Religion and beliefs Books

Book SynopsisOffers a positive and creative interpretation of Jesus' teachings for todayTrade ReviewKeith Ward has long represented some of the most distinctive traditions of British theology at its best – a strong and lucid philosophical basis, a keen and informed engagement with natural science and a style of relaxed clarity which makes complex matters readily accessible. -- Rowan Williams, Master of Magdalen College, CambridgeWard is an excellent storyteller * Ministry Today *[On THE PROMISE] A very refreshing approach to the Pentateuch * Baptist Times *Keith Ward convincingly shows how weak the fundamentalist case is when it comes to Scripture * thegoodbookstall *[On THE WORD OF GOD] This book is a feast of good things * Methodist Recorder *Professor Ward's impassioned contribution to the debate on the authority of scripture . . . is bound to infuriate and delight in equal numbers * Publishing News *[On CHRISTIANITY: A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED] Useful, informative and inspiring * The Tablet *These 50 short chapters . . . wear their scholarly competence lightly * Church Times *a very helpful introduction for a new Christian * Church Times *

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Book SynopsisA beautifully produced gift volume comprising Evelyn Underhill's two personal prayer books, rediscovered 75 years after her death. Foreword by Eugene PetersonTrade ReviewFor those who love Evelyn Underhill and her many writings this Prayer Book is a real find! Here in this handsomely produced book is her compilation of prayers from the saints, theologians, liturgical texts, and her own prayers. These served as a resource in her work as a pioneering retreat leader and spiritual director. Reading these prayers puts the reader in the company of a woman of profound wisdom and deep prayerfulness. Her love of God and care for others is palpable. -- Dana Greene, President, The Evelyn Underhill Association. . . the slim Foreword by Eugene Peterson is a fine pointer to the banquet of a read that Robyn has so well prepared on the finest of tables – she has served Underhill well and wisely. -- Ron Dart, Clarion Journal of Spirituality and JusticeCarefully edited, this beautiful little volume is a rare gem . . . highly recommended for anyone seeking new inspiration in prayer. -- The Reader'. . . will appeal to those who want a manual for their own devotions, and who recognise this as an anthology crafted by a spiritual master . . . I found here prayers that I had not seen before, and that I will be glad to use. -- Cally Hammond, Church TimesIn the diocese of Chelmsford we have always treasured our association with Evelyn Underhill and her love for what is now our Retreat House at Pleshey. It was therefore tremendously exciting to discover her handwritten collection of prayers. This book now makes those prayers available to everyone. To read them and to pray them though is to enter into the heart and experience the spirituality of one of the most significant Christian writers of the 20th century. -- Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford

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Book SynopsisThe Bible condensed into an hour's reading, keeping its original words.Trade Review"This book is a brilliant and inventive taster. It introduces the reader to the actual words of scripture: no paraphrases, no 'stories of', just the revealed words of God so arranged as to give a hint of the wonder of the Bible in its full dimensions.', Sister Wendy BeckettTable of ContentsForeword Editor's introduction PART ONE: SCENES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT Prologue: In the beginning 1. From Eden to Babel 2. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob 3. Joseph in Egypt 4. Moses and the Exodus 5. Israel in the wilderness 6. The Promised Land 7. Samson and Delilah 8. The story of Ruth 9. Samuel, Saul and David 10. Solomon the sage 11. Elijah the prophet 12. The story of Jonah 13. Exile and return Epilogue: A prophecy PART TWO: SCENES FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT Prologue:In the beginning 14. Jesus is born 15. The healer 16. The teacher 17. The sacrifice 18 .Acts of the apostles Epilogue: A vision Further reading Timeline and index

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Book SynopsisJohn L. Bell's gloriously honest book on the Psalms offers what people need to help them cope with life as it really isTrade ReviewJohn Bell of the Iona Community has been for many years one of the most recognized voices on BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the Day, where his cogent and penetrating topical contributions reach an audience well beyond the churches. -- Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury. . . a work of solid theological common sense – uncommon enough these days. From a lifetime of pastoral care and attention to God, Bell has provided us with a depth of understanding which we would do well to appropriate for ourselves. * Church Times on 'Living with the Psalms' *The Last Journey: Few recordings have struck a chord as deep and profound as this heart-rending yet ultimately uplifting CD and accompanying book. * GIA Publications *This small, 96-page book and CD is a gem. * Methodist Recorder *Highly recommended as a valuable resource for Readers involved in pastoral work for the dying and especially in funeral ministry, as [the volume] shows great sensitivity and insight. * The Reader *

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Book SynopsisExplores how someone for whom the Bible is central can hold an including view of same-sex relationships and marriage on the basis of the Bible - and not bypass it.Trade ReviewAs with all his writings, David Runcorn brings to this subject a warmth of human empathy that enables readers of differing opinions and experiences to enter into a profound engagement with Scripture. This is a book full of insights and its publication is timely. -- Robert Atwell, Bishop of ExeterThe Bible speaks of God’s faithful love for everyone. David unfolds this truth to a conflicted Church, and to a world in desperate need of that good news. Love Means Love is brim-full of gentle and clear wisdom. Highly recommended! -- Paul Bayes, Bishop of LiverpoolJoyful, truthful, scandalously inclusive . . . at times I could hardly read it for sheer joy. This book will literally save lives. It opens the door of grace and beckons you in. -- Nick Bundock, Rector of St James and Emmanuel, DidsburyGreat for conservatives but will also give plenty of food for thought to those who think that to be pro-LGBTI is perforce to have to abandon scripture. One of the best short books on the subject I've read. -- Canon Simon Butler, Parish priest and member of the Archbishops' CouncilDavid Runcorn writes to encourage acceptance of faithful same-sex relationships. He does so with a deep respect for both the teaching of the Bible and the lived experience of LGBTQ+ people who have often felt excluded by the church. Both gracious and scholarly, with the pastoral touch that shows sound understanding of the science of humanity and sexuality, this book puts the gospel of God’s love at the heart of our message to the nation. Heartily recommended! -- David Gillett, Bishop of Bolton (1999 to 2008)David Runcorn offers that rare gift – perspective. Through each of his short chapters, he demonstrates an understanding of the changing ways the Christian community has talked about LGBTQ+ people over recent decades. Ideas often presented as ‘biblical’ are questioned, placed in their developing cultural context, and David finds instead a greater grace on every page – a vision of a church and a world where Love means Love. -- Marcus Green, author of The Possibility of Difference: A Biblical Affirmation of InclusivityA gentle and insightful book, written with humility, which will greatly help those seeking an informed understanding of key biblical texts with an open mind. David’s thoughts on how we read in an age of anxiety are particularly perceptive. I heartily recommend this work to anyone wishing to engage carefully with the topic. -- Nikki Groarke, Archdeacon of Dudley, Member of Church of England’s General SynodWarm, reflective, surprising, challenging, scriptural, human and focused on Jesus, this is a different kind of book . . . Writing with a compassion and spiritual depth that encompasses a breadth of human experience, David Runcorn engages with key texts and traditional views, and comes to very positive and scripturally based conclusions about God’s gift of sexuality. -- David Ison, Dean of St Paul's, LondonLiberates us to read our beloved Bible with faithfulness, both to the text and to the fruit of Christ we often see in LGBT+ lives. For a good number of us, it will be met with a cry of "at last!". -- Jody Stowell, Vicar of St Michael's Harrow and Chair of London ClergyToo often phrases such as the "biblical view" or "Bible-believing Christians" are used to exclude the possibility that faithful same-sex relationships are consonant with scripture. David Runcorn challenges the reader to contemplate a different conclusion. -- Rachel Treweek, Bishop of GloucesterA joy to read . . . addresses all the issues that are part and parcel of the church’s current debate on same-sex relationships and offers a biblical perspective that is hopeful and affirming. -- Cherry Vann, Bishop of Monmouth

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Book SynopsisThe ESV-CE published by SPCK has been approved by the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales, and Scotland, as the basis for the new Lectionary (2022) and all future liturgical texts used by Catholics.

