Politics, Philosophy & Society Books

Book SynopsisA ground-breaking approach to history where YOU choose the fate of WWII - perfect for readers of Bletchley Park Brainteasers and The GCHQ Puzzle Book.''An original and exciting approach . . . Buckley is one of our very finest historians.' JAMES HOLLAND________________________TAKE THE HOTSEATAssume the role of real Generals, Leaders, Soldiers and Intelligence Officers in the Allied Forces during WWII, including Winston Churchill and President Eisenhower.EXAMINE THE INTELLIGENCEExplore eight key moments of the war with real contemporaneous intelligence: Britain's Darkest Hour, 1940; The War in North Africa; Stalin's War on the Eastern Front; The Pacific Battle of Midway; The Dresden Bomber Offensive; Casablanca; Arnhem and Operation Market Garden; The Bomb and Hiroshima.CONSIDER THE SCENARIO & MAKE YOUR DECISIONFrom battlefields to war cabinets, each tactical and strategic decision you make leads to a different outcome.Will you follow the path of the past - or shape a new history?________________________'Wonderfully original . . . putting readers at the heart of the decision-making process and allowing them, literally, to change the course of history. This is counterfactual history at its best.' SAUL DAVID'A reminder that history is a never ending now, a relentless and endless present that comes without the luxury of hindsight.' AL MURRAY'An original and exciting approach . . . Buckley is one of our very finest historians. The Armchair General adds enormously to our understanding of the conflicts.' JAMES HOLLAND'A unique, enjoyable approach to evaluating military decision-making.' HISTORY OF WAR

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Book SynopsisThough diversity and interconnectedness are inherent and integral to the natural order, they often clash in the social world. To address this, Resilient Democratic Governance: Navigating Unity in Diversity for Sustainable Well-Being proposes a comprehensive framework advocating for the harmonious integration of diversity and interconnectedness in social structures, emphasizing their pivotal role in building resilience and achieving sustainable wellbeing. Girol Karacaoglu's innovative study explores the convergence of various political philosophies and social elements while still maintaining a sense of unity and cohesion in society. Through the perspectives of thinkers like Abd al-Karim al-Jili, Spinoza, Confucius, Alfred North Whitehead, Abraham Maslow, Sir Isaiah Berlin, Ronald Dworkin, Satish Kumar, and Amartya Sen, each chapter delves into how these scholars have conceptualized unity in different domains, spanning nature, creative processes, freedom, value, ecology, and economy. Karacaoglu argues that embracing this diversity-in-unity framework can serve as a guide to governance for sustainable wellbeing. His argument culminates in a reflection on the paths laid out by the Buddha and Lao Tzu, underscoring their profound insights into achieving balance and harmony in our interconnected world. Emerging as a hopeful voice amid increasing ideological polarisation, this thoughtful work reimagines democratic governance to offer a practical guide for deliberate and transformative social and political change.Table of ContentsIntroduction – In Search of Benjamin’s and Xunzi’s New Fusion A. Embracing Unity in Diversity … Chapter 1. Abd Al-Karim Al-Jili’s Unity in Diversity and Diversity in Unity Chapter 2. Spinoza’s Unity of Nature and Confucius’ Qi Chapter 3. Whitehead’s Unity of Creative Evolutionary Processes Chapter 4. Maslow’s Unity of Needs Chapter 5. Pullman’s and Mencius’ Unity of the Mind and Heart Chapter 6. Berlin’s Unity of Freedom Chapter 7. Dworkin’s Unity of Value Chapter 8. Kumar’s Unity of Ecology and Economy Chapter 9. Sen’s Unity of Wellbeing B. … As a Guide to Governance for Sustainable Wellbeing Chapter 10. Resilience - Bridge to Sustainability Chapter 11. Destination – Bookchin’s Communalism Chapter 12. Steppingstone - Localism Conclusion – The Buddha’s Path and Lao Tzu’s Dao (‘the Way’)

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Book Synopsis'A spicy and original romp through Russian history' ROBERT SERVICE'Poignant, comical, and in the best sense disturbing' PAUL FREEDMAN, AUTHOR OF TEN RESTAURANTS THAT CHANGED AMERICA'This wickedly delicious tale uncovers the secret, gustatory history of the Kremlin and will leave you begging for seconds' DOUGLAS SMITH, AUTHOR OF RASPUTIN: FAITH, POWER, AND THE TWILIGHT OF THE ROMANOVSWhat's Cooking in the Kremlin is a tale of feast and famine told from the kitchen, the narrative of one of the most complex, troubling and fascinating nations on earth.We will travel through Putin's Russia with acclaimed author Witold Szablowski as he learns the story of the chef who was shot alongside the Romonovs, and the Ukrainian woman who survived the Great Famine created by Stalin and still weeps with guilt; the soldiers on the Eastern front who roasted snails and made nettle soup as they fought back Hitler's army; the woman who cooked for Yuri Gagarin and the cosmonauts; and the man who ran the Kremlin kitchen during the years of plenty under Brezhnev. We will hear from the women who fed the firefighters at Chernobyl, and the story of the Crimean Tatars, who returned to their homeland after decades of exile, only to flee once Russia invaded Crimea again, in 2014.In tracking down these remarkable stories and voices, Witold Szablowski has written an account of modern Russia unlike any other - a book that reminds us of the human stories behind the history.Trade ReviewA spicy and original romp through Russian history through the tales and recipes of the cooks who served rulers from Nicholas II to Vladimir Putin -- Robert Service, Oxford University; author of A History of Modern Russia and biographies of Lenin, Stalin, Trotsky and Nicholas IIA riveting account of a uniquely sumptuous cuisine prepared in often grotesque and dangerous settings. Poignant, comical, and in the best sense disturbing -- Paul Freedman, Yale University; author of Ten Restaurants That Changed AmericaThis wickedly delicious tale uncovers the secret, gustatory history of the Kremlin and will leave you begging for seconds -- Douglas Smith, author of Rasputin: Faith, Power, and the Twilight of the RomanovsThis book will make your mouth water. Witold Szablowski's delicious dive into Russian imperial history comes complete with recipes for Stalin's favorite Georgian Walnut Jam, the Blockade Bread that people ate during the World War II Siege of Leningrad, and the Turkey in Quince and Orange Juice served to Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt in Yalta in 1945. A fascinating and insightful culinary extravaganza that explores how the way to the famed Russian soul has always been through the collective stomach. -- Kristen R. Ghodsee, author of Everyday Utopia, Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism, and Red HangoverRiveting - a delicious odyssey full of history, humour, and jaw-dropping stories. If you want to understand the making of modern Russia, read this book. -- Daniel Stone, bestselling author of The Food Explorer and SinkableA captivating, heart-rending, and fascinating book that is more important now than ever with the Ukraine conflict. The chapter about the famine in Ukraine was especially touching for me, as my grandparents and great-grandparents lived through it. You won't be able to put it down! * Tatyana Nesteruk, author of Beyond Borscht and founder of Tatyana’s Everyday Food *I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As a chef and the daughter of Soviet Jewish refugees, I have experienced a lifelong fascination with, mingled with repulsion toward, the food on my ancestral table. What's Cooking in the Kremlin gracefully captures this perpetual tension-it is what inevitably arises when an extraordinary cuisine becomes a weapon deployed against the very people who've made it -- Bonnie Frumkin Morales, author of Kachka: A Return to Russian CookingBy turns poignant and playful, What's Cooking in the Kremlin offers an invaluable history of Russia viewed from the kitchen and told through engaging stories and oral histories given by cooks who survived the vagaries of the Kremlin's whims and who toiled through the great afflictions of collectivization, the Siege of Leningrad, the Chernobyl disaster, and more. -- Darra Goldstein, author of A Taste of Russia, The Georgian FeastA culinary travelogue infused with dark and savory legends from Russia's kitchens, dachas, cafeterias, and canteens . . . enriched with recipes gathered during [Szablowski's] travels throughout Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and several ex-Soviet republics. Readers will be satiated by this easily digestible gastronomic history. -- Publishers WeeklyAn original work of social history, Polish journalist Szablowski alternates narrative with interviews (and recipes) to delve into some recondite and often apocryphal stories of the people who cooked for the Russian elite ... A bitter history lesson taught with humor and grace. -- Kirkus Reviews - starred reviewEntertaining . . . A heady mix of propaganda and paranoia . . . [Szablowski writes] sensitively . . . not just about food but also its terrible absence. * The New York Times Book Review *The vignettes in this book reveal a different side to political figures and thereby dent the image they foster. It is hard, for instance, to see Mr Putin in the same way after hearing of his childlike obsession with ice-cream. * The Economist *The great strength of What's Cooking in the Kremlin is the way Szablowski has managed to track down people, many now very old, who have vivid food memories from another time * Daily Mail *Superb on every page * Strong Words *Fascinating tales of hunger and brutality . . . A Studs Terkel history of food, life, death, and dictatorship that's admirable for its honesty, tenderness, and immutable sorrow . . . The oral histories ripple with tension. . . . Delightful * Food & Environment Reporting Network *

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Book SynopsisThis is a yoga book with a difference. In this guide, the authors embark on a ground-breaking exploration of the multifaceted challenges faced by yoga teachers in today''s complex world. Drawing upon their experience in training yoga teachers, Theo Wildcroft and Harriet McAtee have compiled a collection of wisdom from some of the best-known and respected yoga teachers worldwide, including Peter Blackaby, Donna Farhi, Jivana Heyman, and Jules Mitchell. Through this collaboration, these experts address six key themes that resonate deeply within the yoga teaching community: critical thinking, honouring our sources, scientific enquiries, trauma, race and equity, and money and power. This book will teach yoga teachers what they need to know about honouring yoga''s sources and surviving and thriving in the modern yoga industry.

