Set in the 1950s and early 1960s, the narrative highlights a group of innovative men who embarked on groundbreaking exploratory missions into the upper stratosphere. They ventured to the brink of outer space in small capsules, which were ingeniously suspended beneath plastic balloons. This thrilling journey captures the spirit of adventure and the pioneering efforts that contributed to our understanding of the atmosphere and space exploration.
The biography highlights the remarkable achievements of John Paul Stapp, an air force doctor whose groundbreaking research on seatbelts and ejection seats significantly improved vehicle safety. Stapp's daring experiments, including being propelled at incredible speeds on a rocket sled, garnered national attention and contributed to revolutionary changes in automobile and aircraft design. The book not only chronicles Stapp's thrilling exploits but also explores the broader historical context of America's transition into the Jet Age and the ensuing battles for car safety legislation.
Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, the narrative follows Nick Piantanida, a civilian adventurer who undertakes a daring quest to explore human survival in space. Despite operating under the radar of major military projects, he achieves a remarkable feat by setting a world record for balloon altitude at over 23 miles. His attempts to break the record for the highest free fall parachute jump lead to both thrilling successes and tragic consequences. This tale combines elements of adventure, space exploration, and the psyche of a bold risk-taker.
Written by one of Poland's leading playwrights, Tadeusz Slobodzianek. Based on a tragic, historic event that happened in the town of Jedwabne , Poland in 1941, Our Class chronicles the lives of ten classmates from their childhood in the 1920s to the beginning of the new millennium. Translated by Ryan Craig
A sharp new drama from acclaimed playwright, Ryan Craig.
The untold story of an eccentric, scientific visionary whose death-defying research has saved millions of lives.
The book delves into the changing landscape of education, highlighting innovative alternatives to the conventional four-year degree. It provides insights into various pathways, emphasizing accessibility and the importance of adapting to modern workforce demands. Through expert analysis, it encourages readers to consider diverse educational options that can lead to fulfilling careers without the traditional degree route.
A young lawyer, Myles, is seduced into a rapport with a notorious historian he has been hired to defend. But the sinister nature of the historian's crimes soon become clear, sending him into an ethical and emotional collision with his own identity. As he defends a Holocaust denier, he becomes embroiled in the human rights paradox of free speech.
What makes someone a playwright? How do their identities and ideas interweave and co-exist? What permanent truths can we discern from examining existing texts? How can we write theatre that encapsulates the contemporary moment? How do we develop an idea from the embryonic impulse to a full and robust piece of theatre? In this fresh, lively and often very funny book, playwright Ryan Craig makes a case for the vitality of playwriting in our contemporary world and offers a way into writing those plays. From the very first moment of the process, as you sit in a coffee shop, staring at your 'laptop yawning open like some big, gormless mouth, the screen a flickering blank', to seeing your play staged and reviewed, the author takes you through the complete journey. Drawing on his own experience of writing for theatres such as the National, Hampstead and Tricycle and Menier Chocolate Factory, TV drama scripts for BBC, ITV and Channel Four, radio plays and adaptation, as well as commercial theatre, the author explores what practical tools the dramatist can use to write plays that build bridges between us. Full of practical advice for the aspiring - and practising - playwright, this book is also an important call-to-arms for playwrights everywhere, arguing for its necessity in the context of an increasingly fractured, distracted, disconnected world.
The book explores the challenges facing higher education in the United States, highlighting the competitive landscape presented by global universities and the rise of MOOCs. It critiques the reliance on the "four Rs"—rankings, research, real estate, and sports—that benefit elite institutions while offering little value to the majority of students. The narrative addresses the predictions of disruption in the industry and questions the sustainability of traditional college models in light of these evolving dynamics.