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The Wars of Afghanistan
by Peter TomsenThis revelatory, unprecedented, insiderOCOs account of AfghanistanOCOs history since the 1970s, and of U. S. involvement, is indispensable reading for anyone concerned about the current war"
The Washington Post Pulitzers: Feature Writing, Gene Weingarten
by Gene WeingartenRecipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing. What happens when one of the world&’s most renowned musicians appears incognito outside of a Washington, D.C. metro station to play some of the most beautiful music ever composed? In the audacious social experiment, &“Pearls Before Breakfast&”, Gene Weingarten seeks out the answer to this question as he chronicles how an audience of rush hour pedestrians pass indifferently by as international wunderkind Joshua Bell plays his Stradivarius. He also examines a horrifying phenomenon in the remarkable story "Fatal Distraction", in which he speaks to thirteen mothers and fathers whose children died as the result of being left in a sweltering car during the hot summer months. The result is an emotional revelation that inspires readers to take a closer look at the world around them.
The Waste Makers
by Bill Mckibben Vance PackardAn exposé of "the systematic attempt of business to make us wasteful, debt-ridden, permanently discontented individuals," The Waste Makers is Vance Packard's pioneering 1960 work on how the rapid growth of disposable consumer goods was degrading the environmental, financial, and spiritual character of American society. The Waste Makers was the first book to probe the increasing commercialization of American life--the development of consumption for consumption's sake. Packard outlines the ways manufacturers and advertisers persuade consumers to buy things they don't need and didn't know they wanted, including the two-of-a-kind of everything syndrome--"two refrigerators in every home"--and appeals to purchase something because it is more expensive, or because it is painted in a new color. The book also brought attention to the concept of planned obsolescence, in which a "death date" is built into products so that they wear out quickly and need to be replaced. By manipulating the public into mindless consumerism, Packard believed that business was making us "more wasteful, imprudent, and carefree in our consuming habits," which was using up our natural resources at an alarming rate. A prescient book that predicted the rise of American consumer culture, this all new edition of The Waste Makers features an introduction by best-selling author Bill McKibben. Vance Packard (1914-1996) was an American journalist, social critic, and best-selling author. Among his other books were The Hidden Persuaders, about how advertisers use psychological methods to get people to buy the products they sell; The Status Seekers, which describes American social stratification and behavior; and The Naked Society, about the threats to privacy posed by new technologies.
The Water, Energy, and Food Security Nexus in Asia and the Pacific: Central and South Asia (Water Security in a New World)
by Benno Böer Zafar AdeelThis open access book considers that the Central and South Asian region sits at the middle of geographical, geopolitical, economic and historical cross-roads. Since the independence of the Central Asian states in the 1990s, following the demise of the Soviet Union, and emergence of regional trade and political ties means that the region’s evolution has also been subject to common drivers – external and internal, opening up some new opportunities. The long-term social and economic success of the region depends on how water, energy, and food security is achieved at a regional scale that combines Central Asia and South Asia, which are typically treated separately in policy and scholarly works. This book considers how securing the “Nexus” of water, energy, and food resources serves as a starting point for utilizing emerging region-wide opportunities. It does so by identifying the present state of play, deeply analyzing cross-cutting drivers (e.g., climate change, poverty, environmentalcrises and urbanization) and offering insights into possible solutions.The book offers an in-depth rationale for why dealing with this region as a whole makes sense; it is then divided into four sections: The first section, entitled “A Regional Overview,” establishes the basic facts around the state of water, energy, and food resources; this section is meant to serve as the foundation upon which further exploration and analysis is built. The second section turns its attention to “Regional Issues” and unpacks the Nexus into water–energy and water–food relationships. It also investigates how regional trade and coping mechanisms for environmental crises might inform the policies on the Nexus. The section includes a sampling of success and failure stories around implementation of the Nexus policies and strategies in the Central and South Asian region. The third section undertakes an analysis of the “Cross-Cutting Themes for Nexus Security” by investigating all the major drivers of policy and development strategies in the region: climate change, urbanization, poverty, sharing of resources across borders, and gender-based disparities. The fourth and final section uses the discussion throughout the book to formulate “An Integrated Narrative” around the Nexus. It explores how the new global development framework in the form of Sustainable Development Goals might offer a new perspective for achieving the Nexus security in the region. There is an argument that the Nexus security ties in with achievement of long-term peace and security. A final wrap-up chapter gazes into the crystal ball to test out some future scenarios – both positive and negative.
