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Alibaba's World
A riveting insider account of the rise, culture and influence of Alibaba, the Chinese ecommerce giant that is changing the face of global business. In September 2014, a Chinese company that most Westerners had never heard of held the largest IPO in history - bigger than Google, Facebook and Twitter combined. Alibaba, now the world's largest e-commerce company, mostly escaped Western notice for over ten years, while building a customer base more than twice the size of Amazon's and handling the bulk of e-commerce transactions in China. How did it happen? And what was it like to be along for such a revolutionary ride? In Alibaba's World, author Porter Erisman, one of Alibaba's first Western employees and its head of international marketing from 2000 to 2008, shows how Jack Ma, a Chinese schoolteacher who twice failed his college entrance exams, rose from obscurity to found Alibaba and lead it from struggling startup to the world's most dominant e-commerce player. In this, the first English language account of Alibaba's extraordinary success, Erisman shares stories of weathering the dotcom crash, facing down eBay and Google, negotiating with the unpredictable Chinese government and enduring the misguided advice of foreign experts, all to build the behemoth that's poised to sweep the ecommerce world today. And he analyzes Alibaba's role as a harbinger of the new global business landscape-with its focus on the East rather than the West, emerging markets over developed ones and the nimble entrepreneur over the industry titan. As we face this near future, the story of Alibaba - and its inevitable descendants - is both essential and instructive.
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It Shouldn't Happen To A Vet
Lesson number one: When taking a cow’s temperature the old-fashioned way, never let go of the thermometer . . . Now firmly ensconced in the sleepy Yorkshire village of Darrowby, recently qualified vet James Herriot has acclimatised to life with his unpredictable colleagues, brothers Siegfried and Tristan Farnon. But veterinary practice in the 1930s was never going to be easy, and there are challenges on the horizon, from persuading his clients to let him use his ‘modern’ equipment, to becoming an uncle (to a pig called Nugent). Throw in his first encounters with Helen, the beautiful daughter of a local farmer, and this year looks to be as eventful as the last… From the author whose books inspired the BBC series All Creatures Great and Small, It Shouldn’t Happen to a Vet is a book for all those who find laughter and joy in animals, and who know and understand the magic and beauty of Britain’s wild places. 'I grew up reading James Herriot's books and I'm delighted that thirty years on, they are still every bit as charming, heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny as they were then' Kate Humble He can tell a good story against himself, and his pleasure in the beauty of the countryside in which he works is infectious' Daily Telegraph 'Full of warmth, wisdom and wit' The Field
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Above The Clouds
When Anatoli Boukreev died on the slopes of Annapurna on Christmas day, 1997, the world lost one of the greatest adventurers of our time. In Above the Clouds, both the man and his incredible climbs on Mt. McKinley, K2, Makalu, Manaslu and Everest-including his diary entries on the infamous 1996 disaster, written shortly after his return-are immortalized. There also are minute technical details about the skill of mountain climbing, as well as personal reflections on what life means to someone who risks it every day. Fully illustrated with gorgeous color photos, Above the Clouds is a unique and breathtaking look at the world from its most remote peaks.
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Time To Talk
He is also notorious for his silence. Now, for the first time, Curtly will tell his story. One of the leading and most lethal fast bowlers of all time, Curtly Ambrose played 98 Tests and 176 One Day Internationals for the West Indies, and for much of his career topped the ICC player rankings. He was an integral part of the iconic West Indies teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s whilst also bearing witness to their decline throughout the 1990s and beyond. A formidable sportsman, Curtly has unique insight into the extreme highs and debilitating lows of international cricket. But during his career Curtly Ambrose was notorious for his silence. He rarely spoke to the media and, if he did, it was usually to rebuff an interview, which earned him the infamous reputation of Curtly talks to no one. In this, his autobiography, Curtly will tell the story of his life with the West Indies team for the very first time. From his colourful upbringing in Antigua, through to the turbulent politics of both nation and dressing room, the book takes you behind the scenes to give a fascinating insight into the career of an iconic sportsman. With his customary honesty, Curtly will discuss his relationship with both the game and his teammates and competitors and will talk in depth about key moments in his career, including his extraordinary spell against Australia in 1992, taking 7-1. From the culture of West Indian cricket to experiencing post-Apartheid cricket in South Africa, as well as touching on his relationship with cricket mogul and notorious financier Allen Stanford, the book will speak to fans of works such as C.L.R. Jamess Beyond a Boundary, as well as fans of cricket and sports biography. It also includes forewords from legendary cricket commentatory Richie Benaud and Steve Waugh.
