Politics, Philosophy & Society Books

Book SynopsisTHE TOP 10 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Shortlisted for the André Simon Food and Drink Book Awards for 2019 'A beautifully textured tour around the cheeseboard' Simon Garfield 'Full of flavour' Sunday Times 'A delightful and informative romp' Bee Wilson, Guardian 'His encounters with modern-day practitioners fizz with infectious delight' John Walsh, Sunday Times Every cheese tells a story. Whether it's a fresh young goat's cheese or a big, beefy eighteen-month-old Cheddar, each variety holds the history of the people who first made it, from the builders of Stonehenge to medieval monks, from the Stilton-makers of the eighteenth-century to the factory cheesemakers of the Second World War. Cheesemonger Ned Palmer takes us on a delicious journey across Britain and Ireland and through time to uncover the histories of beloved old favourites like Cheddar and Wensleydale and fresh innovations like the Irish Cashel Blue or the rambunctious Renegade Monk. Along the way we learn the craft and culture of cheesemaking from the eccentric and engaging characters who have revived and reinvented farmhouse and artisan traditions. And we get to know the major cheese styles - the blues, washed rinds, semi-softs and, unique to the British Isles, the territorials - and discover how best to enjoy them, on a cheeseboard with a glass of Riesling, or as a Welsh rarebit alongside a pint of Pale Ale. This is a cheesemonger's odyssey, a celebration of history, innovation and taste - and the book all cheese and history lovers will want to devour this Christmas.Trade ReviewA delightful and informative romp through centuries of British cheesemaking ... it would make a fine Christmas present, along with a wedge of Sparkenhoe red leicester' * Guardian *Palmer writes with pace and passion, and his encounters with modern-day practitioners fizz with infectious delight ... Full of flavour * Sunday Times *Part history, part travelogue and part tasting menu ... an utter delight, rousing, infectiously impassioned and inspiring * Stephanie Sy-Quia, The Spectator *We are taught in school that history is about kings and queens and posh people sitting on horses, but Ned Palmer teaches us that in fact, correctly understood, history is mainly about cheese. I hugely enjoyed his engaging, learned, funny, surprising book. Palmer wears his extraordinary range of knowledge lightly, but he is serious too. His book is history from below, from the perspective of daily life; it talks about the food and the life and the needs of unfamous people. A Cheesemonger's History of the British Isles is the best kind of social history, the kind you can eatA beautifully textured tour around the cheeseboard.A fabulous, fascinating Cheese Odyssey.Following the history of cheese from its neolithic beginnings right up to the modern day, Ned takes you on an entrancing journey through cheese and British history itself, meeting dozens of dedicated cheesemaker's along the way. Ned Palmer is a erudite, charming guide to all things cheese - and his book will make you want to eat nothing but cheese all day long.As an author of historical fiction, I was impressed by Ned's command of history but also delighted by his light, fluid and professional writing style - which was, in turn, funny, fascinating, and sometimes even profound. From Medieval monastic cheese-making to the horrors of the Milk Marketing Board, Ned charts a gripping and often mouth-watering course through the culture behind bacterial cultures. He has the true food-writer's gift of inspiring wild cravings in the reader. Reading late into the night, I constantly had to fight the urge to raid the cheese box in the fridge. Not always successfully. This book is a triumphant paean to the fine art of cheese-making, past and present, and a must-buy for anyone who appreciates good food - and good history. A truly cheese-mongous achievement!Palmer's writing is loquacious; it is as if he has leant across the counter to regale you with tales of when he was a 'younger monger'. His history is an utter delight, rousing, infectiously impassioned and inspiring of pride * Spectator *Palmer is both a cheesemonger and a cheese historian - encyclopedic, forensic and geekily obsessed with the stuff. He writes in a jolly patter: warm, wry and deliciously digressive. * Financial Times *Ripe with fascinating facts and anecdotes * Sunday Telegraph *The book is a treasure trove of amusing asides and anecdotes, such as the one about the 17th-century Welsh justice of the peace who assessed a defendant's guilt by his ability to swallow "enchanted" cheese. * The Times *One of the best cookery books to get you through lockdown... fab -- The Scotsman

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Book SynopsisTHE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER'Kelton has succeeded in instigating a round of heretical questioning, essential for a post-Covid-19 world, where the pantheon of economic gods will have to be reconfigured' Guardian'Stephanie Kelton is an indispensable source of moral clarity ... the truths that she teaches about money, debt, and deficits give us the tools we desperately need to build a safe future for all' Naomi Klein'Game-changing ... Read it!' Mariana Mazzucato'A rock star in her field' The Times'This book is going to be influential' Financial Times'Convincingly overturns conventional wisdom' New York TimesSupporting the economy, paying for healthcare, creating new jobs, preventing a climate apocalypse: how can we pay for it all? Leading economic thinker Stephanie Kelton, shows how misguided that question is, and how a radical new approach can maximise our potential as a society. Everything that we've been led to believe about deficits and the role of money and government spending is wrong. Rather than asking the self-defeating question of how to pay for the crucial improvements our society needs, Kelton guides us to ask: which deficits actually matter?Trade ReviewKelton is to modern monetary theory what Milton Friedman was to American conservatives for a half century - conversational, fierce, relentless. * Financial Times *Kelton's game-changing book on the myths around government deficits is both theoretically rigorous and empirically entertaining. It reminds us that money is not limited, only our imagination of what to do with it. After you read it you will never think of the public purse as a household economy again. Read it! -- Mariana Mazzucato, author of The Value of Everything: Making and Taking in the Global EconomyIn a world of epic, overlapping crises, Stephanie Kelton is an indispensable source of moral clarity ... the truths that she teaches about money, debt, and deficits give us the tools we desperately need to build a safe future for all. Read it - then put it to use. -- Naomi KleinThe best book on rethinking economics that anyone will find right now. * Richard Murphy *In the wake of the financial impact of the coronavirus, she's having a moment ... she's become a rock star in her field. -- Ben Hoyle * The Times *Kelton is a razor-sharp writer ... smashing shibboleths of conventional economic wisdom. * The Irish Times *This book is going to be influential. -- Martin Wolf * Financial Times *One of the most important and accessible books ever written about money * The National *Kelton's book achieves a revolution in political economy. * LSE Review of Books *A leading light in modern monetary theory. * Financial Times *[Kelton] has succeeded in instigating a round of heretical questioning, essential for a post-Covid-19 world, where the pantheon of economic gods will have to be reconfigured. * The Guardian *Convincingly overturns the conventional wisdom that federal budget deficits are somehow bad * New York Times *The most talked about economics book of 2020 * Spears Magazine *A remarkable book both in content and timing. A 'must read' that is sure to influence many aspects of policymaking going forward -- Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic advisor at Allianz

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Book SynopsisBritain's preeminent constitutional historian asks how well protected is our democracy from the threat of authoritarianism.

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Book SynopsisA must-have for anyone who practises yoga or is interested in the teachings of the East.B.K.S. Iyengar, whose teachings on yoga are followed throughout the world, reflects upon his lifetime's experience on the yoga path. The structure of the book follows the different aspects of that path (from Freedom Awaits, through The Physical Body, The Energy Body, The Mental Body, The Intellectual Body, The Divine Body to Living in Freedom) and provides a learning framework for yoga as well as an invaluable discourse on life.'Iyengar knows what the body needs, and he's introduced to the West the Easterner's best path to health and well-being' - TIME Magazine'Revelations from a lifetime of studying yoga' - The Washington Post 'Light on Life is rich in yoga philosophy and methodology. But unlike his previous writings, this new book is full of autobiographical anecdotes' - The New York Times 'Mr Iyengar reveals in Light on Life the 'heart of yoga' that he personally discovered through more than 70 years of disciplined, daily practice ... [including] the precise ways that yoga can transform our lives and help us live in harmony with the world around us' - Yoga Journal'The Michelangelo of yoga' - BBC TV

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Book SynopsisNo other country and no other period has produced a tradition of major aesthetic debate to compare with that which unfolded in German culture from the 1930s to the 1950s. In Aesthetics and Politics the key texts of the great Marxist controversies over literature and art during these years are assembled in a single volume. They do not form a disparate collection but a continuous, interlinked debate between thinkers who have become giants of twentieth-century intellectual history.Trade ReviewThese are key texts in the study of modernism, of expressionist drama and of realism, and of many closesly related general questions. ... It is genuinely an indispensable volume. -- Raymond WilliamsThis is vital reading for anyone concerned with the relationship between art and socialism. -- John FowlesUnlike conventional anthologies of Marxist writings on art, Aestheticand Politics has the form of an intellectual epic, presented as a series of mutual confronations between its protagonists. * Telos *

