Search results for ""author craig""

''Amazing. I''d give someone else''s right arm to write so beautifully'' Sarah Pinborough ''Superb! The Devil''s Playground is imagination on steroids... breathtaking!'' Jeffery Deaver''A terrifying tale of the true power in Hollywood... (Russell''s) precise, gorgeous prose shines'' New York Times''A masterpiece. Captivatingly authentic, steeped in Hollywood lore'' Chris Brookmyre ''Addictive. . . the most sheerly entertaining novel I''ve raced through in at least a year. . . fresh, forceful, elegant but wild'' A.J. Finn ''The Devil''s Playground is definitely on the shortlist for best mystery of the year'' Bookpage.com ''When it comes to Gothic crime, Craig Russell is peerless. Absolutely stunning'' M W Craven FROM CWA DAGGER AND DOUBLE McILVANNEY AWARD WINNER CRAIG RUSSELL COMES ANOTHER DARK, GRIPPING MASTERPIECE . . . A

Read more less

Prepare for Microsoft Exam MS-900 and help demonstrate your mastery of cloud services, the Software as a Service cloud model, and the options and benefits of Microsoft 365 cloud service offerings. Designed for IT professionals, Exam Ref focuses on critical thinking and decision-making acumen needed for success at the Microsoft Certified Fundamentals level. Focus on the expertise measured by these objectives: Describe cloud concepts Describe Microsoft 365 apps and services Describe security, compliance, privacy, and trust in Microsoft 365 Describe Microsoft 365 pricing, licensing, and support This Microsoft Exam Ref: Organizes its coverage by exam objectives Features strategic, what-if scenarios to challenge you Assumes you are a business user, IT professional, or student interested in cloud computing and technologies, including individuals planning to pursue more advanced Microsoft 365 certification. About the ExamExam MS-900 focuses on using cloud services; different types of cloud services; core Microsoft 365components; comparisons between Microsoft 365 and on-premises services; modern management concepts; Microsoft 365 collaboration, mobility and analytics; Microsoft 365 security and compliance concepts; unified endpoint management; security usage scenarios and services; the Service Trust portal and Compliance Manager; Microsoft 365 licensing options; pricing; support; and service lifecycles. About Microsoft CertificationPassing this exam fulfills your requirements for the Microsoft 365 Certified Fundamentals certification credential, proving that you understand Microsoft 365 options, as well as the benefits of adopting cloud services, the Software as a Service (SaaS) cloud model, and Microsoft 365 cloud services in particular. See full details at: microsoft.com/learn

Read more less

There are many interesting drinks that have been lost to time, but some, such as cider, mead (which has been around since about 7000BC) and perry are reinventing themselves. This book explains where and when to find your raw materials and what sort of equipment you'll need. It includes delicious recipes that use common and less common fruits. It will also show you how to cut (expensive) corners without cutting corners on quality.Contents: About the author; Introduction; 1. The History of Brewing; 2. Apple Varieties; 3. Types of Honey; 4. Making Cider - Hawky's Way; 5. Making Scrumpy; 6. Making Your Own Infusions; 7. A Taste of the Middle East; 8. Making Perry; 9. Making Mead; 10. Making Beer; 11. Ireland on my Mind, and my Liver; 12. Making Country Wines; Index.

