Penguin Books strana 15 z 485

We live in an age of extremes: populist leaders are setting the agenda, autocracies are on the march, and the liberal establishment is a bewildered blob, devoid of new ideas or fresh solutions. Having once powered progress in the form of democracy, mass welfare and defeating totalitarianism, liberals have the power to save the world again – but only if they rediscover the lost genius of their creed. Guiding us skilfully and entertainingly through the intellectual, cultural and political histories of liberalism, this book lays out a centrist agenda for today’s problems. It reminds us of the dynamism and fixed principles that have shaped the successes of liberalism and warns us against splitting into sub-groups that fail to grapple with the common good. Wooldridge proposes that, as well as reviving social mobility, liberals today need to be much more critical of big business – particularly if it makes money by manipulating choices and spreading misinformation – and rethink the laissez-faireapproach to immigration, social disorder, and substance abuse. A powerful call to action, Centrists of the World Unite! shows us how liberals of all parties and none can come together in defending the values of liberal civilization from enemies without and within.

What is love? It is the gold thread connecting between our hearts. In this light-filled and multi-faceted book, her first since being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, Han Kang draws together the threads of her work and life, tracing the connections between her interior and exterior worlds through a sequence of essays, poems, photographs and diaries. A book of reflections, of words and light, it has at its heart the tiny, north-facing courtyard garden at her home, cultivated solely through the reflected sunlight of the mirrors which she must move throughout the day, as the earth turns on its axis. In a poem written at eight years old, Han Kang imagined a ‘gold thread’ of connection – an idea which she explores here with luminous attention, beginning with her Nobel Lecture. She writes of the wonder of following the thread we call language into the depths of other hearts, and her profound sense of an electric current which joins writer and reader. Both intimate and illuminating, Light and Thread is a book for all readers of Han Kang’s unique body of work.

A PROPHECY REIGNITED. A STORM UNLEASHED. A LOVE THAT COULD SHATTER EVERYTHING. In war-torn Anwyvn, fear of maegic plagues every corner of the kingdom and halflings like Rhya Fleetwood are hunted and killed. When Rhya is sentenced to death, her execution is interrupted by an unexpected savior, the formidable Commander Scythe – a merciless fighter on the battlefield, Scythe is far more terrifying than the hangman’s noose. In the clutches of this new enemy, Rhya finds herself forced to travel to the Northlands with her fearsome captor. But she is no ordinary halfling. The strange birthmark on her chest and the wind she instinctively calls forth means she is a Remnant. One of four souls fated to restore the balance of maegic . . . or die trying. But mastering this power is only the beginning. A forbidden desire for the Commander starts to burn fiercely while this tempest within her is waiting to be released. And Rhya must choose: her heart or the Kingdom?

‘He was lying sprawled on his stomach just outside the open doorway of his office, with his head and shoulders out of sight . . .’ Frank Morningside, assistant at The National Press Archives on Fleet Street, is receiving nasty poison pen letters. His superior Toby Lorn wants to put a stop to it, so he calls on his friends Sally and Johnny Heldar. Married amateur sleuths, Sally and Johnny agree to go undercover, posing as researchers to scout out the many suspects in the Archives. After all, Fleet Street is home to plenty of seedy types and murky happenings. But, soon after they begin, they find a body – bludgeoned to death by a box of glass negatives. Suddenly, the genteel world of the Archives is a tangled web of suspicion and deadly danger. When another murder swiftly follows, the Heldars worry they are in over their heads. And it is only a matter of time before one of them is next . . .

LIFE THREATENING ODDS. DANGEROUS GODS. AND A PROPHECY ONLY SHE CAN FULFIL . . . Danae has fought monsters, crossed oceans and stared into the face of death. It is the price of the prophecy. The prophecy that names her as the mortal that will destroy Olympus. But gods do not fall without a fight. As they hunt her, Danae descends into the shadows of the Underworld to search for help and the sister she lost to its depths. Accompanied by her faithful winged horse and a handful of companions, whose true allegiance remains uncertain, Danae uncovers secrets long hidden. Secrets about Zeus powerful hold on the mortal world and the fate she is bound to. But the deeper she journeys, the closer the gods watch. Hera seethes. Poseidon plots. And Zeus will stop at nothing to destroy this mortal girl who dares challenge him. Because the gods will never give up their power. Just as Danae will never give up her destiny . . .