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Vikraal
Set in a world that reflects post - Vedic India, the second book in the Kaal Trilogy, Vikraal follows Arihant, the superhero, as he evolves into the ultimate warrior through an intricate weave of conflicts and discoveries which lead him to the realm of the cosmic enigma, the Oracle or Kaal - the governor of the universe. Set in a world that reflects post - Vedic India, Vikraal takes up where Jaal, the first book of the Kaal Trilogy, ends. The lingering bars of the six-millennia old prison of dreams are disintegrating around Aushij, the sleeping God, making him increasingly aware of Arihant, his designated Foe. Half a year after his incredible metamorphosis in the Vakrini's mind-city, Arihant himself is now on an unpredictable journey that takes him further on the road to becoming the ultimate warrior. Unexpected truths assail him at every turn-the searing fact of his own identity, the soaring joy of true love, the shock of his unforeseen vulnerability and ultimately, the discovery and acceptance of his true self and purpose in the realm of the cosmic enigma whom some call the Oracle and who calls itself Kaal - the Governor of the universe. The intricate weave of conflicts and discoveries propels the protagonists towards an explosive climax that alters the very course of the Cosmic game. This roaring adventure blends seamlessly with India's metaphysical traditions, creating a thrilling tale of action-packed mysticism.
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Winning The Right Job-A Blueprint To Acting The In
Winning the Right Job – A Blueprint to Acing the Interview aims at guiding entry-level job seekers and mid-career changers on successfully cracking the complete interview process to get to that ‘dream job’. You know you have the right skills, a curious mind, the drive and discipline to make your career goals a reality. And yet, do you find yourself lost in a maze of job portals, social networking, online applications, calls with agents and futile rounds of interviews? That ‘dream job’ does not come easily. At the beginning of your career and unguided by a mentor, the challenges are manifold: getting it right during the phases of application, the interview and the negotiation can be tricky. Relevant both for entry-level jobseekers and those planning a change, Winning the Right Job – A Blueprint to Acing the Interview shows you how to approach a potential employer and answer questions on attitudes, life skills, ambitions and expectations. The book guides you through the interviewing and negotiating days, helps you decide whether the role on offer is right for you, and provides tips on making a gracious exit from your current and a powerful entry to the new organization.
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O's Little Book Of Happiness
With a sprightly dose of insightful inspiration, a sprinkling of practical advice and a bounty of exuberant stories by great writers, O's Little Book of Happiness features some of the best work ever to have appeared in O, The Oprah Magazine. Inside you'll find Elizabeth Gilbert's ode to the triumph of asking for what you want Jane Smiley's tribute to the animal who taught her about lasting fulfillment Shonda Rhimes's secret to trading stress for serenity Brene Brown's celebration of the power of play Neil de Grasse Tyson's take on our joyful participation in the universe and much more. In revisiting fifteen years of the magazine's rich archives, O's editors have assembled a collection as stunning as it is spirit-lifting.
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Memory Man
His family was murdered. The hunt for the killer begins. Amos Decker would forever remember all three of their violent deaths in the most paralyzing shade of blue. It would cut into him at unpredictable moments, like a gutting knife made of colored light. He would never be free from it. When Amos Decker returned home eighteen months ago to find the bodies of his wife and only daughter, he didn't think he could carry on living. Overwhelmed with grief, he saw his life spiral out of control, losing his job as a detective, his house and his self-respect. But when his former partner in the police, Mary Lancaster, visits to tell him that someone has confessed to the murder of his family, he knows he owes it to his wife and child to seek justice for them. As Decker comes to terms with the news, tragedy strikes at the local school. Thirteen teenagers are gunned down and the killer is at large. Following the serious brain injury Amos suffered as a professional footballer, he gained a remarkable gift - and the police believe that this unusual skill will assist in the hunt for the killer. Amos must endure the memories he would rather forget and when new evidence links the murders, he is left with only one option. Memory Man will stay with you long after the turn of the final page.
