Politics, Philosophy & Society Books

Book Synopsis'A darkly sumptuous tale of wicked spectacle, wild injustice and the insuppressible strength of women' EMMA STONEX, author of THE LAMPLIGHTERS'An essential story of women resisting the unjust exertion of male power' SUNDAY TIMES____________________ The Salpêtrière asylum, 1885. All of Paris is in thrall to Doctor Charcot and his displays of hypnotism on women who have been deemed mad or hysterical, outcasts from society. But the truth is much more complicated - for these women are often simply inconvenient, unwanted wives or strong-willed daughters. Once a year a grand ball is held at the hospital. For the Parisian elite, the Mad Women's Ball is the highlight of the social season; for the women themselves, it is a rare moment of hope. Geneviève is a senior nurse. After the childhood death of her sister, she has shunned religion and placed her faith in Doctor Charcot and his new science. But everything begins to change when she meets Eugénie, the 19-year-old daughter of a bourgeois family. Because Eugénie has a secret, and she needs Geneviève's help. Their fates will collide on the night of the Mad Women's Ball...____________________'In this darkly delightful Gothic treasure, Mas explores grief, trauma and sisterhood behind the walls of Paris' infamous Salpetriere hospital' PAULA HAWKINS, author of A SLOW FIRE BURNING 'A beautifully written debut...I have absolutely no doubt it will be one of my favourite novels of 2021.' AJ PEARCE, author of DEAR MRS BIRD'Essential reading' COSMOPOLITAN 'A deftly woven tale of hope and pain, judgement and redemption, cruelty and kindness. Utterly captivating and profoundly affecting.' Sunday Times bestseller, MIRANDA DICKENSON 'Enter the dance of this little masterpiece and let yourself be dazzled. Assured of hitting the bestseller lists' THE PARISIAN____________________AN AMAZON PRIME ORIGINAL FILM STARRING MÉLANIE LAURENTTrade Review[Victoria Mas's]... portrait of women who were unfairly banished to asylums often because they did not fit into the straightjacket of 19th-century society is moving... beautifully drawn. * THE TIMES *THE MAD WOMEN'S BALL is a darkly sumptuous tale of wicked spectacle, wild injustice and the insuppressible strength of women. Mas brings the world of La Salpêtrière to life with passion and fury, unveiling a hypnotic theatre that is as moving as it is macabre. * Emma Stonex, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lamplighters *[An] essential story of women resisting the unjust exertion of male power. * SUNDAY TIMES *In this darkly delightful Gothic treasure, Mas explores grief, trauma and sisterhood behind the walls of Paris' infamous Salpetriere hospital. * PAULA HAWKINS, Sunday Times bestselling author of A SLOW FIRE BURNING and THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN *Elegantly written, Victoria Mas's slender, potent debut celebrates sisterhood, while also exposing the corrupt powers of the patriarchy at home and in the wider world. * DAILY MAIL *Enthralling and wonderfully imagined... written with terrific verve and sympathy. * LITERARY REVIEW *A deftly woven tale of hope and pain, judgement and redemption, cruelty and kindness. Utterly captivating and profoundly affecting, the story of The Salpêtrière lingers long in the mind after the stunning conclusion. I loved it. * Miranda Dickinson *A beautifully written debut set in Paris in 1885, Victoria Mas' characters come to life within a sentence while her storytelling compels you to turn the page. I loved The Mad Women's Ball and have absolutely no doubt it will be one of my favourite novels of 2021. * AJ PEARCE, author of DEAR MRS BIRD *'Beautifully written and captures the world so well. A delight to read.' * Renee Knight *A gothic, feminist book ...so cinematic it is already being turned into a film...it evokes the Brontës, with its dormitories, its phials and its ghosts. But thematically, it is bang up to date. * BIG ISSUE *The Mad Women's Ball is as lush on the inside as it is on the outside! It's richly immersive, taking us right into the heart of nineteenth-century Paris. From Genevieve, Eugenie and the women of Salpêtrière we learn what it is that keeps women locked up - and the extraordinary ways in which they might escape. * Shelley Harris, author of Jubilee *'Enter the dance of this little masterpiece and let yourself be dazzled. Assured of hitting the bestseller lists' * THE PARISIAN *A well-written historical novel... book groups will thoroughly engage with the plot and characters. * NB Magazine *

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Book SynopsisAt last, a sane voice of reason that cuts through all the noise; In the deepest, darkest depths of history, there was once a time when most families had only one screen in their house with just three, four or five channels. This forced people into a situation in which they would have to compromise. Imagine the horror.; These days, we're living through The Breakdown. It's a time of enormous political engagement, but many of us feel ill equipped to truly understand and debate all the issues currently rocking our world.; With sections including How Other People Think; A Tour of the Battlegrounds; and Making Change Happen, this superbly clear-sighted, light-hearted and judgement-free book will give you all the tools you need to understand the different arguments, to work out what is happening and why - and then to do something about it.; In a shifting political landscape that can at times be frustrating, emotional or confusing, The Breakdown is an oasis of calm in a turbulent world.Table of ContentsContents; Introduction 1; PART ONE; How Other People Think 13; PART TWO; A Tour of the Battlegrounds 61; PART THREE; Making Change Happen 155; Conclusion 181; Appendix: How It All Works 185; Index 227

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*SHORTLISTED FOR THE HWA NON-FICTION CROWN 2020*Meet the three women who helped shape the course of modern Chinese history; a gripping story of sisterhood and betrayal from the bestselling author of Wild Swans.They were the most famous sisters in China. As the country battled seismic transformations these three women left an indelible mark on history. Red Sister rose to be Mao's vice-chair. Little Sister became first lady of pre-Communist Nationalist China. Big Sister made herself one of country's richest women. Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister takes us on a sweeping journey from exiles' quarters in Japan and Berlin to secret meeting rooms in Moscow, and from the compounds of the Communist elite in Beijing to the corridors of power in democratic Taiwan. By turns intimate and epic, Jung Chang reveals the lives of three extraordinary women who helped shape twentieth-century China.