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Book SynopsisAre war and inequality inevitable, because evolution made men competitive and dominant? Think again with this entertaining yet powerful new history of ‘true’ human nature. How did humans, a species that evolved to be cooperative and egalitarian, develop societies of enforced inequality? Why did our ancestors create patriarchal power and warfare? Did it have to be this way? Elites have always called hierarchy and violence unavoidable facts of human nature. Evolution, they claim, has caused men to fight, and people—starting with men and women—to have separate, unequal roles. But that is bad science. Why Men? tells a smarter story of humanity, from early behaviours to contemporary cultures. From bonobo sex and prehistoric childcare to human sacrifice, Joan of Arc, Darwinism and Abu Ghraib, this fascinating, fun and important book reveals that humans adapted to live equally, yet the earliest class societies suppressed this with invented ideas of difference. Ever since, these distortions have caused female, queer and minority suffering. But our deeply human instincts towards equality have endured. This book is not about what men and women are or do. It’s about the privileges humans claim, how they rationalise them, and how we unpick those ideas about our roots. It will change how you see injustice, violence and even yourself.Trade Review'The evidence Lindisfarne and Neale present is eye-opening and eclectic. … 'Why Men?' is conceived as a tonic against popular grand histories of humanity … whose naturalising of inequality the authors chastise, together with their purportedly related neoliberal politics. … [A] refreshing book.' -- Oren Harman, The Spectator'A brilliant, funny, unputdownable book for our times, spectacularly puncturing dominant myths about human nature to explain how wealth creates war, why the "dark ages" weren’t so dark, and how we were once much less violent. Wonderful.' -- Danny Dorling, author of 'Peak Inequality' and 'All That Is Solid''Fantastic storytelling and exhaustive research. This book takes us on a journey through civilisations and mythology to uncover the roots of gendered violence and inequality. Like nothing I have read before.' -- Pragya Agarwal, author of 'Sway', '(M)otherhood' and 'Hysterical''Whether you're a hater or a fan of Harari, Diamond and Pinker, this is a must-read: a fantastic historical thriller, and an insightful, expansive look at a great mystery of our time, showing that human oppression and violence are not inevitable.' -- Chip Colwell, author of 'Stuff: Humanity's Epic Journey from Naked Ape to Nonstop Shopper''A provocative counter-history of that elusive entity, "human nature". This book gives us much to think about.' -- Priyamvada Gopal, author of 'Insurgent Empire''Eye-opening. Evolutionary accounts stressing the selfish, violent and male-dominated nature of our species--or our primate relative--often reflect thinly disguised ideological biases, as "Why Men?" so clearly shows.' -- Frans de Waal, author of 'Chimpanzee Politics' and 'Different: Gender Through the Eyes of a Primatologist'

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Book SynopsisFrance—the romanticised, revolutionary land of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity for all—is failing. Reform is urgently needed. This book is a powerful indictment of the status quo, and a highly original perspective on the challenges to which the nation must rise. Nabila Ramdani is not from the establishment elite: she is a marginalised insider, born and raised in a neglected Paris suburb. With unflinching clarity, she probes the fault lines of her struggling country, exposing the Fifth Republic as an archaic system which emerged from Algeria’s cataclysmic War of Independence. Today, a monarchical President Macron shows little interest in democracy, while a far-right party founded by Nazi collaborators threatens to replace him. Segregation, institutionalised rioting, economic injustice, the debasement of women, a monolithic education system, deep-seated racial and religious discrimination, paramilitary policing, terrorism and extremism, and a duplicitous foreign policy all fuel the growing crisis. Yet Ramdani offers real hope: the broken French Republic can, and must, be fixed.Trade Review'[A] highly readable … blazing indictment of modern France … Ramdani’s criticism is heartfelt and justified.' -- The Sunday Times'Ramdani tackles head-on some taboo subjects, such as race. . . It is the feeling that there is a parallel society in constant collision with the rest of the country that drives the talk of "civil war".' -- The Times‘The author’s insights into France’s failings are penetrating… [She offers] sharp observations about how France’s enduring commitment to republican values provides a licence for many to pursue a divisive and neocolonial agenda behind the rhetoric of constitutional equality.’ -- Labour Hub‘Fixing France is … certain to ruffle Gallic feathers, and likely many of those enamored with everything French.’ -- The Diplomatic Courier'Nabila Ramdani was born to write this book. She dissects this wonderful, vexing country that was the home of the Enlightenment--but which still needs a lot of enlightening.' -- Jon Sopel, former BBC Paris and Washington correspondent, and co-host of The News Agents'This deep dive into France's frenetic politics provides us with an essential perspective.' -- Mark Stone, foreign correspondent, Sky News'A timely and fresh perspective on a country that seems to have it all. Yet its citizens are angry and dissatisfied. Why? Ramdani provides some smart answers in this thought-provoking book.' -- Clive Myrie, BBC presenter and former Paris correspondent'Evocative and beautifully written, this is a thorough and thought-provoking analysis of modern France, and where it's going wrong.' -- Sam Greenhill, chief reporter, Daily Mail'Forensically pierces through the mythologies of the Fifth Republic, combining socio-economic analysis, history, and Ramdani's own encounters with some of the most powerful and polarising political figures in the country. A must-read for Francophiles and agitators alike.' -- Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times'Ramdani portrays a France that she knows intimately, highlighting her country's contradictions with wit. Her book is extremely well-documented, and uncompromising yet hopeful. It provides France with an opportunity for some serious soul-searching.' -- Rokhaya Diallo, columnist, The Guardian'Ramdani's brave book bursts with questions about the country she loves. Few have made a stronger argument for tearing down the Fifth Republic and building a new France.' -- Keir Simmons, Chief International Correspondent, NBC News'For anyone with a love of France, Ramdani's book will interest and provoke with its analysis of France's problems and the challenges it faces to remedy them. The criticisms are sharp but delivered with insight and affection for her country.' -- Dominic Grieve, former Attorney General for England & Wales'A timely and nuanced reflection upon the problems facing France--racism, polarisation, colonial amnesia, an elitist education system--and the solutions needed to fix them. Required reading for anyone wishing to grapple with the challenges facing the twenty-first century world.' -- Martin Evans, Professor of Modern European History, University of Sussex, and author of 'Algeria: France's Undeclared War''France is the European country we think we know best, but "Fixing France" shines a light on the dark corners of one of Europe's most complex, influential and fascinating nations. Thorough research, unique insight, and accessible, engaging writing.' -- Barbara Serra, British-Italian journalist and documentary filmmaker'France is ailing, struggling to reconcile age-old Republican ideals with the realities of twenty-first century society, and the resulting polarisation is toxic. Ramdani draws on personal experience, family history, and insightful analysis and commentary to suggest a diagnosis and provide meaningful remedies.' -- Dominic Thomas, Letessier Professor of French, University of California, Los Angeles'France is a society with many contradictions, especially in relation to colonialism, racism and identity. This absorbing and highly readable book skillfully captures and unravels the delusions under which many French still operate and, most importantly, offers avenues forward.' -- Jean Beaman, author of 'Citizen Outsider: Children of North African Immigrants in France''An invaluable constructive critique of France in the last 70 years. This is an engaging and enlightening read.' -- Amy Hubbell PhD, Senior Lecturer in French, University of Queensland

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Book SynopsisFrom the 1850s, as the United States pushed west, Chinese migrants met ordinary Americans for the first time. Alienation and xenophobia lost the US this chance for cultural and economic enrichment—but America gave the Chinese new perspectives and connections. They developed a dream of their own. As teenagers, Hugo Wong’s great-grandfathers fled poverty in China for California. A decade later, they were excluded from the States. They helped establish a Chinese settlement across the border in Mexico, led by a world-famous dissident-in-exile with visions of a New China overseas. They would be among the Americas’ first Chinese magnates, meeting with presidents, generals and missionaries, living through astonishing victories and humiliating defeats. The bitterest of all would be the colony’s tragic demise amid a violent Mexican revolution, leading to the largest massacre and deportation of Chinese in American history. This epic 100-year drama follows the lives of the author’s ancestors, via untouched personal papers. Though no Chinese group had ever gained such influence over a Western population and territory, their home in Mexico would long be forgotten. Today, this family story is reborn: one of nationhood, state racism and a turbulent century; of exile, grit and new ways of belonging.Trade Review'When you thought there was nothing more to be written about the story of Chinese immigration to America, along comes Hugo Wong with an absorbing account of his families’ history in Mexico … Both in human terms as well as historical ones, Wong’s tale is worth reading … 'America’s Lost Chinese' tells a tale that we should know, but up to this point, probably did not.' -- Asian Review of Books'An incredible and beautiful family story still relevant to today's world. I recommend this to anyone who wants to understand China and its diaspora, and to explore Chinese history and culture with a human narrative.' -- Karoline Kan, journalist and author of 'Under Red Skies''A fascinating social history of early Chinese migrants who gave the prime of their lives to building industries and wealth of America, and struggled to find their place within and beyond its margins. A brilliant and informative book.' -- Hsiao-Hung Pai, journalist and author of 'Scattered Sand: The Story of China's Rural Migrants''A vivid telling of global politics, and a social and critical understanding of the changing landscape of the Americas, whilst also keeping an intimate family story at its heart. A gripping and touching read.' -- Anna Sulan Masing, author of 'Chinese and Other Asian''Spanning the trans-Pacific from China to America to Mexico, Wong’s family memoir is at once riveting and passionate in capturing the diasporic spirit of patriarchs Leung Hing and Wong Foon Chuck, and sober and dispassionate in carefully situating them in the turbulent histories of three countries.' -- Evelyn Hu-DeHart, Professor of History, American Studies and Ethnic Studies, Brown University'The aspirational Chinese Dream espoused by Xi Jinping speaks of the rejuvenation of a proud nation after a painful century of humiliation. In America's Lost Chinese, Hugo Wong brings that dream to life through a remarkable saga of his family's diaspora. An important perspective that deepens our understanding of the West's conflicts with China.' -- Stephen Roach, author of 'Accidental Conflict: America, China and the Clash of False Narratives''The intertwined stories of two migrant families follow key figures in the rise and fall of the forgotten Chinese community of Mexico and its complex ties with diaspora networks in both the United States and China. A riveting and moving story of resilience, identity and cosmopolitanism.' -- David Palmer, Professor of Sociology, University of Hong Kong'A well-researched account of Wong's ancestors who experienced pivotal changes in both the US and Mexico, most notably the Mexican Revolution. Inspired by the documents and artefacts found in a family trunk, we are lucky to have such an intimate portrait written with insight and depth.' -- Jason Oliver Chang, author of 'Chino: Anti-Chinese Racism in Mexico, 1880–1940'Hugo Wong grew up between Paris and Mexico City. Since 1995, he has lived intermittently in Beijing, where he has helped to found Sino–foreign joint ventures, including China’s first investment bank. He built his career in emerging markets investment at major Hong Kong, London and New York financial institutions.

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Book SynopsisHeal and find liberation from your past with this comprehensive guide to making sense of and overcoming narcissistic family abuse from acclaimed family therapist.A pioneer on the devastating effects of narcissistic abuse, Dr. Karyl McBride has the answer for anyone desperate for help in recovering from the damage of being raised in a family headed by a narcissistic parent.Divided into three sections, Dr. Karyl explores the insidious way a narcissistic environment is developed in a family, how a narcissistic parent damages a child’s emotional growth and ability to trust and, finally, how to not only move on but become truly free.Along with an easy-to-follow five-step recovery program, plus a 33-question quiz to determine if you or a family member is displaying narcissistic traits, Dr. Karyl provides understanding and hope for anyone wishing to thrive after abuse.

