Search results for ""curious about""

An enchanting and fun-to-use deck packed with all the secrets of astrology. This luminous 70-card deck is filled with fascinating information on zodiac signs, planets, asteroids, eclipses, and more. Users will discover how celestial phenomena like retrogrades, moon phases, and sun signs impact love, friendship, career, and personality. An accompanying instructional booklet and an interactive birth chart make it easy and fun to do astrological readings, alone or with friends. Illuminating and empowering, this deck is a must-have accessory for modern mystics and the spiritually curious. ASTROLOGY MADE EASY: These 70 cards illuminate the secrets the cosmos for a contemporary audience interested in astrology, presenting complex information in an accessible, fun-to-use format. EXPERT WISDOM: Lisa Stardust is a professional astrologer who has been practicing and teaching astrology for more than a decade. In this deck, she shares her expert wisdom, distilling the essential secrets of astrology in an engaging and easy-to-use set of cards so that users can interpret the stars and do their own readings. BEAUTIFUL TO GIFT AND DISPLAY: Delivered in a sleek, eye-catching package filled 70 shimmering cards, The Astrology Deck is a beautiful gift for anyone curious about astrology or mysticism and a stylish companion for the spiritually-curious, crystal lovers, and tarot enthusiasts. ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES: This interactive and fun-to-use deck can be used in a variety of ways: Users can pull one card a day to learn something new about the cosmos; pull several cards at once to see what energy the universe has in store; do their own birth chart to better understand what the future holds; or do readings with their friends, making it the perfect edition for a small gathering or a girls' night in. Perfect for: • Astrology enthusiasts • Anyone interested in mysticism and witchcraft • People who use Tarot • People who love crystals • Fans of The Wild Unknown, The Numinous, and Mystic Monday's Tarot

Read more less

The first anthology devoted to the theory and practice of all forms of public philosophy A Companion to Public Philosophy brings together in a single volume the diverse practices, modalities, and perspectives of this rapidly growing field. Forty-two chapters written by established practitioners and newer voices alike consider questions ranging from the definition of public philosophy to the value of public philosophy to both society and philosophy itself. Throughout the book, philosophers offer insights into the different publics they have engaged, the topics they have explored, the methods they have used and the lessons they have learned from these engagements. The Companion explores important philosophical issues concerning the practice of philosophy in the public sphere, how public philosophy relates to advocacy, philosophical collaborations with political activists, locations where public philosophy can be done, and more. Many essays highlight underserved topics such as effective altruism, fat activism, trans activism, indigenous traditions, and Africana philosophy, while other essays set the stage for rigorous debates about the boundaries of public philosophy and its value as a legitimate way to do philosophy. Discusses the range of approaches that professional philosophers can use to engage with non-academic audiences Explores the history and impact of public philosophy from the time of Socrates to the modern era Highlights the work of public philosophers concerning issues of equity, social justice, environmentalism, and medical ethics Covers the modalities used by contemporary public philosophers, including film and television, podcasting, internet memes, and community-engaged teaching Includes essays by those who bring philosophy to corporations, government policy, consulting, American prisons, and activist groups across the political spectrum A Companion to Public Philosophy is essential reading for philosophers from all walks of life who are invested in and curious about the ways that philosophy can impact the public and how the public can impact philosophy. It is also an excellent text for undergraduate and graduate courses on the theory and practice of public philosophy as well as broader courses on philosophy, normative ethics, and comparative and world philosophy.

Read more less

Standardization is one of the defining aspects of modern life, its presence so pervasive that it is usually taken for granted. However cumbersome, onerous, or simply puzzling certain standards may be, their fundamental purpose in streamlining procedures, regulating behaviors, and predicting results is rarely questioned. Indeed, the invisibility of infrastructure and the imperative of standardizing processes signify their absolute necessity. Increasingly, however, social scientists are beginning to examine the origins and effects of the standards that underpin the technology and practices of everyday life.Standards and Their Stories explores how we interact with the network of standards that shape our lives in ways both obvious and invisible. The main chapters analyze standardization in biomedical research, government bureaucracies, the insurance industry, labor markets, and computer technology, providing detailed accounts of the invention of "standard humans" for medical testing and life insurance actuarial tables, the imposition of chronological age as a biographical determinant, the accepted means of determining labor productivity, the creation of international standards for the preservation and access of metadata, and the global consequences of "ASCII imperialism" and the use of English as the lingua franca of the Internet.Accompanying these in-depth critiques are a series of examples that depict an almost infinite variety of standards, from the controversies surrounding the European Union's supposed regulation of banana curvature to the minimum health requirements for immigrants at Ellis Island, conflicting (and ever-increasing) food portion sizes, and the impact of standardized punishment metrics like "Three Strikes" laws. The volume begins with a pioneering essay from Susan Leigh Star and Martha Lampland on the nature of standards in everyday life that brings together strands from the several fields represented in the book. In an appendix, the editors provide a guide for teaching courses in this emerging interdisciplinary field, which they term "infrastructure studies," making Standards and Their Stories ideal for scholars, students, and those curious about why coffins are becoming wider, for instance, or why the Financial Accounting Standards Board refused to classify September 11 as an "extraordinary" event.

Read more less

In this celebration of Milton Babbitt's art, Andrew Mead explores the development of a central figure in contemporary American music. As a teacher and writer, Babbitt has influenced two generations of students, including such notable musicians as Stephen Sondheim and Donald Martino. He has helped establish the study of music theory as a serious academic pursuit, and his articles on Schoenberg, Stravinsky, and the twelve-tone system constitute a seminal body of research. But Babbitt is first and last a composer, whose works are, in Mead's words, "truly music to be heard." With Mead as a guide, we discover the strong emotional and expressive charge of Babbitt's music that is inextricably entwined with its structure. Babbitt is a twelve-tone composer, unabashedly so, and it is precisely his profound understanding of Arnold Schoenberg's epochal insight that gives Babbitt's music its special quality. By examining the underlying principles of twelve-tone composition, Mead allows us to appreciate Babbitt's music on its own terms, as a richly varied yet unified body of work. In achieving this purpose, he provides an excellent introduction to twelve-tone music in general. Without relying on professional jargon, he lucidly and succinctly explains Babbitt's complexities. A catalog of compositions, a discography, and a bibliography complete a book that will interest performers, music theorists, and music historians, as well as other readers who are enthusiastic or curious about contemporary musical works. Originally published in 1994. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Read more less

Java 5.0, code-named "Tiger", promises to be the most significant new version of Java since the introduction of the language. With over a hundred substantial changes to the core language, as well as numerous library and API additions, developers have a variety of new features, facilities, and techniques available. But with so many changes, where do you start? You could read through the lengthy, often boring language specification; you could wait for the latest 500 page tome on concepts and theory; you could even play around with the new JDK, hoping you figure things out--or you can get straight to work with Java 5.0 Tiger: A Developer's Notebook. This no-nonsense, down-and-dirty guide by bestselling Java authors Brett McLaughlin and David Flanagan skips all the boring prose and lecture, and jumps right into Tiger. You'll have a handle on the important new features of the language by the end of the first chapter, and be neck-deep in code before you hit the halfway point. Using the task-oriented format of this new series, you'll get complete practical coverage of generics, learn how boxing and unboxing affects your type conversions, understand the power of varargs, learn how to write enumerated types and annotations, master Java's new formatting methods and the for/in loop, and even get a grip on concurrency in the JVM. Light on theory and long on practical application, Java 5.0 Tiger: A Developer's Notebook allows you to cut to the chase, getting straight to work with Tiger's new features. The new Developer's Notebooks series from O'Reilly covers important new tools for software developers. Emphasizing example over explanation and practice over theory, they focus on learning by doing--you'll get the goods straight from the masters, in an informal and code-intensive style that suits developers. If you've been curious about Tiger, but haven't known where to start, this no-fluff, lab-style guide is the solution.

Read more less

From Paris to Rio, everyone’s curious about hot, new Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Experience, Ellen Freudenheim’s fourth comprehensive Brooklyn guidebook, offers a true insider’s guide, complete with photographs, itineraries, and insights into one of the most creative, dynamic cities in the modern world. Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge at dawn or sunset, discover thirty-eight unique Brooklyn neighborhoods, and experience the borough like a native. Find out where to go to the beach and to eat great pizza, what to do with the kids, how to enjoy free and cheap activities, and where to savor Brooklyn’s famous cuisines. Visit cool independent shops, greenmarkets, festivals, and delve into the vibrant new cultural scene at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Barclays Center, and the lively exploding neighborhoods of DUMBO, Williamsburg, and Bushwick. Included in the book are essays and the pithy, sometimes funny comments of sixty cultural, literary, and culinary movers and shakers, culled from exclusive interviews with experts from the James Beard Foundation to the cofounder of the famous Brooklyn Book Festival, as well as MacArthur “genius” award winners, to young entrepreneurs, hipsters, and activists, all of whom have something to say about Brooklyn’s stunning renaissance. Neighborhood profiles are rich in user-friendly information and details, including movies, celebrities, and novels associated with each neighborhood. There are also 800 listings of great restaurants, bars, shops, parks, cultural institutions, and historical sites, complete with contact information. Targeting the independent, curious traveler, The Brooklyn Experience includes a dozen “do-it-yourself” tours, including a visit to Woody Allen’s childhood neighborhood, and amazing Revolutionary and Civil War sites. Freudenheim draws clear—and sometimes surprising—connections between old and new Brooklyn. Written by an author with an astounding knowledge of all Brooklyn has to offer, The Brooklyn Experience will guide both first-time and repeat visitors, and will be a fun resource for Brooklynites who enjoy exploring their own hometown.

