Culture First

Microsoft: First Generation uncovers the range of surprising success secrets behind the upstart company that defined the Age of Information - and reveals, once and for all, exactly what makes Microsoft tick.

Jamestown by Marshall W. Fishwick delves into the fascinating story of America's first permanent English settlement. Blending history, culture, and myth, the book examines Jamestown's pivotal role in shaping American identity and its lasting influence on the nation's heritage. Fishwick brings to life the struggles, achievements, and enduring legacy of the settlers who laid the foundation for modern America.

On March 19, 2013, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina became Pope Francis, the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church. His election to the papacy was notable in many ways. He became the first pope from the Americas, the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, the first non-European pope in more than 1,200 years, the first Jesuit pope, and the first pope to choose the name Francis. Follow Pope Francis's journey to the papacy, from his days as a young chemist, to his studies of theology.

The three Oakenfeld children, Susan, Charles, and Murray, are perplexed. Their parents aren't letting them turn on the television. Something strange is going on in the city, that's for sure. And now Mom and Dad are sending them off to Canada to stay with their Uncle Farley - who they've never even met! New York-based author and teacher Dale Peck was inspired to write this amazing story after the events of September 11, 2001.

When 16-year-old Alex's parents ask him to deliver a mysterious package to their animal research camp in the Nepali jungle, he and his 12-year-old brother James do not know the trouble they are about to face. An unsuccessful ransom payment leads to an arduous journey through the crisp forests of the Wild West of Nepal in pursuit of the thugs who have kidnapped their parents. Even with the help of their friend Atti, how can three children rescue the parents from armed kidnappers?

As Margaret Truman knows from firsthand experience, living in the White House can be exhilarating and maddening, alarming and exhausting, but it is certainly never dull. Part private residence, part goldfish bowl, and part national shrine, the White House is both the most important address in America and the most intensely scrutinized.

In The Title, Scott Murray delivers a lively, cherry-picked history of the country's football narrative through the prism of the old First Division. Rich with humour yet underpinned with solid research, this is a glorious ramble across English football's varied terrain. With as much about Preston, Burnley, Wolves, Portsmouth and West Brom as the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, we learn the less well-known stories the sport has to tell, such as the plight of Glossop - the smallest club to ever play top-flight football.

Welcome to the electrifying world of K-pop! From its origins in a once-overlooked corner of Asia to today's global superstars like BTS and BLACKPINK, discover how South Korea built an entertainment empire that's revolutionizing modern culture. This comprehensive guide reveals the fascinating story behind K-pop's meteoric rise and lasting impact.

In the 21st century, many of the most successful companies focus on the development, success, and happiness of their own employees first. That's because they know engaged employees will enthusiastically take ownership of selling products and serving customers. Not surprisingly, they also know that in the end strong sales and profitability will follow. Are you ready to re-prioritize your people?

Democratic Delusions explores the potential of our media and tech systems to be democratic and contribute to a just and transformative democracy. This is only possible, Natalie Fenton argues, by first situating our political systems and mediated worlds within global capitalism. By interrogating different media and their relationship to seven key elements of democracy—power, participation, freedom, equality, public good, trust, and hope—the book asks: What is the response of society when the ability of news media to speak truth to power has been restricted by corporate logic?

Dive into the greatest first-person shooter (FPS) video games of all time! From genre-defining classics like “DOOM” and “Half-Life” to modern masterpieces like “Call of Duty,” “Halo,” and “Overwatch,” this book explores the most iconic shooters that shaped gaming history. Discover groundbreaking mechanics, unforgettable storylines, and the best multiplayer experiences ever created. Whether you're a retro FPS fan or a competitive gamer, this guide is your essential companion to the best FPS games ever made! Lock and load—it's time to relive gaming’s most legendary battles!

For No Reason at All: The Changing Narrative of the First World War in American Film discusses a variety of Great War-themed films made from 1915 to the present, tracing the changing approaches to the conflict over time.

Florence Maybrick was the first American woman to be sentenced to death in England - for murdering her husband, a crime she almost certainly didn't commit. Her 1889 trial was presided over by an openly misogynist judge who was later declared incompetent and died in an asylum. Hours before she was to be hanged, Queen Victoria reluctantly commuted her sentence to life in prison. In her opinion, a woman who would commit adultery, as Maybrick had admitted, would also kill her husband. Her children were taken from her; she never saw them again. Her mother worked for years to clear her name.

Papyrus rolls and Twitter have much in common, as each was their generation's signature means of "instant" communication. Indeed, as Tom Standage reveals in his scintillating new audiobook, social media is anything but a new phenomenon. From the papyrus letters that Roman statesmen used to exchange news across the Empire to the advent of hand-printed tracts of the Reformation to the pamphlets that spread propaganda during the American and French revolutions, Standage chronicles the increasingly sophisticated ways people shared information with each other....

Despite the high number of programs and their evident popularity, paranormal reality television has to date received little critical attention. Ghost Channels provides an overview of the paranormal reality television genre, its development, and its place in television history. Conducting in-depth analyses of over thirty paranormal television series, author Amy Lawrence suggests these programs reveal much about Americans' contemporary fears.

The world's first programmable computer was the legendary ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), built by John Mauchly and Presper Eckert. Based on original interviews with surviving participants and the first study of Mauchly and Eckert's personal papers, ENIAC is a dramatic human story and a vital contribution to the history of technology, and it restores to the two inventors the legacy they deserve.

Take Your Shoes Off First is a fast and entertaining listen that illustrates how easy it is to limit what is possible in your life - without knowing you are doing it. You will be pulled into a thought-provoking story about an executive who finds a better path forward through a challenging situation by embracing one simple idea. As he learns to see himself and the world more clearly, you will be inspired to do the same.

Join author Ronda Conger on her new approach of what it means to be a leader of leaders - and it starts with you. It's time that you go first, stop blaming others, and take charge. Learn leadership principles that you can implement immediately, how to create a "love wins" culture, and get tactical exercises to share with your team. If you want to ensure your success as a leader, create an unbeatable team, and be a leader worth following, embracing You Go First is the first step.

In 1954, the US Air Force launched an ambitious program known as WS-117L to develop the world's first reconnaissance satellite. The goal was to take photographic images from space and relay them back to Earth via radio. Because of technical issues and bureaucratic resistance, however, WS-117L was seriously behind schedule by the time Sputnik orbited Earth in 1957 and was eventually cancelled. Eyeing the Red Storm examines the birth of space-based reconnaissance from the perspective of WS-117L.

A toy soldier. A butter dish. A compass. Mundane objects, perhaps, but to the remarkable authors in this collection, artifacts such as these have inspired stories that go to the heart of the human experience of World War I. Each author was invited to choose an object that had a connection to the war - a writing kit for David Almond, a helmet for Michael Morpurgo - and use it as the inspiration for an original short story.