The Water, Energy, and Food Security Nexus in the Arab Region
by Benno Böer Zafar Adeel Kamel Amer Walid SalehThis book investigates the need for a more open and interdisciplinary dialogue on the nexus of food, water and energy security in the Arab region. It argues that achieving sustainable economic development is irretrievably tied to the security of the water-energy-food nexus, which is in turn essential for bringing about sustained peace. Further, it discusses various approaches to achieving these lofty objectives, and offers the following take-away messages: The Arab region is currently under considerable water stress, and the situation will continue to get worse with a number of global changes - most notably those related to climate and regional water distribution. Viable solutions are available in the Arab region and can be implemented through innovative policies, judicious use of new technologies, and stimulating public opinion. Integration across water, energy, and food sectors is obviously needed but achieving it in practice is extremely challenging. There are some gaps in the scientific understanding but at the same time there is a wealth of data and synthesized information that can guide decision-making.
The Watercooler Effect
by Nicholas Difonzo"A fresh look at informal communication, and how information spreads rapidly...An absorbing and compelling book." -Daniel J. Levitin, author of This Is Your Brain on Music and The World in Six Songs "Nicholas DiFonzo is one of the world's experts on why rumors spread. If you've ever wondered where rumors come from or whether some new rumor is true, this book will fascinate you." - Chip Heath, coauthor of Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die During the 2008 presidential election, both campaigns sought to detect, decipher, and defuse a host of derogatory rumors. After Hurricane Katrina, rumors swirled about stranded residents shooting rescue workers. Tipping off the economic crisis, costly rumors crippled financial institutions as they flew through the stock market. Pyschologist Nicholas DiFonzo has studied hearsay for more than fifteen years, and in this book he shows how the process that gave rise to these troubling rumors is fundamentally the same as a tête-à-tête around the company watercooler. With The Watercooler Effect, you'll learn: * how businesses or campaigns can control destructive rumors * how to sort fact from fiction * why a "no comment" response can be more detrimental than helpful * how an organization can increase trust from within * why rumors can actually become more truthful the more they spread DiFonzo argues that rumors stem from our deeply rooted motivation to make sense of the world and are a window into both individual and group psychology. Using fascinating case studies and surprising research findings, The Watercooler Effect gives you the tools to find the truth behind the rumor.
The Way Back: Restoring the Promise of America
by F. H. BuckleyThe promise of America is that, with ambition and hard work, anyone can rise to the top. But now the promise has been broken, and we've become an aristocracy where rich parents raise rich kids and poor parents raise poor kids.We've been told that the changes are structural, that there's nothing we can do about this. But that doesn't explain why other First World countries are beating us hands down on the issue of mobility.What's different about America is our politics. An ostensibly progressive New Class of comfortably rich professionals, media leaders, and academics has shaped the contours of American politics and given us a country of fixed economic classes. It is supported by the poorest of Americans, who have little chance to rise, an alliance of both ends against the middle that recalls the Red Tories of parliamentary countries. Because they support an aristocracy, the members of the New Class are Tories, and because of their feigned concern for the poor, they are Red Tories.The Way Back explains the revolution in American politics, where political insurgents have challenged the complacent establishment of both parties, and shows how we can restore the promise of economic mobility and equality by pursuing socialist ends through capitalist means.
The Way Class Works: Readings on School, Family, and the Economy
by Lois WeisSince the 1980s, the relationship between social class and education has been overshadowed by scholarship more generally targeting issues of race, gender, and representation. Today, with the global economy deeply immersed in social inequalities, there is pressing need for serious class-based analyses of schooling, family life and social structure. The Way Class Works is a collection of twenty-four groundbreaking essays on the material conditions of social class and the ways in which class is produced "on the ground" in educational institutions and families. Written by the most visible and important scholars in education and the social sciences, these timely essays explore the production of class in and through the economy, family, and school, while simultaneously interrogating and challenging our understandings of social class as linked to race, gender, and nation. With essays by distinguished scholars and questions for further reflection and discussion, The Way Class Works will be an invaluable resource for students and scholars in education, sociology, and beyond.
