History / Social Themes


  
  • Immerse yourself in the drama and excitement of the Rugby World Cup - including clips from the iconic "World in Union" theme song (by Hayley Westenra) and supporting sound effects from rugby’s greatest stage.

    You can go behind the scenes of “the game they play in heaven”, and find out how it was the forefather to all rugby football codes and also American football. What if you could be in the room where decisions were made that brought to life what is now the third largest sporting event in the world?

    This audiobook is the most comprehensive account of how the game of rugby and the Rugby World Cup first came about, and listeners are taken on the full journey with the iconic tournament theme song and official commentary and ambience from key moments throughout.

    Lance Peatey is an established media business leader with a career spanning 25 years, working for major global media organisations including Disney/ESPN, BBC, IMG Media, and both the Nine Network and Seven Network in Australia. It was while working with Seven during Rugby World Cup 2003 that Lance first decided to write A Complete History of the Rugby World Cup - In Pursuit of Bill.

    The first edition in 2007 earned impressive reviews, including David Llewellyn from The Independent describing it as “a minor masterpiece". Lance has also assisted former Australian rugby star flanker David Pocock with two editions of his autobiography “Openside” in 2011 and 2018.

    This first ever audiobook edition comes after the historic and colourful 2019 tournament in Japan. Narrated by Dryw McArthur and with clips from the iconic rugby anthem "World in Union" sung by Hayley Westenra, it will give you:

    • All the drama and excitement across the nine Rugby World Cup tournaments played from 1987 to 2019.
    • Fresh highlights from the Japan 2019 tournament, as World Rugby pushed into Asia for the very first time.
    • The history of rugby union, and the formation of rival codes that pushed its evolution to professionalism.
    • Rare insights to heated boardroom politics that almost quashed the pinnacle event from ever happening.

    This is a must-listen for newly initiated rugby fans right through to the more seasoned devotees.

  • This book delves into the causes of Israel’s genocide against Palestinians, describes the crisis of war in eastern Europe (Ukraine and Russia), West Asia and East Asia, sorting truth from propaganda. It examines the role of the Big Lie in developing public consent and blunting popular opposition, and describes ways countries around the world as well as the general public are pressing for peace. Reviewer Andrea D writes in NetGalley that “Knight provides the historical context as well as sharp insight. The essays are succinct, pointed and very clear. This is a great supplement for any college class as well as a book to be discussed in community groups.” Danny Haiphong, Co-author of American Exceptionalism and American Innocence: A People’s History of Fake News says “Dee Knight has put together a critical analysis of U.S. foreign policy informed by years of experience in the peace movement and rigorous research into the inner workings of the empire. This book is a must read for anyone wanting to understand how the U.S. is pursuing war with Russia and China, and why it must be stopped.” Radhika Desai, Director, Geopolitical Economy Research Group; and Convenor, International Manifesto Group, says: “This book of excellent essays, many written in the heat of events and conveying their urgency, analyzes the current genocide on Palestine and U.S. drive for war, against Russia, China and beyond, in the longer historical perspective of the U.S. foreign policy as studied by its most important critics. Distilling long years in the peace movement, Knight exposes its roots and points to the only path to peace: opposition to the U.S. war machine.” Michael Wong, National Vice President of Veterans for Peace; Co-founder of Pivot To Peace, says: “Drawing on his lifetime of experience at the front lines of resistance to empire, Dee Knight details the multitude of struggles at home and abroad against the empire, and for building a new, multipolar world in which no single nation dominates, and all nations can live and thrive together. He shows we are now at a tipping point, when the old world of war and exploitation is ending, and a new world is coming into being."
  • A nation in panic. A teacher accused. O’Keefe faces his toughest case yet. The summer of 1988 is ablaze—not just with heat but with hysteria. As Satanic Panic sweeps the nation, innocent lives hang in the balance. Private detective Peter O’Keefe never expected to be drawn into the storm, but when his daughter’s beloved teacher "Miss Ginny" is accused of unspeakable crimes, he can’t turn away. The case reeks of mass hysteria and hidden agendas, but standing against the tide could cost O’Keefe everything. As he fights to unravel the truth, he’s forced to go toe-to-toe with shadowy child protection figures more interested in securing convictions than justice. With lives shattered and the weight of a nation’s paranoia pressing down, O’Keefe must risk it all to expose the truth before it’s too late. In a world consumed by fear, will justice prevail—or will the innocent be lost forever? A gripping crime thriller steeped in real-world hysteria, An American Tragedy is a heart-stopping tale of courage, deception, and the high price of seeking the truth.
  • Befriending China tells the story of China's current effort to "open up" to a flood of visitors, as part of a campaign of "People-To-People Peacemaking." The story is partially based on three visits to China from late 2023 through late 2024. It describes the impressive achievements China has made in infrastructure, education, health care, and poverty alleviation. It includes an in-depth eye-witness account of visiting Xinjiang, debunking official rumors in the US of abuse of the Uyghur population there. It also highlights exciting tourism opportunities, with closeup looks at the mountainous Guizhou and Shanxi provinces, and the amazing "megacities" of Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Hangzhou and Suzhou. It includes a preface by Carlos Martinez, editor of the Friends of Socialist China website. It also examines China's democratic system, and its successful foreign policy based on common prosperity and a shared future. Finally, it details ongoing US efforts to slander China and prepare for war against it, arguing that China is not our enemy.
  • It’s the summer of 1976—the Bicentennial of America—and 13-year-old Mary is about to embark on the road trip of a lifetime. With her father at the wheel, her twin younger sisters in the back seat, and their baby-blue Peugeot sedan—affectionately named Blue Pierre—as their ride, Mary sets off on a cross-country adventure filled with fireworks, flag ceremonies, and hard-earned truths. What begins as a patriotic escape from small-town Ohio quickly becomes a test of loyalty, courage, and growing up. As her father’s behavior turns more erratic, Mary must navigate not just unfamiliar highways but the shifting landscape of her own beliefs. When the journey takes a turn they never expected, Mary discovers that sometimes the people you love the most are the hardest to understand. Told with heart, humor, and a vivid sense of 70s nostalgia, Bicentennial Summer is a coming-of-age story about family, freedom, and finding your own way when the map runs out. Perfect for fans of The Glass Castle and The Bean Trees, this unforgettable debut explores the bittersweet moment when childhood ends—and independence begins. Whether you remember the Bicentennial or are just discovering it, Mary’s voice will linger with you long after the last mile is driven.
  • Centering the invaluable experience and expertise that Black scholar-practitioners possess in advancing equity, inclusion, belonging, and transformative, systemic change. The Black Voices provide steps, suggestions, and solutions to move your institution from anti-Black towards anti-racist. These are the Black Voices From the Ivory Tower. This book is a great resource in supporting: Student success Anti-racism work Ethnic Studies Critical Race Theory Educators, Classified Professionals, Administrators Allies, accomplices, contributors Addressing workplace issues and challenges Professional development Diversity, equity, inclusion goals Closing equity gaps Cultural affinity groups Solutions-oriented leadership Human Resources employees Equal Employment Opportunities employees Employee on-boarding Leaders in development Disrupting the system Corporate workplace climate and culture And so much more!
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    Cheerful Obedience

