Politics, Philosophy & Society Books

Book SynopsisAn illustrated history of one of the US Navy's earliest aircraft carriers

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Book SynopsisSince the book's first publication in 1988, Alain Badiou's Being and Event has established itself of one of the most important and controversial works in contemporary philosophy and its author as one of the most influential thinkers of our time. Being and Event is a comprehensive statement of Badiou's philosophical project and sees him recast the European philosophical tradition from Plato onwards, via a series of analyses of such key figures as Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Hegel, Rousseau, and Lacan. He thus develops the basis for a history of philosophy rivalling those of Heidegger and Deleuze in its depth.Now publishing in the Bloomsbury Revelations series to mark 25 years since the book's first publication in French, Being and Event is an essential read for anyone interested in contemporary thought.Trade Review"Badiou's approach is unique, rigorous, and interesting..." - Jill Stauffer, Theory & Event"[Badiou] develops, in the central passages of the book, his central notions of situations and events, and devotes many, often arresting pages to elucidating the mechanism by which the latter productively disrupt the former. The structure of experience is not merely open to change, pregnant with contingent revolution. This is a nice model and Badiou deploys it across a broad front." - Hugh Lawson-Tancred for The Liberal"A variety of scholars, including philosophers, mathematicians, and intellectual historians, would do well to examine this volume and seek in it threads that warrant continued examination in an era of nanotechnology and political terrorism."- Francisca Goldsmith, Library Journal, April 1, 2006 * Library Journal *"Two things are new in this much-anticipated translationof Badiou: the language and the preface. Both are instructive. TranslatorOliver Feltham stayed 'as close as possible to Badiou's syntax' but 'at theprice of losing fluidity.' Thankfully, Badiou addresses such dissonance and hislarger philosophical goals in an indispensable new preface—without which the 37weighty meditations might be lost to the layperson. Recommended..." - Publishers Weekly * Publishers Weekly *Table of ContentsNew Author's Preface Translator's Preface Introduction Book I Being: Multiple and Void. Plato/Cantor 1. The One and the Multiple: a priori conditions of any possible ontology 2. Plato 3. Theory of the Pure Multiple: paradoxes and critical decision Technical Note: the conventions of writing 4. The Void: Proper name of being 5. The Mark Æ 6. Aristotle Book II Being: Excess, State of the Situation, One/Multiple, Whole/Parts, or Î/Ì? 7. The Point of Excess 8. The State, or Metastructure, and the Typology of Being (normality, singularity, excrescence) 9. The State of the Historico-social Situation 10. Spinoza Book III Being: Nature and Infinity. Heidegger/Galileo 11. Nature: Poem or matheme? 12. The Ontological schema of Natural Multiples and the Non-existence of Nature 13. Infinity: the other, the rule and the Other 14. The Ontological Decision: 'There is some infinity in natural multiples' 15. Hegel Book IV The Event: History and Ultra-one 16. Evental Sites and Historical Situations 17. The Matheme of the Event 18. Being's Prohibition of the Event 19. MallarméBook V The Event: Intervention and Fidelity. Pascal/Choice; Hölderlin/Deduction 20. The Intervention: Illegal choice of a name for the event, logic of the two, temporal foundation 21. Pascal 22. The Form-multiple of Intervention: is there a being of choice? 23. Fidelity, Connection 24. Deduction as operator of ontological fidelity 25. HölderlinBook VI Quantity and Knowledge. The discernable (or constructible): Leibniz/Gödel 26. The concept of quantity and the impasse of ontology 27. Ontological destiny of orientation within thought 28. Constructivist thought and the knowledge of being 29. The folding of being and the sovereignty of language 30. LeibnizBook VII The Generic: indiscernible and truth. The event - P.J.Cohen 31. The Thought of the Generic and Being in Truth 32. Rousseau 33. The Matheme of the Indiscernible: P.J.Cohen's strategy 34. The existence of the indiscernible: the power of the namesBook VIII Forcing: Truth and the Subject. Beyond Lacan 35. Theory of the subject 36. Forcing: from the indiscernible to the undecidable 37. Descartes / LacanAnnexes Appendixes Notes Dictionary

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Book SynopsisThe Business Secrets of Drug Dealing tells the story of a hyper-observant, politically-minded, but humorously pragmatic weed dealer who has spent a working life compiling rules for how to a) make money and b) avoid prison. Each rule shapes a chapter of this fast-paced outlaw tale, all delivered in his deliciously trenchant argot. Here are a few of them: No guns but keep shooters. Stay behind the white guy. Don’t snitch. Always have a job. Be multi-sourced. Get your money and get out. Part edge-of-the-seat suspense story, part how-to manual in the tradition of The Anarchist Cookbook, The Business Secrets of Drug Dealing is as scintillating as it is subversive. Just reading it feels illegal.Trade Review“Taibbi, a writer of striking intelligence and bold ideas, is as hilarious as he is scathing.” — Publishers Weekly “A welcome, lyrical defense of ‘coaxing a beautiful thing out of the ground and bringing it to your door.'” — The Bohemian “Lays bare the link between organised crime, the state and policing” — Morning Star “An entertaining fictional pusher reveals sobering real-life truths” — Washington Independent Review of Books “[An] honest and humane approach to the nasty business of business under contemporary capitalism” — People’s World

