History Of The Moorish Empire In Europe, Vol. 1
Imagine a time when the echoes of clashing civilisations reverberated across the landscapes of medieval Europe. This vivid tapestry of history is brought to life in a work that has been out of print for decades and is now republished by Alpha Editions. Delve into the intricate mosaic of the Moorish Empire's influence on European medieval cultures, a narrative that has shaped the continent's very identity. As a historical reference book, it offers a profound moorish empire study, rich with insights into the Islamic influence that once swept through Europe, leaving an indelible mark on its history. This edition is not just a reprint - it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure, meticulously restored for today's and future generations. Within its pages, readers are invited to explore medieval Spain, a land of vibrant cultural exchange and conquest. The book serves as both a history enthusiasts resource and a tool for academic history research, drawing comparisons to the works of Edward Gibbon in its depth and scholarly precision. For those captivated by historical conquest narratives and the complexities of the European medieval period, this volume stands as a beacon of knowledge and understanding. Its significance lies not only in its detailed moorish spain analysis but also in its ability to illuminate the past, offering both casual readers and classic-collection buyers a window into a world that continues to resonate through the ages.
History Of The Moorish Empire In Europe, Vol. 2
In the shadowed alleys of medieval Europe, where the whispers of Moorish architecture still echo, lies a story of profound cultural fusion and influence. This historical non-fiction book unravels the rich tapestry of the Moorish Empire's legacy, a narrative that has been out of print for decades and is now republished by Alpha Editions. As an academic history reference, it invites readers on a journey through the Iberian Peninsula, exploring the Islamic influence in Europe that shaped the continent's destiny. This edition is not just a reprint - it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure, meticulously restored for today's and future generations. Delve into the vibrant world of medieval Moorish culture, where the confluence of civilisations fostered an era of unprecedented intellectual and artistic achievement. The book serves as a vital history enthusiasts resource, capturing the essence of a time when the decline of empires, as noted by historians like Edward Gibbon, intertwined with the rise of new ones. It stands alongside the works of Will Durant, offering a comprehensive moorish empire study that illuminates the intricate dynamics of medieval Europe exploration. This European history book is more than a chronicle of the past; it is a testament to the enduring legacy of a civilisation that continues to inspire and educate. Whether you are a casual reader or a collector of classic works, this edition promises to enrich your understanding of a pivotal era in history.
History Of The Moorish Empire In Europe, Vol. 3
In the intricate tapestry of European history, the Moorish Empire stands as a vibrant thread, weaving tales of cultural fusion and architectural grandeur. Imagine the bustling streets of medieval Spain, where the echoes of Arabic historical texts mingled with the rhythms of European medieval period life. This book, a profound moorish empire study, was out of print for decades and is now republished by Alpha Editions, inviting readers to explore the profound islamic influence europe experienced during this era. Restored for today's and future generations, it serves as both a history enthusiasts resource and a scholarly academic history research tool. Delve into the pages of this european history volume to uncover the legacy of moorish architecture that continues to inspire awe and admiration. The book's exploration of medieval european cultures offers a nuanced historical analysis that resonates with the edward gibbon influence, presenting a narrative as engaging as it is enlightening. This edition is not just a reprint - it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure, offering insights into the rich tapestry of interactions that shaped the continent. Whether you are a casual reader fascinated by the past or a classic-collection buyer seeking a literary gem, this book provides a captivating journey through the annals of history. Its revival marks a significant moment in the preservation of our shared cultural heritage, ensuring that the stories of the Moorish Empire continue to inspire and educate for generations to come.
Jamaican Song And Story
In the vibrant tapestry of Jamaica's cultural history, where the whispers of the past echo through the lively beats of folk dance tunes, a hidden gem has been unearthed. Once out of print for decades, this remarkable collection has been lovingly republished by Alpha Editions, restored for today's and future generations. It is not merely a reprint; it stands as a collector's item and a cultural treasure, inviting readers to delve into the spirited world of Jamaican folklore. This anthology, steeped in the rich tradition of Caribbean orature, captures the essence of the island's storytelling legacy. It weaves together annancy trickster tales and ring game songs, offering a vivid portrayal of the African diaspora roots that have shaped Jamaica's cultural identity. Set against the backdrop of a colonial Jamaican context, it provides invaluable insights into the early 20th century, a period marked by both change and continuity. For scholars and educators, this collection serves as a vital cultural studies reference, illuminating the profound influence of figures like Walter Jekyll and echoing the literary footsteps of Zora Neale Hurston. Yet, its appeal extends beyond academia, reaching casual readers who yearn for the rhythm and resonance of authentic voices. This edition invites you to experience the timeless narratives that have danced through generations, preserving the spirit and soul of a people.
Journalism
In a world shaped by rapidly evolving technology and a dynamic media landscape, "Journalism in Theory and Practice" offers a vital exploration of the profession from a unique vantage point. Drawing on the fresh experiences of a seasoned field journalist and Media & Communications Manager, this book bridges the crucial gap between academic theory and the daily realities of media work.Delving into the anthropology and sociology of societies through the lens of fieldwork, this comprehensive guide illuminates how journalism connects "the least and the highest in the community." It meticulously examines theoretical and practical aspects of journalism, communications, and public relations across all media categories such as print, digital, PR, and new media. Beyond fundamental principles, it tackles critical discussions on media ethics and the untold, often life-threatening, challenges journalists face."Journalism in Theory & Practice" is an essential resource for aspiring journalists, seasoned editors, media managers, and Public Relations experts. It also serves as an invaluable academic text for journalism students, offering profound insights into maintaining accuracy, neutrality, and adapting to the constant reshaping of journalistic practices in the digital age, in navigating complexities of modern media, understanding its impact on traditional metrics, and upholding the integrity of a profession that demands continuous adaptation and critical inquiry.