The Way Forward: Lean Leadership and Systems Thinking for Large and Small Businesses
by Wallace GarneauThis book helps business leaders see how employees, companies, and missions all interact with each other, as well as with society at large, in systems and subsystems at various levels. It helps leaders learn how to connect the dots, becoming customer-centric in everything they do and then spreading the same goals down to their supply chains. The book discusses what is, and what is not, leadership, covering such topics as statistics-based management, process-improvement, and human resources. The author accomplishes this through a blend of Lean culture and managerial theory, as well as his military experience. In addition, the author contrasts many opposing subjects, such as efficiencies of scale versus efficiencies of build, automation versus process improvement, process innovation versus product innovation, technical versus tactical proficiency, and pull versus push production. With most books focused on Lean initiatives, there is a tremendous amount of benefit involved in creating customer value while reducing waste, but this book takes a holistic approach, blending in modern managerial theory, team leadership skills, and economics. The result is a book that changes how the reader approaches business. Essentially, the purpose of this book is to blend modern management theories with the culture of Lean (and perhaps a sprinkling of economics) to show current business leaders how to create organizations that are as customer-oriented and highly efficient in delivering value as possible. If one thinks of each role in an organization as a spot on an assembly line, where everything each person does creates output someone else uses, the question becomes whether or not each person’s activities maximize the effectiveness of others. Do we, as organizations, set ourselves up for success or for failure? Most companies, if they answer honestly, would say, "A little bit of both." This book is about helping those companies improve.
The Way Home: Tales from a Life Without Technology
by Mark BoyleIt was 11pm when I checked my email for the last time and turned off my phone for what I hoped would be forever. No running water, no car, no electricity or any of the things it powers: the internet, phone, washing machine, radio or light bulb. Just a wooden cabin, on a smallholding, by the edge of a stand of spruce. In this honest and lyrical account of a remarkable life without modern technology, Mark Boyle explores the hard won joys of building a home with his bare hands, learning to make fire, collecting water from the spring, foraging and fishing. What he finds is an elemental life, one governed by the rhythms of the sun and seasons, where life and death dance in a primal landscape of blood, wood, muck, water, and fire – much the same life we have lived for most of our time on earth. Revisiting it brings a deep insight into what it means to be human at a time when the boundaries between man and machine are blurring.
The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization
by Peter T. ColemanThe partisan divide in the United States has widened to a chasm. Legislators vote along party lines and rarely cross the aisle. Political polarization is personal, too—and it is making us miserable. Surveys show that Americans have become more fearful and hateful of supporters of the opposing political party and imagine that they hold much more extreme views than they actually do. We have cordoned ourselves off: we prefer to date and marry those with similar opinions and are less willing to spend time with people on the other side. How can we loosen the grip of this toxic polarization and start working on our most pressing problems?The Way Out offers an escape from this morass. The social psychologist Peter T. Coleman explores how conflict resolution and complexity science provide guidance for dealing with seemingly intractable political differences. Deploying the concept of attractors in dynamical systems, he explains why we are stuck in this rut as well as the unexpected ways that deeply rooted oppositions can and do change. Coleman meticulously details principles and practices for navigating and healing the difficult divides in our homes, workplaces, and communities, blending compelling personal accounts from his years of working on entrenched conflicts with lessons from leading-edge research. The Way Out is a vital and timely guide to breaking free from the cycle of mutual contempt in order to better our lives, relationships, and country.
The Way Things Ought To Be
by Rush LimbaughUsing personal anecdotes, Limbaugh reveals the major influences on his life and views, and blasts off on all the leading issues of our day.
The Way We Never Were: American Families And The Nostalgia Trap
by Stephanie CoontzThe Way We Never Were examines two centuries of American family life and shatters a series of myths and half-truths that burden modern families. Placing current family dilemmas in the context of far-reaching economic, political, and demographic changes, Coontz sheds new light on such contemporary concerns as parenting, privacy, love, the division of labor along gender lines, the black family, feminism, and sexual practice.
