Personality and power : builders and destroyers of modern europe - ian kershaw

One of the great historians of our age asks: how far can a single leader alter the course of history?The modern era saw the emergence of individuals who had command over a terrifying array of instruments of control, persuasion and death. Whole societies were re-shaped and wars fought, often with a merciless contempt for the most basic norms. At the summit of these societies were leaders whose personalities had somehow given them the ability to do whatever they wished.Ian Kershaw's new book is a compelling, lucid and challenging attempt to understand these rulers, whether operating on the widest stage (Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini) or with a more national impact (Tito, Franco). What was it about these leaders and the times they lived in that allowed them such untrammelled and murderous power? And what brought that era to an end? In a contrasting group of profiles, from Churchill to de Gaulle, Adenauer to Gorbachev, and Thatcher to Kohl, Kershaw uses his exceptional skills to think through how other, strikingly different figures wielded power. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Less than a month after it marched into France in summer 1870, the Prussian army had devastated its opponents, captured Napoleon III and wrecked all assumptions about Europe's pecking order. Other countries looked on in helpless amazement. Pushing aside further French resistance, a new German Empire was proclaimed (as a deliberate humiliation) in the Palace of Versailles, leaving the French to face civil war in Paris, reparations and the loss of Alsace and Lorraine.Bismarck's War tells the story of one of the most shocking reversals of fortune in modern European history. The culmination of a globally violent decade, the Franco-Prussian War was deliberately engineered by Bismarck, both to destroy French power and to unite Germany. It could not have worked better, but it also had lurking inside it the poisonous seeds of all the disasters that would ravage the twentieth century.Drawing on a remarkable variety of sources, Chrastil's book explores the military, technological, political and social events of the war, its human cost and the way that the sheer ferocity of war, however successful, has profound consequences for both victors and victims. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Wilhelm von Habsburg wore the uniform of an Austrian officer, the court regalia of a Habsburg archduke, the simple suit of a Parisian exile, the decorations of the Order of the Golden Fleece and, every so often, a dress. He spoke the Italian of his archduke mother, the German of his archduke father, the English of his British royal friends, the Polish of the country his father wished to rule and the Ukrainian of the land Wilhelm wished to rule himself.Timothy Snyder's masterful biography is not only a reconstruction of the life of this extraordinary man - a man who remained loyal to his Ukrainian dreams even after the country's dissolution in 1921- but also charts the final collapse of the ancien regime in Europe and the rise of a new world order. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Stauffenbergův atentát na Adolfa Hitlera z 20. července 1944 byl nejpropracovanějším pokusem o odstranění nacistického diktátora za celou dobu existence Třetí říše. Ačkoli plány na Hitlerovo zavraždění, vycházející jak z armádních kruhů, tak od izolovaných jednotlivců, byly mnohem staršího data a některé z nich došly i praktické realizace, teprve akce hraběte Stauffenberga ohrozila Hitlera přímo na životě a svým spojením s přípravou převratu, který by svrhl nacistický režim jako takový, představovala vyvrcholení snah odpůrců režimu. Kniha Iana Kershawa Příběh Operace Valkýra sestává ze tří kapitol převzatých z jeho dvousvazkové biografie o Adolfu Hitlerovi a doplňují ji četné dokumenty přímých aktérů dramatu - ty v českém překladu zčásti vycházejí vůbec poprvé. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook:,On the occasion of the 600th anniversary of the death of Charles IV in 1978, Professor Emanuel Vlček, MD, DSc conducted research of the skeletal remains of the Pater patriae, which brought a number of surprising findings, important to a whole range of scientific disciplines at Charles University, and cast light on significant events in Charles’ life as well as on the cause of his death. The research has presented this prominent ruler as a human being, an ordinary mortal, suffering from many injuries and chronic diseases with which he was coping with indefatigable will, keeping in mind his commitments to God and Kingdom of Bohemia. It may be that all the pain and suffering also influenced his spirituality and his efforts to find salvation by attempting to realize his concept of the supreme being (Imitatio Christi). The results of the research by Professor Vlček have been repeatedly published, but until now we have had no representative publication in English. The forthcoming celebrations of the 700th anniversary of Charles’ birth offer an opportunity to fill this gap. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Monumentální práce předního britského historika Iana Kershawa představuje dosud nejucelenější a nejrozsáhlejší životopis vůdce nacistického hnutí. V prvním díle se čtenář seznámí nejprve s Hitlerovým původem, rodinným prostředí a dospíváním. Setká se tu s Hitlerovým jediným skutečně blízkým druhem, Augustem Kubizkem, chlapcem českého původu, v jehož společnosti Hitler prožil formující období svého mladí. Poté autor podrobně sleduje "vůdcův" dobrovolný vstup do armády v době první světové války, počátky politické dráhy, nezdar v mnichovském puči, jeho překonání a následnou cestu k převzetí moci. Za pomoci nejnovějších pramenů, mimo jiné obohacených nedávným zpřístupněním bývalých sovětských archivů, metodou spojení biografického přístupu a studia dějin společnosti předkládá jak obraz Hitlerova nitra, tak společenských dějů, tolik osudových nejen pro Německo, ale i pro celý svět 20. století. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Monumentální práce předního britského historika Iana Kershawa představuje dosud nejucelenější a nejrozsáhlejší životopis vůdce nacistického hnutí. Druhý díl pojednává o přípravě a rozpoutání druhé světové války, dochází až k Hitlerovu konci. Detailně se přitom zaobírá vlivem Hitlerova okolí na jeho osobnost, analyzuje Hitlerovo duchovní ustrojení, jež ovlivňovalo i jeho zdravotní stav či úvahy o sebevraždě. Knihu doplňuje řada dosud nepublikovaných fotografií. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The first full, comprehensive account of the cultural representation of the Roma in European historyThis remarkable book describes a dark side of European history: the rejection of the Roma from their initial arrival in the late Middle Ages to the present day. To Europeans, the Roma appeared to be in complete contradiction with their own culture, because of their mysterious origins, unknown language and way of life. As representatives of an oral culture, for centuries the Roma have left virtually no written records of their own. Their history has been conveyed to us almost exclusively through the distorted images that European cultures project.Persecuted and shunned, the Roma nonetheless spread out across the continent and became an important, indeed indispensable element in the European imagination. It is impossible to conceive of the culture of Spain, southern France and much of Central Europe without this pervasive Romani influence.Europe and the Roma brilliantly describes the 'fascination and fear' which have marked Europeans' response to the Romani presence. Countless composers, artists and writers have responded to Romani culture and to fantasies thereof. Their projections onto a group whose illiteracy and marginalization gave it so little direct voice of its own have always been a very uneasy mixture of the inspired, the patronizing and the frighteningly ignorant. The book also shows the link between cultural violence, social discrimination and racist policies that paved the way for the genocide of the Roma. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Stauffenbergův atentát na Adolfa Hitlera z 20. července 1944 byl nejpropracovanějším pokusem o odstranění nacistického diktátora za celou dobu existence Třetí říše. Ačkoli plány na Hitlerovo zavraždění, vycházející jak z armádních kruhů, tak od izolovaných jednotlivců, byly mnohem staršího data a některé z nich došly i praktické realizace, teprve akce hraběte Stauffenberga ohrozila Hitlera přímo na životě a svým spojením s přípravou převratu, který by svrhl nacistický režim jako takový, představovala vyvrcholení snah odpůrců režimu. Kniha Iana Kershawa Příběh Operace Valkýra sestává ze tří kapitol převzatých z jeho dvousvazkové biografie o Adolfu Hitlerovi a doplňují ji četné dokumenty přímých aktérů dramatu – ty v českém překladu zčásti vycházejí vůbec poprvé. (patro.cz)

