Search results for ""Author Bill"

How to solve critical business challenges by generating more and better ideas Every organization needs a steady supply of fresh, relevant ideas, but managers can?t just lock teams in a room with a mandate to brainstorm and hope for the best. Ideation is both a science and an art, and when group ideation processes are well-designed and well-facilitated, anyone can generate an abundance of creative, implementable options?not to mention true breakthroughs?for any business need. Drawing on his work leading high-stakes ideation sessions at over 300 organizations, Mattimore explains the how, what, and why of successful ideation and provides a framework for when and how to apply various techniques. Identifies Mattimore?s top ideation and innovation techniques (including ?brainwalking,? finding inspiration in worst ideas, the unexpected effectiveness of wishing, and more) and lays the groundwork for you to invent successful processes of your own Tells real stories of ideation at work in Mattimore?s consulting business, including how Ben & Jerry?s named a new strawberry fudge flavor, how Thomas? invented a new, healthier English muffin that now accounts for over 30% of its sales, how IBM transformed the culture of one of its divisions to make it more innovative, and many more Mattimore is a world-class expert on applied creativity and an innovation process consultant to over one-third of the Fortune 100 companies; he and his team have helped create and launch products and services worth over $3 billion in annual US retail sales With a diverse range of tested methods, Idea Stormers is the indispensable guide for developing original, practical solutions to even the most intractable-seeming creative challenges.

Read more less

An engaging exploration of modern-day deals and deal-making Gods at War details the recent deals and events that have forever changed the world of billion-dollar deal-making. This book is a whirlwind tour of the players determining the destiny of corporate America, including the government, private equity, strategic buyers, hedge funds, and sovereign wealth funds. It not only examines many of the game-changing takeover events that have occurred in the past years, but also puts them into context and exposes what is really going on behind the scenes on Wall Street. Gods at War completely covers the strategic issues that guide the modern-day deal, and since they unfold under the shadow of the law, it also focuses on the legal aspects of deal-making and takeovers. Each chapter unfolds through the lens of a recent transaction, from the battle between Yahoo! and Microsoft to the United Rental/Cerberus dispute Provides in-depth explanations and analysis of the events and actors that have shaped this fast-moving field Examines the federal government's regulation by deal approach to saving the financial system and explains the government's biggest "deals", including its bail-outs of AIG, Bank of America, and Citigroup Filled with in-depth insights that will enhance your understanding of this field, Gods at War offers an engaging look at deals and deal-makers in the context of recent historical events. It's a book for those who want to understand deals, takeovers, and the people and institutions who shape our world.

Read more less

THE ALIENS ARE AMONG US! “Where is everybody?” Nobel Prize–winning physicist Enrico Fermi once asked after a discussion about the possibility of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. To sum up the Fermi Paradox, if the billions of stars in our galaxy have planets with intelligent life on them, why hasn’t anyone visited us? But maybe they have, and we just haven’t noticed—and that’s the way they want it. And if they are here in secret, why are they here? Are they tourists? Anthropologists, perhaps? Or journalists sending stories back about the quaint habits of the primitives? Or maybe the extraterrestrial equivalent of hunters or fishermen? (Any odd disappearances in your neighborhood lately?) An enemy already within the gates? Or a refugee seeking sanctuary? Gourmets looking for exotic foreign food? Alien criminals hiding out? Alien cops looking for those alien criminals? No missionaries—at least not yet—and there doesn’t seem to be a Galactic Peace Corps. They might happen to look close enough to human to pass, or they might be masters of disguise. Or they might be so incomprehensibly different that we don’t even notice that they’re here. The secret visitors are revealed by such luminaries as Larry Niven, Poul Anderson, Spider Robinson, William Tenn, and more. And if any alien visitors want to check out the local natives’ speculations herein, feel free. Please pay with local currency, of course.

Read more less

The A–Z Resource on Instructional Systems Design.Modern, adaptable, flexible, timeless. Instructional systems design (ISD) is more relevant than ever and critical for organizational success. ISD is used by education and training professionals worldwide, with billions of dollars a year spent on designing and implementing training. Given such high stakes, organizations need the best training product available, and educational programs need the best textbook for cultivating professionals in this field. Introduction to Instructional Systems Design is just that resource.This book provides comprehensive instruction for professors, instructors, and students of ISD who seek a professional and proven design method in an academic foundation. Written by long-time professor and practitioner of instructional design Chuck Hodell, this is a through line to his earlier bestselling volume ISD From the Ground Up and offers an even greater practicality with a strong theoretical base to answer the questions of why designers do what they do. In chapters that detail the building blocks of instructional design, the ADDIE process, and advanced ISD processes such as determining criticality and content mastery, Hodell creates a guided learning experience with discussion questions and case studies to prompt deeper reflection. Preparing learners for digital learning and adapting in-classroom courses for remote learning are a particular focus, and Hodell provides an overview of career options and development. Perfect for professors and instructors, this textbook also includes an instructor's guide.

Read more less

Earn an A+ in Business Startup!Are you an advocate of higher education? Do you enjoy teaching others? Are you interested in starting a business that makes money and a positive impact? If so, then you'll earn high marks in the tutoring and test prep arena!Whether you want to start a one-on-one tutoring business from home, an online-based education support program, or manage your own learning facility, our experts cover everything you need to know. Learn business basics including how to choose your niche, secure financing, legally establish your business, manage day-to-day operations, and more. Gain an understanding of learning approaches, the latest teaching methods, industry technology and tools, and other industry essentials. Plus, round out your startup curriculum with invaluable advice and examples from current business owners!Learn how to: Match your skill set with your market and their needs Choose a business environment that works for you Master effective teaching methods for diverse learning approaches Write a marketing plan that captures clients and creates referrals Develop profitable academic relationships Create a support staff who will help you succeed Set your fees Boost profits by expanding your specialty or your business The need for education support is growing rapidly-grab your share of this billion dollar market!

Read more less

Praise for Rikki Ducornet: “A novelist whose vocabulary sweats with a kind of lyrical heat.” —New York Times “Ducornet—surrealist, absurdist, pure anarchist at times—is one of our most accomplished writers, adept at seizing on the perfect details and writing with emotion and cool detachment simultaneously. I love her style because it is penetrating and precise but also sensual without being overwrought. You experience a Ducornet novel with all of your senses.” —Jeff VanderMeer “Linguistically explosive. . . . One of the most interesting American writers around.” —The Nation “Ducornet celebrates the playful and rebellious nature of art, and the anarchic ability of the imagination to subvert physical limitations.” —Times Literary Supplement A feral boy comes of age on a campus decadent with starched sheets, sweating cocktails, and homemade jams. Stub is the cause of that missing sweater, the pie that disappeared off the cooling rack. Then Stub meets Billy, who takes him in, and Asthma, who enchants him, and all is found, then lost. A fragrant, voluptuous novel of imposture, misplaced affection, and emotional deformity. An artist and writer, Rikki Ducornet has illustrated books by Robert Coover, Jorge Luis Borges, Forrest Gander, and Joanna Howard. Her paintings have been exhibited widely, including, most recently, at the Pierre Menard Gallery in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the Salvador Allende Museum in Santiago, Chile.

