Search results for ""Author Sam"

A beautifully illustrated history of the Queen of Flowers and her enduring power in our gardens, art, religion and imagination. ‘Fascinating... I’ll never look at a rose in quite the same way again.’ Adrian Tinniswood The rose is bursting with meaning. Over the centuries it has come to represent love and sensuality, deceit, death and the mystical unknown. Today the rose enjoys unrivalled popularity across the globe, ever present at life’s seminal moments. Grown in the Middle East two thousand years ago for its pleasing scent and medicinal properties, it has become one of the most adored flowers across cultures, no longer selected by nature, but by us. The rose is well-versed at enchanting human hearts. From Shakespeare’s sonnets to Bulgaria’s Rose Valley to the thriving rose trade in Africa and the Far East, via museums, high fashion, Victorian England and Belle Epoque France, we meet an astonishing array of species and hybrids of remarkably different provenance. This is the story of a hardy, thorny flower and how, by beauty and charm, it came to seduce the world. *** ‘Fascinating material, surveyed with relish and acumen.’ Times Literary Supplement ‘Morley’s book is, in part, the story of how humans came to raise roses so consistently and abundantly that we demand them even in freezing February. First, though, By Any Other Name recounts the love affair with a flower that drove us to want to do that in the first place.’ Wall Street Journal ‘An intellectual and artistic journey… digging around the history of how roses have become entangled with human life. By Any Other Name will be a source of inspiration for us.’ Kim Wook-Kyun, President of the South Korea Rose Society

Read more less

**Named a "Best Craft Book" by Book Riot**With this origami folding book, learn how to create original gift boxes that are as beautiful as the treasures they hold!Considered the most famous living origami master, Tomoko Fuse is known for her expertise in modular origami and box-folding. The more than 30 origami projects in this book range from beginner to more advanced, and ensure you'll always have a special way to give a gift. The simple flat box, or tato, is an excellent introduction to the art of origami for beginners and allows readers to "start small," then build to more intricate pieces like the Hexagonal Box and Octagonal Flower Box (Mukuge).Handmade paper boxes are an expression of origami crafts at their very best. Experiment with different thicknesses, textures, and origami paper designs for a true one-of-a-kind presentation. The projects are divided into 3 sections: Simple Boxes from Square Sheets, Modular Boxes from Multiple Square Sheets and Modular Boxes from Rectangular Sheets.Step-by-step instructions and diagrams guide you from start to finish as you create: Simple flat boxes—rectangular, triangular, hexagonal and more Pyramid-shaped boxes and different ways of finishing them off Modular box tops that look amazing Window-topped boxes for nesting a special gift Box tops with flourishes from flat to spiraled Easy liners for boxes of all shapes and sizes And a lot more Origami box folding is a relaxing and satisfying craft for all levels of expertise and—with a little practice and this easy origami book—gift-giving will never be the same.

Read more less

What is a woman? What is a man? How do they—and how should they—relate to each other? Does our yearning for "wholeness" refer to something real, and if there is a Whole, what is it, and why do we feel so estranged from it? For centuries now, art and literature have increasingly valorized uniqueness and self-sufficiency. The theoreticians who loom so large within contemporary thought also privilege difference over similarity. Silverman reminds us that this is but half the story, and a dangerous half at that, for if we are all individuals, we are doomed to be rivals and enemies. A much older story, one that prevailed through the early modern era, held that likeness or resemblance was what organized the universe, and that everything emerges out of the same flesh. Silverman shows that analogy, so discredited by much of twentieth-century thought, offers a much more promising view of human relations. In the West, the emblematic story of turning away is that of Orpheus and Eurydice, and the heroes of Silverman's sweeping new reading of nineteenth- and twentieth-century culture, the modern heirs to the old, analogical view of the world, also gravitate to this myth. They embrace the correspondences that bind Orpheus to Eurydice and acknowledge their kinship with others past and present. The first half of this book assembles a cast of characters not usually brought together: Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, Marcel Proust, Lou-Andréas Salomé, Romain Rolland, Rainer Maria Rilke, Wilhelm Jensen, and Paula Modersohn-Becker. The second half is devoted to three contemporary artists, whose works we see in a moving new light:Terrence Malick, James Coleman, and Gerhard Richter.

Read more less

Today, art and science are often defined in opposition to each other: one involves the creation of individual aesthetic objects, and the other the discovery of general laws of nature. Throughout human history, however, the boundaries have been less clearly drawn: knowledge and artifacts have often issued from the same source, the head and hands of the artisan. And artists and scientists have always been linked, on a fundamental level, by their reliance on creative thinking. Art and Science is the only book to survey the vital relationship between these two fields of endeavour in its full scope, from prehistory to the present day. Individual chapters explore how science has shaped architecture in every culture and civilisation; how mathematical principles and materials science have underpinned the decorative arts; how the psychology of perception has spurred the development of painting; how graphic design and illustration have evolved in tandem with methods of scientific research; and how breakthroughs in the physical sciences have transformed the performing arts. Some 265 illustrations, ranging from masterworks by Dürer and Leonardo to the dazzling vistas revealed by fractal geometry, complement the wide-ranging text. This new edition of Art and Science has been updated to cover the ongoing convergence of art and technology in the digital age, a convergence that has led to the emergence of a new type of creator, the 'cultural explorer' whose hybrid artworks defy all traditional categorisation. It will make thought-provoking reading for students and teachers, workers in creative and technical fields, and anyone who is curious about the history of human achievement.

Read more less

What are the critical success factors in effective executive coaching? What are the key competencies of a psychologically-informed coach? What are the similarities and differences between coaching and therapy? This book provides business coaches and management consultants with the framework for a psychological approach to executive coaching. It shows how performance-related issues in the workplace often have a psychological dimension to them and provides the reader with an understanding of how to work in more depth to help people resolve their issues and unlock their potential.It analyzes what constitutes effective coaching, stressing the importance of sound coaching principles, good coaching process, the desirable competencies of the coach, the importance of the coaching relationship and the issue of 'coachability'. It also examines the impact of a stronger psychological approach to coaching, exploring the key psychological competencies required, how to develop them, and the training and supervision issues implicit in this approach. A recurrent theme is the personal development of the coach throughout the coaching process and Peter Bluckert highlights the contribution that the Gestalt perspective offers the coach, through the use of self as instrument of change. Anecdotes, stories and case samples are used throughout the book to illustrate situations so that the reader builds a picture of what psychologically-informed coaching looks like and how to practice ethically, responsibly and competently.Psychological Dimensions to Executive Coaching provides business and executive coaches, management consultants, human resource specialists, corporate executives/senior managers, health/social workers, occupational psychologists, teachers, psychotherapists and counsellors with the essential information they need to be successful coaches and empower their clients.

Read more less

This book provides hands-on instructions for understanding and implementing key Six Sigma tools. Six Sigma is today's most disciplined, rigorous process for consistently developing and delivering near-perfect products and services. But you can't achieve breakthrough Six Sigma success without truly understanding the tools involved. "Rath and Strong's Pocket Guide to Advanced Six Sigma Tools" explores over two dozen tools that drive Six Sigma excellence, explaining how to use each without getting bogged down in unnecessary theory and detail. This useful fingertip guide shows your project team leaders and members how to: understand each tool and its Six Sigma application; select the best tools for controlling costly process variation; and apply each tool to consistently maximize customer value, while minimizing costs."Rath and Strong's Pocket Guide to Advanced Six Sigma Tools" provides you with every vital detail you need to implement the most powerful, proven tools in Six Sigma. A companion reference to the bestselling "Rath and Strong's Six Sigma Team Pocket Guide", this "lean and mean" book explains each tool in easy-to-understand language, showing how to apply the tool to solve real-world problems in every area of business. Look to "Rath and Strong's Pocket Guide to Advanced Six Sigma Tools" for valuable, results-based information and details on important Six Sigma tools in areas, including: Design of Experiments (DOE); Analysis of Variance (ANOVA); Regression Analysis; Correlation Analysis; Probability Distributions; Sampling Confidence Intervals; and Hypothesis Testing Control Charts.

