Search results for ""Spark""

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche offers insights from ancient Tibetan Buddhist traditions to authentically delve into the heart of creativity.Mention creativity, and what comes to mind? For many of us, creativity is the province of a solitary individual with a singular gift toiling away in service to their art. But what if we looked at creativity through a wider lens, as a dynamic force that animates us all and connects us with every being on the planet? From this perspective, creativity is not just a spark igniting the fire of inspiration. It is a way of living from the sacred space within that is the source of infinite potential, love, compassion and joy.In Spontaneous Creativity, acclaimed author and meditation master Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche draws on the ancient wisdom of the Tibetan Bön Buddhist tradition to help us show up fully for our lives and express our creative gifts for the greatest good. Guided meditations and practices will help you to: · meet your own creative nature· recognize and release the ‘pain identity’ that is holding you back· awaken the essential powers of openness, awareness, inspiration, ripening and manifesting· serve others with joy and compassion The teachings of Bön Buddhism have been introducing human beings to their true nature for centuries, and they are as fresh today as ever. Tenzin Rinpoche writes, ‘My deepest wish is for you to receive great benefit from these teachings as you explore them, take them into your heart and feel them come alive in your life.’

Read more less

In this searing polemic, Lee Edelman outlines a radically uncompromising new ethics of queer theory. His main target is the all-pervasive figure of the child, which he reads as the linchpin of our universal politics of “reproductive futurism.” Edelman argues that the child, understood as innocence in need of protection, represents the possibility of the future against which the queer is positioned as the embodiment of a relentlessly narcissistic, antisocial, and future-negating drive. He boldly insists that the efficacy of queerness lies in its very willingness to embrace this refusal of the social and political order. In No Future, Edelman urges queers to abandon the stance of accommodation and accede to their status as figures for the force of a negativity that he links with irony, jouissance, and, ultimately, the death drive itself.Closely engaging with literary texts, Edelman makes a compelling case for imagining Scrooge without Tiny Tim and Silas Marner without little Eppie. Looking to Alfred Hitchcock’s films, he embraces two of the director’s most notorious creations: the sadistic Leonard of North by Northwest, who steps on the hand that holds the couple precariously above the abyss, and the terrifying title figures of The Birds, with their predilection for children. Edelman enlarges the reach of contemporary psychoanalytic theory as he brings it to bear not only on works of literature and film but also on such current political flashpoints as gay marriage and gay parenting. Throwing down the theoretical gauntlet, No Future reimagines queerness with a passion certain to spark an equally impassioned debate among its readers.

Read more less

Over the last fifteen years, professional communications have changed drastically. Presentations are the primary way we communicate. There is a proliferation of presentation software in the workplace, but there are no documented best-practices for how to communicate optimally in this ubiquitous medium. There has never been a gold standard collection of best practices for telling the visual story until now. Whether you're a CEO, senior manager or educator, you create presentations that have incredibly high stakes. Stock value, sales revenue, career promotions and behavior changes are all influenced by presentations daily. Those of us who want to get ahead have had a few guides that teach us how to create 'sticky' verbal messages and make a successful delivery. But what about the slides themselves? Are they art or science, or both?If you 're tired of stagnating in your career or getting marginal feedback when you present to pivotal audiences, this book will change your approach, process and expectations for developing visual aides. It will make the difference between a good presentation and a great one. The personality of the book is smart and informative. It would be like the merging of an informative Strunk and White's "Elements of Style" with a spunky Anne Lamott - but it happens to all be in living color. Useful, yet with doses of reality sprinkled in. It will be referenced enough to be kept permanently on a desk as an essential guide yet profound enough to spark viral intrigue. For the first time, we have translated much of the design language into laymen 's terms.

Read more less

A down-to-earth, visual guidebook that shows how to ‘read’, understand and get the most out of art. For beginners, art history might seem a daunting subject with complex rules and impenetrable technical language. Even for more seasoned art lovers the question of how to think about art is a perennial riddle. Art Unpacked is the perfect resource for both audiences: an engaging, visual primer for the general reader, as well as educators. Designed like an instruction manual, fifty key artworks from around the world are deconstructed with pithy explanations, diagrams and close-ups, in order to reveal the elements that make up a masterpiece. Dating from the earliest times to the present, the artworks under analysis are drawn from many cultures, and cover all forms of visual media including: drawing, illustration, photography, prints and sculpture. Matthew Wilson’s simplicity of approach, using established art historical methods, enables the reader to discover the fundamentals of art history, from considerations of function, historical context, iconography and artists’ experience, to broader issues of identity including feminism, gender and postcolonialism. Whether it’s the mask of Tutankhamun or Dorothea Lange’s photograph of Migrant Mother, Hokusai’s Great Wave or Kara Walker’s Gone, each image is dissected on the page in a no-nonsense style, with explanatory notes detailing artists’ sources of inspiration, associated styles and movements, plus any relevant quotes, related visuals and other contextual and issue-led information with keywords for handy cross-referencing. The resulting book is a dynamic, visual resource that will inspire and spark enjoyment of art in all its forms.

Read more less

Deliver an ambitious, knowledge-rich and global KS3 History curriculum to develop pupils’ knowledge of the past, build their skills and equip them to progress through to GCSE 9-1 History. Provide a coherent chronological KS3 history curriculum with 50 knowledge-rich lessons on twentieth century world history. Spark pupils’ curiosity, develop their understanding of the past and equip them to investigate the past as a historian. Ignite an interest in twentieth century history through memorable and compelling narratives, rich contextual detail and extraordinary people Help all students to think critically about the past by focusing on the knowledge they need and then checking their understanding Build secure positive identities and cultural capital with culturally and geographically diverse coverage including five new global history units for the 2nd edition Support pupils’ long-term learning with knowledge organisers on key vocabulary, people, places, and dates Put knowledge into context with a full timeline covering the broad geographical scope of the period studied Easy to implement in your school with the 10 unit/ 5 chapter structure and overarching enquiry question per unit Deliver excellent lessons and save time on your planning with the supportive Teacher Guide available free on collins.co.uk, including suggested activities and sources, quick quizzes, answers and essay ideas Unit 1: The First World WarUnit 2: The USSRUnit 3: Germany and the NazisUnit 4: The Second World WarUnit 5: Wartime BritainUnit 6: Modern ChinaUnit 7: The Cold WarUnit 8: Civil Rights in the USAUnit 9: DecolonisationUnit 10: Postwar Britain

Read more less

Build students’ confidence and competence with tutoring strategies that spark meaningful, accelerated learning. Tutoring is much more than telling students information. Effective tutoring begins with the strong and caring relationship a tutor establishes with a learner to build trust, fuel motivation, and drive critical learning. How Tutoring Works distills the complexity of strategic moves effective tutors make to build students’ confidence and competence. Harnessing decades of Visible Learning® research, this easy to read, eye-opening guide details the six essential components of any effective tutoring intervention—establishing a relationship and credibility, addressing student confidence and challenges, setting shared goals, helping a student learn how to learn, teaching and learning content, and establishing a habit of deliberate practice. Indispensable for any educator who intervenes with students, this rich resource includes: Examples of impactful tutoring conversations, including what to say and what not to say when building a relationship with a learner. Specific approaches to use when establishing credibility, addressing challenges to learning, leveraging the relevance of knowledge, setting goals, and ensuring practice. Learning strategies, with effect size, for teaching and learning content, including specific strategies for improving reading, writing, and mathematics. Tips and tools for helping students develop powerful cognitive, metacognitive, and affective study skills. Resources and advice for establishing an effective and transformational tutoring program. Done well, tutoring can repair a student’s damaged relationship to learning, address unrealized potential, and alter the course of a young person’s life. A strong and nurturing relationship between tutor and learner is key.

