*2016 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Silver Award Winner* The earth shakes and cracks open. Volcanoes erupt. Continents freeze, bake, and flood. Droughts parch the land. Wildfires and hundred-year storms consume anything in their paths. Invisible clouds of disease and pestilence probe for victims. Tidal waves sweep ashore from the vast sea. The natural world is a dangerous place, but one species has evolved a unique defense against the hazards: civilization. Civilization rearranges nature for human convenience. Clothes and houses keep us warm; agriculture feeds us; medicine fights our diseases. It all works—most of the time. But key resources lie in the most hazardous places, so we choose to live on river flood plains, on the slopes of volcanoes, at the edge of the sea, above seismic faults. We pack ourselves into cities, Petri dishes for germs. Civilization thrives on the edge of disaster. And what happens when natural forces meet molasses holding tanks, insecticides, deepwater oil rigs, nuclear power plants? We learn the hard way how to avoid the last disaster—and maybe how to create the next one. What we don’t know can, indeed, hurt us. This book’s white-knuckled journey from antiquity to the present leads us to wonder at times how humankind has survived. And yet, as Author Gale Eaton makes clear, civilization has advanced not just in spite of disasters but in part because of them. Hats off to human resilience, ingenuity, and perseverance! They’ve carried us this far; may they continue to do so into our ever-hazardous future. The History in 50 series explores history by telling thematically linked stories. Each book includes 50 illustrated narrative accounts of people and events—some well-known, others often overlooked—that, together, build a rich connect the-dots mosaic and challenge conventional assumptions about how history unfolds. Dedicated to the premise that history is the greatest story ever told. Includes a mix of “greatest hits” with quirky, surprising, provocative accounts. Challenges readers to think and engage. Includes a glossary of technical terms; sources by chapter; teaching resources as jumping-off points for student research; and endnotes. Fountas & Pinnell Level Z+

Now in paperback, the History in 50 Series is introduced bby National Book and Newbery Honor Aeard--winner Phillip Hoose.

What do the Trojan Horse, Piltdown Man, Keely Motor Company, and Ponzi Scheme have in common? They were all famous hoaxes, carefully designed and bolstered with false evidence. The con artists in this book pursued a variety of ambitions—making money, winning wars, mocking authority, finding fame, trading an ordinary life for a glamorous one—but they all chose the lowest, fastest road to get there. Every hoax is a curtain, and behind it is a deceiver operating levers and smoke machines to make us see what is not there and miss what is. As P.T. Barnum knew, you can short-circuit critical thinking in any century by telling people what they want to hear. Most scams operate on a personal scale, but some have shaped the balance of world power, inspired explorers to sail uncharted seas, derailed scientific progress, or caused terrible massacres. A HISTORY OF AMBITION IN 50 HOAXES guides us through a rogue’s gallery of hustlers, liars, swindlers, imposters, scammers, pretenders, and cheats. In Gale Eaton’s wide-ranging synthesis, the history of deception is a colorful tour, with surprising insights behind every curtain. Fountas & Pinnell Level Z+

Vigliani and Eaton’s high-interest exploration of medicine begins in prehistory. The 5,000-year-old Iceman discovered frozen in the Alps may have treated his gallstones, Lyme disease, and hardening of the arteries with the 61 tattoos that covered his body—most of which matched acupuncture points—and the walnut-sized pieces of fungus he carried on his belt. The herbal medicines chamomile and yarrow have been found on 50,000-year-old teeth, and neatly bored holes in prehistoric skulls show that Neolithic surgeons relieved pressure on the brain (or attempted to release evil spirits) at least 10,000 years ago. From Mesopotamian pharmaceuticals and Ancient Greek sleep therapy through midwifery, amputation, bloodletting, Renaissance anatomy, bubonic plague, and cholera to the discovery of germs, X-rays, DNA-based treatments and modern prosthetics, the history of medicine is a wild ride through the history of humankind.

Paula Grey explores how creative thinkers—collaborating or competing and always building on the work of their predecessors—have envisioned new ways to move about in the world. The story of travel is the human story. From the first migrations out of Africa on weary feet to horses, camels, rafts, chariots, steamships, trains, hot air balloons, cars, submarines, and moon rockets, humans have combined imagination, daring, and technical brilliance to create new vehicles and improve existing ones. Geography and culture have influenced the development of vehicles in far-flung parts of the world, and human travel has, in turn, exerted a profound influence on society and the environment. Whether escaping deprivation, pestilence, persecution, oppression, or fear—or seeking abundance, freedom, fame, fortune, or a fresh start—we have always been a traveling species, and it seems we always will be. Here is the story of humankind’s restless impulse to see what’s over the next ridge, beyond the next sunrise, on the next planet. Enjoy the journey! Fountas & Pinnell Level Z+

A compelling collection of human error and catastrophe through the ages. The dynamic incidents, crises, battles and defeats from all fields of endeavour are included. Accurate dynamic maps explore what caused the disasters and mistakes and their consequences. 50 fascinating stories of human error and natural disasters with insightful essays, historical illustrations and colour photographs are brought to life.

