Search results for ""Author Matt"

Mealtimes can often be a battleground between parents and kids. As a parent you want your child to have a healthy, nutritious and tasty diet, but persuading them it's a good idea is a different matter! Annabel Karmel is here to convert even the fussiest of fussy eaters and make family meals fun again. With 120 healthy recipes covering everything from breakfasts to suppers to parties, Annabel gives tips and advice on improving your children's diet and encouraging new tastes. She suggests way of sneaking hidden vegetables into familiar foods such as quesadillas and focaccia pizzas, and offers a healthy take on fast-food favourites like chicken nuggets with dips and sticky barbecue ribs. There's plenty to tempt children of all ages, including pork and peanut noodles, tuna melts, cupcakes and ice creams. And for those children with food intolerances, there is a whole chapter of recipes covering dairy-free sauces, gluten-free pizzas and a wheat-free birthday cake.Annabel has a proven track record in creating delicious, nutritious food to tempt even the most stubborn of fussy eaters. Plus with general advice on how best to cope with fussy-eating behaviours and improve mealtimes, this is more than just a recipe book - it will be the answer to many parents' prayers!

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Take outdoor cooking to the next level with the BBQ Companion, the must-have compendium of recipes by acclaimed Australian chef, TV presenter and barbecue expert, Ben O'Donoghue. With more than 180 diverse and contemporary recipes on and off the barbecue, this book is the ultimate guide for anyone who loves to cook and entertain outdoors, no matter what the occasion or equipment. Be inspired by the exciting world of barbecued food with recipes that cover everything from juicy Mexican suckling pig, delicious Singapore chilli crab or Pancetta kebabs to succulent vegetarian dishes for outdoor dining like Artichokes with lemon, honey, thyme and almond or Grilled Haloumi with lemon and mint – you'll have your friends talking about your barbecue for years. Whether your pride and joy is a simple wire rack over an open fire, an everyday kettle barbecue or a BBQ with all the bells and whistles, the recipes in this book can be cooked on any equipment. In BBQ Companion you'll also find recipes for rubs and marinades, breads, salads and vegetables along with the best drinks and desserts to accompany your meal – everything you'll ever need to make your barbecues the best in the neighbourhood.

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'Gay has an ability to blend the personal and political in a way that feels simultaneously gentle and brutal . . . you look at a cultural moment through Gay's eyes and, by the end, you see the world differently' Arwa Mahdawi, GuardianSince the publication of the groundbreaking Bad Feminist and Hunger, Roxane Gay has continued to tackle the big issues embroiling society - state-sponsored violence and mass shootings, women's rights post-Dobbs, online disinformation, and the limits of empathy - alongside more individual matters: Can I tell my coworker her perfume makes me sneeze? Is it acceptable to schedule a daily eight a.m. meeting? In her role as a New York Times contributing opinion writer and the publication's "Work Friend" columnist, she reaches millions of readers with her wise voice and sharp insights. With an introduction in which Gay provides the connective tissues that link her groundbreaking writing, Opinions is a collection of Roxane Gay's best nonfiction pieces from the past ten years, addressing a wide range of topics - politics, the culture wars, civil rights, celebrities, and much more. Offering nuanced analysis that never shies away from difficult topics, this sharp, thought-provoking anthology will delight Gay's devotees and draw new readers to this inimitable talent.

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Octogenarian Anthony Smith's journey was originally inspired by both the Kontiki Expedition of Thor Heyerdahl (who he knew) and the incredible story of the survivors of a 1940 boat disaster, who spent 70 days adrift in the Atlantic, eventually reaching land emaciated and close to death. While this might sound like a voyage no-one would wish to emulate, to octogenarian Anthony Smith it sounded like an adventure, and he placed a typically straightforward advertisement in the Telegraph that read "Fancy rafting across the Atlantic? Famous traveller requires 3 crew. Must be OAP. Serious adventurers only." In his inimitable style, Smith details their voyage and the hardships they endured with a matter-of-fact air that makes his story seem all the more impressive. His advanced age allows him a wider perspective not only on the journey but on life itself, and his never-say-die attitude to the difficulty of the journey is inspirational. 'Old men ought to be explorers' said T.S. Eliot, and this book certainly gives a compelling argument in his favour. It is both a great story (a huge storm on the final night of the voyage almost wrecked them on a reef) and a call to action for the older generation - do not go quietly, says Anthony Smith, but seek out adventure as long as you are able.

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‘People say “Like father, like son”, and the story of my life has mirrored my father’s to a quite uncanny degree. Right from when I was a little boy, he was my rock; my mentor; my hero. It is no exaggeration to say that he taught me virtually everything I know about both country life and television. Without him, I certainly would not be doing what I am today ...’Like Farmer, Like Son is a truly remarkable account of Adam’s life that explores a hidden family history and the unbreakable bond between Adam and his life-long hero: his father Joe. In the 1940s and ‘50s, Joe, the son of stage and film star Leslie Henson, chose a completely different path, alien to his thespian parents and decided to pursue a career as a farmer. In addition, Joe overcame a serious stammer to become a regular broadcaster on Country Matters and also became the saviour of Britain’s rare breeds. He even put his business and his reputation at stake to open the world’s first Farm Park.Here, for the first time, Adam reveals the family traits, childhood experiences and farming wisdom which have made him the man he is today. As he trawls the family archive and discovers his own bloodline, Adam learns to understand and appreciate the famous grandfather he never knew and pays tribute to the wonderful father he has so recently lost.

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An epic visual story of wildlife photography's pioneers and world firsts. From some of the very first pictures of wild lions and tigers on record and the first-ever underwater colour photograph, right up to the spectacular images from the wildest corners of the earth that modern-day technology allows, Into the Wild is an extraordinary collection of over 250 images and 150 years of our efforts to document the natural world. Now, more than ever, these are the photographs and stories that matter."Gemma Padley takes us on a fascinating journey through 150 years of the wildlife photography that has informed and delighted us. The text tells us not only about the images themselves, but describes how cameras gradually got faster shutter speeds, longer lenses, greater resolution and are now mostly digital. But it is the patience and endurance of the photographer who waits for hours or even days in tropical heat or arctic freeze to capture these special shots: taken at just the right moment in just the right light and from just the right angle. Into the Wild is a must-have coffee table book."Dr. Jane Goodall, DBEFounder of the Jane Goodall Institute& U.N. Messenger of Peace

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Birmingham – Britain’s second largest city – lies in the heart of the country. Nicknamed the ‘city of a thousand trades’, it became the workshop of England in the Industrial Revolution and, as the centre of the Enlightenment in the Midlands, was a hotbed of scientific thinking and technological innovation. The Lunar Society, including luminaries such as Erasmus Darwin and James Watt, met regularly at industrialist Matthew Boulton’s Soho House. The Cadbury family’s Arts and Crafts model village of Bournville, built for their workers, is sought after today, and although many famous industries associated with Birmingham – from Bird’s custard to BSA armaments and motorcycles – have gone, the eclectic Jewellery Quarter remains and a resurgent Birmingham is typified by its 1960s Rotunda, rebuilt Bullring and renovated old canal area around Gas Street Basin. In A–Z of Birmingham Andrew Homer delves into the history of the city. He picks out well-known landmarks and famous residents such as Oscar Deutsch, founder of the Odeon cinema chain, Joseph Hansom, inventor of the safety cab, and a youthful J. R. R. Tolkien and digs beneath the surface to uncover some of the lesser-known facts about Birmingham and its hidden places of interest. This fascinating A–Z tour of Birmingham’s history is fully illustrated and will appeal to all those with an interest in this West Midlands city.

