The high-energy tale of how two socially awkward Ivy Leaguers, trying to increase their chances with the opposite sex, ended up creating Facebook.

Eduardo Saverin and Mark Zuckerberg were Harvard undergraduates and best friends–outsiders at a school filled with polished prep-school grads and long-time legacies. They shared both academic brilliance in math and a geeky awkwardness with women.

Eduardo figured their ticket to social acceptance–and sexual success–was getting invited to join one of the university’s Final Clubs, a constellation of elite societies that had groomed generations of the most powerful men in the world and ranked on top of the inflexible hierarchy at Harvard. Mark, with less of an interest in what the campus alpha males thought of him, happened to be a computer genius of the first order.

Which he used to find a more direct route to social stardom: one lonely night, Mark hacked into the university's computer system, creating a ratable database of all the female students on campus–and subsequently crashing the university's servers and nearly getting himself kicked out of school. In that moment, in his Harvard dorm room, the framework for Facebook was born.

What followed–a real-life adventure filled with slick venture capitalists, stunning women, and six-foot-five-inch identical-twin Olympic rowers–makes for one of the most entertaining and compelling books of the year. Before long, Eduardo’s and Mark’s different ideas about Facebook created in their relationship faint cracks, which soon spiraled into out-and-out warfare. The collegiate exuberance that marked their collaboration fell prey to the adult world of lawyers and money. The great irony is that while Facebook succeeded by bringing people together, its very success tore two best friends apart.

The Accidental Billionaires is a compulsively readable story of innocence lost–and of the unusual creation of a company that has revolutionized the way hundreds of millions of people relate to one another.

Ben Mezrich, a Harvard graduate, has published ten books, including the New York Times bestseller Bringing Down the House. He is a columnist for Boston Common and a contributor for Flush magazine. Ben lives in Boston with his wife, Tonya.

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Bill Mooney, James E. ''Ted'' Bassett - Keeneland' s Ted Bassett, My Life (2009).jpg

In the December 30, 1967, edition of the weekly Thoroughbred trade publication, the Blood-Horse, was an announcement that took up one inch of space—James E. “Ted” Bassett III had been named assistant to the president of the Keeneland Association. It was sandwiched between equally short news items about a handicapping seminar at an East Coast racetrack and a California vacation trip by a horse-owning couple. Bassett’s new job, in his own words, “was not earthshaking news.”

More than four decades later, Ted Bassett is one of the most respected figures within the global Thoroughbred industry. He has served as Keeneland’s president, chairman of the board, and trustee, playing a critical role in its ascendency as a premier Thoroughbred track and auction house. Bassett was also president of Breeders’ Cup Limited during its greatest period of growth and has been a key architect in the development of the Sport of Kings as we know it today.

Written in collaboration with two-time Eclipse Award–winning journalist Bill Mooney, Keeneland’s Ted Bassett: My Life recounts Bassett’s extraordinary journey, including his days at Kent School and Yale University, through his U.S. Marine Corps service in the Pacific theater during World War II, and as director of the Kentucky State Police during the turbulent 1960s. He helped found the College of Justice & Safety at Eastern Kentucky University, and his continuing service to the Marine Corps has gained him the highest honors accorded to a civilian. During his forty-plus years with Keeneland, Bassett has hobnobbed with hot walkers in the track kitchen, hosted the first visit by Queen Elizabeth II to a United States track, and participated in many of the most important events in the modern history of horse racing.

With self-effacing humor, characteristic charm, and candor, Bassett describes his association with historic figures such as J. Edgar Hoover and Kentucky governors Albert B. “Happy” Chandler, Edward T. “Ned” Breathitt, and John Y. Brown; and his friendships with racing personalities D. Wayne Lukas, Nick Zito, Ron McAnally, Pat Day, and Joe Hirsch. Bassett shares details about difficult corporate decisions and great racing events that only he can supply, and about the formation of Equibase, the premier data collection agency within the Thoroughbred industry. He tells about his role as an international ambassador for racing, which has made him a highly influential figure on six continents.

