Life on earth will come to an end. It's just a matter of when. This book focuses on the many potential catastrophes facing our planet and our species in the future, and looks at both the probability of these events happening and our chances of survival. Coverage extends from discussion of the likely consequences of the current global warming to the inevitable destruction of the Earth in the far future, when it is enveloped by our giant, bloated sun. In between, other end of the world scenarios are examined, including the New Ice Age, asteroid and comet impact, supervolcanoes, and mega-tsunami.

This delightful jewel-like book evokes unmistakably Italian landscapes and cityscapes. Anne Desmet's pen commits every detail to paper, and the small-scale format emphasises her distinctive flair for capturing the relationship between extreme foreground and distance. This is a unique opportunity to explore Italy, from the Apennines to the Veneto, through the eyes of a meticulous and precise artist. AUTHOR: Anne Desmet RA specialises in wood engravings, linocuts and mixed-media collages. She has received over thirty international awards, and her work is included in museum collections and publications worldwide. She was elected a member of the Royal Academy of Arts in May 2011. For fifteen years she was editor of Printmaking Today magazine, and has published three printmaking books. She lives and works in London. SELLING POINTS: * Desmet's beautifully packaged book is packed, cover to cover, with a seductive grand tour of Italian cityscapes and landscapes * Colourful and atmospheric sketches in pen, wash and watercolour grant a unique insight into the perspectives and preoccupations of the artist roaming abroad * Transports the viewer from Rome and Venice to the landscapes of Sicily and Umbria 60 colour

As the day breaks, spilling warm, honeyed light over Cairo, Florine Asch sets out with her sketchpad, pencils and paintbrushes. In her journey through this ancient and mysterious land, Florine will encounter the majesty of the sandstone hills of Abu Simbel, the wonder of the pyramids of Giza, and the baroque elegance of Cairo's grand interiors. From the tranquility of a felucca floating down the Nile to the bustle of the spice stalls in the marketplace, and from the harmony of shepherds inthe pastures along the riverbank to the opulance of Egypt's grandest hotels, the life of the city, the beauty of the desert and the rich hues of sand and stone, all come to life under her brush.--Cover.

In an age of digital cameras and computer renderings, the tradition of drawing and assembling an architectural sketchbook seems at once either willfully eccentric and or charmingly retrograde. But its profound importance to architecture and urban planning endures. Italian Cities and Landscapes is a compact and lovely sketch book created by architect William H. Fain during a six month fellowship at the American Academy in Rome. Exploring the Italian city and countryside by bicycle, Fain used colored pencil to sketch scenes of the street life, the magnificent landscapes, and the architectural marvels of Italy. Italian Cities and Landscapes shows that for the creative individual, documenting travels through drawing continues to be a valuable means of learning to see, understand, and design.

Italy is a country synonymous with style and beauty in all aspects of life: the rich history of Rome, Renaissance art of Florence, graceful canals of Venice, high fashion of Milan, signature pasta alla bolognese of Bologna, colorful architecture of Portofino and winking blue waters of Capri and the Amalfi Coast, among many others. Italians themselves live effortlessly amid all this splendor, knowing instinctively just the type of outfit to throw on, design element to balance, or delectable ingredient to add.