Read more less

The best-selling study Bible in the King James Version—now updated, with added features. Trusted for 25 years, The King James Study Bible has dependable notes and annotations from scholars you can rely on, led by General Editor Edward Hindson. A clear presentation of conservative Bible doctrine, with the resources you need for knowing God’s Word. Book introductions and outlines provide a concise overview of the background and historical context of the book about to be read 5,700 authoritative and study notes for a better understanding of the passage being read Center-column references with translation notes allow you to find related passages quickly and easily 48 revised in-text maps and charts show a visual representation of locations and themes in the Bible Archaeological notes draw attention to biblical places and related archeological discoveries Personality profiles give overviews of key men and women in the Bible Notes on Christian doctrines for a systematic study of themes in God’s Word Easy-to-navigate topical indexes word-study concordance for looking up a word’s occurrences throughout the Bible Index of Christ and the Gospels Index of Paul and His Letters Index of Bible Prophecy Easy-to-read large 11-pt print size Part of the Signature Series line of Thomas Nelson BiblesKing James Study Bibles sold to date: More than 2.4 millionThe King James Version—The most successful Bible translation in history with billions of copies published

Read more less

The best-selling study Bible in the King James Version—now updated, with added features. Trusted for 25 years, The King James Study Bible has dependable notes and annotations from scholars you can rely on, led by General Editor Edward Hindson. A clear presentation of conservative Bible doctrine, with the resources you need for knowing God’s Word. Book introductions and outlines provide a concise overview of the background and historical context of the book about to be read 5,700 authoritative and study notes for a better understanding of the passage being read Center-column references with translation notes allow you to find related passages quickly and easily 48 revised in-text maps and charts show a visual representation of locations and themes in the Bible Archaeological notes draw attention to biblical places and related archeological discoveries Personality profiles give overviews of key men and women in the Bible Notes on Christian doctrines for a systematic study of themes in God’s Word Easy-to-navigate topical indexes word-study concordance for looking up a word’s occurrences throughout the Bible Index of Christ and the Gospels Index of Paul and His Letters Index of Bible Prophecy Easy-to-read large 11-pt print size Part of the Signature Series line of Thomas Nelson BiblesKing James Study Bibles sold to date: More than 2.4 millionThe King James Version—The most successful Bible translation in history with billions of copies published

Read more less

The best-selling study Bible in the King James Version—now updated, with added features. Trusted for 25 years, The King James Study Bible has dependable notes and annotations from scholars you can rely on, led by General Editor Edward Hindson. A clear presentation of conservative Bible doctrine, with the resources you need for knowing God’s Word. Book introductions and outlines provide a concise overview of the background and historical context of the book about to be read 5,700 authoritative and study notes for a better understanding of the passage being read Center-column references with translation notes allow you to find related passages quickly and easily 48 revised in-text maps and charts show a visual representation of locations and themes in the Bible Archaeological notes draw attention to biblical places and related archeological discoveries Personality profiles give overviews of key men and women in the Bible Notes on Christian doctrines for a systematic study of themes in God’s Word Easy-to-navigate topical indexes word-study concordance for looking up a word’s occurrences throughout the Bible Index of Christ and the Gospels Index of Paul and His Letters Index of Bible Prophecy Easy-to-read large 11-pt print size Part of the Signature Series line of Thomas Nelson BiblesKing James Study Bibles sold to date: More than 2.4 millionThe King James Version—The most successful Bible translation in history with billions of copies published

Read more less

One of the defining features of United States foreign policy since World War II has been the nation's special relationship with Israel. This informal alliance, rooted in shared values and culture, grew out of a moral obligation to promote Israel's survival in the aftermath of the Holocaust as US policymakers provided military aid, weapons, and political protection. In return, Israel served American interests through efforts to contain communism and terrorism in the region. Today, the US provides almost four billion dollars in military aid per year, which raises questions regarding interest and propriety: At what point does US support for Israel exceed the boundaries of the countries' unconventional relationship and become counterproductive to other national interests, including the pursuit of peace in the Middle East?Kenneth Kolander provides a vital new perspective on the US-Israel bond by focusing on Congress's role in developing and maintaining the special relationship during a crucial period. Previous studies have focused on the executive branch, but Kolander demonstrates that US-Israel relations did not follow a course preferred by successive presidential administrations, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. Instead, he illuminates how influential lobbyists, America's affinity for Israel and antipathy towards Arabs, and economic pressures influenced legislators and inspired congressional action in support of Israel. In doing so, he presents an essential investigation of the ways in which legislators exert influence in foreign policy and adds new depth to the historiography of an important dynamic in postwar world politics.

Read more less

'A wildly entertaining but uncomfortable read... Pitilessly brilliant' JONATHAN COE. 'There will not be much political writing in this or any other year that is carried off with such style' The Times. A TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR. 'A quite brilliant dissection of the cultural roots of the Brexit narrative' David Miliband. 'Hugely entertaining and engrossing' Roddy Doyle. 'Best book about the English that I've read for ages' Billy Bragg. A fierce, mordantly funny and perceptive book about the act of national self-harm known as Brexit. A great democratic country tears itself apart, and engages in the dangerous pleasures of national masochism. Trivial journalistic lies became far from trivial national obsessions; the pose of indifference to truth and historical fact came to define the style of an entire political elite; a country that once had colonies redefined itself as an oppressed nation requiring liberation. Fintan O'Toole also discusses the fatal attraction of heroic failure, once a self-deprecating cult in a hugely successful empire that could well afford the occasional disaster. Now failure is no longer heroic – it is just failure, and its terrible costs will be paid by the most vulnerable of Brexit's supporters. A new afterword lays out the essential reforms that are urgently needed if England is to have a truly democratic future and stable relations with its nearest neighbours.

Read more less

'Significantly more engaging and inspiring than the rival Rebel Girls' GUARDIAN 'It's hard to imagine any group of primary-aged children who wouldn't be inspired' BOOKSELLER 'An absolute must-have for every young person’s bookshelf' HUFFINGTON POST Kate Pankhurst, descendent of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, is back with a brand new wildly brilliant and accessible book about incredible women in the world of work. What do you want to be when you grow up? It’s a BIG question that everyone is asked from an early age. Discover eye-opening facts about a collection of go-getting women who have pioneered careers in a kaleidoscope of different industries. · Climb to the top of Everest with fearless mountaineer Junko Tabei · Calculate mind-fizzing formulas with mathematician Katherine Johnson · Make brilliant scientific discoveries with Rosalind Franklin · Travel high up in the sky in a hot-air balloon with Sophie Blanchard Overflowing with beautiful illustrations and astounding facts, Fantastically Great Women Who Worked Wonders is the perfect introduction to just a few of the most incredible women who helped shaped the world we live in. A fantastic gift for girls and boys alike! List of women featured: Junko Tabei, Sophie Blanchard, Maria Merian, Elizabeth Magie, the London Matchgirls, Rosa May Billinghurst, Katherine Johnson, Annette Kellerman, Katia Krafft, Rosalind Franklin, James Barry, Madam C.J. Walker, Lotte Reiniger.