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Lucky Stars The Film Star Wish
One night Cassie is gazing at the twinkling sky, when suddenly a shooting star zooms into her bedroom and transforms, into Stella Starkeeper. Stella and Cassie fly to the secret world of the stars, and Cassie discovers she is destined to be a Lucky Star – someone who can grant real wishes. But first Cassie must collect six magical charms and use their powers wisely – helping other people's wishes to come true. Only then will she become a fully fledged Lucky Star! In book five, THE FILM STAR WISH, Cassie is lucky enough to meet Roxy Gold, movie star! Being famous is fun, but Roxy wishes that sometimes she could just be invisible . . . Can Cassie help her new friend?
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Want You Dead
When Red decides to have a relationship with Bryce after a bit of romancing on a dating site, she was happy and sure that she has made the right decision. Things go awry for Red and she realizes that she needs to do everything in her power to keep Bryce away from her if she needs to survive. Summary of the Book Red Westwood was ecstatic when she found love in Bryce Laurent through an online dating agency. Bryce is good-looking and rich, and Red finds that she is attracted to him. Who would’ve thought that she would actually succeed in finding love through virtual romance? Suddenly, everything that she thought she knew about Bryce started to fade away. She realizes that he is not what he posed to be, and instead has a very dark and disturbing past. Her life with him starts to deteriorate and turns terrifyingly sour. She does away with him with the help of police protection and thinks that he is out of her life for good. This is not true, for Bryce is now obsessed with her and will not stop until he has hurt Red’s loved ones and, soon enough, her too. About Peter James Peter James is an international best-selling British writer who has written a lot of crime fiction. He has written 26 novels and is also a New York Times bestseller. His books have been translated to 36 languages and are published in the US and UK by Macmillan Publishers.
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Frostfire
This is the stunning first installment in a tale of love, betrayal and the need to belong. Here Amanda Hocking returns to the world of her million-copy bestselling Trylle trilogy, with an all-new series. Will she give up her dream to follow her heart?Bryn Aven is determined to gain status amongst the Kanin, the most powerful of the hidden tribes. But as a half-blood, winning respect is a huge challenge. Bryn's almost-human community distrusts people and those from other tribes are almost as suspect. She has just one goal to get ahead to join the elite guard protecting the Kanin royal family. And Bryn's vowed that nothing will stand in her way, not even a forbidden romance with her boss, Ridley Dresden. But her plans are put on hold when fallen hero Konstantin starts acting dangerously. Bryn loved him once, but now he's kidnapping Kanin children - stealing them from hidden placements within human families. She's sent to help stop him, but will she lose her heart in the process? About the AuthorAmanda Hocking is twenty-seven years old, lives in Minnesota and had never sold a single book before 15 April 2010. She will shortly sell her millionth. Her books have been a self-publishing phenomenon - according to the Observer, Amanda is 'the most spectacular example of an author striking gold through ebooks'. In her own words, Amanda is an 'Obsessive Tweeter. John Hughes mourner. Unicorn enthusiast. Red Bull addict. Muppets activist. Fraggin Aardvarks guitarist. Author of the USA Today bestselling books the Trylle Trilogy.'
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The Art Of Hunting
Welcome to the next installment of Alan Campbells extraordinary Gravedigger Chronicles, The Art of Hunting. Welcome to the next installment of Alan Campbell's extraordinary Gravedigger Chronicles, The Art of Hunting, following on fromSea of Ghosts. With the Haurstaf decimated, the Unmer have seized the palace at Awl. The Unmer Prince Paulus Marquetta discovers an ally in the blind girl Ianthe, albeit a dangerous one. She has the power to destroy his mind with a single thought. But Ianthe's friendship with the Unmer has made her dangerous enemies. The exiled Unmer lord, Argusto Conquillas is determined to challenge the prince and his followers-and kill anyone who gets in his way. When the disgraced Gravedigger soldier Granger learns of his daughter's danger, he must use every scrap of his cunning to protect her. Even that may not be enough as the Unmer, in their quest to unlock the secrets of the universe, have made a bargain with a god, a deal that threatens to destroy the world.