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Book Synopsis***THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER***A Times and Telegraph Book of the Year'Shocking, scathing, entertaining.' Guardian 'Incredibly compelling.' The Times'Heart-breaking.' Sunday TimesWhere can a tin of tuna buy you clean clothes? Where is it easier to get 'spice' than paracetamol? Where does self-harm barely raise an eyebrow?Welcome to Her Majesty's Prison Service. Like most people, documentary-maker Chris Atkins didn't spend much time thinking about prisons. But after becoming embroiled in a dodgy scheme to fund his latest film, he was sent down for five years. His new home would be HMP Wandsworth, one of the largest and most dysfunctional prisons in Europe.With a cast of characters ranging from wily drug dealers to senior officials bent on endless reform, this powerful memoir uncovers the horrifying reality behind the locked gates. Filled with dark humour and shocking stories, A Bit of a Stretch reveals why our creaking prison system is sorely costing us all - and why you should care.Trade ReviewShocking, scathing, entertaining... If you thought you knew how bad British prisons are, you haven't read this book... It's an inside story to make you weep at the incompetence, stupidity and viciousness of the current system. * Guardian *An incredibly compelling account, not just because of Atkins' incongruity and his knack for black, observational humour, but because it lays bare a system that has become utterly dysfunctional. Atkins is thrust into the heart of Britain's prison crisis and can never quite believe what he is seeing. It's a sort of Kafkaesque haplessness. A bleak catalogue of absurdity. * The Times *Surreal, darkly funny, at times horrifying but always humane account of what it's like to be locked up. * Observer *A soul-searching account... A pacy memoir which is imbued with a dark humour... heartbreaking. [Atkins is] honest enough to have left in the parts that would make his mother wince. * Sunday Times *A razor-sharp and darkly funny memoir... * Spectator *A highly readable and thought-provoking account, which illuminates a failing and anachronistic institution in dire need of a radical overhaul. * Daily Mail *Powerful... a dispassionate record of the grinding down of the human soul, deliberate hopelessness, insane and moribund bureaucracy, the whims of bullying guards, roll calls, curses, kicks and punches. * Roger Lewis, The Telegraph *Terrifically vivid... what makes the book so riveting is that Atkins takes us behind the statistics to show us prison life in all its chaotic, sometimes surreal weirdness. * Reader's Digest *A Bit of a Stretch shows a system in chaos, as guards struggle to deal with mentally ill, poorly educated men housed in decaying old buildings. It is also, in places, very funny. * Helen Lewis, The Atlantic *Heartbreaking and hilarious. * Christie Watson – bestselling author of The Language of Kindness *An entertaining memoir, but also an indictment of our creaking, underfunded prison system. * The Times *Atkins's shocking yet entertaining diary of his time behind bars is a must-read. * Independent *Powerful and highly readable. * Peter Dawson – Director of the Prison Reform Trust and former prison governor *Funny, shocking and powerful. * The Secret Barrister *Gripping, warm and empathetic. Atkins exposes the shocking gap between what politicians claim about prison and the humiliating reality. You'll roar with laughter before turning to deep despair. * Isabel Hardman – author of Why We Get the Wrong Politicians *Fabulous. Candid, funny and never self-pitying, this is a must-read insight into why prison simply doesn't work. * Jon Snow – presenter, Channel 4 News *Shocking, funny, and very moving. * Mark Thomas – comedian *Absolutely extraordinary. Heartbreaking without being self-pitying, shocking without being gratuitous and, of course, very, very funny. * John Niven – novelist and screenwriter *Harrowing... required reading for anybody concerned with what entitles a society to call itself civilised. * Law Gazette *Honest and authentic. Atkins perfectly captures the madness, hope and despair of prison. Please read this. * Professor David Wilson – founding Director of the Centre for Applied Criminology at Birmingham City University and former prison governor *An important, urgent and entertaining memoir. It made me laugh, cry my eyes out and think hard, not only about forgiveness, but about love and life in general. An essential read. * Sathnam Sanghera – bestselling author of The Boy with the Topknot *Table of Contents0: Introduction 1: Trauma and Toothpaste 2: Lockdowns and Love Actually 3: Showers and Slips 4: Goodfellas and Goldilocks 5: Biohazard and Back Rubs 6: Suicide and Sellotape 7: Spinsters and Spiceheads 8: Murder and Mutiny 9: Courtrooms and Cheeseburgers 10: Despair and Dancing Queen 11: Paedophiles and Prizes 12: Epilogue

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Book SynopsisCollins brings the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, to English language learners.Agatha Christie is the most widely published author of all time and in any language. Now Collins has adapted her famous detective novels for English language learners. These readers have been carefully adapted using the Collins COBUILD grading scheme to ensure that the language is at the correct level for an intermediate learner. This book is Level 5 in the Collins ELT Readers series. Level 5 is equivalent to CEF level B2+ with a word count of 22,000 30,000 words.Each book includes: Full reading of the adapted version available for free online Helpful notes on characters Cultural and historical notes relevant to the plot A glossary of the more difficult words Free online resources for students and teachers atwww.collinselt.com/readersThe plot:Six people sit down for dinner at a table laid for seven. No one can forget the night exactly a year ago that Rosemary Barton died at this same table surrounded by t

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Book SynopsisCollins International Primary Maths supports best practice in primary maths teaching, whilst encouraging teacher professionalism and autonomy. A wealth of supporting digital assets are provided for every lesson, including slideshows, tools and games to ensure they are rich, lively and engaging.Each lesson is based on a big idea', providing an engaging, exciting theme which is anchored in a real-life international context. Activities, exercises and investigations provide opportunities for learners to apply their knowledge, skills and understanding of the mathematics they are learning. The course develops learners' Thinking and Working Mathematically skills and offers opportunities for group and individual learning. The series also supports Cambridge Global Perspectives with activities that develop and practise key skills.Provides learner support as part of a set of resources for the Cambridge Primary curriculum framework (0096) from 2020.This series is endorsed by Cambridge Assessment I

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Book SynopsisSpark scientific curiosity from a young age with this six-level course through an enquiry-based approach and active learning. Collins International Primary Science fully meets the requirements of the Cambridge Primary Science Curriculum Framework from 2020 and has been carefully developed for a range of international contexts.The course is organised into four main strands: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth and Space and the skills detailed under the Thinking and Working Scientifically' strand are introduced and taught in the context of those areas.For each Workbook at Stages 1 to 6, we offer:A write-in Workbook linked to the Student's BookNew language development activities help build science vocabularyEarth and Space content covers the new curriculum frameworkThinking and Working Scientifically deepens and enhances the delivery of Science skillsActively learn through practical activities that don't require specialist equipment or labsScaffolding allows students of varying abilities to work with common content and meet learning objectivesSupports Cambridge Global Perspectives with activities that develop and practise key skillsProvides learner support as part of a set of resources for the Cambridge Primary Science curriculum framework (0097) from 2020This series is endorsed by Cambridge Assessment International Education to support the new curriculum framework 0097 from 2020.

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Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.

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Book Synopsis'Outstanding' THE SECRET BARRISTERIt's brilliant, it's comprehensive, buy it' EVENING STANDARDA powerful, illuminating, enraging and inspiring read' JESS PHILLIPS MPPrecise, heartfelt and anti-pompous' THE TIMESWhy is our criminal justice system so bad at protecting women from violence?Reporting from the heart of the courtroom, this book sees barrister Harriet Johnson dissect the problems in our policing, laws and culture. How can we hold the police accountable, take stalking seriously and make justice a reality for sexual assault survivors?This is an unforgettable case for change and a clear plan of how we can make it happen.Trade Review A Waterstones ‘Best Books of 2022’ in Politics ‘Incredibly insightful … Johnson draws from law, from extensive experience at trial, and colours the text with specific cases … This is a book of great lucidity, mercifully devoid of legalese’Irish Times ‘A short, urgent manifesto … peppered with real cases that Johnson has worked on or known … She is precise, heartfelt and anti-pompous’The Times ‘Compelling and forensically written … She fills pages with vital facts to arm ourselves with so we can destroy lazy arguments. And then she lists what can and should be done to tackle root problems … It’s brilliant, it’s comprehensive, buy it. Give it to your male friends’Evening Standard ‘An urgent and vital call to arms that compassionately and forensically exposes the many ways in which the way we do criminal justice fails women, and offers practical and clear-sighted solutions on how to inject meaningful change into a legal system built by men, for men. Powerfully argued and compellingly written, this is an outstanding debut from Harriet Johnson. It should be read by everybody involved in criminal justice’The Secret Barrister ‘Harriet Johnson exposes the truth of how misogyny, corruption, underfunding and outdated systems pollute law and policing in our country. With shocking stories from the courtroom and deep research, this book is a powerful, illuminating, enraging and inspiring read’Jess Phillips MP ‘A brilliant, forensic exposure of why women cannot get justice. Harriet Johnson is a wonderful lawyer who captures with rapier precision the way law sustains patriarchy, fosters misogyny and blocks radical change’Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, author of Misjustice ‘This book will empower the vulnerable and make the powerful empathetic. It’s the clearest, most compelling and urgent argument for change’Daisy Buchanan, author of Insatiable

