Book Excerpt: But there was no great need for caution at present. The oldpriest who had spoken to him before stepped a little in advanceof the rest, and turning, said in a low sentence or two to theBenedictines; and the group stopped, though one or two stilleyed, it seemed, with sympathy, the man who awaited him. Then thepriest came up alone and put his hand on the arm of the chair."Come out this way," he whispered. "There's a path behind, Monsignor, and I've sent orders for the car to be there."The man rose obediently (he could do nothing else), passed downthe steps and behind the canopy. A couple of police stood therein an unfamiliar, but unmistakable uniform, and these drewthemselves up and saluted. They went on down the little pathwayand out through a side-gate. Here again the crowd was tremendous, but barriers kept them away, and the two passed on togetheracross the pavement, saluted by half a dozen men who were pressedagainst the barriers--(it was here, for the first time, that thebewildered manRead Mo

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A dramatically new understanding of human history, challenging our most fundamental assumptions about social evolution—from the development of agriculture and cities to the origins of the state, democracy, and inequality—and revealing new possibilities for human emancipation. For generations, our remote ancestors have been cast as primitive and childlike—either free and equal innocents, or thuggish and warlike. Civilization, we are told, could be achieved only by sacrificing those original freedoms or, alternatively, by taming our baser instincts. David Graeber and David Wengrow show how such theories first emerged in the eighteenth century as a conservative reaction to powerful critiques of European society posed by Indigenous observers and intellectuals. Revisiting this encounter has startling implications for how we make sense of human history today, including the origins of farming, property, cities, democracy, slavery, and civilization itself. Drawing on pathbreaking research in archaeology and anthropology, the authors show how history becomes a far more interesting place once we learn to throw off our conceptual shackles and perceive what’s really there. If humans did not spend 95 percent of their evolutionary past in tiny bands of hunter-gatherers, what were they doing all that time? If agriculture, and cities, did not mean a plunge into hierarchy and domination, then what kinds of social and economic organization did they lead to? The answers are often unexpected, and suggest that the course of human history may be less set in stone, and more full of playful, hopeful possibilities, than we tend to assume. The Dawn of Everything fundamentally transforms our understanding of the human past and offers a path toward imagining new forms of freedom, new ways of organizing society. This is a monumental book of formidable intellectual range, animated by curiosity, moral vision, and a faith in the power of direct action. Includes Black-and-White Illustrations

This classic series has inspired nearly 2 million readers. Both loyal fans and new readers will want the latest edition of this beloved series. This edition includes a foreword from the publisher, a preface from Francine Rivers and discussion questions suitable for personal and group use. #3 As Sure As the Dawn: Atretes. German warrior. Revered gladiator. He won his freedom through his fierceness . . . But his life is about to change forever.

Kristen Heitzmann Delivers Powerful New Romantic Suspense Morgan Spencer has had just about all he can take of life. Following the tragic death of his wife, Jill, he retreats to his brother's Rocky Mountain ranch to heal and focus on the care of his infant daughter, Olivia. Two years later, Morgan begins to make plans to return to his home in Santa Barbara to pick up the pieces of his life and career. Quinn Riley has been avoiding her past for four years. Standing up for the truth has forced her into a life of fear and isolation. After a "chance" first meeting and a Thanksgiving snowstorm, Quinn is drawn into the Spencer family's warm and loving world, and she begins to believe she might find freedom in their friendship. The man Quinn helped put behind bars has recently been released, however, and she fears her past will endanger the entire Spencer family. As the danger heightens, she determines to leave town for the sake of the people who have come to mean so much to her. Fixing problems is what Morgan Spencer does best, and he is not willing to let Quinn run away, possibly into the clutches of a man bent on revenge. But Morgan's solution sends him and Quinn on an unexpected path, with repercussions neither could have anticipated.

National bestselling author Lauraine Snelling brings a small mountain town to thrilling life when a natural disaster threatens to destroy lives. U.S. Border Patrol agent Ben James' life is in tatters. A tragic accident stole the love of his life and he never finished grieving. Turning to the bottle for support, he lost sight of what was important. While making his last patrol run before a storm rolls in, Ben's canine partner Bo finds an abandoned baby hidden in the woods. As Ben rushes the child to the only clinic in the area, the storm strikes with unexpected fury. Esther Hanson runs a second-rate clinic in the small community of Pineville, Minnesota, on the Canadian border. Though she has fought for years to get the equipment she needs, the town refuses to approve the funding. When the unprecedented storm ravishes the area, cutting them off from all outside help, Esther struggles to help her patients without giving in to overwhelming emotions. The event triggers a long-suppressed memory, and Esther must come face to face with the reality of her past and learn to forgive herself. Brought together by the life of a child, Ben and Esther become each other's reason to change.

From the author of the New York Times–bestselling Guardians of Ga’hoole, a herd of horses surviving the wilds of the New World discovers an orphaned boy. For the filly Estrella, nothing is more precious than freedom. She was born at sea, aboard a ship of men sailing to the New World in search of gold. But Estrella and her herd escaped the conquerors and embarked on a journey across thousands of miles—braving harsh terrains and fierce predators—to a land where they can finally run wild. But now, an unforeseen danger threatens to destroy the pack. A boy with a special gift is lost in the wilderness, and only the horses can keep him alive. But to save the boy, the herd will risk galloping straight back into the hands—-and harnesses—of their captors. And so, it’s up to Estrella, the herd’s unlikely leader, to make a life-changing decision. Should the horses accept the orphan boy as one of their own? How do you choose between freedom and friendship? Praise for Horses of the Dawn: “As in works such as her Guardians of Ga’hoole series, Lasky uses animals to touch on very human issues.” —Kirkus Reviews “Lasky successfully fuses fantasy and fact as she gives her equine characters credible emotional depth and underscores the tensions and disparity between Old and New World sensibilities. It’s a haunting story of loss, self-discovery, survival, and homecoming.” —Publishers Weekly

This book is a companion to THE DREAMTIME, one of the greatest Australian publishing successes with over one million copies sold in Australia alone. The original concept of the paintings was developed by an association between Ainslie Roberts and Charles Mountford, well known for his anthropological work among the Aboriginal peoples. They had made extensive tours through remote outback regions, and the resulting potent imagery bridged cultural gulfs, making Australians more aware of the Aboriginal sense of sacredness in all things. THE DAWN OF TIME is once more accompanied by myths interpreted by Mr Mountford. In this book, all the paintings are reproduced in full colour, with black and white drawings which also illustrate the myths, and like its predecessor it is a unique contribution to Australian art and literature and a genuine record of Aboriginal mythology.