- Table View
- List View
Beastworld: Terrifying Monsters and Mythical Beasts
by S.A. CaldwellStep into a world of fascinating, mystical and terrifying beasts from around the globe. Join fearless beast hunter S.A. Caldwell as she tracks down the most elusive creatures from ancient myths, strange sightings and folklore. Follow her to a Gorgon's lair, track down the yeti in the Himalayas, find out what lies beneath the myth of the bogeyman and discover the Hydra's immortal head!
Basketball All-stars
by David ClaytonSince the founding of the USAs National Basketball League (NBA) in 1946, it has produced many of the coolest, most athletic and best-paid sports stars ever. And, in 1996, the women's game took off, equally producing incredible players who have been hugely inspiring and taking the game to greater heights. Here, we profile 50 of the greatest ever to step foot inside the basketball court and create sporting magic with their power, speed, athleticism, and pure slam-dunking artistry. From Wilt Chamberlain to Steph Curry and Lisa Leslie to Diana Taurasi, you'll get an ultra-cool snapshot of the VIPs of the game, spanning the entire history of these two epic leagues. With complete set of career stats at your fingertips, you'll see why these stars stand out head and shoulders above the rest.
The World of Ariana Grande: The Ultimate Unofficial Fan Guide Packed with Facts, Stats and Quizzes (The World Of #2)
by Catherine Saunders*THE ULTIMATE UNOFFICIAL ARIANA GRANDE FAN BOOK*Discover everything there is to know about Ariana Grande, pop icon, actress and star. Follow her amazing journey from moving to New York City to chase her dreams, to becoming a worldwide singing sensation and star of much-anticipated movie musical, Wicked.Uncover the secrets of Ariana Grande's biggest hits, amazing style and extraordinary world - from how she makes her award-winning pop songs and sells out arena tours, to creating her own amazing beauty line and starring on the big screen.Put your knowledge to the test with quick quizzes, impress your friends with the most amazing quotes, and discover record-breaking stellar stats and facts all about pop icon and star, Ariana Grande!*This book has not been authorised, licensed or endorsed by Ariana Grande, Universal Music Group or any associated company.Buy this book if you're looking for:- gifts for girls and boys aged 8, 9, 10, 11- a book that will inspire the biggest Ariana Grande and Wicked fans in your life- a book to get kids more interested in reading- a kid-favourite gift for birthdays, holidays or Christmas
Mouse and His Dog: A Dogtown Book (Dogtown #2)
by Katherine Applegate Gennifer CholdenkoFrom beloved authors Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko, Mouse and His Dog is an uplifting story and a page-turning adventure.Dogtown is a shelter for stray dogs, misbehaving dogs, and discarded robot dogs, whose owners have outgrown them.Buster is a big-hearted dog who couldn't attract more trouble if he tried.Stewie is a huge, loveable dog whose ex-owner said he was mean. And Mouse is a mouse, who has the run of Dogtown and happens to be Buster's best friend in the world.Determined to help Buster find his forever home, Mouse, Stewie, Buster and a robot-dog called Smokie embark on a bold quest in search of the perfect family. With peril, adventure and lots of laughter along the way.
