Musings The Short Happy Pursuit Of Pleasure And Other Journeys

Musings is a collection of crisp, entertaining, humorous and inspirational stories tightly written and drawn from adventurer and four-time Emmy(R)-award-winning PBS director and host Joseph Rosendo's travel and life experiences.

BOOKER PRIZE WINNER • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A novel that follows a middle-aged man as he contends with a past he never much thought about—until his closest childhood friends return with a vengeance: one of them from the grave, another maddeningly present. A novel so compelling that it begs to be read in a single setting, The Sense of an Ending has the psychological and emotional depth and sophistication of Henry James at his best, and is a stunning achievement in Julian Barnes's oeuvre. Tony Webster thought he left his past behind as he built a life for himself, and his career has provided him with a secure retirement and an amicable relationship with his ex-wife and daughter, who now has a family of her own. But when he is presented with a mysterious legacy, he is forced to revise his estimation of his own nature and place in the world.

An intellectual history of man's most elusive yet coveted goal. Today, we think of happiness as a natural right, but people haven't always felt this way. Historian McMahon argues that our modern belief in happiness is a recent development, the product of a revolution in human expectations carried out since the eighteenth century. He investigates that fundamental transformation by synthesizing two thousand years of politics, culture, and thought. In ancient Greek tragedy, happiness was considered a gift of the gods. During the Enlightenment men and women were first introduced to the novel prospect that they could--in fact should--be happy in this life as opposed to the hereafter. This recognition of happiness as a motivating ideal led to its consecration in the Declaration of Independence. McMahon then shows how our modern search continues to generate new forms of pleasure, but also, paradoxically, new forms of pain.--From publisher description.

If there is one thing that most of us aspire to, it is, simply, to be happy. And yet attaining happiness has become, it appears, anything but simple. Having stuff The Latest, The Newest, The Best Yet is all too often peddled as the sure fire route to happiness. So why then, in our consumer-driven society, is depression, stress and anxiety ever more common, affecting every strata of society and every age, even, worryingly, the very young? Why is it, when we have so much, that many of us still feel we are missing something and the rush of pleasure when we buy something new turns so quickly into a feeling of emptiness, or purposelessness, or guilt? So what is the route to real, deep, long lasting happiness? Could it be that our lives have just become overly crowded, that we've lost sight of the things the simple things that give a sense of achievement, a feeling of joy or excitement? That make us happy. Do we need to take a step back, reprioritise? Do we need to make our lives more simple?

The activist and TED speaker Megan Phelps-Roper reveals her life growing up in the most hated family in America At the age of five, Megan Phelps-Roper began protesting homosexuality and other alleged vices alongside fellow members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. Founded by her grandfather and consisting almost entirely of her extended family, the tiny group would gain worldwide notoriety for its pickets at military funerals and celebrations of death and tragedy. As Phelps-Roper grew up, she saw that church members were close companions and accomplished debaters, applying the logic of predestination and the language of the King James Bible to everyday life with aplomb—which, as the church’s Twitter spokeswoman, she learned to do with great skill. Soon, however, dialogue on Twitter caused her to begin doubting the church’s leaders and message: If humans were sinful and fallible, how could the church itself be so confident about its beliefs? As she digitally jousted with critics, she started to wonder if sometimes they had a point—and then she began exchanging messages with a man who would help change her life. A gripping memoir of escaping extremism and falling in love, Unfollow relates Phelps-Roper’s moral awakening, her departure from the church, and how she exchanged the absolutes she grew up with for new forms of warmth and community. Rich with suspense and thoughtful reflection, Phelps-Roper’s life story exposes the dangers of black-and-white thinking and the need for true humility in a time of angry polarization.

Written by a team of experts, Where to Go When combines informative narrative and gorgeous photography to bring more than 130 global destinations to life. Six different vacation themes—Natural World, Unforgettable Journeys, Family Vacations, Luxury & Romance, Activity Breaks, and Festivals & Culture—ensure that there is something for everyone. Explore Australia's Great Barrier Reef, enjoy Irish charm at the Galway Oyster Festival, go heliskiing in the Canadian Rockies, or relax in the crystalline waters of Croatia. With a simple month-by-month format, this beautiful book makes finding the ideal getaway easier than ever. Search by time of year, type of vacation, or simply flip through the pages and be inspired. Absorbing and authoritative, Where to Go When gets to the heart of the world's most enticing travel destinations.

Get your passport ready and your vacation planner out! This book contains over 100 destinations to choose from, brought to life through stunning photography. Maybe you want to know the finest place to go to in June, or you want to know the best time of year to witness a natural wonder, enjoy a festival or go on an action-adventure. This book will help you plan the ultimate experience. Each month of the year has a dedicated chapter, so you'll know the perfect travel destination for that time of year. Perhaps you're looking for a place to have a June honeymoon, a September wedding anniversary getaway or a March birthday adventure - there are over 100 destinations listed to spark your vacation dreams. Discover when to explore Costa Rica's rainforests, journey into the clouds in Nepal, sail between Croatia's cypress-clad islands or gaze at the saw-toothed crags of Canada's Rocky Mountains. Learn about just the right moment to see the cherry blossoms bloom in Japan, or the reindeer in Lapland. Maybe you want to know when you can visit the Hawaiian island of Kauai or the ruins of ancient Lycia all to yourself? Vibrant photographs bring these destinations a little bit closer to home, so you can imagine yourself there. There's a stimulating narrative describing the glorious locations and activities. This coffee table book has tips to help you plan your vacation with helpful information like the closest international airports, how to get around and the average temperature for the month. Just in case you can't make it that month, the book includes another month that is equally pleasant and worthwhile. Unforgettable trips for every month This book has everything you need to choose an exciting place to spend your vacation and the best possible time of year to go. You can find the perfect place to visit no matter when you want to travel, so you can create and collect special memories. This book makes a wonderful wedding gift, with many honeymoon ideas. Let us be your travel guide! Holiday destinations, month by month. Glorious photos to inspire you. Helpful narrative to help you imagine being there yourself.