Daily Life History

Before modern science, survival was a long shot. What if the most gripping stories in European history weren’t wars or kings—but the quiet, relentless struggle of ordinary people trying to stay alive? History That Rattles tells the story of how Europeans lived, suffered, adapted, and survived from the Middle Ages to the dawn of modern medicine. It follows humanity at its most vulnerable, when climate turned hostile, disease spread without explanation, and the human body became a fragile experiment with no safety net. When winters grew longer and harvests failed, fear shaped belief. When...

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A bold work from the author of The Black Swan that challenges many of our long-held beliefs about risk and reward, politics and religion, finance and personal responsibility In his most provocative and practical book yet, one of the foremost thinkers of our...

From “one of America’s smartest and most charming writers” (NPR), an archaeological romp through the entire history of humankind—and through all five senses—from tropical Polynesian islands to forbidding arctic ice floes, and everywhere in between. Whether it’s the mighty pyramids of...

Unlock the Secrets of the Island Nation That Shaped the Modern World From the shadowy origins of its first inhabitants to its transformation into a dazzling technological superpower, Japan’s history is a saga of warriors, emperors, artistic genius, and global power plays that changed the world forever. This book is your engaging, fast-paced journey through the legendary moments that built the spirit of Japan. Dive deep into the compelling questions that define Japan’s unique identity: Who were the mysterious Jōmon people, and what do their 10,000-year-old artifacts reveal? Was the ...

Esteemed Egyptologist Barbara Mertz updates her widely praised social history of the people of ancient Egypt, which was originally published in 1968. Combining impeccable scholarship with a delightfully personal style, the author reconstructs the life of the Egyptians from birth to death, and beyond death, too.

Old English is the language you think you know until you actually hear or see it. Unlike Shakespearean English or even Chaucer's Middle English, Old English—the language of Beowulf—defies comprehension by untrained modern readers. Used throughout much of Britain more than a thousand years ago, it is rich with words that haven't changed (like word), others that are unrecognizable (such as neorxnawang, or paradise), and some that are mystifying even in translation ( gafol-fisc, or tax-fish).

Imagine, if you can, the world in the year 2100. In Physics of the Future, Michio Kaku—the New York Times bestselling author of Physics of the Impossible—gives us a stunning, provocative, and exhilarating vision of the coming century based on interviews with over three hundred of the...

Everyday life feels natural—until you realize it was designed. Why do we work the hours we work? Why do we shop the way we shop? Why do we accept routines that feel inevitable, unquestionable, and permanent? This book explores thirty ordinary habits that quietly shaped modern American life—and traces each one back to the moment it was born. From standardized time and the five-day workweek to self-service shopping, shopping carts, charge cards, and everyday transaction rituals, these habits didn’t emerge from culture or personality. They emerged from decisions—often practical, ...

This guide brings ancient Rome to life with practical advice and a sharp wit. Stranded in ancient Rome? No phone, no antibiotics, no clue. Don’t panic. This is your snarky, meticulously researched handbook to surviving and thriving in the world’s greatest empire. Inside this ultimate roman empire book, you’ll master instant street smarts to navigate gladiator mobs, tavern scams, and chariot traffic like a true Roman. Learn to blend-in with toga etiquette, dining dos and don’ts (yes, the garum really smells), and why calling a senator “dude” is a terrible idea. Outsmart ancient ...

We live inside a world of sound - yet most of it goes unnoticed. From the rhythm of footsteps on a sidewalk to the distant hum of traffic, from the chime of a bell to the ticking of a clock, everyday sounds quietly shape how we move, work, gather, and remember. Everyday Sounds is a calm, thoughtful work of narrative nonfiction that explores the hidden histories behind the noises that surround us and asks what they reveal about culture, community, and modern life. Rather than focusing on music or technical acoustics, this book turns its attention to the ordinary soundscapes we rarely stop to...

Germany was a deeply divided nation when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party came to power in 1933. As the shadow of the swastika lengthened, its citizens quickly came to realize that the Nazis' brutal programme was not optional. Everyone was expected to play their part in "national revival", especially those chosen as sacrificial victims. Life in the Third Reich draws on the recollections of those who lived through the rise and fall of one of the most vicious and sadistic regimes the world has ever seen.

From beloved CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Mo Rocca, author of New York Times bestseller Mobituaries, comes an inspiring collection of stories that celebrates the triumphs of people who made their biggest marks late in life. Eighty has been the new sixty for about twenty years now. In fact...

The most influential man to ever walk the earth has had his story told in hundreds of different ways for thousands of years. Can any more be said? Now, Timothy Keller, New York Times bestselling author of The Reason for God and the man Newsweek called a “C. S. Lewis for the twenty-first...

Set sail into the heart of the Viking world—not with blood and battle, but with rhythm, wind, and wonder. In The Tale of Longships, Esther Warren brings the Viking Age vividly to life through the eyes of explorers, weavers, healers, and dreamers whose lives were shaped by the sea. With lyrical prose and tender historical insight, this beautifully told heritage story travels from misty fjords to foreign shores, revealing the courage, craftsmanship, and quiet humanity behind the longships that changed history. From the building of a ship to the parting at the dock, from salted fish packed ...

We often think of AI in terms of futuristic robots with glowing eyes or walking, talking machines that look and act like humans. That’s the image many movies and books give us, and while that vision is fascinating, it’s only a tiny slice of what AI actually is. In real life, AI is less about building androids and more about designing systems that can learn, reason, and adapt—traits we usually associate with human intelligence. It’s about creating software and machines that can recognize patterns, make decisions, and even improve themselves over time through experience.

Timeless insights from one of the most important people in church history. Some people value good works so much that they overlook faith in Christ. Faith should be first.… It is faith—without good works and prior to good works—that takes us to heaven. We come to God through faith alone...

Daily Life and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) He was the highest example for humanity. He was the eminence of humanity in morals and habits. He presented humanity's best course of action in every sphere of life. From childhood to youth, youth to prophethood, and from prophethood to death, every moment of his life is worthy of imitation and obedience. Looking at every corner of his life, he is a shining example of truth, trust, honesty, loyalty, and piety. The world knows him as the last Messenger of Allah, Muhammad Mustafa (peace be upon him). Allah Almighty has sent the...

Have you ever felt like a basket case? If so, you have something in common with Moses and the Apostle Paul. Did you know the words of a well-known hymn came from a son’s letter to his mother? Want to read about one family’s faith over fear in the face of COVID-19? Each of the eighty thought-provoking, informative messages in this book provides a unique perspective on Everyday Faith for Daily Life. Jan White has written a weekly religion column for over 25 years in the Andalusia Star-News and the Enterprise Southeast Sun. Everyday Faith for Daily Life is a compilation of some of her most...

Stranded in the Viking Age? This guide might just save your life. One moment you’re in the modern world—seconds later, you’re standing on a windswept Nordic shore, staring at a longship being dragged from the sea. The air smells of salt and woodsmoke. The people? Broad-shouldered, armed, and not exactly rolling out the welcome mat. In How Not to Die in Viking-Age Scandinavia, you’ll learn how to navigate a society where honor is everything, winter can kill as quickly as a sword, and one wrong word to the wrong jarl might land you in serious trouble. This isn’t a romanticized saga...

Asatru is a modern neo-pagan creed with roots in the pre-Christian religions of Scandinavia and northern Europe. Thanks to this audiobook, you will be taken by the hand and brought into a spectacular journey to discovering the Asatru world, starting from its most ancient origins, to how and why it survived over time, and how it is evolved today.