Read more less

In this stunning memoir, beloved internationally acclaimed earth advocate chronicles her journey to reconnect with the earth, offering a model for how we all can nurture the wild around and inside ourselves.In 1991, twenty-four-year-old Lynx Vilden crawled out of a sweat lodge covered in mud, her face streaked with tears, and whispered a promise to the earth: “I will love you and cherish you, I will learn how to live and share what you teach me.” That promise became Vilden’s life purpose: to return to the ways of our oldest ancestors, to a simpler life, and to listen deeply to Earth and what she has to say. Over the next thirty years, Vilden’s mission would lead her far from the city streets and punk bands of London and Amsterdam where she was raised, on a long and winding journey spanning continents and seasons, and filled with indigenous wisdom, Stone Age hunting skills, and important lessons from nature.In this illuminating memoir, Vilden shares the joys that await all of us when we reconnect with the earth, when we recognize what has been lost, and understand what we gain by meaningfully returning to our roots and become rewilded. Return is a glimpse into her extraordinary world—from stories about mentoring Silicon Valley millennials at her Stone Age immersion in rural Washington State to adventures traveling among Sami reindeer herders in Arctic Sweden to detailing the intricacies of just how to pursue and survive a wild lifestyle inspired by Stone Age humans.This extraordinary debut ultimately invigorates our hunger to renew our bonds with the earth and awaken our wildest, most primal selves.

Read more less

A New York Times bestseller.From FOX & Friends Weekend cohost Pete Hegseth comes a collection of inspiring stories from fifteen of America’s greatest heroes—highly decorated Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, marines, Purple Heart recipients, combat pilots, a Medal of Honor recipient, and more—based on FOX Nation’s hit show of the same name.After three Army deployments—earning two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge—Pete Hegseth knows what it takes to be a modern warrior. In Modern Warriors he presents candid, unfiltered conversations with fellow modern warriors and digs for real answers to key questions like: What inspired them to serve? What is their legacy? What does sacrifice really mean to them? How do they handle loss? And what can civilians learn from this latest generation of veterans?From the skies over Afghanistan to the seas of the Mediterranean to the treacherous streets of Iraq, these brave men and women take you inside the firefight, sharing the harrowing realities of war. Hegseth uses their experiences to facilitate conversations about the raw truths of combat, including the difficulties of transitioning back home, while also celebrating these soldiers’ contributions to preserving our nation’s most precious gift—freedom.In addition to the oral history, Modern Warriors presents dozens of personal, rarely shared photos from the battlefield and the home front. Together these stories and images provide an unvarnished representation of battlefield leadership, military morale, and the strain of war. This book is the perfect keepsake and gift for anyone who wants to know what it means, and what it truly takes, to be a patriot.

Read more less

Are you ready to be a contender? Sylvester Stallone's action-oriented program for getting fit and eating right is also a revealing portrait of one of Hollywood's biggest stars. Sly Moves is more than just a handbook on fitness and nutrition. It's a provocative and candid inside look at the trials and triumphs of one of Hollywood's most famous stars. Throughout his career, Sly has always been body conscious, and as he experimented with intense training methods for various films, he has learned - often the hard way - what works and what definitely doesn't. His goal here is to help readers change harmful fitness habits, learn to counter reckless eating, and appreciate who they are even when they don't feel much like action heroes. Part 1 is a history of Sylvester Stallone's physique, as the Rocky star shares stories about his being bullied as a child, finding comfort and strength at the gym, and then later, the wild ride of fad diets, crash-training regimens and workout disasters that fringed on obsession. Part 2, The Sly Moves workout, outlines four exercise programs: classic, advanced, women's and hardcore. The workouts only require a commitment of about three hours a week (exactly the same amount of time Sly works out). The Sly Moves eating plan (Part 3) is Sly's nutrition guide, highlighted by a unique meal plan for a lifetime of good eating. Part 4 gives Sly an opportunity to inspire and encourage readers to make Sly Moves part of a long-term picture of health, fitness and wellbeing, with tips on everything from keeping goals and relaxation techniques to lessons learned from The Contender.

Read more less

Books on the history of fortifications are plentiful. Medieval castles, the defensive systems of the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the trenches and bunkers of the First World War, the great citadels of the Second World War - all these have been described in depth. But the fortifications of the Cold War - the hidden forts of the nuclear age - have not been catalogued and studied in the same way. Paul Ozorak's Underground Structures of the Cold War: The World Below fills the gap.After the devastation caused by the atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the outbreak of the Cold War, all over the world shelters were constructed deep underground for civilians, government leaders and the military. Wartime structureswere taken over and adapted and thousands of men went to work drilling new tunnels and constructing bunkers of every possible size. At the height of the Cold War, in some countries an industry of bunker-makers profited from the public's fear of annihilation.Paul Ozorak describes when and where these bunkers were built, and records what has become of them. He explains how they would have been used if a nuclear war had broken out, and in the case of weapons bases, he shows how these weapons wouldhave been deployed. His account covers every sort of facility - public shelters, missile sites, command and communication centres, storage depots, hospitals.A surprising amount of information has appeared in the media about these places since the end of the Cold War, and Paul Ozorak's book takes full advantage of it.

Read more less

The past is weaponised in culture wars and cynically edited by those who wish to impose their ideology upon the physical spaces around us. Holocaust deniers use details of the ruins of the gas chambers Auschwitz to promote their lies: 'No Holes; No Holocaust'. Yet long-standing concepts such as 'authenticity' in heritage are undermined and trivialised by gatekeepers such as UNESCO. At the same, time, opposition to this manipulation is being undermined by cultural ideas that prioritise memory and impressions over history and facts. In Monumental Lies, Robert Bevan argues that monuments, architecture and cities are material evidence of history. They are the physical trace of past events, of previous ways of thinking and of politics, economics and values that percolate through to today. When our cities are reshaped as fantasies about the past, when monuments tell lies about who deserves honour or are destroyed and the struggle for justice forgotten, the historical record is being manipulated. When decisions are based on misinformed assumptions about how the built environment influences our behaviour or we are told, falsely, that certain architectural styles are alien to our cities, or when space pretends to be public but is private, or that physical separation is natural, we are being manipulated. There is a growing threat to the material evidence of the truth about history. We are in serious trouble if we can no longer trust the tangible world around us to tell us the truth. Monumental Lies explores the threats to our understanding of the built environment and how it impacts on our lives, as well as offers solutions to how to combat the ideological manipulations.Chosen as one of the best Architecture and Design books of 2022 by The Financial Times