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THE TERRIFYING, BESTSELLING, NETFLIX RECORD-BREAKING BIRD BOX IS BACK.'Brilliant, insanely compelling' Daily Mail'One of the best horror stories published for years.' Express* * * * *In the old world there were many rules.In the new world there is only one that matters: don't open your eyes.In the seventeen years since the 'creatures' appeared, many people have broken that rule. Many have looked. Many have lost their minds, their lives, their loved ones.In that time, Malorie has raised her two children - Olympia and Tom - on the run or in hiding. Now nearly teenagers, survival is no longer enough. They want freedom.When a census-taker stops by their refuge, he is not welcome. But he leaves a list of names - of survivors building a future beyond the darkness - and on that list are two names Malorie knows.Two names for whom she'll break every rule, and take her children across the wilderness, in the hope of becoming a family again...* * * * *'The highly anticipated follow-up to Bird Box and it's even better. A deliciously dark, disturbing yet captivating novel that I read in one sitting.' Express 'Cranks the tension and terror to breaking point and beyond' Daily Mail

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You've heard it before: A healthful diet rich in plant-based foods can prolong your life. But how much could you really extend your time? The Adventist enclave in Loma Linda, California, is America's only "Blue Zone" one of five regions on Earth where people live measurably longer—about 10 years more— than average, as identified by National Geographic–funded research. This Blue Zone status is thanks largely to the foods Loma Linda residents and Adventists choose eat—and the foods they choose not to eat. Loma Linda was established in 1905 by the Adventist founder and prophet Ellen G. White. Her great-great-grandson, John Howard Weeks, still lives there. He knows firsthand what it's like to fall into the rut of unhealthy habits—and to relearn how to live and eat in a healthy way. Through the teachings of his family, Weeks was able to conquer his temptations and embrace a healthy way of living. He'll show you how to do the same, no matter what your personal battle looks like. In The Healthiest People on Earth, Weeks shares the secrets of how anyone, anywhere, can create a "Blue Zone" of their own and live a longer, healthier life. A lively read full of exclusive family stories, gainful tips and tricks, happy home remedies, and plant-based recipes, this book will be your first step on the journey to a longer, healthier, more fulfilling life. This is not a book about religion—it is about health and happiness. It is possible to be healthy in body, mind, and spirit. Start by eating like the healthiest people on Earth.

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From championing developing nations to funding our carbon-free future, investor and advisor James Harmon reveals how markets can move the world forward by creating stable, growing economies and sound deals that promote economic development.James Harmon has always had a passion for ambitious causes. As a banker, he successfully advised corporations, like Starbucks, and helped them to become cultural institutions. Dabbling in the movie and music industries, he found meaning in funding the art he felt would make people happy and add to the public good. His unique perspective on investment led him to the Clinton White House as head of EXIM Bank and, eventually, to Egypt, where he represented the State Department shortly after the Arab Spring. Still “up and doing,” today he cochairs the board of the World Resources Institute. Not all of Harmon’s deals were successes, and he recounts the wins and losses in equal detail, exposing lessons learned, and even sharing a few farcical scenes featuring Washington’s and Wall Street’s most notorious bold-face names. No matter where he is replanted, Harmon advocates for global change by examining the issues of our time, including women’s financial empowerment and the urgent need to fight climate change. He encourages our leaders to apply lessons learned in the private sector to the world’s most demanding challenges, from helping a local community to electing a president or bolstering a developing African nation.Up and Doing presents a tale of the deals that made Harmon a celebrated figure in the world of global investment, and shows that the best way to do well is by also doing good.

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Covers a wide range of practical fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and mass transfer problems This book covers the many issues that occur in practical fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and mass transfer, and examines the basic laws (the conservation of matter, conservation of momentum, conservation of energy, and the second law of thermodynamics) of these areas. It offers problem solutions that start with simplifying engineering assumptions and then identifies the governing equations and dependent and independent variables. When solutions to basic equations are not possible, the book utilizes historical experimental studies. It also looks at determining appropriate thermo-physical properties of the fluid under investigation, and covers solutions to governing equations with experimental studies. Case Studies in Fluid Mechanics with Sensitivities to Governing Variables offers chapters on: draining fluid from a tank; vertical rise of a weather balloon; wind drag forces on people; Venturi meter; fluid’s surface shape in a rotating cylindrical tank; range of an aircraft; designing a water clock; water turbine under a dam; centrifugal separation of particles; ideal gas flow in nozzles and diffusers; water supply from a lake to a factory; convection mass transfer through air-water interface; heating a room by natural convection; condensation on the surface of a vertical plate in laminar flow regime; bubble rise in a glass of beer; and more. Covers a broad spectrum of problems in practical fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and mass transfer Examines the basic laws of fluid mechanics, heat transfer and mass transfer Presents solutions to governing equations with experimental studies Case Studies in Fluid Mechanics with Sensitivities to Governing Variables will appeal to engineers working in thermo-physical sciences and graduate students in mechanical engineering.

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The relationship of God's grace and man's free will is one of the most disputed topics in the history of Catholic theology. At the time of the Counter-Reformation, a famous quarrel arose between Jesuit defenders of Molina and Dominican defenders of Bañez. This led to a series of Roman congregations on the ""aids of God's grace"" (de auxiliis), which looked into the matter but settled very little, beyond the pope declaring that neither position was heretical. Leo XIII's call to advance Thomism led to this quarrel resurfacing with renewed force in the first quarter of the twentieth century. Into this fray stepped a renowned Dominican of the University of Fribourg, Francisco Marín-Sola (1873-1932), whose published work on the development of Catholic doctrine had secured his fame among Catholic theologians. In three celebrated articles published in the Ciencia Tomista in 1925 and 1926, he presented a new and revised version of the Dominican position on this question. Marín-Sola suggested that his new version rightly developed the principles of Aquinas and was supported in major part, if only implicitly, by earlier Dominican commentators. Marín-Sola's position was instantly controversial, with some respondents decrying an abandonment of Dominican ideas and others declaring that Marín-Sola had resolved central objections and ended the quarrel of de auxiliis. In this book, Michael D. Torre makes Marín-Sola's articles available in English for the first time. The articles are preceded by an introduction on Marín-Sola and followed by a conclusion that traces the reception of his thought within the Catholic theological community. In Torre's afterword, he defends Marín-Sola's position as substantively the same as that of Aquinas.

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Eight years before the French Revolution, the paper mill at Vidalon-le-Haut was the setting for a bitter strike and successful lockout. This labor dispute, resulting from conflicts between master papermakers and skilled journeymen, ultimately benefitted the mill's owners and administrators-the Montgolfier family. They converted the 1781 lockout into an opportunity to train a new kind of worker, a malleable employee, and to fashion a new sort of workplace, a theater of technological experiment. Papermaking in Eighteenth-Century France: Management, Labor, and Revolution at the Montgolfier Mill, 1761-1805, gives us history from the workshop up, offering the most comprehensive exploration available of the historical experience of papermaking. Leonard N. Rosenband explains how paper was made, depicting the tools, techniques, raw materials, and seasonable flows of the craft, and explores the many conflicts and compromises between masters and men. Rosenband provides a compelling account of how technological change affected the papermaking industry, transforming an elaborate, established system of production. The Montgolfier archives are a rich source of information, providing records of daily output and procedures, including complex rules ranging from the precise hours of meals and prayer to matters of propriety and personal sanitation. They also provide insight into the attitudes of the Montgolfier family and their workers-what they made of their trade, their labor, and one another. This case study of the Montgolfier mill, adding details about technological innovation and shopfloor relations during a time of social unrest, enriches the current debate about the nature and impact of capitalism in France during the years leading up to the French Revolution.

