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First published in 1651, "Leviathan" is Thomas Hobbes' work of political philosophy in which he outlines his theories on an ideal state and its creation. Written in the middle of the 17th century during the English Civil War, Hobbes' argues that a strong central government with an absolute sovereign was necessary to bring about an ordered society. Given the tumultuous events of English society at the time of the writing of "Leviathan" it is clear to see the motivations for Hobbes' insistence on a strong central government in the face of the chaos caused by social and political upheaval. Hobbes believed that the prospect of peace that this type of system would provide was worth giving up some of the natural freedoms of man. "Leviathan", whose title is a reference to a biblical monster, is divided into the following four parts: Part I: Of Man, Part II: Of Common-wealth, Part III: Of a Christian Common-wealth, and Part IV: Of the Kingdom of Darkness. In the first part Hobbes gives an account of human nature which forms the basis for his subsequent prescriptions regarding the establishment of an ordered commonwealth. Considered by some to be among the greatest works of political philosophy ever written, the influence of "Leviathan" on modern political theory cannot be overstated. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper and includes an introduction by Herbert W. Schneider.

Contained here in this volume are two of the most influential works of philosophy ever written, Descartes' "Discourse on Method" and "Meditations on First Philosophy." First published in 1637, "Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason and Seeking for Truth in the Sciences," as it is more fully known, is a foundational work of modern philosophy which is noted for being one of the first to apply the scientific method to the discipline. Descartes approaches the subject of skepticism in philosophy by throwing away all preconceived notions of reality and building up from a base of truths he found to be incontrovertible. It is from this work that we find one of Descartes' most famous quotations "I think, therefore I am." This phrase alone probably best exemplifies what Descartes believed to be an incontrovertible truth. First published in 1641, "Meditations on First Philosophy" follows upon his earlier work by applying his method to a philosophical examination of the existence of God and the immortality of the soul. While the philosophical conclusions arrived at by Descartes' work have met with criticism, his profound influence ultimately lies with his insistence on questioning everything. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper, follows the translation of Elizabeth S. Haldane, and includes an introduction by A. D. Lindsay.

We have Czech writer Karel Čapek to thank for the invention of the word robot and generally for the introduction of the idea of artificial intelligence to the world of literature. His play, "R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots)" was first performed in 1921 and was an instant success. While the "robots" of the play could be more accurately described as cyborgs, Čapek's influence on the science fiction genre with this play would be profound. "R.U.R." describes a future where robots have become universal and all of humanity is now dependent on the labor that they provide. Everything is perfect until the robot's are stirred into revolt. "R.U.R." is Čapek's prophetic and dark dystopian vision of the future which would solidify his place in literary history.

An early work by the Marquis de Sade "Justine, Or, The Misfortunes of Virtue" was originally written during a two week period in 1787 while the author was imprisoned in the Bastille. The story is concerned with the titular character, a twelve year old maiden who sets off, to make her way in France, and follows her through age twenty-six in her quest for virtue. In the search for work and shelter Justine continuously falls prey to a series of scoundrels who subject her to sexual torture and abuse. Having been numerously revised by the author and published in varying censored and unexpurgated editions there exists no definitive edition of this work. Presented here in this volume is the expurgated edition originally published by the Risus Press in 1931.

Ancient Roman senator and historian Publius Cornelius Tacitus is known throughout Western history as one of the greatest historical writers of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He lived during the first century AD and was the son of a wealthy aristocratic family. Not much is known about his personal life; however, it is clear that both Tacitus and Pliny the Elder were acquaintances and even possibly childhood friends, though there is no substantial evidence to support this. Tacitus studied rhetoric in order to create a career in law and politics. He steadily rose throughout the ranks due to his strong speaking style and oration skills. However, his language skills did not stop with verbal speeches. He was also an accomplished writer who focused on the history of the Roman Empire. He created five works, "The Annals," "The Histories," "The Agricola," "The Germania," and "A Dialogue on Oratory." His works delve deep into the facts as he knew them, rarely ever embellishing history to create a story. He also stayed true to chronological order and laid history out in visible steps. It is also notable that Tacitus knew that his fellow politicians were corrupt; he believed that they gave up their strong voice in order to please a usually corrupt emperor. These five great works are brought together in this collection of "The Complete Works of Tacitus."

