Search results for ""worth""

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER!"Secrets of the Sprakkar is a fascinating window into what a more gender-equal world could look like, and why it's worth striving for. Iceland is doing a lot to level the playing field: paid parental leave, affordable childcare, and broad support for gender equality as a core value. Reid takes us on an exploration not only around this fascinating island, but also through the triumphs and stumbles of a country as it journeys towards gender equality."-Hillary Rodham ClintonIceland is the best place on earth to be a woman-but why?For the past twelve years, the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report has ranked Iceland number one on its list of countries closing the gap in equality between men and women. What is it about Iceland that makes many women's experience there so positive? Why has their society made such meaningful progress in this ongoing battle, from electing the world's first female president to passing legislation specifically designed to help even the playing field at work and at home? And how can we learn from what Icelanders have already discovered about women's powerful place in society and how increased fairness benefits everyone?Eliza Reid, the First Lady of Iceland, examines her adopted homeland's attitude toward women-the deep-seated cultural sense of fairness, the influence of current and historical role models, and, crucially, the areas where Iceland still has room for improvement. Reid's own experience as an immigrant from small-town Canada who never expected to become a first lady is expertly interwoven with interviews with dozens of sprakkar ("extraordinary women") to form the backbone of an illuminating discussion of what it means to move through the world as a woman, and how the rules of society play more of a role in who we view as "equal" than we may understand. Secrets of the Sprakkar is a powerful and atmospheric portrait of a tiny country that could lead the way forward for us all.

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Bestselling Amish novelist Linda Byler spins a sweet tale of heartache, disappointment, and ultimately hopes fulfilled at Christmastime. Liz had been in love once, had even been engaged. In fact, the wedding had been planned, the barn cleaned, and the celery was set to be harvested to make the traditional wedding soup. Just two weeks before the day she was to exchange vows with her beloved, he changed his mind, and that was that. The humiliation was almost as bad as the heartbreak. The whole community had celebrated her engagement, had participated in the wedding planning, had started giving her advice on keeping a home and raising children. When the wedding was canceled, no one knew what to say. She had to bear the pitying looks and awkward glances for many months. She vowed never to be such a fool again, never to trust her heart to a man who could just up and leave her with hardly an explanation. She'd rather be an old maid than go through that again. Years pass, and Liz has made peace with her life as a single woman, a "leftover blessing" as the Amish say. She can admit to herself that Matthew, the owner of the Amish restaurant at the market where she works, is handsome. And she is aware that he is single. But she reminds herself over and over that it's not worth feeling anything for the man. He's her boss and that's it. So why does she look forward to work so much every day? And why can't she make her heart beat at a normal pace when he comes near? 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. In this charming novel, Byler shares intimate details of day-to-day life in an Amish community while spinning a sweet tale of love and hopes fulfilled at Christmastime.

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Recover from Job Loss with Support of Other Women"This is the first book that I know of that truly helps you learn from women from many professional sectors how to recover from big setbacks in our work lives. It’s a must read.” —Dr. Elena Pezzini, organizational psychologist#1 New Release in Job HuntingSuccessful women show how they reclaimed and rebuilt their personal power and careers after being fired from a job and being rendered powerless by their employers.Practical job loss recovery tools for women. When women get fired, it is often devastating, traumatic, and isolating. We experience a sudden powerlessness that can destroy our confidence and feelings of self-worth. We grieve. We feel broken. It affects our self-esteem, our financial well-being, our professional identity, and our ability to look for other work―in short, it affects our entire way of life. How, then, does a woman navigate the emotional impact of this event? With other women.You are not alone. In Betrayed by Work, authors Julia Erickson, MBA, and Suzanne Vosburg, PhD, bear witness to the stories of women just like you―and just like them. This book shows how women lost their jobs, describes what happened to them immediately and in the aftermath, validates women’s feelings about being fired, and offers a source of hope and companionship to those of us coping with either our own job loss or the sudden job loss of someone we know or love.Discover: True stories from women who are honest about how they were fired and their feelings Key points to help process each story and apply its lesson to your own experience Practical takeaways and suggestions to help you cope with job loss If you were encouraged by personal growth books about women in business like Invaluable by Maya Grossman, In the Company of Women by Grace Bonney, Presence by Amy Cuddy, or Power Moves by Lauren McGoodwin, then you’ll be inspired and empowered by Betrayed by Work.

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A no-good thief takes on a job with a huge payout that he can’t possibly resist!Steven Train is a thief who knows a thing or two about how to handle a firearm. One day he’s approached by another crook named John Rainier to go on a manhunt. Train is wary at first, but when Rainier tells him there’s a huge payout, he decides to take on the job.Rainier works for Patrick Comstock, a rich rancher looking for an honest man to go on a dangerous mission in hopes of finding his long lost friend. Comstock’s friend disappeared after losing all his earnings in oil stock investments that went bad. However, as luck would have it, one of the oil stocks bounced back and is now worth $50,000! Comstock needs Train to find his long lost friend and give him his earnings.Train takes on the job with the intent of stealing the cash and splitting it with the no-good Rainier, but a snooping detective investigating a number of older crimes Train committed could ruin their best-laid plans. And to top it off, Train has an odd change of heart and decides that if Comstock enlists his help, he will double-cross Rainier and will instead faithfully carry out his mission to find the missing person and return to him his money.Skyhorse Publishing is proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in fiction that takes place in the old West. Westerns—books about outlaws, sheriffs, chiefs and warriors, cowboys and Indians—are a genre in which we publish regularly. Our list includes international bestselling authors like Zane Gray and Louis L’Amour, and many more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

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UNLOCK THE MAGIC OF THEATRE THIS CHRISTMAS - GO BEHIND THE CURTAIN WITH WEST END LEGEND, MICHAEL BALL IN HIS FIRST MEMOIR 'Love, laughter and tears abound in this warm, entertaining read' Woman and Home 'Glittering' Daily Mail'Wonderful' The SunIn 1989, a young Michael Ball landed the lead role in the musical Aspects of Love. It was a moment that changed his life forever. It was the first time he worked with legends of the stage like Andrew Lloyd Webber and Trevor Nunn; the show featured his smash hit song, Love Changes Everything, which rode high in the charts for 15 weeks; it was then, also, that he first met his long-term partner Cathy McGowan and battled back against the stage fright that had threatened his career. Over three decades later, Michael returned to a new production of the same show where he made his name, and with a lifetime's worth of stories to tell.In Different Aspects, Michael takes us backstage inside the making of a West End hit, while also diving back into his memories to share untold anecdotes and explore a glittering career that has made him a household name - from his first stage experiences in Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera, to delighting and shocking his audiences in equal measure in Hairspray and Sweeney Todd, as well as his chart-topping musical success (and some howlers too!). Exploring Michael's life, career and relationships alongside the pitfalls and pratfalls of modern theatre, Different Aspects is the story of a life lived on the stage. There will be laughter, tears and an abundance of heart. There's even some Roger Moore, though, famously, not quite enough.Take your seats ladies and gentlemen, the lights are dimming, the performance is about to start.Readers are loving Different Aspects...'A very funny, insightful glimpse of the highs and lows of a musical theatre star''If you love Michael Ball, you'll love this''His story made me smile''Filled with wonderful little stories''Interesting, honest and revealing'

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This book is a superb textbook treatment of benefit-cost analysis. It is well designed for students in public policy, public administration, public health, social work, environmental affairs, law and business.'- John D. Graham, Indiana University, US'Principles and Standards for Benefit-Cost Analysis is well worth reading. The volume reproduces some chapters previously published online in the Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis alongside new material that has not yet appeared in print, and does so in a logical and appealing way. Even the several chapters with which I disagreed made me think hard about my own views. And thinking hard is a good thing!'- Paul R. Portney, University of Arizona, USBenefit-cost analysis informs which policies or programs most benefit society when implemented by governments and institutions around the world. This volume brings together leading researchers and practitioners to recommend strategies and standards to improve the consistency and credibility of such analyses, assisting analysts of all types in achieving a greater uniformity of practice.Although new analytical approaches are constantly being used and tested, this book supports the emergence of a professional culture adhering to a set of principles and standards that can be used to identify useful analytical processes and to discard less useful ones. Contributors to this volume come from a wide variety of backgrounds and include authors of leading textbooks, editors of journals, former government officials, and practitioners whose analyses have shaped decisions about education, the environment, security, income distribution, and other vital social and economic policies. Students and professors of public sector economics will find much of interest in this groundbreaking book. Practitioners working in government, non-profit organizations, and international institutions, including welfare economists, policy analysts, environmentalists, engineers, and others will also benefit from this volume's sophisticated and practical recommendations.Contributors: D.F. Burgess, J.H. Cook, T.B. Davis, S. Farrow, N. Garland, J.K. Hammitt, L.A. Karoly, H.A. Klaiber, J.B. Loomis, J.R. Lott, Jr, L.A. Robinson, T. Scott, V.K. Smith, A.R. Vining, W.K. Viscusi, D.L. Weimer, R.O. Zerbe, Jr.