Read more less

NOMINATED FOR THE McILVANNEY PRIZE 2020 FOR SCOTTISH CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR 'Truly difficult to put down’ Daily Mail 'High-concept plot keeps the 'tecs and the reader on their toes’ Sunday Times Crime Club 'Robertson is a master storyteller . . . never less than gripping’ Scotsman 'Devilishly clever . . . This might be his best yet' SJI Holliday​, author of Violet 'Perfect for fans of Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh' Reader review ONLY ONE PERSON CAN SAVE YOU. AND HE WANTS YOU DEAD. Police find a man dead at his home in Los Angeles. Nothing suggests foul-play but elements of the victim’s house show that something is deeply wrong. Meanwhile, in Glasgow, DI Rachel Narey is searching for a missing young woman – and the man she suspects of killing her. When a feed broadcasting the slow and painful death of a final victim is discovered, these two cases become linked. There’s no way to identify him. No way to find him No way to save him. Not without the cooperation of a killer. And the only way he will cooperate is if he can watch him die.Praise for Craig Robertson: 'Robertson does something bold with this one, adding a storyline set in America, and he pulls it off magnificently . . . The links to real murders from history, most notably The Black Dahlia case, are soon brought to the fore and the investigation’s relevance to Narey’s own search for a missing woman in Glasgow is made apparent via some skillful plotting' Spectator 'Packed full of tension, Watch Him Die is a brilliantly unnerving read - an original premise with a devilishly clever execution, the story unfolds with expert precision. I flew through the pages, sick with dread. An excellent thriller from a crime stalwart - in fact, this might be his best yet' SJI Holliday, author of Violet ‘Robertson, a maestro of Tartan noir, twins a dogged Glasgow detective with her counterparts in Los Angeles, but can this formidable team find a psycho killer who seems to leave no trace? High-concept plot keeps the 'tecs and the reader on their toes’ Sunday Times, Crime Club ‘Exceptionally talented . . . Robertson’s skill in matching the atmosphere of LA with that of Scotland is mightily impressive, as is his ability to maintain the suspense that lies at the heart of the search for a dying man. This is truly difficult to put down’ Daily Mail 'Robertson is a master storyteller – sensitive, realistic, terrifying and humorous – and Watch Him Die is never less than gripping’ The Scotsman 'Robertson’s latest criminal masterpiece . . . a thoroughly modern, breathless thriller that not only showcases the writer’s broad spectrum of talents. Plenty for fans to get on board with here and a fantastic introduction to one of Scotland’s premier crime writers’ Scottish Sun 'Brilliantly and sensitively written' Steve Cavanagh, bestselling author of Thirteen 'Craig Robertson’s Narey and Winter series goes from strength to strength, and this latest instalment is the most compelling. Brace yourself to be horrified and hooked' Eva Dolan 'I can't recommend this book highly enough' Martina Cole 'Fantastic characterisation, great plotting, page-turning and gripping. The best kind of intelligent and moving crime fiction writing' Luca Veste 'Powerfully and stylishly written. Recommended' Steve Mosby

Read more less

The complete beginner's guide to Python, for young people who want to start today Adventures in Python is designed for 11-to 15-year olds who want to teach themselves Python programming, but don't know where to start. Even if you have no programming experience at all, this easy to follow format and clear, simple instruction will get you up and running quickly. The book walks you through nine projects that teach you the fundamentals of programming in general, and Python in particular, gradually building your skills until you have the confidence and ability to tackle your own projects. Video clips accompany each chapter to provide even more detailed explanation of important concepts, so you feel supported every step of the way. Python is one of the top programming languages worldwide, with an install base in the millions. It's a favourite language at Google, YouTube, the BBC, and Spotify, and is the primary programming language for the Raspberry Pi. As an open-source language, Python is freely downloadable, with extensive libraries readily available, making it an ideal entry into programming for the beginner. Adventures in Python helps you get started, giving you the foundation you need to follow your curiosity. Start learning Python at its most basic level Learn where to acquire Python and how to set it up Understand Python syntax and interpretation for module programming Develop the skills that apply to any programming language Python programming skills are invaluable, and developing proficiency gives you a head start in learning other languages like C++, Objective-C, and Java. When learning feels like fun, you won't ever want to stop – so get started today with Adventures in Python.

Read more less

Using modern tools not available to previous authors on this subject, Craig Gottlieb paints a comprehensive picture of the Totenkopf Ring and the man who was behind it – Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler. Gottlieb draws on a body of over 200 examples to document currently believed notions about the ring. He offers never before seen photos and documents, and even develops many new well-reasoned theories about the Totenkopf (Death Head) ring. The book also covers the pre-history of the Totenkopf ring, placing its appearance onto the “SS Scene” in historical context. Also covered are design background, construction techniques, and an in-depth analysis of the physical characteristics of rings. Gottlieb also includes sections on award documents and frames, ring shipping boxes, and provides many never-before-seen photographs of rings in wear. Finally, he brings rings to life with an extensive “personality profile” chapter in which he illustrates several famous rings.

