FREE (and bargain) books for the Kindle - November 2010

[koland]

Anna Karenina: In Half the Time, by Leo Tolstoy, is part of the Compact Editions published by Orion Publishing Group (and still has 400 pages, in the paper edition). This one is for UK readers only, but is free for them in both the US and UK stores (UK link). There are, of course, other editions for US readers in the Kindle store, including this free one converted from Gutenberg and which contains the entire work, translated from Russian to English (and which, according to the paper editions, contains anywhere from 850-1100 "pages", so is substantially longer that this compact edition).

Book Description
Anna Karenina is the heart-wrenching tale of a woman who recklessly throws away everything she has for a passionate affair with a young soldier. Beautiful, popular, wife to a wealthy man and mother to an adored son, Anna seems to be in an enviable position. However, it takes only one encounter with Count Vronsky to fill her with the sense that her life has hitherto been empty. As the rest of the world fades into insignificance next to her great love, Anna faces an impossible choice.

Leo Tolstoy was born in 1828 at Yasnaya Polyana, province of Tula, the fourth son of Count Nikolay Tolstoy. Between 1856 and 1861 Tolstoy wrote and traveled abroad extensively. He returned with a sense of revulsion for what he considered to be European materialism. In 1859 he started several schools for peasant children at Yasnaya and in 1862 he founded a magazine in which he contended that it was the peasants who should teach the intellectuals, rather than the other way round. Tolstoy's increasingly radical political stance at the end of his life alienated his wife. He frequently dispensed huge sums of money to beggars and drew up a will relinquishing his copyrights. Such behavior led to frequent disputes with his Sofia. Finding it impossible to continue living a comfortable life with his family whilst preaching communism, he left Yasnaya in 1910, with one of his daughters and his doctor, for an unknown destination. He died on the journey and was buried in a simple peasant's grave.

The great classics contain passionate romance, thrilling adventure, arresting characters, unforgettable scenes and situations. But finding time to read them can be a problem. So, we've condensed some of the finest books in the world to a manageable length to enable everyone to enjoy them

* A unique concept
* The reductions in length have been done with sensitivity and retain the author's own words
* The popularity of TV and movie adaptations of the Classics shows that there is an audience for the Compact Editions series
* Distinctive modern cover treatment and attractive, readable text
* Includes a time line to place the book in its historical context
* 'The Compact Editions are aimed at encouraging more mainstream readers to become better acquainted with our literary heritage which, personally, I salute' Sarah Broadhurst, The Bookseller
* 'For "ordinary" readers - people who want nothing more than to be diverted by some of the greatest prose writing ever produced - I can't see why it matters if they opt for a crisper version of a rambling old classic' Kathryn Hughes, Guardian Unlimited Books

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Strength for Service to God and Country by Norman E. Nygaard and Evan Hunsberger (Christian)

Product Description
Strength for Service was originally published in 1942, and over 720,000 copies were distributed to U.S. service men and women. After the events of September 11, 2001 the General Commission on United Methodist Men partnered with Evan Hunsberger, who had a vision to republish the little devotional book as his Eagle Scout service project to honor his grandfather. Eugene Hunsberger, a Navy corpsman, read it to dying men on the battlefields of the Pacific during World War II. This updated version includes 40 additional entries, with over one million copies purchased by and distributed to deserving service members.

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Can I Be Sure I'm Saved? (Crucial Questions Series) by R. C. Sproul (Christian)

Product Description
Many people in the church today are plagued by doubts about their salvation. Satan whispers that it is impossible that sinners such as they could be in a state of grace, and some churches compound the problem by teaching that it is possible for believers to lose their salvation.

But assurance of salvation is possible in this life. Indeed, as Dr. R.C. Sproul argues in this Crucial Questions booklet, it is the duty of Christians to make their calling sure (2 Peter 1:10). To help believers reach this goal, Dr. Sproul defines assurance, shows how we can get it, reveals the blessings it confers, and warns of the dangers of false assurance. Here is assistance for those who struggle to know where they stand with Jesus Christ.

A Simple Amish Christmas by Vannetta Chapman

Product Description
Annie Weaver always planned to return home, but the 20-year old RN has lived in Philadelphia for three years now. As her time of rumschpringe is about to come to an abrupt end, bringing for Annie an overwhelming sense of loneliness. She returns home and finds herself face-to-face with a budding romance with an Amish farmer and Annie has several important choices to make.

