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GED Test Prep Flash Cards: Algebra (Exambusters GED Workbook #6 of 13)
by Ace Inc.<P><P><i>Advisory: Bookshare has learned that this book offers only partial accessibility. We have kept it in the collection because it is useful for some of our members. Benetech is actively working on projects to improve accessibility issues such as these.</i><P><P> 450 questions. Topics: Sets, Variables, Exponents, Polynomials, Word Problems, Radicals, Quadratic Equations, and more. <P><P> EXAMBUSTERS GED Prep Workbooks provide comprehensive, fundamental GED review--one fact at a time--to prepare students to take practice GED tests. Each GED study guide focuses on one specific subject area covered on the GED exam. From 300 to 600 questions and answers, each volume in the GED series is a quick and easy, focused read. Reviewing GED flash cards is the first step toward more confident GED preparation and ultimately, higher GED exam scores!
ASVAB Test Prep Flash Cards: Geometry (Exambusters ASVAB Workbook #8 of 8)
by Ace Inc.<P><P><i>Advisory: Bookshare has learned that this book offers only partial accessibility. We have kept it in the collection because it is useful for some of our members. Benetech is actively working on projects to improve accessibility issues such as these.</i><P><P> "ASVAB Prep Flashcard Workbook 8: GEOMETRY" 450 questions and answers (ILLUSTRATED) that focus on essential geometry theorems, postulates, concepts, and definitions. Includes complementary diagrams. Topics: Lines and Angles, Triangles, Proofs, Perpendicular Lines, Parallel Lines, Angle Sums, Quadrilaterals, Medians, Altitudes and Bisectors, Circles, Ratio and Proportion, Similar Polygons, Circles and Regular Polygons, Coordinate Geometry <P>EXAMBUSTERS ASVAB Prep Workbooks provide comprehensive, fundamental ASVAB review--one fact at a time--to prepare students to take practice ASVAB tests. Each ASVAB study guide focuses on one specific subject area covered on the ASVAB exam. From 300 to 600 questions and answers, each volume in the ASVAB series is a quick and easy, focused read. Reviewing ASVAB flash cards is the first step toward more confident ASVAB preparation and ultimately, higher ASVAB exam scores!
CLEP Test Prep Flash Cards: Precalculus Essentials (Exambusters CLEP Workbook #4)
by Ace Inc.<P><P><i>Advisory: Bookshare has learned that this book offers only partial accessibility. We have kept it in the collection because it is useful for some of our members. Benetech is actively working on projects to improve accessibility issues such as these.</i><P><P> 500 questions and answers that focus on essential advanced algebra and trigonometry concepts. <P><P>Includes complementary diagrams. Essential definitions, formulas, and sample problems. Topics: Exponents and Radicals, Absolute Values and Inequalities, Polynomials, Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations, Conic Sections, Logarithms, Angles, Trigonometric Functions and Identities, Oblique Triangles, Complex and Imaginary Numbers, Area and Volume, Sequences and Series <P> EXAMBUSTERS CLEP Prep Workbooks provide comprehensive CLEP review--one fact at a time--to prepare students to take practice CLEP tests. Each CLEP study guide focuses on fundamental concepts and definitions--a basic overview to begin studying for the CLEP exam. Up to 600 questions and answers, each volume in the CLEP series is a quick and easy, focused read. Reviewing CLEP flash cards is the first step toward more confident CLEP preparation and ultimately, higher CLEP exam scores!
Bearmouth: A Novel
by Liz HyderA darkly atmospheric thriller about justice, independence, and resistance announces the arrival of a singular new voice in young adult literature. Life in Bearmouth is one of hard labor and isolation, the sunlit world far above the mine a distant memory. Newt has lived in the mine since the age of four, and accepts everything from the harsh working conditions to the brutality of the mine’s leaders—until the mysterious Devlin arrives and dares to ask the question, “Why?” As tensions rise, Newt is soon looking at Bearmouth with a fresh perspective—challenging the system and setting in motion a change of events that could destroy their entire world. An utterly distinctive voice, propulsive and page-turning storytelling, high stakes, heart-stopping twists, and a sense of moral purpose make Bearmouth an unforgettable and unparalleled debut.
