Earth Sciences, Geography & Environment Books

Book SynopsisMaps can tell much about the story of a place that traditional histories fail to communicate. This is particularly true of Edinburgh, one of the most visually stunning cities in the world and a place rich in historical and cultural associations. This lavishly illustrated book features 71 maps of Edinburgh which have been selected for the particular stories they reveal about the political, commercial and social life of Scotland and her capital. Many are reproduced in book form for the first time. Together, they present a fascinating insight into how Edinburgh has changed and developed over the last 500 years, and will appeal to all those with an interest in Edinburgh and Scottish history, as well as anyone interested in urban history, architectural history, town planning or the history of cartography.

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Book SynopsisWe've become used to thinking of plants as things for us to use: as food, tools, resources, or just as an attractive background to our own lives. But it's time to change our minds. New research shows that plants can think, plan - and may even have memories. We share our planet with beings whose potential we have only glimpsed. Featuring the writing of Robin Wall Kimmerer, Susie Orbach and Merlin Sheldrake, This Book is a Plant will be your handbook to the new reality: showing you a pathway to completely reimagine your relationship with a different kind of natural world. Delve into a world of moss and fungi: Sheila Watt-Cloutier transports us to the Arctic spring, Rowan Hisayo Buchanan discovers the pleasures of painting trees, and Rebecca Tamás puts roots down through earth and soil. This Book is a Plant is made from paper: it was once part of a tree. But it's also a seed: the first shoots of a radical new way of seeing the world around you. Featuring stunning illustrations by Eduardo Navarro, and accompanying a major 2022 Wellcome Collection exhibition, Rooted Beings.Trade ReviewAn eclectic anthology guaranteed to make the hearts of earth lovers beat faster * Metro *

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Book SynopsisDesire lines are the paths that people create through regular usage. They appear where people repeatedly choose to walk and usually signify a route from A to B that’s quicker than the formal path provided. In most cases they indicate the mismatch between what local people want and what designers think people want. By employing some social research basics in the design development process, placemakers can work more meaningfully with local communities to meet their needs and aspirations. This is a practical guide to running public consultations, co-design and community engagement to help practitioners make the most of local knowledge and insight for the benefit of design. It offers guidance on managing community participation, and unapologetically aims to encourage designers to start thinking like social researchers when they undertake these programmes. It’s intended for placemakers - architects, urban designers, landscape architects, and other built environment professionals involved in the planning and design of public realm - who want to develop more people-centred, community-led design approaches. It’s also a valuable tool for students of these disciplines, both as guidance on projects involving primary fieldwork, and as general preparation for professional practice, where skills in working with local communities are increasingly important.Table of Contents1. Introduction2. Research essentials for community participation3. Observation4. Diary studiesA quick guide to qualitative data analysis5. Exhibitions and public meetings A quick guide to public events 6. Survey methods 7. Focus groups A quick guide to communications 8. Collaborative approaches A quick guide to reporting research 9­­­. Ethical and inclusive practice 10. Participants’ experiences

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Book SynopsisIn the twenty-first century, we take the means to measure time for granted, without contemplating the sophisticated concepts on which our time scales are based. This volume presents the evolution of concepts of time and methods of time keeping up to the present day. It outlines the progression of time based on sundials, water clocks, and the Earth''s rotation, to time measurement using pendulum clocks, quartz crystal clocks, and atomic frequency standards. Time scales created as a result of these improvements in technology and the development of general and special relativity are explained. This second edition has been updated throughout to describe twentieth- and twenty-first-century advances and discusses the redefinition of SI units and the future of UTC. A new chapter on time and cosmology has been added. This broad-ranging reference benefits a diverse readership, including historians, scientists, engineers, educators, and it is accessible to general readers.Trade Review'Why do we add 1 second to our clocks at midnight at the end of some years, or at the end of June in others? Why don't we subtract 1 second sometimes instead? … You will find the answers to these and many more questions in this excellent book, written by two experts who worked on the practical aspects of these topics at the US Naval Observatory … The second edition brings these subjects right up to date, and investigates the possible future developments in timekeeping.' L. V. Morrison, The ObservatoryTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Time: pre-twentieth century; 2. Solar time; 3. Ephemerides; 4. Variable Earth rotation; 5. Earth orientation; 6. Ephemeris time; 7. Relativity and time; 8. Time and cosmology; 9. Dynamical and coordinate time scales; 10. Clock developments; 11. Microwave atomic clocks; 12. Optical atomic standards; 13. Definition and role of a second; 14. International Atomic Time (TAI); 15. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC); 16. Time in the solar system; 17. Time and frequency transfer; 18. Modern Earth orientation; 19. International activities; 20. Time applications; 21. Future of time keeping; Acronyms; Glossary.

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Book SynopsisJeffrey D. Sachs shows how the United States can find a path to renewed economic progress that is fair and environmentally sustainable. Sachs explores issues including infrastructure, trade deals, energy policy, and income inequality, providing illuminating and accessible explanations of the forces at work and specific policy solutions.Trade ReviewJeffrey Sachs remains one of the most thought-provoking economists in the world today because he dares to challenge presidents of both parties and the orthodoxies that bind them to disastrous policies. His critiques are fierce and his solutions fearless in the face of political and academic groupthink. That makes Professor Sachs a rarity in public life and this book an absolute necessity. -- Joe Scarborough My father famously declared that GDP "measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country; it measures everything in short, except that which makes life worthwhile." Jeffrey Sachs presents an economic vision beyond GDP, one that is based on compassion and sustainability, and that aligns with the globally agreed Sustainable Development Goals. This is a roadmap for America's future economic strategy. -- Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human RightsTable of ContentsForeword, by Bernie SandersPrefaceAcknowledgments1. Why We Need to Build a New American Economy2. Investment, Saving, and U.S. Long-Term Growth3. Decoding the Federal Budget4. Sustainable Infrastructure After the Automobile Age5. Facing Up to Income Inequality6. Smart Machines and the Future of Jobs7. The Truth About Trade8. Disparities and High Costs Fuel the Health Care Crisis9. A Smart Energy Policy for the United States10. From Guns to Butter11. Investing for Innovation12. Toward a New Kind of Politics13. Restoring Trust in American Governance14. Prosperity in SustainabilitySuggested Further ReadingsNotes

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Book SynopsisExamines how US foreign policy since the 1960s has led to partial or total cover-ups of past domestic criminal acts, including, perhaps, the catastrophe of 9/11. This book probes how the policies of presidents since Nixon have augmented the tangled bases for the 2001 terrorist attack.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Preface. The America We Knew and Loved: Can It Be Saved? 1 Introduction: Wealth, Empire, Cabals, and the Public State 2 Nixon, Kissinger, and the Decline of the Public State 3 The Pivotal Presidency: Ford, Rumsfeld, and Cheney 4 Brzezinski, Oil, and Afghanistan 5 Carter's Surrender to the Rockefellers on Iran 6 Casey, the Republican Countersurprise, and the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, 1980 7 Afghanistan and the Origins of al Qaeda 8 Al-Kifah, al Qaeda, and the U.S. Government, 1988--98 9 The Pre-9/11 Cover-up of Ali Mohamed and al Qaeda 10 Al Qaeda and the U.S. Establishment 11 Parallel Structures and Plans for Continuity of Government 12 The 9/11 Commission Report and Vice President Cheney 13 The 9/11 Commission Report and Cheney's Deceptions about 9/11 14 Cheney, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Continuity of Government 15 Conclusion: 9/11 and the Future of America Notes Glossary of Open Politics Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe book offers a broad framework for the study of man in his environment. Choice What Professor Tuan has achieved in this volume can properly be called a philosophical reflection on the aesthetics of environments...We are fortunate to have researchers such as Professor Tuan. Journal of Aesthetics