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Book SynopsisNotes on Love is a humorous and heart-felt look at being single and dating in the Church for a generation of Christians wrestling with what it means to love and be loved today.Trade Review‘This is a book on singleness today, written with honesty and skill, that is, by turns, wonderfully insightful, uncomfortably challenging and hilariously amusing. If you are single or in any way involved with single people, this is a deeply helpful and inspiring resource. Well done, Lauren!’ -- J John‘The wider conversation about how church leaders and church communities view marital status is overdue. Marriage has long been held up as the gold standard, with anything else falling short. Lauren Windle offers a window into the world of singleness in church culture, and this book is a helpful tool for leaders and the wider church community to begin to see someone's marital status through their own eyes and lens, which may or may not put marriage on a pedestal.’ -- Genelle Aldred, journalist and communications strategist‘Lauren cuts through all the standard Christian fluff and stock phrases with her honesty, wisdom and sharp humour. She blends experience, studies and scripture to reframe the way the Church needs to approach singleness. This book is practical and insightful. It’s warm and witty but packs a punch.’ -- Jon Brown, speaker, writer and part of the leadership team, New Community Church, Sidcup‘Honest, pithy and relatable. Lauren has written a much needed anthem for a generation of lost single people in the Church.’ -- Tola Doll Fisher, Editor of Woman Alive, author and speaker‘Lauren’s Notes on Love provides a fresh perspective on the challenges that single Christians face. Whether you are dating, looking to date or wanting to stay single, Lauren combines great straightforward advice and amusing, uplifting anecdotes based on her own experiences, together with research gathered from published sources, such as the "Single Living" survey, conducted by Single Friendly Church. Many churches in the UK don’t focus on their single members and if anyone is struggling with being a single Christian, then this book explains how you can learn to understand and value your worth as a single person, whether or not you are looking to be in a relationship. Through weaving in and analysing relevant biblical references, Lauren helps to provide a framework for single people of all ages and stages.’ -- Amelia Gosal, Executive Director, Single Friendly Church‘Lauren writes with disarming humour, courage and passion, and I believe Notes on Love will connect with a whole generation of single Christian people. A heartfelt wake-up call to the real challenges facing single Christian people today. Notes on Love is both a reality check and a road map to something better.’ -- Revd Will Van Der Hart, St Dionis, Parsons Green, London, author, speaker and Director, The Mind & Soul Foundation‘I wish I’d had this book years ago. I couldn’t put it down. Largely because it’s hilarious and brilliantly written, but also because of how boldly it addresses the complex and often stigmatic topic of navigating dating and relationships in the Church – particularly as a woman. Regardless of your gender or relationship status, you need to read this book and take serious note of Lauren’s insights and sage advice. She is a pioneer and I can’t recommend Notes On Love enough!’ -- Persia Lawson, author, speaker, love coach‘She’s sharp, she’s honest, she’s observant, she’s unique and she’s something that the Church might have been missing on this particular topic until Lauren came along – she’s fun. An insightful, brutal and bold stance that any girl facing the fabulous single journey in the hoi polloi of the Christian dating world may need. A breath of fresh air – and a much needed one. -- Carrie Lloyd, author, pastor, podcaster‘Notes on Love provides fantastic insight and wise and witty advice, not just about dating in a digital age but also about building healthy relationships more generally. If you have friends or even kids of dating age who are fed up with "helpful advice" from you or others who don’t have a clue, this book would be the perfect gift.’ -- Cathy Madavan, author and speaker‘Rebranding dating in the Church is no small order, but Lauren has done so in style. Notes on Love is fabulously unchurchy! Dating apps, expectations, break-ups and much more, Lauren shares experiences of her own and others with humour, wisdom and masses of practical advice. She highlights the negatives and downright toxic, while also reminding the reader of good biblical foundations and their identity in Christ. As someone who has been married a while, I found lots in the book really helpful in terms of relationships generally, and in recognizing the contemporary challenges of those who are single in the Church. Funny, relevant and informative – what’s not to like?!’ -- Revd Jules Middleton, vicar and author‘Once in a while, a new voice comes along, someone who really has something to say. In a world of well-meaning advice about love and relationships, Lauren is like that trusted friend who tells you the whole truth and nothing but the truth – and you’ll love her for it. Notes on Love is kind, thoughtful, wise and pretty much relentlessly hilarious – there’s a decent joke on almost every page. Everyone needs a friend like Lauren.’ -- Martin Saunders, author, Director of Innovation, Youthscape, and Director, Satellites‘Beautiful read! The topic of singleness in the Church is one that’s not often talked about and, when it is, it is often from a view of incompleteness and inferiority. This needs to change. Lauren talks about this topic with the seriousness it deserves, with humour sprinkled throughout. Her tips, anecdotes, research, call for a better "way to community" and prayers are a wonderful addition. I wish someone had given me this book as a reminder to enjoy every season in life and not miss the beauty in it all.’ -- Corina Straub, photographer and Editor of Chapel‘Raw, hilarious and painfully observant, this impassioned plea to treat single people as people should be required reading for all Christians. Full of stories and research, Notes on Love will reshape its readers’ perceptions and, hopefully – let’s dream big – the Church. Lauren, you are a star and I can’t begin to understand why you are single (as I might have said before reading your book).’ -- Jo Swinney, author and speaker‘Lauren’s book was an amazing read – full of honesty, with a realness to it. I used to read a fair few dating books growing up but most of them shamed me in my thinking. I wish I had, had this book back then! It is written in a non-judgemental, honest way, and you will laugh, cry, feel a sense of relief and gain so much from this book. I will definitely be recommending this to people!’ -- Hope Virgo, multi-award-winning mental health campaigner and author