Read more less

Being an effective math educator is one part based on the quality of the tasks we give, one part how we diagnose what we see, and one part what we do with what we find. Yet with so many students and big concepts to cover, it can be hard to slow down enough to look for those moments when students’ responses tell us what we need to know about next best steps. In this remarkable book, John SanGiovanni and Jennifer Rose Novak help us value our students’ misconceptions and incomplete understandings as much as their correct ones—because it’s the gap in their understanding today that holds the secrets to planning tomorrow’s best teaching. The authors lay out 180 high-quality tasks aligned to the standards and big ideas of Grades 6–8 mathematics, including number systems, integers, ratio and proportion, equations and expressions, geometry, and statistics and probability. The tasks are all downloadable so you can use or modify them for instruction and assessment. Each big idea offers a starting task followed by: what makes it a high-quality task what you might anticipate before students work with the task four student examples of the completed task showcasing a distinct "gap" commentary on what precisely counts for mathematical understanding and the next instructional steps commentary on the misconception or incomplete understanding so you learn why the student veered off course three additional tasks aligned to the mathematics topic and ideas about what students might do with these additional tasks It’s time to break our habit of rushing into re-teaching for correctness and instead get curious about the space between right and wrong answers. Mine the Gap for Mathematical Understanding is a book you will return to again and again to get better at selecting tasks that will uncover students’ reasoning, better at discerning the quality and clarity of students’ understanding, and better at planning teaching based on the gaps you see.

Read more less

'A thoughtful, prescient read for any mother or father parenting through the unique challenges of this racially polarised year, decade and beyond' Kenya Hunt 'Comprehensive, readable, and so very important. The next generation needs you to read this book' Clare Mackintosh, Sunday Times bestselling author'A vital book that equips us to have conversations about race and racism with young people, ensuring we are all playing our part to raise the next generations as anti-racist. With excellent, clear advice from Dr Agarwal I Wish We Knew What to Say is a quick, engaging and easily digestible read' Nikesh ShuklaWe want our children to thrive and flourish in a diverse, multi-cultural world and we owe it to them to help them make sense of the confusing and emotionally charged messages they receive about themselves and others. These early years are the most crucial when children are curious about the world around them, but are also quick to form stereotypes and biases that can become deeply ingrained as they grow older. These are the people who are going to inherit this world, and we owe it to them to lay a strong foundation for the next phases of their lives. Wish We Knew What to Say is a timely and urgent book that gives scenarios, questions, thought starters, resources and advice in an accessible manner on how to tackle tricky conversations around race and racism with confidence and awareness. it brings in the science of how children perceive race and form racial identity, combining it with personal stories and experiences to create a handy guide that every parent would refer to again and again. Written by behavioural and data scientist, Dr Pragya Agarwal, Wish We Knew What to Say will help all parents, carers and educators give children the tools and vocabulary to talk about people's differences and similarities in an open, non-judgemental, curious way, and help them address any unfairness they might see or encounter.

Read more less

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard SelectionThis engaging book for young adventurers features 40 historical discoveries, from tiny artifacts to entire cities, including the people and circumstances behind their uncovering. In Famous Finds and Finders, young readers are taken on an adventurous journey back through time as they learn about the field of archeology and its role in uncovering the secrets of our past. Emphasizing the importance of preserving and recording moments in history, it encourages children to consider their own place in the ongoing story of humanity. Kids will also learn about the tools and techniques (from crude to state-of-the-art) that archeologists and paleontologists use, as well as about the challenges they face in uncovering fragments of the past buried in the ground or under the ocean. The discoveries are divided into 5 categories: People and Animals Towns and Cities Works of Art Under the Sea Underground Sections include: Tutankhamun’s Tomb: An Ancient Egyptian burial chamber discovered by archeologist Howard Carter in 1922, famous for its magnificent treasures. Lascaux: A complex of caves in France containing some of the most well-preserved prehistoric cave paintings in the world, discovered in 1940 by exploring four teenagers. The Titanic: A British luxury passenger liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1912 after colliding with an iceberg, resulting in the loss of many lives. Lucy: A partial skeleton of a female Australopithecus afarensis hominin, discovered in Ethiopia in 1974 by a paleoanthropologist from the University of Cleveland. Ötzi the Iceman: The mummy of a man who lived around 3,300 BCE, discovered in 1991 in the Alps by hikers who thought he was a deceased modern climber. Whydah Gally: A pirate ship discovered by an underwater explorer off the coast of Cape Cod in 1984. Terracotta Army: A collection of earthen sculptures depicting the armies of the first Emperor of China, discovered by local farmers in 1974. Miss Ardi: The oldest known hominid skeleton, providing insights into human evolution. Chinchorro Mummies: The oldest artificially preserved human remains, found along the coast of present-day Chile and Peru. Altai Princess: The well-preserved mummy of a young woman who lived over 2,500 years ago in Siberia. Sue the Rex: The most complete and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever discovered. Angkor Wat: A historic temple complex in Cambodia built in the 12th century – one of the largest religious monuments in the world. Pompeii: A Roman city destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, preserving it and providing insight into ancient Roman life. Troy: An ancient city in Turkey, best known for the Trojan War described in Homer’s epic poem, The Iliad. Babylon: A city in ancient Mesopotamia, located in present-day Iraq, known for its legendary Hanging Gardens. Port Royal: A major center for piracy and commerce in the Caribbean, destroyed by an earthquake in 1692. Bust of Nefertiti: A sculpture of the Egyptian Queen Nefertiti, created in the 14th century BCE and discovered in 1912 by a German archeologist. The Venus de Milo: The Venus de Milo is an ancient Greek statue of Aphrodite, discovered by a poor farmer on the island of Milos in Greece in 1820. Lighthouse of Alexandria: One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, constructed in the 3rd century BC on the island of Pharos in Alexandria, Egypt. This book highlights some of the most significant archeological discoveries of all time, introducing young readers to some of the key figures in the field. It provides a fun and engaging way for children to learn about historical discoveries and the people who made them, and will inspire them to continue exploring the world with a sense of wonder and curiosity. Filled with evocative illustrations and informative content, Famous Finds and Finders is perfect for children aged 9–12 who are curious about history and the world around us. Whether they are a student of history, a budding archeologist, or simply curious about the world around us, this book is the perfect introduction to the fascinating world of archeology.

Read more less

- Winner of the 2018 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction - From the bestselling author of Echo Mountain and Newbery Honor–winner Wolf Hollow, Beyond the Bright Sea is an acclaimed best book of the year.An NPR Best Book of the Year • A Parents’ Magazine Best Book of the Year • A Booklist Editors' Choice selection • A BookPage Best Book of the Year • A Horn Book Fanfare Selection • A Kirkus Best Book of the Year • A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year • A Charlotte Observer Best Book of the Year • A Southern Living Best Book of the Year • A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year“The sight of a campfire on a distant island…proves the catalyst for a series of discoveries and events—some poignant, some frightening—that Ms. Wolk unfolds with uncommon grace.” –The Wall Street Journal★ “Crow is a determined and dynamic heroine.” —Publishers Weekly★ “Beautiful, evocative.” —Kirkus The moving story of an orphan, determined to know her own history, who discovers the true meaning of family. Twelve-year-old Crow has lived her entire life on a tiny, isolated piece of the starkly beautiful Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts. Abandoned and set adrift in a small boat when she was just hours old, Crow’s only companions are Osh, the man who rescued and raised her, and Miss Maggie, their fierce and affectionate neighbor across the sandbar. Crow has always been curious about the world around her, but it isn’t until the night a mysterious fire appears across the water that the unspoken question of her own history forms in her heart. Soon, an unstoppable chain of events is triggered, leading Crow down a path of discovery and danger. Vivid and heart-wrenching, Lauren Wolk’s Beyond the Bright Sea is a gorgeously crafted and tensely paced tale that explores questions of identity, belonging, and the true meaning of family.

Read more less

There are many reasons to be curious about the way people learn, and the past several decades have seen an explosion of research that has important implications for individual learning, schooling, workforce training, and policy. In 2000, How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School: Expanded Edition was published and its influence has been wide and deep. The report summarized insights on the nature of learning in school-aged children; described principles for the design of effective learning environments; and provided examples of how that could be implemented in the classroom. Since then, researchers have continued to investigate the nature of learning and have generated new findings related to the neurological processes involved in learning, individual and cultural variability related to learning, and educational technologies. In addition to expanding scientific understanding of the mechanisms of learning and how the brain adapts throughout the lifespan, there have been important discoveries about influences on learning, particularly sociocultural factors and the structure of learning environments. How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures provides a much-needed update incorporating insights gained from this research over the past decade. The book expands on the foundation laid out in the 2000 report and takes an in-depth look at the constellation of influences that affect individual learning. How People Learn II will become an indispensable resource to understand learning throughout the lifespan for educators of students and adults. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Context and Culture 3 Types of Learning and the Developing Brain 4 Processes That Support Learning 5 Knowledge and Reasoning 6 Motivation to Learn 7 Implications for Learning in School 8 Digital Technology 9 Learning Across the Life Span 10 Research Agenda References Appendix A: History of the How People Learn Studies and Their Use Appendix B: List of Relevant Reports Published by the National Academies Press Appendix C: Study Populations in Research on Learning Appendix D: Committee and Staff Biographies

Read more less

The Chinese ideogram chi is far richer in connotation than the equivalent English verb “to eat.” Chi can also be read as “the mouth that begs for food and words.” A concept manifest in the twentieth-century Chinese political reality of revolution and massacre, chi suggests a narrative of desire that moves from lack to satiation and back again. In China such fundamental acts as eating or refusing to eat can carry enormous symbolic weight. This book examines the twentieth-century Chinese political experience as it is represented in literature through hunger, cooking, eating, and cannibalizing. At the core of Gang Yue’s argument lies the premise that the discourse surrounding the most universal of basic human acts—eating—is a culturally specific one. Yue’s discussion begins with a brief look at ancient Chinese alimentary writing and then moves on to its main concern: the exploration and textual analysis of themes of eating in modern Chinese literature from the May Fourth period through the post-Tiananmen era. The broad historical scope of this volume illustrates how widely applicable eating-related metaphors can be. For instance, Yue shows how cannibalism symbolizes old China under European colonization in the writing of Lu Xun. In Mo Yan’s 1992 novel Liquorland, however, cannibalism becomes the symbol of overindulgent consumerism. Yue considers other writers as well, such as Shen Congwen, Wang Ruowang, Lu Wenfu, Zhang Zianliang, Ah Cheng, Zheng Yi, and Liu Zhenyun. A special section devoted to women writers includes a chapter on Xiao Hong, Wang Anyi, and Li Ang, and another on the Chinese-American women writers Jade Snow Wong, Maxine Hong Kingston, and Amy Tan. Throughout, the author compares and contrasts the work of these writers with similarly themed Western literature, weaving a personal and political semiotics of eating. The Mouth That Begs will interest sinologists, literary critics, anthropologists, cultural studies scholars, and everyone curious about the semiotics of food.

