EC Magazines Hong Kong Edition 2025
2025 HONGKONG EDITION
20 WHAT’S INSIDE? TRENDS • Colorful Edge • Audio Class •Moody Textures
36 56 70 30
LIFE HACKS
• City Guides • The Weight of Criticism
LIVING
• A Calm Urban Retreat
TRAVEL
• The Aisne Countryside
FASHION EDITORIAL • Mother Nature
JAMES MAIWURM James J. Maiwurm—former CEO of Kaiser Group International and Chairman Emeritus of a global law firm—carries with him a legacy of leadership defined by world-spanning influence, a lifelong devotion to service, and the quiet, unwavering power of family.
.. .. .. a heartfelt guide to spiritual growth
The Word That Loves You, Begin is a book that provides verses from the English Standard Version of the Holy Bible about six important topics. The chapters are The Fall, Forgiveness, Faith, Fruit of the Spirit, Finding Others for Salvation and Frequent Prayer. Study questions and commentaries related to each important topic are included. The purpose is to emphasize the topics as addressed by the Holy Bible and God’s Word. It hopes to encourage the reading of God’s Word and the Holy Bible. This book provides only a small example of what can be learned from reading the Holy Bible and God’s Word.
$16.99 Paperback 979-8385029129
$39.99 Hardback 979-8385029136
$6.99 eBook
Can religious topics be entertaining ? Well Jesus said he was half man and half god. It's certainly an entertaining place to start. How much of Jesus as depicted in the Bible was accurate? How much was the apostle's Peter's creation ? How much were crafty editors who wrote about Jesus four hundred years after his passing with a purpose of establishing their own multilayered religious enterprise? My feelings on Jesus's success is tied to his credibility. He had to be approachable. Jesus is somewhat naive and vulnerable. His followers were drawn to that warmth of honesty. But Jesus is also fishing for followers. So there is a calculating methodology. He doesn't want to be "caught acting" as Spencer Tracy warned. Indeed, he had a high wire act that ended badly. Whether he was or wasn't the son of god, he did live. That fact has been keeping people entertained for thousand of years. "All roads lead to Rome" was how Christ's modest preaching of charity got legs to the world stage. Jesus never made it to Rome. But Jesus's once humble apostle, Peter, did make it to Rome. He became a quasi producer/promoter of Christ's message but with a political component. Peter went on to be Pope. He was the first and only Jew to be Pope of The Holy Roman Empire. He was followed in that position by powerful political members of Rome's ruling class families and subsequent Roman emperors. It started with the emperor Nero. The savvy Nero used Peter to manage the expectations of newly arriving religious followers of Jesus and other immigrants from the vast empire. Nero also had an eye on managing Rome's own restive poor who were a growing threat to his power. The message of Jesus had been expanded from personal charity to a state funded "Bread and Circus" political event akin to welfare. Once Nero became Peter's partner, Peter became redundant. Peter was then crucified. What is it about Jerusalem and the surrounding locale that produced both Jesus and Muhammad ? Maybe it was a coincidence. Or was it because Jesus and Muhammad replaced pagan gods? Pagan gods did not promote Jesus' charity which morphed with the Catholic Church into a welfare state. That's a compelling reason for common folks to follow the prophets and stop making out of pocket offerings to pagan god statues.
$19.95 Paperback 978-1587905674
www.brian-oglesby.com
$16.99 Paperback 978-1967421251
$29.99 Hardback 978-1967421268
$9.99 eBook
In this powerful and eye-opening new edition of Progressives, Leftists, and Black America, author Brian Oglesby returns with an expanded and updated analysis of the real-world impact progressive policies have had on Black communities in the United States. With added chapters, refined arguments, and timely reflections on recent political and cultural shifts, this edition takes the conversation deeper than ever before. Oglesby unapologetically confronts the widely accepted belief that progressive and leftist ideologies have been beneficial to Black Americans. Instead, he offers a well-reasoned critique, exposing how decades of liberal policy-making have eroded family structures, weakened educational systems, and fostered generational dependence on government programs. From the breakdown of the nuclear family to the rise of identity politics, this book challenges readers to examine the unintended consequences of political loyalty and ideological conformity. This edition includes new material analyzing recent national events, shifts in party platforms, and the cultural narrative surrounding race, equity, and justice. Oglesby also addresses how faith, entrepreneurship, and personal responsibility can serve as pathways toward lasting empowerment and liberation. Passionate, data-driven, and deeply personal, Progressives, Leftists, and Black America is more than a political critique-it's a rallying cry for intellectual independence, cultural restoration, and a renewed vision for the future of Black America.
Whether you're a policymaker, educator, activist, or everyday citizen, this book will challenge your assumptions and expand your perspective.
$13.99 Paperback 978-1998784813
In 2057, when the world is starved of oil and the whole globe is in the unrelenting grip of the World Council, NYCPD detective Nick Garvey has his plate murderously full, contending with: the assassination of the Vice President and four Secret Service agents; the vicious power struggle between President Lenora Allison and the Supreme Leader of the World Council, Jason Beck; the off-duty avenging of the brutalization of his estranged daughter by her live-in thug; the kidnapping of his granddaughter when he gets too close to the truth about Jason Beck's world- domination dirty tricks; and his confrontation with President Lenora Allison which leads to their joint setup in front of a firing squad; but other than that...
