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Her Story: A Timeline of the Women Who Changed America
by Charlotte S. Waisman Jill S. TietjenMost people have heard of Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman, Margaret Sanger, and Eleanor Roosevelt. But did you know that a female microbiologist discovered the bacterium responsible for undulant fever, which then led to the pasteurization of milk? Or that a female mathematician's work laid the foundation for abstract algebra?Her Story is a one-of-a-kind illustrated timeline highlighting the awesome, varied, and often unrecognized contributions of American women throughout U.S. history, beginning in the 1500s and spanning all the way through 2011. The women featured in Her Story range from writers, artists, actors, and athletes to doctors, scientists, social and political activists, educators, and inventors, and come from all backgrounds and philosophies. Her Story is a captivating look at America's often unsung female champions that will resonate with women and men alike.
Doctor Who: 40 Wibbly-wobbly Timey-wimey Recipes: A Gift For Doctor Who Fans
by Joanna FarrowA Doctor Who GiftHave your Doctor Who and eat it too with this out-of-this-world cookbook featuring fun, imaginative recipes for the whole family, based on the wildly popular BBC series Doctor Who.The perfect addition to every Doctor Who fan’s shelf, Doctor Who: The Official Cookbook features a cornucopia of delicious, easy-to-make recipes—from the simple, to the showstoppers—with an exciting Whovian twist. Enjoy the Doctor’s own favorite, fish fingers and custard, share some Cyberman Pie with friends, treat the family to Cassandra Pizza, or indulge your sweet tooth with a Supreme Dalek Cake. Throwing a viewing party of your favorite episodes? Serve up some Ood Rolls, Salt and Pepper Sontarans, and Weeping Angel Food Cake. And don’t forget the centerpiece for every Whovian get-together, a Gingerbread TARDIS and, of course, 12 Cookie Doctors.Illustrated with stills from the television show and seasoned with fun food ephemera and quotes from the Doctor’s universe, Doctor Who: The Official Cookbook has something weird, wacky, and tasty for every fan.
Shrinking Violets and Caspar Milquetoasts: Shyness, Power, and Intimacy in the United States, 1950-1995 (The American Social Experience #16)
by Patricia McDanielSince World War II Americans’ attitudes towards shyness have changed. The women’s movement and the sexual revolution raised questions about communication, self-expression, intimacy, and personality, leading to new concerns about shyness. At the same time, the growth of psychotherapy and the mental health industry brought shyness to the attention of professionals who began to regard it as an illness in need of a cure. But what is shyness? How is it related to gender, race, and class identities? And what does its stigmatization say about our culture? In Shrinking Violets and Caspar Milquetoasts, Patricia McDaniel tells the story of shyness. Using popular self-help books and magazine articles she shows how prevailing attitudes toward shyness frequently work to disempower women. She draws on evidence as diverse as 1950s views of shyness as a womanly virtue to contemporary views of shyness as a barrier to intimacy to highlight how cultural standards governing shyness reproduce and maintain power differences between and among women and men.
Spine Poems: An Eclectic Collection of Found Verse for Book Lovers
by Annette Dauphin SimonA charming, clever, and original collection of more than 100 spine poems–a popular form of found poetry composed by arranging book spines—illustrated with 110 full-color photographs.Easy to create and share online, spine poems—also known as collage poems or centos—have become a fun and popular way of writing poetry. Spine Poems is a delightful, illustrated collection of more than 100 spine poems that range from hilarious to heart-rending to profound.Award-winning creative director and former bookseller Annette Dauphin Simon has arranged the poems in categories that resemble those found in a bookstore: Art, Biography and Memoir, Business, Cooking, Home and Garden, Music, Parenting, Philosophy, Politics, Pop Culture, Science Fiction and Fantasy, and True Crime. Each poem pulls from a wide variety of book genres and ranges from the short and quippy to lengthier and poignant.Ridiculous / Hilarious / Terrible / Cool Other Words for Home Elisha Cooper / Jasmine WargaEek!My HeartIs WasTorpedoedHundred PercentWonderstruckDidn’t See That ComingRestartJulie Larios and Julie Paschkis / Corinna Luyken / Deborah Freedman / Deborah Heiligman /Karen Romano Young / Brian Selznick / Rachel Hollis / Gordon KormanEvery poem is visually captured in a color photograph of stacked book spines taken by the author and is presented in a text version on the opposite page. Each spread also includes a list of the authors and artists whose titles make up the poem, and features quotes, fun facts, and other related literary and popular culture miscellany.Spine Poems is a wonderful keepsake and gift book for all lovers of words, books, and poetry.