Beyond Biryani
About the BookHyderabad-the city of nawabs, the Charminar and biryani? Or a city plugged into the neural network of global technology? Hyderabad is both of those cities all at once, and there is much more to it than meets the eye.Beyond Biryani maps the journey from what was at best a proto-colonial city under a quasi-Mughal princely state till the 1940s to the modern and vibrant metropolis that Hyderabad is today. In the pages of this book, we see the beginnings of that transformation: the Britishers who steered the city in the direction of developing a scientific temper and the nawabs who championed the cause. And we discover the workings and patterns of the change: from the Chloroform Commissions to Ronald Ross's discovery of malaria; from the setting up of Osmania University, India's first vernacular university, to the newly independent India pushing for industrial laboratories, scientific research and strategic forays into nuclear fuel and missiles. Finally, we discover how, in the last thirty years, Hyderabad has taken giant leaps towards becoming a truly globalised city.An alternative history of the city of Hyderabad, Beyond Biryani is a must-read for anyone interested in how a city can catapult towards modernity while staying rooted in its cultural heritage.About the AuthorDINESH C. SHARMA is an award-winning journalist and author with nearly forty years of experience of reporting on issues related to science, technology, innovation, medicine and the environment for national and international media outlets. Among the books authored by him are The Outsourcer: The Story of India's IT Revolution and Indian Innovation, Not Jugaad: 100 Ideas That Transformed India.
Worth More Dead
In this white-knuckled entry in Ann Rule's Crime Files, the #1 New York Times bestselling author presents the true story of a man who betrayed his family with heinous crimes and other tales of passion and greed. Former Marine sergeant and judo instructor Roland Pitre Jr. claimed it was all an elaborate plan to win back his wife's love--it wasn't supposed to end with her dead body in the trunk of a car. It would be nearly twenty years before he admitted to hiring someone to kill his estranged wife, but the alleged confession was as shocking and convoluted as the crime itself. The "prolific and talented" (Publishers Weekly) Ann Rule dives into this shocking true crime with her signature compassion and insight. She reveals how Pitre managed to avoid conviction and the two generations of detectives who worked doggedly for justice. Worth More Dead also features several more nonfiction tales from one of the world's "top-notch true crime writers" (Booklist).
The Masonic Book Club, Vol. 11A
Freemasons, as a result of their Masonic experience, are aware of the close relationship between Freemasonry and the Bible. Masonry itself is a constant search for light. The Bible is fittingly called "The Great Light in Masonry." Therefore it is proper that Masons should seek light by a continued reliance on the Bible, - the fountain for much of that sought for light. But non-Masons are often unaware of this relationship and, therefore, frequently misunderstand and misjudge Freemasonry. For that reason, the nature of that kinship should be explained.
Crime and Corrections
This book is intended to serve legislators, practitioners, academicians, and students of criminal justice. The author's goal is to pass along to others involved in criminal justice-related employment or academic studies lessons he learned during his career with the hope that these lessons will: Persuade policy makers, practitioners, academicians, and students that contrary to popular belief, the cause of criminal behavior is unknown, and neither punishment nor rehabilitation effectively deter or prevent criminal behavior Encourage them to redirect some effort and resources in scientific research designed to determine what causes criminal behavior Urge them to stop trying to reform prisons and develop alternatives for prisons using advanced technology "In the end, I felt like a farmer must feel who plowed the same field every day, never planting a seed, never harvesting a crop"
Planes Flying Over a Monster
From one of Mexico's most exciting young writers, a cosmopolitan and candid essay collection exploring life in cities across the world and reflecting on the transformative importance of literature in understanding ourselves In ten intimate essays, Daniel Salda簽a Par穩s explores the cities he has lived in, each one home to a new iteration of himself. In Mexico City he's a young poet eager to prove himself. In Montreal--an opioid addict desperate for relief. In Madrid--a lonely student seeking pleasure in grotesque extremes. These now diverging, now coalescing selves raise questions: Where can we find authenticity? How do we construct the stories that define us? What if our formative memories are closer to fiction than truth? Salda簽a Par穩s turns to literature and film, poetry and philosophy for answers. The result is a hybrid of memoir and criticism, "a sensory work, full of soundscapes, filth, planes, closed spaces, open vastness" (El Pa穩s).
Stinking Rich
Billionaires are an ultra-elite social class whose numbers are growing alongside their obscene wealth while others struggle, suffer or even die. They represent a scourge of economic inequality, but how do they get away with it? A set of dangerous and deceptive inter-connected myths portrays them as a 'force for good' - the 'heroic billionaire' asserts they are gallant protagonists of the American Dream gone global - the 'generous billionaire' pretends that their philanthropic efforts and personal good deeds should be lauded for generosity and benevolence - the 'meritorious billionaire' insists that extreme wealth is a worthy reward for individual hard work and talent - the 'vigilante billionaire' claims to be able to solve the world's biggest problems where bureaucrats and politicians have failed. Each of these myths enables billionaire wealth and power to set us back to old-style feudalism and plutocracy. Offering a trenchant critique, this incisive book testifies to the growing international political will to take concrete actions in supporting economic justice and democratic equality.
Problem-Based Learning in Science Education
Problem-based learning (PBL) is a student-centered, active methodology that was developed in the 1960s within the scope of medical schools. By focusing on real-world problems, which are interdisciplinary in nature, this approach may enable students to learn content knowledge and develop competencies and abilities that are relevant for 21st-century citizens. PBL has been used in a range of areas, namely in science education and science teacher education. Implementing PBL in science education requires teachers and students to change their ways of learning, teaching, and assessing learning.This reprint addresses the contribution of PBL to a wide range of science learning outcomes, as well as the challenges posed to science teachers and students, in both face-to-face and digital environments, at school and university levels.
Perspectives on Gender Equality
This edited volume examines the current representations of gender equality from a global perspective, alongside the themes of human rights and human development, while searching for an answer to the following question: How are rights to gender equality managed in a constantly changing world? Part one focuses on the human rights aspect of this question, incorporating the issues of law, policy, and culture, arguing that gender equality must be part of the full spectrum of human rights. Part two examines the broader themes of society, education, and family, examining women's right to equality against the backdrop of a digitally dominated society. Part three considers the role of justice in gender equality at both state and local levels, arguing that access to and the application of justice are vital in advancing women's rights and freedom from discrimination. This section also discusses access to healthcare, reproductive rights, gender violence, and human trafficking. Part four introduces real, practical actions that could help to achieve the equalities outlined in the previous sections, promoting universal education to accomplish gender equality for young people. The specific aim of this book is to provide both an academic and a political perspective on the issue of gender equality, while integrating the principles of ethics, law, and philosophy.
