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Safe Space: My experience of racism in Australia and how I found hope through community
by Alyssa Huynh'A searingly honest and impassioned account of being an advocate in the social media era, Alyssa's voice is fierce, urgent and brave; and filled with deep familial love. This book burns with an urgency and clarion call to action.' Alice Pung, author of One Hundred Days This is a book for anyone who believes that racism has no place in Australia&’s future and is ready to take action.&‘I&’ve played the role of the quiet and embarrassed Asian girl who shyly laughs along more than I should have in my lifetime. Enough is enough.&’ Growing up, Alyssa Huynh heard stories from her family about their journey from Vietnam to Australia following the fall of Saigon and the racism they experienced upon arrival. While the discrimination she faced was different, she never quite felt like she belonged either. Longing for a safe space, she turned to the internet. Through sharing her writing online, she created a supportive community for fellow Asians and people of colour with similar experiences, as well as for allies. When some of her views went viral, important conversations were sparked, but there was also racist backlash – showing her that the work was necessary and her voice had impact. Honest and heartfelt, Safe Space is unapologetically angry and sincerely hopeful. Alyssa explores the challenges she has faced as an Asian-Australian and those that made her the advocate she is today. She also offers practical advice, both to those who are victims of racism and wish to add their voice to the discourse or deepen their connection to their cultural identities, and to allies who want learn more about how they can meaningfully show their support. This is a book for anyone who believes that racism has no place in Australia's future and is ready to take action.
I Fight, You Fight: Life isn't about the hand you're dealt, but how you choose to play it
by Alex NobleThe inspiring story of a young man whose wisdom and strength can teach us all how to live life to the fullest, no matter what it throws at us. Sixteen-year-old Alex Noble was a high school rugby star with a promising sporting career ahead of him when an on-field injury left him fighting for his life in the ICU. Following a four-day coma and a diagnosis of C4 quadriplegia, Alex&’s first words to his brother Zac were, &‘If I fight, you fight.&’ These words became a war cry as Alex&’s friends, family and community rallied around him, watching in awe as he fought to regain control over his body and defy his diagnosis. From learning to breathe and move again to travelling the world, starting his own business, and even going skydiving, Alex&’s story is about the power of mastering your own mind, finding happiness and taking risks to achieve your goals – no matter how out of reach they may seem. Full of warmth, humour and insight, this is a book that will teach you principles to live your life by, written by a young man who has put them into practice.I Fight, You Fight is so much more than an inspiring memoir – it&’s a philosophy for finding happiness and reaching your true potential.
Wild Planet: The Inspiring Life and Wisdom of Sir David Attenborough
by Hayley RoccoA fascinating picture book biography of broadcaster and biologist, Sir David Attenborough'A beautiful book with a timely message accessible for all ages.' Rick Riordan, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians seriesAs a boy, David loved exploring the wild places near his home. When he was older, he travelled the world to film animals in their natural habitats. His adventures brought the wonders of the world into our homes. But David also noticed that our planet was changing. What could David do to help? What could we all do? This is the inspiring story of Sir David Attenborough. It&’s also the story of our planet and an urgent call for us to do our part to protect our planet and the creatures who call Earth home. 'Nothing short of stunning.' Sherri Duskey Rinker, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Steam Train, Dream Train
More than Bombs and Bandages
by Kirsty HarrisMore than Bombs and Bandages exposes the false assumption that military nurses only nursed. Based on author Kirsty Harris&’ CEW Bean Prize-winning PhD thesis, this is a book that is far removed from the &‘devotion to duty&’ stereotyping offering an intriguing and sometimes gut-wrenching insight into the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) during World War I. More than Bombs and Bandages provides rich pickings for all those interested in nursing history, women in the Australian military the application of medical treatments and World War I. What I enjoyed most about is Dr Kirsty Harris&’s ability to reflect those nurses voices in a way that was so real – one could be there, the settings were so well understood from her research and the language kind of made a time warp in the reading. Very satisfying. As you know I have that Peter Rees book, but I could not get into it after reading the historical one. It was like comparing a great documentary to Facebook trivia!!!Rev&’d Dr Barbara Oudt
A Very Different War: RAAF Operations in the Korean War
by Owen ZuppThe Korean War lies between the enormity of the Second World War and the controversy of Vietnam. Although it often slips through the cracks of history, it represented a global shift as two opposing ideologies clashed and the Cold War heated up. The fledgling United Nations was called to act, and Australia joined the 21 nations committed to supporting South Korea. Within days of the North Koreans crossing the 38th Parallel, the RAAF was flying missions from its base in Japan. In the ensuing three years, the RAAF gained respect among its peers and the attention of the opposing military powers. When the war reached a crisis point, with UN forces pinned down and threatened with being pushed off the peninsula into the sea, the RAAF was at the epicentre. During the war, the RAAF entered the jet age, and the transition was not without challenges and losses. Ultimately, a generation of RAAF leaders emerged from the ranks of sergeant pilots and junior officers who underwent their baptism of fire on the Korean Peninsula. Using No 77 Squadron operations as a timeline, this concise history of the RAAF involvement in the war examines the roles of the transport unit, nurses, ground crews, prisoners of war and those who still have no known resting place.
