Search results for ""everything""

Nature School is your destination for kid-friendly nature learning, where you can explore the natural world through engaging reading, beautiful illustrations, and more than 30 hands-on activities.2023 EUREKA! Nonfiction Children’s Honor Book Kids need a break from screens now more than ever. Screen-free time spent exploring and learning about the outdoors makes for happier, healthier, smarter kids. And playing in nature gives kids confidence and independence, promoting creativity and teaching responsibility. With Nature School, all ages will enjoy connecting with nature and becoming inspired to discover the wild places around them.Travel through five of earth’s largest biomes, studying plants, animals, and their adaptations for survival—and learn hands-on through nature experiments explained in each lesson.From the arid desert to the salty seashore, investigate extraordinary ecosystems, discovering the role of predators and prey and learning about life cycles, climate, landscape, and more. Chapters in this book explore plants, animals, and life cycles of: Temperate Forests Deserts Seashores Grasslands Wetlands Featuring activities and experiments that include: Bark & Leaf Rubbings Desertscape Diorama Salt Dough Seashells Tornado in a Bottle Nature Journaling The whole family will enjoy learning through Nature School!

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From simple reflexes to complex choreographies of movement, all animal behavior is governed by a nervous system. But what kind of government is it—a dictatorship or a democracy?Nervous systems consist of circuits of interconnected nerve cells (neurons) that transmit and receive information via electrical signals. Every moment, each neuron adds up stimulating and inhibiting inputs from many other neurons to determine whether to send an electrical signal to its recipients. Some circuits are dominated by a single “dictator” neuron that gathers information from many sources and then issues commands, such as the Mauthner neuron that triggers escape in fish. In other more “democratic” circuits, such as those mediating eye movements in monkeys, the outcome is determined by a tally of “votes” from a large population of neurons. Rhythmic movements like breathing and locomotion are generated by “government programs” within the central nervous system, but modified by a soup of chemicals and by free market–like feedback from sensory neurons. Nervous systems also use sophisticated surveillance of the surrounding environment and keep track of their own decisions in order to avoid internal conflicts. Nervous systems are not restricted to using one set of procedures at a time. They have evolved over long periods to control behaviors in whichever ways are most effective, and they essentially combine multiple forms of government simultaneously.Engaging and accessible, Governing Behavior explains the variety of structures and strategies that control behavior, while providing an overview of thought-provoking debates and cutting-edge research in neurobiology.

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From red carpet premieres to hot nights, Rachel Zoe personally decides what Hollywood's 'it' crowd is wearing. Now, she offers full access to the style secrets that skyrocketed clients such as Lindsay Lohan, Cameron Diaz, and Mischa Barton to the top of best dressed lists worldwide. Readers will discover how to develop their own individual style in every part of their life, from clothing to entertaining to home decorating- on a realistic budget. STYLE A TO ZOE includes tips on must-have accessories and wardrobe staples for every occasion, on packing and traveling like a jet-setter, and on when to save and when to splurge on handbags, shoes, and more. With original interviews and contributions from fashion A-listers like Michael Kors, Donatella Versace, and Roberto Cavalli, as well as never-before-seen colour photographs of Rachel's celebrity clients and her Hollywood home, readers will soon be creating their own red carpet moments.

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How do writers approach a new novel? Do they start with plot, character, or theme? A. S. Byatt starts with color. E. L. Doctorow begins with an image. In Off the Page, authors tell us how they work, giving insight into their writing process. Gathered from some of today’s best writers—Paul Auster, Martin Amis, Gish Jen, Dan Chaon, Alice McDermott, and many others interviewed on washingtonpost.com’s “Off the Page” series—host Carole Burns has woven their wisdom into chapters illuminating to any writer or reader. How does place influence authors? How do they make a sex scene work? How do they tell when the work is done? Walter Mosley defying genre; Shirley Hazzard on love; Michael Cunningham on compassion: these and more from Richard Ford, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Charles Baxter will deepen your appreciation for the art of writing and excite you to try new ways of writing yourself.