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Book Synopsis'I believe that the discoveries in this book can change our understanding of how we store emotional experiences and in so doing, change our lives. The Emotion Code has already changed many lives around the world, and it is my hope that millions more will be led to use this simple tool to heal themselves and their loved ones.' - Tony RobbinsIn this newly revised and expanded edition of The Emotion Code, renowned holistic physician and lecturer Dr. Bradley Nelson skilfully lays bare the inner workings of the subconscious mind. He reveals how emotionally-charged events from your past can still be haunting you in the form of 'trapped emotions' - emotional energies that literally inhabit your body. These trapped emotions can fester in your life and body, creating pain, malfunction and eventual disease. They can also extract a heavy mental and emotional toll on you, impacting how you think, the choices that you make, and the level of success and abundance you are able to achieve. Perhaps most damaging of all, trapped emotional energies can gather around your heart, cutting off your ability to give and receive love.The Emotion Code is a powerful and simple way to rid yourself of this unseen baggage. Dr. Nelson's method gives you the tools to identify and release the trapped emotions in your life, eliminating your 'emotional baggage', and opening your heart and body to the positive energies of the world. Filled with real-world examples from many years of clinical practice, The Emotion Code is a distinct and authoritative work that has become a classic on self-healing.Trade ReviewI believe that the discoveries in this book can change our understanding of how we store emotional experiences and in so doing, change our lives. The Emotion Code has already changed many lives around the world, and it is my hope that millions more will be led to use this simple tool to heal themselves and their loved ones. * Tony Robbins *If you are looking for a simple and inexpensive way to get healthier, make more money, and have more love in your life, look no further. Simple, effective and powerful, it is a method that anyone can learn and use. * Alex Loyd, PhD, ND, bestselling author of The Healing Codes *The Emotion Code catapults us light years beyond conventional explanations of seemingly random symptoms and disease… this book is about you, your life and every relationship that you’ll ever experience. I have no doubt that The Emotion Code is destined to become a cornerstone for the healing of the new millennium. * Gregg Braden, New York Times bestselling author of The Divine Matrix *Dr. Nelson has filled this book with workable solutions to solve common problems for most people on the planet. He has done amazing healing work for thousands and shares this information with us. Read it and learn to help your family. * Raymon Grace, Author and Founder of the Raymon Grace Foundation *Emotion is energy in motion. So simple, yet intricate as a snowflake! Dr. Bradley Nelson's, The Emotion Code reveals the science and art of processing our trapped emotions. The natural by-product is our body and relationships begin to change and evolve. Knowledge is power. However, knowledge about yourself is self-empowerment. Learning to process your emotions is by far the most powerful thing you could ever learn. The Emotion Code is a gift that keeps giving. Enjoy! * Dr. Darren R. Weissman, Author of The Power of Infinite Love & Gratitude and the Developer of The LifeLine Technique® *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Daily Telegraph Football Book of the Year Ultras are often compared to punks, Hell's Angels, hooligans or the South American Barras Bravas. But in truth, they are a thoroughly Italian phenomenon... From the author of The Dark Heart of Italy, Blood on the Altar and A Place of Refuge. Italy's ultras are the most organised and violent fans in European football. Many groups have evolved into criminal gangs, involved in ticket-touting, drug-dealing and murder. A cross between the Hell's Angels and hooligans, they're often the foot-soldiers of the Mafia and have been instrumental in the rise of the far-right. But the purist ultras say that they are are insurgents fighting against a police state and modern football. Only amongst the ultras, they say, can you find belonging, community and a sacred concept of sport. They champion not just their teams, they say, but their forgotten suburbs and the dispossessed. Through the prism of the ultras, Jones crafts a compelling investigation into Italian society and its favourite sport. He writes about not just the ultras of some of Italy's biggest clubs – Juventus, Torino, Lazio, Roma and Genoa – but also about its lesser-known ones from Cosenza and Catania. He examines the sinister side of football fandom, with its violence and political extremism, but also admires the passion, wit, solidarity and style of a fascinating and contradictory subculture.Trade ReviewColourful first-hand accounts... Jones is too smart a writer... Ultra does speak direly to wider issues' * Financial Times *[An] intense book... A positive story to tell as well' * Times Literary Supplement *A serious, detailed and entertaining exploration of a fascinating subject... While Jones's analysis of the rise of the ultras is interesting, it is the anecdotes that truly hook the reader' * Catholic Herald *An excellent book * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisFind the support you need to keep being there for your loved one. Whether you?re worrying about a partner struggling with depression or witnessing a friend spiral into addiction, many of us feel helpless when someone we love faces mental health challenges. In this groundbreaking book, psychotherapist Sophie Scott draws on moving client stories, proven therapeutic techniques and her own personal journey to help you navigate the emotional complexities of caring for someone with mental illness ? while still taking care of yourself. You Are Not Alone In This introduces: THE 5 KEY FACTORS that help you support your loved one without losing yourself. COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES tailored to different diagnoses. How to utilize a HOLISTIC APPROACH to mental health. Ways to manage MESSY FEELINGS ? anger, grief, fear and more. When to set much-needed HEALTHY BOUNDARIES. ?You Are Not Alone In This is the mental health handbook everyone needs. This book is going to help huge numbers of people.? James Longman, correspondent for ABC News and author of The Inherited Mind ?This is the book I wish my family had read when I was seriously unwell. It?s a must-have for all the many millions of carers out there.? Jonny Benjamin MBE, award-winning mental health campaigner

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Book SynopsisA vivid, brilliant, darkly humorous and horrifying history of some of the strangest dictators that Europe has ever seen. 'A witty and page-turning narrative full of grotesque characters' Misha Glenny 'Will leave you astonished, exhausted and curious... An unapologetic page turner' Spectator 'Essential reading for anyone interested in Romania past and present' John Simpson 'An engaging introduction to the rich history [of Romania]' New Statesman Balanced precariously on the shifting fault line between East and West, Romania's past is one of the great untold stories of modern Europe. The country that gave us Vlad Dracula, and whose citizens consider themselves descendants of ancient Rome, has traditionally preferred the status of enigmatic outsider. But it has experienced some of the most disastrous leaderships of the last century. After a relatively benign period led by a dutiful King and his vivacious British-born Queen, the country oscillated wildly. Its interwar rulers form a gallery of bizarre characters: the corrupt and mentally unbalanced King Carol; the fascist death cult led by Corneliu Codreanu; the vain General Ion Antonescu. After 1945 power was handed to Romania's tiny communist party, under which it experienced severe repression, purges and collectivisation. Then in 1965, Nicolae Ceau?escu came to power. And thus began the strangest dictatorship of all.Trade ReviewKenyon relates all this with verve [and] humour... He patiently untangles the complicated webs of loyalty and enmity, that crisscrossed the royal court, the military camarilla and the politburo alike' * Literary Review *A witty and page-turning narrative full of grotesque characters -- Misha GlennyPaul Kenyon sweeps away the myths of romance and horror that cling to this fascinating and mysterious country -- Allan LittleAbsolutely essential reading for anyone interested in Romania past and present -- John SimpsonThis is a book that will leave you astonished, exhausted and curious... An unapologetic page turner' * Spectator *Witty and fluid, Kenyon's prose is readable without being superficial. His book is an engaging introduction to the rich history of a country that is often stereotyped and misunderstood * New Statesman *Paul Kenyon's book delves into this history, bringing to life a rogues' gallery of characters * BBC History Magazine *This is an extraordinary book... It is deeply researched and richly documented... Thanks to this book [Romania] is infinitely better understood' * The Critic *

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Book Synopsis'Wonderful' Yorkshire Times 'Not just a celebration of these enigmatic creatures, but also a timely alarm bell about their shrinking numbers' The Lady 'Just about every hedgehog fact you could wish to know' Northern Echo Hedgehogs, with their quiet determination and bristling, bumbling ways, are one of the most enduring symbols of the countryside and town gardens. The Hedgehog Handbook explores different facets of this enigmatic and much-admired mammal – from its eating and sleeping habits to its literary heritage and how we can help preserve this icon of rural life. Packed with inspirational quotes, entertaining facts, folklore and literary references, it's the perfect gift for anyone with a penchant for prickles.Trade ReviewWonderful... A responsible perspective on animal conservation is underwritten by presentation of the shocking facts' * Yorkshire Times *Just about every hedgehog fact you could wish to know * Northern Echo *Not just a celebration of these enigmatic creatures, but also a timely alarm bell about their shrinking numbers * The Lady *One of our favourite books of the year * Yorkshire Post *

