In 'The Autobiography of Phineas Pett,' the reader is transported back to the 17th century, where Phineas Pett, a prominent English shipbuilder, recounts his life story and the challenges he faced in the maritime industry. The book is written in a straightforward and factual style, echoing Pett's pragmatic and detail-oriented approach to shipbuilding. Through his meticulous descriptions of ship construction and naval battles, Pett provides a unique insight into the technological advancements of his time. The literary context of the book reflects the early modern period, where naval power played a crucial role in the geopolitical landscape. Pett's autobiography serves as an invaluable historical document for understanding the development of naval architecture and engineering.Phineas Pett, as a renowned shipbuilder in the 17th century, was well-positioned to document his experiences in the maritime world. His expertise and passion for shipbuilding shine through in the detailed accounts of his life and work. Pett's personal struggles and triumphs offer a captivating glimpse into the challenges faced by craftsmen and engineers of his era. His dedication to innovation and excellence is evident throughout his narrative.'The Autobiography of Phineas Pett' is a must-read for history enthusiasts, naval buffs, and anyone interested in the intersection of technology and society. Pett's compelling story and his contributions to the field of shipbuilding make this book a fascinating and informative read.

Reproduction of the original: The Power of Truth by William George Jordan

"This spectacular book does full justice to the Compositae (Asteraceae), the largest and most successful flowering plant family with some 1700 genera and 24,000 species. It is an indispensable reference, providing the most up-to-date hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships in the family based on molecular and morphological characters, along with the corresponding subfamilial and tribal classification. The 2009 work not only integrates the extensive molecular phylogenetic analyses conducted in the last 25 years, but also uses these to produce a metatree for about 900 taxa of Compositae. The book contains 44 chapters, contributed by 80 authors, covering the history, economic importance, character variation, and systematic and phylogenetic diversity of the family. The emphasis of this work is phylogenetic; its chapters provide a detailed, current, and thoroughly documented presentation of the major (and not so major) clades in the family, citing some 2632 references. Like the Compositae, the book is massive, diverse, and fascinating. It is beautifully illustrated, with 170 figures, and an additional 108 cladograms (all consistently color-coded, based on the geographic range of the included taxa); within these figures are displayed 443 color photographs, clearly demonstrating the amazing array of floral and vegetative form expressed by members of the clade." --NHBS Environment Bookstore.