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From expert on sustainable excellence, coach, and bestselling author of The Practice of Groundedness comes a revelatory book on rethinking change and creating a rugged and flexible mindset amidst life's intensifying flux.We undergo change and transformation—both good and bad—regularly. From social disruptions like economic recessions, pandemics, and new technologies to individual disruptions like getting married, career transitions, and becoming a parent, change is not the exception, it’s the rule. Yet we endlessly fight it, often viewing it as a threat to our stability and sense of self.Master of Change flips this script on its head and offers a path for embracing and even growing from change, which is accelerating seemingly every day.Stulberg introduces a new model that describes change as an ongoing cycle of order, disorder, and reorder—yes, we return to stability, but that stability is somewhere new. Rather than resist change we benefit from being in conversation with it. Drawing on convergence between modern science, ancient wisdom, and daily practice, he offers concrete principles for developing a mindset called rugged flexibility, along with the habits and practices to implement it.Readers will learn: How to open to the flow of life. The importance of expectations. How to cultivate a fluid yet firm sense of self. How to create the space to respond not react to life's challenges. The paradox of making meaning and moving forward. And so much more.The result is a timely and transformative book that reshapes change and shows you how to grow in its midst, moving forward better, stronger, and wiser than you were before.

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Revel in the fun and fascinating explanations behind Scottish traditions and folklore—from William Wallace, Rob Roy, and MacBeth to golf, kilts, and haggis.Here are the answers to questions you’ve always had—or never knew you had—and more as he covers all aspects of Scotland. From Scottish culture to the ancient history of the country to modern pastimes, this book has all that and more. Learn… Why the thistle is the floral emblem of Scotland, How Scotch whisky is made, Why the Scots celebrate Hogmanay How to play the bagpipes If there is really a monster living in Loch Ness What is Gaelic What is the Stone of Destiny And much more. This delightful book is the perfect gift for anyone planning a visit to Scotland, with an interest in Scottish history, or a drop of Scottish blood. With 50 color illustrations.

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As a twenty-something, you may feel like you are being pulled in dozen different directions. With the daily tumult, busyness, and major life changes you experience as a young adult, you may also be particularly vulnerable to stress and its negative effects. Emerging adulthood, which occurs between the ages of 18 and 29, is a developmental stage of life when you're faced with important decisions about school, relationships, sex, your career, and more. With so much going on, you need a guide to help you navigate with less stress and more ease.The Koru Mindfulness program, developed at Duke University and already in use on numerous college campuses and in treatment centers across the country, is the only evidence-based mindfulness training program for young adults that has been empirically proven to have significant benefits for sleep, perceived stress, and self-compassion. Now, with The Mindful Twenty-Something, this popular program is accessible to all young adults struggling with stress.With Koru Mindfulness and the practical tools you'll learn from this acceptance-based, proven-effective approach, you'll be able to cultivate the compassion and mindfulness skills you need to manage life's challenges from a calm, balanced center, regardless of what comes your way.

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Every business faces the existential threat of competitors producing cheaper copies. Even patent filings, market dominance and financial resources can't shield them from copycats. So what can we do--and, what can we learn from companies that have endured and even prospered for centuries despite copycat competition?In a book of narrative history and practical strategy, IMD professor of management and innovation Howard Yu shows that succeeding in today's marketplace is no longer just a matter of mastering copycat tactics, companies also need to leap across knowledge disciplines, and to reimagine how a product is made or a service is delivered. This proven tactic can protect a company from being overtaken by new (and often foreign) copycat competitors.Using riveting case studies of successful leaps and tragic falls, Yu illustrates five principles to success that span a wide range of industries, countries, and eras. Learn about how P&G in the 19th century made the leap from handcrafted soaps and candles to mass production of its signature brand Ivory, leaped into the new fields of consumer psychology and advertising, then leaped again, at the risk of cannibalizing its core product, into synthetic detergents and won with Tide in 1946. Learn about how Novartis and other pharma pioneers stayed ahead by making leaps from chemistry to microbiology to genomics in drug discovery; and how forward-thinking companies, including China's largest social media app--WeChat, Tokyo-based Internet service provider Recruit Holdings, and Illinois-headquartered John Deere are leaping ahead by leveraging the emergence of ubiquitous connectivity, the inexorable rise of intelligent machines, and the rising importance of managerial creativity.Outlasting competition is difficult; doing so over decades or a century is nearly impossible--unless one leaps. Ultimately, Leap is a manifesto for how pioneering companies can endure and prosper in a world of constant change and inevitable copycats.