Read more less

An up-close look at how porn permeates our culture Pictures of half-naked girls and women can seem to litter almost every screen, billboard, and advertisement in America. Pole-dancing studios keep women fit. Men airdrop their dick pics to female passengers on planes and trains. To top it off, the last American President has bragged about grabbing women “by the pussy.” This pornification of our society is what Bernadette Barton calls “raunch culture.” Barton explores what raunch culture is, why it matters, and how it is ruining America. She exposes how internet porn drives trends in programming, advertising, and social media, and makes its way onto our phones, into our fashion choices, and into our sex lives. From twerking and breast implants, to fake nails and push-up bras, she explores just how much we encounter raunch culture on a daily basis—porn is the new normal. Drawing on interviews, television shows, movies, and social media, Barton argues that raunch culture matters not because it is sexy, but because it is sexist. She shows how young women are encouraged to be sexy like porn stars, and to be grateful for getting cat-called or receiving unsolicited dick pics. As politicians vote to restrict women’s access to birth control and abortion, The Pornification of America exposes the double standard we attach to women’s sexuality.

Read more less

When we start with the wrong question, no matter how good an answer we get, it won't give us the result we want. Rather than asking, 'When will this economic crisis be over?' Jim Wallis says the right question to ask is 'How will this crisis change us?'. The worst thing we can do now, Wallis tells us, is to go back to normal. Normal is what got us into this situation. We need a new normal, and now, in the midst of a crisis affecting every part of society, is the time to discover it. These are some of the principles Wallis suggests we should consider-Spending money we don't have on things we don't need is a bad foundation for an economy or a family-It's time to stop keeping up with the Joneses and start making sure the Joneses are okay-The values of adverts and billboards are not the things we want to teach our children-Caring for the poor is not just a moral duty but is critical for the common good-A healthy society is a balanced society in which markets, the government, and our communities all play a role-The operating principle of God's economy says that there is enough if we share itIn REDISCOVERING VALUES, Wallis equips us with a new moral compass for the future - one that draws on some of our oldest and best values and one that will guide us in the City, our towns and our neighbourhoods.

Read more less

Originally published in 1968. Professor Dryden sees Melville's novels both as metaphysical processes and as technical forms. The novelist is not a reporter but a creator, and what he creates from his experience is his vision of truth. Herman Melville saw the function of the novelist in terms of his ability to expose the reader to truth while simultaneously protecting him from it or, in other words, to enable the reader to experience reality indirectly and, therefore, safely. In Melville's own writing, however, this function became more difficult as his nihilism deepened. He became increasingly sensitive to his own involvement in the world of lies, and when he could no longer protect himself from the truth, he could no longer transform it into fiction. Melville's struggle to maintain the distinction between art and truth was reflected in the changing forms of his novels.Dryden traces Melville's evolving metaphysical views and studies their impact on the craftsmanship of this acutely self-conscious artist from his early novels—Typee, Redburn, and White Jacket—through Moby-Dick, Pierre, Israel Potter, and The Confidence-Man to the posthumously published Billy Budd and the closely related Benito Cereno, and he concludes that "all of Melville's narrators are in some way portraits of the artist at work." Dryden's study is a unique contribution to Melville scholarship and an important journey through the world of the novelist's vision. As such, it has significant implications for the novel as a genre and for understanding its development in America.

Read more less

Are you suffering from Data Presentation Zombification? Billions of dollars and thousands of hours are lost every year during ineffective business meetings worldwide. Data practitioners painstakingly present their valuable analytical insights, only to fall flat, inspiring more yawns than yeses. In Present Beyond Measure: Design, Visualize, and Deliver Data Stories That Inspire Action, Lea Pica provides a 4-phase, step-by-step blueprint for planning, designing, visualizing, and delivering compelling data storytelling in business presentations. Following her blueprint, you will learn how to use neuroscience and cinematic storytelling techniques to galvanize your stakeholders into action. By the final page, you'll know exactly how to: Choose the data that matters most to your decision-makers Speak to different stakeholder audience personality types (even the most challenging) Infuse your data presentation with a persuasive narrative storyline Craft strategic recommendations that get approved and implemented Design simple, stunning slides that communicate without confusing Transmit your data story with best-practice data visualization techniques Avoid the most common data visualization violations and charting pitfalls Prepare for and deliver your presentation like a professional speaker Navigate challenging meeting conversations and logistics with ease Whether you work with little or big data, this book will show you how to prevent presentation zombies and inspire the action and credibility you and your organization deserve.

Read more less

A practical guide to addressing the challenges managers face in implementing and enforcing new anti-bribery regulations The Bribery Act became the law of the land in July 2011. It abolished all existing U.K. anti-bribery laws and replaced them with a suite of new regulations decidedly different and more strenuous than what has come before. Under it companies found noncompliant will be open to billions in penalties and remediation costs, and managers will be open to prosecution if anyone associated with their company commits an offence covered by the act. As employees in nearly all departments will share responsibility for ensuring that adequate procedures are in place and enforced, there is a screaming need for practical, jargon-free guidance on the subject. This book fills that need. It arms managers and advisors with the knowledge and tools they need to implement, communicate and test controls and procedures that not only comply with but exceed the new anti-bribery requirements. It also offers priceless pointers on how to effectively react to bribery allegations if and when they occur. Packed with takeaway tips and checklists that put crucial information at readers' fingertips Written by a chartered accountant and compliance expert, the book offers practical steps managers should take to guarantee company compliance Describes best practices in anti-bribery and corruption compliance in all key business areas, including accounting, sales and marketing, management, legal, and internal auditing

Read more less

The conventions of television and their impact on composer and opera are discussed, with particular reference to Amahl and the Night Visitors, Owen Wingrave, and The Triumph of Beauty and Deceit. Television opera - that is, opera commissioned for television - was one of the earliest attempts by television to bridge the distinction between high culture and popular culture: between 1951 and 2002, in Britain and the United States, over fifty operas were commissioned for television. This book discusses three case studies, the first a live broadcast, the second a video recording, and the third a filmed opera made for television: Gian Carlo Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors (NBC, 1951); Benjamin Britten's Owen Wingrave (BBC, 1971), taking into account Britten's earlier television experiences with The Turn of the Screw (Associated Rediffusion, 1959)and Billy Budd (NBC, 1952 and BBC 1966); and Gerald Barry's The Triumph of Beauty and Deceit (1995), part of Channel 4's decision in 1989 to embark upon a series of six hour-long television operas. In each case, thecomposer's response to the demands of television, and his place within the production's hierarchy, are examined; and the effect of the formats and techniques peculiar to television on the process of composing are discussed. JENNIFER BARNES is Assistant Principal and Dean of Studies at Trinity College of Music, London.

Read more less

The British government's top secret Code & Cypher School at Bletchley Park, otherwise known as Station X, was the unlikely setting for one of the most vital undercover operations of the Second World War. It was at Bletchley in present-day Milton Keynes that teams of code breakers succeeded in cracking Germany's supposedly unbreakable Enigma codes, thereby shortening the war by at least two years. Marion Hill has used the transcripts of some 200 interviews and memoirs from among the thousands of people who worked at Station X to give a remarkable insight into the daily lives of the civilian and service personnel who contributed to the breaking of the Enigma and other Axis codes.She explores their recruitment and training, their first impressions on arrival at Bletchley Park ('BP'), their working conditions, (including the in-house food and entertainment), and their time off in billets and beyond. These BP workers, from boffins to debs to ex-bank clerks and engineers, were united in the need to 'keep mum' - even with their family and close friends. However, the stressful burden on secrecy created divisions within the organisation, and illnesses; and many felt disappointed at the lack of acknowledgement for a vital job about which they were forbidden to speak until many years later.A selection of archive photographs and illustrations accompanies the text, drawn from the Bletchley Park Trust Archive and from the personal albums of those stationed at Bletchley.

