The myths and reality behind the state of Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the most eloquent writer on Palestinian history (New Statesman).

In this groundbreaking book, published on the fiftieth anniversary of the Occupation, the outspoken and radical Israeli historian Ilan Pappé examines the most contested ideas concerning the origins and identity of the contemporary state of Israel.

The “ten myths” that Pappé explores—repeated endlessly in the media, enforced by the military, accepted without question by the world’s governments—reinforce the regional status quo. He explores the claim that Palestine was an empty land at the time of the Balfour Declaration, as well as the formation of Zionism and its role in the early decades of nation building. He asks whether the Palestinians voluntarily left their homeland in 1948, and whether June 1967 was a war of “no choice.”

Turning to the myths surrounding the failures of the Camp David Accords and the official reasons for the attacks on Gaza, Pappé explains why the two-state solution is no longer viable.

Bill Bryson takes us on a fascinating journey through the history of the modern home. In At Home: A Short History of Private Life, he offers a room-by-room tour of his own Victorian parsonage in England, exploring the vast history of domestic artifacts we often take for granted.

Each room serves as a doorway to a different aspect of history: the bathroom introduces the history of hygiene, the bedroom delves into sex, death, and sleep, and the kitchen reveals the tales of nutrition and the spice trade. Bryson's lively and inquisitive mind turns seemingly mundane facts into the most entertaining expositions imaginable. His wit and prose fluency make this book one of the most entertaining reads about private life.

Whatever happens in the world, it eventually ends up in our homes, in the paint, the pipes, the pillows, and every item of furniture. Discover the surprising connections to everything from the Crystal Palace to the Eiffel Tower, from scurvy to body-snatching, from bedbugs to the Industrial Revolution. This book will change how you see your house and daily life in a new and revelatory light.

Salt is an extraordinary tale of a common household item with a long and intriguing history. Known as the only rock we eat, salt has shaped civilization from the very beginning. Its story is a glittering, often surprising part of the history of humankind.

A substance so valuable it served as currency, salt has influenced the establishment of trade routes and cities, provoked and financed wars, secured empires, and inspired revolutions. This book is populated by colorful characters and filled with an unending series of fascinating details, making it a supremely entertaining, multi-layered masterpiece.