Inventors are special people. They see everyday objects and imagine something better. They solve old problems with new ideas. Their inventions can help people or destroy them, but only the greatest ideas will change the world. This book will tell you about many of the most interesting and important inventions, from 2,500 years ago to the present day.

Maximus is a general in the Roman army.  After his last battle he wants to return to his family. But the new Emperor Commodus hates Maximus, and kills his family. Soon Maximus is a prisoner, then a slave? And finally a gladiator. When Emperor Commodus joins Maximus in the arena they fight for their lives.

Don Vito Corleone is Godfather of one of the riches families in New York. He is a gangster and his business is fear and murder. Corleone’s son, Michael, wants a quiet life away from the family business. But slowly Michael changes into the most dangerous gangster of them all…

Management Gurus is for people who want to find out about why the modern business world works like it does. This book introduces six gurus of management. They tried to answer questions like, ‘How can I make more profit?’ and ‘Why don’t people work harder?’ Their ideas have had an effect not just on business but on politics, hospitals and schools, and everyday lifestyles.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the idea of women in business seemed strange.Today more and more women are reaching the top of business life.This book tells the business success stories of five very different women: Coco Chanel, Hanae Mori, Anita Roddick, Oprah Winfrey and Madonna.

Most of these stories are about murder. We see what can drive a person to murder. Some people are angry or frightened. Others are clever planners. In one of  the stories we meet a man who is making careful preparations for his third murder. Will he succeed?

They were all staring so hard at the scene of the crime that they didn't notice the park-keeper standing next to them. Marcus felt very frightened. He would be in big trouble now. 'One of your ducks has died,' said Will. He made it sound like the saddest thing he'd ever seen. Marcus looked up at him. Maybe Will wasn 't such a bad guy.

Life on Mars, a strange dream, and attacks by murderous birds these are just some of the subjects of these enjoyable short stories. They will amuse and shock you.

At the end of the hall, a poster covered one wall. It showed an enormous face, more than a metre wide: the face of a handsome man of about forty-five, with a large black moustache. The man's eyes seemed to follow Winston as he moved. Below the face were the words BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU…

The famous Canterville Ghost haunts an old house, but the ghost becomes unhappy when the new owners play tricks on him! In the other stories, we meet Lord Arthur Savile, who has to murder someone before he can get married, and we discover the secret life of beautiful Lady Alroy.