Read more less

Where do you find hope, joy, comfort, and strength to cope with life’s struggles? This collection of encouraging Bible passages is organized by topic to help you find the wisdom you need to live life with purpose and faith no matter your circumstances.This bestselling promise book features short Scripture readings from the New International Version verse selections for relevant, real-life topics, including finances, children, love, contentment, self-worth, and forgiveness “The Plan of Salvation” by Billy Graham and a foreword by Joni Eareckson Tada a small and lightweight design perfect for carrying with you or keeping on a nightstand textured softcover Bible Promises for You is a go-to Bible resource for staying grounded in God’s Word. Use it as a daily reading plan, as a prayer journal starter, or simply find wisdom and comfort for your unique circumstances. This compact, treasure-filled book makes a low-budget and faith-building gift for baptism, marriage, Mother’s, Father’s, and Grandparent’s Day, and any other gift-giving occasion. Equip those you love, or yourself, with God’s promises.Be sure to check out the other title in the Bible Promises line Bible Promises for Women, Bible Promises for Men, Bible Promises for Kids, Bible Promises for Students, Bible Promises for Graduates, and Bible Promises for You on Your Confirmation.

Read more less

The business side of sports isn’t just the established terrain of NFL, NBA, and MLB teams and their billionaire owners. Entrepreneurs are launching dynamic new businesses that are transforming the broader sports landscape. What are the up-and-coming opportunities and high-growth areas for start-ups today?This book is for anyone who dreams of starting a sports business. Christopher Mumford explores the state of the game in data analytics, sports betting, eSports, youth sports, fitness, and the fan experience. He surveys the key players in each sector, identifying possibilities and constraints for new entrants. Interviews with figures such as the creator of a “Bloomberg platform for soccer,” a professional sports bettor, and the founder of a fantasy-sports-focused analytics company add vital insight. Mumford also shares the stories of his own sports start-ups and offers advice based on these experiences.Sports Entrepreneurship details practical step-by-step methods for turning an idea into an enterprise. Mumford guides readers through an actionable framework: map out interests and goals, recognize opportunities, get feedback from users, and accelerate growth. Written for a broad audience, from practitioners seeking to jump-start their next big idea to students in sports management and entrepreneurship, this book is an indispensable guide to new opportunities in the sports industry.

Read more less

For well over a century, academic disciplines have studied human behavior using quantitative information. Until recently, however, the humanities have remained largely immune to the use of data—or vigorously resisted it. Thanks to new developments in computer science and natural language processing, literary scholars have embraced the quantitative study of literary works and have helped make Digital Humanities a rapidly growing field. But these developments raise a fundamental, and as yet unanswered question: what is the meaning of literary quantity? In Enumerations, Andrew Piper answers that question across a variety of domains fundamental to the study of literature. He focuses on the elementary particles of literature, from the role of punctuation in poetry, the matter of plot in novels, the study of topoi, and the behavior of characters, to the nature of fictional language and the shape of a poet’s career. How does quantity affect our understanding of these categories? What happens when we look at 3,388,230 punctuation marks, 1.4 billion words, or 650,000 fictional characters? Does this change how we think about poetry, the novel, fictionality, character, the commonplace, or the writer’s career? In the course of answering such questions, Piper introduces readers to the analytical building blocks of computational text analysis and brings them to bear on fundamental concerns of literary scholarship. This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in Digital Humanities and the future of literary study.

Read more less

The rise of right-wing broadcasting during the Cold War has been mostly forgotten today. But in the 1950s and '60s you could turn on your radio any time of the day and listen to diatribes against communism, civil rights, the United Nations, fluoridation, federal income tax, Social Security, or JFK, as well as hosannas praising Barry Gold-water and Jesus Christ. Half a century before the rise of Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, these broadcasters bucked the FCC's public interest mandate and created an alternate universe of right-wing political coverage, anticommunist sermons, and pro-business bluster. A lively look back at this formative era, "What's Fair on the Air?" charts the rise and fall of four of the most prominent right-wing broadcasters: H.L. Hunt, Dan Smoot, Carl McIntire, and Billy James Hargis. By the 1970s, all four had been hamstrung by the Internal Revenue Service, the FCC's Fairness Doctrine, and the rise of a more effective conservative movement. But before losing their battle for the airwaves, Heather Hendershot reveals, they purveyed ideological notions that would eventually triumph, creating a potent brew of religion, politics, and dedication to free-market economics that paved the way for the rise of Ronald Reagan, the Moral Majority, Fox News, and the Tea Party.

Read more less

Pain. Vomiting. Hours and days spent lying in the dark. Migraine is an extraordinarily common, disabling, and painful disorder that affects over 36 million Americans and costs the US economy at least $32 billion per year. Nevertheless, it is frequently dismissed, ignored, and delegitimized. In Not Tonight, Joanna Kempner argues that this general dismissal of migraine can be traced back to the gendered social values embedded in the way we talk about, understand, and make policies for people in pain. Because the symptoms that accompany headache disorders-like head pain, visual auras, and sensitivity to sound-lack an objective marker of distress that can confirm their existence, doctors rely on the perceived moral character of their patients to gauge how serious their complaints are. Kempner shows how this problem plays out in the history of migraine, from nineteenth-century formulations of migraine as a disorder of upper-class intellectual men and hysterical women to the influential concept of "migraine personality" in the 1940s, in which women with migraine were described as uptight neurotics who with-held sex, to contemporary depictions of people with highly sensitive "migraine brains." Not Tonight casts new light on how cultural beliefs about gender, pain, and the distinction between mind and body influence not only whose suffering we legitimate, but which remedies are marketed, how medicine is practiced, and how knowledge about disease is produced.

Read more less

The average person produces about four hundred pounds of excrement a year. More than seven billion people live on this planet. Holy crap! Because of the diseases it spreads, we have learned to distance ourselves from our waste, but the long line of engineering marvels we’ve created to do so—from Roman sewage systems and medieval latrines to the immense, computerized treatment plants we use today—has also done considerable damage to the earth’s ecology. Now scientists tell us: we’ve been wasting our waste. When recycled correctly, this resource, cheap and widely available, can be converted into a sustainable energy source, act as an organic fertilizer, provide effective medicinal therapy for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection, and much more. In clear and engaging prose that draws on her extensive research and interviews, Lina Zeldovich documents the massive redistribution of nutrients and sanitation inequities across the globe. She profiles the pioneers of poop upcycling, from startups in African villages to innovators in American cities that convert sewage into fertilizer, biogas, crude oil, and even life-saving medicine. She breaks taboos surrounding sewage disposal and shows how hygienic waste repurposing can help battle climate change, reduce acid rain, and eliminate toxic algal blooms. Ultimately, she implores us to use our innate organic power for the greater good. Don’t just sit there and let it go to waste.