Bassett often describes his life as a fascinating blur. That “blur” and all its unique components are brought into sharp focus in a book that is as wide-ranging as it is personal, filled with a gold mine of firsthand stories and historical details. In addition to highlighting Keeneland’s reputation as the jewel of the Thoroughbred industry, Bassett chronicles the business of racing and accomplishments of many prominent people in the horse world, and elsewhere, during the twentieth century.

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Bill Mooney, James E. ''Ted'' Bassett - Keeneland' s Ted Bassett, My Life (2009).pdf

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Bruce G. Trigger, Wilcomb E. Washburn - The Cambri dge History of the Native Peoples of the Americas, Volume 1, Part 1, North America (1996).jpg

USA Books - Bruce G. Trigger, Wilcomb E. Washburn - The Cambridge ... of the Americas, Volume 1, Part 1, North America 1996.jpg

This book provides the first comprehensive history of the Native Peoples of North America from their arrival in the western hemisphere to the present. It describes how Native Peoples have dealt with the environmental diversity of North America and have responded to the different European colonial regimes and national governments that have established themselves in recent centuries. It also examines the development of a pan-Indian identity since the nineteenth century and provides a comparison not found in other histories of how Native Peoples have fared in Canada and the United States.

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Bruce G. Trigger, Wilcomb E. Washburn - The Cambri dge History of the Native Peoples of the Americas, Volume 1, Part 2, North America (1996).jpg

USA Books - Bruce G. Trigger, Wilcomb E. Washburn - The Cambridge ... of the Americas, Volume 1, Part 2, North America 1996.jpg

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Craig Karmin - Biography of the Dollar, How the Mi ghty Buck Conquered the World and Why It's Under S iege (2009).jpg

“A remarkable historical, political, and economic
examination of the dollar.” –Booklist

Craig Karmin’s in-depth “biography” of the dollar examines the power of the Federal Reserve, the inner sanctums of foreign central banks that stockpile currency, and the little-known circles of foreign exchange traders who determine a currency’s worth. It’s “a surprisingly entertaining and informative social history of the currency that makes the world economy go round,” says Kirkus Reviews.

“An incredible book that should be required reading for anyone whose future depends on understanding how the dollar is valued and manipulated." –Timothy Ferriss, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 4-Hour Workweek

“An indispensible guide to understanding the way both the U.S. and the world economies work and the dollar’s role in keeping the economic skids greased." –Ram Charan, coauthor of Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done and The Game-Changer

“It’s hard to imagine a more entertaining book on such a vital subject.” –Bloomberg.com

“Craig Karmin’s fortuitously timed Biography of the Dollar argues that the greenback’s recent plunge is more than just a market tumble.”–Portfolio

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Ian Gow - Military Intervention in Pre-War Japanes e Politics, Admiral Kato Kanji and the Washington System (2004).jpg

USA Books - Ian Gow - Military Intervention in Pre-War Japanese Po...ics, Admiral Kato Kanji and the Washington System 2004.jpg

This is a study of the impact of inter-war naval arms control policy-making on the domestic politics of Japan, especially the areas of civil-military, inter-military (Army/Navy) and especially intra-military (Navy) relations and on the professional and political career of one leading naval figure, Admiral Kato Kanji (1873-1939). In this re-appraisal of Kato's career, the author challenges the conventional and negative interpretation of both Kato's role in the naval politics and factions within the Imperial Navy, utilizing Kato's involvement in the domestic political debate as a focal device for studying two key areas of Japanese civil-military relations: civilian control and the phenomenon of massive, overt naval intervention in domestic politics.