Generative AI with Amazon Bedrock: Build, scale, and secure generative AI applications using Amazon Bedrock
by Bunny Kaushik Shikhar KwatraBecome proficient in Amazon Bedrock by taking a hands-on approach to building and scaling generative AI solutions that are robust, secure, and compliant with ethical standardsKey FeaturesLearn the foundations of Amazon Bedrock from experienced AWS Machine Learning Specialist ArchitectsMaster the core techniques to develop and deploy several AI applications at scaleGo beyond writing good prompting techniques and secure scalable frameworks by using advanced tips and tricksPurchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBookBook DescriptionThe concept of generative artificial intelligence has garnered widespread interest, with industries looking to leverage it to innovate and solve business problems. Amazon Bedrock, along with LangChain, simplifies the building and scaling of generative AI applications without needing to manage the infrastructure. Generative AI with Amazon Bedrock takes a practical approach to enabling you to accelerate the development and integration of several generative AI use cases in a seamless manner. You’ll explore techniques such as prompt engineering, retrieval augmentation, fine-tuning generative models, and orchestrating tasks using agents. The chapters take you through real-world scenarios and use cases such as text generation and summarization, image and code generation, and the creation of virtual assistants. The latter part of the book shows you how to effectively monitor and ensure security and privacy in Amazon Bedrock. By the end of this book, you’ll have gained a solid understanding of building and scaling generative AI apps using Amazon Bedrock, along with various architecture patterns and security best practices that will help you solve business problems and drive innovation in your organization.What you will learnExplore the generative AI landscape and foundation models in Amazon BedrockFine-tune generative models to improve their performanceExplore several architecture patterns for different business use casesGain insights into ethical AI practices, model governance, and risk mitigation strategiesEnhance your skills in employing agents to develop intelligence and orchestrate tasksMonitor and understand metrics and Amazon Bedrock model responseExplore various industrial use cases and architectures to solve real-world business problems using RAGStay on top of architectural best practices and industry standardsWho this book is forThis book is for generalist application engineers, solution engineers and architects, technical managers, ML advocates, data engineers, and data scientists looking to either innovate within their organization or solve business use cases using generative AI. A basic understanding of AWS APIs and core AWS services for machine learning is expected.
The Armchair General World War One: Can You Win The Great War? (The Armchair General #2)
by John Buckley Spencer Jones‘The Armchair General team has done it again. An absorbing read for Christmas.’Peter Caddick-Adams‘Brilliant and immersive.’Harry SidebottomThe second book in the Armchair General series, where YOU choose the fate of the First World War________________________________HISTORY IS WRITTEN BY THE VICTORS. WILL IT BE YOU?TAKE THE HOTSEATAssume the role of real historic decision-makers: general, leaders, soldiers and intelligence officers of the Allied Forces during World War I.EXAMINE THE INTELLIGENCEExplore eight key moments from the First World War, using real contemporaneous intelligence: including the July Crisis, the Battle of the Somme, and the Russian Revolution.CONSIDER THE SCENARIO & MAKE YOUR DECISIONFrom battlefields to the Royal Courts, each tactical and strategic decision you make leads to a different outcome.Will you follow the path of the past - or shape a new history...?________________________________PRAISE FOR THE ARMCHAIR GENERAL SERIES'An original and exciting approach...The Armchair General adds enormously to our understanding of the conflicts' JAMES HOLLAND'A reminder that history is a never ending now, a relentless and endless present that comes without the luxury of hindsight' AL MURRAY'Wonderfully original...putting readers at the heart of the decision-making process and allowing them, literally, to change the course of history. This is counterfactual history at its very best' SAUL DAVID
The Villa: The perfect holiday thriller for summer 2024 from the bestselling author of The Ex-Wife
by Jess RyderDiscover the gripping summer thriller from the bestselling author of The Ex-Wife'One of those books that grabs you from the start and doesn't let go. . .' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'The perfect holiday read' Kia Abdullah, bestselling author of Those People Next Door'You won't be able to put it down' Business Post'A wonderful twisty read' Ava Glass, bestselling author of The Traitor______________________________________Three years ago, bride-to-be Aoife died at her own hen party.Now the hens have returned to the villa where that terrible weekend unfolded.They long for closure. But the moment they step back inside, old wounds open and tensions begin to rise.Everyone has a different version of what happened that night.Someone is keeping secrets.How far will they go to keep them hidden?