Society and culture: general Books

Book SynopsisA complete introduction to analyzing and enjoying a wide variety of movies, for film students and movie lovers alike Thinking About Movies: Watching, Questioning, Enjoying, Fourth Edition is a thorough overview of movie analysis designed to enlighten both students and enthusiasts, and heighten their enjoyment of films. Readers will delve into the process of thinking about movies critically and analytically, and find how doing so can greatly enhance the pleasure of watching movies. Divided roughly into two parts, the book addresses film studies within the context of the dynamics of cinema, before moving on to a broader analysis of the relationship of films to the larger social, cultural, and industrial issues informing them. This updated fourth edition includes an entirely new section devoted to a complete analysis of the film adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, along with many in-depth discussions of important films such as CitTable of ContentsList of Figures ix How to Use This Book xvi Acknowledgments xix About the Companion Blog xxi 1 Introduction 1 Fatal Attraction and Scarface 2 Narrative Structure 27 Jurassic Park and Rashomon 3 Formal Analysis 61 Rules of the Game and The Sixth Sense 4 Authorship 87 The Searchers and Jungle Fever 5 Genres 111 Sin City and Gunfight at the OK Corral 6 Series, Sequels, and Remakes 141 Goldfinger and King Kong (1933 and 2005) 7 Actors and Stars 171 Morocco and Dirty Harry 8 Audiences and Reception 197 A Woman of Paris and The Crying Game 9 Film and the Other Arts 222 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1933) and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) 10 Film and its Relation to Radio and Television 257 Richard Diamond, Private Detective; Peter Gunn; Victor/Victoria; 24; and Homeland 11 Realism and Theories of Film 296 The Battleship Potemkin and Umberto D 12 Gender and Sexuality 317 The Silence of the Lambs and American Gigolo 13 Race 341 Out of the Past, LA Confidential, and Boyz N the Hood 14 Class 371 Pretty Woman and The People Under the Stairs 15 Citizen Kane: An Analysis 396 Citizen Kane 16 Current Trends: Globalization and China, 3D, IMAX, Internet TV 419 Glossary 441 Index 446

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Book SynopsisOld Gods, New Enigmas is the highly-anticipated book by the best-selling author of City of Quartz and Planet of Slums. Mike Davis spent years working factory jobs and sitting behind the wheel of an eighteen wheeler before his profile as one of the world's leading urbanists emerged with the publication of his sober, if dystopian survey of Los Angeles. Since then, he's developed a reputation not only for his caustic analysis of ecological catastrophe and colonial history, but as a stylist without peer.Old Gods, New Enigmas is Davis's book-length engagement with Karl Marx, marking the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth and exploring Davis's thinking on history, labor, capitalism, and revolution - themes ever present the early work from this leading radical thinker. This will be his first book on Marxism itself.In a time of ubiquitous disgust with political and economic elites, explores the question of revolutionary agency-what social forces and conditions do we need to transform the current order?-and the situation of the world's working classes from the US to Europe to China. Even the most preliminary tasks are daunting. A new theory of revolution needs to return to the big issues in classical socialist thought, such as clarifying "proletarian agency", before turning to the urgent questions of our time: global warming, the social and economic gutting of the rustbelt, and the city's demographic eclipse of the countryside. What does revolution look like after the end of history?Trade ReviewIn this collection of essays, Davis searches Karl Marx's ouvre for a revolutionary paradigm capable of addressing present-day economic inequality and climate change...While the esoteric case studies and historical summaries will appeal primarily to readers already familiar with Marx, the book also offers the simple pleasure of watching Davis's nimble mind at work. * New Yorker *Davis resuscitates myriad overlooked works of political and environmental history and theory in this insightful collection. * Publishers Weekly *The heterogeneity of Davis's latest book Old Gods, New Enigmas reflects his decades of accumulated interests...a formidable intellectual, and this collection contains many gems. -- Troy Vettese * Boston Review *

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Book SynopsisHow can we create a thriving life for us all that doesn’t come at the price of ecological destruction? This book calls to explore our collective and personal convictions about success and good life. It challenges the mainstream worldview, rooted in economics, that equates happiness with pleasure, and encourages greed, materialism, egoism and disconnection. Drawing on science and ancient Greek philosophers the author details how we can cultivate our skills for enjoying life without harming ourselves or others, and can live an autonomous, creative and connected life. Complementary to our intellectual understanding, the experiential method of role play and theatre can powerfully facilitate the exploration of the inner drivers and hindrances of a thriving life.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Is There Anyone Who Does Not Want to Thrive? PART I: The Challenge 1 Unintended Consequences of Economics as a Science 2 The Narrative of Success in Capitalism, and Its Failures PART II: What Is a Good Life? 3 Pleasure, Joy, Satisfaction, Purpose: Refining Our Quest for Happiness 4 Sustainable Hedonism 5 A Flourishing Life: Living Well and Doing Well 6 Values in an Era of Free Choice PART III: How Do We Get There? 7 The Laboratory of the Flourishing Life: Serious Change Can Be Playful 8 Inner Agents and Saboteurs of the Good Life: Role Theory Conclusions: Flourishing Life in the World

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Book SynopsisDuring the last two decades, Laos has undergone major transformations due to a massive influx of foreign investment. Improved communications and new forms of mobility have dramatically altered rural life. Changing Lives in Laos brings together contributions from young scholars that look closely at these transitions and the resulting rise of a new social, cultural, and economic order. The essays in this volume draw on original fieldwork and provide fresh analyses of topics such as the structures of power, the politics of territoriality, and new forms of sociability in emerging urban spaces.Trade Review"[T]he parameters of the book make for a fascinating discussion and one that will appear to anyone with an interest in Lao studies. [...] The strength of this book lies in its broad nature and indeed, it is clearly essential reading for anyone seeking a detailed overview of contemporary Laos." — ASEASUK News no. 62