Kokoda Legend: Captain Sam Templeton
by David HowellOne of the finest soldiers and most courageous leaders I have ever known. – Lt Doug McClean, D Coy, 39th Battalion If you have trekked Kokoda, then the campsite of Templeton's Crossing will be familiar. Discover the story of the man behind the name.Captain Sam Templeton was the first Australian Officer to be captured by the Japanese in the Kokoda Campaign. After being interrogated by his captors he was executed on the battlefield. Templeton had predicted his fate, telling a platoon commander, if &‘he went into action, he wouldn&’t come back&’. Having resigned himself to his destiny, Templeton misled his captors on the numerical strength of the Australian forces waiting in Kokoda and Port Moresby. Did Templeton&’s misinformation slow the initial push by the Yokoyama Advance Force into the Owen Stanley Range, allowing the Australian Imperial Force to join the fight earlier? Did Templeton create doubt in the mind of the commander of the South Seas Force, influencing an operational change for the attack on Port Moresby? A quiet and often aloof character, Templeton&’s name and actions became synonymous with Kokoda. Originally from Belfast, Templeton is reputed to have helped quash the Irish rebellion, served in submarines with the Royal Navy during the First World War and to have fought with the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War.Kokoda Legend goes beyond the myth to discover the real contribution Captain Sam Templeton made to stopping the Japanese advance over the Owen Stanley Range in 1942.
Backup is Three Hours Away: A raw account of remote area policing
by Mark TregellasEmbark on a gripping adventure with Mark 'Trigger' Tregellas in Backup is Three Hours Away, a true crime memoir chronicling nearly three decades of policing Victoria's remote coastal region. Trigger never knew what each shift would bring – tragedy, laughter, adventure, danger – sometimes all on the same day. Trigger's personal journey, fuelled by a thirst for adventure and special forces training, led him to the frontline of policing. He faced life-threatening situations and earned commendation for his exceptional and courageous service, recognition that came at a personal cost. Through Trigger&’s career he sustained severe injuries, including a broken spine, a gunshot wound to the face and PTSD. Trigger delves into encounters with peril, unexpected twists, and heartbreaking moments, shedding light on the motivations that drive officers to willingly confront the unknown. Despite the physical and mental toll, his story is one of triumph, showcasing a resilient mindset honed through exhaustive training and the overcoming of life's challenges, including a brush with cancer.Backup is Three Hours Away is a genuine portrayal of policing, from the unpredictable and humorous moments to heart-wrenching tragedy. Trigger's narrative transcends the typical law enforcement tale, revealing indomitable human spirit and resilience – a powerful and inspirational testament to the highs and lows of a career dedicated to service. Testimonial: For anyone who has dreamt about going on a cop &‘ride-along&’ to see what really happens on a shift - this book is for you! Thirty years of policing in some of the most remote and inhospitable areas in Australia, condensed into 60 bite-sized chapters, ranging from: Diving headfirst into a speeding boat while 3 kilometres offshore to arrest poachers, outwitting a career criminal with links to terrorists, subduing three Nazi-linked extremists from attacking a young girl late at night while dressed only in pyjamas, locating a decapitated head up a tree still encased in a motorcycle helmet. Traumatic, dramatic, suspenseful and at times farcical. Then there are the multiple bravery awards! There is a thin line that separates bravery from recklessness when risking your life to save others. But when you are trained, dedicated, intelligent and resourceful, members of the Thin Blue Line are ready, willing and able to take those calculated risks. Mark &“Trigger&” Tregellas has faced the demons and lived to tell the tale!Richard Rolfe AM Vice Patron - Australian Bravery Association
Love from Scratch
