Search:

African samurai : the true story of Yasuke, a legendary black warrior in feudal Japan / by Lockley, Thomas,author.; Girard, Geoffrey,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."The remarkable life of history's first foreign-born samurai, and his astonishing journey from Northeast Africa to the heights of Japanese society. When Yasuke arrived in Japan in the late 1500s, he had already traveled much of the known world. Kidnapped as a child, he had ended up a servant and bodyguard to the head of the Jesuits in Asia, with whom he traversed India and China learning multiple languages as he went. His arrival in Kyoto, however, literally caused a riot. Most Japanese people had never seen an African man before, and many of them saw him as the embodiment of the black-skinned (in local tradition) Buddha. Among those who were drawn to his presence was Lord Nobunaga, head of the most powerful clan in Japan, who made Yasuke a samurai in his court. Soon, he was learning the traditions of Japan's martial arts and ascending the upper echelons of Japanese society. In the four hundred years since, Yasuke has been known in Japan largely as a legendary, perhaps mythical figure. Now African Samurai presents the never-before-told biography of this unique figure of the sixteenth century, one whose travels between countries, cultures and classes offers a new perspective on race in world history and a vivid portrait of life in medieval Japan."-- Dust jacket flap.
Subjects: Biographies.; Yasuke (Black Samuraï); Blacks; Samurai;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

Empire rising / by Campbell, Rick(Navy Commander);
"Xiang Chenglei, the President of the People's Republic of China, has both a problem and a plan. The problem is that the limited supply of oil available to China is threatening to derail his country's economic growth and prosperity. And to secure access to those resources, he must contend with powerful U.S. Navy and the Pacific Fleet. After a decades-long largely secret military build up, Chenglei sets his plan in motion by suddenly invading Taiwan and drawing the Pacific Fleet in to its defense. With a faster, larger fleet with more capable long range missiles, China is able to surprise and quickly overwhelm the American fast attack fleet, all but wiping out the U.S. forces on deployment. Then China turns to its real objective -- invasion and expansion across Asia, starting with the four main Islands of Japan. While the Atlantic Fleet surges westward to defend its allies and respond to the destruction of their counterparts, it falls to an unlikely alliance of three people to stop this incursion and prevent World War III. National Security Advisor Christine O'Connor has critical information, but she's trapped in Beijing; Captain Murray Wilson, C.O. of the submarine USS Georgia must somehow infiltrate the Chinese submarine blockade; and Navy SEAL Jake Harrison must lead a strike team into the most hostile of territories with only hours to implement the most daring plan ever"--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Adventure stories.; War stories.; Submarines (Ships);
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

Life undercover : coming of age in the CIA / by Fox, Amaryllis,author.;
Amaryllis Fox was in her last year as an undergraduate at Oxford studying theology and international law when her writing mentor Daniel Pearl was captured and beheaded. Galvanized by this brutality, Fox applied to a master's program in conflict and terrorism at Georgetown's School of Foreign Service, where she created an algorithm that predicted, with uncanny certainty, the likelihood of a terrorist cell arising in any village around the world. At twenty-one, she was recruited by the CIA. Her first assignment was reading and analyzing hundreds of classified cables a day from foreign governments and synthesizing them into daily briefs for the president. Her next assignment was at the Iraq desk in the Counterterrorism center. At twenty-two, she was fast-tracked into advanced operations training, sent from Langley to "the Farm," where she lived for six months in a simulated world learning how to use a Glock, how to get out of flexicuffs while locked in the trunk of a car, how to withstand torture, and the best ways to commit suicide in case of captivity. At the end of this training she was deployed as a spy under non-official cover-- the most difficult and coveted job in the field as an art dealer specializing in tribal and indigenous art and sent to infiltrate terrorist networks in remote areas of the Middle East and Asia.
Subjects: Autobiographies.; Biographies.; Fox, Amaryllis.; United States. Central Intelligence Agency; Intelligence officers; Terrorism; Women intelligence officers;
Available copies: 2 / Total copies: 2
unAPI

The world : a family history / by Sebag Montefiore, Simon,1965-author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."From the acclaimed author of The Romanovs--a magisterial history of humanity viewed through the lens of its most powerful dynasties In this sprawling and eye-opening book, best-selling historian Simon Sebag Montefiore chronicles the world's great dynasties across human history through engrossing tales of palace intrigue, glorious battle, and the real lives of people who held unfathomable power. He trains his eye on founders of humble origin, like Sargon, the Mesopotamian cupbearer sent to help defeat a rival who returned with an army to dethrone his own king, and Liu Bang, a peasant who became a rebel leader and founded the Han dynasty. Montefiore illuminates the achievements of fearsome emperors, including Yax Ehb Xook, whose Mayan city-state Tikal boasts some of the most monumental ancient architecture that exists today; Jayavarman II, who proclaimed himself "universal king" and whose Khmer empire in South Asia heralded a thousand years of Indic ascendancy; and Ewuare, the African emperor who built a capital city that rivaled any in Europe. He writes, too, about remarkable women rulers, like Hatshepsut, the first female pharaoh, and Maria Theresa, the only woman to rule the Habsburg empire. These families represent the breadth of human endeavor, with bloody civil wars, treacherous conspiracies, and shocking megalomania alongside flourishing culture, moving romances, and enlightened benevolence. A dazzling epic history as spellbinding as fiction, The World is testament to Montefiore's acclaimed career as our poet laureate of power"--
Subjects: Biographies.; Personal narratives.; Kings and rulers; Royal houses; Upper class; World history;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