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Book Synopsis 98% EVERY GOOD DESCRIPTION PALACE HAVE EVER DONE IN ONE ROWDY HARDBACK 2% SOME RUBBISH ONES ALSO Phaidon presentsPalace Product Descriptions: The Selected Archive, the official printed archive of Palace Skateboard's online product descriptions. Since their debut in 2013, Palace's unconventional descriptors - which often have little or nothing to do with the product being described – have earned a cult following, with readers hooked on every line. Authored by Palace co-founder, Lev Tanju, whose inimitable style essentially tore up the copywriting rulebook, the descriptions are full of humour, pathos, social commentary and unabashed opinion. Eschewing practical details, instead a jacket is described as: TRENDSETTER DON'T THINK SO MATE YOU LOOK LIKE YOU MOONWALKED THROUGH TOPSHOP WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED COVERED IN GLUE Collected here for the first time and printed as they appear online - a few lines set in all caps, formatted as a series of bullet points – the more than 3,000 descriptions are organised into 22 tongue-in-cheek categories, including Anatomy, Animals, Etiquette, Philanthropy, Romance and Travel. The text is interspersed with shots of highly coveted Palace products and chapter openers feature candid, behind-the-scenes images from Palace's archive. At once jokey toilet book and earnest coffee-table opus, this funny and honest volume serves as an essential record of an online phenomenon.Trade Review'One of the most delightfully peculiar releases from a fashion brand in recent memory' - Financial Times 'Palace, the London skate label founded in 2009, is widely known for two things: the prominent triangle logo...[and] for the superfans, there's something else - the product descriptions' - The Guardian '[Palace Product Descriptions] ... It's playful and very British ... The book not only serves as a catalog of some of the brand's best (and funniest) works, but is a constant reminder of how an underground skate label from South London broke the mold to change the way we perceive the UK streetwear scene.' - Highsnobiety 'Tongue-in-cheek … authentic, unapologetic entries and more.' - Hypebeast 'Uniquely brilliant descriptors have been immortalized in book form.' - Hypebae

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Book SynopsisSymbols are all around us – some mysterious, some timeless, some arcane and some prosaic. But what are their origins? What does the infinity symbol really signify? Do you understand yin and yang? And why is the swastika really a good luck sign? This enticing gift book explores the world of classic symbols and signs, revealing the deep meaning and often quirky history behind each one. From the ouroboros and the ankh to the menorah, caduceus and astrological symbols, the book ranges widely across the world’s most recognised symbols. With one symbol per page, accompanied by a detailed explanation and history, and printed on high quality paper with a special binding, Classic Symbols is a unique and attractive book which will appeal to a broad range of readers, both as a gift and as a source for tattoo designs and other creative projects.Table of ContentsIntroduction One: Spirituality For many, these symbols have helped bring meaning and understanding to the world over the course of centuries and millennia. 1. Ankh 2. Aum/Om 3. Bindi 4. Caduceus 5. Chinese zodiac symbols 6. crescent moon 7. crossed linear triangles 8. eight-point star + nine-point star + eleven-point star 9. elven star 10. endless knot 11. Eye of Horus 12. hamsa 13. infinity 14. lotus 15. mandala 16. ouroboros 17. pentagram 18. sun 19. Yin yang Two: Identity Religious and political symbolism used to transmit a shared identity and an understanding of one’s place in a community and the wider world. 1. Ahimsa 2. alpha 3. anarchy 4. black sun/sonnenrad 5. Chi Rho 6. CND 7. cross 8. Eye of Providence 9. gender 10. hammer and sickle 11. Hunab Ku 12. icthus 13. kolovrat 14. Masonic Freemason 15. mandorla 16. Maya maize god 17. Menorah 18. moon and stars 19. omega 20. Sacred Heart 21. Shrivatsa 22. Shri Yantra 23. Star of David 24. Swastika 25. 12-pointed star 26. Wiccan protection symbol Three: Communication & Understanding These symbols bring order to our modern world, with signs for understanding technology, science and medicine, and more abstract symbols for communication that help make sense of the newer things we face. 1. ampersand & 2. @ symbol 3. biohazard 4. Bluetooth 5. Borromean rings 6. copyright © 7. currencies 8. first aid 9. golden ratio 10. hashtag # 11. hourglass 12. info 13. percentage 14. pi 15. recycling 16. registered trademark ® 17. Rod of Asclepius 18. trefoil knot Four: Art & History: Visual Culture Symbols that have recurred throughout history, sometimes as decorations, allowing people to leave their mark on a place or in the memory. While some are used in communication, often the meaning here is intended to be of a broader, less specific nature. 1. Celtic knot + Celtic trinity knot/triquetra 2. Dara knot 3. drams/comedy masks 4. dragon 5. Fleur-de-lis 6. Globus cruciger 7. Gordian Knot 8. heart 9. inuksuk 10. Koru 11. Rearing lion 12. scales 13. scarab 14. shamrock 15. skull and crossbones 16. smiley 17. theatre masks 18. triskelion 19. valknut

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Book SynopsisThis book addresses a growing demand to hear the authentic voices and understand the lived tourist experiences of people with disability. The latest volume in The Tourist Experience series challenges what is arguably an exclusionary, marginalising, discriminatory, and ableist (tourism) world.

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Book Synopsis''Evocative and beautifully written, it''s a deeply immersive read'' Observer''Enchanting and emotional...personifies its characters as they navigate the new wild and its trials.'' Chris Packham''Charles Foster is the most original voice in nature writing today - funny, urgent, poetic, philosophical and deeply moving'' Patrick Barkham''Utterly exhilarating... This book demands we change our ways'' Lee Schofield''There aren''t many writers like Charles around... a deeply thought-provoking book'' James Aldred''Reading this book feels like being made suddenly omniscient. In other words, you really have to'' Tom Moorhouse''Astonishingly playful, humorous, immensely varied and outrageously intelligent... The most inventive British writer presently at work on the theme of nature'' Mark CockerWhat is it like to live in a world built by humans? These eight genre-b

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Book Synopsis''Nathan Law''s agonising account of China''s ruthless takeover of Hong Kong provides a terrible insight into Beijing''s ambitions - the world needs to read this.'' - Jon Snow ''In Freedom, Nathan Law paints a deeply personal portrait of sheer courage... An essential and timely read.'' - Speaker Nancy PelosiWhat does it mean to be truly free? And can any of us be free until all of us are?Nobel Peace Prize nominee Nathan Law has experienced first-hand the shocking speed with which our freedom can be taken away from us, as an elected politician arrested simply for speaking his mind. He remembers what it is like to lack freedom - and his father''s precarious three-day escape from China in a small rowing boat.When authoritarianism makes gains around the world, demanding our silence as the price of doing business, it poses a challenge to democracy everywhere.In this passionate rallying

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Book SynopsisShowcasing a robust conceptual model primed for use in future studies, this work offers a close analysis of the culture of the fast-moving football club ownership world, football fandom and consumption, and what it might mean for the future of the sport.

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Book SynopsisThis innovative collection offers a reappraisal of gender as a category of analysis in modern Welsh history. Beginning with sex work in the eighteenth century and concluding with women’s late twentieth-century anti-nuclear activism, the contributors show how gender has been constructed, represented, performed and experienced by men and women at different times and places throughout Wales’s modern past. Using a variety of approaches, the collection interrogates gender as a concept that encompasses both femininity and masculinity, provides fresh perspectives on familiar themes, and demonstrates the value of gender analysis for our understanding of the political, social, cultural and economic history of modern Wales. Chapters by leading historians and early career academics each set an agenda for exploring the intersection of gender with nationality, race, class, age and sexuality. Table of ContentsAbbreviations List of Contributors Foreword Introduction Angela Muir, ‘Sex Work and Economies of Makeshift in Wales, c. 1750-1830’ Marion Löffler, ‘Family Matters: War-Time Discourses on Women in Wales, 1793–1805’ Paul O’Leary, ‘Masks and Matter: Mining Masculinities in the South Wales Coalfield, 1870-1914’ Steven Thompson, ‘“Can You Look in the Mirror and Say, I See a Man?’ Masculinity and the Labour Movement in South Wales, c.1870-1939’ Neil Evans and Beth Jenkins, ‘Spaces and Places of Women’s Social Movements in Wales, 1890-1914’ Mike Benbough-Jackson, ‘Nation and Gender: St David, St David’s Day and Masculinity during the Great War’ Simon Jenkins, ‘Exploring Race and Gender in Cardiff, c.1900-c.1945’ Stephanie Ward, ‘Heroic Housewives: Political Worlds, Domesticity and the Welsh Mam in Interwar Wales’ Jay Rees, ‘“Beware you free, emancipated girls, your warden wouldn’t like it”: Women’s Activism at Swansea University, 1970-1990’ Elaine Titcombe, ‘Reflections of gender in anti-nuclear politics in Wales 1970-2000’ Endnotes

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Book SynopsisActing as a follow up to Volume 41 of Studies in Symbolic Interaction (2013), Symbolic Interaction and Inequality explores further the concept of Radical Interactionism, a perspective of researching domination and subordination introduced by scholar Lonnie Athens.Demonstrating advancements made in Radical Interactionism over the past decade, chapters examine the omnipresent and insidious nature of inequality as well as its social construction among family members, cisgender and gender-diverse people, as well as university students and personnel, particularly college athletes.Highlighting fruitful accomplishments achieved by a range of symbolic interactionists, this volume exhibits the significance of studying inequality, a venture that not only enriches symbolic interactionism but human life as a whole.