Read more less

A victim? Or a killer?One icy cold morning, the remains of a woman are discovered. She has been abused, then butchered. DI Kelly Porter knows this is the work of a monster. One who has killed before – and will do so again.Kevin Flint is a young man with no friends and a reputation for being odd. He explores the hidden corners of the Lake District, and likes to creep, and watch. He witnesses depravity and it excites him. But will he cross the line from bystander to perpetrator?Despite her personal life taking unexpected turns, Kelly’s detective instincts tell her that the answers lie with Kevin – if only she knew the right questions to ask. Will Kelly miss her chance and have blood on her hands? And will she ever be the same when it’s over?A stunning new DI Kelly Porter crime novel from million copy bestseller Rachel Lynch, perfect for fans of Patricia Gibney, L. J. Ross and Angela Marsons.Readers are hooked on Lost Cause ‘Once again Rachel Lynch has written a book to make you sit up and take notice’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Another excellent read and this series just gets better … very good characters, believable plots that keep you guessing and so well written.’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Another 5 star winner’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Once I started reading this book I could not put it down … I can’t wait to read more of this fantastic series’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Twists and turns galore which really gave my grey matter a real workout and a few surprises along the way. I can't wait to read more of this fantastic series’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read more less

This is the classic Lenormand deck for the 21st century, now reissued with a fresh design to showcase the amazing hand-painted card illustrations that guide the diviner in solving problems, learning what the future holds and developing intuition. The traditional deck has been updated to make it as relevant as possible to contemporary readers, including in the LGBT community: the deck offers, for example, an extra Man card and an extra Woman card to allow same-sex relationships to appear in readings. Another extra card, the Divinator, allows the diviner themselves to appear in a spread. Other updates to make the cards feel more relevant today include reducing the original deck's reliance on Christian imagery, for example by changing the name of the Cross card to the Crossing, and replacing its crucifix artwork with a beautiful image of bird wings over a bridge. Much used by the Roma, the Lenormand cards are named after Marie-Anne Lenormand, a famous clairvoyant of the 18th and 19th centuries who read for Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte. Fascinated by this evocative oracle, cartomancer and Lenormand expert Caitlin Matthews commissioned simple yet profound artwork to capture the authentic flavour of the antique decks. The card illustrations are all hand-painted (rather than created as digital montages), allowing each card to express its own character. The accessible guidebook is suitable for a complete beginner to card divination, but also offers new perspectives to existing Lenormand users. There are detailed profiles of each card, as well as practical advice on using layouts to ask for guidance on a specific problem or to look at the bigger picture and discover true purpose in life.

Read more less

For over 20 years Bradt Travel Guides has been running an annual travel-writing competition which now attracts hundreds of entrants each year. Thanks to Bradt's status as the largest remaining independently owned travel publisher in the UK and one of the most respected travel publishing brands in the world, it is uniquely placed to champion good writing, bringing to the written word the same calibre of high expectations that it looks for in the travel experience itself. Now for the first time, Bradt is delighted to release a select anthology of the best pieces of writing to pass in front of the judges' eyes over the past 20 years. In keeping with the spirit of the competition, both new and previously published writers are included, young and old, based in countries across the globe and offering a collection of true stories that reflect our endless appetite for travel, adventure and connection. All of these tales paint vivid pictures through the power of their writing - and they do it in under 800 words each (one of the conditions of entry). Six themed chapters include remarkable places, extraordinary people, encounters with wildlife; real terror; history; and learning and reflection. All in all, 95 stories cover everything from border guard mix-ups, wild animals and dodgy navigation to a day trip to Iceland and being seduced by a goat in a French market. From soothing, familiar scenes in some of our favourite destinations to unrepeatable and uncomfortable exploits in obscure corners of the world, these stories offer the perfect chance for virtual travel. You might even be inspired for your next trip. So, sit back, relax and let us tell you our stories.

Read more less

From kitchen table to protest marches, The Suffragette Cookbook is a history of female love and power. The history of feminism is a history of women coming together. Modern feminists and Suffragettes share much in common, the same core fight spread through centuries. But the fight for women's rights goes beyond marches and protests - it is present wherever women gather. And for much of history, that has been in the kitchen. When the Suffrage movement gained momentum, many Suffragette groups released cookbooks, declaring to the world that 'women's work', like cooking, was not lesser but something to be celebrated. In distributing their cookbooks, they slipped the message of Suffrage between recipes and allowed it entry into homes. Professor Kate William explores the way feminism exists in the domestic sphere, and shows that the fight for women's rights was a struggle fought within homes long before it was protested in the streets. The Suffragette Cookbook offers unique insight into the very real world of the women of history, and through them we see a celebration of female strength, power and love. Within these pages you'll find many recipes passed from mother to child, a history of female unity that stretches through generations: from mouth-watering recipes you may still make today, to delightfully incoherent recipes you can't believe were ever truly served. But you'll also find messages of female strength, male solidarity and a history that's only beginning to be told.The perfect gift for the feminists in your life, with beautiful pages full of untold women's history.

Read more less

'A witty, gossipy, sparkling history, full of bright jewels of anecdote... Magnificent Rebels is a triumph' THE TIMES, Book of the Week'Extraordinary... A thrilling intellectual history that reads like a racy, intelligent novel, with a cast of unforgettable characters' SUNDAY TIMES'Magnificent Rebels is a magnificent book: a revelation which could easily become an obsession' SPECTATOR'A thrilling page-turner, by turns comical & tragic... My book of the year so far' TOM HOLLAND'Elegantly written, deeply researched and totally gripping' SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIOREIn the 1790s an extraordinary group of friends changed the world. Disappointed by the French Revolution's rapid collapse into tyranny, what they wanted was nothing less than a revolution of the mind. The rulers of Europe had ordered their peoples how to think and act for too long. Based in the small German town of Jena, through poetry, drama, philosophy and science, they transformed the way we think about ourselves and the world around us. They were the first Romantics.Their way of understanding the world still frames our lives and being.We're still empowered by their daring leap into the self. We still think with their minds, see with their imagination and feel with their emotions. We also still walk the same tightrope between meaningful self-fulfilment and destructive narcissism, between the rights of the individual and our role as a member of our community and our responsibilities towards future generations who will inhabit this planet. This extraordinary group of friends changed our world. It is impossible to imagine our lives, thoughts and understanding without the foundation of their ground-breaking ideas.

Read more less

*As heard on DESERT ISLAND DISCS*CHOSEN AS ONE OF WATERSTONES' BEST BOOKS OF 2023'If Michael Palin had been a volcanologist, this is the book he would have written... A darn good read.'LITERARY REVIEW'What the French adventurer Jacques Cousteau was to the hidden world under our seas, Oppenheimer is to the hidden, molten world bubbling under our feet.'SUNDAY TIMES'A book that will make all readers want to become volcanologists.'PETER FRANKOPAN'Gripping ... like a thriller ... Oppenheimer is better than good. This is terrific.'SPECTATOR'Beautiful. Mountains of Fire is bursting with poetry, with storytelling. ' WERNER HERZOG__________Volcanoes mean so much more than threat and calamity. Like our parents, they've led whole lives before we get to know them. We are made of the same stuff as the breath and cinders of volcanoes. They have long shaped the path of humanity, provoked pioneering explorations and fired up our imaginations. They are fertile ground for agriculture, art and spirituality, as well as scientific advances, and they act as time capsules, capturing the footprints of those who came before us.World-renowned volcanologist Clive Oppenheimer has worked at the crater's edge in the wildest places on Earth, from remote peaks in the Sahara to mystical mountains in North Korea. His work reveals just how entangled volcanic activity is with our climate, economy, politics, culture and beliefs. From Antarctica to Italy, he paints volcanoes as otherworldly, magical places where our history is laid bare and where nature speaks to something deep within us.Blending cultural history, science, myth and adventure, Mountains of Fire reminds us that, wherever we are on the planet, our stories are profoundly intertwined with volcanoes.