Read more less

This handbook explores the FAC-1 Framework Alliance Contract as a multi-party umbrella that connects the team members engaged on any project or programme of works, services or supplies. It explains the FAC-1 processes for planning, joint working, contract award, performance review, problem-solving and shared learning, and it illustrates how FAC-1 helps to attract investment, motivate innovation, improve value, manage risks and achieve net zero carbon targets. FAC-1 has been adopted on procurements worth more than £100 billion in the UK and in other jurisdictions, and this handbook explains what is different about FAC-1, how it is used in practice, and how it works clause by clause. With 30 case studies and 46 practice notes, the handbook provides an introduction for those who are new to FAC-1, a refresher for current users, and practical tips for teams engaged on any FAC-1 project or programme of works, services or supplies in any sector. This handbook is designed for use by framework providers, clients, designers, managers, contractors, specialists, operators and legal advisers. It includes the features of FAC-1 as a ‘Gold Standard’ framework contract recommended by the UK government, and it explains how it can improve the efficiency of digital information management. It also provides templates, diagrams and checklists that show how to complete FAC-1, how to use it alongside FIDIC, JCT, NEC, PPC and TAC contract forms, and how to bring its relationships and processes to life.

Read more less

For more than half a century, Warren Buffett, the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has been one of the world’s most respected businessmen, not just because of his savvy investments and unmatched record of returns, but also because of his humility, candor, and refreshing perspective on wealth.Despite this tremendous success, the Oracle of Omaha doesn’t feel entitled to the $89 billion net worth his abilities have earned him. Instead, he likes to say that he was born at the right place and time, and as an active philanthropist, he has already pledged to give most of his money to charity. This modesty in the face of proven talent is part of what makes Buffett as popular on Main Street as he is on Wall Street—he is one of the world’s wealthiest men and yet he is still personable and relatable.Now, hundreds of the most thought-provoking and inspiring quotes from Buffett are compiled in a single book. Warren Buffett: In His Own Words is a comprehensive guidebook to the inner workings of this business icon, providing insight into his thoughts on investing, Wall Street, business, politics, taxes, life lessons, and more.This collection of quotations draws from decades of interviews, editorials, and annual shareholder reports, amassing a comprehensive outline of how Buffett believes a good business is run and a good life is led. It’s advice that Buffett has successfully adhered to throughout his 88 years, and it’s now available in Warren Buffett: In His Own Words.

Read more less

Statins are the so-called wonder drugs widely prescribed to lower blood cholesterol levels and claim to offer unparalleled protection against heart disease. Believed to be completely safe and capable of preventing a whole series of other conditions, they are the most profitable drug in the history of medicine. In this groundbreaking book, GP Malcolm Kendrick exposes the truth behind the hype, revealing: high cholesterol levels don't cause heart disease; a high-fat diet - saturated or otherwise - does not affect blood cholesterol levels; and, the protection provided by statins is so small as to be not worth bothering about for most men and all women.Statins have many more side affects than has been admitted and their advocates should be treated with scepticism due to their links with the drugs' manufacturers.Kendrick lambastes a powerful pharmaceutical industry and unquestioning medical profession, who, he claims, perpetuate the madcap concepts of 'good' and 'bad' cholesterol and cholesterol levels to convince millions of people to spend billions of pounds on statins, thus creating an atmosphere of stress and anxiety - the real cause of fatal heart disease.With clarity and wit, "The Great Cholesterol Con" debunks our assumptions on what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and diet. It is the invaluable guide for anyone who thought there was a miracle cure for heart disease, an appeal to common sense and a controversial and fascinating breakthrough that will set dynamite under the whole area.

Read more less

Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard was a critical and commercial success on its release in 1950 and remains a classic of film noir and one of the best-known Hollywood films about Hollywood. Both its opening, with William Holden as the screenwriter Joe Gillis floating facedown in ageing star Norma Desmond's (Gloria Swanson) pool, and lines such as 'I am big, it's the pictures that got small' are some of the most memorable in Classical Hollywood cinema. Steven Cohan's study of the film draws on original archival research to shed new light on the film's production history, and the contribution to the film's success and meanings of director Wilder, stars Holden and Swanson but also supporting actors Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson (who plays Betty Schaefer), Cecil B. DeMille, and Hedda Hopper, as well as costumier Edith Head, and composer Franz Waxman. Cohan considers the film both as a 'backstudio' picture (a movie about Hollywood) and as a film noir, and in the context of McCarthyism, blacklisting and the Hollywood Ten. Cohan explores how the film was marketed, its reception and afterlife, tracing how the film is at once a product of its own particular historical moment as the movie industry was transitioning out of the studio era, yet one that still speaks powerfully to contemporary audiences, and speculates on the reasons for its enduring appeal.

Read more less

Cross Sports Book Awards Autobiography of the Year'To a Formula One fan, this book is a dream' Independent For almost 50 years, Max Mosley was involved in motor racing, having seen the sport at all levels: as a driver, a team owner (with March) and, between 1993 and 2009, as president of the FIA, motor sport's governing body. In partnership with Bernie Ecclestone, he helped transform Formula One into a multi-billion-pound global brand. Now, in this fascinating and revealing memoir, Mosley gives a compelling insight into the sport and its most influential figures and biggest stars - it is a book that no fan of Formula One can afford not to read. But Mosley's story goes far beyond motor sport, as his life and career have taken him through an extraordinary range of experiences, from being brought up as the son of Oswald and Diana Mosley, who were interned during the war, and having to deal with the taint of the family name; through his vital campaigns for road safety that have helped to save many thousands of lives; and on to the intrusions into his private life that led to a famous court case against the Murdoch press.It is a book that sheds new light on events from Formula One through to Ecclestone's controversial donation of a million pounds to the Labour party. It is packed with behind-the-scenes gossip, vital business tips and some hilarious stories.

Read more less

At the start of the nineteenth century, Passenger Pigeons were perhaps the most abundant birds on the planet, numbering literally in the billions. The flocks were so large and so dense that they blackened the skies, even blotting out the sun for days at a stretch. Yet by the end of the century, the most common bird in North America had vanished from the wild. In 1914, the last known representative of her species, Martha, died in a cage at the Cincinnati Zoo. This stunningly illustrated book tells the astonishing story of North America's Passenger Pigeon, a bird species that--like the Tyrannosaur, the Mammoth, and the Dodo--has become one of the great icons of extinction. Errol Fuller describes how these fast, agile, and handsomely plumaged birds were immortalized by the ornithologist and painter John James Audubon, and captured the imagination of writers such as James Fenimore Cooper, Henry David Thoreau, and Mark Twain. He shows how widespread deforestation, the demand for cheap and plentiful pigeon meat, and the indiscriminate killing of Passenger Pigeons for sport led to their catastrophic decline. Fuller provides an evocative memorial to a bird species that was once so important to the ecology of North America, and reminds us of just how fragile the natural world can be. Published in the centennial year of Martha's death, The Passenger Pigeon features rare archival images as well as haunting photos of live birds.