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THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER!A New York Times Book Review Editor's Pick"Secrets of the Sprakkar is a fascinating window into what a more gender-equal world could look like, and why it's worth striving for. Iceland is doing a lot to level the playing field: paid parental leave, affordable childcare, and broad support for gender equality as a core value. Reid takes us on an exploration not only around this fascinating island, but also through the triumphs and stumbles of a country as it journeys towards gender equality."-Hillary Rodham ClintonIceland is the best place on earth to be a woman-but why?For the past twelve years, the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report has ranked Iceland number one on its list of countries closing the gap in equality between men and women. What is it about Iceland that makes many women's experience there so positive? Why has their society made such meaningful progress in this ongoing battle, from electing the world's first female president to passing legislation specifically designed to help even the playing field at work and at home? And how can we learn from what Icelanders have already discovered about women's powerful place in society and how increased fairness benefits everyone?Eliza Reid, the First Lady of Iceland, examines her adopted homeland's attitude toward women-the deep-seated cultural sense of fairness, the influence of current and historical role models, and, crucially, the areas where Iceland still has room for improvement. Reid's own experience as an immigrant from small-town Canada who never expected to become a first lady is expertly interwoven with interviews with dozens of sprakkar ("extraordinary women") to form the backbone of an illuminating discussion of what it means to move through the world as a woman, and how the rules of society play more of a role in who we view as "equal" than we may understand. Secrets of the Sprakkar is a powerful and atmospheric portrait of a tiny country that could lead the way forward for us all.

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Prioritizes survivors of abuse by reexamining Christian ideals about suffering and salvation More than half of women and almost one in three of men in the United States have experienced sexual violence at some time in their lives. Yet our Christian tradition has failed survivors of sexual violence, who have been taught to believe that traumatic suffering brings us closer to God. Incarnating Grace attempts to save our broken ways of talking about God’s grace by unearthing liberating resources buried in the Christian tradition. Christian ideas about salvation have historically contributed to sexual violence in our communities by reinforcing the idea that suffering is salvific. But a God worth worshiping does not want human beings to suffer. Drawing on the sixteenth-century Spanish mystic Teresa of Avila as well as contemporary political and feminist theologians, philosophers, and legal scholars, author and Associate Professor of theology Julia Feder offers an account of Christian salvation as mystical-political. Feder begins by describing the breadth of traumatic wounding and the shape of traumatic recovery, as articulated by psychologists. Since the fullness of post-traumatic healing requires reserves deeper than those which can be articulated by the secular field of psychology alone, the book then introduces the Spanish Carmelite Saint Teresa of Avila and her theological insights, which are most helpful for constructing a post-traumatic theology of healing. Arguing that God stands against violence and suffering, the book also examines the notion of “senseless suffering,” a technical term that comes from Edward Schillebeeckx, a Catholic twentieth-century Flemish priest and theologian. The suffering of sexual violence serves no higher purpose or greater human value and pushes against all ways of making sense of the world as good and orderly. In the following chapters, Feder turns to two Christian virtues that animate post-traumatic recovery, courage and hope, and explores how Christian hope can provide a language to empower courageous activity undertaken toward healing. Incarnating Grace opens a new dialogue about salvation and violence that does not allow evil to have the last word.

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Moving and inspired book ... An evocative and deeply affecting requiem for what might have been.' - Douglas Smith, author of Rasputin and Former PeopleA World on Edge reveals Europe in 1918, left in ruins by World War I. But with the end of hostilities, a radical new start seems not only possible, but essential, even unavoidable. Unorthodox ideas light up the age like the comets that have recently passed overhead: new politics, new societies, new art and culture, new thinking. The struggle to determine the future has begun.The sculptor Käthe Kollwitz, whose son died in the war, was translating sorrow and loss into art. Ho Chi Minh was working as a dishwasher in Paris and dreaming of liberating Vietnam, his homeland. Captain Harry S. Truman was running a men’s haberdashery in Kansas City, hardly expecting that he was about to go bankrupt – and later become president of the United States. Professor Moina Michael was about to invent the 'remembrance poppy', a symbol of sacrifice that will stand for generations to come. Meanwhile Virginia Woolf had just published her first book and was questioning whether that sacrifice was worth it, while the artist George Grosz was so revolted by the violence on the streets of Berlin that he decides everything is meaningless. For rulers and revolutionaries, a world of power and privilege was dying – while for others, a dream of overthrowing democracy was being born.With novelistic virtuosity, historian Daniel Schönpflug describes this watershed year as it was experienced on the ground – open ended, unfathomable, its outcome unclear. Told from the vantage points of people, famous and ordinary, good and evil, who lived through the turmoil and combining a multitude of acutely observed details, Schönpflug composes a brilliantly conceived panorama of a world suspended between enthusiasm and disappointment, and of a moment in which the window of opportunity was suddenly open, only to quickly close shut once again.

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'Hay sets a cracking pace... with plenty of twists and a great deal of fun, this is the perfect holiday read' Guardian'Delightfully mischievous' The Times'Punch-the-air good, the Edwardian heist novel you never knew you needed. Flawless, lawless fun' Kiran Millwood Hargrave---UPSTAIRS, MADAM IS PLANNING THE PARTY OF THE SEASON.DOWNSTAIRS, THE SERVANTS ARE PLOTTING THE HEIST OF THE CENTURY.When Mrs King, housekeeper to the most illustrious home in Mayfair, is suddenly dismissed after years of loyal service, she knows just who to recruit to help her take revenge.A black-market queen out to settle her scores. An actress desperate for a magnificent part. A seamstress dreaming of a better life. And Mrs King's predecessor, who has been keeping the dark secrets of Park Lane far too long.Mrs King has an audacious plan in mind, one that will reunite her women in the depths of the house on the night of a magnificent ball - and play out right under the noses of her former employers...THEY COME FROM NOTHING. BUT THEY'LL LEAVE WITH EVERYTHING.---Dazzling, stylish and wildly entertaining, The Housekeepers lets loose an outlandish alliance of women you'll never forget...'A great deal of fun, this is the perfect holiday read' Guardian'Imagine Ocean's 8 had an illegitimate baby with Fingersmith - a big fat diamond of a book' Erin Kelly'Kept me hooked 'til the last page. The strong, determined and memorable female characters pull you into their web of intrigue' Jennifer Saint'This Edwardian heist story is such a fun read!' Good Housekeeping'Prepare to grow hungrier for justice with every page you turn' Nina de Gramont, bestselling author of The Christie Affair'A page-turning delight from beginning to end' Red'Fun, fast-paced and totally immersive, The Housekeepers is a rare jewel worth coveting' Emma Stonex'Hell hath no fury like a housekeeper scorned . . . this novel is unputdownable' House Beautiful

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In this prequel to the NO. 1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING phenomenon of TIKTOK fame, They Both Die at the End, two new strangers spend a life-changing day together after Death-Cast make their first fateful calls. ‘If They Both Die at the End broke your heart and put it back together again, be prepared for this novel to do the same. A tender, sad, hopeful and youthful story that deserves as much love as its predecessor.’ Culturefly '[A] heart-pounding story [full] of emotion and suspense.' Kirkus 'An extraordinary book with a riveting plot.' BooklistMeet Orion and Valentino. It’s the night before Death-Cast goes live, and there’s one question on everyone’s mind: Can Death-Cast actually predict death, or is it an elaborate hoax? Orion Pagan has waited years for someone to tell him that he’s going to die, given his serious heart condition. Valentino Prince has a long and promising future ahead of him and only registered for Death-Cast after his twin sister nearly died in a car accident. Orion and Valentino cross paths in Times Square and immediately feel a deep connection. But when the first End Day calls go out, their lives are changed for ever – one of them receives a call . . . the other doesn’t. Told with acclaimed author Adam Silvera’s signature bittersweet touch, this story celebrates the lasting impact that people have on each other and proves that life is always worth living to the fullest. PRAISE FOR ADAM SILVERA: 'There isn't a teenager alive who won't find their heart described perfectly on these pages.' Patrick Ness, author of The Knife of Never Letting Go 'Adam Silvera is a master at capturing the infinite small heartbreaks of love and loss and grief.' Nicola Yoon, author of Everything, Everything 'A phenomenal talent.' Juno Dawson, author of Clean and Wonderland 'Bold and haunting.' Lauren Oliver, author of Delirium

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It’s bad enough bein’ stuck with a kid without ‘avin’ you ‘anging round’ me neck. The ‘ole street’s laughin’ be’ind yer back. Described by Edward Bond as 'almost irresponsibly optimistic', Saved is a play set in London in the sixties amidst the cultural poverty and frustration of a generation of young people on the dole and living on council estates. The play opens on Len and Pam preparing to have sex and asking each other their names. Pam’s parents are deadlocked in a stultified, silent marriage. Len stays with the family as a lodger despite being rejected by Pam, in order to keep an eye on her neglected baby. Pam leaves the baby with Frank, whom she claims is its father, leading to one of modern theatre’s most shocking scenes. Saved's atmosphere of domestic bleakness ultimately cracks to reveal an underlying animalistic brutality, then settles back again, with an alarming glimpse of how little human life seems to be worth. It quickly became a notorious play and has since had a profound influence on a whole new generation of writers who emerged after it. The play was first staged privately in November 1965 at the Royal Court Theatre for members of the English Stage Society at a time when plays were still censored. Bond’s refusal to alter its scenes in response to the censor’s demands meant it played a fundamental role in the successful campaign to repeal the laws governing censorship of plays. Methuen Drama’s iconic Modern Plays series began in 1959 with the publication of Shelagh Delaney’s A Taste of Honey and has grown across six decades to now include more than 1000 plays by some of the best writers from around the world. This new special edition hardback of Saved was published to celebrate 60 years of Methuen Drama’s Modern Plays in 2019, chosen by a public vote and features a brand new foreword by Simon Stephens.

