Amy Mckenna: 14 books

The Nordic region of northern Europe is indelibly linked in the minds of many with the Viking cultures that populated the area eons ago. Yet, as this intricate study of Denmark, Finland, and Sweden attests, there’s so much more to the story than that. These nations have emerged from the long shadow...

I think, therefore I am … influential. Leading philosophers conduct a rational investigation of truth to arrive at a set of principles that others believe and adopt. This compendium of the world’s greatest thinkers includes the likes of Confucius, Aristotle, Immanuel Kant, Hannah Arendt, and René Descartes.

Leonardo da Vinci’s study of mechanics led to the creation of early prototypes of flying machines and submarines. Biologist Carolus Linnaeus pioneered the hierarchal system of taxonomic classification in use today, Barbara McClintock’s genetics research garnered her the Nobel Prize in Medicine....

From its ancient kingdoms to the independent post-colonial states that make up the region today, western Africa has transformed dramatically over the centuries. Economically lucrative for European slave traders and later for their colonial successors, the territories along Africa’s Atlantic coast...

It takes a great deal of personal strength, charisma, and intelligence to lead others. Some leaders improve the lives of their fellow citizens while others rule with an iron fist, oblivious to the plight of others. This book covers the lives and agendas of leaders good and bad, those who history has justifiably vilified and others who will be cherished for years to come.

There are few tools more powerful than the written word. Writers who finely hone their craft possess the ability to spread messages, change minds, or merely create something beautiful. As shown in the pages of this volume, masterful writers through the ages have run the gamut from early dramatists...

The Renaissance was a fantastic period of rebirth in terms of art and culture. This book recounts the struggles and victories of the most celebrated artists who lived and worked at this time. The masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci, Pieter Bruegel, Sandro Botticelli, and others are highlighted.

Alternately identified with either the countries of the Mediterranean, those of the Middle East, or other African territories, the nations of northern Africa occupy a unique physical and historical place. After centuries of fielding various foreign invaders, northern Africans have absorbed and co-opted...

Through the ages women have had to fight to be taken seriously, have their work accepted, and be considered the equal of men intellectually and creatively. This book tips its hat to women such as Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, Sojourner Truth, and Princess Diana, who have made their mark and forever changed the world with their contributions.

If necessity is indeed the mother of invention, then the individuals profiled in this volume should be considered the most laudable of all midwives. They each saw a need and met it. Readers will learn more about the lives and methodologies of well-known inventors such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas...

Welcome to a veritable feast for readers’ eyes, minds, and, by extension, ears. Filled with profiles of truly accomplished musicians across a broad spectrum of musical styles and genres, this volume includes such varied musical artists as Ludwig von Beethoven, Elvis Presley, and hip-hop artist Jay-Z.

The abundance of natural resources endemic to central and eastern Africa has been critical in shaping the trajectory of the civilizations that have made the region their home. Like the rest of the continent, however, the areas’ riches also made them vulnerable to slave traders and colonizers who...

The history of southern Africa is marked by both the convergence and divergence of diverse cultures. Clashes between European settlers and indigenous peoples throughout this section of the continent were common. At stake were rights to a wealth of natural resources and, as time went by, independence....

After emerging from the long shadow cast by the Soviet Union, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and neighboring Poland transitioned from communism to market economies and instituted democratic reforms in a remarkably short time. Although each continues to contend with various economic...