$13.99 Paperback
979-8896901143
$6.99 eBook
$19.95 Audiobook
It is 2058. NYPD detective Nick Garvey and Lenora Allison, President of the battered and reeling United States, are battling the many remnants of the murderous World Council. They must confront the forced introduction of a man-made, killer plague and the destruction of the newly created Friendship City.
President Allison succeeded in her fight to destroy the first plague only to learn a second more deadly one was imminent.
Ishmael, the mysterious new leader of the World Council, has decided to destroy Friendship City, an autonomous joining of Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico, where the citizens are developing their own protective Bill of Rights.
President Allison asks Nick to fly from Houston, where his daughter is recovering from a coma, to the White House to help in the fight.
Can the second plague be destroyed? Why is Friendship City spiraling into chaos? Can Ishmael be destroyed?
Nick wrestles to find Ishmael but Ishmael finds him first. Capturing Nick, President Allison, Nick's family, and all others in his way, he forces them to sit in a circle, surrounded by rifles. Ishmael starts his countdown.
The Left Hand of the Biblical God refers to the myths, customs, rituals, ceremonies, and sacrifices performed by religious organizations that are the shields that hide the true identity of both the benevolent Lord God and Jehovah, the vindictive God of Abraham. It is a saga of their genetic bloodlines, that of the Lord God through Adam and that of Jehovah through his son Isaac.
It is a realistic look at the civilized society of man before the flood and a critical critique of the recorded death, suffering, trials, and tribulations of the Jewish people after the flood.
The Left Hand of the Biblical God is a new and different perspective on the identity of the biblical gods and their relationship with man, an analysis of the Christian Bible, and the reality of organized religion. It is a perspective that will never be heard, preached from the pulpit, or taught in Sunday school.
$33.95 Paperback 979-8891575776
$9.99 eBook
So Where Did We Go Wrong ? is titled as such because, in the last sixty years, I have witnessed the very values that many have grown up with and have tried to follow being abandoned in exchange for the pursuit of earthly possessions. Just as disheartening, walking over and ignoring the “little” people that might get in the way.
The same can be said of the rest of society! Since it seems too many have left the church and have sacrificed their integrity, wishing to live only for the moment. Anyway, this book--and the others that follow, are my attempt to get them to right their wrongs and return to the desired pathway that will lead them Homeward.
418 pages
$ 45.95 Paperback
9798889438694
$ 56.95 Hardback
9798889439622
$ 9.99 eBook
www.davidhenrypatton.com
At Times I’ve Felt Like Job : A Story of ‘Choices’ is entitled as such, because just like Job in the Bible, I was blessed numerous times as a young person. At the same time, I also experienced a great deal of suffering, still my faith has never wavered! I only really wish I could say the same about the rest of society, since it seems too many have left the church, and abandoned many of the
lessons they were taught as a little child - wishing to live only for the moment. Well, this book - and the others that follow, are attempts to get people to right their wrongs, and return to the desired pathway that will lead them Homeward.
426 pages
$ 9.99 eBook
$ 57.95 Hardback
$ 46.95 Paperback
9781641916332
9781641916752
www.davidhenrypatton.com
How does a singer, dancer, and top Vegas entertainer recover from this? Debra Lee Kristian- Fader was enjoying a successful career in the Live Entertainment Industry. She was performing as a singing star on the stages of Las Vegas, Atlantic City, the Caribbean Islands, and aboard Luxury Cruise Ships. With a home base in Los Angeles, Debra Lee anticipated a commercial, recording and film career. After much prayer, and the resolve to follow the plan that God was beckoning her to follow, Debra Lee changed her trajectory. She packed up her belongings and moved back to Minnesota. With an adapted career choice as a radio broadcaster and worship director, Debra Lee was fulfilled with her new life. God was now her full time Compass. She walked a new path with gratitude and faith. Every aspect of her life resonated with blessings. Then, her life changed one morning when she literally fell out of bed, unable to walk. Debra Lee Kristian-Fader is an internationally awarded entertainer, community leader, and Best-Selling Author. More than this, she is a servant of God. She champions the need for faith in all aspects of living, believes in the power to start over, and come back- no matter what your age or circumstance.
$22.49 Paperback 978-1662846823
$37.99 Hardback 978-1662895128
$9.99 eBook
Hong Kong Edition 2025
ETHEL LEACH Managing Director GENER ZAFRA
Project Manager ALEX ROSS Marketing Fulfillment Manager CARLO RIVERA Editor EDGE JAVIER Art Director
COMING SOON Book Fairs 2025 PRINTERS ROW LIT FEST September 7–8, 2025 Printers Row, Dearborn Street, Chicago MANILA INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR September 10-14, 2025 SMX Convention Center Manila, Philippines FRANKFURTER BUCHMESSE 2025 October 16–20, 2025 Messe Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany LAS VEGAS BOOK FESTIVAL October 19, 2025 Historic Fifth Street School, Las Vegas
CONTENTS
16 art dreams of the everyday 20 trends colorful edge audio class moody textures 30
life hacks city guides the weight of constant criticism 36 living a calm urban retreat 42 cover story james maiwurm 56 travel the aisne countryside 70 fashion mother nature
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EC Magazines | Hong Kong Edition 2025
The coming-out process has taught a gay man many lessons that are useful throughout his life. This book details the depth and range of these lessons which in combination with many of the unique life experiences, the gay man is actually well-prepared to successfully deal with his entrance into middle age and beyond. The sequential exercises facilitate a focused path for successful aging in comparison with other books on this topic. This book is unique in its exploration of the coming-out process and its relevance for a lifetime of successful aging. Though originally written and published in 2000 for gay men, the subsequent public response has shown that the exercises and the principles of aging are applicable to all people.