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Book Synopsis“A visionary roadmap for people who believe they can change the world—and invaluable advice about bringing together the partners and technologies to help them do it.” —President Bill ClintonA radical, how-to guide for using exponential technologies, moonshot thinking, and crowd-powered tools, Bold unfolds in three parts. Part One focuses on the exponential technologies that are disrupting today’s Fortune 500 companies and enabling upstart entrepreneurs to go from “I’ve got an idea” to “I run a billion-dollar company” far faster than ever before. The authors provide exceptional insight into the power of 3D printing, artificial intelligence, robotics, networks and sensors, and synthetic biology. Part Two draws on insights from billionaires such as Larry Page, Elon Musk, Richard Branson, and Jeff Bezos and reveals their entrepreneurial secrets. Finally, Bold closes with a look at the best practices thTrade Review“Bold is a visionary roadmap for people who believe they can change the world—and offers invaluable advice about bringing together the partners and technologies to help them do it.” —President Bill Clinton"BOLD is an essential navigation tool for any proactive CEO who wants to remain relevant. In the next decade it is reasonable to assume that some of the corporations at the top of the Fortune 500 will be displaced by the 'exponential entrepreneur'. History tells us that if we don't proactively change and adapt, change will be imposed on us. BOLD, spells out the implications and opportunities driven by exponential changes transforming our world." —Jim Moffatt, CEO of U.S. Deloitte Consulting, LLP“Abundance showed us where our world can be in 20 years. BOLD is a roadmap for entrepreneurs to help us get there.” —Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman, Google“If you read one business book in the twenty-first century, this should be the one. When Peter and I cofounded Singularity University, we based it on the ideas of exponential change and ‘learn by doing.’ This book clearly explains how to apply these concepts to change the world and overcome the age old afflictions of human civilization.” —Ray Kurzweil, inventor, author, director of engineering at Google, Chancellor of Singularity University“In BOLD, Diamandis and Kotler have written another dazzler. A riveting look inside the world of exponential entrepreneurship—action-packed and action-oriented. I’ve purchased a copy for my entire team at Cisco." —Padmasree Warrior, CTO & Chief Strategy Office, CISCO“I loved Peter Diamandis’ and Steven Kotler’s book Abundance, their writing and their Vision. BOLD is an amazing sequel, a book that every entrepreneur should read. It is inspiring, filled with incredible insights and offers a practical how-to game plan for going big and impacting the world.” —Michael Dell, CEO, Dell Computers"Expressed with sunny optimism and promise, Diamandis and Kotler share their extensive experience and knowledge, hoping to boost innovative potential within the technology startup arena and inspire readers to "get off the couch and change the world." An empowering and multifaceted "playbook" for the creative entrepreneur." —Kirkus"This is a manual for today’s big thinkers to become tomorrow’s bold leaders, using crowd-powered tools accessible to everyone." —Booklist"This invigorating discussion drives home the point that with better tools than we've ever had before, what we need most of all are great leaders." —Publishers Weekly“It makes bold predictions and teaches entrepreneurs how to thrive in the same way as our mammalian ancestors: by being nimble and resilient.” —HuffingtonPost.com“The infectious optimism of Bold is inspirational.” —New York Times "DealBook" Blog"A guide to exponential digital chutzpah from a master of the art of ‘going big.’” —Financial Times

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Book SynopsisGives a clear narrative for 18 selected battles and sieges from the Classical Greek period.

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Book SynopsisA new pictorial history of one of the most significant aircraft of the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisThe Bloomsbury Curriculum Basics series provides non-specialist primary school teachers with subject knowledge and full teaching programmes in a variety of key primary curriculum subjects._______________Teaching Primary French offers a jam-packed, practical and easy-to-apply programme to plan and deliver effective primary lessons that will inspire your class and extend their knowledge. Linked to the National Curriculum guidelines for KS1 and KS2, each chapter addresses a specific topic and includes extracts from the curriculum itself, alongside a helpful summary, relevant French vocabulary lists, cross-curricular links, and three fully-formed lesson plans. If you are a primary practitioner, a language tutor, or a subject co-ordinator who wants to plan and deliver an engaging programme in your classroom, an after-school club, or across your whole school, this book is for you!Trade ReviewI'm very pleased with the Bloomsbury Curriculum Basics range and would highly recommend them to home school parents and new teachers too. There's a wealth of knowledge to be gained from them as well as lesson plans to guide you through each lesson ensuring you meet the criteria. In my mind, they are a great investment as they'll see you through all 6 years of Primary education. -- Nazira, lovehijabgirl.blogspot.co.ukA detailed collection of lesson plans aimed at KS2 teachers with everything you need to confidently teach French. Lessons build up from a starting point of exploring languages and cover a wide range of topics including food and drink, hobbies and weather. Subject knowledge and grammatical concepts are also explored, with clear links to the National Curriculum and progression throughout KS2. A handy summary box at the start of each sequence of lessons ensures you are well equipped with the necessary language skills to successfully teach the children all they need to know. Useful cross-curricular links are also provided. -- The Teacher Magazine, NUT

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Book SynopsisHow to optimize educational spaces, both physical and virtual, for more effective learning The design of classroom spaces is one of the overlooked issues in education. Poorly designed physical environments can impede learning, while well-designed spaces can enhance it.Table of ContentsForeword Prakash Nair vii About the Author xiii Acknowledgments xv Introduction xvii 1 The Problem with Traditional Classrooms 1 2 Campfires 11 3 Watering Holes 17 4 Caves 23 5 Life 31 6 The Challenge of Technology 37 7 Technological Campfires 51 8 Technological Watering Holes 65 9 Technological Caves 77 10 Technological Life Spaces 85 11 Learning on the Holodeck 105 Notes 127 Index 133

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Book SynopsisFinally, you can understand her! This updated edition of the groundbreaking classic explains how to achieve better communication with your girlfriend, fiancée, or wife?from the authors of For Women Only. More than 2 million copies sold in the series! ?Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn have unearthed a treasure chest of insights that are not only eye-opening, but life-changing.??Andy Stanley, senior pastor, North Point Community Church If you?re like most men, you?ve burned up lots of energy trying to figure out what a woman wants, what makes her tick, how to make her happy.The good news: success is simpler than you ever thought. In For Men Only, Jeff and Shaunti Feldhahn reveal the eye-opening truths and simple acts that will radically improve your relationship with the woman you love. For example:? Why she can?t ?just not think about? something that?s bothering her?How to get her real answers without games?How your provider instinct can actually cause her heartache?and what to do about it?Why listening to her feelings is so hard for a guy, and a fix-it plan that works?Why her ?I do? at the altar will always mean, ?do you?? and the answer that rocks her worldNow updated with the latest scientific research to explain the fabulous female brain plus an all-new chapter that shows how to decode her most baffling behavior, For Men Only is your roadmap to making her happy.