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Book Synopsis'War is an act of violence intended to compel our opponent to our will'Writing at the time of Napoleon's greatest campaigns, Prussian soldier and writer Carl von Clausewitz created this landmark treatise on the art of warfare, which presented war as part of a coherent system of political thought. In line with Napoleon's own military actions, Clausewitz illustrated the need to annihilate the enemy and to make a strong display of one's power in an 'absolute war' without compromise. But he was also careful to distinguish between war and politics, arguing that war could only be justified when debate was no longer adequate, and that if undertaken, its aim should ultimately be to improve the wellbeing of the nation. Combining military theory and pratice, On War has had a profound influence on subsequent thinking on warfare.This edition contains a detailed introduction examining Von Clausewitz's skill and reputation as a writer, philosopher and politTable of ContentsOn WarPreface to the Pelican EditionIntroduction by Anatol RapoportOn WarIntroduction by Col. F. N. MaudeIntroduction of the AuthorBrief Memoir of General Clausewitz by the TranslatorBook One: On The Nature Of WarI. What is War?II. End and Means in WarIII. The Genius for WarIV. Of Danger in WarV. Of Bodily Exertion in WarVI. Information in WarVII. Friction in WarVIII. Concluding RemarksBook Two: On The Theory Of WarI. Branches of the Art of WarII. On the Theory of WarIII. Art or Science of WarIV. MethodicismV. CriticismVI. On ExamplesBook Three: Of Strategy In GeneralI. StrategyII. Elements of StrategyIII. Moral ForcesIV. The Chief Moral PowersV. Military Virtue of an ArmyVI. BoldnessVII. PerseveranceVIII. Superiority of NumbersIX. The SurpriseX. StratagemXI. Assembly of Forces in SpaceXII. Assembly of Forces in TimeXIII. Strategic ReserveXIV. Economy of ForcesXV. Geometrical ElementXVI. On the Suspension of the Act in WarXVII. On the Character of Modern WarXVIII. Tension and RestBook Four: The CombatI. IntroductoryII. Character of the Modern BattleIII. The Combat in GeneralIV. The Combat in General (continuation)V. On the Signification of the CombatVI. Duration of the CombatVII. Decision of the CombatVIII. Mutual Understanding as to a BattleIX. The BattleX. Effects of VictoryXI. The Use of the BattleXII. Strategic Means of Utilizing VictoryXIII. Retreat After a Lost BattleSketches For Book Eight: Plan Of WarI. IntroductionII. Absolute and Real WarIII. (A) Interdependence of the Parts in War(B) Of the Magnitude of the Object of the War, and the Efforts to be MadeIV. Ends in War More Precisely Defined—Overthrow of the EnemyV. Ends in War More Precisely Defined (continued)—Limited ObjectVI. (A) Influence of the Political Object on the Military Object(B) War as an Instrument of PolicyConcluding Remarks by Anatol RapoportNotesReferencesGlossaryIndex

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Book SynopsisKarl Marx was born in Trier, Germany and studied law at Bonn and Berlin. In 1848, with Freidrich Engels, he finalized the Communist Manifesto. He settled in London, where he studied economics and wrote the first volume of his major work, Das Kapital (1867, two further volumes were added in 1884 and 1894). He is buried in Highgate Cemetery, London. Friedrich Engles was born in Barmen, Germany. From 1842 he lived mostly in England.

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Book Synopsis''Thank god for Richard Sennett ... essential reading for all students of the city'' Anna Minton, Prospect''Constantly stimulating ideas from a veteran of urban thinking'' Jonathan Meades, GuardianIn Building and Dwelling, Richard Sennett distils a lifetime''s thinking and practical experience to explore the relationship between the good built environment and the good life. He argues for, and describes in rich detail, the idea of an open city, one in which people learn to manage complexity. He shows how the design of cities can enrich or diminish the everyday experience of those who dwell in them.The book ranges widely - from London, Paris and Barcelona to Shanghai, Mumbai and Medellin in Colombia - and draws on classic thinkers such as Tocqueville, Heidegger, Max Weber, and Walter Benjamin. It also draws on Sennett''s many decades as a practical planner himself, testing what works, what doesn''t, and why. He shows what wTrade ReviewA lateish-life appraisal of what Richard Sennett has read, written and, most vitally, witnessed on the street or in the marketplace in the tradition of the sharp-eyed, sharp-nosed flâneur taking in every sensation -- Jonathan Meades * Guardian *Sennett leavens the big ideas with snapshots of real life. ... It reads like a summation of a life lived in cities and is, ultimately, a paean to their unpredictability, a call for tolerance and a celebration of difference. -- Edwin Heathcote * Financial Times *He has brought to the study of urban life a perception that includes literature, philosophy, art, sociology and economics, as well as his personal experiences -- Rowan Moore * Observer *Distils into a single volume his thoughts on how urban design shapes the ways in which we relate to one another ... Typically idealistic, typically urbane, it is well-timed for the disputes of our day -- Justin McGuirk * New Yorker *

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Book SynopsisThis volume brings together Freud''s main contributions to the psychology of love. His illuminating discussions of the ways in which sexuality is always psychosexuality - that there is no sexuality without fantasy, conscious or unconscious - have changed the ways we think about erotic life. In these papers Freud develops his now famous theories about the sexuality of childhood and the transgressive nature of human desire.In the famous case study of the eighteen-year-old ''Dora'', we see Freud at work, both putting into practice and testing his sexual theories that were to change the modern world.

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Book SynopsisIn The World of Sex, Henry Miller, one of the most scandalous writers of the 20th century explains his literary project Henry Miller''s bold, explicit novels scandalized readers and remade the literature of his day. In this uncompromising literary manifesto he argues that sex is at the heart of his writing because it is at the heart of life - a vital force as essential as bread, money, work or play. Drawing on his own experiences and on the writing of his famously banned novels in Paris, he shows sex as a mysterious realm that must be explored if we are to be truly free.

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERHow can we make it easier to be happy? Using the latest cutting-edge research, Professor Paul Dolan reveals that wellbeing isn''t about how we think - it''s about what we do. By making deliberate choices that bring us both pleasure and meaning, we can redesign our lives for maximum happiness - without thinking too hard about it.''Outstanding, cutting-edge, and profound. If you''re going to read one book on happiness, this is the one'' Nassim Nicholas Taleb''Bold and original ... what I wish for my grandchildren: a life that is rich in activities both pleasurable and meaningful'' Daniel Kahneman, author of Thinking Fast and SlowTrade ReviewFor Dolan, purpose and pleasure are both basic constituents of happiness. This is a bold and original move ... Among the imperfect definitions of happiness, the pleasure-purpose concept that Dolan offers is, I believe, a strong contender. It is a good description of what I wish for my grandchildren: a life that is rich in activities that are both pleasurable and meaningful.Paul Dolan is an inveterate optimist who has overcome many obstacles on his way to becoming an internationally recognized expert on well-being. The optimism shows on every page of this book. In particular, Paul is optimistic about you, his reader. He believes that you can make your life both pleasurable and meaningful with deliberate choices, about the environment you create for yourself and about the aspects of life that deserve your attention. He offers a great deal of sound advice on how to make these choices and how to follow through with them -- Daniel Kahneman, Nobel LaureateIt tells us what matters to us. Few books change one's life; in 48 hours this has improved mine . . . Anyone who wonders if they are living their lives as fully as they might will find ideas worth thinking about in this engaging, persuasive book -- Jenni Russell * Sunday Times *Dolan is especially illuminating when it comes to bigger life-choices . . . Dolan makes a persuasive case that happiness might really be simple. His book is a powerful reminder not to get caught up in overthinking things, but to focus instead on maximising what actually delivers joy . . . and most of us would benefit from listening to him -- Oliver Burkeman * Guardian *[Dolan's] discoveries at once confound your expectations and provide an appreciable way of acting on that knowledge . . . full of facts that make you go: "Huh." -- Richard Godwin * Evening Standard *Dolan's book is aimed at the lay reader who wants to be more cheerful without recourse to airy-fairy notions of spirituality or philosophy -- Rowan Pelling * Telegraph *Outstanding, cutting-edge, and profound. If you're going to read one book on happiness, this is the one -- Nassim Nicholas Taleb, bestselling author of The Black Swan and AntifragileHappiness by Design is the best kind of psychology book: the ideas are fascinating, understanding them will make your life happier and more meaningful, and Dolan expresses them beautifully. Whether you're a novice or a voracious consumer of happiness research, Happiness by Design hits all the right notes -- Adam Alter, bestselling author of Drunk Tank PinkDolan gives a comprehensive overview of the science of happiness and useful tips to achieve it. In his quest to explain what makes us happy, Dolan touches on a powerful idea: happiness need not be pursued, simply rediscovered. In other words, sources of pleasure and purpose are all around us, if only one knows where to look * Scientific American *Dolan wants...to make us think about life in terms of a balance of pleasure and purpose. Some of us are 'pleasure machines', seeking out short-term gratification without paying close enough attention to our lifelong goals; some of us are 'purpose engines', so determined to get to the destination that we miss the view along the way. Whichever we are, we need to find a bit more of the other. -- Archie Bland * The Independent *