Read more less

Wouldn't it be great if there were a physics book that showed you how things work instead of telling you how? Finally, with Head First Physics, there is. This comprehensive book takes the stress out of learning mechanics and practical physics by providing a fun and engaging experience, especially for students who "just don't get it." Head First Physics offers a format that's rich in visuals and full of activities, including pictures, illustrations, puzzles, stories, and quizzes -- a mixed-media style proven to stimulate learning and retention. One look will convince you: This isn't mere theory, this is physics brought to life through real-world scenarios, simple experiments, and hypothetical projects. Head First Physics is perfect for anyone who's intrigued by how things work in the natural world. You'll quickly discover that physics isn't a dry subject. It's all about the world we live in, encompassing everything from falling objects and speeding cars, to conservation of energy and gravity and weightlessness, and orbital behavior. This book: * Helps you think like a physicist so you can understand why things really work the way they do * Gives you relevant examples so you can fully grasp the principles before moving on to more complex concepts * Designed to be used as a supplement study guide for the College Board's Advanced Placement Physics B Exam * Introduces principles for the purpose of solving real-world problems, not memorization * Teaches you how to measure, observe, calculate -- and yes -- how to do the math * Covers scientific notation, SI units, vectors, motion, momentum conservation, Newton's Laws, energy conservation, weight and mass, gravitation and orbits, circular motion and simple harmonic motion, and much more If "Myth Busters" and other TV programs make you curious about our physical world -- or if you're a student forced to take a physics course -- now you can pursue the subject without the dread of boredom or the fear that it will be over your head. Head First Physics comes to rescue with an innovative, engaging, and inspirational way to learn physics!

Read more less

From a veteran furry comes an immersive entry into the world of furries and furry fandom, with a colorful look at an amazing subculture, the timeless human instinct to identify with animals, and a wealth of photos and illustrations showcasing fursuits and furry art. Furries are the creative subculture of people who identify with animals. You can find them at furry conventions, furfests, worldwide—tens of thousands of people donning their most elaborate fursuit. In costume, at conventions, with friends or alone, furries unleash the animal within, letting their inner beasts roar and their inner cats purr, aware of the power—and joy—to be found in connecting with one’s animal side and encouraging others to do the same. In Furry Planet, long-time furry and a media staple for commentary on the culture, Joe Strike—a certified “greymuzzle,” as older furries are known—dives deep into this compelling subculture to share its appeal and rewards. Strike addresses stigmas and misconceptions head on and traces the history of the culture from forty thousand-year-old lion-man figurines through sixteenth-century legends of monkey kings to modern day television and movies starring anthropomorphized animals living human lives. He shares how furry fandom began in the United States but has spread across the globe and delves deep into the various iterations of the culture today, in the process covering events, media, art, storytelling, community resources, costume creation, and advice for newcomers. An unprecedented in-depth look at this intriguing, offbeat world, Furry Planet is complemented by colorful images throughout and is sure to inform and excite fans of the culture, as well as anyone who has ever been curious about it. Inside you’ll find: - Insight into the natural impulse to anthropomorphize animals and the joys of furry culture - A fascinating history of furry culture - A thorough guide to furfest conventions, fursuit costume creation, and resources for furries - A wealth of colorful photographs from furfests and of superb fursuits - Gorgeous furry artwork - Much more!

Read more less

An all-consuming story of revenge, redemption and dragons from the twice Carnegie Medal-winner Patrick Ness.“On a cold Sunday evening in early 1957, Sarah Dewhurst waited with her father in the parking lot of the Chevron Gas Station for the dragon he’d hired to help on the farm.” This dragon, Kazimir, has more to him than meets the eye. Sarah can’t help but be curious about him, an animal who supposedly doesn’t have a soul but is seemingly intent on keeping her safe from the brutal attentions of Deputy Sheriff Emmett Kelby. Kazimir knows something she doesn’t. He has arrived at the farm because of a prophecy. A prophecy that involves a deadly assassin, a cult of dragon worshippers, two FBI agents – and somehow, Sarah Dewhurst herself. From the bestselling author of the Chaos Walking trilogy comes a heart-stopping story of fanaticism, hope, bravery and impossible second chances, set in a world on the very brink of its own destruction."Exhilarating and heart-stopping." Russell T Davies"Gloriously original and unpredictable ... Mind-bending in the best possible way.” Observer“A clever, complex and completely engrossing story.” The Times“[An] extraordinary story of fate, power and redemption … He is a remarkable talent.” Daily Mail“Ness shows that although monsters exist in every world, many wish to overcome them; and even in the smoking ruins of civilisation, there is room for hope.” Guardian“Revenge, redemption, the Cold War and dragons. Another great tale from the master with the best opening line of any book this year.” Simon Mayo“You can always rely on Patrick Ness to surprise you, and this beautifully written urban fantasy doesn’t disappoint … an immersive, rewarding read.” Independent“Never less than gripping ... full of charm, intriguing characters and awesome, cinematic set-pieces.” SFX“An incredibly touching, powerful and startling read.” Female First“A provocative Cold War-set tale of dragon worshippers, parenthood, and the apocalypse.” Entertainment Weekly“Gripping until the end.” Irish Times

Read more less

Travel through time to the world of the dinosaurs in this exciting prehistoric fiction series for children aged 5-7 years. Jamie is a member of The Dinosaur Club: A network of kids around the world who share dinosaur knowledge! Jamie has just moved to Ammonite Bay, a stretch of coastline famed for its fossils. The Dinosaur Club help each other identify fossils, post new dino discoveries, and chat about all things prehistoric. In this story, Jamie and her friend Tess from the Dinosaur Club are exploring Ammonite Bay and stumble upon a secret cave with fossils all over the walls. But what's that strange tunnel at the back? Together they go through the tunnel and they discover some dinosaur footprints. Jamie and Tess walk along them...and the two new friends find themselves back in the time of the dinosaurs! It's amazing, but dangerous too - and they'll definitely need help from the Dinosaur Club...Take a journey into the prehistoric past to discover: -Beautifully illustrated line art accompanied by expertly written text-Plenty of humour and packed with facts!-Reference material contextualises each narrative, including timelines, quizzes, fact files, and glossariesIn this adventure, Jamie and Tess find themselves caught in a terrible storm. During the chaos, a stegosaurus egg is swept away downriver. It's up to Jamie and Tess to recover the egg and return it to its mother before it's too late.Dinosaur Club is a modern revision of the popular Dinosaur Cove series updated for today's readers with a new premise, new artwork, and the latest dinosaur information. The original Dinosaur Cove series sold more than 1 million copies worldwide!A must-have volume for kids aged 5-7 who love adventure stories and are endlessly curious about dinosaurs and the prehistoric world, Dinosaur Club: Saving the Stegosaurus is sure to delight!At DK, we believe in the power of discovery. So why not complete the Dinosaur Club Collection, including Dinosaur Club: The T.Rex Attack and Dinosaur Club: A Triceratops Charge, for plenty of dino-loving fun!

Read more less

An A to Z compendium for our paranoid times that explores the most popular conspiracy theories, from Area 51 and vaccines to Chemtrails and JFK.Whether you’re a die-hard net-warrior or a freshly initiated paranormal explorer, I is for Illuminati is a mind-blowing trip through the most fascinating—and enduring—conspiracy theories that live on web and circulate the globe.With the ubiquity of the internet, conspiracy theories have infiltrated nearly every aspect of society, from politics to business, sports, healthcare, history, geology, meteorology, the military-industrial complex, and of course, outer space. Whether you want to learn about the world of the Freemasons or are curious about what’s really hidden in the restricted areas of the Great Pyramid, Chris Vola has the answers.In this fully illustrated, darkly funny guide that plays on the classic ABC primer, he examines the biggest conspiracies of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, including: A is for Aliens B is for Bermuda Triangle C is for Chemtrails D is for Denver Airport E is for Earth (Flat, Hollow) F is for Fluoride G is for Giants H is for HAARP I is for Illuminati J is for J. Edgar Hoover K is for Kennedy L is for Lizard People M is for Moon Landing N is for Nazi’s in South America O is for Opioids P is for Pyramids Q is for QAnon R is for Roswell S is for Smithsonian Institution T is for Time Travel U is for United Nations V is for Vaccinations W is for Walt Disney X is for Planet X Y is for Yeti Z is for Zeitgeist With history (and rhymes!) about twenty-six of the most baffling global conspiracies, illustrated with original full-color drawings created by Keni Thomas and specially designed for the book, this is the ultimate gift for X-files fans, Alexa-muters, and all who want to believe (or already do).

Read more less

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.

