Politics, Philosophy & Society Books

Book SynopsisFor a brief moment in 2019 Britain’s politics looked like it might be transformed. Just when it seemed that the divisions within and across British political parties over Brexit could not get any more intense, 7 Labour and 3 Conservative MPs broke away to form The Independent Group (TIG) – later Change UK. This is the first book to explore the meteoric lifespan of that party, within the wider context of the experiences of other small political groupings in the House of Commons. Ultimately, it shows why the party failed and disbanded after just a few months. Timely and thoroughly researched, Louise Thompson’s book takes us deep inside the struggles facing MPs who leave behind the comforts of the large political parties. Drawing on interviews with current and former politicians, it explores the practicalities of being a small party MP in the Commons. What challenges face you? Who can you turn to? And just how can you make an impact? Crisply written for the non-specialist reader, this fascinating book opens a window onto the perilous world of parliamentary politics.Trade Review'Louise Thompson’s account of the short life and fast times of Change UK helps explain why no new governing party has emerged in the UK for a hundred years.'Mark D'Arcy, BBC Parliamentary Correspondent'A fascinating in-depth account of how small-parties, whether they be start-ups or established players, either sink or swim in an environment in which - given their relatively limited access to funding, air-time, and even space - the odds are all-too-often stacked against them.'Tim Bale, Professor of Politics, Queen Mary University of London and Co-Director, Mile End Institute'An outstanding book, packed with insights about the difficulties faced by independents and small parties in the House of Commons. It will be a go-to benchmark on these issues for many years to come. Highly recommended.' Alistair Clarke, Reader in Politics, Newcastle University -- .Table of Contents1 Three days in February2 Finding their feet3 Establishing and resourcing a new parliamentary party4 Making your voice heard 5 Whither the two-party system?BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisTo understand childhood, you need to understand all of the social factors which surround it. If you are studying Early Years or Early Childhood Studies then this book is for you. It gives you an introduction to the study of childhood and the different contexts within which childhood exists. It encourages you to re-think childhood and explore it from different perspectives, whether looking at the child within the family, global perspectives or the child′s own view point. This helps you understand childhood in relation to society and to develop the skills to look at childhood from a critical standpoint.Table of ContentsThe context of childhood: social understanding of childhood The historical context: the emergence of childhood The philosophical context: the early years tradition and evolution of early years provision The context of the family: first experiences The context of partnership: children in transition The context of the setting: childhood institutions The community context: children as citizens The national context: children and social policy The global context: international perspectives The child’s own context: the child’s voice and agency The future context: the twenty-first century child The virtual context: children in a digital world

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE SCOTIABANK GILLER PRIZE ‘Spellbinding’ i ‘Breathtaking’ Elle ‘Powerhouses of feeling and depth’ Mary Gaitskill ‘Sharp and vital’ Daisy Johnson 'Excellent' Margaret Atwood on Twitter An ex-boxer turned nail salon worker falls for a pair of immaculate hands; a mother and daughter harvest earthworms in the middle of the night; a country music-obsessed housewife abandons her family for fantasy; and a young girl's love for her father transcends language. In this stunning debut, Souvankham Thammavongsa captures the day-to-day lives of immigrants and refugees in a nameless city, illuminating hopes, disappointments, love affairs, and above all, the pursuit of a place to belong. 'There is not a moment off in these affecting stories' Sheila HetiTrade ReviewEvery once in a while, you come across a book with writing so breathtaking that you take note of the author so you can read everything they ever write in the future. How to Pronounce Knife, by Souvankham Thammavongsa is one of those books * Elle *Spellbinding ... A perfect marriage of style and refreshing, surprising substance. Like her characters, Thammavongsa possesses x-ray vision for teetering power structures and those who sit precariously at the top of them. But her writing goes beyond this. It actively, though quietly, works against the invisibility or erasure of migrants living and trying to make a living in the margins. * i *Impressive ... Thammavongsa’s spare, rigorous stories are preoccupied with themes of alienation and dislocation, her characters burdened by the sense of existing unseen ... Thammavongsa’s gift for the gently absurd means the stories never feel dour or predictable ... It is when the characters’ sense of alienation follows them home, into the private space of the family, that Thammavongsa’s stories most wrench the heart * New York Times Book Review *The stories are slender, spare, and slide between your ribs like a super-sharp blade, fast and soundless, before you realize what's happening * Vanity Fair *[Souvankham Thammavongsa's] poignant, affecting debut collection conversationally captures the everyday lives of immigrants and refugees who have moved to the city in the hope of better lives * Daily Mail *In this touching debut, the Thailand-born, Toronto-raised author captures the day-to-day lives of immigrants and refugees in a nameless city with universal hopes, disappointments, love affairs, and a desire to belong ... stand-out * Cosmopolitan *This series of short stories brings to life figures that might otherwise not figure on the literary radar ... with enough panache to keep the reader gripped throughout * Vogue *[Thammavongsa] captures the day-to-day lives of immigrants and refugees exploring family relationships, escape from the real world and the love that binds us all * Stylist *[Thammavongsa’s] careful dissection of everyday moments of racism, classism and sexism exposes how power and privilege drive success, how work shapes the immigrant identity, and how erasure and invisibility lead to isolation * Washington Post *Exacting, sharply funny short fictions * Oprah Magazine *These stories feel simple but they move within you and it is impossible to let them go. They are sharp and vital. Thammavongsa is a master over the sentence * Daisy Johnson *These poignant and deceptively quiet stories are powerhouses of feeling and depth; How to Pronounce Knife is an artful blend of simplicity and sophistication -- Mary GaitskillI love these stories. There’s some fierce and steady activity in all of the sentences – something that makes them live, and makes them shift a little in meaning when you look at them again and they look back at you (or look beyond you) -- Helen OyeyemiSouvankham Thammavongsa writes with deep precision, wide-open spaces, and quiet, cool, emotionally devastating poise. There is not a moment off in these affecting stories -- Sheila HetiA riveting, subversive collection that alights within us like a shock to the system. I find it miraculous – and liberating and joyful – that language so radiantly exact can be so raw, so brazen. This is a major work and a lasting one -- Madeleine ThienThammavongsa’s radiant debut collection of short stories is full of precarity, strength, uncertainty, messiness and life * Ms. Magazine *The stories here will gut you, as Thammavongsa's insight proves to be razor-sharp * Bustle *

