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Mythologizing in South Asian Traditions: Myth, Gender, Power, and Politics
by Diana DimitrovaThis book deals with the issue of mythologizing in South Asian traditions. It brings together a number of essays dealing with the interface between mythology, gender, politics, and nationalism. The common thread that links the chapters is the appropriation and reinterpretation of myth, and its weaponizing for the purpose of power or political gain. All chapters explore the various aspects of the ongoing process of re-mythologizing of the present, as revealed in South Asian traditions. The essays in this collection respond to the same question: how to interpret the present? What is the meaning of ancient and venerated myths today? What are the ideological implications of the interpretation of myths and how do they reflect and influence the power structures of contemporary societies in South Asia?
The Future of Education Policy in the State of Qatar (Gulf Studies #21)
by Esmat Zaidan Evren Tok Asmaa Al-Fadala Logan CochraneThis open access book provides a topical overview of education, development plans, the knowledge economy, and human development in the State of Qatar, focusing on socio-political and cultural challenges, from a policy perspective. It describes the ecosystem of education and its features, impacts, and the factors that facilitate or inhibit its current shape and development, including the pendulum of internationalization versus localization of education and indigenous knowledge. The book serves as an arena to engage vital discourse on the importance of early childhood education and inclusive education systems, particularly for those with diverse abilities. In view of the transformations occurring in the education systems in the Gulf Region over the past few decades, the book examines the advancement of education in Qatar and the critical political, economic, and cultural influences shaping education development plans, reforms, and policies. The book identifies the key factors and barriers that continue to hinder governmental initiatives in the region, in terms of the need to elevate the quality of key fields. The authors unpack the requirements imposed on policymakers in the broader Gulf region and pinpoint the need for Qatar to adopt more sustainable and state-of-the-art education policies, programs, and tools, to ameliorate the quality of education. In doing so, the book draws an all-inclusive portrayal of education in the country and its links to human and economic development. It identifies the transformations required to adapt to changing conditions, particularly within a dynamic and increasingly competitive job market. Bringing together academics and experts in public policy, education, development, and related social sciences in the Arabian Gulf, this book contributes to co-creating innovative and multidisciplinary solutions within higher education, relevant to both students and scholars in these respective fields.
Changes and Innovations in Social Systems (Studies in Systems, Decision and Control #505)
by Sarka Hoskova-Mayerova Cristina Flaut Daniel Flaut Pavlina RackovaThis book presents challenges and innovations in social problems over the centuries. By their nature, human beings are innovative and continuously adapted to appeared changes over the time. From this point of view, human history can be considered as the story of all changes and innovations which have drastically influenced our way of life. Changes and innovations are normal things in the way of adaptation and are necessary conditions for survival along the time. Changes and innovations are hard and long-term processes. Any progress in history is the result of changes and innovations. To innovate, changes are required: in the culture, in the education, in the way of working, in the way of think, etc. In the same time, innovations imply changes, and changes usually generate reactions. Innovations are always oriented to the future and, in turn, imply changes. From here, the race of evolution was born. Changes require effort, generate resistance but, in the same time, increase performance in almost all domains, and increase vision and leadership; therefore, the progress is obtained. To grew up as a field and provide changes, innovations need to present its theoretical foundations which make sense of the domains on which they are applied. To emphasize the above aspects, the proposed book presents some aspects regarding, but not only limited, to: computer science (new theoretical and practical applications); mathematics (mathematical models, all mathematical results which can improve or are inspired from another known results, some aspects regarding history of mathematics, etc.); education, etc. The chapters of the book present the state of arts of the chosen subjects, from its beginning, its developments, and its applications, by emphasizing the connection with the application or model that the authors have chosen for the presentation.