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Book SynopsisIncludes such as "What Do You Think?" and "Try It Yourself" prompt students to consider language in daily life and to begin thinking about language analysis, while new "Language at the Bar" features show them the real-world applications of linguistic analysis to criminal and civil legal cases.Table of Contents1. Languages and Linguistics. What Do You Think? How Many Languages Are There in the World? Does the United States Have an Official Language? What Is Human Language? Signs: Arbitrary and Non-arbitrary. Languages as Patterned Structures: Grammatical Competence. Speech as Patterned Language Use: Communicative Competence. Modes of Linguistic Communication. Do Only Humans Have Language? Can Chimpanzees Learn a Human Language? The Origin of Human Languages: Babel to Babble. What Is Linguistics? Computers and Linguistics. Summary. What Do You Think? REVISITED. Exercises. Other Resources. Part 1: LANGUAGE STRUCTURES. 2. Words and Their Parts: Lexicon and Morphology. What Do You Think? Introduction: Words Seem Tangible. What Does It Mean to Know a Word? Lexical Categories. Morphemes: Word Parts with Meaning or Function. How Are Morphemes Organized Within Words? How Does a Language Increase Its Vocabulary? What Types of Morphological Systems Do Languages Have? Variant Pronunciations of a Morpheme: Allomorphy. Summary. What Do You Think? REVISITED. Exercises. Other Resources. 3. The Sounds of Languages: Phonetics. What Do You Think? Sounds and Spellings: Not the Same Thing. Phonetics: The Study of Sounds. Describing Consonant Sounds. Kinds of Consonant Sounds. Vowel Sounds. Summary. What Do You Think? REVISITED. Exercises. Other Resources. 4. Sound Systems of Language: Phonology. What Do You Think? Introduction: Sounds in the Mind. Phonological Rules and Their Structure. Syllables and Syllable Structure. Stress. Syllables and Stress in Phonological Processes. Morphology and Phonology Interaction: Allomorphy. From Lexical Entries to Surface Realizations: What the Brain Knows. Summary. What Do You Think? REVISITED. Exercises. Other Resources. 5. The Structure and Function of Phrases and Sentences: Syntax. What Do You Think? Introduction. Constituency. Major Constituents of Sentences: Noun Phrases and Verb Phrases. Phrase-Structure Expansions. Grammatical Relations: Subject, Direct Object, and Others. Surface Structures and Underlying Structures. Types of Syntactic Operations. Functions of Syntactic Operations. Recursion and Novel Sentences. Summary. What Do You Think? REVISITED. Exercises. Other Resources. 6. The Study of Meaning: Semantics. What Do You Think? Introduction. Linguistic, Social, and Affective Meaning. Word, Sentence, and Utterance Meaning. Lexical Semantics. Function Words and Categories of Meaning. Semantic Roles and Sentence Meaning. Semantic Roles and Grammatical Relations. Summary. What Do You Think? REVISITED. Exercises. Other Resources. 7. Language Universals and Language Typology. What Do You Think? Similarity and Diversity Across Languages. Phonological Universals. Syntactic and Morphological Universals. Types of Language Universals. Explanations for Language Universals. Language Universals, Universal Grammar, and Language Acquisition. Summary. What Do You Think? REVISITED. Exercises. Other Resources. Part 2: LANGUAGE USE. 8. Information Structure and Pragmatics. What Do You Think? Introduction: Encoding Information Structure. Categories of Information Structure. Information Structure: Intonation, Morphology, Syntax. The Relationship of Sentences to Discourse: Pragmatics. Summary. What Do You Think? REVISITED. Exercises. Other Resources. 9. Speech Acts and Conversation. What Do You Think? Language in Use. Sentence Structure and the Function of Utterances. Speech Acts. The Cooperative Principle. Violations of the Cooperative Principle. Politeness. Speech Events. The Organization of Conversation. Cross-Cultural Communication. Summary. What Do You Think? REVISITED. Exercises. Other Resources. 10. Language Variation Across Situations of Use: Registers and Styles. What Do You Think? Introduction. Language Varies Within a Speech Community. Speech Situations. Registers in Monolingual Societies. Similarities and Differences Between Spoken and Written Registers. Two Registers Compared. Summary. What Do You Think? REVISITED. Exercises. Other Resources. 11. Language Variation Among Social Groups: Dialects. What Do You Think? Language or Dialect: Which Do You Speak? How Do Languages Diverge and Merge? National Varieties of English. Regional Varieties of American English. The Atlas of North American English. Ethnic Varieties of American English. Ethnic Varieties and Social Identification. Socioeconomic Status Varieties: English, French, and Spanish. The Language Varieties of Women and Men. Why Do Stigmatized Varieties Persist? Summary. What Do You Think? REVISITED. Exercises. Other Resources. Part 3: LANGUAGE CHANGE, LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT, AND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION. 12. Language Change Over Time: Historical Linguistics. What Do You Think? Do Living Languages Always Change? Language Families and the Indo-European Family. How to Reconstruct the Linguistic Past. What Are the Language Families of the World? .Languages in Contact. Summary. What Do You Think? REVISITED. Exercises. Other Resources. 13. Historical Development in English. What Do You Think? Old English: 700���1100. Companions of Angels: A Narrative in Old English. Middle English: 1100���1500. Where Men and Women Go All Naked: A Middle English Travel Fable. Modern English: 1500���Present. Summary. What Do You Think? REVISITED. Exercises. Other Resources. 14. Acquiring First and Second Languages. What Do You Think? Introduction. Acquiring a First Language. How Do Researchers Study Language Acquisition? Acquiring a Second Language. Summary. What Do You Think? REVISITED. Exercises. Other Resources. Glossary. Index. Index of Languages. Index of Internet Sites, Films, and Videos. Credits.