Renomovaný britský historik moderních dějin Ian Kershaw, mj. autor životopisu Adolfa Hitlera vydaného v nakladatelství Argo, se v devíti kapitolách své nové práce věnuje nejtragičtějšímu období evropských dějin 20. století. Po analýze konce "zlatého věku" v Evropě se zabývá první světovou válkou a jejími příčinami, sleduje vzestup Hitlera a nacismu v Německu, popisuje katastrofu druhé světové války a její důsledky, včetně zárodků nového poválečného uspořádání Evropy. Hlavní příčiny evropských tragédií v první polovině 20. století vidí v růstu rasově vyhraněného nacionalismu, neslučitelných zájmech imperialistických velmocí i v důsledcích vyhroceného třídního boje, gradujícího především bolševickou revolucí v Rusku. Velmi čtivým způsobem se smyslem pro detail tak čtenářům nabízí odpovědi na otázky, které jsou stále aktuální.Vydání knihy podpořilo hlavní město Praha. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

This book mixes old school wisdom, with a modern approach to self-care. Discover the sacred power of charms and symbols used by different cultures throughout history, and find out how to harness that power and weave their magic into your everyday life for increased wellness, protection, happiness and health. For thousands of years, charms and symbols have allowed us to communicate powerful feelings without the use of a single word. From the elegant, sacred Feather to the strong, rooted Tree of Life, signs and symbols such as these can help guide us on our journey through life. Charms & Symbols is a guide to symbols from cultures around the world. Discover the meanings of these beautiful emblems and learn how to work with each of them to improve your overall wellbeing. Including exercises and self-care tips, this book mixes ancient wisdom with a modern and accessible approach to self-care.Learn how to focus and meditate on symbols through activities such as breathing exercises and mindful practices to help boost your self-esteem, restore and rejuvenate your body and mind, connect with your intuition and ease feelings of anxiety and worry.Discover symbols such as:- The Tree of Life, for a greater connection between life on earth and the afterlife- The Triple Moon, used to represent the power of the goddess- The Endless Knot, an important symbol in Buddhism representing the endless cycles in life- The Triquetra, a Celtic protection symbol representing the Mother, the Maiden and the Crone- The Hamsa, a Middle Eastern symbol that represents protection, fortune, health and happiness (knihydobrovsky.cz)

In 1850, China was the 'sick man of Asia'. Now it is set to become the most powerful nation on earth. The Penguin History of Modern China shows how turbulent that journey has been. For 150 years China has endured as victim of oppression, war and famine. This makes its current position as arguably the most important global superpower all the more extraordinary. Jonathan Fenby's comprehensive account is the definitive guide to this remarkable transformation. 'His book is a miracle of thoroughness, truthfulness and readability - the perfect primer for a time when China is about to enter all our lives' Sunday Telegraph 'Jonathan Fenby's ... illuminating book [is] the first major history that looks at the country with the eyes of the 21st century rather than the 20th' Rana Mitter, Financial Times 'Reads like a novel and is never less than thoughtful and compassionate for the fate of a much-abused people ... [Fenby has] a journalist's eye for telling detail' Herald 'Taut, anecdote-studded ... a great introduction for a general audience, with vivid scene setting and character sketches' Michel Sheridan, Sunday Times 'For an accessible, authoritative, fair and comprehensive and well written account, this would be hard to better' BBC History 'A wonderful history of modern China and a cracking good read' Chris Patten Jonathan Fenby, CBE, has been the editor of the Observer and the South China Morning Post. His books include Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-shek and the China He Lost and Dealing with the Dragon: A Year in the New Hong Kong. He is currently Editor-in-Chief and China Editor of the analytical service, Trusted Sources. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Renomovaný britský historik moderních dějin Ian Kershaw, mj. autor životopisu Adolfa Hitlera vydaného v nakladatelství Argo, se v devíti kapitolách své nové práce věnuje nejtragičtějšímu období evropských dějin 20. století. Po analýze konce „zlatého věku“ v Evropě se zabývá první světovou válkou a jejími příčinami, sleduje vzestup Hitlera a nacismu v Německu, popisuje katastrofu druhé světové války a její důsledky, včetně zárodků nového poválečného uspořádání Evropy. Hlavní příčiny evropských tragédií v první polovině 20. století vidí v růstu rasově vyhraněného nacionalismu, neslučitelných zájmech imperialistických velmocí i v důsledcích vyhroceného třídního boje, gradujícího především bolševickou revolucí v Rusku. Velmi čtivým způsobem se smyslem pro detail tak čtenářům nabízí odpovědi na otázky, které jsou stále aktuální. (patro.cz)