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Book SynopsisExtremely open in its honesty and meticulously researched, (M)otherhood probes themes of infertility, childbirth and reproductive justice, and makes a powerful and urgent argument for the need to tackle society's obsession with women's bodies and fertility.Trade ReviewAn exhilarating, genre-defying read . . . seamlessly interwoven with statistics, quotes and scientific evidence to clever narrative effect . . . reminiscent of Olivia Laing's writing on loneliness or the body . . . The whole thing adds up to the most thoughtful, empathic and inspiring science of the self -- VIV GROSKOP * * Observer * *Absolutely sensational. Revelatory and of its time, challenging myths and ingrained perceptions. I could not put it down. Everyone should read this -- MICHAEL CASHMAN, CBE, co-founder of StonewallBrilliant, brave, beautiful . . . such an inspiring book -- ELIF SHAFAKRiveting. Agarwal writes with searing honesty and tenderness about the joys and agonies of becoming a mother, of trying and failing to conceive again, and then of pursuing a route to motherhood that's widely seen as taboo . . . Agarwal writes beautifully about her own complicated experience * * Guardian * *Intimate and insightful, Pragya Agarwal expands the meaning of the word motherhood in this brilliant book. This is urgent, essential reading for everyone -- AVNI DOSHIA wide-ranging, searingly honest and timely intervention into the framing of a fundamental and fraught choice, as well as an impassioned defence of ambivalence as part of the human condition -- OLIVIA SUDJIC(M)otherhood is a valuable step towards a literature that acknowledges the breadth and variety of the parenting experience and its cultural meanings. It is touchingly personal and brave -- ANGELA SAINI, author of Superior: The Return of Race SciencePowerful and compelling . . . Agarwal is a precise, elegant writer who seeks answers by embracing complexity * * New Statesman * *A book about the disparate forces of duty, stereotypes, pressure, double standards and expectations forced upon women, Agarwal cuts through all of it to examine the multiplicity and complexity of motherhood in all its myriad forms. A moving, urgent and necessary read, ultimately it is a book about love -- LAURA BATESCourageous, tender, painfully resonant and beautifully written - this is such a wise and generous exploration of womanhood and identity, and deserves to be read as widely as possible -- DAISY BUCHANAN

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Book SynopsisAuthor Angelos Bollas sheds light on the complex interplay between gender norms, media influence, and the construction of modern masculinity through his nuanced analysis of Timothée Chalamet and Paul Mescal, whose unique approach to self-presentation challenges traditional notions of masculinity.

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Book SynopsisThe ebook edition of this title is Open Access, thanks to Knowledge Unlatched funding, and freely available to read online. Acknowledging the institutional challenges that hinder the work and careers of working-class academics, Teresa Crew calls for a more inclusive and equitable higher education landscape.

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Book SynopsisThe Tao Te Ching, written around 300BC, describes the fundamental beliefs of Taoism, addressing how to live a simple, peaceful and harmonious life, how to rid oneself of desires and institutions that promote greed. This pocket dual-language edition presents the original Chinese text with a new translation on the facing page.

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Book SynopsisThe super-rich have never had it so good. But millions of us can’t afford a home, an education or a pension. And unless we change course soon, the future will be even worse. Much worse. But things don’t have to be like this. In this bold new book, former Treasury Minister Liam Byrne explains why wealth inequality has grown so fast in recent years; warns how it threatens our society, economy and politics; shows where economics has got it wrong – and lays out a path back to common sense, with five practical ways to rebuild an old ideal: the wealth-owning democracy. Liam Byrne draws on conversations and debates with former prime ministers, presidents and policymakers around the world, together with experts at the OECD, World Bank and IMF, to argue that after twenty years of statistics and slogans it’s time for solutions that aren’t just radical but plausible and achievable as well. The future won’t be a land of milk and honey but it could be a place where we live longer, happier, healthier and wealthier lives.Trade ReviewVery few in frontline politics have worked as long as Liam Byrne on the theory and practice of tackling inequality - or are as thoughtful and insightful. This new book is essential reading for anyone who cares about tackling one of the great political and moral challenges of our time. * Ed Balls *The UK is an “inheritocracy” – a country where the richest, wealth-wise, have widened the gap with the rest, amplifying social inequalities. Liam Byrne’s book is rich, practical and compelling in its proposals for turning this tide, elevating opportunities and living standards for many millions of people through sweeping institutional reform. I hope it is not just read widely but acted on immediately. * Andy Haldane, Chief Executive, The RSA *The effects of inequality are not solely a consequence of poverty, they also result from how wealth and affluence skew society, undermining our social solidarity and wellbeing. Liam Byrne understands the devastating costs of wealth inequality, here is a politician with a true sense of purpose – this is a must-read for those who want to shape a better society. * Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson, authors of The Spirit Level *From the destructive impunity of today’s phenomenally wealthy – the disfiguring feature of our times – to well thought out, original solutions, Liam Byrne makes an indisputable case. Powerful social observation combined with distilling the best of today’s thinking in response – at once readable and passionate – does not come much better than this. * Will Hutton, author of The State We're In: Why Britain Is in Crisis and How to Overcome It *A thought-provoking read about one of the most difficult yet most important political issues of our time. * Lord Gus O’Donnell, former Cabinet Secretary *Liam Byrne has spent his years in opposition thinking deeply about what a government should do, and this book is the fruit of that work. This is a plan for a fairer, richer and stronger country, and I hope ministers pay attention. * Oliver Bullough, author of Moneyland *Liam Byrne's new book will help the British left to understand how freedom and equality should be reconciled. He takes the politics of inequality as seriously as we must, but shows us how combating inequality can help us to expand freedom. * Philip Collins, columnist for the New Statesman *Liam Byrne’s The Inequality of Wealth is beautifully written, deeply insightful and above all humane. The policy recommendations are original, bold and persuasive, and should define future debates on how to create a more just society. * Steven Durlauf, the Steans Professor in Educational Policy and the Director of the Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality and Mobility at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy *In this bold and incisive book, Liam Byrne makes a compelling case for a radically different approach to wealth and inequality. Everyone who cares about the future of this country and of our society should read it. * Matthew d'Ancona, former Deputy Editor of The Sunday Telegraph *Reducing wealth inequality remains an urgent global challenge. Liam Byrne has produced a well-informed, sharply-argued and highly-readable analysis of the problem — and more importantly what now needs to be done. * James Crabtree, author of The Billionaire Raj *This is a wonderful book. Liam Byrne lucidly and elegantly explains why wealth inequality is a key challenge that needs to be at the centre of a meaningful politics of social justice. His thoughtful and creative policy ideas offer a practical platform for addressing these inequities and should command attention across the political spectrum. In these troubled political times, the wise counsel offered here is a great tonic. * Mike Savage, Professor of Sociology, London School of Economics *Liam Byrne is now thinking about doing what was so very recently unthinkable. He is open to policies he once dismissed as unrealistic, and can be persuaded on others that in the past were painted as pipe dreams. British politics is changing, it is abruptly shifting, in a way it has not done fifty years, and in a good way. The Inequality of Wealth is a key part of that turn. It is a hand-break turn. * Danny Dorling, Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography, University of Oxford *Serves as a invaluable repository of recent ideas put forward by academics and think-tankers, collated through Byrne’s wide-ranging experience in public policy. * The Financial Times *Byrne is an engaging writer, and his latest book is full of ideas. * The Telegraph *[An] a engaging and readable polemic * The TLS *

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Book SynopsisPhoenix Andrews is a journalist, writer, broadcaster and researcher. His expertise in politics, fandom, popular culture and digital culture has seen him published in The Times, Independent, Slate, Prospect, New Statesman and other publications, and interviewed by BBC World Service and Times Radio. He likes clothes too much, so much so that he started to make his own (badly).

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Book SynopsisResearch impact is increasingly expected within academia, but does the pressure to ‘do impact’ risk an unhealthy focus on what can be counted rather than what counts? Creating Meaningful Impact: The Essential Guide to Developing an Impact-Literate Mindset looks at impact from inside the research sector, celebrating the opportunity to make a difference whilst recognising the challenges this brings. Taking you from basic concepts through to principles of practice, impact expert Julie Bayley demystifies impact and guides you on the path to understanding the why, what, who and how of research-led change. What do unicorns tell us about what matters? Or strip clubs tell us about failure? And what can Murder She Wrote teach us about assembling evidence? Whether you’re a researcher, research lead or research manager, Creating Meaningful Impact will help you realign your impact sat-nav and develop an authentic, critical and healthy approach within the wider pressures of academia.Trade ReviewJulie Bayley’s book, Creating Meaningful Impact, is an enlightening romp through the excitement, the pressures, the demands of doing impact well, both in terms of institutional success and in terms of a researcher’s personal and professional development. As book blurbs often suggest, the book is a rollercoaster, but one very much aimed at the fainthearted, who stand to learn a lot from Julie’s immense expertise, warmth, wit and superlative use of imagery. So, if you are tickled by the idea of becoming a more mindfully impactful researcher, swipe right on ‘Impact Tinder’ and read this book! -- Professor Ele Belfiore, Professor in Cultural Policy & Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Social Inclusion and Cultural Diversity, University of Aberdeen, UKJulie Bayley never fails to achieve impact on impact. If you are already on your journey to impact literacy this book will help you grow roots into impact healthy practices. And if you are just starting out, this book will help you sow the seeds that will grow into those roots to sustain your career of research with an impact on society. 'Creating meaningful impact' isn’t just the title, it is the goal that Julie achieves in this important book. -- Dr David Phipps, Assistant VP Research Strategy & Impact, York University, Canada, and Director of Research Impact CanadaThere are many books available to advise researchers how to ‘do’ impact but none as accessible as this. The sheer joy and enthusiasm that Julie brings to the field shines through every word which, along with insights from other researchers and partners in the field, ensures that every reader will emerge from this book enlightened, and excited about the prospect of pursuing their own ‘societal impact’. -- Dr Gemma Derrick, Associate Professor, Research Policy & Culture, University of Bristol, UKAbsolutely brilliant. Cuts through the impact BS incisively but with wit, focusing on the (social) purpose throughout. Should be a must read for all PhD students and frankly all academics. -- Jonathan Grant, Founding Director of Different Angles Ltd, a consultancy that focuses on the social impact of universities and researchI adored this book and will give it to every young academic on my Christmas present list [...] As the author intended, I found my 'impact mojo' in this book. -- Christopher Walker, Communications Strategist, Thought Leadership Columnist & WriterTable of ContentsChapter 1. What is research impact? Chapter 2. Impact literacy Chapter 3. Impact, values and power Principle 1. Chase meaning not unicorns Principle 2. Work out what your research powers up Principle 3. Think directionally not linearly Principle 4. Evidence? Think ‘What would Jessica Fletcher do?’ Principle 5. Create a healthy space Principle 6. Own your expertise but don’t be a jerk Principle 7. Be an impact lighthouse Principle 8. Be you Final words

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Book SynopsisSubverting eco-anxiety and establishing ways we can empower children around the globe, this book takes a holistic approach to bring together the relevancy and impact of forced migration and climate resilience, underpinned by a social emotional approach to overall wellbeing, adjustment, and adaptability.