Read more less

The ultimate pocket-sized guide to more than 400 feathered residents of North America’s Western Region. Whether you are a budding bird-watcher hoping to find species in woodland or someone curious about the feathered visitors in your own backyard, find out everything there is to know about your favorite feathered friends, with this pocket-sized guide to many of the birds found in North America’s Western Region.Compact and easy-to-use, this stunning field guide is perfect for any bird and birding enthusiast, regardless of age or level of experience. High-quality photographs bring the bird species most commonly seen west of the Great Plains to life on the page, capturing their beauty and making identification quick and effortless. Significant differences in plumage variation between juvenile and adult, male and female, and winter and summer are clearly pictured.Soar into the pages of this beloved book on birds to discover: - Detailed bird profiles include information on behavior, habits, and flight patterns to ensure accurate identification.- Covers 420 species commonly seen in the western region of North America.- Full-color photographs show the adult bird in typical plumage, with male/female, juvenile, and seasonal variations included as appropriate.- Detailed illustrations show typical plumage and posture in flight.- Maps accurately locate where the bird can be seen in summer, in winter, all year round, and on migration.- Includes free access to audio recordings of bird songs and calls to aid identification.Ideal for the dedicated bird-watcher, this beautiful bird-watching book includes stunning full-color photographs of over birds, revealing each species with unrivaled clarity. The reference pages pack in more data with lists of record breakers and endangered species, as well as many other fun facts. The Pocket Genius series is perfect for all children, whether they are learning about birds or are amateur bird spotters already! Produced in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History, Pocket Birds of North America Western Region is an essential field guide for identifying birds in North America.

Read more less

For 1930s Britain, the Queen Mary was a symbol of hope. Cunard had abandoned construction on what they had planned to be the grandest liner of all time (then known simply as Job 534) in the depths of the Depression. Her half-finished hull sat on the Clyde for years, but when Cunard announced they were going to complete her, it was a sign, perhaps, that the darkest days were over, that the country was emerging from economic disaster and that Britannia would soon rule the waves once again. The Queen Mary would go on to be one of the most famous ships in the world for all the right reasons. The first British ship to be over 1,000 feet in length, launched by her namesake (and for which the Clyde had to be artificially widened to allow such a large ship to pass through), she won the Blue Riband (the record for fastest Atlantic crossing) not once by twice – and when she won it the second time in 1938 she held it until 1952. After wartime service carrying up to 16,000 US troops to Europe at a time, she finally retired to Long Beach, California, in 1967. There she remains, a perfectly preserved reminder of a bygone era, and a celebration of the golden age of the transatlantic liner. In this book David Ellery, maritime historian, TV presenter and documentary maker, answers all the questions you might have about this glorious ship – and ones you might never have thought to ask too. This unique, accessible approach gives a fantastic introduction to the ship to anyone curious about her, but is also very detailed and comprehensive, covering everything from the ship’s design, construction, engineering and interior fittings to her naming, wartime service and more. Packed with archival photographs and other original material, this is a fascinating and illuminating guide to the Queen Mary, looking beneath the sheen of her appointments to explore how her fame is well deserved.

Read more less

Standardization is one of the defining aspects of modern life, its presence so pervasive that it is usually taken for granted. However cumbersome, onerous, or simply puzzling certain standards may be, their fundamental purpose in streamlining procedures, regulating behaviors, and predicting results is rarely questioned. Indeed, the invisibility of infrastructure and the imperative of standardizing processes signify their absolute necessity. Increasingly, however, social scientists are beginning to examine the origins and effects of the standards that underpin the technology and practices of everyday life.Standards and Their Stories explores how we interact with the network of standards that shape our lives in ways both obvious and invisible. The main chapters analyze standardization in biomedical research, government bureaucracies, the insurance industry, labor markets, and computer technology, providing detailed accounts of the invention of "standard humans" for medical testing and life insurance actuarial tables, the imposition of chronological age as a biographical determinant, the accepted means of determining labor productivity, the creation of international standards for the preservation and access of metadata, and the global consequences of "ASCII imperialism" and the use of English as the lingua franca of the Internet.Accompanying these in-depth critiques are a series of examples that depict an almost infinite variety of standards, from the controversies surrounding the European Union's supposed regulation of banana curvature to the minimum health requirements for immigrants at Ellis Island, conflicting (and ever-increasing) food portion sizes, and the impact of standardized punishment metrics like "Three Strikes" laws. The volume begins with a pioneering essay from Susan Leigh Star and Martha Lampland on the nature of standards in everyday life that brings together strands from the several fields represented in the book. In an appendix, the editors provide a guide for teaching courses in this emerging interdisciplinary field, which they term "infrastructure studies," making Standards and Their Stories ideal for scholars, students, and those curious about why coffins are becoming wider, for instance, or why the Financial Accounting Standards Board refused to classify September 11 as an "extraordinary" event.

Read more less

An award-winning biologist and writer applies queer feminist theory to developmental genetics, arguing that individuals are not essentially male or female. The idea that gender is a performance—a tenet of queer feminist theory since the nineties—has spread from college classrooms to popular culture. This transformative concept has sparked reappraisals of social expectations as well as debate over not just gender, but sex: what it is, what it means, and how we know it. Most scientific and biomedical research over the past seventy years has assumed and reinforced a binary concept of biological sex, though some scientists point out that male and female are just two outcomes in a world rich in sexual diversity. In Performance All the Way Down, MacArthur Fellow and Pulitzer Prize finalist Richard O. Prum brings feminist thought into conversation with biology, arguing that the sexual binary is not essential to human genes, chromosomes, or embryos. Our genomes are not blueprints, algorithms, or recipes for the physical representation of our individual sexual essences or fates. In accessible language, Prum shows that when we look closely at the science, we see that gene expression is a material action in the world, a performance through which the individual regulates and achieves its own becoming. A fertilized zygote matures into an organism with tissues and organs, neurological control, immune defenses, psychological mechanisms, and gender and sexual behavior through a performative continuum. This complex hierarchy of self-enactment reflects the evolved agency of individual genes, molecules, cells, and tissues. Rejecting the notion of an intractable divide between the humanities and the sciences, Prum proves that the contributions of queer and feminist theorists can help scientists understand the human body in new ways, yielding key insights into genetics, developmental biology, physiology. Sure to inspire discussion, Performance All the Way Down is a book about biology for feminists, a book about feminist theory for biologists, and a book for anyone curious about how our sexual bodies grow.

Read more less

Arthur Milnes Marshall was a 19th-century scientist who gave lectures addressing the biological debates of his time. They covered topics including evolution, embryology, development and inheritance, with Charles Darwin’s name and those of other important biologists distributed liberally throughout. Marshall was a zoologist, embryologist, anatomist and Darwin enthusiast, as well as an accomplished mountaineer and sportsman. He was a humanist, an admired academic teacher and brilliant public educator. The lectures reveal his passion for communicating his subject, to his students and to the working men and women of Manchester, and they provide a remarkable snapshot of the state of biological science at the close of the 19th century. His death in 1893 aged only 41, on a climbing expedition in the Lake District, left a fascinating time capsule in the form of lectures from a critical transitional period in the history of biology. Evolution by natural selection was the established doctrine but genes were undefined, with Mendel’s work yet to be recognised. Embryology was suggesting recapitulation but ancestry, genetics and missing links awaited liberation from theoreticians and the stones of palaeontology. Microscopy was flourishing and cell science was finding its feet, but DNA and molecular science were far in the future. Had Marshall lived and worked into the 20th century, these lectures would undoubtedly have been superseded and forgotten. Instead, they reveal biology’s transformation from a descriptive exercise to an experimental science, its rejection of purpose and design in evolution, and the shift of its axis from continental Europe to Britain and the United States. Professor Martin Luck discovered these lectures (published by CF Marshall in two volumes shortly after his brother’s death) languishing in a university corridor. His careful curation, introductions to each lecture and copious annotations on the organisms, theories and scientists discussed, illuminate their significance as prequels to modern biology. Marshall’s own story brings the lectures and their social context into sharp relief. Biology in Transition will interest anyone curious about the history of science, especially biology, evolution, genetics and its 19th-century pioneers.

Read more less

Jane Cockram makes her thrilling debut with this page-turning tale of psychological suspense in which a young woman whose life is in tatters flees to the safety of a family estate in England, but instead of comfort finds chilling secrets and lies.Miranda’s life and career has been a roller-coaster ride. Her successful rise to the top of the booming lifestyle industry as a social media influencer led to a humiliating fall after a controversial product she endorsed flopped. Desperate to get away from the hate-spewing trolls shaming her on the internet, she receives a mysterious letter from a young cousin in England that plunges her into a dark family mystery. Miranda’s mother Tessa Summers, a famous author, died when Miranda was a child. The young woman’s only connection to the Summers family is through Tessa’s famous book The House of Brides—a chronicle of the generations of women who married into the infamous Summers family and made their home in the rambling Barnsley House, the family’s estate. From Gertrude Summers, a famed crime novelist, to Miranda’s grandmother Beatrice, who killed herself after setting fire to Barnsley while her children slept, each woman in The House of Brides is more notorious than the next. The house’s current “bride” is the beautiful, effervescent Daphne, her Uncle Max’s wife—a famed celebrity chef who saved Barnsley from ruin turning the estate into an exclusive culinary destination and hotel.Curious about this legendary family she has never met, Miranda arrives at Barnsley posing as a prospective nanny answering an advertisement. She’s greeted by the compelling yet cold housekeeper Mrs. Mins, and meets the children and her Uncle Max—none of whom know her true identity. But Barnsley is not what Miranda expected. The luxury destination and award-winning restaurant is gone, and Daphne is nowhere to be found. Most disturbing, one of the children is in a wheelchair after a mysterious accident. What happened in this house? Where is Daphne? What darkness lies hidden in Barnsley?

