- Table View
- List View
The Occult Harry Smith: The Magical and Alchemical Work of an Artist of the Extremes
by Harry Smith• Explores in depth the occult and mystical side of Smith—his &“heaven and earth magic&”—focusing on how his varied artistic efforts were part of a comprehensive magical and alchemical practice• Includes unpublished photos of and letters from Smith, rare interviews, one of his unpublished texts, and essays by scholars and friendsHarry Smith (1923–1991) was a legendary twentieth-century artist, filmmaker, painter, anthropologist, ethnomusicologist, and archivist. Especially well known for his Anthology of American Folk Music, innovative abstract realms, and extraordinary collection of paper airplanes now housed at the Getty Research Institute, Smith also had a deep esoteric and mystical side, with experimentation in magic, Tarot, Kabbalah, and other occult practices. Like other alchemists, Smith&’s life mission was to create a unified work from disparate elements, a synthesis of correspondences between seemingly unrelated topics—from music, string figures, and Seminole patterns to the relationship between sound and film imagery.Presenting the most diverse collection of writings about Harry Smith, this volume explores the far-ranging esoteric themes that run throughout his art and career. The book includes never-before-seen photos, rare interviews, personal letters, and an unpublished text by Harry Smith, The 96 Apparitions of the 96 Alchemical Formulae (1 to 36), as well as personal reminiscences from Smith&’s friends and former students. Smith&’s groundbreaking mystical wisdom, "heaven and earth magic," and influence as an artist of the extremes leap from the pages in this book, confirming his contribution to art, music, film, and modern alchemy.
Plant Energy Medicine: The Guiding Voice and Healing Vibration of 58 Plants
by Rhonda PallasDowney Sandi O'Connor• Presents in-depth teachings on 58 flowers, trees, and plants• Each write-up features a full-color close-up photo along with the plant&’s medicinal and flower essence traits, the voice of its flower, energetic impact on the chakras, and an affirmation• Also explores plant biofield energetics, how to use flower essences, and the sensory experience of connecting with a plantBy learning to listen quietly to flowers and plants, we can tune in to the inner teachings they have to offer us. Plants can not only heal us, but they can also teach us how to live a more joyful, healthy, and balanced life.Sharing the teachings they&’ve received through years of attentive listening to flowers, trees, and plants, Rhonda PallasDowney and Sandi O&’Connor explore how to deepen your personal experience with the world of plants and connect with their energies. They look at the life force energy of plants, their sensory systems, biofields and electromagnetic energy fields, and their growth from seed to root to stem to leaf to blossom. They offer insights into how to deepen your sensory experience of plants—including their taste, texture, and sounds—and they also teach you how to work with flower essences.Presenting in-depth teachings on 58 flowers, trees, and plants, the authors explore each plant&’s medicinal and flower essence traits, the voice of its flower, its insight, its energetic impact on the chakras, and an affirmation to help you embody the teachings of the plant. Each plant discussion also features full-color close-up photos by Rhonda PallasDowney that capture the energetic imprint and personality of the plant.
Guitar Goods & Gods: Die E-Gitarre im Spannungsfeld von Kapitalismus und Geschlecht (Geschlecht und Gesellschaft #86)
by Sarah SchaubergerWarum wird die E-Gitarre trotz ihrer grundsätzlichen Zugänglichkeit für alle Geschlechter überwiegend mit Männlichkeit und vor allem auch männlichen Gitarrenhelden assoziiert? Ob als ikonisches Symbol der Rockmusik, als Phallus oder Prestigeobjekt – die E-Gitarre ist weit mehr als nur ein Musikinstrument. Sie ist ein kulturelles Artefakt, das tief in gesellschaftliche Bedeutungszuschreibungen eingebunden ist. In ihrer Studie untersucht Sarah Schauberger die Prozesse der Vergeschlechtlichung dieses Musikinstruments als Beispiel für gesellschaftliche Differenzierungs- und Machtstrukturen – hier: das Wechselspiel von Geschlecht und Kapitalismus. Im Zentrum der Untersuchung steht die E-Gitarre als Trägerin und Konstrukteurin sozialer Wirklichkeit. Mittels einer Methodentriangulation aus Dispositiv-/Diskursanalyse, Ethnografie und qualitativem Interview analysiert Schauberger sowohl historische Entwicklungen als auch gegenwärtige Dynamiken. Auf der Grundlage eines umfangreichen Quellenfundus – z.B. Musikfachmagazine, Fachbücher zur E-Gitarre, Feldbeobachtungen von Konzerten, Musikläden, Gitarrenstunden und Interviews mit Gitarrist*innen, Gitarrenbauer*innen und anderen Expert*innen des Feldes – zeigt die Studie, wie sich gesellschaftliche Machtverhältnisse nicht nur in den Praktiken des Gitarrenspiels, sondern auch in der Materialität und vor allem auch der Wertbildung niederschlagen, und leistet damit einen Beitrag zur kultur- und musiksoziologischen Forschung sowie zur kritischen Auseinandersetzung mit Musikinstrumenten.