The Way We Pray: Prayer Practices from Around the World
by Maggie Oman ShannonThe Unity minister and author of Prayers for Healing explores prayer practices across the world&’s many religions in this inspiring celebration of faith. In this ideal guide for spiritual explorers everywhere, author Maggie Oman Shannon presents fifty wonderfully diverse prayer practices. Among the powerful and colorful rituals she describes are walking a labyrinth, speaking affirmations, writing in a gratitude journal, displaying prayer flags, dressing in ceremonial costumes, reading sacred scriptures, listening to the resonant sounds of a prayer bowl, drawing a mandala, counting prater beads, fasting, writing haiku, and chanting. For each of these practices and more, Shannon offers historical details, meanings and interpretations, and stories and anecdotes from practitioners she interviewed. She also includes suggestions for bringing these rituals into one's own spiritual practice.
The Way We'll Be: The Zogby Report on the Transformation of the American Dream
by John ZogbyIn this far-reaching examination of contemporary American culture, John Zogby, one of the nation's foremost pollsters, explores who today's Americans are, identifying patterns in our social makeup that hint at the way we'll be. Companies from multinational corporations down to family-owned small businesses can benefit from this detailed information about where we are and where we're going. Zogby gets to the bottom of this topic by doing what he does best: conducting and analyzing surveys. The conclusions outlined in The Way We'll Be are drawn from literally thousands of polls posed to the broadest possible cross-section of Americans since the 1960s. However, Zogby's complex research techniques are nowhere near as astounding as his conclusions: that the American Dream is in great transition---that a new American consensus is building. According to Zogby, four meta-movements are redefining what we want, what we expect of our leaders, and what we hope for: ---We are learning to live with limits on everything---from the resources we consume to the exercise of national power abroad. ---Led by the youngest adults, we are embracing diversity and redefining ourselves not by nationality but as world citizens. ---Simultaneously, more and more of us are rejecting materialism and looking inward for guidance and sustenance. ---We are demanding authenticity---in politicians, products, and our daily encounters---like never before. These are the plate tectonics of American society today, and they define us as much as opening the frontier defined early American settlers. They shape our national character. Zogby concludes his discussion of each movement with a list of "rules" for businesses looking to sell everything from automobiles to political candidates.
The Way of the Athlete
by Rob PateThere comes a time in every competitive athlete's life when the cheering stops and it's time to move on to other pursuits. Written by a former Division 1 football player and Academic-All America, The Way of the Athlete argues that sports prepares athletes for this transition by instilling qualities that contribute to academic, business, and personal success. Rob Pate draws on his own experience, together with the experiences of coaches and other athletes, to highlight the parallels between athletic achievement and attainment in other areas of life. The author looks beyond the time-honored qualities of discipline, dedication, teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership. He examines other must-have athletic attributes that help build character, including the ability to bounce back and learn from failure.Not every athlete can make a Division 1 roster. But everyone who's played sports can take the experience and chart a path to success in other areas of life. Written by someone who's done precisely that, The Way of the Athlete is a guide to getting the most from the lessons that sports have to teach us.
The Way of the Athlete: The Role of Sports in Building Character for Academic, Business, and Personal Success
by Rob PateThere comes a time in every competitive athlete’s life when the cheering stops and it’s time to move on to other pursuits. Written by a former Division 1 football player and Academic All-American, The Way of the Athlete argues that sports prepares athletes for this transition by instilling qualities that contribute to academic, business, and personal success.Rob Pate draws on his own experience, together with the experiences of coaches and other athletes, to highlight the parallels between athletic achievement and attainment in other areas of life. The author looks beyond the time-honored qualities of discipline, dedication, teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership. He examines other must-have athletic attributes that help build character, including the ability to bounce back and learn from failure.Not every athlete can make a Division 1 roster. But everyone who’s played sports can take the experience and chart a path to success in other areas of life. Written by someone who’s done precisely that, The Way of the Athlete is a guide to getting the most from the lessons that sports have to teach us.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports-books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
The Way of the Gladiator: Inspiration for the Gladiator Films
by Daniel P. MannixThe book that inspired the stories of Gladiator & Gladiator II: Step into the ring with this classic, in-depth account of the ancient Romans&’ obsession with the bloody and brutal games.&“[The Way of the Gladiator is] this crazy, tawdry, wild book about the Coliseum. . . . It hardwired in my brain the absolute similarities between who we are and who we were.&” —David Franzoni, Academy Award–nominated screenwriter of Gladiator and producer of Gladiator IIOriginally published under the title Those About to Die. &“If you can imagine a superior American sports writer suddenly being transported back in time to cover the ancient Roman games, you will have some idea of the flavor and zest of The Way of the Gladiator,&” said the Los Angeles Times about Daniel P. Mannix&’s century-by-century—and nearly moment-by-moment—narrative of the Roman Empire&’s national institution. Putting the games in the context of Rome&’s rise and dramatic fall, Mannix captures all the history, planning, and savage pageantry that went into creating the first spectator sports. The games began in 238 BC as nearly county fair–like entertainment, with trick riding, acrobats, trained animals, chariot racing, and athletic events. The contests then evolved into slave fights thanks to wealthy patricians Marcus and Decimus Brutus, who wanted to give their father an unforgettable funeral by reviving an old tradition. What the brothers wrought, Rome devoured, demanding even greater violence to satisfy the bloodlust of the crowd. Architectural wonders in themselves, massive arenas like Circus Maximus and the Colosseum were built, able to host sea battle reenactments on actual water. Successful gladiators found fame, fortune—and freedom. But as Rome began to fall in the fifth century, so did the games, devolving into nothing more than pointless massacres. In the end, millions of humans and animals were sacrificed in barbaric displays. What were once ceremonies given in honor of gods met an inglorious fate, yet they still captivate—in book and in film—the imagination of people today.
