Drawing on a huge range of sources - letters, memoirs, conversations - Orlando Figes tells the story of how Russians tried to endure life under Stalin. Those who shaped the political system became, very frequently, its victims. Those who were its victims were frequently quite blameless. The Whisperers recreates the sort of maze in which Russians found themselves, where an unwitting wrong turn could either destroy a family or, perversely, later save it: a society in which everyone spoke in whispers - whether to protect themselves, their families, neighbours or friends - or to inform on them.

“From the hair-raising to the eyebrow-raising, this is a scintillating account of meetings with spirits through history” (Mark Booth, New York Times–bestselling author). It may seem incredible, but as bestselling novelist and occult expert J.H. Brennan reveals in this eye-opening new history, there is a wealth of evidence to suggest that the disembodied voices of spirits may have subtly directed the course of human events. In Whisperers, Brennan explores how the “spirit world”—whether we believe in it or not—has influenced our own since the dawn of civilization. With a novelist’s flair and a scholar’s keen eye, Brennan details the supernatural affinities of world leaders from King Nebuchadnezzar to Adolf Hitler, showing how the decisions and policies of each have been shaped by their supernatural beliefs and encounters. Brennan also examines the impact of visions, from shamanism in native cultures to prophets such as Joan of Arc. Chronicling millennia of contact between the spirit world and our own, Whisperers presents an entirely new and different way to look at history. “Prolific Irish author and lecturer Brennan’s lifelong fascination with psychic phenomena fuels this comprehensive analysis of potential supernatural influences on history. . . . Certain hokum for skeptics, but the more open-minded will savor this chillingly convincing testimonial.” —Kirkus Reviews “J.H. Brennan is an expert storyteller who paints an often terrifying picture of how human destiny has regularly been changed forever by individuals convinced they were in communication with intelligences from beyond. In Whisperers, Brennan has created a unique and timely history of spirit voices that is both brilliant and utterly chilling.” —Andrew Donkin, coauthor of Illegal

A beautifully written tribute to the people who teach us to cook and guide our hands in the kitchen, by a founding editor of Saveur. The cooking lessons that stick with us are rarely the ones we read in books or learn through blog posts or YouTube videos (depending on your generation); they’re the ones we pick up as we spend time with good cooks in the kitchen. Dorothy Kalins, founding editor of Savuer magazine, calls the people who pass on their cooking wisdom her Kitchen Whisperers. Consciously or not, they help make us the cooks we are—and help show the way to the kind of cooks we have the potential to become. Dorothy’s prolific career in food media means many of her Kitchen Whisperers are some of the best chefs around (though the lessons she’s learned from fellow home cooks are just as important). For Dorothy, a lifetime of exposure to incredible cooks and chefs means that she can’t enter her kitchen without hearing the voices of mentors and friends with whom she cooked over the years as they reveal their favorite techniques. Marcella Hazan warns her against valuing look over flavor. Christopher Hirsheimer advises that sometimes water is the best liquid to add to a dish rather than stock or wine. Her onetime Southern mother-in-law wisely knows that not everyone who asks for a biscuit is food hungry. Woven through the text are dozens of narrative recipes, from her mother’s meat loaf to David Tanis’s Swiss Chard Gratin. The Kitchen Whisperers will prompt older readers to identify and cherish the food mentors in their own lives, just as it will inspire younger readers to seek them out. Stories and recipes from Dorothy’s notable connections will inspire the creative food journeys of all.

An empire on the edge of war threatens to crumble in this action-packed fantasy novel of epic adventure and revenge. They call him the Usurper. Once the Kisian empire was ruled by gods. Now Kin Ts'ai, a man of common blood, sits on the Crimson Throne. At his command, the last Otako emperor was executed and a new era began. But claiming an empire is easier than holding it. In the north where loyalty to the Otako name runs deep, a rebellion grows. And Emperor Kin will learn that killing one Otako, doesn't mean you've killed them all. Vengeance is coming. The Vengeance TrilogyThe Blood of WhisperersThe Gods of ViceThe Grave at Storm's End For more from Devin Madson, check out: The Reborn EmpireWe Ride the Storm

From The New York Times bestselling co-author of Secrets of the Baby Whisperer, comes this poignant, hilarious, and deeply insightful exploration of how to make the most of life’s possibilities—at any age. In this deeply personal and heartwarming book, acclaimed journalist Melinda Blau confronts the stereotypes surrounding life's later chapters, drawing from unexpected friendships with the remarkable women she affectionately dubs "my old ladies." Through intimate storytelling and candid reflections, Blau peels back layers of societal judgment to uncover the hard-earned wisdom and resilience that come with the unfolding of years. From her relationship with Henrietta, a vibrant nonagenarian, Blau discovers that age is less a number and more the unexpected twists and turns of a life fully lived. Zelda, ever the free spirit, shows that the sparkle of youthful passion can persist well into later years—she's nailing tennis serves even in her 90s. And then there's Anne, a Holocaust survivor who proves that at 98, it's still not too late to pen your life story. Yet, Blau's book isn't simply a compilation of friendship tales. It's a wake-up call that encourages us to build meaningful connections across different phases of life. These bonds are mutually enriching, offering us valuable insights and a depth of understanding that is impossible to obtain from our contemporaries. At its heart, Wisdom Whisperers is about the boundless opportunities that unfold when we dare to look beyond age as a limiting factor.

In recent years, a catastrophic global bleaching event devastated many of the world’s precious coral reefs. Working on the front lines of ruin, today’s coral scientists are struggling to save these important coral reef ecosystems from the imminent threats of rapidly warming, acidifying, and polluted oceans. Coral Whisperers captures a critical moment in the history of coral reef science. Gleaning insights from over one hundred interviews with leading scientists and conservation managers, Irus Braverman documents a community caught in an existential crisis and alternating between despair and hope. In this important new book, corals emerge not only as signs and measures of environmental catastrophe, but also as catalysts for action.

When it comes to political cunning, manipulation, ambition, and furthering an agenda, the forty-seven behind-the-scenes players in these pages are the gold standard. An intriguing twist on the popular ôgreat leadersö view of history, this extraordinary book focuses on dominant advisors, counselors, officials, and other king whisperers, from biblical times to the twenty-first century. They represent some of the most effective speakers, writers, revolutionaries, ideologues, and villains in world history. Whether in control of battle fields, ballot boxes, or even entire empires, these influential people rose to positions of influence from the dark shadows and narrow corridors of power. Book jacket.