A comprehensive examination of all critical aspects of Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) As the frequency of both natural and man-made mass fatality disasters increases worldwide, the establishment of clear standards and best practices within the field of Disaster Victim identification (DVI) is of vital importance. Whereas most countries assign jurisdiction to law enforcement agencies following Interpol guidelines, DVI is the responsibility of the medical examiner and coroner in the United States. Disaster Victim Identification in the 21st Century is the first book of its kind to directly address the needs of DVI practitioners in the United States, covering the full spectrum of DVI from traditional methods such as fingerprints, odontology, and anthropology to advanced DNA identification technology. Approaching DVI from three perspectives—academic, government, and private industry—this comprehensive volume examines the history and current state of the discipline, the ongoing formation of national standards, the various methods of human identification, and the key challenges and future of DVI. In-depth chapters are written by leaders in the field with personal experience in human identification and mass fatality events. Provides practitioners with practical guidance on planning and taking part in DVI based on current national standards and best practices Discusses continued improvement in both traditional and emerging DVI methods Includes non-region-specific case studies and recommendations that can be easily adapted for international use Examines ethical and legal considerations in DVI, including suggestions for standardizing the victim identification process Describes the critical role of the Victim Information Center (VIC) in providing the comparative information required to go beyond presumptive identifications Part of the American Association for Forensic Sciences (AAFS) series, Disaster Victim Identification in the 21st Century: A US Perspective is an indispensable resource for forensic scientists, disaster planners, policymakers, medical examiners and coroners, law enforcement and emergency personnel, and upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in forensic sciences and emergency management.

Human history is periodically punctuated by natural disasters, from Vesuvius' eruption to the modern-day Covid-19 pandemic. Volcanoes have buried entire cities, earthquakes have reduced structures to smoldering ruins. Floods and cyclones have wreaked havoc on river valleys and coastlines, and desertification and climate change have weakened society's underpinnings. Death tolls are often escalated by starvation and illness, which frequently occur in tandem. This second edition assesses natural disasters on human society and the effect of strategies developed to reduce their impact. This book addresses the interconnectivity of disaster and human responsibility through 23 updated case studies, including a new chapter on the 2011 Tōhoku tsunami and the ensuing Fukushima nuclear disaster.

In A History of Travel in 50 Vehicles, Paula Grey explores how creative thinkers--sometimes collaborating, sometimes competing, and always building on the work of their predecessors--have envisioned new ways to move about in the world. From the first foot migration out of Africa to the Model T Ford, hot air balloons, submarines, rickshaws, and moon rockets, humans have combined imagination, daring, and scientific and technical knowledge to improve existing vehicles or create new ones. Geography, culture, and available technologies have all influenced the development and use of vehicles in different parts of the world, and human travel has, in turn, often had a profound influence on society and the environment. Notable Features -Illustrates the persistence of creative ideas by tracing modern vehicles back hundreds of years to their original conception. -Includes a mix of common and not-so-familiar vehicles from a variety of cultures. -Presents inventors failures as well as their successes. -Challenges readers to think and engage by discussing social and environmental impacts. -Includes sources by chapter; teaching resources as jumping off points for student research; and endnotes. The History in 50 series explores history by telling thematically linked stories. Each book includes 50 illustrated narrative accounts of people and events some well-known, others often overlooked that, together, build a rich connect-the-dots mosaic and challenge conventional assumptions about how history unfolds. Fall 2015 will also include A History of Civilization in 50 Disasters. Future titles include A History of Medicine in 50 Discoveries, A History of American Culture in 50 Innovators, A History of the Universe in 50 Milestones, A History of Sports in 50 Athletes, and A History of Progress in 50 Hoaxes.

Bringing together the voices of local scholars in the Philippines, this book offers critical insights into one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions. The Asia-Pacific region is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world, with the effects of climate change contributing to rising sea levels and increasingly frequent typhoons and floods. Case studies in this book examine such disasters, including the aftermath of 2013 super typhoon Haiyan. Discussions are centered around four themes: women and empowerment, economics and recovery, community and resilience, and religion and spirituality. Through its analysis, the book demonstrates the scopes, inequities, and inefficiencies of policies and responses, as well as forms of empowerment and resilience, in meeting challenges in disaster-afflicted communities in the Philippines. Its conclusions provide a more nuanced and grounded perspective of policies, practices, and approaches in the sociology of disasters today.