Tristan and Isolde: with Ulrich von Türheim's Continuation
by Gottfried von Strassburg"I believe this fluent, accurate, readable translation of Tristan and Isolde will become the standard English edition of Gottfried's literary masterpiece. Wisely choosing not to recreate the end rhyme of the original, Whobrey has created a text that stays true to the original Middle High German while rendering it into modern English prose. The inclusion of Ulrich von Türheim&’s Continuation is a great strength of this book. For the first time, English speakers will be able to read Gottfried's work in tandem with Ulrich's and explore—via Whobrey&’s discussion of Ulrich&’s sources—the rich Tristan literary tradition in the Middle Ages and the ways in which Gottfried&’s achievement resonated well after his death. The footnotes provide helpful cultural, historical, and interpretive information, and Whobrey's Introduction offers a nice overview of Gottfried&’s biography, a discussion of Gottfried's important literary excursus, his place within the literature and genres of his time, and the source material for his Tristan. Particularly useful is Whobrey&’s discussion of the intricate and masterful structure of Gottfried&’s text."—Scott Pincikowski, Hood College
The Western Literary Tradition: The Hebrew Bible to John Milton
by Margaret L. KingThis compact anthology provides a thorough introduction to the major works of the Western literary tradition from Antiquity to 1700. It includes excerpts from seventy texts composed in eight ancient and modern languages and in genres as diverse as epic, lyric, and dramatic verse; prose narrative including story, romance, and novel; and non-fiction prose including autobiography, biography, letter, speech, dialogue, and essay. Contents include selections from the Hebrew Bible, New Testament, and works by Homer, Euripides, Virgil, Ovid, Saint Augustine, Dante, Chaucer, Machiavelli, Montaigne, Shakespeare, Milton, and many more. Further distinguishing this collection is the inclusion of works by women writers often overlooked in other literary anthologies, including works by Sappho, Margery Kempe, Marie de France, Christine de Pizan, and others. Margaret L. King's clear, engaging introductions and notes support an informed reading of the texts while extending reader's knowledge of particular authors and problems of interest. See available book previews to view the entire Table of Contents, or visit www.hackettpublishing.com for more information. The Western Literary Tradition's modest length and cost allow for the use of full-length works—many of which are available in Hackett Publishing's own well-regarded and inexpensive translations and editions—alongside the anthology without adding undue cost to a reader's total textbook fees.
The Indian Rebellion, 1857–1859: A Short History with Documents (Passages: Key Moments in History)
by James Frey"Frey's concise and readable history of the Indian Rebellion is an excellent introduction to one of the most important wars of the nineteenth century. The rebellion lasted more than a year and pitted broad sections of north Indian society against the British East India Company. British victory consolidated colonial rule that would only be dislodged by twentieth-century nationalist movements. Frey provides a crystal-clear account of the causes, principal events, and consequences of the rebellion. Equally importantly, he deftly discusses why the rebellion remains controversial. Well-chosen documents add texture to the analysis. This is the best short history of the rebellion in print." —Ian Barrow, Middlebury College
At Any Cost (A US Marshals Novel #4)
by Mandy BaxterFast, cunning, and driven, he'll do whatever it takes to nail the most violent federal perps. But she is the one danger he'll never see coming... She can't remember when she wasn't afraid. She can't go to the police. <P> And "Olivia Gallagher" is only a day away from fleeing her Idaho wilderness life before biker gang leader Joel Meecum finally catches up with her. So keeping her rugged new neighbor at arm's length is the only safe play. Until Livy can't resist one last hungry chance to feel alive...For U.S. Marshal Nick Brady, taking his vacation next door to Meecum's ex-girlfriend seemed the smartest way to find him. But suddenly, nothing is making sense. How could this feisty, straight-talking brunette ever get mixed up with Meecum's brutal crew? And why is he breaking his oath and getting so close that all he wants is to keep her safe? Now as the clock ticks, Nick and Livy's only chance at escape may be the one they can't survive...Praise for Mandy Baxter's U.S. Marshals series"A little bit of suspense and a whole lot of passion make this the perfect read for adventurous romance fans." --RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars"Fast-paced and full of heat, this is romantic suspense done right!" --Julie Ann Walker"The perfect mix of steam and on?the?edge?of?your?seat suspense. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough." --Tracey Garvis Graves"Page?turning, rip?roaring action." --Publishers Weekly