Analytical Chemistry II
by Ulf RitgenThis workbook takes you through the successful textbook Skoog/Holler/Crouch, Instrumentelle Analytik and is designed primarily for self-study.In five parts, the lecture content of more advanced analytical chemistry is summarized and explained using selected examples: mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy deal with the investigation of molecules, and numerous electroanalytical methods such as potentiometry, coulometry, amperometry and voltammetry are also covered. An overview of more specialized analytical methods includes the use of radioactive substances and various fluorescence methods, as well as methods of information acquisition in the increasingly important electrochemical and optical sensor technology and their automation. The course concludes with a summary of various principles and application methods of statistics, which are simply indispensable in the context of analytics. In order to facilitate independent learning, references to essential sections and illustrations of the textbook are made throughout the book.Not least because of the numerous examples, the book, which is aimed at students of chemistry or related scientific subjects, provides an easy-to-understand introduction to more complex aspects of analytical chemistry. In direct continuation of the workbook Analytical Chemistry I, references are made again and again to already known basics from other courses, which facilitate the linking of the familiar and the new. Learning with this workbook has been tested in a distance learning chemistry course and facilitates preparation for module examinations in more advanced analytical chemistry.This book is a translation of the original German 1st edition Analytische Chemie II by Ulf Ritgen, published by Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature in 2020. The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence (machine translation by the service DeepL.com). A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content, so that the book will read stylistically differently from a conventional translation. Springer Nature works continuously to further the development of tools for the production of books and on the related technologies to support the authors.
Neben dem Job zum Doktortitel: Die wichtigsten Fragen schnell geklärt (essentials)
by Ron RotherDieses essential ist ein kompakter Ratgeber zum Thema berufsbegleitende Promotion. In elf Kapiteln werden wichtige Themen adressiert, um potenziellen Promovierenden bei der Entscheidung „berufsbegleitend promovieren: ja/nein&“ in einer frühen Phase der Auseinandersetzung mit dem Thema weiterzuhelfen. Das essential zeigt, wie der organisatorische, inhaltliche und finanzielle Spagat zwischen Job und Doktorarbeit gelingen kann – insbesondere mit Familie. Er motiviert und macht Mut, die berufsbegleitende Promotion zu wagen, sofern die Empfehlungen weitgehend umgesetzt werden können. Dieses essential richtet sich an junge Akademiker in den ersten Berufsjahren mit Interesse an einer Promotion, die parallel in ihrem Job weiterarbeiten wollen.
Rehabilitation Approach in Autism
by Manu Goyal Kanu GoyalThe book introduces a pioneering approach to the comprehensive care of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), emphasizing its multidisciplinary nature, evidence-based foundation, and innovative treatments. It addresses a critical gap in current literature by highlighting the collaborative roles of diverse healthcare professionals, such as pediatricians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and nurses, in the rehabilitation and treatment of ASD. The manual intervention strategies advocated by physiotherapists aim to enhance motor skills and cognitive processes through interactive and playful methods, fostering social integration and independence among patients. The book emphasizes evidence-based practices across disciplines, ensuring that all healthcare professionals receive essential, up-to-date knowledge pertinent to their roles in Autism Spectrum Disorder care. Moreover, it explores recent advancements in treatment approaches, providing readers with insights into innovative therapies and methodologies. This multidisciplinary approach consolidates fragmented knowledge into a single resource, equipping healthcare professionals with the necessary tools to deliver effective and holistic care to individuals with ASD. The targeted audience for the book includes pediatricians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and nurses.
Global Development and Cooperation with China: New Ideas, Policies and Initiatives for a Changing World (China and Globalization)
by Henry Huiyao Wang Mabel Lu MiaoThis open access book draws on the insights and wisdom of representatives from a wide range of international organizations with a presence in China, leveraging their rich experience in their respective fields as well as their unique understanding of China’s development and its role in the world. In a world of increased tension between governments and a rise in regionalism, globally positioned non-governmental international organizations are key to keeping the lines of communication open. In addition to the United Nations and its affiliate organizations, a host of international organizations are ensuring that the world’s most pressing issues, in areas ranging from economics to education, are being discussed. This new book focuses on the latest trends in four major areas—global governance, trade and economics, science and technology, and culture and exchange—providing the reader with information on the latest developments in these areas with a special focus on China and its relevant contributions. It is hoped that this book will inspire deeper discussion and consideration of the issues we face as a global community and how non-governmental entities can play a stabilizing role in global communication and in exploring solutions to common challenges.
