Best Selling Books by John Kelly

A compelling new look at one of the worst disasters to strike humankind--the Great Irish Potato Famine--conveyed as lyrical narrative history from the acclaimed author of "The Great Mortality."

1347 marked a watershed in the history of the Middle Ages. An intruder crept across Europe and Asia, striking with little warning and killing a full third of the population. No one was spared — children, the elderly, and those in the prime of life were struck down with equal ferocity by the illness known as the Black Plague. John Kelly chronicles the origins and development of this devastating epidemic, from its origins in Central Asia to its spread eastward to China and westward to Europe, eventually spreading as far as Portugal and Scandinavia. Drawing on contemporary letters and chronicles, Kelly brings to life the world of the Plague — a world filled with fear, violence, bravery, greed and unselfish charity. He also presents evidence that the illness that so devastated two continents was not bubonic or pneumonic plague at all, but something entirely different. The Great Mortality is a gripping and unforgettable look back at a time when many thought they were witnessing the end of the world. John Kelly, who holds a graduate degree in European history, is the author and coauthor of ten books on science, medicine, and human behavior, including Three on the Edge, which Publishers Weekly called the work of “an expert storyteller.” He lives in New York City.

This book provides a comparative assessment of social pacts between governments, labor unions and employer organizations in Western Europe. Using a dataset covering 16 European countries, as well as eight in-depth country case studies, the authors argue that governments’ choice of social pacts or legislation is less influenced by economic problems, but is strongly influenced by electoral competition.

The Monster Doctor: Revolting Rescue is the second in a howlingly hilarious series of monster adventures from John Kelly that will have you laughing your head off . . . literally. WARNING! THIS IS AN EMERGENCY. There''s been a major Q-T incident reported in Cringetown – we need the monster doctor, stat! Q-Ts are highly dangerous to all monsters – they have huge eyes, tiny noses, squeaky high-pitched voices and are covered in a disgustingly soft fur-like material. Physical contact with these revolting creatures is to be avoided AT ALL COSTS! Ozzy is an ordinary human – an unusual trait for a monster doctor in training! – and he can''t understand why monsters are so scared of these Q-Ts. So when the doctor receives a desperate phone call reporting a Q-T sighting, she and Ozzy race to save the horrible creature before the abominable Inspector Pincher arrives . . .

The Twilight of World Trotskyism analyzes the reasons behind the historic failure of the Trotskyist movement around the world. The book begins this assessment by briefly recapitulating the origins of Trotskyism, as a political current within the communist movement, and elaborating its major elements, before describing the historical development of Trotskyism in the four countries where it has sunk the deepest roots and which house the clear majority of the world’s Fourth Internationals: Argentina, Britain, France and the USA. It then proceeds to map the current state of the global Trotskyist movement. Whatever their current size and status, Trotskyist organizations aspire to become mass political parties and lead revolutionary seizures of power. It is therefore appropriate to examine them through the metrics applied to mainstream parties, namely organization, membership and political influence. The author looks at the dynamics of the Trotskyist movement, focusing in particular on the supposedly harmful effects of the communist movement before then turning to examine the role of Trotskyist organizations in the many revolutionary situations that have appeared since the 1920s and in the various ‘cycles of protest’ that have occurred in the latter half of the 20th century and the early years of the 21st century. The final section examines the two success stories frequently cited in Trotskyist literature, namely the cases of Bolivia and Sri Lanka. The book concludes by setting out and examining a wide variety of explanations for the chronic and sustained weaknesses of the Trotskyist movement, including its flawed appraisals of contemporary politics and economics, ultra-radical programmes and policies, failures in understanding the dynamics of protest and the baleful legacy of Soviet communism. It is argued that these weaknesses are rooted in Trotskyist doctrine and are therefore integral, not peripheral, features of world Trotskyism. This volume will be essential reading for activists and scholars interested in the transnational history and politics of the radical left.