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Book Synopsis*WINNER OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON MEDAL FOR MILITARY HISTORY**A DAILY TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022*''No one interested in the history of Europe can afford not to read this stupendous book'' Simon Heffer, Daily TelegraphIron and Blood is a startlingly ambitious and absorbing book, encompassing five centuries of political, military, technological and economic change to tell the story of the German-speaking lands, from the Rhine to the Balkan frontier, from Switzerland to the North Sea. Wilson''s narrative considers everything from weapons development to recruitment to battlefield strategy.Germans'' military impact on the rest of Europe has been immense. If there is one constant it has been the sense of being beset by seemingly more powerful enemies - France or Russia or Turkey - and the need to strike a rapid knockout blow to ensure a favourable result. Almost inevitably, this has in practice meant protracted, relentless and often unwinnable wars, and - in 1939-1945 - moral catastrophe.The author of definitive books on the Holy Roman Empire and the Thirty Years War, Peter Wilson has with Iron and Blood written his masterpiece.''Hugely impressive'' Richard J. Evans, Times Literary SupplementTrade ReviewThe scholarship of this book is breathtaking [and] Wilson relates it with a command of his subject that is unparalleled. No one interested in the history of Europe, and of the Germans in particular, can afford not to read this stupendous book. -- Simon Heffer * Daily Telegraph *Endlessly fascinating ... History has returned to Europe, and Iron and Blood is an excellent place to start getting reacquainted with it. -- Oliver Moody * The Times *Hugely impressive ... By setting his account in the broader context of European history, Wilson launches a sustained attack on the teleological Prussocentrism of the traditional story. -- Richard J. Evans * Times Literary Supplement *Iron and Blood delves into politics, economics, technology and social developments. Its long view of Germany's military history, magisterial detail and acute analysis provide a new understanding of what was once Europe's warring heart. * The Economist *Ambitious ... While Germany cannot leave its past behind, it can learn from it, if it dares to look ... Iron and Blood is a timely book, arguing powerfully that 'German history should not be read backwards'. -- Katja Hoyer * History Today *Formidably erudite ... What is now Germany's shameful past was once Adolf Hitler's vision of the future. Reimagined by Vladimir Putin, that spectral vision now haunts our present. Hence the importance and urgency of Wilson's investigation. -- Daniel Johnson * The Critic *A work of first-rate scholarship ... will become the starting point for all students of military history, not only of Germany but of Europe as a whole. -- Jonathan Boff * BBC History Magazine *An ambitious book which was badly needed ... illuminating on the complicated relationship between Prussia, both state and society, and its army .... required reading for serious military historians. -- Barney White-Spunner * Aspects of History *There is much to admire in this book, from the astounding breadth of its scholarshipto its exceedingly ambitious scope ... a fresh perspective on German history. -- Stephen G. Fritz * Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs *

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Book Synopsis*The International Bestseller*''Superb, hugely enjoyable ... a spirited examination of the hubris and hypocrisy of the super-rich who claim they are helping the world'' Aditya Chakrabortty, GuardianWhat explains the spreading backlash against the global elite? In this revelatory investigation, Anand Giridharadas takes us into the inner sanctums of a new gilded age, showing how the elite follow a ''win-win'' logic, fighting for equality and justice any way they can - except ways that threaten their position at the top. But why should our gravest problems be solved by consultancies, technology companies and corporate-sponsored charities instead of public institutions and elected officials? Why should we rely on scraps from the winners? Trenchant and gripping, this is an indispensable guide and call to action for elites and citizens alike.Trade ReviewA splendid polemic. . . Giridharadas writes brilliantly on the parasitic philanthropy industry * Economist *Trenchant, provocative and well-researched. . . Read it and beware -- Martha Lane Fox * Financial Times Books of the Year *Hugely enjoyable. . . A spirited examination of the hypocrisy of the super-rich who claim they are helping the world -- Aditya Chakrabortty * Guardian *Entertaining and gripping . . . For those at the helm, the philanthropic plutocrats and aspiring "change agents" who believe they are helping but are actually making things worse, it's time for a reckoning with their role in this spiraling dilemma -- Joseph Stiglitz * New York Times Book Review *Giridharadas isn't afraid to speak his mind, even if it means taking down some of the most powerful people on the planet. . . He has started a movement with this scathing critique of a society that rewards monopolistic models, faux philanthropy and protects the interests of a wealthy few -- Tabitha Goldstaub * Forbes *A fierce book. . . What gives Giridharadas's heartfelt critique such force is that he is a heretic, someone chosen for the equivalent of the priesthood in the new religion of philanthropy who had a revelation and decided to renounce the faith -- Iain Martin * The Times *

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Book Synopsis''A work of exhilarating scope and relevance ... What a rare and powerful experience to feel a book in your very body'' Naomi Klein''Health is not something we can attain as individuals, for ourselves, hermetically sealed off from the world around us. An injury to one is an injury to all.''Our bodies, societies and planet are inflamed. In this boldly original book, renowned political economist Raj Patel teams up with physician Rupa Marya to illuminate the hidden relationships between human health and the profound injustices of our political and economic systems. In doing so, they offer a radical new cure: the deep medicine of decolonization.Journeying through the human body - our digestive, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, reproductive, immune, and nervous systems - Marya and Patel show how inflammation is connected not just to the food that we eat, the air that we breathe and access to healthcare, but is also linked to the traumatic events we experience and the very model of health that doctors practice: one which takes things apart, rather than seeking to bring ideas and lived experiences together.Combining the latest scholarship on globalization and biology with the stories of patients in marginalized communities and the wisdom of Indigenous groups, Inflamed points the way toward a medicine that heals what has been divided and has the potential to transform not only our bodies but the world.Trade ReviewA work of exhilarating scope and relevance to this infected moment in the body politic. Inflamed mixes medicine, argument, and metaphor into a post-pandemic poultice: reading it is the first step in the deep medicine it prescribes. What a rare and powerful experience to feel a book in your very body. -- Naomi Klein * author of On Fire *Provocative and thought provoking. . . a reckoning with modern medicine . . . At each physiological juncture, the co-authors relate the malfunctions of human biology to the inadequacies of our political and economic systems -- Andrew Zaleski * GQ *A compelling book on the social and environmental roots of our poor health... the writers combine their respective expertise to analyse the workings of these cells and organs, and to interrogate how they have been disrupted by our modern constructs of capitalism, colonialism, extractivism and individualism, amongst others -- Rachel Andrews * Irish Times *Urgent, impeccably researched . . . a subversive political analysis . . . remarkably lucid -- Aarathi Prasad * Guardian *A remarkably powerful analysis . . . compelling detail . . . a revolutionary book that calls for courageous action to dismantle those structures that harm the health of people and the planet and to rebuild ones that centre care -- Aletha Maybank * The Lancet *At last! A book about medicine and healthcare that is holistic in the broadest sense in that it integrates histories of colonialism, conflict and inequality with alternative forms of knowledge. And all that while remaining compellingly readable and engaging. -- Amitav Ghosh * author of Jungle Nama and Gun Island *Science and medicine are often treated as fields that are subtracted from social movements, separate from the struggle for power that billions of human beings are embroiled in and abstracted from the material conditions around us. Luckily for us, Rupa Marya and Raj Patel are out here making these connections and encouraging us to see these as processes we all must take ownership of as we fight to have control of our surroundings. This book is on fire. -- Boots Riley * frontperson for The Coup and Writer/Director of Sorry to Bother You *A critique of the wreckage of capitalism and colonialism for our time--beautifully written, storytelling at its best. This book can change your life. -- Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz * author of An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States *Compelling reading... It encourages both clinicians and members of the public to look at their health intrinsically linked to other people, their own community, the environment, as well as the politics and economics of their country, and more broadly, the world -- Dipesh Gopal * BJGP Life *Inflamed takes the reader on a journey deep inside the human body . . . In doing so, it reveals how external inequalities affect these systems and cause serious harm -- Layla Liverpool * New Scientist *