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Book SynopsisIn 221 BC the First Emperor of Qin unified what would become the heart of a Chinese empire whose major features would endure for two millennia. In the first of a six-volume series on the history of imperial China, Lewis highlights the key challenges facing court officials and scholars who set about governing an empire of such scale and diversity.Trade ReviewMark Lewis’s mind-opening and readable book reminds us of the enduring but changing realities of China. -- Jonathan Mirsky * Times Literary Supplement *The Early Chinese Empires is a brilliant example of nuanced, responsible popularization. As the first in a series of six volumes that will cover all of Imperial China, it sets a very high standard. -- Grant Hardy * The Historian *Inaugurating a six-volume series on the history of imperial China, this volume holds that characteristics of the first Chinese empire broadly endured for the succeeding 2,000 years… [Those] planning to acquire the entire series mustn’t omit Lewis’s solid foundation. -- Gilbert Taylor * Booklist *The standard multivolume history of China has long been the magisterial, exhaustive Cambridge History of China. Now Harvard University Press has announced a six-volume series that will cover the rise, development, and decline of dynastic China from the second century B.C.E. through the early 20th century in an up-to-date, compact, and approachable way. This opening volume by Lewis foretells that the series will become the new gold standard, as the author explains in clear and telling detail how the Qin dynasty ruthlessly defeated a succession of rivals to unify briefly what we now call China in 221 B.C.E. We then see how the succeeding Han dynasty (206 B.C.E.–220 C.E.) combined social engineering and political savvy to institutionalize control and form a ‘classical’ era parallel to the Greeks and Romans in the West. Han imperial structures, including religion, literature, and law, were quite different from what evolved out of them, but Lewis convincingly argues that later societies cannot be understood without understanding this classical foundation. -- Charles W. Hayford * Library Journal (starred review) *As the first volume in the History of Imperial China, The Early Chinese Empires sets an authoritative, reliable tone that bodes well for this important new series. The book meets a high standard of historical accuracy and covers an impressively broad range of topics. Accessible to a wide audience, it will appeal to anyone interested in the foundations of the Chinese imperial tradition. -- Victor H. Mair, University of PennsylvaniaThis series on China, brilliantly overseen by Timothy Brook, is a credit to Harvard University Press. Above all, it encourages us to think of China in different ways. -- Jonathan Mirsky * Literary Review *Table of Contents* Introduction * The Geography of Empire * A State Organized for War * The Paradoxes of Empire * The Imperial Capital * Rural Society * The Outer World * Kinship and Gender * Religion and Cults * Literature * Law * Conclusion * Dates and Usage * Acknowledgments * Notes * Bibliography * Index

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Book SynopsisPhelps explores what makes nations prosper--and why the sources of that prosperity are under threat today. Why did prosperity explode in some nations between the 1820s and 1960s, creating not just unprecedented material wealth but "flourishing"--meaningful work, self-expression, and personal growth for more people than ever before?Trade ReviewWinner of the 2014 Gold Medal in Economics, Axiom Business Book Awards One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2014 One of Bloomberg Businessweek's Best Books of 2014, chosen by chosen by Bjorn Wahlroos One of Financial Times (FT.com) Best Economics Books of 2013 A "Best Business Book of the Year for 2013" selected on LinkedIn by Matthew Bishop, Economics Editor of The Economist "[W]ide-ranging."--Benjamin Friedman, New York Review of Books "The book eloquently discusses the culture of innovation, which can refer to both an entrepreneurial mind-set and the cultural achievements during an age of change... The dismal science becomes a little brighter when Mr. Phelps draws the connections between the economic ferment of the industrial age and the art of Beethoven, Verdi and Rodin."--Edward Glaeser, Wall Street Journal "[I]nquiring readers, not just academics and social scientists, will enjoy the vast learning in Phelps's sophisticated, sometimes sardonic, look at homo economicus."--Publishers Weekly "Phelps, a Nobel laureate in economics, defies categorisation. In this extraordinary book--part history, part economics and part philosophy--he proclaims individual enterprise as the defining characteristic of modernity. But he fears this dynamism is lost. One does not have to agree to recognise that Phelps has addressed some of the big questions about our future."--Martin Wolf, Financial Times "Phelps has written a book that transcends the materialist walls of standard economics... It is a book J.M. Keynes would have admired."--Paul DeRosa, American Interest "[F]ascinating, versatile and profound."--Felix Martin, New Statesman "A great book that will annoy big business and absolutely infuriate the left. I loved it."--Diana Hunter, Financial World "Nobel laureate Edmund Phelps' latest book should be read by those seeking a broader context to the challenges currently facing the global economies. In his wide-ranging and insightful book, Professor Phelps draws on historical trends and cultural shifts to present his hypothesis that a lack of dynamism in modern economies lies at the root of the current malaise... Indeed, this remarkable book addresses the central economic question of why some economies thrive while others languish."--Declan Jordan, London School of Economics Review of Books "Few leading economists ... have tried to develop Marx's contention that there is an ineluctable relationship between human psychology and market participation. This relationship is what Phelps describes as human 'flourishing.'"--Andrew Godley, International Journal of the Economics of Business "Phelps has produced an insightful work that bridges gaps among economics, sociology, and philosophy to identify countries that have the capabilities to prosper and flourish. This book is an essential read for individuals interested in better assessing countries' economies and competitive advantages."--Library Journal "The author ranges extremely widely and any student of any age will gain something from it, irrespective of political views."--Samuel Brittan, Financial Times "Phelps's book deserves credit for showing that the strength of an economy doesn't depend on small differences in the tax rate, or the tactics of a country's central bank. Phelps rightly points out that economic dynamism depends on much deeper issues like a culture's affinity for risk taking and respect for individual achievement. And he wields convincing statistics that suggest actors in our political economy, from our government, to corporations, to workers, have to some extent lost their reverence for these values."--Chris Matthews, Time.com Money & Business "I ... find his values-driven view of national prosperity fascinating--and applicable to corporate and personal prosperity. If innovation and the prosperity it yields stem from the values to which we subscribe as individuals, organizations, and nations, it stands to reason that we should be paying a great deal of attention to the particular values we adopt and espouse."--Theodore Kinni, Strategy-Business.com "[E]xciting."--William Watson, National Post "[W]ide-ranging... Mass Flourishing: How Grassroots Innovation Created Jobs, Challenge and Change, a distillation of years of research and thought about the changes in values and attitudes that once unleashed wide-scale creativity and risk-taking and which are under severe threat today."--Brian Milner, Globe & Mail "The book is wide-ranging and highly eclectic: in just two pages (pp. 280-281) you'll find references to Cervantes, Shakespeare, Hume, Voltaire, Jefferson, Keats, William Earnest Henley, William James, Walt Whitman, Abraham Maslow, Rawls, Nietzsche, and Lady Gaga! ... Anyone interested in the synthesis of free markets and social justice will find this eminent thinker's distinctive version of that synthesis both illuminating and thought-provoking."--Brink Lindsey, Bleeding Heart Libertarians blog "Phelps has given us a clear warning of the dangers of corporatism. I hope that more people hear and heed the warning."--Arnold Kling, Econlog "[I]t wasn't until today that I started looking at Mass Flourishing by Edmund Phelps, about the central role of innovation in modern growth and, more, in the enabling of the good life. Obviously I should have read it last week. It looks right on theme, and it is pleasing to pick up an economics book that has a chapter on Aristotle."--Enlightened Economist "One does not have to agree to recognise that Phelps has addressed some of the big questions about our future."--Financial Times "Mass Flourishing offers a brilliant dissection of the origins, causes, and eventual decline of modern capitalism--an inclusive economy characterized by the complex unfettered interactions among diverse indigenous innovators, entrepreneurs, financiers, and consumers... This book should be accessible to general readers and is especially stimulating for graduate students and those interested in economics, sociology, history, political science, and psychology."--Choice "It applies many important aspects of Virginia political economy, making a contribution to understanding not only the positive, but also the normative implications of the rules of the game."--Rosolino Candela, Public Choice "It challenges many of our prized assumptions about what makes economies succeed."--David P Goldman, Standpoint "This is a recommended read, not only because it was written by Edmund Phelps, the 2006 Nobel Laureate in economics, but for encouraging reflection on fundamental issues related to modern life and the contemporary interpretation of Aristotle's 'the good life'. The author is such an experienced and iconic guide that it makes the journey through the subjects covered in the book an excellent read for anyone."--Jacek Klich, Central Banking Journal "It is a marvelous book that deserves to be read by everyone, but particularly those entrusted with the design of the European future."--Bjorn Wahlroos, Bloomberg Businessweek "Phelps masterfully utilizes aggregate data on cross-comparative national economic productivity and adeptly complements it with international individual employee satisfaction survey results give the reader a rich empirical tapestry that support his theme."--Thomas A. Hemphill, Cato JournalTable of ContentsPreface vii Introduction: Advent of the Modern Economies 1 PART ONE The Experience of the Modern Economy 1 How Modern Economies Got Their Dynamism 19 2 Material Eff ects of the Modern Economies 41 3 The Experience of Modern Life 55 4 How Modern Economies Formed 77 PART TWO Against the Modern Economy 5 The Lure of Socialism 113 6 The Third Way: Corporatism Right and Left 135 7 Weighing the Rivals on Their Terms 170 8 The Satisfaction of Nations 193 PART THREE Decay and Refounding 9 Markers of Post-1960s Decline 219 10 Understanding the Post-1960s Decline 237 11 The Good Life: Aristotle and the Moderns 268 12 The Good and the Just 289 Epilogue: Regaining the Modern 310 Timeline: Modernism and Modernity 325 Bibliography 337 Acknowledgments 351 Index 353

