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The Art of Illustrated Maps: A Complete Guide to Creative Mapmaking’s History, Process and Inspiration

While literally hundreds of books exist on the subject of “cartographic” maps, The Art of Illustrated Maps is the first book EVER to fully explore the world of conceptual, “imaginative” mapping. Author John Roman refers to illustrated maps as “the creative nonfiction of cartography,” and his book reveals how and why the human mind instinctively recognizes and accepts the artistic license evoked by this unique art form. Drawing from numerous references, The Art of Illustrated Maps traces the 2000-year history of a specialized branch of illustration that historians claim to be “the oldest variety of primitive art.” This book features the dynamic works of many professional map artists from around the world and documents the creative process as well as the inspirations behind contemporary, 21st-century illustrated maps.

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American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History

He is the deadliest American sniper ever, called “the devil” by the enemies he hunted and “the legend” by his Navy SEAL brothers.

From 1999 to 2009, U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle recorded the most career sniper kills in United States military history. The Pentagon has officially confirmed more than 150 of Kyles kills (the previous American record was 109), but it has declined to verify the astonishing total number for this book. Iraqi insurgents feared Kyle so much they named him al-Shaitan (“the devil”) and placed a bounty on his head. Kyle earned legendary status among his fellow SEALs, Marines, and U.S. Army soldiers, whom he protected with deadly accuracy from rooftops and stealth positions. Gripping and unforgettable, Kyle’s masterful account of his extraordinary battlefield experiences ranks as one of the great war memoirs of all time.

A native Texan who learned to shoot on childhood hunting trips with his father, Kyle was a champion saddle-bronc rider prior to joining the Navy. After 9/11, he was thrust onto the front lines of the War on Terror, and soon found his calling as a world-class sniper who performed best under fire. He recorded a personal-record 2,100-yard kill shot outside Baghdad; in Fallujah, Kyle braved heavy fire to rescue a group of Marines trapped on a street; in Ramadi, he stared down insurgents with his pistol in close combat. Kyle talks honestly about the pain of war – of twice being shot and experiencing the tragic deaths of two close friends.

American Sniper also honors Kyle’s fellow warriors, who raised hell on and off the battlefield. And in moving first-person accounts throughout, Kyle’s wife, Taya, speaks openly about the strains of war on their marriage and children, as well as on Chris.

Adrenaline-charged and deeply personal, American Sniper is a thrilling eyewitness account of war that only one man could tell.

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American Sniper CD: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE DIRECTED BY CLINT EASTWOOD

Gripping, eye-opening, and powerful, American Sniper is the astonishing autobiography of SEAL Chief Chris Kyle, who is the record-holding sniper in U.S. military history. Kyle has more than 150 officially confirmed kills (the previous American record was 109), though his remarkable career total has not been made public by the Pentagon.

In this New York Times bestselling memoir, Kyle shares the true story of his extraordinary decade-long career, including his multiple combat tours in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and elsewhere from 1999-2009.

Kyle’s riveting first-person account of how he went from Texas rodeo cowboy to expert marksman and feared assassin offers a fascinating view of modern-day warfare and one of the most in-depth and illuminating looks into the secret world of Special Ops ever written.

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All the Best Lines: An Informal History of the Movies in Quotes, Notes and Anecdotes

An informal history of the movies told through some of cinema’s best-loved scenes, from the early days of Hollywood to the present day

Pithy put-downs, hard-boiled snarlings, words of love and regret—they’re all here in this collection of 500 memorable movie quotes, embracing both one-liners (“My name is Pussy Galore”) and slices of snappy dialogue from pictures as diverse as King Kong, Vertigo, The Magnificent Seven, Network, This Is Spinal Tap, Fight Club, Superbad, and Inglourious Basterds. Arranged under such timeless themes as “dreams,” “friends,” “libido,” and “memories,” the quotes juxtapose films and stars from every era and every genre. Throughout the text are feature capsules focusing on themes and stories in the movies from Goldwynisms to Mae West, plus a generous scattering of cinema anecdotes, making the book both a joy to browse and an authoritative reference. Lavishly illustrated, this collection will delight and entertain readers in equal measure, reacquainting them with favorite movies and introducing some forgotten classics.