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A Short History of Falling – like The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, and When Breath Becomes Air – is a searingly beautiful, profound and unforgettable memoir that finds light and even humour in the darkest of places. Now with a Foreword by Joe’s widow, Gill Hammond We keep an old shoebox, Gill and I, nestled in a drawer in our room. It’s filled with thirty-three birthday cards for our two young sons: one for every year I’ll miss until they’re twenty-one. I wrote them because, since the end of 2017, I’ve been living with – and dying from – motor neurone disease. This book is about the process of saying goodbye. To my body, as I journey from unexpected clumsiness to a wheelchair that resembles a spacecraft, with rods and pads and dials and bleeps. To this world, as I play less of a part in it and find myself floating off into unlighted territory. To Gill, my wife. To Tom and Jimmy. A Short History of Falling is about the sadness (and the anger, and the fear), but it’s about what’s beautiful too. It’s about love and fatherhood, about the precious experience of observing my last moments with this body, surrounded by the people who matter most. It’s about what it feels like to confront the fact that my family will persist through time with only a memory of me. In many ways, it has been the most amazing time of my life.

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'Sex and The City in the age of The Secret. The go-to dating guide for anyone who prefers to man-ifest rather than man-obsess.' GEORGIA LOVE Attract the love you are oh-so-worthy ofDating, if we're not doing it with intention, can be something we dive into with little clarity. We don't check the water's depth, the surrounding currents or our ability to stay afloat. Before we know it, we're in the middle of the sea with nothing but a life vest and a whistle, wondering where all the fish are. But what if dating didn't have to be like this? What if there was a way to do it differently that had nothing to do with playing games, pretending to be someone you're not or being the supporting act to someone else's starring role? Enter Jordanna Levin, bestselling author of manifestation bible Make It Happen, who's been there and knows a thing or two about the search for love. Whether you're testing the water for the first time, diving back in after a break or a long-time swimmer, Higher Love takes dating and flips it on its head, inviting you to get curious about the role you play in your own love story and helping you strengthen your personal vibration to attract the love that you deserve. This is a book about dating, yes, but at its essence, it's about figuring out who you are, what lights you up and how you want to feel in love.Viva amore.

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A beautiful and honest journey through a child's worries and fears when faced with sudden change. When all this ends, will I still have my friends? When school suddenly shuts one day, Billy is worried about what will happen next... will things ever return to the way they were before?

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See the Earth revealed in amazing detail through more than 640 spectacular maps, along with fascinating fact files about countries all over the world.The world is a big place, but this best-selling reference atlas keeps things suitably small for children and adults alike. More than 640 stunning maps come together in DK's Concise World Atlas, from the frozen ice of Antarctica to the hot tropics of Africa. Terrain models show features of the land, while informative text, photographs, and diagrams combine to create a superb overview of the world's physical, political, economic, and demographic geography. Careful presentation and easy language ensure the information stays clear and concise for younger readers throughout the book.196 nations are detailed in fascinating fact files, alongside information about the country's land use, industries, and population distribution. An index bursting with 80,000 entries makes the Concise World Atlas an essential desktop reference for homes, schools, and businesses.