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Book SynopsisPublisher's Note: Products purchased from Third Party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product.The Landmark Water Use and Treatment ResourceâFully Updated  for Optimizing Water ProcessesThis industry-standard resource from the worldâs leading water management company offers practical guidance on the use and treatment of water and wastewater in industrial and institutional facilities. Revised to align with the latest regulations and technologies, The Nalco Water Handbook, Fourth Edition, explains water management fundamentals and clearly shows how to improve water quality, minimize usage, and optimize treatment processes. Throughout, new emphasis is placed on todayâs prevailing issues, including water scarcity, stressors, and business risk.Covers all essential wat

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Book SynopsisFrom his birth into the lowest stratum of the samurai class to his assassination by right-wing militarists, Takahashi Korekiyo (1854–1936) lived through tumultuous times that shaped the course of modern Japan. This biography underscores the profound influence of the charismatic finance minister on the political and economic development of Japan.Trade ReviewJapan emerged from worldwide economic depression in the 1930s more successfully and quickly than the other modern world economies. Without denying the role of rapid militarization in prompting economic growth, this new biography of Japan's seven-time finance minister shows how Takahashi's countercyclical fiscal and monetary policies overcame a steep deflationary spiral and in the process engineered a remarkable record of growth built on a novel deficit spending approach...In telling Takahashi's story, Smethurst uncovers some of the pushes and pulls shaping Japan's modem economic growth, and it is a story he tells well. -- W. D. Kinzley * Choice *Smethurst's biography is a major achievement reflecting some 20 years of work. Not to exclude the general reader--the book is a very good read--Takahashi's biography should interest not only Japanologists, but also students of economic history everywhere. Smethurst admits that it was difficult to balance the anecdotes of Takahashi's adventures with the necessary analysis of his historic accomplishments. He has succeeded, giving us a wise and immensely competent biography of a great Japanese and a vibrant human being. -- Rod Armstrong * Asahi Shimbun *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. A Remarkable Beginning, 1854-67 2. Takahashi in San Francisco, 1867-68 3. Many Mentors, Few Teachers: Takahashi's Career in and out of Government, 1869-81 4. Japan's First Trademark and Patent Laws, 1881-89 5. Maeda Masana and the Debate over Industrial Policy, 1882-85 6. Managing a Silver Mine in Peru, 1889-90 7. Entering the Bank of Japan, 1892-1904 8. Fundraising During the Russo-Japanese War: 1904 9. Fundraising During the Russo-Japanese War: 1905 10. The Lessons of Wars, 1906-18 11. Taisho Democracy, 1918-27 12. "Japan's Keynes": Japan and the World Depression, 1929-34 13. Takahasi's Fiscal Policies and the Rise of Militarism, 1932-36 Conclusion: Takahashi's Economic Philosophy and Its Roots Appendix: Takahashi's Memoirs Notes Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisOne of Iran's leading female poets, Zhale Qa'em-Maqami (1883-1946) witnessed pivotal social and political changes in Iran during its transition to modernity. Mirror of Dew is the first English translation of her poems. Deeply personal but including social critique, they offer a rare view of the impact of a modern awareness on private lives.Trade ReviewMirror of Dew is a fascinating collection that demonstrates just how lively a discussion was underway among elite Qajar women about the 'women's question'. These fascinating poems display feminist concerns in a way that we do not find in the poems of Parvin E'teskami, and thought we did not find until Forugh Farrokhzad. An important work for anyone interested in the history of Qajar women. -- Franklin Lewis, University of ChicagoThis book introduces a remarkable poet who is virtually unknown to all but specialists. The scholarly introduction along with the lyrical and sensitive translations fill serious gaps in our knowledge regarding the participation of women in the literary culture of modern Iran. -- Sunil Sharma, Boston University

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Book SynopsisCelebrated for its natural beauty and its abundance of wildlife, the Mekong river runs thousands of miles through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Its basin is home to more than 70 million people and has for centuries been one of the world's richest agricultural areas and a biodynamic wonder. Today, however, it is undergoing profound changes. Development policies, led by a rising China in particular, aim to interconnect the region and urbanize the inhabitants. And a series of dams will harness the river's energy, while also stymieing its natural cycles and cutting off food supplies for swathes of the population. In Last Days of the Mighty Mekong, Brian Eyler travels from the river's headwaters in China to its delta in southern Vietnam to explore its modern evolution. Along the way he meets the region’s diverse peoples, from villagers to community leaders, politicians to policy makers. Through conversations with them he reveals the urgent struggle to save the Mekong and its unique ecosystem.Trade ReviewIn this compelling account, Brian Eyler travels down the river, meeting the rebels trying to save it from destruction. * China Dialogue *The book describes how unsustainable human society’s current relationship is with the Mekong * Council of Foreign Affairs *Brian Eyler … has penned an engaging and open-ended book, with a less elegiac tone than its title might imply. At many points a vividly reported travelogue. * China Dialogue *Eyler offers an unbiased, balanced, and nuanced sitrep of the challenges facing the Mekong ... Last Days of the Mighty Mekong is also full of stimulating facts and figures that grab and hold the reader’s attention. * Diplomat *The Last Days is a timely reminder that one of the world’s most remote and naturally beautiful areas is being trans­formed by industrial and urban development, the scale and pace of which have never been seen before. Eyler makes an erudite appeal for governments to face their past mistakes – including the over-damming of the river – and avert the further “wrecking of the Mekong’s amazing eco-system”. * South China Morning Post *Eyler has written a breathtaking account of a journey down the river, from high up in the Chinese province of Yunnan to the Mekong Delta more than 2,700 miles away [...] His book reads like a travelogue, filled with vivid descriptions of the places he visits and the people he encounters. But it is also a stark warning that the river is heading for irreparable ruin. * Wall Street Journal *A wonderfully illuminating and beautifully written portrait of life along the Mekong, and of the forces transforming the region. Eyler offers the type of insight that can only be gained from years of on-the-ground experience. * Elizabeth Economy, Director for Asia Studies, Council on Foreign Relations *A moving requiem for a complex ecosystem upon which millions depend for their livelihoods. The book is an indictment of the failure to treat the Mekong as a single integrated system or to incorporate the local wisdom of the communities who best understand the river. * Judith Shapiro, author of China’s Environmental Challenges *Readers of this book will respond as I have done to Eyler’s richly evocative prose when he writes of the experiences that may be had travelling on and by the river ... I regret not having met Eyler and becoming aware of his writing only recently. I am envious of his sustained personal association with the river over a decade and a half. * Milton Osborne, Mekong Review *Brian Eyler tells the story of a river veiled in mystique. He sounds a warning about the ominous challenges it now faces: the encroachment of the state, breakneck hydropower development, the threats of climate change, and an increasingly powerful China bent on harnessing the Mekong to power its continued rise. This is the definitive story of the present and possible future of the Mekong, and an elegy for one of Asia’s great rivers. * Sebastian Strangio, author of Hun Sen's Cambodia *The definitive work on Asia's most vital river, this book is more than sound scholarship and wise policy. Brian Eyler shares lyrical and haunting stories, showing how and why the Mighty Mekong must be saved. * Ted Osius, Former US Ambassador to Vietnam (2014–17) *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Yubeng: The Last Shangri-la 2. Damming the Upper Mekong 3. The Erhai Valley 4. The Akha as Modern Zomians 5. The Golden Triangle in Transition 6. Laos as a Contested Space 7. Damming the Lower Mekong 8. Phnom Penh and Boeung Kak Lake 9. The Tonle Sap 10. Whither the Mekong Delta