"A remarkably vivid account of a key moment in Western history: The critical six months in 1940 when Winston Churchill and his cabinet debated whether England should fight Nazi Germany and then decided to "never surrender"."--Amazon.com.

Based on a landmark longitudinal study, the nation''s leading expert on stepfamilies reveals his breakthrough findings and offers the first detailed guide to easing the conflicts of stepfamily life and healing the scars of divorce. There are more than twenty million stepfamilies in America. For most of them, the simple, daily issues that challenge every family are even more anxiety-provoking. After conducting a comprehensive nine-year-long study funded by the National Institutes of Health, Dr. James H. Bray has written an invaluable book that explains why over half of all stepfamilies fail and reveals the strategies that help the others succeed. A stepfamily is assaulted on all sides by difficult and often divisive questions. How much control should a stepparent have over a stepchild? How much authority should a nonresidential parent exert over a child? How should a difficult former spouse be handled? How does an "ours" baby change the emotional dynamic in a stepfamily? Why is there a lack of "honeymoon effect" during the first years of stepfamily life? The purpose of Stepfamilies is to answer all the important questions of stepfamily life--to fill in the knowledge gaps that undermine so many stepfamilies today and, crucially, to learn the effect of stepfamily life on children. Based on one of the largest and longest studies of stepfamily life ever conducted, Stepfamilies interweaves the stories of real families to illustrate such study findings as how: a stepfamily has its own natural life cycle a stepfamily takes several years to develop into a family unit a stepfamily is at greatest risk during the first two years a stepfamily ultimately coalesces into one of three forms a stepfamily must solve four basic tasks in order to succeed a stepfamily can help heal the scars of divorce Filled with emotional, gripping stories, Bray''s findings pinpoint the three major transitions in stepfamily life and identify the riskiest issues that can throw a family into crisis. Bray is the first to identify the several distinct forms that stepfamilies take and to explore which types of stepfamilies are more vulnerable than others and why. He also describes the natural life cycle of stepfamilies and basic tasks all stepfamilies must undertake to succeed. With a wealth of insight into the positive effects of remarriage, Bray shows how a loving, well-functioning stepfamily can lessen the trauma of divorce and restore a child''s and family''s sense of security. Most stepparents remarry with the highest hopes and new resolutions for a better life. Never before have their unique needs been addressed in depth. Through insightful case studies and practical advice, Stepfamilies reveals how a strong, stable stepfamily is as capable as a nuclear family of nurturing healthy development, of imbuing values, of setting limits and boundaries, and of providing a structure in which rules for living a moral and productive life are transmitted, tested, rebelled against, and ultimately affirmed. Bray''s positive message and fascinating findings--many of which defy intuition--will put stepfamilies on the road to lifelong harmony.

It''s time for the most GRUESOME game ever . . . Don''t miss the MONSTER BALL cup final THIS SATURDAY! The FANGTOWN FANTOMS vs the AWFUL ALL-STARS. Tickets on sale now! (Sadly tickets are not to be eaten.) When the ball eats the referee at the annual MonsterBowl competition, it''s once again up to Ozzy and the monster doctor to save the day. The fourth in a howlingly hilarious series of monster adventures written and illustrated by John Kelly that will have you laughing your head off . . . literally. Don''t miss Ozzy''s adventures in Revolting Rescue and Slime Crime.

This edition contains a new chapter extending the story into the eighteenth century.

Publisher description: This book tells the story of the Christian religious movement led by Dona Beatriz Kimpa Vita in the Kingdom of Kongo from 1704 until her death, by burning at the stake, in 1706. Beatriz, a young woman, claimed to be possessed by St Anthony, argued that Jesus was a Kongolese, and criticized Italian Capuchin missionaries in her country for not supporting black saints. The movement was largely a peace movement, with a following among the common people, attempting to stop the devastating cycle of civil wars between contenders for the Kongolese throne. Thornton supplies background information on the Kingdom, the development of Catholicism in Kongo since 1491, the nature and role of local warfare in the Atlantic slave trade, and contemporary everyday life, as well as sketching the lives of some local personalities.