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Ian Gow - Military Intervention in Pre-War Japanes e Politics, Admiral Kato Kanji and the Washington System (2004).pdf

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Katherine Dunn - One Ring Circus, Dispatches from the World of Boxing (2009).jpg

Published together for the first time, this anthology of essays on boxing covers the sport in all its forms and at its many levels. Written in bestselling author Katherine Dunn’s characteristic vernacular, these pieces range from portraits of legendary fighters such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, and Mike Tyson to the unsung stories of trainers, amateurs, promoters, cutmen, and a pair of pugilistic priests. Spanning 30 years and including all who make up the vibrant boxing world, this compilation—from one of the most original voices in American sports literature—finely elevates the sport and communicates its beauty, passion, and character.

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5,5 MB
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Katherine Dunn - One Ring Circus, Dispatches from the World of Boxing (2009).pdf

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Orna Almog - Britain, Israel and the United States , 1955-1958, Beyond Suez (2002).jpg

This volume examines the Anglo-Israeli relationship from early 1956 to the summer of 1958, against the wider background of the Cold War, rivalry of the superpowers and the upheavals in the Middle East. During this period the Anglo-Israeli relationship went through two major phases. The first one, from early 1956 to early 1957, was marked by growing tension in the Middle East when relations between Britain and Israel were at best cool and at times hostile. The second phase, from March 1957 to the summer/autumn of 1958, was characterized by the growing instability of pro-western states in the region and by an eventual breakthrough in Anglo-Israeli relations. Anglo-Israeli relations were overshadowed by Britain's interest in the Middle East, which were essentially to keep oil supply routes and communication with the Indian Ocean open. It was only the Iraqi coup d'etat in 1958 and the collapse of the Baghdad Pact, which paved the way for the change in Anglo-Israeli relations. This dramatic set of events, coupled with Israel's willingness to co-operate with the US and the British military rescue operation in Jordan, led to a less antagonistic and distrustful relationship resulting in a definite change in Whitehall's attitudes. This study aims to demonstrate that as far as Anglo-Israeli relations were concerned it was the upheavals after the Suez war and primarily the crisis during the summer of 1958 that led to an enhanced understanding between Britain and Israel.

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11,2 MB
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Orna Almog - Britain, Israel and the United States , 1955-1958, Beyond Suez (2002).pdf

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John Spiller - The United States, 1763-2000 (2005).jpg

Focusing on the key topics within the period covered, the book explores the build up to the War of Independence, the American Civil War, the New Deal, and civil rights. The background to each topic is then explored along with essay writing advice and examples, source work and historical skills exercises.

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5,5 MB
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John Spiller - The United States, 1763-2000 (2005).pdf

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Rodney P. Carlisle - Contemporary America, 1970 to The Present (2009).jpg

Changing International affairs and the forces of technological innovation shaped the lives of Americans in the last decades of the 20th century. While the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union gave rise to hopes of peaceful international relations, the Gulf War and the attacks of September 11, 2001 on the World Trade Center in New York shattered these aspirations. In the social sphere, cell phones, CDs, and the Internet completely transformed the ways by which people communicated and conveyed information. The election of an African-American man to the presidency marked the successful continuation of the struggle for equal civil rights, bolstering America's reputation as a radically changing place in this contemporary period.

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Rodney P. Carlisle - Contemporary America, 1970 to The Present (2009).pdf

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Robert Hendricson - The Facts on File Dictionary o f American Regionalisms (2000).jpg

This one-volume collection of all five books in the Facts On File series on American regional expressions is to my knowledge the only single-volume
dictionary in print on American regionalisms. Designed to appeal to the general reader, it unites all the material in the original five books, including the introductions (slightly abridged). Each of the earlier five books constitutes a separate section in the new one-volume work, making it easier to use as a reference work than if the 20,000 or so total entries of all the books were alphabetized together.