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Book SynopsisWritten by an internationally respected historian and Orthodox believer, Holy Russia? Holy War? is the first book to examine how and why the Russian Church is acting as an accomplice to Putin in his war against Ukraine, and what the Ukraine war's disturbing implications mean for the rest of the world.Trade ReviewThe role of religion in the war in Ukraine is clearly a hugely important dimension of the story, but it has received relatively little attention in our press coverage and political debate; this treatment is an original, and in some areas unexpected, way of shedding light on this critical subject. -- Edward Stourton, journalist and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s The World at OneThe first part of this book is not merely useful, it is an important historical reference. The journalism is compulsive reading, absorbing but ultimately shocking. It describes and sheds light on a situation that has major implications for Christianity and for Christian culture in both the eastern and western churches. But there is, at the conclusion, a heartening codicil, for Katherine Kelaidis provides an account of her own Orthodox faith and provides descriptions of two female saints who have inspired her. The conclusion is therefore an inspiring piece of sensitive spiritual writing; well worth reading on its own account - and a remarkable finale to this critically important work. -- Transforming MinistryA valuable guide to the religious dimensions of the war between Russia and Ukraine - past and present - beautifully delivered in a brisk and lively prose that is bound to engage and inform both specialists and the general public. -- Alexander Kitroeff, Professor Emeritus of History at Haverford College and author of Greek Orthodoxy in AmericaAn informed and incisive response to the war and the crises it has caused. -- Cyril Hovorun, Professor of Ecclesiology, International Relations and Ecumenism, Sankt Ignatios Foundation, Stockholm, SwedenBrings into sharp focus otherwise disparate and often bifurcated dimensions of a complex subject overly simplified in the West. -- John Chryssavgis, theological advisor to the Ecumenical Patriarch and author of Light Through DarknessUnderstanding the present depends on how we see history - and history does not have a single reading. This is a timely, prescient and informative book that helps western observers to look through an Eastern Orthodox lens at current crises. -- Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds, EnglandKelaidis argues persuasively that Russia's war against Ukraine has religious and moral underpinnings with dangerous implications far beyond its borders. She writes evocatively and engagingly to explain the twisted interpretations of history that are motivating both Vladimir Putin and his ecclesiastical accomplice, Patriarch Kirill. -- John A. Jillions, Visiting Professor of Religion and Culture, The Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge, England, and former Chancellor, The Orthodox Church in AmericaA brilliant expose of the transformation of the Russian Orthodox Church into Putin's propaganda machine. -- Sergei Chapnin, Senior Fellow at the Orthodox Christian Studies Center, Fordham University, New York City

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Book SynopsisThe beloved Pope Francis offers his prayers for the ten most pressing issues the world is facing today, inspiring action to radically unite humanity in hope for a just and peaceful future.Trade ReviewAfter ten years as Pope, Francis has made his clearest statement yet of precisely how we need to change as a civilisation. Very much an act of the 'teaching Church', this bold and practically relevant document does not hesitate to turn a prophetic eye on the Church herself. The vision is an uncompromising espousal of comprehensive nonviolence. In a world which seems every day rougher and more caustic, such a call will seem hopelessly idealistic, even dangerously foolish. And yet, Francis is surely correct to identify so many aspects of our current predicament and to spell out that 'the choice today is either nonviolence or nonexistence.' -- Fr Damian Howard SJ, Provincial of the Jesuits in BritainPope Francis addresses ten major issues of our age, connecting them and placing them in prayer. He presents facts and reasoning, outlining the dreadful injustices being done to people, the damage being done to our common home and the failure to have a global vision for repair and prosperity. As always, he has well-reasoned suggestions and he ends with resolute hope. Pope Francis is a prophet for our times. -- Rt Revd John Arnold, Bishop of Salford

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Book SynopsisThe Mishna, a six-part codification of oral rabbinic law, is the basis of the Talmud. It is one of the two holy books upon which Judaism has been constructed. This edition aims to provide as close to a literal translation as possible, following the syntax of Mishnaic Hebrew.

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Book SynopsisA new translation and commentary on the biblical book of Ezra by the renowned author of two award-winning biblical commentariesTrade Review“The culmination of a lifetime of research on the book of Ezra by a most distinguished scholar.”—Hugh Williamson, University of Oxford

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Book SynopsisA captivating historical survey of the key debates, questions, and controversies at the intersection of science and religionTrade ReviewWinner of the Outstanding Academic Title for 2018 award sponsored by Choice“The most readable, comprehensive, and authoritative primer on science and religion now available. Larson and Ruse are superb story tellers.”—Ronald L. Numbers, University of Wisconsin Madison"A fresh, engaging, and even-handed assessment of the relations between science and religion by two of the world’s leading experts on the topic. Highly recommended."—Peter Harrison, author of The Territories of Science and Religion"Combining expertise in the philosophy and history of science, the distinguished authors re-consider the continuing overlapping of science and religion in world culture. The result is enlightening and morally uplifting."—John Henry, University of Edinburgh“Larson and Ruse are superb story tellers. This episodic, topical overview is the most readable, comprehensive, and authoritative combination now available.”—Ronald L. Numbers, University of Wisconsin-Madison"Larson and Ruse are superb story tellers. In this episodic, topical overview they survey the relations between “science” and “religion” from ancient Babylonian and Greek observers to contemporary geneticists and neurobiologists, from stars to sex, and from Jews and Christians to Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus. On Faith and Science is the most readable, comprehensive, and authoritative combination now available."—Ronald L. Numbers, University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Book SynopsisFocusing on Christianity’s core practices, a leading theologian imagines Christianity as a way of life oriented toward wisdomTrade Review“With an uncommonly soft touch, Kevin Hector guides readers along a journey that is at once surprising and familiar. Brimming with wit and intelligence, with the confidence and conviction of one still learning all he has to teach, Professor Hector presents Christianity as a way of life in which falling in love with God’s good news, which demands and promises nothing less than the self’s transformation, comes off as the most natural thing in the world.”—Jonathan Tran, author of Asian Americans and the Spirit of Racial Capitalism“Unpacking practices as varied and unexpected as corporate singing and laughter, Hector’s marvelous new book displays the fundamentally practical character of Christianity as a matter of being formed to perceive, respond, and act in harmony with what is ultimately true and good.”—Jennifer Herdt, Yale University“A sophisticated and compelling account of Christianity as a salutary way of life rather than a mere system of coherent beliefs. Reading it carefully will be time very well spent.”—Miroslav Volf, Yale Divinity School

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Book SynopsisThis book brings together Methodist scholars and reflective practitioners from around the world to consider how emerging practices of mission and evangelism shape contemporary theologies of mission. Engaging contemporary issues including migration, nationalism, climate change, postcolonial contexts, and the growth of the Methodist church in the Global South, this book examines multiple forms of mission, including evangelism, education, health, and ministries of compassion. A global group of contributors discusses mission as no longer primarily a Western activity but an enterprise of the entire church throughout the world. This volume will be of interest to researchers studying missiology, evangelism, global Christianity, and Methodism and to students of Methodism and mission.Table of ContentsIntroduction-David W. Scott and Darryl W. Stephens; Part I: Cultivating Global Relationships; 1 The Challenge of Intercultural Theology for Methodist Theology in a Global Context-Hendrik R. Pieterse; 2 Decolonizing Methodist Mission Partnerships-Taylor Walters Denyer; 3 The Economics of International Mission- David W. Scott; Part II: Practicing Contextual Engagement; 4 An Oceanic View of Methodist Mission-Carmen C. Manalac-Scheuerman and Akanisi Tarabe; 5 Interpreting Korean Bible Women from a Terracultural Model of Mission-K. Kale Yu; 6 Creating a Post-Colonial Future for United Methodist Mission in Africa-Nelson Kalombo Ngoy; 7 The Impact of Public Health and Education on Mission in Southern Africa-Stephen J. H. Hendricks; 8 Sororidad de Gracia as Mission by, with, and for Women in Latin America-Andrea Reily Rocha Soares; 9 Diaspora Missiology with Anglophone Caribbean Immigrants in the United States-Sheryl Marks-Williams; 10 Healing a Fractured Salvation in North America-Mark R. Teasdale; Part III: Educating for Missional Formation; 11 Divergent Theologies of Mission within United Methodism-Darryl W. Stephens; 12 Dismantling Structural Eco-Recklessness through Zero-Emission Mission-Jenny Phillips; 13 Empowering Women in Africa through Mission Education-Elmira Sellu, with Flory Atieno, Sara Jalloh, Jaka Joice, Rose Musooko, and Evelyn Ann Ouma; 14 Fresh Expressions of Methodist Theological Education-Jeffrey A. Conklin-Miller; 15 A Wesleyan Spirit of Mission Among Muslims-Sam Kim; Part IV: Discerning the Future of Mission Together; 16 A Mission of Hope and Peace amid Suffering-Mande Muyombo; 17 Finding the Future of Methodist World Mission in Lay Migrant Initiatives-Stephen Skuce; 18 Turning Mission Upside Down-Joy Eva Bohol; 19 Methodist Mission in an Era of World Christianity-David W. Scott

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Book SynopsisAcclaimed scholar Kathryn Sikkink examines the important and controversial new trend of holding political leaders criminally accountable for human rights violations.