Science Is Culture: Conversations at the New Intersection of Science + Society
by Adam BlySeed magazine brings together a unique gathering of prominent scientists, artists, novelists, philosophers and other thinkers who are tearing down the wall between science and culture.We are on the cusp of a twenty-first-century scientific renaissance. Science is driving our culture and conversation unlike ever before, transforming the social, political, economic, aesthetic, and intellectual landscape of our time. Today, science is culture. As global issues—like energy and health—become increasingly interconnected, and as our curiosities—like how the mind works or why the universe is expanding—become more complex, we need a new way of looking at the world that blurs the lines between scientific disciplines and the borders between the sciences and the arts and humanities.In this spirit, the award-winning science magazine Seed has paired scientists with nonscientists to explore ideas of common interest to us all. This book is the result of these illuminating Seed Salon conversations, edited and with an introduction by Seed founder and editor in chief Adam Bly. Science Is Culture includes:E. O. Wilson + Daniel C. DennetSteven Pinker + Rebecca GoldsteinNoam Chomsky + Robert TriversDavid Byrne + Daniel LevitinJonathan Lethem + Janna LevinBenoit Mandelbrot + Paola AntonelliLisa Randall + Chuck HobermanMichel Gondry + Robert StickgoldAlan Lightman + Richard ColtonLaurie David + Stephen SchneiderTom Wolfe + Michael GazzanigaMarc Hauser + Errol Morris
Marriage Made in Blackmail: Marriage Made In Blackmail (rings Of Vengeance) / The Italian's One-night Consequence (one Night With Consequences) (Rings of Vengeance #2)
by Michelle SmartThe fallout over a shady business deal drives a Spanish billionaire to whisk his enemy’s sister away to the Caribbean in this steamy romance.The tycoon’s demand: “You have to marry me first . . . ”Luis Casillas’s reputation needs restoring after a scandalous business feud. Chloe Guillem will pay for her part in it—by marrying him! He’ll keep her captive on his Caribbean island until she agrees. Their explosive chemistry can only sweeten the deal, but Luis requires more than blackmail to make fiery Chloe his bride . . . And he’s not above using seduction to secure her surrender!“Passionate, dramatic and sexy, it’s another winner from Michelle Smart!” —Harlequin Junkies
A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez
by Selena Roberts“Diligent, detailed, and overpowering. This is not a book of conjecture: It’s one of bootstrap journalism.” —New York magazineThe New York Times calls sports journalist Selena Roberts’s blistering biography, A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez, “Important…devastating…merciless.” A columnist for Sports Illustrated, Roberts pulls no punches in her tough and brilliant New York Times bestseller, an exploration of the multi-million-dollar Yankees slugger’s checkered life and career. A-Rod is an eye-opening, unputdownable look at one of the greatest—and most flawed—players in today’s game.