by Amy HuttonOpposites attract in this laugh-out-loud rom-com about a heart-throb actor, the grumpy woman who minds his beloved dog, and the cat that steals his heart. Ethan James has a problem: he&’s about to start shooting a movie and he needs someone to mind his anxious dog, Harry. This film could make or break Ethan's career, and he knows he has to give it all his attention, but Harry's new minder turns out to be more of a hindrance than a help. She's gorgeous and funny, and throws so much shade in his direction that Ethan can't think straight. Hazel Conor has a problem: she&’s just lost her job as a sous chef at the fancy beachside restaurant she uphauled her life for. And if she doesn&’t get another job soon, she won&’t be able to afford food – or worse, cat food, and then her grouchy cat Kevin will finally murder her in her sleep. So when she sees an ad for an easy dog minder job, she goes for it. Hazel finds everything about Ethan annoying; he&’s flashy, flirty, and a total charmer. She probably wouldn&’t look at him twice if it wasn&’t for her cat. Because Kevin, the cat who hates everyone, is totally smitten with Ethan James. And with each purr, cheek rub and head bump that Kevin bestows on Ethan, Hazel begins to wonder if there&’s something her cat can see that she can&’t.
Understanding Generative AI Business Applications: A Guide to Technical Principles and Real-World Applications
by Irena CroninThis guide covers the fundamental technical principles and various business applications of Generative AI for planning, developing, and evaluating AI-driven products. It equips you with the knowledge you need to harness the potential of Generative AI for enhancing business creativity and productivity.The book is organized into three sections: text-based, senses-based, and rationale-based. Each section provides an in-depth exploration of the specific methods and applications of Generative AI. In the text-based section, you will find detailed discussions on designing algorithms to automate and enhance written communication, including insights into the technical aspects of transformer-based Natural Language Processing (NLP) and chatbot architecture, such as GPT-4, Claude 2, Google Bard, and others. The senses-based section offers a glimpse into the algorithms and data structures that underpin visual, auditory, and multisensory experiences, including NeRF, 3D Gaussian Splatting,Stable Diffusion, AR and VR technologies, and more. The rationale-based section illuminates the decision-making capabilities of AI, with a focus on machine learning and data analytics techniques that empower applications such as simulation models, agents, and autonomous systems.In summary, this book serves as a guide for those seeking to navigate the dynamic landscape of Generative AI. Whether you’re a seasoned AI professional or a business leader looking to harness the power of creative automation, these pages offer a roadmap to leverage Generative AI for your organization’s success.What You Will LearnWhat are the technical elements that constitute the makeup of Generative AI products?What are the practical applications of Generative AI?How can algorithms be designed to automate and improve written communication?What are the latest Generative AI architectures and algorithms?Who This Book Is ForData scientists, data analysts, decision makers, and business executives interested in gaining an understanding of Generative AI products
Impact of COVID-19 Waste on Environmental Pollution and Its Sustainable Management: COVID-19 Waste and Its Management (Environmental Science and Engineering)
by Alok Prasad Das Sunanda MishraThis book focuses on challenges that have arisen because of trash discharges and their potential causes and provides long-term sustainable solutions. Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused immense devastation, leading to numerous fatalities as well as substantial economic losses and health issues. With the rise in COVID-19 cases, the amount of biomedical waste has multiplied, exposing more people to the epidemic. For developing countries, waste management is already a problem, and the waste generated during this pandemic situation has made things worse. If improper waste management techniques are not changed, the world will face a new crisis that could be referred to as a "garbage crisis." The increased quantity of COVID-19-associated waste (CAW) and their presence in the environment make them more vulnerable, potentially increasing the danger of food chain contamination. A few countries have already started putting emergency plans in place to address the “waste crisis.” Given the paucity of information on the mutational features and potential hosts of this newly discovered COVID-19, there is a pressing need for an effective plan to protect India's ecosystem against further contamination. To handle the current crisis and prevent the anticipated waste disaster, it is imperative to construct a more effective, automated, computerized, and well-modified waste management system during the COVID-19 period.