Monumentální práce předního britského historika Iana Kershawa představuje dosud nejucelenější a nejrozsáhlejší životopis vůdce nacistického hnutí. V prvním díle se čtenář seznámí nejprve s Hitlerovým původem, rodinným prostředí a dospíváním. Setká se tu s Hitlerovým jediným skutečně blízkým druhem, Augustem Kubizkem, chlapcem českého původu, v jehož společnosti Hitler prožil formující období svého mladí. Poté autor podrobně sleduje „vůdcův“ dobrovolný vstup do armády v době první světové války, počátky politické dráhy, nezdar v mnichovském puči, jeho překonání a následnou cestu k převzetí moci. Za pomoci nejnovějších pramenů, mimo jiné obohacených nedávným zpřístupněním bývalých sovětských archivů, metodou spojení biografického přístupu a studia dějin společnosti předkládá jak obraz Hitlerova nitra, tak společenských dějů, tolik osudových nejen pro Německo, ale i pro celý svět 20. století. (patro.cz)

Monumentální práce předního britského historika Iana Kershawa představuje dosud nejucelenější a nejrozsáhlejší životopis vůdce nacistického hnutí. Druhý díl pojednává o přípravě a rozpoutání druhé světové války, dochází až k Hitlerovu konci. Detailně se přitom zaobírá vlivem Hitlerova okolí na jeho osobnost, analyzuje Hitlerovo duchovní ustrojení, jež ovlivňovalo i jeho zdravotní stav či úvahy o sebevraždě. Knihu doplňuje řada dosud nepublikovaných fotografií. (patro.cz)

In 1850, China was the 'sick man of Asia'. Now it is set to become the most powerful nation on earth. The Penguin History of Modern China shows how turbulent that journey has been. For 150 years China has endured as victim of oppression, war and famine. This makes its current position as arguably the most important global superpower all the more extraordinary. Jonathan Fenby's comprehensive account is the definitive guide to this remarkable transformation. 'His book is a miracle of thoroughness, truthfulness and readability - the perfect primer for a time when China is about to enter all our lives' Sunday Telegraph 'Jonathan Fenby's ... illuminating book [is] the first major history that looks at the country with the eyes of the 21st century rather than the 20th' Rana Mitter, Financial Times 'Reads like a novel and is never less than thoughtful and compassionate for the fate of a much-abused people ... [Fenby has] a journalist's eye for telling detail' Herald 'Taut, anecdote-studded ... a great introduction for a general audience, with vivid scene setting and character sketches' Michel Sheridan, Sunday Times 'For an accessible, authoritative, fair and comprehensive and well written account, this would be hard to better' BBC History 'A wonderful history of modern China and a cracking good read' Chris Patten Jonathan Fenby, CBE, has been the editor of the Observer and the South China Morning Post. His books include Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-shek and the China He Lost and Dealing with the Dragon: A Year in the New Hong Kong. He is currently Editor-in-Chief and China Editor of the analytical service, Trusted Sources. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

An updated edition of this classic title on the origins of 20th-century ideas in architecture and the applied arts. The turn of the nineteenth century saw an extraordinary flowering of invention in architecture and design, leading to the emergence of two contrasting styles: Art Nouveau and the International Style. Professor Nikolaus Pevsner brings clarity to this period of dynamic change by tracing the origins of twentieth-century ideas in architecture and the applied arts. Featuring a new foreword by the distinguished architectural historian Kenneth Frampton, this classic title has now been updated with colour illustrations throughout. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Publikace shrnuje příspěvky z mezinárodního workshopu konaného v listopadu 2011 v Praze. Seminář se zabýval tématem šoa/holokaustu v literatuře, v divadle a filmu v padesátých a šedesátých letech. Navázal na předchozí workshopy v německém Gießenu a v polské Łódzi (2010, 2011). Jednotlivé příspěvky se soustřeďují zvláště na českou a polskou literaturu (Jiří Weil, Norbert Frýd, Jan Otčenášek, Ladislav Fuks, Josef Škvorecký, Adolf Rudnicki, diskurz šoa v polské literatuře), na drama a divadlo (Leon Kruczkowski, Ireneusz Iredyński, Hedda Zinner, západoněmecké drama s tématem šoa), film (Spalovač mrtvol, Jákob lhář), ale také na kresby dětí v Terezíně či zobrazení šoa z pohledu dítěte. Příspěvky vycházejí v anglickém a německém jazyce ve spolupráci s Centrem židovských studií FF UK. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