Girl Runner: A Novel
by Carrie SnyderA 104-year-old woman shares memories of Olympic gold and unspeakable loss in this “well-crafted” novel (Library Journal).An unforgettable novel about competition, ambition, and a woman’s struggle to earn a place in a man’s world, Girl Runner follows young runner Aganetha Smart, who defied everyone’s expectations to win a gold medal for Canada in the 1928 Olympics. It was a revolutionary victory because these were the first Games in which women could compete in track events. Now, Aganetha is in a nursing home, and nobody realizes that the frail centenarian was once a bold pioneer.When two strangers appear asking to interview Aganetha for a documentary about female athletes, she readily agrees. Despite her frailty, she yearns for adventure and escape, and though her achievement may have been forgotten by history, her memories of chasing gold in Amsterdam remain sharp. But that triumph is only one thread in the rich tapestry of her life, and as Aganetha’s story takes shape, it becomes clear that the power of family ties—and secrets—does not diminish through the years, and that these filmmakers may not be who they claim to be . . .
5 Easy Theses: Commonsense Solutions to America's Greatest Economic Challenges
by James StoneSimple solutions to America’s five most pressing public policy issues, from healthcare to education to inequality, from an esteemed business leader.A New York Times BestsellerA Bloomberg Best Book of 2016Already garnering praise in the academy and on both side of the political aisle for its accessible and hopeful message, James M. Stone’s Five Easy Theses lays out commonsense solutions to our most pressing and seemingly intractable domestic policy problems. In straightforward style, Stone presents five vexing issues and the myths that cloud their resolution, revealing powerful, if controversial, solutions to each. With clear, forward-looking recommendations, he shows how we can:Shore up Social SecurityTame the federal deficitRein in Wall StreetMake health care and education more affordable and effectiveCurb inequalities of wealth and opportunityThese vitally important accomplishments are well within our reach, Stone argues, and would only require us to cast off the well-worn partisan straitjacket that has thwarted all attempts to address them in the past. A must-read for anyone regardless of political affiliation who cares about the future of this country, Five Easy Theses shows how America can restore the historical decency and prosperity that made it the envy of the world.
Nice Work If You Can Get It: Life and Labor in Precarious Times (NYU Series in Social & Cultural Analysis #8)
by Andrew Ross2009 Choice Outstanding Academic TitleA survey into an emerging pattern of labor instability and uneven global developmentIs job insecurity the new norm? With fewer and fewer people working in steady, long-term positions for one employer, has the dream of a secure job with full benefits and a decent salary become just that—a dream?In Nice Work If You Can Get It, Andrew Ross surveys the new topography of the global workplace and finds an emerging pattern of labor instability and uneven development on a massive scale. Combining detailed case studies with lucid analysis and graphic prose, he looks at what the new landscape of contingent employment means for workers across national, class, and racial lines—from the emerging “creative class” of high-wage professionals to the multitudes of temporary, migrant, or low-wage workers. Developing the idea of “precarious livelihoods” to describe this new world of work and life, Ross explores what it means in developed nations—comparing the creative industry policies of the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union, as well as developing countries—by examining the quickfire transformation of China’s labor market. He also responds to the challenge of sustainability, assessing the promise of “green jobs” through restorative alliances between labor advocates and environmentalists.Ross argues that regardless of one’s views on labor rights, globalization, and quality of life, this new precarious and “indefinite life,&” and the pitfalls and opportunities that accompany it is likely here to stay and must be addressed in a systematic way. A more equitable kind of knowledge society emerges in these pages—less skewed toward flexploitation and the speculative beneficiaries of intellectual property, and more in tune with ideals and practices that are fair, just, and renewable.