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Book SynopsisUnlock the untapped power within you — discover the profound wisdom of your animal mind.Bestselling psychologist Steve Biddulph reveals a groundbreaking insight: we possess not just one, but two minds. While our familiar, analytical mind dominates in today’s busy, modern world, our primal, instinctual 'wild creature' mind lies dormant, waiting to guide us with its innate intuition and compassion.In a world grappling with unprecedented mental health challenges, Steve offers a lifeline. Drawing on cutting-edge therapy and cognitive science research, he shows you how to awaken your dormant mind through poignant anecdotes and practical exercises. You will learn to embrace your body's wisdom, trust your instincts, heal trauma, navigate life's complexities with newfound clarity and embark on a journey of profound transformation.There's a million years of animal intelligence, lying silent, wanting to help you. Thi

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Book SynopsisThe #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grain Brain and his physician son explore how modern culture threatens to rewire our brains and damage our health, offering a practical plan for healing.Contemporary life provides us with infinite opportunities, along with endless temptations. We can eat whatever we want, whenever we want. We can immerse ourselves in the vast, enticing world of digital media. We can buy goods and services with the touch of a button or the swipe of a finger. But living in this 24/7 hyper-reality poses serious risks to our physical and mental states, our connections to others and even to the world at large.Brain Wash builds from a simple premise: Our brains are being gravely manipulated, resulting in behaviours that leave us more lonely, anxious, depressed, distrustful, illness-prone and overweight than ever before. Based on the latest science, the book identifies the mental hijacking that undermines each and every one of us and presents the tools necessary to think more clearly, make better decisions, strengthen bonds with others and develop healthier habits. Featuring a 10-day boot camp program, including a meal plan and 40 delicious recipes, Brain Wash is the key to cultivating a more purposeful and fulfilling life.'By showing us how to consciously rewire our brains for connection, compassion, and better decisions, Brain Wash provides a framework for reclaiming joy and health in the modern world.'- Deepak Chopra, author of Metahuman'Brain Wash reveals how our day-to-day decisions are deeply influenced and actively manipulated by the modern world. But more importantly, it is a powerful manual that allows each of us to reclaim control of our choices and make better decisions that will pave the way for health and happiness. While we generally know what's best for ourselves, acting on this knowledge is a constant struggle. Brain Wash allows us to turn this knowledge into action. I highly recommend this innovative book.'- Daniel G. Amen, MD, founder, Amen Clinics and author of The End of Mental IllnessTrade Review'Brain Wash reveals how our day-to-day decisions are deeply influenced and actively manipulated by the modern world. But more importantly, it is a powerful manual that allows each of us to reclaim control of our choices and make better decisions that will pave the way for health and happiness. While we generally know what's best for ourselves, acting on this knowledge is a constant struggle. Brain Wash allows us to turn this knowledge into action. I highly recommend this innovative book.' * Daniel G. Amen, MD, founder, Amen Clinics and author of The End of Mental Illness *By showing us how to consciously rewire our brains for connection, compassion, and better decisions, Brain Wash provides a framework for reclaiming joy and health in the modern world. * Deepak Chopra, author of Metahuman *'Brain Wash presents a road map for the relationship between how we think, feel, and behave and our lifestyle and environment. It is an artful and compelling manifesto on how to improve our mood, mind, and memory.' * Jeffrey Bland, PhD, founder of the Institute for Functional Medicine and president and founder of Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institut *The message of Brain Wash couldn't be more urgent or timely. If everyone followed its advice, the world would be a happier and healthier place. * Catherine Price, author of How to Break Up with Your Phone and founder of Screen/Life Balance (screenlifebalance.com) *'In a world where most of us are feeling rushed, tired, and burned out, Brain Wash reveals how even small changes in your lifestyle choices can dramatically improve your day, your mood, and even your life.' * Melissa Hartwig Urban, Whole30 Co-Founder and CEO *'This book was a total surprise. A father and son representing entirely different generations arrive at the same conclusion: that wellness fosters connection and this creates a meaningful life. Beautifully scripted and a bit like an adventure story, I kept wanting to get to the 'final message' of how being well makes us more loving and lovable. This is the endpoint where well-being takes us, and this is especially critical in our disconnected digital age with its constant distractions. Do yourself a favor and get this book.' * ohn Ratey, MD, author of Spark *'Brain Wash shows us how our ability to make the best decisions is literally being hijacked every day. But more importantly, Drs. David and Austin Perlmutter empower the reader with the tools to regain control over our decision-making and implement strategies to allow health, empathy, and happiness to manifest. Brain Wash brings a healthy dose of compassion to the world.' * Dr. Josh Axe, bestselling author of Keto Diet *'Inflammation, enhanced by so many influences of our modern world, dramatically reduces our ability to make good decisions and feel content. Brain Wash not only explores how this is happening, on a global scale, but also shows what we can do right now to take back control. From spending time in nature to choosing to consume one plant-based meal a day, Brain Wash provides the tools to reclaim and rebuild your brain's ability to make better choices and allow health and happiness to flourish.' * Mark Hyman, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Food and director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine *We all know what it's like to feel distracted and overwhelmed. Brain Wash is an invaluable guide that's crammed with solutions for helping us to restore our focus, energize our bodies, and refresh our minds. * Gretchen Rubin, author of The Four Tendencies and The Happiness Project *Brain Wash provides the tools for each of us to live a happier, more contented life. Drs. David and Austin Perlmutter engage our most current understanding of neuroscience to reveal how the brain can be functionally reconfigured to distance ourselves from pervasive negativity and welcome empathy and compassion back into our lives. The choices we make each day in terms of what we eat, how well we sleep, and even how we interact with our digital world all contribute to our worldview. And central to the Brain Wash mission is maximizing these and other choices towards seeing and creating a better world. * Dr. Rudolph Tanzi, Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, and author of The Healing Self *