Führung im Wandel: Wie KMUs dynamische Zeiten meistern
by Christian Kastner Daniel Hesmer Werner KringsIn einer Welt, die von ständigem Wandel und zunehmender Unsicherheit geprägt ist, stehen Führungskräfte vor immer neuen Herausforderungen. Dieses Buch bietet Einblicke in die Belastungsproben von Leadership und zeigt Wege, wie Führungskräfte ihre Teams erfolgreich leiten können. In 21 prägnanten Kapiteln werden zentrale Konzepte wie Resilienz, effektive Kommunikation und Changemanagement behandelt und wichtige Fragen beantwortet: Wie kann Führung in Krisenzeiten gelingen? Wie sieht gutes Stressmanagement aus? Und wie kann Vertrauen auf allen Ebenen aufgebaut werden? Diese Themen werden durch praxisnahe Strategien und fundierte Einsichten ergänzt, die direkt im beruflichen Alltag anwendbar sind. Dieses Buch richtet sich an Führungskräfte, die ihre Unternehmen zukunftsfähig machen wollen, sowie an Leser*innen im Bereich Unternehmensführung oder Personalmanagement. Mit konkreten Handlungsempfehlungen und Werkzeugen bietet es nicht nur neue Perspektiven, sondern auch praktische Unterstützung im Umgang mit Veränderungen.
Biotechnological Removal of Emerging Pollutants from Wastewater Systems (Advances in Wastewater Research)
by Maulin P. Shah Satarupa DeyThis book focuses on the most recent developments in bioremediation techniques and what the future holds for bioremediation in order to reduce the amount of pollution in the world. This book serves as a valuable resource for policy makers, teachers, researchers, climatologists, and undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, forestry, ecology, soil science, and environmental sciences.Both industries and anthropogenic activities generate pollutants of different types which have affected human health and have destroyed biodiversity at multiple levels. They largely consist of personal care and pharmaceuticals products produced by different industries. Most of these emergent contaminants cannot be removed by conventional water treatment procedures and are released in surface water. They further contaminate groundwater, soil, sediments and oceans. More efficient and improved treatment systems are required to remove such emerging contaminants. Various microbes can play crucial role in bioremediation by elimination, degradation, detoxification, and immobilization of pollutants. Most of these microbes are versatile in nature and can survive in a wide range of environmental conditions. Furthermore, they can be applied to different pollutants. Microbial degradation and bioremediation can be considered as useful and effective treatment options for emerging pollutants.
Natural Compounds Enabled Therapies
by Athanassios GiannisWe live in the golden age of medicine and patients benefit from a variety of valuable drugs that are successfully used as therapeutics for various diseases. They increase both life expectancy and quality of life and enable painless surgical interventions. Most of these drugs come directly or indirectly from nature and the narrative of their development and success are presented in this book. After a long scientific adventure, Streptomycin, a metabolite from the bacterium Streptomyces griseus turned out to be effective against tuberculosis, the scourge of mankind. At the same time, the famous PAS (a derivative of the naturally occurring salicylic acid) was developed as an equally effective agent against TB. The complex history and the many biological effects of aspirin are discussed in the light of new findings. Another chapter shows how the great German poet Wolfgang Goethe encountered atropine, an ancient poison. Also discussed is how nitric oxide and nitroglycerin (an explosive material) provide relief from angina pectoris and other heart diseases and how a deadly poison from spoiled sausages enabled not only a treatment of several previously untreatable diseases but also the opened the way for foundation of a billion-dollar health industry. Further chapters describe - discovery and mechanism of action of colchicine, an alkaloid from the plant Colchicum introduced in the therapy of gout. - the complex story behind the groundbreaking discovery of penicillin. - the development of L-DOPA for the treatment of Parkinson disease, and finally the history of discovery and use of digitalis in the therapy of heart failure. In total, there are 10 chapters, each with a disease, which is briefly described with a story. Historical backgrounds are discussed, and the people and character traits are briefly illuminated. The book also contains photos of people, plants, documents. It is an odyssey with stations in medicine, biology, chemistry, pharmacology, botany, mythology and archaeology. The book is written in a generally understandable way, and no prior knowledge is required. It is of interest to physicians and students of Medicine and Chemical Biology, researchers in the field of Life Sciences, and for people interested in the history of Science.