$ 21.00 Paperback
605 pages
$ 3.99 eBook
9798218071196
ART
Winifred Nicholson and Andrew Cranston share gallery walls in a two-stop show shaped by designer and collector Jonathan Anderson. DREAMS OF THE EVERYDAY
paintings by Winifred Nicholson & Andrew Cranston | curated by Jonathan Anderson | source Ingleby Gallery
REAMS OF THE EVERYDAY, AN exhibition curated by Jonathan Anderson with gallerist Richard Ingleby, opens at the Pier Arts Centre in Stromness on 21 June. Winifred Nicholson’s clear-eyed still lifes from the 1930s sit beside Andrew Cranston’s painted book covers, their shared affection for domestic ritual linking works made nearly a century apart. Nicholson’s tabletops, children’s portraits and luminous window views hum with colour drawn from Cumbria, Cornwall and beyond. Cranston answers with intimate interiors laid onto cloth- bound novels, the print of old titles flickering through thin washes of D
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EC Magazines | Hong Kong Edition 2025
Headaches: Why You Have Them, What You Can Do About Them by Dr. Egilius L.H. Spierings is a definitive guide for anyone seeking clarity, relief, and empowerment in the face of chronic headache pain. Drawing on over four decades of clinical, academic, and research expertise, Dr. Spierings—an internationally respected neurologist and pharmacologist—breaks down the science behind migraine, tension headache, cluster headache, and face pain. With a compassionate and accessible tone, he explains the neurological, psychological, and lifestyle factors that contribute to headache, while offering practical, evidence-based strategies for diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management.
$29.95 Hardback 979-8887319223
$9.99 eBook
ART
“Everyday life, framed with care, becomes both familiar and slightly surreal.” pigment. Together, the paintings suggest that everyday life, framed with care, can feel both familiar and slightly surreal. Anderson has underwritten a clothbound catalogue, also titled Dreams of the Everyday, published by 5B. Essays by both artists and a conversation with Ingleby expand the exhibition’s themes and offer collectors a keepsake. After its Orkney debut, the exhibition travels south: it runs at the Pier Arts Centre until 13 September 2025, then settles at the Holburne Museum in Bath from 3 October 2025 to 11 January 2026. EC Source: Sirena Kuo of the fashiongraphy
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EC Magazines | Hong Kong Edition 2025
$8.95
$14.95 Paperback
eBook
979-8991313605
Was Moses really given only ten “suggestions” for humanity?
The Ten Commandments Reboot is a hilarious take on how distortion of the Ten Commandments—which actually began as fifteen suggestions—has contributed to the current global predicament of late-stage predatory capitalism, violence, and divisiveness. What went amok? How did we get so off course? Can life be joyous again or are we bound to mishigas? A compassionate God reveals his original intentions for the Humankind Project and his angst over the abridged ten commandments. Here for the first time are the reinstated, unabridged, and updated ten commandments, plus five bonus commandments for attaining consciousness in a time of planetary crisis. Humorist Gershon Siegel traverses time, translating God’s plea for action to prevent humanity’s end times. Rather than sinking in hopelessness, rebalancing in sync with Mother Earth is within reach.
Is it too late for humanity? Maybe not.
TRENDS
This summer, Swarovski brings colorful La Dolce Vita lifestyle to Cracco’s Portofino restaurant, infusing pastel seating, signature porcelain, and bespoke cocktails into every detail. COLORFUL EDGE
by Sirena Kuo of the Fashiongraphy
WAROVSKI HAS CLAIMED ITS slice of La Dolce Vita this summer with a bold reimagining of Cracco Portofino, the seaside outpost of Chef Carlo Cracco’s acclaimed restaurant. Perched on the harbor, the space now plays host to floating pastel parasols and sleek seating dipped in pink, yellow, and powder blue. An octagon- shaped frame, purpose built for social media, anchors the terrace as the season’s must-snap backdrop. Inside, every detail nods to Swarovski’s summer palette. Guests dine from Swarovski × Rosenthal porcelain designed by Giovanna Engelbert, the brand’s creative director. Engelbert’s recent revamp has leaned into saturated hues and youthful energy. On the menu, Cracco has developed a bespoke cocktail and dessert to complement locally sourced ingredients, served alongside sweet and savory dishes that celebrate Ligurian flavors. This Portofino pop-up is not Swarovski’s first collaboration with Cracco. Last year, they teamed up on the Swarovski Café in Milan’s Palazzo Citterio during the “Masters of Light: From Vienna to Milan” exhibition. There, Cracco curated an exclusive menu to match the show’s spirited atmosphere. The ongoing partnership, known for special-edition panettones and bespoke menus, reflects a shared commitment to craftsmanship, Swarovski with its centuries-old crystal legacy and Cracco with his culinary artistry. S
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EC Magazines | Hong Kong Edition 2025
In the wake of World War II, one-third of East Germany, including East Prussia, was given to Poland and Russia with the consent of the four allies governing occupied Germany-America, England, France, and Russia. In the process, 14 million Germans who called that area home were driven from their land, receiving horrible treatment and never allowed to return. This is the story of one family’s journey to safety and the miracles of God that lined their path to deliverance. In Gone with the World Wars, Hildegard Bonacker Bruni shares the inspiring true account of her family’s incredible passage during and after World War II and the amazing faithfulness of God that protected them every step of the way. Hildegard shares the testimony of her parents, Gustav and Emilie Bonacker, who were born in East Prussia and lived through WWI and WWII. In July1944, Gustav was drafted into the army, and in August of the same year, Emilie, along with seven of her children, had to escape on horse and buggy for eight months until she reached the refuge of Sophienhof, in Schleswig Holstein. By the grace of God, Hildegard’s family survived, overcoming the life-threatening trials of hunger, sickness, freezing temperatures, and constant bomb attacks. Gone with the World Wars documents this brave family’s experiences, which are representative of many German families during the time, revealing what they lived through both during and after the war. With her family’s story as a reflection of what truly happened during World War II, Hildegard dedicated her life to uncovering the truth of both world wars, the historical background of each, and how the various types of government affected the lives of the German people, her family included. Join Hildegard on this unforgettable adventure through history to discover some of the most shocking unknown historical facts of World War II, God’s incomparable goodness, and the European way of life that is gone with the world wars.