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Book SynopsisWhen a plane crashes, a bomb explodes, a city floods or a pandemic begins, Lucy Easthope's phone starts to ring...________________THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEKPROFILED IN THE NEW YORKERCHOSEN AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE TELEGRAPH AND THE NEW STATESMANAS FEATURED ON THE HIGH PERFORMANCE PODCAST AND FULL DISCLOSURE WITH JAMES O'BRIEN "Mixes disaster-grade C.S.I. with hiraeth, a Welsh word expressing a deep longing for something that is gone" NEW YORKER"A marvellous book" REV RICHARD COLES"Amazing book by an amazing woman" JAMES O'BRIEN"Gripping... filled with compassion." SUNDAY TIMES"Remarkable... hopeful and uplifting." MAIL ON SUNDAY"An antidote to despair" DAILY MIRROR"Enthralling... vivid and humane" OBSERVERLucy is a world-leading authority on recovering from disaster. She holds governments to account, supports survivors and helps communities to rebuild. She has been at the centre of the most seismic events of the last few decades, advising on everything from the 2004 tsunami and the 7/7 bombings to the Grenfell fire and the war in Ukraine. Lucy's job is to pick up the pieces and get us ready for what comes next.Lucy takes us behind the police tape to scenes of chaos, and into government briefing rooms where confusion can reign. She also looks back at the many losses and loves of her life and career, and tells us how we can all build back after disaster.When the Dust Settles lifts us up, showing that humanity, hope and humour can - and must - be found on the darkest days.Trade ReviewNever less than reassuringly humane... She shows and tells and, vitally, cares. * Telegraph *An unlikely superhero... this gripping memoir is full of compassion. A remarkable insight into the decisions involved in disaster planning. * Sunday Times *Easthope, whether she knows it or not, is that rare thing, a genuine philosopher thinking through what she is actually doing in the mitigation of human suffering. * New Statesman *The disasters recalled here often read like short stories, each of them filled with high drama, surreal twists and mysteries to be solved. * Guardian *'A remarkable account...This should be a dark and depressing read; that it isn't, that it is ultimately hopeful and uplifting, is down to the utter human decency that the author represents' * Mail on Sunday *An essential, uplifting read, brimming with humanity, humility and humour. * Sue Black *An entirely unique vision of the human experience * Irish Times *Candid, unsettling and darkly funny * Sunday Post *Poignant, funny, analytical and profoundly humane * Perspective Magazine *Dauntless and forthright * TLS *Deeply humane, occasionally unsettling, and strangely uplifting * Irish Business Post *A book of horror and hope, written with rare humanity. * John Sutherland *When the Dust Settles taught me is that all experiences are of value... Easthope shows us how perfection and imperfection are woven together. Everything is flawed. Yet there is also hope despite the flaws. * Rachel Kelly *Her sensitive and profoundly moral book explores how human beings can preserve their resilience and live with loss. * New Statesman *Rewrites your perceptions of the disasters and wars of our lifetime with vivid details and vignettes... laced with humanity and decency. A literary memento which honours the messy truth of life.' * The Critic *An inspiring memoir. Easthope advises, supports and helps to rebuild lives. * Yorkshire Post *A riveting no-nonsense memoir that pulls back the curtains on your worst fears and shows you that someone, somewhere, will always truly care. * Jenny Colgan *Outstanding... a graphic but deeply humane account of what drew her to take on such work, and how she steels herself to tackle the worst of human scenarios. * The Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisA text for Early Years students enabling them to build the knowledge and skills needed to support children's communication and language development.

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Book SynopsisHow do we best help a child who is struggling? By learning to look carefully.Children's challenging behaviour -- such as bullying, attention problems, anxiety, memory problems or sensory-seeking behaviour -- can often be related to a developmental issue, and the best way to understand the behaviour, argues Adam Blanning, is through close observation of the child. Watching how a child moves, listens, eats or sleeps can offer valuable insights into a child's experience of the world, and help tell the child's story.This detailed book explores in depth the 'constitutional polarities' of children discussed by Rudolf Steiner, which in turn can lead to effective, individualised therapeutic approaches to challenging behaviour. Teachers, counsellors and medical doctors will find tools in this book to enrich their work with children. The constitutional pictures are accompanied by diverse therapeutic indications that will help children into new growth and maturation, from the inside out.

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Book SynopsisFrom the winner of the New York Times Best Illustrated Book Prize and the American Indian Youth Literature AwardI'd like to tell you a rather true story about a big black cat who started out gray. Her name was May. Margaux and her cat May became friends when Margaux was just six years old. They grew up together, sharing countless memories along the way. But one day, May is late coming home. Where is May? Is she under the porch? Maybe on the roof?Margaux's nitôsis (the Cree word for auntie) helps search for May in the tall grass. But soon nitôsis needs to leave: she's moving away to the big city, and has to pack her things into boxes. Margaux helps nitôsis, but she can't take her mind off May. Will she ever return? nitôsis is worried, too. But little do they know, May has a surprise in store for both of them!This fun and heartwarming story with a surprise happy ending invites readers to share their own cat stories. My Friend May is a tribute to love and the balance between all beings, and the experiences and emotions that connect us all. My Friend May features:A glossary of Cree words used throughout the bookBackmatter content that includes a pronunciation guide

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Book SynopsisA major source for the BBC drama The ReckoningWinner of the 2015 Gordon Burn Prize and the 2015 CWA Non-Fiction DaggerShortlisted for the Orwell Prize and the James Tait Black Prize'An astonishing account' Observer'A compulsive, colourful and chilling read' Sunday Times'An extraordinary book' Mail on SundayDan Davies spent more than a decade on a quest to find the real Jimmy Savile, and interviewed him extensively over a period of six years before his death. Dan also interviewed scores of people, many of them unobtainable while Savile was alive.Jimmy Savile was cynical, calculating and predatory. He revelled in his status as a Pied Piper of youth and used his power to abuse the vulnerable and underage, all the while covering his tracks by moving into the innermost circles of the establishment.IN PLAIN SIGHT is a devastating and definitive account of a national figure turned national disgrace.Trade ReviewTo my mind, the best and hottest non-fiction property of the decade is Dan Davies's book on Jimmy Savile. He had amazing access for years and stuck with the story before anybody knew how interesting it was. His book will be a must-read and will hit British culture like a clusterbomb. I can't wait -- Andrew O'HaganAn astonishing account . . . It is an incredible read -- Carole Cadwalladr * Observer *An extraordinary book, by turns deeply sinister and darkly comic -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *Absolutely jaw-dropping * Nicky Campbell, Radio Five Live *