When news of the budding romance between a beloved English prince and an American actress broke, it captured the world's attention and sparked an international media frenzy.But while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have continued to make headlines - from their engagement, wedding, and birth of their son Archie to their unprecedented decision to step back from their royal lives - few know the true story of Harry and Meghan.For the very first time, FINDING FREEDOM goes beyond the headlines to reveal unknown details of Harry and Meghan's life together, dispelling the many rumours and misconceptions that plague the couple on both sides of the pond. As members of the select group of reporters that cover the British Royal Family and their engagements, Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand have witnessed the young couple's lives as few outsiders can.With unique access and written with the participation of those closest to the couple, FINDING FREEDOM is an honest, up-close, and disarming portrait of a confident, influential, and forward-thinking couple who are unafraid to break with tradition, determined to create a new path away from the spotlight, and dedicated to building a humanitarian legacy that will make a profound difference in the world. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The definitive history of Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth saga, Anything You Can Imagine takes us on a cinematic journey across all six films, featuring brand-new interviews with Peter, his cast & crew. From the early days of daring to dream it could be done, through the highs and lows of making the films, to fan adoration and, finally, Oscar glory. LightsA nine-year-old boy in New Zealand’s Pukerua Bay stays up late and is spellbound by a sixty-year-old vision of a giant ape on an island full of dinosaurs. This is true magic. And the boy knows that he wants to be a magician. CameraFast-forward twenty years and the boy has begun to cast a spell over the film-going audience, conjuring gore-splattered romps with bravura skill that will lead to Academy recognition with an Oscar nomination for Heavenly Creatures. The boy from Pukerua Bay with monsters reflected in his eyes has arrived, and Hollywood comes calling. What would he like to do next? ‘How about a fantasy film, something like The Lord of the Rings…?’ ActionThe greatest work of fantasy in modern literature, and the biggest, with rights ownership so complex it will baffle a wizard. Vast. Complex. Unfilmable. One does not simply walk into Mordor – unless you are Peter Jackson. Anything You Can Imagine tells the full, dramatic story of how Jackson and his trusty fellowship of Kiwi filmmakers dared take on a quest every bit as daunting as Frodo’s, and transformed JRR Tolkien’s epic tale of adventure into cinematic magic, and then did it again with The Hobbit. Enriched with brand-new interviews with Jackson, his fellow filmmakers and many of the films’ stars, Ian Nathan’s mesmerising narrative whisks us to Middle-earth, to gaze over the shoulder of the director as he creates the impossible, the unforgettable, and proves that film-making really is ‘anything you can imagine’. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

A century after Britain's Balfour Declaration promised a Jewish 'national home' in Palestine, veteran Guardian journalist Ian Black has produced a major new history of one of the most polarising conflicts of the modern age. Drawing on a wide range of sources - from declassified documents to oral testimonies and his own decades of reporting - Enemies and Neighbours brings much-needed perspective and balance to the long and unresolved struggle between Arabs and Jews in the Holy Land. Beginning in the final years of Ottoman ruleand the British Mandate period, when Zionist immigration transformed Palestine in the face of mounting Arab opposition, the book re-examines the origins of what was a doomed relationship from the start. It sheds fresh light on critical events such as the Arab rebellion of the 1930s; Israel's independence and the Palestinian catastrophe (Nakba in Arabic) of 1948; the watershed of the 1967 war; two Intifadas; the Oslo Accords and Israel's shift to the right. It traces how - after five decades of occupation, ever-expanding Jewish settlements and the construction of the West Bank 'separation wall' - hopes for a two-state solution have all but disappeared, and explores what the future might hold. Yet Black also goes beyond the most newsworthy events - wars, violence and peace initiatives - to capture thereality of everyday life on the ground in Jerusalem and Hebron, Tel Aviv,Ramallah, Haifa and Gaza, for both sides of an unequal struggle. Lucid, timelyand gripping, Enemies and Neighbours illuminates a bitter conflict that shows no sign of ending - which is why it is so essential that we understand it. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

'Never before had the world seen four such giants co-existing. Sometimes friends, more often enemies, always rivals, these four men together held Europe in the hollow of their hands.' Four great princes - Henry VIII of England, Francis I of France, Charles V of Spain and Suleiman the Magnificent - were born within a single decade. Each looms large in his country's history and, in this book, John Julius Norwich broadens the scope and shows how, against the rich background of the Renaissance and destruction of the Reformation, their wary obsession with one another laid the foundations for modern Europe. Individually, each man could hardly have been more different -- from the scandals of Henry's six wives to Charles's monasticism - but, together, they dominated the world stage. From the Field of the Cloth of Gold, a pageant of jousting, feasting and general carousing so lavish that it nearly bankrupted both France and England, to Suleiman's celebratory pyramid of 2,000 human heads (including those of seven Hungarian bishops) after the battle of Mohacs; from Anne Boleyn's six-fingered hand (a potential sign of witchcraft) that had the pious nervously crossing themselves to the real story of the Maltese falcon, Four Princes is history at its vivid, entertaining best. With a cast list that extends from Leonardo da Vinci to Barbarossa, and from Joanna the Mad to le roi grand-nez, John Julius Norwich offers the perfect guide to the most colourful century the world has ever known and brings the past to unforgettable life. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The definitive history of Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth saga, Anything You Can Imagine takes us on a cinematic journey across all six films, featuring brand-new interviews with Peter, his cast & crew. From the early days of daring to dream it could be done, through the highs and lows of making the films, to fan adoration and, finally, Oscar glory. LightsA nine-year-old boy in New Zealand’s Pukerua Bay stays up late and is spellbound by a sixty-year-old vision of a giant ape on an island full of dinosaurs. This is true magic. And the boy knows that he wants to be a magician. CameraFast-forward twenty years and the boy has begun to cast a spell over the film-going audience, conjuring gore-splattered romps with bravura skill that will lead to Academy recognition with an Oscar nomination for Heavenly Creatures. The boy from Pukerua Bay with monsters reflected in his eyes has arrived, and Hollywood comes calling. What would he like to do next? ‘How about a fantasy film, something like The Lord of the Rings…?’ ActionThe greatest work of fantasy in modern literature, and the biggest, with rights ownership so complex it will baffle a wizard. Vast. Complex. Unfilmable. One does not simply walk into Mordor – unless you are Peter Jackson. Anything You Can Imagine tells the full, dramatic story of how Jackson and his trusty fellowship of Kiwi filmmakers dared take on a quest every bit as daunting as Frodo’s, and transformed JRR Tolkien’s epic tale of adventure into cinematic magic, and then did it again with The Hobbit. Enriched with brand-new interviews with Jackson, his fellow filmmakers and many of the films’ stars, Ian Nathan’s mesmerising narrative whisks us to Middle-earth, to gaze over the shoulder of the director as he creates the impossible, the unforgettable, and proves that film-making really is ‘anything you can imagine’. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Kniha - autor Angela Duckworth, 352 stran, anglicky, Brožovaná bez přebalu lesklá - autor Angela Duckworth, 352 stran, anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu lesklá Why do naturally talented people frequently fail to reach their potential while other far less gifted individuals go on to achieve amazing things? The secret to outstanding achievement is not talent, but a passionate persistence - in other words, grit. MacArthur Genius Award-winning psychologist Angela Duckworth shares fascinating new revelations about who succeeds in life and why. (alza.cz)

