Quietly Confident Quartet

Dive into amusing Olympic moments both high and low

The Olympics are meant to be a celebration of sportsmanship and fellowship among nations, but they have sometimes fell short of that goal. XXII Olympiad, the twentieth volume in The Olympic Century series, begins with the story of one of the most politicized Games ever held: Moscow 1980.In December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, prompting the United States to lead a 65-nation boycott of the Moscow Games. In spite of the absence of many of the world's great athletes, Moscow still produced legendary Olympic champions, like the great Cuban heavyweight Teofilo Stevenson, who became the first boxer to win three consecutive gold medals; and the Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, who added two golds and two silvers in Moscow to take her personal medal total to 12. The absence of many top athletes also opened the door for others to make history, like sprinter Allan Wells, who won the first gold medal in the 100 metres for Great Britain since 1924.The book then turns its focus to the 1984 Winter Games of Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. It profiles the most dominant athlete of those Games, Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi of Finland, who won all three individual golds in cross-country skiing. Sarajevo also saw the British ice dancing pair Torvil and Dean post perfect scores for artistic impression in their gold-medal performance, a feat never duplicated; as well as the participation of the first black African Olympic skier, Lamine Gueye of Senegal.Juan Antonio Samaranch, former President of the International Olympic Committee, called The Olympic Century, "e;The most comprehensive history of the Olympic games ever published"e;.

'Heads and Tasker, legends themselves, set out to write a book that would continue the trail laid by early-days sporting scribes of long ago. I could not put it down.' John Coates AC, President of the Australian Olympic Committee 'I know readers will enjoy the many stories and anecdotes that Heads and Tasker have accumulated over more than a century combined in journalism.' Ian Chappell, former Australian cricket Captain. Australia enjoys a rich sporting heritage. Our small population has yielded a disproportionate number of champions. These sports stars have become known worldwide as fierce combatants and honourable competitors, achieving soaring victories, but also heart-pounding near-wins and humbling defeats. Veteran Australian sports journalists Ian Heads and Norman Tasker have seen it all. In these 65 original stories, we hear of the explosive introduction of World Series Cricket in 1977, which turned a genteel endeavour into a high-octane contest, and the clash of the titans as Packer and Murdoch squared off over the Super League war. We see Rugby Union become a battleground for race and the Olympics an arena for sublime acts of courage and achievement. We get an insider's perspective on every kind of sporting endeavour - from boxing to tennis, cricket to AFL, athletics to rugby league - and not just the action on the field, but the change room gossip and clubhouse politics as well. Written with wit, insight and a wealth of knowledge, Great Australian Sporting Stories is an enthralling expedition into the combative, collegiate, entertaining and always exciting world of Australian sport.

The Spinoza Quartet follows four distinguished contemporary scholars of Spinoza's thought as they meet in Amsterdam to receive the Spinoza Prize. The four come from Jerusalem, San Diego, Vienna and New York, each with a different take on Spinoza's thought and very different temperaments and worldviews, and almost immediately the sparks fly. At several luncheons hosted by the Regents each speaks about their relationship to Spinoza, the man and the thinker. For the next week, prior to the gala ceremony, the four prize recipients walk the streets of Amsterdam arguing heatedly, exposing their personal idiosyncrasies and sharing their fraught biographies. Spinoza is never far from their exchanges. In the course of the spirited discussions the characters' personal outlooks as well as their views of Spinoza merge dramatically into a tense but deeply humane tale.

"This is a fully illustrated book highlighting some memorable moments in Australian sporting history."--Provided by publisher.

Why do we read? We read to be entertained, challenged, informed, and as The Shadowlands declares, “we read to know we are not alone.” Why do Christians read? We need to learn more about God, ourselves, our journey. The Babylonian Quartet is a collection of three stories that retell the timeless and timely struggle of four adolescents forcibly removed from their homes and transported to another culture. It tells of their bonding together, their commitments to God and one another that enables them to stand firmly against forces that threaten their lives and seek to push them into compromise. The Furnace tells the story of the exile of four Hebrew youths arriving in Babylon and committing themselves to excellence. It tells of the revelation of God to Daniel regarding Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and interpretation. It culminates in the other three youths standing firm and finding God’s power and warmth in the Babylonian monarch’s furnace. The Restoration picks up after The Furnace, bringing some romance into the lives of the youths, their elevation in the Chaldean realm, the interpretation of the second dream of Nebuchadnezzar, and their work to assure his reclaiming of his throne following his debacle. It culminates in the profession of faith by the great Chaldean monarch. The Den begins with the handwriting on the wall, the collapse of the Chaldean regime, and the division of the quartet. Azariah (Abed-nego) the narrator of all three books, ends up in Susa with Daniel, whereas Hananiah (Shadrach) and Mishael (Meshack) stay in Babylon. The story recounts the rise of Daniel to the position of greatest authority, the treachery of his “colleagues,” culminating in his night with the lions.

Journey deep into the Martial Empire and into “one of the best fantasy series of the last decade” (Buzzfeed) with the complete An Ember in the Ashes quartet by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sabaa Tahir. For the first time together, all in one place, this ebook bind-up includes each complete book of the beloved epic series: An Ember in the Ashes, One of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time A Torch Against the Night, A New York Times bestseller, A USA Today bestseller, A Wall Street Journal bestseller A Reaper at the Gates, An Entertainment Weekly Summer Reads pick A Sky Beyond the Storm, One of Amazon’s Best Young Adult Books of 2020 Praise for An Ember in the Ashes: “Sabaa Tahir spins a captivating, heart-pounding fantasy.” —Us Weekly “This novel is a harrowing, haunting reminder of what it means to be human—and how hope might be kindled in the midst of oppression and fear.” —The Washington Post “An Ember in the Ashes mixes The Hunger Games with Game of Thrones...and adds a dash of Romeo and Juliet.” —The Hollywood Reporter Praise for A Torch Against the Night: “The stakes here are high and the plot runs like a well-oiled machine, ratcheting up the tension with every chapter.” —NPR.org “An adrenaline rush till the very last page.” —Buzzfeed "This sequel has a darker tone and even higher stakes than its predecessor, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion." —Publishers Weekly, starred review Praise for A Reaper at the Gates: “The book deftly handles serious issues like the costs of genocide and war. Both action-packed and emotionally engaging, A Reaper at the Gates is the perfect summer read.” —The Washington Post "Tahir has created another compelling story that defies readers to stop turning the pages." —Booklist, starred review Praise for A Sky Beyond the Storm: “Tahir’s exquisite storytelling doesn’t miss a beat… This series is an epic hero’s journey, with love, adventure, and magic woven throughout. Recommended for every young adult collection.” —School Library Journal “In A Sky Beyond the Storm, Sabaa Tahir so expertly draws the reader into the lives and thoughts of her characters that their every emotion—anger, pain, love, longing—races through your heart with each turn of the page. A breathtaking conclusion to this incredibly rich and rewarding fantasy series.” —Seira Wilson, Amazon Book Review