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Book Synopsis**JOHN CRACE'S NEW BOOK DEPRAVED NEW WORLD IS AVAILABLE NOW**Infectiously entertaining political satire, from the author of Decline and Fail and I, Maybot.Throughout another year of bluster and bedlam in Westminster, John Crace's brilliantly acerbic political sketches have once more provided the nation with a much-needed injection of humour.In A Farewell to Calm, Crace introduces an infectiously funny selection of his finest pieces from 2020-21, taking in everything from a summer of unfathomable U-turns to Christmas Covid confusion, and from lockdown-lifting to Brexit blithering.Led by Boris's poundshop Churchill tribute act, and featuring a cast of everyone's least favourite pantomime villains, from Classic Dom Cummings to Door Matt Hancock, the end result is a brilliantly entertaining chronicle of another tumultuous year on these benighted islands.

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Book Synopsis"It is all free fighting here. Even some of the windows do not open, so it is useless to cry for help. Dampness and misery, violence and wrong, have left their handwriting in perfectly legible characters on the walls."(Manchester Guardian, 1870.)Step into the Victorian underworld of Angel Meadow, the vilest and most dangerous slum of the Industrial Revolution. In the shadow of the world's first cotton mill, 30,000 souls trapped by poverty are fighting for survival as the British Empire is built upon their backs.Thieves and prostitutes keep company with rats in overcrowded lodging houses and deep cellars on the banks of a black river, the Irk. Gangs of 'scuttlers' stalk the streets in pointed, brass-tripped clogs. Those who evade their clutches are hunted down by cholera, typhoid and tuberculosis. Lawless drinking dens and a cold slab in the dead house provide the only relief from this filthy and frightening world.In this shocking book, journalist Dean Kirby takes readers on a hair-raising journey through the alleyways, gin palaces and underground vaults of this nineteenth century Manchester slum, which was considered so diabolical it was re-christened 'hell upon earth' by Friedrich Engels. Enter Angel Meadow if you dare...Trade Review"Dean Kirby manages to provide visual imagery that is vivid and it is chilling. The sense of sadness which waves through you as you read this book knowing that this is not fiction is heavily felt. As is sympathy for the Victorian people, families and children who lived and died in these conditions within one of the most prosperous cities in England. If you are interested in British history, it's criminal past and the Victorian era this will be a satisfying and educational read."--Crime Traveller

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Book Synopsis'Moorehead paints a wonderfully vivid and moving portrait of the women of the Italian Resistance' MAX HASTINGS, SUNDAY TIMESThe extraordinary story of the courageous women who spearheaded the Italian Resistance during the Second World WarIn the late summer of 1943, in the midst of German occupation, the Italian Resistance was born. Ada, Frida, Silvia and Bianca were four young women who signed up. Living in the mountains surrounding Turin their contribution was invaluable. They carried messages and weapons, provided safe houses and took prisoners. As thousands of Italians rose up, they fought to liberate their country.With its corruption, greed and anti-Semitism, the fall of Fascist Italy was unrelentingly violent, but for the partisan women it was also a time of camaraderie and equality, pride and optimism. Through the stories of these four exceptional women, the resolve, tenacity and, above all, courage of the Italian Resistance is laid bare. A Spectator Book of the YearTrade ReviewMoorehead paints a wonderfully vivid and moving portrait of the women of the Italian Resistance…an excellent book… She depicts a tragic fate that is timeless, of dreams forged in adversity, shattered by collisions with practical politics -- Max Hastings * Sunday Times *Brilliantly and subtly told… The narrative is told with such verve that I frequently had goosebumps: the men and women known from much drier history books come alive… a riveting read -- Tobias Jones * Guardian *A sensitive and perceptive book founded on an appreciation of the role women play in any society, at any times. It is sober and serious, but still an easy read… Moorehead is not afraid to show how these women used their femininity to become more effective partisans -- Gerard DeGroot * The Times *The moving finale of a quartet of books on resistance to fascism... Moorehead conveys the terror with understated power; she is equally good at conjuring the blurred morality of civil conflict...[and] the valleys and wild flowers in technicolour detail * Economist *In the best book she has so far written, Moorehead corrects this imbalance with a narrative whose coherence perfectly matches its author’s admiration for her subjects’ redemptive idealism… Moorehead needs to be read by Italians themselves. Over here, meanwhile, she deserves every prize going -- Jonathan Keates * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisBad News is a popular guide that helps you make sense of the news wherever it appears - print, broadcast or online. Peppered with examples from around the world, the book turns a serious subject into an enjoyable read. You will learn as you are entertained. Readers will discover all the tricks they need to work out whether to trust a story based on an anonymous source, when big numbers are really small and when small numbers are really big, why you should ignore what appears behind someone on the TV and much more. You'll even learn why you should always read stories in the Daily Mail backwards and when correlation is causation. But readers will also learn how ill-suited the news is to understanding and interpreting the modern world, even when it comes from honest journalists working for reputable outlets. The news has a role, but readers will learn how to ensure they don't confuse that with understanding the world.Trade Review"Thoughtful and perceptive, Bad News is required reading for anyone who wants to get to grips with how the journalism we consume - both good and bad - shapes our reality. With his forensic insight and lively intelligence, Mark Pack proves that understanding the news and understanding the world are two very different things." - Polly Mackenzie, chief executive of Demos and former Director of Policy to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg "Sharp and insightful - you can trust Mark Pack to tell it as it is." - Craig Oliver, former Director of Politics and Communications to Prime Minister David Cameron

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Book SynopsisMission Zero is a landmark independent report into the delivery of the UK's commitment to net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. Chaired by Chris Skidmore, the UK's former Energy Minister who was responsible for signing net zero into law, its conclusions set out, for the very first time, a new economic narrative for climate policy, demonstrating the vast financial opportunity that net zero can deliver. This timely and crucial report acts as a template for how all countries can map out future challenges and opportunities and, above all, deliver their own pathway to net zero while also creating new jobs, industries and investment for the future. Commissioned by the UK's Prime Minister in September 2022, Mission Zero is the largest engagement exercise on net zero conducted to date and has been widely recognised as the most informative and detailed document on the topic, covering every sector and aspect of society. This important book is a vital piece of work and an indispensable must-read for anyone interested in energy, climate and sustainability policy.