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Book SynopsisFew stories have endured as long as the fables of Aesop. In this magnificent edition, award-winning illustrator Helen Ward has chosen a dozen of her favourite fables to create this breath-taking classic new collection to grace every bookshelf and bedside.The experiences described in the tales apply to us all and the lessons learned are both timeless and universal. Each creature comes to symbolise in its own way some particular aspect of the human condition - the sly fox, the silly crow, the majestic lion; all acting out their parts, uncomprehending, in the great game of life. Fear, greed, arrogance, stupidity, all these and more put in an appearance, leaping straight to the heart of our understanding from each page of this exquisitely illustrated edition. Includes the tales: The Hare and the Tortoise, The Lion and the Mouse and The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs.Trade Review'beautifully produced with exquisite illustrations' 'a book to treasure' 'perfect gift for 6-9 year olds' 'a stunning book' 'highly recommended' -- Tom Tolkien * School Reading List *Helen Ward has created a timeless edition of these beloved classics that will appeal to readers young and old. Children will delight in spotting the tiny details of the pictures such as miniature snails crawling up a plant stem or an ant's story told in tiny print as it meanders across the page. Adults will appreciate the range of characteristics presented, from greed and pride to bravery and perseverance. An Anthology of Aesop's Animal Fables is a beautifully presented collection that is sure to inspire a love of both reading and nature in children of all ages. -- Melanie Dillon * School Reading List *A book that will delight adults and children alike ...Beautifully rendered ...A stunning introduction to Aesop's fables -- Ruth Concannon * Children's Books Ireland *

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Book SynopsisFrom a foremost expert on the science of emotions, a ground-breaking exploration into the history, psychology and meaning of aweSocial psychologist Dacher Keltner has spent his career speaking to different groups of people, from schoolchildren to prisoners to healthcare workers, about the good life. These conversations and his pioneering research into the science of emotion have convinced him that happiness comes down to one thing: finding awe.Awe allows us to collaborate with others, open our minds to wonder, and see the deep patterns of life. In his new book, Keltner presents a radical investigation into this elusive emotion. Drawing on his own scientific research into how awe transforms our brains and bodies, alongside an examination of awe across history, culture and within his own life during a period of immense grief, Keltner shows us how cultivating wonder leads us to appreciate what is most humane in our human nature. The book includes intensely moving, deeply personal stories of awe from people all over the world - doctors and veterans, environmentalists and filmmakers, indigenous scholars and hospice workers, ministers and midwives, poets and prisoners.At turns radical and profound, Awe is our field guide for how to uncover everyday wonder as a vital force within our lives.Trade ReviewFascinating and enjoyable -- Tomiwa Owolade * Sunday Times *Keltner writes movingly... Awe often defies language, but Keltner is highly attuned to its traces -- Edward Posnett, Book of the Day * Guardian *Keltner's core message, imploring us to smell the coffee and whoa at it, is a welcome one in our overscheduled times * Financial Times *Humanity has a lot of loss to work through. Keltner has written the perfect guidebook for this journey, interweaving discoveries that he and his disciples have made since he pioneered the scientific study of awe 20 years ago with highly personal-and at times excruciatingly tender-meditations on the death of his brother Rolf * Harvard Business Review *A gifted storyteller, Keltner draws on the experiences of individuals across the world to document the salutary impact of everyday, wild and mystical encounters with nature, music, visual art, literature, religion, the birth of children, and the death of loved ones * Psychology Today *Awe is awesome in both senses: a superb analysis of an emotion that is strongly felt but poorly understood, with a showcase of examples that remind us of what is worthy of our awe -- Steven PinkerI recommend [Awe] to everyone. Its ideas organized a lot of my experiences, observations, thoughts, and hopes in a powerful new way -- Rebecca Solnit * (X) *It is rare for a book to dive into a single emotion to analyze it from every possible angle. Dacher Keltner's expertise makes it a fascinating and stimulating journey to recognize awe as a mysterious force in our lives -- Frans de WaalAn engaging and insightful exploration of the ordinary magic that connects us to the world, to each other, and to the meanings of our lives. The 'science of wow' has finally arrived -- Daniel GilbertYour goosebumps when you listen to Beethoven; your wonder as you behold the Grand Canyon; your amazement at the sheer perfection of a baby's tiny foot. You've probably sensed that such moments of awe are some of the most profound experiences ever to happen to you. But if you've ever wondered where these moments come from, what they mean, and how to experience them more often: there is no better guide than Dacher Keltner, the great and wise Berkeley psychologist. Read this book to connect with your highest self -- Susan CainWe need more awe in our lives, and Dacher Keltner has written the definitive book on where to find it. As a preeminent expert on the science of awe, he does a masterful job demystifying this powerful emotion and unpacking how it both elevates us and grounds us -- Adam GrantThrough powerful and compelling stories of transformation and passion, Keltner expertly introduces us to feel the mighty emotion of AWE-something we all need more of in our lives -- Pete DocterThis extraordinary book explores the power of awe and amazement in our lives and in the life of this world. It reveals the gift of awe from the perspectives of science, the self, and society. Written with passion and clarity, it is a book that itself nourishes awe and turns us toward our lives with fresh eyes and an open heart -- Roshi Joan HalifaxOur troubling times, our clickbait media, even our own habits of mind, blanket our consciousness with the negative and threatening in life. This book is a counter force. Powerful, erudite, rooted in brilliant research, but always fascinatingly accessible, it uplifts the wonderful in life. From the beauty of movement in sports to the moral courage of a friend, it's a guide to how to see and experience the wonder that is always all around us. It balances consciousness. It has been a long time since I've read anything as inspiring. I'd say race to read it. You won't be disappointed -- Claude M. SteeleDacher Keltner has written a deeply personal, scientifically brilliant treatise on an emotion he convinces us we need to experience more often in our daily lives -- Richard E. NisbettA researcher who has taught us new ways to think about generosity and cooperation has turned his attention to one of the most understudied emotions of all, awe. Eye-opening and mind expanding -- Sarah Blaffer Hrdy

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Book SynopsisHidden in the margins of history books, classical literature, and thousands of years of stories, myths and legends, through to contemporary literature, TV and film, there is a diverse and other-worldly super community of queer heroes to discover, learn from, and celebrate. Be captivated by stories of forbidden love like Patroclus & Achilles (explored in Madeleine Miller''s bestseller Song of Achilles), join the cult of Antinous (inspiration for Oscar Wilde), get down with pansexual god Set in Egyptian myth, and fall for Zimbabwe''s trans God Mawi. And from modern pop-culture, through Dan Jones''s witty, upbeat style, learn more about 90s fan obsessions Xena: Warrior Princess and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Neil Gaiman''s American Gods and the BBC''s Doctor Who. Queer Heroes of Myth & Legend brings to life characters who are romantic, brave, mysterious, and always fantastical. It is a magnificent celebration of queerness through the ages in all its legendary glory.