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Book SynopsisBased on an intimate knowledge and extensive research, Italian volcanoes, provides a complete introductory guide to one of the world's best known and most intensively studied volcanic areas. It is a unique guide to volcanic geology and an exciting introduction to how volcanoes work. Twelve detailed itineraries have been specially chosen to highlight the spectrum of volcanic products, their threat to human activity and their importance to understanding how volcanoes behave. Richly illustrated with maps and photographs, this guide is ideal for all geologists and visitors to Italy who have been captivated by some of the world's most spectacular volcanoes.Table of ContentsPreface. Volcanism in Italy. Somma - Vesuvius; Campi Flegerei (Phlegraean Fields); The Aeolian Islands; Mount Etna. Glossary. Index.

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Book SynopsisCan we prevent the destruction of the world''s tropical forests? In the fire-scarred hills of Costa Rica, award-winning science writer William Allen found a remarkable answer: we can not only prevent their destruction--we can bring them back to their former glory. In Green Phoenix, Allen tells the gripping story of a large group of Costa Rican and American scientists and volunteers who set out to save the tropical forests in the northwestern section of the country. It was an area badly damaged by the fires of ranchers and small farmers; in many places a few strands of forest strung across a charred landscape. Despite the widely held belief that tropical forests, once lost, are lost forever, the team led by the dynamic Daniel Janzen from the University of Pennsylvania moved relentlessly ahead, taking a broad array of political, ecological, and social steps necessary for restoration. They began with 39 square miles and, by 2000, they had stitched together and revived some 463 square mileTrade ReviewReview from Hardback edition ... the real value of the book kicks in where science and its application ends and Allen addresses the vital roles of politics, sociology, economics, and (incidentally) personalities in achieving conservation. * Science, May 2001 *Review from Hardback edition ... informative and inspiring ... offers a fresh perspective on scientists' involvement in practical conservation. * Science, May 2001 *Table of ContentsPART I: IN THE PLACE OF THE TREE WITH EARS ; PART II: ADVANCING THROUGH THE WORLD OF WOUNDS ; PART III: THE RISING PHOENIX

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of Medium.com’s Books of the Year 2017""One of The Times Literary Supplement’s Books of the Year 2017""One of the Forbes.com “Great Anthropology and History Books of 2017” (chosen by Kristina Killgrove)""One of The Federalist’s Notable Books for 2017""Honorable Mention for the 2018 PROSE Award in Classics, Association of American Publishers""One of Strategy + Business's Best Business Books in Economics for 2018""One of Choice Reviews' Outstanding Academic Titles of 2018""I read a lot of history in my spare time, and as best I can tell modern scholarship is telling us that Rome really was something special. What I learned from Peter Temin, and at greater length from Kyle Harper, was that Rome wasn’t your ordinary pre-industrial economy. . . . Harper notes that Rome was held back in some ways by a heavy burden of disease, an unintentional byproduct of urbanization and trade that a society lacking the germ theory had no way to alleviate. But still, the Romans really did achieve remarkable things on the economic front."---Paul Krugman, New York Times"A work of remarkable erudition and synthesis, Harper’s timely study offers a chilling warning from history of 'the awesome, uncanny power of nature'."---P. D. Smith, The Guardian"Original and ambitious. . . . [Harper] provide[s] a panoramic sweep of the late Roman Empire as interpreted by one historian's incisive, intriguing, inquiring mind."---James Romm, Wall Street Journal"Ingenious, persuasive. . . . Lucidly argued." * Publishers Weekly *"A view of the fall of Rome from a different angle, looking beyond military and social collapse to man's relationship to the environment. There is much to absorb in this significant scholarly achievement, which effectively integrates natural, social, and humanistic sciences." * Kirkus *"An excellent new book. . . . [Harper] has managed a prodigious scholarly output that uses date-driven, twenty-first-century methods to solve enduring problems of ancient history."---Noel Lenski, Times Literary Supplement"[A] sweeping retelling of the rise and fall of an empire, [that] was brought down as much by ‘germs as by Germans.'"---Keith Johnson, Foreign Policy"Harper argues his case brilliantly, with deep scientific research into weather, geology and disease."---Harry Mount, The Spectator"An ambitious and convincing reappraisal of one of the most studied episodes of decline and fall in human history."---Ellie Robins, Los Angeles Review of Books"Beautifully and often wittily written, this is history that has some of the impact of a great work of dystopian science fiction."---Tom Holland, BBC History Magazine"This beautifully written book is ground-breaking stuff, both for its method and content, and one of the most important of the year."---Adrian Spooner, Classics for All"Harper’s focus is resolutely historical, dealing only glancingly with modern climate concerns. But the book’s theme is essentially a timeless one: how big, complex societies handle strain and shocks from factors outside of their control. That gives it some relevance to the challenges we face today. . . . If the Fate of Rome proves anything, it’s that nature always has the last laugh."---Asher Elbein, Earther.com"Harper offers a striking reinterpretation with worrisome implications for the present day. . . . Today, we inhabit a global system with a very similar combination of climatologic disturbances, urbanization, less diverse diets, and globalization. Ancient history reveals the risks we run."---Andrew Moravcsik, Foreign Affairs"The Fate of Rome is one of the most immediately readable histories of the year, always investing even the most well-known subjects with the vigor of fresh perspective."---Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Monthly"A recent book makes a convincing case that we need to be more cognizant of the natural world’s role in all this. The Fate of Rome: Climate, Disease and the End of An Empire, by the University of Oklahoma’s Kyle Harper, makes a strong argument for the role of plague and a shifting climate in the confluence of political, economic, and social processes that we label the fall of the Roman Empire."---Patrick Wyman, Deadspin"Drawing on cutting-edge research into ice cores, cave stones, lake deposits, and other sediments, Harper explores the influence of the changing climate on Rome’s history. With a storyteller’s flair, he describes how the climate’s impact was by turns subtle and overwhelming, alternately constructive and destructive, but that the changing climate was ultimately a ‘wild card’ that transcended all the other rules of the game. . . . Harper reveals how the fate of Rome was decided not just by emperors, soldiers, and barbarians, but also by climate instability and pernicious disease."---Lucia Marchini, World Archaeology"[Harper's] aim in The Fate of Rome, however, is to foreground one class of explanations that has hitherto been relatively neglected by historians: the influence of climate and disease. Such explanations are not new, but Harper brings to the table a large body of recent scientific research into the evolution of ancient diseases, disease ecology and historical climate variations. . . . The wealth of new detail Harper offers to support his general theses is the true strength of his book."---Jeffrey Mazo, Survival"Harper . . . has assembled compelling evidence that Rome died mainly from natural causes: pandemic diseases and a temperamental climate. . . . We know far more about both the causes of climate change and the ecology of germs than our ancient ancestors did. Perhaps we have a fighting chance of avoiding Rome’s fate, if we heed the true lessons of its fall."---Madeline Ostrander, Undark Magazine"The Fate of Rome should probably sit on shelves next to Gibbon’s masterwork. In time, one feels, it will be seen every bit as much an essential text."---Andrew Masterson, Cosmos Magazine"Gibbon’s is just one of myriad theories as to why Rome fell after a millennium of unprecedented (and never repeated) strength. [Harper] adds a fascinating theory to the corpus—one that could only be ventured at this particular point in history . . . because his thesis rests entirely on modern science. Harper, an able and often eloquent writer argues, Rome was brought down by two environmental components: pestilence and climate. And when these two worked in concert, things really got bad."---Tony Jones, Christian Century"This is an exciting book that provides a fresh look at a perennial topic, the fall of the Roman Empire, in sparkling prose accessible to all economic historians. . . . Others interested in plagues will find time lines and stories to ground the biology in its Roman context. And anyone who is attempting to use the fall of the Roman Empire as an example in contemporary life should read this book before expounding one or another outmoded theory of the fall of the Roman Empire."---Peter Temin, EH.net"Harper has produced a wonderful case study that demands a general rethinking of how we view the decline and fall of the Roman Empire."---Williamson Murray, The Strategy Bridge"[T]he author takes pains not to descend into the kind of reductive or utterly contingent account of the Roman experience that eliminates human agency from the story. Instead Harper furnishes a richly detailed account of the environment in which—and with which—Romans and their enemies contended."---W. Jeffrey Tatum, Quarterly Review of Biology"I recommend The Fate of Rome: Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire by Kyle Harper. Given all of the other threats we face we thankfully don’t have to deal with the added dual challenges of climate change or new pandemics—right?"---William F. Wechsler, Atlantic Council"The Fate of Rome is the book every scholar wants to write once during his or her career. . . . In the end, The Fate of Rome is nothing short of monumental. . . . An important work need not be an excellent one—this is both."---Carson Bay, H-Net Reviews"This is an important book . . . . [Harper] should be congratulated on his attempt to create closer connections between traditional visions of Roman imperial history and the emerging scientific evidence regarding past populations and their environments."---Adam Izdebski, Environment and History"The Fate of Rome is engaging and accessible for readers of all stripes. Historians will appreciate the fuller picture gained from incorporating nonhuman forces into our understanding of the past . . . . Its story will also resonate with those interested in climate change, empire, and science."---John Bowlus, Energy Reporters