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Book Synopsis Meet the unit that posed as Nazi stormtroopers in the most daring mission ever undertaken SAS Ghost Patrol is the explosive true story of the day in 1942 when the SAS donned Nazi uniforms to perpetrate the most audacious and daring mission of the war. Beyond top secret, deniable in the extreme (and of course enjoying Churchill's enthusiastic blessing), this is one of the most remarkable stories of wartime lawlessness, eccentricity and raw courage in the face of impossible odds - a thoroughly British undertaking.What unfolded - the longest mission ever undertaken by Allied special forces - was an epic of daring, courage, tragedy and survival that remains unrivalled to this day, and which rightly became a foundation stone of Special Forces legend. It may read like the stuff of impossible myth or folklore, but every single word is true.PRAISE FOR SAS GHOST PATROL'Intensively researched and powerfully written. One of the great untold stories of WWII' Bear Grylls'Lewis has done a terrific job in resurrecting Heaven Platoon, portraying them as the brave, buccaneering heroes they undoubtedly were' Daily Mail'Another true tale of military derring-do from Lewis' Sunday Express'In SAS Ghost Patrol Lewis reveals a tale of suicidal bravery, untold daring and breath-taking deceit. Told with the panache and verve of a born storyteller, Lewis is in a class of his own' Saul David'Amazing tale of WWII great escaper's Nazi ruse . . . The extraordinary Second World War saga of the SIG and its legacy is revealed.' The Daily Mirror'British troops dressed in German uniforms and mounted a daredevil raid to take the Libyan port of Tobruk during the Second World War, reveals a fascinating new book' Daily Express'Lewis's account . . . reads like a Boy's Own adventure, except it isn't a work of fiction and the heroes don't come through unscathed. His storytelling enhances the bravery of the men and the danger of the missions without over-dramatising anything. There is no need to' Soldier Magazine'Reveals the true story of an ultra-secret fighting unit that posed as Nazi Storm Troopers to seize the German-held port city of Tobruk during the Second World War' Richard Hatch and Verity Geere, Forces Radio breakfast show

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Book SynopsisWhy are some things cute, and others not? What happens to our brains when we see something cute? And how did cuteness go global, from Hello Kitty to Disney characters?Cuteness is an area where culture and biology get tangled up. Seeing a cute animal triggers some of the most powerful psychological instincts we have - the ones that elicit our care and protection - but there is a deeper story behind the broad appeal of Japanese cats and saccharine greetings cards.Joshua Paul Dale, a pioneer in the burgeoning field of cuteness studies, explains how the cute aesthetic spread around the globe, from pop brands to Lolita fashion, kids' cartoons and the unstoppable rise of Hello Kitty. Irresistible delves into the surprisingly ancient origins of Japan's kawaii culture, and uncovers the cross-cultural pollination of the globalised world. If adorable things really do rewire our brains, it can help answer some of the biggest questions we have about our evolutionary history and the mysterious orig

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Book SynopsisAn updated edition of the popular dyslexia book by Brock and Fernette Eide, with a wealth of new material and an improved dyslexic-friendly design.‘Far from holding you back in life, the latest neuroscience suggests dyslexia maybe a real advantage — we just need to think about it differently.’HEALTHY Magazine What if we viewed dyslexia as a learning and processing style rather than a disorder? Reading and spelling challenges are actually trade-offs, resulting from an entirely different pattern of brain organization and information processing. Dyslexic people possess powerful advantages, including incredible pattern detection, creativity, problem-solving and more. This revised and updated edition includes 18 rich new profiles of remarkable individuals with dyslexia. The enormous advances in dyslexia research over the last 10 years provide innovative insights for educators, employers, parents and dyslexic adults. Blending personal stories with hard science, The Dyslexic Advantage shares empowering advice on how to identify, understand, nurture and enjoy the strengths of the dyslexic mind.

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Book SynopsisA journey into the obsessive world of quizzing. Includes stories from Shaun's past such as tales from his time playing Barry in Eastenders; the discovery of a long-lost son; hiding from an angry Mike Reid in a broom cupboard; acting with Ricky Gervais and David Bowie, and the loss of his boyhood friend in 9/11.Actor and celebrity quizzer Shaun Williamson lifts the lid on a National drug that everyone hooked on: quizzing. A Matter of Facts is a personal journey into the world of quizzes. At the start Shaun enters the World Quiz Grand Prix, pitching his knowledge against the Nation's finest minds, including Eggheads and Chasers... he fails. Unperturbed, he sets out to improve his skills through memory training, practice and even hypnosis in an attempt to move himself up the rankings of the quizzing elite. Shaun's adventure sees him get his old quizzing 'band' back together to see if he can triumph in the leagues. As he does so, he meets many characters and experiences the wonderful vagaries of the pub quiz - discovering its place, not just in communities, but in people's lives. He also reminisces about his life before acting as an alcoholic postman, a stalled naval career,a Pontins blue coat and his journey to becoming Barry in EastEnders.Over the course of year Shaun aims to end his journey at a victorious return to the Grand Prix... can his experiences and new-found knowledge end in victory?A Matter of Facts is a fun, fascinating and heart-warming read that will be adored by those who enjoy a regular meeting of alcohol and trivia.

