A fun, lively, and learned excursion into the alphabet--and cultural history. Letters are tangible language. Joining together in endless combinations to actually show speech, letters convey our messages and tell our stories. While we encounter these tiny shapes hundreds of times a day, we take for granted the long, fascinating history behind one of the most fundamental of human inventions: the alphabet. The heart of the book is the 26 fact-filled "biographies" of letters A through Z, each one identifying the letter's particular significance for modern readers, tracing its development from ancient forms, and discussing its noteworthy role in literature and othe ..

In 1979, a young British doctor and his lawyer girlfriend disappeared when on holiday in central America. They were last known to be passengers on an American man's boat. Extensive enquiries by the families to trace them were abortive and the British police were asked to investigate. The author, then a Manchester detective, considerably aided by the British foreign and Commonwealth office, investigated and finally learned of the finding of two bound and weighted bodies in the sea that had been buried unidentified. Via dental records, obtained by the officer and sent to Guatemala, the previously unidentified bodies were exhumed and found to be those of the missin ..

The age of the metrosexual is over. Dead and buried. In places as diverse as Seattle, Los Angeles, Austin, Richmond, Miami, and Charleston, modern American men are ushering in a new golden age of hirsute pursuits. Denouncing the baby-smooth standard that society has set, men from around the world are reembracing their face in its most natural state. A select group of these well-whiskered men and their faithful Whiskerinas have taken this dedication a step further through the formation of their very own competitive community. Backed by the jackpot of good genetics and a well-oiled care routine, this group of grooming enthusiasts competes all over the world in hop ..

True Africa showcases the best and worst of what orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa live with everyday. Is there poverty? Yes. But there is also beauty, dignity, a generosity of hospitality, and joy. Extreme poverty is an assault on human dignity, but at the end of the day it is no match for the human soul. Dignity can be obscured, beaten down, and dressed in tatters, but its essence remains. If you are perceptive, you will see it. Professional photographer David Sacks is a master at drawing out these qualities in his subjects. He shows that people--both children and adults--are not defined by the outer shell of their adversity. So put aside all your preconceived not ..