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Book SynopsisRice was a major plantation crop during the first 300 years of settlement in the Americas. It accompanied slaves across the Middle Passage throughout the New World to Brazil, the Caribbean, and the southern U.S. Carney reveals how racism has shaped our historical memory and neglected this critical African contribution to the making of the Americas.Trade ReviewExploring crops, landscapes and agricultural practices in Africa and America, [Carney] demonstrates the critical role Africans played in the creation of the system of rice production that provided the foundation of Carolina’s wealth… This detailed study of historical botany, technological adaptation and agricultural diffusion adds depth to our understanding of slavery and makes a compelling case for ‘the agency of slaves’ in the creation of the South’s economy and culture. -- Drew Gilpin Faust * New York Times Book Review *Judith A. Carney’s Black Rice: The African Origins of Rice Cultivation in the Americas…describes how the South Carolina rice industry was built not only on slave labor but on the agricultural and technological knowledge brought over by the Africans… [It] changes our understanding of the black contribution to American life. -- Barry Gewen * New York Times Book Review *Black Rice sets out to discredit for good an old Southern recipe for history that depicts slaves as mere laborers who dumbly performed work their masters conceived. Carney tells it the other way around. After years visiting West African rice fields, then digging in archives on both sides of the Atlantic, she has emerged with evidence that early slave traders sought and seized Africans who had the abilities to grow a specific African rice… Black Rice might be called an agricultural detective story. The historical crime—and that’s clearly how Carney sees it—is the relative lack of attention given to African rice. -- Allan M. Jalon * Los Angeles Times *Contrary to common belief, [Carney] explains, rice was not brought by Europeans to the Americas by way of Asia, but rather was introduced here by Africans and cultivated by African-American slaves, particularly in South Carolina, where rice crops proved to be one of the most profitable plantation-based economies. Though this is a scholarly work, Carney’s clear, uncluttered prose invites a wider readership. * Publishers Weekly *Black Rice is an original, knowledgeable, exciting, and important addition to the literature of the making and remaking of the Atlantic world. Judith Carney demonstrates how the trans-Atlantic transfer of rice cultivation marked not simply the movement of an important crop across the Atlantic, but also the relocation of an entire culture. -- Ira Berlin, author of Many Thousands Gone: The First Two Centuries of Slavery in North AmericaAmong the very finest examples of what African Diaspora Studies should be: multidisciplinary, multilingual, broad in geographic scope, and focused on Africa and Africans as vital, active contributors to the technology and culture of the Americas. -- Gwendolyn Midlo Hall, author of Africans in Colonial Louisiana: The Development of Afro-Creole Culture in the Eighteenth CenturyIf there were a field of ‘Trans-Atlantic Subaltern Studies,’ Black Rice would represent both a foundation stone of the edifice and one of its most impressive achievements. -- James C. Scott, Yale UniversityBlack Rice is a luminous, brilliant account of innovation, resistance, and identity linking Old and New Worlds. Carney has unearthed a compelling, and hitherto neglected, aspect of Africa’s contribution to the agrarian history of the Americas. A magisterial geographical history of the Black Atlantic. -- Michael Watts, University of California, BerkeleyAn intrepid and observant researcher who links African rice to North and South America in fresh and convincing ways, Judith Carney’s work is wide-ranging, provocative, and clear. Black Rice is a wonderfully rich and creative book about an amazing crop and the people who labored to grow it. You will never look at a bowl of rice—or the entire Atlantic basin—in quite the same way again. -- Peter H. Wood, author of Black Majority: Negroes in Colonial South Carolina from 1670 through the Stono RebellionWith a fusion of highly original geographic, ethnographic, and historical analysis, Carney powerfully traces the provenance and provisioning of rice in the Americas, the profound role that it played in defining gender roles, and the myriad ways that slave labor altered the once hidden political ecology of rice landscapes. -- Karl Zimmerer, author of Changing Fortunes: Biodiversity and Peasant Livelihood in the Peruvian AndesTable of ContentsPreface Introduction 1. Encounters 2. Rice Origins and Indigenous Knowledge 3. Out of Africa: Rice Culture and African Continuities 4. This Was "Woman's Wuck" 5. African Rice and the Atlantic World 6. Legacies Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisArgues, the financial crisis, a dysfunctional international monetary system, and US policies have paradoxically strengthened the dollar's importance. This book examines how the dollar came to have a central role in the world economy and demonstrates that it will remain the cornerstone of global finance for the foreseeable future.Trade ReviewWinner of the 2015 Gold Medal in Economics, Axiom Business Book Awards Honorable Mention for the 2015 PROSE Award in Business, Finance & Management, Association of American Publishers One of Financial Times (FT.com) Best Economics Books of 2014, chosen by Martin Wolf One of China Business News' Financial Books of the Year for 2014 "Thoughtful."--Jeff Sommer, New York Times "[A] surprising argument... [L]ucid."--David Wessel, Wall Street Journal "Richly detailed study of global finances, examining how and why the dollar became the favored currency of international trade."--Kirkus "To understand how the world of international finance works, what the agendas are and what is at stake, this work is indispensable."--Henny Sender, Financial Times "In his authoritative new book on the dollar, Eswar Prasad ... argues that China and other foreign countries that own around half the outstanding US federal government debt are trapped in a risky game where the US may be tempted to renege on its debt obligations by printing more dollars."--John Plender, Financial Times "A lively and compelling analysis on currency wars in the wake of the financial crisis--and the likely persistence of the U.S. dollar as the world's pre-eminent currency."--Harold James, Central Banking Journal "Highly recommended especially for those interested in understanding the paradigm shifts that happened in the international monetary regime in the 1970s and 1980s."--Mehmet Kerem Caban, Asian Journal of Public AffairsTable of ContentsList of Figures and Tables ix Preface xi PART ONE Setting the Stage 1. Prologue 3 2. What Is So Special about the Dollar? 11 PART TWO Building Blocks 3. The Paradox of Uphill Capital Flows 31 4. Emerging Markets Get Religion 47 5. The Quest for Safety 63 6. A Trillion Dollar Con Game? 89 PART THREE Inadequate Institutions 7. Currency Wars 125 8. Seeking a Truce on Currency Wars 158 9. It Takes Twenty to Tango 171 10. The Siren Song of Capital Controls 188 11. Safety Nets with Gaping Holes 201 PART FOUR Currency Competition 12. Is the Renminbi Ready for Prime Time? 229 13. Other Contenders Nipping at the Dollar's Heels 262 14. Could the Dollar Hit a Tipping Point and Sink? 283 15. Ultimate Paradox: Fragility Breeds Stability 299 Appendix 309 Notes 317 References 375 Acknowledgments 393 Index 395