Read more less

Raise one last glass with the Quinn Family at the Winter Street Inn.It's been too long since the entire Quinn family has been able to celebrate the holidays under the same roof, but that's about to change. With Bart back safe and sound from Afghanistan, the Quinns are preparing for a holiday more joyous than any they've experienced in years.And Bart's safe return isn't the family's only good news: Kevin is enjoying married life with Isabelle; Patrick is getting back on his feet after paying his debt to society; Ava thinks she's finally found the love of her life; and Kelly is thrilled to see his family reunited at last. But it just wouldn't be a Quinn family gathering if things went smoothly.A celebration of everything we love - and some of the things we endure - about the holidays, WINTER SOLSTICE is Elin Hilderbrand at her festive best.**************Praise for Winter Solstice'A holiday package filled with humor, romance, and realism' - Jocelyn McClurg'The holidays wouldn't be complete without a little family dysfunction, and Hilderbrand writes it well' - Library Journal'A page-turner' - Coastal Living'A series only works when the characters are worth following over the long haul, and Hilderbrand is a master, making for a satisfying conclusion to her Christmas at the Inn story' - Kirkus'[Hilderbrand] expertly meshes everything together so that peace exists within each character and within the family dynamic . . . The queen of the romance novel is on top of her game, and she won't let you down' - Book Reporter

Read more less

Discover the classic mystery from Dick Francis, one of the greatest thriller writers of all time'Dick Francis keeps you in suspense in every chapter, you are immersed in the story' 5***** Reader Review'Really gripping with lots of twists and turns. A fast-paced thriller' 5***** Reader Review______Ex-jockey Sid Halley works as a private detective, using his racing knowledge to solve crimes that baffle the police.He's asked to investigate the possible doping of the horses of George Casper - a thoroughbred trainer whose once-successful mounts have been failing spectacularly on the racetrack.At the same time, he learns that a conman has left his ex-wife Jenny facing a jail sentence over a fake charity, while the Jockey Club want him to investigate certain powerful syndicates who may be acting in a ruthless and illegal manner.Quickly, Sid discovers that each of his investigations is entirely unwelcome. But he isn't put off easily - not even when a threat is made that could change his life.Three dangerous cases, three ways to die - Sid is back on home turf . . .Packed with intrigue and hair-raising suspense, Whip Hand is just one of the many blockbuster thrillers from legendary crime writer Dick Francis.Praise for Dick Francis:'The narrative is brisk and gripping and the background researched with care . . . the entire story is a pleasure to relish' Scotsman'Dick Francis's fiction has a secret ingredient - his inimitable knack of grabbing the reader's attention on page one and holding it tight until the very end' Sunday Telegraph'Still the master' Racing Post'The master of suspense and intrigue' Country Life

Read more less

Holidays with Hitler tells the story of German leisure time and state-sponsored fun under the Nazi regime. Nathan Morley looks at consumerism, entertainment and travel in German society, and offers a vivid portrait of what it was like to visit as a foreign tourist seeking fun in a totalitarian state. An important part of Nazi policy was the vast Strength through Joy programme, headed by Dr Robert Ley – a brash and fanatical party member. Although Strength through Joy is best remembered for introducing the Volkswagen Beetle, it also allowed fourteen million people to enjoy annual vacations at bargain basement prices while improving the health of the population by encouraging running, hiking, swimming, and active family holidays. With millions of working people paying monthly dues, the organization amassed a hefty fortune. On the island of Rügen in the Baltic Sea, a vast resort capable of accommodating 22,000 holidaymakers began construction in 1937 – the same year the Wilhelm Gustloff, the first Strength Through Joy vessel, was launched in Hamburg. With the arrival of the Second World War, the organisation adapted, the goal being the ‘cultural caretaking of the bomb-battered population and our soldiers’. Nathan Morley, employing meticulous research, tells the story not only of the Strength through Joy programme but also the efforts to organise the Olympics and disguise anti-Jewish sentiments from the thousands of visitors; the way millions of Germans spent their free time; and what it was like to be a foreign tourist as the thin veneer of a disintegrating Reich peeled away to reveal an ugly and evil interior.

Read more less

'An inspiring guide to developing your personal brand, achieving your career goals and shaping the future of work' Red'Everything every career woman needs to know and yet is rarely shared so honestly' Anya Hindmarch'Refreshingly relevant and practical' Roksanda IlincicWomen have made great advances in the workplace, but despite that - and the overwhelming amount of career advice out there - the same issues continue to arise: how to succeed in a man's world, how to combine a career with a family, how to be authentic and fit in, and whether it is even possible to achieve a work-life balance while chasing career goals.Unfortunately, much of the advice women are offered is badly out of date and lacking in 'cut-to-the-chase' strategies that really tally with their experience of the workplace now. What's more, the advice often tends to be defensive, focused on overcoming obstacles rather than drawing upon strengths.Style and Substance starts from a very different perspective. Written by Helena Morrissey, who has learned through her own experiences as a woman in the workplace and as a business leader, it will help you understand what really matters when it comes to career progression today, whatever your age, situation and aspirations.Style and Substance will show you how to build your own style - your personal brand - and how to have confidence in it, and in yourself. Once you realise how much agency you have and the steps that you can take to look the part, sound the part, feel the part and therefore be the part, you'll be empowered to achieve your goals in your own way, secure in who you are and what you have to offer.

Read more less

'Fantastic' Nick Hornby'Beautifully written' Sunday Times'Truly remarkable' Rolling StoneUnfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink is the long-awaited memoir from Elvis Costello, one of rock and roll's most iconic stars.Born Declan Patrick MacManus, Elvis Costello was raised in London and Liverpool, grandson of a trumpet player on the White Star Line and son of a jazz musician who became a successful radio dance band vocalist. Costello went into the family business and had taken the popular music world by storm before he was twenty-four.Costello continues to add to one of the most intriguing and extensive songbooks of the day. His performances have taken him from a cardboard guitar in his front room to fronting a rock and roll band on your television screen and performing in the world's greatest concert halls in a wild variety of company. Unfaithful Music describes how Costello's career has somehow endured for almost four decades through a combination of dumb luck and animal cunning, even managing the occasional absurd episode of pop stardom.This memoir, written with the same inimitable touch as his lyrics, and including dozens of images from his personal archive, offers his unique view of his unlikely and sometimes comical rise to international success, with diversions through the previously undocumented emotional foundations of some of his best known songs and the hits of tomorrow. The book contains many stories and observations about his renowned co-writers and co-conspirators, though Costello also pauses along the way for considerations on the less appealing side of infamy.Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink is destined to be a classic, idiosyncratic memoir of a singular man.

Read more less

An unvarnished look at the economic and political choices that reshaped contemporary Chicago—arguably for the worse. ​ The 1990s were a glorious time for the Chicago Bulls, an age of historic championships and all-time basketball greats like Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan. It seemed only fitting that city, county, and state officials would assist the team owners in constructing a sparkling new venue to house this incredible team that was identified worldwide with Chicago. That arena, the United Center, is the focus of Bulls Markets, an unvarnished look at the economic and political choices that forever reshaped one of America’s largest cities—arguably for the worse. Sean Dinces shows how the construction of the United Center reveals the fundamental problems with neoliberal urban development. The pitch for building the arena was fueled by promises of private funding and equitable revitalization in a long-blighted neighborhood. However, the effort was funded in large part by municipal tax breaks that few ordinary Chicagoans knew about, and that wound up exacerbating the rising problems of gentrification and wealth stratification. In this portrait of the construction of the United Center and the urban life that developed around it, Dinces starkly depicts a pattern of inequity that has become emblematic of contemporary American cities: governments and sports franchises collude to provide amenities for the wealthy at the expense of poorer citizens, diminishing their experiences as fans and—far worse—creating an urban environment that is regulated and surveilled for the comfort and protection of that same moneyed elite.

