Popular beliefs Books

Book SynopsisClancy argues that abductees are sane, intelligent people who have unwittingly created vivid false memories from a mélange of nightmares, culturally available texts, and a drive for meaning that science is unable to satisfy. This book is not only a subtle exploration of the workings of memory, but a sensitive inquiry into the nature of belief.Trade ReviewAbducted is an enormously brave, smart, original book. Susan Clancy's innovative study of why and how people come to believe that they've been abducted by aliens has become a gripping read, with keen insight into the emotional and spiritual lives of the 'abductees'--and how easy it is for anyone to remember things that never happened. -- Elizabeth Loftus, past president of the American Psychological Society and author of Eyewitness TestimonyTwenty years ago I was abducted by aliens, or so I thought at the time. Actually, I had just gone without sleep for 83 hours. Now at last Abducted--brilliant, humane, and funny--gives a scientific explanation for how the mind concocts such remarkable experiences as being probed and impregnated by aliens, visiting the mother ship, or traveling to distant planets. Writing with sympathy and understanding for the abductees, Susan Clancy delves into their stories to offer a superb contribution to our understanding of human memory, mental anomalies, and how the mind works. -- Michael Shermer, editor of Skeptic Magazine, and author of Why People Believe Weird ThingsSusan Clancy's book bursts out of the chute right on page one and keeps going at full gallop until the end. It's fabulous! Anyone who thinks that scientists are cold and uncompassionate, or that people who believe they have been abducted by aliens are plain loony, should read this book. With warmth, humor, empathy and eloquence, Clancy illuminates the soul of science--and shows why everyone resists its revelations if they challenge our deepest beliefs. -- Carol Tavris, author of The Mismeasure of Woman and Psychobabble and Biobunk: Using Psychology to Think Critically About Issues in the NewsSusan Clancy's provocative study of the abductee population offers a thoughtful perspective on the spiritual and psychological elements of abduction stories--and is so entertaining that it reads like a novel. -- Elaine Showalter, Professor Emeritus at Princeton University and author of Hystories[Clancy] provide[s] a discussion of current research into memory, emotion and culture that renders abduction stories understandable, if not believable. Although it focuses on abduction memories, the book hints at a larger ambition, to explain the psychology of transformative experiences, whether supposed abductions, conversions or divine visitations. -- Benedict Carey * New York Times *If you're going to read just one book about alien abductions, make it this one. And if you think alien abduction stories aren't worth considering seriously, Clancy will convince you otherwise...Clancy offers an intelligent and compassionate look at people whose 'weird' belief usually elicits derision, and argues convincingly for the need to look deeper into its significance. * Publishers Weekly *Having interviewed dozens of abductees, and found them likeable and honest, Clancy writes about them with compassionate but sceptical understanding...Clancy believes her subjects only in the sense that she believes they think they are telling the truth. And she doesn't abandon her sense of humour. She asks why mentally superior aliens haven't anything better to do than hang around North America stealing our genes. -- Robert Fulford * National Post *In this informal and entertaining report on her research, Clancy shows that the group of abductees she studied in 2002 were more likely to create false memories in the lab and scored high on measures of fantasy-proneness and schizotypy (personality characteristics that include perceptual aberrations and magical thinking). Despite these traits, with one or two exceptions her subjects were what society classifies as normal. She speculates that an abduction memory, though horrific, is ultimately a religious experience that incorporates contact with a higher power, a convenient narrative that provides an explanation for odd personal episodes, and a transformative event that offers a meaning for human existence. -- George Eberhart * Booklist *[A] slim but engaging volume...Believers and sceptics alike have much to learn from this work. -- Stefan Beck * Fortean Times *[Clancy] describes not only what she has learned about the psychology of this bizarre phenomenon but also what she has learned about herself carrying out her research. Her book is a delight. -- Chris French * New Scientist *In this remarkable study of people who believe they've been carried off by little green men, Clancy's subjects are memory, personality and truth as each individual experiences it. Even if the idea of alien abduction is absurd, you will find her work fascinating and revealing. -- Clare McHugh * Baltimore Sun *The study of this belief [that one has been abducted by aliens], unshakable in most cases, leads Ms. Clancy to make some compelling observations about recovered memory, fear, science, faith, reason, the human condition and, inevitably, aliens...Alien abduction is clearly a maddening phenomenon. Nevertheless, Ms. Clancy soldiered on--for the benefit of science, the subjects and now her readers. And apart from some brisk and debatable observations about religion that pop up at the end, she has done all a service. This book is something else. -- Carol Herman * Washington Times *[A] snappy study. -- Amanda Heller * Boston Globe *Clancy is a skeptic who mounts a strong case for terrestrial rather than extraterrestrial explanations, but she does so while maintaining a steadfast compassion for her subjects. The story is told with great humor, often at the author's expense as she finds herself in unlikely predicaments. Despite these lighter moments, Clancy never loses sight of the serious questions raised by the alien abduction phenomenon, nor does she waver in her respect for the abductees. Having concluded that these people are not dismissible as ignorant or crazy, she is left with a more unsettling truth: under the right circumstances, normal people can come to hold very bizarre beliefs...Susan Clancy's study of alien abductees is a natural experiment that explores the outer limits of human belief and serves as a useful reminder of the importance of scientific thinking. -- Stuart Vyse * Science *This intriguing book should appeal to the 85 percent of Americans who believe in ET, while the rest of us will find it equally fascinating that ordinary people can believe such extraordinary things. -- Ros Smith * Charleston Post and Courier *Clancy focuses not on whether her subjects were actually abducted but on why they believe they were. * Science News *If one reads only one book on the subject of alien abductions and nighttime visits from extraterrestrials, it should probably be Abducted. Susan Clancy, a Harvard psychologist with the understanding ear of a bartender and the clear eye of a scientist, treats the subject frankly, fearlessly, intelligently, honestly and sometimes humorously. She avoids both the hysteria of believers out to prove that aliens visit our planet and the dismissiveness of skeptics who know they don't. -- Alcestis Oberg * Houston Chronicle *[An] engaging book...It provides fascinating accounts of the way abductees use evidence in their reasoning, the effects of relaxation therapy and hypnosis in creating false memories and the importance of TV shows, films and books in creating the myth of the grey alien...Clancy writes in an easy-going and engaging way, describing the processes and the ups and downs of her research as well as her findings. This is a fun, readable and informative book that helps explain how and why alien abduction has become such a powerful myth. -- Susan Blackmore * Times Higher Education Supplement *This fascinating book takes a respectful stance with those who believe they were abducted and attempts to understand their experience through thoughtful analysis. In doing so, Clancy brings a needed scientific perspective to a subject that is usually the domain of tabloids and science fiction dramas. -- Robin A. Chapman * American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis *In Abducted, [Clancy] describes how patients with a variety of vague and confusing symptoms, such as recurrent nightmares and sleep paralysis, found reports of alien abduction an interesting possible explanation for their troubles and were brought to believe in it through treatments that included hypnosis. Many of these patients, it turned out, were pleased by what they came to believe. Being abducted by aliens, they thought, meant that they were “chosen” or “privileged” as human representatives. -- Paul McHugh * Wall Street Journal *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. How Do You Wind Up Studying Aliens? 2. How Do People Come To Believe They Were Abducted by Aliens? 3. Why Do I Have Memories If It Didn't Happen? 4. Why Are Abduction Stories So Consistent? 5. Who Gets Abducted? 6. If It Didn't Happen, Why Would I Want To Believe It Did? Notes Index