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Book SynopsisUnsparing and important. . . . An informative, clearheaded and sobering book.—Jonathan Yardley, Washington Post (1999 Critic's Choice)Trade Review"A brilliant diagnosis of the internal factors that hold blacks back." -- Wall Street Journal"One of the most interesting examinations of poverty, violence and sociology to emerge in recent years." -- Boston Herald"One of our best ethnographers.... Anderson is excellent in explaining how the criminal element, through a numerical minority, comes to dominate public space." -- New York Times Book Review"Important.... [Anderson] demonstrates, time and again, how optimism, ambition and decency can sprout in the most unlikely places, given even the slimmest chance." -- Newsweek"Eloquent and moving.... A strikingly powerful work that rings with urgency." -- Alex Kotlowitz, author of There Are No Children Here"This is the best treatment we have of the tormented inner life of young people wrestling with nihilism in a society indifferent to their plight and predicament." -- Cornel West

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Book Synopsis"Powerful and disturbing. No one who cares about the future of our public life can afford to ignore this book." —Jackson LearsTrade Review"Barber delivers a frightening analysis of the way consumerism is vitiating shoppers in the United States and around the world." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"This lifelong study of the effects of capitalism and privatization reveals a pervasiveness of branding and homogenization from which there is no turning back." -- Booklist"A remarkable book about the shifting nature of capitalism…Beguiling." -- Financial World"[Barber's] thesis has genuine bite." -- Denver Post

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Book Synopsis“Magisterial…Draws an elegant and illuminating parallel between the late-19th-century electrification of America and today’s computing world.” —SalonTrade Review"Future Shock for the Web-apps era…Compulsively readable—for nontechies, too—as it compellingly weaves together news stories, anecdotes, and data." -- Fast Company"The best read so far about the significance of the shift to cloud computing." -- Financial Times"Mr. Carr’s provocations are destined to influence CEOs and the boards and investors that support them as companies grapple with the constant change of the digital age." -- Wall Street Journal"Exceedingly good." -- TechWorld"The Big Switch is thought-provoking and an enjoyable read, and the history of American electricity that makes up the first half of the book is riveting stuff." -- New York Post"Carr stimulates, provokes and entertains superbly." -- Information Age

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Book SynopsisAn in-depth look at virtual reality and how it can be harnessed to improve our everyday lives.Trade Review"… [Jeremy Bailenson's] enthusiasm is contagious, and he explains complex issues to an audience broader than fellow scientists, providing a real vision of our possibly VR-infused future." -- Nature"If you want to understand the most immersive new communications medium to come along since cinema... I’d suggest starting with Mr. Bailenson’s [book]. It’s short, it’s levelheaded and it tells you what you need to know. Among other things, the book answers the sometimes vexing question of what VR is actually good for." -- The Wall Street Journal"Remarkably interesting... People interested in the current state of virtual reality’s applications will enjoy Bailenson." -- The New York Times"An accessible introduction, a cogent primer, to the potential and pitfalls of VR." -- The Washington Post"Jeremy Bailenson’s work is unflinching and brave. He helps us see more of our vulnerabilities and our potential than ever before. This book describes the edge of human self-knowledge, and a precipice of human foibles to avoid." -- Jaron Lanier, VR pioneer and author of You Are Not A Gadget"Few people alive know as much about VR as Jeremy Bailenson. For decades he’s been researching how VR affects humans. Read this before you enter this new world." -- Kevin Kelly, founding editor of Wired and author of The Inevitable

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Book SynopsisFrom the founder of DDP, this updated and comprehensive guide is the authoritative text on DDP.

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Book SynopsisUFO Religions critically examines some of the fascinating issues surrounding UFO worship and gives a clear profile of modern UFO controversies and beliefs.Trade Review'This well-researched book cuts through the nuts and bolts pseudo-scientific posturings of UFO believers over the past fifty-odd years and clearly demonstrates that belief in UFOs is motivated and sustained by the religious impulse'.'A well-documented work, on a little-known subject.' - Bulletin BibliographiqueTable of ContentsContributors Acknowledgements Foreword INTRODUCTION 1. Understanding UFO Religions and Abduction Spiritualities PART ONE OBERSERVING RELIGIONS 2. Scientific Creationism: A Study of the Raelian Church 3. When the Archangel Died: From Revelation to Routinization of Charisma in Unarius 4. Opening a channel to the stars: the Origins and Development of the Aethrius Society 5. Legitimating Suicide: Heaven's Gate and New Age Ideology 6. The URANTIA Book 7. Ansaru Allah Community 8. From Extraterrestrials to Ultraterrestrials: the Evolution of the concept of Ashtar 9. UFO Faith and Ufological Discourses in Germany 10. The Finnish UFO Tradition, 1947-1994 PART TWO UNDERSTANDING NARRATIVES 11. UFO Religions as Cargo Cults 12. Alien Doubts: Reading Abduction Narratives Post-apocalyptically 13. UFO Beliefs as Syncretistic Components 14. Apocalyptic and Millenarian Aspects of American UFOism 15. Attitudes Toward Religion and Science in the UFO Movement in the United States 16. Jung on UFOs 17. The Psychology of UFO Phenomena

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Book SynopsisThose who are in the unenviable position of living or working with a narcissist have learned by sad trial and error that they are the only one in the relationship who can change the dynamic. Certainly narcissists don't think they need to change.Table of ContentsIntroduction vii Part One: It’s All About Me 1 Chapter 1 What Makes a Narcissist? 3 Chapter 2 Why Does Someone Become a Narcissist? 23 Part Two: Recognizing the Patterns 43 Chapter 3 The Narcissist with an Insatiable Need for Control 45 Chapter 4 The Passive-Aggressive Narcissist 63 Chapter 5 The Bottomless Well of Common Narcissistic Demands 81 Part Three: Dealing with the Narcissists in Your Life 99 Chapter 6 Examining Your Anger 101 Chapter 7 Removing Fear from the Equation 121 Chapter 8 Committing to Humility 139 Chapter 9 Fostering Your Own Inner Security 157 Chapter 10 Replacing Bitterness with Forgiveness 173 The Author 193