(Bau-)Vergaberecht – Eine praxisorientierte Einführung
by Jochen FürmannDieses Fachbuch liefert einen eng an die Bedürfnisse der Praxis orientierten Ein- und Überblick zum weiten Feld des Bau-Vergaberechts. Mit wesentlichen Basisinformationen speziell für den Bauvergabebereich sollen insbesondere Nicht-Juristen einen leichten Einstieg in die Materie erhalten. Das Buch stellt dar wer, warum, was wie ausschreiben muss. Dabei werden auch die haushaltsrechtlichen Vorgaben, die Rechtsschutzmöglichkeiten, die weiteren vergaberechtlich relevanten Fragen während der Bauabwicklung und die übrigen Vergabevorschriften angesprochen. In der 2. Auflage werden die Schwellenwerte und Statistiken aktualisiert. Zudem werden nun auch die Wertgrenzen im Unterschwellenbereich sowie die eForms-Vorschriften umfassend dargestellt.
Biochar Revolution: Transforming Agriculture and Environment Management (Sustainable Landscape Planning and Natural Resources Management)
by KiranThis book gives readers a fundamental understanding of the topic of using biochar to mitigate environmental disturbance, water scarcity, soil degradation, and food security in a sustainable way, as well as an overview of new researchable concerns in the field. Biochar, also referred to as "black carbon," encourages plant growth and soil fertility, reduces the need for fertilizer, and lowers soil loss due to erosion. Biochar is a solid material rich in carbon that is created by heating a variety of organic feedstocks in the absence or with little oxygen. Due to its highly porous nature, biochar serves as a sink for atmospheric CO2 in soil and holds onto water and nutrients in surface soil. In addition to providing numerous environmental benefits, biochar can also enhance soil quality and crop output. By transforming agricultural waste into a potent soil enhancer that stores carbon and improves soil fertility, it is possible to increase food security, stop deforestation, and lessen the need for fertilizer. In order to give comprehensive information and analysis on biochar production technology and its consequences in sustainable agriculture and environment management, the authors set out to consolidate information from several sources into a single volume. Toward scientists, decision-makers, and students working toward global sustainability, this book serves as an essential resource and a representation of fundamental and applied knowledge in the field of biochar production and applications.
Quantitative Produktsicherheit: Fundament der Verhaltenssicherheit autonomen Fahrens
by Andreas AmorosoDie Produktentwicklung autonomer Fahrsysteme erfordert die Lösung zweier Aufgaben: 1. Es muss eine erfolgversprechende Implementierung entwickelt werden. 2. Die Sicherheit derselben ist vor der Inverkehrbringung nachzuweisen. Voraussetzung zur Lösung der zweiten Aufgabe ist ein profundes Verständnis des großen Bereiches Produktsicherheit. Um dieses zu erschließen, werden erstmals sowohl eine geeignete Nomenklatur als auch eine Taxonomie vorgeschlagen. Diese bilden die Basis für weitergehende Betrachtungen zur Frage der Validierung von Produkten, die aufzeigen, dass die diesbezüglichen Möglichkeiten sehr eingeschränkt sind. Ausgehend von diesem Zwischenergebnis werden die Begriffe der quantitativen Verhaltens- und Produktsicherheit abgeleitet, welche nachweislich die alternativlose Basis jeglicher Sicherheitsargumentation autonomer Fahrzeuge bilden. Die erstgenannte Frage des Entwurfs erfolgversprechender Implementierungen wird bewusst ausgespart. Ihre Beantwortung bleibt einem zweiten Buch vorbehalten, das in Vorbereitung ist.