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Book SynopsisWho became Britain's first Prime Minister on 3 April 1721?When was Karl Marx born?Where and when was the first battle of the Wars of the Roses?When did Big Ben first bong?When did the first British woman cast her vote? (Clue: It wasn't 1918.)Find the answers to these questions and many more in this landmark political history.From the first meeting of an elected English parliament on 20 January 1265 to the tabling of the Bill of Rights on 13 February 1689; from the Peterloo massacre of 16 August 1819 to Britain voting to leave the EU on 23 June 2016, there is a growing thirst for knowledge about the history of our constitutional settlement, our party system and how our parliamentary democracy has developed.Writing as an observer of political history, but also as someone with an opinion, acclaimed political broadcaster Iain Dale charts the main events of the last few hundred years, with one event per page, per day.'The indefatigable Iain Dale always cuts to the nub of politics.' Adam BoultonTable of Contentsi: Foreword 1: January 2: February 3: March 4: April 5: May 6: June 7: July 8: August 9: September 10: October 11: November 12: December ii: Acknowledgements iii: Index

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Book Synopsis'P. J. O'Rourke was the funniest writer of his generation, one of the smartest and one of the most prolific. Now that he belongs to the ages, P.J. takes his rightful place along with Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain and Dorothy Parker in the Pantheon of Quote Gods.' Christopher Buckley from his introductionWhen The Penguin Dictionary of Modern Humorous Quotations was published in 1994, P. J. O'Rourke had more entries than any living writer. And he kept writing funny stuff for another 28 years. Now, for the first time, the best material is collected in one volume. Edited by his longtime friend Terry McDonell, The Funny Stuff is arranged in six sections, organized by subject in alphabetical order from Agriculture to Xenophobia. Not only did P.J. write memorable one-liners, he also meticulously constructed riffs that built to a crescendo of hilarity and outrage - and are still being quoted years later. His prose has the electric verbal energy of Tom Wolfe or Hunter S. Thompson, but P.J. is more flat-out funny. And through it all comes his clear-eyed take on politics, economics, human nature - and fun. The Funny Stuff is a book for P.J. fans to devour but also a book that will bring new readers and stand as testament to one of the truly original American writers of the last 50 years.Table of ContentsPart I: America and Americans Part II: Good Clean Fun Part III: Around the World Part IV: Real Life Part V: Media and Messages Part VI: My Generation (Baby Boomers)

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Book SynopsisThe Creative Cognitive Therapy Method is a short-term, 10-session, solution-focused therapy combining cognitive-behavioural therapy with art therapy, designed to help people heal from a variety of issues affecting their mental health and overall wellbeing. This program helps people to stay focused, gain new perspectives and enhance their daily coping skills to reduce anxiety, addictive behaviours, depression and anger. The book includes a full overview of the Creative Cognitive Therapy Method and how to apply it, whether as a part of clinical practice or as self-help. Each of the 10 sessions is clearly laid out with quotes to inspire, goals, CBT interventions and their explanations, art therapy interventions, discussion questions, and easy-to-understand homework assignments. The Creative Cognitive Therapy Method provides people with the tools and mindset to individualize their healing and self-discovery to create lasting changes in their lives.

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Book SynopsisMarianna Spring is the BBC's first disinformation and social media correspondent and an award-winning journalist. She presents podcasts and documentaries investigating disinformation and social media for BBC Radio 4 podcasts, as well as for BBC Panorama and BBC Three. She is also one of the presenters of the BBC's Americast podcast. In 2022, she was named the British Press Guild's Audio Presenter of the year and Royal Television Society Innovation winner.

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Book SynopsisHow are authority and influence accumulated and wielded across the six Gulf states? Mixing theoretical and empirical insights, and utilising both historical and contemporary examples, this book offers a comparative analysis of military, political, economic and religious power in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as of the power of narrative. While many volumes examine each of these states individually, 'Centers of Power in the Arab Gulf States' assesses the Arabian Peninsula as a whole, filling a significant gap in the literature. It surveys the myriad factors which have influenced the emergence of these states, societies and political economies, which have become increasingly assertive actors in today's global order. Exploring domestic, regional and transnational pressures, Kristian Coates Ulrichsen sheds light on the varying concepts of power and authority, the different forms they take, the ways they are projected, and the practical constraints on their exercise. From whom does power derive? Is it something different from influence and ambition? Is decision-making top-down or bottom-up, or a mixture of both? From bureaucrats to scholars, and from royals to opposition figures, Coates Ulrichsen uncovers the power relations shaping the Gulf today.Trade Review‘A comprehensive examination of the nature of power in the Gulf.’ -- Abrar'An in-depth account of the political, economic and social dynamics in the Gulf states. Challenging conventional wisdom and providing fresh insights, he skilfully analyses the ways different groups shape politics. A unique and valuable contribution.' -- Steven Wright, Associate Professor of International Relations, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and author of 'The United States and Persian Gulf Security''Kristian Coates Ulrichsen's latest book, thematically organised and covering all six GCC states, highlights the transnational ties between these states and the ways in which social, economic, political, military and religious nodes of power interact. A path-breaking work in Gulf Studies.' -- Courtney Freer, Visiting Assistant Professor of Middle Eastern Studies, Emory University, and co-author of 'Tribalism and Political Power in the Gulf''"Centers of Power in the Arab Gulf States" brings new conceptual insights into the various degrees and forms of both soft and hard power in the region. An intellectually stimulating and rich examination of the power of GCC countries.' -- Dania Thafer, Executive Director, Gulf International Forum, and author of 'Creative Insecurity: Institutional Inertia and Youth Potential in the GCC''Kristian Coates Ulrichsen is one of the best-informed analysts of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. This is a historically grounded thematic treatment of how power is exercised, using examples from the early twentieth century to today. A must-read for all seeking to better understand this key region.' -- Lawrence G. Potter, Adjunct Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, and editor of 'The Persian Gulf in History'

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Book SynopsisDrawing on his experience of working with hundreds of politicians in more than sixty countries, Greg Power explores how social norms, public expectations and the personal interests of MPs influence the path of political development. Where states are weak, politicians solve problems by going around the state. From Tanzania and Nepal to Iraq and Ukraine, voters actually want MPs who can find informal fixes, and a reciprocal logic holds the system in place. But this also means that weak institutions tend to stay weak. Combining insights from behavioural economics, change management and comparative politics, this fascinating book argues for a different approach to political reform, one concerned less with institutional design and more with the existing logic of human behaviour. One that starts inside the political mind, and works outwards from there.Trade Review‘Beautifully observed, elegantly written, wry, understated and thoughtful.’ -- Rory Stewart‘A fascinating insider’s perspective on geopolitics, global diplomacy, problem solving and conflict resolution—and how radically different it seems viewed from the outside.’ -- Peter Hain, former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland‘In lively prose enriched with compelling real-life examples, Power builds a persuasive case ... His insights about what politics look like from the inside rather than the outside point the way forward to better understanding—and better action.’ -- Thomas Carothers, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace'Behavioural meets political science - and what a fascinating and important collision. Greg Power unpacks the deep logic of the personal and political to make sense of the world's strangest, most criticized and most important profession.' -- David Halpern, author of Inside the Nudge Unit and President of Behavioural Insights Team‘Fun to read and full of amazing stories about the “odd” behaviour of politicians in developing countries. Politicians everywhere and those who try to understand them will enjoy and learn much from this book.’ -- Mushtaq Khan, Professor of Economics, SOAS University of London

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Book Synopsis'A compelling history of the dark arts of statecraft... Fascinating' Jonathan Rugman'Rich in anecdote and detail.' The TimesToday's world is in flux. Competition between the great powers is back on the agenda and governments around the world are turning to secret statecraft and the hidden hand to navigate these uncertain waters. From poisonings to electoral interference, subversion to cyber sabotage, states increasingly operate in the shadows, while social media has created new avenues for disinformation on a mass scale.This is covert action: perhaps the most sensitive - and controversial - of all state activity. However, for all its supposed secrecy, it has become surprisingly prominent - and it is something that has the power to affect all of us. In an enthralling and urgent narrative packed with real-world examples, Rory Cormac reveals how such activity is shaping the world and argues that understanding why and how states wield these dark arts has never been more important.Trade ReviewRich in anecdote and detail... Cormac, you can see, is an engaged teacher, the kind of lecturer who holds his students' attention with illustrative stories of derring-do and dirty tricks. They will like this book, as I do, with its relish of good yarns... A zippy read. * The TImes *A compelling history of the dark arts of statecraft - from assassination and sabotage through to disinformation, election interference and cyberattack. Rory Cormac combines the best true-life spy stories with thoughtful analysis of the perils of covert government operations. So full is it of fascinating and astutely examined examples of these murky practices that you wouldn't want his book to fall into the wrong hands. * Jonathan Rugman, author of The Killing in the Consulate *Even as major powers flaunt their military hardware and brazenly trample over borders, their struggles also continue in the shadows. Rory Cormac's raid into this confusing terrain is daring, incisive and exact, an intellectual special operation in itself. In particular, it reveals the hard choices and delicate trade-offs practitioners must consider, between secrecy, control and impact. Much that is written on this subject is overblown and vapid. Cormac's work, by contrast, is a much-needed correction. Britain needs Cormac. * Patrick Porter, author of The False Promise of Liberal Order *A dazzling journey through the subterranean world of covert action: from assassination, secret wars, cyberattacks and sabotage, to rigging elections, spreading influence, and subverting democracy. This major new book is stacked full of fascinating examples from around the world, perceptive analysis and careful warnings. A must read for anyone interested in international politics and secret statecraft. * Jamie Gaskarth, author of Secrets and Spies *An absolute must read for understanding the wide range of tools states pursue in the realm of covert statecraft. It has immense lessons for cyber operations, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and more. * Michael Poznansky, author of In the Shadow of International Law *Rory Cormac offers a delightfully incisive and much needed corrective to the opacity surrounding covert action. He shows that reality is, in fact, far more interesting than fiction... It may sound odd to say, but despite it being about some of the most underhanded behaviors a state can undertake, it is a fun book to read. It is a must read for both practitioners of the dark arts and the curious general public alike. * Diplomatic Courier *A must read for those interested in intelligence, secret warfare and the hidden hand. * Intelligence and National Security *A valuable and thought-provoking work, the most thorough treatment of the topic to date. * Studies in Intelligence *An important public service... Cormac's book has an ambitious scope, and its arguments and information are truly timeless. * International Affairs *Table of Contents1: How to assassinate your enemies 2: How to get away with murder 3: How to influence others 4: How to subvert governments and undermine democracy 5: How to rig an election 6: How to stage a coup 7: How to wage a secret war 8: How to pick your rebels 9: How to sabotage 10: How to cyberattack 11: How to wield the hidden hand