570 pages
$ 4.99 eBook
$ 18.99 Paperback
9781958920848
www.hildabonackerbruni.com
TRENDS
The architectural bones of Cracco Portofino come from Milanese Studio Peregalli, which revived the charm of the former Ristorante Pitosforo when the restaurant opened in 2021. Now, with Swarovski’s intervention, the seaside locale feels fresh yet timeless, merging crystal, color, and cuisine into one elevated summer scene. This activation also marks a milestone in Swarovski’s 130th anniversary celebrations and underscores Engelbert’s push into a bolder, more youthful identity. Since 2020, she has led This activation also marks a milestone in Swarovski’s 130th anniversary celebrations and underscores Engelbert’s push into a bolder, more youthful identity. collaborations from Kim Kardashian’s Skims capsule to Ariana Grande co- creations and launched lab-grown diamonds, signaling Swarovski’s move firmly into the luxury arena. With new flagship boutiques in Shanghai, Zurich, New York, and Seoul, the brand balances its heritage with a playful edge. With over 6,600 points of sale worldwide, including 2,300 owned, Swarovski’s Portofino takeover feels like a countdown to a summer-long romance with the Italian coast. For crystal lovers and foodies alike, it’s a moment to savor before the season slips away. EC
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EC Magazines | Hong Kong Edition 2025
In the most extraordinary news to embrace schoolyard Earth in 98,000 years, members of the kingdom above the human kingdom, called the Kingdom of Souls, have offered to work alongside humanity, providing incorruptible consultation, if allowed, to solve perennial problems: tumultuous divisions, violence and costly wars against our brothers, toxic pervasive pollution, dehumanizing injustices, massive deceptions and lies that cloud our judgment, as yet again humanity struggles to find the correct pathway forward. Many await the reappearance of Maitreya, Jesus, Count Saint Germaine, Koot Humi, Jupiter, and ten other Masters of Life-- eventually forty--to openly manifest and show us how sharing, cooperation, justice, and sacrifice will be built bit by bit, leading to an unprecedented era of peace, prosperity, and scientific marvels. Read how their priorities (proper food/water sanitation, adequate shelter, health care and education) as basic rights will gradually become our priorities as we realize and assist the role of the soul, the Masters, and God in bringing hope and opportunity to despairing humanity worldwide. Capitalism and socialism will coexist while those willing to help will roll up their sleeves to assist. Humanity anxiously awaits the Day of Declaration when Maitreya will share his credentials, a brief history of the planet and what lies ahead if we choose to ignore our doubts and fears and forge a glorious future based on unity: free energy, thousands of miraculous cures, and healing at source levels of the invisible etheric body, and much beyond description. Read this book and look to your soul and heart for guidance.
$23.95 Paperback 979-8892212892
$14.99 eBook
www.iralpalmer.com
TRENDS
Hermès Introduces Its First Headphones AUDIO CLASS
H
stitched by artisans who usually work on saddlery and small leather goods, Hermès positions craftsmanship, not software, as the key upgrade. The result is a design object that happens to play music—a signal, perhaps, of how the maison intends to speak to a generation that lives through its headphones. Whether the project stays a limited flourish or opens a broader path into tech remains to be seen, but Horizons has once again proved that traditional techniques can slip, almost seamlessly, into twenty-first-century habits. EC
ERMÈS HAS MOVED FROM saddle to sound with a set of $15,000 USD headphones built by its secret-weapon workshop, Ateliers Horizons. The house’s
test the boundaries of craft. Previous commissions—surfboards, hammocks, even a mirrored disco ball—have already shown that the unit can translate the brand’s heritage into objects well outside the silk-scarves canon. The headphones push that idea forward, pairing refined materials with components engineered for high fidelity. Production will be scarce—only a handful of pairs are expected—so the piece is as much collectible as gadget. Yet the gesture goes beyond rarity. By wrapping state-of-the-art drivers in leather cut and
first venture into personal audio leans on the same know-how that binds a Kelly bag: hand-stitched saddle leather, brushed metal accents and finishes lifted straight from the hardware of Hermès classics. Axel de Beaufort, who has steered Horizons since 2012, framed the project as a natural extension of a studio known for requests that
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EC Magazines | Hong Kong Edition 2025
$14.95 Paperback 979-8890618382
$9.99 eBook
In a changing world, families are becoming more diversified with their family structure. Whatever situations or circumstances that you are challenged with in blending a family, know that in order to have a strong family unit, the process is much bigger than the perfect picture. Without the core values of faith, love, trust, and patience, the family unit will suffer; and the foundation will be shaken. This book, Blending a Family Successfully, is a fundamental guide, combining faith and life experiences that will revolutionize how to blend a family, bringing about better outcomes in securing a firm foundation within the family structure. The author's candor and passion cultivates a powerful and unique expression of God's love as the reader will be gracefully ushered into a new realm of possibilities in overcoming the challenges that blended families are faced with on a day-to-day basis, working toward securing a loving, healthy, and wholesome family dynamics within the home while in keeping with the fundamentals expressed within the book. Blending a Family Successfully will leave you hopeful to whatever expectations you are believing God for as it relates to your family will help cultivate and lay the foundation of faith, love, trust, and patience--the core values to blending your family successfully!