Read more less

Corey Taylor has seen a lot of unbelievable things. The Grammy Award-winning singer of Slipknot and Stone Sour's curiosity has drawn him into situations that would’ve sent most people screaming scared and running for the hills. Corey’s ballsy enough to go into the darkness and deal with the consequences though. As a result, he’s seen ghosts up close and personal, whether it be while combing through an abandoned house in his native Iowa as a child or recording an album in the fabled Houdini Hollywood Hills mansion. He’s also got the memories (and scars) to prove it. For some reason, he can’t seem to shake these spectral stories, and that brings us to this little tome right here...At the same time, being an erudite, tattooed, modern Renaissance Man, he never bought into the whole God thing. Simply put, he’s seen ghosts, but he hasn’t seen Jesus. Corey especially can’t find a reason why people do the insane things they do in HIS name. That’s where everything really gets interesting.His second book, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven, compiles Corey’s most intimate, incredible, and insane moments with the supernatural. His memories are as vivid as they are vicious. As he recounts these stories, he questions the validity of religious belief systems and two-thousand-year-old dogma. As always his rapid-fire writing, razor sharp sense of humour, unbridled honesty, and cosy anecdotes make quite the case for his point. You might end up believing him or not. That’s up to you, of course. Either way, you’re in for a hell of ride.

Read more less

Keith Haring was a revolutionary artist, who transformed the art world during his short but impactful life. Brought to life by Simon Doonan, Creative Director for Barneys New York, this new pocket-sized biography tells his inspirational story.Revolutionary and renegade, Keith Haring was an artist for the people, creating an instantly recognisable repertoire of symbols - barking dogs, space-ships, crawling babies, clambering faceless people - which became synonymous with the volatile culture of 1980s. Like a careening, preening pinball, Keith Haring playfully slammed into all aspects of this decade - hip-hop, new-wave, graffiti, funk, art, style, gay culture - and brought them together.Haring's fanatical drive propelled him into the orbit of the most interesting people of his time: Jean Michel Basquiat envied him; Warhol, William Boroughs and Grace Jones collaborated with him. Madonna and he shared the same tastes in men. Famous at 25, dead from AIDS at 31, Keith Haring is remembered as a Pied Piper, an unpretentious communicator who appeared happiest when mentoring a gang of kids, arming them with brushes and attacking the nearest wall.A series of brief biographies of the great artists, Lives of the Artists takes as its inspiration Giorgio Vasari's five-hundred-year-old masterwork, updating it with modern takes on the lives of key artists past and present. Focusing on the life of the artist rather than examining their work, each book also includes key images illustrating the artist's life. Hardbound, but pocket-sized, the books each sport a specially-commissioned portrait of their subject on the half-jacket.

Read more less

*A Waterstones Best Book of 2023* *A BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week* *A New York Times Editor's Pick* 'A total eye-opener, I loved it' Nuala McGovern 'You'll never look at Renaissance portraits in the same way' Maggie O'Farrell 'Terrific ... that rare thing, a serious history that is both accessible and entertaining' Literary Review Plunge into the intimate history of cosmetics, and discover how, for centuries, women have turned to make up as a rich source of creativity, community and resistance The Renaissance was an era obsessed with appearances. And beauty culture from the time has left traces that give us a window into an overlooked realm of history - revealing everything from sixteenth-century women's body anxieties to their sophisticated botanical and chemical knowledge. How to be a Renaissance Woman allows us to glimpse the world of the female artists, artisans and businesswomen carving out space for themselves, as well as those who gained power and influence in the cut-throat world of the court. In a vivid exploration of women's lives, Professor Jill Burke invites us to rediscover historical cosmetic recipes and unpack the origins of the beauty ideals that are still with us today. 'Taking a fresh, women-led perspective, Burke highlights a rich tapestry of female experience that encompasses everyone from artisans to aristocrats ... The everyday women mixing their own beauty products should rightly be considered chemists and botanists' The Times 'A fun, informative and occasionally sobering look at the lives of women across social strata ... The real shock of the book is not what's unfamiliar, it is how much of it seems to mirror today's obsessions and controversies' The New York Times

Read more less

Corporate giving currently accounts for nearly 10 percent of allcharitable donations nationwide, and most experts agree that theflow of corporate resources earmarked for nonprofit programs is onthe rise. Yet, many fund raisers are held back from tapping thisgold mine by the fear they don t know how to "play the system"correctly. When it comes to soliciting corporate funds, even oldhands at private fund raising find themselves stymied by the lackof clear-cut answers to such critical questions as: "How do I findout which companies give and how do I obtain information aboutthem?" "Who are the funding decision makers, and how do I appeal tothem and cultivate relationships with them?" "What hidden stringsand pitfalls should I be aware of when soliciting corporatefunds?" Successful Corporate Fund Raising provides in-depth answers tothese and all your questions about finding and winning corporatefunds. The distillation of Scott Sheldon s more than two decades ofexperience as a corporate fund raiser, it provides a completeblueprint for developing and maintaining successful corporatefund-raising programs at nonprofits of all sizes. The book begins with an in-depth exploration of the world ofcontemporary corporate giving. It explains the key differencesbetween private funding and the "strategic philanthropy" practicedby many corporations. It describes the various forms corporategiving most commonly takes, including cash, in-kind, andvolunteerism. And it clearly spells out the motivations,perceptions, expectations, and conditions driving most corporatefunding.The lion s share of the book is devoted to schoolingreaders in effective low-cost strategies for locating, obtaining,and managing corporate resources. Organized around the five keycomponents of a successful corporate funding initiative, itprovides step-by-step guidance on how to research corporatefunders, cultivate relationships with key personnel, solicitcorporate resources, evaluate the efficacy of fund-raisinginitiatives, and manage funded programs. It also supplies a wealthof forms, questionnaires, sample letters and proposals, checklists,and other valuable tools that can easily be adapted for use in yourorganization. Successful Corporate Fund Raising is an indispensableworking resource for all nonprofit fund raisers, developmentmanagers, agency executives, and board members. An expert s guide to finding and winning corporate support for yournonprofit organization. This book shows fund raisers and executives at nonprofits of allsizes how to take advantage of the current corporate fundingopportunities. K. Scott Sheldon provides a fresh, insider s look atcontemporary corporate giving, and he develops a complete blueprintfor developing a corporate fund-raising program. Step-by-step, hewalks you through the entire corporate fund-raising processand: * Describes proven fund-raising strategies and techniques that canbe integrated into virtually any nonprofit organization * Alerts you to the common pitfalls to corporate solicitation andshows you how to avoid them * Explores the impact of new technologies on corporate fundraising * Details solid strategies for taking advantage of resources otherthan cash, including in-kind donations and volunteers * Illustrates key points with fascinating and instructivereal-world case studies * Arms you with an array of forms, checklists, sample documents,questionnaires, and other valuable tools