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Book SynopsisVery Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Democracy refers to both ideal and real forms of government. The concept of democracy means that those governed the demos have a say in government. But different conceptions of democracy have left many out. Naomi Zack provides here a fresh treatment of the history of this idea and its key conceptions. In the ancient world, direct and representative democracy in Athens and Rome privileged elites, as did democratic deliberative bodies in Africa, India, the Middle East, and China. Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero were sceptical of mob-rule dangers of democracy. The medieval and renaissance periods saw legislative checks on monarchy, notably the Magna Carta. The social contract theories of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau matched political expectations that national government be based on consent, for the benefit of those governed. The American Revolution established a new sovereignty, based on British governTrade Review...the book is interesting from a historical perspective in that it sets out details of past and present concepts of democracy. * Michelle Gresty, Law Society *Table of Contents1: Thinking about Democracy: Tools for understanding 2: Democracy in the Ancient World: Greece, Rome, and Beyond 3: Democracy in the Medieval and Renaissance Worlds - Internal Democratic Structures 4: The Social Contract: Consent of those Governed 5: Rights and Revolutions: (Exclusive) Political Equality 6: Social Progressivism: Toward Democracy in Society 7: World War II and after: New Democracies and New Conceptions of Democracy 8: The Future of Democracy: Threats and Resilience

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Book SynopsisFinancial Times Best Books of 2023 in EconomicsThe global battle among the three dominant digital powersthe United States, China, and the European Unionis intensifying. All three regimes are racing to regulate tech companies, with each advancing a competing vision for the digital economy while attempting to expand its sphere of influence in the digital world. In Digital Empires, her provocative follow-up to The Brussels Effect, Anu Bradford explores a rivalry that will shape the world in the decades to come.Across the globe, people dependent on digital technologies have become increasingly alarmed that their rapid adoption and transformation have ushered in an exceedingly concentrated economy where a few powerful companies control vast economic wealth and political power, undermine data privacy, and widen the gap between economic winners and losers. In response, world leaders are variously embracing the idea of reining in the most dominant tech companies. Bradford examines three competTrade ReviewAnu Bradford provides a holistic and balanced view of the three competing regulatory systems at the intersection of technology and society. Digital Empires is a must read for anyone seeking to understand what's at stake in developing a practical regulatory framework that serves the needs of people everywhere. * Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft *Anu Bradford's Digital Empires is an essential read for anyone who wants to understand the regulatory choices confronting governments that seek to reign in big tech. The US, China and Europe have chosen different paths, and Bradford carefully breaks down the legal and political contexts of each. Bradford's voice is clear and reasonable and this book is a tour de force. * Joseph E. Stiglitz, Nobel laureate 2001 in economics *It is easy to forget that the future of the big tech is not just the question of what Europe, China or the U.S. will do, but how it all comes together. Anu Bradford offers the single best approach to understanding these interactions to make sense of an otherwise bewildering present and future. * Tim Wu, Special Assistant to President Biden for Technology and Competition Policy, 2021-2023 *This is the definitive account of the fierce and hugely important fight within and among "digital empires" - the United States, China, and the European Union - over the shape of our digital lives. Among its important conclusions are that the European rights-driven regulatory model, rather than the American market-driven model, is best poised to unite the democratic west and challenge China's growing control in the digital realm. * Jack Goldsmith, Learned Hand Professor of Law, Harvard Law School *Digital Empires is essential reading for all policymakers wanting to understand the drivers and implications of conflicts that threaten the global nature of the digital economy. Bradford offers a nuanced and highly compelling account of a digital world between decoupling and continuing globalization. * Pascal Lamy, Director general of the WTO, 2005-2013 *Digital Empires describes the coming race between the US, China, and the EU to impose their regulatory models and set the norms that govern the global digital order. The outcome of this struggle will shape the geopolitical map in unimaginable ways. A thoroughly researched, extremely readable, and perfectly timed work. * Ian Bremmer, President of the Eurasia Group and author of The Power of Crisis *Stimulating. * Nature *Comprehensive and insightful. * The New Yorker *Thoroughly researched. * Financial Times *Digital Empires The Global Battle to Regulate Technology is Anu Bradford's latest insightful, thought-provoking, and nuanced critical analysis of the leading digital world-wide powers. * Lola Montero Santos, PhD researcher at the European University Institute *Table of ContentsIntroduction PART I: DIGITAL EMPIRES Chapter 1: The American Market-Driven Regulatory Model Chapter 2: The Chinese State-Driven Regulatory Model Chapter 3: The European Rights-Driven Regulatory Model PART II: IMPERIAL RIVALRIES Chapter 4: Between Freedom and Control: Navigating Competing Regulatory Models Chapter 5: The Battle for Technological Supremacy: The US-China Tech War Chapter 6: When Rights, Markets, and Security Collide: The US-EU Regulatory Battles PART III: THE EXPANSION OF EMPIRES Chapter 7: The Waning Global Influence of American Techno-Libertarianism Chapter 8: Exporting China's Digital Authoritarianism through Infrastructure Chapter 9: Globalizing European Digital Rights through Regulatory Power Conclusion Notes Index

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Book SynopsisThis book predicts the decline of today''s professions and introduces the people and systems that will replace them. In an internet-enhanced society, according to Richard Susskind and Daniel Susskind, we will neither need nor want doctors, teachers, accountants, architects, the clergy, consultants, lawyers, and many others, to work as they did in the 20th century.The Future of the Professions explains how increasingly capable technologies - from telepresence to artificial intelligence - will place the ''practical expertise'' of the finest specialists at the fingertips of everyone, often at no or low cost and without face-to-face interaction.The authors challenge the ''grand bargain'' - the arrangement that grants various monopolies to today''s professionals. They argue that our current professions are antiquated, opaque and no longer affordable, and that the expertise of their best is enjoyed only by a few. In their place, they propose five new models for producing and distributing expertise in society.The book raises profound policy issues, not least about employment (they envisage a new generation of ''open-collared workers'') and about control over online expertise (they warn of new ''gatekeepers'') - in an era when machines become more capable than human beings at most tasks.With a new preface exploring recent critical developments, this updated edition builds on the authors'' groundbreaking research into more than a dozen professions. Illustrated with numerous examples from each, this is the first book to assess and question the relevance of the professions in the 21st century.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition Perhaps the forthcoming tidal wave of technology set to engulf us all will throw up new opportunities for the legal profession — which is probably why just about every lawyer in London, so we are told, has bought a copy of this challenging, provocative, timely and important book. If you care about the future of your profession and wish to add further comment to the raging controversies surrounding it, better get yourself a copy now. * Phillip Taylor MBE and Elizabeth Taylor of Richard Green Chambers *In The Future of the Professions, father-and-son authors Richard and Daniel Susskind do a remorselessly effective job of demolishing the self-deception most people engage in when comparing themselves to machines. * Richard Waters, Financial Times *The authors are undoubtedly right that the professions will change more in the next quarter-century than they have in the previous three. * The Economist *Remarkable work. * Tom Watson, The Guardian *This is a bold book ... The Future of the Professions helps us to recognise the professions' current methods as convoluted, self-serving rituals designed to wrap simple tasks in mystique. * Giles Wilkes, Prospect *The Future of the Professions is a paradox that only a human mind could appreciate: the inevitable death of the professions is presented in an expert, original and witty work by two professionals whose skills (in thinking, writing and consultancy) are unlikely any time soon to be replicated by a machine. * David Pannick, The Times *The Future of the Professions: How Technology Will Transform the Work of Human Experts, is a must read for anyone who wants to gain insights into where the legal profession is going ... Nothing else I have read more clearly and convincingly elucidates the future of legal services and how technology will transform the traditional practice of law. * Dan Pinnington, Slaw *An act of delicious iconoclasm. * Prospect Magazine *Both a good read and a good starter for strategic planning in professional firms * Chris Yapp, Future Tech Blog *I suggest that everyone who considers themselves 'professional' reads this book, especially those who are aged, say, 20-45, who need to secure their role in the new world of work. The authors predict that "our professions will be dismantled incrementally". If they are right, todays lawyers need to prepare for it, and the sooner the better. * Dan Bindman, Legal Futures *A fascinating and challenging book. * Medium *The study is exceptionally well informed and important contribution to thinking about the future of professional work * Network Review *As the saying is, the future is now and we ignore it at our peril. Please read this book. * Law Skills *The book is written in a relaxed, flowing and easily-consumable style ... a read of The Future of the Professions is time very well-spent. * Jeremy Hopkins, Future of Law *Everyone interested in the future well-being of society must read this thoroughly researched and compelling book - to understand how technology can and will be used to enable the public to do far more for themselves. In reshaping our system of justice so that it can more cost-effectively underpin our democratic society and its prosperity, I have had the benefit of the Susskinds core thesis how to use technology not simply to enable the legal professions to do better what they now do, but to reshape justice for the benefit of the public. * Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales *If the Susskinds are right we are at the start of a social revolution. Technology has begun to transform social class, economic activity, political discourse, working life and the limits of human activity. In The Future of the Professions they relentlessly and unyieldingly but also entertainingly and elegantly set about proving their point. I started knowing that their argument was important, I finished convinced that it was right. This is a necessary book. It was necessary that it be written and necessary that you read it. * Daniel Finkelstein, The Times *Impressive new book. * Edward Fennell, The Times *I know of no better book for anyone interested in the future of skilled jobs and society. Drawing on an astounding range of sources and the latest research, The Future of the Professions offers vital insights into the unprecedented disruption facing all the professions. * Professor Ian Goldin, Professor of Globalisation and Development and Director of the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford *In this magisterial survey Richard and Daniel Susskind demolish each profession's faith in its immutable uniqueness. Instead they trace inexorable and universal forces that will drive disintermediation, deconstruction and disruption. Written with scholarly thoroughness, this is an urgent manifesto and practical blueprint for the leaders of every professional firm. * Philip Evans, Senior Partner & BCG Fellow, The Boston Consulting Group *Table of ContentsPreface to the Updated Edition IntroductionI: Change 1: The Grand Bargain 2: From the Vanguard 3: Patterns Across the ProfessionsII: Theory 4: Information and Technology 5: Production and Distribution of KnowledgeIII: Implications 6: Objections and Anxieties 7: After the Professions Conclusion: What Future Should We Want?