    Original price was: $19.95.Current price is: $9.95.
    Navigating the stormy seas of the 1960s wasn't easy, especially if Vietnam was on your horizon. Ignoring his 2-S selective service deferment, Conor Patrick McKall volunteers for the draft, and Uncle Sam promptly deposits him in the Big Green Machine. Six months later McKall is walking point in jungles, rice paddies, and rubber plantations. In nine short months, he's made an infantry squad leader responsible for a dozen other grunts. In the "boonies," life is lived one day at a time. Joining McKall's squad is Jack "Red" Sheridan whose near-death encounter with a black panther presents challenges to his credibility from other members of Lima Platoon. When McKall stands with Sheridan, an unbreakable bond develops. They meet Red Cross Donut Dollies and together experience the infamous Black Virgin Mountain where the good guys control the top and the bad guys the rest. Escaping Vietnam for a handful of days on R&R in Sydney, Conor experiences Aussie hospitality and the attention of a green-eyed beauty who offers him a chance to escape the war. Loyal to his oath and to his men, Sergeant McKall barely has time to supplant the fading scent of Chanel before he and his squad must face their determined and deadly adversaries. The arbitrary gauntlet of Vietnam offers no guarantees.
  • Tales from the Razor's Edge "Some Cold War Blues" — A neighborhood snowball fight erupts into a thing as close to war as an 11-year-old American boy is likely to face. "Dude" — A wanna-be cowboy confronts his last sunset on the ranch. "On the Last Frontier" — Old and broke in Juneau with winter coming on. "Dewdrops" —The life and death struggles of a charismatic but tormented drug rehab counselor and his patients.
  • Dreams of a Lost Youth describes the story of the lives of several young passionate students, a playboy; a poet; four students with different ideologies; and a science student, in Tehran, Iran, before and after the revolution that toppled the Shah in 1979. It describes how they joined these various groups that opposed the Shah’s dictatorship and how they suffered after the revolution led by the Ayatollah Khomeini government.
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