Read more less

Every day, corporations are connecting the dots about our personal behavior—silently scrutinizing clues left behind by our work habits and Internet use. The data compiled and portraits created are incredibly detailed, to the point of being invasive. But who connects the dots about what firms are doing with this information? The Black Box Society argues that we all need to be able to do so—and to set limits on how big data affects our lives.Hidden algorithms can make (or ruin) reputations, decide the destiny of entrepreneurs, or even devastate an entire economy. Shrouded in secrecy and complexity, decisions at major Silicon Valley and Wall Street firms were long assumed to be neutral and technical. But leaks, whistleblowers, and legal disputes have shed new light on automated judgment. Self-serving and reckless behavior is surprisingly common, and easy to hide in code protected by legal and real secrecy. Even after billions of dollars of fines have been levied, underfunded regulators may have only scratched the surface of this troubling behavior.Frank Pasquale exposes how powerful interests abuse secrecy for profit and explains ways to rein them in. Demanding transparency is only the first step. An intelligible society would assure that key decisions of its most important firms are fair, nondiscriminatory, and open to criticism. Silicon Valley and Wall Street need to accept as much accountability as they impose on others.

Read more less

CEO Louis V. Gerstner Jr.’s memoir about the extraordinary turnaround of IBM and his transformation of the company into the industry leader of the computer age – the great American business story of our time. When Louis V. Gerstner became CEO of IBM in 1993, shares had slumped and the company was on the verge of collapse. Hired for his successful management of RJR Nabisco and American Express, Gerstner had no background in technology, but during his seven-year chairmanship, he transformed the company into the leading force of the computer age. In his frank, direct voice, Gerstner recalls the obstacles he faced: the plans to fragment the company, the inconsistent global policies, the stodgy white-shirt hierarchy and inter-departmental competitiveness and the rapidly declining sales. Within months of joining IBM, Gerstner presented his bold and controversial business strategy. Punitive towards office politics, he revolutionised the company from within, altering an entire corporate culture, divesting billions of dollars in unneeded assets and transforming IBM from a fractured, process-driven business into a nimble, customer-driven enterprise able to respond quickly to the volatile technology market and face down Microsoft and Intel in the internet era. Revealing his tactics step by step, Gerstner spins an engaging narrative that takes the reader behind the curtain into the unbelievable mess he inherited and into the office and mind of a CEO facing the challenge of a lifetime.

Read more less

A oenophile's guide to all things wine.Red, white, sparkling or rosé – arguably no other alcoholic drink has had more impact on our society than wine. From its earliest iterations in earthenware jars all the way to the bottles we find lining supermarket shelves today, it has evolved from its use in religious rites along with culture, diet and society as a whole. And with literally billions of litres drank worldwide, our love of fermented grape juice shows no signs of waning.This little book gets to the heart of our love affair with wine. After taking a tour through a history of its evolution through the centuries, it delves into the nitty-gritty of production before we taste the fruits of all that labour – in moderation of course – and learn all about drinking (and hopefully appreciating) this most esteemed of beverages. As well as a whole caseload of quaffable facts and famous sayings about the nectar of the gods, there is also a glossary of useful wine terminology for the aspiring connoisseur, just in case you need a handy reminder during a particularly arduous tasting session..."A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world." Louis Pasteur"My only regret in life is that I didn't drink more wine." Ernest HemingwayVitis vinifera is the principal wine-producing plant, and the majority of the world's wine comes from varieties of this species, mostly because of its high sugar content.

Read more less

In 2017, Arif Naqvi and The Abraaj Group were on the brink of changing the world of private equity. Abraaj was a pioneer of a new model of impact investing built on the idea that making money and doing good are not mutually exclusive. It had helped transform communities and companies across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America by investing in healthcare, education and clean energy, and in 2017 it was on the threshold of closing a new fund that would provide $6 billion worth of investment to these emerging markets. But then it all came crashing down. On 10 April 2019, after landing at London Heathrow, Naqvi was arrested on fraud charges. He is facing extradition to the United States and a potential prison sentence of up to 291 years if he is found guilty. The dominant media narrative has painted Naqvi as a thief and fraudster, the so-called key man in an organised criminal conspiracy. But in this explosive new book, which is based on extensive research and interviews with key players, Brian Brivati discovers that things are not quite what they seem and finds that in this case of alleged fraud there is actually no money missing. Icarus explores how Abraaj found itself caught in the middle of a geopolitical war between the United States and China and when it would not bow to the whims of these global behemoths, economic hitmen tried to wipe it out.

Read more less

What did a Victorian lady wear for a walk in the park? How did she style her hair for an evening at the theatre? And what products might she have used to soothe a sunburn or treat an unsightly blemish? Mimi Matthews answers these questions and more as she takes readers on a decade-by-decade journey through Victorian fashion and beauty history. Women's clothing changed dramatically during the course of the Victorian era. Necklines rose, waistlines dropped, and Gothic severity gave way to flounces, frills, and an abundance of trimmings. Sleeves ballooned up and skirts billowed out. The crinoline morphed into the bustle and steam-moulded corsets cinched women's waists ever tighter. As fashion was evolving, so too were trends in ladies' hair care and cosmetics. An era which began by prizing natural, barefaced beauty ended with women purchasing lip and cheek rouge, false hairpieces and pomades, and fashionable perfumes made with expensive spice oils and animal essences. Using research from nineteenth century beauty books, fashion magazines, and lady's journals, Mimi Matthews brings the intricacies of a Victorian lady's toilette into modern day focus. In the process, she gives readers a glimpse of the social issues that influenced women's clothing and the societal outrage that was an all too frequent response to those bold females who used fashion and beauty as a means of asserting their individuality and independence.

Read more less

'Utterly thrilling and joyful. I couldn't put it down!' ANTON DU BEKE'Enthralling and captivating. Absolutely loved it!' CAROL KIRKWOOD'A stunning debut, this is the perfect summer read' SANTA MONTEFIOREIt's never too late to follow your dreams...Twenty years ago, Abigail Patterson put her promising tennis career on hold to have her baby son, Robbie. But after a wild card entry to Wimbledon, she suddenly finds herself swept up in a world she thought she'd left behind - and against all odds, she's winning!Yet as those long-buried dreams of lifting the sparkling silver trophy on centre court inch closer, Abi knows that it's only a matter of time before the press start digging into her past and uncover the secret she's kept hidden for so long.The stakes are raised, but this time nothing - and no one - is going to stand in her way. But could the greatest comeback of all time destroy everything she's sacrificed to protect?Praise for The Wild Card:'Come on, it's a tennis story! How can I not love it?!' BILLIE JEAN KING'A pacey page-turner' THE TIMES'Full of twists and turns. We loved it!' HEAT'Fizzing with excitement and high stakes' JO THOMAS'Absolutely fantastic' CHRIS EVANS'A brilliant read' BELLA'A high-stakes novel set in the world she knows best' The i