The Romance Rivalry
by Susan LeeShe&’s read every romance…except her own.&“Clever and delightful; a standout in the genre.&” – ⭐KIRKUS STARRED REVIEW &“A must-have flirtation-via-tropes tale with all the swooning and joy readers want in a love story.&” – ⭐SCHOOL & LIBRARY JOURNAL STARRED REVIEW&“Susan Lee has written an ode to all romance readers. It&’s the kind of book I&’ve been wanting to read for decades: a love letter to love stories and an instant favorite!&”–Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love HypothesisIrene Park loves romance novels—so much so she&’s made a career of them as an online book reviewer with a massive following. But Irene&’s real life dating story? Non-existent.So when she starts her freshman year of college, she sets her sights on finding true love using the one thing she really understands…romance book tropes.If only it were that easy.Enter Aiden Jeon, Irene&’s online book review rival and biggest nemesis. When Aiden challenges her to see who can find love-by-trope first, he becomes the one person standing in her way to getting everything she wants both professionally and personally, too.So when the competition takes an unexpected turn, forcing the two of them to have to partner in the ultimate trope, fake dating, Irene is not prepared for everything she believed about romance, and Aiden, to flip on its head.As Irene tackles the challenges of college life, struggles to figure out what she really wants for herself, all while trying to win the race for love, Irene realizes the answers may not be found in a romance novel. Happily Ever Afters seem so easy on page.But for Irene to find her ultimate HEA, she&’ll have to get her nose out of the book and become the main character of her own story.Perfect for fans of:📚 Enemies to Lovers💘 Fake Dating🏫 College Rom-Coms💬 Banter for Days🎥 A+ Pop Culture References✨ Books about loving books
Love Sick: A Novel
by Deidra Duncan&“Heartfelt and smart, Love Sick is just what the doctor ordered.&”—Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, authors of The Breakup TourTheir bedside manner needs a little work…Love may be the best medicine, but first-year resident Grace Rose isn&’t prescribing it anytime soon. Not since her ex broke her heart in med school, and especially not since hearing the rumor that she slept her way into the OB-GYN program. (Spoiler alert: So not true.) With her social anxiety already in full spiral, Grace is determined to set the record straight. But after a tense first encounter with fellow resident Julian Santini—with his annoying good looks and witty charm—she realizes that her reputation may never fully recover.Julian didn&’t mean to offend Grace. After all, he&’s just as fed up with the toxic &“BrOB-GYN&” culture as she is. He&’s got his own drama to triage anyway—like proving that he earned his spot in this residency, not simply lucked into it. Still, something about Grace gets under his skin…and not always in a bad way.Forced to work together through grueling shifts and sleepless nights, Grace and Julian try to cut back on the bickering for the sake of their training. Before long, however, a different kind of tension exposes the cracks in their truce. With their hearts in critical condition, will they accept that love is the best remedy of all?Grey&’s Anatomy meets The Hating Game in this delicious, laugh out loud rom-com set in the world of a tight-knit group of OB-GYN residents—written by a practicing physician.For fans of: Workplace Enemies to Lovers Close Proximity Medical drama from a real doctor Pulse (on Netflix) meets The Love Hypothesis with a hint of Scrubs
Answering God
by Eugene H. PetersonFrom pastor and theologian Eugene Peterson, an inspiring and insightful guide to that most vital—but oft-elusive—spiritual practice: prayer. For those Christians who appreciate the necessity for prayer—and even yearn for it—but who struggle to find fulfillment and satisfaction in their prayer, Answering God holds the answers. To address this common obstacle, Eugene Peterson turns to the Psalms, drawing on his extensive knowledge in Biblical studies, history, and Hebrew. Peterson guides readers through the Psalms, offering insight and perspective to empower readers to dive more deeply and intimately into prayer. For anyone struggling with prayer, or even those just looking to deepen, renew, or evolve their practice, Answering God offers a fresh look at the Psalms as dynamic tools for prayer.
32 Days in May: A Novel
by Betty Corrello"[A] deeply emotional tour de force...Readers with chronic illnesses will feel especially seen—and anyone who values resilient heroines is sure to root for Nadia." — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review)Return to the Jersey Shore with a new romance by Summertime Punchline author Betty Corrello in which a young woman recently diagnosed with lupus attempts a no-strings fling with a former television star. "Laugh-out-loud funny, deeply sexy, and heartbreakingly real... It's a total knockout." —LEX CROUCHER, New York Times bestselling authorNadia Fabiola wants to lose herself in Evergreen—the Jersey Shore town where she grew up vacationing with her family—and never look back at her glamorous, gainfully employed former self. After a shocking lupus diagnosis turned her life upside down, she’s desperate for a sense of control over her body, her life, and her mental health. Nadia plans on keeping her life small and boring, while continuing to ignore her sister’s relentless questioning.Nadia’s sister isn’t the only person worried about her. When her rheumatologist not-so-subtly sets her up with his infamous former-actor cousin, Marco Antoniou, Nadia is skeptical. But Marco is gorgeous—despite carrying his own baggage from a very public burnout. After a messy (but fun) first date, they decide that a May-long fling could be just what the doctor ordered: no commitment, no strings, just one month of escape.Their undeniable chemistry starts to feel a lot like something more and while Marco pulls Nadia deeper into his life, she is dead set on keeping her diagnosis from him. But there are only so many days in May, and only so much pretending she can do. As the stress of their whirlwind romance takes its toll on Nadia’s health, she’s forced to decide if a chance at love is worth the risk of trusting someone new.Travel from the Jersey Shore to Rome and back in this delightfully funny, beautifully honest exploration of love, intimacy, and vulnerability while living with a chronic illness. "[S]exy, funny, messy, and heartfelt to boot. You need this on your shelves and in your heart.” — SHIRLENE OBUOBI, author of Between Friends and Lovers?