Read more less

An authoritative, accessible, and gorgeously illustrated exploration into the lives of these remarkable animalsLions are the only social cat. They hunt together, raise cubs together, and defend territories together against neighbors and strangers. Lions also rest atop their ecological pyramid, with profound impacts on competitors and prey alike, but their future is far from assured. Craig Packer interweaves his discoveries from more than forty years of research—including a substantial body of new findings—to provide an unforgettable portrait of the African lion. He shares insights into the intricacies of lion life from birth until death and describes efforts to conserve lions in an increasingly crowded continent. With a wealth of breathtaking photographs by Daniel Rosengren, The Lion sheds light on a host of intriguing scientific questions, such as why males have manes, why lions are social, how sociality limits and stabilizes lion populations, how close inbreeding affects lion health, why lions become man-eaters, how lions and people can best be protected from each other, and how to ensure the lion’s survival into the next century. Engagingly written by the world’s foremost expert on African lions Integrates a wealth of findings from two of the most comprehensive field studies on any animal Features hundreds of stunning photographs that capture a broad range of lion behaviors, ecological interactions, and conservation challenges Blends vivid field anecdotes and graphics to give the reader a sense of adventuring into the lion’s world

Read more less

Recent discoveries about wild chimpanzees have dramatically reshaped our understanding of these great apes and their kinship with humans. We now know that chimpanzees not only have genomes similar to our own but also plot political coups, wage wars over territory, pass on cultural traditions to younger generations, and ruthlessly strategize for resources, including sexual partners. In The New Chimpanzee, Craig Stanford challenges us to let apes guide our inquiry into what it means to be human.With wit and lucidity, Stanford explains what the past two decades of chimpanzee field research has taught us about the origins of human social behavior, the nature of aggression and communication, and the divergence of humans and apes from a common ancestor. Drawing on his extensive observations of chimpanzee behavior and social dynamics, Stanford adds to our knowledge of chimpanzees’ political intelligence, sexual power plays, violent ambition, cultural diversity, and adaptability.The New Chimpanzee portrays a complex and even more humanlike ape than the one Jane Goodall popularized more than a half century ago. It also sounds an urgent call for the protection of our nearest relatives at a moment when their survival is at risk.

Read more less

This open access book prepares current and aspiring analytics professionals to effectively address this need by curating key concepts spanning the entire analytics lifecycle, along with step-by-step instructions for their applications to real-world problems, using ubiquitous and freely available open-source software. This book does not assume prior knowledge of statistics, how to query databases, or how to write performant code; early chapters include an introduction to R and SQL as well as an overview of statistical foundations.Human capital is an organization’s most important asset. Without the knowledge and skills of people, an organization can accomplish nothing. The acquisition, development, and retention of critical talent has become increasingly more complex and challenging, and organizations are making significant investments to gain a deeper, data-informed understanding of organizational phenomena impacting the bottom line. By the end of this book, readers will be able to: • Design and conduct empirical research • Query and wrangle data using SQL • Profile, clean, and analyze data using R • Apply appropriate statistical and ML models to a range of people analytics use cases • Package and present analyses to communicate impactful insights to stakeholders

Read more less

This open access book prepares current and aspiring analytics professionals to effectively address this need by curating key concepts spanning the entire analytics lifecycle, along with step-by-step instructions for their applications to real-world problems, using ubiquitous and freely available open-source software. This book does not assume prior knowledge of statistics, how to query databases, or how to write performant code; early chapters include an introduction to R and SQL as well as an overview of statistical foundations.Human capital is an organization’s most important asset. Without the knowledge and skills of people, an organization can accomplish nothing. The acquisition, development, and retention of critical talent has become increasingly more complex and challenging, and organizations are making significant investments to gain a deeper, data-informed understanding of organizational phenomena impacting the bottom line. By the end of this book, readers will be able to: • Design and conduct empirical research • Query and wrangle data using SQL • Profile, clean, and analyze data using R • Apply appropriate statistical and ML models to a range of people analytics use cases • Package and present analyses to communicate impactful insights to stakeholders