__________________________Praise for The Villa . . .'Gripping' Sunday Times Style'Full of surprises' Sun'A great read' Catherine Cooper, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Island'Kept me up late into the early hours' Ali Lowe, bestselling author of The Running Club'‘You’ll love the way the chapters switch from the weekend of the murder to the return visit, as the hunt for the killer takes some unexcepted, and violent, turns' Daily Express 'The Villa looks destined to be Jess Ryder’s most successful psychological thriller yet’ The Herald'An excellent, fast-paced psychological thriller' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Reader Review'A fantastic and original read' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Reader Review'Amazing writing' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Reader Review'Not the ending I was expecting, but it was the ending I didn't know I wanted' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Reader Review'The characters were great, the story itself was very enjoyable and suspenseful, the setting was fantastic' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Reader Review
An Anthology of Global Risk
by SJ Beard;Tom HobsonThis anthology brings together a diversity of key texts in the emerging field of Existential Risk Studies. It serves to complement the previous volume The Era of Global Risk: An Introduction to Existential Risk Studies by providing open access to original research and insights in this rapidly evolving field. At its heart, this book highlights the ongoing development of new academic paradigms and theories of change that have emerged from a community of researchers in and around the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk. The chapters in this book challenge received notions of human extinction and civilization collapse and seek to chart new paths towards existential security and hope. The volume curates a series of research articles, including previously published and unpublished work, exploring the nature and ethics of catastrophic global risk, the tools and methodologies being developed to study it, the diverse drivers that are currently pushing it to unprecedented levels of danger, and the pathways and opportunities for reducing this. In each case, they go beyond simplistic and reductionist accounts of risk to understand how a diverse range of factors interact to shape both catastrophic threats and our vulnerability and exposure to them and reflect on different stakeholder communities, policy mechanisms, and theories of change that can help to mitigate and manage this risk. Bringing together experts from across diverse disciplines, the anthology provides an accessible survey of the current state of the art in this emerging field. The interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary nature of the cutting-edge research presented here makes this volume a key resource for researchers and academics. However, the editors have also prepared introductions and research highlights that will make it accessible to an interested general audience as well. Whatever their level of experience, the volume aims to challenge readers to take on board the extent of the multiple dangers currently faced by humanity, and to think critically and proactively about reducing global risk.
Trix: The Other Kipling
by Barbara FisherThis volume represents the first biography of Alice MacDonald Kipling Fleming (1868-1948), known as Trix. Rarely portrayed with sympathy or accuracy in biographies of her famous brother Rudyard, Trix was a talented writer and a memorable character in her own right whose fascinating life was unknown until now. In telling Trix’s story, Barbara Fisher rescues her from the misrepresentations, trivializations, and outright neglect of Rudyard’s many biographers. This book provides the first account of Trix’s life, beginning with the horrible childhood she shared with Rudyard as a Raj orphan in England. The biography follows adolescent Trix as she returned to India, where her brother encouraged her to write poems and stories, which were regularly mistaken for his. Her marriage to a stiff Scottish officer is chronicled from its hopeful beginnings through its childless, cheerless middle to its calm and compromised end. Trix’s bouts of mental illness are described in sympathetic detail. Turning her attention to Trix’s oeuvre Barbara Fisher locates and attributes all of her short fiction, poetry, and journalism, giving special attention to Trix’s two ambitious but flawed novels. She also puts into historical context Trix’s long and productive participation as a medium for the Society for Psychical Research.
Augustus De Morgan, Polymath: New Perspectives on his Life and Legacy
by Christopher Stray Karen Attar;Adrian Ricehe was described as ‘one of the profoundest mathematicians in the United Kingdom’ and even as ‘the greatest of our mathematicians’. But he was far more than just a mathematician. Because much of his voluminous written output on various subjects was scattered throughout journals and encyclopaedias, the breadth of his interests and contributions has been underappreciated by historians. Now, renewed interest in De Morgan’s life and work has coincided with the digitization of his extensive library, revealing the extent to which he pioneered and influenced the development of not merely mathematics but also logic, astronomy, the history of mathematics, education, and bibliography. This edited collection celebrates De Morgan as a polymath. Drawing together multiple elements of his activity from a range of publications and archives, its contributors re-assess his academic work, his place in his intellectual environment, and his legacy. The result offers new insight into De Morgan himself as well as the wider circles in which he moved, including his family life.
