Most Popular Books by Brian Murphy

With an ever-increasing proportion of the world’s population living in cities, soil properties such as salinity, acidity, water retention, erosion and pollution are becoming more significant in urban areas. While these are known issues for agriculture and forestry, as urban development increases, it is essential to recognise the potential of soil properties to create problems for the environment as well as structural concerns for buildings and other engineering works. Understanding Soils in Urban Environments explains how urban soils develop, change and erode. It describes their physical and chemical properties with a focus on specific soil problems that cause environmental damage, such as acid sulfate soils, and also affect the integrity of engineering structural works. This fully revised second edition addresses contemporary issues, including an increase in the use of green roofs and urban green space as well as manufactured soils in a variety of urban environments. Understanding Soils in Urban Environments provides a concise introduction to all aspects of soils in urban environments and will be extremely useful to students in a wide range of disciplines, from soil science and urban forestry and horticulture, to planning, engineering, construction and land remediation, as well as to engineers, builders, landscape architects, ecologists, planners and developers.

The documents in this book were collected from the archives in Rostov-on-Don, and appear here for the first time in print, with commentary from the author.

Told in exquisite prose befitting one of the world''s loveliest art forms, Brian Murphy eloquently chronicles how carpets embody humanity''s endless striving for unattainable perfection. Every Persian carpet has a story to tell—from the remote villages of Afghanistan and Iran, down the ancient trade routes traveled for centuries, to the bazaars of Tehran and the markets of the Western world. Carpet-making is one of this tumultuous region''s few constants, an art form that transcends religious and political turmoil. Part travelogue and part exploration into the meaning and worth of these mystical artifacts, The Root of Wild Madder presents practical information about carpets while exploring the artistic, religious, and cultural complexities of these enigmatic lands.

"A riveting . . . saga of survival against formidable odds" ( Washington Post ) about the survivor of a World War II plane crash in Alaska''s Yukon territory. Shortly before Christmas in 1943, five Army aviators left Alaska''s Ladd Field on a routine flight to test their hastily retrofitted B-twenty-four Liberator in harsh winter conditions. The mission ended in a crash that claimed all but one—Leon Crane, a city kid from Philadelphia with no wilderness experience. With little more than a parachute for cover and an old Boy Scout knife in his pocket, Crane now found himself alone in subzero temperatures. Crane knew, as did the Ladd Field crews who searched unsuccessfully for the crash site, that his chance of survival dropped swiftly with each passing day. But Crane did find a way to stay alive in the grip of the Yukon winter for nearly twelve weeks and, amazingly, walked out of the ordeal intact. eighty-one Days Below Zero recounts, for the first time, the full story of Crane''s remarkable saga. In a drama of staggering resolve and moments of phenomenal luck, Crane learned to survive in the Yukon''s unforgiving wilds. His is a tale of the capacity to endure extreme conditions, intense loneliness, and flashes of raw terror—and emerge stronger than before. "Brian Murphy rediscovers one of the most astounding survival stories in Alaskan history. The account is all the more remarkable because of Leon Crane''s lifelong reluctance to talk about his ordeal. [He] has saved from oblivion a tale that resonates with inspiration more than seventy years later." —David Roberts, author of Alone on the Ice

This unique book provides the reader with a concise compilation of information regarding the use of environmental forensic techniques for age dating and identification of the source of a chlorinated solvent release.

Interpreting Soil Test Results is a practical reference enabling soil scientists, environmental scientists, environmental engineers, land holders and land managers to understand and interpret soil results. In this new edition the entire acid sulfate soil section has been replaced with the most current information. The interpretation of some soil chemistry tests has been updated, such as soil phosphorus values based on phosphorus buffering capacity, the influence of sparingly soluble salts and chloride on interpreting salinity data and EC values, and some critical values for soil chloride levels added. The sodicity section has been revised to include the latest information and understanding of sodicity. The soil organic carbon section now includes the latest information and understanding on soil organic carbon. Intensive sampling in small areas and a new section on pipeline corrosion have been added. The soil contamination chapter has been revised, providing the latest understanding and critical values, and a new section on PFAS chemicals added. Interpreting Soil Test Results is an important reference for students of soil science, environmental science and environmental engineering, as well as for professional soil scientists, environmental scientists, engineers and consultants and for local government agencies. It also offers a reference for legal professionals in land and environment cases.