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Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. Climate change will bring great suffering to communities, individuals and ecosystems. Those least responsible for the problem will suffer the most. Justice demands urgent action to reverse its causes and impacts. In this provocative new book, Paul G. Harris brings together original essays to explore innovative approaches to understanding and implementing climate justice in the future. Through investigations informed by theories from philosophy, politics, sociology, law and economics, this Research Agenda reveals the actors most responsible for climate change and suggests concrete proposals for more effective mitigation. Addressing the distribution of scarce resources and the disproportionate responsibility of affluent nations and people, this insightful book asserts that climate change is a matter of equity, fairness and social and distributive justice. It argues that climate change is shaping up to be the greatest injustice in all of human history. This analytical and thought-provoking Research Agenda will be a valuable tool for climate change researchers while its interdisciplinary approach will appeal to students and academics researching in the fields of global environmental politics, sustainability, international relations, environmental philosophy and law. The examination of the key questions of climate justice from global through to individual levels will also aid policy-makers, practitioners and activists. Contributors include: R. Attfield, I. Bailey, F. Corvino, A. Dietzel, J. Donhauser, P.G. Harris, S. Kopra, J.S. Mastaler, S.R. O'Doherty, G. Pellegrini-Masini, A. Pirni, D. Storey, C. Swingle, C. Tornel, I. Wallimann-Helmer

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Practical Q&A guide enhanced with unique diagrams and tables to ace the ABNS primary exam! Neurosurgery Primary Examination Review: High Yield Questions, Answers, Diagrams, and Tables by Amgad S. Hanna addresses the knowledge gaps in currently existing neurosurgical board study guides. It is based on a collection of highly effective practice questions previously administered to neurosurgical residents at the University of Wisconsin. Each chapter covers two to three topics with 60 multiple choice and matching questions and only one correct answer. The reader-friendly content and layout make it easy to organize and review the complex subject matter in preparation for the ABNS written exam or for educational review. Section I is divided into 20 chapters with questions followed by answer keys. This section covers anatomy, neurology, pathology, radiology, critical care, neurosurgery, and neurobiology. Chapters 17-20 cover comprehensive exam questions and answers across all specialty areas including sarcoidosis, lead toxicity, central neurocytoma, and prion disease. Key Highlights Approximately 600 questions divided into 10 tests cover relevant knowledge for the exam Answer keys include salient information on important differentials More than 60 tables and diagrams provide a practical, self-directed method for organizing and retaining important facts More than 200 high-quality images including radiographs, pathology slides, anatomical drawings, and operative photographs accompany questions and answers This concise textbook is a must-have reference for all neurosurgical residents preparing to sit for the ABNS primary exam. Its format is also ideal for incorporating into the neurosurgical curriculum or as a study guide for the maintenance of certification exams.

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A comprehensive discussion and analysis of two and a half millennia of Western political theory In the absence of noble public goals, admired leaders, and compelling issues, many warn of a dangerous erosion of civil society, which includes families, religious organizations, and all other NGOs. Are they right? What are the roots and implications of their insistent alarm? How can public life be enriched in a period marked by fraying communities, widespread apathy, and unprecedented levels of contempt for politics? How should we be thinking about civil society? In Civil Society: The Critical History of an Idea, John Ehrenberg analyzes both the usefulness and the limitations of civil society and maps the political and theoretical evolution of the concept and its employment in academic and public discourse. From Aristotle and the Enlightenment philosophers to Black Lives Matter and the Occupy movement, Ehrenberg provides an indispensable analysis of the possibilities of what this increasingly important idea can, and cannot, offer to contemporary political affairs. In this new, second edition Ehrenberg brings the historical overview up to present day, specifically considering how major events such as 9/11, the global financial crisis, economic inequality, and rapidly advancing technologies alter and shape our relationship to contemporary civil society. Civic engagement, political participation, and volunteerism in contemporary life has faded, he argues, and in order to bring civil society—and all its virtues—back to the fore, we need to counter the suffocating inequality that has taken hold in recent years. Thorough and accessible, Civil Society gives a sweeping overview of a foundational part of political life.

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This is the fifteenth volume in the Oratory of Classical Greece. This series presents all of the surviving speeches from the late fifth and fourth centuries BC in new translations prepared by classical scholars who are at the forefront of the discipline. These translations are especially designed for the needs and interests of today’s undergraduates, Greekless scholars in other disciplines, and the general public.Classical oratory is an invaluable resource for the study of ancient Greek life and culture. The speeches offer evidence on Greek moral views, social and economic conditions, political and social ideology, law and legal procedure, and other aspects of Athenian culture that have recently been attracting particular interest: women and family life, slavery, and religion, to name just a few.This volume provides introductions, translations, and notes for four speeches found in the Demosthenic corpus that have not been translated in recent times. Against Aristocrates deals with matters of foreign policy involving a mercenary general, Charidemus, and is a valuable source for Athenian homicide law. Against Timocrates involves domestic politics and provides important information about Athenian procedures for enacting legislation. In both speeches, the litigants stress the importance of the rule of law in Athenian democracy and emphasize key ideas, such as the monopoly of legitimate force by the state, the need for consistency in statutes, and the principle of no punishment without a written law. The remaining two speeches, Against Aristogeiton, are forgeries composed in the Hellenistic period, as Edward Harris demonstrates conclusively through a study of laws and legal procedures and an analysis of style and vocabulary.

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From a rising literary star, an epic historical novel, set against the tense backdrop of the Long March and Mao’s rise to power, that tells a powerful and moving story of two ordinary peopleChina, 1934: A naive orphan and shy gunsmith, Ping, has fallen in love with Yong, who is a sophisticated veteran, a skilled marksman, and a true believer in Marxist ideology. Winning her affections will take an ideological battle—something he does not understand. To make matters worse, Yong has shown interest in Ping’s best friend, Luo. On the eve of a great Communist defeat, Ping sabotages Luo’s rifle, causing the bullet to backfire into his friend’s head. The army begins its year-long retreat, known as The Long March, and Yong turns to Ping for comfort and companionship. Ping deeply regrets killing his friend, and as his relationship with Yong blossoms, he is saddened that it will always be colored by guilt. Yong soon becomes pregnant. She hates the way the baby inside is changing her, both physically and emotionally. The Red Army can’t retreat with a crying infant, so they need to find someone close to take the baby in. Ping and Yong leave their son with a woman, promising to return once the war is won. When World War II breaks out and Japanese soldiers arrive, their 12-year-old son decides to enlist in the Japanese army to find his parents, though he quickly begins to fear for his life . . . Deeply moving and brilliantly written, Michael X. Wang's Lost in the Long March is an exploration of how the history of a country is always its people, though their stories are often the first to be lost.

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This book expands upon research into the protection of foreign investments, which is currently an intensively studied area of international law. At the same time, it also examines environmental protection, as well as general areas of debate in international law, including fragmentation, self-contained regimes, the role of interpretation and of principles, and theories of indeterminacy.In this detailed and concise monograph, Saverio Di Benedetto examines the problematic impact of environmental issues on international investment law from the perspective of arbitral dispute settlement and treaty-making. Current debates concerning 'self-contained' regimes and international law form the background to this investigation. By extrapolating insights from the vast and heterogeneous amount of available practice, the book provides an order to the two spheres of values, from internal and fragmentary approaches to systemic forms of integration. Finally, it outlines a possible method for reconciling investor rights and environmental concerns, which is centred around the model of exceptions and highlights the role of legal principles.This book is essential reading for academics of international investment law and related matters, with useful research material for both practitioners and policy-makers. Moreover, the innovative approach of this book makes it appropriate for adoption in specialized undergraduate and postgraduate courses in international economic law.Contents: Preface Part I: Foreign Investments versus the Environment 1. Introduction: The Social and Legal Context 2. International Investment Law and Environmental Protection 3. Theoretical Approaches to International Investment Law 4. Applicable Law and Methods of Interpretation Part II: Integrating Environmental Protection into International Investment Law 5. Internal Arguments: From Ordinary Meanings to Derogatory Logic 6. Systemic Approaches 7. Exceptional Models 8. Environmental Exceptions, Indeterminacy and Legal Principles Bibliography Index

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The Knight, the Cross, and the Song offers a new perspective on the driving forces of crusading in the period 1100-1400. Although religious devotion has long been identified as the primary motivation of those who took the cross, Stefan Vander Elst argues that it was by no means the only focus of the texts written to convince the warriors of Western Christianity to participate in the holy war. Vander Elst examines how, across three centuries, historiographical works that served as exhortations for the Crusade sought specifically to appeal to aristocratic interests beyond piety. They did so by appropriating the formal and thematic characteristics of literary genres favored by the knightly class, the chansons de geste and chivalric romance. By using the structure, commonplaces, and traditions of chivalric literature, propagandists associated the Crusade with the decidedly secular matters to which arms-bearers were drawn. This allowed them to introduce the mutual obligation between lord and vassal, family honor, the thirst for adventure, and even the desire for women as parallel and complementary motivations for Crusade, making chivalric and literary concerns an indelible part of the ideology and practice of holy war. Examining English, Latin, French, and German texts, ranging from the twelfth-century Gesta Francorum and Chanson d'Antioche to the fourteenth-century Krônike von Prûzinlant and La Prise d'Alixandre, The Knight, the Cross, and the Song traces the historical development and geographical spread of this innovative use of secular chivalric fiction both to shape the memory and interpretation of past events and to ensure the continuation of the holy war.