Digital Health and Wireless Solutions: First Nordic Conference, NCDHWS 2024, Oulu, Finland, May 7–8, 2024, Proceedings, Part I (Communications in Computer and Information Science #2083)
by Daljeet Singh Miia Jansson Mariella Särestöniemi Pantea Keikhosrokiani Erkki Harjula Aleksei Tiulpin Minna Isomursu Mark Van Gils Simo Saarakkala Jarmo ReponenThis two-volume set constitutes the refereed proceedings of the First Nordic Conference on , Digital Health and Wireless Solutions, NCDHWS 2024, held in Oulu, Finland, during May 7–8, 2024. The 51 full papers included in this book together with 7 short papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 100 submissions. They were organized in topical sections as follows: Part I: Remote Care and Health Connectivity Architectures in 6G Era.- User Experience and Citizen Data.- Digitalization in Health Education.- Digital Health Innovations.- Digital Care Pathways. Part II: Clinical Decision Support and Medical AI.- Digital Care Pathways.- Novel Sensors and Bioinformatics.- Health Technology Assessment and Impact Evaluation.- Wireless Technologies and Medical Devices. This book is open access.
Digital Health and Wireless Solutions: First Nordic Conference, NCDHWS 2024, Oulu, Finland, May 7–8, 2024, Proceedings, Part II (Communications in Computer and Information Science #2084)
by Daljeet Singh Miia Jansson Mariella Särestöniemi Pantea Keikhosrokiani Erkki Harjula Aleksei Tiulpin Minna Isomursu Mark Van Gils Simo Saarakkala Jarmo ReponenThis two-volume set constitutes the refereed proceedings of the First Nordic Conference on , Digital Health and Wireless Solutions, NCDHWS 2024, held in Oulu, Finland, during May 7–8, 2024. The 51 full papers included in this book together with 7 short papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 100 submissions. They were organized in topical sections as follows: Part I: Remote Care and Health Connectivity Architectures in 6G Era.- User Experience and Citizen Data.- Digitalization in Health Education.- Digital Health Innovations.- Digital Care Pathways. Part II: Clinical Decision Support and Medical AI.- Digital Care Pathways.- Novel Sensors and Bioinformatics.- Health Technology Assessment and Impact Evaluation.- Wireless Technologies and Medical Devices. This book is open access.
The US Housing Crisis: Home and Trust in the Real Estate Economy (The Urban Book Series)
by Judith KellerThis book aims to draw careful distinctions between the various forms of housing insecurity and personal circumstances research participants experience. While the urgency of the housing crisis in the US has produced a lot of scholarly work on housing, it often fails to recount the real life struggles that the housing crisis is causing. This is where the book provides a distinct contribution to housing studies and urban geography. The author use of trust as an analytical lens, her qualitative approach, and her work with people on the ground aim to move away from a quantitative understanding of the crisis by giving it a human face. The author seeks to bring to light the human costs of the destruction of home as well as the political reactions and day-to-day strategies that residents apply to make ends meet in times of the US housing crisis.
Agricultural Biomass Nanocatalysts for Green Energy Applications (Clean Energy Production Technologies)
by Manish Srivastava Ashutosh Kumar RaiThe book discusses the various sustainable approaches to combine agrowaste and nanomaterials into catalysts or nanocatalysts with the objective of enhancing biofuel production. It explores the practical sustainability of agronanocatalysts in bioenergy production at a mass scale, while also addressing the existing challenges and proposes sustainable remedies to overcome these limitations. Additionally, the book dives into the cost considerations, recognizing it as a major concern for the widespread utility of catalysts, and explores viable commercial applications in this context.Nanomaterials continue to attract attention in the field of proteins and enzymes due to their versatile physicochemical properties and potential. They offer opportunities to enhance various biofuel production processes by serving as catalysts in the reaction medium. For instance, studies have highlighted the significant improvements in cellulase enzyme production, stability, pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass, and enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency achieved through the utilization of nanomaterials. The impact of nanomaterials on fermentative hydrogen production has also been documented. While the application of nanomaterials in biofuel production processes has been reported in the literature, there remains a need to focus on the type of nanomaterials, their synthesis, and their specific effects on important process parameters. Addressing and evaluating these factors is crucial to effectively improve and streamline biofuel production processes using nanomaterials. The book serves as a comprehensive introduction to nanomaterials and nanotechnology in biofuel production, catering to the needs of researchers, academicians and students.