Read more less

Unleash the power of curiosity and the joy of learning! Curiosity is hardwired in all of us, but the longer students stay in school, the less curious they become. Why is that? Building a Curious School uncovers the many subtle ways in which formal education seems to hinder our natural curiosity and reveals how rekindling a sense of wonder in schools can prime the pump for learning, foster a culture of engagement, grow better educational leaders, and prepare students and staff to lead more fulfilling lives. Grounded in research, this engaging examination of curiosity shows educators how to intentionally cultivate inquisitiveness and wonder in teaching and learning. It includes · A plethora of activities, ideas, and tips to encourage curiosity · Compelling examples of curiosity at work in schools, businesses, and communities · Tools for supporting curiosity in ways that spark meaningful conversations and promote empathy, equity, and social-emotional learning If you′ve ever wondered anything, really—just out of curiosity—then you′ve got what it takes to lead your school to restored curiosity and your students to wellbeing and success. "This book lays out a vision as to the way schools can and should be approached to stimulate curiosity as a natural part of the teaching/learning process." --Robert J. Marzano, Cofounder and CAO, Marzano Resources, Cofounder and Strategic Advisor, Marzano Research "A powerful ‘must-read’ for all educators who want learning not only to be lively but also impactful and meaningful for every student." --Lyn Sharratt, Internship Supervisor, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Canada

Read more less

Prepare to fall in love this Christmas with the ultimate festive romance . . .'A perfect Christmas treat' MIRANDA DICKINSON'Sprinkled with humour, warmth and, of course, Christmas magic' CATHY BRAMLEY*WINNER OF THE NOVELICIOUS DEBUT OF THE YEAR AWARD*Claudia is thirty and fearing her romance with long-term love Seth has lost its spark. Determined to rediscover the magic they once had, Claudia and Seth go on their first date in a very long time. But when the night ends in disaster, Claudia suddenly finds herself facing life - and Christmas - alone.But being alone doesn't mean she has to be miserable. Familiarising herself with long-forgotten exercise regimes and ill-advised sexy underwear, Claudia decides to fill up her Christmas with dates. And with best friends Penny and Nick at her side, a surplus of festive markets, mulled wine and Christmas tunes, Claudia feels ready to face anything life can throw at her. One thing's for sure, this year Christmas is going to be very different . . .Filled with Christmas sparkle, butterflies-in-your-stomach romance and a LOT of humour, The Twelve Dates of Christmas is the perfect festive romance to settle down with this winter. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Heidi Swan and Cathy Bramley.PRAISE FOR LISA DICKENSON:'A very funny and touching tale' HEAT magazine'A fun and festive sweet treat of a book' ALI MCNAMARA'You need to read this romcom! Fun, flirty and funny' FABULOUS magazine'A fun, flirty festive read full of Christmas sparkle and romance' JO THOMAS

Read more less

ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE BRITISH WRITERS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY'With brilliant dialogue and intense passages of elation and despair, The Weather in the Streets takes you on the rollercoaster of their relationship' ESTHER FREUD, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH'Lehmann legitimised a type of writing that took on deep personal themes' ENGLISH PEN'The first writer to filter her stories through a woman's feelings & perceptions' ANITA BROOKNERTaking up where Invitation to the Waltz left off, The Weather in the Streets shows us Olivia Curtis ten years older, a failed marriage behind her, thinner, sadder, and apparently not much wiser. A chance encounter on a train with a man who enchanted her as a teenager leads to a forbidden love affair and a new world of secret meetings, brief phone calls and snatched liaisons in anonymous hotel rooms.Years ahead of its time when first published, this subtle and powerful novel shocked even the most stalwart Lehmann fans with its searing honesty and passionate portrayal of clandestine love.Books included in the VMC 40th anniversary series include: Frost in May by Antonia White; The Collected Stories of Grace Paley; Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault; The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter; The Weather in the Streets by Rosamond Lehmann; Deep Water by Patricia Highsmith; The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West; Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston; Heartburn by Nora Ephron; The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy; Memento Mori by Muriel Spark; A View of the Harbour by Elizabeth Taylor; and Faces in the Water by Janet Frame.

Read more less

It's all fun and games until you accidentally marry a stranger in Greece and inherit a hotel.Amelia Lang's life is kind of a mess. She's stuck living at home with her narcissistic mother. Her tech bro ex-boyfriend deliberately sabotages her at work, and she gets fired after throwing a mug at his head (it's okay! She missed.) Then she has a major falling out with her best friend. So Amelia does what Amelia does best: She runs away.After traveling around Europe for three months, she settles on a small Greek island to reset her life and figure out what's next. But after too much retsina, she gets tricked into marrying James, another guest at the hotel, who is perfectly nice-but perfectly boring. To top it off, they are gifted the very hotel they're staying in-a hotel they don't want that is in desperate need of some TLC. They agree to keep the hotel open through the busy summer season for the sake of the island's quirky but well-meaning residents, after which Amelia plans to return home to start rebuilding her disastrous life.Amelia and James must work together to determine how to get out of their situation-easier said than done for Amelia, who's started to feel a strong spark of attraction for James. But Amelia is sure her real life is waiting for her back in San Francisco. Is it time for Amelia to return home or could this be the second chance at a new life she didn't know she wanted?

Read more less

Steroids have been made out to be the modern plague of the day. The media chastize athletes who use them and sentence users to an early death. Outspoken critics claim there's a laundry list of horrific, irreversible side effects. But the truth, as HBO may have summed up best in their special programming on the subject, is that despite all the smoke, there's no fire. Hardly a spark. In Dunks, Doubles, Doping, Nathan Jendrick offers a researched, unbiased view on anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. The truth is that steroids didn't kill Lyle Alzado, Steve Bechler or Ken Caminiti. The truth is that steroids won't be the cause of death for Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, or Marion Jones--athletes accused of drug use. The one thing that steroids are killing though, is sports. Steroids have ruined the landscape of competition not by their chemical properties, but by the massive hysteria that surrounds them in the media, in gyms and in the stands of stadiums. And it's all in the name of money. Fans are turned off by the scandals and adolescents, who might be the only ones at a real health risk by using steroids, are putting the future of sports on their shoulders, and on the line, by trying to get big unnaturally too early. Dunks, Doubles, Doping includes interviews with top athletes, physicians and personalities while covering and revealing the truth behind steroids and confronting the new horizon of cheating: Gene doping. 3D is a can't-miss if you want the truth behind America's latest sports scandal.

Read more less

Janet Kestin and Nancy Vonk have built their careers on unconventional creative thinking. As the team behind Dove's Evolution video, they famously stripped away the photoshopping, lighting and make-up to sell real beauty. But after years of winning awards for rethinking brands, they realized that they wanted to spend more of their time rethinking the way we work-or, in many cases and places, the way our work doesn't work for us, and especially for women. And so they tackled the problem in their hallmark style-by turning expectations upside down and shaking them. Soundly. Darling, You Can't Do Both, is a smart, relatable guide for all of the women who embraced the spirit of Lean In but were left wondering where to start-how could they, in all industries and at all levels, really start to change the institutions they work in from the ground up. Janet Kestin and Nancy Vonk's answer is that women need to start breaking rules they've always tacitly accepted, and start understanding how being a woman in business is an asset, not a liability. They argue that motherhood creates better leaders, that you should be letting the intern help solve your biggest problems and that networking isn't just the icky business of golf clubs and business cards. Darling, You Can't Do Both will spark a new thread of conversation about women in the workplace--one that isn't about accepting defeat or blaming ourselves, but is instead about moving (and looking) forward.