The Way of the Woman Writer
by Janet Lynn RosemanThe Way of the Woman Writer, Second Edition continues the work of the inspirational original, offering guidance to women who wish to document their lives in writing. More a template than a how-to manual, this insightful book addresses the concerns, needs, and issues of women writers (both aspiring and experienced), concentrating on the internal process of putting thought to paper, including new chapters on the creative process and the ethics and integrity of writing. The author, Dr. Janet Lynn Roseman, offers writing exercises in women's autobiography that draw on the significant rhythms of a woman's life, utilizing visualization and meditation techniques to amplify the inner writing voice. From the author: "What strikes me in re-examining the text of this book is just how timeless the subject of chronicling women's lives is. When we pass down our stories and share them with family and friends, we provide future generations with the opportunity to not only understand the lives of each woman, but we are able to gain insight into their unique experiences." The Way of the Woman Writer, Second Edition includes new writing samples and new chapters on: "The Creative Spirit," which presents a seven-step guide to the creative process-ritual, surrender, silence, waiting, trust, recognition, and distance "The Ethics and Integrity of Writing," which addresses the discipline and courage a writer needs when dealing with the effects of her autobiographical "truths" on others The Way of the Woman Writer, Second Edition is an essential resource for creative writing courses, oral history courses, writer's workshops, and women's studies programs, and an invaluable guide for any woman who wishes to tell her story.
The Way the World Works
by Nicholson Baker{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Arial;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Arial;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\lang1033\i\f0\fs20 The Way the World Works\i0 , Nicholson Baker's ranges over the map of life to examine what ails us, what eases our pain, and what gives us joy. Baker-recently hailed as "one of the most consistently enticing writers of our time" by \i The New York Times\i0 -moves from political controversy to the intimacy of his own life, from forgotten heroes of pacifism to airplane wings, telephones, paper mills, David Remnick, Joseph Pulitzer, the OED, and the manufacture of the Venetian gondola. In one essay, Baker surveys our fascination with video games while attempting to beat his teenage son at Modern Warfare 2; in a celebrated essay on Wikipedia, he describes his efforts to stem the tide of encyclopedic deletionism. Through all these pieces Baker shines the light of an inexpugnable curiosity; \i The Way the World Works \i0 is a keen-minded, generous-spirited compendium by a modern American master.\cf0\lang2057\f1 \fs18 \par \cf1\lang1033\i\f0\fs20 \par }
The Way to a Great Country: A Macroscopic View on Chinese Population in the 21st Century (China Perspectives)
by Tian XueyuanPopulation is the most influential factor in social development and economic growth, especially in China. In this book, author Tian Xueyuan provides macro illustrations of the main issues confronting China’s population and development in the 21st century and advises on facing population development challenges to sustainable future development. This book explores issues such as the relation between the change of population and consumption, how the age of the working population affects economic structure and transition when above or below the Lewis turning point, the impact of population aging on growth speed and the pension system, how to remove the urban– rural dual structure, how to reform exam- oriented education, and how to balance relations between population, resource, environment, and sustainable growth. The discussions on population– consumption relations, labor– economy relations, urbanization and rural– urban relations, and beyond provide insightful judgment on and prospects for China’s future development. This book is helpful for international audiences to better understand China’s population and development challenges and strategies.