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Book SynopsisThe world is on the cusp of one and a half degrees of warming - just the rise it has committed itself to avoiding. Heat at such levels would be intolerable. Even before one and a half, seasons of climate disaster have struck with ever more devastating force, and yet a notion has taken hold that the cause is now lost: the intolerable has become unavoidable. The limit will be overshot - perhaps two degrees as well - and the best we can do is cool down the Earth at some later point, towards the end of the century, by means of technologies not yet proven.How did this happen? How could the idea of overshoot gain such traction? What forces are driving us into a climate that people - particularly poor people in the global South - won’t be able to cope with? In Overshoot: How the World Surrendered to Climate Breakdown, Andreas Malm and Wim Carton present a history of the present phase of the crisis, likely to extend decades into the future, as the fossil fuel indust

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Book SynopsisExamines the predecessors to the Wagner Group, its activities in a number of conflicts around the world, and its armed mutiny against the top leadership of the Russian Federation.The Wagner Group is symbolic of Russia?s deployment of private military companies (PMCs) to exercise influence in Africa, the Middle East and Europe since the mid-2010s. Nominally an independent commercial enterprise, but actually operating on behalf of the Russian government, and in close cooperation with the Ministry of Defence and its Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), and the Federal Security Service (FSB), it has been deployed to perform a very wide range of military and paramilitary tasks, provide security, and collect intelligence. Through much of its existence, the activity of the Wagner Group appears to have been clandestine and poorly recorded. In practice, the operating principles of this PMC have been very similar to those of numerous similar enterprises from the West. Since its failed coup attempt in the summer of 2023, the fate of the Wagner Group appears to be sealed. Indeed, presently, it is highly unlikely that a Russian PMC might ever again have the same power and influence that Wagner once wielded. However, this does not mean that such all such enterprises have been completely disbanded: only that the Wagner Group has not (yet) been replaced by some other enterprise ? whether Russian or foreign. In fact, we are witnessing a recurrent trend that is likely to become even more characteristic for conflicts in the coming decades as almost everybody who can afford to pay for the services of a PMC is hiring them. Indeed, numerous governments in control of relatively weak or disloyal armed forces have concluded that the deployment of a PMC holds significant advantages. This two-part works examines the predecessors to the Wagner Group, and the establishment of the latter organisation by Yevgeny Prigozhin, its activities in a number of conflicts around the world, and its armed mutiny against the top leadership of the Russian Federation. It is thoroughly illustrated with authentic photographs and custom commissioned color illustrations and maps.

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Book SynopsisIn France, Mattie feels 20 again. In Poland, Magda revisits her impoverished family. In Uzbekistan, Diana lets a fellow tourist kiss her. In Germany, Lynn loses her luggage on the Düsseldorf train.The Hopeful Traveller is a collection of short stories about—and told by—single women who have put the past behind them but are still looking for their anchor in the present. It includes bitter-sweet accounts of the freedoms of postwar life, of foreign travel, of the rekindling of old friendships and of the search for new ones. The stories speak of cosmopolitan, self-confident, well-heeled characters, in an era just before the birth of feminism, conventional in their expectations of men, always just a step away from displacement and alienation.Set variously in Paris, Kalisz, Samarkand, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Erfurt, Singapore and London, these stories, from a much-admired veteran writer, offer a teasing mix of realism and fantasy, wish-fulfilment and regret. Some of these stories have appeared in translation in overseas annuals and collections.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Pari Perspectives 1; On the Terrace 5; The Way to the Park 20; Trees 27; The Hopeful Traveller 49; Nothing to do with the Moon 75; In the Heat of the Sun 96; Pearl of Wisdom 121; A Visit to Erfurt 137; Ghosts 147; Hothouse 155; The Babysitter 179; Sauce for the Goose 193; The Overcrowded Inn 220.

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Book Synopsis12 classic English fairy tales and their history, from tales of dragons to Robin Hood. Folk tales and legends are an intrinsic part of English national culture. In his book, Rosalind Kerven has revived the best English fairy tales for a new generation. These are stories of giants, dragons, fairies and Arthurian Romance. Together, they form a perfect introduction to the different types of traditional stories and their place in English oral and written heritage. Each tale is linked with a specific place or county in England: 'The Dragon Castle' from Northumberland, 'The Girl Snatched By Fairies' from County Durham, 'The Princess and the Fool' from Kent and 'The Dark Moon' from Lincolnshire. The book also includes notes on each story: the history and where it came from, its development and short summaries of many related or similar stories.

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Book SynopsisThis exhilarating book brings together some of the best classic stories told in the United States. Many of the tales were brought to the USA from Europe, and their origins can be traced in English, Scottish, Irish, French, Spanish or German tradition. But wherever they spring from, the tales are filtered through an American consciousness, and told in a rich American voice. These vivid stories, full of magic, humour, and wisdom have been minimally retold by the editor, whose introduction and notes set them securely in their folklore context. Aunt Lizbeth Fields’ thoroughly American tale of `A Stepchild That Was Treated Mighty Bad,’ for example, is identified as a version of the Grimms’ `Snow White’. Read about Cold Feet and the Lonesome Queen, Lady Featherflight, The Gold in the Chimney, and The Cat That Went a-Traveling. These stories are ideal to read aloud or for older readers to enjoy discovering by themselves. Jacqueline Mair’s delightful illustrations, based on American folk art, have the stitched and embroidered texture of a much-loved family quilt.Trade Review`Watch storytellers and students of American Folklore in search of fresh material fall on it with glad cries.’ ALA Booklist

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Book SynopsisIn education, resources and time are scarce, yet the demand for performance is sky high. School leaders invest money and labour into improving their schools, navigating trade offs along the way. But what if one of the biggest improvements we could make to our schools was something we already do? What if enhancing teamwork so that school teams thrive, was actually the secret ingredient to success?The Power of Teams explores evidence from across sectors, including education, to find out what high-performing teams share, and how we can adapt the most effective teamwork strategies to the unique environment of a school. The book outlines a model of teamwork factors that contribute to truly thriving teams, with theory, research, tangible actions for school teams, and a range of expert voices who contribute their experience in case studies.Effective teamwork leads to purpose, belonging, trust, learning, and, ultimately, high performance. When we better understand the nuances of how teams can thrive, we discover the real Power of Teams.

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Book SynopsisFrom academic writing to personal and public discourse, the need for good arguments and better ways of arguing is greater than ever before. This timely fifth edition of A Rulebook for Arguments sharpens an already-classic text, adding updated examples and a new chapter on public debates that provides rules for the etiquette and ethics of sound public dialogue as well as clear and sound thinking in general.Trade ReviewComments on the previous edition: "This is the ultimate 'how-to' book for anyone who wants to use reasons and evidence in support of conclusions, to be clear instead of confusing, persuasive instead of dogmatic, and better at evaluating the arguments of others." --Debra Nails, Michigan State University

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Book SynopsisCAPTIVATING LOVE STORIES CELEBRATED AND RETOLDTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND GLOBAL HITAs seen on BBC2 Between the Covers''Perfection in short story form. So rarely is love expressed this richly, this vividly, or this artfully.'' CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMS''Beautifully written and full of joy. Bolu Babalola is a star.'' MEG CABOT''Here is love as freedom, love as deep joy. Romance will never be dead, as long as Bolu is writing it.'' JESSIE BURTON__________Bolu Babalola takes the most beautiful love stories from history and mythology and rewrites them with incredible new detail and vivacity in her debut collection. Focusing on the magical folktales of West Africa, Babalola also reimagines iconic Greek myths, ancient legends from the Middle East, and stories from countries that no longer exist in our world. A high-born Nigerian goddess feels beaten down and unapprecTrade ReviewIf you're tired of conventional love stories, 'Love in Colour' is a captivating collection of love stories inspired by Greek mythology and Nigerian folklore. * Melan magazine *