Machine Learning for Disease Detection, Prediction, and Diagnosis: Challenges and Opportunities
by Tanupriya Choudhury Avita KatalThe book &“Machine Learning for Disease Detection, Prediction, and Diagnosis&” can be a comprehensive guide to the novel concepts, techniques, and frameworks essential for improving the viability of existing machine-learning practices. It provides an in-depth analysis of how these new technologies are helpful to detect, predict and diagnose diseases more accurately. The book covers various topics such as image classification algorithms, supervised learning methods like support vector machines (SVM), deep neural networks (DNNs), convolutional neural networks (CNNs), etc. unsupervised approaches such as clustering algorithms as well as reinforcement learning strategies. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in machine-learning applications related to disease detection or diagnosis. It explains different concepts and provides practical examples of how they can it implements using real-world data sets from medical imaging datasets or public health records databases, among others. Furthermore, it offers insights into recent advances made by researchers which have enabled automated decision-making systems based on AI models with improved accuracy over traditional methods. This text also discusses ways through which current models could improve further by incorporating domain knowledge during the model training phase, thereby increasing their efficacy even further. Overall, this book serves as a great source of information about the latest advancements made in the field of Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence towards efficient building systems capable enough detecting & diagnosing diseases automatically while avoiding human errors resulting due manual intervention at any stage along process pipeline thus ensuring better outcomes overall. Moreover, it helps readers understand the underlying principles behind each technique discussed so that they may apply them according to their own application scenarios efficiently without worrying much about the implementation details required to get the job done the right way the first time around itself!
Challenges and Innovations in 3D Printed Bio-Organs and Their Materials (Springer Tracts in Additive Manufacturing)
by Gurpreet Singh Sarina Sulaiman Adam Khan M.This book provides an in-depth analysis of current advancements in bio-additive manufacturing. This edited volume consolidates contributions from international experts, addressing both fundamental principles and contemporary challenges in the field. The book covers a wide range of topics, including biomaterials, smart manufacturing of implants, medical interventions, post-processing techniques, and bio-printing of tissues and organs. Specific chapters focus on the characterization and design of biomaterials, advancements in ceramics, and the integration of robotics and sensors in bio-manufacturing. Key chapters highlight various innovative approaches and technological advancements. These include the development of additive manufacturing techniques for biomaterials and biomedical applications, the promise of 3D-printed bio-organs, and the application of textured titanium alloys for implants. Other chapters explore ultrasonic-enhanced machining of titanium alloys, the tribological behavior and wear mechanisms of these materials, and the biocompatibility of metal implants. The book also delves into the advancements in ceramic biomaterials, the use of bio-materials and sensors in robotics, and rapid prototyping for medical interventions, particularly for diabetic patients. Additionally, there is a focus on the progress and future prospects of metallic implants for orthopedic applications. This book is intended for academics, researchers, biomedical engineers, and professionals in medical simulation and device development. It serves as a valuable resource for understanding the forefront of bio-additive manufacturing and its applications in the biomedical field.
Bernard Shaw and St. John Hankin: Happy Endings (Bernard Shaw and His Contemporaries)
by Christopher Wixson&“This original study will no doubt draw attention to St. John Hankin&’s work, which may in turn receive further scrutiny from scholars, students, and theatre practitioners.&” Michel Pharand, Queen's University This book proposes a vibrant intertextual dialogue between St. John Hankin&’s manners comedies and what are considered Bernard Shaw&’s &“minor&” Edwardian comedies and, after the war, some of his most experimental &“extravagant&” plays. Engaging thematic topics ranging from philanthropy and parenting to marital alliances and comic endings, their dramaturgy was truly in conversation over form and content as they re-purposed one another in a vital wrangling to direct the creative evolution of modern British comedy.