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'This book took hold of me and wouldn't let me go until I turned the final page' BETH O'LEARY 'Funny, tender and uplifting' BBC RADIO 4 'Beautifully written and thought-provoking' KATIE FFORDE 'This is one of those books you just want to gulp down in one' GOOD HOUSEKEEPINGThe Art of Belonging, Eleanor Ray's utterly heartwarming new novel about what it truly means to belong to those you love, is available to preorder now! ........................................... When Amy Ashton's world fell apart eleven years ago, she started a collection. Just a few keepsakes of happier times: some honeysuckle to remind herself of the boy she loved, a chipped china bird, an old terracotta pot . . . Things that others might throw away, but to Amy, represent a life that could have been. Now her house is overflowing with the objects she loves - soon there'll be no room for Amy at all. But when a family move in next door, a chance discovery unearths a mystery, and Amy's carefully curated life begins to unravel. If she can find the courage to face her past, might the future she thought she'd lost still be hers for the taking? Perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant and The Keeper of Lost Things, this exquisitely told, uplifting novel shows us that however hopeless things might feel, beauty can be found in the most unexpected of places. ........................................... Everyone is talking about Eleanor Ray: 'This novel is a treasure' WOMAN 'A joy to read, and very beautiful indeed' LISA DICKENSON 'A total treat of a read - warm, enchanting and intriguing, with an unforgettable protagonist at its heart' HOLLY MILLER 'There's an intriguing mystery at the heart of this emotional but uplifting debut novel' SUNDAY EXPRESS 'Beautifully written and full of compassion, kindness and hope' IRISH INDEPENDENT 'A gorgeous, warm hug of a novel' SINEAD MORIARTY 'A tonic for the soul' LESLEY KARA 'Charming and thrilling, romantic and gripping' CLAIRE KENDAL 'Eleanor Ray has perfectly captured how it feels to not quite fit in' M W CRAVEN 'A wonderful celebration of the power of kindness' HANNAH TOVEY 'Heart-warming and thought-provoking, a mystery with a difference' ANDREA MARA'I relished it from start to finish. A beautiful book. Thought-provoking. Evocative. A treat to read' AMANDA ROBSON 'A gently absorbing entry into the mystery-uplit canon' VASEEM KHAN 'Charming, endearing . . . will melt even the hardest of hearts' JOANNA NELL 'My book of the year! An absolute must read' LAUREN NORTH 'I loved every bit of it. I think the term in book reviewer lingo is "utterly captivated" - and I was, as it was not only so beautifully written but the story was brilliant, too' FLISS CHESTER 'A brilliantly original protagonist and an intriguing mystery - this book brings a tear to the eye and uplifts the spirit' JACKIE KABLER

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In This Explains Everything, John Brockman, founder and publisher of Edge.org, asked experts in numerous fields and disciplines to come up with their favorite explanations for everyday occurrences. Why do we recognize patterns? Is there such a thing as positive stress? Are we genetically programmed to be in conflict with each other? Those are just some of the 150 questions that the world's best scientific minds answer with elegant simplicity. With contributions from Jared Diamond, Richard Dawkins, Nassim Taleb, Brian Eno, Steven Pinker, and more, everything is explained in fun, uncomplicated terms that make the most complex concepts easy to comprehend.

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Perfect for anyone seeking to get a firm handle on their personal finances, Financial Adulting is a must-have resource that demystifies and simplifies complex topics and makes understanding personal finance fun From the founder of The Fiscal Femme, a popular feminist money platform, and author of The 30-Day Money Cleanse, Ashley Feinstein Gerstley's Financial Adulting: Everything You Need to be a Financially Confident and Conscious Adult delivers an easy-to-follow, informative, and fun financial guide. From budgeting and consumer activism to retirement investing and paying down debt, you'll learn everything you need to know and do to be a financially savvy adult. In this important book, you'll: Master fundamental concepts, including dealing with student loans, maximizing your 401(k), and preparing for salary negotiations Use a racial and feminist justice lens to tackle rarely discussed topics in money and equity and better understand deep-seated historic and systemic obstacles Recognize that your circumstances, goals, and values are unique and require a custom approach in order to succeed financially Receive a simple step-by-step guide to reaching your financial goals while living a big, exciting, and meaningful life

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Over 150,000 troops landed on the five beaches of D-Day, with over 20,000 reported casualties across both sides. June 6, 1944 will be a day forever remembered in history. The story of D-Day has been told on countless occasions, and is an event that reverberates through time as one of the most pivotal moments in our history. "Everything We Have" tells the personal stories of the people involved in Operation Overlord, in their own words. Using rare documents, artifacts and first-hand accounts from The US National WWII Museum's official archives, you can gain a rare insight into the thoughts and feelings of those soldiers who landed on the beaches of Normandy.

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Long-time Bible Professor Tells the Compelling Story of Jesus The story of Jesus is the greatest story of all time. But the repetition and varying order of events in the Gospels can be confusing to readers. As he does in his bestselling book The Whole Bible Story, Dr. William Marty presents the full narrative of Jesus in chronological order. He tells the fascinating account of everything that happened in Jesus' life--from his birth to his ascension--as well as what happened in the church after he left. The Jesus Story is perfect for new Christians longing to get to know Jesus or long-time believers wanting to recapture the awe and amazement of hearing this remarkable story for the first time.

