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Metacognition, Self-Regulation and Writing: Theoretical Perspectives and Leads for Sustaining Students' Writing
by Dyanne EscorciaStudents' difficulties in producing texts that meet the requirements of academic writing are a recurring concern for teaching staff and those responsible for university courses. Various initiatives are currently being taken, mainly at undergraduate level, to help students improve the quality of their writing. Research into metacognitive processes and the self-regulation of learning can be used to support the design of these writing support systems, particularly by providing a better understanding of the students' difficulties. This book reviews the concepts of metacognition and self-regulation in relation to writing processes. It analyses the metacognitive components involved in text production, their links with successful writing and their individual and contextual determinants. It completes this analysis by drawing on the teaching and assessment of writing in higher education. All of these elements are articulated around a multifactorial modeling of the learning and teaching of academic writing.
Ideas for a Pure Phenomenology and Phenomenological Philosophy: First Book: General Introduction to Pure Phenomenology (Hackett Classics)
by Edmund HusserlHusserl's Ideas is one of the most important works of twentieth-century philosophy, offering a detailed introduction to the phenomenological method, including the reduction, and outlining the overall scope of phenomenological philosophy. Husserl's explorations of the a priori structures of intentionality, consciousness, perceptual experience, evidence and rationality continue to challenge contemporary philosophy of mind. Dan Dahlstrom's accurate and faithful translation, written in pellucid prose and in a fluid, modern idiom, brings this classic work to life for a new generation. --Dermot Moran, University College, Dublin
Newbie Fairy (Oona Bramblegoop's Sideways Magic #1)
by Kate KorshIn this hilarious, highly illustrated new chapter book series - in pink! - lovable newbie fairy Oona has big ideas, only her magic always seems to go a little wonky. But she won&’t let that stop her!Oona Bramblegoop is a Newbie fairy, and she&’s determined to do big things, especially if they can impress her idol, the Tooth Fairy. There&’s just one problem: Oona&’s magic never goes quite how she planned.Oona&’s protection spells work great, but only if you don&’t mind getting a wedgie from a pair of magical underwear. And don&’t even mention the smell disaster that resulted from her first fire spell . . . yikes!Good thing Oona is creative, and she never gives up, no matter how surprising her magic gets.Packed with Fun Fairy Facts, humor, and lots of heart, this magical series celebrates finding friendship and your place in the world, even if you fit in a little sideways.
Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout
by Cal NewportA New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and IndieBound bestseller"Brilliant and timely" — Oliver Burkeman~ Do Fewer Things. Work at a Natural Pace. Obsess over Quality. ~ From the New York Times bestselling author of Digital Minimalism and Deep Work, a groundbreaking philosophy for pursuing meaningful accomplishment while avoiding overloadOur current definition of &“productivity&” is broken. It pushes us to treat busyness as a proxy for useful effort, leading to impossibly lengthy task lists and ceaseless meetings. We&’re overwhelmed by all we have to do and on the edge of burnout, left to decide between giving into soul-sapping hustle culture or rejecting ambition altogether. But are these really our only choices?Long before the arrival of pinging inboxes and clogged schedules, history&’s most creative and impactful philosophers, scientists, artists, and writers mastered the art of producing valuable work with staying power. In this timely and provocative book, Cal Newport harnesses the wisdom of these traditional knowledge workers to radically transform our modern jobs. Drawing from deep research on the habits and mindsets of a varied cast of storied thinkers – from Galileo and Isaac Newton, to Jane Austen and Georgia O&’Keefe – Newport lays out the key principles of &“slow productivity,&” a more sustainable alternative to the aimless overwhelm that defines our current moment. Combining cultural criticism with systematic pragmatism, Newport deconstructs the absurdities inherent in standard notions of productivity, and then provides step-by-step advice for cultivating a slower, more humane alternative.From the aggressive rethinking of workload management, to introducing seasonal variation, to shifting your performance toward long-term quality, Slow Productivity provides a roadmap for escaping overload and arriving instead at a more timeless approach to pursuing meaningful accomplishment. The world of work is due for a new revolution. Slow productivity is exactly what we need.
George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution
by Brian Kilmeade Don Yaeger*Now with a new afterword containing never-before-seen research on the identity of the spy ring’s most secret member, Agent 355“This is my kind of history book. Get ready. Here’s the action.” —BRAD MELTZER, bestselling author of The Fifth Assassin and host of DecodedWhen George Washington beat a hasty retreat from New York City in August 1776, many thought the American Revolution might soon be over. Instead, Washington rallied—thanks in large part to a little-known, top-secret group called the Culper Spy Ring. He realized that he couldn’t defeat the British with military might, so he recruited a sophisticated and deeply secretive intelligence network to infiltrate New York.Drawing on extensive research, Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger have offered fascinating portraits of these spies: a reserved Quaker merchant, a tavern keeper, a brash young longshoreman, a curmudgeonly Long Island bachelor, a coffeehouse owner, and a mysterious woman. Long unrecognized, the secret six are finally receiving their due among the pantheon of American heroes.
A Very Private School: A Memoir
by Charles SpencerINTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER &“A tour de force.&” —The Washington Post In this poignant memoir, Charles Spencer recounts the trauma of being sent away from home at age eight to attend boarding school.A Very Private School offers a clear-eyed, first-hand account of a culture of cruelty at the school Charles Spencer attended in his youth and provides important insights into an antiquated boarding system. Drawing on the memories of many of his schoolboy contemporaries, as well as his own letters and diaries from the time, he reflects on the hopelessness and abandonment he felt at aged eight, viscerally describing the intense pain of homesickness and the appalling inescapability of it all. Exploring the long-lasting impact of his experiences, Spencer presents a candid reckoning with his past and a reclamation of his childhood.