My Father's House: An Ode to America's Longest-Serving Black Congressman
by John Conyers IIIIn this moving work, part clear-eyed assessment, part memoir, the son of iconic African American Congressman John Conyers Jr. shines a spotlight on his father and his political legacy, and reveals how, as his son, he eventually learned to leverage his own voice in a world that his father helped create.A respectful, thoughtful, yet clear-eyed reframing of a national hero’s personal and political odyssey, My Father’s House is John Conyers III's love letter to his father and a record of his own journey. Conyers reveals a towering figure in modern American political history and an ordinary family man; a leader whose work in Washington necessitated his many absences as a father from a son coming of age in Detroit.John Conyers III introduces us to John James Conyers, Jr. the legislator, who changed lives and made history, and of his equity-focused work that remains to be done. We meet Conyers the politician and mentor who worked with and counselled a network of powerbrokers—often from the family home on Seven Mile Road in the Motor City—including President Bill Clinton, Congressmen Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Charlie Rangel, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, feminist Gloria Steinem, entertainer-activists Harry Belafonte, Berry Gordy, Stevie Wonder, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Chris Tucker and a slew of other players in Washington, DC, and across the nation.A resonant political, historical, and family story, My Father’s House explores how John James Conyers, Jr., was at once a man of deep and abiding spiritual faith, human talents, and human weaknesses. As he places his father among this land's greatest lawmakers, he also demystifies and grounds the Civil Rights giants of that era, reminding us of their noble yet deeply flawed humanity. This exploration of John James Conyers, Jr., told through John Conyers III's eyes and experiences, is essential to a thorough understanding of modern U.S. politics and the cultures and human lives it continues to shape.My Father’s House includes a black-and-white photo insert.
The Charmer: A Biotech Billionaires Novel (Biotech Billionaires #3)
by Ava RaniWhen a charming billionaire and a reclusive lawyer tie the knot to outsmart an inheritance scheme, sparks fly and unexpected love blossoms in this sizzling romance from Ava Rani, author of The Spare and The Heir.Sometimes love outsmarts the best laid plans.Penelope Chen-Astor ran away from the stifling expectations of her wealthy family in Singapore for an independent life as a high-powered Manhattan lawyer. But familial duty comes crashing back when her grandfather’s will demands she be married for a year to claim her inheritance. She’d walk away from it all, but her mother’s assets are at stake too, and this is the only way Penelope can see to protect her.Enter Xander Sutton, the billionaire co-founder of investment group Dawn Capital. With his effortless charm and easy smiles, he’s used to winning hearts, but Penelope’s always proven immune to him. When she’s backed into a corner and asks Xander to masquerade as her husband for a year, he sees a golden opportunity to finally win over the only person who’s kept him at arm’s length—but the closer they get, the harder it becomes to play pretend.What begins as a strictly business arrangement quickly spirals into steamy encounters and genuine emotions. When meddling relatives, corporate espionage, and high-stakes legal battles come into play, Xander and Penelope will have to decide if the inheritance is all they stand to lose when the year is done...From the bustling streets of Manhattan to the serene beaches of the Hamptons and the skyscrapers of Singapore, The Charmer is the third and final novel in the Biotech Billionaires universe.