The Delaware Naturalist Handbook (Cultural Studies of Delaware and the Eastern Shore)
by McKay Jenkins and Susan BartonThe Delaware Naturalist Handbook is the primary public face of a major university-led public educational outreach and community engagement initiative. This statewide master naturalist certification program is designed to train hundreds of citizen scientists, K–12 environmental educators, ecological restoration volunteers, and habitat managers each year. The initiative is conducted in collaboration with multiple disciplines at the University of Delaware, the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, the Delaware Environmental Institute (DENIN), the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (DNREC), the state Division of Parks, the state Forest Service, the state Division of Fish and Wildlife, and local nonprofit educational institutions, including the Mount Cuba Center, the Delaware Nature Society and Ashland Nature Center, Delaware Wildlands, Northeast Climate Hub, Center for Inland Bays, and White Clay Creek State Park.
Demystifying Venture Capital: How It Works and How to Get It
by Mohammad MustafaVenture Capital is a marriage between 'people with money and no ideas' and 'people with ideas and no money'. It is a high-risk investment vehicle with the potential for manifold returns and the possibility of a complete investment written-off. Although it is essentially private money and smaller in size than traditional financing pillars, its impact has been phenomenal, even to the extent of transforming the way we live in the modern world. Yet the fact remains that the business of venture capital is not fully understood by startup founders and fund managers are also not familiar with the inner workings of other venture funds. And, as more public or tax-players&’ money flows into this asset class, it begs a shift from the existing esoteric styles to more transparent and predictable operations. It would also be beneficial if the craft of venture capital is well understood by the business community and most importantly, policymakers as Demystifying Venture Capital: How it works and How to get primarily written to address these concerns, and to explain the subject in a nontechnical manner, as far as possible. A handbook for fund managers, startups, academicians interested in the subject, policy makers, and aspiring entrepreneurs, this book is unique as it has been written along with the top 25 venture funds in India as co-authors. The first part builds the concepts and theoretical framework of venture investing throughout the venture capital life cycle, giving readers a robust academic backdrop while the second part offer 25 first-hand accounts of how VCs invest, where they invest, what they look for while investing, providing invaluable insights into the minds and methods of VCs. All in all, this prototype is a first-of-its-kind endeavour to deliver a 360-degree + view of the Venture Capital universe.
The Greco-Persian Wars: A Short History with Documents (Passages: Key Moments in History)
by Erik JensenHackett's Passages: Key Moments in History series titles include original-source documents in accessible editions, intended for the student-user or general audience. This edition, The Greco-Persian Wars, taps our knowledge of the Persian Empire and its interactions with the Greek world. The sources examined were created in different times and places, for different purposes, and with different intended audiences. Using these sources effectively requires recognizing their distinct characteristics. A general introduction about the Greco-Persian wars is included to provide historical background and an overview of the information contained in the original-source documents. Also included are a glossary of terms, a chronology, insightful headnotes to each document, and an index.