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In the nineteenth century, the Russian Empire’s Middle Volga region (today’s Tatarstan) was the site of a prolonged struggle between Russian Orthodoxy and Islam, each of which sought to solidify its influence among the frontier’s mix of Turkic, Finno-Ugric, and Slavic peoples. The immediate catalyst of the events that Agnès Nilüfer Kefeli chronicles in Becoming Muslim in Imperial Russia was the collective turn to Islam by many of the region’s Kräshens, the Muslim and animist Tatars who converted to Russian Orthodoxy between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. The traditional view holds that the apostates had really been Muslim all along or that their conversions had been forced by the state or undertaken voluntarily as a matter of convenience. In Kefeli’s view, this argument vastly oversimplifies the complexity of a region where many participated in the religious cultures of both Islam and Orthodox Christianity and where a vibrant Kräshen community has survived to the present. By analyzing Russian, Eurasian, and Central Asian ethnographic, administrative, literary, and missionary sources, Kefeli shows how traditional education, with Sufi mystical components, helped to Islamize Finno-Ugric and Turkic peoples in the Kama-Volga countryside and set the stage for the development of modernist Islam in Russia. Of particular interest is Kefeli’s emphasis on the role that Tatar women (both Kräshen and Muslim) played as holders and transmitters of Sufi knowledge. Today, she notes, intellectuals and mullahs in Tatarstan seek to revive both Sufi and modernist traditions to counteract new expressions of Islam and promote a purely Tatar Islam aware of its specificity in a post-Christian and secular environment.

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In Our Chiefs and Elders, David Neel presents us with a magnificent series of images of Native chiefs and elders which sharply contrasts with earlier depictions of Natives as “noble savages” or representatives of a “vanishing race.” Neel’s photographs of, and conversations with, his own people introduce us to individuals who know who they are and whose comments on the present, coupled with their perspectives from the past, reveal a people with a rich and unique heritage.Neel has chosen to show many of his subjects in paired images, both in traditional dress, holding the symbols to which they are entitled by hereditary right, as well as in everyday clothing and surroundings. This demonstrates more effectively than any museum display the transforming power of the masks and ceremonial blankets. More important, it shows the people as they are – with their lives in two worlds, two cultures – and demonstrates that being Native is not a matter of appearance but rather a way of being.Many of these individuals were born in bighouses and they reminisce about travelling in log canoes and living off the land. They talk about their experiences in residential schools, about the potlatch law, and they explain the roles of hereditary chiefs, chief councilors, and elders. But they also have much to say that is relevant to contemporary social, political, and ecological issues.The commitment and enthusiasm of those who sat for this project are obvious. David Neel’s respect for the elders is evident, as is the warmth with which he is regarded by his subjects. And that is what makes this unique – it is a powerful statement of a surviving race taking its rightful place in contemporary society.

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Reassessing the developing world through the lens of Europe's pastToday’s developing nations emerged from the rubble of the Second World War. Only a handful of these countries have subsequently attained a level of prosperity and security comparable to that of the advanced industrial world. The implication is clear: those who study the developing world in order to learn how development can be achieved lack the data to do so.In The Development Dilemma, Robert Bates responds to this challenge by turning to history, focusing on England and France. By the end of the eighteenth century, England stood poised to enter “the great transformation.” France by contrast verged on state failure, and life and property were insecure. Probing the histories of these countries, Bates uncovers a powerful tension between prosperity and security: both may be necessary for development, he argues, but efforts to achieve the one threaten the achievement of the other. A fundamental tension pervades the political economy of development.Bates also argues that while the creation of a central hierarchy—a state—may be necessary to the achievement of development, it is not sufficient. What matters is how the power of the state is used. France and England teach us that in some settings the seizure and redistribution of wealth—not its safeguarding and fostering—is a winning political strategy. These countries also suggest the features that mark those settings—features that appear in nations throughout the developing world.Returning to the present, Bates applies these insights to the world today. Drawing on fieldwork in Zambia and Kenya, and data from around the globe, he demonstrates how the past can help us to understand the performance of nations in today’s developing world.

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Reassessing the developing world through the lens of Europe's past Today's developing nations emerged from the rubble of the Second World War. Only a handful of these countries have subsequently attained a level of prosperity and security comparable to that of the advanced industrial world. The implication is clear: those who study the developing world in order to learn how development can be achieved lack the data to do so. In The Development Dilemma, Robert Bates responds to this challenge by turning to history, focusing on England and France. By the end of the eighteenth century, England stood poised to enter "the great transformation." France by contrast verged on state failure, and life and property were insecure. Probing the histories of these countries, Bates uncovers a powerful tension between prosperity and security: both may be necessary for development, he argues, but efforts to achieve the one threaten the achievement of the other. A fundamental tension pervades the political economy of development. Bates also argues that while the creation of a central hierarchy--a state--may be necessary to the achievement of development, it is not sufficient. What matters is how the power of the state is used. France and England teach us that in some settings the seizure and redistribution of wealth--not its safeguarding and fostering--is a winning political strategy. These countries also suggest the features that mark those settings--features that appear in nations throughout the developing world. Returning to the present, Bates applies these insights to the world today. Drawing on fieldwork in Zambia and Kenya, and data from around the globe, he demonstrates how the past can help us to understand the performance of nations in today's developing world.

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Despite howls for reform, the only thing separating us from another election disaster of the kind that hit Florida in 2000, and that almost struck again in Ohio in 2004, may simply be another close vote. In this lucid and lively book, Heather Gerken diagnoses what is wrong with our elections and proposes a radically new and simple solution: a Democracy Index that would rate the performance of state and local election systems. A rough equivalent to the U.S. News and World Report ranking of colleges and universities, the Index would focus on problems that matter to all voters: How long does it take to vote? How many ballots get discarded? How often do voting machines break down? And it should work for a simple reason: no one wants to be at the bottom of the list. For a process that is supposed to be all about counting, U.S. elections yield few reliable numbers about anything--least of all how well the voting system is managed. The Democracy Index would change this with a blueprint for quantifying election performance and reform results, replacing anecdotes and rhetoric with hard data and verifiable outcomes. A fresh vision of reform, this book shows how to drive improvements by creating incentives for politicians, parties, and election officials to join the cause of change and to come up with creative solutions--all without Congress issuing a single regulation. In clear and energetic terms, The Democracy Index explains how to realize the full potential of the Index while avoiding potential pitfalls. Election reform will never be the same again.

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The presidency of George W. Bush has polarized the church-state debate as never before. The Far Right has been emboldened to use religion to govern, while the Far Left has redoubled its efforts to evict religion from public life entirely. Fewer people on the Right seem to respect the church-state separation, and fewer people on the Left seem to respect religion itself--still less its free exercise in any situation that is not absolutely private. In The Last Freedom, Joseph Viteritti argues that there is a basic tension between religion and democracy because religion often rejects compromise as a matter of principle while democracy requires compromise to thrive. In this readable, original, and provocative book, Viteritti argues that Americans must guard against debasing politics with either antireligious bigotry or religious zealotry. Drawing on politics, history, and law, he defines a new approach to the church-state question that protects the religious and the secular alike. Challenging much conventional opinion, Viteritti argues that the courts have failed to adequately protect religious minorities, that the rights of the religious are under greater threat than those of the secular, and that democracy exacts greater compromises and sacrifices from the religious than it does from the secular. He takes up a wide range of controversies, including the pledge of allegiance, school prayer, school vouchers, evolution, abortion, stem-cell research, gay marriage, and religious displays on public property. A fresh and surprising approach to the church-state question, The Last Freedom is squarely aimed at the wide center of the public that is frustrated with the extremes of both the Left and the Right.

