Dragons had preyed on humans since time immemorial, and no one had ever found a way to kill them. Now, though, Arlian had learned the secrets the dragons had hidden from humanity for centuries. He knew how the dragons could be destroyed forever, and he intended to see it done. The only catch was that several humans, including Manfort's most powerful men and women, had to die to make it happen. Some of them did not intend to cooperate. Indeed, they preferred to cooperate with the dragons instead, to protect themselves, no matter how many innocents might die as a result. And Arlian would have to defeat this unholy alliance if he ever hoped to end the draconic threat.

This book provides a sampling of recent field studies of religions in China, along with theoretical reflections by sociologists, anthropologists and religious studies scholars, both inside and outside China, on the revival of the social scientific study of religion in Chinese societies.

Frequently likened to Lawrence of Arabia, Sir Reginald Fleming Johnston was a well-travelled scholar and controversial critic of Christian missionary endeavours in China. He was tutor to the last emperor of China & played a vital role in China's history.

Seymour Morris Jr. combines political history, military biography, and business management to tell the story of General Douglas MacArthur's tremendous success in rebuilding Japan after World War II in Supreme Commander, a lively, in-depth work of biographical history complementary to The Generals, The Storm of War, and Truman. He is the most decorated general in American history—and the only five five-star general to receive the Medal of Honor. Yet Douglas MacArthur's greatest victory was not in war but in peace. As the uniquely titled Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, he was charged with transforming a defeated, militarist empire into a beacon of peace and democracy—“the greatest gamble ever attempted,” he called it. A career military man, MacArthur had no experience in politics, diplomacy, or economics. A vain, reclusive, and self-centered man, his many enemies in Washington thought he was a flaming peacock, and few, including President Harry Truman's closest advisors, gave him a chance of succeeding. Yet MacArthur did so brilliantly, defying timetables and expectations. Supreme Commander tells for the first time, the story of how MacArthur's leadership achieved a nation-building success that had never been attempted before—and never replicated since. Seymour Morris Jr. reveals this flawed man at his best who treated a defeated enemy with respect; who made informed and thoughtful decisions yet could be brash and stubborn when necessary, and who lead the Occupation with intelligence, class, and compassion. Morris analyzes MacArthur's key tactical choices, explaining how each contributed to his accomplishment, and paints a detailed picture of a true patriot—a man of conviction who proved to be an outstanding and effective leader in the most extraordinary circumstances.