The Embassy, the Ambush, and the Ogre: Greco-Roman Influence in Sanskrit Theater
by Roberto Morales-HarleyThis volume presents a sophisticated and intricate examination of the parallels between Sanskrit and Greco-Roman literature. By means of a philological and literary analysis, Morales-Harley hypothesizes that Greco-Roman literature was known, understood, and recreated in India. Moreover, it is argued that the techniques for adapting epic into theater could have been Greco-Roman influences in India, and that some of the elements adapted within the literary motifs (specifically the motifs of the embassy, the ambush, and the ogre) could have been Greco-Roman borrowings by Sanskrit authors. This book draws on a wide variety of sources, including Iliad, Phoenix, Rhesus and Cyclops (Greco-Roman) as well as Mahābhārata, The Embassy, The Five Nights and The Middle One (Sanskrit). The result is a well-supported argument which presents us with the possibility of cultural exchange between the Greco-Roman world and India – a possibility which, though hypothetical, is worth acknowledging. Due to its comparative nature, this volume will appeal to both Indologists and Classicists, including Mahābhārata scholars, Sanskrit theater scholars, and those interested in comparative work with Sanskrit literature. It brings an original perspective to the field, and provides inspiration for new lines of research.
Hands-On Genetic Algorithms with Python: Apply genetic algorithms to solve real-world AI and machine learning problems
by Eyal WirsanskyExplore the ever-growing world of genetic algorithms to build and enhance AI applications involving search, optimization, machine learning, deep learning, NLP, and XAI using Python librariesKey FeaturesLearn how to implement genetic algorithms using Python libraries DEAP, scikit-learn, and NumPyTake advantage of cloud computing technology to increase the performance of your solutionsDiscover bio-inspired algorithms such as particle swarm optimization (PSO) and NEATPurchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBookBook DescriptionWritten by Eyal Wirsansky, a senior data scientist and AI researcher with over 25 years of experience and a research background in genetic algorithms and neural networks, Hands-On Genetic Algorithms with Python offers expert insights and practical knowledge to master genetic algorithms. After an introduction to genetic algorithms and their principles of operation, you’ll find out how they differ from traditional algorithms and the types of problems they can solve, followed by applying them to search and optimization tasks such as planning, scheduling, gaming, and analytics. As you progress, you’ll delve into explainable AI and apply genetic algorithms to AI to improve machine learning and deep learning models, as well as tackle reinforcement learning and NLP tasks. This updated second edition further expands on applying genetic algorithms to NLP and XAI and speeding up genetic algorithms with concurrency and cloud computing. You’ll also get to grips with the NEAT algorithm. The book concludes with an image reconstruction project and other related technologies for future applications. By the end of this book, you’ll have gained hands-on experience in applying genetic algorithms across a variety of fields, with emphasis on artificial intelligence with Python.What you will learnUse genetic algorithms to solve planning, scheduling, gaming, and analytics problemsCreate reinforcement learning, NLP, and explainable AI applicationsEnhance the performance of ML models and optimize deep learning architectureDeploy genetic algorithms using client-server architectures, enhancing scalability and computational efficiencyExplore how images can be reconstructed using a set of semi-transparent shapesDelve into topics like elitism, niching, and multiplicity in genetic solutions to enhance optimization strategies and solution diversityWho this book is forIf you’re a data scientist, software developer, AI enthusiast who wants to break into the world of genetic algorithms and apply them to real-world, intelligent applications as quickly as possible, this book is for you. Working knowledge of the Python programming language is required to get started with this book.