Microalgae as Promising Source of Commercial Bioproducts: Advances and Emerging Technologies in Bioactive Compounds, Biofuels, Food and Biorefineries (Developments in Applied Phycology #14)
by Sergio Rossi David Ulises Santos BallardoThis book contains a wide compendium of information, which includes algal culture basics and the newest scientific and industrial advances in microalgal applications, including traditional uses such as renewable energy biofuels, wastewater treatment, edible products, aquaculture and livestock production. It also presents emerging perspectives of microalgae valorization, for example, health/cosmetic products, biofertilizers, bioplastics, vaccine delivery systems, nanotechnology and enzymes bio-factories. Moreover, this book provides a comprehensive overview for those readers that are initiating the study about microalgae potential as a renewable source of valuable commercial products and highlights the state-of-the-art on the innovative advances for scientific researchers, students and microalgae commercial producers, which already focused in developing microalgae biotechnology for bioenergy, food, and other applications. Also, the role of microalgae technology in the blue economy is analyzed, an aspect with high relevance in the present and the future time, but which is regularly understudied.
Mehr SMART als PHONE - fokussiert und inspiriert arbeiten (essentials)
by Michael Krebs Christine KuhnDie Digitalisierung bietet enorme Möglichkeiten, führt jedoch zunehmend zu einer Aufmerksamkeitskrise mit ständiger Ablenkung durch z.B. Social Media, Chat, E-Mail etc. – mit negativen Folgen für Produktivität und Wohlbefinden. Dieses Buch zeigt auf, wie bewusste Verhaltensreflexion, Mindfulness und Deep Work helfen, fokussierter und wirksamer zu arbeiten. Basierend auf wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen bietet es ein praxiserprobtes Action-Learning-Programm in sechs Schritten. Für alle, die ihre digitale Selbststeuerung stärken und mit mehr Klarheit durch den Arbeitsalltag gehen möchten.
Applied Policing Policy Research: Improving Evidence Based Oversight of the Police
by Paul DawsonThis volume critically examines how the integration of evidence-based research within police governance reshapes accountability, decision-making, and policy development. Focusing on the transition of a well-established police research unit from the Metropolitan Police Service to the London Police and Crime Commissioner&’s office in 2014, the book explores the broader implications of this move for data-driven oversight and police practice. Bringing together contributions from experts directly involved in this transition, the chapters combine original research, case studies, and applied analysis to demonstrate how evidence informs policing at both strategic and operational levels. The book introduces the concept of "evidence-based oversight," offering a new framework for understanding the evolving role of research in shaping police governance and accountability structures. With insights for PCC staff, police professionals, policymakers, and scholars, this volume provides a critical perspective on how empirical research can enhance policing practices, drive reform, and strengthen oversight mechanisms within criminal justice systems.
Climate Technology and Law in the Anthropocene
by Leonie Reins and Alexander ZaharAvailable open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence. As climate change accelerates, our window for action is closing. To stay within the "Anthropocene" - an epoch in which humankind as the dominant force shaping the planet retains a degree of control over the destructive processes it has unleashed - global warming must be kept below 2° Celsius. This book explores the unprecedented technological and legal changes required to achieve this. Featuring contributions from leading experts, the essays examine the intersection of technology, law, and environmental values, offering diverse viewpoints on navigating the Anthropocene. Revealing the controversies of rapid technological adoption and legal reform, this is a crucial analysis of a complex future whose many dangers for our society are barely understood.
The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick
by S. IsabelleBridgerton meets The Davenports in this wildly entertaining standalone romance, following a young Black woman trying to balance her independence with her future in 1860s London&’s high society.Stella Sedgwick is a lost cause.Banished from etiquette lessons and unsure of her future, Stella dreams of a writing career and independence, but 1860s England offers little opportunity beyond marriage or servitude for a sharp-tongued, dark-skinned girl.When her late mother&’s former employer summons Stella to London, he tells her of his intention to bequeath one of the family&’s great estates to her. It&’s a life-changing inheritance, but one that will precipitate a legal battle that would be easier if Stella were married. With her cousin Olivia by her side, Stella is thrust into London society and must navigate fashion and balls, insults and stares, and a rekindled connection to Nathaniel, her childhood best friend with a rakish reputation. Beyond the marriage market, living in London presents intriguing opportunities to Stella, like picking up her mother&’s anonymous advice column to guide readers through upper-class perils. As new acquaintances are made and old secrets are uncovered, Stella must decide when to play by the rules, when to break them, and when to let herself follow her heart.
