Are you still the person who lived fifteen, ten or five years ago? Fifteen, ten or five minutes ago? Can you plan for your retirement if the you of thirty years hence is in some sense a different person? What and who is the real you? Does it remain constant over time and place, or is it something much more fragmented and fluid? Is it known to you, or are you as much a mystery to yourself as others are to you? With his usual wit, infectious curiosity and bracing scepticism, Julian Baggini sets out to answer these fundamental and unsettling questions. His fascinating quest draws on the history of philosophy, but also anthropology, sociology, psychology and neurology; he talks to theologians, priests, allegedly reincarnated Lamas, and delves into real-life cases of lost memory, personality disorders and personal transformation; and, candidly and engagingly, he describes his own experiences. After reading The Ego Trick, you will never see yourself in the same way again.

Czechoslovakia, 1968. The Soviet troops have just invaded the country and, for the young orphan Ilya, life is suddenly turned on its head. At first there is relief that the mean-spirited nuns who run the orphanage have been driven out by the Communists, but as the children are left to fend for themselves, order and routine quickly give way to brutality and chaos, and Ilya finds himself drawn into the violence, both committing murder in order to save his best friend and forced to witness the death of his disabled brother. When the troops return, the orphans are given military training and, with his first-hand knowledge of the local terrain, Ilya becomes a guide to a Soviet tank commander, leading him ever deeper into a macabre world of random cruelty, moral compromise, and lasting shame.

Even from the name The Emerald Isle, it's clear that gardens are part and parcel of the history and character of Ireland. Castles, parks, and simple country gardens are all presented in this essential tour guide that features over 100 Irish gardens with lush photographs and detailed descriptions. From the imposing formal terraces of Powerscourt near Dublin to the mixed plantings of Glenveagh Castle's woodland garden, set in the wild Donegal landscape, this guide reveals breathtaking sights awaiting travelers.

This authoritative new series of guidebooks to the gardens of Europe is the perfect companion for any garden enthusiast, whether tourist or armchair traveler. Each title is a richly illustrated in-depth guide to over 100 gardens, from the famous to little-known hidden treasures, and features colorful photography and easy-to-read illustrations commissioned especially for this series. Also included are maps, directions, complete visitor information, special features, and neighboring sites of interest. Each guide, written by a gardening expert, begins with a comprehensive background on the country's garden history and local climate. The most significant gardens in each volume are featured in even greater detail, accompanied by illustrated plans of the gardens and close-up views of particular features. The numerous color photographs and maps show travelers what awaits at each garden. The Garden Lover's Guide's are indispensible aids for those planning European travel itineraries. The Garden Lover's Guide to the Netherlands and Belgium is for everyone who enjoys visiting gardens. In this compact volume, gardening writer Barbara Abbs explores over 100 of the most beautiful Dutch and Flemish gardens, highlighting their most striking features, describing their distinctive characters, and revealing charming aspects that will delight every garden lover. From the exquisite formal gardens of the Paleis Het Loo to the lavender expanses of the Kasteel Twickel, this volume reveals many of thebest-kept secrets awaiting travelers in Europe.

This authoritative new series of guidebooks to the gardens of Europe is the perfect companion for any garden enthusiast, whether tourist or armchair traveler. Each title is a richly illustrated in-depth guide to over 100 gardens, from the famous to little-known hidden treasures, and features colorful photography and easy-to-read illustrations commissioned especially for this series. Also included are maps, directions, complete visitor information, special features, and neighboring sites of interest. Each guide, written by a gardening expert, begins with a comprehensive background on the country's garden history and local climate. The most significant gardens in each volume are featured in even greater detail, accompanied by illustrated plans of the gardens and close-up views of particular features. The numerous color photographs and maps show travelers what awaits at each garden. The Garden Lover's Guide's are indispensible aids for those planning European travel itineraries. The Garden Lover's Guide to Spain and Portugal is for everyone who enjoys visiting gardens. In this compact volume, gardening writer Barbara Segall explores over 100 of the most beautiful Iberian gardens, highlighting their most striking features, describing their distinctive characters, and revealing charming aspects that will delight every garden lover. From Antoni Gaudi's fantastic Park Guell, to the exotic Moorish pools and patiosof the Alhambra and Generalife, to the intricate parterres at the PalacioNacional de Queluz, this volume will guide travelers to some of the mostbreathtaking sights in Europe.