Vue.js 3 for Beginners: Learn the essentials of Vue.js 3 and its ecosystem to build modern web applications
by Simone CuomoGain proficiency in Vue.js 3 and its core libraries, including Pinia, Vue Router, and Vitest, by developing a social media web application with detailed, hands-on instructionsKey FeaturesDiscover best practices for building scalable and performant Vue.js applicationsLearn the basics of component-based architectureFamiliarize yourself with Vue.js core libraries and ecosystemPurchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBookBook DescriptionDiscover why Vue.js is a must-learn JavaScript framework for aspiring developers. If you’re a beginner fascinated by Vue.js and its potential, then this book will show you how the progressive and versatile framework can help you build performant applications. Written by an accomplished software architect with over 12 years of experience, Vue.js for Beginners provides a solid foundation in Vue.js and guides you at every step to create a robust social media application, component by component. Starting with a clean canvas using plain HTML and CSS, you’ll learn new topics to build your application incrementally. Beyond the core features, you’ll explore crucial parts of the Vue.js ecosystem, such as state management with Pinia, routing with Vue Router, and testing with Vitest, and Cypress. The structured GitHub repository ensures a smooth transition from one chapter to the next, offering valuable insights into advanced topics, techniques, and recourses. This book is designed to serve as a practical reference guide, allowing you to quickly revisit specific topics when needed. By the end of the book, you’ll have built a strong understanding of Vue.js and be ready to build simple applications effortlessly.What you will learnGain practical knowledge of the Vue.js frameworkDeepen your understanding of Pinia, Vue Router, validation libraries, and their integration with Vue.js applicationsExplore the core concepts of Vue.js, including components, directives, and data bindingCreate scalable, maintainable applications from scratchBuild applications using the script setup and the Composition APIDebug your applications with the Vue debugger toolWho this book is forVue.js for Beginners is for aspiring web developers, students, hobbyists, or anyone who wants to learn Vue.js from scratch and is eager to foray into front-end development using this modern and popular framework. Basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is required to fully grasp the content of this Vue.js book.
MuleSoft Platform Architect's Guide: A practical guide to using Anypoint Platform's capabilities to architect, deliver, and operate APIs
by Jim Andrews Jitendra BafnaUnlock the power of Anypoint Platform by leveraging MuleSoft methodology, Accelerators, runtime engines, and management tools to deliver secure, high-value APIs and integration solutions across the enterprise Key FeaturesDiscover Anypoint Platform's capabilities for creating high-availability, high-performance APIsLearn about AnyPoint architecture and platform attributes for Mule app deploymentExplore best practices, tips, and tricks that will help you tackle challenging exam topics and achieve MuleSoft certificationPurchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBookBook Description We’re living in the era of digital transformation, where organizations rely on APIs to enable innovation within the business and IT teams are asked to continue doing more with less. As such, this book will help you deliver a robust, secure, and flexible enterprise API platform, supporting any required business outcome. You’ll begin by understanding Anypoint Platform’s architecture and its capabilities for a modern integration approach. Then, you’ll learn how to align business outcomes with functional requirements and how non-functional requirements influence the shape of the architecture. You’ll also explore how Catalyst and Accelerators can be leveraged successfully, enabling efficient development cycles. As you progress, you’ll become familiar with hassle-free deployment and hosting APIs in CloudHub 1.0/2.0, Runtime Fabric Manager, and a hybrid customer-hosted environment. You’ll discover advanced operating and monitoring techniques with API Manager and Anypoint Monitoring. The concluding chapters will offer guidance and best practices on how to tackle complex topics, which will also be useful in helping you pass the challenging MuleSoft Certified Platform Architect exam. By the end of this book, you’ll understand Anypoint Platform’s capabilities and be able to architect solutions that deliver the desired business outcomes.What you will learnUnderstand Anypoint Platform's integration architecture with core componentsDiscover how to architect a solution using Catalyst principlesExplore best practices to design an application networkAlign microservices, application networks, and event architectures with Anypoint Platform's capabilitiesIdentify non-functional requirements that shape the architecturePerform hassle-free application deployment to CloudHub using the Mule Maven plugin, CLI, and Platform APIUnderstand how to manage the API life cycle for MuleSoft and non-MuleSoft APIsWho this book is forThis book is for technical and infrastructure architects with knowledge of integration and APIs who are looking to implement these solutions with MuleSoft’s Anypoint Platform. Architects enrolled in the platform architect course who want to understand the platform's capabilities will also find this book helpful. The book is also a great resource for MuleSoft senior developers transitioning to platform architect roles and planning to take the MuleSoft Platform Architect exam. A solid understanding of MuleSoft API development, ideally 3 to 5 years of experience with the platform, is necessary.