Read more less

Time to put away the shot glass-tequila long ago left its spring break clichés in the dust. Today, it is not just a sophisticated global phenomenon but is poised to surpass vodka to become the number one spirit in the U.S. by sales. Which means there's no better time for A Field Guide to Tequila, the new bible on this popular spirit.Whether you're already an aficionado who likes to slow-sip an artisanal extra-añejo or a margarita lover curious about your favourite drink and what makes it special, A Field Guide to Tequila takes you step by step into everything that makes tequila tequila, from how it came about, to how it's made, to how to select, taste, and serve it. Beginning with the origin of every bottle of tequila-the unique blue agave (which is actually much closer, biologically, to a lily than a cactus)-it's all here: The life cycle of the blue agave and the complex process of turning it into liquor (hint: There's harvesting, steaming, roasting, and-still in use in one legendary distillery-working mules). The five classes of tequila, including the unfortunate myth of blanco's inferiority. How to read a tequila label. The seventeen tequila producers to know and brands you need to explore, from giants of the industry like Patrón and José Cuervo to traditionalists, artisans, and innovators, including Tapatío, Siete Leguas, Ocho, G4, and Cava de Oro. The real deal with so many celebrity tequila brands, a phenomenon that started with Bing Crosby. How to set up a tequila tasting. A complete guide to tequila tourism, including dos and don'ts for visiting the town of Tequila, best times to go, essential stops, and a glossary of Spanish. Oh, and a recipe for a best-ever margarita, plus three other classic tequila cocktails, including the Rolling Stones' favourite, the tequila sunrise.With its striking visuals and appealing package, A Field Guide to Tequila is a go-to reference that felicitously also feels like a real gift book-and vice versa.

Read more less

Radio 4's The Food Programme Book of the Year, chosen by Dan Saladino An Irish Times Best Gardening Book 2023 Shortlisted for the Garden Media Guild’s Garden Book of the Year Award 2023 Longlisted for The Art of Eating Prize 2023 ‘If you’re a vegetable growing addict or just curious about their origins, there’s something for everyone in Adam’s new book.’ Rob Smith, TV presenter '[This book] is a clarion call to think about our food in new ways and carefully consider where it comes from.' New Scientist Meet the Indiana Jones of vegetables on his quest to save our heritage produce. Have you ever wondered how everyday staples such as peas, kale, asparagus, beans, squash and sweetcorn ended up on our plates? Well, so did Adam Alexander. Adam’s passion for heritage vegetables was ignited when he tasted an unusual, sweet and fiery pepper while on a filmmaking project in Ukraine. Smitten by its flavour, he began to seek out local growers of old and near-forgotten varieties in a mission to bring home seeds to grow and share – saving them from being lost forever. In The Seed Detective, Adam tells of his far flung (and closer to home) seed-hunting adventures and reveals the stories behind many of our everyday vegetable heroes. How the common garden pea was domesticated from three wild species over 8,500 years ago, that the first carrots originated in Afghanistan (and were actually purple or red in colour), how Egyptian priests considered it a crime to look at a fava bean and that the Romans were fanatical about asparagus. Join The Seed Detective as he takes us on a journey that began when we left the life of hunter-gatherers to become farmers. Sharing storiesof globalisation, political intrigue, colonisation and serendipity, Adam shows us the vital part vegetables have played in our food story – and how they are the key to our future. ‘Informative, enlightening and entertaining but also important.’ Mark Diacono ‘One of the most inspirational books I have encountered.’ Darina Allen

Read more less

The ultimate pocket-sized guide to more than 300 feathered residents of North America’s Eastern Region. Whether you are a budding bird-watcher hoping to find species in woodland or someone curious about the feathered visitors in your own backyard, find out everything there is to know about your favorite feathered friends, with this pocket-sized guide to many of the birds found in North America’s Eastern Region.Compact and easy-to-use, this stunning field guide is perfect for any bird and birding enthusiast, regardless of age or level of experience. High-quality photographs bring the bird species most commonly seen west of the Great Plains to life on the page, capturing their beauty and making identification quick and effortless. Significant differences in plumage variation between juvenile and adult, male and female, and winter and summer are clearly pictured.Soar into the pages of this beloved book on birds to discover:- Detailed bird profiles include information on behavior, habits, and flight patterns to ensure accurate identification.- Covers 370 species commonly seen in the Eestern region of North America.- Full-color photographs show the adult bird in typical plumage, with male/female, juvenile, and seasonal variations included as appropriate.- Detailed illustrations show typical plumage and posture in flight.- Maps accurately locate where the bird can be seen in summer, in winter, all year round, and on migration.- Includes free access to audio recordings of bird songs and calls to aid identification. Ideal for the dedicated bird-watcher, this beautiful bird-watching book includes stunning full-color photographs of over birds, revealing each species with unrivaled clarity. The reference pages pack in more data with lists of record breakers and endangered species, as well as many other fun facts. The Pocket Genius series is perfect for all children, whether they are learning about birds or are amateur bird spotters already! Produced in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History, Pocket Birds of North America Eastern Region is an essential field guide for identifying birds in North America.

Read more less

Amid the decline of many of Japan’s rural communities, the hot springs village resort of Kurokawa Onsen is a rare, bright spot. Its two dozen traditional inns, or ryokan, draw nearly a million tourists a year eager to admire its landscape, experience its hospitality, and soak in its hot springs. As a result, these ryokan have enticed village youth to return home to take over successful family businesses and revive the community. Chris McMorran spent nearly two decades researching ryokan in Kurokawa, including a full year of welcoming guests, carrying luggage, scrubbing baths, cleaning rooms, washing dishes, and talking with co-workers and owners about their jobs, relationships, concerns, and aspirations. He presents the realities of ryokan work—celebrated, messy, ignored, exploitative, and liberating—and introduces the people who keep the inns running by making guests feel at home.McMorran explores how Kurokawa’s ryokan mobilize hospitality to create a rural escape from the globalized dimensions of everyday life in urban Japan. Ryokan do this by fusing a romanticized notion of the countryside with an enduring notion of the hospitable woman embodied by nakai, the hired female staff who welcome guests, serve meals, and clean rooms. These women are the face of the ryokan. But hospitality often hides a harsh reality. McMorran found numerous nakai in their 50s, 60s, and 70s who escaped violent or unhappy marriages by finding employment in ryokan. Yet, despite years of experience, nakai remain socially and economically vulnerable. Through this intimate and inventive ethnography of a year in a ryokan, McMorran highlights the importance of both the generational work of ryokan owners and the daily work of their employees, while emphasizing the gulf between them. With its focus on small, family-owned businesses and a mobile, vulnerable workforce, Ryokan makes an invaluable contribution to scholarship on the Japanese workplace. It also will interest students and scholars in geography, mobility studies, and women’s studies and anyone who has ever stayed at a ryokan and is curious about the work that takes place behind the scenes.

Read more less

Radio 4's The Food Programme Book of the Year, chosen by Dan Saladino An Irish Times Best Gardening Book 2023 Shortlisted for the Garden Media Guild’s Garden Book of the Year Award 2023 Longlisted for The Art of Eating Prize 2023 ‘If you’re a vegetable growing addict or just curious about their origins, there’s something for everyone in Adam’s new book.’ Rob Smith, TV presenter '[This book] is a clarion call to think about our food in new ways and carefully consider where it comes from.' New Scientist Meet the Indiana Jones of vegetables on his quest to save our heritage produce. Have you ever wondered how everyday staples such as peas, kale, asparagus, beans, squash and sweetcorn ended up on our plates? Well, so did Adam Alexander. Adam’s passion for heritage vegetables was ignited when he tasted an unusual, sweet and fiery pepper while on a filmmaking project in Ukraine. Smitten by its flavour, he began to seek out local growers of old and near-forgotten varieties in a mission to bring home seeds to grow and share – saving them from being lost forever. In The Seed Detective, Adam tells of his far flung (and closer to home) seed-hunting adventures and reveals the stories behind many of our everyday vegetable heroes. How the common garden pea was domesticated from three wild species over 8,500 years ago, that the first carrots originated in Afghanistan (and were actually purple or red in colour), how Egyptian priests considered it a crime to look at a fava bean and that the Romans were fanatical about asparagus. Join The Seed Detective as he takes us on a journey that began when we left the life of hunter-gatherers to become farmers. Sharing storiesof globalisation, political intrigue, colonisation and serendipity, Adam shows us the vital part vegetables have played in our food story – and how they are the key to our future. ‘Informative, enlightening and entertaining but also important.’ Mark Diacono ‘One of the most inspirational books I have encountered.’ Darina Allen

Read more less

THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING HILARIOUS NEW BOOK FROM THE NATION'S FAVOURITE COMEDIAN, BILLY CONNOLLYBeing a Rambling Man was what I always wanted to be, to live the way I damn well pleased. I've met the weirdest and most wonderful people who walk the Earth, seen the most bizarre and the most fantastic sights - and I've rarely come across something I couldn't get a laugh at. I don't think I've ever had a bad trip. Well, apart from in the 1970s, but that's a whole other story . . . When Billy set out from Glasgow as a young man he never looked back. He played his banjo on boats and trains, under trees, and on top of famous monuments. He danced naked in snow, wind and fire. He slept in bus stations, under bridges and on strangers' floors. He travelled by foot, bike, ship, plane, sleigh - even piggy-backed - to get to his next destination. Billy has wandered to every corner of the earth and believes that being a Rambling Man is about more than just travelling - it's a state of mind. Rambling Men and Women are free spirits who live on their wits, are interested in people and endlessly curious about the world. They love to play music, make art or tell stories along the way but, above all, they have a longing in their heart for the open road.In his joyful new book, Billy explores this philosophy and how it has shaped him, and he shares hilarious new stories from his lifetime on the road. From riding his trike down America's famous Route 66, building an igloo on an iceberg in the Arctic, playing elephant polo (badly) in Nepal and crashing his motorbike (more than once), to eating witchetty grubs in Australia, being serenaded by a penguin in New Zealand, and swapping secrets in a traditional Sweat Lodge ritual in Canada, Rambling Man is a truly global adventure with the greatest possible travel companion.

