiet... and when to be LOUD!

Who's in Your Book?
Interactive adventures for big imaginations

Also in this series:
There's a Monster in Your Book: makes reading interactive and fun
There's a Dragon in Your Book: explores empathy and responsibility
There's an Alien in Your Book: explores acceptance and inclusion
There's an Elf in Your Book: explores following instructions and good/bad behaviour
There's a Superhero in Your Book: explores the power of kindness
There's a Witch in Your Book: makes tidying up fun
There's a Unicorn in Your Book: explores soothing your worries through sharing them
There's a Bear in Your Book: makes the bedtime routine fun