Universal change is often the result of an individual’s lightbulb moment – an invention that triggers a ripple effect across countries, continents, or even out into space. Great Inventions in 30 Seconds looks at fifty of these groundbreaking innovations – great ideas that really did change the world. It covers a wide range, from early days (the wheel) through materials (the invention of steel, for example, or plastic) to communications (the alphabet, the printing press, the Worldw...

The word 'tickbox' emerged recently as a cynical angle on official or corporate incompetence. They had 'ticked the box' - people said - but failed to act. It is increasingly used to describe this gap between official spin and reality.Yet, says David Boyle in this powerful expose of tickbox culture, that is just the tip of a vast tickbox iceberg. The only people who remain blind to this gap are those rich or powerful enough to run the world, and behind Tickbox lies an insidious phil...

Dotty finds herself in Browntown and saves the world with the help of a cow, a salmon and a small dog - a modern version of the Oz tale.

Asking the big questions about economics. What if...? are the two words that sow the seeds for human speculation, experimentation, invention, evolution, revolution, and change. In an uncertain age, economists are asking, What if growth stopped growing?; scientists, What if light speed were overtaken?; and politicians, What if the third world became the first? What If Money Grew On Trees? challenges a team of scholars to put their minds to 50 speculations on economics, at a time when the ba...

Not long ago, economic theories were generally based on a narrow set of principles. Then the continuing boom–bust cycle combined with the failure of the best economic minds to ensure that prosperity spreads down through the economy has left a series of very obvious question marks, and the orthodoxy has been challenged from inside and outside the profession. It now seems clear that human beings and the planet have to be brought into the analysis. The first chapter goes right back to the deb...

Only our limited idea of money is keeping us poor. David Boyle introduces us to alternative cash and people who can conjure money – that is, spending power – out of nothing.Until recently, the growth of alternative cash had been the province of big business: phone cards, stamps, air miles and Tesco’s clubcard points all have purchasing power, yet are not cash as we know it. Now, locally created money systems like ‘time dollars’, ‘Womanshare’ and ‘Ithaca hours’ are being invented by...

Abandoned in the Dark is a collection of unnerving stories which are grounded in reality, journeys that promise to keep you awake at night and get your heart pound- ing. "Abandoned in the Dark" and "Close Call," among other similar stories collected here, delve into our universal feeling of dread and will ruthlessly steal your breath away. "Behind the Curtain," a uniquely unsettling sexual tale ridden with disturbing undertones and unforgettable imagery, is c...

How did that cat get so helpful - and so human?The princess left outside one snowy night who feels she can't ever come inside again...The gipsy boy waiting to hear his fate as the will of his guardian is read to his unpleasant relatives...The author explains that he believes in fairies, and says a little bit about why in a final essay. These authentic but contemporary folk tales don’t quite prove it – they go beyond that question to show what a little magic does to ...

Step into the captivating world of "Red Ivy Tea" by H. David Boyles, Jr. In this heartfelt tale of love, loss, and redemption, readers are transported to a small Southern town where secrets linger beneath the surface, waiting to be unearthed. As the story unfolds, readers are drawn into the lives of its characters. They will find themselves immersed in Southern culture and tradition, where family ties run deep and old wounds refuse to heal. With its compelling narrative and authentic voice...

After all their hard work preparing for St. Patrick's Day, leprechauns need a vacation. Since they love to travel, these vacations take them all over the world. Well, if they can afford it. You see, pots of gold don't grow on trees. They must be earned, which is why they exist at the end of the rainbow. Equally important, once earned, pots of gold must be saved. Figuring this out takes Quinnen the Leprechaun some time.It does not take him time, once he gets to travelling, ...

The sequel has arrived. This time with better illustrations.In Friends from Other Flowerpots II: the Interrogation of the Wasp, Beetle and his crew are back to rescue any bugs who fall into the pool. Yet while such water rescues continue, the real rescue of Part II occurs inside the courtroom.There Wasp stands trial for the murder of Mayfly, a bug with a 24-hour adult lifespan that Wasp meets one morning and loves that same afternoon.Appointed to defend Was...

Sharp sticks, garlic, crosses, and courage. That used to be enough for anyone to kill a vampire. Not anymore. Now you need a stoker.Stokers, the trade name for those engaged in vampire population control, no longer rely on such antiquated methodologies. Effective regulation requires the assistance of modern technology. Indeed, for stokers, applications accessed via smart phone have become the great equalizer against undead foes. But equal doesn't mean safe. In truth, stoking remain...