"A detailed, original and persuasive reading of cultural and intellectual history."—Los Angeles Times. "A genuine tour de force."—San Francisco Chronicle.

"At the close of this century of creativity and discovery, humanists and scientists alike wonder: How could human beings in all their brilliance - those "axemakers" with the genius to invent, lead, inspire, heal, design - have brought the world to the brink of destruction?" "The answers can be found in The Axemaker's Gift, an imaginative and brilliantly informed double-edged history of human culture. James Burke, a leading expert on the interaction of technology and society, and Robert Ornstein, a pioneer in charting the evolution of consciousness, show how the interaction between innovation and the brain has continually reshaped the world and, more important, the way we think."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

From hand-forged axes of the Viking conquests to the American homesteader’s felling axe, this is a tool that has shaped human history like few others. American Axe pays tribute to this iconic instrument of settlement and industry, with rich history, stunning photography, and profiles of the most collectible vintage axes such as The Woodslasher, Keen Cutter, and True Temper Perfect. Combining his experiences as a forester, axe collector, and former competitive lumberjack, author Brett McLeod conveys the allure of this deceptively simple woodcutting implement and celebrates the resurging interest in its story and use.

A must-have compendium for the axe-wielding adventurer by one of the industry’s leading tastemakers Buchanan-Smith’s Axe Handbook is a trusted resource for anyone looking to reconnect with handcraft and the outdoors. Beautifully designed and lavishly illustrated, this handbook will inspire readers to rediscover the great outdoors. Peter Buchanan-Smith founded Best Made Co. in 2009 because he loved making things with his hands and wanted to start a company that would not only celebrate the inherent beauty of timeless, utilitarian tools, but would also inspire people to get out from behind their screens and experience the natural world. From the basics and fundamentals of handling and owning an axe to the details on how to find the right axe to everything a reader must know about use and maintenance, this stylish, informative axe guide is ideal for anyone interested in the outdoors. .

Illustrated story of the revolution of the axe and its varied uses with photos from the author's collection and museums. Identifies the great variety of North American axes, dating from the Colonial period to the present. Detailed drawings and diagrams of construction and production of basic types of axes are also pictured, along with a list of all known American axe manufacturers since the 18th century, and notes on the care of axes.

A wonderful book that covers the vast range of axes used throughout time and throughout the world, starting with the early stone hand-axes of the paleolithic period through the flint, copper, and bronze axes of early civilizations, the early iron axes of the medieval ages, and the production of steel axes made possible by the Industrial Revolution. Included are discussions of all axe types from celts to hand axes, tomahawks to hatchets, pebble tools to broad axes, plus a chapter on special axes. The author gives detailed descriptions of the axes, how they were made and the materials used, and the evolution of their design over time. Accompanying the descriptions are over 100 photographs of the axes, many seen only in museums. The axe was one of man's earliest tools, and remained one of his most important almost until the present day. Yet over the tens of thousands of years of its use, the changes in its design have been surprisingly small. What have changed dramatically are its methods and materials of fabrication, reflecting the advances in man's technological skills. Students of the history of technology and tool collectors alike will find this a fascinating boo

Inventing Africa is a critical account of narratives which have selectively interpreted and misinterpreted the continent's deep past. Writers have created alluring images of lost cities, vast prehistoric migrations and golden ages of past civilizations. Debates continue on the African origins of humankind, the contributions of ancient Egypt to the world and Africa's importance to global history. Images of "Africa," simplifying a complex and diverse continent, have existed from ancient Mediterranean worlds, slave trading nations and colonial powers to today's political elites, ecotourists and aid-givers. Robin Derricourt draws on his background as publisher and practitioner in archaeology and history to explore the limits and the dangers of simplifications, arguing -- as with Said's concept of "Orientalism" -- that ambitious ideas can delude or oppress as well as inform. Defending Africa against some of the grand narratives that have been imposed upon its peoples, Inventing Africa will spark new debates in the history of Africa and of archaeology.