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Book SynopsisWith its coherent analytical framework and accessible style, Foundations of European Politics: A Comparative Approach introduces students to important tools of social science and comparative analysis.Key Features- Adopts a social scientific approach, introducing students to the important theoretical and empirical tools necessary to compare and analyse democratic politics in Europe.- Provides comprehensive coverage of political institutions, political behaviour and voters, and selected important policy outcomes.- Breakout boxes are included in each chapter to go deeper into aspects of European politics, and how to study it. Boxes includes debates about methods and measurement of important concepts, case studies, and academic controversies and debates.New to this Edition- Three new chapters cover topics around how to study European politics using the scientific method, how people receive and process political information and the role social media and political elites play in informing citizens about politics, and how organizations and social movements influence policy-making in Europe. - New and updated, full colour, graphs and figures help to clarify complex data and theoretical topics.- Existing chapters have been restructured and expanded to provide deeper insights and more comprehensive coverage of European politics.Digital Formats and ResourcesFoundations of European Politics is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats, and it is supported by online resources. Additional data set exercises can be found at www.foundationsofeuropeanpolitics.com.

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Book SynopsisThe contribution of the Ancient Greeks to modern western culture is incalculable. In the worlds of art, architecture, myth, literature, and philosophy, the world we live in would be unrecognizably different without the formative influence of Ancient Greek models. Ancient Greek civilization was defined by the city - in Greek, the polis, from which we derive ''politics''. It is above all this feature of Greek civilization that has formed its most enduring legacy, spawning such key terms as aristocracy, oligarchy, tyranny and - last but by no means least - democracy. This stimulating Very Short Introduction to Ancient Greece takes the polis as its starting point. Paul Cartledge uses the history of eleven major Greek cities to illuminate the most important and informative themes in Ancient Greek history, from the first documented use of the Greek language around 1400 BCE, through the glories of the Classical and Hellenistic periods, to the foundation of the Byzantine empire in around CE 330. Covering everything from politics, trade, and travel to slavery, gender, religion, and philosophy, it provides the ideal concise introduction to the history and culture of this remarkable civilization that helped give birth to the world as we know it.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.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition Paul Cartledge, Cambridge don and doyen of Classicists, once again shows why he is the surest and most engaging guide tot he ancient world. 'Ancient Greece: A history in Eleven Cities' is a tremendously readable tour d'horizon that goes far beyond Athens and Sparta to explore the roots of Greek civilisation. * Justin Marozzi, Evening Standard *Paul Cartledge has here pulled off a remarkably clever feat of compression and organization, and will once again place very many readers in his debt. Brilliantly carried through. * Simon Hornblower, co-editor of ^iThe Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization^r *A wonderfully concise - and witty - introduction to an ever-popular subject. * Sir John Boardman, co-editor of ^iThe Oxford History of Greece and the Hellenistic World^r *A rare work, a compelling historical narrative that is also a useful guidebook * Peter Stothard, Wall Street Journal *Cartledge's success lies in his ability to negotiate a path between similarity and difference; with proper scholarly detachment, he stresses how different the Greeks were; with an eye to broader historical trajectories, he reflects on the grounds for their continuing fascination. * Tim Rood, Times Literary Supplement *A rare work, a compelling historical narrative. * Peter Stothard, Wall Street Journal *Thoroughly stimulating book. * Tom Holland, BBC History *Cartledge is master of his subject. * Peter Jones, Literary Review *Paul Cartledge... once again shows why he is the surest and most engaging guide to the ancient world. * Justin Marozzi, Evening Standard *A tremendously readable tour d'horizon that goes far beyond Athens and Sparta to explore the roots of Greek civilization. * Justin Marozzi, Evening Standard *There are many pleasures to be had along Cartledge's mind-broadening route through time and space. * Charlotte Higgins, The Guardian *Table of Contents1. Introduction ; 2. Knossos ; 3. Mycenae ; 4. Argos ; 5. Sparta ; 6. Massalia ; 7. Miletos ; 8. Athens ; 9. Thebes ; 10. Alexandria ; 11. Byzantium ; 12. Conclusion ; Preface ; Glossary ; Timeline

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Book SynopsisGeorge Orwell''s moving reflections on the English character and his passionate belief in the need for political change.The Lion and the Unicorn was written in London during the worst period of the blitz. It is vintage Orwell, a dynamic outline of his belief in socialism, patriotism and an English revolution. His fullest political statement, it has been described as ''one of the most moving and incisive portraits of the English character'' and is as relevant now as it ever has been.

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Book SynopsisTwenty years, a thousand pages, and now a single beautiful edition of Arundhati Roy''s complete non-fiction.''Arundhati Roy is one of the most confident and original thinkers of our time'' Naomi KleinMy Seditious Heart collects the work of a two-decade period when Arundhati Roy devoted herself to the political essay as a way of opening up space for justice, rights and freedoms in an increasingly hostile environment. Taken together, these essays trace her twenty year journey from the Booker Prize-winning The God of Small Things to the extraordinary The Ministry of Utmost Happiness: a journey marked by compassion, clarity and courage. Radical and readable, they speak always in defence of the collective, of the individual and of the land, in the face of the destructive logic of financial, social, religious, military and governmental elites.In constant conversation with the themes and settings of her novels, the essays form a neTrade Review'every page gifts you her far seeing, her calm and intelligent urgency, the wisdom and relief of her articulacy, her courage' * Ali Smith *Arundhati Roy is one of the most confident and original thinkers of our time -- Naomi KleinArundhati Roy calls for 'factual precision' alongside of the 'real precision of poetry.' Remarkably, she combines those achievements to a degree that few can hope to approach -- Noam ChomskyArundhati Roy combines her brilliant style as a novelist with her powerful commitment to social justice in producing these eloquent, penetrating essays -- Howard ZinnThe scale of what Roy surveys is staggering. Her pointed indictment is devastating * New York Times Book Review *Arundhati Roy is one of the few great revolutionary intellectuals in our time . . . courageous, visionary, and erudite -- Cornel WestHer incomparable divining rod picks up the cries of the despised and the oppressed in the most remote corners of the globe; it even picks up the cries of rivers and fish. With an unfailing charm and wit that makes her writing constantly enlivening to read, her analysis of our grotesque world is savagely clear, and yet her anger never obscures her awareness that beauty, joy, and pleasure can potentially be part of the life of human beings -- Wallace ShawnRoy is of course a consummate storyteller...[the essays] are thick with intelligence and firmly bolstered with fact. * The Observer *