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Book SynopsisIn the modern era, zoos and aquariums fight species extinction, educate communities, and advance learning of animal behaviour. This book features first person stories and scientific reviews to explore ground breaking projects run by these institutions. Large-scale conservation initiatives that benefit multiple species are detailed in the first section, including critical habitat protection, evidence-based techniques to grow animal populations and the design of community education projects. The second section documents how zoos use science to improve the health and welfare of animals in captivity and make difficult management decisions. The section on saving species includes personal tales of efforts to preserve wild populations through rehabilitation, captive breeding, reintroduction, and public outreach. The concluding section details scientific discoveries about animals that would have been impossible without the support of zoos and aquariums. The book is for animal scientists, zoo pTable of ContentsIntroduction Michael Hutchins, Robert J. Wiese and Brandie Smith; Part I. Programs and Initiatives: 1. Evolving approaches to zoo-based conservation Corinne J. Kendall and Richard A. Bergl; 2. Protecting an underwater rainforest: freshwater science in the Southeastern United States Anna L. George, Joshua R. Ennen and Bernard R. Kuhajda; 3. Headstarting as a conservation strategy for threatened and endangered species Patrick Thomas, Donal M. Boyer, David A. Oehler, Scott Silver and Lou Perrotti; 4. Strategic gene banking for conservation: the ins and outs of a living bank Rebecca J. Hobbs, Justine K. O'Brien and Rebecca E. Spindler; 5. The environmental education program at São Paulo Zoo (Brazil): perspectives and experiences for wildlife conservation Kátia Gisele de Oliveira Rancura, Camila Martins and João Batista da Cruz; 6. Conservation and education through dolphin research and eco-tourism Kathleen Dudzinski and Mary Ellen Mateleska; Part II. Captive Care and Management: 7. Lear´s macaw, Anodorhynchus leari, ex situ breeding program at São Paulo Zoo Fernanda Junqueira Vaz Guida, Regiane Vieira de Paiva Morais and Angélica Midori Sugieda; 8. Measuring welfare through behavioral observation and adjusting it with dynamic environments Jason V. Watters, Bethany L. Krebs and Eridia Pacheco; 9. Empowering zoo animals Stephanie M. Allard and Meredith J. Bashaw; 10. Transforming the nutrition of zoo primates (or how we became known as Loris Man and that Evil Banana Woman) Amy Plowman and Francis Cabana; 11. Tough questions, complex answers: American zookeeper responses in a nationwide survey about culling David M. Powell and Matt Ardaiolo; Part III. Saving Species: 12. Fly away home: a collaborative program to return rehabilitated black cockatoos to the wild in Western Australia Anna Le Souëf, Simone Vitali, Rick Dawson, Jill M. Shephard and Kristin S. Warren; 13. Back into European wildlife: the reintroduction of the northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremita) Johannes Fritz, Markus Unsöld and Bernhard Völkl; 14. The thin green line: medical considerations in fighting extinction of the Houston toad Lauren L. Howard and Paul S. Crump; 15. Condor conservation comes home to roost: the Santa Barbara Zoo's story Estelle A. Sandhaus and Rich Block; 16. Saving the black-footed ferret from extinction: in theory and practice Rachel Santymire; Part IV. Basic Research: 17. 'Largest breeding colony outside of Australia': linking koala ex situ and in situ research Jennifer R. Tobey; 18. Comparative cognition research in zoos Bonnie M. Perdue; 19. Learning about dolphins: an era of discovery in managed care Holli C. Eskelinen, Jill L. Richardson and Kelley A. Winship; 20. Contributions of zoo-based reproductive research to marine animal conservation Justine K. O'Brien, Karen J. Steinman, Gisele A. Montano and Todd R. Robeck; 21. Studying play in zoos and aquariums Sabrina I. C. A. Brando and Gordon M. Burghardt; 22. Krogh's principle and why the modern zoo is important to academic research Joseph R. Mendelson, III, Gordon W. Schuett and Dwight P. Lawson; 23. Does research have a place in the zoological garden? Terry L. Maple and Sally L. Sherwen; 24. Conclusion: cultivating science in world zoos and aquariums Meredith J. Bashaw and Terry L. Maple.

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Book Synopsis “People who thought the 2008 financial collapse was over a long time ago need to meet the people Jessica Bruder got to know in this scorching, beautifully written, vivid, disturbing (and occasionally wryly funny) book.” — Rebecca Solnit Trade Review"Stirring reportage." -- O Magazine"A remarkable book of immersive reporting... Bruder is an acute and compassionate observer." -- Margaret Talbot - The New Yorker" Bruder is a poised and graceful writer." -- Parul Sehgal - The New York Times"[A] devastating, revelatory book." -- Timothy R. Smith - The Washington Post"Stunning and beautifully written... brilliant and haunting…" -- Arlie Russell Hochschild - The New York Times Book Review"A first-rate piece of immersive journalism." -- San Francisco Chronicle"At once wonderfully humane and deeply troubling, the book offers an eye-opening tour of the increasingly unequal, unstable, and insecure future our country is racing toward." -- Astra Taylor - The Nation"This [Nomadland] is not some lookie-loo movie, condescendingly imagining the poor: Zhao and McDormand did the legwork—as did journalist Jessica Bruder, whose book inspired the film—entering communities and engaging with them in order to better tell their stories." -- Vanity Fair"I thought the book [“Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century,” by Jessica Bruder] was a very important document." -- David Strathairn - Los Angeles Times"Bruder’s lively, thoroughly reported book of the same name..." -- AO Scott - The New York Times"Ms. Zhao based her screenplay on Jessica Bruder’s 2018 book of the same name, an exceptional piece of nonfiction that emphasized social and economic upheaval in the wake of the Great Recession... Ms. Bruder’s book staked out the territory and brought its shifting population to life with calm, empathetic reporting." -- The Wall Street Journal

