Showing results by narrator "Eric Jason" in All Categories

Most of us have heard of such popular butterflies as the Monarch or Painted Lady. But what about the Fender's Blue? Or the St. Francis' Satyr? Because of their extreme rarity, these butterflies are not well-known, yet they are remarkable species with important lessons to teach us. The Last Butterflies spotlights the rarest of these creatures - some numbering no more than what can be held in one hand. 

Imagine a warm, beautiful country populated by friendly and happy people who live in harmony under a true democratically elected government. In a feudal world dominated by a small cohort of ruthless nobles, that would indeed be a bright spot, right? It sure would—except keep dreaming, folks. Where our hero is going this time is the exact opposite of the above—a slum of a city in the middle of a dry, inhospitable desert, pervasive corruption, and all kinds of formidable enemies.

Benjamin Franklin once said, "There never was a good war or a bad peace." But what determines whether war or peace is chosen? Award-winning sociologist Michael Mann concludes that it is a handful of political leaders—people with emotions and ideologies, and constrained by inherited culture and institutions—who undertake such decisions, usually irrationally choosing war and seldom achieving their desired results.

J.R.R. Tolkien's novels of Middle-earth—The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and The Silmarillian—have become some of the most famous, and most beloved, literary works of the twentieth century. Even if you've never read the novels and have only seen the films, you know that the world of Middle-earth is a complicated one. What you'll find in The Oigins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies is a basic guide to some of the possible linguistic and mythological origins of Middle-earth, plus a rudimentary analysis of its many themes and lessons for our world.

This collection of original essays covers the turf that made Didion a sensation - Hollywood and Patty Hearst; Malibu, Manson and the Mojave; the Summer of Love and the Central Park Five - while bringing together some of the finest voices of today's Los Angeles and beyond. Slouching Towards Los Angeles is a love letter and thank you note; personal memoir and social commentary; cultural history and literary critique.

In a world half of light, half of darkness, where science and magic strive for dominance, there dwells a magical being who is friendly with neither side. Jack, of the realm of shadows, is a thief who is unjustly punished. So he embarks on a vendetta.

Japan's Holocaust combines research conducted in over eighteen research facilities in five nations to explore Imperial Japan's atrocities from 1927 to 1945 during its military expansions and reckless campaigns throughout Asia and the Pacific. This book brings together the most recent scholarship and new primary research to ascertain that Japan claimed a minimum of thirty million lives, slaughtering more than Hitler's Nazi Germany. Japan's Holocaust shows that Emperor Hirohito not only knew about the atrocities his legions committed, but actually ordered them.

In High Ten: An Inspiring Story About Building Great Team Culture, Martin Rooney draws from his extensive experience developing top-level teams around the world to help leaders of all kinds foster and sustain winning cultures. This engaging parable shows you that every business, sports team, and family has a culture.  

In this fresh and lively biography rich in literary analysis and new historical detail, Fred Kaplan brings into focus the dramatic life of John Quincy Adams - the little known and much misunderstood sixth president of the United States and the first son of John and Abigail Adams - and persuasively demonstrates how Adams's inspiring, progressive vision guided his life and helped shape the course of America.

In the aftermath of the Apocalypse, humanity struggles to survive in a world newly introduced to mysterious particles. Preparing for the moment when Earth's planetary protections will cease and open the planet up to invasion by alien species, Liam and his companions transformed the Beacon, their sanctuary, into a fortress. As the last line of defense, they strive to train and empower the Beacon's residents, raising their levels and strength to withstand the impending onslaught.

For Hudson, the virtual world of PrimeVerse isn't all bad. It's beautiful; much nicer than overpopulated Earth. It almost feels like a vacation except for the volatile wildlife, lack of any amenities, and - oh yeah - the inability to log out. Exploring the world, learning his class, and leveling skills is all fun and games until a powerful rogue player with a vendetta shows up to wipe out Hudson and his primitive tribe. Thrust into a conflict he didn't create, Hudson is forced into a cycle of respawning where he learns that even death can be used as a tool. So much for that vacation.

From facial recognition—capable of checking us onto flights or identifying undocumented residents—to automated decision systems that inform everything from who gets loans to who receives bail, each of us moves through a world determined by data-empowered algorithms. But these technologies didn't just appear: they are part of a history that goes back centuries, from the census enshrined in the US Constitution to the birth of eugenics in Victorian Britain to the development of Google search.

The inside story of Biden’s foreign policy team and their struggle to restore America’s global influence in the aftermath of Trump When Joe Biden assumed the United States presidency, he brought with him a team of all-star talent, perhaps the most experienced ensemble of policy experts in...

Continue Calron's gripping journey as he confronts his haunting past, unravels enigmatic secrets within, and fights his inner demons as his true heritage is revealed. Could he still maintain his sanity after finding out? Equipped with a troubling legacy from his Master, Calron needs to quickly find a way to control its power before it devours his mind. Meanwhile, mysterious foes lurk within The Beast City, pulling strings to pull Calron deeper into their webs. Do they know something about himself that he has yet to realize?

Earth continues to struggle as the system infuses our world with mana. Creatures and those seeking power lurk on the fringes and it’s up to Rico and the other summoned beings to hold back the tide. With each summoning, Rico grows in power, and that power will help him resist the threats to our world. Unfortunately, there is threat right under Rico’s nose, a threat that might not only spell Rico’s doom, but also Earth’s.

Being summoned to random worlds by others is becoming a familiar event for Rico, and with each bizarre challenge the system throws at him, his strength grows. Dungeons, deadly creatures, and powerful foes are commonplace in these other worlds, but what happens when they start showing up here on Earth? Rico gladly joins the other summoned beings to defend his world, but if he dies at home, there is no respawn waiting to bring him back.

"John Ganz is the most important young political writer of his generation—just the one our dark moment needs." —Rick Perlstein "Lively and kaleidoscopic." —Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker "John Ganz belongs to a species of public intellectual that is almost extinct . . . When the Clock...

See You At San Diego is the comprehensive chronicle of Comic-Con International and modern geekdom itself as told through countless stories by nearly fifty of the most integral members of the Comic-Con and fandom scene. This full-fledged oral history—bursting with intimate reflections, hilarious observations, and at times, heartbreaking stories—is about how the geek at last inherited the earth and the story of the transformation of mainstream American pop culture into comic book culture over the past century. 

Scripted tales of the past, written by James Urbaniak and Brie Williams. An audio road movie about the personal and political crossroads that is Bicentennial America. A cast of dozens featuring Angela Trimbur, James Urbaniak, Rhea Seehorn, Nate Corddry, Johnny Pemberton, Samm Levine, John Ross Bowie and Andy Daly as Jimmy Carter. Music by Jonathan Dinerstein.

In a world of monsters, dungeons, and dragons, Chod has finally found a place to call home. More than that, he’s found a tribe worth fighting for. A colossal battle is brewing, and the fate of Mythos hangs in the balance. With the forces of darkness primed to make their move, Chod finds himself in a race against time. The Mythos Rehabilitation Program will soon be terminated, and the era of heroes is coming to an end. As the clock ticks down, Chod must make a stand if he wants to prevent a future cast in perpetual shadow.