Dig Me a Grave
The definitive true "Southern Gothic" account of the life, crimes, conviction, and execution of Donald "Pee Wee" Gaskins, the charismatic, brutal, well-liked, remorseless South Carolina serial killer who was dubbed the Charles Manson of the South--written by the prosecutor who brought him to justice. Of the hundreds of murder cases that noted South Carolina attorney Dick Harpootlian has prosecuted, one in particular haunts him. Donald "Pee Wee" Gaskins was a serial killer and rapist, a master manipulator who claimed to have killed over 100 people and is known to have murdered over a dozen, including a toddler, and his own teenage niece. Yet it was on Death Row that he pulled off his most audacious murder--killing another inmate with a military grade explosive. As personable as he was ruthless, Pee Wee defied easy categories. He killed to avenge minor slights as well as for pleasure, using any convenient method--including stabbing, shooting, poison, suffocation, and drowning. Evidence suggested he forced at least one victim to dig his own grave, stand in it, and be shot. With escalating callousness, Pee Wee murdered acquaintances, friends, family members, and strangers. Yet within his North Charleston community he was well-liked--a family man who took neighborhood kids to the beach and hosted cookouts. Ice-cold within but outwardly charming, he joked with judges, reporters, and Harpootlian himself, but didn't hesitate to hatch a plot to kidnap the prosecutor's daughter in order to extort an escape. Dig Me a Grave is a haunting look at a prolific, remorseless killer, as well as a provocative exploration of justice and the death penalty.
Yucatan Before and After the Conquest
A rare firsthand account of Maya life emerges from the same figure responsible for erasing much of it. This translation presents Diego de Landa's defense of his actions in 1562, offering one of the few surviving descriptions of Maya society, ritual practice, scientific knowledge, and artistic traditions before Spanish domination. Framed by William Gates's detailed contextual notes, the text situates de Landa within the broader trajectory of Maya decline and the cultural upheavals that followed the conquest. The result is a stark portrait of a world in transition, revealing both the richness of Maya civilization and the profound losses inflicted during the colonial encounter. This edition underscores the lasting importance of de Landa's testimony for understanding what endured-and what vanished-of the ancient Maya.
Theory Reimagined
As scholars we are eager to get beyond the bounds of knowledge generated in Western Europe and North America, yet we continue to teach classical theory by featuring (mostly white male) scholars from this region. Since the Euro-American perspectives are powerful, around the world, sociological theory focuses on the same theorists.This book is an attempt to decolonise social theory: to rethink theory by focusing on theorists from other regions, chosen by scholars who live and work in countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. We feature the selections and presentations of sociologists from Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Poland, South Africa, Singapore, and Tunisia.Rianka Roy, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Wake Forest University, USA; Anjana Narayan, Professor of Sociology, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, USA; Melanie Heath, Professor of Sociology, McMaster University, Canada; Bandana Purkayastha, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Asian American Studies, University of Connecticut, USAHow should we teach and learn theory in Sociology? Once it seemed enough to learn about a handful of founding fathers and modern masters, all men, all White, all from the old imperial centres. But the world is wider and deeper than that, and has changed profoundly. How should we teach and learn theory now? The editors and authors of Theory Reimagined have given us a rich gift: a collection packed with studies of social thought, and social thinkers, from around the post-colonial world. Here students and teachers will find issues ranging from migration to gender, decolonisation, land rights, environment, economic development, school education, political repression, and intellectuals themselves. Many of the details may be unfamiliar, but the writing is clear, and these chapters are worth re-reading. The editors have helpfully added teaching notes and a glossary. It's a bold and practical contribution to the revolution in the social sciences that is under way now.
Practical Anarchy
Practical Anarchy - A Guide To Self Determination is both a history lesson and a survival guide. It takes the word "anarchy" out of the gutter of tabloid headlines and puts it back where it belongs - in the everyday acts of solidarity, resistance and imagination that already shape our lives. What if freedom didn't mean the "choice" between political parties or brands, but the courage to live without rulers? This book traces anarchism from prehistoric egalitarian societies and the Paris Commune, through punk, travellers' fields and the rise of the Internet, right up to today's struggles against capitalism, State power, surveillance, climate collapse and patriarchy. Rather than preaching abstract theory, it draws on lived experience - off-grid life, squats, coops, music festivals, community kitchens - to show that anarchy is not chaos but cooperation without bosses. The story winds through: - The problem with the State - violence, division, surveillance and the democratic illusion. - The problem with capitalism and money - wage slavery, debt, advertising, AI and the climate crisis. - The grip of religion and party politics - faiths that promise salvation while demanding obedience. - Living anarchy now - disability justice, queer and trans anarchism, health, direct action, mutual aid and federation. - Imagining a world without rulers - resource-based societies, commons, rewilding, creativity and roadmaps for transition. This is not a utopian fantasy but a call to see what already works. From disaster solidarity to everyday cooperation, from Zapatistas to Rojava, from mutual aid groups during COVID to grassroots climate camps, Practical Anarchy shows how communities create order without rulers every day. The tone is serious but never humourless, weaving research with stories, music, fire and gallows humour. It's written by Dicky Dread - professor, DJ, traveller, survivor - who has lived the contradictions and possibilities of life beyond the mainstream. If you have ever wondered why the world feels broken - and how we might live differently - this book gives you the tools, stories and courage to start now. Dance with it, argue with it, laugh at it, scribble in the margins - then carry it into the streets, kitchens, forests and festivals where freedom is already being built. Keywords for discovery: anarchy, anarchism, capitalism, State, freedom, direct action, mutual aid, eco-anarchism, queer anarchism, disability justice, resource-based society, squats, travellers, festivals, counterculture, climate crisis, solidarity, cooperation without rulers. Author bio Dicky Dread has lived an unusually double life: professor of physics by day, anarchist DJ and festival traveller by night. He has published widely in science, including standard textbooks on measurement, but his heart has always been in the fields, rigs and improvised homes of the UK's counterculture. His writing spans cultural histories of New Age Travellers, anarchist theory, cookbooks, guides to living off-grid, and raw accounts of trauma, survival and community. Drawing from decades of experience building solar systems, repairing caravans and arguing politics around campfires, he writes with humour and defiance about freedom beyond the State, money and religion. He measures things precisely, he jokes, because so much of his own life could never be calibrated. Practical Anarchy brings together those strands - academic rigour, lived experiments, festival basslines and stubborn hope - to map out how a freer, more cooperative world might be possible.