Strategy, alliances, pitched battles, betrayal . . . It all makes for great fun and even greater television. The ninth floor. Faction Wars. Nine armies enter, led by rich and powerful aliens from across the galaxy. The winning team must capture and hold the castle at the very centre of the battlefield. But thanks to Carl, Donut, and Katia, this season is different. For the first time ever, the crawlers have their own army. The NPCs, who are normally used as nothing but cannon fodder, have become fully self-aware and have formed an unprecedented team of their own. And it’s not just the crawlers who are at risk this Faction Wars. Any combatant who dies on the battlefield stays in the ground. For Donut and Katia, the stakes are even higher. No matter who wins the war, only one of them will be allowed to leave this level. If they all want to survive, they’re going to need a little help. This is it. This is what they’ve been fighting toward. This is war.

Idealistic Alexandra is throwing a party to meet a more glamorous crowd. Marianne, more sardonic, worries it’ll be the usual sort. The party is in Alexandra’s attic flat. Marianne will contribute a few bottles of red optimistically labelled Bordeaux. Can it be judged a success? There’s Donald the bus conductor with high-brow dreams, nervous bespectacled Bernhardt and Marius the ghostwriter. Not to mention a brace of Peters. It’s left to sexy, young Pisa and riotous, middle-aged Mummy (neither invited) to steal the show. Yet, after the party both Marianne and Alexandra find themselves caught in unexpected – sometimes far from romantic – relationships. Meeting people, it turns out, has the most peculiar consequences. Is that really the cost of living?

The deliciously dark new suspense novel from the international bestselling author of Strange Sally Diamond. f my sister hadn't been beautiful, none of it would have happened. Ruby Cooper and her sister, Erin, live an idyllic life in their close-knit church community in Boston. But when Ruby is sixteen, she is involved in an incident that causes her family's world to implode. Across decades, the fallout leaves a wake of destruction behind Ruby in Dublin and Erin in Boston. Not that Ruby wants to think about the past. But it can't stay a secret forever.

We’ve all been there: you’re sweating, sitting in front of your laptop, and the interviewer on the screen says, “Tell me about yourself.” You freeze. Is that even a question? What are they expecting from you? What do you say? If that paragraph made your heart beat a little faster, TikTok star, career educator, and “the internet’s big sister” Erin McGoff is here to help. In The Secret Language of Work, McGoff shares her best, customizable scripts for how to communicate in the professional world - word-for-word, exactly what to say during interviews, while negotiating salaries, when you need to set boundaries with co-workers, as you advocate for yourself, and in any sticky situation at the office. With McGoff’s advice, you will master the unwritten rules of work speak that are key to career advancement. Learning how to say the right words, in the right order, in the right way, at the right time, is an art that too few people are taught. Stellar communication is probably the most valuable skill you can possess - and once you know the secret language of work, you will be able to confidently tackle anything your sure-to-be outstanding career presents to you.

There is always a next conversation, and there is no one better than trial lawyer Jefferson Fisher at giving you the tools to be ready for whatever it may bring. Fisher, one of the leading voices on real-world communication, has gained millions of followers through short, simple, practical videos teaching people how to argue less and talk more. Whether it's handling a heated conversation, dealing with a difficult personality, or standing your ground with confidence, his down-to-earth teachings have helped countless people navigate life's toughest situations. Through detailed prompts, visual aids, and hands-on exercises, this workbook will show you how to: • Navigate the ignition and cooling phase of any argument • Make use of your breathing and short pauses to maintain control in any situation • Use assertive phrases to use when you need to stand your ground • Set healthy boundaries and frame conversations

New Achievement! Total, Utter Failure. Surviving in a multilevel dungeon that also happens to be the set of the galaxy’s most watched game show has taught Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, that there’s only one thing they can count on apart from each other: they never know what’s coming next. And this floor is no exception. A floating fortress occupied by warrior gnomes. A castle made of sand. A derelict submarine guarded by malfunctioning machines. A haunted crypt surrounded by lethal traps. It was supposed to be straightforward. One bubble. Four castles. Fifteen days. Capture each one, and the stairwell is unlocked. Going it alone is not an option this time, so Carl and his team must rely on the help of the low-level, I-can’t-believe-these-idiots-are-still-alive crawlers trapped in the bubble with them. But can they be trusted? We did say to expect the unexpected . . .