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Book SynopsisComputing power has revolutionized the theory and practice of statistical inference. This book delivers a concentrated course in modern statistical thinking by tracking the revolution from classical theories to the large-scale prediction algorithms of today. Anyone who applies statistical methods to data will benefit from this landmark text.Trade Review'How and why is computational statistics taking over the world? In this serious work of synthesis that is also fun to read, Efron and Hastie, two pioneers in the integration of parametric and nonparametric statistical ideas, give their take on the unreasonable effectiveness of statistics and machine learning in the context of a series of clear, historically informed examples.' Andrew Gelman, Columbia University, New York'This unusual book describes the nature of statistics by displaying multiple examples of the way the field has evolved over the past sixty years, as it has adapted to the rapid increase in available computing power. The authors' perspective is summarized nicely when they say, 'very roughly speaking, algorithms are what statisticians do, while inference says why they do them'. The book explains this 'why'; that is, it explains the purpose and progress of statistical research through a close look at many major methods, methods the authors themselves have advanced and studied at great length. Both enjoyable and enlightening, Computer Age Statistical Inference is written especially for those who want to hear the big ideas, and see them instantiated through the essential mathematics that defines statistical analysis. It makes a great supplement to the traditional curricula for beginning graduate students.' Rob Kass, Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania'This is a terrific book. It gives a clear, accessible, and entertaining account of the interplay between theory and methodological development that has driven statistics in the computer age. The authors succeed brilliantly in locating contemporary algorithmic methodologies for analysis of 'big data' within the framework of established statistical theory.' Alastair Young, Imperial College London'This is a guided tour of modern statistics that emphasizes the conceptual and computational advances of the last century. Authored by two masters of the field, it offers just the right mix of mathematical analysis and insightful commentary.' Hal Varian, Google'Efron and Hastie guide us through the maze of breakthrough statistical methodologies following the computing evolution: why they were developed, their properties, and how they are used. Highlighting their origins, the book helps us understand each method's roles in inference and/or prediction. The inference-prediction distinction maintained throughout the book is a welcome and important novelty in the landscape of statistics books.' Galit Shmueli, National Tsing Hua University'A masterful guide to how the inferential bases of classical statistics can provide a principled disciplinary frame for the data science of the twenty-first century.' Stephen Stigler, University of Chicago, and author of Seven Pillars of Statistical Wisdom'Computer Age Statistical Inference offers a refreshing view of modern statistics. Algorithmics are put on equal footing with intuition, properties, and the abstract arguments behind them. The methods covered are indispensable to practicing statistical analysts in today's big data and big computing landscape.' Robert Gramacy, University of Chicago Booth School of Business'Every aspiring data scientist should carefully study this book, use it as a reference, and carry it with them everywhere. The presentation through the two-and-a-half-century history of statistical inference provides insight into the development of the discipline, putting data science in its historical place.' Mark Girolami, Imperial College London'Efron and Hastie are two immensely talented and accomplished scholars who have managed to brilliantly weave the fiber of 250 years of statistical inference into the more recent historical mechanization of computing. This book provides the reader with a mid-level overview of the last 60-some years by detailing the nuances of a statistical community that, historically, has been self-segregated into camps of Bayes, frequentist, and Fisher yet in more recent years has been unified by advances in computing. What is left to be explored is the emergence of, and role that, big data theory will have in bridging the gap between data science and statistical methodology. Whatever the outcome, the authors provide a vision of high-speed computing having tremendous potential to enable the contributions of statistical inference toward methodologies that address both global and societal issues.' Rebecca Doerge, Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania'In this book, two masters of modern statistics give an insightful tour of the intertwined worlds of statistics and computation. Through a series of important topics, Efron and Hastie illuminate how modern methods for predicting and understanding data are rooted in both statistical and computational thinking. They show how the rise of computational power has transformed traditional methods and questions, and how it has pointed us to new ways of thinking about statistics.' David Blei, Columbia University, New York'Absolutely brilliant. This beautifully written compendium reviews many big statistical ideas, including the authors' own. A must for anyone engaged creatively in statistics and the data sciences, for repeated use. Efron and Hastie demonstrate the ever-growing power of statistical reasoning, past, present, and future.' Carl Morris, Harvard University, Massachusetts'Computer Age Statistical Inference gives a lucid guide to modern statistical inference for estimation, hypothesis testing, and prediction. The book seamlessly integrates statistical thinking with computational thinking, while covering a broad range of powerful algorithms for learning from data. It is extraordinarily rare and valuable to have such a unified treatment of classical (and classic) statistical ideas and recent 'big data' and machine learning ideas. Accessible real-world examples and insightful remarks can be found throughout the book.' Joseph K. Blitzstein, Harvard University, Massachusetts'Among other things, it is an attempt to characterize the current state of statistics by identifying important tools in the context of their historical development. It also offers an enlightening series of illustrations of the interplay between computation and inference … This is an attractive book that invites browsing by anyone interested in statistics and its future directions.' Bill Satzer, Mathematical Association of America Reviews'My take on Computer Age Statistical Inference is that experienced statisticians will find it helpful to have such a compact summary of twentieth-century statistics, even if they occasionally disagree with the book's emphasis; students beginning the study of statistics will value the book as a guide to statistical inference that may offset the dangerously mind-numbing experience offered by most introductory statistics textbooks; and the rest of us non-experts interested in the details will enjoy hundreds of hours of pleasurable reading.' Joseph Rickert, RStudio (www.rstudio.com)'Efron and Hastie (both, Stanford Univ.) have superbly crafted a central text/reference book that presents a broad overview of modern statistics. The work examines major developments in computation from the late-20th and early-21st centuries, ranging from electronic computations to 'big data' analysis. Focusing primarily on the last six decades, the text thoroughly documents the progression within the discipline of statistics … This text is highly recommended for graduate libraries.' D. J. Gougeon, ChoiceTable of ContentsPart I. Classic Statistical Inference: 1. Algorithms and inference; 2. Frequentist inference; 3. Bayesian inference; 4. Fisherian inference and maximum likelihood estimation; 5. Parametric models and exponential families; Part II. Early Computer-Age Methods: 6. Empirical Bayes; 7. James–Stein estimation and ridge regression; 8. Generalized linear models and regression trees; 9. Survival analysis and the EM algorithm; 10. The jackknife and the bootstrap; 11. Bootstrap confidence intervals; 12. Cross-validation and Cp estimates of prediction error; 13. Objective Bayes inference and Markov chain Monte Carlo; 14. Statistical inference and methodology in the postwar era; Part III. Twenty-First Century Topics: 15. Large-scale hypothesis testing and false discovery rates; 16. Sparse modeling and the lasso; 17. Random forests and boosting; 18. Neural networks and deep learning; 19. Support-vector machines and kernel methods; 20. Inference after model selection; 21. Empirical Bayes estimation strategies; Epilogue; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisIn Tell Me So I Can Hear You, Eleanor Drago-Severson and Jessica Blum-DeStefano show how education leaders can learn to deliver feedback in a way that strengthens relationships as well as performance and builds the capacity for growth. Drawing on constructive-developmental theory, the authors describe four stages of adult growth and development and explain how to differentiate feedback for colleagues with different “ways of knowing,” which include: Instrumental knowers, who tend to see things in black and white (“Did I do it right or wrong?”) and may need to develop the capacity for reflection. Socializing knowers, who are concerned with maintaining relationships (“What do you want me to do?”) and may need support developing their own ideas. Self-authoring knowers, who have strong ideologies and values (“How does this fit with my goals and vision?”) and may need help with perspective taking. Self-transformative knowers, who are able to examine issues from multiple points of view (“How can I understand this more deeply?”) and may need guidance in resolving tensions and contradictions. The authors show how leaders can provide feedback in ways that “meet people where they are” while expanding the developmental capacities educators bring to their work. Drago-Severson and Blum-DeStefano provide real-life examples with practical strategies for creating a safe space for feedback, finding the right words, and bridging feedback and action. Tell Me So I Can Hear You offers invaluable guidance to help educators support a culture of learning in classrooms, schools, and districts.

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Book SynopsisAmerica's most renowned social philosopher John Dewey shines his powerful intellect on the serious public and cultural issues surrounding the place of the individual in a technologically advanced society. In this penetrating study, he addresses the fear that personal creative potential will be trampled by assembly-line monotony, political bureaucracy, and an industrialized culture of uniformity. Armed with his pragmatic approach and his belief in the power of critical intelligence, Dewey argues that individualism has in fact been offered a uniquely higher plane of technological development upon which to grow, mature, and redefine itself.

