The Silk Road is as iconic in world history as the Colossus of Rhodes or the Suez Canal. But what was it, exactly? It conjures up a hazy image of a caravan of camels laden with silk on a dusty desert track, reaching from China to Rome. The reality was different--and far more interesting--as revealed in this new history.

In The Silk Road, Valerie Hansen describes the remarkable archeological finds that revolutionize our understanding of these trade routes. For centuries, key records remained h...

Molecular assemblies, macromolecules, proteins, nucleic acids: they form a substantial part of all living organisms, from plants to humans. Indeed, they are critical for keeping them alive. But how do they operate? Chemical processes are at the core of life: understanding life means unveiling the physical principles on which it is built.

From thermodynamics to molecular interactions, Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences 3rd edition explains how the principles of physical chemistry apply t...

Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, InspiringOur self-image as moral, well-behaved creatures is dogged by scepticism, relativism, hypocrisy, and nihilism, and by the fear that in a Godless world science has unmasked us as creatures fated by our genes to be selfish and tribalistic, or competitive and aggressive. Here, Simon Blackburn tackles the major moral questions surrounding birth, death, happiness, desire, and freedom, showing us how we should think about the meaning of life, and ...

Global, multi-faceted, and applied: the most contemporary introduction to leadership, which considers individual, organizational, and societal perspectives. Providing a robust and engaging overview of the leadership field, Exploring Leadership is a highly practical and insightful guide that supports the personal and professional development of both aspiring and experienced leaders. Investigating the complex dynamics of power, identity and purpose in organizations and wider society, this essen...

This is a book about the big questions in life: knowledge, consciousness, fate, God, truth, goodness, justice. It is for anyone who believes there are big questions out there, but does not know how to approach them. Think sets out to explain what they are and why they are important.

Simon Blackburn begins by putting forward a convincing case for the study of philosophy and goes on to give the reader a sense of how the great historical figures such as Descartes, Hume, Kant, and Wittgenstein ha...

Offering unrivalled coverage of classical theories, contemporary approaches, and current issues, together with an exceptionally clear writing style, Introduction to International Relations provides a uniquely accessible and engaging introduction to the subject. With an emphasis on theoretical approaches and their application to the real world, the authors encourage critical engagement with the theories presented, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and the major points of contention. Th...

The European Union: How does it work? is the perfect concise introduction to the EU's structure and operations for students coming to the subject for the first time. The sixth edition has been substantially updated to reflect a range of challenges confronting the EU. It incorporates expanded discussions of pressing policy challenges, including migration, climate change, the future of the EU-UK relationship after Brexit, and the erosion of democratic principles in some EU member states.

It als...

Introduction to International Relations and Global Politics provides students with a complete understanding of theory and how it applies to the real world. With comprehensive coverage of all major classical and contemporary theories and approaches, the text focuses on the connections between theory and current issues in international relations.

Celebrating over 30 years as the market-leading series, Blackstone's Statutes have an unrivalled tradition of trust and quality. With a rock-solid reputation for accuracy, reliability, and authority, they remain first-choice for students and lecturers, providing a careful selection of up-to-date legislation for exams and course use.

Physical Chemistry: Quanta, Matter, and Change 2nd edition takes an exciting and innovative molecular approach to the teaching of physical chemistry. The text focuses on our understanding of the properties of matter at the molecular level, and how these can be linked to the macroscopic world via statistical mechanics and thermodynamics. For the second edition the structure of the text has been radically re-organised.

Instead of being in chapters, material is broken down into 97 short 'topics'...