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Book SynopsisEliza Fricker gets it. Describing her perfectly imperfect experience of raising a PDA child, with societal judgements and internal pressures, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, resentful and alone. This book's comedic illustrations explain these challenging situations and feelings in a way that words simply cannot, will bring some much-needed levity back into PDA parenting. Humorous anecdotes with a compassionate tone remind parents that they are not alone, and they're doing a great job. If children are safe, happy, and you leave the house on time, who cares about some smelly socks? A light-hearted and digestible guide to being a PDA parent covering everything from tolerance levels, relationships and meltdowns to collaboration, flexibility, and self care to dip in and out as your schedule allows to help get to grips with this complex condition. This book is an essential read for any parent with a PDA child, to help better understand your child, build support systems and carve out some essential self care time guilt free.Trade ReviewIn The Family Experience of PDA Eliza Fricker shares her heartfelt insights through an accessible illustrated volume that will be helpful to parents as they support, encourage, and manage their children who may have features of PDA. The book through words and pictures provides the important lessons she has learned about the sensitivities and regulatory capacity of her child. Eliza shares the basic principles that enabled her child and family to feel safer and to mutually enjoy daily interactions. We learn the power of softening the edges of restrictive parenting, which may function in more resilient children with higher thresholds to be reactive but is disastrous with a child with feature of PDA. We learn that a gentler less demanding, accepting, and positive playful parental strategy will lead to more cooperative behaviors and mutually rewarding co-regulatory interactions. -- Stephen W. Porges, PhD, Professor Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillThis book is the perfect tonic for frazzled loved ones of children with PDA. Perfectly imperfect, quirky and always en pointe, Eliza will make you nod and smile with her descriptions and illustrations whilst also providing you with a tonne of practical ideas without once seeming preachy. -- Dr Pooky Knightsmith, Child and Adolescent Mental Health ExpertTable of ContentsForeword by Ruth Fidler; Introduction; Tolerance Levels; Meltdowns; Relationships; Sensory; Anxiety; Collaboration; Flexibility; Prioritising; Positives; Self Care

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Book SynopsisSpanish pupils will want to learn! Viva! is a new fully-differentiated Key Stage 3 Spanish course packed with content pupils will enjoy learning and which opens the window to the Spanish-speaking world.

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Book Synopsis'A striking memoir...A must-read for anyone healing from complex trauma' Jeanette McCurdy, bestselling author of I'm Glad My Mom DiedEvery cell in my body is filled with the code of generations of trauma, of death, of birth, of migration, of history that I cannot understand. . . . I want to have words for what my bones know. By the age of thirty, Stephanie Foo was successful on paper: she had her dream job as an award-winning radio producer at This American Life and a loving boyfriend. But behind her office door, she was having panic attacks and sobbing at her desk every morning. After years of questioning what was wrong with herself, she was diagnosed with complex PTSD - a condition that occurs when trauma happens continuously, over the course of years. Both of Foo's parents abandoned her when she was a teenager, after years of physical and verbal abuse and neglect. She thought she'd moved on, but her new diagnosis illuminated the way her past continued to threaten her health, relationships, and career. She found limited resources to help her, so Foo set out to heal herself, and to map her experiences onto the scarce literature about C-PTSD. In this deeply personal and thoroughly researched account, Foo interviews scientists and psychologists and tries a variety of innovative therapies. She returns to her hometown in California to investigate the effects of immigrant trauma on the community, and she uncovers family secrets in the country of her birth, Malaysia, to learn how trauma can be inherited through generations. Ultimately, she discovers that you don't move on from trauma - but you can learn to move with it. Powerful, enlightening and hopeful, What My Bones Know is a brave narrative that reckons with the hold of the past over the present, the mind over the body - and examines one woman's ability to reclaim agency from her trauma.Trade ReviewA striking memoir...A must-read for anyone healing from complex trauma -- Jeanette McCurdy, bestselling author of I'M GLAD MY MOM DIEDAn intimate, deeply engrossing story of psychological recovery * The Australian *As Foo sheds necessary light on the little-discussed topic of C-PTSD, she holds out the hope that while 'healing is never final . . . along with the losses are the triumphs' that can positively transform a traumatized life. . . . A sharp, insightful and stirring memoir. * Kirkus Reviews *Foo's writing is shrewdly insightful. In telling her story so compellingly, she joins authors such as Anna Qu and Ly Tran in adding nuance to the 'model minority' myth, if not actively subverting it. . . . Highly recommended. -- Library Journal (starred review)This is a work of immense beauty. * Publishers Weekly *Many trauma survivors struggle to describe the seemingly indescribable sense of carrying something intangibly sharp - something there but not there - inside. But in What My Bones Know, Stephanie Foo details that and more. Her achingly exquisite memoir takes us on a journey through complex trauma, illuminating her path of self-discovery and providing real hope for those who long to heal. -- Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONEWhat My Bones Know is an absolute triumph. Foo's beautifully written memoir is a balm and a light for anyone afraid that their early traumas have permanently stunted their capacity for connection, love, and purpose. This book is a must-read for anyone hungry for hope. -- Christie Tate, New York Times bestselling author of GROUPStephanie Foo's incredible memoir speaks to so many things at once: the horrors of an abusive childhood, the enduring power of trauma, the messy science of the brain and the lifelong quest for meaning and healing. Funny and tragic, unflinchingly honest and relentlessly hopeful, What My Bones Know is a marvel of a book. -- Ed Yong, New York Times bestselling author of I CONTAIN MULTITUDESFoo's journalistic eye serves her generously through a hard-won examination of trauma and its aftermath. I cried while turning the pages; I knew that I was witnessing an astonishing literary endeavour. For others who live with C-PTSD, this is a crucial, life-changing book. -- Esmé Weijun Wang, New York Times bestselling author of THE COLLECTED SCHIZOPHRENIASAt turns funny and devastating, terrifying and transcendent, Foo's quest for understanding should be relevant not just to someone with C-PTSD but to anyone seeking to grow and be present in this one life. -- Jenny Odell, New York Times bestselling author of HOW TO DO NOTHINGIn What My Bones Know, Stephanie Foo mines her past in search of answers, uncovering what it means to navigate trauma over generations. With striking candidness, Foo takes readers on her journey to understand her diagnosis of complex PTSD, weaving together reporting and personal history. A testament to Foo's determination, What My Bones Know is an act of reclamation - and a bold, defiant proclamation: "I am here." -- Kat Chow, author of SEEING GHOSTS

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Book SynopsisHow Learning Happens introduces 32 giants of educational research and their findings on how we learn and what we need to know to learn effectively, efficiently, and enjoyably. Many of these works have inspired researchers and teachers all around the world and have left a mark on how we teach today.Now updated to include a new section on Memory and Cognition with five new chapters, this revised second edition explores a selection of the key works on learning and teaching, chosen from the fields of educational psychology and cognitive psychology. It offers a roadmap of the most important discoveries in the way learning happens, with each chapter examining a different work and explaining its significance before describing the research, its implications for practice, and how it can be used in the classroom â including the key takeaways for teachers.Clearly divided into seven sections, the book covers: Memory and cognition How the brain works