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Book SynopsisTo Hegel, he was a genius; to Kierkegaard, he was the greatest humorist in Christendom; to Goethe, he was the brightest mind of his day. Though less known than many of his contemporaries, A.G. Hamann is gradually being recognized as one of the most important and original critics of the Enlightenment.Trade Review"This is a scholar's book, breaking new ground in the study of eighteenth-century philosophy, and those responsible for teaching modern philosophy and theology should be warned: on picking up this book, you risk having to revise substantial portions of your lectures. This is the sort of book that ought to change the way we think about Europe's so-called Enlightenment, and the intellectual paths that we have walked ever since." (Anglican Theological Review, 2012) "Simply put, Betz’s accomplishment is superb. He comprehensively introduces the entire span of Hamann’s work in its theological and philosophical significance … though much remains to be done in thinking with Hamann, Betz’s work is a major accomplishment that deserves wide readership.” —Lutheran Quarterly “This is an important book for at least two reasons. On the one hand, it is a complete, reliable, and agreeably written introduction to Johann Georg Hamann’s life, work and world. On the other hand, it contributes substantially to the ongoing discussion in contemporary theology and philosophy about the seemingly ineradicable tension between modernity and Christianity.” —Modern Theology “After Enlightenment has much to offer those who are familiar with Hamann, as well as those who are not. The way Betz handles Hamann’s difficult writings and communicates his thought is a clear and precise manner is praiseworthy … The comprehensiveness of the study is enhanced by the ease of Betz’s prose, offering a tremendous tool for understanding the enigmatic yet fruitful ‘Magus of the North’.” —Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society “[Betz] has produced the best and fullest survey of the life and writings of Johann Georg Hamann in a generation, helpfully including many passages from Hamann’s letters and publications and commenting intelligently on the style, theology, philosophy, and (to a lesser extent) historical context of Hamann’s notoriously obscure oeuvre; second, he has written an intellectual history covering Hamann’s relation to the major figures of his time as well as his subsequent influence on and reception by philosophers and theologians down to our own day.” —Church HistoryTable of ContentsPreface xi Acknowledgments xiv Abbreviations xvi Introduction 1 Notorious Darkness: Reading Sibylline Leaves 8 A Brief History of Scholarship 13 Hamann and Modern Theology 18 Overview 19 Part I The Making of a Christian Socrates 23 1 Life and Writings 1730–1788 25 The Making of a Philologist 26 Hamann’s Conversion 29 Hamann’s Falling Out with Berens 32 Hamann’s Relationship with Kant 34 2 The London Writings: On the Glory of Trinitarian Condescension 38 Night Thoughts: On the Interpretation of Scripture 39 Glory in the “Rags” of Scripture 43 Biblical Meditations 45 “Reflections on church hymns” 53 “Fragments” and “Prophecies” 55 3 A Typological Re-reading of Socrates: On Faith, Reason, and History 63 The Prophet and the Idol 65 From Socratic Irony to Christian Humor 68 Toward a Philosophy of History 71 A Propaedeutic to Real Enlightenment 76 Converting Hume: Knowledge “By Faith Alone” 82 Kant, Hamann, and the So-called “Kinderphysik Fiasco” 84 Part II Crusades of the Philologist 89 4 Life and Writings 1760–1774 91 Against the Purification of Language 91 The Magi and “The Knight of Faith” 93 Crusades of the Philologist 96 On “Solomon of Prussia” and High School Drama 103 The Hamann–Herder Connection 104 A Satirical Masterpiece and Other Writings 109 5 Toward a Christological Poetics: A New Aesthetics of Scripture and Creation 113 Cloverleaf of Hellenistic Letters: On the Style of Scripture 117 Aesthetica in nuce: On the Language of Creation 123 The Dithyrambs of a Christian Dionysus 128 Seeing All Things in Christ 133 Toward a Christological Poetics 136 6 Correcting a Disciple: Hamann and Herder on the Origin of Language 141 Hamann’s Review of Herder’s Preisschrift 144 The Return of Aristobulus 147 Philological Ideas and Doubts 149 The Crusading Knight’s Last Will and Testament 158 The Mystery of Language: The Alpha and Omega 163 Part III Masks and Mystery Writings 165 7 Life and Writings 1775–1780 167 Hierophantic Letters 167 Family Life: Portrait of a Christian Sensualist 170 Two Mites: On the Tabernacle of Language 173 8 The Sibyl Speaks: On the Protological and Eschatological Mystery of Marriage 178 The Mystery of Marriage: A verum signaculum Creatoris 179 Essay of a Sibyl on Marriage 182 “Aprons of fig leaves”: On Reason’s Inveterate Shame 184 9 Fragments of an Apocryphal Sibyl: On Rational and Apocalyptic Religion 189 Doubts (about Reason) and Ideas (about the Mystical Body of Christ) 191 Konxompax: An Apocryphal Letter to Lessing 197 Part IV Metacritique: of Reason, Natural Religion, and Secular Politics 217 10 Life and Writings 1780–1784 219 Hamann’s “Twins” of 1784 220 Hamann and Jacobi 222 Divestment and Transfiguration 222 “Metacritical tubs”? 228 11 Hamann’s Metacritique of Kant: Deconstructing the Transcendental Dream 230 Transcendental “Mystique”: The First Review of the Critique of Pure Reason 234 The Metacritique: A Brief History of the Purisms of Reason 242 The “Genealogical Priority” of Language 248 Language as a Sacrament 253 12 Metacritical Politics: On Mendelssohn’s Jerusalem and the Modern Secular State 258 A Synopsis of Mendelssohn’s Jerusalem 262 Golgotha and Scheblimini: By a Preacher in the Desert 270 Built upon Sand: The Babel of Modern Natural Rights 273 Defending Judaism against Secular Reason, or the Real Content of the Real Jerusalem 280 Prospect for Jewish–Christian Dialogue 290 Part V A Final Journey: Hamann’s Last Will and Testament 291 13 Life and Writings 1785–1788 293 The Münster Circle 294 The “Dictators of Pure Reason” 296 Portrait of a Christian: Greatness in Knechtsgestalt 297 Una Sancta Ecclesia 300 A Cryptic Final Testament 301 The Journey Home 308 Conclusion. After Postmodernity: Hamann before the Postmodern Triumvirate 312 Hamann and Postmodernity 313 Hamann before Nietzsche 319 Hamann before Heidegger 326 Hamann before Derrida 331 A Concluding Postscript to Postmodernity 337 Biblical Index 341 Index 343