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Brains: How They Work and What that Tells Us About Who We Are by Dale Purves (Author)

Product Description

For 50 years, the world’s most brilliant neuroscientists have struggled to understand how human brains really work. Today, says Dale Purves, the dominant research agenda may have taken us as far as it can—and neuroscientists may be approaching a paradigm shift.
In this highly personal book, Purves reveals how we got to this point and offers his notion of where neuroscience may be headed next. Purves guides you through a half-century of the most influential ideas in neuroscience and introduces the extraordinary scientists and physicians who created and tested them.
Purves offers a critical assessment of the paths that neuroscience research has taken, their successes and their limitations, and then introduces an alternative approach for thinking about brains. Building on new research on visual perception, he shows why common ideas about brain networks can’t be right and uncovers the factors that determine our subjective experience. The resulting insights offer a deeper understanding of what it means to be human.

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Profitable Road to (Business) Harmony by Jim Champy

Product Description

When processes don't mesh smoothly, companies can find themselves at odds with one another. Suppliers don't deliver the promised value, manufacturers turn out shoddy products, and customers depart. The new reengineering calls for redesigning your processes to fit with those of your partners.

Leaders often shy away from the word "harmony." It connotes a certain softness that seems at odds with the common perception that managing a business requires, above all, toughness-a greater concern for results than for feelings. But here I'm talking about the hard stuff-processes.

The dictionary in my laptop devotes most of its definition of "harmonize" to a discussion of melodies and musical terminology. But it also includes the following: "to make rules, regulations, or systems similar or in accord with each other." That accurately captures my meaning-though I would add processes to the list, of course.

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The Truth About Securing Your Retirement with IRAs : The Essential Truths in 20 Minutes by Steve Weisman

Product Description

The Truth About Securing Your Retirement with IRAs arms you with the up-to-the-minute knowledge you need to build your retirement income, as you reduce your costs, taxes, and risks! Consumer finance expert and nationally syndicated radio host Steve Weisman offers quick, bite-size, just-the-facts information. This book distills the essential knowledge you need and presents it clearly, simply, and quickly.


The truth about getting started with IRAs
The truth about Roth versus Traditional IRAs
The truth about early withdrawals, conversions, setting up IRAs for children, and more!

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Helping People Win at Work : A Business Philosophy Called ''Don't Mark My Paper, Help Me Get an A'' by Ken Blanchard and Garry Ridge

Product Description

Ken Blanchard’s Leading at a Higher Level techniques are inspiring thousands of leaders to build high-performing organizations that make life better for everyone. Now, Blanchard and WD-40 Company leader Garry Ridge reveal how WD-40 has used Blanchard’s techniques of Partnering for Performance with every employee--achieving levels of engagement and commitment that have fortified the bottom line.

Ridge introduces WD-40 Company’s year-round performance review system, explaining its goals, features, and the cultural changes it requires. Next, he shares his leadership point of view: what he expects of people, what they can expect of him, and where his beliefs about leadership and motivation come from. Finally, Ken Blanchard explains why WD-40 Company’s Partnering for Performance system works so well--and how to leverage its high-value techniques in your organization.

15 Successful Communications Lessons (Collection) by FT Press Delivers

Product Description

A brand new collection of essential insights for your business and career from world-renowned experts…now in a convenient e-format, at a great price!

Make Your Point, Get Heard, Get Understood, and Get Action!

Get results! Master breakthrough communications techniques for every audience and every medium—from PowerPoint to face-to-face conversations! Learn to succeed at everything from making a great first impression to communicating complex data…listening effectively to managing a flood of email!

From world-renowned leaders and experts, including Jerry Weissman, Mark Magnacca, Terry Fadem, Jurgen Wolff, David M. Levine, and many more.

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The Rules of Life : A Personal code for Living a Better, Happier, More Successful Life Reader by Richard Templar

Product Description

Think about the world’s happiest, most contented, most fulfilled people...

How’d they get that way?

Is it their genes? No. Money? Absolutely not.

It’s about the small choices they make, every day.

Things you can do. Things you can change.

It’s about what they know and you can learn:

The Rules of Life.