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Book SynopsisToday, the European Union is facing a crisis as serious as anything it has experienced since its origins more than half a century ago. What makes this so serious is that it is not a single crisis but rather multiple crises – the euro crisis, the migration/refugee crisis, Brexit, etc. – that overlap and reinforce one another, creating a cumulative array of challenges that threatens the very survival of the EU. For the first time in its history, there is a real risk that the EU could break up. This volume brings together sociologists, economists and political scientists from around Europe to shed light on how the EU got into this predicament. It argues that the multiple crises that have plagued the European Union in the last decade stem to a large extent from flaws in its construction and that these flaws are consequences of the political processes that led to the formation of the EU – in other words, the decisions that made possible the development of the EU created the conditions for the multiple crises it experiences today. This timely and wide-ranging book on one of the most important issues of our time will be of great interest to students and scholars in the social sciences, to politicians and policy-makers and to anyone concerned with Europe and its future.Trade Review"Castells and his colleagues convincingly show that the multiple crises facing Europe today - from Greece to Brexit - are not problems imposed on it from without but are to a large extent crises of its own creation. Their wide-ranging and insightful account should be read by everyone concerned with Europe and its future - and above all by those politicians and policy-makers who could change the direction of the EU before it's too late." Paul Mason, author of Postcapitalism: A Guide to Our Future"To understand what we Europeans must do to secure a brighter future together, firstly we must understand the multifaceted nature of the challenges that our common project is facing. This insightful book reminds us that constructive self-criticism is an indispensable exercise in today's Europe." Javier Solana, President at ESADE Geo-Center for Global Economy and Geopolitics and Distinguished Fellow at the Brookings Institution"Europe's Crises takes the reader on a journey of relationships and interdependencies, from Maastricht to Brexit [,..] [and] unlike the mainstream media's insistence on hiding the wider context, the reader is constantly reminded of the history, geography and wider geopolitics impacting on the daily lives of Europeans."Morning Star Table of Contents List of Contributors List of Figures Introduction Part I: Economic Crises Chapter 1: The End of European Integration as We Knew It: A Political Economy Analysis Olivier Bouin Chapter 2: Making Sense of the Greek Crisis, 2010-2016 Manos Matsaganis Chapter 3: The Consequences of Crisis on the European Banking System Emilio Ontiveros Chapter 4: The Financial Crisis and the Restructuring of the Italian Banking System Sviatlana Hlebik Chapter 5: European Science and Technology in a Time of Crisis: ERC, EIT and Beyond João Caraça et al. Part II: Social Crises Chapter 6: Austerity and Health: The Impact of the Crisis in the UK and Rest of Europe David Stuckler et al. Chapter 7: Suffering: The Human and Social Costs of Economic Crisis John B. Thompson et al. Chapter 8: Achilles’ Heel: Europe’s Ambivalent Identity Manuel Castells Chapter 9: Europe Facing Evil: Xenophobia, Racism, anti-Semitism and Terrorism Michel Wieviorka Chapter 10: Europe and Refugees: Tragedy Bordering on Farce Paul Collier Part III: Political Crises Chapter 11: The Crisis of Legitimacy of European Institutions Sara B. Hobolt Chapter 12: Narratives of Responsibility: German Politics in the Greek Debt Crisis Claus Offe Chapter 13: The Double Crisis of European Social Democracy Colin Crouch Chapter 14: The Rise of the Radical Right Michel Wieviorka Chapter 15: From Crisis to Social Movement to Political Change: Podemos in Spain Manuel Castells Chapter 16: Italy: Autumn of the Second Republic by Pierfranco Pelizzetti Chapter 17: Brexit: The Causes and Consequences of the UK’s Decision to Leave the EU Geoffrey Evans et al. Chapter 18: Social Movements, Participation and Crisis in Europe Gustavo Cardoso et al. Conclusion

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Book SynopsisAmerican social welfare policy has produced a health system with skyrocketing costs, a disability insurance program that consigns many otherwise productive people to lives of inactivity, and a welfare program that attracts wide criticism. Making Social Welfare Policy in America explains how this happened by examining the historical development of three key programsSocial Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, and Temporary Aid to Needy Families. Edward D. Berkowitz traces the developments that led to each program's creation. Policy makers often find it difficult to dislodge a program's administrative structure, even as political, economic, and cultural circumstances change. Faced with this situation, they therefore solve contemporary problems with outdated programs and must improvise politically acceptable solutions. The results vary according to the political popularity of the program and the changes in the conventional wisdom. Some programs, such as Social Security Disability Insur