Post-Communist Progress and Stagnation at 35: The Case of Romania
by Lavinia Stan Diane VanceaThis book examines Romania’s efforts to consolidate liberal democracy and market economy, as desired by the generation who effected change in 1989 and required by the European Union. The ousting of Nicolae Ceausescu, leader of an autarchic and nationalistic dictatorship, underscored the limitations of politically engineering change when rule of law is weak, institutions are misused, and intolerance and cheating are prevalent. Despite initial hopes, Romania’s transition combined progress and stagnation, missed opportunities, detours, unintended consequences, and success. The contributions illustrate the tenuous relationship between continuity and change in a country that is yet to catch up with its neighbors.
Advances in Ring Theory and Applications: WARA22, Messina, Italy, July 18–20, 2022 (Springer Proceedings in Mathematics & Statistics #443)
by Mohammad Ashraf Vincenzo De Filippis Shakir Ali Nadeem Ur RehmanThe book intends to be a collection of research papers on algebra and related topics, most of which were presented at the international "Workshop on Associative Rings and Algebras with additional structures (WARA22)". The purpose of the workshop WARA22 was to present the current state of the art both in the Theory of Lie structures of associative rings and algebras and in the Theory of functional identities in rings. The conference has emerged as a powerful forum offering researchers the opportunity to meet, get to know each other and discuss advances in ring theory, inspiring further research directions. The main topics covered refer to rings with involution, Lie and Jordan structures, rings and algebras arising under various constructions, modules, bimodules and ideals in associative algebras, behavior of derivations, automorphisms and other kinds of additive maps in rings and algebras. All the contributing authors are leading international academicians and researchers in their respective fields. The papers cover a wide range of topics in ring theory, group theory, matrix algebra and graph theory. The book will serve both the specialist looking for the latest results and the novice looking for the appropriate references to access the study and understanding of the results presented here.
Prospects and Challenges for Caribbean Societies in and Beyond COVID-19
by Talia Esnard Camille Huggins Shelene Gomes Wendell C. Wallace Christine DescartesThis book presents contributions from a multidisciplinary team of researchers who analyzed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and prospects for the Caribbean region. This book examines experiences, and responses to the pandemic in the region as well as some of the lessons that can be leveraged on beyond the pandemic. The volume is organized into four parts. Part I offers perspectives on the structural factors that influenced the Caribbean's experience with the COVID-19 pandemic. Part II delves into the social and psychological dimensions of the pandemic's impact in the region, offering specific examples. Part III explores the ramifications of the pandemic on crime and violence. And Part IV is dedicated to analyzing the regional and national responses to the pandemic. Prospects and Challenges for Caribbean Societies in and beyond COVID-19 will be of interest to researchers in a wide range of disciplines within the Social and Behavioral Sciences interested in studies about the Caribbean. It also aims to serve as a source of information and inspiration for researchers, practitioners and decision makers interested in contributing to the development of the Caribbean region.
The Sun Also Rises in Portugal: Ambitions of Just Solar Energy Transitions
by Siddharth SareenAvailable open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence. Portugal is among the best-placed European countries to take advantage of solar power, having achieved a five-fold increase in installed capacity during 2017-2023 despite financial constraints. In 2023, its National Energy and Climate Plan set an ambitious target for a further eight-fold increase from 2.5 GW to 20.4 GW by 2030. How can such fast-paced deployment secure sociospatial justice? What insights do political economic dynamics hold for future transitions? Drawing on long-term, multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork, this book is a one-stop resource for policy makers, practitioners, scholars, and anyone interested in just solar energy transitions. Siddharth Sareen won the 2024 Nils Klim Prize, recognising his exemplary work in the search for renewable and sustainable sources of energy.