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Book SynopsisA glimpse inside the sadcore world of Lana Del Rey.From the breakthrough success of ?Video Games? to her environmental activism and fashion looks, The Pocket Lana Del Rey is the unofficial and unauthorized perfect gift for all Lanatics.A poet disguised as a pop star, Lana Del Rey is as misunderstood as she is mysterious. Since her arrival in the mainstream in 2011, she has consistently confounded her fan?s? expectations and confused her critics by releasing a relentless string of genre-bending, melodically mesmerizing songs that both defy ? and define ? modern pop music.Gemini PocketsFrom little guides to soothe your soul to all-access passes to the lives of pop icons, and from quizzes and puzzles for literature lovers to books on food, nature, fashion, and more, Gemini Pockets are the perfect fit for your life and interests.

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Book SynopsisThe perfect gift for the smart thinker in your life.For several years Ian Olasov has set up 'Ask-a-Philosopher' booths around New York City, answering questions from passersby. Now in this book he offers answers to the real-life questions on people's minds.From the philosophical to the frivolous, questions include:- Are people innately good or bad?- Is it okay to have a pet fish?- Is it okay to have kids?- Is colour subjective?- If humans colonise Mars, who will own the land?- Is ketchup a smoothie?- Is there life after death?- Should I give money to homeless people?Every question is approached from a philosophical standpoint, but the answer is made fun and accessible for everyone. One of the many joys of this book is that you see how philosophy can be both perfectly continuous with everyday life and also utterly transporting.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisProficiency-Based Instruction: Input & Interaction in World Language Education will equip teachers of any language and of any level with specific, practical, and straightforward tools to bring input and interaction to life in the classroom. Teaching for proficiency is fun and engaging for both students and their teachers, and the practices that are found in proficiency-based classrooms are easily implemented with the right guidance.Proficiency-Based Instruction: Input & Interaction in World Language Education will give experienced teachers as well as those who are just beginning their career numerous resources to support your teaching. The book couples these resources with sample lessons from real teachers' classrooms to make proficiency-based teaching a reality for you and your students!

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Book SynopsisThis volume offers a critical, cross-disciplinary, and international overview of emerging scholarship addressing the dynamic relationship between race and markets. Chapters are engaging and accessible, with timely and thought-provoking insights that different audiences can engage with and learn from. Each chapter provides a unique journey into a specific marketplace setting and its sociopolitical particularities including, among others, corner stores in the United States, whitening cream in Nigeria and India, video blogs in Great Britain, and hospitals in France. By providing a cohesive collection of cutting-edge work, Race in the Marketplace contributes to the creation of a robust stream of research that directly informs critical scholarship, business practices, activism, and public policy in promoting racial equity.Table of ContentsTable of Content Chapter 1: Introduction Co-Editors Section 1 - Space and Time Chapter 2: Making the mass white: how racial segregation shaped consumer segmentation Marcel Rosa-Salas Chapter 3: Race, markets, and digital technologies: historical and conceptual frameworks W. Trevor Jamerson Chapter 4: (Re)visiting the corner store: black youth, gentrification, and food sovereignty Naya Jones Chapter 5: Beyond whiteness: perspectives on the rise of the pan-asian beauty ideal. Jeaney Yip et al. Section 2– Racialization and Intersectionality Chapter 6: Shopping while veiled: an exploration of the experiences of veiled muslim consumers in france Ranam Alkayyli Chapter 7: Constructing and critiquing interracial couples on youtube Francesca Sobande Chapter 8: Marketing marriage and colorism in india Komal Dhillon-Jamerson Chapter 9: ‘Dirty braids’: how hair is disrupting dominant racial narratives in puerto rico post-hurricane maria Jess Vega-Centeno Section 3 – Voices and Modes of Understanding Chapter 10: Are black consumers a bellwether for the nation?: how research on blacks can foreground our understanding of race in the marketplace Cassi Pittman Claytor Chapter 11: A loan at last? Race and racism in mortgage lending Vanessa Gail Perry Chapter 12: Crowd-based markets: technical progress, civil and social regression Lauren Rhue Section 4 – Neoliberalism, Markets and Marketization Chapter 13: Cultural justice and collecting: challenging the underrecognition of african american artists Patricia A. Banks Chapter 14: The new economics of colorism in the skin whitening industry: case of india and nigeria Ramya M. Vijaya Chapter 15: Race as a currency? Profitability and racialization in french healthcare institutions Dorothée Prud’homme Chapter 16: Development by markets: an essay on the continuities of colonial development and racism in africa Samuel Kwaku Bonsu Chapter 17: Afterword Rokhaya Diallo (Journalist – France)

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Book SynopsisThe practical guide to building an engaging, evidence-led geography curriculum through the power of enquiry.The Power of Geographical Enquiry is an accessible guide to transforming your geography curriculum through the enquiry approach, using investigation to engage students and bring geography to life from Year 7 to A Level. In addition to being a key skill of the discipline, the enquiry approach is aligned with scientific research on how we learn, equipping you to create the most effective lessons and boost learning outcomes. In this accessible guide, geography expert David Rogers breaks down exactly how to harness the power of enquiry in your classroom, including:- tried-and-tested strategies and guidance for building an engaging, evidence-led geography curriculum throughout the secondary years- the science of how we learn and how this links to the enquiry approach- sequences of lessons and tools that can be embedded across the curriculum, along with real-life examples, practical strategies and top tips- guidance on planning entire units of work, including the compulsory elements at GCSE and A Level, and for progression between levels. This book empowers teachers to use the enquiry approach for any topic or theme in geography. Inspire your students to plan investigations, problem-solve and tackle real-world issues through the enquiry approach, providing rich learning experiences while maintaining the awe and wonder that makes the subject so enjoyable. In addition, the book illustrates how the enquiry approach can help schools decolonise the curriculum and ensure that a diverse range of peoples, places and perspectives are covered.