An Encantadora's Guide to Monstros and Magic
by Sarah J. MendoncaEncanto meets Oceans 8 in this middle-grade fantasy-adventure, set in a Portuguese-inspired world, following a tween girl who joins a notorious band of thieves to steal a priceless jewel and discovers corruption that must be stopped.Rosa Coelho has spent her whole life hunting monstros, wandering the city streets with her best friend Tiago, and dreaming of a better life for herself and her grandmother. And in a society that favors the rich and educated, every piece of knowledge comes with a hefty price, even the most basic books Rosa&’s family needs to trap monstrous.So when the powerful Ministério dos Monstros threatens her family&’s struggling Encantadora shop, Rosa only has two weeks to scrape together the money for their debts. It seems like an impossible task…until Rosa tricks her way onto an infamous thief crew as their magical safecracker.Thrust into the world of high class luxury and betrayal, Rosa is pulled into a scheme with the highest possible stakes: stealing from the Ministry itself. She must learn to trust her magical abilities and her crew—for if the heist goes wrong, everything she loves is forfeit.
Darling Beasts: A Novel
by Michelle GableA family drama with a speculative twist about three siblings and one beastly surprise, from the New York Times bestselling author&“Weird, witty, and totally delightful, with echoes of Schitt&’s Creek but with more teeth! I loved it.&” —Annie Hartnett, author of Unlikely Animals and The Road to Tender Hearts Gabby, Talia, and Ozzie Gunn, heirs to a media empire, are in trouble. After several bad investments and one major scandal, their father is now trying to restore their family&’s good name with a senatorial run. Even worse? He&’s demanding they move to California to join the campaign or risk being cut off.It&’s easy to say you don&’t care about money when you have enough, but with mounting debts, unconventional hobbies, and in the case of Gabby, Portum Bestiae Syndrome—a very expensive condition in which strange symptoms arise and then an exotic animal appears—the siblings don&’t have much of a choice. In California, they&’ll just have to keep their distance and survive until it&’s all over.But almost immediately, the Gunns find themselves right in the thick of things, dodging headlines and the creatures that seem to pop up in the most inconvenient places. Not only that—the change in scenery even has them bonding, on hot-air balloon rides and sunny beaches. But when a family secret rears its head, reopening old wounds, this new existence is thrown into chaos, and the stage is set for a long-overdue reckoning…
The Rabbit Club: A Novel
by Christopher J. Yates*A New York Post Best Beach Read!*The author of Black Chalk, "the smart summer thriller you've been waiting for" (NPR), returns with a mesmerizing new novel about a dangerous secret society at Oxford University, and the first-year Literature student whose life begins to unravel in its shadowWhen Ali McCain, an eighteen-year-old from Los Angeles, is accepted at Oxford, it&’s a chance to fulfill his dreams. To study English literature in England; to meet true intellectuals; and to glimpse the life he might have lived had his father—British rock star Gel McCain, legendary frontman of the Pale Fires—not abandoned him and his mother when he was a toddler.But not long after he arrives at the storied campus, Ali is drawn into a dark, disorienting world where events grow more and more curious by the day. Trading on his father&’s name, he gains entry into one of Oxford&’s oldest and most selective secret societies, the Saracens. As he immerses himself in this rarefied world, he inadvertently sets in motion a series of events that might culminate in disaster.A mind-bending literary house of mirrors, replete with bookish allusions and Easter eggs ranging from Brideshead Revisited to King Lear, The Rabbit Club is an arresting work of dark academia by the category&’s finest writer.
The Last Empress of France: The Rebellious Life of Eugénie de Montijo
by Petie Kladstrup Evelyne ResnickThe dramatic untold story of Eugénie de Montijo, the woman who created haute couture, fought for women&’s rights, opened France&’s schools to girls and ruled the country as its last empress, yet today remains almost unknown. Although a nineteenth-century woman, her almost twenty-first-century outlook was key to the creation of modern France. Viewed frequently as a mere &“ornament of the throne&” of her husband, Emperor Napoléon III, this Spanish-born aristocrat proved to be almost as fiery as her red hair, fighting against institutional limitations, establishing innovations in childcare and women&’s health, scientific research and education, battling anti-Semitism and &“sex prejudice,&” all the while displaying a political acumen so sharp that her husband gave her sole control of the government during his absences and consulted her daily when he was home. But the triumphs and glamour of her life were coupled with heartbreak and tragedy. This first definitive American biography of Eugénie restores her far-reaching legacy to history.