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The Target
The mission is to enter one of the most dangerous countries in the world. The target is one of the toughest to reach. The result could be momentous - or it could be Armageddon. There is no margin for error. US government operatives Will Robie and Jessica Reel have to prove they are still the best team there is. But are they invincible when pitted against an agent whose training has been under conditions where most would perish? An old man is dying in an Alabama prison hospital, it seems there is one more evil game he has still to play. And it's a game which comes close to home for Reel and Robie. But this time the stakes might be way too high. About the Author David Baldacci is a worldwide bestselling novelist. With his books published in over 45 different languages and in more than 80 countries and with over 110 million copies in print, he is one of the worlds favorite storytellers. David is also the co-founder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a non-profit organization, dedicated to eliminating illiteracy across America. Still a resident of his native Virginia.
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Be Careful What You Wish For
Be Careful What You Wish For is a best-selling suspense novel from master storyteller Jeffrey Archer. The fourth installment of The Clifton Chronicles, the book continues with Henry Clifton's story and follows the Clifton and Barrington families into the sixties. Summary of the Book When Harry and Emma Clifton hear about their son Sebastian's car accident, they rush to the hospital unsure whether it was their son who died or his best friend Bruno. Meanwhile, Don Pedro schemes to install Major Alex Fisher into Ross Buchanan's seat as the chairman of the Barrington Shipping Company, a seat that Emma desires following Buchanan's forced retirement. The Barrington family firm is threatened by Pedro's intentions just as the firm stands to build its new luxury liner, the MV Buckingham. In London, Harry and Emma's adopted daughter finds love in the Slade Academy of Art. However all delight at the news of the wedding vanishes when an old friend, Lady Virgina Fenwick, appears. Events take a turn when a hitherto unknown Yorkshireman, Cedric Hardcastle, takes a place in the board of Barrington's firm, changing the lives of both families.
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The Treasure of Kafur
Hindustan, 1580 AD. The Mughal Emperor Akbar is at the height of his power, seemingly invincible. But twenty years of war have earned him many enemies and rebellion is brewing, led by Asaf Baig, the tyrannical ruler of Khandesh. Baig has stumbled upon the knowledge that the whereabouts of the fabulous lost treasure of Malik Kafur, which will guarantee victory to Akbars enemies, is known to an old woman called Ambu. Baig kidnaps Ambu to wrest the knowledge of the treasure from her but her twenty-year-old grandson, Dattatreya, escapes and flees across Hindustan to enlist the help of the the one person who has the most reason to stop Baig the Mughal Emperor himself. Staying one step ahead of capture and death, Datta is swept up in a world of kings and warrior princesses, of uncommon friendships and an implacable evil and a desperate race against time to save his grandmother and the Empire.
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Pink Sari Revolution
Fierce, frank and courageous, this is the riveting narrative of the Pink Gang's work in freeing a young girl unlawfully abused and imprisoned at the behest of a local politician. Fontanella Khan explores the origins and tactics of this sisterhood with a sensitivity that takes into account political manoeuvring, police drama, grassroots organizing and personal history. Pink Sari Revolution is a compelling tale. This beautifully rendered book is a call to women everywhere to take the world into your hands, to rise and resist. Eve Ensler, author of the Vagina Monologues and In the Body of the World. As delightful as it is intelligent and important.
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tidal
Her only hope lies with her greatest enemies Gemma is facing the fight of her life. Cursed by beautiful but deadly sirens, her extraordinary powers have a terrifyingly dark side, and becoming human once more is proving her greatest challenge yet. As she struggles to break the curse, the sirens, Penn Lexi and Thea are determined to kill her before she can set herself free. Gemmas only allies are her sister, Harper, and Harpers boyfriend, Daniel. Together they must delve into their enemies mythical pasts to discover their darkest secrets. But Penn has also set her sights on Daniel. Soon, the sirens threaten everything Gemma holds dear: her family, her friends, her life, and her relationship with Alex the only guy she's ever loved. Can she save herself and those she cares about before it is too late?
