National Geographic Wall Maps offer a special glimpse into current and historical events, and they inform about the world and environment. Offered in a variety of styles and formats, these maps are excellent reference tools and a perfect addition to any home, business or school. There are a variety of map options to choose from, including the world, continents, countries and regions, the United States, history, nature and space.

'Atlas of Improbable Places has that rare, through-the-wardrobe quality. It is a delightful compendium of the strangest places on the planet.’ DAILY TELEGRAPH 2020 WINNER OF THE EDWARD STANFORD TRAVEL ILLUSTRATED BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR Atlas of Vanishing Places. In Atlas of Improbable Places, Travis Elborough goes in search of the obscure and bizarre, the beautiful and arcane. His unique atlas shows you the modern world from surprising new vantage points. Discover the secret Soviet city of Zheleznogorsk and the church tower of San Juan Parangaricutiro, miraculously still standing as the sole survivor of a town sunk by lava. Explore the underground realms of Beijing and Berlin, dug for refuge and espionage, and the floating worlds of remote Palmerston and the macabre Island of Dolls.   The truths and myths behind these hidden lairs, forgotten cities and improbable wonders are as varied as the destinations themselves. These curious places are not just extraordinary sights but reflections on our relationship with the world around us. Acclaimed author and social commentator, Travis Elborough, is a marvellous travel guide to the world's most unusual corners.    ‘This engrossing book traverses the heights and depths, the beauty and terror, of our world.’ THE OBSERVER   ‘Understatedly expressive.’ NEW YORK TIMES   ‘Deeply researched – and really worth your time.’ GQ

Birds are intelligent, sociable creatures that exhibit a wide array of behaviours - from mobbing and mimicking to mating and joint nesting. Why do they behave as they do? Bringing to light the remarkable actions of birds through examples from species around the world, How To Read a Bird presents engaging vignettes about the private lives of birds, all explained in an evolutionary context. Richly illustrated, this book explores the increasing focus on how individual birds differ in personality and how big data and citizen scientists are helping to add to what we know about them.

Bag the perfect GCSE Atlas this Back to School. Fully revised and updated for 2021, this curriculum-supportive world atlas is the perfect tool for students aged 14-16 years (Key Stage 4, GCSE 9-1). It features up-to-date reference and thematic mapping, country-by-country statistics, an extensive geographical dictionary and a fully comprehensive index. Colour coded for ease of use Includes thematic maps and accompanying graphs and tables Covers tourism, telecommunications, environmental and socio-economic topics Lists relevant web addresses on each thematic page so students can explore topics more deeply High quality satellite imagery supports data on the maps and is used to illustrate key environmental issues Up-to-date demographic and socio-economic statistics can be used to support geographical, tourist, mathematical, economic or IT projects

Celebrating 100 years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, motorsport’s iconic endurance race, technical illustrator Mick Hill takes us on a potted history of this world-famous event. The follow-on book to his successful Grand Prix’s Winning Colours, Mick once again allows his signature artwork to take centre stage, presenting a complete visual record of every winning car since the championship began back in 1923. Including details of the cars’ drivers, as well as interesting facts about each race, such as weather conditions, distance covered and average speeds, Le Mans Winning Colours is a book to treasure for all racing-car enthusiasts.

Focusing on the ancient Chinese academy, a unique cultural and educational organization in the Chinese history, this two-volume set explores the interaction between academies and Confucianism, education, social politics, and regional culture. Inaugurated in the Tang dynasty and eventually abolished in the late Qing dynasty, the academy exerts extensive and profound influences on the ancient Chinese culture, politics, and social life. The first volume revisits the inception and development from a socio-cultural perspective; and examines the reciprocity and thriving relationships between the academy and schools of Confucianism in the Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties. Centering around the social, political and cultural significance of the academy, the second volume looks into the role that the academy played in social control and governance, ritual, education and academia, as well as the burgeoning of regional cultures. The set will be a useful reference for scholars, students and general readers interested in cultural history, intellectual history, and educational history of ancient China, and especially the Chinese academy culture.