Weaponized: A Spicy College Mafia Romance (Heirs of the Organized)
by Kelly KilburnLove is a dangerous game…and she's the perfect weapon. A femme fatale mafia princess meets her dark, brooding match in this searing opposites-attract new adult romanceGráinne I belong to the mob. I&’m a beautiful, seductive pawn—a weapon in my family&’s extensive armory. It&’s why I&’m at St. Agnes. Catering to America&’s richest and most corrupt, the college is the perfect place to get a world-class education and secure my father&’s legacy. My orders? Choose one of the men on my father&’s list and make him want to marry me. My only rule? Don&’t fall in love. Luca Most people view me as my brother&’s enforcer. The son of a powerful mafia don, I scare people. Intimidate them until they do what I—what we—want. Those who aren&’t after my family connections think I&’m a monster. But not Gráinne. She wants me despite my darkness—maybe even because of it. The problem? She was never meant to be mine. Heirs of the OrganizedBook 1: WeaponizedBook 2: Scandalized
Scotch on the Rocks: A Novel
by Elliot FletcherOpposites attract in this sexy Scottish romance between a young woman and the man who is completely off-limits, from the author of Whisky Business. The Macabe Brother Rule Book (according to Juniper Ross):Don’t look at a Macabe brotherDon’t talk to a Macabe brotherDon’t even think about a Macabe brotherIt’s pretty tough for June to follow her own rules, considering one brother is in love with her best friend, one is her ex-fiancé, and one … well, one is super-hot, small-town hero Callum Macabe.But when Callum seems to be popping up everywhere, especially when Juniper is at her most vulnerable, it’s hard not to imagine just how good breaking a rule might feel.
The Good Boy: A Novel
by Stella Hayward"Incredibly funny and utterly adorable." — Jenny Colgan, bestselling author In this whimsical romance for fans of Ashley Poston and Erin Sterling, a woman confronts her past and her unresolved feelings for the boy next door as they work together to reverse a wish gone awry.On the eve of Genie’s thirtieth birthday, her grandmother gives her an unexpected gift: a wish at midnight. Genie, forever the family skeptic, laughs it off and, after an evening fending off invasive questions about her nonexistent love life, returns home to her empty house and her golden retriever, Rory. Who needs a boyfriend when she has a loyal friend like Rory? As she hugs him and gets ready for bed, she wishes to herself that he were human… at least then their conversations wouldn’t be so one-sided.She really should’ve listened to her grandmother.To her surprise, Rory is now a human with big Golden Retriever Energy—like a goofy, adoring Hemsworth. But he doesn’t like being a human. He doesn’t like wearing clothes or human manners, and he most definitely can’t manage a human job.Genie needs to turn him back before it’s too late and enlists her oldest friend and boy next door, Miles, to help. Their quest brings them closer than they’ve ever been—and maybe, just maybe, her messed up wish is the key to granting her heart’s desire after all…
The Strangers: Five Extraordinary Black Men and the Worlds That Made Them
by Ekow Eshun“Moving, thoughtful, redemptive. The Strangers is an important book. It will become a Black classic.”— Ben Okri, author of The Famished Road“Thrilling and ingenious, propulsive and genre-defying: The Strangers is an outstanding book. Compelling and imaginatively expansive, this is something very special—creative nonfiction that inspires, stirs and challenges.”—Bernardine Evaristo, Booker Prize-winning author of Girl, Woman, OtherA richly imaginative, powerfully empathetic, and intimate portrait of five remarkable Black men that is also a moving meditation on race, estrangement, and the search for home.In the western imagination, a Black man is always a stranger, outsider, foreigner, intruder, alien; one who remains associated with their origins irrespective of how far they have travelled from them. One who is not an individual in his own right, but the representative of a type.What kind of performance is required for a person to survive this condition? What happens beneath the mask—what is the cost to the mind and body, to one’s relationships and one’s sense of self?Searching for answers, Ekow Eshun channels the voices of five very different individuals. Each man a renowned trailblazer in his field. Each man haunted by a sense of isolation and exile. Each man a stranger in his own world:Ira Aldridge, nineteenth century British actor and playwright;Matthew Henson, the first Black man to reach the North Pole;Frantz Fanon, French-Martinican psychiatrist and political philosopher;Malcolm X, civil rights activist and leader;Justin Fashanu, Britain’s first openly gay professional footballer.Telling their stories, Eshun pushes the boundaries of genre to capture them in all their complexity, interweaving biography, fiction, historical record, and memoir, sharing his own experiences living as a Black Briton in the art world. The Strangers illuminates both the hostility and the beauty each man encountered in the world, positioning them all within a wider landscape of Black art, culture, history, and politics throughout the diaspora.