TRENDS While Giorgio Armani watched from home, Leo Dell’Orco sent out mirrored duos in shawl-collar jackets and wide pleats, closing Milan with measured calm. MOODY TEXTURES
by Alexei Key
G
IORGIO ARMANI SAT OUT HIS own finale in Milan on Monday, recuperating from an undisclosed ailment at age 90, yet his imprint framed every look. In place of
the customary salute, Leo Dell’Orco (the designer’s menswear lieutenant of 45 years) accepted the applause, underscoring the house’s half-century of continuity. Models sometimes walked in twos, one presenting male, one presenting female. Cropped shawl-collar jackets met wide, pleated trousers that either tapered to the ankle or swept over suede sandals and pastel boots, suggesting city mornings that slip easily into seaside afternoons. Lightweight leather trenches and slouching knits lent shape while keeping heat at bay.
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EC Magazines | Hong Kong Edition 2025
Polly was used to people coming and going at her house at all times of the night because her family ran an Underground Railroad station. Strangely, tonight there was more noise than usual, and Mother said noise was the enemy. That night in June 1857, Mother called urgently for Polly to get down to the secret room and bring water with her. When Polly was able to get the heavy sloshing bucket down the narrow stairs, she saw Mother kneeling by a young girl who was about Polly’s age. Her name was Hattie, and her forehead was beaded with sweat, and she was shaking uncontrollably.
Polly knew they would be friends with all the dangers and adventures that go with running the Underground Railroad.
$ 14.95 Paperback 9781098050139 $24.95 Hardback 9781098050146 $ 9.99 eBook $11.38 Audiobook
112 pages
TRENDS
The mood echoed Armani’s 1980s peak: drop-shoulder blazers, roomy layering, calm color. Fabrics supplied much of the quiet drama: lustrous silk, glove-soft leather, waxed linen, open-weave knits, arranged in tonal ensembles that read monochrome from afar but mixed pattern and texture up close. Texture play carried through to shape. Nehru-collar jackets, tunics and a single kimono cut nodded to the designer’s travel memories without tipping into costume. Delicate metal pins caught the light, the lone ornament in an otherwise pared-down line-up. Accessories kept pace with suede carpet bags, soft-soled loafers and desert boots reprised from Emporio, while rope belts looped through easy trousers for a beachside hint. Every item prioritized movement and comfort over flourish, an ethos that felt like a personal note from a designer choosing rest yet still determined to set the tone. The collection closed Milan Fashion Week with quiet assurance, showing that Armani’s vocabulary of ease, precision and confidence remains fluent, even when its author watches from home. EC
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EC Magazines | Hong Kong Edition 2025
228 pages
$ 16.99 Paperback
$ 3.99 eBook
9781489735706
Jen’s headaches were becoming unbearable. They hit out of the blue and lasted for hours. Then she met a psychiatrist who hypnotized her, and found that a variety of people from various periods in time who waiting to talk to her. And to ask favors of her that she is sure she couldn’t possibly fulfill. So, the headaches continued.
LIFE HACKS
Louis Vuitton’s City Guides Head to the Mediterranean for Summer CITY GUIDES
T
HIS SUMMER, LOUIS VUITTON turns to local insiders to uncover the best of Capri, Ibiza, Mykonos, and Saint-Tropez, your next getaway just got easier. Just in time for summer’s peak
travel season, Louis Vuitton expands its beloved City Guide series, featuring four Mediterranean escapes: Capri, Ibiza, Mykonos, and Saint-Tropez. The freshly launched editions invite readers to experience these iconic destinations through the eyes of the people who live and breathe their vibrant energy. Each beautifully curated, 96- page guide captures the essence of these sun-soaked locales, offering insider recommendations on secluded beaches, hidden art galleries, and stylish eateries you’ll genuinely want to frequent. Trusted locals, Vincenzo Sorrentino for Capri, Jade Jagger for Ibiza, Marissa Taboulchanas for Mykonos, and Pierre Roinson for Saint- Tropez, provide authentic insights, blending personal favorites with unmissable hotspots. Illustrators Charline Collette, Muhammad Fatchurofi, Charlotte Molas, and Virginie Morgand complement these insider picks, their colorful and lively visuals capturing the spirit of each destination without overpowering the authentic voice of the guides. And for seasoned travelers loyal to Louis Vuitton’s City Guides, there’s more to explore. Ten existing city editions, from Paris to Tokyo and New York, have been refreshed with updated spots and perspectives from influential figures like actress Sophie Auster and architects François-Joseph Graf, Alexei Ginzburg, and Kengo Kuma. Available in print (priced at $24, complete with collectible luggage tags) or digitally via the Louis Vuitton City Guide app, this collection promises to be an essential companion on your next escape. EC Source: Louis Vuitton and thefashiongraphy
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EC Magazines | Hong Kong Edition 2025
Who am I and why should you read my story? My name is Max Faraday. Nobody is going to believe me, but here I am putting it all down on paper. I am a man of two time periods. Forgive me, this sci-fi stuff is new to me.