Read more less

'An enthralling page-turner' DILLY COURT'A heart-warming WW2 love story' ROSIE GOODWIN'A great new series from the queen of East End sagas' ELAINE EVEREST A brand new historical romance series from Jean Fullerton, charting the loves, hopes and heartaches of three women who move into a rectory in Stepney, East London during WW2.*East London, 1940. Prue Carmichael never dreamed that she'd end up working at a railway yard. But when her reverend father is called up to Stepney, she and her family are uprooted from their country home for a new life in the turbulent city.Determined to help with the war effort, Prue signs up for work and soon becomes intrigued by handsome train engineer Jack Quinn. But as the spark between them grows apparent, so does his troubled past - a past that Prue's mother would certainly not approve of.In between cleaning train carriages and helping to shelter Jewish refugees, Prue manages to stay busy. But she has more than one admirer, and when Jack is recruited into Churchill's secret army, a very different suitor begins to pursue her.As air raid sirens sound overhead, Prue Carmichael is facing her own battle - the fight between her heart and her head . . .Amidst the ruins of war, will Prue and Jack's love find a way?*PRAISE FOR JEAN FULLERTON 'Food for the soul, it's simply deliciously readable and enjoyable' Liz Robinson, LoveReading'Charming and full of detail... You will ride emotional highs and lows... Beautifully written' The Lady'A delightful, well researched story' bestselling author Lesley Pearse

Read more less

From Black Lives Matter to the ongoingWomen's Marches, we have had some powerful moments over the last decade that have galvanized and created new, but brief, feelings of community. Many of us, however, haven't figured out how to spark that feeling on our own, or how to build off or sustain those moments. Many of us are longing for a kind of sugar-borrowing and stoop-sitting closeness we imagine existed in the 50s. Maybe we even grew up in that environment, but we moved away from home for love, work, or adventure and we don't know how to recreate it in a new place. What so many of us are missing is the closeness that connects us and make us feel like we belong to a community.In How We Show Up, community visionary Mia Birdsong delivers a modern, timely understanding of what true, authentic family and community can look like--outside of the 2-parent, 2.5 kids norm we all have in our heads. Today we have more single parents, couples who raise children outside of marriage, and more people growing older alone. Tackling topics like creating safe spaces, creativity in community, raising children in community, and more, How We Show Up is the antidote to the social fractures we face in our nation today. By sharing stories and actionable advice, and taking cues from marginalized communities--people of color, women, LGBTQ--Mia Birdsong offers us the blueprint we need to build true community wherever we are.

Read more less

Examines the impact of marriage equality on the future of LGBT rights In persuading the Supreme Court that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry, the LGBT rights movement has achieved its most important objective of the last few decades. Throughout its history, the marriage equality movement has been criticized by those who believe marriage rights were a conservative cause overshadowing a host of more important issues. Now that nationwide marriage equality is a reality, everyone who cares about LGBT rights must grapple with how best to promote the interests of sexual and gender identity minorities in a society that permits same-sex couples to marry. This book brings together 12 original essays by leading scholars of law, politics, and society to address the most important question facing the LGBT movement today: What does marriage equality mean for the future of LGBT rights? After Marriage Equality explores crucial and wide-ranging social, political, and legal issues confronting the LGBT movement, including the impact of marriage equality on political activism and mobilization, antidiscrimination laws, transgender rights, LGBT elders, parenting laws and policies, religious liberty, sexual autonomy, and gender and race differences. The book also looks at how LGBT movements in other nations have responded to the recognition of same-sex marriages, and what we might emulate or adjust in our own advocacy. Aiming to spark discussion and further debate regarding the challenges and possibilities of the LGBT movement’s future, After Marriage Equality will be of interest to anyone who cares about the future of sexual equality.

Read more less

Introductions to the theory of knowledge are plentiful, but none introduce students to the most recent debates that exercise contemporary philosophers. Ian Evans and Nicholas D. Smith aim to change that. Their book guides the reader through the standard theories of knowledge while simultaneously using these as a springboard to introduce current debates. Each chapter concludes with a “Current Trends” section pointing the reader to the best literature dominating current philosophical discussion. These include: the puzzle of reasonable disagreement; the so-called "problem of easy knowledge" the intellectual virtues; and new theories in the philosophy of language relating to knowledge. Chapters include discussions of skepticism, the truth condition, belief and acceptance, justification, internalism versus externalism, epistemic evaluation, and epistemic contextualism. Evans and Smith do not merely offer a review of existing theories and debates; they also offer a novel theory that takes seriously the claim that knowledge is not unique to humans. Surveying current scientific literature in animal ethology, they discover surprising sophistication and diversity in non-human cognition. In their final analysis the authors provide a unified account of knowledge that manages to respect and explain this diversity. They argue that animals know when they make appropriate use of the cognitive processes available to animals of that kind, in environments within which those processes are veridically well-adapted. Knowledge is a lively and accessible volume, ideal for undergraduate and post-graduate students. It is also set to spark debate among scholars for its novel approaches to traditional topics and its thoroughgoing commitment to naturalism.

Read more less

Do you need a devotional to help connect your family? With 100 devotionals, Faith Forward Family Devotional by authors Patrick and Ruth Schwenk equips parents to raise faith-filled kids who know, love, and live for God.Somewhere between diapers and sippy cups, piano lessons and soccer practice, dating and college searches, even the most well-intentioned family can lose sight of creating a God-centered home. As parents of four, pastor Patrick Schwenk and his wife, Ruth, of The Better Mom blog, understand the challenges--and importance--of raising faith-filled kids. Patrick and Ruth help you pass on your faith with devotions you can do at your own pace as a family. Each devotion features a Bible passage, a teaching that's applicable for kids of any age, key ideas to learn about God and His character, questions to spark family discussion, and a prayer. Faith Forward Family Devotional is aimed primarily at families with kids ages 8-12, but it also includes ideas for activities for younger children and recommendations for further study for older kids, so the whole family can join in the devotional gathering. You've passed down to your kids your last name, your love, and maybe your sense of humor or favorite hobbies. But have you passed down the most important thing: your faith? Faith Forward Family Devotional helps you grow closer to your kids as they grow closer to God. Whatever season of parenting you are in, sharing this devotional time together will help your children nourish a faith that lasts a lifetime.

Read more less

After West African migrants arrived in France in the 1960s, the authorities opened residences for them known as “foyers.” Initially intended to contain the West African population, these hostels for single men fostered the emergence of Black communities in the heart of Paris and other cities. More recently, however, a nationwide renovation program sought to replace the collective living arrangements of foyers with more individualized spaces by constructing new buildings or drastically reshaping existing ones—and casting the West African presence as a threat to French identity.Aïssatou Mbodj-Pouye examines the changing roles that foyers have played in the lives of generations of West African migrants, weaving together rich ethnographic description with a critical historical account. She shows how migrants settled in foyers through kinship ties, making these buildings key parts of diasporic networks. Migrants also forged a sense of place in foyers, in an intricate relationship with bureaucratic requirements such as having an address. Mbodj-Pouye scrutinizes the physical and social evolution of foyers and the administrative dynamics that governed them. She argues that even though these buildings originated in state attempts to manage migrants along racial lines, the shared way of life that they encouraged helped spark a sense of political agency and belonging whose significance extends far beyond their walls.Combining close attention to the social and cultural meanings of the foyers and keenly observed portraits of Black experiences in France across decades, An Address in Paris offers a new lens on the global African diaspora.