This collection of plays captures the comedic genius of Plautus, one of the most important playwrights from classical Roman antiquity. Plautus adapted most of his plays from earlier Greek stories, making him essential in helping to preserve the history and integrity of Greek theatre. What makes Plautus extraordinary, though, is that he kept the essence of the Greek shows while evolving the language to fit contemporary Roman tastes. He refused to let the renovations of the story be compromised by ultimate life-lessons or other philosophical teachings; instead, Plautus focused on the everyday life of his fellow Roman citizens. His plays also contained some of the earliest examples of slapstick humor, making them significant in the history of comedic theatre. Through the use of clever wordplay and by drawing upon well-known archetypes, Plautus created a type of theater that would influence such future masters of the stage as Moliere and Shakespeare. Collected together here the reader will find a representative collection of eight plays in translations by Paul Nixon and Henry Thomas Riley. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

In ancient Rome, Seneca the Younger rose to power as a politician and statesman during the middle of his life. After being exiled by Emperor Caligula, he was finally welcomed back to Rome as Nero's minister. He gained significant wealth, though Seneca often despised his own standing because of his personal philosophy. At the end of his life, Seneca wrote a number of letters to the Roman governor of Sicily. From this collection of letters comes "Letters from a Stoic". In this work, the philosopher wrote about the essential tenants of Stoicism and how to follow a philosophy that required a person to humanize a society that was often cold and difficult. Many people read these letters and come away with a greater understanding of Stoicism; the people who practiced Stoicism often lived the phrase "actions speak louder than words", meaning that Stoics wanted their deeds to exhibit their rational and calm nature. This work also reveals how Seneca and his contemporaries wanted people to treat others with the same respect they wanted for themselves. He was disgusted with the harsh and unethical treatment of slaves that was prevalent at the time, and he was against Nero's idea of entertainment which entailed throwing martyrs, gladiators, and animals into a fighting arena. Although Stoicism is not now as widely practiced as it once was, many people can still find wisdom and inspiration in Seneca's words. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

"The Lost Books of the Bible" is a collection of 17th and 18th century English translations of Apocryphal biblical texts by William Wake and Jeremiah Jones which was first gathered together by William Hone and published collectively in 1820. Supposedly these texts were excised from the official biblical canon over the first few centuries of Christianity. Included in this collection are various accounts of Jesus, his birth and infant life, and epistles of various disciples and other biblical figures. "The Lost Books of Bible" is an essential work for students of biblical history which provides depth and historical context for many of the events regarding Jesus' life depicted in the New Testament. Also included in this volume is "The Forgotten Books of Eden" which includes additional Apocryphal texts regarding Adam and Eve as well as biblical works attributed to Enoch, Solomon, and others. If and for what reason these texts were stricken from the official canon by the fathers of the church is not known, however contemporary source material does reliably date many of these texts to at least the 2nd century AD, if not earlier, thus giving them a provenance that can at the very least assert these documents as important in the development of the biblical canon. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper and follows the 1926 editions edited by Rutherford H. Platt Jr.

First appearing in 1905, Arsène Lupin is the most famous fictional character of French writer Maurice Leblanc. Gentleman thief and master of disguise Arsène Lupin is a character who often operates as a force for justice but on the wrong side of the law. Similar to Pierre Alexis Ponson du Terrail's fictional character Rocambole and to E. W. Hornung's gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, Arsène Lupin has been described as an inversion of Sherlock Holmes. This is somewhat ironic as Sherlock Holmes appears in one of Leblanc's early Lupin stories, an appearance which drew legal scrutiny from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In subsequent appearances Leblanc changed the name of the Sherlock Holmes character to Herlock Sholmes to avoid legal copyright action on the part of Doyle. Those stories are included in this collection which collects thirty-five of Leblanc's early Lupin short stories. The stories included in this volume include all the short stories contained in the following collections: "The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar", "Arsène Lupin Versus Herlock Sholmes", "The Confessions of Arsène Lupin", and "The Eight Strokes of the Clock". One of the most popular characters of turn of the century French literature, Arsène Lupin's literary legacy is excellently represented in this collection of his most famous stories. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Originally published in sixteen separate booklets in 1928 before consolidated into a single volume, "The Law of Success" is the first work by famed American self-help author Napoleon Hill, well-known for his widely read classic "Think and Grow Rich", which remains one of the best-selling self-help books of all time. "The Law of Success" was based upon interviews with and studies of successful people over the course of several years. Hill discovers that these self-made leaders of industry and innovation have several things in common, including a mindset and work ethic that help them succeed at whatever they apply themselves to. Hill distills these insights into sixteen lessons that anyone can use in their own lives to be more successful, both personally and financially. In this practical and encouraging guide, Hill discusses how an individual mindset must be changed and the will focused in order to create the proper foundation necessary for success in business and relationships. "The Law of Success" can help anyone find the path to a happier and more fulfilling life and the skills to turn their failures and set-backs into positive advantages. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer wrote a strong text to explain his belief system in "The World as Will and Idea". Rather than viewing the world as a construct within itself, Schopenhauer argued that the world exists beyond the five senses. He believed that rather than seeing an object in its true form, we only see and understand our perception of it. His ideas are classified as post-Kantian philosophy, just one strand of thought amidst other thinkers such as Hegel and Heidegger. However, Schopenhauer is generally thought to follow Kant's original ideas most closely. Still, the philosopher disagrees with Kant's view of ethics, saying that inner experiences, driven by the Will, are the most significant part of the human experience. Born in the late 1700s, Schopenhauer was immersed in philosophy at a young age. By age 25, he published his doctoral dissertation "On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reasoning". In his most famous works, he primarily focused on the attainment of happiness. He believed that physical and emotional desires can never be satisfied, resulting in a painful human condition. Schopenhauer claimed that all actions are internally motivated by a desire to obtain pleasure, but that lasting happiness would remain unobtainable. "The World as Will and Idea" is widely hailed as Schopenhauer's greatest work, as well as one of the most contemporarily-written philosophical texts of the nineteenth century. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper and collects together the complete text in a translation by R. B. Haldane and J. Kemp.