After the fall : being American in the world we've made / by Rhodes, Benjamin,author.;
"In 2017, as Ben Rhodes was helping former president Barack Obama begin his next chapter, the legacy they worked to build for eight years was being taken apart. To understand what was happening in his own country, Rhodes decided to look outward, at the wider world. Over the next three years, he traveled to dozens of countries, meeting with politicians, dissidents, and activists confronting the same forces that produced the Trump presidency: spreading nationalism, authoritarianism, and disinformation. Along the way, he was spied on by former Mossad operatives and the Chinese government, met with Hong Kong protesters and Russian oppositionists, and found people from Europe to Asia to the United States struggling to reconcile their own identities with the crude nationalism of their leaders--all while pursuing new strategies to fight back. Equal parts memoir and reporting, 'After the Fall' is an ambitious and essential work of discovery. Throughout, Rhodes reflects on how the 2008 financial crisis completed a collapse of public confidence in America, globalization, and democracy itself, opening a door to the wave of strongman leaders who have transformed our world--men like Viktor Orban in Hungary, Vladimir Putin in Russia, and Xi Jinping in China. He wrestles with how peoples' yearning for identity and belonging has been weaponized by nationalists. And he learns from a diverse set of characters--from Obama to rebels to rising politicians--how we can choose a more hopeful story going forward"--
Subjects: Global Financial Crisis, 2008-2009.; Globalization; Nationalism; Political corruption; Political corruption; Political corruption; World politics;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

Sun power : how energy from the sun is changing lives around the world, empowering America, and saving the planet / by Williams, Neville,1943-;
Includes bibliographical references and index."America is on the brink of an energy revolution that can save the planet, and increase peace and prosperity, by harnessing the unlimited power of the sun. After decades of promise, the technology now exists to replace our dangerous addiction to fossil fuels with cheap, clean solar energy. Neville Williams has been on the leading edge of this revolution for decades and knows from firsthand experience how sun power can transform lives and communities for the better. He has traveled the globe bringing solar-generated electricity to struggling communities throughout Asia, Africa, India, and the developing world. From isolated villages high in the mountains of Nepal to remote settlements in South Africa, Williams has worked to bring sun power to even the most off-the-grid reaches of the planet. He has brought that knowledge and experience back to America where he founded one of the country's fastest growing solar companies. If millions of poor families in the Third World can get their power from the sun, why can't Americans concerned with their rising power bills, dependence on foreign oil, and carbon footprints do the same? The answer is that sun power is here, it works, and can light up a new era of economic and environmental security--if we have the will to seize this historic opportunity. This book is not about predictions or promises. It's about what's happening now, all over the world, and what still needs to done"--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Williams, Neville, 1943-; Photovoltaic power generation; Photovoltaic power generation; Solar energy industries; Solar energy industries; Solar energy industries.; Solar energy;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

That noodle life : soulful, savory, spicy, slurpy / by Le, Mike,author,photographer.; Le, Stephanie,author.;
"Oh, noodles! You're so much fun. You're so beloved! All your magical shapes, flavors, and textures. But no one obsesses over you quite like Mike Le and Stephanie Le, the-husband-and-wife team who are superstars in the food blog world. Their humbly named iamafoodblog boasts 186,000 followers on Instagram and receives 500,000 page views each month-and in it they profess their undying love for noodles in the most delicious, clever, and visually striking ways. That Noodle Life is their 75-recipe celebration of the myriad pleasures of noodles. And let's just say it goes way beyond spaghetti and ramen. Inspired by the noodle-and macaroni-crazed cuisines of Asia, Italy, and the global melting pot, they dish up high-impact, soulful, slurpable flavor with minimal fuss. Gorgeous full-color photographs of every dish enhance the lively and sophisticated spreads. Dig into comfort noodles: Really Savory Sunday Sauce with Tagliatelle and French Onion Mac and Cheese. Quick weeknight noodles: Flash-Fried Ribeye with Crispy Chow Mein and Stay in Tonight Sesame Chili Oil Noodles-faster than takeout and far better. Sexy Date Night Noodles: Double Lobster Chitarra, Miso Clam Linguine, Bone Marrow and Beef Brisket Pho. And how to upgrade instant noodles to make them shine, recipes for making noodles from scratch, notes on essential ingredients, and noodle etiquette, including how to use a ramen vending machine in Japan. Plus, who wouldn't want to participate in the Lasagna Bracket Competition?"--
Subjects: Cookbooks.; Recipes.; Cooking (Pasta); Noodles.;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