Local Democracy Under Siege: Activism, Public Interests, and Private Politics
by Dorothy Holland Catherine Lutz Lesley Bartlett Marla Frederick-McGlathery2007 Society for the Anthropology of North America (SANA) Book AwardComplete List of Authors:Dorothy Holland, Donald M. Nonini, Catherine Lutz, Lesley Bartlett, Marla Frederick-McGlathery, Thaddeus C. Guldbrandsen, and Enrique G. Murillo, Jr.What is the state of democracy at the turn of the twenty-first century? To answer this question, seven scholars lived for a year in five North Carolina communities. They observed public meetings of all sorts, had informal and formal interviews with people, and listened as people conversed with each other at bus stops and barbershops, soccer games and workplaces. Their collaborative ethnography allows us to understand how diverse members of a community not just the elite think about and experience “politics” in ways that include much more than merely voting.This book illustrates how the social and economic changes of the last three decades have made some new routes to active democratic participation possible while making others more difficult. Local Democracy Under Siege suggests how we can account for the current limitations of U.S. democracy and how remedies can be created that ensure more meaningful participation by a greater range of people. Complete List of Authors (pictured) From Left to Right, bottom row: Enrique Murillo, Jr., Thaddeus Guldbrandsen, Marla Frederick-McGlathery. Top row: Dorothy Holland, Catherine Lutz, Lesley Bartlett, and Don Nonini.
The Flaw in Raffaele's Revenge: The Billionaire's Ruthless Affair Moretti's Marriage Command The Unwanted Conti Bride The Flaw In Raffaele's Revenge
by Annie WestA fragile beauty that tamed the beast within... Relentless Italian Raffaele Petri needs reclusive researcher Lily Nolan to see his revenge plans come to fruition. But the damaged beauty is feisty, argumentative and all too intriguing to be ignored! Scarred as a child, Lily shut herself away from cruel prying eyes, so working for a man as breathtakingly handsome as Raffaele makes her own physical imperfections harder to bear. Until Raffaele's kisses awaken the untouched woman inside. As Raffaele's retribution draws closer, Lily must use her newfound strength to help him release the torment eating at his soul. But will Raffaele risk his vengeance for her love?
How to Drag a Body and Other Safety Tips You Hope to Never Need: Survival Tricks for Hacking, Hurricanes, and Hazards Life Might Throw at You
by Judith Matloff“Matloff assesses major threats with careful authority and good humor, then gives us the logistical and emotional tools necessary to cope with them.” —Ada Calhoun, New York Times–bestselling author of Why We Can’t SleepIn an age of anxiety, we yearn for some control. We want to make sensible decisions to keep us on track when everything seems to be going off the rails. As a seasoned war correspondent with over thirty years of experience in crisis zones and a pioneering safety consultant, Judith Matloff knows about personal security and risk management. In How to Drag a Body and Other Safety Tips You Hope to Never Need, she shares her tried-and-true methods to help you confidently handle whatever challenges comes your way. Learn how to:Perform emergency first aidCreate a bunkerKeep yourself safe when travelingKeep yourself safe onlineKeep yourself safe in any circumstance with invaluable tips on dozens of other situationsBlending humorous anecdotes with serious advice, Matloff explains how to remain upright in stampedes, avoid bank fraud, prevent sexual assault, stay clean in a shelter, and even be emotionally prepared for loss. From cybersecurity and active shooter situations to natural disasters and emotional resilience, her tips will give even the most anxious person a sense of control over life’s unpredictable perils. Unfortunately, we can’t anticipate all the crises of our lives. But with this book, you’ll find the skills and confidence you need to weather an emergency.Includes illustrations“This wise and witty book will tell you everything you need to know in order to face catastrophes great and small.” —Susan Cain, New York Times–bestselling author of Quiet
Orphan Black Classified Clone Reports: The Secret Files of Dr. Delphine Cormier
by Delphine CormierThe ultimate guide to all of the characters, conspiracies, and shadowy organizations in the smart, innovative BBC America television thriller Orphan Black.Designed to resemble the classified files and notes of Dr. Delphine Cormier, this in-world compendium chronicles the inner workings of the mysterious people and organizations at the heart of the acclaimed hit television series Orphan Black. A detailed and creative look at the thrilling international hit series, Orphan Black Classified Clone Report includes detailed dossiers of Sarah Manning, Felix Dawkins, and all of the show’s beloved characters; examines every twist and turn from season one to the present; provides exclusive information on the Dyad Institute, the Neolution clone program, and the notorious Proletheans; and features observations of the different clones from their monitors, classified intelligence, breakthroughs in Cosima’s research, and private journal entries chronicling Delphine’s experience with the clone club and her own complicated love for Cosima.Packed with exclusive concept art, photos, and ephemera, Orphan Black Classified Clone Report is an immersive reading experience and essential companion for fans of Orphan Black.