The Man Who Would Be King: Mohammed bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia
by Karen Elliott HouseBased on exclusive interviews, an eye-opening biography of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), head of the House of Saud, the calculating ruler of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and a central Middle East power broker.Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and former Wall Street Journal publisher, Karen House has gained unprecedented insights into Saudi Arabia and its controversial leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman through her more than forty years of experience covering the Arab kingdom.House reveals a leader who like Peter the Great, is a reformer determined to modernize his kingdom but also an autocrat who jails political opponents and rival princes to assure his grip on power. Drawing on extensive interviews with the Crown Prince, his royal relatives, and his inner ring of advisors, The Man Who Would Be King explains in full what shaped the man who is reshaping Saudi Arabia.Drawing on fresh, headline-making reporting, House balances both sides of this complex ruler. We are introduced to MBS the visionary, who has ushered in reforms for women to participate more equitably, encouraged tourism to the Kingdom, and placed long term bets on green energy and trillion dollar mega-projects like The Line, a hundred-mile-long enclosed futuristic city in the desert that will be run by AI. And we meet MBS the Machiavellian prince, widely accused of having Washington Post columnist and Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi murdered, and of sports washing the kingdom's reputation by investing billions in teams globally, from Premiere League soccer to the LIV (liv) golf tour to the World Cup which the Kingdom will host in 2034.The Man Who Would Be King reveals MBS in all his complexities, from his rise to power and his vision for the future of his Kingdom, to his ruthless maneuvers to project power—a shrewd broker working to seal a viable deal with Israel and bring peace to Gaza while he cuts oil supplies to manipulate Western politics. It is an unprecedent and much needed in-depth portrait of the leader who, at only thirty-nine, will be a major player on the world stage for the next half century.
Sonita: My Fight Against Tyranny and My Escape to Freedom
by Sonita AlizadaNearly 15 million girls, including many in the U.S., are forced into marriage each year. Each of these girls has a price tag—and a story. Sonita Alizada was almost sold twice. Her price tag was $9,000. The money her family received for selling her would pay for her brother’s wife. The first time Sonita was put up for sale, she was 10 years old and she thought that she was participating in a dress-up game. She quickly realized that, in her culture, a wedding is a kind of funeral for the bride. Sonita says, “It represents the loss of a future. The loss of a voice.” After the marriage fell through, she was placed on sale again. She was expected to form a family, sleep with a man she never met, and then repeat the terrible cycle with her own children. But Sonita wanted more.In Sonita, the Afghan rap artist and activist shares the story of how she fled Afghanistan to pursue her dreams and evolved into a woman who is changing the world. She shares incredible highs, like winning the song writing contest that gave her the opportunity of a lifetime, and unimaginable lows, like when the cruel Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, and how some of her family escaped, and how some were left behind. Sonita also shares photos and access to exclusive music.Sonita teaches us to hold onto hope. You were chosen to be part of this world and your dreams have power, too. You can be a difference maker. This book is more than Sonita's story. It is a love letter for anyone who has ever dreamed of more and held onto hope that their story would be different than the ones that came before them.
Selected and Last Poems: 1931-2004
by Czeslaw MiloszThe long-awaited paperback edition of Selected Poems, revised and updated with more than forty new poems never before published in English2011 marks the centenary year of one of the twentieth century’s most important poets, Nobel laureate Czeslaw Milosz. To mark the occasion, Anthony Milosz has translated into English the last poems his father wrote, granting readers new insight into the work of an unparalleled master of the form. Life opened for Czeslaw Milosz with the clash of civilizations in northeastern Europe. What unfolded around him was a century of catastrophe and madness: two world wars, revolutions, invasions, and the murders of tens of millions of people. In the thick of this upheaval, wide awake and in awe of living, Milosz tried to understand both history and the moment, with humble respect for the suffering of each individual. He wrote masterful poetry infused with a tireless spirit and a penetrating insight into fundamental human dilemmas and the staggering yet simple truth that “to exist on the earth is beyond any power to name.”