Agency in Teaching and Learning with Digital Technology
This Reprint explores how agency is conceptualized, enacted, and supported in digital teaching and learning environments. Bringing together empirical and theoretical contributions, it examines both student and teacher agency as essential for navigating technology-rich educational contexts shaped by artificial intelligence and digital transformation. The studies span diverse settings-from early childhood to higher and professional education-and reveal how digital tools can enhance autonomy, engagement, and reflective practice when used thoughtfully. Emphasis is placed on pedagogical design, professional development, and institutional support as conditions for fostering agency. Collectively, the Reprint advances theoretical and practical understanding of how digital learning can empower learners and educators to act critically and creatively within evolving educational ecologies.
Prevention Is Better than Cure
When the Band of Hope was established in Leeds in 1847, its aim was to convince children that alcohol consumption would damage their health and life chances. Membership was confirmed through the signing of a teetotal pledge that required parental consent. The movement's founders could not possibly have envisaged the extent of its impressive growth throughout the United Kingdom, with particular strengths in northern England counties. Immediately before the start of the First World War in 1914, membership reached 3.7 million spread among over 33,000 societies. Being closely linked to church Sunday Schools, when numbers of scholars declined, Band of Hope membership also fell. The huge numbers of wartime deaths and serious injuries, and the consequent loss of many former volunteers, exacerbated the membership decline. That decrease accelerated through the latter decades of the 20th century, despite strenuous efforts by countless dedicated people. A reconstituted organisation named Hope UK was established in 1995, which continues to work tirelessly with young people on alcohol and drug prevention.
The Culting of America
You're probably in a cult. You just don't know it yet. In The Culting of America, cult survivor, military veteran, and bestselling author of Uncultured, Daniella Mestyanek Young delivers a gripping investigation into the hidden structures of power and control that shape our lives. Raised in the notorious sex cult the Children of God, Daniella escaped to America as a teenager--only to find herself drawn into another high-control institution: the U.S. Army. Years later, as a Harvard-trained expert in organizational psychology, she began asking a radical question: What if we're all in cults? Blending personal narrative, cultural critique, and deep research, Young--together with award-winning author Amy Reed--introduces the cultiness spectrum: a ten-part framework for identifying how coercive group behavior shows up in spaces we trust, from extremist sects to corporate offices, political movements, social media communities, and beyond.You'll never look at group loyalty the same way again.From the glamorized world of Playboy to the mission-driven violence of the military, from wellness culture to partisan politics, The Culting of America reveals how cultish dynamics aren't just surviving in modern life--they're thriving. And they're often hiding in plain sight.With sharp analysis, wit, and unflinching honesty, The Culting of America is both a warning and a guide. It's for anyone who's ever felt trapped in a group they believed in, who's started to question the cost of belonging, or who's ready to reclaim their autonomy without giving up connection. Because the question isn't "Am I in a cult?" It's "What cults am I already in--and what will it cost to leave?"
The 2025 Inflection Point
2025: The Year Everything Changed for Global Poverty and Hunger This book dives into the seismic shifts of 2025. The World Bank raised the extreme poverty line from $2.15 to $3.00. That jump added 125 million people to the count overnight. Sub-Saharan Africa now holds 45.5% poverty rate. South Asia dropped to 7.3%. New UN data shows 1.1 billion in multidimensional poverty. Kids make up half. Middle-income countries host two-thirds of them. IMF predicts just 3% global growth. Food inflation outpaces everything. Famine hits Sudan. Gaza teeters on the edge. WFP faces 45% funding cuts. Climate hazards overlap with poverty for 887 million people. New models emerge: Prosperity Floor, Doha Declaration, Humanitarian Inflection Point. Crop yields face 30% drops in poor nations. Social protection covers 52.4% worldwide. Gaps remain huge. Data flaws persist. India estimates spark debate. No other book ties all 2025 flagship reports together like this. Others focus on one metric or crisis. This one connects monetary lines, MPI deprivations, inflation-nutrition links, climate overlays, policy failures, and new theories. It exposes paradoxes: incomes rise yet poverty counts soar. It critiques nowcasting limits and survey gaps. It highlights practical lessons from Ethiopia's R4 program and Pakistan's Nashonuma success. It offers a unified polycrisis view missing elsewhere. Scholars get fresh datasets. Policymakers find actionable frameworks. Readers see why 2030 goals slip away-and how to fight back. (c) 2025 Azhar ul Haque Sario. This independently produced work has no affiliation with the World Bank, UN, IMF, WFP, UNDP, OPHI, or any cited organization. All references are used under nominative fair use for criticism, commentary, and scholarship.
The God We Never Knew
Have you ever wondered why, despite creating life, nurturing souls, and moving mountains-women still carry this persistent ache of not being enough? What if this emptiness isn't a flaw in you, but a flaw in how we've been taught to see ourselves? What if the greatest truth about your worth has been waiting to be revealed, hiding behind centuries of incomplete understanding?In The God We Never Knew, Trisha delivers a revolutionary message that goes beyond traditional self-help tools. This isn't just about being "enough"-it's about realizing the divine being you've always been. Through powerful insights and transformative tools, you'll discover why you've felt disconnected from your intuition and learn how to reclaim your power.Through raw, heartfelt stories and soul-stirring revelations, Trisha guides you to: -Understand why you've been taught to seek permission, approval, and validation-and how to break free from these patterns forever-Discover the missing piece in our understanding of divinity that has kept women feeling less-than-Transform your relationship with yourself by understanding the true source of your worth-Learn practical tools to create the life you want through the power of intentional thought and emotionThe God We Never Knew shatters limiting beliefs about feminine divinity and replaces them with a truth so powerful it will transform every aspect of your life-from how you parent to how you partner, from how you work to how you worship. This isn't a book about striving, fixing, or changing; it's about remembering.Open these pages and discover not just that you are enough, but that you are divine. Love isn't waiting to be earned-it's waiting to be received.