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Book SynopsisA FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR A call to action for the creative class and labour movement to rally against the power of Big Tech and Big Media. Corporate concentration has breached the stratosphere, as have corporate profits. An ever-expanding constellation of industries are now monopolies (where sellers have excessive power over buyers) or monopsonies (where buyers hold the whip hand over sellers) — or both. Scholar Rebecca Giblin and writer and activist Cory Doctorow argue we’re in a new era of ‘chokepoint capitalism’, with exploitative businesses creating insurmountable barriers to competition that enable them to capture value that should rightfully go to others. All workers are weakened by this, but the problem is especially well illustrated by the plight of creative workers. From Amazon’s use of digital rights management and bundling to radically change the economics of book publishing, to Google and Facebook’s siphoning away of ad revenues from news media, and the Big Three record labels’ use of inordinately long contracts to up their own margins at the cost of artists, chokepoints are everywhere. By analysing book publishing and news, live music and music streaming, screenwriting, radio, and more, Giblin and Doctorow deftly show how powerful corporations construct ‘anti-competitive flywheels’ designed to lock in users and suppliers, make their markets hostile to new entrants, and then force workers and suppliers to accept unfairly low prices. Chokepoint Capitalism is a call to workers of all sectors to unite to help smash these chokepoints and take back the power and profit that’s being heisted away — before it’s too late.Trade Review‘Provocative … What makes this book so refreshing is that it never lets its reader off the hook … I see it as a kind of manual that will arm you with the technical knowhow (and the confidence) to demand more.’ -- Kitty Drake * The Guardian *‘Nerdy, sharp, radical, and readable.’ -- Tim Harford * Financial Times *‘Chokepoint Capitalism tells us how the vampires crashed the party, and provides protective garlic.’ -- Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid’s Tale‘A welcome intervention.’ -- Oscar Williams * New Statesman *‘We all know something is wrong about every click, stream, and purchase we make — unfairly depriving value creators of their worth, while enriching the wealthiest and most extractive entities in human history. Instead of just complaining about the corporate stranglehold over production and exchange, Giblin and Doctorow show us why this happened, how it works, and what we can do about it. An infuriating yet inspiring call to collective action.’ -- Douglas Rushkoff, author of Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus and Survival of the Richest‘An urgent, profound, and approachable take on what it's going to take to save our culture. If you care about books, movies, or music, read this book right now. And share a copy with a friend.’ -- Seth Godin, author of The Practice‘Chokepoint Capitalism is not just a fascinating tour of the hidden mechanics of the platform era, from Spotify playlists to Prince's name change, but a compelling agenda to break Big Tech's hold. It presents a clear new way to think about corporate power — and a path to taking that power back for cultural creators and all of us.’ -- Eli Pariser, author of The Filter Bubble and cofounder of Avaaz‘The great myth of the American economy is that it rewards creators and producers. But Chokepoint Capitalism dares to tell the real story of how it actually rewards the all-powerful middlemen fleecing both workers and consumers. This book is an absolute must-read for anyone who senses that the predominant economic mythology is a lie, who wants to know what's really happening in this economy — and who is ready to finally start fixing the problem.’ -- David Sirota, writer of Don't Look Up and founder of The Lever‘[A] lucid and damning exposé of how big business captured the culture markets … Interwoven with maddening tales of exploitation are detailed discussions of statutory licensing reform, copyright infringement detection systems, and other technical matters … The book’s broad scope, expert policy recommendations, and flashes of wit make it a must-read for anyone involved in these industries.’ -- Publishers Weekly, starred reviewGiblin and Doctorow persuasively argue that copyright can’t unrig a rigged market — for that you need worker power, antitrust, and solidarity.’ -- Jimmy Wales, cofounder of Wikipedia‘I loved this book … It helps us all see the locks and chains, and the ways to chisel through them.’ -- Zephyr Teachout, law professor and author of Corruption in America and Break ‘Em Up‘Creators are being ground up by the modern culture industries, with little choice but to participate in markets … Giblin and Doctorow show why, and offer a range of powerful strategies for fighting back.’ -- Lawrence Lessig, Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership at Harvard Law School‘Capitalism doesn’t work without competition. Giblin and Doctorow impressively show the extent to which that’s been lost throughout the creative industries, and how this pattern threatens every other worker.’ -- Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist‘A tome for the times … The revolution will not be spotified!’ -- Christopher Coe, artist and cofounder of Awesome Soundwave‘Chokepoint Capitalism couples its legal-economic critique with provocative, sometimes utopian, prescriptions for fairly remunerating authors and performers.’ -- Jane C. Ginsburg, Morton L. Janklow Professor of Literary and Artistic Property Law at Columbia University School of Law‘Searing, essential, and incredibly readable.’ -- Adam Conover, comedian and host of The G-Word‘If you have ever wondered why the web feels increasingly stale, Chokepoint Capitalism outlines in great detail how it is being denied fresh air.’ -- Mat Dryhurst, artist and researcher at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music‘Chokepoint Capitalism is more than a clarion call for a new, necessary form of trustbusting. It’s a grand unified theory of a decades-long, corporate-led hollowing out of creative culture.’ -- Andy Greenberg, writer for WIRED and author of Sandworm and Tracers in the Dark‘Rebecca Giblin and Cory Doctorow lay out their case in plain and powerful prose, offering a grand tour of the blighted cultural landscape and how our arts and artists have been chickenised, choked, and cheated.’ -- Kaiser Kuo, host and cofounder of The Sinica Podcast‘A masterwork … It’s a necessary read for any artist in the entertainment industry.’ -- David A. Goodman, writer, executive producer of The Orville, and former president of the WGA West‘Every creator will find inspiration here.’ -- Anil Dash, CEO of Glitch’[T]his is an important and powerful book not least because it crushes the myth of artists as out-of-touch elitists. Rather than painting creatives as different, Giblin and Doctorow emphasise the similarities between the problems they face and those endured by the great bulk of the population at a time when 40 per cent of Americans say they could not find $400 to cover an unexpected expense … If we want change, Giblin and Doctorow say we need to act collectively. That’s true for artists; it’s also true for non-artists … It’s only together that we’ll shake it off.’ -- Jeff Sparrow * The Saturday Paper *‘A searing and comprehensive take on the oligopolies that control creative markets, from publishing to music distribution to film distribution.’ * Alta *‘[Chokepoint Capitalism] is a dark portrait of a cultural system captured by billionaires … [and] helps us start the daunting task of taking back control.’ -- Justin O'Connor * The Conversation *‘Chokepoint Capitalism is the book we need now. Comprehensive and accessible, stirring and enlightening, it is a roadmap for taking immediate action against the corporate chokepoints that are crushing our creative workers and, increasingly, the rest of the middle class as well.’ * The Progressive *‘Totally readable.’ * The Spinoff *‘Giblin and Doctorow explain how companies such as Amazon, Google and Facebook — and the big publishers — use their anti-competitive market powers to exploit creators, consumers and employees. The authors argue for collective action and minimum wages for creatives as some possible solutions to unblock the “chokepoints”.’ -- Justine Hyde, The Saturday Paper Best of 2022‘Chokepoint Capitalism offers an admirable antidote to the fiction that our economic systems operate the way they do because that’s how they are, rather than because a few companies managed to take early advantage of new technologies to manipulate those systems for their own benefit. You might not expect to find much hope in a book about the exploitation of people trying to earn a living doing what they love. But Giblin and Doctorow make a convincing case that taking on Big Tech and Big Content — seemingly a lonely and demoralising endeavour — is, in fact, an opportunity for community. Indeed, the fight demands community.’ -- Adam M. Lowenstein * The Atlantic *Praise for Information Doesn't Want to Be Free: ‘Doctorow breaks down the complex issues and tangled arguments surrounding technology, commerce, copyright, intellectual property, crowd funding, privacy and value — not to mention the tricky situation of becoming “Internet Famous.” … Doctorow has spoken and written on these issues many times before but never quite so persuasively. Required reading for creators making their ways through the new world.’ -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review‘Chokepoint Capitalism is a call to unite and it also highlights other key actions that need to take place to build a future where creative workers get a fair share of the wealth generated by their work.’ -- Celina Lei * ArtsHub *Praise for Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom: ‘Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom is black-comedic sci-fi prophecy on the dangers of surrendering our consensual hallucination to the regime. Fun to read, but difficult to sleep afterwards.’ -- Douglas Rushkoff, author of Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus and Survival of the RichestPraise for Code Wars: ‘With a combination of acute observation, close analysis and clear-headed honesty, Rebecca Giblin leads the reader to share her conclusion that there is no legislative, judicial, commercial or technical panacea for copyright infringement which P2P software facilitates, but that even now it is not too late to improve the manner in which the rights-owning and distribution sectors address the challenges that P2P poses.’ -- Jeremy Phillips, Olswang, and Intellectual Property Institute