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Book Synopsis‘Everything about [this] book, which combines a healthy dose of lucid neuroscience with a dash of sensitive personal narrative, delights ... a beautifully balanced piece of popular-science writing’ Boyd Tonkin, Independent 'For people interested in language, this is a must. You'll find yourself focusing on words in new ways. Read it slowly - it will take time to sink in.’William Leith, Sunday Telegraph 'An inspiring celebration of the science of reading.’ P.D. Smith, Guardian 'We were never born to read', says Maryanne Wolf. 'No specific genes ever dictated reading's development. Human beings invented reading only a few thousand years ago. And with this invention, we changed the very organisation of our brain, which in turn expanded the ways we were able to think, which altered the intellectual evolution of our species.' In "Proust and the Squid", Maryanne Wolf explores our brains' near-miraculous ability to arrange and re-arrange themselves in response to external circumstances. She examines how this 'open architecture', the elasticity of our brains, helps and hinders humans in their attempts to learn to read, and to process the written language. She also investigates what happens to people whose brains make it difficult to acquire these skills, such as those with dyslexia. Wolf, a world expert on the reading brain, brings both a personal passion and deft style to this, the story of the reading brain. It is a pop science masterpiece on a subject that anyone who loves reading will be sure to find fascinating.Trade Review‘Everything about her book, which combines a healthy dose of lucid neuroscience with a dash of sensitive personal narrative, delights ... a beautifully balanced piece of popular-science writing’ -- Boyd Tonkin, Independent‘Wolf’s alarm about the spread of semi-literacy among the young is obviously justified, and her book provokes thought about it as only reading can.’ -- John Carey, Sunday Times‘There's a lot of difficult material in here. But it's worth the effort. I kept wanting to read more about how written language changed history, and more about the invention of the alphabet. This is a tribute to Wolf, who could not possibly cram everything in here. For people interested in language, this is a must. You'll find yourself focusing on words in new ways. Read it slowly - it will take time to sink in.’ -- William Leith, Sunday Telegraph‘’Proust and the Squid’ is an inspiring celebration of the science of reading.’ -- P.D. Smith, Guardian‘Wolf is excellent on reading as a supreme accomplishment too often taken for granted precisely because of the achievement of automaticity.’ -- Literary Review‘This is a paean of praise for, and a rewarding exploration of, the creative reciprocities between writing, reading and thinking, it is especially good on dyslexia.’ -- Times'An entertaining, comprehensive, delightfully clear account of how our brain allowed us to become word magicians. A splendid achievement!' -- Alberto Manguel, author of ‘A History of Reading’'Child development Professor Wolf maintains the tone of a curious, erudite friend as she synthesises cutting-edge interdisciplinary research - psychology and archaeology, linguistics and education, history and neuroscience - in a pathbreaking look at the reading brain.' -- Publishers Weekly, Books of the Year‘As booksellers, we don't need to be convinced of the importance of reading, but Maryanne Wolf's sage book goes far beyond what even we imagined. Wolf ... is not content to discuss the cultural significance of reading; she asserts with convincing evidence that this activity has radically changed the very organization of the human brain.' -- Barnes and Noble'Wolf displays extraordinary passion and perceptiveness concerning the reading brain, its miraculous achievements and tragic dysfunctions.' -- Bookforum‘What a timely, passionate meditation on the miracle of reading! Wolf's words provide the very pleasure she describes: we feel the precious excitement that is contact with another mind and are duly illuminated, provoked, steadied, and renewed.' -- Gish Jen‘Wolf’s learned but light-footed work is excavating – with a zest that blends authority and accessibility – the deep mystery of why and how we can read at all.’ -- Boyd Tonkin, Independent‘Her book is a remarkable excavation of something we take largely for granted, and throws up plenty of thought-provoking ideas along the way.’ -- Sunday Times‘A brilliant book about how human beings learned to read and write. There’s a superb explanation of the conditions that cause dyslexia – which Wolf points out, wouldn’t have conferred an evolutionary disadvantage until very recently, and might even have been beneficial to some people.’ -- William Leith, The Spectator

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Book SynopsisExplores the development and history and an A-Z of over 170 aircraft, with 600 photographs, in a new fully updated edition.

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Book SynopsisA provocative look at how today’s trade conflicts are caused by governments promoting the interests of elites at the expense of workersTrade Review“The authors weave a complex tapestry of monetary, fiscal and social policies through history and offer opinions about what went right and what went wrong. . . . Worth reading for their insights into the history of trade and finance.”—George Melloan, Wall Street Journal“This is a very important book.”—Martin Wolf, Financial Times“An eagle-eyed perspective on the global economy, underpinned by close analysis and a remarkable clarity of exposition. The book is a terrific survey of the forces behind today’s global trade tensions and imbalances.”—Ann Pettifor, Times Literary Supplement“[O]ffers a deeper argument about the source of the trouble.”—The Economist“Matthew Klein and Michael Pettis have successfully woven a grand narrative linking income inequality, geopolitics, trade, finance and even environmental issues.”—Maximilian Kärnfelt, Merics China Briefing Newsletter“[A]s Matthew Klein and Michael Pettis argue in their brilliant polemic Trade Wars Are Class Wars, industrial policy instruments are only part of the story.”—Adam Tooze, London Review of Books“A well-written, highly recommended, and thought-provoking book.”—Ian Bright, Reading Room for the Society of Professional Economists“This timely analysis should be of interest to policymakers as well as to scholars in economics, political science and international relations.”—Luqman Saeed, Journal of Peace Research“Trade Wars Are Class Wars is a tale of three economies, China, Germany and the US. . . . It’s a terrific book.”—Enlightened EconomistWinner of the Lionel Gelber Prize, sponsored by Munk Centre for International Studies“An erudite, original, and provocative explanation of the global economic imbalances that have been at the root of numerous financial crises.”—Ernesto Zedillo, director, Yale Center for the Study of Globalization“This is a book that everyone concerned with the global economy should read. A fascinating account of the damage that rising inequality—especially in China and Germany—has done to all our economies.”—Dani Rodrik, Harvard University

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Book SynopsisOur Revision Workbooks are designed to help students develop vital skills throughout the course and build their confidence in preparation for the exam, with guided questions, unguided questions, practice papers and a full set of answers.