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Book SynopsisWomen around the world are opting out of marriage. Through nuanced ethnographic accounts of the ways that women are moving the needle on marital norms and practices, Opting Out reveals the conditions that make this widespread phenomenon possible in places where marriage has long been obligatory. Each chapter invites readers into the lives of particular women and the changing circumstances in which these lives unfold - sometimes painfully, sometimes humorously, and always unexpectedly. Taken together, the essays in this volume prompt the following questions: Why is marriage so consistently disappointing for women? When the rewards of economic stability and the social status that marriage confers are troubled, does marriage offer women anything compelling at all? Across diverse geographic contexts in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, this book offers sensitive and powerful portrayals of women as they escape or reshape marriage into a more rewarding arrangement.Trade Review"Grounded in superb ethnographic chapters drawn from all over the world, Opting Out explores the diverse ways in which women exert agency in and against marriage. With fresh insight into practices that occur in every society, this collection delivers a rich and rewarding comparative examination of an astonishingly overlooked aspect of everyday life." -- Daniel Jordan Smith * author of A Culture of Corruption: Everyday Deception and Popular Discontent in Nigeria *"Provocatively and engagingly, this volume provides compelling ethnographic evidence of the changes marriage is undergoing around the world. The impact of these changes raises profound questions, not only about the future of marriage itself, but which, as these essays show, go to the heart of gender relations and their intersection with politics, economics and religion." -- Janet Carsten * co-editor of Marriage in Past, Present, and Future Tense *"Grounded in superb ethnographic chapters drawn from all over the world, Opting Out explores the diverse ways in which women exert agency in and against marriage. With fresh insight into practices that occur in every society, this collection delivers a rich and rewarding comparative examination of an astonishingly overlooked aspect of everyday life." -- Daniel Jordan Smith * author of A Culture of Corruption: Everyday Deception and Popular Discontent in Nigeria *Table of ContentsSeries Foreword by Péter BertaIntroduction: Messing with Marriage by Joanna Davidson and Dinah HannafordPart I. Never Married1. Almost Married: Two Generations of Single Mothers in Namibia by Julia Pauli2. Single in Botswana by Jacqueline Solway3. Freedom to Choose? Singlehood, Gender, and Sexuality in India by Sarah Lamb4. Single Women’s Invisibility in South Korea’s First Decades by Laura C. NelsonPart II. Outside of Marriage5. Pathivratha Precarity: Sex Work on the Other Side of Marriage in South India by Kimberly Walters6. Respectability & Black Brazilian Women’s Decisions to ‘Opt Out’ of Remarriage by Melanie Medeiros7. The Upward Mobility of Matrifocality and the Enigma of Bajan Marriage by Carla Freeman8. Messing with Remarriage: The Problem of Widows in Guinea-Bissau by Joanna DavidsonPart III. Within Marriage9. Extramarital Intimacy: Juggling Femininity, Marriage, and Commercial Sex in Contemporary Japan by Akiko Takeyama10. “What’s Wrong with These Mens?”: Reworking relationships and finding foreign love in the new South Africa by Brady G’Sell11. The Appeal of Absent Husbands in Contemporary Senegal by Dinah Hannaford12. “Not a normal wife”: Marrying Activism and Aberrance in Indonesia by Carla JonesAcknowledgmentsBibliographyContributorsIndex

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Book SynopsisA Nation of Veterans examines how the United States created the world’s most generous system of veterans’ benefits. Though we often see former service members as an especially deserving group, the book shows that veterans had to wage a fierce political battle to obtain and then defend their advantages against criticism from liberals and conservatives alike. They succeeded in securing their privileged status in public policy only by rallying behind powerful interest groups, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, and the American Legion. In the process, veterans formed one of the most powerful movements of the early and mid-twentieth century, though one that we still know comparatively little about. In examining how the veterans’ movement inscribed martial citizenship onto American law, politics, and culture, A Nation of Veterans offers a new history of the U.S. welfare state that highlights its longstanding connection with warfare. It shows how a predominantly white and male group such as military veterans was at the center of social policy debates in the interwar and postwar period and how women and veterans of color were often discriminated against or denied access to their benefits. It moves beyond the traditional focus on the 1944 G.I. Bill to examine other important benefits like pensions, civil service preference, and hospitals. The book also examines multiple generations of veterans, by shedding light on how former service members from both world wars as well as Korea and the Cold War interacted with each other. This more complete picture of veterans’ politics helps us understand the deep roots of the military welfare state in the United States today.Trade Review"A Nation of Veterans offers unique close look at institutions and actors at the heart of important transformations in midcentury America, it gives attention to a major social movement which has been eclipsed only by its own success, and it offers a perspective on too-forgotten history of the politics of defense spending (broadly defined) and civil-military relations clearly relevant for their contrast to debates today that they largely shaped. In all, this work goes a long way in replacing myth with history about veterans in American society and the construction of the welfare state." * IdeAs *"A Nation of Veterans is an important contribution not just to policy history or the history of social movements but also to the understanding of the importance and conflicted nature of America’s relationship with its veterans...Burtin has shown that easy understandings of military service, patriotism, and American politics are not sufficient to truly explain the importance of the veteran to American politics and culture. " * H-Diplo *"Burtin has crafted an exciting and informative work in A Nation of Veterans. Delivering well-researched facts in velvety prose, Burtin obliterates any notion that veteran disability compensation and entitlements were easy to obtain...This book should become a staple of any military or veteran-related program. It is a page-turner for those interested in this topic and a challenge to put down." * Choice *"A Nation of Veterans completely recasts the history of veterans’ politics and benefits in the United States. While historians have long explained the remarkable success of the GI Bill and the Veterans Administration’s vast post-WWII programs as easy political consensus, Olivier Burtin shows us they are the result of hard-fought political struggle and by no means foreordained. From the interwar years through the 1960s, a highly mobilized, multi-layered veterans’ movement fought off critics and doubters to build a vast, exclusionary support system for mostly white male veterans. And while the veterans’ movement itself declined in the 1970s, martial citizenship and military welfare lived on, stronger than ever. A Nation of Veterans is a book historians of war and welfare must read." * Jennifer Mittelstadt, author of The Rise of Military Welfare State *"In this original, surprising, and compelling new book, Olivier Burtin reveals how America’s veterans built one of the nation’s most powerful social movements to create one of its most generous welfare systems. Based on exhaustive research and written with elegant prose, A Nation of Veterans offers a provocative and thoughtful perspective on the vast extent of America’s warfare state." * Andrew Preston, author of Sword of the Spirit, Shield of Faith: Religion in American War and Diplomacy *"Why does the United States have a separate—and more generous—welfare system for military veterans? Why are veterans’ benefits widely understood as the nation’s payment of a ‘sacred and inviolable debt’? In this carefully researched and clearly argued work, Olivier Burtin offers an historical answer, one grounded (as good histories so often are) in contingency and in conflict. A Nation of Veterans is essential reading for anyone interested in American social policy or civil-military relations in the United States." * Beth Bailey, author of America’s Army: Making the All-Volunteer Force *