Gallatin: America's Swiss Founding Father
by Nicholas DunganYou won’t find his portrait on our currency anymore and his signature isn’t penned on the Constitution, but former statesman Albert Gallatin (1761-1849) contributed immeasurably to the formation of America. Gallatin was the first president of the council of New York University and his name lives on at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, so it is with pride that New York University Press and the Swiss Confederation publish this new biography of Gallatin.Gallatin’s story is the opposite of the classic American immigrant tale. Born in Geneva, the product of an old and noble family and highly educated in the European tradition, Gallatin made contributions to America throughout his career that far outweighed any benefit he procured for himself. He got his first taste of politics as a Pennsylvania state representative and went on to serve in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Gallatin became the Secretary of Treasury in Jefferson’s administration and, despite being of the opposite political party to Alexander Hamilton, Gallatin fully respected his predecessor’s fiscal politics. Gallatin undertook a special diplomatic mission for President Madison, which ended the War of 1812 with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent and gave the United States its genuine independence. Gallatin continued in diplomacy as minister to France and to Great Britain, where he skillfully combined his American experience and European background. In the early 1830s, at the age of seventy, he retired from politics and commenced a new career in New York City as a banker, public figure, and intellectual. He helped establish New York University and the American Ethnological Society, became an expert in Native American ethnology and linguistics, and served as president of the New-York Historical Society. Gallatin died at age 88 and is buried in Trinity churchyard at Broadway and Wall Street.In our own day, as we look at reforming our financial system and seek to enhance America’s global image, it is well worth resurrecting Albert Gallatin’s timeless contributions to the United States, at home and abroad. Nicholas Dungan’s compelling biography reinserts this forgotten Founding Father into the historical canon and reveals the transatlantic dimensions of early American history.Co-published with the Swiss Confederation, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
The History of the Catholic Church in Latin America: From Conquest to Revolution and Beyond
by John Frederick SchwallerOne cannot understand Latin America without understanding the history of the Catholic Church in the region. Catholicism has been predominant in Latin America and it has played a definitive role in its development. It helped to spur the conquest of the New World with its emphasis on missions to the indigenous peoples, controlled many aspects of the colonial economy, and played key roles in the struggles for Independence. The History of the Catholic Church in Latin America offers a concise yet far-reaching synthesis of this institution’s role from the earliest contact between the Spanish and native tribes until the modern day, the first such historical overview available in English.John Frederick Schwaller looks broadly at the forces which formed the Church in Latin America and which caused it to develop in the unique manner in which it did. While the Church is often characterized as monolithic, the author carefully showcases its constituent parts—often in tension with one another—as well as its economic function and its role in the political conflicts within the Latin America republics.Organized in a chronological manner, the volume traces the changing dynamics within the Church as it moved from the period of the Reformation up through twentieth century arguments over Liberation Theology, offering a solid framework to approaching the massive literature on the Catholic Church in Latin America. Through his accessible prose, Schwaller offers a set of guideposts to lead the reader through this complex and fascinating history.
Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers: An Intimate Journey among Hasidic Girls
by Stephanie Wellen Levine Carol Gilligan&“Absorbing . . . one subculture&’s corrective to Reviving Ophelia, in that it offers a refreshing portrait of adolescent girls who are far from insecure.&” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) From the ardently religious young woman who longs for the life of a male scholar to the young rebel who visits a strip club, smokes pot, and agonizes over her loss of faith to the proud Lubavitcher with a desire for a high-powered career, Stephanie Wellen Levine provides a rare glimpse into the inner worlds and daily lives of these Hasidic girls. Lubavitcher Hasidim are famous for their efforts to inspire secular Jews to become more observant and for their messianic fervor. Strict followers of Orthodox Judaism, they maintain sharp gender-role distinctions. Levine spent a year living in the Lubavitch community of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, participating in the rhythms of Hasidic girlhood. Drawing on many intimate hours among Hasidim and over thirty in-depth interviews, Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers offers rich portraits of individual Hasidic young women and how they deal with the conflicts between the regimented society in which they live and the pull of mainstream American life. This superbly crafted book offers intimate stories from Hasidic teenagers&’ lives, providing an intriguing twist to a universal theme: the struggle to grow up and define who we are within the context of culture, family, and life-driving beliefs. &“In an era seemingly plagued with sex, anorexia and depression among our nation&’s girls, a page from Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers is a refreshing peek into the possibilities for growth, strength and self.&” —The Jewish New Weekly of Northern California
The Desert King's Secret Heir: A Di Sione For The Greek's Pleasure A Royal Vow Of Convenience The Prince's Pregnant Mistress The Desert King's Secret Heir (Secret Heirs of Billionaires #2)
by Annie WestWhen a woman discovers her first love is a prince, she must marry him for their baby’s sake in this sexy romance from a USA Today–bestselling author.The child she hid . . . Surrounded by society’s glitterati, Arden Wills finds herself staring up into the eyes of her first and only love. But Sheikh Idris Baddour has a surprise title and heavy responsibilities . . . so she clings to her precious secret even tighter.Time has done nothing to dampen the intense ardor between them. And when their kiss is blasted across the world’s front pages, Arden’s truth comes to light—the sheikh has a secret son! To avoid further scandal, Idris must legitimize his heir and make English rose Arden his dutiful desert queen!
A Reunion Of Ghosts: A Novel
by Judith Claire MitchellA NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD FINALIST“The Alter sisters are mordant, wry, and crystalline in wit and vision; it is a tremendous pleasure to rocket through generations of their family histories with them.” —Lauren Groff, New York Timesbestselling author of Fates and Furies, The Monsters of Templeton, and ArcadiaIn the waning days of 1999, the last of the Alters—three damaged but wisecracking sisters who share an apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side—decide it’s time to close the circle of the family curse by taking their own lives. But first, Lady, Vee, and Delph must explain the origins of that curse and how it has manifested throughout the preceding generations. Unspooling threads of history, personal memory, and family lore, they weave a mesmerizing account that stretches back a century to their great-grandfather, a brilliant scientist whose professional triumph became the terrible legacy that defines them. A suicide note crafted by three bright, funny women, A Reunion of Ghosts is the final chapter of a saga lifetimes in the making—one that is inexorably intertwined with the story of the twentieth century itself.“Mitchell explores the mixed-blessing bonds of family with wry wit. This original tale is black comedy at its best.”—People Book of the Week“A rich portrait of a complicated family, at turns violent and hilarious.”—Emma Straub, New York Timesbestselling author
The Football Fan's Manifesto
by Michael TunisonPopular football blogger Michael Tunison of KissingSuzyKolber.com offers the no-hold-barred rules and bylaws that every football fan should know in The Football Fan’s Manifesto. With humor and tough love, this It Books paperback original takes readers through the essential rules of fandom, such as picking a favorite team, and teaches them how to be true football fans.