We are eating the Earth : the race to fix our food system and save our climate / by Grunwald, Michael,1970-author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index.Humanity has cleared a land mass the size of Asia plus Europe to grow food, and our food system generates a third of our carbon emissions. By 2050, we're going to need a lot more calories to fill nearly 10 billion bellies, but we can't feed the world without frying it if we keep tearing down an acre of rainforest every six seconds. We are eating the earth, and the greatest challenge facing our species will be to slow our relentless expansion of farmland into nature. Even if we quit fossil fuels, we'll keep hurtling towards climate chaos if we don't solve our food and land problems. In this rollicking, shocking narrative, Grunwald shows how the world, after decades of ignoring the climate problem at the centre of our plates, has pivoted to making it worse, embracing solutions that sound sustainable but could make it even harder to grow more food with less land. But he also tells the stories of the dynamic scientists and entrepreneurs pursuing real solutions, from a jungle-tough miracle crop called pongamia to genetically-edited cattle embryos, from Impossible Whoppers to a non-polluting pesticide that uses the technology behind the COVID vaccines to constipate beetles to death. It's an often infuriating saga of lobbyists, politicians, and even the scientific establishment making terrible choices for humanity, but it's also a hopeful account of the people figuring out what needs to be done -- and trying to do it.
Subjects: Agricultural systems.; Climatic changes.; Food security.; Food supply; Human ecology.; Sustainable agriculture.;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

Triple crown : winning Canada's energy future / by Prentice, Jim,author.; Rioux, Jean-Sébastien,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index.One of Canada's leading voices on our energy future offers a powerful case for taking back control of our resources. Canada has a world-class resource base and the capacity to become a world leader in the petroleum and other resource-based industries. But as former federal cabinet minister and Alberta premier Jim Prentice argues in this provocative and timely new book, we have lost our way. He outlines how our nation has repeatedly stumbled in its attempts to become a global player in the field, and how our policies and practices have failed to advance Canada's international interests as an energy producer and exporter with a record of sound environmental achievement. He highlights, for example, our stalled efforts to work with the United States to build new pipelines to the Gulf Coast, and the absence of the infrastructure Canada needs to make further inroads into the Asia-Pacific market. He notes how we have even faltered in our attempts to build pipelines across Canada to service our own citizens, and how Canada has also, to date, failed to craft fair and enduring business partnerships with its own indigenous peoples. Ultimately, one of Canada's greatest strengths has become a liability - economically, socially and environmentally. But what will the path forward look like? In Triple Crown, Jim Prentice makes a powerful argument for the inadequacy of current Canadian energy policy and asserts a new and forward-looking vision for converting our nation's vast resources into a secure, prosperous and environmentally responsible future that benefits all Canadians.
Subjects: Energy policy; Energy policy; Energy industries; Energy industries; Power resources; Power resources; Power resources; Petroleum industry and trade;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI

The African Samurai : a novel / by Shreve, Craig,author.;
Includes bibliographical references.In 1579, a Portuguese trade ship sails into port at Kuchinotsu, Japan, loaded with European wares and weapons. On board is Father Alessandro Valignano, an Italian priest and Jesuit missionary whose authority in central and east Asia is second only to the pope's. Beside him is his protector, a large and imposing East African man. Taken from his village as a boy, sold as a slave to Portuguese mercenaries, and forced to fight in wars in India, the young but experienced soldier is haunted by memories of his past. From Kuchinotsu, Father Valignano leads an expedition pushing inland toward the capital city of Kyoto. A riot brings his protector in front of the land's most powerful warlord, Oda Nobunaga. Nobunaga is preparing a campaign to complete the unification of a nation that's been torn apart by over one hundred years of civil war. In exchange for permission to build a church, Valignano "gifts" his protector to Nobunaga, and the young East African man is reminded once again that he is less of a human and more of a thing to be traded and sold. After pledging his allegiance to the Japanese warlord, the two men from vastly different worlds develop a trust and respect for one another. The young soldier is granted the role of samurai, a title that has never been given to a foreigner; he is also given a new name: Yasuke. Not all are happy with Yasuke's ascension. There are whispers that he may soon be given his own fief, his own servants, his own samurai to command. But all of his dreams hinge on his ability to protect his new lord from threats both military and political, and from enemies both without and within.
Subjects: Historical fiction.; Novels.; Enslaved persons; Respect; Samurai; Soldiers;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
unAPI