A lavishly illustrated overview of the world’s lizardsLizards are one of nature’s great success stories: survivors from the time of the dinosaurs, they have taken advantage of almost every habitat on earth, from tropical rainforest to Arctic tundra and even our homes. From chameleons and skinks to geckos and iguanas, there are close to 7,000 species of lizards around the world. This expert guide explores their extraordinary diversity and adaptations.Liz...

Updated to reflect the most recent species classifications, a second edition of the beautifully illustrated and beloved guide to 600 members of the suborder Serpentes.For millennia, humans have regarded snakes with an exceptional combination of fascination and revulsion. Some people recoil in fear at the very suggestion of these creatures, while others happily keep them as pets. Snakes can convey both beauty and menace in a single tongue flick, and so these creatur...

There are over 3,700 species of snake found on every continent except for Antarctica, ranging in size from Barbados’ tiny threadsnake to Southeast Asia’s massive reticulated python. More than any other creature snakes are surrounded by dark, compelling myths and legend, unsurprising since many constrict their prey to death, or kill with a venomous bite, using a diverse armory of venoms that affect the blood, tissues, organs, and respiration. However, it is especially true of snakes that th...

A fresh look at the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. If you've wondered what the corporal and spiritual works of mercy are—or you want to incorporate them more authentically into your interactions with others—this book is for you. Shea's unique wit and wisdom permeate these pages, bringing the works of mercy alive in practical ways and dealing with the difficulties that arise when trying to apply them now. How, for instance, do we "ransom the captive" in our present day, much less th...

A richly illustrated guide to the world’s frogs that includes species from every familyWith more than 7,600 known species, frogs exhibit an extraordinary range of forms and behaviors, from those that produce toxins so deadly that they could kill a human many times over to those that can survive being frozen in ice. Frogs of the World is an essential guide to this astonishingly diverse group of animals. An in-depth introduction covers everything from the or...

Explore the extraordinary natural history of lizards in this stunning fact-packed book. Here you will find out why lizards are more numerous and successful than any other group of reptiles and trace their evolution from dinosaurs, pterosaurs and ichthyosaurs to the rich diversity of species in existence today. On the way you will witness some amazing tactics for survival, such as how lizards bodies and watertight skins work so that they can live on minimal amounts of food and water. Meet t...

A gorgeously illustrated guide to the incredible diversity of snakes around the worldSnakes are found on every continent except Antarctica and have evolved to occupy a vast range of habitats, from mountains to oceans and deserts to rain forests. Snakes of the World explores their extraordinary diversity, with an in-depth introduction covering anatomy, behavior, habitats, reproduction, conservation, and other essential topics. This expert guide also include...

In this newly updated, expanded version of his popular work of apologetics, Shea presents a lively and entertaining look at his conversion to Catholicism from Evangelicalism and his discovery of Christian tradition. As an Evangelical, Shea accepted the principle of "sola scriptura" (Scripture alone) as the basis of faith. Now as a Catholic convert, he skillfully explains how and why Sacred Tradition occupies a central role in Divine Revelation.Tracing his own journey of intellectua...

The spiritual and corporal works of mercy are not a list to be learnt but actions to be lived. Mark Shea gives great examples of people who have performed the works of mercy and advice on how we can practise them in the 21st Century. Pope Francis’s Year of Mercy is a call to each one of us to rediscover and to live the works of Mercy every day.

Salt and Light offers a fresh perspective on the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes, showing how these two pillars of Christian moral teaching complement each other. The Ten Commandments are the "ground floor," providing the bare minimum contours of the moral life. The Beatitudes, by contrast, point us to a way we can live our lives as creatures intended to share in the life of God. Mark Shea, in his engaging style, introduces the modern reader (who often thinks of the moral life as a lis...

In 2012, media outlets from CNN to EWTN announced that Leah Libresco, a gifted young intellectual, columnist, and prolific blogger on the Atheist channel on Patheos, was converting to Catholicism. In Arriving at Amen, Libresco uses the rigorous rationality that defined her Atheism to tell the story behind that very personal journey and to describe the seven forms of Catholic prayer that guided her to embrace a joyful life of faith.As a Yale graduate, Libresco laun...

The Passion of the Christ has touched millions of hearts since its release in 2004. It has been called "the most powerful film ever produced" about the life and death of Jesus.Yet, despite its visual and emotional impact, the dramatic events portrayed do not explain themselves; they often give rise to perplexing questions: Why did Jesus need to die?, What is the point behind the haunting demonic scenes?, What do we know of the soldier who pierces Jesu...