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Erin Jeanne McDowell, New York Times contributing baker extraordinaire and top food stylist, wrote the book on pie, a comprehensive handbook that distills all you'll ever need to know for making perfect pies. The Book on Pie starts with the basics, including ways to mix pie dough for extra flaky crusts, storage and freezing, recipe size conversions, and expert tips for decorating and styling, before diving into the recipes for all the different kinds of pies: fruit, custard, cream, chiffon, cold set, savory, and mini. Find everything from classics like Apple Pie and Pumpkin Pie, to more inspired recipes like Birthday-Cake Pie and Caramel Pork Pie with Chile and Scallions. Erin also suggests recommended pie doughs and toppings with each recipe for infinitely customizable pies: Mix and match Pumpkin Spice Pie Dough and Dark Chocolate Drippy Glaze with the Pumpkin Pie, or sub in the Chive Compound-Butter Crust for the Croque Madame Pielets . . . the possibilities are endless. With helpful tips, photographic guides, and inspirations—pie-deas—it's almost like having Erin in the kitchen baking pies with you.

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We're constantly being told that popular culture is just mindless entertainment - but, as Steven Johnson shows in Everything Bad is Good for You, it's actually making us more intelligent. Steven Johnson puts forward a radical alternative to the endless complaints about reality TV, throwaway movies and violent video games. He shows that mass culture - The Simpsons, Desperate Housewives, The Apprentice, The Sopranos, Grand Theft Auto - is actually more sophisticated and challenging than ever before. When we focus on what our minds have to do to process its complex, multilayered messages, it becomes clear that it's not dumbing us down - but smartening us up. 'As witty as Seinfeld and as wise as ER' New Statesman 'Wonderfully entertaining' Malcolm Gladwell 'A vital, lucid exploration of the contemporary mediascape' Time Out 'A guru for Generation Xbox' Financial Times 'A must-read' Mark Thompson, former Director-General of the BBC Steven Johnson is the bestselling author of Mind Wide Open, Where Good Ideas Come From, and Emergence: The Connected Lives Of Ants, Brains, Cities and Software, named as one of the best books of 2001 by Esquire, The Village Voice, Amazon.com, and Discover Magazine, and a finalist for the Helen Bernstein Award for Excellence in Journalism.

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The account of one radically new school year for a Teacher of the Year and for his nonbinary, art-obsessed, brilliant child Seven-year-old Ollie was researching local advanced school programs—because every second grader does that, right? Ollie, who used to hate weekends because they meant no school, was crying on the way to school almost every day. Sure, there were the slings and arrows of bullies and bad teachers, but, maybe worse, Ollie, a funny, anxious, smart kid with a thing for choir and an eye for graphic art, was gravely underchallenged and also struggling with identity and how to live totally as themselves. Ollie begged to switch to a new school with “kids like me,” where they wouldn’t feel so alone, or so bored, and so they made the change. Raising Ollie is dad Tom Rademacher’s story (really, many stories) of that eventful and sometimes painful school year, parenting Ollie and relearning every day what it means to be a father and teacher. As Ollie—who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, and prefers art to athletics, vegetables to cake, and animals to most humans—flourishes in their new school, Rademacher is making an eye-opening adjustment to a new school of his own, one that’s whiter and more suburban than anywhere he has previously taught, with a history of racial tension that he tries to address and navigate. While Ollie is learning to code, 3D model, animate, speak Japanese, and finally feel comfortable at school, Rademacher increasingly sees how his own educational struggles, anxieties, and childhood upbringing are reflected in his teaching, writing, and parenting, as well as in Ollie’s experience. And with this story of one anything-but-academic year of inquiry and wonder, doubt and revelation, he shows us how raising a kid changes everything—and how much raising a kid like Ollie can teach us about who we are and what we’re doing in the world.