Raising Resilience: How to Help Our Children Thrive in Times of Uncertainty
by Tovah P. KleinHow to be your child's resilience anchor at any age Raising Resilience is a guide to help you develop your child's inner resources, so they can build strength even in times of crisis. Drawing on extensive clinical research with families, child development expert Tovah P. Klein offers Five Pillars of child resilience: - Create emotional safety - Teach emotional regulation - Offer limits alongside freedom - Connect with your child - Accept them as they are With common sense strategies rooted in research, Raising Resilience offers busy, stressed-out parents a guide that will help you establish a loving, stable and connected relationship to nurture your child from the inside out. Foreword by Amy Schumer
Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age
by Eleanor BarracloughImagine a Viking, and a certain image springs to mind: a nameless, faceless warrior, leaping ashore from a longboat, and ready to terrorise the hapless local population of a northern European country.Yet while such characters define the Viking Age today, they were in the minority. This is the history of all the other people - children, enslaved people, seers, artisans, travellers, writers - who inhabited the medieval Nordic world. Encompassing not just Norway, Denmark and Sweden, but also Iceland, Greenland, parts of the British Isles, Continental Europe and Russia, this is a history of a Viking Age filled with real people of different ages, genders and ethnicities, as told through the traces that they left behind, from hairstyles to place names, love-notes to gravestones.For the first time, you can immerse yourself in the day-to-day lives of extraordinary culture which spanned centuries and spread from the edge of the North American continent to the Russian steppes, from the Arctic wastelands to the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Caliphate.
The Revelation of Ireland: 1995-2020
by Diarmaid FerriterIreland is a strikingly different country now to the one it was in the mid-1990s. Dramatic economic, social and cultural changes, including the Celtic Tiger boom and increasingly secular debate about abortion, the status of women and same-sex marriage underlined the scale of the transformation. The new diversity of the population and literary and musical prowess also revealed a country experiencing rapid alteration. The road to peace - that saw an end to war in Northern Ireland and culminated in the first visit to southern Ireland of a reigning British monarch in 100 years - illuminated the new Anglo-Irish dynamic. Explosive revelations about deep betrayals from the past destroyed the credibility of the traditionally powerful Catholic Church. And in the wake of the 2008 financial crash, Ireland rebounded and rebuilt to great success, but remained plagued by health and housing failures. Economic recovery, the end of civil war politics, ever closer European involvement and Anglo-Irish highs were followed by Brexit lows and increasing talk of Irish unity.There is much to open people's eyes in this riveting account of contemporary Ireland. As the Republic enters its second century of independence, and the North continues to grapple with the legacy of the Troubles, Diarmaid Ferriter makes historical sense of post-1990s Ireland, and what lies in the darkest corners of its archives.