Existential Hope
We live in an era of existential risk, facing multiple threats to the survival of our species. We also face an epidemic of existential anxiety, struggling to find meaning and purpose in a complex and dehumanizing world. In such times, hope can be hard to find. Yet, we are not alone with these problems. They have troubled people for centuries now and, with eight billion fellow human beings to work with, we can and will rise to their challenge. In this wide-ranging exploration of humanity's existential predicament, SJ Beard, philosopher, futurist, and pioneer of Existential Risk Studies, takes stock of why humanity got into this mess, what we have learned about ourselves, and how we can move forward in our quest for meaning, safety, and flourishing. Ultimately, SJ argues, our future depends on breaking free from a sense of individual powerlessness to discover shared hopes, collective wisdom, and common humanity, then using them to address the many challenges we face. We live in an era of existential risk, facing multiple threats to the survival of our species. We also face an epidemic of existential anxiety, struggling to find meaning and purpose in a complex and dehumanizing world. In such times, hope can be hard to find. Yet, we are not alone with these problems. They have troubled people for centuries now and, with eight billion fellow human beings to work with, we can and will rise to their challenge. In this wide-ranging exploration of humanity's existential predicament, SJ Beard, philosopher, futurist, and pioneer of Existential Risk Studies, takes stock of why humanity got into this mess, what we have learned about ourselves, and how we can move forward in our quest for meaning, safety, and flourishing. Ultimately, SJ argues, our future depends on breaking free from a sense of individual powerlessness to discover shared hopes, collective wisdom, and common humanity, then using them to address the many challenges we face.
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An upcoming book to be published by Penguin Random House.
Navigating the Balance
The diverse climatic, locational, and historical contexts of national parks necessitate a nuanced understanding of their conservation challenges and priorities. Since the 1980s, the trade-offs between ecological preservation and regional economic development have sparked extensive debate, underlining the complex interplay between environmental conservation and human well-being. This Special Issue seeks to highlight the importance of identifying key factors in the diverse natural environments of national parks and understanding the socioeconomic impacts of conservation policies on local communities. National parks have historically faced challenges in balancing ecological protection with the socioeconomic needs of adjacent communities, often leading to conflicts that affect both the parks' conservation goals and the quality of life for local residents.The goal of this Special Issue is to explore the intricate balance between preserving natural environments and fostering socioeconomic welfare within and around national parks.
Unlearning Ableism
"Ableism is everywhere, and we cannot continue just burying our heads in the sand. To not stand up to ableism is to contribute to the exclusion and discrimination of Disabled People." Think you know what ableism is? Think again. Welcome to Unlearning Ableism, the book rips the lid off outdated myths, exposes the hard-hitting stats, and prepares you to be the Disability inclusive ally we know you are! Written by people who get it, this book is a call to action from Disabled advocates and changemakers from around the world. You'll learn about language, identity, advocacy, intersectionality and how to stop disabling people at work and at home. Whether you're Disabled and ready to self-advocate or an ally who wants to do more than just talk about inclusion, this is your starting point. Let's shake things up, challenge the status quo, and unlearn ableism together with accountability and action. Ready? Let's do this.
Mobilizing for Health Justice
This comprehensive source, "Mobilizing for health justice: Global Health Watch 7," presents a critical analysis of global health, advocating for health justice through various lenses. It explores the commercial and corporate determinants of health, detailing how neoliberal policies and transnational corporations prioritise profit over public well-being, influencing everything from healthcare privatisation and financialisation to pandemic preparedness and response. The text also addresses the intertwined issues of war, conflict, and displacement and their devastating health consequences, alongside the impact of digital technologies and AI on health systems, particularly highlighting biases and the rise of "digital colonialism." Furthermore, the book champions ancestral and ecofeminist perspectives as transformative alternatives to capitalist systems, emphasising the concept of Buen Vivir (living well) and the importance of social movements and advocacy in national and global struggles for the right to health, including specific case studies on gender-transformative health systems and abolition medicine. The overarching narrative critiques the current global political-economic paradigm and calls for systemic change towards a more equitable and sustainable world.
Snowed
Snowed: Michigan's Worst Serial Killer Casesnow verb (trick): To deceive or trick someone by talking a lot or by giving them a lot of information.Described as the "most screwed up case in crime history" by one true crime podcaster, the Oakland County Child Killer (OCCK) case is certainly one roller coaster ride of startling evidence leads and plummeting hopes of justice ever being served.The case involves four children who were murdered in 1976-77 in the Oakland County area of Michigan. They were all dropped by the side of roads during the winter months. The case made national headlines.Snowed is a story told in the voices of those closest to the crime and it's victims - with a healthy dose of historical research in related criminal networks and sex trafficking rings.Similar in scope to The Franklin Cover-up, and the dark reality of Why Johnny Can't Come Home, Snowed: Michigan's Worst Serial Killer Case will change how you think about the politics of crime, who is behind it, and why this case is called "unsolvable."Non-fiction, true crime story with bibliography and illustrations.
The Trumpster Fire Escape Almanac
Feeling suffocated by the Trumpster Fire? The door to a better life is always open.Donald Trump's America feels less like the land of the free and more like a quickly spreading dumpster fire. If you've ever thought, "Maybe it's time to think about getting out of the US..." this book is your roadmap to moving abroad.The Trumpster Fire Escape Almanac blends biting political commentary with practical guidance for Americans considering living overseas. Part escape manual, part statistical almanac, it helps you answer the real questions about leaving America.Where can I live without my blood pressure spiking at every headline?Which countries welcome expats with decent healthcare, affordable living, and functional democracy?How do visas, taxes, language, and safety stack up in 99 countries and nearly 500 cities worldwide?What's the difference between running away and choosing a better life?With data pulled from the World Bank, CIA Factbook, UN, and more, this unique relocation guide offers both the facts and the comic relief you'll need to plan your expat life. Whether you're a retiree, a digital nomad, or just someone who can't breathe through the smoke anymore, this book shows you how to scout, select, and settle into your new homeland.Short DescriptionFeeling suffocated by the Trumpster Fire? The door to a better life is always open. If you've ever thought, "Maybe it's time to think about getting out of the US..." this book is your roadmap to moving abroad.