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Book Synopsis''It will be read and re-read not as a treatise but as a story: one of the most extraordinary that has ever been written of the origins of Western self-consciousness'' Simon SchamaThe marriage of Cadmus and Harmony was the last time the gods of Olympus feasted alongside mortals. What happened in the distant ages preceding it, and in the generations that followed, form the timeless tales of ancient Greek mythology. In this masterful retelling of the myths we think we know, Roberto Calasso illuminates the deepest questions of our existence.''The kind of book one comes across only once or twice in one''s lifetime'' Joseph Brodsky''A perfect work like no other'' Gore VidalTrade ReviewSensuous, dazzlingly intelligent -- Lucy Hughes-Hallett * Sunday Times *The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony is a perfect work like no other -- Gore VidalA brilliant and profound narration -- A.S. ByattA masterpiece ... a wonderfully fashioned work of art -- John BanvilleCalasso has no equal in the sparkle of his storytelling and the depth of his learning -- Boyd Tonkin * Independent *Enlivening, enthralling, essential: a classic -- Peter Conrad * Observer *

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Book SynopsisUju Asika is the author of Bringing Up Race and speaks on topics such as intersectionality, anti-racist parenting and race at corporate and public events. Formerly a journalist, Uju has featured across mainstream media, including Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, Good Morning Sunday and Woman's Hour.

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Book SynopsisAn engaging, insightful and panoramic survey of where we are, why we got here and what it means. A brilliant guide to the most important technology of our times' Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI & Cofounder of DeepMind'For readers fascinated by the future of AI, this book is an eye-opening exploration of a revolution unfolding before our eyes' New York Journal of Books Stunning advances in digital technology have given us a new wave of disarmingly human-like AI systems. Chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini put the knowledge of all the world's experts at our fingertips, and can generate meaningful sentences, equations and computer code. The march of this new technology is set to upturn our economies, challenge our democracies, and refashion society in unpredictable ways. We can expect these AI systems to soon be making autonomous decisions on the user's behalf, with transformative impact on everything we do. It is vital we understand how they work. Can AI systems think', know' and understand'? Could they manipulate or deceive you, and if so, what might they make you do? Whose interests do they ultimately represent? And when will they be able to move beyond words and take actions for themselves in the real world?To answer these questions, neuroscientist and AI researcher Christopher Summerfield explains how these strange new minds work. He charts the evolution of AI, from the earliest inklings about thinking machines in the seventeenth century to today's gargantuan deep neural networks. The resulting book is the most accessible, up-to-date and authoritative exploration of this radical new technology. Ultimately, armed with an understanding of AI's mysterious inner workings, we can begin to grapple with the existential question of our age: can we look forward to a technological utopia, or are we in the process of writing ourselves out of history?As a leading authority in both computational neuroscience and the social impacts of AI, Christopher Summerfield is perfectly situated to explore the meaning and implications of these machines that are so uncannily like and unlike ourselves' Brian Christian, co-author of Algorithms to Live byAI expert Chris Summerfield takes us on a tour of this astonishing new technology, and helps us to understand the issues it raises. You might choose to be alarmed, excited, or indifferent to LLMs, but you should read Chris's book before you decide' Mike Woolridge, author of The Road to Conscious Machines

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Book Synopsis''The most compelling biography I have read in years . . . There has been a host of JFK biographies, but this one excels for its narrative drive, fine judgments and meticulous research . . . makes the story seem a cliffhanger even though we know what is coming'' Max Hastings, Sunday Times''In his utterly absorbingJFK, Fred Logevall reconstructs not only a great man, but also his entire age'' Brendan Simms, author of Hitler: A Global BiographyThe Pulitzer Prize-winning historian takes us as close as we have ever been to the real John F. Kennedy in this revelatory biography of the iconic, yet still elusive, thirty-fifth president.________________By the time of his assassination in 1963, John F. Kennedy stood at the helm of the greatest power the world had ever seen. Born in 1917 to a striving Irish American family that had become among Boston''s wealthiest, Kennedy knew political ambition from an early age, and his meteoric rise to become the youngest elected president cemented his status as one of the most mythologized figures in modern history.Beckoned by this gap in our historical knowledge, Harvard professor Fredrik Logevall has spent much of the last decade combing through material unseen or unused by previous biographers, searching for and piecing together the ''real'' John F. Kennedy -- resulting in a masterpiece that reviews have agreed will be the definitive work. This first volume of this sweeping two-part biography spans the first thirty-nine years of his life, revealing his early relationships, his formative and heroic experiences during World War II, and his deeply fascinating romance with Jackie Kennedy. In examining these pre-White House years, Logevall chronicles Kennedy''s extraordinary life and times with authority and novelistic sensibility, putting the reader in every room where it happened. This landmark work offers the clearest portrait we have of a remarkable figure who still inspires individuals around the world.________________''A riveting study of young JFK. Logevall has written a superb book.'' David Runciman, Guardian ''A brisk, authoritative, and candid biography, and a wonderfully compelling history of America''s heady and troubled mid-century rise'' Jill Lepore, author of These Truths: A History of the United States''[Fredrik Logevall] makes JFK as alive and compelling as if you were reading about him for the first time'' George Packer, author of The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America''A powerful, provocative, and above all compelling book'' Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-Winning author of The Soul of America''In this first volume of Fredrik Logevall''s definitive biography, JFK is all too engagingly and amiably human . . . I hope Logevall''s second volume will follow soon'' Peter Conrad, ObserverTrade ReviewThe most compelling biography I have read in years -- Max Hastings * Sunday Times *Excellent . . . shaping up to be the definitive account of JFK's life -- Daniel Finkelstein * The Times, Book of the Week *Magisterial . . . an essential read -- Margaret MacMillan, author of War: How Conflict Shaped UsHe makes JFK as alive and compelling as if you were reading about him for the first time -- George Packer, author of The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America and Our Man: Richard Holbrooke and the End of the American CenturyJFK is biography at its very best -- Andrew Preston * The Spectator *

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, March 2022''Inspiring insight from the world''s top coach...Goldsmith left me tingling from the journey of reflection I''d been taken on'' Bruce Daisley, author of The Joy of Work*********Our lives reside on a continuum that roams between ''fulfilment'' on the one end and ''regret'' at the other. Where would you place yourself right now? And where do think you should be?In his powerful new framework, the worlds'' number one executive coach Marshall Goldsmith explains that there are eight ''satisfactors'' that impact our position on the scale. These are happiness, meaning, purpose, achievement, engagement, relationships, health and wealth. And he shows how creating equivalence between (a) the choices, risks and effort made in pursuing the satisfactors and (b) the reward received for doing so, moves us towards fulfilment.Drawing on examples from his work coaching the CEOs o

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Book SynopsisA vigorous and timely defense of the state as a force for goodTrade Review“Graeme Garrard…assembles the moral, economic and political reasons why the world of the privatised and outsourced state is over…The title of this book comes as a timely reminder that The Return of the State is here already.”—Polly Toynbee, The Guardian“A masterpiece of analysis—systematically dismantling our current meaningless antiquated political vocabulary, and the fantasy that charities and civil society will bring us salvation. Garrard’s advocacy for the public interest state is convincing and compelling. What else might work for (or appeal to) the next generation?”—Danny Dorling, author of Slowdown“As a global pandemic continues to expose the deep problems with the modern state’s subordination to market forces, Graeme Garrard’s book offers us both an engaging history of how the social democratic welfare state came about and a timely case for the necessity of restraining private power.”—Luke Savage, Jacobin magazine

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Book SynopsisChristopher Hitchens's personally curated New York Times bestselling anthology of the most influential and important writings on atheism, including original pieces by Salman Rushdie and Ian McEwan

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Book SynopsisâœThis new edition of an indispensable textbookâ covers a huge range of topics illustrated by case studies and practical activities. It will enable schools to navigate through the complex challenges they meet on a daily basis, making education both inclusive and effective for all.âUta Frith, Emeritus Professor in Cognitive Development, University College London, UKâœThis updated edition of an already essential text is a must read for anyone with an interest in special educational needs, inclusion and diversity in education. It is thoroughly researched, accessibly written, and strikes the perfect balance between emphases on theory, research, policy and practice throughout.âNeil Humphrey, Sarah Fielden Professor of Psychology of Education, University of Manchester, UKSpecial Educational Needs, Inclusion and Diversity has established itself as the textbook on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This new edition retains

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Book SynopsisA compelling call to rediscover the transformative power of art in an age of distraction, coercion and spectacle - with a new introduction by Donna TarttIn Reclaiming Art in the Age of Artifice, J. F. Martel offers a compelling and incisive meditation on the nature of art in a world dominated by invasive media, rampant consumer culture, and artificial intelligence. Drawing on a wide range of examples, from Paleolithic cave art to contemporary cinema, Martel argues that true art reveals the unseen forces shaping our existence-forces that transcend politics, technology, and even culture. In contrast to artifice, which seeks to manipulate or distract, authentic art calls us back to the essence of things, opening rifts onto the sublime and the weird and reconnecting us with the radical mystery at the heart of the world.Featuring a foreword by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Donna Tartt, this edition also includes a new afterword by the author, reflecting on the continued relevance of art in our increasingly mediated world.