Packed with over 150 color photos, 28: A Photographic Tribute to Buster Posey captures the catcher’s entire career, from the first time he stepped foot onto the field for the San Francisco Giants back in 2009 all the way to his final at-bat in 2021. Longtime sports photographer Brad Mangin teams up with Buster Posey himself in this visual celebration of the star catcher’s 12 seasons with the San Francisco Giants. One of the most beloved players in Giants history, the rookie catcher helped carry the franchise to its first World Series in San Francisco in 2010, and from there, the rising star carried the Giants to win two more World Series in 2012 and 2014—all brilliantly documented by Mangin. With an introduction from veteran sportswriter and San Francisco radio host Brian Murphy, along with essays from Buster and his teammates, managers, and other sports luminaries—including Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper, Bruce Bochy, Matt Cain, Brandon Crawford, Gabe Kapler, Hunter Pence, Sergio Romo, Logan Webb, and Barry Zito—28 tells the story of Buster’s illustrious career from the heartfelt perspective of those who know him best. Off the field, Buster used his platform to help children, and now his legacy continues to transform lives. He and his wife, Kristen, created and nurtured BP28, a charity that has raised over $4 million since 2016 in its endeavor to improve outcomes and raise awareness of pediatric cancer. Kristen also shares that story here, and a portion of the proceeds from this book will benefit their foundation.

This guide is the ultimate resource for true fans of the Golden Gophers. Whether you''re a die-hard from the days of Herb Brooks or a more recent supporter, these are the 100 things every fan needs to know and do in their lifetime. Experienced sportswriter Brian Murphy has collected every essential piece of Minnesota knowledge and trivia, as well as must-do activities, and ranks them all from 1 to 100, providing an entertaining and easy-to-follow checklist as you progress on your way to fan superstardom.

The U.S. no longer has a free marketplace of ideas. Instead, the marketplace is saturated with covert foreign-backed disinformation. And despite the ethical obligations to act, successive administrations have done nothing. Additionally, the decline in trust has left the door open for populism and illiberalism to enter. Some believe the very fabric of American liberalism is at stake. So what are the ethical responsibilities of the executive branch to counter covert campaigns such as the one coming from Russian-backed disinformation circulating within the US? Why has the government failed to act? So far, the practical challenges are daunting if the executive branch addresses the threat to the homeland. The process to limit this problem is wrought with profound political implications. By its very nature, social media-based disinformation is inextricably linked with existing complex societal cleavages, the First Amendment, and politics. But the failure to do anything is a serious abdication of the government’s ethical responsibilities. This raises the question of where the line is for government intervention. This work provides answers.

A story of tragedy at sea where every desperate act meant life or death The small ship making the Liverpool-to-New York trip in the early months of 1856 carried mail, crates of dry goods, and more than one hundred passengers, mostly Irish emigrants. Suddenly an iceberg tore the ship asunder and five lifeboats were lowered. As four lifeboats drifted into the fog and icy water, never to be heard from again, the last boat wrenched away from the sinking ship with a few blankets, some water and biscuits, and thirteen souls. Only one would survive. This is his story. As they started their nine days adrift more than four hundred miles off Newfoundland, the castaways--an Irish couple and their two boys, an English woman and her daughter, newlyweds from Ireland, and several crewmen, including Thomas W. Nye from Fairhaven, Massachusetts--began fighting over food and water. One by one, though, day by day, they died. Some from exposure, others from madness and panic. In the end, only Nye and the ship''s log survived. Using Nye''s firsthand descriptions and later newspaper accounts, ship''s logs, assorted diaries, and family archives, Brian Murphy chronicles the horrific nine days that thirteen people suffered adrift on the cold gray Atlantic. Adrift brings readers to the edge of human limits, where every frantic decision and desperate act is a potential life saver or life taker.