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Mark C. Taylor provocatively claims that contemporary art has lost its way. With the art market now mirroring the art of finance, many artists create works solely for the purpose of luring investors and inspiring trade among hedge funds and private equity firms. When art is commodified, corporatized, and financialized, it loses its critical edge and is transformed into a financial instrument calculated to maximize profitable returns. Joseph Beuys, Matthew Barney, James Turrell, and Andy Goldsworthy are artists who differ in style, yet they all defy the trends that have diminished art's potential in recent decades. They understand that art is a transformative practice drawing inspiration directly and indirectly from ancient and modern, Eastern and Western forms of spirituality. For Beuys, anthroposophy, alchemy, and shamanism drive his multimedia presentations; for Barney and Goldsworthy, Celtic mythology informs their art; and for Turrell, Quakerism and Hopi myth and ritual shape his vision. Eluding traditional genres and classifications, these artists combine spiritually inspired styles and techniques with material reality, creating works that resist merging space into cyberspace in a way that overwhelms local contexts with global networks. Their art reminds us of life's irreducible materiality and humanity's inescapability of place. For them, art is more than just an object or process-it is a vehicle transforming human awareness through actions echoing religious ritual. By lingering over the extraordinary work of Beuys, Barney, Turrell, and Goldsworthy, Taylor not only creates a novel and personal encounter with their art but also opens a new understanding of overlooked spiritual dimensions in our era.

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Continually Working tells the stories of Black working women who resisted employment inequality in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from the 1940s to the 1970s. The book explores the job-related activism of Black Midwestern working women and uncovers the political and intellectual strategies they used to critique and resist employment discrimination, dismantle unjust structures, and transform their lives and the lives of those in their community. Moten emphasizes the ways in which Black women transformed the urban landscape by simultaneously occupying spaces from which they had been historically excluded and creating their own spaces. Black women refused to be marginalized within the historically white and middle‑class Milwaukee Young Women's Christian Association (MYWCA), an association whose mission centered on supporting women in urban areas. Black women forged interracial relationships within this organization and made it, not without much conflict and struggle, one of the most socially progressive organizations in the city. When Black women could not integrate historically white institutions, they created their own. They established financial and educational institutions, such as Pressley School of Beauty Culture, which beautician Mattie Pressley Dewese opened in 1946 as a result of segregation in the beauty training industry. This school served economic, educational and community development purposes as well as created economic opportunities for Black women. Historically and contemporarily, Milwaukee has been and is still known as one of the most segregated cities in the nation. Black women have always contested urban segregation, by making space for themselves and others on the margins. In so doing, they have transformed both the urban landscape and urban history.

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JACK LARK: SOLDIER, LEADER, IMPOSTER.The eighth book in the exhilarating military adventure series for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden and Angus Donald. 'Classic Jack Lark in a classic western... an exceptionally entertaining historical action adventure' Matthew Harffy 'If you are looking for nonstop high-octane adventure with lots of pulsating action, this is for you. Strap on a navy Colt, mount up - and enjoy' Historical Novel Society 'An excellent, gripping, old-fashion Western yarn, with first-class blood-and-guts action sequences - a real white-knuckle page-turner.' Angus DonaldLouisiana, 1863. Jack Lark is on the long and lonely road to nowhere, the battlefield behind him. But soon his soldier skill lands him a job, and a new purpose - defending a valuable wagon train of cotton as it journeys down through Texas to Mexico. Working for another man, let alone the volatile Brannigan, isn't going to be easy. And with the Deep South's most infamous outlaws hot on their trail, Jack knows he is living on borrowed time. As they cross the border, Jack quickly discovers that the usual rules of war don't apply. He will have to fight to survive, and this time the battle might prove one he could lose. THE LOST OUTLAW: JACK LARK BOOK 8 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ READERS CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF JACK LARK: 'A gritty story of murder and betrayal, and eventually revenge' 'Some of the most ruthless characters ever created in historical fiction' 'The action throughout is ferocious, the battles and the gunfights, bloody, vivid and visceral' 'Jack Lark is a hero I'll happily follow' 'Paul Fraser Collard goes from strength to strength'

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The latest instalment from the beloved THE NO. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY seriesCatch up on the latest from Mma Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi and other favourites in this new instalment of Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.As the temperature rises in Gaborone, Precious Ramotswe, founder of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, wonders whether the heat could be the reason that business is particularly slow. Luckily, a slower pace in life is her natural preference, unlike her colleague Mma Makutsi, who is alert to every passing observation and inclined to making snap decisions. With fewer cases to handle, Precious has time to contemplate her new neighbours, a couple who, by the sounds of it, have a rather volatile relationship . . .But then a distant cousin of Mma Ramotswe's comes to the agency with a plea for help, and the ladies decide to pursue the issue together. Armed with Mma Ramotswe's circumspection and Mma Makutsi's sharp eye, they proceed with confidence and open hearts. What, after all, could be more straightforward than a family matter?Meanwhile, their colleague Charlie is behaving oddly, borrowing Mma Ramotswe's van and returning it in an unusual condition. Digging a little deeper, the explanation is both strange and extraordinary, and takes Charlie, along with Mma Ramotswe's husband, Mr J. L. B. Matekoni, on a hair-raising night-time expedition.In the end, Precious is reminded of the need to view a picture from every angle, to accept the imperfections in people and situations, and then find a solution - preferably over a delicious slice of her friend Mma Potokwani's fruit cake.'Irresistible'The Times'Every page contains a gem of wit and insight'Scotsman

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A comprehensive discussion and analysis of two and a half millennia of Western political theory In the absence of noble public goals, admired leaders, and compelling issues, many warn of a dangerous erosion of civil society, which includes families, religious organizations, and all other NGOs. Are they right? What are the roots and implications of their insistent alarm? How can public life be enriched in a period marked by fraying communities, widespread apathy, and unprecedented levels of contempt for politics? How should we be thinking about civil society? In Civil Society: The Critical History of an Idea, John Ehrenberg analyzes both the usefulness and the limitations of civil society and maps the political and theoretical evolution of the concept and its employment in academic and public discourse. From Aristotle and the Enlightenment philosophers to Black Lives Matter and the Occupy movement, Ehrenberg provides an indispensable analysis of the possibilities of what this increasingly important idea can, and cannot, offer to contemporary political affairs. In this new, second edition Ehrenberg brings the historical overview up to present day, specifically considering how major events such as 9/11, the global financial crisis, economic inequality, and rapidly advancing technologies alter and shape our relationship to contemporary civil society. Civic engagement, political participation, and volunteerism in contemporary life has faded, he argues, and in order to bring civil society—and all its virtues—back to the fore, we need to counter the suffocating inequality that has taken hold in recent years. Thorough and accessible, Civil Society gives a sweeping overview of a foundational part of political life.