Read more less

This, the first of two volumes covering the railways of Cornwall, follows the railway through the changing landscapes of the county. It takes the reader from the rich farmland west of St Germans, through the unique Glynn Valley down to Bodmin Road and the freightabundant area of Lostwithiel and Par before reaching clay country on the way to the final destination of St Austell. In addition, also explored are the branch lines, which range from the rural line to Looe, the splendour of the River Fowey on the clay line to Carne Point and the varied and ever-popular Newquay branch. Lavishly illustrated with 180 full-colour photographs, many set in glorious countryside, this book shows a variety of locomotives. Service trains dominate the images, though there are many charter trains featured, some with exotic traction for the far south west. Taken from the short days of winter with piercing low sunlight, to the long days of high summer when the upside of the Cornish mainline is lit, allowing a different perspective, the photographs capture not just the trains, but the beautiful landscapes, rivers and coastline of the Duchy.

Read more less

In 2021, the British Army's 20-year engagement in Afghanistan ended with chaotic scenes at Kabul International Airport. The Parachute Regiment had been involved since the earliest days of conflict and was there at the end to provide security for the final evacuation. The years of conflict saw the Paras endure some of the toughest operational conditions since World War Two as they confronted Taliban fighters in their Helmand stronghold. In 2008, 2 and 3 Paras were deployed to Afghanistan, fighting the Taliban in areas such as Kandahar and Musa Qala. That summer, they fought the insurgents in the fields and ditches of the Green Zone, always taking the fight to the enemy. Written by a former Para and battlefield photographer, this book takes the reader on a visual journey from training for this deployment in Scotland to the desert heat of Afghanistan, showing the soldiers, their equipment, weapons and vehicles. With over 200 colour photographs, it provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Paras both in battle and going about their day-to-day lives at the bases.

Read more less

If you were lucky, you knew about and were prepared for culture shock when you moved overseas, But unless you are very lucky, you probably don't know about and are not prepared for reverse culture shock. And you should be. Most expats find coming home after an overseas assignment more difficult than adjusting to a foreign culture-and very few organizations and companies prepare people for the experience.Veteran trainer and consultant Craig Storti sketches the workplace challenges faced by returning businessmen and women as well as the re-entry issues of spouses, younger children, and teenagers. He also addresses in detail the special issues faced by exchange students, international development volunteers, and military and missionary personnel and their families.From leave-taking and the honeymoon stage through to reverse culture shock and eventual readjustment, The Art of Coming Home lays out the four stages of the re-entry process and details practical strategies for dealing with the challenges you will face each step of the way.Whether you're about to relocate abroad, are already living abroad, about to come home, or already home, this book walks you through the biggest adjustments, personal and professional, and in this new edition presents a complete do-it-yourself repatriation workshop to help you identify and address your individual readjustment issues.