Read more less

___ See the British year afresh and experience a new way of connecting with nature – through the prism of Japan’s seventy-two ancient microseasons. Across seventy-two short chapters and twelve months, writer and nature lover Lev Parikian charts the changes that each of these ancient microseasons (of a just a few days each) bring to his local patch – garden, streets, park and wild cemetery. From the birth of spring (risshun) in early February to ‘the greater cold’ (daikan) in late January, Lev draws our eye to the exquisite beauty of the outside world, day-to-day. Instead of Japan’s lotus blossom, praying mantis and bear, he watches bramble, woodlouse and urban fox; hawthorn, dragonfly and peregrine. But the seasonal rhythms – and the power of nature to reflect and enhance our mood – remain. By turns reflective, witty and joyous, this is both a nature diary and a revelation of the beauty of the small and subtle changes of the everyday, allowing us to ‘look, look again, look better’. It is perfect gift to read in real time across the British year. ___ ‘A fresh new look at the microseasons of nature’s calendar, seen through Lev Parikian’s eyes – with his usual humour, attention to detail and beautifully written prose.’ Stephen Moss ‘Buy this book. Plant it somewhere handy and whenever you’re in need of a “spark of joy” pick it up and read a few pages. Its wit will make you smile. It will transport you to a wilder, gentler, more beautiful world.’ Ann Pettifor

Read more less

The third title in Christopher Hart’s bestselling Master Guide to Drawing Anime series, Tips & Tricks has over 100 essential drawing techniques for artists who want to fine-tune their anime and manga drawing skills. This is the guide that all anime and manga artists—of any level—need! Chris Hart delves deep into the specifics of drawing anime characters and scenes and explores every aspect of anime forms. He reveals his secrets for composing a complete picture, and discusses rarely covered topics. Entirely new tutorials include instruction on drawing hands and feet in different gestures or positions, arranging characters within the action, and creating nuanced expressions. Fans of the Master Guide to Drawing Anime books will find this anime drawing book to be invaluable in strengthening their drawing skills, while newcomers ready to learn to draw will see this as a perfect introduction to the series.Suitable for all levels, from beginners who are just starting to learn how to draw anime, to advanced users who want to hone their skills, this is the ideal resource for all fans of anime and manga drawing, and can be used on its own or with the other titles in the Master Guide to Drawing Anime series. Drawing books are a perennial present to inspire young artists and a popular gift for teens. There is no greater tool than an art book to spark creativity, develop new artistic skills, and help kids and teens channel their energy towards positive self-expression. Paperback; 144 pages; 9 in W by 10 in H.

Read more less

Take an astonishing, amusing, and charmingly unconventional tour through the curious everyday lives of humans past. No need to spend the day at an archaeological dig when you can simply make a cup of tea, clamber into your comfiest chair, and settle in with The Encyclopedia of the Weird and Wonderful, a compilation of 92 funny, strange, and strangely funny tales throughout human history. Milo Rossi, the inquisitive mind behind the popular @miniminuteman on TikTok and YouTube, invites you to consider our own place in the long timeline of human development with this collection of anecdotes that shares the foibles, joys, and heartbreaks of being human (and an odd Neanderthal or two). With chapters organized by the different stages and aspects of life—childhood, food and drink, friendship, play and leisure, rites and rituals, love and sexuality, fashion and beauty, education and work, sickness and health, and, of course, death—dive into a treasure trove of intriguing facts and stories, including: The Paleolithic cave art of a five-year-old girl What you would have eaten in ancient Pompeii The surprising and stinky origins of royal Tyrian purple dye Ol’ Rip, the immortal (?) horned lizard from Texas How to win a round of the Royal Game of Ur, a nearly 5,000-year-old board game And much more! Covering various facets of everyday life, The Encyclopedia of the Weird and Wonderful is sure to make you laugh, provide some spark to your next conversation, and, maybe, even give you a new perspective on how best to live this thing called life.

Read more less

Imagine stepping into someone else’s shoes. Walking back in time a century ago, which shoes would they be? A pair of silk sensations costing thousands of pounds designed by Yanturni of Paris, or wooden clogs with metal cleats that spark on the cobbles of a factory yard? Would your shoes be heavy with mud from trudging along duckboards between the tents of a front-line hospital or stuck with tufts of turf from a football pitch? Would you be cloaked in green and purple, brandishing a ‘Votes for Women’ banner, or would you be respectably dressed, restricted by your thigh-length corset? Great War Fashion opens the wardrobe of women in the years before the outbreak of war to explore the real woman behind the stiff, mono-bosomed ideal of Edwardian society, and closes it on a new breed of women who have donned trousers and overalls to feed the nation and work in munitions factories and who, clad in mourning, have loved and lost a whole generation of men. The journey through Great War Fashion is not just about the changing clothes and fashions of the war years – it is a journey into the lives of the women who lived under the shadow of war and were irrevocably changed by it. Using material from her own extensive collection, renowned costume expert Lucy Adlington brings an inspiring generation of women to life with rare and stunning images alongside a narrative that is both deeply poignant and laugh-out-loud funny.

Read more less

Deliver an ambitious, knowledge-rich and global KS3 History curriculum to develop pupils’ knowledge of the past, build their skills and equip them to progress through to GCSE 9-1 History. Provide a coherent chronological KS3 history curriculum with 50 knowledge-rich lessons on modern world history. Spark pupils’ curiosity, develop their understanding of the past and equip them to investigate the past as a historian. Ignite an interest in modern history through memorable and compelling narratives, rich contextual detail and extraordinary people Help all students to think critically about the past by focusing on the knowledge they need and then checking their understanding Build secure positive identities and cultural capital with culturally and geographically diverse coverage including five new global history units for the 2nd edition Support pupils’ long-term learning with knowledge organisers on key vocabulary, people, places, and dates Put knowledge into context with a full timeline covering the broad geographical scope of the period studied Easy to implement in your school with the 10 unit/ 5 chapter structure and overarching enquiry question per unit Deliver excellent lessons and save time on your planning with the supportive Teacher Guide available free on collins.co.uk, including suggested activities and sources, quick quizzes, answers and essay ideas Unit 1: The British EmpireUnit 2: The Transatlantic trade of enslaved peopleUnit 3: The Industrial RevolutionUnit 4: The Age of ReformUnit 5: The Victorian EmpireUnit 6: Birth of the USAUnit 7: The French RevolutionUnit 8: Nineteenth-century EuropeUnit 9: Qing ChinaUnit 10: Global Imperialism

Read more less

Deliver an ambitious, knowledge-rich and global KS3 History curriculum to develop pupils’ knowledge of the past, build their skills and equip them to progress through to GCSE 9-1 History. Provide a coherent chronological KS3 history curriculum with 50 knowledge-rich lessons on early modern world history. Spark pupils’ curiosity, develop their understanding of the past and equip them to investigate the past as a historian. Ignite an interest in early modern history through memorable and compelling narratives, rich contextual detail and extraordinary people Help all students to think critically about the past by focusing on the knowledge they need and then checking their understanding Build secure positive identities and cultural capital with culturally and geographically diverse coverage including five new global history units for the 2nd edition Support pupils’ long-term learning with knowledge organisers on key vocabulary, people, places, and dates Put knowledge into context with a full timeline covering the broad geographical scope of the period studied Easy to implement in your school with the 10 unit/ 5 chapter structure and overarching enquiry question per unit Deliver excellent lessons and save time on your planning with the supportive Teacher Guide available free on collins.co.uk, including suggested activities and sources, quick quizzes, answers and essay ideas Unit 1: Henry VIII And The ReformationUnit 2: The Later TudorsUnit 3: The English Civil WarUnit 4: Commonwealth and RestorationUnit 5: Georgian BritainUnit 6: Renaissance EuropeUnit 7: The AmericasUnit 8: The Ottoman EmpireUnit 9: Mughal IndiaUnit 10: Edo Japan

Read more less

THE NO. 1 EBOOK BESTSELLER!'A fabulous, gorgeous read, with characters you'll take to your heart' MILLY JOHNSON'I loved the characters and relationships and found myself rooting for everyone. It left me with a lovely warm glow' LIBBY PAGE'Such a joyful read and hugely entertaining . . . Readers are in for a real treat' RUTH HOGANOne magical night in Venice, Didi fell in love. But it ended - and he left without even saying goodbye.Now, thirteen years on, Shay Mason is back.The old spark is still there, but Didi's determined to ignore it. As manager of a stunning Cotswolds hotel, she's happy at last, and soon to be married. Anyway, Shay isn't staying. He's made a promise to his father. He's going to keep it. And then he'll be gone.But Shay's return stirs up long-forgotten emotions, and the scandal that led him to leave raises its head once again. It's time for buried secrets to come to light. And it seems that this was someone's intention all along . . .A fabulous novel about love, friendship and finding the way to your best life.* Jill Mansell's new novel, SHOULD I TELL YOU?, is available for pre-order now*YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS LOVE JILL MANSELL'Reading Jill is always such a joy' VERONICA HENRY'Gripping and incredibly comforting' MARIAN KEYES'One of my favourite writers' KATIE FFORDE'Like a little blast of sunshine - uplifting, heartwarming and supremely feelgood' SOPHIE KINSELLA'Jill Mansell is the queen of witty, heart-warming, feel-good love stories' RED

