Practical Classics

Discover the timeless wisdom of Marcus Aurelius in this definitive edition of Meditations — where Stoic philosophy and ancient wisdom meet modern life. Written by Rome’s philosopher-emperor, this new annotated translation bridges 2,000 years of history, offering practical tools for resilience, self-mastery, and ethical living in today’s world. ✨ KEY FEATURES: ✅ New Translation from the Original Greek – A clear, modern rendering that preserves Marcus’ profound yet accessible voice. ✅ Deep Dive into Ancient Wisdom – Annotations decode Stoic principles, historical context, ...

When the beautiful and precocious sisters Sally and Gillian Owens are orphaned at a young age, they are taken to a small Massachusetts town to be raised by their eccentric aunts, who happen to dwell in the darkest, eeriest house in town. As they become more aware of their aunts' mysterious and sometimes frightening powers - and as their own powers begin to surface - the sisters grow determined to escape their strange upbringing by blending into "normal" society.

Orson Welles: The Complete Guide to His Life and Films is an in-depth exploration of one of cinema’s greatest and most complex figures. From his meteoric rise with Citizen Kane to his legendary battles with Hollywood studios, Welles’s career was as dramatic as the films he created. This book offers readers a comprehensive journey through his early life, groundbreaking theater and radio years, his Hollywood triumphs and struggles, his European masterpieces, and his enduring influence on generations of filmmakers. Inside, you’ll discover: The bold early experiments of the Mercury ...

In Christopher Moore's ingenious debut novel, we meet one of the most memorably mismatched pairs in the annals of literature. The good-looking one is one-hundred-year-old ex-seminarian and "roads" scholar Travis O'Hearn. The green one is Catch, a demon with a nasty habit of eating most of the people he meets.

American Musical Theatre History 1981–1994: A Complete Guide to Broadway’s Transitional Era explores one of the most dramatic and transformative periods in Broadway history. In the years after the Golden Age and before the blockbuster renaissance of the late 1990s, Broadway stood at a crossroads. Megamusicals dominated the stage, Andrew Lloyd Webber reshaped the business of theatre, Stephen Sondheim pushed boundaries with daring experiments, and Disney arrived to make Broadway family-friendly once again. This comprehensive guide traces the rise of international spectacles like Cats, Les...

The History of Slasher Films: From Cult Classics to Modern Horror Icons is your ultimate guide to one of cinema’s most enduring—and thrilling—genres. Whether you're a longtime horror fan or just discovering the thrill of the Final Girl, this engaging and in-depth book traces the evolution of the slasher film from its early roots in the 1930s to its 21st-century reinvention. Packed with fascinating film history, cultural analysis, iconic characters, and must-watch movie recommendations, this book explores how slasher movies reflect our fears, challenge social norms, and continue to ...

Understanding Ivan Pavlov: A Complete Guide to Classical Conditioning, Behavioral Psychology, and the Science of Learning Discover the groundbreaking legacy of Ivan Pavlov, the brilliant Russian physiologist whose accidental discovery changed the course of psychology forever. In this engaging and accessible guide, readers will explore classical conditioning, the famous dog experiments, and how Pavlov's ideas laid the foundation for modern behavioral psychology. Whether you're a psychology student, educator, therapist, or simply curious about how humans learn and adapt, this comprehensive ...

Billy Wilder: A Complete Guide to the Life, Films, and Legacy of Hollywood’s Master Storyteller is the definitive resource for anyone who loves classic cinema and wants to understand one of its greatest creative minds. From noir masterpieces like Double Indemnity and Sunset Boulevard to beloved comedies like Some Like It Hot and The Apartment, Billy Wilder’s career spanned nearly five decades and reshaped the possibilities of film. This comprehensive book explores his remarkable journey from his beginnings in Vienna and Berlin to his rise as an Academy Award–winning director in ...

George A. Romero redefined horror forever. Known as the father of the modern zombie, Romero transformed low-budget independent cinema into a global cultural phenomenon. From his groundbreaking debut Night of the Living Dead to later classics like Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, and beyond, his films combined shocking imagery with profound social commentary. This book explores his life, his films, and his lasting legacy, showing how Romero turned monsters into mirrors of society’s deepest fears. Inside you’ll discover a comprehensive guide to Romero’s career, including in-depth ...

Tobey Heydon is "practically seventeen" and thinks she is old enough to make her own decisions. Whether it's saving her sister Alicia from last minute wedding disasters to keeping her sister Janet informed on her little boy's well-being to hiding her diary from her little sister Midge, Tobey handles it all with Brose by her side. They survive the arrival of a beautiful blonde at the lake but will they survive Tobey's mysterious date for the Heart Hop?