The Ways Women Age: Using and Refusing Cosmetic Intervention
by Abigail T. BrooksThe story of how and why some women choose to use, while others refuse, cosmetic intervention.What is it like to be a woman growing older in a culture where you cannot go to the doctor, open a magazine, watch television, or surf the internet without encountering products and procedures that are designed to make you look younger? What do women have to say about their decision to embrace cosmetic anti-aging procedures? And, alternatively, how do women come to decide to grow older without them? In the United States today, women are the overwhelming consumers of cosmetic anti-aging surgeries and technologies. And while not all women undergo these procedures, their exposure to them is almost inevitable.Set against the backdrop of commercialized medicine in the United States, Abigail T. Brooks investigates the anti-aging craze from the perspective of women themselves, examining the rapidly changing cultural attitudes, pressures, and expectations of female aging. Drawn from in-depth interviews with women in the United States who choose, and refuse, to have cosmetic anti-aging procedures, The Ways Women Age provides a fresh understanding of how today’s women feel about aging. The women’s stories in this book are personal biographies that explore identity and body image and are reflexively shaped by beauty standards, expectations of femininity, and an increasingly normalized climate of cosmetic anti-aging intervention. The Ways Women Age offers a critical perspective on how women respond to 21st century expectations of youth and beauty.
The Wealth of Nations: An Inquiry Into The Nature And Causes Of The Wealth Of Nations (The\wealth Of Nations Set Ser. #Vol. 1)
by Adam SmithAdam Smith's masterpiece, first published in 1776, is the foundation of modern economic thought and remains the single most important account of the rise of, and the principles behind, modern capitalism. Written in clear and incisive prose, The Wealth of Nations articulates the concepts indispensable to an understanding of contemporary society; and Robert Reich's new Introduction for this edition both clarifies Smith's analyses and illuminates his overall relevance to the world in which we live. As Reich writes, "Smith's mind ranged over issues as fresh and topical today as they were in the late eighteenth century--jobs, wages, politics, government, trade, education, business, and ethics."
The Web Was Done by Amateurs: A Reflection on One of the Largest Collective Systems Ever Engineered
by Marco AielloThis book stems from the desire to systematize and put down on paper essential historical facts about the Web, a system that has undoubtedly changed our lives in just a few decades. But how did it manage to become such a central pillar of modern society, such an indispensable component of our economic and social interactions? How did it evolve from its roots to today? Which competitors, if any, did it have to beat out? Who are the heroes behind its success?These are the sort of questions that the book addresses. Divided into four parts, it follows and critically reflects on the Web’s historical path. “Part I: The Origins” covers the prehistory of the Web. It examines the technology that predated the Web and fostered its birth. In turn, “Part II: The Web” describes the original Web proposal as defined in 1989 by Tim Berners-Lee and the most relevant technologies associated with it. “Part III: The Patches” combines a historical reconstruction of the Web’s evolution with a more critical analysis of its original definition and the necessary changes made to the initial design. In closing, “Part IV: System Engineering” approaches the Web as an engineered infrastructure and reflects on its technical and societal success.The book is unique in its approach, combining historical facts with the technological evolution of the Web. It was written with a technologically engaged and knowledge-thirsty readership in mind, ranging from curious daily Web users to undergraduate computer science and engineering students.
The Web and Faith: Theological Analysis of Cyberspace Technologies
by Ayse KokComputing technology is an indispensable feature of modern life. Our rapid-paced world seems more and more remote from the world narrated in sacred scriptures. However, despite its pervasiveness, there remains a dearth of theological reflection about computer technology and what it means to live as a faithful individual in a digitally - saturated society.The Web and Faith provides a brief theology of technology, rooted in the Islamic tradition and oriented around the grand themes of creation, redemption and new creation. The book combines a concise, accessible style with penetrating cultural and theological analysis. Building on the work of Marshall McLuhan and Neil Postman, and drawing from a wide range of enlightened Islamic thinkers, the book situates computer technology within the big picture of the story of creation. Technology is not neutral, but neither is there an exclusively ''faith-based'' form of technological production and use. Instead, this book guides us to see the digital world as part of a larger creation, which is redeemable according to the law of faith. Responsibly used, technology can become an integral part of religious wisdom world-wide.