Showing results by narrator "Bob Johnson" in All Categories

Soviet socialism was based on paradoxes that were revealed by the peculiar experience of its collapse. To the people who lived in that system the collapse seemed both completely unexpected and completely unsurprising. At the moment of collapse it suddenly became obvious that Soviet life had always seemed simultaneously eternal and stagnating, vigorous and ailing, bleak and full of promise. Although these characteristics may appear mutually exclusive, in fact they were mutually constitutive.

Acting jobs don't grow on fire escapes, so struggling actress Esther Diamond is outraged when her guest role as a hooker on controversial TV drama The Dirty Thirty is jeopardized by zombies, angry spirits, and a voodoo curse. Meanwhile, the talented teens Esther is coaching at a Harlem cultural center are also being attacked by the sinister supernatural power that's spreading through Manhattan.

Hezbollah is the first thorough examination of Hezbollah's covert activities beyond Lebanon's borders, including its financial and logistical support networks and its criminal and terrorist operations worldwide.

Power Boating For Dummies, Second Edition teaches you everything you need to know about buying, choosing, operating, maintaining, and enjoying a power boat, and provides expert guidance for new boaters. This is also a fantastic book for experienced boaters, because it's full of tips and ideas on improving boating skills and getting the most out of water-time with the latest tech. With this guide, you can ace your boating pilot's exam and master the techniques you'll need to stay safe and have fun out there.

Trying to outwit the market is a bad gamble. If you're serious about investing for the long run, you have to take a no-nonsense, businesslike approach to your portfolio. In addition to covering all the basics, this new edition of All About Asset Allocation includes timely advice on learning which investments work well together and why, selecting the right mutual funds and ETFs, creating an asset allocation that's right for your needs, knowing how and when to change an allocation, and understanding target-date mutual funds.

Financial market bubbles are recurring, often painful, reminders of the costs and benefits of capitalism. While many books have studied financial manias and crises, most fail to compare times of turmoil with times of stability. In Bubbles and Crashes, Brent Goldfarb and David A. Kirsch give us new insights into the causes of speculative booms and busts. They identify a class of assets - major technological innovations - that can, but does not necessarily, produce bubbles.

Software was supposed to radically improve society. Outdated mechanical systems would be easily replaced; social media platforms like Facebook would bring people together; and generative AI would solve the world’s greatest ills. Yet in practice, few of the systems we looked to with such high hopes have lived up to their fundamental mandate. In fact, in too many cases they've made things worse. How did we get to this point? In Fatal Abstraction, Darryl Campbell explains that the problem is "managerial software".

The common perception of a CIA officer is someone who collects secret intelligence abroad-a spy. However, the critical link between secrets and policy is the intelligence analyst. The CIA Intelligence Analyst brings to light the vital, but often-unseen, work of these officers.

Dual Momentum Investing details the author's own momentum investing method that combines US stock, non-US stock, and aggregate bond indices—in a formula proven to dramatically increase profits while lowering risk. Antonacci reveals how momentum investors could have achieved long-run returns nearly twice as high as the stock market over the past forty years, while avoiding or minimizing bear market losses—and he provides the information and insight investors need to achieve such success going forward. 

Steven R. Ward provides an accessible overview of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS) and its focus on tracking and countering domestic dissent and perceived foreign-inspired sedition. The ministry's checkered record of effective intelligence operations includes a history of assassinations and human rights abuses. Developing a clearer picture of the MOIS is important for understanding how the Islamic Republic of Iran operates, seeks security, and competes with its adversaries.

In Age of Invisible Machines, Robb Wilson delivers an eye-opening and startlingly insightful blueprint for leveraging conversational AI in order to make your organization self-driving—with a growing ecosystem of interconnected automations accelerating all aspects of your business.

When a shocking murder shatters the tranquility of a sleepy Oregon town, and a priceless sculpture turns up missing, all fingers soon start pointing at new resident Zack Anderson. Armed with a determination to clear his name, Zack sets out to solve the case with the help of a feisty canine companion that has an uncanny ability to sniff out clues. With evidence mounting against him, can Zack identify the killer and locate the missing sculpture before he ends up in the doghouse?

When a traveling Egyptian exhibit stops in picturesque Pomme Valley, all hell breaks loose when a valuable artifact is stolen and a dead body turns up in an unexpected location. The prime suspect has already been identified, but there's a catch: He's more than 3,000 years old. Pomme Valley's newest crime-fighting crusaders are on the case with Sherlock, new packmate Watson, and their reluctant human, Zack. Can they solve the murder and locate the missing loot before any more misfortune can befall the town?

Zack and his two corgis take on their most difficult case yet: to learn what happened to Zack's late wife Samantha. Was it a car accident, as everyone had originally believed? Could it be murder, as suggested by a mystery caller in the middle of the night? Accompanied by his new girlfriend Jillian Cooper and good friend detective Vance Samuelson, Zack begins his investigation in his hometown of Phoenix, only to learn that what they uncover could simply be the largest cover-up anyone has ever seen.

A string of baffling incidents have befallen Taylor Adams, baker extraordinaire of Pomme Valley. When good friend Jillian Cooper recommends Zack and the corgis investigate, Taylor’s run of bad luck worsens as multiple murders are discovered. All evidence suggests the town baker is to blame. Can Zack and the dogs clear Taylor’s good name before someone he cares about becomes the next victim?

There’s a Grinch in Pomme Valley! Someone is stealing presents right from under the noses of unsuspecting homeowners and leaving no trace of how he broke in. And, to make matters even more baffling, he’s stealing only presents! Corgis Sherlock and Watson are on the case! Accompanied by their reluctant human, Zack, the unlikely trio must find out who’s responsible for the thefts and stop him before anyone gets hurt. The townsfolk are scared. City officials are nervous. Can Zack and the dogs put a stop to this crime spree before Christmas is ruined for everyone?

When Jillian Cooper purchased one of Pomme Valley's historic properties, Highland House, little did she know a violent murder happened there over 70 years ago. Tasking Zack and the dogs with disproving the rumors that Dame Highland's ghost walked the halls, guarding her long hidden treasure, Jillian moves forward with her plans to turn the historic house into a bed-and-breakfast.

When a dead scuba diver is discovered during their road trip vacation to Monterey, CA, Zack, Jillian, and the two corgis, Sherlock and Watson, become embroiled in a race to discover what the diver had been doing when he died. Compounding their investigation is the presence of a group of playful otters, who just so happen to be using what appears to be gold coins as tools to open shellfish. Are the two events related? Could the deceased diver have located a sunken treasure ship off the coast of Monterey?

A string of dog thefts has struck Pomme Valley, a small, quiet town in southwestern Oregon. Chocolate Labradors, cocker spaniels, and even a German shepherd have all fallen victim to the notorious dognapper. With no rhyme or reason to the thefts, the people of PV are determined to take whatever means necessary to protect their beloved pets. Enter one winery owner/romance author and his two famous corgis.

A mysterious package appears on Zack Anderson’s doorstep. When he opens the crate, there’s an elaborate silver chest, obviously quite old, with Celtic markings and no apparent way to open it. Zack is almost content to accept the artifact as a decorative item…until people start coming after it. The only conclusion is that the box contains something of great value. Zack, Jillian, Sherlock, and Watson are on the case, tracking down the unusual item, learning tidbits about the box’s history, and discovering that it dates back to an unsolved theft in Ireland.