A week or more ago, in July 2002, I came home for my 1982 high school class reunion. I was staying with my friend Jamie Scott and his family. On the way home from the reunion, we picked up his kids at the babysitter. Their little girl comes out and bounces a ball that tumbles out of her hands into the street. Just as we arrived, a car speeds up and my instincts take over. I pick her up and get her out of the way, but I was then hit by the speeding car! Stunned, I wake up in September 1978! I am a thirty-eight-year-old man in a fourteen-year-old's body! I can't tell anyone, or they would lock me up, thinking I'm crazy! I know I would.
So here I am in the eighth grade all over again. When I went to bed in 1978, I woke up in a coma in 2002, wondering about the driver who ran me over.
$14.99 Paperback
979-8893303308
$3.99 eBook
LIFE HACKS
A quiet hope for love’s return — not rushed or loud, but healing, steady, and true. This is a wish for a love that feels like peace, that sees your soul, and stays. THE WEIGHT OF CONSTANT CRITICISM
by Eileen Lamb of Thought Catalog
OU BEGIN TO WONDER IF maybe you should have added just a little more salt to the pasta, if your driving is really so awful that it makes him feel like he’s going to throw up during a short 5-minute drive with you behind the wheel. And somewhere deep down, you know that Y
if maybe you are insane. Maybe you’re imagining things. But deep down, you know. You know this isn’t how it’s supposed to feel. Still, you start to doubt yourself. So, you stop sharing. It’s easier that way. If you don’t say anything, you can’t be criticized. If you don’t try, you won’t be put down. You become numb to the little things
he’d probably enjoy all these things with someone else, someone who doesn’t get weighed down by constant judgment. So, you bring up your feelings, but of course, your reaction is the crazy one. He twists everything, makes you feel like you’re the one overreacting, and somehow, you start to believe it. You start to wonder
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EC Magazines | Hong Kong Edition 2025
$14.95 Paperback 978-1620235195
$14.20 eBook
What is the place of a chaplain in medical care? How does chaplaincy fit into the psychological and physical spectrum of care in a medical setting? What words might more effectively express the need for chaplaincy involvement? What is the global goal of chaplaincy involvement, whether working with a patient of one's own religion, other religions, or those with no religious focus? How can a deeply religious chaplain effectively and honestly work with non-religious patients and/or family to provide a needed value? These questions are explored in depth in Chaplain Skanse’s new book, A Chaplain’s Expertise: The New Paradigm . In it, Chaplain Skanse seeks to develop a simpler, universal language to talk about spiritual care. Much is said about being spiritual and touching another person's life spiritually. What this means and how one actually does this in the crisis of medical uncertainty, without stepping on the autonomy of another person and/or their family, is explored with this new paradigm. Chaplain Skanse seeks to simplify the language of chaplaincy into a functional common language that allows patients, their families, the medical team, hospital administrators and even society at large to understand and converse with the chaplain. This language creates a more unified and effective response to the questions of what chaplains do beyond their own religious or denominational offerings and how can they speak about their value to everyone involved in the trauma of medical need. Whether one is exploring the field of chaplaincy for the first time or has worked in chaplaincy for a many years, this new perspective provides a framework from which everyone on the medical team can begin their evaluation with common goals for spiritual care.
LIFE HACKS
you once celebrated, because the cost of sharing them is always a jab, a dismissal, a glance that says everything you do is just… not enough. But then, it hits you. You feel the loneliness creep in, because, as much as you enjoy your own company, life wasn’t meant to be lived in isolation. It wasn’t meant to be a constant act of proving yourself to someone who will never see you for all that you are. You start to envy the couples around you—the ones who compliment each other and seem infatuated with one another. You’re successful, but it doesn’t feel like enough. You’ve done everything you were supposed to do, yet you feel like you’ve failed at the And you wonder, what would it be like to be seen like that? To be loved like that? So, you start finding refuge in writing. At least on paper, you can express everything that’s been suffocating inside. Sometimes, when the pain becomes too much to carry, you mask it with alcohol, just enough to make the sharp edges dull for a while. Just enough to make it through the night. You have everything you ever thought you wanted. You’re successful, accomplished, respected. You have a family, a career, a life that looks perfect on the outside. Yet, deep inside, you feel one thing that matters most: being seen, being valued, being loved the way you deserve.