The Examiner
by Janice Hallett*** FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE APPEAL ***'Agatha Christie for the 21st century' - THE TIMES'The queen of tricksy crime' - SUNDAY TIMESSix Students. One Murder. Your Time Starts Now...The students of Royal Hastings University's new Multimedia Art course have been trouble from day one. Acclaimed artist Alyson wants the department to revolve around her. Ludya struggles to balance her family and the workload. Jonathan has management experience but zero talent for art. Lovely Patrick can barely operate his mobile phone, let alone professional design software. Meanwhile blustering Cameron tries to juggle the course with his job in the City and does neither very well. Then there's Jem. A gifted young sculptor, she's a promising student... but cross her at your peril.The year-long course is blighted by accusations of theft, students setting fire to one another's artwork, a rumoured extra-marital affair and a disastrous road trip. But finally they are given their last assignment: to build an interactive art installation for a local manufacturer. With six students who have nothing in common except their clashing personal agendas, what could possibly go wrong?The answer is: murder. When the external examiner arrives to assess the students' essays and coursework, he becomes convinced that a student was killed on the course and that the others covered it up. But is he right? And if so, who is dead, why were they killed, and who is the murderer? Only a close examination of the evidence willreveal the truth. Your time starts now...
Influence at Work: Capture attention, connect with others, convince people to act: An Economist Edge book
by Steve J. MartinTo be successful at work you also need to be influential at work.And to be influential requires an understanding of how the rules of influence work. Not just those mandated by logic, economics and company policy. But the unspoken rules too. The rules people rarely talk about, but that frequently have an out-sized impact on who and what gets listened to and done, and who and what gets ignored. Recognising and navigating these rules of influence is crucial to your persuasive success.Influence at Work shows you what these rules are and how to effectively deploy them to command attention; connect with others; win over the sceptics; sway the undecided and motivate people to act.The result is a new guide to an age-old subject: what influence is, why it matters, andhow to use it wisely and ethically.
The Corporation in the Twenty-First Century: Why (almost) everything we are told about business is wrong
by John KayFor generations, we have defined a corporation as a business run by a capitalist elite, that uses its accumulated wealth to own the means of production and exercise economic power. That is no longer the reality. In the twenty-first century, our most desired goods and services aren't stacked in warehouses or on container ships: they appear on your screen, fit in your pocket or occupy your head. But even as we consume more than ever before, big business faces a crisis of legitimacy. The pharmaceutical industry creates life-saving vaccines but has lost the trust of the public. The widening pay gap between executives and employees is destabilising our societies. Facebook and Google have more customers than any companies in history but are widely reviled. John Kay, one of the greatest economists of our time, describes how the pursuit of shareholder value has destroyed some of the leading companies of the twentieth century. Incisive and provocative, this book redefines successful commercial activity and leadership, the knowledge economy and what the future of the modern corporation might be.'A brilliant analysis of how business really works. Informative, funny, and full of deep insights' - Mervyn King 'A very entertaining read' - Evan Davis
Guide Me Home
by Attica Locke* THE BLISTERING FINAL INSTALMENT OF THE AWARD-WINNING HIGHWAY 59 SERIES *Texas Ranger Darren Mathews has handed in his badge. A choice made three years before, which served justice if not the law, means that he may now stand trial. And his mother - an intermittent and destructive force in his life - is the cause of his fall from grace.And yet it is his mother's reappearance that may also be his salvation. A black girl at an all-white sorority at a nearby college is missing, her belongings tossed in a dumpster. Her sorority sisters, the college police, even the girl's own family, deny that she has disappeared, but Sera Fuller is nowhere to be found. A bloodstained shirt discovered in a woodland clearing may be the last trace of her. And Darren's mother wants her son to work the case.Disillusioned by an America forever changed by the presidency of Donald Trump, Darren reluctantly agrees. Yet as he sets out to find a girl whose family don't want her found, it is his own family's history that may be brought painfully into the light. And a reckoning with his past may finally show Darren the future he can build.
Immaculate Forms: Uncovering the History of Women's Bodies
by Helen KingThroughout history, religious scholars, medical men and - occasionally - women themselves, have moulded thought on what 'makes' a woman. She has been called the weaker sex, the fairer sex, the purer sex, among many other monikers. Often, she has been defined simply as 'Not A Man'.Today, we are more aware than ever of the complex relationship between our bodies and our identities. But contrary to what some may believe, what makes a woman is a question that has always been open-ended.Immaculate Forms examines all the ways in which medicine and religion have played a gatekeeping role over women's organs. It explores how the womb was seen as both the most miraculous organ in the body and as a sewer; uncovers breasts' legacies as maternal or sexual organs - or both; probes the mystery of the disappearing hymen, and asks, did the clitoris need to be discovered at all?