White War, Black Soldiers: Two African Accounts of World War I
by Bakary Diallo Lamine SenghorStrength and Goodness (Force-Bonté) by Bakary Diallo is one of the only memoirs of World War I ever written or published by an African. It remains a pioneering work of African literature as well as a unique and invaluable historical document about colonialism and Africa&’s role in the Great War. Lamine Senghor&’s The Rape of a Country (La Violation d&’un pays) is another pioneering French work by a Senegalese veteran of World War I, but one that offers a stark contrast to Strength and Goodness. Both are made available for the first time in English in this edition, complete with a glossary of terms and a general historical introduction. The centennial of World War I is an ideal moment to present Strength and Goodness and The Rape of a Country to a wider, English-reading public. Until recently, Africa's role in the war has been neglected by historians and largely forgotten by the general public. Euro-centric versions of the war still predominate in popular culture, Many historians, however, now insist that African participation in the 1914-18 War is a large part of what made that conflict a world war.
A Red-necked Green Bird
by AmbaiMyths and legends jostle with the contemporary in these stories where social issues of our times resonate with the inevitability of the past. The lyricism of Carnatic ragas permeate the pages of this quiet and powerful book in which love is rendered in all its immeasurable avatars—parental, carnal, platonic, romantic, divine. There is the woman who reinvents the notion of love in a unique way that amalgamates technology and spirituality through the internet; a man full of love who can sing Bulleh Shah and the woman who has lost her all in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots; the woman in the title story who stands by her deaf daughter but understands why her husband must leave the home they have built with love all these years; the man who finds out what it is to be a woman after a dip in the pond... These short stories are shorn of sentimentality but have a deep understanding of what it means to live, to love and to die. CS Lakshmi, writing under the pseudonym Ambai, has been a significant voice in Indian literature for the past four decades. A Red-necked Green Bird is the writer&’s seventh collection of short stories.
Entre le Savoir et le Culte: Activisme et mouvements religieux dans les universités du Sahel
by Leonardo A. Villalón« Entre le Savoir et le Culte présente des études et documents originaux qui mettent à jour l’évolution de l’islam et du christianisme parmi les étudiants d’universités des pays du Sahel. Il révèle les fissures et les conflits entre les groupes, et analyse leurs modes oraux, écrits et vestimentaires d’affichage et de performance. Cet ouvrage apporte ainsi un puissant éclairage sur l’emprise du religieux sur l’élite en formation, et examine les deux interrogations qui alimentent l’activisme religieux universitaire : la signification de la revendication d’une identité musulmane ou chrétienne, et comment celle-ci façonne la modernité des deux religions et vice-versa. A lire pour comprendre le dynamisme des terribles crises qui amènent la région sahélienne à se tourner sur elle-même. » – Mamadou Diouf, Leitner Family Professor of African Studies, Columbia University, États-Unis. « Quelquefois négligées ou mal comprises par les analystes étrangers, les universités sahéliennes sont le théâtre de débats profonds sur l’identité nationale, et d’importantes négociations autour de la religiosité et de l’ethnicité. Cette collection rassemble les travaux d’éminents spécialistes dans ce domaine, et propose une perspective riche et comparative de leur travail collectif, ancrée dans leur recherche sur le terrain. L’ouvrage sera indispensable à tous les chercheurs, analystes, et décideurs politiques qui travaillent sur le Sahel. Ces chapitres contribueront beaucoup à la compréhension des expériences et priorités d’une génération d’activistes et de leaders qui marqueront la région dans les années à venir. » – Alex Thurston, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Université de Cincinnati, États-Unis
Sanctified Violence: Holy War in World History (Critical Themes in World History)
by Alfred J. Andrea Andrew Holt"This rich and engaging book looks at instances of sanctified violence, the holy wars related to religion. It covers it all, from ancient to present day, including examples of warfare among Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists, as well as Christians, Jews and Muslims. It is a comprehensive and readable overview that provides a lively introduction to the subject of holy war in its broadest sense—as &‘sanctified violence&’ in the service of a god or ideology. It is certain to be a useful companion in the classroom, and a boon to anyone fascinated by the dark attraction of religion and violence." —Mark Juergensmeyer, University of California, Santa BarbaraContents:Introduction: What Is Holy War?Chapter 1: Holy Wars in Mythic Time, Holy Wars as Metaphor, Holy Wars as RitualChapter 2: Holy Wars of Conquest in the Name of a DeityChapter 3: Holy Wars in Defense of the SacredChapter 4: Holy Wars in Anticipation of the Millennium Epilogue: Holy Wars Today and TomorrowAlso included are a description of the Critical Themes in World History series, Preface, index, and suggestions for further reading.