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Book SynopsisOUR MOST NOTORIOUS CRIMINALS HAVE HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT.UNTIL NOW...''Emily'' is a devoted single mother.''Jack'' starts a new job in a new town.They both share the same secret:neither of them are who they say they are.They are among only nine criminals in the UK who have been granted lifelong anonymity, for their own safety, because of their terrible crimes. But what if someone exposed their true identities to the families of their victims, who are desperate for revenge? Probation officer Olivia Campbell is caught in the crossfire of this crisis - and as the search for the mole behind it all intensifies, so too does the hunt for the vigilante killers let loose by the leaks...RIGHT OR WRONG?CRIMINAL OR VICTIM?REDEMPTION OR REVENGE?*****Praise for AN EYE FOR AN EYE:''A big, bold, twisting thriller'' Trade Review'A propulsive thriller ... Fast-moving, disturbing and thought-provoking' * GUARDIAN, Thrillers of the Month *'A stirring crime novel for the 21st century' * DAILY MAIL *'There are no easy answers in this thoughtful, harrowing thriller' * THE SUN *'Impressive and compassionate, Eye For An Eye should win prizes' * LITERARY REVIEW *

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Book SynopsisJon Ronson is an award-winning writer and documentary maker. He is the author of many bestselling books, including So You've Been Publicly Shamed, The Psychopath Test, Lost at Sea, The Men Who Stare at Goats and Them: Adventures with Extremists. His acclaimed podcasts include Things Fell Apart and The Butterfly Effect, and he co-wrote the screenplays for the movies Okja and Frank. He lives in New York.Trade ReviewThe belly laughs come thick and fast - my God, he is funny . . . and you will, I guarantee, zip merrily through it. * The Observer *An entertaining exploration of madness. * The Sunday Times *Ronson is one of the finest comic writers working today. -- Will Self * The Guardian *Ronson has a fine journalist's nose for sniffing out the most entertaining monsters to interview . . . chirpy, inquisitive, funny. -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *A thoughtful and funny read. * Stylist *A typical treat, a semi-sinister, half-hilarious trip into the dark side. * List *Thought-provoking, wry, incisive. * Tatler *

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Book SynopsisThe broken rung: a phenomenon even more pervasive than the glass ceiling in holding women back from career success. This book explains it and gives you strategies for how to overcome it and fulfill your potential.Women around the world do extremely well when it comes to their education. They graduate at higher rates than men do and have higher average GPAs. But then a strange thing happens: Upon entering the workforce, they immediately lose their advantage. When the first promotions come around, the slide continues—for every 100 men who are promoted to manager, only 87 women and 73 women of color get promoted.This is what McKinsey senior partners Kweilin Ellingrud, Lareina Yee, and María del Mar Martínez call "the broken rung," and its effects compound throughout women''s careers, causing women to fall behind at the start and keeping them from catching up. In this groundbreaking book, the authors reveal the problem''s underlying cause: while about half of a person''s lifetime earnings come from education and half from experience, men get more value from their experience than women do. As the authors show, it is also here, in one''s experience, that the solution lies: How can women build their "experience capital" to level the playing field and maximize their earning potential?Based on over a decade of research, conversations with more than 50 remarkable leaders, and their own experiences as senior partners and as the first three consecutive chief diversity and inclusion officers for McKinsey, the authors weave data on the potential pitfalls across a career with inspiring and instructive stories of women who have climbed over the broken rung by using strategies that increased their experience capital.Leaders and companies must do more to address structural gender inequalities in the workplace—but you don''t have to wait. The Broken Rung is your guide, right now, for moving up the corporate ladder and reaching your full potential at work.

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Book SynopsisIn Thomas Ligotti's first nonfiction outing, an examination of the meaning (or meaninglessness) of life through an insightful, unsparing argument that proves the greatest horrors are not the products of our imagination but instead are found in reality.

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Book SynopsisIt is generally accepted that Queen Victoria reigned but did not rule. This couldn't be more wrong.