In Poe's Wake: Travels in the Graphic and the Atmospheric
by Jonathan ElmerExplores how Edgar Allan Poe has become a household name, as much a brand as an author. You’ll find his face everywhere, from coffee mugs, bobbleheads, and T-shirts to the cover of the Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Edgar Allan Poe is one of American culture’s most recognizable literary figures, his life and works inspiring countless derivations beyond the literary realm. Poe’s likeness and influence have been found in commercial illustration and kitsch, art installations, films, radio plays, children’s cartoons, and video games. What makes Poe so hugely influential in media other than his own? What do filmmakers, composers, and other artists find in Poe that suits their purposes so often and so variously? In Poe’s Wake locates the source of the writer’s enduring legacy in two vernacular aesthetic categories: the graphic and the atmospheric. Jonathan Elmer uses Poe to explore these two terms and track some deep patterns in their use, not through theoretical labor but through close encounters with a wide sampling of aesthetic objects that avail themselves of Poe’s work. Poe’s writings are violent and macabre, memorable both for certain grisly images and for certain prevailing moods or atmospheres—dread, creepiness, and mournfulness. Furthermore, a bundle of Poe traits—his thematic emphasis on extreme sensation, his flexible sense of form, his experimental and modular method, and his iconic visage—amount to what could be called a Poe “brand,” one as likely to be found in music videos or comics as in novels and stories. Encompassing René Magritte, Claude Debussy, Lou Reed, Roger Corman, Spongebob Squarepants, and many others, Elmer’s book shows how the Poe brand opens trunk lines to aesthetic experiences fundamental to a multi-media world.
Working Women in Jordan: Education, Migration, and Aspiration
by Fida J. AdelyA surprising look at the meaningful social changes in Jordan as lived and navigated by educated women. Jordan has witnessed tremendous societal transformation in its relatively short history. Today it has one of the most highly educated populations in the region, and women have outnumbered and outperformed their male counterparts for more than a decade. Yet, despite their education and professional status, many women still struggle to build a secure future and a life befitting of their aspirations. In Working Women in Jordan anthropologist Fida J. Adely turns to college-educated women in Jordan who migrate from rural provinces to Amman for employment opportunities. Building on twelve years of ethnographic research and extensive interviews with dozens of women, as well as some of their family members, Adely analyzes the effects of developments such as expanded educational opportunities, urbanization, privatization, and the restructuring of the labor market on women’s life trajectories, gender roles, the institution of marriage, and kinship relations. Through these rich narrative accounts and the analysis of broader socio-economic shifts, Adely explains how educational structures can act as both facilitators and obstacles to workforce entry—along with cascading consequences for family and social life. Deeply thorough and compelling, Working Women in Jordan asks readers to think more critically about what counts as development, and for whom.
Format Friction: Perspectives on the Shellac Disc (New Material Histories of Music)
by Gavin WilliamsThe first book to consider the shellac disc as a global format. With the rise of the gramophone around 1900, the shellac disc traveled the world and eventually became the dominant sound format in the first half of the twentieth century. Format Friction brings together a set of local encounters with the shellac disc, beginning with its preconditions in South Asian knowledge and labor, to offer a global portrait of this format. Spun at seventy-eight revolutions per minute, the shellac disc rapidly became an industrial standard even while the gramophone itself remained a novelty. The very basis of this early sound reproduction technology was friction, an elemental materiality of sound shaped through cultural practice. Using friction as a lens, Gavin Williams illuminates the environments plundered, the materials seized, and the ears entangled in the making of a sound format. Bringing together material, political, and music history, Format Friction decenters the story of a beloved medium, and so explores new ways of understanding listening in technological culture more broadly.
Between Us: Healing Ourselves and Changing the World Through Sociology
by Marika Lindholm Elizabeth Anne WoodThis heartfelt collection is a testament to sociology’s power to heal people and transform societies. The world is a tough place right now. Climate change, income inequality, racist violence, and the erosion of democracy have exposed the vulnerability of our individual and collective futures. But as the sociologists gathered here by Marika Lindholm and Elizabeth Wood show, no matter how helpless we might feel, it’s vital that we discover new paths toward healing and change. The short, accessible, emotionally and intellectually powerful essays in Between Us offer a transformative new way to think about sociology and its ability to fuel personal and social change. These forty-five essays reflect a diverse range of experiences. Whether taking an adult son with autism grocery shopping or fighting fires in Barcelona, contending with sexism at the beach or facing racism at a fertility clinic, celebrating one’s immigrant heritage, or acknowledging one’s KKK ancestors, this book shows students that sociology is deeply rooted in everyday life and can be used to help us process and understand it. A perfect introduction to the discipline and why it matters, Between Us will resonate with students from all backgrounds as they embark on their academic journey.