Strategic Vision: America and the Crisis of Global Power
by Zbigniew BrzezinskiBy 1991, following the disintegration first of the Soviet bloc and then of the Soviet Union itself, the United States was left standing tall as the only global super-power. Not only the 20th but even the 21st century seemed destined to be the American centuries. But that super-optimism did not last long. During the last decade of the 20th century and the first decade of the 21st century, the stock market bubble and the costly foreign unilateralism of the younger Bush presidency, as well as the financial catastrophe of 2008 jolted America - and much of the West - into a sudden recognition of its systemic vulnerability to unregulated greed. Moreover, the East was demonstrating a surprising capacity for economic growth and technological innovation. That prompted new anxiety about the future, including even about America's status as the leading world power. This book is a response to a challenge. It argues that without an America that is economically vital, socially appealing, responsibly powerful, and capable of sustaining an intelligent foreign engagement, the geopolitical prospects for the West could become increasingly grave. The ongoing changes in the distribution of global power and mounting global strife make it all the more essential that America does not retreat into an ignorant garrison-state mentality or wallow in cultural hedonism but rather becomes more strategically deliberate and historically enlightened in its global engagement with the new East. This book seeks to answer four major questions: 1. What are the implications of the changing distribution of global power from West to East, and how is it being affected by the new reality of a politically awakened humanity? 2. Why is America's global appeal waning, how ominous are the symptoms of America's domestic and international decline, and how did America waste the unique global opportunity offered by the peaceful end of the Cold War? 3. What would be the likely geopolitical consequences if America did decline by 2025, and could China then assume America's central role in world affairs? 4. What ought to be a resurgent America's major long-term geopolitical goals in order to shape a more vital and larger West and to engage cooperatively the emerging and dynamic new East? America, Brzezinski argues, must define and pursue a comprehensive and long-term a geopolitical vision, a vision that is responsive to the challenges of the changing historical context. This book seeks to provide the strategic blueprint for that vision.
Born Digital: How Children Grow Up in a Digital Age
by John Palfrey Urs GasserThe first generation of "Digital Natives”-children who were born into and raised in the digital world-are coming of age, and soon our world will be reshaped in their image. Our economy, our politics, our culture, and even the shape of our family life will be forever transformed. But who are these Digital Natives? And what is the world they're creating going to look like? In Born Digital, leading Internet and technology experts John Palfrey and Urs Gasser offer a sociological portrait of these young people, who can seem, even to those merely a generation older, both extraordinarily sophisticated and strangely narrow. Exploring a broad range of issues, from the highly philosophical to the purely practical, Born Digital will be essential reading for parents, teachers, and the myriad of confused adults who want to understand the digital present-and shape the digital future.
The Abacus and the Cross: The Story of the Pope Who Brought the Light of Science to the Dark Ages
by Nancy Marie BrownThe medieval Catholic Church, widely considered a source of intolerance and inquisitorial fervor, was not anti-science during the Dark Ages--in fact, the pope in the year 1000 was the leading mathematician and astronomer of his day. Called "The Scientist Pope,” Gerbert of Aurillac rose from peasant beginnings to lead the church. By turns a teacher, traitor, kingmaker, and visionary, Gerbert is the first Christian known to teach math using the nine Arabic numerals and zero. In The Abacus and the Cross, Nancy Marie Brown skillfully explores the new learning Gerbert brought to Europe. A fascinating narrative of one remarkable math teacher, The Abacus and the Cross will captivate readers of history, science, and religion alike.
