0
Your cart

Your cart is empty

Browse All Departments
Price
  • R50 - R100 (3)
  • R100 - R250 (281)
  • R250 - R500 (1,733)
  • R500+ (6,344)
  • -
Status
Format
Author / Contributor
Publisher

Books > Professional & Technical > Other technologies

Merchant Ship Types (Hardcover): Alexander Arnfinn Olsen Merchant Ship Types (Hardcover)
Alexander Arnfinn Olsen
R3,935 Discovery Miles 39 350 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Merchant Ship Types provides a broad and detailed introduction to the classifications and main categories of merchant vessels for students and cadets. It introduces the concept of ship classification by usage, cargo type, and size, and shows how the various size categories affect which ports and channels the types of vessels are permitted to enter. Detailed outlines of each major vessel category are provided, including: Feeder ship General cargo vessels Container ships Tankers Dry bulk carriers Multi-purpose vessels Reefer ships Roll-on/roll-off vessels The book also explains where these are permitted to operate, the type of cargoes carried, and specific safety or risk factors associated with the vessel class, as well as their main characteristics. Relevant case studies are presented. The textbook is ideal for merchant navy cadets at HNC, HND, and foundation degree level in both the deck and engineering branches, and serves as a general reference for insurance, law, logistics, offshore and fisheries.

Loudspeakers - For Music Recording and Reproduction (Paperback, 2nd edition): Philip Newell, Keith Holland Loudspeakers - For Music Recording and Reproduction (Paperback, 2nd edition)
Philip Newell, Keith Holland
R2,212 Discovery Miles 22 120 Ships in 9 - 15 working days

Loudspeakers: For Music Recording and Reproduction, Second Edition is a comprehensive guide, offering the tools and understanding needed to cut out the guesswork from loudspeaker choice and set-up. Philip Newell and Keith Holland, with the assistance of Sergio Castro and Julius Newell, combine their years of experience in the design, application, and use of loudspeakers to cover a range of topics from drivers, cabinets, and crossovers, to amplifiers, cables, and surround sound. Whether using loudspeakers in a recording studio, mastering facility, broadcasting studio, film post-production facility, home, or musician's studio, or if you simply aspire to improve your music-production system this book will help you make the right decisions. This new edition provides significant updates on the topics of digital control, calibration, and cinema loudspeaker systems.

Air Warriors - The Inside Story of the Making of a Navy Pilot (Paperback): Douglas Waller Air Warriors - The Inside Story of the Making of a Navy Pilot (Paperback)
Douglas Waller
R522 R439 Discovery Miles 4 390 Save R83 (16%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days
Pathways to machine manufacturing: Fet level 3: Textbook (Paperback): Pathways to machine manufacturing: Fet level 3: Textbook (Paperback)
R513 R452 Discovery Miles 4 520 Save R61 (12%) Ships in 5 - 10 working days
Cosmological Clues - Evidence for the Big Bang, Dark Matter and Dark Energy (Paperback): Carolyn Devereux Cosmological Clues - Evidence for the Big Bang, Dark Matter and Dark Energy (Paperback)
Carolyn Devereux
R1,437 Discovery Miles 14 370 Ships in 9 - 15 working days

Did the Universe have a beginning? Will it have an end? Or has it always been the same, never changing? This is the subject of cosmology; the study of the Universe, and this book provides a perfect introduction to the subject for anyone that is interested in the wonders of our Universe This book provides an accessible overview of the Standard Model of Cosmology, which is explained in six Cosmological Clues, including evidence for the Big Bang and dark matter and dark energy - the keystones of modern cosmology. It takes readers through some of the most exciting questions in cosmology, such as what evidence do we have that the Universe started from the Big Bang? Has dark matter been observed? Will we ever know what dark energy is? Are the multiverses real? And could the Universe be a hologram? This book is an ideal guide for anyone interested in finding out more about our Universe. It will be of interest to those studying cosmology for the first time, including readers without a scientific background, who have an interest in looking up at the stars and wondering where they all came from! Key features: Contains the latest evidence for the Big Bang, dark matter, and dark energy and explores exciting scientific ideas, such as inflation and multiverses Provides a clear explanation of the main theories of how the Universe evolved based on key observations - the Cosmological Clues Gives the reader a concise introduction to the scientific process, using cosmology as the example, and explores why it has been so successful in creating the technologies we have today