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Book SynopsisExplores the social concerns of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and the transgendered - what has come to be known as 'lgbt' or 'queer' politics. This book offers the an overview of the study of lgbt politics in political science across the discipline's main subfields and methodologies, and it spotlights lgbt movements in many regions around the world.Trade Review"Sexual Identities, Queer Politics enrich[es] both this specialized field and the study of politics as a whole."--Anna Marie Smith, Political TheoryTable of ContentsACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii INTRODUCTION Sexual Identities, Queer Politics, and the Status of Knowledge by Mark Blasius 3 PART ONE: COMPARATIVE AND INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES 21 ONE The Structuring of Sexual Minority Activist Opportunities in the Political Mainstream: Britain, Canada, and the United States by David Rayside 23 TWO Identity Politics in France and the Netherlands: The Case of Gay and Lesbian Liberation by Jan-Willem Duyvendak 56 THREE Lesbian-Feminist Activism and Latin American Feminist Encuentros by Juanita Diaz-Cotto 73 FOUR Global Gaze/Global Gays by Dennis Altman 96 FIVE Sexual Rights: Inventing a Concept, Mapping an International Practice by Rosalind Pollack Petchesky 118 PART TWO: POLITICALLY THEORIZING HOMOSEXUALITY 141 SIX An Ethos of Lesbian and Gay Existence by Mark Blasius 143 SEVEN Queer Theory, Lesbian and Gay Rights, and Transsexual Marriages by Paisley Currah 178 EIGHT Punks, Bulldaggers, and Welfare Queens: The Radical Potential of Queer Politics? By Cathy J. Cohen 200 PART THREE: SEXUAL-IDENTITY POLITICS IN THE UNITED STATES 229 NINE Sexual Identity and Urban Space: Economic Structure and Political Action by Robert W Bailey 231 TEN Beyond Gay Rights Litigation: Using a Systemic Strategy to Effect Political Change in the United States by Rebecca Mae Salokar 256 ELEVEN Splitting Images: The Nightly Network News and the Politics of the Lesbian and Gay Movement, 1969-1978 by Timothy E. Cook and Bevin Hartnett 286 PART FOUR: SEXUALITY AND THE POLITICS OF KNOWLEDGE 319 TWELVE "Outing" Alain L. Locke: Empowering the Silenced by Leonard Harns 321 THIRTEEN Lesbians and Gays and the Politics of Knowledge: Rethinking General Models of Mass Opinion Change by Alan S. Yang 342 FOURTEEN Lesbian and Gay Think Tanks: Thinking for Success by M. V Lee Badgett 359 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS AND AFFILIATIONS 377 NOTES ON THE CONTRIBUTORS 379

