Compiled by a range of English literature experts and avid readers, and with a foreword by Lionel Shriver, author of We Need To Talk About Kevin, The Book Lovers' Companion is sure to inspire any book lover.

Twenty-three mathematical masterpieces for exploration and enlightenment How can a shape have more than one dimension but fewer than two? What is the best way to elect public officials when more than two candidates are vying for the office? Is it possible for a highly accurate medical test to give mostly incorrect results? Can you tile your floor with regular pentagons? How can you use only the first digit of sales numbers to determine if your accountant is lying? Can mathematics give insights into free will? Edward Scheinerman, an accomplished mathematician and enthusiastic educator, answers all these questions and more in this book, a collection of mathematical masterworks. In bite-sized chapters that require only high school algebra, he invites readers to try their hands at solving mathematical puzzles and provides an engaging and friendly tour of numbers, shapes, and uncertainty. The result is an unforgettable introduction to the fundamentals and pleasures of thinking mathematically.

Written by a well-known authority, this book consists of 175 entries that set some of the most popular operas within the context of their composer's career, outline the plot, discuss the music, and more.

Offers more than seven thousand alphabetical entries providing information on all aspects of cooking and dining, including food preparation methods, cooking utensils, serving suggestions, ingredients, wines, and meat cuts.

Arranged alphabetically, this guide contains comprehensive definitions for wine related terms.

Contains alphabetically arranged entries that provide definitions of nearly six thousand terms related to food, drink, and cooking, and features a selection of reference appendices, including a pasta glossary, ingredient substitutes, and measurement equivalents.

When it comes to food, there has never been another city quite like New York. The Big Apple--a telling nickname--is the city of 50,000 eateries, of fish wriggling in Chinatown baskets, huge pastrami sandwiches on rye, fizzy egg creams, and frosted black and whites. It is home to possibly the densest concentration of ethnic and regional food establishments in the world, from German and Jewish delis to Greek diners, Brazilian steakhouses, Puerto Rican and Dominican bodegas, halal food carts, Irish pubs, Little Italy, and two Koreatowns (Flushing and Manhattan). This is the city where, if you choose to have Thai for dinner, you might also choose exactly which region of Thailand you wish to dine in. Savoring Gotham weaves the full tapestry of the city's rich gastronomy in nearly 570 accessible, informative A-to-Z entries. Written by nearly 180 of the most notable food experts-most of them New Yorkers--Savoring Gotham addresses the food, people, places, and institutions that have made New York cuisine so wildly diverse and immensely appealing. Reach only a little ways back into the city's ever-changing culinary kaleidoscope and discover automats, the precursor to fast food restaurants, where diners in a hurry dropped nickels into slots to unlock their premade meal of choice. Or travel to the nineteenth century, when oysters cost a few cents and were pulled by the bucketful from the Hudson River. Back then the city was one of the major centers of sugar refining, and of brewing, too--48 breweries once existed in Brooklyn alone, accounting for roughly 10% of all the beer brewed in the United States. Travel further back still and learn of the Native Americans who arrived in the area 5,000 years before New York was New York, and who planted the maize, squash, and beans that European and other settlers to the New World embraced centuries later. Savoring Gotham covers New York's culinary history, but also some of the most recognizable restaurants, eateries, and culinary personalities today. And it delves into more esoteric culinary realities, such as urban farming, beekeeping, the Three Martini Lunch and the Power Lunch, and novels, movies, and paintings that memorably depict Gotham's foodscapes. From hot dog stands to haute cuisine, each borough is represented. A foreword by Brooklyn Brewery Brewmaster Garrett Oliver and an extensive bibliography round out this sweeping new collection.

This engaging book is a welcome guide to the most successful and loved ballets seen on the stage today. Dance writer and critic Zoe Anderson focuses on 140 ballets, a core international repertory that encompasses works from the ethereal world of romantic ballet to the edgy, muscular works of modern choreographers. She provides a wealth of facts and insights, including information familiar only to dance world insiders, and considers such recent works as Alexei Ramansky's Shostakovich Trilogy and Christopher Wheeldon's The Winter's Tale as well as older ballets once forgotten but now returned to the repertory, such as Sylvia. To enhance enjoyment of each ballet, Anderson also offers tips on what to look for during a performance. Each chapter introduces a period of ballet history and provides an overview of innovations and advancement in the art form. In the individual entries that follow, Anderson includes essential facts about each ballet’s themes, plot, composers, choreographers, dance style, and music. The author also addresses the circumstances of each ballet’s creation and its effect in the theater, and she recounts anecdotes that illuminate performance history and reception. Reliable, accessible, and fully up to date, this book will delight anyone who attends the ballet, participates in ballet, or simply loves ballet and wants to know much more about it.

Since the discovery of tea as a beverage nearly 5,000 years ago, hundreds of different brews have been perfected, and tea lovers have flourished in nearly every country on Earth. This book is the ultimate connoisseur's guide to tea types, histories, legends, and lore, tea brands throughout the world, retail and mail-order tea companies, and more. Photos, many in color.

Everything you need to know about buying, ordering, and serving wine! Unlock the secrets of wine with The New Wine Lover's Companion. This comprehensive and accessible book is designed for both seasoned oenophiles and newcomers to the world of wine, providing a wealth of knowledge and delightful discoveries for all. With vivid descriptions and insightful commentary of 4,000 wines produced all around the world, this guide showcases an extensive array, highlighting their unique flavors, characteristics, and aromas. From classic Bordeaux to vibrant New World varietals, every wine region is beautifully unveiled, offering an unforgettable tasting experience in the comfort of your home. The A-to-Z entries describe grape varieties; wine styles; wine growing regions; wine making techniques; wine-tasting terms; sizes and styles of glassware, wine bottles and wine openers; optimal temperatures for serving different wines; and much more. Whether you're hosting a dinner party or simply relaxing after a long day, this guide is your go-to companion for impeccable wine pairing suggestions. Impress your guests and elevate your culinary adventures by matching each dish with the perfect wine to elevate its flavors. Indulge in the timeless joy of wine tasting and become an enlightened connoisseur of the world's most celebrated beverage. Additional advice and information includes: Tips on buying wine Ordering wine in a restaurant Understanding the information on wine bottle labels Opening and serving wine at home How to store leftover wine...and much more Here is everything worth knowing about buying, storing, serving, and enjoying wine! Includes extensive appendices, charts, a glossary, and a bibliography.