The Little Book of Cosmology (Hardcover): Lyman Page The Little Book of Cosmology (Hardcover)
Lyman Page
R524 R435 Discovery Miles 4 350 Save R89 (17%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

The cutting-edge science that is taking the measure of the universe The Little Book of Cosmology provides a breathtaking look at our universe on the grandest scales imaginable. Written by one of the world's leading experimental cosmologists, this short but deeply insightful book describes what scientists are revealing through precise measurements of the faint thermal afterglow of the Big Bang-known as the cosmic microwave background, or CMB-and how their findings are transforming our view of the cosmos. Blending the latest findings in cosmology with essential concepts from physics, Lyman Page first helps readers to grasp the sheer enormity of the universe, explaining how to understand the history of its formation and evolution in space and time. Then he sheds light on how spatial variations in the CMB formed, how they reveal the age, size, and geometry of the universe, and how they offer a blueprint for the formation of cosmic structure. Not only does Page explain current observations and measurements, he describes how they can be woven together into a unified picture to form the Standard Model of Cosmology. Yet much remains unknown, and this incisive book also describes the search for ever deeper knowledge at the field's frontiers-from quests to understand the nature of neutrinos and dark energy to investigations into the physics of the very early universe.

Defense Technological Innovation - Issues and Challenges in an Era of Converging Technologies (Hardcover): Bharat Rao, Adam J.... Defense Technological Innovation - Issues and Challenges in an Era of Converging Technologies (Hardcover)
Bharat Rao, Adam J. Harrison, Bala Mulloth
R2,814 Discovery Miles 28 140 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Rapid advances in the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution pose a critical challenge to large, complex organizations both in the private and public sectors. The national defense ecosystem is no exception. The US Department of Defense has launched a number of efforts directed towards fostering creative and entrepreneurial problem solving, while evolving better practices to absorb external innovations. Defense Technological Innovation describes the emerging paradigm for innovation at the US Department of Defense, and the consequential impacts on its stakeholders. Leveraging a combination of prior research, archival data, first-person observations and interviews, the authors identify practices and themes characterizing the key trends in defense innovation, describe current organizational approaches and practices, and develop a theoretical framework that elucidates the competencies required to underwrite defense innovation objectives. The findings therein are relevant to any large, technology-driven organization contending with the implications of rapid change in the high-tech landscape. Scholars interested in the broad areas of technology innovation, national security, defense policy, and organizational change now have a book that addresses the problem of defense innovation. It will also appeal to scholars and policymakers in strategy, security studies, international affairs, and policy.

Noma 2.0 (Hardcover): Rene Redzepi, Mette Soberg, Junichi Takahashi Noma 2.0 (Hardcover)
Rene Redzepi, Mette Soberg, Junichi Takahashi
R1,924 R1,552 Discovery Miles 15 520 Save R372 (19%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

There's a reason Noma sits atop the list of the world's best restaurants. Every bite, every dish, every course surprises, delights, challenges, and deeply satisfies in a way that's unique in the world of dining. As the New York Times's Pete Wells wrote recently in praising Noma's flavors, "sauces are administered so subtly that you don't notice anything weird going on; you just think you've never tasted anything so extraordinary in your life." In Noma 2.0, Rene Redzepi digs deep into the restaurant's magic through the creation of nearly 200 dishes, each photographed in spectacular beauty and detail. Noma 2.0--the title is a reference to the reinvention of Noma after it closed in 2018 to move to its new compound across the water--is about true seasonality, from wild game in the fall to just-picked peas in the summer. It is about using only local ingredients, to build a cuisine that is profoundly situated in its place and culture. It is about transforming the ordinary--a mushroom, a chicken wing, often through fermentation--to develop haunting, memorable flavors. It is about composing a plate that delights the eye as much as the palate, whether through the trompe l'oeil of a "flowerpot" chocolate cake or a dazzling mandala of flowers and berries. It is about pushing the boundaries of what we think we want to eat--a baby pinecone, a pudding made of reindeer brain--to open our palates with a startling confidence. And it is about how to stay creative and challenge yourself over the course of a career. For foodies, for chefs, for artists and art lovers, for thought-leaders and makers, and for the kind of reader who is compelled by the idea that sometimes one person can change everything, Noma 2.0 is the gift book of the season.