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Book SynopsisSuperlatives tend to fail in describing Joan Blaeu’s Atlas Maior—that being said, it stands as one of the most extravagant feats in the history of mapmaking. The original Latin edition, completed in 1665, was the largest and most expensive book to be published during the 17th century. Its 594 maps appearing across 11 volumes spanned Arctica, Africa, Asia, Europe, and America. Ambitious in scale and artistry, it is included in the Canon of Dutch History, an official survey of 50 individuals, creations, or events that chart the most important historical developments of the Netherlands. TASCHEN’s meticulous reprint brings this luxurious Baroque wonder into the hands of modern readers. In an age of digitized cartography and global connectivity, it celebrates the steadfast beauty of quality printing and restores the wonder of an exploratory age, in which Blaeu’s native Amsterdam was a center of international trade and discovery.This edition is based on the Austrian National Library’s complete colored and gold-heightened copy of Atlas Maior, assuring the finest detail and quality. University of Amsterdam’s Peter van der Krogt introduces the historical and cultural significance of the atlas while providing detailed descriptions for individual maps, revealing the full scale and ambition of Blaeu’s masterwork.Trade Review“There can be few books out there more jaw-droppingly gorgeous than this extraordinary Atlas.” * TNT Magazine *

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Book SynopsisNational Geographic's flagship Atlas of the World, now in its 11th edition, provides authoritative maps of every country, ocean, and region of the world, as well as thematic maps and accompanying graphics showing important population, environmental, and economic patterns. Organized by continent and reflecting today's political boundaries and identities, this authoritative atlas is an indispensable reference for schools and libraries, as well as the latest resource for home browsing and study. A thematically organized opening section uses current data to visualize urgent concerns, such as Earth's last wild places, changing freshwater availability, human migration and refugee movement, and human rights conditions globally. The back of the book contains basic facts and flags of every country, as well as a comprehensive index cross-referencing more than 150,000 place names.Trade Review“If you’re going to buy just one atlas this fall, make it the 11th edition of the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ATLAS OF THE WORLD (National Geographic, $215), a 7.8-pound behemoth that’s a foot and a half long and a foot wide. Its mammoth size allows you to appreciate the details in its dozens of maps — satellite maps, cultural maps and physical maps, all of them striking. The best one, “Life on a Warming Planet,” lays out where temperatures are rising (and by how much), where permafrost is melting, what nations emit the most carbon dioxide and which large cities are at high risk.” –The New York TImes

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Book SynopsisIntroduction toGeographic Information Systems, 9th edition is designed to provide students in a first orsecond GIS course with a solid foundation in both GIS concepts and the use ofGIS. Introduction to GIS strikes a careful balance between GIS concepts andhands-on applications. The main portion of the chapter presents GIS terms andconcepts and helps students learn how each one fits into a complete GIS system.At the end of each chapter, an application section with 2-7 tasks presentsstudents with actual GIS exercises and the necessary data to solve the problem.Table of Contents1 Introduction2 Coordinate Systems3 Vector Data Model4 Raster Data Model5 GIS Data Acquisition6 Geometric Transformation7 Spatial Data Accuracy and Quality8 Attribute Data Management9 Data Display and Cartography10 Data Exploration11 Vector Data Analysis12 Raster Data Analysis13 Terrain Mapping and Analysis14 Viewshed and Watershed Analysis15 Spatial Interpolation16 Geocoding and Dynamic Segmentation17 Least Cost Path and Network Analysis18 GIS Models and Modeling

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Book SynopsisAn engaging and expertly illustrated field guide to over one hundred grasses, sedges, and rushesTrade ReviewWinner of 2020 Library Journal Best Reference Pick of the Year in the Science & Technology category“No one will be able to claim that the identification of grasses, sedges, and rushes, which are of fundamental importance both environmentally and economically, are simply ‘too difficult’ after they have learned to use this excellent guide.”—Peter Raven, President Emeritus, Missouri Botanical Garden“Brown’s homey and friendly illustrations, in combination with clear diagnostic photos, make for an important book that can be an entryway into the world of grasses.”—Bryan Connolly, Framingham State University“A significant aid and resource for those of us seeking to deepen our understanding of the tremendous diversity of plant life on this miraculous planet.”—Ted Watt, Hitchcock Center for the Environment, Amherst MA "Lauren Brown's Grasses: An Identification Guide is a trusted resource I've known for decades. It is wonderful to see a natural history masterpiece updated so beautifully. Grasses, Sedges, Rushes: An Identification Guide will take an honored place among my core reference books."—Patrick Lynch, author of A Field Guide to Cape Cod“The classic practical guide to some of most ubiquitous – but most overlooked – of all the plants around us.”—Peter Crane, author of Ginkgo: The Tree that Time Forgot

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Book SynopsisElgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world’s leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas.This updated second edition of the Advanced Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment offers an up-to-date exploration of the current theory and practice of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), a crucial tool for evaluating and mitigating the impacts of development projects on the environment. Angus Morrison-Saunders provides an overview of the key concepts, principles, and methodologies of EIA, with a focus on recent developments, emerging trends, and best practices in the field.Key Features: Fresh analyses of how environment and development intersect in EIA Exploration of the fundamental ideas promoted by the pioneers of EIA Revised content on international best practice EIA principles and how they apply today Reflections on the increasing need to adopt a holistic, sustainability-oriented approach to EIA. With accessible style, comprehensive coverage, and a practical approach, this book is an essential resource for students, scholars, and practitioners in environmental studies, environmental governance, policy and regulation, urban planning, and related fields who want to deepen their understanding of EIA.Trade Review‘This is a must-read for everyone interested in Environmental Impact Assessment. The author provides a clear and masterful overview of the fundamentals of EIA, that is relevant for those who are new to the field as well as for experienced practitioners and scholars who want to advance their understanding of its origins and development.’ -- Jos Arts, University of Groningen, the Netherlands‘Written by one of the world's leading scholars in the field, this book will open up one's mind to the richness and complexity of EIA, drawing on insightful case studies and more than 350 references from the very early days of EIA to the most recent peer-reviewed journal publications.’ -- Alberto Fonseca, Federal University of Ouro Preto, BrazilTable of ContentsContents: Preface to the second edition vii Preface to the first edition viii PART I OVERVIEW AND CONTEXT 1 Introduction: setting the scene 2 Forms of EIA 3 Back to the beginning – EIA and the National Environmental Policy Act 1969 (US) 4 A brief reflection on the goals and purpose of EIA PART II GENERIC EIA PROCESS COMPONENTS 5 EIA and decision-making 6 Screening and scoping 7 Prediction, assessment and mitigation 8 Review, approval decision and EIA follow-up PART III ABOUT DEVELOPMENT 9 Spectrum of development and design considerations 10 Alternatives and mitigation 9PART IV ABOUT ENVIRONMENT 11 Representing environment 12 Engaging with stakeholders PART V BRINGING DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT TOGETHER 13 Science, uncertainty and adaptive management in EIA 14 Holistic and cumulative impact assessment PART VI CLOSING REMARKS ON EIA 15 Conclusions References Index

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Book Synopsis(Edition revised in 2023) The MICHELIN Cote-d'Or, Saone-et-Loire local map, scale 1/150,000 is the ideal companion to fully explore these French local areas and provides star-rated Michelin tourist itineraries and attractions, as well as impressive 3D relief mapping. MICHELIN local maps are perfect for cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts with over 20 leisure symbols, extensive coverage of cycling paths and nature trails. With MICHELIN local maps, find more than just your way! MICHELIN LOCAL MAPS provide detailed coverage of France are perfect for fully exploring these countries and are also ideal for cyclists. * Impressive & realistic 3D relief mapping * Michelin selected itineraries and must-sees of the area * A clear and comprehensive key with 20 leisure symbols, as well as cycling paths and nature trails. * Star rated tourist sights and attractions cross-referenced with the famous MICHELIN Green Guides. * Plans of main cities and a comprehensive place name index