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Robert Hendricson - The Facts on File Dictionary o f American Regionalisms (2000).pdf

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Nicole Hahn Rafter - Shots in the Mirror, Crime Fi lms and Society (2000).jpg

Movies play a central role in shaping our understanding of crime and the world generally, helping us define what is good and bad, desirable and unworthy, lawful and illicit, strong and weak. Crime films raise controversial issues about the distribution of social power and the meanings of deviance, and they provide a safe space for fantasies of rebellion, punishment, and the restoration of order. In this first comprehensive study of its kind, well-known criminologist Nicole Rafter examines the relationship between society and crime films from the perspectives of criminal justice, film history and technique, and sociology. Dealing with over 300 films ranging from gangster and cop to trial and prison movies, Shots in the Mirror concentrates on works in the Hollywood tradition but also identifies a darker strain of critical films that portray crime and punishment more bleakly.

Review: Crime films
A must read for students - and fans - of crime films! I enjoyed it a great deal!

Review: Enjoying Crime Films
This wonderful book grew out of a college course that Nicole Rafter developed on crime films and society. It will interest general readers, too--those of us who enjoy crime films and are curious about their history and enduring appeal. The book, covering American film from the early 1900s through 1998, begins with an introductory chapter on the history of crime films, followed by chapters on specific genres, such as cop films and courtroom dramas, and other topics.Rafter's guiding focus is the interaction between crime films and their eras' dominant beliefs and controversies. Crime films mirror cultural ideas about crime and help shape them. Thus, she features films that have received critical or popular recognition and provide provocative entree to significant social issues of their times. Crime films, Rafter argues, are social tools, as well. They help build consensus, expose our differences, and chart new courses of action. While readers will not always agree with Rafter's interpretations and analyses, they will become more sensitive observers, more active players in the ongoing exchange between crime films and everyday social life. In addition, readers will come away from this engaging book with a long list of films to see and to rethink. (Rafter mentions over 300 crime films in all, discussing over 100 in some depth.)On a personal note, I share the author's observation that students in criminology are well versed in crime films and interested in their import. SHOTS IN THE MIRROR provides a marvelous vehicle for capitalizing on their interest and broadening the study of crime, as well. The book's historical perspective and its sensitivity to issues of race and gender could also prove useful for other courses in the social sciences.

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David R. Woodward - World War I Almanac (2009).jpg

"The Almanacs of American Wars" series traces American war history from the 18th century to the present day, with each volume providing an up-close look at a particular period of American history and its role and influence on various acts of war. The bulk of each book is devoted to a detailed, day-by-day chronology of the people and events important during wartime conflicts. An A-to-Z dictionary follows, covering people, battles, events, and other exciting details such as military strategies from the opposing sides and information on significant military leaders and their roles during battle. Dozens of maps, photographs, and illustrations combine with a comprehensive index, a bibliography, and cross-references to make each volume an accessible reference for those interested in American war history and the role America played in times of military struggle.

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David R. Woodward - World War I Almanac (2009).pdf

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Hannah Barker, Simon Burrows - Press, Politics and the Public Sphere in Europe and North America, 17 60-1820 (2002).jpg

USA Books - Hannah Barker, Simon Burrows - Press, Politics and the...ic Sphere in Europe and North America, 1760-1820 2002.jpg

This collection of essays covers a particularly turbulent and important period in European and American history. As a vital component of print and political culture, newspapers feature prominently in many accounts of social and political change between 1750 and 1850. Yet despite the influence attributed to the newspaper press (by historians and contemporaries), not enough is known about the press itself, particularly in terms of national comparison. This collection aims to fill this gap in our knowledge by examining the press of several European countries and of North America.

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Hannah Barker, Simon Burrows - Press, Politics and the Public Sphere in Europe and North America, 17 60-1820 (2002).pdf

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John Dobson - Belligerents, Brinkmanship, and the Big Stick, A Historical Encyclopedia of American D iplomatic Concepts (2009).jpg

USA Books - John Dobson - Belligerents, Brinkmanship, and the Big ...ical Encyclopedia of American Diplomatic Concepts 2009.jpg

Belligerents, Brinkmanship, and the Big Stick: A Historical Encyclopedia of American Diplomatic Concepts is the first comprehensive encyclopedic work to focus specifically on America's extraordinary history of political engagement with the world. With hundreds of alphabetically organized entries and a rich collection of primary sources, it offers a unique way of understanding the centrality of diplomacy and the role of foreign relations throughout U.S. history.