The Secret Lives of Boys: Inside the Raw Emotional World of Male Teens
by Malina SavalTeenage boys have come a long way since the staid 1980s when they were all lumped into the Breakfast Club categories of Brains, Druggies, and Jocks. <P><P> Crisscrossing the country--meeting with boys from different cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds--journalist Malina Saval introduces readers to the next generation of male teens by creating new archetypes and redrawing the ever-expanding social map. <P>The Secret Lives of Boys offers an uncensored look into boyhood that reveals the spine-tingling confessions, heartrending sadness and isolation, unbridled optimism, and seemingly boundless resilience of male teens today. Saval asks the pertinent questions: Who are these boys? What do they think of themselves? A compelling and candid look at male adolescence in the twenty-first century, The Secret Lives of Boys uncovers what our young people want you to know.
A History of Iran: Empire of the Mind
by Michael AxworthyIran is a land of contradictions. It is an Islamic republic, but one in which only 1.4 percent of the population attend Friday prayers. Iran's religious culture encompasses the most censorious and dogmatic Shi'a Muslim clerics in the world, yet its poetry insistently dwells on the joys of life: wine, beauty, sex. Iranian women are subject to one of the most restrictive dress codes in the Islamic world, but make up nearly 60 percent of the student population of the nation's universities. In A History of Iran, acclaimed historian Michael Axworthy chronicles the rich history of this complex nation from the Achaemenid Empire of sixth century B.C. to the present-day Islamic Republic. In engaging prose, this revised edition explains the military, political, religious, and cultural forces that have shaped one of the oldest continuing civilizations in the world, bringing us up modern times. Concluding with an assessment of the immense changes the nation has undergone since the revolution in 1979, including a close look at Iran's ongoing attempts to become a nuclear power, A History of Iran offers general readers an essential guide to understanding this volatile nation, which is once again at the center of the world's attention.
Learning From the Octopus: How Secrets from Nature Can Help Us Fight Terrorist Attacks, Natural Disasters, and Disease
by Rafe SagarinDespite the billions of dollars we've poured into foreign wars, homeland security, and disaster response, we are fundamentally no better prepared for the next terrorist attack or unprecedented flood than we were in 2001. Our response to catastrophe remains unchanged: add another step to airport security, another meter to the levee wall. This approach has proved totally ineffective: reacting to past threats and trying to predict future risks will only waste resources in our increasingly unpredictable world. In Learning from the Octopus, ecologist and security expert Rafe Sagarin rethinks the seemingly intractable problem of security by drawing inspiration from a surprising source: nature. Biological organisms have been living--and thriving--on a risk-filled planet for billions of years. Remarkably, they have done it without planning, predicting, or trying to perfect their responses to complex threats. Rather, they simply adapt to solve the challenges they continually face. Military leaders, public health officials, and business professionals would all like to be more adaptable, but few have figured out how. Sagarinargues that we can learn from observing how nature is organized, how organisms learn, how they create partnerships, and how life continually diversifies on this unpredictable planet. As soon as we dip our toes into a cold Pacific tidepool and watch what we thought was a rock turn into an octopus, jetting away in a cloud of ink, we can begin to see the how human adaptability can mimic natural adaptation. The same mechanisms that enabled the octopus's escape also allow our immune system to ward off new infectious diseases, helped soldiers in Iraq to recognize the threat of IEDs, and aided Google in developing faster ways to detect flu outbreaks. While we will never be able to predict the next earthquake, terrorist attack, or market fluctuation, nature can guide us in developing security systems that are not purely reactive but proactive, holistic, and adaptable. From the tidepools of Monterey to the mountains of Kazakhstan, Sagarin takes us on an eye-opening tour of the security challenges we face, and shows us how we might learn to respond more effectively to the unknown threats lurking in our future.