Read more less

Northumberland to the Romans it was Ad Fines, the limit of the Empire, the end of the Roman World. It was here in 122 AD that the Emperor Hadrian decided to build a wall stretching from coast-to-coast to provide protection, to show the might of the Empire, and as a statement of his grandeur. Visitors to Northumberland can walk the Wall visiting milecastles, Roman frontier forts and settlements such as Housesteads (where you can see the oldest toilets you ll ever see) or Vindolanda (where you can take part in an archaeological dig) where wooden tablets detailing life on this frontier (the oldest example of written language in Britain) were discovered, or the remains of Roman temples and shrines (such as the Mithraeum at Carrawburgh). After the Romans left, Northumberland became the heart of one of the greatest kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon Britain, Northumbria. The home of Saints, scholars and warrior kings. Visitors can see the ancient seat of this kingdom at the medieval Bamburgh Castle, visit Hexham Abbey (built in 674 AD), or tour the magnificent remains of the 7th century Priory at Tynemouth (where three kings are buried Oswin (d. 651), Osred (d. 790), and the Scottish King Malcolm III (d. 1093). No other county in Britain has as many medieval remains as Northumberland. From the most grand such as Alnwick Castle (known as the Windsor of the North, the home of the Dukes of Northumberland, the capital of Northumberland, and, to many, Hogwarts!) to humble remains such as the Chantry at Morpeth. At Warkworth visitors can tour the medieval church (scene of a 12th century Scottish massacre), Warkworth Castle (another Percy possession and the setting for a scene in Shakespeare s Henry IV), a medieval hermitage, and the fortified bridge gatehouse (one of the only surviving examples in Britain). Northumberland was ravaged during the Anglo-Scottish Wars and this led to the development of family clans of Border Reivers who were active during the 16th and early 17th centuries. Raiders, looters, blackmailers and courageous cavalrymen the Reivers have left many surviving remnants of their harsh time. Peel Towers dot the landscape alongside Bastle Houses. The active can even walk in the footsteps of the Reivers by following the Reivers Way long distance path. Victorian Northumberland was dominated by both farming and, increasingly, by the industrial genius of some of its entrepreneurs. The greatest of these, Lord Armstrong (known as the Magician of the North), has left behind one of the most magnificent tourist sites in Britain; his home at Cragside. Carved from a bare hillside and transplanted with millions of trees and shrubs and crowned with the beautiful Cragside House visitors can walk the grounds taking advantage of various trails and spotting wildlife such as red squirrels before visiting the first house in the world to be lit by electricity!

Read more less

The MG Z cars were produced at a pivotal time when the MG Rover Group separated from their previous owners BMW and stood alone in the highly competitive mass car market. In this readable book, motoring journalist and Austin Rover expert Craig Cheetham reveals the inside story of the development of the range of MG Z cars that were designed to save the company. The book explores the formation of the Phoenix Corporation, the holding company for the MG Rover Group. It also looks at the design and engineering initiatives that would make the MG Z cars more than just a clever rebranding exercise, producing cars with lasting appeal. The book describes the MG Z versions of the Rover 25, the Rover 45 and the Rover 75, providing insights into how each of the models was re-engineered to meet the demanding standards of MG’s heritage. It also describes the fortunes of the Z cars in motorsport, in particular the British Touring Car Championship. The book reveals how, despite all these efforts, MG Rover eventually ran out of money, bringing an end the British-owned mass car industry. Complete with tips for owners and prospective buyers on what to look out for, this book is an essential guide to the MG Z cars.

Read more less

Drawing on poststructuralist approaches, Craig Martin outlines a theory of discourse, ideology, and domination that can be used by scholars and students to understand these central elements in the study of culture. The book shows how discourses are used to construct social institutions—often classist, sexist, or racist—and that those social institutions always entail a distribution of resources and capital in ways that capacitate some subject positions over others. Such asymmetrical power relations are often obscured by ideologies that offer demonstrably false accounts of why those asymmetries exist or persist. The author provides a method of reading in order to bring matters into relief, and the last chapter provides a case study that applies his theory and method to racist ideologies in the United States, which systematically function to discourage white Americans from sympathizing with poor African Americans, thereby contributing to reinforcing the latter’s place at the bottom of a racial hierarchy that has always existed in the US.

Read more less

The first mountaineering instructional guide to focus exclusively on the kind of mountaineering most climbers do, and to collect the best modern practices in one popular resourceComplete and up to date. Emphasizes the best modern practices for alpine rock, snow, and ice.Uniquely focused. Omits what is too basic such as camping and backpacking and what is too advanced, such as fifth-class climbing in its various forms and expeditionary climbing.