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Book SynopsisLonely Planet explores over 30 customs around death, grief and rebirth in cultures and communities around the world and highlights some of the lessons we can all learn from them. With first-person narratives, locals tell the stories of their culture's customs in their own voices. Photography and illustration brings the fascinating pages to life.Through such topics as the tangihanga mourning tradition of New Zealand's Maori people, Irish wakes and the annual Day of the Dead across Mexico, this book explores what it means to mourn loved ones. It also covers some of the funeral traditions of communities around the world, including Tibetan sky burials, the cremation ghats of Varanasi, India, and Ghana's fantasy coffins. Special focus falls on thought-provoking places to visit, for example catacombs, magnificent cemeteries, and festivals of the dead, with details of how to travel and experience some of these customs. Inside Lonely Planet's Guide to Death, Grief and Rebirth:- More than 30 in-depth accounts of customs around death, grief and rebirth, including spotlights on key aspects and details of how to witness some of the events- Special spreads on sites around the world to visit- Vibrant illustrations and photography to explain the customs in a respectful manner- First-person accounts of attending New Orleans' jazz funerals, the Day of the Dead and other occasions- Explanations of what insights and lessons readers may gain from some customsLonely Planet's Guide to Death,Grief and Rebirth is a unique and illuminating book about the rituals and customs people around the world perform in order to come to terms with the inevitable loss of loved ones. About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures Company, is the world’s number one travel guidebook brand. Providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973, Lonely Planet reaches hundreds of millions of travellers each year online and in print and helps them unlock amazing experiences. Visit us at lonelyplanet.com and join our community of followers on Facebook (facebook.com/lonelyplanet), Twitter (@lonelyplanet), Instagram (instagram.com/lonelyplanet), and TikTok (@lonelyplanet).'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' – Fairfax Media (Australia)

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Book SynopsisThe first step on the road to change is to imagine possibility.Imagine A Country offers visions of a new future from an astonishing array of Scottish voices, from comedians to economists, writers to musicians. Edited, curated and introduced by bestselling author Val McDermid and geographer Jo Sharp, it is a collection of ideas, dreams and ambitions, aiming to inspire change, hope and imagination. Featuring:ALI SMITH, PHILL JUPITUS, A.L. KENNEDY, ALAN CUMMING, KERRY HUDSON, GREG HEMPHILL, CAROL ANN DUFFY, CHRIS BROOKMYRE, ALISON WATT, ALASDAIR GRAY, LEILA ABOULELA, IAN RANKIN, SELINA HALES, SANJEEV KOHLI, JACKIE KAY, DAMIAN BARR, ELAINE C. SMITH, ABIR MUKHERJEE, ANNE GLOVER, ALAN BISSETT, LOUISE WELSH, JO CLIFFORD, RICKY ROSS, TRISHNA SINGH, CAMERON McNEISH, ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH, CARLA JENKINS, DON PATERSON, AND MANY MORE . . .Trade ReviewAn ambitious, thought-provoking, diverse collection of imaginings. I laughed, I cried -- WILL DEANA fascinating and rich collection * * The National * *Thoughtful . . . idealistic and interesting * * Scotsman * *

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Book Synopsis'One of the most original writers around. He has profoundly influenced my thinking.' Hannah Fry Why thinking in pictures? Short answer: because the words seem to need help. If you sample the many smart-thinking books to hit the shelves recently, they all promise a smarter, more rational you, and it all seems just pages away. But if the books are that good, why are there so many? And have they succeeded in moving the dial of people's reasoning? Using illustrations and photographs, Michael Blastland shows how pictures can help put ideas to the test, making them vivid, showing them in action. Part guide, part gallery, Thinking in Pictures is a brilliantly original and witty introduction to smart-thinking - how to use it and when to question it - for anyone trying to make sense of a puzzling world.Trade ReviewIf you want to think not just fast and slow, but broadly and deeply, wisely and insightfully, outside the box and inside it, it's hard to think of a better book - or a better author - than this. -- Tim HarfordA wonderful antidote to all those books on how to be smart and rational. Blastland uses vivid images and personal stories to show that things are hard, require multiple perspectives, and sometimes there's just no answer. Full of challenges to our ideas, he proclaims himself an "uncertainty evangelist" while giving some great tips for spotting trustworthiness. A welcome call for more humility from the smart-thinkers. -- David SpiegelhalterOne of the most original writers around. He has profoundly influenced my thinking. -- Hannah FryHighly original and challenging... Once you have read this book, you can't unread it. * Daniel Finkelstein, The Times on THE HIDDEN HALF *Elegantly written and mind-expanding, The Hidden Half will enthrall you with its storytelling while educating you with its scientific depth. * Daniel H. Pink on THE HIDDEN HALF *Table of Contents1: Why thinking in pictures? 2: Unjoin your dots 3: Un-count your sheep 4: But count in human 5: Beware nature's fake news 6: But treasure the funnies 7: Focus, but don't 8: Draw the tiger 9: Mind your pictures 10: Think bad thoughts 11: Think twice upon a time 12: Think in bets 13: Don't trust 14: Get a new attitude 15: Last thoughts

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Book SynopsisCrime investigation is not always a matter of gathering hard evidence. Just as police officers sometimes follow a "hunch", people with psychic abilities have often supplied invaluable leads to help crack the most baffling cases. Through dreams, visions, telepathy, and a host of other means, psychics have also predicted and tried to prevent many serious crimes. Psychic Detectives allows you to enter their world, revealing their astounding experiences and the often heavy price they pay for sharing what they know. Police agencies are generally reluctant to admit to the use of psychics during or even after the completion of an investigation for fear of ridicule from the public and other members of the law enforcement community. Despite this, psychics have often become involved in a large number of highly publicised investigations into serial murders conducted over the last 20 years or more. Featured cases include: the Kennedy assassinations • Jack the Ripper • Charles Manson murders • Uri Geller's diamond find • David Berkowitz ("Son of Sam") • Los Angeles Olympic Games bombing • Moors murders • Peter Sutcliffe ("The Yorkshire Ripper") • IRA bombing, Manchester • disappearance of Lord Lucan • Patty Hearst kidnapping • and many more ...Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: The First Psychic Detectives A look at how Roman and Greek oracles used altered states of consciousness and 'communed with spirits' in order to influence affairs of politics, war and crime. Medieval psychics who had visions of other people and future events were branded as witches and warlocks as a consequence. Investigates real cases from Victorian times of strange crimes with a supernatural bent that brought out the first psychic assistance and inspired fictional detectives such as Sherlock Holmes. 2: Tools of the Trade The techniques used by psychic detectives: Dreams can provide evidence that can assist the police in their enquiries, as well as the problems of analysis and interpretation. Psychometry is the practice of seeing visions by holding an object - such as an item of clothing belonging to a missing or murdered person - and using these visions to direct a search. Psychics may call on map dowsing, using tools such as pendulums and a map in order to define the location to hunt for clues. Clairvoyance, in which the spirits of the dead contact psychics to aid in their quest to solve a case - including victims assisting in bringing their own killers to justice. 3: Supernatural Crime-Busting How psychics aid police in the tracking of killers. Case studies include the use of psychics to try to locate the still missing bodies left by the Moors Murderers, and the psychics who attempted to prevent the assassination of Senator Robert Kennedy. 4: Profile of a Psychic Sleuth This chapter tells the story of Renie Wiley, a psychic detective, from how she discovered her abilities, through the way she works and onto some of her major cases. 5: The Police View The various motives that police have for using psychics during their investigations and the techniques selected to best utilise the evidence provided. A case history sets out how one police detective in Oregon has honed his own ESP after working with psychics but presents his evidence as 'hunches'. 6: In the Courtroom A series of case histories will punctuate this section, reporting on the problems of getting a conviction in a case where psychic methods lead to an arrest. 7: The Danger of Being Right The risks to psychics when they assist the police in their investigations are addressed through a series of case histories and box features including interviews with police and psychics. Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn ancient Rome (753 BC – 476 AD) mythology was integral to various aspects of society, from religion, to politics, to the founding of the city. Today, we may encounter the legacy of these stories before we encounter the stories themselves, whether this is in day-to-day speech, the 18th century art on display at the Louvre, or the works of William Shakespeare. The Roman tendency to accept their mythology as part of history creates a degree of uncertainty around the historical basis of the figures featured in these legendary tales. Truth, fiction, or both, the significance of mythology to this people is palpable. From Romulus and Remus and the founding of Rome to Lucretia and the Republic; from Livy and the Dii Consentes to Virgil’s Aeneid; from Dis Pater in the underworld to Jupiter, god of the sky. Illustrated with 180 colour and black-and-white photographs, artworks, and maps, Roman Myths is an engaging and informative book, offering an introduction to Roman mythology, its roots, and its ongoing importance.Table of ContentsIntroduction Roman mythology before Greek influence and how Roman mythology built on the Greek pantheon. 1: The History and Mythology of Rome Aeneas – (Virgil’s Aenid) a hero of the Trojan War and Anchises and Venus’ son, he led Trojan refugees to Italy at the end of the war to become the founder of the Roman culture. Romulus and Remus (400BC) – the children of Rhea Silvia and Mars, the twin brothers and demi-gods are known for being the founders of Rome. Abandoned at birth because of a prophecy that told of them overthrowing their great-uncle Amulius, they were brought up by a she-wolf and then the shepherd Faustulus. Eventually they killed Amulius, established Rome and reinstated Numitor (Silvia’s father) in power. However, Romulus ended up killing Remus, which was later taken to represent a history of political dispute in Rome. 2: The Primary Deities Archaic Triad – Jupiter, Mars, Quirinus Capitoline Triad – Jupiter, Juno, Minerva Plebian/Aventine Triad – Ceres, Liber, Libera The Dii Consentes – the twelve major deities of the Ancient Roman pantheon; Juno, Vesta, Minerva, Ceres, Diana, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Neptune, Vulcan, Apollo. Greek influence (Greek gods compared with their Roman counterparts) – the development of Roman mythology from spirits to the pantheon; Roman people originally worshipped numina as gods and goddesses, but they had few distinctive qualities; e.g. Janus, god of doorways and archways and Terminus, god of boundaries. Being inspired by the Greek deities, they started to adapt their gods into Greek equivalents, giving them different names; Aphrodite became Venus, Cronus became Saturn etc. Cybele was known as Magna Mater (‘Great Mother’). The Roman state adopted and developed a particular form of her cult after the Sibylline oracle recommended her conscription as a key religious ally in Rome’s second war against Carthage. Roman mythographers reinvented her as a Trojan goddess, and thus an ancestral goddess of the Roman people by way of the Trojan prince Aeneas. With Rome’s eventual hegemony over the Mediterranean world, Romanized forms of Cybele's cults spread throughout the Roman Empire. The meaning and morality of her cults and priesthoods were topics of debate and dispute in Greek and Roman literature, and remain so in modern scholarship. 3: Lesser Deities & Magical Beings Along with the Dii Consentes, eight additional gods and goddesses made up the Dii Selecti. All aspects of daily life and state endeavour were governed by these or a host of lesser gods, and other supernatural beings also feature in Roman mythology. These include monsters, magical creatures and semi-divine heroes. 4: Roman Writings Ovid’s Metamorphoses – a collection of Near Eastern and Greek myths that the Romans had adopted, documenting from creation to the pinnacle of Julius Caesar’s reign. Ovid’s Fasti – describes Roman myths about the gods according to the festivals in their calendar. 5: The Mundane & the Mythological Rape of the Sabine women – after the founding of Rome by Romulus, there was a dearth of women to populate the city and so he abducted the Sabine women, resulting in a war with the Caeninenses. Horatius at the bridge – Publius Horatius Cocles, an army officer of ancient Rome, defended the Pons Sublicius from the Etruscans during the Roman and Clusium war. Raising the sun – Goddess Angerona is said to have known a spell to raise the sun in midwinter, on December 21st; the shortest day of the year. On that day, the days began to lengthen and spring returned. She also held the secret name of Rome, which would doom the people if she told it. Gaius Mucius Scaevola – a mythical assassin who, when captured, thrust his hand into the fire without showing any pain. His intended victim, Porsena, was shocked at the youth’s bravery, and dismissed him from the Etruscan camp, free to return to Rome, saying ‘Go back, since you do more harm to yourself than me’. At the same time, the king also sent ambassadors to Rome to offer peace. Servius Tullius – was the legendary sixth king of Rome, and the second of its Etruscan dynasty. He reigned 575–535 BC. Several traditions describe Servius’s father as divine. 6. The Legacy of Rome How Roman myths and legends changed throughout the existence of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire. Later, how the myths and legends survived after the Fall of the Roman Empire, how they were adapted during the Dark Ages and revived during the Renaissance. Bibliography Index