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Is everything Information? This is a tantalizing question which emerges in modern physics, life sciences, astronomy and in today’s information and technology-driven society. In Powers of Two expert authors undertake a unique expedition - in words and images - throughout the world (and scales) of information. The story resembles, in a way, the classic Powers of Ten journeys through space: from us to the macro and the micro worlds . However, by following Powers of Two through the world of information, a completely different and timely paradigm unfolds. Every power of two, 1, 2, 4, 8…. tells us a different story: starting from the creation of the very first bit at the Big Bang and the evolution of life, through 50 years of computational science, and finally into deep space, describing the information in black holes and even in the entire universe and beyond…. All this to address one question: Is our universe made of information? In this book, we experience the Information Universe in nature and in our society and how information lies at the very foundation of our understanding of the Universe.From the Foreword by Robbert Dijkgraaf: This book is in many ways a vastly extended version of Shannon’s one-page blueprint. It carries us all the way to the total information content of the Universe. And it bears testimony of how widespread the use of data has become in all aspects of life. Information is the connective tissue of the modern sciences. […] Undoubtedly, future generations will look back at this time, so much enthralled by Big Data and quantum computers, as beholden to the information metaphor. But that is exactly the value of this book. With its crisp descriptions and evocative illustrations, it brings the reader into the here and now, at the very frontier of scientific research, including the excitement and promise of all the outstanding questions and future discoveries.Message for the e-reader of the book Powers of Two The book has been designed to be read in two-page spreads in full screen mode. For optimal reader experience in a downloaded .pdf file we strongly recommend you use the following settings in Adobe Acrobat Reader: - Taskbar: View > Page Display > two page view - Taskbar: View > Page Display > Show Cover Page in Two Page View - Taskbar: ^ Preferences > Full Screen > deselect " Fill screen with one page at a time" - Taskbar: View > Full screen mode or ctrl L (cmd L on a Mac) ***** Note: for reading the previews on Spinger link (and on-line reading in a browser), the full screen two-page view only works with these browsers: Firefox - Taskbar: on top of the text, at the uppermost right you will see then >> (which is a drop-down menu) >> even double pages - Fullscreen: F11 or Control+Cmd+F with Mac Edge - Taskbar middle: Two-page view and select show cover page separately

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No single invention epitomizes the Victorian era more than the black cast-iron range. Aware that the twenty-first-century has reduced it to a quaint relic, Ruth Goodman was determined to prove that the hot coal stove provided so much more than morning tea: it might even have kick-started the Industrial Revolution. Wielding the wit and passion seen in How to Be a Victorian, Goodman traces the tectonic shift from wood to coal in the mid-sixteenth century—from sooty trials and errors during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I to the totally smog-clouded reign of Queen Victoria. A pattern of innovation emerges as the women stoking these fires also stoked new global industries: from better soap to clean smudges to new ingredients for cooking. Laced with uproarious anecdotes of Goodman’s own experience managing a coal-fired household, this fascinating book shines a hot light on the power of domestic necessity.

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When trainers use games, learners win big.As a trainer interested in game design, you know that games are more effective than lectures. You've seen firsthand how immersive games hold learners' interest, helping them explore new skills and experience different points of view.But how do you become the Milton Bradley of learning games? Play to Learn is here to help.This book bridges the gap between instructional design and game design; it's written to grow your game literacy and strengthen crucial game design skills. Experts Sharon Boller and Karl Kapp share real examples of in-person and online games, and offer an online game for you to try as you read. They walk you through evaluating entertainment and learning games, so you can apply the best to your own designs.Play to Learn will also show you how to: Link game design to your business needs and learning objectives. Test your prototype and refine your design. Deploy your game to motivated and excited learners. So don't just play around. Think big, design well, and use Play to Learn as your guide.

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'The most riveting and unflinching he said/she said novel to date ... absolutely staggering, insanely gripping and wholly unputdownable.' May Cobb, author of The Hunting Wives Jess, Priyanka and Stephanie are all happily married to men they think they know inside out. Then each woman receives a letter accusing her husband of involvement in a sexual assault that took place 20 years ago. Who do they believe, what should they do and can they come together as their lives are upended? A compelling, beautifully crafted thriller about consent, friendship and prejudice which asks - would you sacrifice your family life in support of another woman? 'In an emotional and powerfully evocative story, three women grapple with a discovery that could shatter their lives. Ray has expertly crafted a thoughtful and important read that ends with a stunning surprise.' Liv Constantine, author of The Last Mrs Parrish

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The hymn of Digitalization is nothing new: We must encourage the creation of new apps. We must develop AI in order to prevail among international competition. Technology's advance will halt climate change and let robots do the dumb stuff for us. Our faith in technology is powerful because it has saved us in the past. The Almighty Machine shows us technology’s flip side. The things that once powered us toward a brighter tomorrow are already undermining our quality of life. The data stream has shattered our concentration, human relationships have been reduced to a menu of emojis, constant surveillance has nullified much of our privacy, and the development of AI could be the beginning of the end for us. We are becoming the casualties of our own success. Pekka Vahvanen's bristling and timely critique, deftly translated by Mark Jones, throws doubt on the necessity of technological development in a world saturated in tech. The Almighty Machine presents an important question: Does progress no longer make us happier?