Kniha - autor Daniel Yergin, anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu matná A master storyteller as well as a leading energy expert, Yergin continues the riveting story begun in his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, "The Prize." Now, Yergin shows how energy is an engine of global political and economic change and conflict. (alza.cz)

Long-time art critic Richard Dorment reveals the corruption and lies of the art world, and its mystifying authentication processLate one afternoon in the winter of 2003 art critic Richard Dorment answered a telephone call from a stranger. The caller was Joe Simon, an American film producer and art collector. He was ringing at the suggestion of David Hockney, his neighbour in Malibu. A committee of experts called the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board had declared the two Warhols in his collection to be fake. He wanted to know why and thought Dorment could help.This call would mark the beginning of an extraordinary story that would play out over the next ten years and would involve a cast of characters straight out of fiction. From rock icons and film stars; art dealers and art forgers; to a murdered Russian oligarch and a lawyer for the mob; from courtrooms to auction houses: all took part in a bitter struggle to prove the authenticity of a series of paintings by the most famous American artist of the 20th century.Part detective story, part art history, part memoir, part courtroom drama, Warhol After Warhol is a spellbinding account of the dark connection between money, power and art. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Publikace shrnuje příspěvky z mezinárodního workshopu konaného Praze v červnu 2012, který navázal na semináře v Gießenu, Łódzi a Praze (2010, 2011). Tématem je reprezentace šoa/holokaustu v literatuře a filmu v 70. a 80. letech. Jednotlivé příspěvky se soustřeďují zvláště na polskou, českou a německojazyčnou literaturu (polská literatura v širším kontextu, Henryk Grynberg, Ida Henefeld-Ron, A leksander Rozenfeld; Viktor Fischl, Arnošt Lustig; Edgar Hilsenrath, Cordelia Edvardson), ale také na literaturu slovenskou (Ján Johanides) a maďarsko-rumunskou (Ana Novac). Druhou oblastí záběru je film: analýza proslulého Lanzmannova dokumentu Šoa, pohledy na českou filmovou a televizní tvorbu s tematikou holokaustu v daném období. Příspěvky vycházejí v anglickém a německém jazyce ve spolupráci s Centrem pro studium holokaustu a židovské literatury a Centrem židovských studií FF UK. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The book Current Challenges of Central Europe: Society and Environment is a collective monograph published as a follow-up to the international interdisciplinary conference Our Common Present: Current Challenges of Central Europe. As the title of the book suggests, the content is dedicated to the current challenges of the central european region. Thirteen authors from five countries present their selection and understanding of these issues in eight chapters of this book. All of these chapters focus on some aspects of interaction between society and the environment from the viewpoint of the social sciences or humanities. The academic background of the authors is quite diverse, it includes philosophy, pedagogics, sociology, law, economy, environmental studies, and ecology. The chapters cover different aspects of social development and relationship to the environment, including theoretical considerations and case studies of public perception of environmental issues, education for sustainability, economic alternatives, energy demand, or urban agriculture. The chapters raise many questions and sketch some answers to the question "What are the main current challenges of Central Europe?" (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Like Sarah Bakewell's How to Live and Andrea Wulf's Magnificent Rebels, Mortal Secrets is a lively and accessible portrait of a major figure - Sigmund Freud - and the unprecedented era of creativity that shaped his ideasSome cities are like stars. When the conditions are right, they ignite, and they burn with such fierce intensity that they outshine all their rivals. From 1890 and through the early years of the 20th century, Vienna became a dazzling beacon. The city was powered by an unprecedented number of extraordinary people - artists Klimt and Schiele, thinkers such as Theodor Herzl, and fashion icons like the glamorous Empress Sisi. Conversations in coffee houses and salons spurred advances in almost every area of human endeavour: science, politics, philosophy, and the arts. The influence of early 20th century Vienna is still detectable all around us - but the place where it is at its strongest is in our heads. The way we think about ourselves has been largely determined by Vienna's most celebrated resident: Sigmund Freud. Mortal Secrets is the story of Freud's life, Vienna's golden age, and an essential reappraisal of Freud's legacy. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

From the prizewinning author of the acclaimed The Blood Telegram, a landmark, magisterial history of the postwar trial of Japan’s leaders as war criminals – and their impact on the modern history of Asia and the world.In the weeks after Japan finally surrendered to the Allies to end World War II, the victorious powers turned to the question of how to move on from years of carnage and destruction. To them, it was clear that Japan’s militaristic leaders needed to be tried and punished for their crimes.For the Allied powers, the trials were an opportunity both to render judgment on their vanquished foes and to create a legal framework to prosecute war crimes and prohibit the use of aggressive war. For the Japanese leaders on trial, it was their chance to argue that their war had been waged to liberate Asia from Western imperialism and that the court was no more than victors’ justice.Gary J. Bass' Judgement at Tokyo is the product of a decade of research, a magnificent, riveting story of wartime action, dramatic courtroom battles, and the epic formative years that set the stage for the postwar era in the Asia–Pacific. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

This book is the work of more than thirty medievalists from the Czech Republic and abroad, who offer in their chapters a broad spectrum of views of Benedictinism as a phenomenon, which has co-shaped the history of Europe for almost a millennium and a half. Its traces are evident in European education and culture, in important buildings, volumes of exceptional written monuments, in collections of liturgical objects, in monuments of sculpture and painting. The Benedictines have distinctly shaped the formation of medieval society for which they preserved much from the lost civilization of antiquity. They participated in the Christianization of European societies and in the creation of their states. In this sense, the Benedictines were at the birth of Europe – our physical and spiritual home today. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

