FREE/BARGAIN — Non-Fiction

[Little.Egret]

Hourly History shorts, free

Alexander the Great: A Life From Beginning to End

Hannibal Barca: A Life From Beginning to End

Ancient Civilizations: A Concise Guide to Ancient Rome, Egypt, and Greece (3-Books Box Set Book 1)

Still free

Catherine the Great: A Life From Beginning to End

John F. Kennedy: A Life From Beginning to End

Greek Mythology - Norse Mythology - Egyptian Mythology (3 Book Series)


https://www.amazon.com/s/?url=search...Hourly+History

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?url=sear...Hourly+History

https://www.amazon.ca/s/?url=search-...Hourly+History

[ATDrake]

Bargain @ $1.99 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's Mariner Books imprint in the US only (some HarperCollins imprint has the rights elsewhere; price should be the same at all the other US retailers):

The Road to Middle-Earth: Revised and Expanded Edition by retired literature professor and Tolkien scholar Tom Shippey (Wikipedia), his behind-the-scenes exploration and analysis of J. R. R. Tolkien's influences, literary achievements, etc. ETA: apparently this is not only notable enough to have its own Wikipedia entry, it turns out there's an actual Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in Inklings Studies just for Tolkien stuff, which this won back in the original edition.

The Road to Middle-earth, Tom Shippey’s classic work, now revised in paperback, explores J. R. R. Tolkien’s creativity and the sources of his inspiration. Shippey shows in detail how Tolkien’s professional background led him to write The Hobbit and how he created a timeless charm for millions of readers. Examining the foundation of Tolkien’s most popular work, The Lord of the Rings, Shippey also discusses the contribution of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales to Tolkien’s great myth cycle, showing how Tolkien’s more “difficult” books can be fully appreciated. He goes on to examine the remarkable twelve-volume History of Middle-earth, written by Tolkien’s son and literary heir Christopher Tolkien, which traces the creative and technical processes by which Middle-earth evolved.

A previous Tolkien studies bargain is also still $1.99 in the US: The History of the Hobbit: Mr Baggins and Return to Bag-End

[ATDrake]

Bargain @ £0.99 in the UK only from HarperCollins (should be the same price at other UK retailers):

Agatha Christie's Complete Secret Notebooks by Christie scholar John Curran, an omnibus edition of two books examining her influences, methods, and works, the Anthony Award-winning Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks: Fifty Years of Mysteries in the Making (Wikipedia) and Agatha Christie’s Murder in the Making: Stories and Secrets from Her Archive.

This includes two previously unpublished Poirot stories, one unpublished Miss Marple short, and a look at some of her original manuscript endings. For comparison purposes, the individual volumes are priced at £2.99 & £3.99 and the omnibus edition is $29.99 CAD on this side of the pond, so this is very good value for money if you're at all interested in the behind-the-scenes of Christie's work or even just the three “new” stories.

Agatha Christie’s Complete Secret Notebooks brings together for the first time Secret Notebooks and Murder in the Making, two volumes that explore the fascinating contents of her 73 notebooks. This includes illustrations, deleted extracts, unused ideas, two unpublished Poirot stories and a lost Miss Marple. (many more details of contents in full blurb)

ETA: also @ £1.99 in the UK from HarperCollins, another Christie-related work:

The Life and Crimes of Agatha Christie: A biographical companion to the works of Agatha Christie (Text Only) by Charles Osborne (Wikipedia) who was authorized to write the novel adaptations based on her plays.

As the title indicates, this version omits the rare photographs and other illustrations mentioned in the full blurb, and there doesn't seem to be any illustrated ebook version available. In any case, the text will probably be the main draw. $11.99 CAD, for comparison purposes.

A biographical companion to the works of Agatha Christie – revised and updated edition Agatha Christie was the author of over 100 plays, short story collections and novels which have been translated into 103 languages; she is outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. Many have tried to copy her but none has succeeded. Attempts to capture her personality on paper, to discover her motivations or the reasons for her popularity, have usually failed. Charles Osborne, a lifelong student of Agatha Christie, has approached this most private of persons above all through her books, and the result is a fascinating companion to her life and work. This ‘professional life’ of Agatha Christie provides authoritative information on each book’s provenance, on the work itself and on its contemporary critical reception set against the background of the major events in the author’s life.

ETA 2: and also, @ £1.49 in the UK from HarperCollins:

Agatha Christie’s Poirot: The Life and Times of Hercule Poirot by Order of Canada-recipient Anne Hart (Wikipedia), a comprehensive companion to the famous Belgian detective in all his incarnations.