Dare to Repair, Replace & Renovate: Do-It-Herself Projects to Make Your Home More Comfortable, More Beautiful & More Valuable! (Dare To Repair Ser.)
by Julie Sussman Stephanie Glakas-TenetThe authors of Dare to Repair take on bigger DIY challenges in this easy-to-follow home renovation guide!In our first book, we taught you how to fix a leaky faucet. In this book, we teach you how to replace it. In our first book, we showed you how to change the direction of ceiling fan blades. In this book, we show you how to install a new fan. We’ve gone from basic repairs to easy projects that can make your home more comfortable, more beautiful, and more valuable. We will show you how to:Put up a tile backsplashInstall a closet systemInstall a deadbolt lockReplace a medicine cabinetMount blinds, shades, and shuttersInstall landscape lightingAnd we provide easy, step-by-step instructions to get rid of everything from ugly chandeliers to broken garbage disposals. Incorporating detailed illustrations with witty and encouraging instructions, Dare to Repair, Replace & Renovate will allow you to turn your project wish list into a can-do list.
Bone Appétit: 50 Clean Recipes for Healthier, Happier Dogs
by Debora RobertsonForget processed store-bought food—feed your dog a nutritious, balanced diet that uses healthy quality ingredients with this charming full-color illustrated guide with fifty great recipes for your beloved companion.Modern dog people only want the best for their canine companions, and that extends to the food they eat. With Bone Appétit, you control the ingredients and the portions to feed your dog a practical, nutritious, and balanced diet—all from scratch! Debora Robertson teaches you how to make canine cuisine that is quick to prepare, simple to cook, and fits easily into your daily routine. She starts with the basics—pantry staples—giving you lists of ingredient dos and don’ts. She then provides information and tips for easy swaps and quick snacks. The irresistible meals dogs will love to eat day after day are the centerpiece of the book: dozens of recipes for one-pot dinners, treats and biscuits, feel-better food, and even a pup-approved birthday cake—all created in conjunction with a certified nutritionist.Packed full of nutritional information, including advice on feeding puppies and cooking for sick or recovering dogs, Bone Appétit teaches you how to meet your four-legged friend’s dietary needs in an easy, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly way. Using healthy ingredients you can find in your local grocery store (or may already have at home), Bone Appétit is a must-have canine cookbook and kitchen guide for creating balanced, nutritious meals for a healthy, happy dog.
We're Better Than This: My Fight for the Future of Our Democracy
by Elijah Cummings James DaleAn Essence Best Book of the Year: “[An] excellent political memoir . . . A thoughtful and inspiring exhortation to do better.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)NAACP Image Awards Winner for Outstanding Literary WorkIncludes a foreword by Speaker Nancy PelosiKnown for his poise, intellect, and influence, Elijah Cummings was one of the most respected figures in Congress—a politician who held fast to his beliefs but was not afraid to reach across the aisle in the name of friendship and progress. From his earliest days in government through his time as a representative and chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, he operated at the highest levels of democracy, serving the people of Baltimore and illustrating the importance of working with—and for—the underdog.Yet in his final years, Cummings recognized that democracy was the underdog. We’re Better Than This draws from Cummings’s own life to show the formative moments that prepared him for the disturbing first years of the Trump presidency and spurred him to hold the administration accountable for their actions. Weaving together the urgent drama of modern-day politics and character-defining stories from his past, Cummings offers a never-before-told perspective on how coming of age in South Baltimore laid the foundation of a lifelong fight for justice. He goes behind the scenes with the House Democratic leadership, offering an eye-opening chronicle of the grim realities of this unprecedented obstructionism by both the president and Republicans. He also presents a vital defense of how government oversight defines our collective trust, examining the dangerous precedent for both parties that exists if the executive branch remains above public scrutiny.Part memoir, part call to action, this is the story of our modern-day democracy and the threats we all must face together, and a retrospective on the life and career of one of our most inspirational politicians. As our democracy continues to be tested, We’re Better Than This reminds us that in this country we don’t elect kings, and we cannot afford four more years of this false one.Includes photographs“There was no greater friend to the poor, to the lost, to the left out, and to the left behind. If you want to understand this great man, read his historic, important book and learn the lessons and values from his ‘moral voice crying in the wilderness’ on behalf of our American democracy.” —Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)