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Book SynopsisA game-changing book about the revolutionary potential of working from home, by two experts who work — and live — together. Out of Office is a book for every office worker — from employees to managers — navigating the return to the office since the outbreak of COVID-19. The lockdowns of 2020–21 have shown us a new path forward, one that doesn’t involve hellish daily commutes and set schedules that no longer make sense. But how can we realise that future in a way that benefits workers and companies alike? Using groundbreaking reporting and interviews with workers and managers around the world, Charlie Warzel and Anne Helen Petersen illuminate the key values that should be driving this conversation: trust, fairness, flexibility, inclusive workplaces, equity, and work–life balance. Above all, they argue that companies need to listen to their employees — and that this will promote, rather than impede, productivity and profitability. Out of Office is about so much more than Zoom meetings and hybrid schedules: it aims to reshape our entire relationship to the office.Trade Review‘This book will challenge you to rethink what it takes to make remote work work — not just for companies, but for people. With lucid writing, provocative examples, and refreshing candour, Charlie Warzel and Anne Helen Petersen highlight what too many workplaces are doing wrong — and how we can start getting it right.’ -- Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife‘If you believe there’s a better way to live than refreshing your work email until you close your eyes at night, you’ll appreciate this deep dive into how workers relate to the office.’ -- Angela Haupt * Washington Post *‘Warzel and Petersen offer good and sensible advice.’ -- Emma Jacobs * Financial Times *‘Having left their New York desk jobs and moved to Montana, leading culture journalists Warzel and Petersen see today’s pandemic-driven work-at-home situation as a cobbled-together compromise and explain how we can create true out of office work schedules benefiting both workers and employers.’ * Library Journal *‘Out of Office isn’t just a book about remote work. It’s a book that helps us imagine a future where our lives — at the office and home — are happier, more productive, and genuinely meaningful. As companies and employees imagine their post-pandemic futures, Charlie Warzel and Anne Helen Petersen have provided an essential framework for rethinking how we work.’ -- Charles Duhigg, bestselling author of The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better‘Offers straight-talking, accessible self-help.’ -- Johanna Thomas-Corr * New Statesman *‘Great for making you think about the life you want to live and cultivate outside of your laptops.’ -- Susan Riley * Stylist *‘Insightful and timely … Never sacrificing meaningful analysis for easy answers, this is a remarkable examination of the rapidly-changing workplace.’ * Publishers Weekly, starred review *‘The authors take the reader on a deeply researched tour through America’s broken work landscape and sketch out a vision of what a better future might look like.’ -- David Wainer * Bloomberg Businessweek *‘Based on a historical review of workforce expectations, journalists Warzel and Petersen focus on four key areas for strategic change to improve working conditions, employee satisfaction, and wellness … Prior to the pandemic, worker burnout, transience, and dissatisfaction were culminating in a call for change. The pandemic and remote-work chaos heightened awareness of the need for change, the return to work now occurring provides the opportunity, and this book provides a roadmap.’ * Booklist *‘[T]imely and often prescient.’ * The Sydney Morning Herald *Praise for Can’t Even: ‘Can’t Even is a compelling exploration of the phenomenon of burnout and how an entire generation has been set up to fail. As a Millennial, reading this book was a deeply cathartic experience. Anne Helen Petersen articulates the struggles and motivation of a generation so impeccably. Reading this book made me feel like finally, someone understands me. I wish I could give this book to everyone I know.’ -- Taylor Lorenz, culture reporter, New York TimesPraise for Can’t Even: ‘[A] cogent explanation of the millennial landscape, incorporating in-depth research, interviews, and her own experiences to define the problems that millennials face as they attempt to live up to high, occasionally near-impossible expectations … Petersen provides an appropriate amount of historical context — especially regarding demographics, economics, and labour issues — from the Great Depression to the present, which allows readers to clearly see the shift people have undergone in their thinking about what constitutes success or happiness. This chronicle of changes is well worth reading, as the author explains so much about life in the age of Trump. Throw in the candid discussions by millennials — most of whom are burned out and can’t find satisfaction in their lives, even as they work diligently — and the book becomes an even more useful and insightful series of lessons. A well-researched and rendered analysis of why so many millennials feel overwhelmed despite their best efforts.’ STARRED REVIEW * Kirkus Reviews *Praise for Can’t Even: ‘In a cultural moment rife with inter-generational sparring (“OK, Boomer”), and with millennials garnering criticism for their transient-appearing lifestyles (never buying houses or napkins), Buzzfeed culture writer Petersen cracks open why millennials behave the way they do and how the lifestyles that have been forced upon them are a detriment to society as a whole … Petersen is generous in divulging personal experiences and hopeful even at her most enraged. This galvanising read reminds readers that what seems impossible is absolutely not, especially for a generation with so little to lose.’ STARRED REVIEW -- Michael Ruzicka * Booklist *Praise for Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud: ‘Anne Helen Petersen’s gloriously bumptious, brash ode to non-conforming women suits the needs of this dark moment. Petersen’s careful examination of how we eviscerate the women who confound or threaten is crucial reading if we are ever to be better.’ -- Rebecca Traister, New York Times bestselling author of All the Single LadiesPraise for Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud: ‘In a time when women are under constant attack, I am so grateful for Anne Helen Petersen’s sharp and topical book. Petersen nails the magnetism of women who break boundaries and the punishment that often comes along with it. All women will see a bit of themselves in the “unruly”.’ -- Jessica Valenti, New York Times bestselling author of Sex ObjectPraise for Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud: ‘Supremely thoughtful … [S]nappy and compelling … [Petersen’s essays] highlight the paradoxical expectations American culture places on women, in particular, the mixed messages it sends: the “you can do anything”, rubbing awkwardly against the “you can’t do everything”.’ -- Megan Garber * The Atlantic *Praise for Scandals of Classic Hollywood: ‘Clear and convincing … Although Petersen’s book benefits from intelligent analysis of archival research, she writes with the verve of an enthusiast.’ * LA Times *Praise for Scandals of Classic Hollywood: ‘[This] dishy book delivers the juicy anecdotes readers crave.’ * NY Post *Praise for Scandals of Classic Hollywood: ‘Not merely a rehash of salacious old Hollywood gossip, Petersen revivifies flattened images of Hollywood icons … Wide-ranging and surprisingly thoughtful.’ * Kirkus Reviews *‘Journalists Charlie Warzel and Anne Helen Petersen examine both the benefits and pitfalls of remote work in societal terms … For better or worse, our relationship with the office has changed forever.’ -- Rachel King * Fortune *‘[S]imilar to the wisdom echoed in Jenny Odell’s How to Do Nothing, they ask us to reconsider our emotional devotion to labour and reprioritise the things that matter most … Out Of Office is not an easy cure-all for the various problems and inequities that plague our current workforce, it’s a call to action: we only get one life, so why should we believe that we must live to work?’ -- Vanessa Willoughby * LitHub *‘Inspired by the writers’ own rocky experiences with flexible work and informed by conversations with hundreds of workers across industries and sectors, the book is a wide-ranging discussion of the forces shaping the Great Resignation.’ * Future Forum *‘Thankfully, Warzel and Petersen’s book is less about ~these unprecedented times~ and more about how the culture shift of the pandemic can maybe be an opportunity to solve issues that have existed in the corporate world since before we wore masks every day.’ -- Amanda Silberling * TechCrunch *‘It offers a worthy balancing act that shows the promises and pitfalls of working at home as opposed to at the office. In the end, the book is about how to structure a work environment — one that makes workers more productive, feel like they are doing meaningful work and ultimately renders them happier employees.’ -- Eric Allen Been * TechRepublic *‘Examine just what working from home really is for workers across America, who it’s working for, and who it’s working against! This is a book that aims to reshape our entire relationship to the office, no matter where we sit.’ -- Mara Freedman * The Riveter *