Read more less

Learn how the kind ox earned his place as one of the Chinese Zodiac Animals.The little calf is very curious about the world, but hasn't experienced much of it in his young life. When he and his mother begin to help the aging grandfather that lives next door to their farm, that changes.In the spring, when the grandpa is struggling to plow the fields, the calf picks up the plow without saying a word. He runs up and down the fields, though his plowing is uneven. The calf soon learns from his mother cow how to plow the fields neatly. In return, the grandpa prepares fresh grass and sweet spring water for them. In the autumn, when the grandpa is too weak to grind wheat, the calf wants to help. He fails after his first attempt, but soon learns from his mother how to grind wheat into fine flour.In the winter, when the grandpa is too tired to pull his cart into town to sell his flour, the calf volunteers to help him. The cart is heavy and the calf has never pulled one before. Along the bumpy road, it is shaking so badly that the grandpa keeps bouncing around, but the calf soon learns from his mother cow how to pull the cart smoothly. When they finally arrive in town, the calf and grandpa exchange their flour for a cart full of goods for the Chinese New Year, which they celebrate together at home.This is a story about courage, diligence and being helpful. The "Cultural Explanation" section at the end of the book includes the characteristics of the people born in the year of Ox and the years they were born. It also includes an interesting Chinese idiom about the calf.Other books in the Chinese Zodiac Series (as well as the year of that animal) include: Little Pigs and the Sweet Rice Cakes—2007 & 2019 Magical Rooster—2005 & 2017 Water Dragon—2012 & 2024 Little Monkey King's Journey—2016 & 2028 Snake Goddess Colors the World—2013 & 2025 Horse and the Mysterious Drawing—2014 & 2026 Sheep Beauty—2015 & 2027 Bronze Dog—2006 & 2018 Little Rat and the Golden Seed—2008 & 2020

Read more less

How did early modern scholars—as exemplified by Leibniz—search for their origins in the study of language?Who are the nations of Europe, and where did they come from? Early modern people were as curious about their origins as we are today. Lacking twenty-first-century DNA research, seventeenth-century scholars turned to language—etymology, vocabulary, and even grammatical structure—for evidence. The hope was that, in puzzling out the relationships between languages, the relationships between nations themselves would emerge, and on that basis one could determine the ancestral homeland of the nations that presently occupied Europe.In Leibniz Discovers Asia, Michael C. Carhart explores this early modern practice by focusing on philosopher, scientist, and mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who developed a vast network of scholars and missionaries throughout Europe to acquire the linguistic data he needed. The success of his project was tied to the Jesuit search for an overland route to China, whose itinerary would take them through the nations from whom Leibniz wanted language samples. Drawing on Leibniz's extensive correspondence with the members of this network, Carhart gives us access to the philosopher's scintillating discussions about astronomy and mapping; ethnology and missionary work; the contest of the Asiatic empires of Muscovy, Persia, the Ottoman, and China for control of the Caucasus, the steppes, and the Far East; and above all, language, as the best indicator of the prehistoric genealogy of the myriad peoples from Central Asia to Western Europe.Placing comparative linguistics within Leibniz's intellectual program, this book offers extensive insight into how Leibniz built his early modern scholarly network, the network's functionality within the international Republic of Letters, and its limitations. We see the scholar, isolated and lonely in little Hanover, with his hands on knowledge trickling in from scientific centers across Europe and around the world. By the end of 1697—the year his network finally began to work—Leibniz laughed to one of his patrons, "I'm putting a sign on my door reading, 'Bureau of Address for China'!" Depicting Leibniz not as a philosophical authority but as a scholar with human limitations and frustrations, Leibniz Discovers Asia is a thrilling and engaging narrative.

Read more less

Grow your way to happiness with this practical handbook for a more sustainable life. Whether you have a large country garden or a small backyard in the city, this essential guide to the 'Good Life' will help you on your journey to becoming more self-sufficient - which is something we all need to be thinking about. Climate change, industrial farming with its reliance on chemicals, rising food prices, fears over food security or just a desire to spend more time outdoors - there are many reasons driving people towards homegrown food and self-sufficiency. Growing your own fruit and vegetables, preserving your produce and generating your own energy are all covered in this thrifty guide by the original 'Tom and Barbara', Eve and Terence McLaughlin, who wrote the first edition of this book in 1979. This information-packed book has expert advice on growing, harvesting, storing and preserving your produce. You can brew your own beer and learn how to bottle, cure, smoke and pickle your produce to make it last longer. The book features easy-to-follow instructions for DIY tools and equipment to save money, reduce energy consumption and cut back on waste. Learn how to plan your site, explore the best planting times and methods, discover how to grow a variety of vegetables, fruit and nuts, and how to deal with pests and diseases. As well as growing your own food, the book also covers the basics of keeping livestock - including chickens, ducks, goats and pigs - and how to harness alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power. Putting your own food on the table and playing your part in creating a more sustainable future is hugely rewarding and also has health benefits - the physical exercise of planting and harvesting, the mental wellness that comes with spending time in nature, and the reduction in chemicals in the food you eat - there is so much in this activity that fosters greater wellbeing. Whether you're planning a move to full-blown self-sufficiency or are just curious about what's involved and want to take your first steps to growing your own food, this essential guide has everything you need to know.

Read more less

NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARDS FINALIST — CAREERIf you're thinking about buying this book, it's probably because it feels like something's missing in your career. Guess what? It could be YOU. Whether you're living for the weekends or counting the minutes until 5 pm every day, life is too short to wish it away because you feel stuck in your job. The good news is that you have the power to stop living on autopilot and turn your career around. "Follow your passion," "find your purpose," and "do what you love" have joined the parade of bland directives that aren't doing much to actually help you figure out what you're meant to do with your career. Instead, they only create more confusion. If all we had to do is "follow our bliss" . . . why aren't we blissful yet? The truth is, the best career is not one where you only do what you love, but one where you honor who you are. In You Turn, counterterrorism professional turned career coach Ashley Stahl shares the strategies she's used to help thousands ditch their Monday blues, get clarity on what work lights them up, and devise an action plan to create a career they love. This book gives readers access to Stahl's coveted 11-step roadmap that has guided thousands of coaching clients in 31 countries to self-discovery and success. Throughout her process, you'll: • Discover your Core Skillset. Uncover your gifts and talents to create an intentional career path that's fulfilling and aligned with who you are—and what you're good at. • Understand your "Inner Money Blueprint." Discover the root of your money mindset, and how to break free of financial limitation. • Clarify your Core Interests. Identify the difference between a passion, gift, and calling so you can get clear on what's meant to be a hobby-and what's meant to be a career! • Become your own coach. Walk away with a unique set of tools for staying true to your best self in times of stress, frustration, or anxiety. Whether you're considering a career pivot, or just curious about what else is possible for you, it's time to make a "you turn"—to get unstuck, discover your true self, and thrive (not just survive) in your career.

Read more less

Featuring communist bunkers, burning gas craters and at least one sponge-rock fluorescent grotto built by Polish monks, this book reveals weird and wonderful sights the crowds don't reach. We've all heard of India's Taj Mahal, but what about Karna Mata Temple? It's a building teeming with rats so revered they enjoy A-list treatment with daily offerings of milk and fruit. It's no secret that visitors to Berlin can see parts of its infamous Wall still standing in the city. Not so many people know that segments of the wall have travelled all around the world and can be found in places including Los Angeles, Japan and Iceland. Stonehenge is one of the UK's most popular tourist sites. So why not beat the crowds and head to Nebraska instead, where you can marvel at a Carhenge - a replica of the great monolith site constructed entirely from vintage cars. This packed and fascinating title takes its readers on a journey through the world's lesser known marvels. Dive into an underworld of the planet's most surprising, fun, perplexing, kitsch and downright bizarre sights - and explore human stories and mysterious happenings that you won't find inside a regular guidebook. From eerie natural wonders to historical oddities and bizarre architecture, this is a travel companion for the incurably curious. About Lonely Planet: Since 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel media company with guidebooks to every destination, an award-winning website, mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community. Lonely Planet covers must-see spots but also enables curious travellers to get off beaten paths to understand more of the culture of the places in which they find themselves. The world awaits! Lonely Planet guides have won the TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Award in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves, it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' - Fairfax Media 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' - New York Times

Read more less

Do you want to join a CSA, but don’t know where to start? Are you wondering what the difference between Certified Organic and Biodynamic produce is? This guide explains the many ways to participate in the local food movement in the Chesapeake.There was a time when most food was local, whether you lived on a farm or bought your food at a farmers market in the city. Exotic foods like olives, spices, and chocolate shipped in from other parts of the world were considered luxuries. Now, most food that Americans eat is shipped from somewhere else, and eating local is considered by some to be a luxury. Renee Brooks Catacalos is here to remind us that eating local is easier—and more rewarding—than we may think. There is an abundance of food all around us, found across the acres and acres of fields and pastures, orchards and forests, mile upon winding mile of rivers and streams, ocean coastline, and the amazing Chesapeake Bay.In The Chesapeake Table, Catacalos examines the powerful effect of eating local in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Hooked on the local food movement from its early days, Catacalos opens the book by revisiting a personal challenge to only buy, prepare, and eat food grown within a 150-mile radius of her home near Washington, DC. From her in-depth, on-the-ground study of food systems in the region, Catacalos offers practical advice for adopting a locavore diet and getting involved in various entry points to food pathways, from shopping at your local farmers market to buying a community-supported agriculture share. She also includes recipes for those curious about how they can make their own more environmentally conscious food choices.Introducing readers to the vast edible resources of the Chesapeake region, Catacalos focuses on the challenges of environmental and economic sustainability, equity and diversity in the farming and food professions, and access and inclusion for local consumers of all income levels, ethnicities, and geographies. Touching on everything from farm-based breweries and distilleries to urban hoop house farms to grass-fed beef, The Chesapeake Table celebrates the people working hard to put great local food on our plates.