Growing to Be Like Christ: Six Sessions on Discipleship (Doing Life Together)
by Rick WarrenSpiritual maturity doesn’t happen by accident. The six sessions in this study equip you for the basic habits of spiritual growth: relying on the Holy Spirit, cultivating time in the Bible and prayer, seeing life’s obstacles as opportunities for growth, and partnering with Christians who are committed to supporting your growth. Here is a realistic, practical path to growing strong in faith and Christian character. “Doing Life Together is a groundbreaking study…[It’s] the first small group curriculum built completely on the purpose-driven paradigm…The greatest reason I’m excited about [it] is that I’ve seen the dramatic changes it produces in the lives of those who study it.” —From the foreword by Rick Warren Based on the five biblical purposes that form the bedrock of Saddleback Church, Doing Life Together will help your group discover what God created you for and how you can turn this dream into an everyday reality. Experience the transformation firsthand as you begin Connecting, Growing, Developing, Sharing, and Surrendering your life together for him.
The Daniel Prayer Bible Study Guide: Prayer That Moves Heaven and Changes Nations
by Anne Graham LotzDo you long for a more powerful prayer life? Do you grow discouraged when your prayers don't seem to change anything or allow you to hear God's voice?In this video-based Bible study workshop (DVD/digital video sold separately), Anne Graham Lotz presents a biblical approach to prayer that will help you:Learn to listen for God's voice,Know Him in a personal relationship,and Communicate with Him through His Word.By taking a close look at the life of Daniel, Anne unpacks the prayer he prayed in Daniel 9. Following the pattern of Daniel's original prayer as a model for how we speak to our Creator, she helps us develop a more meaningful and powerful prayer life.For an entire generation, Daniel's people had been held in captivity and separated from their homeland. But when Daniel read a prophecy in which God said He would restore His people to Jerusalem after seventy years, he claimed that promise and cried out for to the Lord to bring it to pass. Daniel's example of praying God's Word back to Him is what Anne calls "reversed thunder."In this six-session study, Anne explains how we can reverse the thunder until Heaven is moved and we see real change in our own lives and the lives of those we're praying for.This guide includes weekly Bible study readings, video teaching notes, group discussion questions, group activities, and space for writing your own prayers. Ideal for use in small groups and Sunday school classes and includes a simplified Bible study track for more limited meeting time (such as a workplace lunchtime setting).Sessions include:Preparing for PrayerPrompting in PrayerPleading in PrayerPrevailing in PrayerThe Battle in PrayerThis study guide is designed for use with The Daniel Prayer Video Study (sold separately). A Facilitator's Guide and additional resources is included on the DVD only.
Jesus' Greatest Moments: The Week That Changed Everything (Reality Check)
by Mark AshtonThe Reality Check series makes just one assumption: that you’re serious enough about your spiritual journey to investigate Christianity with an open mind. This isn’t about joining anyone’s religious club—it’s about being real with yourself and with the others in your group. Since no one has all the answers, there’s plenty of room for discussion. After all, if there is any truth to the Bible’s stories about Jesus, then one thing he’d welcome are questions and opinions that come from honest, earnest hearts.Never has one week made such a far-reaching difference. It began with the applause of the masses for their controversial hero. It darkened into betrayal, a kangaroo court, and a brutal execution. And it concluded with an event so stunning that it has shaped history ever since: the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. As you relive the dramatic highs and lows of this unparalleled week, you’ll discover why Jesus was far more than a great moral teacher—and why, among all other religious leaders, Jesus stands without equal.Jesus’ Greatest Moments includes these sessions: The Grand Entrance Betrayed by a Friend Framed!? A Dramatic Crisis The Comeback! A Startling ImpactFor the Group LeaderReality Check is for spiritual seekers of every persuasion. Uncompromisingly Christian in its perspective, it steers wide of pat answers and aims at honesty. This innovative and thought-provoking series will challenge you and those in your group to connect heart to heart as together you explore the interface between Jesus, the Bible, and the realities of this world in which we live.