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Book SynopsisWho ought to govern? Why should I obey the law? What is the proper education for a citizen and a statesman? These questions probe some of the deepest and most enduring problems that every society confronts, regardless of time and place. This book introduces the wide terrain of political philosophy through the classic texts of the discipline.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis is a rich book, making effective use of all sorts of documents and illustrations. Keen moves easily across Europe in search of the international spirit of chivalry. . . . The pageantry he presents is colorful and his conclusions uplifting.”—David Herlihy, New York Times Book Review““Original [and] beguiling.”—Fiona MacCarthy, Times (London)“An elegantly written, important book.”—Carolly Erickson, Los Angeles Times Book Review

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Book SynopsisSurveys centuries of folklore about vampires. This book offers an explanation for the origins of the vampire legends, from the tale of a sixteenth-century shoemaker from Breslau whose ghost terrorized everyone in the city, to the testimony of a doctor who presided over the exhumation and dissection of a graveyard full of Serbian vampires.Trade Review"A stimulating, authoritative discourse on the relationship between the historical concepts of vampires in folklore and fiction across the ages and throughout the world."—Library Journal"Barber, a specialist in German language and folklore who has a faintly ghoulish sense of humour, has written a splendid book about the undead, illuminated by the findings of morbid anatomy. . . . The main value of this most interesting book is to remind us how far we have come in our ability to explain the world and how this has released us from at least some terrors."—Anthony Daniels, The Spectator "Since this is essentially a scholarly work on human decomposition and historical attitudes to it, it is remarkable how often Paul Barber manages to be funny. . . . His insights, medical and cultural, hold a chastening fascination."—Hugh Barnacle, Independent "A pioneering work on the role of medicine in unraveling the mysteries of the supernatural. Breaking new ground, it belongs among the significant studies of folklore."—Felix J. Oinas, Indiana University

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Book SynopsisA veteran writer on Russia and the Soviet Union explains why Russia refuses to draw from the lessons of its past and what this portends for the futureTrade Review"A book full of vivid and well-chosen anecdotes."—Financial Times"David Satter has written a book full of vivid and well chosen anecdotes. . . . The use of nostalgia is Satter's field. Russia is not, he believes, able to give itself a chance; in love with their chains, its people cannot face up to the horrors of a past they wish to ignore or romanticize."—John Lloyd, Financial Times"Rich in detail and enthused by civil passion, It Was A Long Time Ago contains many precise, moving and original observations."—Alexander Etkind, Times Literary Supplement"A sweeping study of how the former Soviet Union’s bloody past continues to poison Russia’s present and threatens to strangle the country’s future."—Newsweek"Satter’s reflective, expert analysis of a Russian society in moral and cultural flux after the end of communism provides great food for thought beyond today’s headlines."—Publishers Weekly"This book, its title deliberately inviting a loud shout of ‘No!’ is more vehement than his previous studies of post-Soviet Russia, but just as impeccably argued."—Donald Rayfield, Literary Review"Satter casts fascinating light on the (comparatively cheerful) way in which repression was endured by the citizens of the USSR. . . . An informed and insightful essay – with disturbing implications."—Michael Kerrigan, The Scotsman"A meticulous, sweeping and wrenching history of Russia's burial of Soviet crimes. It is also a sensitive, compelling and convincing exploration of the importance of memory. But it makes a broader contention - that forgetting is a symptom of an illness that Russia contracted before the Soviet era . . . a humane, measured, first-hand, historically and philosophically rooted argument that is hard to refute."—Andrew Gardner, European Voice"Impeccably argued. . . . Satter is a man whom no Russian leader would wish to meet, let alone shake by the hand, but he has their measure."—Donald Rayfield, Literary Review"A meticulous, sweeping and wrenching history of Russia's burial of Soviet crimes . . . [and] a sensitive, compelling and convincing exploration of the importance of memory."—European Voice"Truly illuminating. . . . Satter is both a gifted journalist and a chronicler of intellectual and political currents. . . . Splendidly researched and engagingly written, this book offers invaluable vignettes of various reactions to the still unprocessed remembrance of totalitarian times."—Vladimir Tismaneanu, International Affairs"Highly successful in shedding light on both the nature of the Soviet system and the post-Communist period, this is a lucid, illuminating portrait of the outlook and attitudes of Russians. This book is one of the best I have ever read about the Soviet system and what it left behind."—Paul Hollander, author ofPolitical Will and Personal Belief: The Decline and Fall of Soviet Communism"The central message of this important new book—that Russia cannot reverse its current decline without first coming to terms with the crimes of its Soviet past—is both sobering and absolutely compelling."—Carl Gershman, President of the National Endowment for Democracy"In this penetrating analysis of Russia today, David Satter demonstrates how terror, ideology and mass murder were integrated and institutionalized in the Soviet Union, then dismantled in economic collapse, and are now resurrected in a modern, lighter authoritarian regime, minus the ideology. 'It Never Happened' gives the reader original insights and analysis by a Russian expert par excellence, and one exceptionally well written."—Richard V. Allen, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution and former National Security Advisor to Ronald Reagan"An insightful, informative and fact-filled book."—Paul Hollander, author of Political Will and Personal Belief: The Decline and Fall of Soviet Communism"Many of our finest journalists have grappled with the moral legacy of Soviet communism. This book is a reminder that no one has stayed with the issue longer, dug deeper, or thought harder about it than David Satter."—Stephen Sestanovich, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for the former Soviet Union, 1997-2001

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Book SynopsisOne World Now seamlessly integrates major developments of the past decade into Peter Singer's classic text on the ethics of globalizationTrade Review"This is a valuable update to a book that excels at examining competing solutions for some of the world’s critical economic, environmental, and political problems."—David A. Rezvani, Dartmouth College"One World is an instructive book, especially for American students wrestling with America’s poor record as a global citizen. However unpleasant this may be, awareness of the reality is a necessary condition for young people to want to get involved to change things for the better."—David Hoinski, West Virginia University"As someone who uses this book and some of its details for teaching, I greatly welcome the updated data and evidence. I am not aware of other books on this subject that are accessible to general readers."—Linda Dynan, Northern Kentucky University"Peter Singer writes, as always, lucidly and with relentless logic. Getting states to behave ethically is a heroic aspiration, but this book will give even the most obdurate realist much to think about."–Gareth Evans, Past President, International Crisis Group, former Australian Foreign Minister"Peter Singer may be the most controversial philosopher alive; he is certainly among the most influential."—New Yorker (on the earlier edition)

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewStalley...has...subjected the actual translation to `some fairly drastic revision'...the result is much greater clarity when it comes to both the Greek text and to exegesis of that text. The end-product is a most distinguished contribution to a collection whose prices seem to defy an economic return but I'm not complaining. * Greece and Rome Reviews 42 *Barker's translation has been given new life. * Polis *

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Book SynopsisThe essays in this collection grew out of a series of invited lectures given in France on the nature of justice and the law. They represent a reflection on the relationship of the juridical and the philosophical concept of right, situated between moral philosophy and politics.