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Book Synopsis*With a foreword by Sir Peter Jackson*Buckle up, grab a dram, and get ready for another unforgettable wild ride.They're back! Stars of Outlander, Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish are no strangers to the rugged beauty of Scotland. But this time they're setting their sights on a new horizon: New Zealand.Join our intrepid Scotsmen on their latest epic adventure across The Land of the Long White Cloud in this thrilling follow-up to Clanlands. Setting out to explore a country that Graham calls home, and that Sam has longed to visit, these sturdy friends immerse themselves in all that New Zealand has to offer: stunning landscapes, rich history, world-class food and drink, and - much to Graham's mounting anxiety and Sam's deep satisfaction - famously adrenaline-fuelled activities! As ever there's not nearly enough space in their trusty camper van and with plenty of good-natured competition and tormenting to go around, Sam and Graham's friendship is put to the test once again. Along the way we learn about the length and breadth of this jewel of the Southern Seas, exploring the fascinating story of its people while testing the very limits of Graham's sanity.Like the very best buddy movie sequel, this latest instalment is full of unforgettable experiences and loveable characters and promises to be an even more memorable ride with two of the most entertaining travel companions around.So, say goodbye to your inhibitions and kia ora to New Zealand like you've never seen it before.Trade ReviewUnforgettable and lovable -- USA Today

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Book SynopsisA provocative investigation of the future of photography and human perception in the age of AI.We are constantly photographing and being photographed while feeding machine learning databases with our data, which in turn is used to generate new images. Analyzing the transformation of photography by computation—and the transformation of human perception by algorithmically driven images, from CGI to AI—The Perception Machine investigates what it means for us to live surrounded by image flows and machine eyes. In an astute and engaging argument, Joanna Zylinska brings together media theory and neuroscience in a Vilém Flusser–Paul Virilio remix. Her “perception machine” names a technical universe of images and their infrastructures. But it also refers to a sociopolitical condition resulting from today’s automation of vision, imaging—and imagination.Written by a theorist-practitioner, the book incorporates Zylinsk

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Book SynopsisLife in the digital economy of information and images enriches us but often induces a sense of being overwhelmed. Sensing the Future: Moholy-Nagy, Media and the Arts considers the impact of technology by exploring ways it was addressed in the practice of the Hungarian poly-math artist László Moholy-Nagy (1895–1946), a prominent professor at the Bauhaus and a key figure in the history of Modernism. Moholy-Nagy felt that people needed guidance to cope with the onslaught of sensory input in an increasingly technologized, mediatized, hyper-stimulating environment. His ideas informed media theorists such as Walter Benjamin, John Cage, Sigfried Giedion and Marshall McLuhan, who anticipated digital culture as it emerged. Should we then regard Moholy-Nagy as a pioneer of the digital? His aesthetic engagement with the technology/body problematic broached the notions of immersion, interactivity and bodily participation, innately offering a critique of today’s disembodiment. Was he then both a pioneer and a proto-critic of the digital? This book is intended to introduce this seminal figure of post-medial practices to younger generations and, by including responses to his work by contemporary artists, to reflect on the ways in which his work is relevant to artistic practice now. Having been highly praised by experts, this classic receives a second and slightly revised edition.

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Book SynopsisAn inclusive and landmark history, emphasizing how essential Asian American experiences are to any understanding of US historyOriginal and expansive, Asian American Histories of the United States is a nearly 200-year history of Asian migration, labor, and community formation in the US. Reckoning with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the surge in anti-Asian hate and violence, award-winning historian Catherine Ceniza Choy presents an urgent social history of the fastest growing group of Americans. The book features the lived experiences and diverse voices of immigrants, refugees, US-born Asian Americans, multiracial Americans, and workers from industries spanning agriculture to healthcare.Despite significant Asian American breakthroughs in American politics, arts, and popular culture in the twenty-first century, a profound lack of understanding of Asian American history permeates American culture. Choy traces how anti-Asian violence and its intersectio