Predicting Outdoor Sound (Paperback, 2nd edition): Keith Attenborough, Timothy Van Renterghem Predicting Outdoor Sound (Paperback, 2nd edition)
Keith Attenborough, Timothy Van Renterghem
R1,919 Discovery Miles 19 190 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The second edition of Predicting Outdoor Sound is an up-to-date reference on the propagation of sound close to the ground and its prediction. New content includes comparisons between predictions and data for road traffic, railway and wind turbine noise; descriptions of source characteristics in the HARMONOISE model; propagation over rough seas, parallel low walls, and lattices; outlines of numerical methods; gabion (caged stones) and sonic crystal noise barriers; meteorological effects on noise barrier performance; and the prediction requirements for auralization. The book brings together relevant theories, prediction schemes, and data, thereby providing a basis for determining what model or scheme might be applicable for any situation. It also offers a background on useful analytical approximations and the restrictions, as well as difficulties and limitations associated with engineering prediction schemes. The text should be of considerable interest to researchers in outdoor sound propagation and, more generally, it should provide a comprehensive primer on the topic for lecturers, consultants and students in acoustics and noise control.

Digital Transmission - A Simulation-Aided Introduction with VisSim/Comm (Mixed media product, 2010 ed.): Dayan Adionel Guimaraes Digital Transmission - A Simulation-Aided Introduction with VisSim/Comm (Mixed media product, 2010 ed.)
Dayan Adionel Guimaraes
R7,317 Discovery Miles 73 170 Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Digital Transmission - A Simulation-Aided Introduction with VisSim/Comm is a book in which basic principles of digital communication, mainly pertaining to the physical layer, are emphasized. Nevertheless, these principles can serve as the fundamentals that will help the reader to understand more advanced topics and the associated technology. In this book, each topic is addressed in two different and complementary ways: theoretically and by simulation. The theoretical approach encompasses common subjects covering principles of digital transmission, like notions of probability and stochastic processes, signals and systems, baseband and passband signaling, signal-space representation, spread spectrum, multi-carrier and ultra wideband transmission, carrier and symbol-timing recovery, information theory and error-correcting codes. The simulation approach revisits the same subjects, focusing on the capabilities of the communication system simulation software VisSim/Comm on helping the reader to fulfill the gap between the theory and its practical meaning. The presentation of the theory is made easier with the help of 357 illustrations. A total of 101 simulation files supplied in the accompanying CD support the simulation-oriented approach. A full evaluation version and a viewer-only version of VisSim/Comm are also supplied in the CD.

Mastercrafts - Rediscover British Craftsmanship (Hardcover): Tom Quinn Mastercrafts - Rediscover British Craftsmanship (Hardcover)
Tom Quinn 1
R319 R208 Discovery Miles 2 080 Save R111 (35%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

This is a major new exploration of traditional British craftsmanship, accompanying the prime time BBC TV series presented by Monty Don. It celebrates all aspects of rural crafts including woodcraft, thatching, weaving, stone masonry, metalwork and glass making. It showcases some of Britain's leading master craftsmen and explains the techniques at the heart of their trades. It reveals the fascinating history of British craftsmanship, inspiring interest and involvement in these valuable and rewarding crafts. "Mastercrafts" represents a major shift in attitudes towards appreciating handmade, sustainable crafted products rather than the cheap mass-produced items with which people have become increasingly disillusioned.

ARS MECHANICA - Driving Innovation (Hardcover): Jean-Marc Gay ARS MECHANICA - Driving Innovation (Hardcover)
Jean-Marc Gay
R1,970 R1,491 Discovery Miles 14 910 Save R479 (24%) Ships in 5 - 10 working days