Read more less

**Don't miss Jenny Holmes's latest wartime series, The Air Raid Girls. Part 3 - The Air Raid Girls: Wartime Brides - is available now!**---------------------------------------------A heart-warming, romantic story of friendship, camaraderie and triumph over adversity that fans of Donna Douglas, Daisy Styles and Call the Midwife will adore.Winter, 1942. Brenda and Joyce are just two of the girls who have joined the Women's Land Army and are doing their bit for the war effort. But after months working on farms in the Yorkshire Dales, they're looking for a fresh challenge. Despite the bitter cold of their new billets high in the remote fells, their fear for those away fighting, and concern for family and friends, there is warmth to be found in faces old and new, and plans for a jolly Christmas are afoot.But when a child evacuee goes missing in the snow and tragedy strikes close to home, can their dearest wish - that all their loved ones stay safe this Christmas - possibly come true?---------------------------------------------Readers love Jenny Holmes:'There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book' 5 star review'I couldn't put this book down' 5 star review'Loved the whole story' 5 star review'This is a totally absorbing book' 5 star review'An excellent read put together in fine style' 5 star review

Read more less

DISCOVER 2,000 YEARS OF SCOTTISH HISTORY TOLD BY THOSE WHO LIVED IT - FROM THE ROMAN INVASION TO THE SNP PARLIAMENTARY VICTORY IN 2007.Featuring writing from Tacitus, Mary Queen of Scots, Oliver Cromwell, David Livingston and Billy Connolly. ______________Scotland's history is wide and vast. Depending on the lens applied, it can be seen as an unrelenting tale of oppression and poverty or a glowing roll-call of innovation, exploration and entrepreneurship. In fact, it's all of the above. In Scotland: An Autobiography, Professor Rosemary Goring shows Scotland's history as it happened by those who were there - from criminals, servants, house-wives, poets, journalists and nurses to politicians, novelists, prisoners, comedians, sportsmen and even queens. It is the good and the bad. The everyday and the key historical moments. A vivid, panoramic and engrossing account, she has created a living history and the perfect read for anyone not only seeking to understand Scotland's past but also its heart and soul. ______________'History caught on the hoof and the wing by those who were actually there - a brilliant selection' Andrew Marr'An unqualified triumph, superb, a real page-turner . . . what a stirring, dramatic, poignant story it has been' Alexander McCall Smith, Spectator 'Fascinating and very valuable. Goring gives us vivid snapshots of Scottish life and history from Neolithic times . . . should find a place in every Scottish home' Allan Massie, Scotsman

Read more less

Shortlisted for the Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year AwardA New York Times technology and business reporter charts the dramatic rise of Bitcoin and the fascinating personalities who are striving to create a new global money for the Internet age.Digital Gold is New York Times reporter Nathaniel Popper's brilliant and engrossing history of Bitcoin, the landmark digital money and financial technology that has spawned a global social movement.The notion of a new currency, maintained by the computers of users around the world, has been the butt of many jokes, but that has not stopped it from growing into a technology worth billions of dollars, supported by the hordes of followers who have come to view it as the most important new idea since the creation of the Internet. Believers from Beijing to Buenos Aires see the potential for a financial system free from banks and governments. More than just a tech industry fad, Bitcoin has threatened to decentralize some of society's most basic institutions.An unusual tale of group invention, Digital Gold charts the rise of the Bitcoin technology through the eyes of the movement's colorful central characters, including an Argentinian millionaire, a Chinese entrepreneur, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, and Bitcoin's elusive creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Already, Bitcoin has led to untold riches for some, and prison terms for others.

Read more less

Read the cult classic behind the major new film starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon and Josh Brolin.Part noir, part psychedelic romp, all Thomas Pynchon - private eye Doc Sportello comes, occasionally, out of a marijuana haze to watch the end of an era as free love slips away and paranoia creeps in with the L.A. fog.It's been awhile since Doc Sportello has seen his ex-girlfriend. Suddenly out of nowhere she shows up with a story about a plot to kidnap a billionaire land developer whom she just happens to be in love with. Easy for her to say. It's the tail end of the psychedelic sixties in L.A., and Doc knows that 'love' is another of those words going around at the moment, like 'trip' or 'groovy', except that this one usually leads to trouble. Despite which he soon finds himself drawn into a bizarre tangle of motives and passions whose cast of characters includes surfers, hustlers, dopers and rockers, a murderous loan shark, a tenor sax player working undercover, an ex-con with a swastika tattoo and a fondness for Ethel Merman, and a mysterious entity known as the Golden Fang, which may only be a tax dodge set up by some dentists.In this lively yarn, Thomas Pynchon, working in an unaccustomed genre, provides a classic illustration of the principle that if you can remember the sixties, you weren't there...or...if you were there, then you...or, wait, is it...

Read more less

*Shortlisted for the RNA Romantic Thriller of the Year Award* If you liked Blood Orange, The Perfect Couple and The House Guest you will love this! Susan and Sarah. Sisters. Best friends.Together…forever? Nothing could break them apart. Until they meet him. And he can only choose one… Now Susan is back. Determined to reclaim everything Sarah has taken from her. Her home, her husband…her life? *Shortlisted for the RNA Romantic Thriller of the Year Award* Readers can’t get enough of The Twins: ‘Wow. Mind Blown. J.S. Lark is a wily wordsmith and not to be trusted’ DJ ‘My goodness, I don’t even know where to start with this one!… At times shocking, this book is an absolute must-read for anyone who likes a psychological thriller’ Emma ‘An original, gripping page turner and it had me guessing and shocked throughout’ Ceri ‘Started reading this Wednesday night and finished it by Friday morning…If you like physiological thrillers then you will love this’ Leanne ‘So many twists and turns that literally left me with my mouth hanging open’ Randi ‘A fast paced twisty psychological thriller’ Jayne ‘Lots of twists and turns and I just had to read ‘one more chapter’ Abbi ‘Wonderful well written plot that had me engaged from the start…Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had’ Billie

Read more less

Stanford’s pioneering behavioral scientist draws on a lifetime of research and experience guiding the NIH to make the case that America needs to radically rethink its approach to health care if it wants to stop overspending and overprescribing and improve people’s lives.American science produces the best—and most expensive—medical treatments in the world. Yet U.S. citizens lag behind their global peers in life expectancy and quality of life. Robert Kaplan brings together extensive data to make the case that health care priorities in the United States are sorely misplaced. America’s medical system is invested in attacking disease, but not in addressing the social, behavioral, and environmental problems that engender disease in the first place. Medicine is important, but many Americans act as though it were all important.The United States stakes much of its health funding on the promise of high-tech diagnostics and miracle treatments, while ignoring strong evidence that many of the most significant pathways to health are nonmedical. Americans spend millions on drugs for high cholesterol, which increase life expectancy by only six to eight months on average. But they underfund education, which might extend life expectancy by as much as twelve years. Wars on infectious disease have paid off, but clinical trials for chronic conditions—costing billions—rarely confirm that new treatments extend life. Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health spends just 3 percent of its budget on research on the social and behavioral determinants of health, even though these factors account for 50 percent of premature deaths.America’s failure to take prevention seriously costs lives. More than Medicine argues that we need a shakeup in how we invest resources, and it offers a bold new vision for longer, healthier living.