Their Just Desserts
by Tracy Badua Alechia DowPerfect for fans of The Great British Baking Show and Clue, this enchanting and rollicking follow-up to The Cookie Crumbles follows two best friends caught up in a twisty mystery when jewels go missing at a high-stakes baking competition.Baker extraordinaire Laila Thomas and budding journalist Lucy Flores are living it up at the top of the junior high food chain as eighth graders. But between busy schedules and kinda-boyfriends, these two best friends haven’t gotten to hang out as much. So, when Jaden, an ex-competition rival, begs the duo to step back into the world of cooking competitions and crime—the answer is yes.Jaden is desperate: His father is accused of stealing prized jewels on the set of an amateur kids’ holiday baking show. The plan is for Laila to smash the competition while Lucy investigates behind the scenes—but their half-baked plan gets turned totally upside down when Lucy ends up in front of the cameras instead.As the investigation and competition heat up, Lucy and Laila’s bond is put to the ultimate test. Can they solve this bakeoff mystery, or will they—and their friendship—crack under pressure?
Marble Hall Murders: A Novel (Susan Ryeland Series #3)
by Anthony HorowitzMurder links past and present once again in this mind-boggling metafictional mystery from Anthony Horowitz featuring detective Atticus Pünd and editor Susan Ryeland, stars of the New York Times bestsellers Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders.Editor Susan Ryeland has left her Greek island, her hotel and her Greek boyfriend, Andreas, in search of a new life back in England.Freelancing for a London publisher, she's given the last job she wants: working on an Atticus Pünd continuation novel called Pünd’s Last Case. Worse still, she knows the new writer. Eliot Crace is the troubled grandson of legendary children’s author Miriam Crace who died twenty years ago. Eliot is convinced she was murdered—by poison.To her surprise, Susan enjoys reading the manuscript which is set in the South of France and revolves around the mysterious death of Lady Margaret Chalfont, days before she was about to change her will. But when it is revealed that Lady Margaret was also poisoned, alarm bells begin to ring.The more Susan reads, the clearer it becomes that Eliot has deliberately concealed clues about his grandmother’s death inside the book.Desperately, Susan tries to prevent Eliot from putting himself in harm’s way—but his behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic. Another murder follows . . . and suddenly Susan finds herself to be the number one suspect. Once again, the real and the fictional worlds have become dangerously entangled. And if Susan doesn't solve the mystery of Pünd’s Last Case, she could well be its next victim.
Eliza, from Scratch
by Sophia LeePerfect for fans of Jenny Han and Rachel Lynn Solomon, this charming, poignant rom-com follows an academics-obsessed teen who learns big truths about love, family, and herself when a scheduling snafu lands her in a culinary arts class.Eliza Park’s senior year will be perfect: She’s going to be salutatorian, give a tear-jerking graduation speech in front of her parents, and enjoy her last year with her equally ambitious best friends. But when a scheduling mishap enrolls her in Culinary Arts, Eliza is suddenly the most clueless person in the class. Her typical title of star student belongs to the aggravatingly arrogant Wesley Ruengsomboon, a charming Thai American boy whose talent in the kitchen leaves Eliza both awed and annoyed.With her rank on the line, Eliza’s only hope is to snatch the midterm cooking contest win from Wesley, however improbable that may be. Add in the flavor of her grandmother’s Korean recipes, the heat of being class partners with Wesley, and the sweetness of unexpected feelings—and Eliza must now rebuild everything she knew about success, love, and what it means to be herself, from scratch.
Contemplation of a Crime: A Novel (A Helen Thorpe Mystery #3)
by Susan JubyBuddhist butler and reluctant investigator Helen Thorpe bands together with her fellow butler-school graduates to rescue her very wealthy employer and his son in this new mystery by bestselling author Susan Juby Butler Helen Thorpe is not one to judge, but the participants in Close Encounters for Global Healing are astonishingly unpleasant. The five-day program brings together people from across the political spectrum with the goal of helping them bridge their ideological and personal differences. Helen and her employer, Mr. Levine, have come to Side Island to assist David, his youngest son, who is facilitating the course. The motley assortment of participants includes a burned-out environmental activist, an internet troll, a clued-out consumerist, an alleged white nationalist, and a man who was arrested at the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa. No one seems interested in a civil conversation, much less global healing, and each person has shown up with their own secret agenda. No rapprochement between the warring—or at least endlessly bickering—parties seems possible. But when something deadly happens, they must learn to work together. First, however, they must figure out who among them can be trusted.
