This book assumes that you want to learn how to write better. Not that you are especially cheerful about it, mind you—few people like tasks that have no clearly defined beginning and end and for which progress is so hard to measure. But in my experience, most students really do recognize the need to improve their writing skills. Their attitude is usually a kind of resigned willingness. If you have that resigned willingness, you are on solid ground. “Writing is an important skill”—you’ve heard the cliche countless times. And like so many clichés, it just happens to be true. 

King Rat

The time is World War II. The place is a brutal prison camp deep in Japanese-occupied territory. Here, within the seething mass of humanity, one man, an American corporal, seeks dominance over both captives and captors alike. His weapons are human courage, unblinking understanding of human weaknesses, and total willingness to exploit every opportunity to enlarge his power and corrupt or destroy anyone who stands in his path.

Marine Sciences: Notable Research and Discoveries

Curiosity is a powerful incentive for explorers and scientists alike. Economics and the search for profits have funded the voyages of Magellan and other navigators, and the drive to find out what lies beyond the ordinary realm has played a role in the willingness of voyagers to take such grave risks.