To live meaningfully in a digital age, we must reckon with impermanence.There's rot in the foundation of the web. A cherished blog vanishes while an adolescent fan page refuses to stay deleted. Supreme Court citations disappear while AI-generated spam grows like weeds, feeding ever-more-ravenous algorithms. The "cloud" shrouds the messy reality of our digital lives: We will die, and so will everything we make.In The Internet Will Die, and So Will You

I used to boast that my first published novel was the best-proofed book in the world. And it probably was. Then someone spotted a mistake. Just one. It wasn't a big one. But it was there.Now it's fixed, and my boast stands.Any writer can handle the entire process themselves. Writing, checking, editing, proof-reading, formatting, cover design, online publication, marketing and sales. I did it, so I know it's possible.The only time I paid for professional services was...

The Substance of a Journal During a Residence at the Red River Colony, British North America by John West is an early 19th-century account detailing West’s experiences while living in the Red River Colony, located in what is now Manitoba, Canada. As a missionary and chaplain for the Hudson's Bay Company, West was tasked with ministering to the settlers and Indigenous peoples in the colony.In his journal, West documents daily life in the colony, describing interactions with both European se...

"The History of Tasmania, Volume I" by John West is a comprehensive exploration of Tasmania's past, delving into its early settlement, indigenous cultures, and the impact of European colonization. West meticulously documents the social, political, and economic developments that shaped the island, providing readers with a rich narrative that highlights both the struggles and triumphs of its inhabitants. His work is notable for its detailed accounts and critical analysis, making it an essent...

"The History of Tasmania, Volume II" by John West is a comprehensive exploration of Tasmania's past, delving into its rich cultural heritage and the significant events that shaped the island. West meticulously documents the early European settlement, the interactions between colonizers and Indigenous peoples, and the socio-political developments that followed. His narrative is not only informative but also reflective, providing insights into the challenges faced by the inhabitants of Tasma...

The Definitive Account of the Nation that Traded Its Army for a ClassroomTo the world, Costa Rica is the "Green Republic"—a land of pristine rainforests, stable democracy, and the famously relaxed motto, "Pura Vida." It is a country without an army, a global pioneer in conservation, and a beacon of peace in a historically turbulent region.But how did this small nation chart such a profoundly different course?A History of Costa Rica is the definitive account that unr...

A Single, Definitive Journey from the Ice Age to the Digital Age: The Epic Story of the Nation in the NorthCanada is a nation defined by its vast geography, its powerful southern neighbor, and a continuous struggle to reconcile two colonial legacies with the rights and histories of its first peoples.John West's A History of Canada offers a sweeping, comprehensive, and unflinchingly honest look at the making of the world’s second-largest country. Spanning twenty-five chapter...

In 'The History of Tasmania (Vol. 1&2)', John West embarks on a meticulous exploration of Tasmania's past, deftly weaving together social, political, and economic threads that define the island's unique identity. West's literary style is characterized by a rigorous attention to detail and a narrative that balances academic rigor with engaging prose, making the text both informative and accessible. Published in the mid-19th century, this seminal work is situated within a context of burgeoni...

John West's "The History of Tasmania (Vol. 1&2)" serves as a comprehensive chronicle that meticulously navigates the island'Äôs complex past. With a keen eye for detail, West employs an analytical narrative style that weaves historical events, socio-political dynamics, and Indigenous perspectives into a compelling tapestry. His work, pivotal in the genre of Australian historiography, sheds light on Tasmania's colonial history, emphasizing significant episodes such as European settlement an...

John West's History of Tasmania is an ambitious colonial history tracing the island from European exploration and early settlement through the development of its institutions, economy, and society. Written in a lucid, moralizing Victorian prose, the work combines documentary narration with reflective commentary on colonization, convict transportation, governance, and relations with Aboriginal Tasmanians. It stands within the nineteenth-century tradition of settler historiography, yet is di...

The History of Tasmania: Two Volumes Annotated by John West.The first reported sighting of Tasmania by a European was on 24 November 1642 by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who named the island Anthoonij van Diemenslandt, after his sponsor, the Governor of the Dutch East Indies. The name was later shortened to Van Diemen's Land by the British. In 1772, a French expedition led by Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne landed on the island. Captain James Cook also sighted the island in 1777, and numer...

Maybe redemption is not a place you find, but a system of mapmaking. Sketch a land. Pencil in dragons. Imagine it real, resplendent, and broken under a waxing moon.Lessons and Carols is a genre-bending memoir that explores the aftershocks of alcoholism and mental illness through a fresh look at the powers of poetry, ritual, and community. As a new parent, West grapples with his own fragmented recovery and grief for the friends he lost to addiction, asking ...