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Book SynopsisWhy, wonders Thomas Bullard, don't persistent UFO sightings command more urgent attention from scientists, scholars, and mainstream journalists? The answer, in part, lies in Bullard's wide-ranging magisterial survey of the mysterious, frustrating, and ever-evolving phenomenon that refuses to go away and our collective efforts to understand it.

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Book Synopsis' Magic and witchcraft, the fear of daemons and ghosts, the wish to manipulate invisible powers-all of this was very much a part of their lives.Trade ReviewThis lengthy volume contains wide-ranging samples of material from literature, philosophy, and real-life practitioners of magic... There is immense food for thought here in many aspects of the field. American Journal of Philology A 'must' for mythology courses and the classical civilization curriculum! Classical Outlook An excellent work. It will rapidly and deservedly become one of the standard works on magic and the occult in the Greek and Roman worlds. Ancient Philosophy An excellent translation of ancient texts on the subject, but it's a lot more than that. It's a glimpse into the minds of the everyday people of the times and what made them turn, what made them stop, what made them look over their shoulders. Courier-Gazette, Rockland, Maine An indispensable guide. -- Bradford Lee Eden Classical Bulletin 2006 No one currently at work in ancient magic or related fields can remotely compare with Luck for the breadth and profundity of his knowledge of the literary texts... or for the humility and lightness of touch with which he conveys his scholarship. -- Daniel Ogden Magic, Ritual, and WitchcraftTable of ContentsList of TextsPrefaceList of AbbreviationsGeneral Introduction: Exploring Ancient Magic1. MagicIntroductionTexts2. MiraclesIntroductionTexts3. DaemonologyIntroductionTexts4. DivinationIntroductionTexts5. AstrologyIntroductionTexts6. AlchemyIntroductionTextsEpilogue: The Survival of Pagan MagicAppendix: Psychoactive Substances in Religion and MagicVocabula MagicaSelect BibliographyIndex of Ancient SourcesGeneral Index

