Natural disasters have long been a neglected subject in the study of history. At most they have been casually mentioned as a background material for political or social history. During the 90s this state of affairs has slowly began to change. Nevertheless, there is still no general history of natural disasters available in any language. This book aims to cover one grey area in historical studies, that is, spiritual responses and survival strategies of medieval man in front of natural disasters. It asks what were his means to deal with natural disasters, phenomena he could not scientifically understand. How did he try to prevent them? What were his feelings and actions when the situation was on? How did he manage to carry on with his life afterwards? It is an unusual book in many respects. It is a specific study based on original and in most cases unedited sources, but it can also be read as a general introduction. It crosses boundaries between different fields of learning and traditionally accepted time periods of history. Even if it is essentially a book on medieval man, it stretches far beyond the middle ages as conventionally understood. The final chapter traces the slow disappearance of the medieval mentality until the early nineteenth century.

"I am a Jew. Between 1933 and 1945 I lived in Germany, the country of my birth, with the many who perished and with the few who survived the Holocaust." With these bald statements Ken Arkwright commences the story of his life. There have been countless stories written by and about Holocaust survivors, and each one has its own perspective, each being a witness statement, an eye-witness account - and each deserves to be told. This particular book has the interesting provenance of having first been published in German, where it aroused considerable interest. Now Hybrid Publishers is proud to release a revised and updated English edition, with fascinating material about Arkwright's life and times. For decades the author resisted telling his story. As he comments, "Many years of reflecting on these events had to take place to make me feel the need to write about this journey." He feels an urgency to tell his story, as otherwise his unique life experiences and the life stories of some of the people he met and who perished in the Holocaust will die with him. Now in his ninetieth year, Ken Arkwright writes with clarity and in great detail - and with a remarkable lack of bitterness - about the progress of his life through the Great Depression, the rise of the Nazis, and the Second World War. It is indeed a story beyond survival.

Nathan Thomas Cole, a disillusioned product of the Gen-X tribe, seemingly has it all, but he still lacks true happiness. He doesnt know it yet, but Nathan is about to have his greatest wish finally fulfilled. Nathan awakens one morning to discover he has become the master of his own universe. He soon realizes he is completely alone on a deserted tropical island, unsure of how he arrived, how long he has been there or if he is even really there at all. Quickly, his nightmarish transcendence into mental and physical survival begins, every minute bringing a new and unusual experience. He encounters moments of tranquility and happiness as well as moments of uncertainty and terror. Unexplained events and scattered scenes from Nathans life begin to play out in random sequence, as characters from his past bring him face-to-face with the shocking truth he has been desperately chasing. As the island begins to come alive, Nathan must decide if his subconscious mind has come out to play, or if the mysterious island is truly providing him with an exclusive key back to his own lost past, unlocking the present, and propelling him perilously forward into a dark and questionable future.

Science, coupled with technology, has become the dominant force in most parts of the world. Thus, it affects our lives and society in many ways. Yet, misconceptions about science are widespread in governments, the general public, and even among many scientists. Science and Beyond explores these misconceptions that may have grave and even disastrous consequences for individuals and society as was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, where they led to much unnecessary suffering, sickness, and death. The misconceptions also obscure the limitations of science. Not seeing these limitations prevents us from seeing and going beyond them, which leads to a crippled life and an impoverished society. But reaching beyond the limitations of science, as outlined in this book, can open the doors to a more fulfilled, saner, healthier, happier, and more peaceful life and society.