The answer: Freakonomics. It's at the heart of everything we do and the things that affect us daily, from sex to crime, parenting to politics, fat to cheating, fear to traffic jams. And it's all about using information about the world around us to get to the heart of what's really happening under the surface of everyday life. Now updated with the authors' New York Times columns and blog entries, this cult bestseller will show you how, by unravelling your life's secret codes, you can discover a totally new way of seeing the world.
Turow's acclaimed second novel, which topped international bestseller lists, is now available in trade paperback. Sandy Stern, the brilliant defense attorney from Presumed Innocent, faces an event so emotionally shattering that no part of his life is left untouched. It reveals a family caught in a maelstrom of hidden crimes, shocking secrets, and warring passions.
Given his contempt for authority and habitually ornery manner, John Rebus's position as an Edinburgh cop is always in jeopardy. In this 14th installment, he and his partner, Detective Sergeant Siobhan Clarke, investigate the case of Lee Herdman, a withdrawn ex-soldier who allegedly shot three teenage boys at a private school, killing two before turning the gun on himself. While Siobhan believes the case is straightforward—Herdman simply lost his mind—Rebus suspects deeper motives behind the tragedy. His instincts lead him to consider Herdman's past involvement in a military mission and his connection to Teri Cotter, a 15-year-old "Goth" who shares her life online but keeps her relationship with Herdman private. Complications arise with the arrival of two army investigators and the behavior of James Bell, the sole survivor of the shooting, whose politician father seeks to exploit the incident for an anti-gun campaign. Rebus's focus is further challenged by an internal police inquiry into his past actions and his personal ties to one of the victims. As he grapples with his own demons and the changing landscape of policing, Rebus's struggles highlight the complexities of his character and the series's ambition.
In 1994 fledgling journalist Louis Theroux was given a one-off gig on Michael Moore's TV Nation, presenting a segment on apocalyptic religious sects. Gawky, socially awkward and totally unqualified, his first reaction to this exciting opportunity was panic. But he'd always been drawn to off-beat characters, so maybe his enthusiasm would carry the day. Or, you know, maybe it wouldn't... In Gotta Get Theroux This, Louis takes the reader on a joyous journey through his life and unexpectedly successful career. Nervously accepting the BBC's offer of his own series, he went on to create an award-winning documentary style that has seen him immersed in worlds as diverse as racist US militias and secretive pro-wrestlers, the violent gangs of Johannesburg and extreme drinkers in London. Arguably his biggest challenge was corralling celebrities in his When Louis Met series, with Jimmy Savile proving most elusive. Blindsided when the revelations about Savile came to light, Louis was to reflect again on the nature of evil he had spent decades uncovering. Filled with wry observation, larger-than-life characters, and self-deprecating humour, this is Louis at his insightful and honest best.