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In this new edition of The Television Genre Book, leading international scholars have come together to offer an accessible and comprehensive update to the debates, issues and concerns of the field. As television continues to evolve rapidly, this new edition reflects the ways in which TV has transformed in recent years, particularly with the emergence of online streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Amazon Prime. It also includes a new chapter on sports TV, and expanded coverage of horror, political thrillers, Nordic noir, historical documentary and docu-drama. With analyses of popular shows like Stranger Things, Killing Eve, The Crown, Chernobyl, Black Mirror, Fleabag, Breaking Bad and RuPaul’s Drag Race, this book offers a comprehensive understanding of television genre for scholars and students alike.

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Book Synopsis“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia” – Winston Churchill, 5 March 1946 Following the Allies’ victory in World War II, the European continent was soon divided into two broad zones of influence, with Eastern Europe coming under communist Soviet control, and the west under the oversight of the liberal democracies led by the United States. What developed over the next 40 years was a military and ideological stand-off that defined Europe and much of the world until 1989. In countries such as Germany, the Cold War divided families between the two zones of control. The two opponents competed for global dominance, building up ever greater arsenals of nuclear weapons, funding and fighting costly proxy wars in Southeast Asia, Africa and Central America, deploying espionage and trade embargoes, and even seeking technological advantage in space exploration, which became known as the “Space Race”. The Cold War provides a pictorial examination of this crucial era in 20th century history, offering the reader an instant understanding of the key events and figures in this 40-year period through 150 dramatic photographs.Table of ContentsContents: Introduction For the decades between 1946 and 1991, the Soviet Union and its allies in the Eastern Europe – the so-called ‘Soviet bloc’, united under the banner of the Warsaw Pact – and the United States of America and its allies in Western Europe, united under the banner of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) – were involved in a massive geo- political and military stand-off, known as the Cold War. 1940s • Best of Enemies. Yalta Conference, Feb. 1945. Decided post-war reorganization of Europe. • Thinking the Unthinkable. Britain’s plans for ‘Operation Unthinkable’, June 1945. Didn’t happen, but intriguing straw in wind/indication of the way western strategists were thinking. NB Britain’s assumption of continued leadership role (despite recognition that plan couldn’t succeed without US help). All this about to change ... • Big Boy. Bombing of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Aug. 1945 doesn’t just end WWII secures superpower status for USA • A War of Rhetoric. Stalin/Churchill speeches – incompatibility capitalism and communism (Feb. 1946)/’Iron Curtain’ (Mar. 1946) • Gifts to the Greeks. Civil war in newly-liberated Greece. Communists backed by USSR; monarchists by Britain. Civil War breaks out (May 1946). US support for Greek anti-communists (and, by implication, other comparable groups) firmed up in ‘Truman Doctrine’, March 1947. • Au Revoir, Indochine. First Indochina War, 1946–54. Against French, of course – though they had discreet support from USA, while Viet Minh openly assisted by Soviets. Final defeat for French at Dien Bien Phu, March–May 1954. (Maybe just mention Algeria here? Not sure it merits own entry in this context ...) Ho Chi Minh’s communists in control in North; succession of US-backed dictatorships in Republic of Vietnam. • ‘People’ Power. Communist takeover in Czechoslovakia, Feb. 1948. Quick sketch of situation in other Iron Curtain countries. • Buying Allegiance? Marshall Plan inaugurated, Apr. 1948. (NB aid offered to Soviet Bloc as well but refused. Underlined East–West divide.) • Blockade! Berlin Blockade and Air Lift, Jun. 1948–May 1949. Dramatically highlighted Europe’s new divisions. • Colonial Concerns. Malayan Emergency, Jun. 1948–60. (Paradigmatic for succession of liberation struggles in former European colonies now vacated by Japan.) • The Yugoslav Exception. Tito’s split with Stalin, 1948–9. Leadership of Non- Aligned Movement, from 1955. • A Dismal Prophecy. Having already ruffled Soviet feathers with his satirical allegory Animal Farm (1945), Eng. writer George Orwell summed up the dismal achievements of the totalitarian in Nineteen Eighty-Four, published Jun. 1949. • Parity Restored. Soviet nuclear bomb tested, August 1949. • ‘Bamboo Curtain’. Establishment of PRC, Oct (and of west-orientated RoC, Taiwan, Dec.) 1949 1950s • ‘I have here in my hand ...’ Joe McCarthy speech, 9 Feb. 1950. Start of witchhunt. HUAC hearings; Hollywood Blacklist, etc. • The Red Rosenbergs. Julius and Ethel arrested as Soviet spies, July 1950. Convicted and executed 1953. (Despite strenuous campaign to save their posthumous reputations, and suggestions that the charges against them had been antisemitic in origin, discoveries in Soviet archives later confirmed their status as Russian agents. • A Friend in Francisco. A reluctant Pres. Truman prevailed on to mend fences with Franco’s dictatorship as bulwark against Communism. Marshall aid, hitherto withheld, made available to Spain from late 1950. • Cambridge Reds. Defection of Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean. Cambridge 5. Kim Philby to follow Jan. 1963. • ‘The Forgotten War’. Korea, Jun. 1950–Jul. 1953 • An Escalating Arms Race. British A-Bomb detonated, 3 October, 1952; US H-Bomb first detonated, 1 Nov, 1952 • ‘Dissolve the People ...’ Workers’ Uprising in E. Berlin, 1953. Violent suppression famously satirized by leftist playwright/poet Bertolt Brecht. • Playing Dominos. US interventions Iran, Guatemala, both March 1954. Eisenhower introduces idea of ‘domino theory’ in speech that April. • ‘His Intolerance, His Brutality and His Abuse of Power’. Stalin’s rule denounced by Khrushchev at 20th Congress Sov. Comm. Party, 25 Feb. 1956. • Repression Resumed. Soviet interventions Posnan, Poland, Jun., Hungary, Oct. 1956 • Stand-Off in Suez. Row over Nasser’s Egypt buying arms from the Soviet bloc prompts West to withdraw aid from Aswan Dam project. Nasser retaliates by nationalizing Suez Canal. Attempt by Britain, France and Israel to topple him. Suez Crisis, Oct. 1956 • The Frontier Above. Sputnik 1957; prompted Kennedy’s ‘New Frontier’ speech Jul. 1960. • Look Before You Leap. China inaugurates ‘Great Leap Forward’ Jan. 1958. Will end in catastrophic famine. • What the Doctor Ordered. Poet and novelist Boris Pasternak (author of Doctor Zhivago, 1957) wins Nobel Prize for Literature, 1958. Soviets furious. • ‘Socialism or Death!’ Cuban Revolution (broke out 1953) prevails, Jan. 1959. (Explicitly aligned with USSR from Dec. 1960.) • Law or Brigandage? Khrushchev’s shoe-banging address at UN, Sept. 1959. Angry at intrusions by US spy-planes. Main content of speech largely about USSR’s support for winding up of colonialism. • Road of Resistance. NVA begin opening up ‘Ho Chi Minh Trail’ to south, where Viet Cong are campaigning against Ngo Dinh Diem’s US-backed government. (Much of it ran through Laos, drawing that country into conflict later.) 1959. 1960s • The Man Who Fell to Earth. U2/Gary Powers, May 1960 • Red Flag Rift. Sino-Soviet Split. Jun. 1960. • Castro Comes to Harlem. Cuban leader arrives in NY to address UN; meets Malcolm X, Allen Ginsberg and other US figures as well as leading ‘Third World’ statesmen. Sept. 1960. • ‘No Longer Your Monkeys’. Life and death of Patrice Lumumba. Quote is from 1960. Republic of Congo (now DRC) independent from June 1960; Lumumba its PM but for just a few weeks before being overthrown by US-(and France- and Belgium-)backed Mobutu. Killed 17 Jan. 1961. • Counterrevolutionary Carve-Up. Bay of Pigs, Apr. 1961 • Dancing for Democracy. Rudolf Nureyev defects, Jun. 1961 • The Concrete Curtain. Berlin Wall built, Aug. 1961 • Superpower Poker. Cuban Missile Crisis 1963 • The False Flag of Freedom. Gulf of Tonkin Incident, Aug. 1964. • The Atomic Orient. China tests A-Bombs, Oct. 1964 • Confusion in the Caribbean. US Marines sent to Dominican Republic, Apr. 1965. Some years of instability after Trujillo’s death, 1961. Overthrow of military dictatorship spooked Johnson Administration after Cuba. Glance at situation Nicaragua, Haiti, etc. • Thunderstorm. US presence in Vietnam, established by JFK, 1961, beefed up with launch of Operation Rolling Thunder against NVA and Viet Cong positions in Vietnam and Laos (Feb. 1965) and dispatch of additional 60,000 US troops (more from allies) Apr. 1965 • Big News from Bangkok. Anti-communist ASEAN alliance launched, Aug. 1967. • ‘Shoot, Coward ...’ Che Guevara killed, La Higuera, Bolivia, 9 Oct. 1967 • ‘Never Forget History’. Quote’s from Indonesian leader Sukarno, now deposed at second attempt by Suharto (sworn in as Pres., Mar. 1968). Wave of anti- Communist repression ensues. • Spring Turns Sour. Prague Spring. Uprising crushed August, 1968. 1970s • The Storm Spreads. Tet Offensive of early 1968 had underlined ineffectiveness of what should have been irresistible US assault in Vietnam and Laos up to that point. Mounting US frustration reflected in extension of conflict to Cambodia, Apr. 1970. • Egypt Swings West. Nasser having died in 1970, Sadat’s ‘Corrective Revolution’ de-Nasserized the govt in Egypt. Soviet advisers expelled, May 1971. • Meeting Mao. Pres. Nixon’s visit to PRC, Feb. 1972. • Bobby Beats Boris. Fischer–Spassky, Reykjavik, Sept. 1972. • Saving Face. Loss of US momentum in Vietnam – and increasing ‘Vietnamization’ of the conflict, from 1970 (maybe even 1969 – despite ‘Storm Spreads’ entry above) led, slowly but inevitably, to ceasefire with North, Jan. 1973. • A Chilean Tragedy. Pinochet’s US-backed Coup in Chile, Sept. 1973. Death of Allende. • Aleksandr in Exile. Novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsy, Nobel Prizewinner 1970, stripped of Soviet citizenship, 1974. • The Scientist and the State. Physicist and peace activist Andrei Sakharov, Nobel Peace Prize, 1975. Not allowed to go to Stockholm to collect it. • Red Ruin. Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge come to power in Cambodia, ushering in era of ‘Killing Fields’. • Fall of Saigon. Republic of Vietnam left fighting increasingly futile rearguard action. State finally collapsed and capital taken, Apr. 1975. • Democracy and Death. East Timor’s declaration of independence (Nov. 1975) sparks long and bloody programme of repression by Suharto’s Indonesia. • African Agony. Soviet- (and Cuban-)backed MPLA take power in Angola, Feb. 1976. Lengthy civil war with UNITA (till 2002) ensues. Parallel conflict in Mozambique, where FRELIMO govt beset by RENAMO insurgency, 1977–92. • A Thorn in the Flesh. CIA’s persistent (and sometimes bizarre) attempts to assassinate Castro over the years revealed by Church Committee, 1975–6. • A Post-Mao Mellowing? Death of Mao, 1976. Economic reforms in China announced by Deng Xiaoping, Dec. 1978 • Of Socialists and Sonsofbitches. Sandinistas come to power in Nicaragua, Jul. 1979 • Afghan Outrage. Soviet-supported government in Afghanistan tottering. Russian intervention, Dec. 1979 1980s • Time Out. Moscow Olympics. Boycotted by 66 countries, following US example, in aftermath of Afghanistan invasion. Jul./Aug. 1980. (Will lead to retaliatory boycott of LA, 1984.) • Faith, Hope and Solidarity. Poles inspired by visit of Pope JPII (1979). Gdansk shipyard protests, Poland: birth of Solidarity, Aug. 1980. Lech Walesa becomes international hero. (But Gen. Jaruzelski will introduce martial law, Dec. 1981.) • ‘Star Wars’. Couple of weeks after his ‘Evil Empire’ speech, Pres. Reagan’s SDI announced, Mar. 1983 • Rematch in Moscow. Shades of Fischer–Spassky (1972) in Karpov v Kasparov Chess Match, 1984–5 • A New Broom. Mikhail Gorbachev becomes Soviet Premier (Mar. 1985). Policies of Perestroika and Glasnost. Moratorium on nuclear weapons testing. • Out of Afghanistan. After accession of Mohammad Najibullah’s National Reconciliation govt the previous year, Sov. withdrawal from Afghanistan begins, May 1988. • Drawing the Curtain. Gorbachev announces USSR will no longer intervene militarily in Eastern Europe, Dec. 1988. Consequences in e.g. Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania in months that follow. (See also Berlin Wall bit below ...) • Beijing Bloodshed. Massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square, Jun. 1989 • Breaking Down the Wall. Fall of Berlin Wall, Nov. 1990 1990s • Under New Management. Boris Yeltsin elected Pres. Russia, May 1990. (Though NB, Gorbachev’s USSR still exists, at least in theory, as overarching state.) • Breaking Free. Referendums in Baltic states and Georgia lead to their independence, early months of 1991; other Caucasian and Central Asian states follow in course of the year. • Red Reaction. Unsuccessful (but scary while it lasts) ‘August Coup’ in Russia, Aug. 1991. • A Post-Communist Christmas. Gorbachev resigns; Soviet Union essentially wound up; Yeltsin calls George H.W. Bush, who announces end of the Cold War. Time for a ‘New World Order’ ... • The End of History? Fukuyama’s study. Glance at other potential problems, from gangsterism in states of former Soviet Union to Islamic radicalism elsewhere.