ARS MECHANICA traces the comprehensive history of the Herstal Group, renowned worldwide through its brands FN Herstal, Browning, and Winchester. Almost 130 years of technological innovation and unique know-how has allowed the company to develop, manufacture and commercialize leading quality products Fabrique Nationale d’Armes de Guerre (FN) was a pure product of Belgium in the nineteenth century. It could not have emerged at any other time or in any other place. The industrial strength of the country and of its Liège Region, combined with its centuries-old tradition of arms-making, successfully ensured Belgium’s military independence through this period.   ARS MECHANICA retraces the history of this landmark company, now called the Herstal Group, which has emerged as a global industrial force under the control of the Belgian government over the decades. Through this period, FN has endured successive crises and upturns, alongside devastating wars and periods of patient reconstruction. Mechanical engineering is surely the top driver of its progress and resilience, and this clearly shows in the wide variety of FN’s products arms, ammunition, bicycles, cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, aircraft engines and more besides—that have been produced by the Herstal Group over the years. In putting this know-how into practice, the company has adeptly adapted to various historical changes. By innovating, inventing and occasionally harnessing current patents to launch new products, FN has indelibly stamped its singular authority through its mechanical engineering genius. Distributed for Mercatorfonds

Think Like a Rocket Scientist - Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life (Hardcover): Ozan Varol Think Like a Rocket Scientist - Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life (Hardcover)
Ozan Varol
R767 R645 Discovery Miles 6 450 Save R122 (16%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days
Subsea Rock Installation and Rock Placement - A Guide for Offshore Operators (Hardcover): Robert Eadie Subsea Rock Installation and Rock Placement - A Guide for Offshore Operators (Hardcover)
Robert Eadie
R1,020 Discovery Miles 10 200 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Based upon the author's wide experience in a broad range of projects, this invaluable book sets the scene and places rock installation in the context of the offshore industry today. This is an industry where health, safety and environmental considerations are factored in to a project with the same level of professionalism as regulatory compliance and good design. Full information is provided about planning, preparation, execution and reporting of a rock installation project. Brief but key information is provided about rock types, the nature of the seabed and the relationship between the quarry and the receiving vessel, which together form a system of turning a terrestrial geological formation into a rock berm offshore. Rock installation vessels, their characteristics, equipment and capabilities are examined in outline. This book is based upon personal experience offshore in a series of rock installation projects over the last 16 years. It covers the oil and gas sector, coastal engineering, power and telecom cable projects and draws on practice in the UK, Norwegian and Danish Exclusive Economic Zones where much rock installation takes place. The range in scale is significant, from large oil field development projects to those of a much more specialised nature such as the preparation of sites from which a jackup rig can safely operate. The marine environment is examined in some detail. The author believes that all personnel working in the offshore industry, whether at sea or in onshore positions, need to understand the harsh but majestic, hostile and often unforgiving marine environment. With a number of new operators developing both end of life and new fields, knowledge concerning SRI has been diluted or even lost. This book is a useful enabler for project staff and new client representatives offshore to have a productive rock installation experience from the initial discussions with a contractor to the final results and verification.

Artificial Intelligence Techniques in IoT Sensor Networks (Paperback): Mohamed Elhoseny, Mohamed Abdel-Basset, K Shankar Artificial Intelligence Techniques in IoT Sensor Networks (Paperback)
Mohamed Elhoseny, Mohamed Abdel-Basset, K Shankar
R1,357 Discovery Miles 13 570 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Artificial Intelligence Techniques in IoT Sensor Networks is a technical book which can be read by researchers, academicians, students and professionals interested in artificial intelligence (AI), sensor networks and Internet of Things (IoT). This book is intended to develop a shared understanding of applications of AI techniques in the present and near term. The book maps the technical impacts of AI technologies, applications and their implications on the design of solutions for sensor networks. This text introduces researchers and aspiring academicians to the latest developments and trends in AI applications for sensor networks in a clear and well-organized manner. It is mainly useful for research scholars in sensor networks and AI techniques. In addition, professionals and practitioners working on the design of real-time applications for sensor networks may benefit directly from this book. Moreover, graduate and master's students of any departments related to AI, IoT and sensor networks can find this book fascinating for developing expert systems or real-time applications. This book is written in a simple and easy language, discussing the fundamentals, which relieves the requirement of having early backgrounds in the field. From this expectation and experience, many libraries will be interested in owning copies of this work.