Read more less

Why is it that so many aspects of organizations are now spoken of as practices? How can organizations be studied within a practice-based approach? How can workable knowledge about them be produced? The authors answer these questions theoretically and through empirical examples. They provide an overview on practice-based studies illustrating their main topics, research methods, and the theoretical reflections that support a non-rationalist and non-cognitivist view of organizations. The book addresses the principal features of practice-based theorizing and its key concepts, then concludes with methodological reflections on the practice-based approach.Written for a university public already in possession of basic notions in organizational studies and intending to conduct analysis of organizing as a social practice, it will also prove essential for master and PhD students as well as organizational scholars designing research within Practice-Based Studies. Including a lively and wide-ranging debate conducted at international level, the book will be of interest to practitioners curious about a view of work as a practical activity that develops within ecology of social, economic and material relationships.Contents: Introduction Part I: Practice-based Theorizing 1. Practice-Based Theorizing on Learning and Knowing in Organizations: An Introduction' 2. Knowing in Practice: Aesthetic Understanding and Tacit Knowledge 3. Knowing as Desiring. Mythic Knowledge and the Knowledge Journey in Communities of Practitioners 4. Situated Knowledge and Situated Action: What do Practice-Based Studies Promise? 5. Through the Practice Lens: Where Is the Bandwagon of Practice-Based Studies Heading? Part II: Key Concepts 6. Sensible Knowledge and Practice-Based Learning 7. Knowing in a System of Fragmented Knowledge 8. Learning in a Constellation of Interconnected Practices: Canon or Dissonance? 9. Aesthetics in the Study of Organizational Life 10. The Passion for Knowing 11. Practice? It's a Matter of Taste! Part III: Methodological Insights for a Practice-based Approach 12. When Will He Say: 'Today the Plates are Soft'?: Management of Ambiguity and Situated Decision-Making 13. Do You Do Beautiful Things?: Aesthetics and Art in Qualitative Methods of Organization Studies 14. Organizational Artifacts and the Aesthetic Approach 15. The Critical Power of the Practice Lens

Read more less

On the surface, it doesn't appear as if much in Excel 2003 has changed. There are a handful of new objects and the user interface is largely the same. But beyond a superficial glance, you'll see that there are fundamental shifts implied by the new features: Lists, XML, web services, .NET, and InfoPath build a framework for entirely new ways to exchange data with Excel. In fact, that's much of what Excel 2003 is all about--solving problems that deal with teamwork-- collecting and sharing data, programming across applications, and maintaining security. The latest in our Developer's Notebook series, this guide introduces intermediate to advanced Excel VBA programmers to the newest programming features of Excel 2003,--focusing just on what's new--so you can get up to speed quickly. Light on theory and long on practical application, the book takes you directly to the topics you'll want to master through a series of hands-on projects. With dozens of practical labs, you'll be able to decide for yourself which new aspects of Excel will be useful or not in your own work. And best of all, you won't have to buy an expensive revision of a legacy Excel programming tutorial to learn about the new features--if they're covered there at all. Excel 2003 Programming: A Developer's Notebook shows you how to work with lists and XML data, secure Excel applications, use Visual Studio Tools for Office, consume Web Services, and collect data with Infopath. Each chapter is organized into a collection of labs, each of which addresses a specific programming problem. You can follow along to complete the lab on your own, or jump ahead and use the samples the author has built for you. The new Developer's Notebooks series from O'Reilly covers important new tools for software developers. Emphasizing example over explanation and practice over theory, they focus on learning by doing--you'll get the goods straight from the masters, in an informal and code-intensive style that suits developers. If you've been curious about Excel 2003, but haven't known where to start, this no-fluff, lab-style guide is the solution.

Read more less

The ultimate pocket-sized guide to more than 200 of North America’s feathered residents. Can American dippers stay underwater for as long as half a minute? Why does the golden eagle have feathered legs while the bald eagle’s legs are bare? Is the long-legged, scrappy roadrunner truly able to run circles around a rattlesnake? Whether you are a budding bird-watcher hoping to find species in woodland or someone curious about the feathered visitors in your own backyard, you can look for answers to all these questions and more in this pocket-sized guide to many of the birds in North America. From the common American robin to the elusive California condor, the North American continent is home to a rich variety of bird species, which number at more than 2,000. Each one is amazing in its own way, and this fact-filled bird book for kids aged 8–12 helps you learn about many of them. Soar into the pages of this brilliant bird book to explore: - Individual entries on birds, with a caption and accompanying data icons including sex, size, habitats and map- Explanatory spreads delve deeper into bird features and lifestyles, habitats, identifying birds, and helping birds- Birds covered also include tropical species from Central America- Reference spreads at the end of the book provide further amazing facts Organized clearly by the bird order and family, the entries in this book are easy to navigate. Stunning, color photographs are paired with small, bite-sized chunks of information on each species, including bits on body, feeding style, habitat, range, nests, or call. Maps provide information on the seasonal ranges of each bird and useful annotations and data icons – habitat, size, and sex – help you in identifying them. Ideal for the dedicated bird-watcher, this beautiful bird-watching book includes stunning full-color photographs of over birds, revealing each species with unrivaled clarity. The reference pages pack in more data with lists of record breakers and endangered species, as well as many other fun facts. The Pocket Genius series is perfect for all children, whether they are learning about birds or are amateur bird spotters already!

Read more less

National human rights institutions—state agencies charged with protecting and promoting human rights domestically—have proliferated dramatically since the 1990s; today more than a hundred countries have NHRIs, with dozens more seeking to join the global trend. These institutions are found in states of all sizes—from the Maldives and Barbados to South Africa, Mexico, and India; they exist in conflict zones and comparatively stable democracies alike. In Chains of Justice, Sonia Cardenas offers a sweeping historical and global account of the emergence of NHRIs, linking their growing prominence to the contradictions and possibilities of the modern state. As human rights norms gained visibility at the end of the twentieth century, states began creating NHRIs based on the idea that if international human rights standards were ever to take root, they had to be firmly implanted within countries—impacting domestic laws and administrative practices and even systems of education. However, this very position within a complex state makes it particularly challenging to assess the design and influence of NHRIs: some observers are inclined to associate NHRIs with ideals of restraint and accountability, whereas others are suspicious of these institutions as "pretenders" in democratic disguise. In her theoretically and politically grounded examination, Cardenas tackles the role of NHRIs, asking how we can understand the global diffusion of these institutions, including why individual states decide to create an NHRI at a particular time while others resist the trend. She explores the influence of these institutions in states seeking mostly to appease international audiences as well as their value in places where respect for human rights is already strong. The most comprehensive account of the NHRI phenomenon to date, Chains of Justice analyzes many institutions never studied before and draws from new data released from the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council. With its global scope and fresh insights into the origins and influence of NHRIs, Chains of Justice promises to become a standard reference that will appeal to scholars immersed in the workings of these understudied institutions as well as nonspecialists curious about the role of the state in human rights.

Read more less

The Mono Project is the much talked-about open source initiative to create a Unix implementation of Microsoft's .NET Development Framework. Its purpose is to allow Unix developers to build and deploy cross-platform .NET applications. The project has also sparked interest in developing components, libraries and frameworks with C#, the programming language of .NET. The controversy? Some say Mono will become the preferred platform for Linux development, empowering Linux/Unix developers. Others say it will allow Microsoft to embrace, extend, and extinguish Linux. The controversy rages on, but--like many developers--maybe you've had enough talk and want to see what Mono is really all about. There's one way to find out: roll up your sleeves, get to work, and see what you Mono can do. How do you start? You can research Mono at length. You can play around with it, hoping to figure things out for yourself. Or, you can get straight to work with Mono: A Developer's Notebook--a hands-on guide and your trusty lab partner as you explore Mono 1.0. Light on theory and long on practical application, Mono: A Developer's Notebook bypasses the talk and theory, and jumps right into Mono 1.0. Diving quickly into a rapid tour of Mono, you'll work through nearly fifty mini-projects that will introduce you to the most important and compelling aspects of the 1.0 release. Using the task-oriented format of this new series, you'll learn how to acquire, install, and run Mono on Linux, Windows, or Mac OS X. You'll work with the various Mono components: the Common Language Runtime, the class libraries (both .NET and Mono-provided class libraries), and the Mono C# compiler. No other resource will take you so deeply into Mono so quickly or show you as effectively what Mono is capable of. The new Developer's Notebooks series from O'Reilly covers important new tools for software developers. Emphasizing example over explanation and practice over theory, they focus on learning by doing--you'll get the goods straight from the masters, in an informal and code-intensive style that suits developers. If you've been curious about Mono, but haven't known where to start, this no-fluff, lab-style guide is the solution.

Read more less

An unprecedented look into the basic physics, chemistry, and technology behind the LCD Most notably used for computer screens, televisions, and mobile phones, LCDs (liquid crystal displays) are a pervasive and increasingly indispensable part of our lives. Providing both an historical and a business-minded context, this extensive resource describes the unique scientific and engineering techniques used to create these beautiful, clever, and eminently useful devices. In this book, the history of the science and technology behind the LCD is described in a prelude to the development of the device, presenting a rational development theme and pinpointing innovations. The book begins with Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism, and the ultimately profound realization that light is an electromagnetic wave and an electromagnetic wave is light. The power of mathematical physics thus was brought to bear upon the study of light, and particularly the polarization of light by material bodies, including liquid crystals. After a brief historical description of polarization, a physical interpretation provides substance to the mathematical concepts. Subsequent chapters cover: Thermodynamics for liquid crystals The Maier-Saupe mean field, phenomenological, static continuum, and dynamic continuum theories The transistor and integrated circuit Glass, panels, and modules The calculus of variations The active matrix Semiconductor fabrication The global LCD business Additionally, the book illustrates how mathematics, physics, and chemistry are put to practical use in the LCDs we use every day. By describing the science from an historical perspective and in practical terms in the context of a device very familiar to readers, the book presents an engaging and unique view of the technology for everyone from science students to engineers, product designers, and indeed anyone curious about LCDs. Series Editor: Anthony C. Lowe, The Lambent Consultancy, Braishfield, UK The Society for Information Display (SID) is an international society, which has the aim of encouraging the development of all aspects of the field of information display. Complementary to the aims of the society, the Wiley-SID series is intended to explain the latest developments in information display technology at a professional level. The broad scope of the series addresses all facets of information displays from technical aspects through systems and prototypes to standards and ergonomics.