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Best Kept Secret
The third novel in Jeffrey Archer's compelling saga, the Clifton Chronicles 1945. The vote in the House of Lords as to who should inherit the Barrington family fortune has ended in a tie. The Lord Chancellors deciding vote will cast a long shadow on the lives of Harry Clifton and Giles Barrington. Harry returns to America to promote his latest novel, while his beloved Emma goes in search of the little girl who was found abandoned in her fathers office on the night he was killed. When the General Election is called, Giles Barrington has to defend his seat in the House of Commons and is horrified to discover who the Conservatives select to stand against him. But it is Sebastian Clifton, Harry and Emmas son, who ultimately influences his uncles fate. In 1957, Sebastian wins a scholarship to Cambridge, and a new generation of the Clifton family march onto the page. After Sebastian is expelled from school, he unwittingly becomes caught up in an international art fraud involving a Rodin statue that is worth far more than the sum it raises at auction. Does he become a millionaire? Does he go to Cambridge? Is his life in danger? Best Kept Secret will answer all these questions, but once again, pose so many more.
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Birds Of Prey...
It is 1667 and Sir Francis Courteney and his son Henry "Hal" Courteney are on patrol in their fighting caravel off the Agulhas Cape of Southern Africa. They have a letter from Charles II sanctioning them to hunt down and capture enemy ships "beyond the line".
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The Sun Bird
'I scrambled onto my knees, pushing the automatic rifle forward to cover one flank. In that instant they opened on us. The air around me was torn by the sound of a thousand bull whips, while the gunfire sounded like a stick dragged swiftly across a corrugated-iron fence.' A hazy aerial photograph and a sinister curse are the only clues Dr Ben Kazin has before he stumbles on the archaeological discovery of a lifetime. Beneath the red cliffs of Botswanaland a magnificent unknown civilization has remained buried for millenna. But the magic of uncovering a lost culture is harshly interrupted by the violence of terrorists, love, intrigue and the breathtaking secrets of centries...
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The Collected Short Stories
A collected edition of the master storyteller's short stories This brand new edition brings together three of Jeffrey Archer’s classic collections of short stories. Every reader will have their own favourites: the choices run from an imprisoned man who is certain that his supposed murder victim is very much alive, to a female driver pursued relentlessly by a menacing figure in another vehicle. An offhand remark is taken seriously by a Chinese sculptor in one tale, while a British diplomat unexpectedly becomes the owner of a priceless work of art in another . . . And over three of the stories, discover a hauntingly written, atmospheric account of two undergraduates at Oxford in the thirties: a tale of bitter rivalry that ends in a memorable love story. These stories are packed full of the master storyteller’s unexpected twists, richly drawn characters and ingenious, witty denouements – some will make you laugh, others will bring you to tears. And, as always, every one of them will keep you spellbound.
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Winter of The World
Five linked families live out their destinies as the world is shaken by tyranny and war in the mid-twentieth century Berlin in 1933 is in upheaval. Eleven-year-old Carla von Ulrich struggles to understand the tensions disrupting her family as Hitler strengthens his grip on Germany. Into this turmoil steps her mothers formidable friend and former British MP, Ethel Leckwith, and her student son, Lloyd, who soon learns for himself the brutal reality of Nazism. He also encounters a group of Germans resolved to oppose Hitler - but are they willing to go so far as to betray their country? Such people are closely watched by Volodya, a Russian with a bright future in Red Army Intelligence. The international clash of military power and personal beliefs that ensues will sweep over them all as it rages from Cable Street in Londons East End to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, from Spain to Stalingrad, from Dresden to Hiroshima. At Cambridge Lloyd is irresistibly drawn to dazzling American socialite Daisy Peshkov, who represents everything his left-wing family despise. But Daisy is more interested in aristocratic Boy Fitzherbert - amateur pilot, party lover and leading light of the British Union of Fascists. Back in Berlin, Carla worships golden boy Werner from afar. But nothing will work out the way they expect as their lives and the hopes of the world are smashed by the greatest and cruellest war in the history of the human race.