Physics of the Sun - A First Course (Hardcover, 2nd edition): Dermott J. Mullan Physics of the Sun - A First Course (Hardcover, 2nd edition)
Dermott J. Mullan
R2,627 Discovery Miles 26 270 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Features * Fully updated with the latest results from the spacecraft Hinode, Stereo, Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), and Parker Solar Probe * Presents step-by-step explanations for calculating numerical models of the photosphere, convection zone, and radiative interior with exercises and simulation problems to test learning * Describes the structure of polytropic spheres and the acoustic power in the Sun and the process of thermal conduction in different physical conditions

Coating Application for Piping, Valves and Actuators in Offshore Oil and Gas Industry (Hardcover): Karan Sotoodeh Coating Application for Piping, Valves and Actuators in Offshore Oil and Gas Industry (Hardcover)
Karan Sotoodeh
R3,342 Discovery Miles 33 420 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

1) Provides an explanation of the basic concept of corrosion and types of external corrosion in offshore oil and gas industry 2) Offers a comprehensive guide on the valve and actuators, and criteria for valve selection 3) Includes over 25 case studies of coating and valves in international companies 4) Reviews coating defects and failures, alongside a guide to coating inspection

Sound Reinforcement for Audio Engineers (Hardcover): Dirk Noy, Wolfgang Ahnert Sound Reinforcement for Audio Engineers (Hardcover)
Dirk Noy, Wolfgang Ahnert
R4,095 Discovery Miles 40 950 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

- A comprehensive reference guide on the topic of sound reinforcement, suitable for both students and professionals - Covers a wide variety of fields of application, include sports venues, religious venues, corporate environments, cinemas and more. - Represents an opportunity to solidify our offering in the area of sound reinforcement

Life in the Universe, 5th Edition (Paperback, 5 Ed): Jeffrey Bennett, Seth Shostak, Nicholas Schneider, Meredith MacGregor Life in the Universe, 5th Edition (Paperback, 5 Ed)
Jeffrey Bennett, Seth Shostak, Nicholas Schneider, Meredith MacGregor
R2,101 Discovery Miles 21 010 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The world's leading textbook on astrobiology-ideal for an introductory one-semester course and now fully revised and updated Are we alone in the cosmos? How are scientists seeking signs of life beyond our home planet? Could we colonize other planets, moons, or even other star systems? This introductory textbook, written by a team of four renowned science communicators, educators, and researchers, tells the amazing story of how modern science is seeking the answers to these and other fascinating questions. They are the questions that are at the heart of the highly interdisciplinary field of astrobiology, the study of life in the universe. Written in an accessible, conversational style for anyone intrigued by the possibilities of life in the solar system and beyond, Life in the Universe is an ideal place to start learning about the latest discoveries and unsolved mysteries in the field. From the most recent missions to Saturn's moons and our neighboring planet Mars to revolutionary discoveries of thousands of exoplanets, from the puzzle of life's beginning on Earth to the latest efforts in the search for intelligent life elsewhere, this book captures the imagination and enriches the reader's understanding of how astronomers, planetary scientists, biologists, and other scientists make progress at the cutting edge of this dynamic field. Enriched with a wealth of engaging features, this textbook brings any citizen of the cosmos up to speed with the scientific quest to discover whether we are alone or part of a universe full of life. An acclaimed text designed to inspire students of all backgrounds to explore foundational questions about life in the cosmos Completely revised and updated to include the latest developments in the field, including recent exploratory space missions to Mars, frontier exoplanet science, research on the origin of life on Earth, and more Enriched with helpful learning aids, including in-chapter Think about It questions, optional Do the Math and Special Topic boxes, Movie Madness boxes, end-of-chapter exercises and problems, quick quizzes, and much more Supported by instructor's resources, including an illustration package and test bank, available upon request

Mine Design, Planning and Sustainable Exploitation in the Digital Age (Hardcover): A J S (sam) Spearing, Liqiang Ma, Cong-An Ma Mine Design, Planning and Sustainable Exploitation in the Digital Age (Hardcover)
A J S (sam) Spearing, Liqiang Ma, Cong-An Ma
R4,535 Discovery Miles 45 350 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Mine Design, Planning and Sustainable Exploitation in the Digital Age covers mine planning, design and exploitation taking cognizance of new developments, especially those associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the positive influence that it has, and will have, on the mining industry. It refers to latest best practices with emphasis on the social license to operate and sustainable (green) mining. The book covers surface and underground mining in some detail and addresses relevant associated aspects such as risk management, green mining and the importance of real community relations. It is organized as follows: Surface Mining Underground Soft Rock Mining Underground Hard Rock (Metal/Non-metal) Mining Green and Sustainable Mining It has many relevant photos and figures that help the reader and includes appropriate support design and types commonly used in the various mining methods. Mine Design, Planning and Sustainable Exploitation in the Digital Age is mainly aimed at mining, geological engineering and other undergraduate and postgraduates interested in the mining resources industry. It will also serve as a useful reference book for practitioners in the mining industry who want an easy-to-use book.

