This copiously illustrated book by the ever-provocative Desmond Morris is a pioneering and lively exploration of the importance of body language in how we understand art.

Every time an artist portrays a human subject, a decision has to be made about the posture of the figure. Will they be standing, sitting, or reclining? Smiling, screaming, or weeping?

Never before given such dedicated attention, 'Postures' argues that the gestures portrayed in a work of art can reflect the mores of a particular period in history, the customs of a certain culture, or a fashion in artistic styles. Exploring these with masterful subtlety, celebrated artist and anthropologist Desmond Morris uncovers fascinating insights about changing social attitudes and conventions throughout history, finding surprising similarities and significant differences.

Morris's vast selection of gestures, from the handshake to the glove-slap, is analysed and grouped according to wider forms of communication—greetings, threats, insults, and more. All are illustrated with full-colour works, ranging from prehistoric masks and Greek statues to contemporary paintings and sculptures. 'Postures' uniquely combines Morris's expertise in both art and social science, shedding new light on even the most familiar paintings.

'Being You: Against All Odds' features 100 real-life stories from India, showcasing how ordinary people have overcome challenges to achieve extraordinary feats. The first edition inspired many, including Sheetal Devi, who began her journey in the world of sports. With striking photographs and compelling narratives, these relatable stories remind us that we all have the power to rewrite our own stories.

The outstanding adult thriller debut from the multimillion-copy bestselling author of 'A Good Girl's Guide to Murder'.

In seven days, Jet Mason will be dead.

Twenty-seven years old, she's back living with her parents, waiting for her life to begin. She'll do it later, she always says. Her parents have their doubts.

Until, on the night of Halloween, Jet is violently attacked by an unseen intruder.

She suffers a catastrophic brain injury. The doctor is certain that, within a week, she'll suffer a deadly aneurysm.

Jet never thought of herself as having enemies. But now she looks at everyone in a new light: her family, her ex-best friend turned sister-in-law, her former boyfriend.

She may only have seven days—if she even makes it that long—but Jet is absolutely determined to finally prove her doubters wrong.

Jet is going to solve her own murder.

For decades, politicians, policymakers, and investors have debated these questions, but the answers have eluded them. In this groundbreaking book, Ray Dalio, one of the greatest investors of our time who anticipated the 2008 global financial crisis and the 2010–12 European debt crisis, shares for the first time his detailed explanation of what he calls the 'Big Debt Cycle'. Understanding this cycle is critical for helping policymakers, investors, and the general public grasp where we are and where we are headed with the debt issue. Dalio's model points toward surprisingly straightforward solutions for dealing with the debt problems that the US, Europe, Japan, and China face today.

'How Countries Go Broke' also shows how these debt problems are related to the other forces—political within countries, geopolitical between countries, natural (droughts, floods, and pandemics), and technological (most importantly, AI)—that together are causing what Dalio calls the 'Overall Big Cycle' changes in the world order. By listening to this book, you will improve your understanding of what's happening now and what to do about it.

Much of world history is Indian history. Home today to one in four people, the subcontinent has long been densely populated and deeply connected to Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas through migration and trade. In this magisterial history, Audrey Truschke tells the fascinating story of the region historically known as India—which includes today's India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and parts of Afghanistan—and the people who have lived there.

A sweeping account of five millennia, from the dawn of the Indus Valley Civilisation to the twenty-first century, this engaging and richly textured narrative chronicles the most important political, social, religious, intellectual, and cultural events. Throughout, it describes how the region has been continuously reshaped by its astonishing diversity, religious and political innovations, and social stratification.

Here, readers will learn about Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, and Sikhism; the Vedas and 'Mahabharata'; Ashoka and the Mauryan Empire; the Silk Road; the Cholas; Indo-Persian rule; the Mughal Empire; European colonialism; national independence movements; the 1947 Partition of India; the recent rise of Hindu nationalism; the challenges of climate change; and much more. Emphasising the diversity of human experiences on the subcontinent, the book presents a wide range of voices, including those of women, religious minorities, lower classes, and other marginalised groups.

You cannot understand India today without appreciating its deeply contested history, which continues to drive current events and controversies. A comprehensive and innovative book, 'India' is essential reading for anyone who is interested in the past, present, or future of the subcontinent.

A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew.

It's a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She's immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she's actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn't here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she's dreamed of coming for years—she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she's here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can't stop confiding in each other.

In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach's 'The Wedding People' is ultimately an incredibly nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined—and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.