Read more less

Foundations of Health Information Management, 6th Edition is an absolute must for anyone beginning a career in HIM. By focusing on healthcare delivery systems, electronic health records, and the processing, maintenance, and analysis of health information, this engaging, easy-to-understand text presents a realistic and practical view of technology and trends in healthcare. It readies you for the role of a Registered Health Information Technician, who not only maintains and secures accurate health documentation, but serves as a healthcare analyst who translates data into useful, quality information that can control costs and further research. This edition is organized by CAHIIM competencies to prepare you for the RHIT® credentialing exam, as well as EHR samples, critical-thinking exercises, and expanded coverage of key issues in HIM today. Clear writing style and easy reading level make reading and studying more time efficient. Organized for CAHIIM competencies to assure that you are prepared to sit for the exam. Competency Check-in Exercises at the end of every main section in each chapter encourage you to review and apply key concepts. Competency Milestone feature at the end of each chapter hosts ample assessments to ensure your comprehension of the CAHIIM competencies. Ethics Challenge links topics to professional ethics with real-world scenarios and critical-thinking questions. Critical-thinking questions challenge you to apply learning to professional situations. Mock RHIT® exam provides you with the opportunity to practice taking a timed, objective-based exam. Specialized chapters, including legal, statistics, coding, and performance improvement and project management, support in-depth learning. Professional Profile highlights key HIM professionals represented in chapter discussions. Patient Care Perspective illustrates the impact of HIM professionals on patients and patient care. Career Tip boxes instruct you on a course of study and work experience required for the position. Chapter summaries and reviews allow for easy review of each chapter's main concepts. SimChart® and SimChart® for the Medical Office EHR samples demonstrate electronic medical records in use. NEW! Expanded leadership content discusses career planning and development. NEW! Expanded management narrative includes exercises in policies and procedures; job descriptions; and evaluations, meetings, and minutes. NEW! Coverage of emerging issues addresses information blocking, persistence of hybrid records, and EHR documentation. NEW! Expanded content on data analytics explores secondary uses of data. NEW! Enhanced discussion of registries. NEW! Updated content reflects new ICD-10 codes and organization. NEW! Expanded content on reimbursement and revenue cycle includes Chargemaster and non-acute care settings. NEW! Additional critical-thinking exercises challenge you to apply your knowledge. NEW! Downloadable, customizable glossary is indexed to the chapters. NEW! Enhanced and expanded real-world scenarios demonstrate how key concepts apply to professional practice.

Read more less

The United Sovereign States of Russia struggles to set in place the traditions and legal precedents that will let it turn into a constitutional monarchy with freedom and opportunity for all its citizens. At the same time, they’re trying to balance the power of the states and the federal government. And the USSR is fighting a civil war with Muscovite Russia, defending the new state of Kazakh from invasion by the Zunghars, building a tech base and an economy that will allow its money to be accepted in western Europe, establishing a more solid claim to Siberia, and, in general, keeping the wheels of civilization from coming off and dumping Russia back into the Time of Troubles. Or, possibly even worse, reinstalling the sort of repressive oligarchy that they just got rid of.

Read more less

American patriot Paul Revere is wrapped in the swirling mixture of myth and poetry through which history often descends, but as a craftsman and artist, he left behind more tangible traces, as well. In this volume, esteemed art historian Gerald W. R. Ward tells the true story of Revere’s most iconic creation, the Sons of Liberty bowl, bravely made and marked by the rebel and silversmith on the threshold of the Revolutionary War. John Singleton Copley’s portrait of Revere, created the same year, 1768, helps introduce the man he was and the legend he became. The painting and the silver bowl are both popularly reproduced and have joined re-tellings of his Midnight Ride to define Revere in the American imagination, in turn signifying the Revolution and the young country’s values.

Read more less

The artistic career of Christopher Knowles (born 1959) began at the age of 13, when his writings and recordings came to the notice of avant-garde theater director Robert Wilson. Still a teenager, Knowles went on to write the libretto for Wilson and Philip Glass’ opera Einstein on the Beach, and his collaborations with Wilson would continue for decades. His practice spans many mediums—text, sound, painting, sculpture and performance—and exhibits a fascination with the materiality of language. In a Word is the most comprehensive look at Knowles’ work to date, published for his exhibition of the same name, organized by Anthony Elms and Hilton Als. Containing an autobiographical text by the artist himself, new texts by Elms and curator Lauren Digiulio and a personal reflection by Als, this is an essential resource on an under-recognized artist.

Read more less

Challenge yourself with word puzzles From the puzzles section of The Times our Editors have chosen 300 of the best general-knowledge and definition crossword puzzles to keep even the most eager enthusiasts entertained for hours. This collection of 300 accessible puzzles are utterly addictive, yet concise enough to be solved relatively quickly. Encompassing a wide range of subjects including geography, literature, history and culture, these general-knowledge and definition-based puzzles will test your word power and broaden your horizons at the same time. With clues that are satisfyingly skillful and containing no cryptic elements, these crosswords are guaranteed to stretch your mind and entertain you equally. Puzzles selected from Times Quick Crossword Books 17, 18 and 19.

Read more less

Die hier vorgelegte Sammlung von Studien ist aus dem Bemühen um eine Neuorientierung der Forschung an jenem weithin abwertend beurteilten literarischen Werk der Priesterschrift erwachsen, das sich mehr und mehr als eigenständige, dabei höchst eigenwillige literarische Komposition darstellt. In frühnachexilischer Zeit (um 520 v.Chr.) entstanden und tiefgreifend geprägt von zeitgenössischer Diskussion um eine Standortbestimmung für einen Neubeginn nach dem Exil, erweist sich die priesterschriftliche Geschichtsdarstellung als ein nicht priesterlich, sondern prophetisch inspirierter, ganz und gar unkultischer, geradezu utopischer Geschichtsentwurf. Dieser steckt einen weiten Rahmen von der Schöpfung bis zum Tod des Mose ab und erreicht mit der Präsentation und Errichtung des Heiligtums vom Sinai seinen Höhe-, wenn auch nicht seinen Zielpunkt. In insgesamt neun umfangreichen Einzelstudien vermittelt Peter Weimar Einblicke in die literarische wie theologische Eigenart des priesterschriftlichen Werkes, erschließt aber auch in detaillierten Analysen das Profil priesterschriftlicher Texte in ihrer Besonderheit, die in ihrer vollen Bedeutung aber erst dann in Blick kommen, wenn sie nicht bloß als Einzeltexte wahrgenommen werden, sondern in ihrem wechselseitigen Bezug miteinander gelesen werden. Im Zusammenspiel von Gesamtwerk und Einzeltext tritt die Priesterschrift als ein theologischer Entwurf von großer Geschlossenheit und konzentrierter Gestaltungskraft in Erscheinung.

Read more less

"Nicht ich will über euch herrschen, und mein Sohn soll nicht über euch herrschen, Jahwe soll über euch herrschen!" Mit diesen dem Richter Gideon in den Mund gelegten Worten formuliert das Alte Testament eine scharfe Antithese zwischen Königtum und Gottesherrschaft, die in der Umwelt des Alten Testaments ihresgleichen sucht. Die Herleitung dieser und der verwandten Aussagen im Richter- und Samuelbuch stellen für die kritische Rekonstruktion der alttestamentlichen Theologiegeschichte eine besondere Herausforderung dar. Handelt es sich dabei um Zeugnisse antimonarchischer Strömungen in der Frühzeit Israels oder um in wenigen Sätzen verdichtete Resultate theologischer Reflexion, die den Untergang der israelitischen und judäischen Königtümer zu bewältigen sucht?Reinhard Müller geht dieser Frage in einer Reihe voneinander weitgehend unabhängiger und sich gerade darum gegenseitig stützender Einzelexegesen nach. Zutage kommt eine in der Forschung oft vernachlässigte Vielstimmigkeit der alttestamentlichen Beurteilungen des Königtums. Die Auseinandersetzungen um die theologische Deutung des Königtums werden in der frühen Perserzeit verortet. Die kritischen Stimmen vertreten dabei kein politisches Programm, und von einer prinzipiellen Ablehnung staatlicher Gewalt kann keine Rede sein. Es ergeben sich deutliche Hinweise, daß die theologisch begründete Monarchiekritik für die Herausbildung der alttestamentlichen Bundestheologie eine nicht zu unterschätzende Bedeutung gehabt hat.

