Modern humans have come a long way in the seventy thousand years they've walked the earth. Art, science, culture, trade -- on the evolutionary food chain, we're true winners. But it hasn't always been smooth sailing, and sometimes -- just occasionally -- we've managed to truly f*ck things up. Weaving together history, science, politics and pop culture, Phillips offers a panoramic exploration of humankind in all its glory, or lack thereof. From Lucy,...

"Taking readers on a global journey through human history, historian Natasha Tidd examines how lies can change the world around us, from Julius Caesar's deceptive PR machine to the cover ups that caused Chernobyl. From forgeries that created centuries worth of conflict and domination, such as The Donation of Constantine, the Protocols of Zion and the mysterious Testament of Peter the Great, to mass political and press cover ups including Britain's...

Stressing the excitement of scientific discovery and the legitimate mysteries and wonder inherent in reality, Harrison invites readers to share the joys of rational thinking and the skeptical approach to evaluating our extraordinary world.

"Stories of the American West have been a source of excitement and entertainment for more than 100 years. Novels, movies, and television shows have all drawn upon the Wild West for inspiration. But was the Wild West truly that wild? Were there gun-toting outlaws hiding behind every corner? Were white settlers and Native American tribes constantly at war? This book looks at some of the myths, legends, and tall tales surrounding the Wild West and attempts...

"Every November, the United States celebrates Thanksgiving Day. But what actually happened at the first Thanksgiving? And when did it happen? Discover the facts and find out the fiction surrounding one of America's favorite holidays"-- provided by publisher.

"A rollicking story of two literary fabulists who revealed the West's obsession with a fabricated, exotic East. Claiming to come from Afghanistan, Ikbal and Idries Shah convinced spies, poets, orientalists, diplomats, occultists, hippies, and even a prime minister that they held the keys to understanding the Muslim world. Gambling with the currency of cultural authenticity, father and son became master players of the great game of empire and its aftermath...

Is America one nation under God? Christian nationalists assert that the US was founded on Judeo-Christian principles -- but is this true? Andrew L. Seidel, an attorney at the Freedom from Religion Foundation, answers this persistent question once and for all, comparing the Ten Commandments to the Constitution and contrasting biblical doctrine with America's founding philosophy. This persuasively argued and fascinating book proves that Christian nationalism...