An adorable graphic novel series about best friends, cute dogs, and all the fun (and trouble) that comes with them. This funny and heartwarming series is The Baby-Sitters Club for pets - and perfect for 8+ fans of Rollergirl and Lottie Brooks. The girls of PAWS have a bone to pick with a group of rival (BOY! Ugh.) dog walkers . . . It's been seven whole dog years of PAWS (or just one if you're a human!), and the girls' business is at an all-time high! But after a run-in with Gabby's arch-nemesis, Leo, things take a turn - and Leo leaves the girls with a message: "You're not the only one who can walk dogs..." Sure enough, it's not long before the PAWS girls notice flyers advertising a new dog walking business, SCAMPS - and Leo is behind it! And when Gabby and Mindy take some not-so-righteous revenge on the boys, what was a little healthy competition turns into an all-out turf war . . . As the battle between the two groups escalates, with neither side is playing fair, the girls are forced to consider . . . just WHO is the real bad guy here . . . ?

The internationally acclaimed masterpiece from one of Iran's most influential writers - a powerful and essential tale of female freedom. Women Without Men traces the interwoven destinies of five women – including a wealthy middle-aged housewife, a sex worker and a schoolteacher – as they arrive by different paths to live together in an abundant garden on the outskirts of Tehran. Drawing on elements of Islamic mysticism and recent Iranian history, this unforgettable novel depicts women escaping the narrow confines of family and society, and imagines their future living in a world without men.

From celebrated writer Robert Macfarlane comes this brilliant, perspective-shifting new book – which answers a resounding yes to the question of its title. At its heart is a single, transformative idea: that rivers are not mere matter for human use, but living beings – who should be recognized as such in both imagination and law. Is a River Alive? takes the reader on an exhilarating exploration of the past, present and futures of this ancient, urgent concept. The book flows first to northern Ecuador, where a miraculous cloud-forest and its rivers are threatened by goldmining. Then, to the wounded rivers, creeks and lagoons of southern India, where a desperate battle to save the lives of these waterbodies is under way. And finally, to north-eastern Quebec, where a spectacular wild river – the Mutehekau or Magpie – is being defended from death by damming in a river-rights campaign. At once Macfarlane’s most personal and most political book to date, Is a River Alive? will open hearts, spark debates and lead us to the revelation that our fate flows with that of rivers – and always has

A prescient, thoughtful and chilling examination of the current state of the world. If there are lessons from history, now is the time when we need to heed them, so that we do not end up in another Great Power war because of the fatal combinations of jingoism, fear, fatalism, and sheer stupidity that set off the first major war of the 20th century. The great majority of people alive today have come of age in a world of remarkable stability, presided over by either one or two superpowers. This is not to say the world has been peaceful; but it has to an extent been predictable. As an increasing number of Great Powers now jostle for regional supremacy our world has become more fragile, unpredictable – and combustible. To understand the threats that face us in this complex new terrain, we must look to the lessons of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century – a time when Great Powers clashed and sought regional dominance, when nationalism and populism were on the rise, and many felt that globalization had failed them: a time, in other words, that carries eerie parallels with our own.

Aya has gone missing after Kakos’ brutal attack on Dunmeaden. Will is desperately searching for her, joined by Aidon, who’s on the run after revealing his forbidden power. But what no one knows is that Aya has been abducted by the vindictive first saint, Evie, who plans to join Kakos and help destroy the gods who killed her 500 years ago. Aya must decide her true fate. Can she fulfil the prophecy and save the realm from the destruction Evie will inevitably bring in her search for vengence? Or should the gods pay for what they’ve done?