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Book Synopsis"John K. Thornton’s new book is another must-read. It contains both translations of the extant letters of the most significant king of Kongo’s history, Afonso I (r. 1506–1542), and a powerful, learned, and highly readable analysis of what these letters tell us about the life and times of one of the most important rulers anywhere in the world during the sixteenth century. This book will be essential reading for scholars, teachers, and students engaged with the history of the Kingdom of Kongo." —Toby Green, King’s College LondonTrade Review"Historians of Africa and the Atlantic World have long known of King Afonso I’s pioneering efforts in establishing the Catholic Church in Kongo, as well as his efforts in fighting the Portuguese slave trade. But until now there has been no authoritative biography of one of the world’s most important political figures of the sixteenth century. Thornton’s account fills this gap, vividly revealing Afonso’s complicated life and legacies on the global stage. As Thornton deftly demonstrates, Afonso was neither a victim of European deception nor a naïve dupe. Rather, he was an astute, innovative statesman who advanced Kongolese political interests both at home and abroad. "Accompanying Thornton’s biography are unique, translated letters penned by Afonso that will also be of great interest to historians of Africa and the Atlantic World. In these letters, Afonso reveals his firsthand thoughts on Kongolese political sovereignty, the distinctiveness of Kongolese Christianity, and his demands to control the slave trade in his kingdom. Additionally, he expresses his desires to expand the technological capacity of the kingdom through education and literacy campaigns, as well as by offering apprenticeships in carpentry, masonry, and medicine. Afonso’s letters, along with those of his European and African contemporaries, are a treasure trove of primary source materials that reveal Kongo’s key role in early modern Atlantic history.” —James H. Sweet, University of Wisconsin-Madison"Only decades of research and engagement with primary sources and centuries of secondary historical analysis could yield such a detailed, insightful account of a pivotal reign in the history of Kongo, Atlantic Africa, and the early modern world at large. It may be the author’s most impressive book yet. “Both the biography and the translated letters will serve for many years to come as sources for research and material for teaching. They will bring knowledge about Afonso, Kongo, and their world-shaping role in the early modern period to students and researchers well beyond specialist circles. I look forward to the new wave of research, discoveries, and debates the book will spur.” —Cécile Fromont, Yale University"This is a page-turner that students and their professors will appreciate. Through a compelling narrative and translated primary sources focused on the life of an important African leader, Thornton examines larger issues around African development, religions conversion, slavery, the rise of the Atlantic trade in enslaved people, and interconnectedness of the 16th-century world." —Walter Hawthorne, Michigan State University"With this monograph, John K. Thornton, the doyen of West Central African history, has not only further cemented his place in the field, but has also steered the 'biographical turn' in the precolonial history of Africa into a new phase. This is regional history on a grand scale, an exceptional feat for Sub-Saharan Africa during the first half of the XVIth century, made possible by a career-long passion with understanding the Kingdom of Kongo." —José C. Curto, History, York University, Canada"Never has the voice of the ruler of the early sixteenth-century Kongo Kingdom, the renowned Christian Mwene Kongo, King Afonso, resonated in language so accessible to a modern audience and yet so faithful to original historical context. Luís Madureira provides a superb translation of Afonso's most significant correspondence along with an insightful translator’s note that contributes to confidence in his rigorous effort. Scholars and students can at last understand the original meaning of Afonso's letters. "With the translation and contextualization provided here, Afonso’s complaints of Portuguese slave trading, for example, can be better understood. Other episodes recounted in the letters, such as Afonso’s victory over his non-Christian brother, attributed to the miraculous appearance of Saint James, will provide for fascinating class discussions. Going beyond its key contribution to African history, this edition will be widely used in the study and teaching of early modern global history.” —David Gordon, Bowdoin College

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Book SynopsisThe Natural Border tells the recent history of Mediterranean rural capitalism from the perspective of marginalized Black African farm workers. Timothy Raeymaekers shows how in the context of global supply chains and repressive border regimes, agrarian production and reproduction are based on fundamental racial hierarchies.Taking the example of the tomatoa typical ''Made in Italy'' commodityRaeymaekers asks how political boundaries are drawn around the land and the labor needed for its production, what technologies of exclusion and inclusion enable capitalist operations to take place in the Mediterranean agrarian frontier, and which practices structure the allocation, use and commodification of land and labor across the tomato chain. While the mobile infrastructures that mobilize, channel, commodify and segregate labor play a central role in the ''naturalization'' of racial segregation, they are also terrains of contestation and powerand thus, as The Na

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Book SynopsisElgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world’s leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas.This insightful Advanced Introduction deftly explores urban segregation on an international scale, offering expert analysis on pressing and theoretical debates and key contemporary issues relating to this interdisciplinary field of study. It provides detailed insights into the various dimensions and domains of urban segregation, the range of methods used for measuring segregation, and the effects it can have on neighbourhoods and individuals. Recognising variations in the patterns of segregation from country to country, the book further discusses the different approaches and challenges affecting policy interventions.Key Features: A review of theories of urban segregation A focus on the impacts of urban segregation Critical analysis of classic and new research methods An exploration of urban segregation across all continents Discussion of why so much attention is given to segregation An outline of segregation in various domains and dimensions Composed of informative and engaging chapters, this timely Advanced Introduction will prove to be an essential read for human geography, sociology and social policy, urban and regional studies students, teachers, and established academics.Trade Review‘In this Advanced Introduction, Sako Musterd offers a broad and incisive overview of the now voluminous literature on urban segregation. Musterd successfully navigates through the often contentious explanations for segregation, and offers new thinking about segregation and the links to spatial inequality. In an era when large scale immigration is changing the inner cities, in Europe and the US, it is a timely review of processes which are fundamental forces in urban change.’ -- William Clark, University of California, US‘This magnificent book could only have been written by Sako Musterd, who brilliantly distills the international scholarly and experiential expertise gained during his unparalleled career. It synthesizes in accessible fashion what we know about the conceptual, methodological, theoretical, political and policy issues related to segregation, and why we should care.’ -- George C. Galster, Wayne State University, US‘Urban segregation, whether by race, class, income or religion is a subject of long standing interest to politicians, policy makers and residents alike. It influences who lives where, and why and how and it has impacts on education, crime, housing and health. This is a must-read introduction by an internationally-known and long-established expert on the subject.’ -- Chris Hamnett, King's College London, UK‘Sako Musterd, one of the most eminent experts on urban segregation, presents an extensive and updated approach to this topic in his remarkable book. Through the innovative lens of an urban history perspective, he deals with the complexity and the multidimensional aspects of this crucial urban process, whilst also addressing important societal and policy considerations.’ -- Marco Oberti, Sciences Po Paris, and Centre for Research on Social Inequalities, France‘Advanced Introduction to Urban Segregation is a brilliant and magisterial synthesis of complex and multi-dimensional urban segregation beyond residential differentiation. Sako Musterd, a world authority on urban segregation research, lucidly explains the concept of urban segregation and its measurement, impacts and policy interventions. Based on his lifetime study of segregation, the book combines deep scholarship on the debates and the research agenda with a stimulating and accessible presentation for scholars and students. This is essential reading for many generations of urban studies.’ -- Fulong Wu, University College London, UK

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Book SynopsisThere is a growing movement of people with a different vision for their local communities. They know that real satisfaction and the good life are not provided by organizations, institutions, or systems. No numbers of great CEOs, central offices, or long range plans produce what a community can produce. People are discovering a new possibility for their lives. They have a calling. They are called. And together they call upon themselves.This possibility is idealistic, and yet it is an ideal within our grasp. It is a possibility that is both idealistic and realistic. Our culture leads us to believe that a satisfying life can be purchased. It tells us that in the place where we live, we don't have the resources to create a good life. This book reminds us that a neighborhood that can raise a child, provide security, sustain our health, secure our income, and care for our vulnerable people is within the power of our community.This book gives voice to our ideal of a beloved community. It reminds us of our power to create a hope-filled life. It assures us that when we join together with our neighbors we are the architects of the future where we want to live.

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