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Book SynopsisThis work examines the mysterious death of Jane Stanford, the co-founder of Stanford University who died in 1905 - shortly after recovering from strychnine poisoning. At the time the University President, David Starr Jordan, claimed she died from heart disease, a claim this book refutes.Trade Review"The Mysterious Death of Jane Stanford is a well researched, fascinating read. Cutler makes a strong case for rethinking the official cause given for Jane Stanford's death—heart disease. Cutler shows why physicians of the time were convinced by their diagnosis, how the coroner reached his verdict, and when the local detectives dropped their pursuit of the possible suspect. And he persuasively argues that they were all wrong." -- Boyd G. Stephens, M.D., Chief Medical Examiner * San Francisco *"The Mysterious Death of Jane Stanford, a graceful little hardcover that many say lays out the facts of the poisoning—and the subsequent spin-job—with such medical expertise and detail as to be irrefutable." -- Lee Romney * Los Angeles Times *Table of ContentsContents Preface ix Introduction: The Founding of Leland Stanford Junior University 1 Part I 1 The Death of Mrs. Stanford 9 Picnic at the Pali, 9--Moana Hotel, February 28, 1905, 11--Securing the Evidence, 15--The Autopsy, 16 2 The Poland Water Poisoning 20 Nob Hill, January 14, 1905, 20--The Harry Morse De- tective and Patrol Agency, 22 3 The Police Investigation 26 Shocking News Reaches San Francisco 26--Sheriff Henry's Confusing Cablegram 27--Witnesses Interrogated, 28--Experts Voice Opinions, 30--Mrs. Stanford's Spiritualism, 31--Julian Hawthorne's Theory, 24 4 The Honolulu Inquest 34 Eyewitness Testimony, 34--The Toxicologists' Testi- mony, 38--The Question of Suicide, 43--The Jury's Verdict, 45 5 The Stanford Party in Honolulu 46 Captain Callundan Investigates, 46--Dr. Waterhouse Con- tacted, 47--Dr. Waterhouse's Opinion, 49--Dr. Water- house's Limitations, 52--Dr. Jordan's Conclusion 54--The Attending Physicians' Response 56 Part II 6 The Stanford Party Returns Home 61 Dr. Jordan and Captain Callundan Meet the Press 61--Dr. Jordan's Strychnine Theory 64--Dr. Humphris's Pique, 65-- Dr. Shorey's Position 66--Dr. Waterhouse Confronted 67 7 Bolstering Dr. Jordan's Diagnosis 70 No Poison Found, 70--The Ophuls Report, 71--Dr. Waterhouse Exposed, 73--Dr. Jordan's Conspiracy Theory, 75 8 The Cases of Shorey and Humphris 79 Jared Smith's Charges, 79--Dr. Shorey Accused of Fraud, 80--Dr. Jordan's Charges, 82--Dr. Humphris in Honolulu, 83--Dr. Humphris in London, 85 9 The Other Physicians 88 Dr. Harry Murray, 88--Dr. Francis Day and Dr. John Pratt, 89--Dr. Clifford Wood, 90--Dr. Ernest Water- house, 91 Part III 10 Perpetuating the Myth 97 11 Summing Up 102 Case Closed 102--Dr. Jordan's Cover-Up 103-- Appendix 1. Dr. Shorey and the Experiment Station 111 Appendix 2. The "Ross Affair" 114 Appendix 3. Professor Julius Goebel 122 Notes 129 Select Bibliography 149 Index 157 14 pages of photographs follow page 60 Library of Congress Subject Headings for this publication: Stanford, Jane Lathrop, 1828-1905, Murder Hawaii Honolulu History Case studies, Poisoning Hawaii Honolulu History Case studies

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewCharlier deftly incorporates complex medical terminology with the voice of a storyteller." - Forbes

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Book SynopsisPhilippe Charlier, the ""Indiana Jones of the graveyards"", travels the globe with his forensics team to unravel historic mysteries. Exploring how our ancestors lived and how they died, the forty cases in this book tackle some of history's most enduring questions and illustrate the power of science to reveal the secrets of the past.Trade ReviewCharlier deftly incorporates complex medical terminology with the voice of a storyteller." - Forbes

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Book SynopsisThis unforgettable book will make you laugh as it unveils the crazy world of Nonscience, the dodgy descendant of science. It will make your toes curl as it shows how the Experts are taking over every aspect of our lives. Nobody understands the rules for COVID-19 because Experts have confused everyone. And there is false news everywhere. No, the Amazon is not the lungs of the world, it doesn''t produce our oxygen. Paper bags in supermarkets are worse than plastic; producing paper causes far more pollution. Are you giving up your fried breakfast for a healthy quiche? Don''t-the quiche is more likely to harm you. Japan is introducing clean cars, powered by hydrogen, but this remarkable book reveals that the powerplant producing the fuel is the filthiest in the world. Why is every major TV station promoting a bake-off show? Those recipes-with sugar, cream, fat, and carbohydrate-cause more disease than anything else we eat. You send kids to university to train their brains, but they go beca