The Folly of Fools: The Logic of Deceit and Self-Deception in Human Life
by Robert TriversWhy did intellect and language evolve to include lies and self- deception? Trivers (anthropology and biological sciences, Rutgers U. ) presents a general theory based on evolutionary logic to answer this intriguing question. He argues that deception, which occurs even between our brain hemispheres, is closely tied to group conflict, courtship, neurophysiology and immunology, but can be overridden by awareness of it and its consequences. The accessible book is based on extensive reference material, and bears an endorsement by Richard Dawkins (The Selfish Gene). Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
Darwin's Devices: What Evolving Robots Can Teach Us About the History of Life and the Future of Technology
by John LongWhat happens when we let robots play the game of life? The challenge of studying evolution is that the history of life is buried in the past--we can't witness the dramatic events that shaped the adaptations we see today. But biorobotics expert John Long has found an ingenious way to overcome this problem: he creates robots that look and behave like extinct animals, subjects them to evolutionary pressures, lets them compete for mates and resources, and mutates their 'genes'. In short, he lets robots play the game of life. In Darwin's Devices, Long tells the story of these evolving biorobots--how they came to be, and what they can teach us about the biology of living and extinct species. Evolving biorobots can replicate creatures that disappeared from the earth long ago, showing us in real time what happens in the face of unexpected environmental challenges. Biomechanically correct models of backbones functioning as part of an autonomous robot, for example, can help us understand why the first vertebrates evolved them. But the most impressive feature of these robots, as Long shows, is their ability to illustrate the power of evolution to solve difficult technological challenges autonomously--without human input regarding what a workable solution might be. Even a simple robot can create complex behavior, often learning or evolving greater intelligence than humans could possibly program. This remarkable idea could forever alter the face of engineering, design, and even warfare. An amazing tour through the workings of a fertile mind, Darwin's Devices will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about evolution, robot intelligence, and life itself.
Conspirator: Lenin in Exile
by Helen RappaportThe father of Communist Russia, Vladimir Ilych Lenin now seems to have emerged fully formed in the turbulent wake ofWorldWar I and the Russian Revolution. But Lenin’s character was in fact forged much earlier, over the course of years spent in exile, constantly on the move, and in disguise. In Conspirator, Russian historian Helen Rappaport narrates the compelling story of Lenin’s life and political activities in the years leading up to the revolution. As he scuttled between the glittering capital cities of Europe--from London and Munich to Vienna and Prague--Lenin found support among fellow émigrés and revolutionaries in the underground movement. He came to lead a ring of conspirators, many of whom would give their lives in service to his schemes. A riveting account of Lenin’s little-known early life, Conspirator tracks in gripping detail the formation of one of the great revolutionaries of the twentieth century.
The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education
by Diane RavitchA passionate plea to preserve and renew public education, The Death and Life of the Great American School System is a radical change of heart from one of America’s best-known education experts. Diane Ravitch—former assistant secretary of education and a leader in the drive to create a national curriculum—examines her career in education reform and repudiates positions that she once staunchly advocated. Drawing on over forty years of research and experience, Ravitch critiques today’s most popular ideas for restructuring schools, including privatization, standardized testing, punitive accountability, and the feckless multiplication of charter schools. She shows conclusively why the business model is not an appropriate way to improve schools. Using examples from major cities like New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, and San Diego, Ravitch makes the case that public education today is in peril. Ravitch includes clear prescriptions for improving America’s schools:leave decisions about schools to educators, not politicians or businessmendevise a truly national curriculum that sets out what children in every grade should be learningexpect charter schools to educate the kids who need help the most, not to compete with public schoolspay teachers a fair wage for their work, not “merit pay” based on deeply flawed and unreliable test scoresencourage family involvement in education from an early ageThe Death and Life of the Great American School System is more than just an analysis of the state of play of the American education system. It is a must-read for any stakeholder in the future of American schooling.