The definitive companion to the POIROT novels, films and TV appearances. ‘My name is Hercule Poirot and I am probably the greatest detective in the world.' The dapper, moustache-twirling little Belgian with the egg-shaped head, curious mannerisms and inordinate respect for his own 'little grey cells' has solved some of the most puzzling crimes of the century. Yet despite being familiar to millions, Poirot himself has remained an enigma – until now. From his first appearance in 1920 to his last in 1975, from country-house drawing-rooms to opium dens in Limehouse, from Mayfair to the Mediterranean, Anne Hart stalks the legendary sleuth, unveiling the mysteries that surround him. Sifting through 33 novels and 56 short stories, she examines his origins, tastes, relationships and peculiarities, revealing a character as fascinating as the books themselves.

[gbm]

Sink 'Em All: Submarine Warfare in the Pacific by Charles A. Lockwood $0.99 Amazon

‘This is a book of substantial importance. Here is an account of U.S. Navy submarine operations in the Pacific by the flag officer responsible for their direction throughout the war. It is that sort of book-written by a prime authority who holds strong opinions and is not afraid to air them; whose treatment is always suggestive and strikes sparks in every chapter.’ – The Naval Review

Sink ’Em All, was originally published in 1951 by Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, the U.S. Navy commander of the Pacific submarine fleet during World War II.

Lockwood, in his leadership role, knew the skippers and crews of the submarines, and retells their wartime successes and tragedies with an intimacy and realism often missing in second-hand accounts.

Lockwood also recounts his efforts to improve the provisions and after-patrol accomodations of the submariners, and of his on-going struggle to improve the effectiveness of torpedoes and other tools vital to the war effort.

'It is a balanced and surprisingly objective account adequately supported by statistics and containing some interesting conclusions.' The Naval Review

Charles Andrews Lockwood (May 6, 1890 – June 7, 1967) was a vice-admiral and flag officer of the United States Navy. He is known in submarine history as the commander of Submarine Force Pacific Fleet during World War II. He devised tactics for the effective use of submarines, making the members and elements of "silent service" key players in the Pacific victory.

bernie

[MickeyC]

Originally Posted by gbm

Sink 'Em All: Submarine Warfare in the Pacific by Charles A. Lockwood $0.99 Amazon



bernie

$4.49 on Kobo

[Little.Egret]

Charles River Editors, free

Covert Operations in World War II: The History and Legacy of the War’s Most Daring Secret Missions

King Philip’s War and Pontiac’s War: The History and Legacy of the American Colonies’ Most Famous Native American Uprisings

Ancient Rhodes: The History and Legacy of the Famous Greek Island in Antiquity


https://www.amazon.com/s/?url=search...+river+editors

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?url=sear...+river+editors

https://www.amazon.ca/s/?url=search-...+river+editors

add

Olaudah Equiano: The Life and Legacy of the Freed Slave Whose Autobiography Fueled Britain’s Abolitionist Movement

Iran’s Nuclear Program: The Controversial History of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Nuclear Research and Uranium Enrichment

[ATDrake]

X-link to the DRM-free thread for some new bundles:

Humble Book Bundle Java presented by O'Reilly is full of DIY computer programming books for that language from the popular tech publisher, at every level from just beginning to advanced applications for various adjacent technologies.

Also, the Humble Book Bundle Stellar Sci-Fi & Fantasy presented by Tachyon contains a non-fiction book of essays from Cory Doctorow at the 3rd tier, if you're interested.

[Little.Egret]

Free from Luminos, University of California Press’s Open Access publishing program.

Polemics and Patronage in the City of Victory: Vyasatirtha, Hindu Sectarianism, and the Sixteenth-Century Vijayanagara Court (South Asia Across the Disciplines) by Valerie Stoker

Finding Jerusalem: Archaeology between Science and Ideology by Katharina Galor

Christianity, Islam, and Orisa-Religion: Three Traditions in Comparison and Interaction (The Anthropology of Christianity) by J.D.Y. Peel

Afghanistan's Islam: From Conversion to the Taliban by Nile Green



see all

https://www.amazon.com/s/?url=search...ifornia+Press*

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?url=sear...ifornia+Press*

https://www.amazon.ca/s/?url=search-...ifornia+Press*

[Little.Egret]

Mental Health in Historical Perspective, free


Improving Psychiatric Care for Older People: Barbara Robb’s Campaign 1965-1975 (Mental Health in Historical Perspective) by Claire Hilton

Investigating the Body in the Victorian Asylum: Doctors, Patients, and Practices (Mental Health in Historical Perspective) by Jennifer Wallis

A History of Self-Harm in Britain: A Genealogy of Cutting and Overdosing (Mental Health in Historical Perspective) by Chris Millard