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Book SynopsisIt's Not About the Burqa is an anthology of frank and insightful essays by Muslim women about the contemporary Muslim female experience.'Passionate, angry, self-effacing, nuanced and utterly compelling in every single way' - Nikesh Shukla, editor of The Good ImmigrantWhen was the last time you heard a Muslim woman speak for herself without a filter?In 2016, Mariam Khan read that David Cameron had linked the radicalization of Muslim men to the ‘traditional submissiveness’ of Muslim women. Mariam felt pretty sure she didn’t know a single Muslim woman who would describe herself that way. Why was she hearing about Muslim women from people who were neither Muslim, nor female?Years later the state of the national discourse has deteriorated even further, and Muslim women’s voices are still pushed to the fringes – the figures leading the discussion are white and male.Taking one of the most politicized and misused words associated with Muslim women and Islamophobia, It’s Not About the Burqa is poised to change all that. Here are voices you won’t see represented in the national news headlines: seventeen Muslim women speaking frankly about the hijab and wavering faith, about love and divorce, about feminism, queer identity, sex, and the twin threats of a disapproving community and a racist country.With a mix of British and international women writers, from activist Mona Eltahawy's definition of a revolution to journalist and broadcaster Saima Mir telling the story of her experience of arranged marriage, from author Sufiya Ahmed on her Islamic feminist icon to playwright Afshan D'souza-Lodhi's moving piece about her relationship with her hijab, these essays are funny, warm, sometimes sad, and often angry, and each of them is a passionate declaration calling time on the oppression, the lazy stereotyping, the misogyny and the Islamophobia.What does it mean, exactly, to be a Muslim woman in the West today? According to the media, it’s all about the burqa.Here’s what it’s really about.Shortlisted for Foyles Non-Fiction Book of the Year'Engrossing . . . fascinating . . . courageous' – ObserverTrade ReviewAn incredibly important collection of essays that explores the pressures of being a Muslim woman today. These essays are passionate, angry, self-effacing, nuanced and utterly compelling in every single way -- Nikesh Shukla, editor of The Good ImmigrantWide-ranging . . . engrossing . . . fascinating . . . these essays take a courageous and panoramic view of Muslims * Observer *A landmark anthology . . . frank and engaging essays on sex and religion, mental health in the Muslim community and queer identity from an impressive selection of writers and activists * Cosmopolitan *Essential reading for our times. These essays are funny, angry, hopeful, sorrowful and inspired - and will leave you feeling much the same -- Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Girl of Ink and StarsAn intelligent and much needed book * Red Magazine *It’s about pushing past the stereotype placed on Muslim women and hearing the individuals themselves; it’s required reading * Stylist *Refreshing, insightful and occasionally raw, It’s Not About the Burqa is a phenomenal collection of essays by a very diverse range of Muslim women. An absolute must read for anyone wanting to better understand the lives and experiences of Muslim Women in the West. -- Akeela AhmedThe result is It’s Not About the Burqa, 17 brilliantly wide-ranging essays covering everything from the rise of the sexualised Islamic influencer, to the Quran’s take on bisexuality – and of course insidious, ugly Islamophobia * i News *Forget the ravings of politicians and pundits, hear from voices who have real, lived experiences across religion, feminism, sex, love and identity, and turn to this nuanced and wide-ranging collection * Emerald Street *Table of ContentsIntroduction - i: Introduction by Mariam Khan Chapter - 1: 'Too Loud, Swears Too Much and Goes Too Far' by Mona Eltahawy Chapter - 2: 'Immodesty is the Best Policy' by Coco Khan Chapter - 3: 'The First Feminist' by Sufiya Ahmed Chapter - 4: 'On the Representation of Muslims: Terms and Conditions Apply' by Nafisa Bakkar Chapter - 5: 'The Clothes of My Faith' by Afia Ahmed Chaudhry Chapter - 6: 'Life was Easier Before I was Woke' by Yassmin Midhat Abdel-Magied Chapter - 7: 'There’s No Such Thing as a Depressed Muslim: Discussing Mental Health in the Muslim Community' by Jamilla Hekmoun Chapter - 8: 'Feminism Needs to Die' by Mariam Khan Chapter - 9: 'Hijabi (R)evolution' by Afshan D’souza-Lodhi Chapter - 10: 'Eight Notifications' by Salma Haidrani Chapter - 11: 'Shame, Shame, It Knows Your Name' by Amna Saleem Chapter - 12: 'A Woman of Substance' by Saima Mir Chapter - 13: 'A Gender Denied: Islam, Sex and the Struggle to Get Some' by Salma El-Wardany Chapter - 14: 'How Not to Get Married (or why an unregistered nikah is no protection for a woman)' by Aina Khan OBE Chapter - 15: 'Not Just a Black Muslim Woman' by Raifa Rafiq Chapter - 16: 'Between Submission and Threat: The British State’s Contradictory Relationship with Muslim Women' by Malia Bouattia Chapter - 17: 'Daughter of Stories' by Nadine Aisha Jassat

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Book SynopsisThe real Master and Commander 'There is no man I envy so much as Lord Cochrane' Lord ByronTrade Review'The real Master and Commander' Sunday Telegraph 'Cordingly is a brilliant historian' Daily Telegraph 'Intriguing and satisfying ... Cochrane packed enough drama and history to shame both Horatio Nelson and Sir Francis Drake ... O'Brian fans will find great satisfaction in smoking out similarities and differences between Cochrane and Aubrey' Washington Post 'By rights, Thomas Cochrane should be as well known today as Francis Drake ... Cochrane's adventures in Chile, Peru and Brazil are among the most amazing in naval history' Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisIn Dancing in the Streets Ehrenreich uncovers the origins of communal celebration in human biology and culture. She discovers that the same elements come up in every human culture throughout history: a love of masking, carnival, music-making and dance. Although sixteenth-century Europeans began to view mass festivities as foreign and 'savage', Ehrenreich shows that they were indigenous to the West, from the ancient Greek's worship of Dionysus to the medieval practices of Christianity as a 'danced religion'. Exhilarating in its scholarly range, humane, witty and impassioned, Dancing in the Streets will generate debate and soul-searching.Trade ReviewWitty and quizzical ... Her lightness of touch is commendable -- Simon Callow * Guardian *Dancing in the Streets is a genuine triumph of popular critical scholarship - the punchy elegance of her prose makes this an essential purchase * Independent *A sparkling history of mass festivity, from Dionysian cults through ecstatic slave rites to rock'n'roll, it also, in sober vein, records its suppression and containment by disquieted elites and concludes with meditations on some deep-seated troubles of our own age -- Gareth Dale * Times Higher Education Supplement *

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Book SynopsisSpark steamy discussions and add a dash of spice to any date night with this deck of 52 erotic conversation starters!Dive into a world of passion and pleasure with these naughty ice breakers, designed to ignite the flames of curiosity and deepen connections. Ranging from playful to provocative, each card unveils a tantalizing question or scenario, encouraging participants to share their most intimate fantasies, desires and experiences, for a truly unforgettable night.Ideal for couples seeking to enhance their connection or adventurous groups looking to push boundaries, these cards promise to elevate your conversations to new, thrilling heights. From steamy hypotheticals to tempting confessions, the Dirty Date Deck is sure to unleash the passion and set tongues wagging.Questions include: - What is the kinkiest thing anyone has asked you to do? - Have you ever had an erotic dream about someone you shouldn''t have? - What is one dirty t

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Book SynopsisThe extraordinary true story of a West African girlâs upbringing in North Korea.Trade Review'A fascinating glimpse into life in North Korea’ New Statesman‘Monica's is an evocative memoir of a remarkable childhood followed by a decades-long search around the globe for her identity and the truth about her father. But beyond that, it is a stunning treatise on politics, power and culture' Florence Olajide, bestselling author of Coconut'A fascinating account of a woman’s quest for autonomy, and her bravery and determination to find the truth. It’s an investigative story to understand her true father, a powerful but controversial figure, the real man behind his many personas. A woman who was raised between countries, in search of her true home' Lily Dunn, author of Sins of My Father‘A testament to the power of survival, and the strength it takes to interrogate the world you're born into, Black Girl from Pyongyang is a beautiful and startling coming of age story’ Ali Millar, author of The Last Days‘Monica Macias challenges readers in her remarkable memoir to interrogate the modalities of truth in our modern world, to closely examine and dismantle what we think we know and what the powers that be would have us believe. Hers is a weighty inheritance, one that she explores with grace, compassion, and enormous courage’ Ly Tran, author of House of Sticks‘With intimate knowledge through some of the world’s least-known places, Monica Macias leads us on an extraordinary journey. Her perspective as an African, Asian and European woman is absolutely singular as she searches for home, for her history and for her own identity. Her story is told with clear-eyed honesty and self-reflection, as she seeks to better understand herself, the circumstances of her birth and upbringing, and the world she travels around so bravely. You have never read a book like Black Girl From Pyongyang, and you won’t soon forget it’ Marcia de Sanctis, author of A Hard Place to Leave'Black Girl from Pyongyang tells a heart-warming story of conflicting emotions. A delight to read' Dr J. E. Hoare, Centre of Korean Studies, SOAS

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