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Book SynopsisThis book investigates the growing politicization of Mumsnet and its use by politicians to influence middle-class women in the UK. The site's discussion topics go far beyond traditional 'mothering' subjects and encompass politics, feminism and current affairs. Understood as a safe space for gender-critical voices, the site has spawned real-life activism and continues to be both praised and attacked for its support of free speech on controversial subjects. Sarah Pedersen investigates how Mumsnet has become a central part of a resurgent women's rights movement in the UK. She argues that its openness to discussion around this subject has allowed the site to function as a subaltern counter-public - a space where gender-critical feminists have been able to share information and make plans for action and agitation.Trade Review'This book dispels two myths about mumsnet: that it is heaving with entitled, middle-class yummy mummies, or drowning in hate and bigotry. What Sarah Pedersen illustrates is that mumsnet is today a key route into feminism for both women stuck at home with toddlers, and those who understand that women do have some shared experiences -and not just having children or not. This book is informative, amusing and a call to feminist action.' -- Julie BindelTable of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Women and political debate Chapter 3. Wooing the Mumsnet vote Chapter 4. A dominant theme emerging Chapter 5. What is a woman? Chapter 6. “Came for the babies – stayed for the feminism” Chapter 7. Words and deeds Chapter 8. Feeling homeless

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Book SynopsisStrategy is the craft of a warrior – Miyamoto Musashi Written around 1645, Miyamoto Musashi’s Five Rings is a classic Japanese work on mastery in swordsmanship, leadership and conflict. Musashi was a swordsman, philosopher and strategist, and today his work remains of influence not only in the realm of martial arts but in the business world, too. Musashi’s no-nonsense approach to the martial arts and combat includes eliminating technical flourishes, understanding that technique should simply be understood as defeating your opponent, and appreciating that the same qualities apply in both small- scale and large-scale conflicts. Repeatedly, he stresses the importance of learning through practice, rather than merely reading about them. Produced in a handy pocket format, Five Rings is presented in an exquisite illustrated edition with a brand new modern translation.Table of ContentsIntroduction The Book of Earth Both an introduction to all the books, as well as metaphorically discussing martial arts, leadership and training The Book of Water This book describes Musashi’s approach: Ni-ten ichi-ryu –Two Heavens, One Style. It covers basic technique and fundamental principles. The Book of Fire This book looks at action in the heat of battle, and discusses matters such as different types of timing. The Book of Wind This book discusses what Musashi considers to be the failings of various contemporary schools of sword fighting. The Book of the Void An epilogue. Musashi’s probably Zen-influenced thoughts on consciousness and on how to gain and maintain the correct mindset.

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Book SynopsisWhen we hear the word ‘reef’ we most often think of tropical coral reefs and, indeed, those are the most diverse habitats with thousands of different species living on them. But reefs can also be found off the coast of Canada, Brazil and even further north. Off Canada’s coast there are both the Atlantic deep-water coral habitat and the Pacific rocky reef habitat. Reefs is a pictorial celebration of the hugely varied marine life on coral, rock and sand reefs all around the world. From the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland, Australia, to Mabul Island off Borneo, from east African coral reefs stretching from the Red Sea down to Madagascar to the Amazon Reef off Brazil, from the Mesoamerican Reef off Belize to Vancouver Island, the book explores how life on each reef is interdependent. The book also includes examples of how coral bleaching has killed off reefs. Arranged geographically by reef and illustrated with more than 200 colour photographs, each entry is completed with a caption explaining the magnificent natural world on display. From the gender-swapping clownfish to single-cell zooxanthellae, from coral polyps to purple starfish to harlequin shrimp and octopuses, the book is a feast of marine life.Table of ContentsContents to include: Introduction AFRICA African coral reefs – Red Sea to Madagascar THE AMERICAS Amazon Reef – Off Brazil and French Guiana. The Amazon Reef (also referred to as the Amazonian Reef) is an extensive coral and sponge reef system. It is one of the largest reef systems in the world known to exist, with scientists estimating its length to be over 600 miles (970 km) long Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, Mexico – part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System Belize Barrier Reef – part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System Bullenbaai, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean Tofino, Vancouver Island, Canada – Purple Starfish and green anemone PACIFIC Great Barrier Reef – Queensland, Australia – School of Sweet Lips, Lionfish Cape Tribulation, Daintree region, Queensland, Australia Lansdowne Bank, Coral Sea – between Australia and New Caledonia Apo Reef – Philippines. The world’s second-largest contiguous coral reef system. Tubbataha Reef – Philippines North Sulawesi, Indonesia – Pseudanthias Bunaken Marine National Park, North Sulawesi, Indonesia – Blue Seastar Mabul Island, Borneo, Malaysia – maroon clownfish and bubbletip anemone, jellyfish, sea slug Bohey Dulang Island, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia Miri-Sibuti Coral Reef National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia – including Soft Coral, western clownfish Minami-Tori-shima – Japan’s most easterly island French Frigate Shoals – Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

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Book SynopsisWith practical tips for developing your skills, building your network and improving your employability, to how to write your CV and cover letter writing and find employment, this book covers the essential skills that you need to kickstart your career.

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