[avantman42]

City of Fear by Alafair Burke

The breakout novel from the highly acclaimed thriller writer delves into the underworld of the Manhattan nightclub scene. In a city full of victims, it's murder to choose just one...Chelsea Hart, a fresh-faced Indiana college student, spends the final night of her spring break in the VIP room of an elite New York City nightclub with her girlfriends and a fake ID. The next morning, joggers find her in East River Park, her celebrated blonde hair hacked off. NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher catches the case and quickly homes in on a group of privileged men who were last seen partying with Chelsea. When a tight case is built against a young hedge fund manager, the department is elated. But Ellie has her doubts. Chelsea's murder is eerily similar to three other deaths that occurred a decade ago: the victims were young, female, and in each case, the killer had taken her hair as a souvenir. Ellie's search for the truth pits her against her fellow cops and places her under the watchful eye of of a psychopath eager to add the prideful young detective to his list...

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/City-of-Fear/dp/B002RI917G
US: http://www.amazon.com/City-of-Fear/dp/B002RI917G

[peegee]

Originally Posted by koland

Anna Karenina: In Half the Time, by Leo Tolstoy, is part of the Compact Editions published by Orion Publishing Group (and still has 400 pages, in the paper edition). This one is for UK readers only, but is free for them in both the US and UK stores (UK link). There are, of course, other editions for US readers in the Kindle store, including this free one converted from Gutenberg and which contains the entire work, translated from Russian to English (and which, according to the paper editions, contains anywhere from 850-1100 "pages", so is substantially longer that this compact edition).

This one is not free, it is 6.99 ("This price was set by the publisher"). I've recently read the unabridged version and was curious to see the differences in the condensed version, but not curious enough to shell out 6.99!

[drofgnal]

I posted this in the Reading recomendations (Historical Fiction) as well. Conn Iggulden's Kahn, Birth of An Empire is now 1.59 (US). Its the first in a series of historical fiction books on Genghis Kahn. He has a new one out in Dec, so I'm assuming this is a promotion to stir up interest.

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Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry (Christian Fiction)

Product Description
Billy Allman is a hillbilly genius. People in Dogwood, West Virginia, say he was born with a second helping of brains and a gift for playing the mandolin but was cut short on social skills. Though he’d gladly give you the shirt off his back, they were right. Billy longs to use his life as an ode to God, a lyrical, beautiful bluegrass song played with a finely tuned heart. So with spare parts from a lifetime of collecting, he builds a radio station in his own home. People in town laugh. But Billy carries a brutal secret that keeps him from significance and purpose. Things always seem to go wrong for him.
However small his life seems, from a different perspective Billy’s song reaches far beyond the hills and hollers he calls home. Malachi is an angel sent to observe Billy. Though it is not his dream assignment, Malachi follows the man and begins to see the bigger picture of how each painful step Billy takes is a note added to a beautiful symphony that will forever change the lives of those who hear it.

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The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask by Mark Mittelberg

Product Description
“Why are Christians against same-sex people getting married? . . . Why do you believe God exists at all? . . . Why would God allow evil and suffering? . . . Why trust the Bible when it’s full of mistakes? . . . How could a loving God send people to hell? . . . What makes you think Jesus was more than just a good teacher? . . . Why are Christians so judgmental?”
Some questions can stop a conversation. Today, more than ever, people are raising difficult, penetrating questions about faith, God, and the Bible. Based on an exclusive new Barna survey of 1,000 Christians, The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask presents compelling, easy-to-grasp answers to ten of the most troubling questions facing Christians today. These include everything from the existence of heaven to the issues of abortion and homosexuality, as well as the question of whether evolution eliminates our need for a God.

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Safely Home by Randy Alcorn (Christian Fiction)

Fans of Randy Alcorn will applaud this soul-stirring story of two college friends who reconnect after twenty years. One is living life apart from God in comfortable corporate America while the other is living for Christ under intense persecution in China. This stunning page-turner will convict the hearts of readers to live in the light of eternity. Royalties from sales of this book will be donated to support the persecuted Church.

[koland]

Originally Posted by peegee

This one is not free, it is 6.99 ("This price was set by the publisher"). I've recently read the unabridged version and was curious to see the differences in the condensed version, but not curious enough to shell out 6.99!

Prices can change minute to minute, so always check the prices before you buy. This one wasn't available at all in the US (it was only free to customers that live in UK).