Read more less

Now a major DisneyPlus Hotstar Special - THE EMPIRE is streaming nowThe first book in the Empire of the Moghul series: chronicling the rise and fall of the Moghul rulers of India, beginning with Babur who swept in from Central Asia to found one of the most powerful dynasties in history.'A totally absorbing narrative filled with authentic historical characters and sweeping action set in an age of horrifying but magnificent savagery. The writing is as compelling as the events described and kept me eagerly leaping from one page to the next' Wilbur Smith1494, and the new ruler of Ferghana, twelve-year-old Babur, faces a seemingly impossible challenge. Babur is determined to equal his great ancestor, Tamburlaine, whose conquests stretched from Delhi to the Mediterranean, from wealthy Persia to the wild Volga. But he is dangerously young to inherit a crown and treasonous plots, tribal rivalries, rampaging armies and ruthlessly ambitious enemies will threaten his destiny, his kingdom, even his survival.'Rutherford's glorious, broad-sweeping adventure in the wild lands of the Moghul sees the start of a wonderful series...In Babur, he has found a real-life hero, with all the flaws, mistakes and misadventures that spark true heroism... Breathtaking stuff' Manda Scott'Alex Rutherford has set the bar high for his sequels' Daily Mail'Alex Rutherford brings the period and the history of the region alive. The characters are dynamic, and the deadly regional politics of alliances and treaties are reflected by the internal tensions at court' US Historical Novel Society

Read more less

'One of the most impressive accounts of madness to be found in literature' ANITA BROOKNER'Lyrical, touching and deeply entertaining' JOHN MORTIMER, OBSERVER'Any one of her books could be published today and it would be ground-breaking' ELEANOR CATTON'I was now an established citizen with little hope of returning across the frontier; I was in the crazy world, separated now by more than locked doors and barred windows from the people who called themselves sane.'When Janet Frame's doctor suggested that she write about her traumatic experiences in mental institutions in order to free herself from them, the result was Faces in the Water, a powerful and poignant novel.Istina Mavet descends through increasingly desolate wards, with the threat of leucotomy ever present. As she observes her fellow patients, long dismissed by hospital staff with humour and compassion, she reveals her original and questing mind. This riveting novel became an international classic, translated into nine languages, and has also been used as a medical school text.Books included in the VMC 40th anniversary series include: Frost in May by Antonia White; The Collected Stories of Grace Paley; Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault; The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter; The Weather in the Streets by Rosamond Lehmann; Deep Water by Patricia Highsmith; The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West; Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston; Heartburn by Nora Ephron; The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy; Memento Mori by Muriel Spark; A View of the Harbour by Elizabeth Taylor; and Faces in the Water by Janet Frame

Read more less

What is history and why should we study it? Is there such a thing as historical truth? Is history a science? One of the most accomplished historians at work today, John Lewis Gaddis, answers these and other questions in this short, witty, and humane book. The Landscape of History provides a searching look at the historian's craft, as well as a strong argument for why a historical consciousness should matter to us today. Gaddis points out that while the historical method is more sophisticated than most historians realize, it doesn't require unintelligible prose to explain. Like cartographers mapping landscapes, historians represent what they can never replicate. In doing so, they combine the techniques of artists, geologists, paleontologists, and evolutionary biologists. Their approaches parallel, in intriguing ways, the new sciences of chaos, complexity, and criticality. They don't much resemble what happens in the social sciences, where the pursuit of independent variables functioning with static systems seems increasingly divorced from the world as we know it. So who's really being scientific and who isn't? This question too is one Gaddis explores, in ways that are certain to spark interdisciplinary controversy. Written in the tradition of Marc Bloch and E.H. Carr, The Landscape of History is at once an engaging introduction to the historical method for beginners, a powerful reaffirmation of it for practitioners, a startling challenge to social scientists, and an effective skewering of post-modernist claims that we can't know anything at all about the past. It will be essential reading for anyone who reads, writes, teaches, or cares about history.

Read more less

Acts of Faith and Imagination wagers that fiction written by Catholic authors assists readers to reflect critically on the question: "what is faith?" To speak of a person's "faith-life" is to speak of change and development. As a narrative form, literature can illustrate the dynamics of faith, which remains in flux over the course of one's life. Because human beings must possess faith in something (whether religious or not), it inevitably has a narrative structure—faith ebbs and flows, flourishes and decays, develops and stagnates.Through an exploration of more than a dozen Catholic authors' novels and short stories, Brent Little argues that Catholic fiction encourages the reader to reflect upon their faith holistically, that is, the way faith informs one's affections, and how a person conceives and interacts with the world as embodied beings. Amidst the diverse stories of modern and contemporary fiction, a consistent pattern emerges: Catholic fiction portrays faith—at its most fundamental, often unconscious, level—as an act of the imagination. Faith is the way one imagines themselves, others, and creation. A person's primary faith conditions how they live in the world, regardless of the level of conscious reflection, and regardless of whether this is a "religious" faith.Acts of Faith and Imagination investigates the creative depth and vitality of the Catholic literary imagination by bringing late modern Catholic authors into dialogue with more contemporary ones. Readers will then consider well-known works, such as those by Grahame Greene, Flannery O'Connor, and Muriel Spark in the fresh light of contemporary stories by Toni Morrison, Alice McDermott, Uwem Akpan, and several others.

Read more less

An acid-sharp novella of longing and language, in which the past comes up hard against the present, from Jonathan Gibbs, acclaimed author of Randall, or The Painted Grape (Galley Beggar, 2014):‘It was not the only painting in the room, but it was the one that drew the eye. It was a Golden Age interior, the like of which you might see a dozen times in the Rijksmuseum, Jenny guessed, and once or twice in any gallery in Europe or America with a half-decent collection. Simple, domestic: a woman and a man in a room, the striking yellow and black tiled floor spread in expanding diamonds towards the viewer. There were paintings on the walls of the room in the painting, and a mirror on the left wall, tilted, that reflected the tiles, in a masterful flourish of perspective…’When Jenny Thursley, a 40-year old linguistics lecturer, returns to Europe for a conference in Amsterdam, she finds herself pitched back into the presence of a life she had fled: a once-inspirational mentor now dying, a former lover again within reach, the flickerings of new desire. Over little more than twenty-four hours Jenny must write a keynote conferene speech, face up to her own mortality, and to the consequences of the bad choices she has made – while finding the nerve to make new choices that might be no better. Witty, sexy and provocative, The Large Door is a meditation on life and living, and on ages – golden and otherwise – that recalls the sparkling mid-century work of writers such as Muriel Spark and Brigid Brophy.

Read more less

'So charming' Elle McNicoll, author of A Kind of Spark 'A wonderful, warm and witty tale of family loss, responsibility and the stories and dreams that unite generations' Alex Cotter, author of The House on the EdgeA heart-warming novel from the Blue Peter Book Award shortlisted author of DANNY CHUNG DOES NOT DO MATHSTwelve-year-old Lizzie Chu lives in Glasgow with her grandad Wai Gong, and he's been acting a little strange lately. He is becoming forgetful, and spends a lot of time talking to his statue of Guan Yin - the Chinese goddess of compassion, kindness and mercy. Lizzie is worried about Wai Gong, but doesn't really know what to do to help him. She's already got a lot on her plate with caring for him, doing the shopping and everything else on top of schoolwork and the usual trials of being twelve! Then Lizzie comes up with a madcap plan. She's going to take Wai Gong on the trip of a lifetime, to Blackpool - to the Tower Ballroom, where he always longed to go, to dance with his late wife Grandma Kam. To rekindle that love for dancing and to see if Wai Gong can find his mojo again. The only problem is - just how on earth is she going to get him there? With a little help from her friends Chi and Tyler, some ingenious costumes and an older brother with a beat-up Mini, Lizzie might just make it - and maybe she will be able to help Wai Gong get better after all?A moving, humorous, and uplifting intergenerational story for fans of Frank Cottrell Boyce and Benjamin Dean.