The encyclopedia is divided into five chronological sections, each containing a brief introduction, topical entries, biographical portraits, and representative documents. It is designed to help readers gain a deeper understanding of both general ideas as well as specific policies like the Monroe Doctrine, the Open Door Policy, and Shuttle Diplomacy. By examining seminal events, important ideas, and individual contributions in the context of U.S. history, the encyclopedia reveals the underlying traditions and motivations of American foreign policy as it has evolved over time.

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John Dobson - Belligerents, Brinkmanship, and the Big Stick, A Historical Encyclopedia of American D iplomatic Concepts (2009).pdf

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Julia Taylor Ebel - Jack Tales and Mountain Yarns As Told by Orville Hicks (2009).jpg

For the past two decades, Orville Hicks has enthralled audiences with his storytelling performances. In 2007, Orville was honored with a North Carolina Heritage Award. Jack Tales and Mountain Yarns includes more than 20 transcribed stories that expertly capture the voice of the master storyteller. Each of these stories is paired with lively pencil sketches by Sherry Jensen.
Some of the stories tell of Orville's childhood and focus on mountain traditions such as gathering galax and selling pumpkins. Others are traditional Jack tales, which feature the antics of the mischievous boy named Jack. The most recognizable traditional Jack tale is the story of Jack and the beanstalk.

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Julia Taylor Ebel - Jack Tales and Mountain Yarns As Told by Orville Hicks (2009).pdf

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Karin von Hippel - Democracy by Force, US Military Intervention in the Post-Cold War World (2000).jpg

Since the end of the Cold War the United States has intervened militarily in a number of civil conflicts around the world, with varying degrees of success. This book examines four US-sponsored interventions (Panama, Somalia, Haiti and Bosnia), focusing on the vital nation-building efforts which have followed military action. The book seeks to provide a greater understanding of the successes and failures of US policy, to improve strategies for reconstruction, and to provide some insight into the conditions under which intervention and nation-building are likely to succeed.

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Karin von Hippel - Democracy by Force, US Military Intervention in the Post-Cold War World (2000).pdf

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Miriam Hansen - Babel and Babylon, Spectatorship i n American Silent Film (1994).jpg

Although cinema was invented in the mid-1890s, it was a decade more before the concept of a "film spectator" emerged. As the cinema began to separate itself from the commercial entertainments in whose context films initially had been shown--vaudeville, dime museums, fairgrounds--a particular concept of its spectator was developed on the level of film style, as a means of predicting the reception of films on a mass scale. In Babel and Babylon Miriam Hansen offers an original perspective on American film by tying the emergence of spectatorship to the historical transformation of the public sphere. Hansen builds a critical framework for understanding the cultural formation of spectatorship, drawing on the Frankfurt School's debates on mass culture and the public sphere. Focusing on exemplary moments in the American silent era, she explains how the concept of the spectator evolved as a crucial part of the classical Hollywood paradigm--as one of the new industry's strategies to integrate ethnically, socially, and sexually differentiated audiences into a modern culture of consumption. In this process, Hansen argues, the cinema might also have provided the conditions of an alternative public sphere for particular social groups, such as recent immigrants and women, by furnishing an intersubjective context in which they could recognize fragments of their own experience.

After tracing the emergence of spectatorship as an institution, Hansen pursues the question of reception through detailed readings of a single film, D. W. Griffith's Intolerance (1916), and of the cult surrounding a single star, Rudolph Valentino. In each case the classical construction of spectatorship is complicated by factors of gender and sexuality, crystallizing around the fear and desire of the female consumer.

Babel and Babylon recasts the debate on early American cinema--and by implication on American film as a whole. It is a model study in the field of Cinema Studies, mediating the concerns of recent film theory with those of recent film history.

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