But maybe, just maybe, it’s time to stop searching for approval in places that don’t deserve it. Maybe it’s time to learn what it means to value yourself, even when the world, and the person who should love you the most, fails to. Because in the end, the love you give to yourself is the only one that can fill the empty spaces they leave behind. EC
empty. You feel like you’re constantly striving for something that feels just out of reach, a validation that never comes. You’re successful, but it doesn’t feel like enough. You’ve done everything you were supposed to do, yet you feel like you’ve failed at the one thing that matters most: being seen, being valued, being loved the way you deserve.
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A witty and poignant collection of short stories that explores the choices we make—and the curious consequences that follow.
Set in the fictional town of Linden, each tale introduces characters who are just a “bubble or so off plumb,” navigating life’s oddities with humor, heart, and a touch of eccentricity. Whether the decisions are good, bad, or downright peculiar, Gardner’s storytelling invites readers to reflect on the quirks of human behavior and the unexpected threads that connect us all.
$16.99 Paperback 979-8765243312
$39.99 Hardback 979-8765243336
$3.99 eBook
LIVING
This thoughtfully designed apartment blends minimalist charm, smart storage, and warm materials to create a peaceful haven amidst the city buzz. A CALM URBAN
ERCHED HIGH ABOVE THE bustling streets of Hong Kong, this thoughtfully reimagined apartment immediately feels open and breathable. Generous windows flood the space with natural light, offering calming glimpses of the city skyline and the distant silhouettes of surrounding mountains. Designed with both comfort and clarity in mind, it’s a space that invites you to pause. The layout flows seamlessly between the living, dining, and kitchen areas, creating a spacious feel despite the apartment’s modest size. A soft, curved sofa anchors the lounge, while a round wooden dining table and Scandinavian-inspired chairs echo the minimalist ethos. Greenery is sprinkled throughout—never excessive, always intentional—bringing a touch of life without disrupting the clean lines. Throughout the home, a serene palette of whites, soft greys, and light ash wood sets the tone. The effect is calming and cohesive, enhanced by subtle accents in muted shades like avocado green. These gentle pops of color offer warmth without overwhelming the eye—a design approach that balances tranquility with visual interest, as seen in features from Home Journal and The Spruce. P
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EC Magazines | Hong Kong Edition 2025
RETREAT
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LIVING
In the kitchen, sleek cabinetry, integrated appliances, and hidden storage maintain a tidy, uncluttered look. The dining corner, although compact, feels intimate and welcoming—ideal for slow breakfasts or quiet evening meals. It’s a clear reflection of form meeting function in the most graceful way. The bedroom continues this design story with muted tones, soft linens, and a cocoon-like atmosphere. Built-in features and clever storage—like underbed drawers and recessed shelves—help maintain the feeling of openness while providing practical living solutions. Even the smallest details are considered to preserve a sense of calm. We knew we couldn’t change the size of the space—but we could change how it felt. By letting in light, simplifying the layout, and choosing natural textures, our Perhaps the most charming space of all is the petite balcony—a modest nook just large enough for a single chair and a few potted plants. It’s a daily retreat for the homeowners, where they sip tea, enjoy a breath of fresh air, and watch the city in motion below. Proof that in a dense metropolis, even a sliver of sky can feel like a luxury. This apartment exemplifies a new kind of urban living—one that’s not about size, but about smart choices and intentional design. By focusing on warmth, simplicity, and flexibility, it manages to create a home that’s not just stylish, but deeply livable. EC apartment became the kind of place we actually looked forward to coming home to.
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EC Magazines | Hong Kong Edition 2025 39
Did you know that 50 percent of American high school students think Sodom and Gomorrah were married? How about that in London, England, it is illegal to drive a car without sitting in the front seat? And then there is Howdy Doody’s resident Native American, Chief Thunderthud, who belonged to the Ooragnak tribe. (Ooragnak is kangaroo spelled backward.) These and thousands of other gems are included in this book. It’s a book to strictly have fun with and cram your brain with pointless knowledge. You’ll be surprised how often you’ll quote it.
$ 28.99 Paperback
382 pages
$ 9.99 eBook
9798888328668
www.olsonkathleen.com
The Tree was born of unusu- al and tragic circumstances in the pre-Columbian prairie that would become Nebraska. As a young tree, it was fortu- nate that it was not the victim of a tornado or other weather denizens. Once The Tree was a hundred years old, it was able to take the arrows of young Pawnee honing their skills as well as being part of their fes- tivals. Slaves fleeing the South looked for the bent branch on The Tree to point them cor- rectly onto the North. But The Tree valued above all the ones that came to talk to it, finding its shade and shelter a haven for their thoughts and even a spoken word or two. The Tree still grows today, in- viting others to come to its ha- ven.
Paperback 9798886163032 15.95
eBook 9.99
$
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COVER STORY
James J. Maiwurm, Chairman Emeritus of a global law firm and former CEO of Kaiser Group International, brings decades of legal and business leadership. With deep global experience and strong family support, he offers a seasoned perspective shaped by service and strategic insight. JAMES MAIWURM
J
AMES MAIWURM, FORMER chair emeritus and senior counsel, is a seasoned law firm leader and business and transactional lawyer. During his tenure as chair
EC Magazines | Hong Kong Edition 2025 42 built effective relationships with divergent constituencies, including bondholders, stockholders, joint venture partners, employees, and customers. unique business perspective. In addition to leadership positions within Squire Patton Boggs, he served as chair and CEO and led the restructuring of a prominent publicly held international engineering firm. He dealt with clients throughout the world, negotiated and managed major asset dispositions, orchestrated a debt restructuring, and and global CEO of the legal practice, he led combinations with a 475-lawyer UK/ Western European firm, an 80-lawyer Australian firm, and a 300-lawyer US-based firm with offices in the Middle East, as well as other growth initiatives around the world, including Asia. James’s law practice has involved the representation of a diverse range of businesses in private equity infusions, public offerings, and sophisticated domestic and international acquisitions, dispositions, financings, and joint ventures. He also counsels senior management and boards of directors on matters such as corporate governance and disclosure issues, the development of acquisition strategies, and dealing with financing sources. James brings to his practice a
Beyond his legal and corporate leadership roles, James is also a sought-after speaker and mentor, regularly sharing his insights on law firm management, global business strategies, and corporate governance.