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Asking is more than a skill—it's a lifestyle The Ask is your personal manual for building the best, most fulfilling personal and professional life possible. Crafting the perfect ask can fund your new business, support your favorite charity, and get more quality time with your significant other—but it can do so much more than that. It can change your life. In learning how to ask for what you really want and deserve, you lose your fear of rejection and judgement. You create the greatest sense of self-worth that no one can give you, you give it to yourself when you ask. The critical moment is when you turn your skills inward and make the hardest asks, the ones you ask yourself. This book is designed to make you an Exceptional Asker, and in the process, give you the confidence and skills you need to achieve all your goals and realize your dreams. You'll learn how to prepare, what words to use, what to avoid, and how to follow up, and you'll purge the natural hesitancy that has been holding you back for so long. Asking is about empowerment. It shows the world that what you want matters. It defines who you are, where you're going, and who will be by your side. This book provides over 175 sample asks, with clear actionable steps to help you claim your space in relationships, at work, and in the world. Rewrite your own rulebook and find empowerment in asking Learn the simple five steps to craft the perfect ask Discover the secret of the ask – it's two sentences and a question Remove your Money Blockers and turn a bad ask into a win Conquer the hardest asks you'll ever make—the ones you ask yourself Mastering the art of the ask reconfigures your approach to life, and changes the way you tackle challenges and goals. The Ask gives you the skills—and the mindset—you need to accomplish anything you can dream.

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25 Steps to Found and Scale a High-Growth Business The Startup Checklist is the entrepreneur's essential companion. While most entrepreneurship books focus on strategy, this invaluable guide provides the concrete steps that will get your new business off to a strong start. You'll learn the ins and outs of startup execution, management, legal issues, and practical processes throughout the launch and growth phases, and how to avoid the critical missteps that threaten the foundation of your business. Instead of simply referring you to experts, this discussion shows you exactly which experts you need, what exactly you need them to do, and which tools you will use to support them—and you'll gain enough insight to ask smart questions that help you get your money's worth. If you're ready to do big things, this book has you covered from the first business card to the eventual exit. Over two thirds of startups are built on creaky foundations, and over two thirds of startup costs go directly toward cleaning up legal and practical problems caused by an incomplete or improper start. This book helps you sidestep the messy and expensive clean up process by giving you the specific actions you need to take right from the very beginning. Understand the critical intricacies of legally incorporating and running a startup Learn which experts you need, and what exactly you need from them Make more intelligent decisions independent of your advisors Avoid the challenges that threaten to derail great young companies The typical American startup costs over $30,000 and requires working with over two dozen professionals and service providers before it even opens for business—and the process is so complex that few founders do it correctly. Their startups errors often go unnoticed until the founder tries to seek outside capital, at which point they can cost thousands of dollars to fix. . . or even completely derail an investment. The Startup Checklist helps you avoid these problems and lay a strong foundation, so you can focus on building your business.

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Rediscover kindness and rediscover your worth Have you ever helped someone out of instinct, because not helping never even occurred to you? Remember how surprised you were at their gratitude? It is easy to feel like kindness and gratitude are becoming rare in the world today, but the truth is that it is all around you — you just need to learn how to see it. Kindness shows you how to do just that, and inspires you to take part with tips, ideas, recommendations and advice. You will learn to see yourself and your surroundings in a kinder, happier way. Kindness is not people-pleasing; people-pleasing comes from a place of anxiety, while kindness is borne out of empathy. Kindness expects no reward or recognition, and is just as beneficial to the giver as the receiver. Kindness can be a grand gesture, or something as simple as a smile. It can be quiet or loud, simple or complex. This book helps you internalise the fundamental truth that kindness does not require wealth or possessions, or material giving at all — whatever you have to offer is enough, and it may just change someone’s life. Learn how to: See the silver lining and take care of yourself in difficult times. Do and say kind things when you're not feeling very kindly. Sustain the warm feelings that come from helping others. Express kindness even when other people are rude or critical. Enjoy self-care and treating yourself. Opportunities to be kind present themselves every day, and here you’ll learn how to notice them. Your self-esteem and confidence will grow as you discover the pure joy of helping others, and you’ll feel more comfortable allowing others to help you. In a world where kindness seems to get lost in the shuffle of worry, anxiety, aggression and worse, Kindness shows you how to bring it back into the light.

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“This is a book about what it would mean to be a bit moody in the midst of being theological and political. Its framing assumption is that neoliberal economics relies on narratives in which not being in the right mood means a cursed existence.” So begins Grave Attending: A Political Theology for the Unredeemed, which mounts a challenge to neoliberal narratives of redemption. Mapping the contemporary state of political theology, Karen Bray brings it to bear upon secularism, Marxist thought, affect theory, queer temporality, and other critical modes as a way to refuse separating one’s personal mood from the political or philosophical. Introducing the concept of bipolar time, she offers a critique of neoliberal temporality by countering capitalist priorities of efficiency through the experiences of mania and depression. And it is here Bray makes her crucial critical turn, one that values the power of those who are unredeemed in the eyes of liberal democracy—those too slow, too mad, too depressed to be of productive worth—suggesting forms of utopia in the poetics of crip theory and ordinary habit. Through performances of what she calls grave attending—being brought down by the gravity of what is and listening to the ghosts of what might have been—Bray asks readers to choose collective care over individual overcoming. Grave Attending brings critical questions of embodiment, history, and power to the fields of political theology, radical theology, secular theology, and the continental philosophy of religion. Scholars interested in addressing the lack of intersectional engagement within these fields will find this work invaluable. As the forces of neoliberalism demand we be productive, efficient, happy, and flexible in order to be deemed worthy subjects, Grave Attending offers another model for living politically, emotionally, and theologically. Instead of submitting to such a market-driven concept of salvation, this book insists that we remain mad, moody, and unredeemed. Drawing on theories of affect, temporality, disability, queerness, work, and race, Bray persuades us that embodying more just forms of sociality comes not in spite of irredeemable moods, but through them.

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China’s dramatic transformation over the past fifteen years has drawn its share of attention and fear from the global community and world leaders. Far from the inward-looking days of the Cultural Revolution, modern China today is the world’s fourth largest economy, with a net product larger than that of France and the United Kingdom. And China’s dynamism is by no means limited to its economy: enrollments in secondary and higher education are rapidly expanding, and new means of communication are vastly increasing information available to the Chinese public. In two decades, the Chinese government has also transformed its foreign relations—Beijing is now consulted on virtually every key development within the region. However, the Communist Party of China still dominates all aspects of political life. The Politburo is still self-selecting, Beijing chooses province governors, censorship is widespread, and treatment of dissidents remains harsh. In China, leading experts provide an overview of the region, highlighting key issues as they developed in the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Edited with an introduction by David B. H. Denoon, an authority on China, this volume of articles covers recent events and key issues in understanding this growing superpower. Organized into three thematic sections—foreign policy and national security, economic policy and social issues, and domestic politics and governance—the essays cover salient topics such as China's military power, de-communization, growing economic strength, nationalism, and the possibility for democracy. The volume also contains current maps as well as a “Recent Chronology of Events” which provides a decade's worth of information on the region, organized by year and by country. Contributors: Liu Binyan, David B.H. Denoon, Bruce J. Dickson, June Teufel Dreyer, Michael Dutton, Elizabeth Economy, Barry Eichengreen, Edward Friedman, Dru C. Gladney, Paul H. B. Godwin, Merle Goldman, Richard Madsen, Barry Naughton, Lucian W. Pye, Tony Saich, David Shambaugh, Robert Sutter, Michael D. Swaine, and Tyrene White.

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Chen Hongmou (1696-1771) was arguably the most influential Chinese official of the eighteenth century and unquestionably its most celebrated field administrator. He served as governor-general, governor, or in lesser provincial-level posts in more than a dozen provinces, achieving after his death cult status as a “model official.” In this magisterial study, the author draws on Chen’s life and career to answer a range of questions: What did mid-Qing bureaucrats think they were doing? How did they conceive the universe and their society, what did they see as their potential to “save the world,” and what would the world, properly saved, be like? The answers to these questions are important not only because vast numbers of people were subject to these officials’ governance, but because the verdict of their successors was that they did their jobs remarkably well and should be emulated. Three persistent tensions in elite consciousness focus the author’s investigation. First, the elite adhered to the fundamentalist moral dictates of Song neo-Confucian orthodoxy at the same time that a new valuation of pragmatic, technocratic prowess abhorrent to the moral tradition emerged. Second, two contradictory views on the use of “statecraft” to achieve an ordered world were in play—one that favored the expansive use of the state apparatus, and one that emphasized indigenous local elites and communities. Finally, the subordination of human beings to the service of hierarchical social groupings contended with a growing appreciation of the dignity, moral worth, and productive potential of the individual. The author uses a holistic approach, attempting, for example, to explore how notions regarding gender roles and funerary ritual related to Qing economic thought, how the encounter with other cultures on the expanding frontiers helped form ideas of “civilized” conduct at home, and how an official’s negotiation of the complex Qing bureaucracy affected his approach to social policy. The author also considers how attitudes formed during the prosperous and highly dynamic eighteenth century conditioned China’s responses to the crises it confronted in the centuries to follow.