Read more less

Je nach Standpunkt des Betrachters werden die Perser in vorchristlicher Zeit entweder als "Glaubensretter" oder als "Barbaren" - im Sinne von "Vollbringern grausamer Taten" - bezeichnet. Ausgehend von diesen widersprüchlichen Perspektiven untersucht Carsten Colpe die Geschichte des iranisch-asiatischen Territoriums vom Erkennbarwerden von Irano-Ariern (um 1000 v. Chr.) bis zum Iranertum unter den Samaniden (873-999). Innerhalb dieser 2000 Jahre liegt ein Schwerpunkt des Werkes auf dem halben Jahrtausend um den Beginn unserer Zeitrechnung herum. Es handelt sich, je nach Blickwinkel, um den Hellenismus in griechischer oder 'vorderasiatischer' Gestalt, Israel mit Frühjudentum oder - in der zweiten Epochenhälfte - Urchristentum und Alte Kirche/Frühbyzanz. Carsten Colpe untersucht die wichtigsten zu dieser Zeit entstehenden religionsübergreifenden Erscheinungen - Apokalyptik, Mysterien, Gnosis - und stellt sie in größere Zusammenhänge, in denen ein Vergleich ihrer Entstehungsbedingungen möglich ist. Hier haben seine wichtigsten Resultate ihren Platz: Jüdische und iranische Apokalyptik sind unabhängig voneinander entstanden - die Strukturparalellen sind von übereinstimmenden antigriechischen Positionen geprägt -, auf iranischem Territorium gibt es keine Mysterienreligionen - die Mithrasmysterien setzen eine Kultform voraus, die es am nächsten in Kleinasien gab - und aus der Gnosis fügt sich nur die Geschichte des Manichäismus in jene Kulturzone, die aber gerade im Iran behindert wurde.

Read more less

In larger projects these days, architects are often merely service providers: under the control of those responsible for the project or the general contractors the architecture is cut and trimmed for reasons of costs - with consequences we can increasingly observe in our cities. There is a way out of this dilemma, one that strengthens the position of the architect and at the same time permits higher quality architecture, as impresively demonstrated by the architects Geninasca Delefortrie in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. They are their own clients; they identify properties with potential for development and work with the cities in question to develop building plans and concepts. They are also actively involved in financing and finding investors and hence they are able to realize architecture that is as powerful as it is sensitive to the complex urban situations in which it stands. This monograph does not so much focus on the projects as it does on showing, based on the example of Geninasca Delefortrie's particular approach, the opportunities that architecture and architects have to influence in a positive way project development, the awarding of contracts, and urban planning in general. Interviews and conversations with the architects establish the basic thematic structure. Each of the projects, including the multipurpose hall La Maladière in Neuchâtel, is assigned to a theme.

Read more less

Sacred Bones is based on the true story of Deusdona ("God's gift"), a ninth-century Roman deacon who worked in the catacombs, digging up worthless bones and selling them off as the holy remains of saints and martyrs. Deusdona thanked God for his worldly success, but he was also a clever businessman who knew how to strike deals with abbots and kings. It didn't hurt that no church could be sanctified without a relic in residence, and that the more relics a church displayed, the more pilgrims came to visit with their coins and their prayers. Deusdona was a Willy Loman of the Dark Ages, trafficking in bones. Every spring, when the snows melted from the Alpine passes, he traveled north with his "samples" -- arms, cheek bones, toes -- filling orders from the previous summer and drumming up business for the year to come. Whether he is floating in the buff in Charlemagne's baths or gathering body parts in Rome's underground City of the Dead, Deusdona offers us a vivid portrait of daily life in the early Middle Ages at an early stage in the transformation of ancient Rome into the City of God. Sacred Bones is both a medieval whodunit and a wry portrait of an age that has seldom been brought to life in such detail. Readers will relish the chance to immerse themselves in this oddly contemporary world.

Read more less

Rooted in places like Watauga County, Goshen Creek, and Dismal Mountain, the poems in Ron Rash’s fourth collection, Waking, electrify dry counties and tobacco fields until they sparkle with the rituals and traditions of Southerners in the stir of their lives. In his first book of poetry in nearly a decade, Rash leads his readers on a Southern odyssey, full of a terse wit and a sense of the narrative so authentic it will dazzle you. As we wake inside these poems, we see rivers wild with trout, lightning storms, and homemade churches, nailed and leaning against the side of a Tennessee mountain. A two-time PEN/Faulkner Award Finalist, Rash has been compared to writers like John Steinbeck and Cormac McCarthy. With his eye for the perfect detail and an ear for regional idiom, Rash furthers his claim as the new torchbearer for literature in the American South. Here is a book full of sorrow and redemption, sparseness and the beauty of a single, stark detail—the muskellunge at first light, a barn choked with curing tobacco, a porch full of men and the rockers that move them over the same spot until they carve their names into the ground, deeper, even, into the roots where myths start, into the very marrow of the world.

Read more less

In the near future, a time when being overweight means additional taxation, an innovative weight-loss clinic comes up with a groundbreaking system. Trainers have their brain waves downloaded into overweight clients so that they can run on the treadmill, lift weights, and do squats for them. When the clinic launches its first division for clients under eighteen, seventeen-year-old Morgan Dey jumps at the chance to earn credits to help pay off some family bills. Morgan is recruited by The Body Institute to become a Reducer for a client who is 100 pounds overweight: a job that comes with unusual conditions, including Morgan living at the client's home instead of at the clinic, and eating the food prepared by the family's live-in cook. The challenges of diet and exercise aside, Morgan begins to experience stray memories from her host, causing her to question her own identity and whether she really is the same Morgan now that she's in someone else's body, house, and family. And when the clinic begins to face violent protests from an anti-Reducer group that questions the ethics involved in the Reducer program, Morgan realizes she stands to lose much more than the 100 pounds she'd originally signed up for.

Read more less

The Testament of Sister New Devil is an all-new, ongoing manga series based on a bestselling series of light novels of the same name. Combining action and comedy with the supernatural genre, The Testament of Sister New Devil is a high octane romp about a high school boy and his two succubi step-sisters that will appeal to fans of manga series like High School DxD and Dragonar Academy. The Testament of Sister New Devil has spawned an anime adaptation, which has been licensed for home video by FUNimation, and will also receive a second animated season in late 2015. When his oddball father suddenly decides to remarry, high school student Toujo Basara is about to acquire some very peculiar new family members. Enter his new seductive step-sisters, Mio and Maria. When Basara discovers that one of his step-sisters is a succubus, and his other a recently crowned demon lord, all hell breaks loose! Basara is almost forced into a contract with his demonic sisters where he would act as their eternal servant but something goes wrong. Instead, a reverse contract is formed, and Basara becomes the master. Between fending off their seductive advances to coping with the attacks of rival demon contractors, Basara has a big learning curve if he is to survive.