Step into the shadowy corridors of Gothic castles, moonlit graveyards, and fog-shrouded streets with Hammer Horror: The Complete History of Britain’s Legendary House of Horror Films. This definitive guide explores the rise, glory, decline, and remarkable rebirth of Hammer Film Productions — the iconic British studio that redefined horror cinema from the 1950s through the 1970s and continues to influence the genre today. From the blood-soaked brilliance of Dracula and The Curse of Frankenstein to the atmospheric ghost story The Woman in Black, this book takes you behind the scenes to ...

Alfred Hitchcock: A Complete Guide to the Life, Films, and Legacy of the Master of Suspense is the definitive introduction to one of cinema’s most influential directors. From his beginnings in silent film to his Hollywood masterpieces like Psycho, Rear Window, and Vertigo, Hitchcock redefined the thriller and transformed how audiences experience suspense. This comprehensive guide takes readers through Hitchcock’s entire career with clarity and depth. Inside, you’ll discover his early British films, his groundbreaking innovations in visual storytelling, his collaborations with ...

Essential 1970s Horror Movies: A Complete Guide to the Decade’s Scariest and Most Influential Films is your ultimate journey into the golden age of horror cinema. From groundbreaking psychological thrillers to terrifying tales of possession, monstrous mutations, and the bloody birth of the modern slasher film, this comprehensive guide explores the films that redefined the genre and left a permanent scar on pop culture. With in-depth chapters on iconic trends such as Italian Giallo, body horror, cult classics, and the rise of feminist themes in horror, this book highlights how the 1970s ...

Step beyond the marble columns and into the bizarre heart of the ancient world with Weird but True Stories from Ancient Greece: Bizarre, Shocking, and Unbelievable Tales from the Classical World. This captivating collection brings together ten strange, surprising, and completely true stories that reveal the weird side of one of history’s most celebrated civilizations. Discover a philosopher who leapt into a volcano to prove his divinity, a city that put a statue on trial for murder, and a mysterious temple where Greeks spoke with the dead. From wild rituals in Sparta to marathon runs that...

Traditional values abound in these hilarious stories from Appalachia: friendship, family, orderliness, humor, and delight in an especially inventive practical joke. In "Rainy Weather", a hound dog with more heart than sense wins everyone's admiration. "Uncle Frank Learns to Speak Polish" finds Davis' famous Uncle Frank making the most of a little foreign language. And, in "Uncle Frank Clean Up the Post Office", cleanliness is next to godliness, and it's also next to hilarity.

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill has become the most read how-to book on accumulating money. And that's because it works. If it is riches you seek, you've found the blueprint for its achievement. The only issue with the book is that is fairly long. And because each chapter is in itself a crucial step in the art of amassing wealth and abundance, one cannot afford to overlook any practical detail. That's where this book comes in.

Step into a dimension of imagination, morality, and unforgettable storytelling with Entering the Twilight: Rod Serling, Creativity, and the Birth of Television’s Most Iconic Series. This book explores how Rod Serling, a decorated World War II veteran turned visionary writer, transformed television with The Twilight Zone. Through censorship battles, creative breakthroughs, and a relentless drive to reveal truths about human nature, Serling reshaped what the small screen could achieve. Inside you’ll discover how Serling’s early life, wartime experiences, and passion for social justice ...

Step into the strange, fascinating, and unforgettable world of cult movies — films that defy convention, inspire obsession, and live forever in the hearts of their fans. Cult Screens and Midnight Dreams: The Strange History and Lasting Legacy of Cult Movies takes readers on a deep exploration of the weird, the wonderful, and the revolutionary in cinema. From midnight screenings and underground VHS trades to global streaming fandoms, this book reveals how movies once dismissed as failures or oddities became cultural landmarks that shaped generations of viewers. Blending theory, history, ...

Early Film Directing Pioneers: The Complete Guide to the Directors, Innovations, and Films That Shaped Cinema is an essential resource for film lovers, students, and anyone curious about the origins of the movie industry. This comprehensive guide explores the groundbreaking work of early cinema’s most influential directors—from Thomas Edison and Georges Méliès to Charlie Chaplin and F.W. Murnau. Through ten in-depth chapters and a curated list of 25 must-see films, readers will discover how the foundations of modern filmmaking were laid through silent film, montage theory, German ...

Step into the shadows of cinema history with Fritz Lang: A Complete Guide to the Life, Films, and Legacy of the Visionary Director. From the monumental spectacle of Metropolis to the chilling psychological depth of M and the hard-boiled intensity of The Big Heat, Fritz Lang redefined what movies could be. This comprehensive guide traces his journey from the cultural ferment of Vienna and the innovation of Weimar Germany to his dramatic escape from the Nazi regime and reinvention in Hollywood, where he became one of the architects of film noir. Inside, you’ll discover the stories behind ...