Read more less

Profesor de filosofía y motorista entusiasta enamorado de su Ducati, CRAIG BOURNE utiliza de una forma provocadora el mundo de las motocicletas ?a fin de cuentas, una determinada opción de vida? para ejemplificar todo un conjunto de temas filosóficos esenciales, como el sentido de la vida, el sexo y la violencia, el peligro y la muerte, la libertad individual y la legitimidad del intervencionismo del Estado, nuestras obligaciones hacia los humanos, los animales y el medio ambiente y los límites de nuestro concepto de arte. Debería un motorista ser castigado por no llevar casco si no quiere hacerlo?; es respetuoso con los animales que lleven trajes de cuero, o tal vez deberían los motoristas concienciarse más y usar el transporte público antes que sus adoradas máquinas? Podemos considerar la motocicleta una obra de arte similar a una pintura de Miguel Ángel? PENSAMIENTO Y MOTOCICLETA plantea en una ruta por la reflexión filosófica, abordándola sin ninguna valoración moral y limitándose

Read more less

Few dishes conjure as much New England nostalgia as clam chowder. But the northeast coast of America can stir up even more creative soups and stews than this traditional favorite. From forgotten classics like clam chowder’s Portuguese-influenced cousin, and fresh new flavors like Autumn Monkfish Stew, Malty Mussels Soup, and seasonal clam boils, this comprehensive cookbook embraces the locavore movement and sustainable seafood to expand our soup horizons. Complete with easy recipes for seafood broths and stocks, 33 native fish and shellfish profiles, and advice on how to befriend your local fisherman, New England Soups from the Sea will have readers feeling confident in their seafood knowledge and how to invent their own soups from New England’s ocean bounty. Paired with bright photography and the welcoming voice of a local New Englander, food writer Craig Fear boils all the charm of a seaside town into delicious, warming flavors.

Read more less

A second helping of tales on the joys and challenges of working, eating, and loving in France from the New York Times bestselling author of Pancakes in Paris.Craig Carlson set out to do the impossible: open the first American diner in Paris. Despite never having owned his own business before—let alone a restaurant, the riskiest business of all—Craig chose to open his diner in a foreign country, with a foreign language that also happens to be the culinary capital of the world. While facing enormous obstacles, whether its finding cooks who can navigate the impossibly petite kitchen (and create delicious roast Turkey for their Thanksgiving Special to boot), finding “exotic” ingredients like bacon, breakfast sausage, and bagels, and dealing with constant strikes, demonstrations, and Kafkaesque French bureaucracy, Craig and his diner, Breakfast in America, went on to be a great success—especially with the French. By turns hilarious and provocative, Craig takes us hunting for snails with his French mother-in-law and invites us to share the table when he treats his elegant nonagrian neighbor to her first-ever cheeseburger. We encounter a customer at his diner who, as a self-proclaimed anarchist, tries to stiff his bill, saying it’s his right to “dine and dash.” We navigate Draconian labor laws where bad employees can’t be fired (even for theft) and battle antiquated French bureaucracy dating back to Napoleon. When Craig finds love, he and his debonair French cheri find themselves battling the most unlikely of foes—the notorious Pigeon Man—for their sanity, never mind peace and romance, in their little corner of Paris. For all those who love stories of adventure, delicious food, and over-coming the odds, Let Them Eat Pancakes will satisfy your appetite and leave you wanting even more.

Read more less

In a time where many feel lost, alone, or afraid—and where social media makes us think that everyone has it better, bigger, or brighter—Chasing Normal is a humorous and poignant memoir about learning to embrace yourself, along with the messy life you lived that made you who you are today.As a kid growing up in Indiana surrounded by cornfields and deep poverty, with two emotional terrorists for parents, all Craig Greiwe ever wanted was to be normal. In his youth, he lived under the stairs in Dickensian misery. Once he managed to make it to college, things got about as weird as might be expected for a teenager who grew up reading The 1978 World Book Encyclopedia for kicks. From an emotional breakdown at the top of a mountain at one school to setting off a chain of events that nearly blew apart Columbia Law School a few years after that, his life was anything but normal. Along the way, he found a long-distance foster mom 2,000 miles away; slept his way to success in Hollywood; had his heart broken; discovered secrets about the people who raised him; and was finally adopted by Norman-Rockwell-esque parents at the age of twenty-four. Chasing Normal is the story of a man who grew up trying to be like everyone else, only to realize that being yourself is the only way forward. His stories range from wild to painful and sometimes humorous, but ultimately, they are a journey about compassion, salvation, and eventually, joy. Chasing Normal stands out as a hopeful beacon for anyone who’s ever felt “other”—which is just about everyone. Like a lighthouse on a hill, this book offers direction to an illuminating place where we can learn to embrace ourselves, no matter how messy a life we lived.