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A twisted and tantalizing horror novel set amidst the splendour of a secluded summer retreat. 'Gripping... the narrative's lush prose crafts both deliciously creepy horror scenes and a nuanced, self-assured protagonist consumed by grief and longing for acceptance.' Publishers Weekly When Mars Matthias loses his sister Caroline under horrific circumstances, it propels him to learn all he can about the once-inseparable sibling who'd grown tragically distant. Mars's gender-fluidity means he's often excluded from the traditions - and expectations - of his politically-connected family, including attendance at the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy where his sister devoted so much of her time. But with his grief still fresh, he insists on attending in her place. The setting may be pristine and sun-drenched, but there's an undercurrent of tension buzzing ominously. Mars seeks out his sister's old friends: a group of girls dubbed the Honeys, named for the beehives they maintain behind their cabin. They are beautiful and terrifying - and Mars is certain they're connected to Caroline's death. But the longer he stays at Aspen, the more the sweet mountain breezes give way to hints of decay. Mars's memories begin to falter, bleached beneath the relentless summer sun. Something is hunting him in broad daylight, toying with his mind. If Mars can't find it soon, it will eat him alive... Heathers meets Midsommar, exploring the corruption that lies just under the surface of the perfect lives of the uber-rich Perfect for fans of Kathryn Foxfield and Ace of Spades Highly original, brilliantly written, queer YA horror

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In his classic Surprised by the Power of the Spirit, Jack Deere looked at the reason why many Christians (including himself at the time) struggle to believe in miraculous gifts, and he provided a groundbreaking biblical defense of the Holy Spirit's speaking and healing activities today.In Why I Am Still Surprised by the Power of the Spirit, the former Dallas Seminary professor revisits his earlier subject matter with fresh insight and even stronger conviction: the Scriptures teach that God is healing and speaking today just as he did 2,000 years ago.Having almost entirely rewritten Surprised by the Power of the Spirit, this new edition comes at a time when the theological landscape has dramatically changed, and most evangelicals do believe in all the gifts of the Spirit. But many of us are still unsure how to understand those gifts, and there is much confusion today on what it means to be filled with the Spirit.This book is for those familiar with Deere's work and for newcomers alike. In it, he: Explains the nature of spiritual gifts, defining each of them. Offers sound advice on discovering and using spiritual gifts in church. Tells documented stories of modern miracles and encounters with demonic powers. Examines the New Testament use of the phrase "filled with the Spirit" to show why and how God still fills his servants with the Holy Spirit. Introduces the newest literature defending and explaining the gifts of the Spirit. With the care of a scholar and the passion of personal experience, this new edition builds upon the legacy of Surprised by the Power of the Spirit and the profound impact it's had among Christians of many traditions.

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Eragon meets Furyborn in this gripping first installment of an epic new YA fantasy seriesI will not fall. I will not flee. I will not break.As a Charmer, Leena Edenfrell can tame the rare magical beasts that inhabit her world. When she's falsely accused of using her magic to charm a human, she's exiled and forced to sell her beloved creatures to survive. It's heartbreaking work, but if she can just make it through the next week, she'll have everything she needs to prove her innocence and return to the only home she's ever known.That is, until she learns that the Charmer's Council has sent Noc, the realm's deadliest assassin, to find her. And Noc will stop at nothing until she's dead.Determined to evade capture, Leena offers the dangerous hunter a deal: four magical beasts in exchange for her life…beasts with powers strong enough to break the curse that's killed everyone he's ever loved. Noc needs Leena. Yet as these unlikely allies cross the realm in search of mythical creatures, Leena can't help but feel that Noc is hiding something—and that, no matter how hard she fights, her time may soon be running out.Thrilling, intense, and impossible to put down, Kingdom of Exiles is perfect for readers looking for:books like Sarah J. Maas' Kingdom of Ash and Kalyn Josephson's Storm Crowhigh fantasy with paranormal and romance elementsmultidimensional characters and expert world-buildinga unique premise and a plot to die forThe Beast Charmer Series:Kingdom of ExilesThe Frozen Prince (coming soon)Book 3 (coming soon)

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Winner of the 2017 Eisner Award in the Best Academic/Scholarly Work category 2017 Prose Awards Honorable Mention, Media & Cultural Studies Over the last 75 years, superheroes have been portrayed most often as male, heterosexual, white, and able-bodied. Today, a time when many of these characters are billion-dollar global commodities, there are more female superheroes, more queer superheroes, more superheroes of color, and more disabled superheroes--but not many more. Superwomen investigates how and why female superhero characters have become more numerous but are still not-at-all close to parity with their male counterparts; how and why they have become a flashpoint for struggles over gender, sexuality, race, and disability; what has changed over time and why in terms of how these characters have been written, drawn, marketed, purchased, read, and reacted to; and how and why representations of superheroes matter, particularly to historically underrepresented and stereotyped groups. Specifically, the book explores the production, representations, and receptions of prominent transmedia female superheroes from their creation to the present: Wonder Woman; Batgirl and Oracle; Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel; Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Star Wars’ Padmé Amidala, Leia Organa, Jaina Solo, and Rey; and X-Men’s Jean Grey, Storm, Kitty Pryde, Rogue, and Mystique. It analyzes their changing portrayals in comics, novels, television shows, and films, as well as how cultural narratives of gender have been negotiated through female superheroes by creators, consumers, and parent companies over the last several decades.

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JACK LARK: SOLDIER, LEADER, IMPOSTER.The tenth book in the compelling historical military adventure series for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Anthony Riches and Juliet Stockwin. 'Like all the best vintages Jack Lark has aged to perfection. Scarred, battered and bloody, his story continues to enthral' Anthony Riches 'Impossible to put down... full of action and intrigue that leaves the reader thirsty for more' History... the Interesting Bits 'Nobody writing today depicts the chaos, terror and brutality of war better' Matthew HarffyA true leader serves his men.Egypt, 1869. Jack Lark has reinvented himself once more. Working as an unofficial agent for the Consul-General, he moves among the most powerful men in Cairo. But when the opportunity arises to join legendary explorer Sir Samuel White Baker on his expedition into the Sudan, Jack can't resist a new adventure. Jack assumes command of an elite cadre to protect the fleet of vessels. But, as they move down the Nile, Jack and his men soon find themselves in a land where the rule of law means nothing, and those who wield power will do anything to keep it. And when a new friend seeks Jack's help, Jack must decide where his loyalties truly lie . . . COMMANDER: JACK LARK BOOK 10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ READERS CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF JACK LARK: 'Brutal, bloody and thoroughly enjoyable' 'The authenticity of the historical context shines through' 'Everything you need in an historical military novel. Intrigue, deception, the horror of combat, revenge...' 'All in all, a brilliant book' 'Part of the great value of this book is the feel and atmosphere it evokes'

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My husband was not a monster. No matter what they say...The day my husband, Michael, stepped in front of a lorry after being questioned by the police, my world fell apart. He was devoted to me and our six-year-old daughter. But they'd connected him to the disappearance of a young mother from our tiny village.Now I stand at Michael's funeral, clutching my little girl's hand, with tears in my eyes as I insist to all our friends that he died an innocent man. Yet the questions have started, and nothing I say will stop them digging for the truth.But none of them can read the secrets in my heart, or know about the phone I found hidden in his toolbox...I'm determined that my daughter will not remember her father as a monster. I will erase any hint of wrongdoing in this house whatever the cost.Because to keep my daughter safe, the last thing I need is for people to start looking at me . . .What everyone is saying about The Widow:'The Queen of twists is back. OMG! I can't believe how many twists this book revealed. It's one hell of a roller coaster ride and in parts left me gasping and holding my breath. I LOVED IT,' Goodreads reviewer, FIVE STARS'Just wow! Definitely one of my favourite books of the year! I was hooked from page one and the thrills never ceased. Awesome characters and storyline. K.L. Slater weaves her magic again . . . Huge on the creep factor and shocking twists! Wish I could give this more than a huge five stars' Netgalley reviewer, FIVE STARS'OMG Kim what a bloody fantastic gripping read . . . absolutely everything you could want from a thriller' Goodreads reviewer, FIVE STARS

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The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling, and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre.'Banks is a phenomenon' William Gibson It was one of the less glorious incidents of a long-ago war.It led to atrocities on an extraordinary scale. To the destruction of two suns and the billions of lives they supported.Now, eight hundred years later, the light from the first of those doomed stars has reached the Culture Orbital, Masaq', bathing its ­fifty billion inhabitants in the rays of their society's ancient mistake.Amongst them is Major Quilan, sent on a mission so secret that not even he knows what it is, and determined to exact his revenge against the Culture at any cost.Praise for the Culture series:'Epic in scope, ambitious in its ideas and absorbing in its execution' Independent on Sunday'Banks has created one of the most enduring and endearing visions of the future' Guardian'Jam-packed with extraordinary invention' Scotsman'Compulsive reading' Sunday Telegraph The Culture series:Consider PhlebasThe Player of GamesUse of WeaponsExcessionInversionsLook to WindwardMatterSurface DetailThe Hydrogen SonataThe State of the ArtOther books by Iain M. Banks:Against a Dark BackgroundFeersum EndjinnThe AlgebraistAlso now available: The Culture: The Drawings - an extraordinary collection of original illustrations faithfully reproduced from sketchbooks Banks kept in the 1970s and 80s, depicting the ships, habitats, geography, weapons and language of Banks' Culture series of novels in incredible detail.