The Last Kilo
"T.J. English hits the bullseye again. This is true crime writing at its most gripping and immediate -- a riveting epic about crooked cops, lawyers, prosecutors, judges, and politicians who corrupted a continent and got snow to flow out of the tropics. The Last Kilo is a revelation." --Nicholas Pileggi, author of Goodfellas and CasinoFrom true-crime legend T. J. English, the epic, behind-the-scenes saga of "Los Muchachos," one of the most successful cocaine trafficking organizations in American history--a story of glitz, glamour, and organized crime set against 1980's Miami.Despite what Scarface might lead one to believe, violence was not the dominant characteristic of the cocaine business. It was corruption: the dirty cops, agents, lawyers, judges, and politicians who made the drug world go round. And no one managed that carousel of dangerous players better than Willy Falcon.A Cuban exile whose family escaped Fidel Castro's Cuba when he was eleven years old, Falcon, as a teenager, became active in the anti-Castro movement. He began smuggling cocaine into the U.S. as a way to raise money to buy arms for the Contras in Central America. This counter-revolutionary activity led directly to Willy's genesis as a narco. He and his partners built an extraordinary international organization from the ground up. Los Muchachos, the syndicate founded by Falcon, thrived as a major cocaine distribution network in the U.S. from the late 1970's into the early 1990's. At their height, Los Muchachos made more than a hundred million dollars a year. At the same time, Willy, his brother Tavy Falcon, and partner Sal Magluta became famous as championship powerboat racers.Cocaine, used by everyone from A-list celebrities to lawyers and people in law enforcement, came to define an era, and for a time, Willy Falcon and those like him--major suppliers, of whom there were only a few--became stars in their own right. They were the deliverers of good times, at least until the downside of persistent cocaine use became apparent: delusions of grandeur, psychological addiction, financial ruin. Thus, the War on Drugs was born, and federal authorities came after Falcon and his crew with a vengeance. Willy found himself on the run, his marriage and family life in shambles, the halcyon days of boat races and lavish trips to Vegas and parties at the Mutiny night club seemingly a distant memory.T. J. English has been granted unprecedented access to the inner workings of Los Muchachos, sitting down with Willy Falcon and his associates for many lengthy interviews, and revealing never-before-understood details about drug trafficking. A classic of true-crime writing from a master of the genre, The Last Kilo traces the rise and fall of a true cocaine empire--and the lives left in its wake.
The Trumpster Fire Escape Almanac
Feeling suffocated by the Trumpster Fire? The door to a better life is always open.Donald Trump's America feels less like the land of the free and more like a quickly spreading dumpster fire. If you've ever thought, "Maybe it's time to think about getting out of the US..." this book is your roadmap to moving abroad.The Trumpster Fire Escape Almanac blends biting political commentary with practical guidance for Americans considering living overseas. Part escape manual, part statistical almanac, it helps you answer the real questions about leaving America.Where can I live without my blood pressure spiking at every headline?Which countries welcome expats with decent healthcare, affordable living, and functional democracy?How do visas, taxes, language, and safety stack up in 99 countries and nearly 500 cities worldwide?What's the difference between running away and choosing a better life?With data pulled from the World Bank, CIA Factbook, UN, and more, this unique relocation guide offers both the facts and the comic relief you'll need to plan your expat life. Whether you're a retiree, a digital nomad, or just someone who can't breathe through the smoke anymore, this book shows you how to scout, select, and settle into your new homeland.
On Love
Explore life's deepest, most transformative force through the words of the legendary mythologist Joseph Campbell. On Love presents quotations from Campbell's wide-ranging body of work on the universal stories that connect cultures across time and space. His insights offer a deeper understanding of love as a dynamic journey animating every aspect of the human experience -- spiritual, emotional, and existential -- and calling us to embrace life's struggles as opportunities to be remade again and again.
101 ways to stop being a dweeb
How have modern men become so pathetic? Why are testosterone levels plummeting?Who will save us? Fear not, we have crafted 101 lessons to restore masculinity.When it comes to testosterone levels, soy milk is Low-T, owning a cow is High-T. Microwaves are out, persistence hunting is back in. Don't split the bill, buy the restaurant instead.If you are worried that your mate, boyfriend, or even yourself might have Low-T tendencies, this book will be a life-changing gift.
The Death and Life of Gentrification
A provocative account of what is gained and what is lost when a word that once narrowly referred to neighborhood change takes on a life all its own Sociologist Ruth Glass coined the term gentrification in the 1960s to mark the displacement of working-class residents in London neighborhoods by the professional classes. The Death and Life of Gentrification traces how the word has far outgrown Glass's meaning, becoming a socially charged metaphor for cultural appropriation, upscaling, and the loss of authenticity. In this lively and insightful book, Japonica Brown-Saracino traces how a concept originally intended to describe the brick-and-mortar transformation of neighborhoods has come to characterize transformations that have little to do with cities. She describes how journalists, artists, filmmakers, novelists, and academics use gentrification as a symbolic device to mourn how everyday pleasures and forms of self-expression--from music to marijuana, kale, and tattoos--entered the domain of the elite. She weighs the implications of turning to gentrification as a tool to tell stories, entertain audiences, and communicate political messages. Relying on vivid examples, the book reveals how the term today expresses widespread ambivalence about rising economic inequality and unease with a variety of forms of social change. This pathbreaking book forces us to think about whether the wide-ranging way we use gentrification dilutes its meaning and stymies efforts to identify and resist urban displacement. Drawing on everything from film and television to novels and art, The Death and Life of Gentrification sheds critical light on the changing meaning of gentrification in contemporary life. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in gentrification and urban dynamics, as well as for readers curious about attitudes about growing income inequality and the evolution and circulation of ideas.
Barbieland
"Highbrow, Brilliant" --New York Magazine "A rollicking tale of how Mattel spied, copied, and stole its way to market dominance, then fought with military intensity to compel us to buy more and more." --The New York Times The secret history of Barbie and what Mattel has done to keep her on top. For nearly seven decades, Mattel billed Barbie as the first adult doll--a revolutionary alternative to the baby dolls before her, which had treated little girls as future mothers rather than future women. But Barbie was no original. She was a knockoff: a nearly identical copy of a German doll now erased from the narrative in favor of Mattel's preferred version of history. It was Barbie's first secret but far from her last. In Barbieland, journalist and The Drift editor Tarpley Hitt exposes the long-hidden backstory of the world's most famous doll. After snuffing out her predecessor, Barbie climbed to the throne of global girlhood and stayed there, fending off rivals with a mix of strategic marketing, government influence, ruthless litigation, and covert tactics worthy of a classic spy novel. This lively, authoritative ride through the underbelly of American business pulls back the curtain on the corporate titans, cultural influencers, and toyland rivals who shaped this icon's world--from flawed founder Ruth Handler to convicted Wall Street fraudster (and improbable Barbie savior) Michael Milken to the Bratz doll empire, which once put the brand on life support. Along the way, Hitt delves into the stories of the eccentrics and autocrats who brought Barbie to life through sheer force of will: a pair of ex-Nazi toymakers, a toy mogul friend of J. Edgar Hoover's, a swinging missile designer turned Barbie executive married to Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Mattel's mid-century Freudian marketeer, who saw the doll as a psychosexual skeleton key to controlling the American mind. Through investigative reporting, global archival research, and interviews with key players from across the Barbie extended universe, Barbieland lays bare the unseen--and so often absurd--work that made Mattel a multibillion-dollar business and turned Barbie into an institution: a symbol as synonymous with American soft power as Coca-Cola and McDonald's french fries.