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Book SynopsisWhy the public has lost faith in government and how it can be restored In 1964, over three-quarters of Americans trusted the federal government to do the right thing all or most of the time. By 1980, that number had plummeted to 26 percent, and Ronald Reagan won a sweeping victory for the presidency while proclaiming that government was not the solution to our problems but was itself the problem. Today, Americans' trust in public institutions is at near historic lows and bureaucracy and big government are pejorative terms. In Rebuilding Expertise, William D. Araiza investigates the sources of this phenomenon and explains how we might rebuild trust in our public institutions. Written in accessible and engaging language, the author examines the history of this deterioration of trust and reveals how politicians from Clinton to Trump have allowed that deterioration to continue, and, in some cases, actively encouraged it. Using an interdisciplinary approach, with insights from history, pTrade Review"Rebuilding Expertise synthesizes decades worth of history, policy, and law to illustrate how weakening faith in government has been going on for decades and is not simply a Trump phenomenon. Timely, accessible, and thoroughly engaging; this book is a must read." -- Wendy E. Wagner, Richard Dale Endowed Chair in Law, the University of Texas at Austin"Rebuilding Expertise offers a terrific exploration of the federal government, and is a must-read for laypersons and scholars alike. It is remarkably sweeping, providing colorful and keen insight into how the government has functioned under several presidents from Reagan through Trump. Araiza’s detailed exposition illustrates clearly that the increasing interest in deregulation from politicians and the American public alike stems from a fundamental lack of trust in the government. Moreover, the book’s central contention that this trust, and the government itself, can be rehabilitated by reinvigorating administrative expertise, is a meaningful response to the problems of competence and polarization faced by the US today. Ultimately, Araiza’s prescription—that the bureaucracy be accorded expansive power and wide berth—is controversial, but may very well be the key to improving both the effectiveness and legitimacy of the administrative state. I highly recommend this book!" -- Bijal Shah, Visiting Professor of Law, UC Berkeley School of Law, and Associate Professor of Law, Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law"Araiza does a masterful job at making the complex and interwoven causes of the decline in public trust accessible and engaging. Rebuilding Expertise is essential reading for those invested in understanding the many complex forces that have led us to this current moment in history." -- Sidney Shapiro, Frank U. Fletcher Chair in Administrative Law, Wake Forest University

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Book SynopsisThis unique and innovative text provides undergraduate students with tools to think sociologically through the lens of everyday life. Normative social organization and taken for granted beliefs and actions are exposed as key mechanisms of power and social inequality in western societies today. By "unpacking the centre" students are encouraged to turn their social worlds inside out and explore alternatives to the dominant social order.The text is divided into three parts. In Part One students learn how to use theory and methodology, which are blended seamlessly throughout the text. It shows how to position Michel Foucault as a companion to theorists such as Karl Marx and Stuart Hall, while signaling the importance of non-western and Indigenous knowledges, experiences, and rights. In Part Two, students explore – and challenge – normativity; the normal body, heterosexuality, whiteness, the two-gender system, aging, and the under-side of citizenship. In Part Three, Table of ContentsPreface Introduction: Unpacking the Centre Part One: Foundations 1. Thinking about Power Deborah Brock, York University 2. Assembling Our Toolkit Andrea Noack, Ryerson University and Aryn Martin, York University Part Two: The Centre, Normalization, and Power 3. Fashioning the Normal Body Anne McGuire, University of Toronto and Kelly Fritsch, Carleton University 4. Trans/Gender Dan Irving, Carleton University 5. Thinking "Straight" Alix Holtby, York University 6. Whiteness Invented Melanie Knight, Ryerson University 7. Being "Middle Class" Mark P. Thomas, York University 8. Growing Up, Growing Old Rebecca Raby, Brock University 9. Citizenship and Borders Nandita Sharma, University of Hawaii at Manoa Part Three: Everyday Practices 10. Science and the "Matter" of Power Aryn Martin, York University 11. Are You "Normal"? Heidi Rimke, University of Winnipeg and Deborah Brock, York University 12. Going Shopping: The Politics of Everyday Consumption Dennis Soron, Brock University 13. Are You Financially Fit? Mary Beth Raddon, Brock University 14. Let’s Get a Coffee Gavin Fridell, Saint Mary’s University and Erika Koss, Saint Mary’s University 15. Indigenous Youth: Representing Themselves Margot Francis, Brock University 16. Being a Tourist Gada Mahrouse, Concordia University Conclusion

