Non-Secondhand Books

From ancient Mesopotamia to today, an "exceptionally rich narrative" ( Wall Street Journal ) of how humans have used laws to forge civilizations Rulers throughout history have used laws to...

From ancient Mesopotamia to today, an "exceptionally rich narrative" ( Wall Street Journal ) of how humans have used laws to forge civilizations Rulers throughout history have used laws to...

How Germany's fledgling democracy nearly collapsed in 1923--and how pro-democracy forces fought back In 1923, the Weimar Republic faced a series of crises, including foreign occupation of its industrial heartland,...

This new edition of The Penguin History of the World is an opportunity to celebrate a book that is both a richly rewarding narrative and a permanent work of reference....

In December 1971, after having stepped down as the United Nations' longest-serving Secretary-General, U Thant was ranked the sixth 'most admired man' in America. So why he is largely forgotten...

The Soul is a history of the human mind, from the earliest expression of self-consciousness to its unshakeable belief in the great religions and political systems. 'Wonderfully entertaining' - Michael...

Perfect for fans of Jia Tolentino and Chuck Klosterman, Y2K is a delightfully nostalgic and bitingly told exploration about how the early 2000s forever changed us and the world we...

In the early years of the Second World War, Australian women began lobbying to contribute to the nation's wartime effort. From 1940, women were signing up to serve in the...

The history books are full of heroes and villains ... but what about all the idiots? Comedian and armchair historian Mikey Robins tells the astonishing story of human stupidity, one...

A landmark work of contemporary history and a wake-up call that aims to restore our understanding of the basis of our way of life, from the author of international bestseller...

In his introduction, John Keegan discusses Churchill's historical methods and the extraordinary achievement of The Second World War. This volume also includes appendices, an index, maps and diagrams. Winston Churchill's...

On 26 January the convict transports moved into their new home as a handful of Aborigines on the shore set up a horrid howl and indicated by angry gestures with...

Three decades since the Soviet Union's collapse prompted Francis Fukuyama to proclaim the 'End of History', things look different. Russia may no longer be Communist, but Stalin is more admired...

On 6 June, 1924 George Mallory donned an oxygen set and set off for the summit of Everest with his young partner Andrew Irvine. Next day they were glimpsed through...

G.W.F. Hegel was widely seen as the greatest philosopher of his age. Ever since, his work has shaped debates about issues as varied as religion, aesthetics and metaphysics. His most...

From one of today's most innovative ancient historians, a provocative new vision of why ancient history matters and why it needs to be told in a radically different, global way...

A panoramic history of the Muslim world from the age of the Prophet Muammad to the birth of the modern era. This book describes and explains the major events, personalities,...

A dazzling new history of the Indian subcontinent and its diverse peoples in global context from antiquity to today Much of world history is Indian history. Home today to one...

Empires, until recently, were everywhere. They shaped borders, stirred conflicts, and set the terms of international politics. With the collapse of empire came a fundamental reorganisation of our world. Decolonisation...

"Thrilling . . . With deep research and suspenseful storytelling, Mr. Randall reminds us that America's pre-eminence in the aviation industry was never assured and that it took a race...

A timely groundbreaking book in the vein of Derrick Bell's Faces at the Bottom of the Well , one of the country's foremost voices on reparations, offers a radical and...

An ideal gift for anyone with an intrigue for geographical curiosities. Defined as sovereign states with a very small population, land area, or both, microstates serve as fascinating case studies...

A Spectator Best Book of the Year; An Aspects of History Best Book of the Year; An Engelsberg Ideas Best Book of the Year Five hundred years ago, Thomas Wolsey...

Blending the journalistic rigor of Masha Gessen with the call to action of We Should All Be Feminists, a searing denunciation of Putin's Russia, revealing how modern Russia's history of...

'Impostor ', 'greedy' and 'incompetent' - Edmund Hammond Hargraves was beloved by few and reviled by many more. Ask google Who discovered gold in Australia? and you'll promptly get 'Edward...

A fascinating cartographic study of urban development, perfect for map and history lovers. The city, a concept nearly as old as history itself, is a paradox of human innovation and...

'Andrew North has a deep empathy and understanding for Afghanistan and has seen sides of it - both good and horrifying - that very few international observers have encountered' -...

A groundbreaking new perspective on catastrophes throughout human history, with vital lessons for our future 'This book upended my understanding of the ancient world' Zoe Schlanger, author of The Light...

Thoroughly revised and expanded for a new generation of readers, this classic guide to enjoying literature to its fullest-a lively, enlightening, and entertaining introduction to a diverse range of writing...

Drawn from NPR Music's acclaimed, groundbreaking series Turning the Tables , the definitive book on the vital role of Women in Music-from Beyonce to Odetta, Taylor Swift to Joan Baez,...

Australians have been making pilgrimages to the battlefields and cemeteries of World War Two since the 1940s, from the jungles of New Guinea and South-East Asia to the mountains of...

The Cambridge History of Australia offers a comprehensive view of Australian history from its pre-European origins to the present day. Over two volumes, this major work of reference tells the...

Drawn from NPR Music's acclaimed, groundbreaking series Turning the Tables , the definitive book on the vital role of Women in Music-from Beyonce to Odetta, Taylor Swift to Joan Baez,...

Instant New York Times Bestseller "A masterwork. ... O'Connor answers every question, deftly and deeply, that we've had about the most controversial person in America's biggest game." -Peter King Four-time...

In the late 17th century, war was one of the most important professions. It was for this reason that the greatest generals labored to acquire every ounce of knowledge, and...

"Thrilling . . . With deep research and suspenseful storytelling, Mr. Randall reminds us that America's pre-eminence in the aviation industry was never assured and that it took a race...

A groundbreaking new perspective on catastrophes throughout human history, with vital lessons for our future 'This book upended my understanding of the ancient world' Zoe Schlanger, author of The Light...

An ideal gift for anyone with an intrigue for geographical curiosities. Defined as sovereign states with a very small population, land area, or both, microstates serve as fascinating case studies...

In November 1915, Sir Ernest Shackleton watched horrified as the grinding floes of the Weddell Sea squeezed the life from his ship, Endurance, before letting her slip silently down to...

Destiny toys with us all, but Anita Garibaldi is a force to be reckoned with. Forced into marriage at sixteen, Anita feels trapped in a union she does not want....

A stunning investigation and indictment of the elements in United States' foreign lobbying industry and the threat they pose to democracy. For years, one group of Americans has worked as...

Now a major motion picture from Jerry Bruckheimer starring Chris Hemsworth and Michael Shannon! "A thrilling action ride of a book" ( The New York Times Book Review )--the New...

MONEY. The object of our desires. The engine of our genius. Humanity's greatest invention. Whether we like it or not, our world revolves around money, but we rarely stop to...

Adolf Hitler was one of six children born to his mother, and one of eight born to his father from two of his three marriages. Alois Hitler, ne Schicklgruber, was...

A fascinating cartographic study of urban development, perfect for map and history lovers. The city, a concept nearly as old as history itself, is a paradox of human innovation and...

One of the government's former behavioural scientists reveals how you can do what you want, whilst everybody tries to influence you into doing what they want. Influence makes you think...

Charles Wheeler, the BBC's longest-serving foreign correspondent, was one of Britain's greatest news reporters. For more than four decades, he reported for radio and television from most of the world's...