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"The Blackout Book Club is a fabulous novel that will warm the hearts of readers everywhere. Amy Lynn Green gives us a poignant look at life on the home front during WWII and how comfort and camaraderie can be found in the shared love of books. This will be a wonderful book club read!"--MADELINE MARTIN, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London In 1942, an impulsive promise to her brother before he goes off to the European front puts Avis Montgomery in the unlikely position of head librarian in small-town Maine. Though she has never been much of a reader, when wartime needs threaten to close the library, she invents a book club to keep its doors open. The women she convinces to attend the first meeting couldn't be more different--a wealthy spinster determined to aid the war effort, an exhausted mother looking for a fresh start, and a determined young war worker. At first, the struggles of the home front are all the club members have in common, but over time, the books they choose become more than an escape from the hardships of life and the fear of the U-boat battles that rage just past their shores. As the women face personal challenges and band together in the face of danger, they find they have more in common than they think. But when their growing friendships are tested by secrets of the past and present, they must decide whether depending on each other is worth the cost. Includes a book club discussion guide and The Blackout Book Club book list "A salute to the power of books and of friendship!"--SARAH SUNDIN, bestselling and award-winning author of Until Leaves Fall in Paris "The Blackout Book Club is an engaging story that illustrates the power of books to unite and encourage us in trying times. . . . A wonderful read."--LYNN AUSTIN, author of Long Way Home

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Vivian Walker is dying. This is not on her list of things to do. A darkly funny debut that proves even the most imperfect of lives is worth celebrating.'A heartbreakingly funny, unflinching, unforgettable debut. I just loved Vivian Walker!' LIANE MORIARTY'Will make you laugh, cry and realise that even the most ordinary life is full of extraordinary moments' MAMAMIAVivian Walker's life is exceptionally ordinary. Average husband, check. Darling son, check. Refrigerator in a state of permanent disarray, check. Everything is thoroughly and frustratingly routine, even being terminally ill.In preparation for D-day, Viv has made a list of essential things to do. She doesn't expect to become spiritually enlightened or have any outlandish last-minute successes. All she wants is to finish her unfinished business.The Very Last List of Vivian Walker will make you want to embrace humanity in all its selfishness, beauty and awkwardness.'This novel has humour and pathos in spades - I laughed and cried' THE SATURDAY PAPER'Compelling. Beautifully relatable. A touching story' BOOKS+PUBLISHING'Darkly funny and will leave you uplifted. Megan Albany blends the tragedy with the humorous' WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN'A fun take on a tough topic' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY'A fun read that gets to the meaning of life through death' SARAH L'ESTRANGE, ABC'Remarkably talented' WHO'Funny and heart-breaking in equal measure, a skilfully wrought study of the difficult art of dying in our society' LIVING ARTS CANBERRA'I cried reading this debut novel. I also laughed and despaired . . . the type of novel that you'll read quickly and that will compel you to find your family and hold them tight' READINGS'An abundance of humour, spirit and profundity . . . an accomplished debut' BETTER READING'Uplifting and impactful' BETTER HOMES & GARDENS'Megan Albany has written a novel that is funny, real, and never glib; it is clear she loves all her characters' QUEENSLAND REVIEWERS COLLECTIVE

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A professional's guide to the world of hedge fund investing Throughout the financial crisis of 2008, many hedge funds suffered massive losses and were often blamed for the extreme market upheavals. In the wake f the crisis, hedge funds remain a source of fascination for the media, legislators, and investors, mostly due to misunderstanding. Historically portrayed as risky investment funds for the very wealthy run by swashbuckling traders, the truth is hedge funds are simply an investment vehicle designed to generate superior returns and reduce an investor's overall portfolio risk. Investors have good reasons to remain fascinated with hedge funds. Although many individual funds have underperformed or collapsed, hedge funds as a whole have provided solid returns while reducing risks. Savvy institutions have invested in hedge funds for many years and have made them a large and powerful force in the markets. Investing in hedge funds requires sophisticated knowledge, understanding, skill, access, and experience. Individuals and institutions, whether they are new to hedge funds or need to improve, can find those attributes in the stories of the successful hedge fund investors profiled in Hedge Fund Investors. Hedge Fund Investors chronicles the challenges and rewards these investors face, in selecting hedge fund managers, managing risks, and constructing portfolios. In revealing conversations, leading hedge fund investors who place hundreds of billions of dollars in hedge funds, share their philosophies, strategies, and advice. Profiles a variety of different investors from the pioneers in hedge fund investing to managers for high net-worth individuals and fund of funds investors Discusses winners and losers in the recent market decline, problematic hedge fund strategies, and how these current events will change future strategies Provides lessons, insights, and advice beneficial to all hedge fund investors Engaging and informative, Hedge Fund Investors will prove valuable to anyone involved in placing money with hedge funds, as well as hedge funds who seek to better understand their clients.

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'A stunning debut . . . I loved every page' CLARE MACKINTOSH'I loved this book. Its witchy, and sweaty and unputdownable. It takes a traditional thriller structure and turns it on it's head' DAISY JOHNSON'Refreshing, heartbreaking and magical . . . Every mother should read this' CATH WEEKS'A riveting and utterly convincing story, that shines a light on the shadows between right and wrong. A sensitive and thought-provoking into the lives of women' KIRAN MILLWARD HARGRAVE'Fascinating. Enlightening. Sobering.' OXFORD TIMES'Hard to believe it's a debut . . . utterly compelling' JENNY BLACKHURST'Fiction that navigates issues not often showcased on the page with care and without judgement is something to savour. One More Chance does just that' SKINNY'Gritty . . . Brutally honest. Emotionally powerful' MY WEEKLY***THE BATTLE ON THE INSIDE IS JUST THE BEGINNINGDani hasn't had an easy life. She's made some bad choices and now she's paying the ultimate price; prison.With her young daughter Bethany, growing up in foster care, Dani is determined to be free and reunited with her. There's only one problem; Dani can't stay out of trouble.Dani's new cellmate Martha is quiet and unassuming. There's something about her that doesn't add up. When Martha offers Dani one last chance at freedom, she doesn't hesitate.Everything she wants is on the outside, but Dani is stuck on the inside. Is it possible to break out when everyone is trying to keep you in . . .***What readers are sayingA brilliant insight into the life of a prisoner told in such a clever and sympathetic way. . . that will have you gripped to the very end.A fantastic read. 5*****The story was . . . refreshingly different from anything l have read before. Well worth reading. A gritty, honest read. Really enjoyed it!Just couldn't put it downA brilliant engrossing story and I can't wait to read more by Lucy AyrtonI loved this book. I loved the plot and the story arc. I loved Danni.

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Artists today are at a crossroads. With funding for the arts and humanities endowments perpetually under attack, and school districts all over the United States scrapping their art curricula altogether, the place of the arts in our civic future is uncertain to say the least. At the same time, faced with the problems of the modern world—from water shortages and grave health concerns to global climate change and the now constant threat of terrorism—one might question the urgency of this waning support for the arts. In the politically fraught world we live in, is the “felt” experience even something worth fighting for? In this soul-searching collection of vignettes, Patrick Summers gives us an adamant, impassioned affirmative. Art, he argues, nurtures freedom of thought, and is more necessary now than ever before. As artistic director of the Houston Grand Opera, Summers is well positioned to take stock of the limitations of the professional arts world—a world where the conversation revolves almost entirely around financial questions and whose reputation tends toward elitism—and to remind us of art’s fundamental relationship to joy and meaning. Offering a vehement defense of long-form arts in a world with a short attention span, Summers argues that art is spiritual, and that music in particular has the ability to ask spiritual questions, to inspire cathartic pathos, and to express spiritual truths. Summers guides us through his personal encounters with art and music in disparate places, from Houston’s Rothko Chapel to a music classroom in rural China, and reflects on musical works he has conducted all over the world. Assessing the growing canon of new operas performed in American opera houses today, he calls for musical artists to be innovative and brave as opera continues to reinvent itself. This book is a moving credo elucidating Summers’s belief that the arts, especially music, help us to understand our own humanity as intellectual, aesthetic, and ultimately spiritual.

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Clayton M. Christensen, the author of such business classics as The Innovator’s Dilemma and the New York Times bestseller How Will You Measure Your Life, and co-authors Efosa Ojomo and Karen Dillon reveal why so many investments in economic development fail to generate sustainable prosperity, and offers a groundbreaking solution for true and lasting change.Global poverty is one of the world’s most vexing problems. For decades, we’ve assumed smart, well-intentioned people will eventually be able to change the economic trajectory of poor countries. From education to healthcare, infrastructure to eradicating corruption, too many solutions rely on trial and error. Essentially, the plan is often to identify areas that need help, flood them with resources, and hope to see change over time.But hope is not an effective strategy.Clayton M. Christensen and his co-authors reveal a paradox at the heart of our approach to solving poverty. While noble, our current solutions are not producing consistent results, and in some cases, have exacerbated the problem. At least twenty countries that have received billions of dollars’ worth of aid are poorer now.Applying the rigorous and theory-driven analysis he is known for, Christensen suggests a better way. The right kind of innovation not only builds companies—but also builds countries. The Prosperity Paradox identifies the limits of common economic development models, which tend to be top-down efforts, and offers a new framework for economic growth based on entrepreneurship and market-creating innovation. Christensen, Ojomo, and Dillon use successful examples from America’s own economic development, including Ford, Eastman Kodak, and Singer Sewing Machines, and shows how similar models have worked in other regions such as Japan, South Korea, Nigeria, Rwanda, India, Argentina, and Mexico.The ideas in this book will help companies desperate for real, long-term growth see actual, sustainable progress where they’ve failed before. But The Prosperity Paradox is more than a business book; it is a call to action for anyone who wants a fresh take for making the world a better and more prosperous place.