In 2006, architectural designer and curator Adam Stech embarked on a photographic project to document the best Modernist architecture around the globe. Twenty-five countries and more than a decade later, the fruits of that monumental project are gathered in this impressive collection covering nearly a century of architectural history. Driven by a passion for rediscovering forgotten or lesser known architectural treasures of Modernism, Stech took thousands of diverse photographs of exteriors and interiors. This survey features often overlooked details that tech helps bring to light. Examples of seating, storage, tables, handrails, lighting, doors, windows, fireplaces, and other decorative or functional elements illustrate how architects imbued every aspect of a building with Modernist ideals. tech's brief personal commentary reveals insights into his photography such as capturing Le Corbusier's bold use of primary colours, the California vibe of an Albert Frey house, or the over-the-top elegance of Togo Murano's Grand Prince Hotel. Expansive and inspiring, this is destined to become the definitive guide to 20th-century Modernism. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Why should we learn more than one language?Can it change the way we think?Does it have the power to transform how we see the world? You may think you speak only one language. In fact, your mind is interpreting multiple codes of communication. Some people speak Spanish, some Mandarin. Some speak poetry, some are fluent in maths. Humans are built for multilingualism. Drawing on cutting-edge research and theory, delivered with wit and lucid insight, psycholinguist Viorica Marian explores the ways in which the mind uses multiple languages and how, in doing so, we can open the doors to unique forms of creativity, brain health and cognitive control. Every new language we speak - whether it is coding or musical notes, Hindi or Arabic - shapes how we extract and interpret information. It alters what we remember, how we perceive ourselves and those around us, how we feel, the insights we have, the decisions we make and the actions we take. The Power of Language lays bare how we use different linguistic codes to think about the world - and change our place within it.Empowering and practical, this is the perfect guide for anyone interested in how language really works. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Disruption resulting from the proliferation of AI is coming. The authors of the bestselling Prediction Machines can help you prepare. Artificial intelligence (AI) has impacted many industries around the world-banking and finance, pharmaceuticals, automotive, medical technology, manufacturing, and retail.But it has only just begun its odyssey toward cheaper, better, and faster predictions that drive strategic business decisions. When prediction is taken to the max, industries transform, and with such transformation comes disruption. What is at the root of this? In their bestselling first book, Prediction Machines, eminent economists Ajay Agrawal, Joshua Gans, and Avi Goldfarb explained the simple yet game-changing economics of AI.Now, in Power and Prediction, they go deeper, examining the most basic unit of analysis: the decision. The authors explain that the two key decision-making ingredients are prediction and judgment, and we perform both together in our minds, often without realizing it. The rise of AI is shifting prediction from humans to machines, relieving people from this cognitive load while increasing the speed and accuracy of decisions.This sets the stage for a flourishing of new decisions and has profound implications for system-level innovation. Redesigning systems of interdependent decisions takes time-many industries are in the quiet before the storm-but when these new systems emerge, they can be disruptive on a global scale. Decision-making confers power.In industry, power confers profits; in society, power confers control. This process will have winners and losers, and the authors show how businesses can leverage opportunities, as well as protect their positions. Filled with illuminating insights, rich examples, and practical advice, Power and Prediction is the must-read guide for any business leader or policymaker on how to make the coming AI disruptions work for you rather than against you. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Inside the outrageous, come-from-behind story of Elon Musk and Tesla's bid to build the world's greatest car and the race to drive the future.Elon Musk is among the most controversial titans of Silicon Valley. To some he's a genius and a visionary and to others he's a mercurial huckster. Billions of dollars have been gained and lost on his tweets and his personal exploits are the stuff of tabloids. But for all his outrageous talk of mind-uploading and space travel, his most audacious vision is the one closest to the ground: the electric car.When Tesla was founded in the 2000s, electric cars were novelties, trotted out and thrown on the scrap heap by carmakers for more than a century. But where most onlookers saw only failure, a small band of Silicon Valley engineers and entrepreneurs saw potential and they pitted themselves against the biggest, fiercest business rivals in the world, setting out to make a car that was quicker, sexier, smoother, cleaner than the competition.Tesla would undergo a truly hellish fifteen years, beset by rivals, pressured by investors, hobbled by whistleblowers, buoyed by its loyal supporters. Musk himself would often prove Tesla's worst enemy--his antics repeatedly taking the company he had funded himself to the brink of collapse. Was he an underdog, an antihero, a conman, or some combination of the three?Wall Street Journal tech and auto reporter Tim Higgins had a front-row seat for the drama: the pileups, wrestling for control, meltdowns, and the unlikeliest outcome of all, success. A story of power, recklessness, struggle, and triumph, Power Play is an exhilarating look at how a team of eccentrics and innovators beat the odds... and changed the future. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Kniha - autor Daron Acemoglu; James A. Robinson, anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu matná The bestselling book which explains why the world is divided into nations with wildly differing levels of prosperity. The authors argue that a nation's failure is not down to climate, geography or culture, but because of institutions, and draw on a range of contemporary and historical examples. Based on 15 years of research, it was shortlisted for the "Financial Times" and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award 2012. (alza.cz)

Cílem studie je popsat základní hodnoty a postoje v rodinném životě a partnerství, které převažují v západním a východním Německu, České republice a Polsku. Analýza seznamovacích inzerátů umožnila identifikovat klíčové hodnoty a postoje, které utvářejí koncepci života a partnerství v každé z těchto čtyř společností.Srovnání ukázalo systematický vztah: specifika ekonomických podmínek, historického dědictví a národní minulosti ovlivňují myšlenku dobrého života a dobrého partnerství. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Kniha - autor Robert A. Caro, 1344 stran, anglicky, Brožovaná bez přebalu matná - autor Robert A. Caro, 1344 stran, anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu matná This is the first and foremost a brilliant multidimensional portrait of a man-an extraordinary man who, denied power within the normal framework of the democratic process, stepped outside that framework to grasp power sufficient to shape a great city and hold sway over the very texture of millions of lives. (alza.cz)