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Book SynopsisThe Struggle to Stay is an intimate and insightful portrait of single women’s experiences in evangelical churches. Drawing on unprecedented access to churches in the United States and the United Kingdom, Katie Gaddini relates the struggles of four women, interwoven with her own story of leaving behind a devout faith.Trade ReviewThe author’s insider perspective provides essential insight into fractures within the evangelical movement, and the focus on the experiences of individuals puts a human face on larger trends. This moving and incisive account will resonate with anyone who has struggled with their faith. * Publishers Weekly *The Struggle to Stay offers a vivid, enlightening glimpse into the complex contradictions of Christian life. These women want to stay in the church. But they also want to be sexually active and respected as equals—and that is hard. This book gives a rich, nuanced account of why and how it is hard that respects the complexities of the religious experience. A beautifully written, vivid, insightful book about being a bright Christian woman. -- T. M. Luhrmann, author of How God Becomes Real: Kindling the Presence of Invisible OthersIn The Struggle to Stay, Gaddini does what is rare in a work of scholarship—she marshals deep research while also humanizing her subjects and topic. This book will be an indispensable part of the growing scholarship that reevaluates modern evangelicalism in relation to gender. Gaddini is analytical without being aloof, empathetic without being saccharine. Many readers of this book will feel both seen and informed along the way. In the end, The Struggle to Stay, accomplishes what it set out to do—it describes the conundrum of single evangelical women in churches and the price they pay to remain there. -- Jemar Tisby, author of The Color of Compromise: The Truth About the American Church's Complicity in RacismDrawing on the author's own experience as well as research with evangelical women in Britain and America, this book takes a long and searching look at what makes women stay in churches that treat them with ambivalence—and why, even when they decide to go, they leave a part of themselves behind. Emotionally and intellectually compelling. -- Linda Woodhead, coauthor of That Was the Church That Was: How the Church of England Lost the English PeopleVivid descriptions and thoughtful analysis. . . . Gaddini models great care and empathy in her treatment of evangelical women. * Reading Religion *A beautifully written book that evocatively draws the reader into the lives of single, evangelical women as they negotiate what it means to thrive on community while also experiencing a keen sense of separation for being outside the norm. * Gender & Society *For anyone who studies evangelical Christianity, this book adds important, detailed insights to the existing body of research on women and evangelicalism. For those concerned about and committed to building inclusive church communities, this book is essential reading. * Review of Religious Research *Masterfully narrates the stories of evangelical women. . . . Gaddini’s writing and argument shine in chapters that directly confront gendered double standards within evangelical churches. * Sociology of Religion *Written in an accessible and engaging manner, deftly weaving four captivating stories together with a rigorous analysis of Christianity, gender and politics, it is a fascinating read. * Marginalia Review of Books *Table of ContentsPreface1. Homecoming2. Without You, I Am Nothing3. In the World4. Purity Culture5. The Ideal Woman6. Wounds That Never Heal7. Reprisals8. The Struggle to StayAcknowledgmentsMethodological NoteNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisIn International Law and the Public, Geoffrey P.R. Wallace investigates the public as a crucial, often overlooked, actor in international law. He asks just who is it that counts in the operation of the international legal order. Defying conventional wisdom that sees governments, leaders, generals, lawyers, or elites from the upper echelons of society as the main international legal players, Wallace advances a popular international law where ordinary people are considered important legal actors in their own right alongside the usual focus on elites. Far from powerless or unwitting, publics possess both the cognitive and material capacities to understand and contribute to the intricacies of international legal rules. Combining rigorous theorizing with wide-ranging evidence, International Law and the Public is an account of an international legal politics from below, taking seriously the place of ordinary people in international affairs.

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Book SynopsisThis sixth edition of a well-established introduction to life in the United States covers everything from US politics, society and culture, to the country's history, economy and place on the world stage. With extensive use of empirical data and illustrative material, Contemporary United States offers readers critical commentary on key political developments and allows them to place this within a wider historical and cultural context. This new edition offers coverage of all of the latest domestic and international developments, including: -The continuing divide between rich and poor, addressing social, legal, economic, and political inequality -The domestic and international ramifications of the Covid-19-induced recession -The rise of China, the return of Putin and the complexity of problems in North Korea, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan -The #MeToo and the Black Lives Matter movements -The Biden administration to date. Contemporary United States takes a broad, balanced apTrade ReviewThis remains the go-to text for an understanding of the contemporary United States. It continues to be the leading source for information for my undergraduates who wish to gain an in-depth appreciation of the USA, its historical roots and those events which have shaped the America of today. * Murray Leith, Professor of Political Science, University of the West of Scotland, UK *This new edition of Contemporary United States mixes history, sociology and political science in a very fruitful way to produce a one volume introductory text that should be indispensable reading for undergraduate students of American politics and/or society. * Ole Helmersen, Associate Professor of British & American Studies, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark *Contemporary United States continues to be a one-stop shop for everything the aspiring student and scholar would want to know about the most complex and diverse nation on earth. Packed full of up-to-the-minute details and analysis, Goddard and Duncan do a remarkable job of condensing America’s core elements. A brilliant synopsis that leads the way as a primer for the study of the United States in all its glorious, contradictory, and increasingly controversial ways. * Ian Scott, Professor of American Film and History, University of Manchester, UK *Tackling the further fissuring of the U.S. in an unflinching but balanced way, this edition provides the necessary overview to understand the complicated and complex reality of contemporary America. Written in clear prose and with academic breadth, it is certain to be a go-to resource for teachers of undergraduate courses. * Steen Ledet Christiansen, Professor of Popular Visual Culture, Aalborg University, Denmark *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. History 2. Land and People 3. Government 4. Politics and Democracy 5. Society 6. Religion, Education, Social Policy 7. Culture, Media, Sports 8. The Economy 9. Global Politics 10. Prospects

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Book SynopsisRituals of Death covers the ways in which society has handled death from prehistoric times to now.