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Frommer’s books aren’t written by committee, by A.I., or by travel writers who simply pop in briefly to a destination and then consider the job done. We use seasoned, locally-based journalists like Deborah Collcutt, Katie Featherstone, Samantha Priestley, Simon Willmore, and Donald Strachan, plus part-time residents like Jason Cochran and Stephen Brewer because they are all real experts. The seven of them spent months checking out all of England’s and Scotland’s best hotels, attractions, shops, wineries, and restaurants in person, so they could offer authoritative, candid reviews that will help you find the venues that suit your tastes and budget. In short, use this book and you’ll be eating in the places most tourists don’t know about, visiting top attractions at times when the crowds are at their thinnest, and patronizing the bars and clubs Brits and Scots hold dear. Inside the guide: Full-color photos and helpful maps, including a detachable foldout map Detailed itineraries for planning your trip to suit your schedule and interests (and help you avoid lines and crowds) Candid reviews of the best restaurants, historic sights, museums, tours, shops, and experiences―and no-punches-pulled info on the ones not worth your time and money Accurate, up-to-date info on transportation, useful websites, telephone numbers, and more Compelling cultural information so that you’ll better understand the history, cuisine, and traditions of both Britain and Scotland Budget-planning help with the lowdown on prices and ways to save money, whether you’re traveling on a shoestring or in the lap of luxury About Frommer's: There’s a reason Frommer’s has been the most trusted name in travel for more than 65 years. Arthur Frommer created the best-selling guide series in 1957 to help American servicemen fulfill their dreams of travel in Europe, and since then, we have published thousands of titles, become a household name, and helped millions upon millions of people realize their own dreams of seeing our planet. Travel is easy with Frommer’s.

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'Hay sets a cracking pace... with plenty of twists and a great deal of fun, this is the perfect holiday read' Guardian'Delightfully mischievous' The Times'Punch-the-air good, the Edwardian heist novel you never knew you needed. Flawless, lawless fun' Kiran Millwood Hargrave---UPSTAIRS, MADAM IS PLANNING THE PARTY OF THE SEASON.DOWNSTAIRS, THE SERVANTS ARE PLOTTING THE HEIST OF THE CENTURY.When Mrs King, housekeeper to the most illustrious home in Mayfair, is suddenly dismissed after years of loyal service, she knows just who to recruit to help her take revenge.A black-market queen out to settle her scores. An actress desperate for a magnificent part. A seamstress dreaming of a better life. And Mrs King's predecessor, who has been keeping the dark secrets of Park Lane far too long.Mrs King has an audacious plan in mind, one that will reunite her women in the depths of the house on the night of a magnificent ball - and play out right under the noses of her former employers...THEY COME FROM NOTHING. BUT THEY'LL LEAVE WITH EVERYTHING.---Dazzling, stylish and wildly entertaining, The Housekeepers lets loose an outlandish alliance of women you'll never forget...'A great deal of fun, this is the perfect holiday read' Guardian'Imagine Ocean's 8 had an illegitimate baby with Fingersmith - a big fat diamond of a book' Erin Kelly'Kept me hooked 'til the last page. The strong, determined and memorable female characters pull you into their web of intrigue' Jennifer Saint'This Edwardian heist story is such a fun read!' Good Housekeeping'Prepare to grow hungrier for justice with every page you turn' Nina de Gramont, bestselling author of The Christie Affair'A page-turning delight from beginning to end' Red'Fun, fast-paced and totally immersive, The Housekeepers is a rare jewel worth coveting' Emma Stonex'Hell hath no fury like a housekeeper scorned . . . this novel is unputdownable' House Beautiful

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'A fantastic debut - an edge of the seat thriller that keeps you turning the pages' Patrice Lawrence, award-winning author of Eight Pieces of SilvaAn abandoned prison. A deadly game. How far would you go for a dare?Nia would do anything to win the approval of her boyfriend Scott and his friends, especially mean girl Olivia. When Olivia dares Nia to explore an abandoned prison, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to prove herself. Facing dark tunnels, distant noises and creepy mementoes left behind by incarcerated criminals will surely all be worth it.But it isn't long before Nia and her little sister, Kayla, find themselves trapped inside. And then Kayla vanishes. Suddenly, this feels like more than a game gone wrong. Someone is hellbent on making Nia and Kayla the prison's last inmates . . . An utterly compelling, terrifying thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat, from remarkable new author Tess James-Mackey.PRAISE FOR SOMEONE IS WATCHING YOU'I held my breath from the first page. Tightly plotted with a main character to root for, this is tense and immersive addition to the YA thriller genre' Cynthia Murphy, author of Last One to Die'A genuinely chilling horror and a brilliantly layered tale of toxic friendship, Someone Is Watching You is not only frightening but moving too . . .' Amy Beashel, author of We Are All Constellations'I flew through this in one sitting . . . Don't plan for a good night's sleep after this' Ravena Guron, author of This Book Kills'Tess storms on to the YA scene with a relentless thriller full of genuine jump-scares and spine-tingling chills. I couldn't put it down!' Kesia Lupo, author of We Are Blood and Thunder'I tore through this book in a state of breathless excitement. Tess James-Mackey traps you in a tense and twisty tale that won't let you go, even after the final page' Jenny Pearson, author of The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates

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IF YOU'RE HOOKED ON THE TRAITORS, YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS A GAME OF LIES... THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING THRILLER AND NO.1 KINDLE BESTSELLERThey say the camera never lies.But on this show, you can't trust anything you see.Stranded in the Welsh mountains, seven reality show contestants have no idea what they've signed up for. Each of these strangers has a secret. If another player can guess the truth, they won't just be eliminated - they'll be exposed live on air. The stakes are higher than they'd ever imagined, and they're trapped.The disappearance of a contestant wasn't supposed to be part of the drama. Detective Ffion Morgan has to put aside what she's watched on screen, and find out who these people really are - knowing she can't trust any of them.And when a murderer strikes, Ffion knows every one of her suspects has an alibi . . . and a secret worth killing for.'Twisty and clever. Another deeply enjoyable mystery from a talented storyteller' KARIN SLAUGHTER'Great fun - clever plot, engaging characters and smart, sharp writing' SHARI LAPENA'A brilliantly plotted whodunnit' SARAH PEARSE'Fearless, fiery and funny DC Ffion Morgan is fast becoming my new favourite cop' T.M. LOGAN'Dark, devilish, witty and wonderful. Filled with humour and heart' CHRIS WHITAKER'Packed with suspects, twists and turns, A Game of Lies is Clare Mackintosh at her best' ALEX MICHAELIDES'Wickedly fun and smartly plotted - a joy from beginning to end' LUCY CLARKE'A clever plot, a glorious setting, engaging characters and buckets of tension' BA PARIS'A taut whodunnit that will keep you guessing' JANE FALLON'Superbly plotted and written, but the characters set this above most crime series' JO CALLAGHAN'Ffion is the sparky bilingual cop you didn't know you needed . . . Another hit!' LIZ NUGENTIf you love A Game of Lies, don't miss Ffion Morgan in The Last Party - available now!A Game of Lies was a Top 10 Sunday Times bestseller on 30.07.2023 and Kindle No.1 bestseller on 16.09.23

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“Riveting, essential reading.” —Rick Perlstein, author of ReaganlandThe definitive biography of Vince McMahon, former WWE chairman and CEO, charts his rise from rural poverty to the throne of one of the world’s most influential media empires—and features never-before-seen research and exclusive interviews with more than 150 people who witnessed, aided, and suffered from his ascent. Even if you’ve never watched a minute of professional wrestling, you are living in Vince McMahon’s world. In his four decades as the defining figure of American pro wrestling, McMahon was the man behind Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, John Cena, Dave Bautista, Bret “The Hitman” Hart, and Hulk Hogan, to name just a few of the mega-stars who owe him their careers. For more than twenty-five years, he has also been a performer in his own show, acting as the diabolical “Mr. McMahon”—a figure who may have more in common with the real Vince than he would care to admit. Just as importantly, McMahon is one of Donald Trump’s closest friends—and Trump’s experiences as a performer in McMahon’s programming were, in many ways, a dress rehearsal for the 45th President’s campaigns and presidency. McMahon and his wife, Linda, are major Republican donors. Linda was in Trump’s cabinet. McMahon makes deals with the Saudi government worth hundreds of millions of dollars. And for generations of people who have watched wrestling, he has been a defining cultural force. Accessible to anyone, regardless of wrestling knowledge, Ringmaster is an unauthorized, independent, investigative chronicle of Vince McMahon’s origins and rise to supreme power. It is built on exclusive interviews with more than 150 people, from McMahon’s childhood friends to those who accuse him of destroying their lives. Far more than just an athletics or entertainment biography, Ringmaster uses Vince’s story as a new lens for understanding the contemporary American apocalypse.

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A Masterful Author and Jungian Analyst Examines the Qualities That Bring Meaning to Our Human Journey. What is it that brings meaning to your life? Our culture tells us to seek wealth, power, prestige, or even enrollment in someone else's idea of a worthy cause-yet where do we turn when these paths fail to fulfill our need for purpose? "When the old stories and beliefs that once defined us have played out and grown exhausted," teaches Dr. James Hollis, "our task is to access our inner compass, the promptings of the psyche that help us find our way through the complex thickets of choice." A Life of Meaning is Hollis's profound exploration of the nature of meaning and how we can orient toward it or away from it with the choices we make. Hollis offers an examination of myth, literature, historical figures, and the wisdom of depth psychology that provides penetrating insight into the search for purpose. Join him to explore: . How even cherished narratives splinter and lose potency over time . Why dreams are windows into your internalized patterns and base assumptions . How to excavate and understand your earliest, most foundational beliefs . The power of fear and how it shapes unconscious reactions . Recognizing and rising to the occasion of a "summons of the soul" . How to anchor yourself during times of uncertainty and change . Why it's important to be aware of and closely examine your shadow . How to reckon with old feelings of shame, betrayal, resentment, and regret We all have to discover our own sense of meaning. No one else can do it for us. In A Life of Meaning, Hollis offers no easy answers or feel-good certainties-instead, he shares his most valuable questions and reflections to help you find the courage, persistence, and inspiration to navigate your own odyssey. "It's humbling work, this process of getting our lives back," he teaches. "Yet I submit to you that's worth the price of the ticket, for in the journey our lives become ever more luminous."