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Book SynopsisThis biography is a frank account of Charles Kennedy's political career that began in triumph and ended in tragedy.Trade Review'An excellent account of how a highly attractive and popular politician self-destructed' Andrew Rawnsley, The Observer; 'Greg Hurst's admirably thorough and even-handed account of Kennedy's career marshals evidence and is punctuated by shrewd, pithy judgements' Michael White, The Guardian

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Book SynopsisA compelling, fully illustrated account of the worldwide phenomenon of science fiction as depicted in film, literature and art, and the scientific advances and imagination behind it. Drawing on a wide range of examples from the literary and visual canons â short stories, novels, films, television programmes, video games, graphic novels, artworks and more â in both cult and popular culture, this extensively illustrated book examines how science fiction has provided a human response to science, exploring every reaction from complacency to exhilaration, and from hope to terror. Across five chapters this volume reviews the role played by science fiction in exploring our world and a multitude of ideas about our relationship with the human condition. This encompasses a fascinating range of themes â machines, travel, aliens (the Other), communication, threats and anxiety. Featuring a range of essays by experts on the subject as well as interviews with well-known science-fiction auTrade Review'An excellent guide to the importance of science fiction for complete beginners, and has plenty to interest the genre buff, or just the reader who has enjoyed science fiction on film but wants to explore the most resonant ideas and stories a bit more thoroughly' - The Arts Desk'A fascinating companion to the exhibition … very readable [and] colourfully illustrated' - Fortean Times'Stunningly illustrated' - Nature'Far from just a glossy tie-in to the exhibition, this book is a hugely ambitious attempt to show SF for what it is in 2022: the culturally dominant global literary and media form for an age of unprecedented social and scientific change' - Prospective Cultures'Excellent … definitely one for the school library regardless of any visit' - Schools Week'This sumptuous work features interviews with prominent thinkers, wonderful artwork and a gallop through sci-fi’s key works of literature, films and inventions. A timely reminder of how the genre has the power to provoke and prompt thought' - Teach SecondaryTable of ContentsForeword Introduction by Glyn Morgan People and Machines People as Machines / Machine People, Sherryl Vint In the Loop: Reordering Human–Technology Relations, Colin Milburn Interview, Ken Liu Travelling the Cosmos Prototyping the Future: Spaceflight as screen spectacle, Richard Dunn Beyond the Solar System, Rachael Livermore Interview, Charlie Jane Anders Communication and Language Communications, Roger Luckhurst A Century of Science Fiction from Around the World, Rachel Cordasco Interview, Vandana Singh Aliens and Alienation Alien Speculation: Science, Fiction and the Future, Amanda Rees Infinite Variation, Glyn Morgan Interview, Tade Thompson Anxieties and Hopes Science Fiction in the Atomic Age, Daniel Cordle Climate in Science Fiction, Caroline Edwards Interview, Kim Stanley Robinson

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Book SynopsisOne of four titles in Thames & Hudson's innovative new Big Idea' series, this book explores and interrogates each form of democracy and questions whether it remains fit for purpose today.Trade Review'A kind of choose-your-own-adventure using fonts: paragraphs are set in type of differing sizes depending on their importance' - The BooksellerTable of ContentsIntroduction • 1. The Evolution of Democracy • 2. How Democracy Works • 3. The Limits of Democracy • 4. The Challenge to Democracy • Conclusion

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Book SynopsisAn optimistic look at the future of American leadership where a new generation is stepping up.

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Book SynopsisAn Economist BEST BOOK OF THE YEARAs the data economy grows in power, Carissa Véliz exposes how our privacy is eroded by big tech and governments, why that matters and what we can do about it.The moment you check your phone in the morning you are giving away your data. Before you''ve even switched off your alarm, a whole host of organisations have been alerted to when you woke up, where you slept, and with whom. As you check the weather, scroll through your ''suggested friends'' on Facebook, you continually compromise your privacy.Without your permission, or even your awareness, tech companies are harvesting your information, your location, your likes, your habits, and sharing it amongst themselves. They''re not just selling your data. They''re selling the power to influence you. Even when you''ve explicitly asked them not to. And it''s not just you. It''s all your contacts too.Digital technology is stealing oTrade ReviewA bracing call to arms to fight back against digital surveillance before it is too late. If you're one of those readers who gave up before getting to the end of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, Shoshama Zoboff's academic doorstopper, this is a good place to start. -- Richard Waters * Financial Times *I have read a *lot* of books on privacy and the surveillance economy. This is the best I've ever found. Lovely clear writing backed by an Oxford don's intellectual firepower. Could not recommend it more. * Barton Gellman, Author of Dark Mirror *An essential guide to one of the most pressing modern issues. * Hannah Fry, author of Hello World *An Economist BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: galvanises an important conversation. * Economist *We didn't see digital surveillance coming, but today it's threatening democracy and basic freedoms. If you want to understand why privacy matters more than ever before, and how we can preserve it in an age of data grabbing, read this book. * Nigel Warburton, author of A Little History of Philosophy *Powerful -- Will Hutton * Observer *A forceful call for us to tame the data economy by reclaiming our privacy ... and our power. * Jonathan Zittrain, author of The Future of the Internet *Privacy is Power is an intelligent, persuasive and disquieting manifesto for taking back control of our data. -- Cathleen Mair * The Idler *In this bold, original, and engaging book, Carissa Véliz makes a compelling case for the revolutionary goal of reclaiming privacy from the grip of a destructive data economy. While many have lamented the ills of surveillance capitalism, Véliz's courageous manifesto paves a clear path for regaining power--taking back our ill-gotten information from tech companies and data brokers and reinvigorating democracy in the process. * Evan Selinger, Professor of Philosophy, Rochester Institute of Technology and co-author of The Cambridge Handbook of Consumer Privacy *How much does it matter that every day we unwittingly hand over more and more of our personal data to internet giants? In this smart, stylishly written, and alarming volume Carissa Veliz argues that it matters a great deal and that we don't have to put up with it. Essential reading for those of us who click 'agree' ten times a day. * Jonathan Wolff, author of An Introduction to Moral Philosophy *

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Book SynopsisThe author of the international bestsellers Anatomy of the Spirit and Why People Don''t Heal and How they Can presents an exciting, highly original programme in this fascinating book. As a medical intuitive, Myss has found that people generally don''t understand their purpose in life, which has led to a spiritual malaise of epidemic proportions. This metaphysical disease in turn leads to depression, anxiety, fatigue and eventually, physical illness. But our purpose - our individual Sacred Contract - is often difficult to comprehend. Caroline Myss has developed an enjoyable and ingenious process for deciphering your own Contract that builds on the works of Jung, Plato and contemporary thinkers. With her signature motivational style, Myss explains how you can identify your own spiritual energies, or archetypes, and use them to help you find out what you are here on earth to learn and whom you are meant to meet. In coming to know your archetypal companions, you wiTrade ReviewCaroline Myss has weaved her magic spell once more -- MARIANNE WILLIAMSON, author of A Return to LoveCaroline has done it again. With her brilliant writing style she is forging ahead to a new frontier of spirituality -- SYLVIA BROWNE, author of The Other Side and Back

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Book SynopsisA provocative and rousing insight into European politics from one of the world's greatest writers. 'One of his most powerful works.' Financial Times'A pan-European intellectual force.' TimesIn a moment of historic peril and uncertainty in mainland Europe, Milan Kundera makes the case for Central Europe as the nucleus of European values and as a lightning rod for its potential dangers. For the countries that make up this region where democracy is under continued threat from Russian oppression, language and culture play an active role in affirming national identity. And each of these countries - Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia - has been historically overlooked by the major powers of Western Europe. But Kundera cautions that this blindness puts Europe's cultural and political independence at risk, a warning that feels increasingly relevant to our current moment, and our future.

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

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