The last of the devastating series of conflicts resulting from the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, the Kosovo War saw more than 13,500 fatalities, with reports of atrocities, amid controversial intervention and bombing by NATO. Twenty years have passed since the war’s end on 11 June 1999, yet Kosovo’s status remains uncertain and questions remain about the possibility of future conflict on European soil. Tim Marshall, then diplomatic editor at Sky News, was on the ground covering the war. This is his captivating account of how events unfolded, exploring the inside story of the way MI6 and the CIA helped the Serbian people to overthrow Slobodan Milosevic, the president of Yugoslavia. It is also a thrilling journalistic memoir, revealing key strategic insights that went on to shape the ideas behind the million-copy international and no.1 Sunday Times bestseller Prisoners of Geography. Drawing on personal experience, eyewitness accounts, and interviews with intelligence officials from five countries, this is the definitive account of one of the major events in recent geopolitical history, the repercussions of which continue to be felt today. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Kniha - autor David Fromkin; Kaya Oakes, 688 stran, anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu matná (alza.cz)

'Ian Moore is a brilliantly funny writer and that's all there is to it.' Annabel Giles THE FIRST NOVEL IN THE ENTHRALLING FOLLET VALLEY SERIES, BY TV/RADIO REGULAR IAN MOORE Richard is a middle-aged Englishman who runs a B&B in the fictional Val de Follet in the Loire Valley. Nothing ever happens to Richard, and really that's the way he likes it. One day, however, one of his older guests disappears, leaving behind a bloody handprint on the wallpaper. Another guest, the exotic Valerie, persuades a reluctant Richard to join her in investigating the disappearance. Richard remains a dazed passenger in the case until things become really serious and someone murders Ava Gardner, one of his beloved hens ... and you don't mess with a fellow's hens! Unputdownable mystery set in rural France, by TV/radio regular and bestselling author Ian Moore - perfect for fans of Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club, Julia Chapman, or M.C. Beaton. Everyone is wanting mort! - what people are saying about Ian Moore: 'Charming, witty, a brilliant read.' Sarah Millican 'There are a great many comedians who think that they can also write books, myself included, but very few who can rival Ian Moore's immediate warmth and skill with language.' Jon Richardson 'Ian Moore is a brilliantly funny writer and that's all there is to it.' Annabel Giles 'Everything its author is: immaculately turned out, sharp and consistently hilarious.' Mark Billingham 'What a strange and wonderful sight Ian Moore must present in the Loire Valley - an English Mod kicking around rural France with a young family, a few goats and big dreams of the good life. His brilliant book is warm, funny and big-hearted - easily the best Englishman-abroad memoir since Gerald Durrell was in short trousers and knocking around pre-war Corfu.' Tony Parsons 'So well written and funny you feel you're there flailing with him in the chicken coop. Warm, tender and incredibly funny. Treads that perfect balance between thigh-slappingly hilarious and heartbreakingly human: a unique and wonderful book.' Isy Suttie 'Ian Moore is a brilliant comedian whose wit is as sharp as his dress sense and he has managed to take that on stage story telling brilliance and put it in his writing. A great read - even if your French!' John Bishop, Comedian and Broadcaster 'Sharp, funny, warm and witty. If Ian Moore writes this well in France, he should never be let back into the UK.' Danny Wallace 'A 21st Century Tony Hancock.' Dean Kelland (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Cyrus the Great created the first Persian Empire in the 500s BCE, and sealed his pre-eminence as one of the greatest founders of empire. He conquered all major civilizations in his region and his influence reached from the Balkans in the West to the Indus river in the East. His brilliant campaigns brought vast wealth and grandeur to his homeland and a reputation for military leadership that has stood the test of time.FLAME TREE 451: From myth to mystery, the supernatural to horror, fantasy and science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The definitive reference for all Wes Anderson fans. Loaded with rich imagery and detailed analysis of his incredible films – including the classics The Grand Budapest Hotel, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and Moonrise Kingdom as well as Anderson's highly anticipated new releaseThe French Dispatch – this is the first book to feature all of Wes Anderson's movies in a single volume. Acclaimed film journalist Ian Nathan provides an intelligent and thoughtful examination of the work of one of contemporary film’s greatest visionaries, charting the themes, visuals, and narratives that have come to define Anderson’s work and contributed to his films an idiosyncratic character that's adored by his loyal fans. From Anderson’s regular cast members – including Bill Murray and Owen Wilson – to his instantly recognisable aesthetic, recurring motifs and his scriptwriting processes, this in-depth collection will reveal how Wes Anderson became one of modern cinema’s most esteemed and influential directors. Presented in a slipcase with 8-page gatefold section, this stunning package will delight all Wes Anderson devotees and movie lovers in general. Unauthorised and Unofficial. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Bauhaus Goes West is a story of cultural exchange – between the Bauhaus émigrés in the years following the school’s closure in 1933 and the countries to which they moved, focusing in particular on Britain. Taking as its starting point the cultural connections between the UK and Germany in the early part of the 20th century, the book offers a timely re-evaluation of the school’s influence on and relationship with modern art and design in Britain, concluding with the school’s American legacy. Following the closure of the Bauhaus in 1933, teachers and students found new opportunities in Britain and the United States. Among them were Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer and László Moholy-Nagy, who simultaneously spent time in London before moving to America, an episode often overlooked but freshly explored here in the context of the interaction between German Modernism and British-based design reform from 1900. Other Bauhaus-trained artists – women as well as men – stayed in the UK and made important contributions into the 1960s. In America, Mies van der Rohe and Josef and Anni Albers had significant late careers, but, over time, the Bauhaus became a shorthand for Modernism’s failure. Now, the centenary of the school’s founding provides a key opportunity to reconsider how its values emerged and were contested both during its lifetime and beyond.Table of ContentsIntroduction • 1. England and Germany • 2. Gropius Arrives • 3. Marcel Breuer •4. Moholy-Nagy • 5. Finding English Modernism • 6. Other Bauhäusler in Britain •7. O my America! • 8. Conclusion (knihydobrovsky.cz)