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Stop chasing sleep and start welcoming rest with these 365 peaceful, nighttime meditations to help you fall back to sleep with ease. Many familiar tales and legends have tended toward the belief that the moon has an impact on us both physically and metaphysically. Legends aside, we learn in school that the moon has control over the ocean’s tides, as well as many other elements and creatures on earth—so why would humans be exempt? The moon is more than its beautiful exterior. As a spiritual entity, it is known to have control over your emotions, mental health, and sleeping habits. With that in mind, Moon Meditations opens the opportunity for you to explore your spiritual connection with Luna. Illustrated with unique and stunning artwork, this book allows you to experience the moon’s full power through nightly meditations and affirmations, proven to help you embrace the rest, relaxation, and restorative sleep every night has to offer. These affirmations can be used daily to promote the power of self-worth and inspire self love, making this the perfect resource to help you tune out any distraction that hinders your rest and tap into the tranquility of the night. An example of the affirmations you will fine throughout Moon Meditations:Your Authenticity Helps Others “Be fearless in embodying your truest expression, even when it means being misunderstood or rejected. Your authenticity not only heals you but also paves the way for others to see their own unique light. Your authentic self is your greatest gift to the world.” Easily implement calm, gratitude, and meditation into your daily habits with the Daily Gratitude series. These inspiring books guide you through the process of building mindful habits for your preferred schedule or personal goals. They are beautifully designed and elegantly put together to make your journey enjoyable as well as simple. Also available from the series: Sunrise Gratitude and Moonlight Gratitude.

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In this prequel to the NO. 1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING phenomenon of TIKTOK fame, They Both Die at the End, two new strangers spend a life-changing day together after Death-Cast make their first fateful calls. ‘If They Both Die at the End broke your heart and put it back together again, be prepared for this novel to do the same. A tender, sad, hopeful and youthful story that deserves as much love as its predecessor.’ Culturefly '[A] heart-pounding story [full] of emotion and suspense.' Kirkus 'An extraordinary book with a riveting plot.' BooklistMeet Orion and Valentino. It’s the night before Death-Cast goes live, and there’s one question on everyone’s mind: Can Death-Cast actually predict death, or is it an elaborate hoax? Orion Pagan has waited years for someone to tell him that he’s going to die, given his serious heart condition. Valentino Prince has a long and promising future ahead of him and only registered for Death-Cast after his twin sister nearly died in a car accident. Orion and Valentino cross paths in Times Square and immediately feel a deep connection. But when the first End Day calls go out, their lives are changed for ever – one of them receives a call . . . the other doesn’t. Told with acclaimed author Adam Silvera’s signature bittersweet touch, this story celebrates the lasting impact that people have on each other and proves that life is always worth living to the fullest. PRAISE FOR ADAM SILVERA: 'There isn't a teenager alive who won't find their heart described perfectly on these pages.' Patrick Ness, author of The Knife of Never Letting Go 'Adam Silvera is a master at capturing the infinite small heartbreaks of love and loss and grief.' Nicola Yoon, author of Everything, Everything 'A phenomenal talent.' Juno Dawson, author of Clean and Wonderland 'Bold and haunting.' Lauren Oliver, author of Delirium

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Marwa al Sabouni was a little-known architect, living in battle-ravaged Homs, unable to practice her profession as the buildings and the lives around her and across Syria were reduced to rubble. Rather than flee her country, like so many of her compatriots, she remained, committed to the belief that the multilayered and multifaceted society she grew up in was worth rebuilding. She turned her fierce intelligence to chronicling how her city and country were undone through decades of architectural mismanagement and mistakes. The result was The Battle for Home. Published in 2016, the book and her story attracted the attention of international news media and received critical acclaim around the world. She became a TED fellow; some suggested she be nominated for architecture’s highest honour, the Pritzker Prize. Until the book was published, al Sabouni had rarely travelled outside of her native country, but The Battle for Home gained her invitations to speak to audiences, institutes and experts across the world. Her travels, combined with her deep understanding of the Middle Eastern heritage and values, provided al Sabouni with insights into a wide range of cities, which informed her views on how cities best work, how they might fail, and what can be done to enrich and harmonize the lives of all their inhabitants. This is a rich journey, drawing together several narratives: her personal observations of some of the world’s most fascinating cities, from Detroit to Helsinki, from Bristol to Amsterdam; the lessons that Western societies might learn from Islamic culture; and philosophical reflections, drawing on a range of thinkers, on how our personal and communal spaces can provide the basic foundations for happiness. Through this rich tapestry of personal experience, unblinking perspective, and unsettling insight, al Sabouni offers the reader real-world solutions – and hope – for how the conditions for enduring peace might be created in an increasingly polarizing world.With 24 illustrations

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A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER“At a time when the meaning of America is up for grabs, Cody Keenan’s new book chronicles ten days that tested us and ultimately showed us at our best. It’s a captivating story about what’s worth fighting for, an antidote to cynicism that will make you believe again.”—President Barack Obama, via TwitterFrom Barack Obama’s chief speechwriter Cody Keenan, a spellbinding account of the ten most dramatic days of the presidency, when a hate-fueled massacre and looming Supreme Court decisions put the character of our country on the line, and a president’s words could bring the nation together or tear it apart.A white supremacist shooting and an astonishing act of forgiveness. A national reckoning with race and the Confederate flag. The fate of marriage equality and the Affordable Care Act. Grace is the propulsive story of ten days in June 2015, when Obama and his chief speechwriter Cody Keenan composed a series of high-stakes speeches to meet a succession of stunning developments.Through behind-the-scenes moments—from Obama’s suggestion that Keenan pour a drink, listen to some Miles Davis, and “find the silences,” to the president’s late-night writing sessions in the First Family’s residence—Keenan takes us inside the craft of speechwriting at the highest level for the most demanding of bosses, the relentlessly poetic and perfectionist Barack Obama. Grace also delivers a fascinating portrait of White House insiders like Ben Rhodes, Valerie Jarrett, Jen Psaki, and the speechwriting team responsible for pulling it all off during a furious, historic stretch of the Obama presidency—including a gifted fact-checker who took Keenan’s rhetoric to task before taking his hand in marriage. Grace is the most intimate writing that exists on the rhetorical tightrope our first Black president had to walk, culminating with an unforgettable high point: Obama stunning everybody by taking a deep breath and leading the country in a chorus of “Amazing Grace.”

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A clinical psychologist’s exploration of the modern dilemmas women face in the wake of new motherhood When Molly Millwood became a mother, she was fully prepared for what she would gain: an adorable baby boy; hard-won mothering skills; and a messy, chaotic, beautiful life. But what she did not expect was what she would lose: aspects of her identity, a baseline level of happiness, a general sense of wellbeing. And though she had the benefit of a supportive husband during this transition, she also at times resented the fact that the disruption to his life seemed to pale in comparison to hers.As a clinical psychologist, Molly knew her experience was a normal response to a life-changing event. But without the advantage of such a perspective, many of the patients she treated in her private practice grappled with self-doubt, guilt, and fear, and suffered the dual pain of not only the struggle to adjust but also the overwhelming shame for struggling at all.In To Have and to Hold, Molly explores the complex terrain of new motherhood, illuminating the ways it affects women psychologically, emotionally, physically, and professionally—as well as how it impacts their partnership. Along with the arrival of a bundle of joy come thorny issues such as self-worth, control, autonomy, and dependency. And for most new mothers, these issues are experienced within the context of an intimate relationship, adding another layer of tension, conflict, and confusion to an already challenging time.As Molly examines the inextricable link between women’s well-being as new mothers and the well-being of their relationships, she offers guidance to help readers reclaim their identities, overcome their guilt and shame, and repair their relationships. A blend of personal narrative, scientific research, and stories from Molly’s clinical practice, To Have and to Hold provides a much-needed lifeline to new mothers everywhere.

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Digital Body Language How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance The book we all read right now: the definitive guide to communicating and connecting wherever you are. Email replies that show up a week later. Video chats full of ‘oops sorry no you go’ and ‘can you hear me?!’ Ambiguous text-messages. Weird punctuation you can’t make heads or tails of. Is it any wonder communication takes us so much time and effort to figure out? How did we lose our innate capacity to understand each other? Humans rely on body language to connect and build trust, but with most of our communication happening from behind a screen, traditional body language signals are no longer visible – or are they? In Digital Body Language, Erica Dhawan, a go-to thought leader on collaboration and a passionate communication junkie, combines cutting edge research with engaging storytelling to decode the new signals and cues that have replaced traditional body language across genders, generations, and culture. In real life, we lean in, uncross our arms, smile, nod and make eye contact to show we listen and care. Online, reading carefully is the new listening. Writing clearly is the new empathy. And a phone or video call is worth a thousand emails. Digital Body Language will turn your daily misunderstandings into a set of collectively understood laws that foster connection, no matter the distance. Dhawan investigates a wide array of exchanges—from large conferences and video meetings to daily emails, texts, IMs, and conference calls—and offers insights and solutions to build trust and clarity to anyone in our ever changing world. "We need Erica Dhawan’s book more than ever." ―Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and founder of Lean In “An indispensable guide to a business world turned upside down by video calls, group texts, and remote work." ―Daniel H. Pink, bestselling author of Drive "This book is a breakthrough that will be read for years to come" ―Seth Godin, author of The Practice