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What explains the United States' persistent use of torture over the past hundred-plus years? Not only is torture incompatible with liberal values; it is also risky and frequently ineffective as an interrogation method. In American Torture from the Philippines to Iraq, William L. d'Ambruoso argues that the norm against torture has two features that help explain why liberal democracies like the United States have continued to violate it. First, the norm against torture paradoxically contributes to the belief that torture works. In naming certain behaviors as appropriate, norms also define what is inappropriate. Some policymakers and soldiers believe (not always unreasonably) that in the nasty world of international politics, cheaters--those who are willing to break the rules--have an advantage, especially in security matters. "Bad" becomes "good" because it appears effective, and rule-following is perceived as naïve and dangerous. Second, the anti-torture norm is not sufficiently specified to draw a definitive line between norm-compliant behavior and violations. For example, it is impossible to specify exactly how many hours must pass before forced standing becomes torture. As a result of torture's blurry definition, perpetrators can justify their actions by suggesting that the adversary is guilty of worse behavior, by using euphemisms such as "enhanced interrogation," or by flatly denying that an act is torture. In short, lack of specificity leads to justifications and redefinitions, which in turn enable transgressions. Drawing on previously overlooked archival testimony from the Philippine-American War (1899-1902), the Vietnam War, and the post-2001 war on terror, d'Ambruoso shows that the rationale for using torture has remained remarkably consistent throughout the past century.

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The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling, and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre.'Banks is a phenomenon' William Gibson The Culture - a utopian human-machine symbiotic society - has thrown up many expert Game Players, and one of the greatest is Jernau Morat Gurgeh. He is Master of every board, computer and strategy - he is The Player of Games.Bored with success, Gurgeh travels to the cruel and incredibly wealthy Empire of Azad to try their infamous game . . . a game so complex, so like life itself, that the winner becomes emperor. Mocked, blackmailed, almost murdered, Gurgeh plays the game, and faces the challenge of his life - and very possibly his death. Praise for the Culture series: 'Epic in scope, ambitious in its ideas and absorbing in its execution' Independent on Sunday 'Banks has created one of the most enduring and endearing visions of the future' Guardian 'Jam-packed with extraordinary invention' Scotsman 'Compulsive reading' Sunday TelegraphThe Culture series:Consider PhlebasThe Player of GamesUse of WeaponsExcessionInversionsLook to WindwardMatterSurface DetailThe Hydrogen SonataThe State of the ArtOther books by Iain M. Banks:Against a Dark BackgroundFeersum EndjinnThe AlgebraistAlso now available: The Culture: The Drawings - an extraordinary collection of original illustrations faithfully reproduced from sketchbooks Banks kept in the 1970s and 80s, depicting the ships, habitats, geography, weapons and language of Banks' Culture series of novels in incredible detail.

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The latest instalment from the beloved THE NO. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY seriesCatch up on the latest from Mma Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi and other favourites in this new instalment of Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.As the temperature rises in Gaborone, Precious Ramotswe, founder of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, wonders whether the heat could be the reason that business is particularly slow. Luckily, a slower pace in life is her natural preference, unlike her colleague Mma Makutsi, who is alert to every passing observation and inclined to making snap decisions. With fewer cases to handle, Precious has time to contemplate her new neighbours, a couple who, by the sounds of it, have a rather volatile relationship . . .But then a distant cousin of Mma Ramotswe's comes to the agency with a plea for help, and the ladies decide to pursue the issue together. Armed with Mma Ramotswe's circumspection and Mma Makutsi's sharp eye, they proceed with confidence and open hearts. What, after all, could be more straightforward than a family matter?Meanwhile, their colleague Charlie is behaving oddly, borrowing Mma Ramotswe's van and returning it in an unusual condition. Digging a little deeper, the explanation is both strange and extraordinary, and takes Charlie, along with Mma Ramotswe's husband, Mr J. L. B. Matekoni, on a hair-raising night-time expedition.In the end, Precious is reminded of the need to view a picture from every angle, to accept the imperfections in people and situations, and then find a solution - preferably over a delicious slice of her friend Mma Potokwani's fruit cake.'Irresistible'The Times'Every page contains a gem of wit and insight'Scotsman

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Experience the Transformative Power of Tibetan Buddhism’s Gradual Path of Enlightenment "Enlightenment is an unfolding process—open to everyone." teaches Dr. Miles Neale. "However, in a culture that reduces, commodifies, and sensationalizes meditation, our challenge is to restore the depth, sophistication, and integrity of the complete spiritual path." With The Gradual Path, Dr. Neale presents a seven-session audio course to immerse you in the teachings and practices of the Lam Rim—Tibetan Buddhism’s time-tested path for psychological maturity and awakening. Created as an audio companion to Dr. Neale’s book Gradual Awakening, this course brings you a guided experience in the traditional Lam Rim journey, updated with insights from science and psychotherapy to root each step in our modern experience. Lam Rim—The Hero’s Journey of Awakening With passion and eloquence, Dr. Neale reveals how the Age of Reason’s "enlightenment" that originally emerged to free us from dogma and superstition evolved into a dangerous new "sickness of paradigm" that has given rise to our precarious global situation. By combining healthy scientific inquiry with the timeless power of the Lam Rim path, Dr. Neale invites us to catalyze genuine and sustainable well-being, compassion, and liberation—both for ourselves and the world around us. This path is a "hero’s journey" that begins with our inherent state of suffering and separation, then takes us through each step of transformation to becoming fully human. Do we need to become enlightened to make a difference in the world? "Though enlightenment is always here and possible," teaches Dr. Neale, "what matters most is to focus on the next incremental step ahead of you and awaken gradually—becoming a more mature, aware, insightful, and loving human being. Even making one small Lam Rim step brings a little more light in the world and makes a giant leap for humanity’s evolution." A portion of the proceeds from this program will benefit the Buddhist nuns of Kopan Monastery in Nepal.

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Bestselling Amish novelist Linda Byler’s three heartwarming Christmas romances—in one affordable volume! Linda Byler is beloved for her skillful story telling and true-to-life descriptions of Amish food, faith, and culture. As an Amish woman herself, she can share details of Amish life that few can replicate. Here are three heartwarming novellas full of longing, struggle, confused feelings, and ultimately love.Little Amish Matchmaker: Simon can't stop thinking about the pretty Amish teacher at the local one-room school. But he's ignored the sparks between them because he's so shy. So Simon's little brother, Isaac, takes matters into his own hands. Amish novelist Byler brings her tender humor and skillful observation of family relationships to this holiday story.The Christmas Visitor: Ruth Miller’s Amish neighbors help her to make the difficult transition from wife to widow. As Christmas approaches, Ruth knows that she can't afford gifts for her children. But then banana boxes full of food, treats for the children, and even money begin to appear on her front porch. Who is leaving her these generous gifts? And who is that handsome stranger who always seems to show up when she most needs help?Mary’s Christmas Goodbye: Mary Stoltzfus is thirty years old, splashed with freckles, and unmarried. In her Amish world, that qualifies her to be called an old maid. When she travels to Montana to teach, she arrives at a desolate station and meets Arthur Bontrager, who introduces her to Beaver Creek School, dirt roads, and the fancy shed where she would live. She has no idea the physical challenges she will face during Montana’s cruel winter . . . nor the struggles her heart will encounter as she learns to open herself to the possibility of love.