Read more less

Film photography has recently witnessed a significant renaissance and not just among those who have previously shot with film. Interest in film photography and analogue photography has also grown enormously among those who have only ever shot digitally. In The Film Photography Handbook, 3rd Edition, authors Chris Marquardt and Monika Andrae speak to both types of film photographers as they offer an easy-to-understand, complete resource to shooting film. In this updated and expanded edition, they address today s working climate, including such topics as the hybrid film/digital workflow, the digitization of negatives, and using smartphones for light metering and to assist in film processing. This book is intended for anyone who is curious about film and analogue photography, whether you need a refresher course or are discovering this wonderful format for the first time. You ll learn how easy it is to shoot and process black-and-white film at home, and that just a little special equipment is needed to get into film photography. You ll learn all about: The important differences between film and digital photography Numerous film cameras, as well as how to buy a second-hand camera Film formats, from 35 mm to medium format and large format Exposure settings, tonal values, and tonal representations in different types of film, from colour negatives and slides to the enormous spectrum of black-and-white film Processing film, covering everything you need to know: equipment, chemicals, and workflow Scanning negatives to bring your analogue photography into a digital workflow Both presenting and archiving your prints and negatives. Working in such an analogue medium requires a unique approach to photography, and it fosters a completely different form of creativity. Working in film and embracing analogue photography can also prove to be a great inspiration for your own digital photography, as well. The Film Photography Handbook, 3rd Edition covers it all from the technical to the creative and will have you shooting film in no time, whether it s with an old rangefinder, an inexpensive Holga, or a medium-format Rolleiflex or Hasselblad.

Read more less

In the era of self-taught developers and programmers, essential topics in the industry are frequently learned without a formal academic foundation. A solid grasp of data structures and algorithms (DSA) is imperative for anyone looking to do professional software development and engineering, but classes in the subject can be dry or spend too much time on theory and unnecessary readings. Regardless of your programming language background, Codeless Data Structures and Algorithms has you covered.In this book, author Armstrong Subero will help you learn DSAs without writing a single line of code. Straightforward explanations and diagrams give you a confident handle on the topic while ensuring you never have to open your code editor, use a compiler, or look at an integrated development environment. Subero introduces you to linear, tree, and hash data structures and gives you important insights behind the most common algorithms that you can directly apply to your own programs. Codeless Data Structures and Algorithms provides you with the knowledge about DSAs that you will need in the professional programming world, without using any complex mathematics or irrelevant information. Whether you are a new developer seeking a basic understanding of the subject or a decision-maker wanting a grasp of algorithms to apply to your projects, this book belongs on your shelf. Quite often, a new, refreshing, and unpretentious approach to a topic is all you need to get inspired. What You'll Learn Understand tree data structures without delving into unnecessary details or going into too much theory Get started learning linear data structures with a basic discussion on computer memory Study an overview of arrays, linked lists, stacks and queues Who This Book Is ForThis book is for beginners, self-taught developers and programmers, and anyone who wants to understand data structures and algorithms but don’t want to wade through unnecessary details about quirks of a programming language or don’t have time to sit and read a massive book on the subject. This book is also useful for non-technical decision-makers who are curious about how algorithms work.

Read more less

"Straight Talk for Startups memorializes age-old best practices and empowers both experienced and new investment professionals to beat the odds."—David Krane, CEO, Google Ventures"Straight Talk for Startups is filled with real, raw, and fact-based ‘rules of the road’ that you need to know when diving into our ultra-competitive startup world. A must read and a re-read!"—Tony Fadell, Coinventor of the iPod/iPhone & Founder of Nest LabsVeteran venture capitalist Randy Komisar and finance executive Jantoon Reigersman share no-nonsense, counterintuitive guidelines to help anyone build a successful startup.Over the course of their careers, Randy Komisar and Jantoon Reigersman continue to see startups crash and burn because they forget the timeless lessons of entrepreneurship.But, as Komisar and Reigersman show, you can beat the odds if you quickly learn what insiders know about what it takes to build a healthy foundation for a thriving venture. In Straight Talk for Startups they walk budding entrepreneurs through 100 essential rules—from pitching your idea to selecting investors to managing your board to deciding how and when to achieve liquidity. Culled from their own decades of experience, as well as the experiences of their many successful colleagues and friends, the rules are organized under broad topics, from "Mastering the Fundamentals" and "Selecting the Right Investors," to "The Ideal Fundraise," "Building and Managing Effective Boards," and "Achieving Liquidity."Vital rules you’ll find in Straight Talk for Startups include: The best ideas originate from founders who are users Create two business plans: an execution plan and an aspirational plan Net income is an option, but cash flow is a fact Don’t accept money from strangers Personal wealth doesn’t equal good investing Small boards are better than big ones Add independent board members for expertise and objectivity Too many unanimous board decisions are a sign of trouble Choose an acquirer, don’t wait to be chosen Learn the rules by heart so you know when to break them Filled with helpful real-life examples and specific, actionable advice, Straight Talk for Startups is the ideal handbook for anyone running, working for, or thinking about creating a startup, or just curious about what makes high-potential ventures tick.

Read more less

The complete beginner’s guide to Krav Maga An instructional book for athletes interested in this type of self-defense Updated edition that contains the basic rules and new tips to improve your form and prevent injury This training manual is ideal for anyone curious about Krav Maga. This noncompetitive self- defense technique began in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). The guide’s author, Boaz Aviram, has been a member of the IDF for years. Krav Maga brings together skills and training from many martial arts, ranging from jiujitsu to judo to boxing. It shares with is students critical lessons in maintaining awareness and making each strike count in self-defense. In its instructional and updated edition, Krav Maga: Use Your Body as a Weapon teaches athletes about their own anatomy and muscles to help them avoid injury.Aviram provides concrete and reliable information on how to tackle your opponent int he more efficient and effective way. Some methods include: Paying attention to possible escape routes Using your opponent’s weakest areas to your advantage Using common objects at hand to fight with Preemptive counterattacks This book offers the basic philosophy and use of hand-to-hand training as it began, and the author meticulously describes the basis of each skill to help the reader and athlete understand it clearly. With more than 1,000 photos and 150 techniques, Krav Maga: Use Your Body as a a Weapon belongs on the bookshelf of everyone interested in this technique. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, is proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. In addition to books on popular team sports, we also publish books for a wide variety of athletes and sports enthusiasts, including books on running, cycling, horseback riding, swimming, tennis, martial arts, golf, camping, hiking, aviation, boating, and so much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Read more less

'Superbly illustrated and well explained advice regarding all things paddleboarding. A hugely worthwhile read with all the tips and hints you need to get on your board to enjoy it whilst feeling safe.' Glasgow Paddleboarders Co Stand-up paddleboarding is the fastest growing watersport in the world - with only a little knowledge and practice, pretty much anyone can get up and get moving, and then there’s no limit to where SUP can take you. This complete guide gives you everything you need to know to get started, and much more besides. All the basics are here, from fundamental equipment (a guide to boards, including bargain-priced inflatables, as well as paddles, clothing and simple safety gear) to essential techniques (getting on, getting moving and, just as importantly, landing and getting off). Along with challenges and games to play with your new paddleboarding buddies, the book explores places to go and things to see, from rivers and canals to coastlines and travel further afield. The book also explains all the important stuff you might need to understand about weather, tides, waves and currents. However, The Paddleboard Bible then goes much further. It will take you on paddleboard adventures, from night paddles (showing you the world from the water in a way you’ve probably never seen it before) to wildlife-spotting safaris and unique photography opportunities; it even reveals the benefits of fishing from a paddleboard. And it’s not all gentle stuff – for adrenaline junkies there is SUP surfing, riding white water rapids and for the more competitive types, SUP racing. SUP is also great for fitness (you haven't done yoga until you've done SUP yoga) and there’s a booming social side too. It’s a fantastic way to meet new people, join groups, go to events and go on unique tours. However you want to get into stand-up paddleboarding, whether you’re curious about trying it one afternoon, want to dive into it as a new hobby or really get involved in the scene and the lifestyle, then The Paddleboard Bible is the one-stop book that covers everything you need to know about the most accessible and inexpensive paddlesport.

Read more less

From the beginning of World War II until he left the White House in early 1961, Dwight David Eisenhower played a leadership role on the world stage. This was longer than any American since George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams. His Columbia presidency was part of this period, yet the story has not been told. Scholars have repeated earlier critical contemporary assessments and largely dismissed or ignored that part of his career. Jacobs seeks to answer many of the open-ended questions about Eisenhower's tenure as successor to Nicholas Murray Butler, whom many consider the greatest university president of the century. Jacobs examines previously unused sources to analyze Eisenhower's leadership and accomplishments, his goals and intentions, and whether his presidency at Columbia, generally considered a failure, ever had a chance of succeeding.This insightful, well-written volume covers the years that played such a vital role in Dwight D. Eisenhower's journey to the White House. Jacobs reviews Eisenhower's appointment as chief of staff after his return from Europe after V-E Day, and, concurrently, looks at Columbia's difficulties in its troubled search for a president. He examines the deliberations on both sides before Eisenhower's acceptance of Columbia's presidency, and the circumstances surrounding his arrival and installation. Jacobs covers Eisenhower's subsequent leave of absence and return to duty at the Pentagon as NATO commander and the impact of his extended absence from Columbia. He resigned on the eve of his inauguration as president of the United States. Jacobs recounts the hostility of campus liberal intellectuals who had increasingly resented Eisenhower's presidency and were offended by the New York Times's endorsement of Eisenhower over Adlai E. Stevenson for the 1952 presidential campaign. Jacobs views Eisenhower's years as university president as playing a significant role in preparing him for his White House years.A thorough assessment of Eisenhower's career on Morningside Heights is long overdue. Jacobs' insights on Eisenhower's presidency at Columbia will be of interest to Eisenhower's biographers, college and university administrators, American studies students, and the general public, curious about Eisenhower's public service as a civilian, before he became U. S. president.

Read more less