Read more less

Bring Your Fresh Ideas to Market and Profit Fueled by growing consumer demand for new tastes, cleaner ingredients, health benefits, and more convenient ways to shop and eat, the business of specialty food is taking off at full speed. This step-by-step guide arms entrepreneurial foodies like yourself with an industry overview, the hottest trends, important research and statistics, and insight from practicing specialty food business owners on key growth drivers, opportunities, and how you can differentiate from other food businesses. Discover how to: Find the right avenue for your specialty food business: home-based, retail shop, production, wholesale, or distribution Create a solid business plan, get funded, and get the essential equipment Get the right licenses, codes, permits, insurance for your operations Gain a competitive edge using market and product research Find a profitable location, partnerships, and in-store shelf space Promote your business, products, and services online and offline Attract new and loyal customers using social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and Pinterest Manage daily operations, costs, and employees Plus, get valuable resource lists, sample business plans, checklists, and worksheets

Read more less

A powerful memoir about the traumas of a perilous childhood, a shattering murder-suicide, and a healing journey from escape to survival to recovery. Growing up, Lisa Nikolidakis tried to make sense of her childhood, which was scarred by abuse, violence, and psychological terrors so extreme that her relationship with her father was cleaved beyond repair. Having finally been able to leave that relationship behind, surviving meant forgetting. For years, "I'm fine" was a lie Nikolidakis repeated. Then, on her twenty-seventh birthday, Nikolidakis's father murdered his girlfriend and her daughter, and turned the gun on himself. Nikolidakis's world cracked open, followed by conflicted emotions: shock, grief, mourning for the innocent victims, and relief that she had escaped the same fate. In the tragedy's wake, questions lingered: Who was this man, and why had he inflicted such horrors on her and his last victims? For answers, Nikolidakis embarked on a quest to Greece to find her father's estranged family and a reckoning with the past she never expected. In her gripping and moving memoir, Nikolidakis explores not only the making of a killer but her own liberation from the demons that haunted her and her profound self-restoration in the face of unimaginable crimes.

Read more less

In his previous book on early jet fighters Leo Marriott traced the history of the revolutionary aircraft produced by the British and Americans immediately after the Second World War; in this companion volume he describes jet fighter development on the continent of Europe and in the Soviet Union during the same remarkable period. Using over 200 archive photographs he covers the pioneering German designs, then the range of experimental and operational fighters constructed by the Soviets, the French and the Swedes. The sheer variety of the designs that manufacturers came up with during this short, intense period of innovation mean that the book is fascinating reading. Several of the most famous jet fighters feature prominently in the rare photographs and are analysed in the expert text, including the Messerschmitt Me 262, the Heinkel He 162, the MiGs 15, 17 and 19, the Dassault Ouragan and the Saab J29. But perhaps the most rewarding aspect of the book is its record of experimental projects which tested new concepts that rapidly became established elements of jet aircraft design. The photographs of these largely forgotten aircraft give us an insight into the extraordinary technical challenges and the ambition and inventiveness of the designers and manufacturers who overcame them.

Read more less

Few soldiers on the Western Front had heard of the Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company, even after it had been renamed the 'Alphabet Company' by an AIF wag. Yet many knew the work of this tiny unit which numbered fewer than 300 at full strength. Despite its small size, the Alphabet Company's influence was enormous and spanned the entire British sector of the Western Front, from the North Sea to the Somme. This is the story of the 'Alphabeticals' who, led by Major Victor Morse, DSO, operated and maintained pumps, generators, ventilation fans, drilling equipment and other ingenious devices in extreme circumstances. Given the horrendous conditions in which the troops lived and fought, this equipment was desperately needed, as were the men who operated it in the same, often nightmarish setting. This is the first account of the dynamic little unit that was the Alphabet Company, a unit that has been neglected by history for a century. It is the story of the men, their machinery and the extraordinary grit they displayed in performing some of the most difficult tasks in a war noted for the horrific conditions in which it was waged. They do not deserve to be forgotten.

Read more less

Experience the sights, sounds, and flavors that abound throughout this New England gem. With Vermont’s thriving spirits industry—the state is home to eighteen distilleries, nearly fifty breweries, and more than a dozen wineries—you can find hard apple cider, whiskey, and everything in between.Drink Vermont is an exploration of the flavors, people, and locations throughout the state. Famous for local resources, like maple syrup, and the stunning colors of the fall foliage, Vermont is the perfect destination for an informative and fun sample of recipes, interviews, and reviews of breweries and distilleries. Traveling north toward the Canadian border, west to the shore of Lake Champlain, into the Northeast Kingdom, through the state’s capital, and the charming small towns of southern Vermont, Gershman takes readers on a visual journey through the seasons as they discover the unique tastes created in the Green Mountain State. Stops along the trip include The Alchemist, maker of the acclaimed Heady Topper (the top beer in America); Hill Farmstead, named the 2015 Best Brewery in the World; and Putney Mountain Winery, where they create wines like Apple Maple, Simply Pear, Rhubarb Blush, Putney Pommeau, Vermont Cassis, and Simply Cranberry using local fruits.

Read more less

A millionaire businessman and his loving family; two young conmen and an unspoken bond; and a pair of hardened hit men—these three groups are from different worlds, but one event will bring those worlds together and change their lives forever. Morris and Roach need to find something that will get them out from under the thumb of their boss, the crime lord running the streets of London. And Price, the local (and loaded) businessman may just be able to lead them to it. However, the hit men aren’t the only ones with their eyes on Price. Richards and Phillips, two young conmen, have been looking to leave their petty crimes behind, but they’ll need a big score to do it. It just takes one mistake, one stroke of bad luck, and nothing will be the same ever again. Drugs, theft, fraud, kidnapping, and murder—everyone has their vices, but sometimes it’s the innocent ones who pay.Consequence is fast-paced crime thriller that follows three interconnected storylines from their humble beginnings to their destructive ends. This brutal, violent thriller exposes the cold, callous underbelly of the criminal world, as well as all the innocent lives it drags into its clutches.

Read more less

Kecia Ali's Human in Death explores the best-selling futuristic suspense series In Death, written by romance legend Nora Roberts under the pseudonym J. D. Robb. Centering on troubled NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her billionaire tycoon husband Roarke, the novels explore vital questions about human flourishing. Through close readings of more than fifty novels and novellas published over two decades, Ali analyzes the ethical world of Robb's New York circa 2060. Robb compellingly depicts egalitarian relationships, satisfying work, friendships built on trust, and an array of models of femininity and family. At the same time, the series' imagined future replicates some of the least admirable aspects of contemporary society. Sexual violence, police brutality, structural poverty and racism, and government surveillance persist in Robb's fictional universe, raising urgent moral challenges. So do ordinary ethical quandaries around trust, intimacy, and interdependence in marriage, family, and friendship. Ali celebrates the series' ethical successes, while questioning its critical moral omissions. She probes the limits of Robb's imagined world and tests its possibilities for fostering identity, meaning, and mattering of human relationships across social difference. Ali capitalizes on Robb's futuristic fiction to reveal how careful and critical reading is an ethical act.

Read more less

Middle management" is a term associated with relentless downsizing, corporate drudgery, and career dead-ends. Bashed by management gurus, dismissed by social scientists, and painted as victims by the media, middle managers seem permanently relegated to the sidelines of corporate power. But is this popular picture accurate? Are middle managers really no longer valued by today's performance-driven organizations? The truth is surprising. MIT management scholar Paul Osterman has analyzed over thirty years' worth of employment data, interviewed a wide sample of managers, and uncovered a very different picture of middle managers today. Not only have their numbers increased dramatically, but middle managers are wealthier, more productive, more autonomous--and they gain real pleasure from their day-to-day work. But there's another side to the story: while managers have maintained their commitment to their tasks and to their colleagues, they are increasingly cynical and distant from their organizations. They are confused about their future and how to manage their careers. This comes at a time when the value of middle management is much greater than ever before. Organizations must rethink their understanding of this vital workforce segment--now. Understand the issues for yourself with The Truth About Middle Managers' refreshing and counter-intuitive look at what's really going on.

Read more less