Read more less

With the end of the Cold War came not the end of history, but the end of America's sense of its strategic purpose in the world. Then, after a decade of drift, the US was violently dragged back into international conflict. Its armed forces responded magnificently but its leaders' objectives were substantially flawed. We fought the wrong war,twice,for reasons that were opaque, and few American citizens understood the cause for which their sons and daughters were fighting and dying.War is a poor substitute for strategic vision, and decisions made in the heat of imminent conflict are often limited by the emotions of the moment. In Don't Wait for the Next War , Wesley K. Clark, a retired four-star general of the US army and former Democratic candidate for president, presents a compelling argument for continued American global leadership and the basis on which it can succeed,a new American strategy. America needs both new power and deeper perspective. The platform for American leadership is to use America's energy resources to spark sustainable economic growth, building new strength to deal with pressing domestic issues like the deficit as well as the longer term challenges to US security,terrorism, cyber threats, the next financial crisis, China's rising power, and climate change.Such a strategy is not only achievable but essential, and it is urgently needed. This is the true test of American leadership for the next two decades, but it must start now, so America has the power and vision to deal with the acute crises that will inevitably come,in the Mideast, Europe, or Asia.

Read more less

As the generic pharmaceutical industry continues to grow and thrive, so does the need to conduct adequate, efficient bioequivalence studies. In recent years, there have been significant changes to the statistical models for evaluating bioequivalence. In addition, advances in the analytical technology used to detect drug and metabolite levels have made bioequivalence testing more complex. The second edition of Handbook of Bioequivalence Testing has been completely updated to include the most current information available, including new findings in drug delivery and dosage form design and revised worldwide regulatory requirements.New topics include: A historical perspective on generic pharmaceuticals New guidelines governing submissions related to bioequivalency studies, along with therapeutic code classifications Models of noninferiority Biosimilarity of large molecule drugs Bioequivalence of complementary and alternate medicines Bioequivalence of biosimilar therapeutic proteins and monoclonal antibodies New FDA guidelines for bioanalytical method validation Outsourcing and monitoring of bioequivalence studies The cost of generic drugs is rising much faster than in the past, partly because of the increased costs required for approval—including those for bioequivalence testing. There is a dire need to re-examine the science behind this type of testing to reduce the burden of development costs—allowing companies to develop generic drugs faster and at a lower expense. The final chapter explores the future of bioequivalence testing and proposes radical changes in the process of biowaivers. It suggests how the cost of demonstrating bioequivalence can be reduced through intensive analytical investigation and proposes that regulatory agencies reduce the need for bioequivalence studies in humans. Backed by science and updated with the latest research, this book is destined to spark continued debate on the efficacy of the current bioequivalence testing paradigm.

Read more less

Exam board: SQALevel: National 4 & 5Subject: HistoryFirst teaching: September 2017First assessment: Summer 2018Fresh stories, fresh scholarship and a fresh structure. Connecting History informs and empowers tomorrow's citizens, today.Bringing together lesser-told narratives, academic excellence, accessibility and a sharp focus on assessment success, this series provides a rich, relevant and representative History curriculum.> Connect the past to the present. Overarching themes of social justice, equality, change and power help students to understand the importance of events and issues, then and now.> Go far beyond other resources. With respect and aspiration for the transformative power of History, this series incorporates the latest research, challenges old interpretations and embeds diverse experiences throughout.> Follow a clear and consistent structure. The key issues in the N5 specification form the chapters in each book, and the content descriptors are subheadings within the chapters. Finding the information that you need has never been easier.> Meet the demands of the assessments. Connecting History develops the knowledge and skills for success, with appropriate breadth, depth and pace. The narrative and sources take centre stage and the authors model the process of answering questions effectively through that narrative, ensuring that students know all the key points that they need to. Activities throughout each chapter consolidate and extend learning.> Benefit from pedagogic and academic expertise. The authors are highly experienced teachers and examiners who know how to spark critical curiosity in students. Each book has been rigorously reviewed by an academic from the University of Glasgow, so you can rest assured that the content is accurate and up to date.

Read more less

Tear down the obstacles to creative innovation in your organization Unlocking Creativity is an exploration of the creative process and how organizations can clear the way for innovation. In many organizations, creative individuals face stubborn resistance to new ideas. Managers and executives oftentimes reject innovation and unconventional approaches due to misplaced allegiance to the status quo. Questioning established practices or challenging prevailing sentiments is frequently met with stiff resistance. In this climate of stifled creativity and inflexible adherence to conventional wisdom, potentially game-changing ideas are dismissed outright. Senior leaders claim to value creativity, yet often lack the knowledge to provide a creative framework. Unlocking Creativity offers effective methods and real-world examples of how the most successful organizations create cultures of innovation and experimentation. Best-selling author and scholar Michael Roberto presents a thorough investigation of organizational obstacles to creative thought. Highly relevant to the growth crises many enterprises face in today’s economic landscape, this book examines how to break barriers to spark creativity and foster new ideas. This insightful and informative work allows business executives, senior managers, and organization leaders to: Recognize the six organizational mindsets that impede creativity and innovation Learn how to tear down the barriers that obstruct the creative process Create an environment that allows talented people to thrive Encourage creative collaboration in teams throughout an organization Leaders do not have to conceive innovative ideas, but rather open the path for curious and creative employees within their organization. Unlocking Creativity: How to Solve Any Problem and Make the Best Decisions aids organizations in removing obstacles to the creative process and helps to form an atmosphere of imagination and innovation.

Read more less

Any reader engaging the work of Keats, Shelley, or Coleridge must confront the role biography has played in the canonization of each. Each archive is saturated with stories of the life prematurely cut off or, in Coleridge’s case, of promise wasted in indolence. One confronts reminiscences of contemporaries who describe subjects singularly unsuited to this world, as well as still stranger materials—death masks, bits of bone, locks of hair, a heart—initially preserved by circles and then circulating more widely, often in tandem with bits of the literary corpus. Especially when it centers on the early deaths of Keats and Shelley, biographical interest tends to be dismissed as a largely Victorian and sentimental phenomenon that we should by now have put behind us. And yet a line of verse by these poets can still trigger associations with biographical detail in ways that spark pathos or produce intimations of prolepsis or fatality, even for readers suspicious of such effects. Biographical fascination—the untoward and involuntary clinging of attention to the biographical subject—is thus “posthumous” in Keats’s evocative sense of the term, its life equivocally sustained beyond its period. Lives of the Dead Poets takes seriously the biographical fascination that has dogged the prematurely arrested figures of three romantic poets. Arising in tandem with a sense of the threatened end of poetry’s allotted period, biographical fascination personalizes the precariousness of poetry, binding poetry, the poet-function, and readers to an irrecuperable singularity. Reading romantic poets together with the modernity of Benjamin and Baudelaire, Swann shows how poets’ afterlives offer an opening for poetry’s survival, from its first nineteenth-century death sentences into our present.

