Whether you believe in ghosts or other aspects of the paranormal, every culture has its folklore and many, many people have had an experience they simply can't explain. John Kachuba decided to investigate for himself, so he started with his home state of Ohio. Ghosthunting Ohio, examines more than 30 of the spookiest haunts, from cemeteries to inns and taverns to libraries and cafes, all over the Buckeye State. The results might surprise even the most devout skeptics.

The land between Idaho and the Cascade Mountains is characterized by gullies, coulees, and deserts--in geologic terms, it is a wholly unique place on the earth. Legendary geologist J Harlen Bretz, starting in the 1920s, was the first to explore the area. Bretz, a former science teacher at Franklin High School in Seattle and then a professor at t...

Early nineteenth century New Zealand ? the great chief Te Rauparaha has conquered tiny Kapiti Island, from where Ngati Toa launches brutal attacks on its southern enemies. Off the coast of Kapiti, English trader John Stewart seeks to trade with Te Rauparaha, setting off a train of events that forever change the course of New Zealand history. Nar...

Hidden Buddhas may well be Liza Dalby's best work yet; with its fascinating story of characters caught up in a world they themselves don't understand. Besides taking us on a journey through little-known corners of Japan, it offers us an engaging and believable portrait of people driven to do things they may not have imagined.'' - Arthur Golden, author of Memoirs of a Geisha According to Buddhist theology, the world is suffering through a final corrupt era called mapp. As mapp continues, chaos will increase until the center can no longer hold. Then the world will end. In Japan, many believe that Miroku, Buddha of the Future, will appear and bring about a new age of enlightenment. From this ancient notion of doom and rebirth comes a startling new novel by the acclaimed author of Geisha and The Tale of Murasaki. Hundreds of temples in Japan are known to keep mysterious ''hidden buddhas'' secreted away except on rare designated viewing days. These statues are not hidden because they are powerful - their power lies in their being hidden. Are they being protected, or are they protecting the world? In this novel, one Buddhist priest struggles with the dictates of his inherited orthodoxy, while another rebels. An American graduate student begins to suspect the mysterious purpose of the hidden buddhas, just as he falls in love with a beautiful Japanese artist who is haunted by an aborted child. The weaving of karma that brings these two together results in a tech-savvy half-Western, half-Japanese child who text-messages her way through the profane world to enlightenment. Tracing the lives of its characters through the late twentieth century to the present, from Paris to Kyoto to California, Hidden Buddhas turns a cosmopolitan eye on discipline and decadence in religion, fashion, politics, and modern life. Liza Dalby is an anthropologist and writer specializing in Japan. She lives in Berkeley, California.

Rising from the drug-infested streets of '80s New York City, the incomparable Sonic Youth recorded some of the most important albums in alternative music history and influenced an entire generation of indie rockers. They helped spawn an alternative arts scene of underground films and comics, conceptual art, experimental music, even fashion. More than perhaps any band of their time, they brought art previously considered ''fringe'' into the mainstream - and irrevocably altered the cultural zeitgeist. Based on extensive research, exclusive band interviews, and unprecedented access to unreleased recordings and documents, Goodbye 20th Century is the definitive biography of the Velvet Underground of their generation.

Stephens gives the reader an unvarnished view of the subculture of lobster fishermen in small - town coastal Maine. - James Acheson' author of The Lobster Gangs of Maine Stephens has a wonderful clear eye for people' especially Maine people' and The Ghost Trap is populated with dozens from all walks of Maine life. - Bill Roorbach' author of Temple Stream A salty' tangy read. . . . Stephens plunges you into the back - breaking' heart - breaking life of one lobsterman. - Richard Grant' author of Another Green World Stephens nails harbor life down to the unwritten rules and defense of imaginary territory lines. . . . Peppered with dark humor and brutal honesty' The Ghost Trap gives it to you straight' the way life should be. - Ryan Post' fourth - generation lobsterman' creator of Mainebuggin.

"Three brothers, a war and secrets. Some years later, a niece and nephew come looking for answers. It is time for revelations"--Publisher description.

This newly revised volume details Nicaragua's unique history, culture, economics, politics, and foreign relations. Its historical coverage considers the country's early and recent history, from pre-Columbian and colonial times through the nationalist liberal era, the U.S. marine occupation, the Somoza dictatorship, the Sandinista regime, the conservative restoration, and the Sandinista comeback. The fifth edition includes a new chapter detailing the reelection of Daniel Ortega and the irony of his current role in undercutting the rule of law and democracy that he helped institute in his earlier administration. This edition also documents what may be the more enduring reality of this Central American country: the historical and ongoing interventions by which the United States - the ''eagle'' to the north - continues to shape Nicaraguan political, economic, and cultural life.

The world's bestselling health guide offers new material on the most recent critical health issues such as obesity, as well as additional new and updated information. Covering over 175 healthcare problems and symptoms, Take Care of Yourself is simple to use. Readers can look up their symptoms to locate an explanation of likely causes and possible home remedies, while diagrams show how to recognize problems and treat them, and decision charts advise when it's time to see a doctor. This comprehensive guide also covers emergencies, the 20 things everyone should keep in a home pharmacy, and how to work best with a doctor.

As the Japanese fleet prepared to sail from Japan to Pearl Harbor, the German army was launching its final desperate assault on Moscow, while the British were planning a decisive blow against Rommel in North Africa. The British conquered the desert, the Germans succumbed to Moscow's winter, and the Japanese awakened the sleeping giant of America...