Profiles thirty notable figures throughout history, including Julius Caesar, Rosa Parks, Vincent Van Gogh, and Malala Yousafzai.

"Bestselling author of A Treasury of Royal Scandals Michael Farquhar uncovers an instance of bad luck, epic misfortune, and unadulterated mayhem tied to every day of the year in this engrossing compendium of history's worst moments. From Caligula's blood-soaked end to hotelier Steve Wynn's unfortunate run-in with a priceless Picasso, Bad Days in History delves into the past to present 365 delightfully told tales of historically bad days. Michael Farquhar's...

An introduction to world history features episodes, from the prehistoric "Iceman" to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the September 11 terrorist attacks, designed to illuminate the distinctive characteristics of each period.

Most historians study the smallest slivers of time, emphasizing specific dates, individuals, and documents. But what would it look like to study the whole of history, from the big bang through the present day -- and even into the remote future? How would looking at the full span of time change the way we perceive the universe, the earth, and our very existence? These were the questions David Christian set out to answer when he created the field of...

"A lively and magisterial popular history that refutes common misperceptions of the European Middle Ages, showing the beauty and communion that flourished alongside the dark brutality--a brilliant reflection of humanity itself."--Dust jacket.

"Christianity is the most enduring and influential legacy of the ancient world, and its emergence is the single most transformative development in Western history. [This book] explores what it was that made Christianity so revolutionary and why, in a West that has become increasingly doubtful of religion's claims, so many of its instincts remain irredeemably Christian. Today, the West remains utterly saturated by Christian assumptions. Our morals...

"Joseph Beuys, Antoine de Saint- Exupéry, Stanly Kubrick, Neil Armstrong, Ludwig Wittgenstein, the Beatles, Japanese poets, Brazilian priests and Russian cosmonauts all make an appearance ... Using his unique and keenly observant voice, Sagasti transforms the accidents of history into a single, lyrical constellation; an extraordinary sight for the reader" -- Back cover.

From Ancient Greece to the hunt and killing of Bin Laden, here are 110 incredible acts of bravery, courage and derring-do that have in one fell swoop changed the world.

"From the acclaimed author of The Romanovs -- a magisterial history of humanity viewed through the lens of its most powerful dynasties. In this sprawling and eye-opening book, best-selling historian Simon Sebag Montefiore chronicles the world's great dynasties across human history through engrossing tales of palace intrigue, glorious battle, and the real lives of people who held unfathomable power. He trains his eye on founders of humble origin, like...