bono work in the practice of law and the development of public policy. Beyond his legal and corporate leadership roles, James is also a sought- after speaker and mentor, regularly sharing his insights on law firm management, global business strategies, and corporate governance. His ability to navigate complex legal and financial landscapes has made him a trusted advisor to both emerging and established businesses. Through his mentorship and board involvement, he continues to shape the next generation of leaders in law and business. EC
James has served on the boards of publicly held companies, including a bank holding company, as well as on the boards of an ESOP-owned government services provider and a joint venture performing a high-visibility US Department of Energy contract. He is listed in Who’s Who in America and several other Who’s Who directories. Active in business, community, and nonprofit organizations, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Squire Patton Boggs Foundation, which promotes the role of public service and pro
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EC Magazines | Hong Kong Edition 2025
Hadassah spent her days doing fancy nee- dlework with her friends and taking care of her guardian uncle Mordecai when the queen of Persia was exiled. The king put out a call for maidens to come to the pal- ace in a search for a new queen. Her uncle asked Hadassah to change her name to Esther to hide the fact that she is Jewish, and he urged her to go to the palace and become aspirant for queen. It’s an adventure full of love, friendship, intrigue, and revenge for the ages.
Paperback 9781639616381 13.95
eBook 9.99
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$
154 pages
$ 15.95 Paperback
$ 9.99 eBook
$ 11.38 Audiobook
9781639032815
Emily was not at all happy that she had to move to New Hampshire from Indianapolis. However, along with her twin brother, Jiggs, she made new friends, and they got into something she never expected. She found a very old envelope with a poem in it that promised that she, Jiggs, and their friends, Pete and Repete, would be richly rewarded if they followed the clues and the direction to keep their actions a secret. The clues led them on a chase through the town and through time.
www.kellysbooknook.com
$15.00 Paperback 978-9363312678
Where every choice leads to a new reality, the concept of love and self-discovery takes on a whole new dimension... This captivating collection of poems follows a couple's journey across the globe, exploring the mysteries and ecstasies of love. Through their adventures, they confront loss, heartbreak, and disappointment, yet also embrace passion, hope, and the drive for change. Both advocates for a better world, their connection transcends the present, revealed through visions of their shared past lives and the intensity of their bond. Despite the recurring challenges they face in this lifetime, the narrator finds solace in the belief that their love endures across infinite timelines in this multiverse of endless possibilities. Through moments of despair and joy, the poems reflect a journey that's both timeless and uniquely profound.
Kelly Mowers
www.lmhaynesbooks.com
The story of The Rusty Red Wagon begins in the small town of Dansby, Maine. Dylan and Diana Brewster want to help their parents save the family farm by selling Dylan's red wagon. With the help of the town's fire chief, the entire Dansby fire department and the parish pastor, Dylan and Diana embark on an adventure that will bring joy and happiness to a different child of Dansby every Christmas for years to come.
$8.99 Paperback $18.99 Hardback
978-1953821997
978-1966473008
$1.99 eBook
Paperback 978-1778392023 $7.99
$4.99 eBook
The marriage of man and woman provides purpose and hope for the years ahead. But what happens when the partner you love and depend on is murdered and dies much sooner than you ever imagined, leaving you alone with two children? It happened to me. The unimaginable. And I suffered an enormous blow." Told in her own words, Linda Q. Cavazos's personal story reveals the details of the highly publicized case of her husband's tragic death. It is a love story of a mixed marriage, Virginia's first Mexican-American state trooper, and his death in an emotionally shattering case that went all the way to the United States Supreme Court. There is no escaping the darkness of capture and the execution of her husband's killer, and there is no easy path forward with her own life. But ultimately, readers will be inspired by "One Dark Morning," a story of grit, recovery, growth, and renewal.
Are you seeking a more intimate relationship with God, but you always have clutter that keeps you from putting Him first? Is your life too chaotic to have an intimate relationship with the Creator? Is accountability for your spiritual life not even on your radar? Who's Driving the Bus? is a short book, but it's not meant to be a quick read. It's an interactive book. Who's Driving the Bus? encourages doodling, coloring, journaling, drawing, sketching, graffiti art, or any medium that allows the reader to ponder, meditate, cogitate, discuss, or explore the questions being asked. It's an intimate book meant for self-reflection and examination. Its purpose is to challenge the reader to take a close look at his or her life, to consider who is in control, and adjust accordingly. And that takes courage. Who's Driving the Bus? is great for one-on-one partners or small group or home group discussions for adults. So, are you ready to grab a box of colored pencils and take an intimate look at who's driving your bus?
$12.99 Paperback 978-1964929637
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