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Book SynopsisIn Ejaculate Responsibly, Gabrielle Blair offers a provocative reframing of the abortion issue in post-Roe America. In a series of 28 brief arguments, she deftly makes the case for moving the abortion debate away from controlling and legislating women's bodies and instead directs the focus on men's lack of accountability in preventing unwanted pregnancies. Highly readable, accessible, funny, and unflinching, Blair builds her argument by walking readers through the basics of fertility (men are 50 times more fertile than woman), the unfair burden placed on women when it comes to preventing pregnancy (90% of the birth control market is for women), the wrongheaded stigmas around birth control for men (condoms make sex less pleasurable, vasectomies are scary and emasculating), and the counterintuitive reality that men, who are fertile 100% of the time, take little to no responsibility for preventing pregnancy. The result is a compelling and convincing case for placing the responsibility--and burden--of preventing unwanted pregnancies away from women and onto men.Trade Review"Blair’s fresh reframe should be required reading for any person who has sex, wants to have sex or is raising someone who might have sex in the future. This slender book has what it takes to be the foundation for a movement."—Washington Post"Flashes of acerbic humor and eye-opening statistics bolster Blair’s common-sense case. This polemic has the power to change minds."—Publishers Weekly"Any reader of this gorgeous manifesto, men especially, would be hard-pressed to walk away from it without being reminded (*mind blown emoji*) that putting the entire very heavy burden on women to not get pregnant, or to be unable to terminate because of all that’s gone on to make abortion illegal or inaccessible, makes a lot less sense than just not getting them pregnant in the first place."—Oprah Daily"Slim but mighty tome"—Booklist

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Book SynopsisDo you cringe when you hear someone giving a ridiculously overcomplicated coffee order? Do you shudder when someone sits the wrong way round on a chair? Do you die inside at the person who''s always first to sing the Ha... of Happy Birthday? These people are giving off some seriously big ick energy.An ick is a turn-off - but not just any turn-off. Dive into this book to discover the specific, relatable and not-so-charming quirks that leave you chuckling and cringing in equal measure. This pocket-sized treasure trove of peculiarities delves into the cringe-worthy gems that transcend cultural boundaries, even if there is no logical explanation for them, including:- When someone uses their index finger to scroll on their phone- Someone walking up to an automatic door that doesn''t open- When people who can''t rap, rapWith Big Ick Energy, forget being kind and courteous to your fellow human beings. This book revels in the immoral joy of

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Book Synopsis"At first the focus of my project was my gender transition, but along the way I found out that it's about an ongoing search for myself: being a human with feelings, who is continuously developing." - Marvel Harris MARVEL describes the journey of Marvel Harris' personal battles with mental illness, self-love, acceptance, and gender identity, all told through a searing collection of self-portraits spanning the course of five years. These photographs present a new-found visual language; a tool with which Marvel was able to express those emotions that, on account of his autism, he previously struggled to make sense of. The process of making these portraits allowed him to connect to the world around him at the time he needed it most. Winner of the MACK First Book Award 2021, MARVEL is an important new voice which contributes to an increased awareness of the issues surrounding gender identity and mental health. In doing so, this deeply personal book demands a more tolerant attitude from society towards transgender people and those who don't identify as entirely male or female.

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Book SynopsisChatterji's essays boldly address the societal constraints on women, from systemic silence to abuse and stereotypes. She meticulously examines these issues and their impact on women's lives and representation in cinema.

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Book SynopsisA rich guide for understanding the evolvingresearchlandscapein psychology, including changes to coreresearch ethics concepts such as informed consent, privacy, and risk of harm. This handbook offers a thorough and authoritative discussion ofthe ethical issues in conducting research with human participants. Each chapter poses an important ethical question, considers the relevant factors for addressing the question, and presents guidance for investigators. Topics include: informed consent, deception, risk/benefit ratio, data security, authorship, conflicts of interest, fairness and equity when collaboratingwith researchers in resource-poor settings, and more. While psychological research with humans still takes place in the investigator’s laboratory and field, there is an increasing trend toward multiple investigators and interdisciplinary research projects owing to the compTrade ReviewThis scholarly yet accessible edited volume is essential reading for social/behavioral scientists at any career level, and is particularly valuable during our current time of social change, as technological advances, team science, and data-sharing promise to enhance research capabilities while policy and regulation begin to bend toward a more just society. A defining feature of the book—and what sets it apart from others in this space—is the recognition that, while the fundamental principles of ethical research are constant, the application of those principles to respectful, just, and beneficent science requires ongoing, honest, and vigilant interrogation by all of those involved in the process of knowledge generation. -- Thomas Eissenberg, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Co-Director, Center for the Study of Tobacco Products, Department of Psychology (Health Program), College of Humanities and Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, RichmondA must-have resource for new and seasoned researchers alike, written by some of today’s preeminent thinkers in research ethics. -- Tracy S. Arwood, MS, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, Clemson University, Clemson, SCThis excellent book assists researchers and institutional review board/ethics committee members in addressing challenging ethical, regulatory, and scientific issues impacting protection of human participants in research. I recommend it! -- Ada Sue Selwitz, MA, Executive Integrity/Compliance Advisor, Office of the Vice President for Research & Center for Clinical and Translational Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington

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Book SynopsisHow can we transform society in a way that unleashes its positive, creative potentials, instead of its violent, destructive ones? Unlearn shows how we can tackle today’s systemic crisis by acknowledging its deep roots. By going on a journey of unlearning, as individuals and collectively, we have the potential to become someone else – a process that redefines how we see ourselves, and thus reshapes our common future. Hanno Burmester works at the intersection of societal, organisational and individual transformation. With his company Unlearn, he helps companies transform towards cultures of self-organisation. As Policy Fellow at the Berlin-based think tank Das Progressive Zentrum, Hanno designs, writes and facilitates around the future of democracy. Hanno is host of the Unlearning Journey. You can learn more about his work at unlearn-book.com. hannoburmester.com