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Book SynopsisEdward Said experienced both British and American imperialism as the old Arab order crumbled in the late 1940s and early 1950s. This account of his early life reveals how it influenced his books Orientalism and Culture and Imperialism. Edward Said was born in Jerusalem and brought up in Cairo, spending every summer in the Lebanese mountain village of Dhour el Shweir, until he was 'banished' to America in 1951. This work is a mixture of emotional archaeology and memory, exploring an essentially irrecoverable past. As ill health sets him thinking about endings, Edward Said returns to his beginnings in this personal memoir of his ferociously demanding 'Victorian' father and his adored, inspiring, yet ambivalent mother.Trade ReviewEdward Said is among the truly important intellectuals of our century. His examined life, from the tragic and triumphant perspective of a mortal illness, is superbly worth living. I know I shall not read an autobiography to match this one for many years -- Nadine GordimerSaid is capable of writing like a gifted novelist, like a Palestinian Proust * Independent on Sunday *Out of Place recreates the sights and sounds, the smells and shouts, of a lost world, as Gunter Grass did for Danzig or Joyce for turn-of-the-century Dublin ... One of the greatest cities of our age has produced a work of art, one of the noblest autobiographies of our time * Irish Times *A fine elegy and a scrupulous reckoning with the past -- Marina Warner, Books of the Year * Daily Telegraph *This delicate and candid memoir by a very private man moved me enormously. Written in "counterpoint" to his illness (leukaemia) at times when he was recovering from chemotherapy, its importance may be measured by the ferocity of the public attempt which preceded and accompanied publication to discredit him as an authentic Palestinian voice -- Ahdaf SoueifOut of Place is an intensely moving act of reclamation and understanding, a portrait of a transcultural and often painful upbringing written with wonderful vividness and unsparing honesty. To read it is to come to know [Said's] family and his younger self as closely as we know characters in literature, to be shown, intimately and unforgettably, what it has meant in the last half-century to be a Palestinian -- Salman Rushdie

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Book SynopsisThe Gift brilliantly argues for the importance of creativity in our increasingly money-driven society. Reaching deep into literature, anthropology and psychology Lewis Hyde''s modern masterpiece has at its heart the simple and important idea that a ''gift'' can inspire and change our lives.Trade ReviewA masterpiece . . . THE GIFT is the best book I know of for the aspiring young, for talented but unacknowledged creators, or even for those who have achieved material success and are worried that this means they've sold out. It gets at the core of their dilemma: how to maintain yourself alive in a world of money, when the essential part of what you do cannot be bought or sold -- Margaret AtwoodReminds us of our cultural gifts and our responsibilities to them . . . a manifesto of sorts . . . In a climate where we know the price of everything and the value of nothing, Lewis Hyde offers us an account of those few, essential aspects of human experience that transcend commodity, or that will do so, if you let them -- Zadie SmithHelpful, beautiful and profound. It will change the way you look at everything * * Independent on Sunday * *Buy several copies for yourself and the rest of your friends interested in, well, anything . . . Hyde is far more than an astute cultural critic; he's an original and important thinker. Pass it on -- Geoff DyerFew books are such life-changers as THE GIFT -- Jonathan LethemTiger balm for tired minds * * Sunday Times * *No one who is invested in any kind of art, in questions of what real art does and doesn't have to do with money, spirituality, ego, love, ugliness, sales, politics, morality, marketing, and whatever you call 'value', can read THE GIFT and remain unchanged -- David Foster WallacePersuasive and fascinatingly illustrated, The Gift profits immensely from the modesty and unpretentiousness of Hyde's writing and the fascinated good nature with which he expounds his propositions * * Independent on Sunday * *Brilliant - by the time he is done he has folded language, culture and the very habit of being human into his ken * * New Yorker * *This wonderful, erudite and quirky book is a way of re-establishing a link with our imaginative life -- Jeanette Winterson

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Book SynopsisAlaa Abd el-Fattah is arguably the most high-profile political prisoner in Egypt, if not the Arab world, rising to international prominence during the revolution of 2011. A fiercely independent thinker who fuses politics and technology in powerful prose, an activist whose ideas represent a global generation which has only known struggle against a failing system, a public intellectual with the rare courage to offer personal, painful honesty, Alaa’s written voice came to symbolize much of what was fresh, inspiring and revolutionary about the uprisings that have defined the last decade. Collected here for the first time in English are a selection of his essays, social media posts and interviews from 2011 until the present. He has spent the majority of those years in prison, where many of these pieces were written. Together, they present not only a unique account from the frontline of a decade of global upheaval, but a catalogue of ideas about other futures those upheavals could yet reveal. From theories on technology and history to profound reflections on the meaning of prison, You Have Not Yet Been Defeated is a book about the importance of ideas, whatever their cost. Trade Review‘Don’t read this book to be comforted. Read it to be challenged, terrified, enlightened, moved, and amazed.’ — Kamila Shamsie, author of Home Fire‘Alaa is the bravest, most critical, most engaged citizen of us all. At a time when Egypt has been turned into a large prison, Alaa has managed to cling to his humanity and be the freest Egyptian.’ — Khaled Fahmy, author of All The Pasha’s Men ‘Alaa is in prison not because he committed a crime, not because he said too much, but because his very existence poses a threat to the state. Those who are bold, those who do not relent, will always threaten the terrified and ultimately weak state which must, to survive, squash its opponents like flies. But Alaa will not allow himself to be crushed like that, I know.’ — Jillian C. York, director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation‘Alaa is a philosopher of everyday life and life-long struggle; he doesn’t merely find meaning in that which we go through, especially in dark political moments, but creates meaning and gives it form in writing. And he does so from a highly entrenched and implicated place in the present. His thoughts know no frontiers; they pierce through local contexts to inspire new modes of thinking about the chaotic substance of politics.’ — Lina Attalah, editor in chief of Mada Masr‘The text you are holding is living history.’ — Naomi Klein, author of This Changes Everything‘“Fix your own democracy,” Abd el-Fattah encourages us, from his cell; Egypt’s rulers attempt to isolate, fragment and conceal resistance because it needs a global ecosystem to flourish. What can any one person do with a legacy of pain, struggle and courage? There are no easy solutions here, but You Have Not Yet Been Defeated is a heartbreaking, hopeful answer.’ — Guardian

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Book SynopsisMental Toughness Training examines what it takes to be as mentally fit as a special forces soldier. The book explains why it is equally important to focus on stress management and mental discipline as it is to concentrate on physical exercises, and is an essential guide to testing and improving mental agility and resilience.

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