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Book SynopsisDo Muslim Women Need Saving? is an indictment of a mindset that has justified all manner of foreign interference, including military invasion, in the name of rescuing women from Islam. It offers a detailed, moving portrait of the actual experiences of ordinary Muslim women, and of the contingencies with which they live.Trade Review[A] beautiful book… It is a riveting account by an academic who has spent many years observing women in the Middle East and the West, and adeptly wears several hats as an anthropologist and professor in women’s studies. Abu-Lughod is a great listener and a sharp observer of everyday life. She understands the struggles, joys and jealousies of Middle Eastern women and has an ear for the stories that do not make headlines. Refusing to treat Muslim women as a category, she focuses on nuances and complexities. Where others see an undifferentiated mass of individuals, she sees real women with real stories… There are Islams, just like there are Judaisms, Christianities and Hinduisms. We need to make the word plural to understand the wide variety of practices and power relations. And Lila Abu-Lughod’s Do Muslim Women Need Saving? does precisely that with its captivating approach. -- Elif Shafak * Literary Review *[A] classic of feminist anthropology…Anyone who wants to understand the lives of women in Muslim countries will learn from Ms Abu-Lughod’s detailed and empathetic portraits of the women of southern Egypt. * The Economist *Every page contains a fresh riposte to easy cultural or religious explanations for women’s oppression… Do Muslim Women Need Saving? is the result of many years’ rumination over contemporary feminist debates in the developing world… In this volatile debate Lila Abu-Lughod frequently reminds her readers that she writes ‘as an anthropologist.’ In keeping with this role, she offers no simple remedy for female suffering abroad; nor does she condone the shrug that dismisses distant injustices as ‘just their culture.’ Instead, she offers an injunction to look and listen carefully for suffering at home as well as overseas, and to examine ‘our own responsibilities for the situations in which others in distant places find themselves.’ -- Nabeelah Jaffer * Times Literary Supplement *Saving Muslim women is now a global undertaking in which the participants are both Muslim and non-Muslim. Lila Abu-Lughod’s book is a critical reflection on this mushrooming industry, and its representatives, representations and bureaucracy… Abu-Lughod succeeds in…exposing several stubbornly persistent myths. She critically assesses the vast number of sensational representations of women, written by Muslims and others, about the general repression in a so-called IslamLand. She follows the trail of global feminism in the extensive bureaucracy, institutions and non-governmental organizations that have emerged since the 1990s, all claiming to save Muslim women… Her focus on analyzing how individual Muslim women experience freedom, rights and constraints brings a much-needed perspective… She offers a panoramic view of women’s multiple experiences in their own contexts, thereby dismissing sweeping generalizations about these women being a homogeneous oppressed mass. She urges us to look at contexts shaped by global politics, international capital and modern state institutions that all contribute to changing landscapes of family and community. Abu-Lughod reminds us that rights may be universal but above all they are projects bounded by political contexts, institutions and language… This book is destined to unsettle the convictions of those concerned with saving Muslim women. Many will find it shocking for its uncompromising critique of recent moral crusades, while careful readers will doubtless find in it enough ammunition to deconstruct projects that may seem worth pursuing, but ultimately are not as focused on improving women’s lives in faraway places as they first appear. Abu-Lughod dissolves geographical boundaries, exposes the limits of global morality, and deconstructs the international power context that allows Muslim women to remain that distant voiceless other, awaiting intervention. It invites us to think not only about dominant representations of Muslim women in images and words, but also about our own engagement with the other, which has always taken place in an unequal context. -- Madawi Al-Rasheed * Times Higher Education *There is an ethical dimension to [Abu-Lughod’s] attention to the particularities and complexities of difference between women of different countries, social backgrounds and cultures, and even within cultures she’s always attuned to the differences brought about by class and economic background…Through her in-depth demolition of the new moral crusades brought on by the genre of ‘gendered Orientalism’ in the pulp nonfiction of books by ‘insiders,’ i.e., Muslim women who threw off their shackles or who tore off their veils and ran away from their oppressive Muslim homes in order to live the precise kind of life lived by a certain class of Western woman in urban areas, Abu-Lughod zeroes in on the treacherous hypocrisy of the seemingly well-read and well-educated class of progressive Westerners. -- Subashini Navaratnam * PopMatters *Some of the most rewarding material in Do Muslim Women Need Saving? examines the obsession with constraint that counterposes perceptions of Muslim women to Enlightenment ideals of freedom and autonomy, connected to theoretical work by Wendy Brown, Judith Butler, and Saba Mahmood… While she is hardly alone in critiquing the flattened stereotype of the abject Muslim woman, Abu-Lughod brings refreshing new observations to this well-trodden ground… Abu-Lughod provocatively suggests that American feminism shares with older imperial agendas the political imperative to see Muslim women as particularly oppressed… This book is a great service to those of us who have long wanted for a resource we can recommend to explain why Muslim women do not need saving. Persuasive, generous, and insightful, Abu-Lughod asks us to bring our careful analysis, critical self-reflection, and constant recognition of our common but also differently expressed humanity to the table. -- Leti Volpp * Public Books *The book’s principal strengths lie in skillfully deconstructing the symbolic significance of a range of high profile ‘moral crusades’ involving Muslim women which have captured the global imagination. Abu-Lughod highlights how the most basic conditions of these women’s lives are set by political forces that are often national or even international in origin even if they are local in effect…She argues that concepts such as ‘oppression,’ ‘choice,’ and ‘freedom’ are blunt instruments for capturing the dynamics and quality of Muslim women’s lives in these places. In addition to revealing such characterizations as overly simplistic, Abu-Lughod also analyses the politics and the ethics of the international circulation of discourses about ‘the oppressed Muslim woman.’ She shows, for example, how debates on the veil and discussions of honor crimes are deployed as 21st century political projects. She writes passionately about the salacious and voyeuristic way in which such crimes are recorded, pointedly asking why knowing about the ‘culture’ has been seen as more important than exploring the story of the development of repressive regimes in the region. Equally, she highlights how in the West such discourses are unashamedly linked to xenophobic immigration policies. She warns of the risks entailed in such polarizing ‘savior’ discourses whereby feminism and even secularism are only seen as Western concepts…This book represents a necessary if uncomfortable intervention for those who may uncritically engage in the diverse range of clarion calls to save Muslim women…Abu-Lughod’s book provides a richly evidenced and easy to read deconstruction of simplistic culturalist explanations of any phenomena which pertain to Muslim women in all their diversity. As with other postcolonial feminists such as Mohanty and Narayan her approach represents a useful analytical tool to explore contemporary controversies about the experiences of Muslim and other Other women in all their complexity. -- Naaz Rashid * LSE Review of Books *Sharply observed take on the Western impulse to save oppressed Muslim women and the wider political, legal and cultural issues at stake. -- Marc Lynch * Washington Post blog *One of the book’s great accomplishments is to present readers with concrete examples of women who explain their actions and justify their choices, instead of caricatured victims to be pitied and saved by enlightened others. -- Joan W. Scott * Journal of Middle East Women’s Studies *In accessible, lucid prose, Abu-Lughod explains how sensationalized memoirs, or ‘pulp nonfiction,’ have perpetuated stereotypes and made Muslim women a symbol of an alien culture. The author dispassionately points out the hypocrisy of colonial feminism, and how more often than not, there is a clear political agenda behind the liberation of the ‘women of cover’ and how the role of the U.S. is often overlooked. The women presented here see their Islamic faith as a source of strength to fight injustice, not the cause of it. They’re not asking to be rescued from their religion, the author contends, but from the discriminatory legal system, poverty, outdated patriarchal family traditions, and border controls that continue to inhibit their freedom. While offering no easy solution, the author recommends observation over moral crusades, stating: ‘Anyone seriously interested in Muslim women’s rights must follow them as they move.’ This book is an excellent place to begin. * Publishers Weekly *Tracing connections from human rights groups and international feminist NGOs, to philosophy and anthropology, to best-selling memoirs of Muslim women and titillating pulp fiction accounts of Muslim women’s suffering, Abu-Lughod argues that the West’s perception of Muslim women as creatures in need of rescue is shaped by a confluence of powerful forces. Incisively argued and often sharply critical, Abu-Lughod’s book—which will surely spark debate—is essential reading for anyone interested in women’s rights in the Muslim world. -- Leila Ahmed, author of A Quiet Revolution: The Veil’s Resurgence from the Middle East to AmericaIn this passionate, sharply articulated, and engaging argument, Lila Abu-Lughod describes how Islam has been transformed into a homogenized geography ‘somewhere out there’ and how its women, different as they are diverse, have become the excuse for political and military interventions. In place of the simplistic arguments that are bandied about on the global stage, this book reminds us to ask more important questions: who are the saviors of Muslim women and how did they acquire the right to be the saviors? Every thinking individual should read this book. -- Urvashi Butalia, author of The Other Side of Silence: Voices from the Partition of IndiaThis is a provocative and astute challenge to the received wisdom of our time that Muslim women need to be saved by the liberated West. Abu-Lughod not only offers an insightful critique of the remedies offered to combat violence against Muslim women but also helps us see their lives differently. We are forced to confront the shared humanity between ‘us’ and ‘them’ that is both unsettling and instructive. A must read for those who remain skeptical of ‘save the Muslim woman’ campaigns that are so popular and fashionable today. -- Saba Mahmood, author of Politics of Piety: The Islamic Revival and the Feminist SubjectThere is no one better qualified than Lila Abu-Lughod to take on difficult questions about Muslim women and their portrayal in the global media. Her answers shake up some fundamental assumptions held by liberals and conservatives alike and raise new questions. This book persuades us to consider new and more productive ways of thinking and acting. -- Mahmood Mamdani, author of Saviors and Survivors: Darfur, Politics, and the War on TerrorLila Abu-Lughod lays bare the many factors that can collude to produce an unhappy woman in a Muslim society: abusive father, distant husband, bad personal decisions, and restrictive codes of conduct, yes, but also poverty, neoliberalism, politicized NGOs, war, and occupation. Her book tells larger, transnational stories, bringing together activists, publishers, and women from all over the world. -- Elora Shehabuddin, author of Reshaping the Holy: Democracy, Development, and Muslim Women in Bangladesh