Anima Rising: A Novel
by Christopher MooreFrom New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore comes a hilariously deranged tale of a mad scientist, a famous painter, and an undead woman’s electrifying journey of self-discovery.Vienna, 1911. Gustav Klimt, the most famous painter in the Austrian Empire, the darling of Viennese society, spots a woman’s nude body in the Danube canal. He knows he should summon a policeman, but he can’t resist stopping to make a sketch first. And as he draws, the woman coughs. She’s alive!Back at his studio, Klimt and his model-turned-muse Wally tend to the formerly-drowned girl. She’s nearly feral and doesn’t remember who she is, or how she came to be floating in the canal. Klimt names her Judith, after one of his most famous paintings, and resolves to help her find her memory.With a little help from Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, Judith recalls being stranded in the arctic one hundred years ago, locked in a crate by a man named Victor Frankenstein, and visiting the Underworld.So how did she get here? And why are so many people chasing her, including Geoff, the giant croissant-eating devil dog of the North?Poor Things meets Bride of Frankenstein in Anima Rising, Christopher Moore’s most ingenious (and probably most hilarious) novel yet.
The Stolen Heart: A Novel (The Kyiv Mysteries #2)
by Andrey Kurkov“[An] extraordinary sequel . . . Distinguished by its humor, heart, and subtle political urgency, this series deserves a long life.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Andrey Kurkov is often called Ukraine's greatest living writer, and it is a gift for crime fiction fans that he writes in this genre.”—New York Times Book ReviewIn the follow-up to The Silver Bone, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2024, Samson Kolechko must rescue his kidnapped fiancée while investigating the illegal sale of meat in lawless 1920s Kyiv— based on a real-life case.Samson Kolechko and his colleague have been dispatched to investigate the illegal sale of meat. How selling cuts of one’s own livestock qualifies as a crime eludes the young investigator, but an order is an order, and, at the insistence of the secret police officer assigned to “reinforce” the Lybid police station, Samson vows to do his very best.But just as Samson is beginning to dig into the very meat of this case, his live-in fiancée Nadezhda is abducted by striking railway workers who object to the census she's carrying out. Complicating matters, the police station has been infiltrated by a mysterious thief, a deadly tram accident—which may have been premeditated—disrupts the city, and, to top it all, the culprit from Samson’s “silver bone” investigation may have resurfaced.Against this backdrop, it’s no wonder the “meat case” takes a backseat. Yet, despite the rising danger, the detective cannot let himself be distracted from his dogged pursuit of the seemingly mundane matter of the meat sellers, for ultimately his fate, and Nadezhda's too, rests on it.Translated from the Russian by Boris Dralyuk
Take to the Trees: A Story of Hope, Science, and Self-Discovery in America's Imperiled Forests
by Marguerite HollowayOne of Heatmap's Climate Books to Read in 2025 An empowering journey into the overstory with the arborists and forest experts safeguarding our iconic trees. Journalist Marguerite Holloway arrives at the Women’s Tree Climbing Workshop as a climbing novice, but with a passion for trees and a deep concern about their future. Run by twin sister tree doctors Bear LeVangie and Melissa LeVangie Ingersoll, the workshop helps people—from everyday tree lovers to women arborists working in a largely male industry—develop impressive technical skills and ascend into the canopy. As Holloway tackles unfamiliar equipment and dizzying heights, she learns about the science of trees and tells the stories of charismatic species, including hemlock, aspen, Atlantic white cedar, oak, and beech. She spotlights experts who are chronicling the great dying that is underway in forests around the world as trees face simultaneous and accelerating threats from drought, heat, floods, disease, and other disruptions. As she climbs, Holloway also comes to understand the profound significance of trees in her relationship with her late mother and brother. The book’s rousing final chapter offers something new: a grander environmental and arboreal optimism, in which the story of trees and their resilience meshes with that of people working to steward the forests of the future, and of community found among fellow tree climbers. A lyrical work of memoir and reportage, Take to the Trees sounds the alarm about rapid arboreal decline while also offering hope about how we might care for our forests and ourselves.