Gothic Tales (Pushkin Press Classics)
by Marquis de Sade8 chilling short stories that straddle the line between horror and erotica, full of passion and intrigue, from legendary 18th century Parisian aristocrat, the Marquis de Sade&“Ghouls and fiends, hapless femmes and dastardly villains; de Sade could weave a good gothic tale&” — The Herald (Glasgow)Notorious for erotic novels that use satire and social critique to challenge the aristocracy in Pre-revolutionary France, his sexual transgressive work made his name unmentionable in civilized circles. Writing about Enlightenment philosophy as much as he does about incest and adultery, de Sade&’s fiction delves deep into the darkest recesses of the human psyche and remains as relevant to our society as it was to his own.Thrumming with devious fantasies and dangerous liaisons, these gothic stories lay bare the transgressive desires of his unforgettable characters. As good behaviour gives way to wicked impulse, each finely crafted tale reveals an uncomfortable truth about human nature, from a pitch-black social comedy exposing the hypocrisies of the church to a drama-laden deep dive into adultery.Infamous for spending decades in prison and condemned by Parisian society, de Sade&’s writing provocatively challenges the morality of day, introducing through these stories a lawless locale of vice and freedom.With a provocative introduction from translator Margaret Crossland, Gothic Tales provides a tantalizing entry point, showcasing Sade&’s gift as both a moralist and a humorist through classic stories including: Eugenie de Franval The Horse-Chestnut Flower The Chastised Husband Florville and Courval The Husband who Played Priest Emilie de Tourville Room for Two The Self-Made Cuckold
Effi Briest (Pushkin Press Classics)
by Hugh Rorrison Theodor FontaneAn exceptional translation of Fontane's masterpiece: one of the great 19th-century novels of adultery to stand beside Anna Karenina and Madame Bovary&“A stunningly moving, beautiful, witty and urbane novel: I was blown away by it&” — Kate Saunders, author of The Secrets of WishtideIn this witty masterpiece of poetic realism, expertly translated by Hugh Rorrison, Effi Briest shows Theodor Fontane at the height of his talents, as he questions the hypocrisies and destructive values of middle-class society.Effi Briest is only 17 when she is married off to Baron von Innstetten, travelling to live with him in a provincial town on the remote Baltic coast of Prussia. He is 20 years her senior, an ambitious bureaucrat uninterested in his young wife, and lively Effi becomes increasingly isolated, bored and anxious in her stifling surroundings.A half-hearted affair with Major Crampas – a manipulative married man with a reputation for womanising – temporarily distracts Effi from her loneliness. But years later, this brief liaison will return to Effi with devastating consequences.Written with great empathy for his characters, Fontane portrays a woman torn between her own desires and her roles as wife and mother, between her heart and the obligations of social circumstance.Part of the Pushkin Press Classics series: outstanding classic storytelling from around the world, in a stylishly original series design. From newly rediscovered gems to fresh translations of the world&’s greatest authors, this series includes such authors as Stefan Zweig, Hermann Hesse, Ryūnosuke Akutagawa and Gaito Gazdanov.
Breathing Hearts: Sufism, Healing, and Anti-Muslim Racism in Germany (Epistemologies of Healing #21)
by Nasima SelimSufism is known as the mystical dimension of Islam. Breathing Hearts explores this definition to find out what it means to ‘breathe well’ along the Sufi path in the context of anti-Muslim racism. It is the first book-length ethnographic account of Sufi practices and politics in Berlin and describes how Sufi practices are mobilized in healing secular and religious suffering. It tracks the Desire Lines of multi-ethnic immigrants of color, and white German interlocutors to show how Sufi practices complicate the post secular imagination of healing in Germany.