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Book SynopsisChronicling the emergence of deeply embedded notions of black people as a dangerous race of criminals by explicit contrast to working-class whites and European immigrants, this fascinating book reveals the influence such ideas have had on urban development and social policies.Trade ReviewA brilliant work that tells us how directly the past has formed us. -- Darryl Pinckney * New York Review of Books *The role of social-science research in creating the myth of black criminality is the focus of this seminal work by historian Khalil Muhammad. The book shows how progressive reformers, academics, and policy-makers subscribed to a ‘statistical discourse’ about black crime almost immediately after Emancipation, one that shifted blame onto black people for their disproportionate incarceration and continues to sustain gross racial disparities in American law enforcement and criminal justice. -- Elizabeth Hinton * The Nation *Muhammad identifies two different responses to crime among African-Americans in the post–Civil War years, both of which are still with us: in the South, there was vigilantism; in the North, there was an increased police presence. This was not the case when it came to white European-immigrant groups that were also being demonized for supposedly containing large criminal elements. * New Yorker *Explores how the myth of black criminality became deeply embedded in American thought and was important in the making of urban America. * Washington Post *A fresh and fierce study of one of the most enduring lies in American society: the deliberate statistical fusion of criminality with Blackness. -- Mary F. Corey * Los Angeles Review of Books *On the whole, Muhammad’s Condemnation of Blackness marks a tremendous contribution to scholarship on racism and reform in the Progressive era and will help point the way forward in ongoing conversations about crime, punishment, and representations of blackness in the United States. By weaving together the histories of scientific racism, migration, immigrant and African American uplift ideologies, racial violence, and sociopolitical change in the cauldron of the urban North, this text offers important insights into how ideas about race shaped urban life. As the nation continues to wrestle with disparities in its criminal justice system and the considerable consequences thereof, Muhammad’s work serves as a poignant reminder of how these inequalities were shaped and how deeply they reach back into the nation’s history. -- Jeffrey D. Gonda * Journal of African American Literature *This important book bridges a scholarly gap between studies of racial disparities in arrest and incarceration in the contemporary United States and historical examinations of race and punishment in the Jim Crow South. -- William P. Jones * Journal of American History *Meticulous in its research and brilliant in its exposition, Khalil Muhammad’s The Condemnation of Blackness addresses the contemporary crisis in criminal justice by examining its intellectual precedents in the decades after slavery. -- Bryan Wagner * Law, Culture, and the Humanities *It is the rare piece of scholarship that invokes a feeling that our current moment is not so different from our racial past. Khalil Muhammad’s book does exactly that. By describing in incredible depth the ‘ideological currency of black criminality’ throughout the nation’s history, the author provides readers with a new vision through the lens of the past. The power of The Condemnation of Blackness is in giving contemporary debates—about Trayvon Martin, the black underclass, and the extraordinarily high rates of black contact with criminal justice—a fuller historical context. -- Vesla M. Weaver * Perspectives on Politics *Muhammad’s book renders an incalculable service to civil rights scholarship by disrupting one of the nation’s most insidious, convenient, and resilient explanatory loops: whites commit crimes, but black males are criminals. With uncommon interpretive clarity and resourceful accumulation of data, the author disentangles crime as a fact of the urban experience from crime as a theory of race in American history. This is a mandatory read. -- David Levering Lewis, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of W. E. B. Du BoisA dazzling study that illuminates a great deal about the social construction of black criminality. Muhammad does a superb job of explicating the role that social scientists, journalists, and reformers played in creating the idea of the black criminal and sustaining racial inequality. This important book is a vital contribution to our understanding of the role of racism in American society. -- Aldon D. Morris, author of The Origins of the Civil Rights MovementMuhammad simultaneously captures, both in the realm of ideas and in the lived experiences of urban African Americans, the oppressive weight of enduring racialized crime scares and of social policies based on benign neglect. A brilliant, critically important study. -- David R. Roediger, author of How Race Survived U.S. HistoryThis rich and absorbing history forcefully reveals how putatively objective social knowledge created tight links between color and criminality. Thoughtfully comparing representations of white immigrants and African Americans, Muhammad vividly establishes how a racial, and racist, ‘scientific’ discourse combined with the misuse of statistics to influence the patterning of blame, promote white fear, justify uneven policing and discriminatory justice, and block recognition of the deep structural roots of poverty and crime. -- Ira Katznelson, author of When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century AmericaAn impressive and important book that could not have appeared at a better time. The mass incarceration of poorly educated black and Hispanic men has become a principal instrument of social policy in the United States in recent decades. In this exquisitely argued book, Muhammad illuminates the social, political, and cultural roots of this phenomenon. In my opinion, this is the most significant work in the study of race and American society to have appeared in the past decade. -- Glenn C. Loury, author of The Anatomy of Racial InequalityDissects the origins of the myth of Black criminality, laying bare how consistently our past informs our present. * Fast Company *

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Book SynopsisThe top ten arguments put forward by the new atheists teased out and torn down.Trade Review...many Christians will find Poole’s little book informative and helpful. It is the king of booklet you can give away with reasonable hope that the recipient will take the time to read it. -- BB * Australian Journal for Christian Scholarship *Table of ContentsContentsAcknowledgments 7About this book 8Chapter 1 Un-natural selection or ‘Down with sex!’ 11Chapter 2 ‘Faith is believing what you know ain’t so’ 17Chapter 3 People who live in glass houses…? 22Chapter 4 ‘… and may be used in evidence’? 30Chapter 5 Ancient.doc 40Chapter 6 Explaining explaining 48Chapter 7 Where do we draw the boundary? 57Chapter 8 An endangered species? 64Chapter 9 Back to the drawing board – but whose? 69Chapter 10 Unpeeling the cosmic onion 78Summary 87Notes 90Index 95