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The call of an owl evokes mystery; seeing one in the wild inspires wonder. Of the top ten birds people hope to see, three are owls. Although they may be out of sight, owls are widespread throughout North America-and screech owls are the most likely to make their homes near humans. In this book, experts Jim Wright and Scott Weston show you how to attract them to nest in your yard, year after year.The Screech Owl Companion introduces screech owls, show how to distinguish them from other species, shares fun lore and legend, and provides step-by-step instructions for making your yard screech ready. You'll learn how to build a nest box and install a simple nest cam that you can monitor from your cell phone to watch when owls move in, lay eggs, and hatch.

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Investing as a business angel offers fun and financial reward but the real world is much tougher than portrayed in the reality TV show Dragons Den. Anything can go wrong with a young company, from an unreliable product to a lack of customers, unexpected competition to management failure and, most commonly, simply running out of money. But small companies are a vital part of the economy, and the tax breaks for investing are a great incentive. And supportive investors are vital. Now is a better time than ever to invest in small companies hoping to make it big. There’s a tsunami of investable businesses disrupting old industries with new technology and new methods. The rewards can be huge if you are patient, sensible and smart. And there’s the satisfaction of helping to bring a new and valuable thing into the world. Whether you’re a newbie or an old hand, Business Angel Investing is your comprehensive guide on how to invest, what to invest in, how to manage your investments and how to make money. Richard Hargreaves has invested in young companies for almost 50 years. Let him show you how being a business angel can be fascinating, fun and profitable.

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A House in the Sky is the dramatic and redemptive memoir of Amanda Lindhout, a woman whose curiosity led her to the world's most beautiful and remote places, its most imperiled and perilous countries, and then into fifteen months of harrowing captivity-an exquisitely written story of courage, resilience, and grace.As a child, Amanda Lindhout escaped a violent household by paging through issues of National Geographic and imagining herself in its exotic locales. At the age of nineteen, working as a cocktail waitress, she began saving her tips so she could travel the globe. Aspiring to understand the world and live a significant life, she backpacked through Latin America, Laos, Bangladesh, and India, and emboldened by each adventure, went on to Sudan, Syria, and Pakistan. In war-ridden Afghanistan and Iraq she carved out a fledgling career as a television reporter. And then, in August 2008, she traveled to Somalia-"the most dangerous place on earth." On her fourth day, she was abducted by a group of masked men along a dusty road.Held hostage for 460 days, Amanda converts to Islam as a survival tactic, receives "wife lessons" from one of her captors, and risks a daring escape. Moved between a series of abandoned houses in the desert, she survives on memory-every lush detail of the world she experienced in her life before captivity-and on strategy, fortitude, and hope. When she is most desperate, she visits a house in the sky, high above the woman kept in chains, in the dark, being tortured.Vivid and suspenseful, as artfully written as the finest novel, A House in the Sky is the searingly intimate story of an intrepid young woman and her search for compassion in the face of unimaginable adversity. For fans of the award-winning blockbuster Captain Phillips and readers of Kate McCann's Madeleine, Natasha Kampusch's 3,096 Days and Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea.Amanda Lindhout is the founder of the Global Enrichment Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports development, aid and education initiatives in Somalia and Kenya. For more information, visit Amandalindhout.com and globalenrichmentfoundation.comSara Corbett is a contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine. Her work has also appeared in National Geographic; Elle; Outside; O, the Oprah magazine; Esquire; and Mother Jones.

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Experienced base jumpers and other extreme sports athletes have one unwritten rule: self-knowledge. The way you think and the choices you make determine who you are and who you will become. If you know yourself, you will dare to take risks, to go your own way and to change. This rule goes for professionals who aim for high performances too. If you want your performances to have a positive drive, you first have to get to know yourself. Dare to Jump helps you to overcome your fears and gives you three power skills with which you can become the best version of yourself. Someone with a boundless mind-set, a sharp focus and a great amount of trust. You learn why focus is the new IQ, how to train yourself to enter the right flow, and how you build the level of trust within your team.

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