First published in 1952, "Modern Coin Magic" is J. B. Bobo's classic work on coin magic. The purpose of this efficient guide is to review and discuss all of the practical aspects to coin magic tricks utilizing sleight of hand. Bobo examines all of the older, traditional sleights of hand and retains only those that are truly useful and helpful, discarding any that are out-of-date or impractical to work. "Modern Coin Magic" is remarkable in its ability to present all of the best tips and techniques in one easy-to-read book so that any student of coin magic and sleight of hand will find guidance for their practice and technique. Coin magic tricks are one of the most accessible and useful tricks for any magician to know as coins are always readily available and the ability to do a few sleights of hand is guaranteed to entertain any audience. "Modern Coin Magic" remains a timeless classic, one of the most complete and helpful books ever written on coin magic. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

A Department of Defense publication, "Special Operations Forces Medical Handbook" is an invaluable resource for medics with a special focus on treating patients in the field. This detailed and informative guide was developed specifically for the Special Operations Command and contains information for anyone interested in surviving or helping others to survive in harsh and unforgiving conditions far from standard medical care. The handbook defines and explains the standard of care in both general and adverse conditions in the field and assists with acute care in all its forms, including general medicine, gynecology, treating parasites, infections, hyper and hypothermia, shock, altitude sickness, conditions particular to diving and swimming, and guidance on proper sanitation to protect health. The guide is helpfully organized according to symptoms with special sections on organ groups and areas of the body. It also describes varying operating environments and the procedures that must be used to ensure better outcomes for patients. "Special Operations Forces Medical Handbook" is an essential resource for doctors, nurses, military personnel, doomsday preppers, outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, campers, and anyone who would like to better know how to save a life in an emergency situation. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Published in 1969, "Basic Electricity" by The Bureau of Naval Personnel was initially issued as a textbook for a U.S. Navy training course. Today the work is widely considered to be an excellent reference for both a general and a more detailed study of electrical fundamentals and theory. The textbook is organized into 21 chapters and contains many appendices covering a wide range of topics, such as safety, batteries, direct-current circuits, conductors, wiring techniques, magnetic circuits and electromagnetism, alternating-current systems and theory, inductance, capacitance, reactance, generators, amplifiers, synchros, servomechanisms, and much, much more. All of the important aspects of electricity are covered and the appendices are full of abbreviations, common terms, detailed illustrations, and mathematical formulas and calculations, including square roots and trigonometry functions. Both amateur and professionals alike will find a wealth of important information in "Basic Electricity", an invaluable guide for any student studying electrical concepts or practical applications. This textbook is also an important resource for homeowners and laypeople who wish to better understand the electrical systems in their homes. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Consisting of three novels and two interludes, "The Forsyte Saga" chronicles several generations of an upper middle class British family at the beginning of the twentieth century. Full of social satire, "The Man of Property" commences this fictional history and introduces the first generation of Forsytes, prominently featuring Soames and his wife Irene. Keenly aware of their nouveau riche standing and highly desirous of material possessions, Soames especially demonstrates the opposing forces of duty and desire. While interrupted by World War I, Galsworthy continued his trilogy with "Indian Summer of a Forsyte", "In Chancery", "Awakening", and finally "To Let", gradually bringing up another generation of Forsytes, including the second cousins Jon and Fleur Forsyte. The changes that occur over this fictional time, show how this family grows and adjusts in a developing world. This saga demonstrates some of Galsworthy's best writing, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1932 for his life's work. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.