Covenant of Liberty: The Ideological Origins of the Tea Party Movement
by Michael Patrick LeahyToday's Tea Party activists are motivated by the same ideological desires as our nation's Founding Fathers, argues Michael Patrick Leahy in this illuminating work of political history.Today's political class—in both parties and at all levels of government—shows a blatant disregard for both the letter and spirit of the U.S. Constitution. More and more Americans are fed up, and from this sweeping sense of discontent and anger the Tea Party movement has emerged, revitalizing the spirit of constitutionalist activism in the conservative world.According to author and Tea Party activist Michael Patrick Leahy, a similar lack of accountability ignited our nation's Founding Fathers, and they were motivated by the same ideological desires: to constitutionally limit government, ensure fiscal responsibility, and defend individual liberty. These imperatives were at the heart of what he calls a "covenant of liberty," which undergirds our written Constitution. Leahy traces these ideas to the libertarian traditions of the English Civil War. He explains why they were on the minds of Americans at the birth of the republic, and how they passed down largely intact from generation to generation, were broken by a corrupted political class, and have been rediscovered by the modern Tea Party movement.According to Leahy, the American constitutional covenant consists of four unwritten promises that most citizens continue to regard as crucial to our government's legitimacy. The story of how this covenant evolved and how its fundamental promises were broken forms the core of this unique and original work of political history.As Leahy shows, the first promise—to abide by the written words of the Constitution—was broken before the ink was dry on the nation's founding documents. The second—to refrain from interfering in private economic matters—was broken by the Republican Party in the 1860s. The third—to honor the customs, traditions, and principles that made up the "fiscal constitution"—was broken by Herbert Hoover 143 years after the establishment of our republic, a sad rupture conducted on an even grander scale by his successors, beginning with Franklin Roosevelt and continuing through the administration of Barack Obama.The breaking of these promises greatly accelerated the natural tendency of governments to centralize and consolidate power at the expense of individual liberty. Had not the fourth and final promise—that members of the legislative branch would exercise thoughtful deliberation while giving respectful consideration to the views of their constituents—been broken in such a disdainful and audacious manner in early 2009, the grassroots activists who came to make up the Tea Party would never have been impelled to take action.Drawing on his personal experience as the organizer of the online conservative community that launched the Tea Party movement in February 2009, Leahy documents how the timeless principles of American constitutionalism have been used to grow one of the most active and influential movements in American history.
Afro-Pentecostalism: Black Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity in History and Culture (Religion, Race, and Ethnicity #16)
by Amos Yong Estrelda Y AlexanderThis &“well researched, illuminating, and highly informative" volume presents a comprehensive, scholarly overview of Black Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity (Choice). Since the American Pentecostal movement began in the early twentieth century, its African American sector has been markedly influential. Black Christians have been integrally involved in every aspect of the Pentecostal movement, making significant contributions to its founding as well as the evolution of Pentecostal/charismatic styles of worship, preaching, music, engagement of social issues, and theology. Yet despite its being one of the fastest growing segments of the Black Church, Afro-Pentecostalism has not received the kind of critical attention it deserves. Afro-Pentecostalism brings together fourteen interdisciplinary scholars to examine different facets of the movement, including its early history, issues of gender, relations with other black denominations, intersections with popular culture, and missionary activities, as well as the movement&’s distinctive theology. Bolstered by editorial introductions to each section, the chapters reflect on the state of the movement, chart its trajectories, discuss pertinent issues, and anticipate future developments. Contributors: Estrelda Y. Alexander, Valerie C. Cooper, David D. Daniels III, Louis B. Gallien, Jr., Clarence E. Hardy III, Dale T. Irvin, Ogbu U. Kalu, Leonard Lovett, Cecil M. Robeck, Jr., Cheryl J. Sanders, Craig Scandrett-Leatherman, William C. Turner, Jr., Frederick L. Ware, and Amos Yong