Wings of Madness
Serial killers, like madness and gravity, just need a small push...The body of a third young woman is discovered in a field outside Pawtucket Falls in New England the day FBI agent and profiler Gus Wheeler and his partner arrive to investigate a string of murders. The killings seem random, yet each victim was last seen in a club in the city's Music Row, a scene Gus is uniquely qualified to navigate.Camera footage shows the most recent victim flirting with the moody bassist of a popular cover band. Gus knows the former prodigy from his time in the New Orleans jazz scene, but the suspect's memory is hazy, likely due to his rock star lifestyle. Complicating their inquiry, there's no record of any of the victims leaving the clubs-with the bassist or alone. So where were they taken and how?A serial killer's at work, but as they circle their suspect, the killer strikes first making it personal for Gus. And with time running out, Gus is forced to play a madman's game.
Evergreen
A sweeping natural history of the humble trees that built nations, sparked wars, and became the world's most cherished holiday tradition. Every December, millions of people around the globe adorn their homes, offices, and town squares with lavishly decorated Christmas trees to celebrate the holiday season. Yet few pause to wonder: Where did this tradition come from? And in an age of climate upheaval and artificial replicas, will these beloved trees still be here for future generations? In Evergreen, Cornell University professor Trent Preszler weaves together a captivating story of humanity's deeply rooted relationship with evergreens, revealing how the trees shaped economies, launched cultural movements, and propelled America's rise to global prominence. With stunning historical range and lyrical insight, Preszler guides readers from the awe-inspiring evergreen cathedrals of the West to Christmas tree farms in the Midwest, sawmills in the South, the iconic Rockefeller Center spruce in the East, and beyond. Blending cinematic detail with compelling ecological and cultural history, Evergreen explores the hidden tensions between nature, commerce, and spirituality that have confounded humanity for millennia. At once timeless and urgently relevant, Evergreen delivers a stirring reflection on the quiet power of trees, challenging us to reconsider the delicate balance between our restless ambition and the living world that sustains us.
The Book On Men (for Women)
'The Book On Men (for Women)' is not just another relationship handbook; it's a profound exploration into the mind of modern men, crafted for the women who seek to understand them. In today's fast-paced world, where emotional disconnection is rampant and traditional notions of masculinity are being challenged, this book serves as a vital resource for women who want clarity amidst the confusion. Each chapter unpacks a critical aspect of male experience, starting with the pervasive stereotypes that often cloud judgment. The author dives deeply into the evolution of masculinity, highlighting the identity crisis many men face as they navigate societal expectations versus personal desire. Emotional literacy is tackled head-on as we confront the silent struggles men endure, along with the fear of vulnerability that prevents genuine connections from forming. The book addresses communication breakdowns born out of ego and fear, and emphasizes the paradox of craving connection while simultaneously resisting it. With clarity and compassion, it calls for a redefinition of strength - moving from control to respect, thus empowering both genders. At its core, this work dismantles the myths surrounding masculinity and provides a framework for building empathy, understanding, and authenticity in relationships. Readers will be left with not only insights but actionable strategies for bridging the gap between men and women, fostering genuine connections based on empathy and clarity. Published by The Book On Publishing, the official publisher of The Book On Series.
The Book On The Cookbook for Cannibals
In 'The Book On The Cookbook for Cannibals, ' readers embark on an extraordinary and unsettling journey through the complex realms of anthropophagy. This comprehensive exploration reveals the historical significance of cannibalism across various cultures, demonstrating that the act of consuming human flesh is a manifestation of human nature rather than a mere aberration. Each chapter unravels riveting narratives and anthropological insights into practices from the distant past to the present day. The opening chapters delve into the origins of anthropophagy, starting with the archaeological record that dates back nearly 800,000 years. As the book progresses, readers will confront chilling examples of cannibalism during dire circumstances-be it survival cannibalism seen in maritime disasters, or the ritualistic practices of the Aztecs and the Fore people of Papua New Guinea. Each tale sheds light on how cultural parameters shape our understanding of this taboo act. The author masterfully interrogates societal assumptions about cannibalism, linking it to crucial themes such as morality, ethics, and collective identity. Deftly navigating historical narratives and modern interpretations, the book discusses the implications of cannibalism in light of contemporary socio-political issues and environmental challenges. What constitutes the moral framework we employ, and how does societal structure influence the perception of cannibalism as a crime versus a survival tactic? This work compels readers to reflect on the intersections of culture, morality, and humanity. It offers a profound commentary on our often disturbing relationship with food, identity, and survival, forcing us to confront what cannibalism reveals about human nature and the lengths to which individuals and societies will go when circumstances blur ethical boundaries. Ultimately, 'The Book On The Cookbook for Cannibals' invites us to rethink the narratives surrounding anthropophagy, presenting it as an intricate part of the tapestry of human history that continues to resonate in the modern world.Published by The Book On Publishing, the official publisher of The Book On Series.
The Self-Help Industry
Is the Self-Help Industry Really Helping or Are We Being Misled? This work critically analyses the self-help industry, tracing its evolution from 19th-century moral guidance to today's multi-billion-pound enterprise. It provides an incisive overview examining how self-help's promise of empowerment has shifted from a community-focused ideal to a relentless, often isolating pursuit of personal success. Through a detailed exploration, The Self-Help Industry dissects the oversimplifications and individualistic biases that pervade self-help literature, uncovering the limitations of its 'one-size-fits-all' philosophy. It highlights the darker side of the relentless tyranny of optimism, showing how the industry's embrace of toxic positivity has a detrimental effect and influences everything from corporate culture to social media. The Self-Help Industry addresses the paradox at the heart of self-help: while it claims to enable growth, it often leaves readers feeling inadequate. De Oliveira critiques the commodification of personal development, questioning the ethics of profiting from promises of transformation. A critical look at self-help's success stories reveals how they obscure complex realities, ultimately reinforcing unrealistic expectations. The Self-Help Industry advocates for a shift toward collective, systemic approaches to empowerment, calling for a focus on community, social justice, and liberation. This thought-provoking work is essential for anyone rethinking their path to well-being.