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This is the dramatic story of the ups and downs of a born entrepreneur.Malcolm Walker was born in the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1946. With fellow Woolworth's trainee manager Peter Hinchcliffe, Walker opened a small frozen food shop called Iceland in the Shropshire town of Oswestry in 1970. Iceland became a public company 14 years later, through one of Britain's most successful stock exchange flotations of all time, and by 1999 it had grown into a £2 billion turnover business with 760 stores.In August 2000, Iceland merged with the Booker cash and carry business and Walker announced that he would step down as CEO in March 2001. In preparation for his retirement, he sold half his shares in the company and left for the holiday of a lifetime in the Maldives. However, while he was away the new management of the company slashed profit expectations, plunging Iceland into a £26m loss rather than the £130m profit the City had been expecting. Walker was fired and spent three years under investigation by the authorities before being cleared of any wrongdoing.In Walker's absence, Iceland's sales collapsed as customers deserted the company - and, almost exactly four years after he had left the business, he returned as its boss. His amazing revival of Iceland has seen like-for-like sales grow by more than 50% and the business winning the accolade of Best Big Company To Work For In the UK. In March 2012 Walker led a £1.5bn management buyout of the company and is now personally worth over £200m.The incredible story of Walker's life - which he tells here for the first time - is as dramatic as any you will find in business, and it serves as a model for how, through hard work and intelligent risk-taking, it is possible from a relatively modest upbringing to build a national enterprise and a household name known to millions.

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"Too often, middle school and high school teachers say, ‘These students are lacking number sense.’ These books will help secondary teachers with good pedagogy to help build number sense in a creative way. Eric Milou and John SanGiovanni have created short routines that are teacher-friendly, with lots of examples, and easy to adapt to each teacher’s needs. These are the books that secondary teachers have been waiting for to help engage students in building number sense." Pamela J. Dombrowski, Secondary Math Specialist Geary County School District Junction City, KS Kickstart your high school math class! Do your students need more opportunities do develop number sense and reasoning? Are you looking to get your students energized and talking about mathematics? Have you wondered how practical, replicable, and engaging activities would complement your mathematics instruction? This guide answers the question "What could I do differently?" Taking cues from popular number sense and reasoning routines, this book gives you the rundown on how to engage in five different daily 5–10 minute routines, all of which include content-specific examples, extensions, and variations of each for algebra, functions, geometry, and data analysis. Video demonstrations allow you to see the routines in action and the book includes a year’s worth of daily instructional material that you can use to begin each class period. The routines in this book will help students Frequently revisit essential mathematical concepts Foster and shore up conceptual understanding Engage in mental mathematics, leading to efficiency and fluency Engage in mathematical discourse by constructing viable arguments and critiquing the reasoning of others Reason mathematically, and prepare for high stakes assessments Move learning beyond "correctness" by valuing mistakes and discourse and encouraging a growth mindset From trusted authors and experts Eric Milou and John SanGiovanni, this teacher-friendly resource will give you all the tools and tips you need to reinvent those critical first five or ten minutes of math class for the better!

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*JEWISH CHRONICAL CRITICS' CHOICE: NON-FICTION OF THE YEAR 2022*'A devastatingly affecting book. . . Bunce Court! I keep saying the name to myself because it encapsulates all that is gentle and comically charming about wartime England' The Times 'Emotionally compelling' Observer'All the violence I had experienced before felt like a bad dream. It was a paradise. I think most of the children felt it was a paradise.'In 1933, as Hitler came to power, schoolteacher Anna Essinger hatched a daring and courageous plan: to smuggle her entire school out of Nazi Germany. Anna had read Mein Kampf and knew the terrible danger that Hitler's hate-fuelled ideologies posed to her pupils. She knew that to protect them she had to get her pupils to the safety of England. But the safe haven that Anna struggled to create in a rundown manor house in Kent would test her to the limit. As the news from Europe continued to darken, Anna rescued successive waves of fleeing children and, when war broke out, she and her pupils faced a second exodus. One by one countries fell to the Nazis and before long unspeakable rumours began to circulate. Red Cross messages stopped and parents in occupied Europe vanished. In time, Anna would take in orphans who had given up all hope; the survivors of unimaginable horrors. Anna's school offered these scarred children the love and security they needed to rebuild their lives, showing them that, despite everything, there was still a world worth fighting for.Featuring moving first-hand testimony, and drawn from letters, diaries and present-day interviews, The School That Escaped the Nazis is a dramatic human tale that offers a unique child's-eye perspective on Nazi persecution and the Holocaust. It is also the story of one woman's refusal to allow her beliefs in a better, more equitable world to be overtaken by the evil that surrounded her.

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'A sweet, charming, funny story about finding friendship, finding yourself, and love' Netgalley Reviewer'I was waiting for a book like this!' Netgalley Reviewer***INCLUDED IN THE AFRICA CENTER'S ROUND-UP OF 50 NOTABLE AFRICAN BOOKS OF 2021***___________________________________Zainab Sekyi is on a quest to find herself. . .She's moving to New York City to pursue her lifelong dream to become an illustrator, but she doesn't just want to get a job. She's also on a mission to make enough money to go on a night out, buy a whole bottle of wine (not just a glass) and, most importantly of all, to fall in love.But as she grows accustomed to the hustle and bustle of city life - with the help of her new roommate Mary Grace, and life-long friend, Densua - she begins to hear the voices of her ancestors in her mind. . .Could understanding her family's past hold the key to Zainab's future?A charming romcom about one woman learning to fall in love in one of the most magical cities on earth, Ayesha Harruna Attah's novel is perfect for fans of Uzma Jalaluddin, Kiley Reid and Angela Makholwa.___________________________________Readers love Zainab Takes New York. . .'If you're looking for a cute fun read, here is your next book' Netgalley Reviewer, 5 stars'This was just the most beautiful book, from it's gorgeous cover to the immersive storyline. I haven't read anything quite as engaging as this in recent years!'Netgalley Reviewer, 5 stars'Ayesha has a way of writing that makes it hard to put the book down.'Netgalley Reviewer, 5 stars'This book is filled with so many lessons from incredible characters.'Netgalley Reviewer, 5 stars'Charming'Netgalley Reviewer, 5 stars___________________________________Praise for Ayesha Harruna Attah:'Beautifully written story that stimulates rich mental imagery' ***** Reader Review'Very beautifully written' ***** Reader Review'One of the best books I've read in the last 10 years!' ***** Reader Review'Amazing worth reading' ***** Reader Review'I couldn't put this book down' ***** Reader Review'Thank you for a beautiful story' ***** Reader Review

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'I honestly believe this is one of the best books that I've read this year!' NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐You're not who you say you are. But neither is she. Olive Anderson has accepted that tonight she'll be dining alone, without her husband. So when a beautiful stranger appears at Olive's dinner table, telling the waiter she's her wife, Olive is immediately unsettled. But the stranger wants to talk, and isn't this what Olive wants on this lonely winter night? To vent to a perfect stranger? She's too ashamed to tell her real friends the truth - six months into the marriage they all warned her against, her life is a living nightmare.Perhaps Olive should have asked the fake wife who she's really married to. Perhaps she should have known this chance encounter had something to do with her secretive husband. Because there is a string of missing women connected to Mr Anderson, and by the morning, Olive will be the latest...The Fake Wife is an unputdownable thriller that will shock and surprise you like the best television boxsets. If you enjoyed Netflix shows like Behind Her Eyes, The Stranger and Obsession you will love The Fake Wife.Read what everyone is saying about The Fake Wife:'OMG this latest book by Sharon Bolton is so good, definitely worth reading' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'You'll never guess where this book is going' SAMANTHA DOWNING'I swear the twists and turns you will not see coming!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Totally gripping, with characters who draw you in' JP DELANEY'One thing Sharon Bolton knows how to do is write a compulsive page-turner, and The Fake Wife is just that' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A thriller that had me desperate for answers. I loved it!' HARRIET TYCE'Sharon Bolton has written another cracker! The twists! The tension! The characters!' Reader Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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'Fierce, funny and long overdue - I read this book out loud to anyone who'd listen.' Adam Kay'Toksvig's Almanac is intended merely as a starting point for your own discoveries. Find a fabulous (or infamous) woman mentioned and, please, go looking for more of her story. The names mentioned are merely temptations. Amuse-bouches for the mind, if you like. How I would have loved to have written out in detail each tale there is to be told, but then this book would have been too heavy to lift.'Let Sandi Toksvig guide you on an eclectic meander through the calendar, illuminating neglected corners of history to tell tales of the fascinating figures you didn't learn about at school.From revolutionary women to serial killers, pirate nuns to pioneering civil rights activists, doctors to dancing girls, artists to astronauts, these pages commemorate women from all around the world who were pushed to the margins of historical record. Amuse your bouche with:Belle Star, American Bandit QueenLady Murasaki, author of the world's first novelMadame Ching, the most successful pirate of all timeMaud Wagner, the first female tattoo artistBegum Samru, Indian dancer and ruler who led an army of mercenariesInês de Castro, crowned Queen Consort of Portugal six years after her deathIda B. Wells, activist, suffragist, journalist and co-founder of the NAACPEleanor G. Holm, disqualified from the 1936 Berlin Olympics for drinking too much champagneThese stories are interspersed with helpful tips for the year, such as the month in which one is most likely to be eaten by a wolf, and the best time to sharpen your sickle. Explore a host of annual events worth travelling for, from the Olney Pancake Race in Wiltshire to the Danish Herring Festival, or who would want to miss Serbia's World Testicle Cooking Championship?As witty and entertaining as it is instructive, Toksvig's Almanac is an essential companion to each day of the year.