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Book SynopsisJacqueline Wilson (Author) Jacqueline Wilson wrote her first novel when she was nine years old, and she has been writing ever since. She is now one of Britain's bestselling and most beloved children's authors. She has written over 100 books and is the creator of characters such as Tracy Beaker and Hetty Feather. More than forty million copies of her books have been sold.As well as winning many awards for her books, including the Children's Book of the Year, Jacqueline is a former Children's Laureate, and in 2008 she was appointed a Dame.Jacqueline is also a great reader, and has amassed over 20,000 books, along with her famous collection of silver rings.Find out more about Jacqueline and her books at www.jacquelinewilson.co.ukNick Sharratt (Illustrator) Nick Sharratt has written and illustrated many books for children including Shark in the Park, You Choose and Pants. He has won numerous awardTrade ReviewA book that lingers in the mind long after it is put down * Guardian *A brilliant writer of wit and subtlety * The Times *She should be prescribed for all cases of reading reluctance * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisAfter completing his groundbreaking research chronicled in DMT: The Spirit Molecule, Rick Strassman was left with one fundamental question: What does it mean that DMT, a simple chemical naturally found in all of our bodies, instantaneously opens us to an interactive spirit world that feels more real than our own world? When his decades of clinical psychiatric research and Buddhist practice were unable to provide answers to this question, Strassman began searching for a more resonant spiritual model. He found that the visions of the Hebrew prophets--such as Ezekiel, Moses, Adam, and Daniel--were strikingly similar to those of the volunteers in his DMT studies. Carefully examining the concept of prophecy in the Hebrew Bible, he characterizes a "prophetic state of consciousness" and explains how it may share biological and metaphysical mechanisms with the DMT effect. Examining medieval commentaries on the Hebrew Bible, Strassman reveals how Jewish metaphysics provides a top-down model for both the prophetic and DMT states, a model he calls "theoneurology." Theoneurology bridges biology and spirituality by proposing that the Divine communicates with us using the brain, and DMT--whether naturally produced or ingested--is a critical factor in such visionary experience. This model provides a counterpoint to "neurotheology," which proposes that altered brain function simply generates the impression of a Divine-human encounter. Theoneurology addresses issues critical to the full flowering of the psychedelic drug experience. Perhaps even more important, it points the way to a renewal of classical prophetic consciousness, the soul of Hebrew Bible prophecy, as well as unexpected directions for the evolution of contemporary spiritual practice.Trade Review“This is a powerful comparative project that brings together the phenomenology of Hebrew prophetic literature and modern psychedelic experiences in order to develop a new theoneurology; that is, a new model of how the brain and the microchemistry of DMT may well mediate, shape, and filter both consciousness itself and humanity’s millennia-old encounter with ‘God.’” * Jeffrey J. Kripal, author of Authors of the Impossible *“Not since Huxley’s landmark The Doors of Perception has such a profound treatise emerged exploring the nexus of consciousness, the brain, and mind-altering substances. Strassman accomplishes this tour de force by wisely inverting the vector of the field of neurotheology to that of theoneurology. This book exemplifies rigorous science and keen historical analysis and is a significant contribution to human welfare. A delight to read, a sparkling exercise in clarity.” * Larry Dossey, M.D., author of One Mind *“This book is a revelation. Strassman has written a daring and remarkable book that connects contemporary psychedelic explorers with the roots of the Jewish prophetic tradition. Here is a book that shows us how this ancient model of prophecy might provide an elegant and powerful language for the ennobling of our journey toward expanded consciousness.” * Rabbi Shefa Gold, author of The Magic of Hebrew Chant *“A very surprising and refreshing book. Strassman is unique and opens up completely new perspectives. I have learned a lot from this well-written book, and I am sure that other readers will do so too. Strassman took me far beyond familiar ways of thinking about the brain, minds, and interactions with nonhuman intelligences.” * Rupert Sheldrake, Ph.D., author of Science Set Free *“As Rick Strassman’s extraordinary new book explains, the Hebrew prophetic tradition provides an unexpectedly powerful lens for wrestling with the meaning of our psychedelic experiences. Strassman’s model of theoneurology provides the proper context for viewing the religious importance of our mystic visions.” * Alex Grey, artist, author, and cofounder of CoSM, Chapel of Sacred Mirrors *“This engagingly written book will be of interest to those with primary interest in religious experience as well as those with primary interest in psychedelic experience and altered states of consciousness.” * Roland R. Griffiths, Ph.D., Professor of psychiatry and neuroscience, Johns Hopkins *“People interested in DMT, hallucinogens, spirituality, monotheistic religion, Buddhism, consciousness studies, and philosophy will find this book stimulating. I commend Strassman for his bold attempt to bridge science and religion, thereby risking attack from both sides. This is the kind of book that will advance knowledge . . . A deep and intense study outside the usual boundaries of education.” * Jeremy Narby, Ph.D., anthropologist and author of The Cosmic Serpent *“This book is deeply compelling, groundbreaking, thought provoking, and important. Rick Strassman set the bar very high with his brilliant DMT: The Spirit Molecule, but DMT and the Soul of Prophecy comfortably surpasses it by taking the work forward in exciting and unexpected directions. Highly recommended.” * Graham Hancock, author of Fingerprints of the Gods *“By utilizing the worldview of the medieval Jewish philosophers, Strassman has presented this often emotionally laden and controversial subject in such a rational and scientific manner that even the skeptic and agnostic among; us will be pleasantly surprised at how intriguing the confluence of God, the Hebrew Bible, and psychedelic endogenous DMT can be.” * Rabbi Joel David Bakst, author of The Jerusalem Stone of Consciousness--DMT, Kabbalah & the Pineal G *“This is a brilliant, perceptive, and illuminating book. Strassman states that the best way to understand the DMT experience is to see how closely it follows the experience of Old Testament prophets and vice versa. I was surprised to find out he was right.” * James Fadiman, Ph.D., author of The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide *“A stimulating work that, while controversial, will be of interest to students of the Bible and human thought.” * Rabbi Norman Strickman, Ph.D., assistant professor of Judaic studies, Tuoro College *“Dr. Strassman’s theoneurology theory is a coherent and successful undertaking by a uniquely qualified and situated medical researcher of altered states of consciousness.” * Alex S. Kohav, Ph.D., author of The Sôd Hypothesis *“This book provides enough heresy to provide a stimulating read for both atheists and believers!” * Rabbi Michael Ziegler, cofounder of The Chaplaincy Institute *“A detailed and ground breaking study. The book is a tour de force and a strong counterpoint to prevailing bottom-up explanations involved in neurotheology, asserting the primacy of the spiritual rather than the material.” * David Lorimer, program director, The Scientific and Medical Network *“A fascinating and provocative examination of altered states of consciousness caused by psychedelics, and in particular the powerful, prototypic hallucinogen, DMT.” * Charles S. Grob, M.D., professor, Departments of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences and Pediatrics, *“Rick Strassman, M.D., always provokes and delights. His latest work explores the fractal edges of religion and mind, covering such seemingly far-flung topics as the Hebrew Bible, prophetic visions, DMT, the mysteries of consciousness, and more. Buy this book and feed your brain!” * Clifford A. Pickover, Ph.D., author of Sex, Drugs, Einstein, and Elves *“In science, religion, politics, – everywhere in the academic and public domain – the dominance of spoken and written language is overwhelming. Rick Strassman’s new book helps to tilt the balance to the right direction describing elaborately the fundamental role of visions in our Judeo-Christian tradition.” * Ede Frecska, M.D., coauthor of Inner Paths to Outer Space *“In DMT and the Soul of Prophecy, Rick Strassman courageously examines the Jewish Prophetic Tradition, which in his interpretation has a potent explanatory power of revelatory DMT experiences. Given the renewed interest in these experiences, and the lack of convincing models to interpret them, this book represents a contribution to the dialogue on this subject that cannot be ignored.” * Luis Eduardo Luna, Ph.D., coauthor of Inner Paths to Outer Space *“Strassman lobbies hard for theoneurology, and along the way offers a wealth of examples and experiments that lend credence to the theory.” * Publishers Weekly, September 2014 *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Books of the Hebrew Bible: Names, Abbreviations, and VersificationPrologue A Hebrew Prophet in Babylonia and a DMT Volunteer in New MexicoPart IFrom Psychedelic Drugs to the Hebrew Bible1 Setting the Stage 2 Defining Our Terms 3 The Path to DMT: Psychedelic Drugs, Meditation, and the Pineal Gland 4 The DMT World: Where Is This? 5 Candidate Religious Systems Part IIThe Hebrew Bible: Basic Notions6 Introduction to the Hebrew Bible: What It Is and How to Study It 7 God 8 Prophet and Prophecy: The Biblical Record Part IIIThe Prophetic State: Comparison with the DMT Experience9 Overview 10 The Body 11 Emotions 12 Perception 13 Cognition 14 Volition and Will15 Relatedness: A Unique Prophetic Category 16 Kavod: God’s Glory 17 Message and Meaning I: Belief and Behavior 18 Message and Meaning II: History, the World to Come, the Messiah, Resurrection, False Prophecy, Wisdom, and Poetry Part IVMechanisms: Spiritual and Material19 The Metaphysics of Prophecy 20 The Metaphysics of DMT: A Theoneurological Model of Prophecy Part VThe Past, Present, and Future of Prophecy21 The End of Prophecy 22 The Once and Future Prophet 23 Concluding Remarks Appendix Sacred Texts: Translations, Commentaries, Philosophical Works, and Scholars Notes Bibliography Biblical Index Index