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From the #1 Flemish crime writer, “an atmospheric, noir-tinged tale about a stubborn cop who just won’t quit, even if he is dead” (Kirkus Reviews). But will that stop him from catching his own murderer?A serial killer is on the loose in Ostend, Belgium. Nicknamed The Stuffer, the mysterious killer fills his victims full of sand and poses them as public art installations—and the once idyllic beach town is in a panic. The fact that Rafael Styx is on the case is no comfort. The corrupt, middle-aged cop has a bum hip, a bad marriage, and ties to the Belgian underworld, but no leads. And if he wants to catch the killer before he’s replaced by the young, ambitious, and flamboyant new cop, Detective Delacroix, he’ll have to take matters into his own hands. When a chance encounter puts him face to face with The Stuffer, Rafael’s life is cut short by a gun to the chest. But the afterlife has only just begun: Styx wakes up a zombie. Gradually he realizes his unique position. Not only is his body in decay, now that he exists between life and death, he can enter the Ostend of a different time. There he meets the surrealist painter, Paul Delvaux, who gives Styx his first clue about the killer. With a new lead and a fresh start, the dirty cop decides to change his ways, catch The Stuffer, and restore his honor. But with his new decaying body and hunger for human flesh getting in the way, he’ll need his old rival, Detective Delacroix to help him out. “Taut, atmospheric, and suspenseful” (Booklist, starred review), Styx is an exciting thriller with an intriguing protagonist and evocative setting. Like the best of Jo Nesbo, the “gritty, hard-boiled tone is spot-on [in this] entertaining and moving read” (Publishers Weekly).

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In his eight years as president from 1945-1953, Harry S. Truman made some of the most important decisions in U.S. history, particularly in foreign policy matters. This book contains transcripts of conversations with Truman from taped interviews in 1959. The probing questions and straightforward answers cover a wide variety of domestic and foreign policy issues ranging from civil rights in the South to using the atomic bomb on Japan. This book provides a vivid portrait of Truman, 'warts and all.' Through his answers to questions, the threads of his political loyalty, bluntness, frustration, decency, thrift, humanity, and humor become a tapestry of his presidential character. His intense pride and manner surface especially as he explains bitter political and domestic controversies, as well as foreign policy decisions. These interviews reveal Truman's bedrock foundation of deeply held political beliefs as he gives thoughtful answers to queries about major political issues. In addition, he discusses American presidential history; Congressmen such as Sam Rayburn and Lyndon Johnson; Supreme Court Justices; and dozens of other well-known political leaders, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, Adlai Stevenson, and John F. Kennedy. In similar fashion, he describes numerous foreign leaders, including Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Winston Churchill, and Chiang Kai-Shek. Evident as well is his firm loyalty to the United States, his family, his friends, and the Democratic Party. Truman also divulges some of his personal dislikes, particularly of political opponents such as Richard M. Nixon and, for over a decade after 1952, Dwight D. Eisenhower. However, his personal resentments are more than matched by his fair-minded judgments of former President Herbert Hoover, American farmers, laborers, and racial groups. Discovered by Ralph Weber at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library, the interviews were originally to be used as background for Truman's book, Mr. Citizen (1960), but most of Truman's obs

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The chief aims of Thomas Aquinas on the Immateriality of the Human In­tellect are to provide a comprehensive interpretation of Aquinas’s oft-repeated claim that the human intellect is immaterial, and to assess his arguments on behalf of this claim. Adam Wood argues that Aquinas’s claim refers primarily to the mode in which the human intellect has its act of being. That the human intellect has an immaterial mode of being, however, crucially underwrites Aquinas’s additional views that the hu­man soul is subsistent and incorruptible. To show how it does so, Wood argues that the human intellect’s immateriality can also be put in terms of the impossibility of explaining its operations in terms of coordina­tion between bodily parts, states and processes. Aquinas’s arguments for the human intellect’s immateriality, therefore, can be understood as attempts to show why intellectual operations cannot be explained in bodily terms. The book argues that not all of them succeed in this aim and also proposes, however, a novel interpretation of Aquinas’s argu­ment based on human intellect’s universal mode of cognition that may indeed be sound. Wood concludes by considering the ramifications of Aquinas’s position on matters pertaining to the afterlife.Thomas Aquinas on the Immateriality of the Human Intellect represents the first book-length examination of Aquinas’s claim that the human intellect is immaterial, and so—given the centrality of this claim to his thought—should interest any scholars interested in understanding Thomas. While it focuses throughout on careful attention to Aquinas’s texts along with the relevant secondary literature, it also positions Thomas’s thought alongside recent developments in metaphysics and philosophy of mind. Hence it should also interest historically-minded metaphysicians interested in understanding how Thomas’s hylomor­phism intersects with recent work in hylomorphic metaphysics, philos­ophers of mind interested in understanding how Thomas’s philosoph­ical psychology relates to contemporary forms of dualism, physicalism and emergentism, and philosophers of religion interested in the possi­bility of the resurrection.

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Federal judges, legal scholars, pundits, and reporters frequently describe the Supreme Court as the final word on the meaning of the Constitution. The historical record presents an entirely different picture. A close and revealing reading of that record, from 1789 to the present day, Reconsidering Judicial Finality reminds us of the “unalterable fact,” as Chief Justice Rehnquist once remarked, “that our judicial system, like the human beings who administer it, is fallible.” And a Court inevitably prone to miscalculation and error, as this book clearly demonstrates, cannot have the incontrovertible last word on constitutional questions.In this deeply researched, sharply reasoned work of legal myth-busting, constitutional scholar Louis Fisher explains how constitutional disputes are Settled by all three branches of government, and by the general public, with the Supreme Court often playing a secondary role. The Court’s decisions have, of course, been challenged and reversed in numerous cases—involving slavery, civil rights, child labor legislation, Japanese internment during World War II, abortion, and religious liberty. What Fisher shows us on a case-by-case basis is how the elected branches, scholars, and American public regularly press policies contrary to Court rulings—and regularly prevail, although the process might sometimes take decades. From the common misreading of Marbury v. Madison, to the mistaken understanding of the Supreme Court as the trusted guardian of individual rights, to the questionable assumptions of the Court's decision in Citizens United, Fisher’s work charts the distance and the difference between the Court as the ultimate arbiter in constitutional matters and the judgment of history.The verdict of Reconsidering Judicial Finality is clear: to treat the Supreme Court’s nine justices as democracy’s last hope or as dangerous activists undermining democracy is to vest them with undue significance. The Constitution belongs to all three branches of government—and, finally, to the American people.

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Best known for its World Heritage program committed to "the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity," the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded in 1945 as an intergovernmental agency aimed at fostering peace, humanitarianism, and intercultural understanding. Its mission was inspired by leading European intellectuals such as Henri Bergson, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Thomas Mann, H. G. Wells, and Aldous and Julian Huxley. Often critiqued for its inherent Eurocentrism, UNESCO and its World Heritage program today remain embedded within modernist principles of "progress" and "development" and subscribe to the liberal principles of diplomacy and mutual tolerance. However, its mission to prevent conflict, destruction, and intolerance, while noble and much needed, increasingly falls short, as recent battles over the World Heritage sites of Preah Vihear, Chersonesos, Jerusalem, Palmyra, Aleppo, and Sana'a, among others, have underlined. A Future in Ruins is the story of UNESCO's efforts to save the world's heritage and, in doing so, forge an international community dedicated to peaceful co-existence and conservation. It traces how archaeology and internationalism were united in Western initiatives after the political upheavals of the First and Second World Wars. This formed the backdrop for the emergent hopes of a better world that were to captivate the "minds of men." UNESCO's leaders were also confronted with challenges and conflicts about their own mission. Would the organization aspire to intellectual pursuits that contributed to the dream of peace or instead be relegated to an advisory and technical agency? An eye-opening and long overdue account of a celebrated yet poorly understood agency, A Future in Ruins calls on us all to understand how and why the past comes to matter in the present, who shapes it, and who wins or loses as a consequence.

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