Read more less

In Museum Skepticism, art historian David Carrier traces the birth, evolution, and decline of the public art museum as an institution meant to spark democratic debate and discussion. Carrier contends that since the inception of the public art museum during the French Revolution, its development has depended on growth: on the expansion of collections, particularly to include works representing non-European cultures, and on the proliferation of art museums around the globe. Arguing that this expansionist project has peaked, he asserts that art museums must now find new ways of making high art relevant to contemporary lives. Ideas and inspiration may be found, he suggests, in mass entertainment such as popular music and movies.Carrier illuminates the public role of art museums by describing the ways they influence how art is seen: through their architecture, their collections, the narratives they offer museum visitors. He insists that an understanding of the art museum must take into account the roles of collectors, curators, and museum architects. Toward that end, he offers a series of case studies, showing how particular museums and their collections evolved. Among those who figure prominently are Baron Dominique Vivant Denon, the first director of the Louvre; Bernard Berenson, whose connoisseurship helped Isabella Stewart Gardner found her museum in Boston; Ernest Fenollosa, who assembled much of the Asian art collection now in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Albert Barnes, the distinguished collector of modernist painting; and Richard Meier, architect of the J. Paul Getty Center in Los Angeles. Carrier’s learned consideration of what the art museum is and has been provides the basis for understanding the radical transformation of its public role now under way.

Read more less

Recent years have seen an enormous amount of philosophical research into the emotions and the imagination, but as yet little work has been done to connect the two. In his engaging and highly original new book, Adam Morton shows that all emotions require some form of imagination and goes on to fully explore the link between these two important concepts both within philosophy and in everyday life.We may take it for granted that complex emotions, such as hope and resentment, require a rich thinking and an engagement with the imagination, but Morton shows how more basic and responsive emotions such as fear and anger also require us to take account of possibilities and opportunities beyond the immediate situation. Interweaving a powerful tapestry of subtle argument with vivid detail, the book highlights that many emotions, more than we tend to suppose, require us to imagine a situation from a particular point of view and that this in itself can be the source of further emotional feeling. Morton goes on to demonstrate the important role that emotions play in our moral lives, throwing light on emotions such as self-respect, disapproval, and remorse, and the price we pay for having them. He explores the intricate nature of moral emotions and the challenges we face when integrating our thinking on morality and the emotions. This compelling and thought-provoking new book challenges many assumptions about the nature of emotion and imagination and will appeal to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the role that these concepts play in our lives. The book also has far reaching implications that will spark debate amongst scholars and students for some time to come.

Read more less

The impact on climate from 200 years of industrial development is an everyday fact of life, but did humankind's active involvement in climate change really begin with the industrial revolution, as commonly believed? Plows, Plagues, and Petroleum has sparked lively scientific debate since it was first published--arguing that humans have actually been changing the climate for some 8,000 years--as a result of the earlier discovery of agriculture. The "Ruddiman Hypothesis" will spark intense debate. We learn that the impact of farming on greenhouse-gas levels, thousands of years before the industrial revolution, kept our planet notably warmer than if natural climate cycles had prevailed--quite possibly forestalling a new ice age. Plows, Plagues, and Petroleum is the first book to trace the full historical sweep of human interaction with Earth's climate. Ruddiman takes us through three broad stages of human history: when nature was in control; when humans began to take control, discovering agriculture and affecting climate through carbon dioxide and methane emissions; and, finally, the more recent human impact on climate change. Along the way he raises the fascinating possibility that plagues, by depleting human populations, also affected reforestation and thus climate--as suggested by dips in greenhouse gases when major pandemics have occurred. While our massive usage of fossil fuels has certainly contributed to modern climate change, Ruddiman shows that industrial growth is only part of the picture. The book concludes by looking to the future and critiquing the impact of special interest money on the global warming debate. In the afterword, Ruddiman explores the main challenges posed to his hypothesis, and shows how recent investigations and findings ultimately strengthen the book's original claims.

Read more less

The art and architecture of Egypt during the age of the pharaohs continue to capture the imagination of the modern world. Vivid, graceful forms decorating monuments that emanated ambition and authority spark our wonder about this distant culture. Ever youthful and elegant men and women encounter odd, animal-headed gods and monsters amid scenes of work and leisure, in a paradise of plain, bright colours, where hieroglyphic texts hint at grand ideas. The tombs and temples of ancient Egypt seem to reveal how art and monumental building first flowered at the heart of civilization, and the many ways in which they may adorn and articulate the human condition, and our relationships with the eternal and our time on earth. Among the great creative achievements of ancient Egypt we discover a set of constant forms: archetypes in art and architecture, which state clearly and concisely the contemporary view of authority, divinity, beauty and meaning. Whether adapted to fine, delicate jewellery or colossal statues, these forms maintain a human face – with human ideas and emotions as their explicit inspiration. These artistic templates, and the ideas they articulated, were refined and reinvented through dozens of centuries, until scenes first created for the earliest kings, around 3000 BC, were eventually used to represent Roman emperors and the last officials of pre-Christian Egypt. Bill Manley’s account of the art of ancient Egypt draws on the finest works of a uniquely successful and enduringly compelling civilization through more than 3,000 years, including celebrated masterpieces, from the Narmer palette to Tutankhamun’s gold mask, as well as their contexts of origin in the tombs, temples and palaces of the pharaohs and their citizens.

Read more less

Awarded the Nobel Prize in 2010 at the age of seventy-four, Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa has held pivotal roles in the evolution and revolutions of modern Latin American literature. Perhaps surprisingly, no complete history of Vargas Llosa’s works, placed in biographical and historical context, has been published—until now. A masterwork from one of America’s most revered scholars of Latin American fiction, Mario Vargas Llosa: A Life of Writing provides a critical overview of Vargas Llosa’s numerous novels while reinvigorating debates regarding conventional interpretations of the work.Weaving analysis with discussions of the writer’s political commentary, Raymond Leslie Williams traces the author’s youthful identity as a leftist student of the 1960s to a repudiation of some of his earlier ideas beginning in the 1980s. Providing a unique perspective on the complexity, nuance, and scope of Vargas Llosa’s lauded early novels and on his passionate support of indigenous populations in his homeland, Williams then turns his eye to the recent works, which serve as a bridge between the legacies of the Boom and the diverse array of contemporary Latin American fiction writers at work today. In addition, Williams provides a detailed description of Vargas Llosa’s traumatic childhood and its impact on him—seen particularly in his lifelong disdain for authority figures—as well as of the authors who influenced his approach, from Faulkner to Flaubert. Culminating in reflections drawn from Williams’s formal interviews and casual conversations with the author at key phases of both men’s careers, this is a landmark publication that will spark new lines of inquiry into an intricate body of work.

Read more less

Abbeville Kids expands its award-winning series of interactive, inquiry-based books designed to teach children about the world by looking at art, and about art by looking at the world. In How Artists See Work children can see how Patrick Desjarlait showed in one painting the many tasks that go into making maple syrup; how the Limbourg Brothers created the feeling of a hot July day on a medieval farm; how Jacob Lawrence used bright, bold colors and diagonal lines to capture the dynamic energy of a carpentry workshop; and why Maggi Hambling chose to portray a famous scientist with four hands instead of two. Each volume in the How Artists See series presents sixteen diverse works of art, all devoted to a subject that every child already knows from personal experience. Author Colleen Carroll's engaging, conversational text is filled with thought-provoking questions and imaginative activities that spark children's natural curiosity both about the subject of the artwork they are looking at and about the way it was created. This direct, interactive approach to art-and to the world-promotes self-exploration, self-discovery, and self-expression. As it introduces basic artistic concepts, styles, and techniques, it also provides loads of fun. For children who want to know more about the artists whose works appear in the book, biographies are provided at the end, along with suggestions for further reading and an international list of museums where each artists works can be seen. As they begin to understand the multitude of ways that artists see, children will deepen their appreciation of art, the world around them, and, most importantly, their own unique visions.