Read more less

Elephant hunting literature is rich and varied and has brought forth some of the most memorable writings on Africa ever. However, very little is ever written on modern elephant hunting. And strange as it may seem, many of the largest elephants shot in the history of Africa have actually been shot in the last fifty years. And while shooting a hundred pounder is now a very rare occurrence, it may fairly be said that the average weight of ivory shot on safari has risen and risen over the last fifteen years, bringing with it a period that might well be called the renaissance of elephant hunting. Craig Boddington has been fortunate enough to have shot elephants in some of Africa’s modern hot spots, including Mozambique, southern Tanzania, Botswana, and Namibia. Here is a book on how elephants are hunted today and where the best places are to find them. Included are stories about hunts that any one of us could experience

Read more less

This pocket-size, full-color book features field photos with ghost views that highlight the heart, lungs, and major bones on whitetail, elk, mule deer, caribou, moose, and pronghorn antelope. It's an invaluable companion when hunting.

Read more less

Jeter Publishing presents a middle grade series that celebrates men and women who altered the course of history but may not be as well-known as their counterparts. In this biography, meet South African poet and human rights activist Dennis Brutus.Dennis Brutus was a poet and human rights activist whose works centered on his sufferings and those of his fellow blacks in South Africa. For fourteen years, Dennis taught English and Afrikaans in South Africa. As the white minority government increased restrictions on the black population, he became involved in a series of anti-apartheid related activities, including efforts to end discrimination in sports. The government subsequently banned him from teaching, writing, publishing, attending social or political meetings, and pursuing his studies. In 1963, his refusal to abide by the ban resulted in eighteen months of hard labor on Robben Island, alongside Nelson Mandela. Forbidden to write or publish after his release, Brutus left South Africa in 1966 for England and then the United States, and is now recognized as one of the prominent voices in the anti-apartheid movement.

Read more less

A sweeping and groundbreaking treasury of the most essential presidential writings, featuring a mix of the beloved and the little-known, from stirring speeches and shrewd remarks to behind-the-scenes drafts and unpublished autobiographies.From the early years of our nation’s history, when George Washington wrote his humble yet powerful Farewell Address, to our current age, when Barack Obama delivered his moving speech on the fiftieth anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery marches, America’s presidents have upheld a tradition of exceptional writing. Now, for the first time, the greatest presidential writings in history are united in one monumental treasury: the very best campaign orations, early autobiographies, presidential speeches, postpresidential reflections, and much more. In these pages, we see not only the words that shaped our nation, like Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Infamy speech, but also the words of young politicians claiming their place in our history, including excerpts from Woodrow Wilson’s Congressional Government and Obama’s career-making convention speech, and the words of mature leaders reflecting on their legacies, including John Adams’s autobiography and Harry S. Truman’s Memoirs. We even see hidden sides of the presidents that the public rarely glimpses: noted outdoorsman Teddy Roosevelt’s great passion for literature or sunny Ronald Reagan’s piercing childhood memories of escorting home his alcoholic father. Encompassing notable favorites like Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address as well as lesser-known texts like Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia and James Polk’s candid White House diary, The Best Presidential Writing showcases America’s presidents as thinkers, citizens, and leaders. More than simply a curation of must-read presidential writings, this unique collection presents the story of America itself, told by its highest leaders. Even the most famous speeches find new meanings or fresh connections when read in this sweeping context, making The Best Presidential Writing a trove full of insight and an essential historical document.