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Book SynopsisSomewhere in the tangle of the subject's burden and the subject's desire is your story.Alex TizonEvery human being has an epic story. The late Pulitzer Prizewinning writer Alex Tizon told the epic stories of marginalized peoplefrom lonely immigrants struggling to forge a new American identity to a high school custodian who penned a New Yorker short story. Edited by Tizon's friend and former colleague Sam Howe Verhovek, Invisible People collects the best of Tizon's rich, empathetic accountsincluding My Family's Slave, the Atlantic magazine cover story about the woman who raised him and his siblings under conditions that amounted to indentured servitude. Mining his Filipino American background, Tizon tells the stories of immigrants from Cambodia and Laos. He gives a fascinating account of the Beltway sniper and insightful profiles of Surfers for Jesus and a man who tracks UFOs. His articlesmany originally published in the Seattle Times and the Los Angeles Timesare brimming with enlightTrade Review“Alex Tizon is the master of the telling detail that penetrates the surface and makes us understand something or someone—and ultimately ourselves—in a deeper way. Tizon’s beautiful book is as powerful as they come.”—Cheryl Strayed"[B]oth longtime fans and those relatively new to Tizon’s work will come away from this collection with an appreciation for his unquestionable ability to narrate unusual stories in memorable ways."--Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisThe book "The Scientific Muslim" challenges negative perceptions of science in Islam, emphasizing the Qur'an's emphasis on scientific knowledge. It criticizes Muslims for blindly following without understanding, urging them to use logic and reason in interpreting the Qur'an.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Preface xi 1 The Many Faces of Evil Online 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Some Trends and Cases 7 2 Our Online Environment 33 2.1 Introduction 33 2.2 Epistemic Success, Connectivity, and Coordination 39 2.2.1 Epistemic Success 39 2.2.2 Connectivity 40 2.2.3 Coordination 41 2.3 Other Features of Online Worlds that Shape Our Lives 43 2.3.1 Selectivity 43 2.3.2 Homophily and Stigmergy 46 2.3.3 Jurisdiction 47 2.3.4 Anonymity 48 2.3.5 Virtuality 49 2.3.6 Voluntariness 49 2.3.7 Positionality 50 2.3.8 Interpretive Flexibility 51 2.3.9 Interactivity 52 2.3.10 Publicity 53 2.3.11 Domesticity 55 2.3.12 Isolation 56 2.3.13 Addictiveness 57 3 The Transformation of Social Life 59 3.1 Introduction 59 3.2 Our Public and Private Lives: Plural Worlds and Values 61 3.3 Public/Private Lives Online 69 3.4 Life on Your Own Terms 71 3.5 Online/Offline World Contrasts: Overstated and Alarmist 77 3.6 Alarmism about Sexual Predators and Children 79 4 The Moral Fog of Our Worlds 83 4.1 Introduction 83 4.2 The Moral Fog of Evil 86 4.3 The Shared Life and Our Vulnerability to Evil 97 4.3.1 Learning and Development Vulnerabilities 104 4.3.2 The Need for Intimacy 107 4.3.3 Keeping Up with Others 108 4.3.4 Working and Professional Life 110 4.3.5 Plural Identities 113 4.3.6 Incremental and Collective Evils 114 4.3.7 Widely Shared Vice and Weakness 116 5 The Fate of the Moral Life 119 5.1 Introduction 120 5.2 Moral Character: A Case of Mistaken Identity? 120 5.3 Good Character, Self]interest, Others and Surrounds 124 5.4 Evil and Responsibility 131 5.5 Nothing New Under the Sun 140 5.6 The Liberal 142 5.7 Conclusion: Just Me and the Internet 145 Bibliography 150 Index 157

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Book SynopsisSuper Polluters offers a groundbreaking global analysis of carbon pollution caused by the generation of electricity. The sociologists Don Grant, Andrew Jorgenson, and Wesley Longhofer analyze a novel dataset on the carbon dioxide emissions and structural attributes of thousands of fossil-fueled power plants around the world.Trade ReviewA fascinating reminder that relatively few plants account for vast percentages of the carbon flowing into the atmosphere. That means that concentrating on them could pay huge dividends, but only if careful thinking like this undergirds the approach. -- Bill McKibben, author of Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?It is no surprise that fossil-fueled power plants are a major source of carbon emissions. What is surprising is the striking variation in the amount of pollution emitted by these plants. But until recently, our understanding of the causes of this variation was limited. Not anymore. Drawing on a novel dataset on thousands of fossil-fueled power plants around the world, Grant, Jorgenson, and Longhofer shed critical light on the social and political factors that enable super pollution and, more importantly, on which energy and climate policies are most effective at abating power-plant pollution. -- Doug McAdam, Ray Lyman Wilbur Professor of Sociology, Stanford UniversityThis superb and original book—a study of actual power plants around the globe—is a must read for anyone interested in the climate emergency, and indeed the future of human societies. It neatly cuts through conventional approaches and provides a stunning insight—a small number of power plants are disproportionately responsible for carbon pollution. The authors use sophisticated but highly accessible statistical analyses to explain differences among polluting plants and to investigate the policies that do and don’t work to reduce emissions. At the risk of sounding corny, this is a 'super scholar' book. -- Juliet Schor, author of After the Gig: How the Sharing Economy Got Hijacked and How to Win It BackGrant, Jorgenson, and Longhofer have made a pioneering effort with Super Polluters. Their detailed investigation of electrical power plants and what drives their emissions will be of substantial interest to environmental sociologists and any social scientists interested in climate mitigation. -- Thomas Dietz, University Distinguished Professor, Michigan State UniversityThe book would be a valuable read for scholars, students and policymakers interested in discussing climate change, development and activism. * LSE Review of Books *This book presents an excellent, comprehensive discussion of the different theories undergirding current climate and energy policies. * Choice *A groundbreaking global account of who bears the blame for our warming planet. * Climate and Capitalism *The book is appropriate for graduate courses in environmental sociology and related fields. * Social Forces *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations and TablesAcknowledgments1. Who Is Responsible for This Mess?: The Climate Crisis and Hyperemitting Power Plants2. Cleaning Up Their Act: Potential Emission Reductions from Targeting the Worst of the Worst Power Plants3. Recipes for Disaster: How Social Structures Interact to Make Environmentally Destructive Plants Even More So4. A Win-Win Solution?: The Paradoxical Effects of Efficiency on Plants’ CO2 Emissions5. Bottom-Up Strategies: The Effectiveness of Local Policies and Activism (with Ion Bogdan Vasi)6. Next Steps: Future Research and Action on Society’s Super PollutersAppendixesNotesReferences

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