Worship Sound Spaces - Architecture, Acoustics and Anthropology (Paperback): Christine Guillebaud, Catherine Lavandier Worship Sound Spaces - Architecture, Acoustics and Anthropology (Paperback)
Christine Guillebaud, Catherine Lavandier
R1,240 Discovery Miles 12 400 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Worship Sound Spaces unites specialists from architecture, acoustic engineering and the social sciences to encourage closer analysis of the sound environments within places of worship. Gathering a wide range of case studies set in Europe, Asia, North America, the Middle East and Africa, the book presents investigations into Muslim, Christian and Hindu spaces. These diverse cultural contexts demonstrate the composite nature of designing and experiencing places of worship. Beginning with a historical overview of the three primary indicators in acoustic design of religious buildings, reverberation, intelligibility and clarity, the second part of this edited collection offers a series of field studies devoted to perception, before moving onto recent examples of restoration of the sound ambiances of former religious buildings. Written for academics and students interested in architecture, cultural heritage, acoustics, sensory studies and sound. The multimedia documents of this volume may be consulted at the address: https://frama.link/WSS

Telling the Bees and Other Customs - The Folklore of Rural Crafts (Paperback, New edition): Mark Norman Telling the Bees and Other Customs - The Folklore of Rural Crafts (Paperback, New edition)
Mark Norman
R330 Discovery Miles 3 300 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

As featured in The New York Times... Throughout the history of civilisation, traditional crafts have been passed down from hand to skilled hand. Blacksmithing, brewing, beekeeping, baking, milling, spinning, knitting and weaving: these skills held societies together, and so too shaped their folklore and mythology. Exploring the folklore connected with these rural crafts, Telling the Bees examines the customs, superstitions and stories woven into some of the world's oldest trades. From the spinning of the Fates to the blacksmith's relationship with the devil, and the symbolism of John Barleycorn to a ritual to create bees from the corpse of a cow - these are the traditions upon which our modern world was built.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry (Hardcover): Neil De Grasse Tyson Astrophysics for People in a Hurry (Hardcover)
Neil De Grasse Tyson 5
R486 R389 Discovery Miles 3 890 Save R97 (20%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

There's no better guide through mind-expanding questions such as what the nature of space and time is, how we fit within the universe, and how the universe fits within us than Neil deGrasse Tyson. But today, few of us have time to contemplate the cosmos. So Tyson brings the universe down to Earth succinctly and clearly, with sparkling wit, in digestible chapters consumable any time and anywhere in the busy day. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry reveals just what you need to be fluent and ready for the next cosmic headlines: from the Big Bang to black holes, from quarks to quantum mechanics and from the search for planets to the search for life in the universe.

Magnificent Desolation - The Long Journey Home from the Moon (Paperback): Buzz Aldrin Magnificent Desolation - The Long Journey Home from the Moon (Paperback)
Buzz Aldrin 1
R456 R371 Discovery Miles 3 710 Save R85 (19%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