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Book SynopsisRather than view social inequality as a problem for marginalized populations, Power and Everyday Practices turns the spotlight on the ways power and privilege are produced and reproduced in our everyday worldsTable of ContentsPreface Introduction: Unpacking the Centre Part One: Foundations 1. Thinking about Power Deborah Brock, York University 2. Assembling Our Toolkit Andrea Noack, Ryerson University and Aryn Martin, York University Part Two: The Centre, Normalization, and Power 3. Fashioning the Normal Body Anne McGuire, University of Toronto and Kelly Fritsch, Carleton University 4. Trans/Gender Dan Irving, Carleton University 5. Thinking "Straight" Alix Holtby, York University 6. Whiteness Invented Melanie Knight, Ryerson University 7. Being "Middle Class" Mark P. Thomas, York University 8. Growing Up, Growing Old Rebecca Raby, Brock University 9. Citizenship and Borders Nandita Sharma, University of Hawaii at Manoa Part Three: Everyday Practices 10. Science and the "Matter" of Power Aryn Martin, York University 11. Are You "Normal"? Heidi Rimke, University of Winnipeg and Deborah Brock, York University 12. Going Shopping: The Politics of Everyday Consumption Dennis Soron, Brock University 13. Are You Financially Fit? Mary Beth Raddon, Brock University 14. Let’s Get a Coffee Gavin Fridell, Saint Mary’s University and Erika Koss, Saint Mary’s University 15. Indigenous Youth: Representing Themselves Margot Francis, Brock University 16. Being a Tourist Gada Mahrouse, Concordia University Conclusion

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Book SynopsisIn this original and timely assessment of cultural expressions of paranoia in contemporary Russia, Eliot Borenstein samples popular fiction, movies, television shows, public political pronouncements, internet discussions, blogs, and religious tracts to build a sense of the deep historical and cultural roots of konspirologiia that run through...Trade ReviewA fascinating book written with self-awareness and humility, which only lends greater credibility to his arguments overall. * Choice *He offers close readings of how conspiracy manifests itself in Russian popular as well as political culture. In doing so, he pushes our understanding of how conspiracy has transcended the paranoid fringe and become widely accepted as credible. * East-West Review *A study that both answers a number of questions about the post-Soviet Russian public sphere and signals other possible ways to interrogate its workings. As such, it should be read by all specialists in contemporary Russian culture.... Borenstein's text is so well written and entertaining that it will easily hold the attention of undergraduate students of post-Soviet Russian culture, history, and politics. * Russian Review *Written with irony and wit, Eliot Borenstein's Plots Against Russia analyzes Russian national myths and disturbingly popular beliefs in the internet age. Borenstein's tour of the darker side of Russian internet, popular fiction, television, and movies, where conspiracy theories flourish with baroque profusion, opens a window onto the engaging and terrifying landscape of contemporary Russian fantasy. * Citation from the 2020 Wayne S. Vucinich Book Prize Committee *Brilliantly written and captivating, sometimes very funny as well as academically well-grounded, Borenstein's monograph provides an in-depth analysis of Russian contemporary conspiratorial culture. It will undoubtedly be useful for scholars dealing with post-Soviet Russia within disciplines such as cultural, literary and media studies, and should not be overlooked by historians, political scientists and sociologists, as the phenomena it describes are crucial for better understanding the political landscape of present-day Russia. * Europe-Asia Studies *Eliot Borenstein has contributed a rich and insightful study of conspiratorial narra-tives in Russian films, media, and fiction to the growing scholarly field of post-Soviet conspiracy theory[...]describing how these narratives function to construct conceptions of Russia's state-hood, identity, and destiny.Borenstein also provides a sophisticated, critical, and productive discussion and further development of theo-ries on conspiratorial thinking that could be applied to conspiracy narratives outside of Russia. It makes for an insightful and often entertaining read. * Laboratorium *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Introduction: Russia as an Imaginary Country 1. Conspiracy and Paranoia: The Psychopathology of Everyday Speech 2. Ruining Russia: Conspiracy, Apocalypse, and Melodrama 3. Lost Horizons: Russophobia, Sovereignty, and the Politics of Identity 4. One Hundred Years of Sodom: Dystopian Liberalism and the Fear of a Queer Planet 5. The Talking Dead: Articulating the Zombified Subject under Putin 6. Words of Warcraft: Manufacturing Dissent in Russian and Ukraine Conclusion: Making Russia Great Again Notes Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisWhat's a gal to do when her loaded lover is getting to be a nuisance? Why, just murder him and take all his money, of course. If you want to be fabulously single with tons of cash, just follow the lead of the beautiful and conniving Minnie Wallace Walkup Ketcham, who left a trail of broken hearts, empty wallets, and corpses.Minnie was just 16 when she stood trial in 1885 for the wrongful death of her first husband, a successful businessman and politician almost 40 years her senior. Despite overwhelming witness testimony that the Creole beauty from New Orleans had purchased the arsenic that killed him, Minnie's own testimony brought the entire courtroom to tears. She was acquitted. Minnie returned to New Orleans with James Walkup's fortune, life insurance, Civil War pension, and all the expensive clothes she had shipped home before he even died.Minnie still didn't have enough cash for her liking, so she successfully targeted, seduced, and murdered two more wealthy older men while evading justice in the courtroom (and escaping her lawyer's fees, too). How to Murder Your Three Lovers and Get Away with It is an extraordinary and off-the-wall true story of intrigue, scandal, and murder.Trade Review"How to Murder Your Wealthy Lovers and Get Away With Itis in the historical true crime genre, but it is full of improbable turns and twists (to say nothing of trysts) that no author would dare include in a work of fiction. Minnie Wallace Walkup Ketcham's criminal career as an unsung triple murderess and black widow—some of it in her own words—is told in rich detail and with pleasingly dark wit."—Keven McQueen, author of Horror in the Heartland and Creepy California"Jane Simon Ammeson has unearthed the fascinatingtrue story of 19th century femme fatale and psychopath, Minnie Wallace. Part brilliantly researchedhistory, part pure entertainment, this chilling tale of Minnie'sreign of terror from the brothels of New Orleans, to the echelons of Chicago's high society, is proof that truth is stranger than fiction."—Susan O'Bryan, Advisory Board, Aspen Words"A compelling and entertaining reminder that history is always with us. And sometimes all around us. A great guide to one of America's most thrilling true stories."—Mike Flannery, political editor, FOX 32 News ChicagoTable of ContentsPrologue1. True Love Never Runs Smooth: The Death of a New Groom2. There is a House in New Orleans3. Don't Cry for Me, Emporia4. Pardon My Dust: Nonstop to Nowhere5. The Company She Keeps6. Moving On Up: In Which Josephine Captures and Loses a Prince7. Blood Money Squandered: The Necessity of Catching Mr. Ketcham8. The Importance of Keeping Mr. Ketcham – and His Money9. Of Plum Jam, Champagne, Wills, Unpaid Bills, and the Final Death That We Know OfEpilogue: The Final Love?Bibliography