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Book SynopsisNeed creative ideas for moving UDL from theory to practice? Get this must-have quick guide, ready for any teacher to pick up and start using now. Whitney Rapp, co-author of the acclaimed Teaching Everyone, walks you step by step through 100 UDL strategies that strengthen student engagement, learning, and assessment. Based on the latest research (but still practical and fun!), these highly effective ideas will help you address diverse learning needs and increase all students’ access to the general curriculum. Essential for every educator who wants to know what UDL really looks like, sounds like, and feels like—and how to use this proven approach to teach and reach all learners.100 UDL STRATEGIES FOR: Classroom space and materials: The best uses of seating, lighting, bulletin boards, and more Classroom management: From smoother schedules and meetings to effective transition areas Technologies: Fresh ways to use blogs, videoconferencing, e-books, and more Content instruction: Teach academic content with tools like music, drawing, mnemonics, and humour Social interaction: Creative games and small-group activities that sharpen all kids’ social skills Executive functions: Great ideas for templates, rubrics, graphic organizers, timers, and web-based materials Transition to adulthood: Prepare students for the real world with charts, goal plans, and more Assessment: New ways kids can show what they know—from adapted tests to family projects

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Book SynopsisIt is not the well-being of individuals that makes cities great, but the well-being of the communityFew figures in intellectual history have proved as notorious and ambiguous as Niccolò Machiavelli. But while his treatise The Prince made his name synonymous with autocratic ruthlessness and cynical manipulation, The Discourses (c.1517) shows a radically different outlook on the world of politics. In this carefully argued commentary on Livy's history of republican Rome, Machiavelli proposed a system of government that would uphold civic freedom and security by instilling the virtues of active citizenship, and that would also encourage citizens to put the needs of the state above selfish, personal interests. Ambitious in scope, but also clear-eyed and pragmatic, The Discourses creates a modern theory of republic politics.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literatureTable of ContentsThe DiscoursesPrefaceIntroduction by Bernard CrickSo Many MachiavellisThe Prince and The DiscoursesRepublics as Mixed GovernmentThe Mixture as AdaptabilityThe Value of ConflictFactors of Social ClassThe Conditions for Republican RuleTheory and MethodPolitics and MoralityThe Letter to VettoriSuggestions for Further ReadingTHE DISCOURSES OF NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLITable of ContentsThe TextNotes

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Book SynopsisA book where John Holt uses anecdotal observations that question assumptions about how children acquire knowledge and learning skills.

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Book SynopsisThe Fairbairn-Sykes Commando dagger has become iconic as the most widely recognized fighting knife in the world. The origins of the dagger can be traced to Shanghai in the 1930s where W. E. Fairbairn and US Marine officers including Sam Yeaton carried out experiments to develop what they considered the perfect knife for close combat. When Fairbairn and Sykes became instructors for the Commandos, they refined the design which would evolve into the classic Fairbairn-Sykes dagger. The dagger was first used during early Commando raids into occupied Europe but saw action in every theatre of World War II. US Rangers and Marines who had trained with the Commandos took their Fairbairn-Sykes daggers home, and this also influenced the development of American Special Forces daggers. The Fairbairn-Sykes remained in use with many units after the war. It has become a symbol of Commando and special forces units throughout the world.Table of ContentsIntroduction/ Development/ Use/ Impact/ Conclusion