Wild Thing: A Life of Paul Gauguin
by Sue PrideauxOne of Literary Hub's Most Anticipated Books of 2025 One of Five Books Best Nonfiction Books of 2024 Shortlisted for the 2024 Baillie Gifford Prize An original and revealing portrait of the misunderstood French Post-Impressionist artist. Paul Gauguin’s legend as a transgressive genius arises as much from his biography as his aesthetically daring Polynesian paintings. Gauguin is chiefly known for his pictures that eschewed convention, to celebrate the beauty of an indigenous people and their culture. In this gorgeously illustrated, myth-busting work, Sue Prideaux reveals that while Gauguin was a complicated man, his scandalous reputation is largely undeserved. Self-taught, Gauguin became a towering artist in his brief life, not just in painting but in ceramics and graphics. He fled the bustle of Paris for the beauty of Tahiti, where he lived simply and worked consistently to expose the tragic results of French Colonialism. Gauguin fought for the rights of Indigenous people, exposing French injustices and corruption in the local newspaper and acting as advocate for the Tahitian people in the French colonial courts. His unconventional career and bold, breathtaking art influenced not only Vincent van Gogh, but Matisse and Picasso. Wild Thing upends much of what we thought we knew about Gauguin through new primary research, including the resurfaced manuscript of Gauguin’s most important writing, the untranslated memoir of Gauguin’s son, and a sample of Gauguin’s teeth that disproves the pernicious myth of his syphilis. In the first full biography of Paul Gauguin in thirty years, Sue Prideaux illuminates the extraordinary oeuvre of a visionary artist vital to the French avant-garde. The result is “a brilliantly readable and compassionate study of Gauguin—not just as a painter, sculptor, carver and potter, but as a human soul perpetually searching for what is always just out of reach” (Artemis Cooper, Spectator).
Plato and the Tyrant: The Fall of Greece's Greatest Dynasty and the Making of a Philosophic Masterpiece
by James RommFrom an eminent historian and classicist, an incisive portrait of the philosopher Plato, showing how the ideas in his masterwork, Republic, were tested by violent events in the most powerful Greek city of the era. Plato is one of history’s most influential thinkers, the “sublime philosopher” whose writings remain foundational to Western culture. He is known for the brilliant dialogues in which he depicted his teacher, Socrates, discussing ethical truths with prominent citizens of Athens. Yet the image we have of Plato—an ethereal figure far removed from society and politics, who conjured abstract ideas in peaceful groves—is a fiction, created by Plato’s admirers and built up over centuries. In fact, Plato was very much a man of the world. In Plato and the Tyrant, acclaimed historian and classicist James Romm draws on personal letters of Plato—documents that have long been kept in obscurity—to show how a philosopher helped topple the leading Greek power of the era: the opulent city of Syracuse. There, Plato encountered two authoritarian rulers, a father and son both named Dionysius, and tried to steer them toward philosophy. At the same time, he worked on his masterpiece, Republic, in which he conceived a ruler who unites perfect wisdom with absolute power. That dream has echoed down through the ages and given rise to a famous term, one that Plato himself didn’t actually use: philosopher-king. As Romm reveals, Plato’s time in Syracuse helped shape Republic—and also had disastrous results for Plato himself and for all of Greek Sicily. The younger Dionysius, emotionally unstable but intellectually curious, welcomed Plato with open arms, but soon the relationship soured. Plato’s close friendship with Dionysius’s uncle, Dion—possibly a bond of romantic love—created a rift in the ruling family that led to a chaotic civil war. Combining thrilling political drama with explorations of Plato’s most cherished ideas, Romm takes us into the heart of Greece’s late classical age, a time when many believed that democracy had failed. Plato’s search for solutions led him to write his fervent plea for a new political order, and also led him to a place where he believed his theories might be put into practice. But Plato and the Tyrant demonstrates how Plato’s experiment with enlightened autocracy spiraled into catastrophe, and also gives us nothing less than a new account of the origins of Western political thought.