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Book SynopsisHow to equip your children to survive in the digital jungle.Trade Review“Bex is clearly passionate about helping people engage with the digital world in a positive way, and… sets out some great ways to achieve this.” -- Reg Bailey CBE, Chief Executive of Mothers’ Union“A refreshingly direct and thoughtful guide for parents.” -- Professor Sonia Livingstone OBE, London School of Economics, author of Children and the InternetThis book is certainly unique in that it is not just the spouting of technologies but the revealing of how ordinary folks see and perceive technologies but the revealing of how ordinary folks see and perceive technologies. I appreciate the way Lewis weaves in the various snippets of her survey and study to give us a very down to earth picture of the technological landscape at a very human level. -- Conrade Yap * Netgalley *This book is well written and informative. A definitive guide to avoid your kids dealing with the nastier side of the internet (grooming, cyberbullying, internet addiction). -- Kerry Marsh * Netgalley *`This is a book which every family with young children can benefit from.’ * The Irish Catholic *`This book is the go-to guide for all our digital worries.’ -- Lloyd Kinsley * Childrenswork *Table of ContentsContentsA Chance to Say Thank You… 7Meet @drbexl 11Introduction: What Am I Going toGain from this Book? 13Should we truly be fearful? 15Who is responsible? 17Questionnaire 18Navigating this book 19Chapter 1: Challenging Fears:Brief Lessons from History 20The development of a “risk” society 22Changing families 25Common fears 26Looking hopeful? 28Chapter 2: Digital Culture: Why itMatters that We Join In 30The need for “digital literacy” 33Technology: “The bad guy”? 34Focus on the positive 36Improving social skills 37The benefits of digital technology for those with special needs 38Online/Offline 40Chapter 3: Technology: The ToolBox 44What’s hot right now? 45Audio services 45Blogging 46Bookmarking 48Facebook 48File-hosting service 50Foursquare 51Google Search 51Google+ 52Instagram 53LinkedIn 53Pinterest 54Snapchat 54Skype 55Twitter 55YouTube 56Don’t forget the “old” technologies 58Chapter 4: Children in Digital Culture 59The myth of “the digital native” 60Children online 62Making positive choices 63What changes in the teenage years? 64Buy me! Buy me! 67“Digital divide” 70Where do children turn to for advice? 71Chapter 5: Communicate,Communicate, Communicate 73The question of an Internet Safety Agreement 78Chapter 6: Practical Advice for Parents in a Digital Age 81Appropriate at what age? 82Legal limits? 84Privacy and permanency 87Monitoring 90Filtering 92Location services 95Managing your digital fingerprint 96Chapter 7: Identity: Values and Authenticity 99Role models 102Anonymity 103Chapter 8: Relationships (Online) 104Friendships 105Cyberbullying 109Bystanders 119“Stranger danger” lurks… 122Chapter 9: Increasingly Mobile 127An intruder? 130An e-babysitter? 131Managing phone use and costs 136At what age should I buy my child a mobile? 138Texting and short forms 141Chapter 10: Sex Talk (Porn, Paedophilia, and Sexting) 143Porn 144Grooming and child abuse 148Sexting 152Chapter 11: Keeping within the Law 155Plagiarism and copyright 156Music, film and apps 157Viruses 159Chapter 12: Health Works 160Physical set-up 160Dodgy health information 162Brain change? 165Addiction 166Attention spans and multitasking 170Conversational ability 170Couch potatoes? 173Chapter 13: Screen Time and Family Dynamics 175Recommended screen time 176Bedroom culture 178Digital time out 180Reading online 181Chapter 14: Gaming 184Finding age-appropriate games 187The positives of gaming 188Violent, addictive, and expensive? 190Chapter 15: Does Digital Offer LifeOpportunities? 192Criticality and avoiding the scams 194Working together: collaboration 196Clicktivism, activism, and social justice 197Chapter 16: Some Thoughts forOthers Working with Children 200Grandparents 200Some further resources 202Teachers 203Some further resources 207Youth workers/leaders 209Some further resources 211Chapter 17: Looking to the Future 212Predictions are made 212The future is here 213Core parenting skills retain value 214Chapter 18: Never Forget 215JargonBuster 218Find other terms 224Websites You Might Want toConnect with 225Want to Read a Little More? 229Some specific web resources 231Notes 232

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Book SynopsisThe emphasis is on the pictures in this lively illustrated Bible.Table of ContentsContents Little baby Jesus 104Jesus and the storm 124Jesus and the little girl 144Jesus’ story of theforgiving father 164Jesus’ story of thegood Samaritan 184Jesus and the cross 206Noah and the ark 4Moses and his sister 24David, the shepherd boy 44Jonah and the what? 64Daniel and the lions 84

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Book SynopsisBack with a brighter new paperback edition, the Lion First Bible is the perfect way to encourage new readers aged 3 to 7 in reading stories from God's word

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Book SynopsisWritten with prophetic zeal, this book reveals the keys to restoring power and holiness in the church today. Over 165,000 copies sold in previous editions.

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Book SynopsisThis comprehensive yet accessible study provides readers with a thorough understanding of justification.

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Book SynopsisProvides readers with thoughtful explanations of anti-Christian slogans and brief answers to help them keep the conversation going with non-Christians.

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Book SynopsisBestselling author Dutch Sheets shows you how to take hold of God's promises and pray with the authority He wants you to have. You can reign in life and be the overcomer God intends you to be, taking charge of your personal world and changing the world around you. Don't allow sin, Satan or the circumstances of life to weigh you down.

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Book SynopsisChristianity is not about people struggling to find a way to be "good"; it's not about people reaching up, but God reaching down. The book of Romans shows that when Christians realize who they are in Christ, they experience hope, joy, and power.

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Book SynopsisA Call for Every Christian to Move from Shallow Living to Deep FaithIn The Dangers of a Shallow Faith, renowned theologian A.W. Tozer warns believers in Christ against the great danger of spiritual lethargy. He urges Christians to be aware of the times in which they live and to recognize how attempting to live a life for God on autopilot will actually undermine their faith. For Tozer, the risks are so significant that 'breaking out from the tyranny of spiritual lethargy--whatever the cost--should be the number-one priority of every Christian.'In this never-before-published compilation, followers of Christ will discover anew the importance of standing boldly against spiritual and moral slumber. They will also see the importance of remaining awake in the face of constant temptation and distraction. Discover the spiritual awakening and change the Holy Spirit can bring to your life as you surrender completely to God and walk in a deeper faith!

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Book SynopsisIn these powerful teachings, A.W. Tozer examines what it means to call oneself a Christian. Through Tozer's incomparable teaching and commentary, 1 Peter becomes a fresh and life-infusing admonition.

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Book SynopsisA.W. Tozer breaks down common misconceptions about who prophets are and what they do, revealing that their primary role today--as it was in the Bible--is to proclaim God's truth to believers, leaders, and culture.

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Book SynopsisA.W. Tozer on Living in God''s WisdomWe were created by God and for God, and the only way to find true joy, peace, and contentment is by understanding and embracing his wisdom. Wisdom is not some highbrow philosophical concept, but rather a highly practical tool for living the best possible life. The Wisdom of God captures Tozer''s teaching on this topic as a way to understand the well-lived Christian life. God''s wisdom is a part of his character, inseparable from his love and grace, and knowing this wisdom means drawing closer to him. It will change your decisions, attitudes, and relationships, setting you on the path to becoming all God wants you to be.

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Book SynopsisFrom international prayer leader Dutch Sheets, this real-world, hands-on foundational book will help you develop the most important component of effective prayer: a strong relationship with God. You'll learn how to make prayer a vital part of your life, how to persist in prayer, how to become an intercessor, and more.

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