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Inspiration and Innovation: Religion in the American West (Western History Series)

Covering more than 200 years of history from pre-contact to the present, this textbook places religion at the center of the history of the American West, examining the relationship between religion and the region and their influence on one another.

A comprehensive examination of the relationship between religion and the American West and their influence on each other over the course of more than 200 yearsDiscusses diverse groups of people, places, and events that played an important historical role, from organized religion and easily recognized denominations to unorganized religion and cultsProvides straightforward explanations of key religious and theological terms and conceptsWeaves discussion of American Indian religion throughout the text and presents it in dialogue with other groupsEnriches our understanding of American history by examining key factors outside of traditional political, economic, social, and cultural domains

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The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones

The never-before-seen history of Westeros and The Lands Beyond with hundreds of pages of all-new material from George R.R. Martin.

If the past is prologue, then George R. R. Martin’s masterwork – the most inventive and entertaining fantasy saga of our time – warrants one hell of an introduction. At long last, it has arrived with The World of Ice & Fire.

This volume is a comprehensive history of the Seven Kingdoms, providing vividly constructed accounts of the epic battles, bitter rivalries, and daring rebellions that lead to the events of A Song of Ice and Fire and HBO’s Game of Thrones. In a collaboration that’s been years in the making, Martin has teamed with Elio M. García, Jr., and Linda Antonsson, the founders of the renowned fan site Westeros.org – perhaps the only people who know this world almost as well as its visionary creator.

Collected here is all the accumulated knowledge, scholarly speculation, and inherited folk tales of maesters and septons, maegi and singers, including:

Full family trees for Houses Stark, Lannister, and TargaryenIn-depth explorations of the history and culture of Westeros100% all-new material, more than half of which Martin wrote specifically for this book

The definitive companion piece to George R. R. Martin’s dazzlingly conceived universe, The World of Ice & Fire is indeed proof that the pen is mightier than a storm of swords.

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The One Year Women in Christian History Devotional: Daily Inspirations from God’s Work in the Lives of Women

Starting with Mary, who initially discovered the empty tomb, women have played a significant role in the history of the Christian church. Their prayers, their songs of faith, and their steadfast perseverance in the face of adversity can still encourage us today. Spend the year with some of the greatest women in Christian history: from Claire of Assisi to Joan of Arc, from Fanny Crosby to Susannah Wesley, from Catherine Booth to Anne Bradstreet, and many more. This One Year book leaves no historical stone unturned in order to help you discover the amazing spiritual heritage you have in the lives of faith-filled women of the past.

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Conversations with History: Inspiration, Reflections, and Advice from History-Makers and Celebrities on the Other Side

      We followed the ups and downs of their lives in the media. We know about their mistakes, their struggles, and their joys. But have you ever wondered how celebrities and public figures would reflect on their lives since they passed? In an unprecedented reading experience, Conversations with History sheds some light.      Channeled by a psychic medium and written in interview format, this book takes readers on a unique journey with 22 spirits who were famous (or infamous) during their time on earth. Renowned personalities from 600 b.c. to 2011 a.d.—from Charlemagne, Ben Franklin, and Gandhi to Walt Disney, Kurt Vonnegut, and Steve Jobs—have returned to share their most important messages with us. Their passing led them to understand their life lessons and the ramifications of their choices. And now, with the clear-eyed vision gained only from the Other Side, they’re taking center stage one last time to offer us insights into their lives that they didn’t possess while they were here.      These famous spirits open up to share the lessons they’ve learned since their passing in order to help us live our lives better—lessons in abundance and prosperity, love and relationships, creativity and art, personal responsibility for the world around us, and the legacy we will leave for future generations. In every interview, there are simple but powerful lessons that readers can use to improve their lives every day.

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Unusual Irish Quotes & Quotations: The worlds greatest conversationalists hold forth on art, love, drinking, music, politics, history and more! (Inner Ireland) (Volume 1)

Author Robert Sullivan has spent years collecting the offbeat, unique and unusual quotations that express the spirit of Ireland. You’ll find many quips and comments here not found on typical websites and printed editions. An informative and amusing compendium of Irish viewpoints on art, music, politics, history, love, drinking, golf, the movies, religion and everything in between.