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Book SynopsisOn the morning of April 29, 1992, Exxon International president, Sidney J. Reso, left his home for the office. He stepped out to pick up the newspaper at the end of his drive as he did every morning. A van screeched to a stop and a large man wearing a ski mask and wielding a .45-caliber pistol leaped from the vehicle and grabbed Reso, shoving him into the back of the van. The female driver sped away. No one saw or heard anything, sparking the largest kidnapping investigation in US history since Patty Hearst’s abduction.

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Book SynopsisAre the marketing men of the world deluding us? Can we believe all that we hear and see? Or are we deluding ourselves? How many of us are truly happy? This book is the result of an awakening. It is the same awakening to the self and to the wonder of the cosmos that has driven thinking men and women for generations. It is the same awakening that has been the generative cause of the affect of religion and belief. It is the same awakening that has then caused man to revolt against the same. Delusion is a human phenomenon and it is the cause of almost every problem mankind has created. This book is an attempt to explain the processes of delusion and in so-doing we find answers to some of the biggest mysteries: Alien abduction and UFO's ghosts and the paranormal, marketing, propaganda and religious, and mind control of the masses. Is mankind ready for truth? Not only is it out there, it's been waiting for us.Trade Review"An enjoyable read, and I learned a lot about marketing and the unexpected influence of human instinct in our decision-making." Andy Lloyd; "Delusion is a read that is almost like a double-edged sword. While Gardiner tackles the notion of how we are inundated with messages that leave us somewhat deluded, I was left with the feeling we are dummies. However, personally I think I am indeed an intelligent person who can see-through the veil of delusions, subliminal marketing, fairytale propaganda and so on. It is a clever book with clever notions and worthy of a read. Keep in mind - your mind - and keep your mind." Deborah K Bates

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Book SynopsisThis anthology offers wide-ranging views by various global experts about the end of the Mayan calendar in 2012, as well as related prophecies and associated physical changes of Earth's structure. The purpose of this collection is to broaden your perspective about such issues and concerns, so you can discern for yourself what your commitment to planetary life will be-and then to demonstrate your commitment into being, beginning this very instant.

