101 Amazing Unusual Deaths

Death is the one thing about life we can be sure of. But exactly how we shuffle off this mortal coil is another story altogether. Whilst the boring among us may well drift off in our sleep, and the unlucky suffer painfully in some horrible accident, very occasionally death will come in such an unusual way as to be particularly noteworthy. Ever since the politician Draco was suffocated by the gifts an appreciative audience showered him with in the 7th century BC, the fates have generously woven their magic to ensure that members of the human race have gone to meet the choir invisible in ever more interesting circumstances. This book examines over one hundred such cases, where the unexpected is the norm and the bizarre commonplace. From the humorous to the tragic and the gruesome, prepare yourself for a morbid trip through the kind of material you know the coroners secretly share at their Christmas parties...

Death is the one thing about life we can be sure of. But exactly how we shuffle off this mortal coil is another story altogether. Whilst the boring among us may well drift off in our sleep, and the unlucky suffer painfully in some horrible accident, very occasionally death will come in such an unusual way as to be particularly noteworthy. Ever since the politician Draco was suffocated by the gifts an appreciative audience showered him with in the 7th century BC, the fates have generously woven their magic to ensure that members of the human race have gone to meet the choir invisible in ever more interesting circumstances. This book examines over one hundred such cases, where the unexpected is the norm and the bizarre commonplace. From the humorous to the tragic and the gruesome, prepare yourself for a morbid trip through the kind of material you know the coroners secretly share at their Christmas parties...

Most cultures and societies have their own customs and traditions of treating their dead. In the past, some deceased received a burial that deviated from tradition. The reasons for unusual burial could result from reasons such as outbreaks of epidemics or wars, or from premature births, distinctive social status, or disability. Authors present a selection of cases addressing the issue of unusual deaths, burials, or ways to remember the deceased. Chapters explore theoretical views related to social memory of death and memorializing the deceased and their resting places during modern period. The case studies introduce varied views on ‘otherness’ that are visible in burial customs and memorialization.

Created in consultation with teachers and public librarians, this fantastic collection of 101 ready-to-use book lists provides invaluable help for any educator who plans activities for children that involve using literature. Nancy J. Keane is the author of the award-winning website Booktalks—Quick and Simple (nancykeane.com/booktalks), as well as the creator of the open collaboration wiki ATN Book Lists. With 101 Great, Ready-to-Use Book Lists for Children, she provides another indispensable resource for librarians and teachers. The lists in this book are the result of careful consultation with teachers and public librarians, and from discussions on professional email lists. These indispensable reading lists can be used in many ways—for example, as handouts to teachers as suggested reading, to create book displays, or as display posters in the library. This collection will help educators support the extended reading demands of today's children.

How often does a snake shed its skin? What is the world’s most venomous species? What incredible ability are rattlesnakes currently evolving? And why are scientists studying the venom of the black mamba? All of these questions and more are answered in this fascinating eBook containing over one hundred facts, separated into sections for easy reference. So if you want to know why should still handle a dead rattlesnake with care, or which place on earth contains the highest number of deadly snakes per square metre, then this is the book for you!

Just days after publishing his first book on the theory of foolishness, Stephen Greenspan learned that he had been hoodwinked by Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, or more accurately the Madoff “feeder” fund he invested in. Greenspan published a featured essay on the topic in the Wall Street Journal a few weeks later, and that essay was widely cited and attracted great interest for Greenspan’s ideas about gullibility and in the United States and many other countries. Greenspan’s new book, The Anatomy of Foolishness, explains why and how individuals (of all ages and levels of intelligence) and organizations act in ways that undermine their interests and even their continued existence. He examines three types of foolishness, using vivid examples to illustrate each, including the many foolish actions of US President Donald Trump. Greenspan presents a multidimensional theory of foolishness that contributes to the literature on human competence, and this book is likely to attract broad interest in the fields of psychology, sociology, economics, political science, and psychiatry as well as among those members of the general public (basically everyone) who have acted foolishly or know someone who has acted in a way that went against their own interests.

Did you know that Shakespeare wrote the world's first ever knock knock joke? How much of a ribbon worm's own body can it eat and still survive if it gets a little hungry? What unusual lost property has been handed in on the London Underground? And what surprising kind of song is the American national anthem based on? This absolutely fascinating book contains over one hundred facts covering various categories such as war, music, TV & film, ancient civilizations, royalty and many more. So whether you want to know which pirate ate a man’s beating heart, or what Lennon and McCartney’s unfinished play was called, then this is the book for you.

Building on the author's work in The Big Book of Teen Reading Lists, this book provides 101 new and revised reading lists created in consultation with teachers and public librarians—an invaluable resource for any educator who plans activities for children that involve using literature. Nancy J. Keane is the author of the award-winning website Booktalks—Quick and Simple (nancykeane.com/booktalks), as well as the creator of the open collaboration wiki ATN Book Lists. With her latest book, 101 Great, Ready-to-Use Book Lists for Teens, she provides another indispensable resource for librarians and teachers. The lists in this book are the result of careful consultation with teachers and public librarians, and from discussions on professional email lists. These indispensable lists can be utilized in many ways—for example, as handouts to teachers as suggested reading, to create book displays, or as display posters in the library. This collection will facilitate the creation of valuable reading lists to support the extended reading demands of today's teens.