The Book On BS
In 'The Book On BS', the author presents a diagnostic exploration of how falsehood, spin, and self-deception have woven themselves into the very fabric of our daily lives. This comprehensive manifesto acts as a field guide to spotting BS in all its forms, shining a light on the societal structures that reward confidence over competence and appearances over integrity. Drawing from historical examples as well as contemporary scenarios, the author dissects the mechanisms that allow deception to flourish-from political rhetoric crafted for plausible deniability to the meticulously curated lives of influencers. Each chapter breaks down different facets of modern BS, from the cult of authenticity in consumer culture to the political fog obscuring genuine policy discussions. This work is not simply a denunciation of falsehood; it seeks to foster critical thinking and vigilance among its readers, empowering them to recognize the subtle manipulations at play in their lives and society. With a blend of keen philosophical insight and real-world examples, this book serves as both a wake-up call and a guide for those seeking truth in a world permeated by deception. Published by The Book On Publishing, the official publisher of The Book On Series.
Ride With The Loomis Gang
An exciting account of the legendary Loomis Gang which terrorized Central New York during the mid- 1800s. This is an adaptation of Frontier Justice: The Rise and Fall of the Loomis Gang for young readers.
Decoding Human Systems
Every civilization - from ancient empires to digital platforms - is a living network.Its behavior, growth, and collapse follow the same invisible laws that govern all complex systems.In Decoding Human Systems, Deepanshu Suman unveils the hidden design behind societies, institutions, and technologies - showing how cooperation, culture, and innovation emerge from feedback loops of trust, power, and information.Blending systems theory, network science, and social physics, this book reveals: How ideas and emotions spread through networks like energy through circuits.Why societies collapse when feedback fails - and how they renew themselves.How technology acts as a new nervous system for humanity.How to design teams, organizations, and communities that think and adapt collectively.Whether you're a leader, designer, entrepreneur, or thinker, this book will help you see the world differently - as a living, learning ecosystem.Once you learn to see systems, you can redesign them.Decoding Human Systems gives you the tools to build the kind of world - and civilization - that evolves intelligently.To understand the future, first learn how human systems think.
Sherman's Other War
Marszalek traces the roots of Sherman's hostility toward the press and details his attempts to muzzle reporters during the Civil War, culminating in Sherman's exclusion of all reporters from his famous March to the Sea. Despite the passage of over a century, the question of press rights in wartime situations is very much today what it was during the Civil War. Marszalek finds a recurring movement toward repression of the press, with Sherman's attitudes and practices only one of the most obvious examples. He also finds that press rights during wartime have often been governed by reactions to specific circumstances rather than treated as a constitutional issue.
Tracks to Murder
A witty and informative look at classic American murder cases On a 6,000-mile train trip across the North American continent from New York City to the West Coast, then back to New York over a southern route, prizewinning English crime historian Jonathan Goodman visited a number of sites where notorious murders occurred--the Kingsbury Run torso murders in Cleveland; the murder by "thrill-killers" Leopold and Loeb, the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, and the escapades of Al Capone in Chicago; the Henwood-VonPhul-Springer affair in Denver; the murders of Marian Williams and Blanche Lamont in the Emmanuel Baptist Church in San Francisco; and Kate Townsend's murder in New Orleans. Goodman masterfully fuses two literary genres that reach back into the nineteenth century: the true crime essay fathered by Thomas De Quincy and travel reports popularized by Charles Dickens and Mark Twain. As a true crime book, Tracks to Murder is witty and informative and enriches these classic American murder cases by placing them within their original settings. Goodman also plays them against their locations as they are today, resulting in a series of character sketches both contemporary and historical. As a travel book, it presents the seasoned reflections of a cultivated English writer on American manners and morals observed during his serendipitous transcontinental journey.
Murder on Several Occasions
A new look at some gruesome and riveting murders In this grisly and gripping collection of essays--some revised and updated, some never before published, but all new to American audiences--prize-winning English crime historian Jonathan Goodman turns his attention to a variety of British and American crimes from the 1820s to the 1980s, some high profile and others not. With the author as detective, each of Goodman's essays examines a particularly notorious murder and subsequent trial. He introduces the readers to the 1923 shooting at the Savoy Hotel in London of Prince Ali Kamel Fahmy Bey at the hands of his wife, Madame Marie-Marguerite Fahmy; he revisits the "Crime of the Century," the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby in March 1932 allegedly by Bruno Richard Hauptmann, and his subsequent execution for this crime, even though this case against Hauptmann has come under scrutiny; and he explores the 1980 serial killings committed by Michele de Marco Lupo, a gay man who coaxed other homosexuals to meet with him, then strangled and savagely bit them. Goodman's careful research and "forensic" work, together with his lively and engaging prose and fascinating subject matter, make these tales of murder a valuable addition to the field of true crime history.
Revolution And Counter-Revolution
Revolution and counter-revolution or Germany in 1848 is a historical analysis of the German uprisings of 1848, offering a critical examination of the societal forces that shaped both the revolutionary surge and its eventual suppression. Written in the mid-19th century, the work dissects the roles and interests of key social classes bourgeoisie, proletariat, nobility, and peasantry revealing how deeply entrenched divisions and conflicting agendas undermined efforts for unity and progress. He underscores the importance of interpreting historical events through the lens of structural inequality and evolving class consciousness, rejecting simplified explanations rooted in personal failures or betrayals. The opening chapters detail how the middle class s initial enthusiasm for reform quickly faltered when threatened by proletarian demands, leading to a retreat into conservatism that weakened the revolutionary front. Regional fragmentation and inconsistent political will further compounded the failure. Through its close attention to class struggle and institutional inertia, the book positions the German revolutions within the broader context of European unrest, providing a compelling critique of why revolutions fail and how counter-revolutionary forces capitalize on division.