Forty years ago, Buzz Aldrin became the second human, minutes after Neil Armstrong, to set foot on a celestial body other than the Earth. The event remains one of mankind's greatest achievements and was witnessed by the largest worldwide television audience in history. In the years since, millions more have had their Earth-centric perspective unalterably changed by the iconic photograph of Aldrin standing on the surface of the moon, the blackness of space behind him and his fellow explorer and the Eagle reflected in his visor. Describing the alien world he was walking upon, he uttered the words "magnificent desolation." And as the astronauts later sat in the Eagle, waiting to begin their journey back home, knowing that they were doomed unless every system and part on board worked flawlessly, it was Aldrin who responded to Mission Control's clearance to take off with the quip, "Roger. Understand. We're number one on the runway."
The flight of Apollo 11 made Aldrin one of the most famous persons on our planet, yet few people know the rest of this true American hero's story. In "Magnificent Desolation," Aldrin not only gives us a harrowing first-person account of the lunar landing that came within seconds of failure and the ultimate insider's view of life as one of the superstars of America's space program, he also opens up with remarkable candor about his more personal trials-and eventual triumphs-back on Earth. From the glory of being part of the mission that fulfilled President Kennedy's challenge to reach the moon before the decade was out, Aldrin returned home to an Air Force career stripped of purpose or direction, other than as a public relations tool that NASA put to relentless use in a seemingly nonstop world tour. The twin demons of depression and alcoholism emerged-the first of which Aldrin confronted early and publicly, and the second of which he met with denial until it nearly killed him. He burned through two marriages, his Air Force career came to an inglorious end, and he found himself selling cars for a living when he wasn't drunkenly wrecking them. Redemption came when he finally embraced sobriety, gained the love of a woman, Lois, who would become the great joy of his life, and dedicated himself to being a tireless advocate for the future of space exploration-not only as a scientific endeavor but also as a thriving commercial enterprise.
These days Buzz Aldrin is enjoying life with an enthusiasm that reminds us how far it is possible for a person to travel, literally and figuratively. As an adventure story, a searing memoir of self-destruction and self-renewal, and as a visionary rallying cry to once again set our course for Mars and beyond, "Magnificent Desolation" is the thoroughly human story of a genuine hero.

"From the Hardcover edition."

The Artisans - The Legacy of the Ancestors of Shen Village (Hardcover): Shen Fuyu The Artisans - The Legacy of the Ancestors of Shen Village (Hardcover)
Shen Fuyu
R503 Discovery Miles 5 030 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Evoking Studs Terkel, Shen Fuyu delivers a rollicking deep dive into working life in a small village in rural China, tracing the last 100 years of history. Born in Shen Village in Southeast China, Shen Fuyu grew up in a family of farmers. Years later, Shen, now a writer, returned to his hometown to capture the village's rich history in the face of industrialization. Through his own childhood memories and those of his ancestors, Shen resurrects the working life of Shen Village through interlinked stories of fifteen artisans as their lives intersect over the course of a century. While Shen's view of his hometown and his heritage is tinged with nostalgia, he does not romanticize it. Nor does he sugarcoat the backbreaking difficulty of life in rural China, but he still captures its small satisfactions and joys of loving one's work with a great deal of care. In an acerbic, earthy and unsparing style that swings from poignancy to comedy, sometimes within a single paragraph, Shen evokes the spirits of these workers--a bamboo-weaver and his beloved bull, a carpenter's magical saw, the deserter who became the village lantern-maker and a rebellious woman who beats up her own kidnapper. A reflection on the vicissitudes of small-town life during the epic shift from agricultural to industrial civilization, The Artisans vividly details the hardships, friendships and communal mythmaking of a disappearing community.

Free Delivery
Pinterest Twitter Facebook Google+
You may like...
On Listening
Angus Carlyle, Cathy Lane Paperback R450 Discovery Miles 4 500
The Sun - Beginner's Guide To Our Local…
Dr. Ryan French, Royal Observatory Greenwich, … Paperback R202 Discovery Miles 2 020
Yellow Dirt - A Poisoned Land and the…
Judy Pasternak Paperback R503 R419 Discovery Miles 4 190
A Research Agenda for Space Policy
Kai-Uwe Schrogl, Christina Giannopapa, … Hardcover R3,468 Discovery Miles 34 680
Liftoff - Elon Musk and the Desperate…
Eric Berger Paperback R260 R208 Discovery Miles 2 080
Space Science Cover-Ups - The Truth…
Jonathon Ray Spinney Paperback R502 R388 Discovery Miles 3 880
Anthracite Roots - Generations of Coal…
Joseph W. Leonard III Paperback R507 R416 Discovery Miles 4 160
Fighting for Space - Two Pilots and…
Amy Shira Teitel Paperback R494 R416 Discovery Miles 4 160
Engineering fabrication and…
C. Brink, B. McNamara Paperback R525 R463 Discovery Miles 4 630
Gunpowder - Alchemy, Bombards, and…
Jack Kelly Paperback R480 R400 Discovery Miles 4 000

 

Partners