Read more less

Bosnia, Rwanda, Haiti, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria - a quarter-century of stumbles in America’s pursuit of a more peaceful and just world. American military interventions have cost thousands of lives and billions of dollars, yet we rarely manage to enact positive and sustainable change. In Peace Works: America's Unifying Role in a Turbulent World, ambassador and global conflict leader Rick Barton uses a mix of stories, history, and analysis for a transformative approach to foreign affairs and offers concrete and attainable solutions for the future. Drawing on his lifetime of experience as a diplomat, foreign policy expert, and State Department advisor, Rick Barton grapples with the fact that the U.S. is strategically positioned and morally obligated to defuse international conflicts, but often inadvertently escalates conflicts instead. Guided by the need to find solutions that will yield tangible results, Barton does a deep analysis of our last several interventions and discusses why they failed and how they could have succeeded. He outlines a few key directives in his foreign policy strategy: remain transparent with the American public, act as a catalyzing (not colonizing!) force, and engage local partners. But above all else, he insists that the U.S. must maintain a focus on people. Since a country’s greatest resource is often the ingenuity of its local citizens, it is counterproductive to ignore them while planning an intervention. By anchoring each chapter to a story from a specific conflict zone, Barton is able to discuss opportunities pursued and missed, areas for improvement, and policy recommendations. This balance between storytelling and concrete policy suggestions both humanizes distant stories of foreign crises, and provides going-forward solutions for desperate situations. The book begins and ends in Syria – the ultimate failure of our current approach to foreign policy, and with devastating consequences.

Read more less

Drones are transforming warfare through the use of artificial intelligence, drone swarms, and surveillance—leading to competition between the US, China, Israel, and Iran. Who will be the next drone superpower?In the battle for the streets of Mosul in Iraq, drones in the hands of ISIS terrorists made life hell for the Iraq army and civilians. Today, defense companies are racing to develop the lasers, microwave weapons, and technology necessary for confronting the next drone threat. Seth J. Frantzman takes the reader from the midnight exercises with Israel’s elite drone warriors, to the CIA headquarters where new drone technology was once adopted in the 1990s to hunt Osama bin Laden. This rapidly expanding technology could be used to target nuclear power plants and pose a threat to civilian airports. In the Middle East, the US used a drone to kill Iranian arch-terrorist Qasem Soleimani, a key Iranian commander. Drones are transforming the battlefield from Syria to Libya and Yemen. For militaries and security agencies—the main users of expensive drones—the UAV market is expanding as well; there were more than 20,000 military drones in use by 2020. Once the province of only a few militaries, drones now being built in Turkey, China, Russia, and smaller countries like Taiwan may be joining the military drone market. It’s big business, too—$100 billion will be spent over the next decade on drones. Militaries may soon be spending more on drones than tanks, much as navies transitioned away from giant vulnerable battleships to more agile ships. The future wars will be fought with drones and won by whoever has the most sophisticated technology.

Read more less

*GUARDIAN BEST CRIME AND THRILLERS OF 2020**LA TIMES BOOK PRIZE WINNER 2020*'BLACKTOP WASTELAND may be the book of the year.' MICHAEL CONNELLY'Sensationally good' LEE CHILD'I loved BLACKTOP WASTELAND' STEPHEN KING'Stunning. Can't remember the last time I read such a powerful crime novel' MARK BILLINGHAM"Bug" Montage: honest mechanic, loving family man. He's no longer the criminal he was - the sharpest wheelman east of the Mississippi.But when his respectable life crumbles, a shady associate comes calling with a one-time job promising a huge payout. Inexorably drawn to the driver's seat - and haunted by the ghost of his outlaw father - Bug is yanked back into a savage world of bullets and betrayal.Like Breaking Bad in a high-speed collision with Drive, this dazzling novel holds up a cracked mirror to the American Dream - and tells the story of one man pushed to his limits by poverty, race and a self-destructive masculinity.'Every once in a while a writer comes along with an incredible voice...add S. A. Cosby to that list.' STEVE CAVANAGH'An urgent, timely, pitch-perfect jolt of American noir' DENNIS LEHANE'A superb character study wrapped up in a high-octane heist novel' Guardian'The action sequences are superb, the dialogue wouldn't shame Elmore Leonard, and Bug's experiences recall Walter Mosley at his most powerful...fantastic' Sunday Times'Spectacular....a voice as stark and distinctive as Elmore Leonard's, and a humanity that touches the soul.' Daily Mail'A delicious slice of country gothic wrapped in smart, hard, contemporary neo noir.' ADRIAN McKINTY'The book will leave you breathless, but also desperate to know where Cosby will take us next.' LAURA LIPPMAN'...S. A. Cosby reinvents the American crime novel. Blacktop Wasteland thrums and races - it's an intoxicating thrill of a ride'. WALTER MOSLEY

Read more less

A guide to understanding the formation of life in the Universe The revised and updated second edition of Astrobiology offers an introductory text that explores the structure of living things, the formation of the elements required for life in the Universe, the biological and geological history of the Earth, and the habitability of other planets. Written by a noted expert on the topic, the book examines many of the major conceptual foundations in astrobiology, which cover a diversity of traditional fields including chemistry, biology, geosciences, physics, and astronomy. The book explores many profound questions such as: How did life originate on Earth? How has life persisted on Earth for over three billion years? Is there life elsewhere in the Universe? What is the future of life on Earth? Astrobiology is centered on investigating the past and future of life on Earth by looking beyond Earth to get the answers. Astrobiology links the diverse scientific fields needed to understand life on our own planet and, potentially, life beyond. This new second edition: Expands on information about the nature of astrobiology and why it is useful Contains a new chapter “What is Life?” that explores the history of attempts to understand life Contains 20% more material on the astrobiology of Mars, icy moons, the structure of life, and the habitability of planets New ‘Discussion Boxes’ to stimulate debate and thought about key questions in astrobiology New review and reflection questions for each chapter to aid learning New boxes describing the careers of astrobiologists and how they got into the subject Offers revised and updated information throughout to reflect the latest advances in the field Written for students of life sciences, physics, astronomy and related disciplines, the updated edition of Astrobiology is an essential introductory text that includes recent advances to this dynamic field.

Read more less

“This startling, vital book deserves our attention.” —San Francisco Chronicle For fans of War Dogs and Bad Blood, an explosive look inside the rush to profit from the COVID-19 pandemic, from the award-winning ProPublica reporter who saw it firsthand.The United States federal government spent over $10 billion on medical protective wear and emergency supplies, yet as COVID-19 swept the nation, life-saving equipment such as masks, gloves, and ventilators was nearly impossible to find. In this brilliant nonfiction thriller, called “revelatory” by The Washington Post, award-winning investigative reporter J. David McSwane takes us behind the scenes to reveal how traders, contractors, and healthcare companies used one of the darkest moments in American history to fill their pockets. Determined to uncover how this was possible, he spent over a year on private jets and in secret warehouses, traveling from California to Chicago to Washington, DC, to interview both the most treacherous of profiteers and the victims of their crimes. Pandemic, Inc. is the story of the fraudster who signed a multi-million-dollar contract with the government to provide lifesaving PPE, and yet never came up with a single mask. The Navy admiral at the helm of the national hunt for additional medical resources. The Department of Health whistleblower who championed masks early on and was silenced by the government and conservative media. And the politician who callously slashed federal emergency funding and gutted the federal PPE stockpile. Winner of the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting, McSwane connects the dots between backdoor deals and the spoils systems to provide the definitive account of how this pandemic was so catastrophically mishandled. Shocking and monumental, Pandemic, Inc. exposes a system that is both deeply rigged, and singularly American.

Read more less