Read more less

"The belief that Aristotle's philosophy is incompatible with Christianity is hardly controversial today," writes Craig Martin. Yet "for centuries, Christian culture embraced Aristotelian thought as its own, reconciling his philosophy with theology and church doctrine. The image of Aristotle as source of religious truth withered in the seventeenth century, the same century in which he ceased being an authority for natural philosophy." In this fresh study of the complicated origins of revolutionary science in the age of Bacon, Hobbes, and Boyle, Martin traces one of the most important developments in Western European history: the rise and fall of Aristotelianism from the eleventh to the eighteenth century. Medieval theologians reconciled Aristotelian natural philosophy with Christian dogma in a synthesis that dominated religious thought for centuries. This synthesis unraveled in the seventeenth century contemporaneously with the emergence of the new natural philosophies of the scientific revolution. Important figures of seventeenth-century thought strove to show that the medieval appropriation of Aristotle defied the historical record that pointed to an impious figure of dubious morality. While numerous scholars have written on the seventeenth-century downfall of Aristotelianism, almost all of those works have examined how the conceptual content of the new sciences - such as the heliocentric cosmology, atomism, mechanical and mathematical models, and experimentalism - were used to dismiss the views of Aristotle. Subverting Aristotle is the first to focus on the religious polemics accompanying the scientific controversies that led to the eventual demise of Aristotelian natural philosophy. Martin's thesis draws extensively on primary source material from England, France, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands. It alters present perceptions not only of the scientific revolution but also of the role of Renaissance humanism in the forging of modernity.

Read more less

Politicians and the media are natural enemies, but in recent times, the relationship has exploded into all-out war. Think about bimbo eruptions, DUI arrests, cocaine parties, National Guard service records, Swift Boat veterans. Think about two generations of Bush presidents up against Dan Rather. Think about who lost. Craig Crawford has seen it all up close and personal, and he is disturbed by what he sees. When politicians turn the public against the media, everyone loses—especially unbiased and courageous news reporting. When veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas is banished from her front-row post, as she has been in the current administration—the American public is denied the chance to consider her pointed questions, even if they go unanswered. Worse, when traditional reporters and media are displaced, the pundits and alternative media take over. Rush Limbaugh, The O'Reilly Factor, Comedy Central's Jon Stewart, and the bloggers have their place in American politics, and the 2004 elections showed the incredible power of the Internet. These media, however, are a different breed, as Crawford points out—they serve a purpose, but at a cost. They become "opinion merchants," bartering outrageous assertions for audience appeal with little attention to the truth. These days, the truth is hard to find. If the press is not believed—or believable—because politicians have turned the public against it, then the press is not free, but under the thumbs of politicians. Without a free press, there is no democracy. That, says Crawford, is where we find ourselves today. If you don't like the news, attack the messenger, and it will go away. Going, going, gone.

Read more less

Attack the Messenger is an objective look at the loss of public trust in the news media-and the resulting threat to American democracy. Biased, sloppy, and sometimes deceitful reporting is partly to blame, but this book primarily examines how politicians declared war on the media's role as an honest broker of information-and won. Craig Crawford takes readers who crave truth in news through the power struggle between the government and mainstream media, as well as directs them on how to avoid political propaganda and find the most reliable news sources.

Read more less

The greatest 'unsolved mystery' of the American Southwest relates to the Anasazi, the native peoples who in the 11th century converged on Chaco Canyon (now New Mexico) and built a flourishing cultural center that attracted pilgrims from far and wide, a vital crossroads of the prehistoric world. The Anasazis' accomplishments - in agriculture, in art, in commerce, in architecture and engineering - were astounding, rivaling those of the Mayans in distant Central America. By the 13th century, however, the Anasazi were gone from Chaco. Vanished. What was it - drought? pestilence? war? forced migration? mass murder or suicide? Craig Childs draws on scholarly research and a lifetime of adventure and exploration in the American Southwest, to pursue the mystery of their disappearance. Considering many possibilities - drought, suicide - he points the way to a new understanding of how a vibrant civilization collapsed.HOUSE OF RAIN is a landmark work in the literature of ancient Native American culture, a key to a fascinating and mysterious lost civilization.

Read more less