This pictorial history illustrates the Tennessee River''s influence on Northwest Alabama and people, places, and events that have shaped the area''s cultural and natural history. For centuries, the Tennessee River has shaped the lives of northwest Alabamians. Native peoples made their homes on its shores, living on the rich resources found in its waters and on its banks. Early Europeans and Americans recognized the river''s importance in connecting east with west, although traveling the 40-mile stretch of rocky shoals between present-day Decatur and Florence was difficult. Overcoming that navigation challenge led to such 19th-century technological advances as the Tuscumbia, Courtland & Decatur Railroad--the first rail line west of the Appalachian Mountains--and the Muscle Shoals Canal. During the Civil War, skirmishes over control of factories, rail lines, and bridges characterized most military activity in northwest Alabama. In the 20th century, the construction of Wilson Dam and the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority improved the quality of life and increased economic opportunities in northwest Alabama.

College golf is the breeding ground for the PGA, and the sport''s overlooked chapter. And in 1995 college golf saw its ultimate showdown. At the NCAA championship, a freshman who would become the sport''s biggest icon stood on the green in a sudden-death playoff that would settle the score in a tense and heated rivalry. Would Tiger Woods sink the putt? Based on exhaustive reporting and interviews, The Last Putt tells the story of an epic rivalry that encapsulated the changing face of the game. On one side was Oklahoma State, a true golfing dynasty featuring the young bloods of a privileged golf family and a coach whose winning record and reputation for toughness made him a mythical figure. On the other side was Stanford, born of the creative recruiting of an unforgettable group of players: Notah Begay (golf ''s first prominent Native American), Casey Martin (who broke down barriers by playing with a severe disability), and Tiger Woods. A stirring ensemble tale of young men carving out their futures on and off the course, The Last Putt makes for compelling, stroke-for-stroke reading down to the last putt.

Offering invaluable advice for teenagers and young adults with Nonverbal Learning Disabilities (NLD), this book explains what NLD is, how to understand your NLD brain, and how to thrive socially and academically with an NLD. The book also includes guidance for parents, teachers and therapists on the issues that people with NLD want them to know.

Do you REALLY like to play Sudoku puzzles? Are you the type of puzzler who loves the 16×16 and 25×25 grids, and also likes variety Sudokus, but has little interest in “boring” standard 9×9s? Well, great news! Here’s a humongous 100×100 Sudoku, with diagonals, and here’s the best part: This one is in color! No more bothering with those tiny black-and-white grids! With this book, you can go much, much further than that and create a much larger grid size, by cutting pages out and pasting or taping them together to form a 100×100 Sudoku. And what’s more, each of the 100 individual 10×10 squares are subdivided into four 5×5 squares with different colors: red, yellow, green, and blue, along with gray squares indicating the diagonals. The gray squares along the long diagonals each contain the numbers 0 to 99. In addition, each color set has its own 25 different numbers from 0 to 99, which will be consistent throughout the entire grid, which you can deduce via crossing out numbers used on other color squares, using the scratch pads provided. As a result, when you combine any four 5×5 squares with the four different colors – whether those four 5×5 squares be in a 10×10 cage, all aligned in a row, in a column, or even on a long diagonal, as well as each set of “four corners” from the outermost corners of the grid to the centermost, or just in random, disparate places – they will end up containing all of the numbers from 0 to 99. How cool is that!

Humorous dating advice from two married comedians, former CollegeHumor writers and stars of the Hot Date tv series. Who better to write a very humorous manual about evolving modern relationships than two CollegeHumor veterans and viral-video stars who happen to be a real-life husband-and-wife team? With candor, bite, and charm, HEY, U UP? takes readers on an eight-chapter journey through the trials of hooking up to the foibles of marriage, and combines the authors'' prescriptive advice with the unfolding story of their own relationship. HEY, U UP? tackles all the milestones of relationships today—both glorious and embarrassing—with sections ranging from "How to Ask Someone Out After You''ve Slept with Them" all the way to "Establish Your Family as the Christmas Family by Turning Your Significant Other Against Their Own Parents." In addition to the laugh-out-loud essays, lists, questionnaires, and even flowcharts further enliven the pages.