From an award-winning financial historian comes the gripping, character-driven story of venture capital and the world it madeInnovations rarely come from "experts." Jeff Bezos was not a bookseller; Elon Musk was not in the auto industry. When it comes to innovation, a legendary venture capitalist told Sebastian Mallaby, the future cannot be predicted, it can only be discovered. Most attempts at discovery fail, but a few succeed at such a scale that they more than make up for everything else.That extreme ratio of success and failure is the power law that drives venture capital, Silicon Valley, the tech sector, and, by extension, the world. Drawing on unprecedented access to the most celebrated venture capitalists of all time, award-winning financial historian Sebastian Mallaby tells the story of this strange tribe of financiers who have funded the world's most successful companies, from Google to SpaceX to Alibaba. With a riveting blend of storytelling and analysis, The Power Law makes sense of the seeming randomness of success in venture capital, an industry that relies, for good and ill, on gut instinct and personality rather than spreadsheets and data.We learn the unvarnished truth about some of the most iconic triumphs and infamous disasters in the history of tech, from the comedy of errors that was the birth of Apple to the venture funding that fostered hubris at WeWork and Uber to the industry's notorious lack of women and ethnic minorities. Now the power law echoes around the world: it has transformed China's digital economy beyond recognition, and London is one of the top cities for venture capital investment. By taking us so deeply into the VCs' game, The Power Law helps us think about our own future through their eyes. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Kniha - 496 stran, anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu matná From the New York Times bestselling author comes the astonishingly frank and intimate story of Silicon Valley's dominant venture-capital firms-and how their strategies and fates have shaped the path of innovation and the global economy Innovations rarely come from experts. Elon Musk was not an electric car person before he started Tesla. When it comes to improbable innovations, a legendary tech VC told Sebastian Mallaby, the future cannot be predicted, it can only be discovered. It is the nature of the venture-capital game that most attempts at discovery fail, but a very few succeed at such a scale that they more than make up for everything else. That extreme ratio of success and failure is the power law that drives the VC business, all of Silicon Valley, the wider tech sector, and, by extension, the world. In The Power Law, Sebastian Mallaby has parlayed unprecedented access to the most celebrated... (alza.cz)

The essential illustrated guide to the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome, vividly retelling their stories and exploring their origins. Who were the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome? What did they mean to the people who worshipped them? Although their time of widespread worship has long passed, the Greek and Roman gods have fascinated and inspired writers and artists for millennia. From Aphrodite to Apollo, Poseidon to Zeus, these are some of the most recognizable characters in Western culture, yet there is a much richer past behind famous paintings of the birth of Aphrodite or the bold iconography of Zeus and his thunderbolts.The Greek and Roman gods are enthralling characters in the enduringly powerful Iliad, Odyssey and Metamorphoses. They are immortal and powerful yet also vain, vindictive and vulnerable. Moreover, as manifestations of death, fertility, love and war, the gods are also our key to understanding how the Greeks and Romans saw their world.Philip Matyszak presents this pantheon in all their complexity, guiding us from Mount Olympus to the depths of Hades. Each chapter focuses on an individual god or goddess, beginning with their 'biography' as understood by the Greeks and Romans and exploring the origins of the legends. Matyszak mixes history with vivid retellings of the myths in which the gods have a starring role, from stories of cosmic creation and universal war to disastrous weddings and freak discus accidents.This sumptuously illustrated guide to the gods of Greece and Rome is a must-have for anyone interested in mythology and classical civilization. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Inferior is more than just a book. It's a battle cry - and right now, it's having a galvanising effect on its core fanbase' ObserverAre women more nurturing than men?Are men more promiscuous than women?Are males the naturally dominant sex?And can science give us an impartial answer to these questions?Taking us on an eye-opening journey through science, Inferior challenges our preconceptions about men and women, investigating the ferocious gender wars that burn in biology, psychology and anthropology. Angela Saini revisits the landmark experiments that have informed our understanding, lays bare the problem of bias in research, and speaks to the scientists finally exploring the truth about the female sex.The result is an enlightening and deeply empowering account of women's minds, bodies and evolutionary history. Interrogating what these revelations mean for us as individuals and as a society, Inferior unveils a fresh view of science in which women are included, rather than excluded. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The pages of history recall scarcely any parallel episode at once so romantic in character and so extensive in scale." ,Winston S. ChurchillIn 1917, two empires that had dominated much of Europe and Asia teetered on the edge of the abyss, exhausted by the ruinous cost in blood and treasure of the First World War. As Imperial Russia and Habsburg-ruled Austria-Hungary began to succumb, a small group of Czech and Slovak combat veterans stranded in Siberia saw an opportunity to realize their long-held dream of independence.While their plan was audacious and complex, and involved moving their 50,000-strong army by land and sea across three-quarters of the earth's expanse, their commitment to fight for the Allies on the Western Front riveted the attention of Allied London, Paris, and Washington.On their journey across Siberia, a brawl erupted at a remote Trans-Siberian rail station that sparked a wholesale rebellion. The marauding Czecho-Slovak Legion seized control of the Trans-Siberian Railroad, and with it Siberia. In the end, this small band of POWs and deserters, whose strength was seen by Leon Trotsky as the chief threat to Soviet rule, helped destroy the Austro-Hungarian Empire and found Czecho-Slovakia.British prime minister David Lloyd George called their adventure one of the greatest epics of history," and former US president Teddy Roosevelt declared that their accomplishments were unparalleled, so far as I know, in ancient or modern warfare." (knihydobrovsky.cz)

A brand-new, fun-filled sticker activity book for fans of Pip and Posy everywhere.Come and meet Pip and Posy, best friends who love to play and laugh, and get stuck into the fun and games that bring these two together.Join Pip and Posy and their friends as you use the stickers to complete the puzzles. With spot the difference, jigsaw puzzles, sticker scenes and much more, this delightful book will keep children entertained for hours. (knihydobrovsky.cz)