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Book SynopsisAlthough the energetic anatomy of men and women is different, the ancient teachings of Nu Dan, a separate branch of internal alchemy for women, have been lost in the literature over the centuries and only survive through practice in the lineages. This book takes a detailed look at female energetic anatomy, exploring how it is different from its male counterpart, and explains and describes the specific practices which support the unique strengths and challenges that the female energy system presents. Previously wrapped in secrecy, the teachings in this book include qigong exercises that activate the energy of the uterus and an explanation of how menstruation and a connection to the cycles of the moon can be converted into a tool for Nei Gong development.Trade ReviewI knew I had found a rare treasure for my instructors and students when I read Roni and Damo's Daoist Nei Gong for Women. Thorough, deep and wise, this is a voluminous "must-have" on any serious Qigong/ Neigong practitioner's shelf. It is sure to answer all questions women will have on these ancient health and empowerment practices, as up until now, so few knowledgeable books have been written about them. Women practitioners will now have a deep well to draw from, gleaning wisdom from two of the finest teachers of Neigong in the modern world. -- Daisy Lee, Founder, Radiant Lotus Women's QigongTable of ContentsForeword by Sophie Johnson. Preface by Roni Edlund. Preface by Damo Mitchell. Notes on Text. 1. Women and Nei Gong. 2. The Female Body. 3. Breath and Sound. 4. The Moon, Menstruation and Menopause. 5. Lotus Moon Qi Gong. 6. Structuring the Body for Standing. 7. The Small Water Wheels. 8. Heart Centred Practice. Conclusion. Appendix 1. Menstrual Imbalances. 2. The Ten Lunar Months of Pregnancy. Glossary of Pinyin Terms. About the Authors.

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Book Synopsis''Do not act as if you had ten thousand years to live ... while you have life in you, while you still can, make yourself good.''The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) is a private notebook of philosophical reflections, written by a Roman emperor probably on military campaign in Germany. In short, highly charged comments, Marcus draws on Stoic philosophy to confront challenges that he felt acutely, but which are also shared by all human beings - the looming presence of death, making sense of one''s social role and projects, the moral significance of the universe. They bring us closer to the personality of the emperor, who is often disillusioned with his own status and with human activities in general; they are both an historical document and a remarkable spiritual diary.This translation by Robin Hard brings out the eloquence and universality of Marcus'' thoughts. The introduction and notes by Christopher Gill place the Meditations firmly in the ancient philosophical context. A

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Book SynopsisJOHN PECK was formerly Reader in Victorian Literature at Cardiff University, UK.MARTIN COYLE is Professor in English at Cardiff University, UK.Trade Review'Excellent, valuable text.' - Lorraine Shaw, Liverpool John Moores University, UK 'This book is a little gem! For anyone interested in the English Language and with a concern for proper usage, this book is a delight - a must!' - Mr Francis J. Dempsey, Galway - Mayo Institute of Technology, IrelandTable of ContentsAbout this book PART ONE: WRITING CORRECTLY Writing a Sentence Punctuation Spelling PART TWO: WRITING CONFIDENTLY The Well Crafted Sentence Polished Punctuation Spelling and Usage PART THREE: WRITING WITH STYLE Writing an Essay Punctuation and Presentation The Right Word PART FOUR: WRITING RULES Twenty to Remember Spot the Mistake A Note on Grammar Index.

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Book SynopsisAn extraordinary and challenging synthesis of ideas uniting Quantum Theory, and the theories of Computation, Knowledge and Evolution, Deutsch''s extraordinary book explores the deep connections between these strands which reveal the fabric of realityin which human actions and ideas play essential roles.

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Book SynopsisFor many of us, the term ''medieval philosophy'' conjures up the figure of Thomas Aquinas, and is closely intertwined with religion. In this Very Short Introduction John Marenbon shows how medieval philosophy had a far broader reach than the thirteenth and fourteenth-century universities of Christian Europe, and is instead one of the most exciting and diversified periods in the history of thought.Introducing the coexisting strands of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish philosophy, Marenbon shows how these traditions all go back to the Platonic schools of late antiquity and explains the complex ways in which they are interlinked. Providing an overview of some of the main thinkers, such as Boethius, Abelard, al-Fârâbî, Avicenna, Maimonides, and Gersonides, and the topics, institutions and literary forms of medieval philosophy, he discusses in detail some of the key issues in medieval thought: universals; mind, body and mortality; foreknowledge and freedom; society and the best life. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1. Introduction ; 2. A Map of medieval philosophy ; 3. Fields of medieval philosophy ; 4. Institutions and literary forms ; 5. Universals: Avicenna and Abelard ; 6. Mind, body and mortality: Averroes and Pomponazzi ; 7. Foreknowledge and freedom: Boethius and Gersonides ; 8. Society and the best life: ibn Tufayl and Dante ; 9. Why medieval philosophy? ; Notes on sources for studies of individual texts ; Further Reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisThe Mask of Command is about generals: who they are, what they do and how they affect the world we live in. Through portraits of four generals - archetypal hero Alexander the Great, anti-hero Wellington, the unheroic Ulysses S. Grant and the false heroic of Hitler - John Keegan propounds the view of heroism in warfare as inextricable linked with the political imperative of the age and place. He demonstrates how the role of the general alters with the ethos of the society that creates him and concludes that there is no place for heroism in a nuclear world. The Mask of Command is a companion volume to John Keegan's classic study of the individual soldier, The Face of Battle: together they form a masterpiece of military and human history.Trade ReviewAs well as being a rare military historian who can also write gracefully, John Keegan has a distinguished capacity for peering behind the conventional view of events -- Alistair Horne * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisAn Afghan woman's life expectancy is just 44 years, and her life cycle often begins and ends in disappointment: being born a girl and finally, having a daughter of her own. For some, disguising themselves as boys is the only way to get ahead. Nordberg follows women such as Azita Rafaat, a parliamentarian who once lived as a Bacha Posh, the mother of seven-year-old Mehran, who she is raising as a Bacha Posh as well, but for different reasons than in the past. There's Zahra, a teenage student living as a boy who is about to display signs of womanhood as she enters puberty. And Skukria, a hospital nurse who remained in a bacha posh disguise until she was 20, and who now has three children of her own. Exploring the historical and religious roots of this tradition, The Underground Girls of Kabul is a fascinating and moving narrative that speaks to the roots of gender.Trade ReviewNordberg's subtle, sympathetic reportage makes this one of the most convincing portraits of Afghan culture in print Publishers Weekly Five years of research, and an almost novelistic approach to her findings, has produced a book full of fresh stories -- Razia Iqbal Independent Nordberg's hopeful yet heart-breaking account offers a dazzling picture of Afghan life ... She is refreshingly non-judgmental ... Thanks to this book, a little more light has been shone on a country and society so often misunderstood Independent on Sunday Partly a reflection on the politics of sex and gender ... but it is also a tale of discovery Sunday Telegraph a fascinating study The Glasgow Herald This fascinating study sheds new light on what it's like to be female in the country declared the worst in the world to be a woman ... This powerful account of powerlessness resonates with the most silenced voices in society Observer

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