A History of Male Psychological Disorders in Britain, 1945-1980 (Mental Health in Historical Perspective) by Alison Haggett


https://www.amazon.com/s/?url=search...lth+historical

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?url=sear...lth+historical

https://www.amazon.ca/s/?url=search-...lth+historical

[Little.Egret]

Originally Posted by Little.Egret

Charles River Editors, free

Covert Operations in World War II: The History and Legacy of the War’s Most Daring Secret Missions

King Philip’s War and Pontiac’s War: The History and Legacy of the American Colonies’ Most Famous Native American Uprisings

Ancient Rhodes: The History and Legacy of the Famous Greek Island in Antiquity


https://www.amazon.com/s/?url=search...+river+editors

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?url=sear...+river+editors

https://www.amazon.ca/s/?url=search-...+river+editors

add

Olaudah Equiano: The Life and Legacy of the Freed Slave Whose Autobiography Fueled Britain’s Abolitionist Movement

Iran’s Nuclear Program: The Controversial History of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Nuclear Research and Uranium Enrichment

And again

The Red Baron and Eddie Rickenbacker: The Lives and Legacies of World War I’s Most Famous Aces

Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.: The Life and Legacy of the Patriarch Behind America’s Most Famous Political Dynasty

Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr.: The Life and Legacy of the Eldest Kennedy Brother

[ATDrake]

Now a repeat bargain, again in the US only, and probably short-lived this time, too. It turns out that some Mariner Books are couponable/VIP-eligible in the US at Kobo as well, though this should also otherwise be the same price at all the other US retailers. I've started reading my copy of this bought some time ago previously, and it's delightfully entertaining.

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Bargain @ $1.99 in the US only from Harcourt's Mariner Books imprint (should be the same price at all the usual retailers):

How to Travel with a Salmon & Other Essays by the late novelist and semiotician Umberto Eco (Wikipedia).

A cosmopolitan curmudgeon the Los Angeles Times called “the Andy Rooney of academia”—known for both nonfiction and novels that have become blockbuster New York Times bestsellers—Umberto Eco takes readers on “a delightful romp through the absurdities of modern life” (Publishers Weekly) as he journeys around the world and into his own wildly adventurous mind.

[Acataloger]

Missed this one last time. After borrowing library copies several times, I'm glad to have a permanent copy. Rereading and laughing all over again is essential.

[MickeyC]

Originally Posted by ATDrake

Now a repeat bargain, again in the US only, and probably short-lived this time, too. It turns out that some Mariner Books are couponable/VIP-eligible in the US at Kobo as well, though this should also otherwise be the same price at all the other US retailers. I've started reading my copy of this bought some time ago previously, and it's delightfully entertaining.

Got it. Thanks!

[Little.Egret]

Charles River Editors, Free

Apollo and Artemis: The Origins and History of the Twin Deities in Ancient Greek Mythology

British India: The History and Legacy of the British Raj and the Partition of India and Pakistan into Separate Nations

Island Hopping across the Pacific Theater in World War II: The History of America’s Victorious Leapfrogging Strategy against Imperial Japan

The Six Day War: The History and Legacy of the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and Its Impact on the Middle East

Mysterious North America: Mysteries, Legends, and Unexplained Phenomena across the United States, Mexico, and Canada

The Mysterious British Isles: A Collection of Mysteries, Legends, and Unexplained Phenomena across Britain and Ireland


https://www.amazon.com/s/?url=search...+river+editors

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?url=sear...+river+editors

https://www.amazon.ca/s/?url=search-...+river+editors

Add

England’s Most Famous Palaces: The History of Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace

The Canaanites and Philistines: The History and Legacy of the Ancient Israelites’ Enemies in the Land that Became Israel

Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata: The Lives and Legacies of Mexico’s Most Famous Revolutionaries

The Defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I: The History of the Allied Victories that Led to the Collapse of the Turkish Empire

[Little.Egret]

Originally Posted by Little.Egret

UK special offer £1.99

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Daniel Kahneman, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his seminal work in psychology challenging the rational model of judgment and decision making, is one of the world's most important thinkers. His ideas have had a profound impact on many fields


In Thinking, Fast and Slow, Kahneman takes us on a groundbreaking tour of the mind and explains the two systems that drive the way we think and make choices. One system is fast, intuitive, and emotional; the other is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. Kahneman exposes the extraordinary capabilities-and also the faults and biases-of fast thinking, and reveals the pervasive influence of intuitive impressions on our thoughts and behaviour.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thinking-Fa...dp/B005MJFA2W/

Excellent value, I paid much more when it went into pb and felt it worth every penny then.

Recommended by David D Friedman.

Still or again £1.99

Still recommended.