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Going to university is expensive. It’s an investment of money. It is also a massive leap of faith by everyone connected to your choice. You hope it will be a good experience, but you aren’t sure. You want it to be fair to you and worth the effort, but there are no guarantees. Going to university to study and get a degree or certificate of qualification is as political as it is personal. So beware and be ready! But worry not. You will spend your money wisely for a long-term return. Why? Because there is a game to play, and by picking up this book, you intend to play to win. Playing the University Game shows you the rules of the game, strategies for success on your terms (not those of the university as institution and system) and, most importantly, how to enjoy yourself as a university student, reaping the long-term benefits both during your experience and afterwards. How to win the personal way using political-social knowledge shared with you from inside the university walls. Helen Lees draws on her research and lived experiences of self-care in education, combining this with the voices of established academics, who between them have a wide-ranging and deeply reflective understanding of the university and university student interactions. Helen takes you into the heart of the mechanisms of university life, revealing key moves you need to make to survive and thrive in the game. She shares with you which actions and attitudes matter to win, why winning matters, how you can win without joining a dog-eat-dog competition. Helen empowers you to see why university education is about you and your flourishing, not the graduation prize but nevertheless happily also all about the graduation prize, which really matters. She skills you with the knowledge you need to avoid stress, to enjoy yourself and get true value for money from the educational product you have chosen.

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DISCOVER THE PERFECT SUMMER READ . . . From the author of THE LAST LETTER FROM YOUR LOVER, now a major motion pictureThe Girl You Left Behind is the hauntingly romantic and utterly irresistible weepy from Jojo Moyes, the author of the international bestsellers Me Before You, Still Me and The Giver of Stars.'This won't disappoint. A masterclass in storytelling that fans of Me Before You will adore' Elle___________What happened to the girl you left behind?France, 1916.Sophie Lefevre must keep her family safe whilst her adored husband Edouard fights at the front. But when she is ordered to serve the German officers who descend on her hotel each evening, her home becomes a place of fierce tensions.And from the moment the new Kommandant sets eyes on Sophie's portrait - painted by Edouard - a dangerous obsession is born, which will lead Sophie to make a dark and terrible decision . . .Almost a century later, and Sophie's portrait hangs in the home of Liv Halston, a wedding gift from her young husband before he died. A chance encounter reveals the painting's true worth, and its troubled history.A history that is about to resurface and turn Liv's life upside down all over again . . .In The Girl You Left Behind two young women, separated by a century, are united in their determination to fight for what they love most - whatever the cost.____________'Another heart-stoppingly brilliant novel from Jojo Moyes' Closer'Wonderfully well-written and completely engrossing . . . It will make you think long after you turn the final page' Daily Mail'Quite simply one of the best books I've read' 5* reader review'A truly beautiful book . . . will make you laugh, cry and ignore everyone around you as you won't be able to put it down!' 5* reader review'Beware, once you pick up this book you will not be able to put it down!' 5* reader review

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'One of the best!' Julia Quinn, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton seriesIs love worth the loss of one's freedom and independence? Mrs Tavernor has always firmly believed it is not. When Harry Westcott lost the title Earl of Riverdale after the discovery of his father's bigamy, he shipped off to fight in the Napoleonic Wars, where he was near-fatally wounded. After a harrowing recovery, the once cheery, light-hearted boy has become a reclusive, somber man. Though Harry insists he enjoys the solitude, he does wonder sometimes if he is lonely. Lydia Tavernor, recently widowed, dreams of taking a lover. Her marriage to Reverend Isaiah Tavernor was one of service and obedience, and she has secretly enjoyed her freedom since his death. She doesn't want to shackle herself to another man in marriage, but sometimes, she wonders if she is lonely.? Both are unwilling to face the truth until they find themselves alone together one night, and Lydia surprises even herself with a simple question: 'Are you ever lonely?' Harry's answer leads them down a path neither could ever have imagined . . .This is the next sparkling novel in the Regency romance Westcott series by New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh - perfect for fans of Grace Burrowes and Stephanie Laurens.The Westcott Series:Someone to LoveSomeone to HoldSomeone to WedSomeone to CareSomeone to TrustSomeone to HonourSomeone to RememberSomeone to RomanceSomeone to CherishPraise for Mary Balogh 'A grand mistress of the genre' Romantic Times'Balogh is the queen of spicy Regency-era romance, creating memorable characters in unforgettable stories' Booklist'Mary Balogh sets the gold standard in historical romance' New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz'A romance writer of mesmerising intensity, Mary Balogh has the gift of making a relationship seem utterly real and utterly compelling' Mary Jo Putney

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'A great Australian journalist on a deeply personal assignment: treading bravely, beautifully into the wonder of silence.' TRENT DALTON'I would never think of myself as a silent retreat person but I kind of felt like Jackman went in my place! She writes so thoughtfully and clearly about feelings that are hard to describe - it's very impressive. Writing a book about something essentially ungraspable is a very bold decision, but thanks to her journalistic method and assured style, Jackman has pulled it off. A counterintuitive modern odyssey in which the heroine sets out from a land of deafening overplenty in search of ... less. Beautifully researched.' - ANNABEL CRABBThrough the centuries, wise men and women have sought silence when seeking insight, wisdom and creative inspiration. Is neuroscience now beginning to catch up, to deliver proof that the mystics, monks and medicine men were onto something?Turning Down the Noise explores, through Christine Jackman's own quest for a better way of being, what is happening to our brains, to our lives and our communities as our world becomes noisier than ever before. More importantly, it asks whether we can reverse the damage through simple daily acts designed to strip out the stimuli and reclaim the silence. Our children have a plethora of devices and technology available to them, but increasingly are distracted, irritable and struggling to learn. The modern search for a better sense of wellbeing has fuelled an industry worth billions of dollars but at the same time the use of anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications continue to skyrocket. In the vein of Leigh Sales' Any Ordinary Day (BS 103k copies), this is real-life working mum and respected journalist Christine Jackman's personal quest for a better way of being. Seeking ways to channel and capture the clarity and peace of mind so often lacking in our lives, she writes with a lightness of touch, sharing her own experiences and digging into her subject with the zeal of an investigative journalist with an enquiring mind.

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A defining reference work whose engaging narrative brings southern Italy’s Middle Ages to life. This is the first major history written in English about the Kingdom of Sicily under its Hauteville and Hohenstaufen dynasties in the High Middle Ages. Encompassing the island of Sicily and most of the Italian peninsula south of Rome, this multicultural society of Muslims, Jews, and Christians East and West, was a nexus where the civilizations of feudal Europe, Byzantine Asia, and Fatimid Africa flourished in synergy into the 13th century.Unlike most histories of the kingdom, this one brings the reader much information about social culture, such as the language and cuisine that emerged from this eclectic era to influence southern Italy and its people in ways still seen today. There are revealing chapters on the language popularized before Italian, and the culinary milieu that gave us spaghetti and lasagne.Women are never overlooked. Among them are Margaret of Navarre, regent for five years, Trota of Salerno, author of a medical treatise, Nina of Messina, the first woman known to compose poetry in an Italian tongue, and the unnamed Bint Muhammad ibn Abbad, who led a rebellion alongside her father.This long-awaited book presents an essential chronological history supplemented by concise sections on topics such as phylogeography, coinage, and heraldry, with dozens of maps and genealogical tables. It has hundreds of endnotes, a lengthy bibliography, a timeline, and appendices on regalia, the kingdom's first legal code, the coronation rite, the longest poem of the Sicilian School, and historiography. A long introduction explores sources, ethnic identity, historical views, and research methods, candidly dispelling a few myths.This hefty volume has something for everybody. It's a fine addition to library collections and a useful reference for students, while its lively narrative makes it an engaging read for anybody curious about this time and place. Those having roots in southern Italy will discover the origins of their ancestral culture, the ethnogenesis that led to what exists today.This long glimpse of a singular society was worth the wait.

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Blob the fish is excited that he has just won the ugliest animal in the world contest! But the popularity and fame that accompany Blob's win soon go to his head. And the loneliness of his new title goes to his heart. And of course, fame never lasts forever. "An irreverent and insightful modern fable about beauty, ugliness, the paths to acceptance, and how admiration hijacks our sense of self. ... The illustrations by Tallec lend the humorous story a lovely dimension of tenderness. Blob comes alive as a sensitive creature of contradictions—full of determination yet easily given to dejection, a living fable of ego and insecurity, easy to fault but also easy to love. ... Under Tallec’s subtle brush, we see a difficult realization dawn on Blob—privilege is bestowed largely by chance and little of actual substance separates the most fortunate from the least fortunate. There is something charmingly subversive about the very premise, as paradoxical as the idea of trying to fail at failure. There is also something profound in the questions it raises about our civilizational fascination with beauty and its counterpoint—what does it really mean to be ugly..."—Brain Pickings “An insightful tale about beauty and self worth. The illustrations are incredible with personality and humor oozing from the pages.” —The Reading Ninja Author Joy Sorman was a philosophy professor before she devoting herself to journalism and writing. Her first book was Boys, Boys, Boys, a challenging feminist story about a girl who is a little different. Sorman also works in TV and radio journalism. Olivier Tallec is an illustrator based in Paris. Following his graduation from the École Supérieure d’Arts Graphiques, he worked in advertising as a graphic designer. He has subsequently devoted himself to illustration and has illustrated more than sixty books, eleven with Enchanted Lion Books including Who What Where? Louis I, King of the Sheep and Big Wolf and Little Wolf and Who Done It? from Chronicle Books.

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