Read more less

An absorbing group biography revealing how exiles from war-torn France brought Surrealism to America, helping to shift the centre of the art world from Paris to New York and spark the movement that became Abstract Expressionism. In 1957 the American artist Robert Motherwell made an unexpected claim: ‘I have only known two painting milieus well … the Parisian Surrealists, with whom I began painting seriously in New York in 1940, and the native movement that has come to be known as “abstract expressionism”, but which genetically would have been more properly called “abstract surrealism”.’ Motherwell’s bold assertion, that Abstract Expressionism was neither new nor local, but born of a brief liaison between America and France, verged on the controversial. Surrealists in New York tells the story of this ‘liaison’ and the European exiles who bought Surrealism with them – an artistic exchange between the Old World and the New – centring on taciturn printmaker Stanley William Hayter and the legendary Atelier 17 print studio he founded. Here artists’ experiments literally pushed the boundaries of modern art. It was in Hayter’s studio that Jackson Pollock found the balance of freedom and control that would culminate in his distinctive drip paintings. The impact of Max Ernst, André Masson, Louise Bourgeois and other noted émigrés on the work of Motherwell, Pollock, Mark Rothko and the American avant-garde has for too long been quietly written out of art history. Drawing on first-hand documents, interviews and archive materials, Charles Darwent brings to life the events and personalities from this crucial encounter. In so doing, he reveals a fascinating new perspective on the history of the art of the twentieth century.

Read more less

Pointless, risky, absurd. Yes, that is the beauty of it - absurdly determined to metamorphose themselves into a glossy photograph seen in a glossy magazine that caused a spark of desire within the tinder-dry kindling of their imagination. They were consumed with all that the photograph promised until that reality could be made theirs: to achieve all of the experience, the life's journey implied within it, to redefine their already long lives, to change themselves, to fast-track to the achievement of the decades of experience exemplified by those young adventurers in that glossy photograph in that glossy magazine. What an absurd notion. For no other reason, it had to be: three quickly became five guys on heritage motorcycles, hooking up with an ex-Special Forces operative and a combat zone photographer to make it seven for a safari across the top of Africa. From Spain to Tangier, they traversed the Riff, navigated the Atlas Mountains, circled Cirque du Jaffar, and rode through the Gorges du Ziz. Rough-riding across Morocco has never been so much fun. Wild camping on the way under star-spattered sky, across unforgiving terrain where luxury is a warm sleeping bag. In places where if you don't guard it you lose it, and where changing co-ordinates on a fast and furious basis makes good sense. Through oft sudden lows where the warmth of a Moroccan welcome exceeds the heat from black coffee, honeyed mint teas, or a meal from a hot tajine. Until dusty boots touch down on the sands of the Sahara at Erg Chebbi to witness a new dawn rise.

Read more less

A vibrant and inclusive first ABC book that introduces young readers aged 3+ to Pride. A is for Acceptance! B is for Belonging! C is for Celebrate!ABC Pride introduces young readers to the alphabet through the colourful world of Pride. Children can discover letters and words in a fun and engaging way, while also learning more about the LGBTQIA+ community and how to be inclusive.Every letter of the alphabet is paired with bold illustrations to support language learning, and a handy list of discussion points at the end gives adults the appropriate tools to spark further conversations and discussion around the topic. ABC Pride offers a simple yet powerful way to explain gender, identity, and ability to young children, while introducing and supporting diverse family units. An ideal book for little learners to explore together with a caregiver, as well as in a classroom environment. Whilst exploring this vibrant alphabet book, young learners can discover: - Bold, full colour illustrations to captivate the attention of early learners- Lyrical text for each letter ideal for reading aloud - Informative, accessible and easy-to-understand for young readers- Includes discussion questions to inspire further reading and conversations A must-have book for caregivers looking to diversify a child's literary collection, as well as gift givers for new LGBTQIA+ caregivers alike, ABC Pride marries the classic ABC learning format with modern and inclusive definitions and explanations, making this the perfect introduction to understanding concepts and language associated with the LGBTQIA+ community. With 2022 marking the 50th anniversary of the first Pride march in the UK, there's no better time to introduce young children to the colourful world of Pride.

Read more less

Step into the awe-inspiring "New Talent 2023," where emerging talent and boundless creativity intertwine in a remarkable collection. Inside is an extraordinary display of artistic brilliance as students from across the globe unite to showcase their award-winning work. Within the pages of this exceptional anthology are over 600 pieces of powerful creativity that transcend creative norms, establish new standards, and ignite an unwavering spark of innovation. Every project was meticulously juried by industry professionals of the highest caliber, resulting in the prestigious recognition of Platinum, Gold, and Silver awards shown on these pages.Within this exquisite hardcover book discover a visual feast of full-page images, proudly showcasing the mastery of both students and their influential mentors. Be inspired by the visionary schools and esteemed professors that have nurtured these exceptional talents from various corners of the globe. From the United States, South Korea, Denmark, China, Bosnia, Canada, Hungary, Vietnam, Taiwan, and many more, each institution paves the way for the next generation of creative minds. Among the celebrated schools are ArtCenter College of Design, Miami Ad School, Hansung University, Hong Kong Polytechnic, Syracuse University, and more. As you explore each piece of creative in Advertising, Design, Illustration, and Photography prepare to be captivated by a collection that effortlessly showcases breakout creativity and impeccable execution. Plus, gain exclusive insights into the minds of the Platinum-winning students as they share their perspectives on their assignments and the remarkable journeys that led them to success. "New Talent" transcends being a mere book filled with boundless inspiration; it transforms into an indispensable resource for creatives, agencies, and professionals aiming to cultivate and harness the potential of new visionary talents.

Read more less

A Read for Empathy Collection Choice, chosen by EmpathyLabNew town, new school, but the bully is in Ben's head ...There are 4 things you should know about Ben: 1. He's 12 years old 2. He's the new kid at school3. His special number is 44. He has a bully in his brainSometimes Ben's brain makes him count to 4 to prevent bad things happening. Sometimes it makes him tap or blink in 4s. Mostly it makes the smallest things feel impossible. And with a new school, a moody big brother, an absent dad and a mum battling her own demons, Ben feels more out of control than ever. But then he meets April, and with his new friend, Ben might finally figure out how to stand up to the bully in his brain, once and for all.An authentic and affecting #ownvoices story about living life with OCD, from the inspiring author and mental health activist, Lily Bailey. Perfect for readers of A Kind of Spark and Wonder.***WINNER of the LEWISHAM BOOK AWARD******WINNER of the READING RAMPAGE AWARD******WINNER OF THE COVENTRY INSPIRATION BOOK AWARDS***'With characters you will take to your heart and never want to leave, this is a heart-warming and joyous read about the importance of empathy and understanding.' The Scotsman'This book deserves to sit alongside Wonder as a modern classic.' Read and Reviewed blog'What Wonder does for people with physical deformity - When I see Blue will, without doubt, do for those with OCD ... this is a story of hope.' Sue Chambers, Waterstones bookseller

Read more less

"A remarkable book ... simple but never over-simplified." Observer"An invaluable tool for parents struggling to cope with children’s changing moods. No home – or school – should be without this book." Lancashire Evening PostA warm, gentle book for young children who sometimes struggle to express what they're feeling. Amanda McCardie's supremely sensitive text explores different emotions through the eyes of two young children. Over the course of the narrative, Sam and Kate experience feeling happy, grumpy, embarrassed, shy, nervous, frightened, sad, angry and jealous – Salvatore Rubbino's beautiful pictures show the children in many different situations at home and at school, while the text explores how emotions can change over time, escalating or fading away. A book full of warmth and reassurance, and a brilliant tool for parents and carers."As a gentle, perceptive and useful examination of feelings, this cannot be bettered." LoveReading4Kids "A warm, gentle book for young children who sometimes struggle to express what they're feeling." The Bookseller Children’s Buyer's Guide"A carefully thought out, perceptive, sensitive and well-written book that little ones will find fun, enjoyable and nurturing ... a really useful addition to any family or classroom library." The Bookbag"An important book … written sensitively and illustrated beautifully." Magpie That"Exquisitely illustrated, it is a book that has great purpose and that will spark interesting conversations with your little ones." Anorak"The perfect introduction to talking to your child about emotions and encouraging them to understand how others may be feeling." Made for Mums"An honest, subtle and accurate exploration of feelings into the narrative… A great way to encourage children to understand how they sometimes feel." Library Mice

Read more less