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Book SynopsisThe first full-scale sociological survey of the assimilation of minorities in America, this classic work presents significant conclusions about the problems of prejudice and discrimination in America and offers positive suggestions for the achievement of a healthy balance among societal, subgroup, and individual needs.Trade ReviewImportant and entirely admirable....Gordon's review of theories of Anglo-conformity, the melting pot, and cultural pluralism is the best I have ever seen. Specialists in intergroup relations will find Gordon's book a most useful addition to their personal bookshelves and an indispensable newcomer to their pedagogical repertoire. * American Sociological Review *

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Book SynopsisConfidence tricks and widespread delusions have gone in cycles throughout history, and the financial bubbles and illusions of haunted houses and popular manias are as relevant now as they were when Mackay published this book in 1852. A witty commentary with insights into human nature and the madness of crowds.Table of Contents1. The Mississippi scheme; 2. The South-sea bubble; 3. The tulipomania; 4. The alchymists; 5. Modern prophecies; 6. Fortune-telling; 7. The magnetisers; 8. Influence of politics and religion on the hair and beard.

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Book SynopsisFrom the popular Book of Odds website, this stylish and accessible reference book offers a fascinating peek at the probabilities that govern every aspect of human lifeDid you know that your odds of dying from drowning are higher than the odds of meeting your mate on a blind date?Trade ReviewThe Book of Odds is filled with good news (you have a relatively good chance of experiencing love at first sight), mixed news (you are less likely to be killed by a co-worker than by a sibling), and bad news (don't even ask). -- Barnes & Noble, Editor's Recommendation The Book of Odds...shows the surprising probabilities governing everyday life, including how your sex life stacks up. -- Salon.com An enticing read from cover to cover, the odds are great that you will enjoy this book. -- Library Journal

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisBlind Them…with SCIENCE! How much better would your life be if you had an army of Nobel Laureates, MacArthur ‘geniuses’ and National Medal of Science winners whispering tips in your ear about your body language, or how to resist that impulse purchase you’ll regret tomorrow, or when to sell your car—or even helping you trick your spouse into doing the dishes?  With this mighty little tome, you can have the next best thing--because Brain Trust is packed with bite-sized scientific wisdom on our everyday challenges, hand-delivered to you direct from the galaxy’s biggest brains.  Based entirely on interviews with an incredible lineup of luminaries from the fields of neuroscience, economics, anthropology, music, mathematics, and more, Brain Trust is full of cutting-edge science that’ll help you see the real world better—and smarter. Discover:    <

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Book SynopsisThe spellbinding tale of hustler Edgar Laplante—the king of Jazz Age con artists—who becomes the victim of his own dangerous game.   Edgar Laplante was a smalltime grifter, an erstwhile vaudeville performer, and an unabashed charmer. But after years of playing thankless gigs and traveling with medicine shows, he decided to undertake the most demanding and bravura performance of his life. In the fall of 1917, Laplante reinvented himself as Chief White Elk: war hero, sports star, civil rights campaigner, Cherokee nation leader—and total fraud.   Under the pretenses of raising money for struggling Native American reservations, Laplante dressed in buckskins and a feathered headdress and traveled throughout the American West, narrowly escaping exposure and arrest each time he left town. When the heat became too much, he embarked upon a lucrative continent-hopping tour that attracted even more enormous crowds, his cons growing in propor

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Book SynopsisBridge the Christian religion-science gap as The Reverend Doctor Joel Graves explores what the Bible says, what it means, and what it might meanespecially in the near future. This theological speculative study of the Bible takes the reader into the nature of the universe and how it works scientifically, the problem with evolution, the Neanderthal, Sasquatch, even the presence of space aliens and where they come from. The Bible describes a great starship1,380 miles to each sideon its way to Earth: learn about the size, composition, method of travel, possible purposes, and most importantly, when it will arrive. Discover the great war between ancient alien factionswho they are, where they came from, their future plans, and the role of humans caught in the middle. Examine the mysteries, facts, clues, and allusions found in the world, but especially in the Bible.

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