Everest, Inc.: The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top of the World
by Will CockrellFeaturing original interviews with mountain guides and climbers—including Jimmy Chin and Conrad Anker—this vivid and authoritative adventure history chronicles one of the least likely industries on Earth: guided climbing on Mount Everest.Anyone who has read Jon Krakauer&’s Into Thin Air or has seen a recent photo of climbers standing in line to get to the top of Everest may think they have the mountain pretty well figured out. It&’s an extreme landscape where bad weather and incredible altitude can occasionally kill, but more so an overcrowded, trashed-out recreation destination where rich clients pad their egos—and social media feeds—while exploiting local Sherpas. There&’s some truth to these clichés, but they&’re a sliver of the story. Unlike any book to date, Everest, Inc. gets to the heart of the mountain through the definitive story of its greatest invention: the Himalayan guiding industry. It all began in the 1980s with a few boot-strapping entrepreneurs who paired raw courage and naked ambition with a new style of expedition planning. Many of them are still living and climbing today, and as a result of their astonishing success, ninety percent of the people now on Everest are clients or employees of guided expeditions. Studded with quotes from original interviews with more than a hundred western and Sherpa climbers, clients, writers, filmmakers, and even a Hollywood actor, Everest, Inc. foregrounds the voices of the people who have made the mountain what it is today. And while there is plenty of high-altitude drama in unpacking the last forty years of Everest tragedy and triumph, it ultimately transcends stereotypes and tells the uplifting counternarrative of the army of journeymen and women who have made people&’s dreams come true, and of the Nepalis who are pushing the industry into the future.
Sharing Too Much: Musings from an Unlikely Life
by Richard Paul EvansThe #1 New York Times bestselling author and &“king of Christmas fiction&” (The New York Times) delivers a charming and inspirational collection of personal essays.Before he was the #1 New York Times bestselling author of holiday classics such as The Christmas Box, Richard Paul Evans was a young boy being raised by a suicidal mother and dealing with relentless bullying. He could not fathom what the future held for him. Now, in this intimate and heartfelt collection of personal essays, Evans shares his moving journey from childhood to beloved author. With his signature &“seasoned finesse&” (Booklist), he offers the insightful lessons he&’s learned and engaging advice about everything from marriage to parenthood and even facing near-death experiences. This is a charming essay collection that is the perfect gift all year round.
Emma of 83rd Street (For the Love of Austen #1)
by Audrey Bellezza Emily HardingIn this witty and romantic debut novel, Jane Austen&’s Emma meets the misadventures of Manhattan&’s modern dating scene as two lifelong friends discover that, in the search for love, you sometimes don&’t have to look any further than your own backyard.Beautiful, clever, and rich, Emma Woodhouse has lived twenty-three years in her tight-knit Upper East Side neighborhood with very little to distress or vex her…that is, until her budding matchmaking hobby results in her sister&’s marriage—and subsequent move downtown. Now, with her sister gone and all her friends traveling abroad, Emma must start her final year of grad school grappling with an entirely new emotion: boredom. So when she meets Nadine, a wide-eyed Ohio transplant with a heart of gold and drugstore blonde highlights to match, Emma not only sees a potential new friend but a new project. If only her overbearing neighbor George Knightley would get out of her way. Handsome, smart, and successful, the only thing that frustrates Knightley more than a corked whiskey is his childhood friend, Emma. Whether it&’s her shopping sprees between classes or her revolving door of ill-conceived hobbies, he is only too happy to lecture her on all the finer points of adulthood she&’s so hell-bent on ignoring. But despite his gripes—and much to his own chagrin—Knightley can&’t help but notice that the girl next door is a woman now…one who he suddenly can&’t get out of his head. As Emma&’s best laid plans collide with everyone from hipster baristas to meddling family members to flaky playboy millionaires, these two friends slowly realize their need to always be right has been usurped by a new need entirely, and it&’s not long before they discover that even the most familiar stories still have some surprises.
Deep Water
by Emma BamfordThe dark side of paradise is exposed when a terrified couple reveals their daunting experience on a remote island to their rescuers—only to realize they&’re still in the grips of the island&’s secrets—in this intense and startling debut in the tradition of Into the Jungle and The Ruins. When a Navy vessel comes across a yacht in distress in the middle of the vast Indian Ocean, Captain Danial Tengku orders his ship to rush to its aid. On board the yacht is a British couple: a horribly injured man, Jake, and his traumatized wife, Virginie, who breathlessly confesses, &“It&’s all my fault. I killed them.&” Trembling with fear, she reveals their shocking story to Danial. Months earlier, the couple had spent all their savings on a yacht, full of excitement for exploring the high seas and exotic lands together. They start at the busy harbors of Malaysia and, through word of mouth, Jake and Virginie learn about a tiny, isolated island full of unspoiled beaches. When they arrive, they discover they are not the only visitors and quickly become entangled with a motley crew of expat sailors. Soon, Jake and Virginie&’s adventurous dream turns into a terrifying nightmare. Now, it&’s up to Danial to determine just how much truth there is in Virginie&’s alarming tale. But when his crew make a shocking discovery, he realizes that if he doesn&’t act soon, they could all fall under the dark spell of the island.
Strange Sally Diamond
by Liz Nugent&“Shocking, disturbing, and utterly original.&” —Paula Hawkins, #1 New York Times bestselling author This &“haunting and poignant tale, one that won&’t be easy to forget any time soon&” (Mystery and Suspense Magazine), follows an enigmatic woman confronting her unknown past—from internationally bestselling author Liz Nugent.Reclusive Sally Diamond is thrust into the media spotlight when she tries to incinerate her dead father, causing widespread outrage. Now she&’s the center of attention, not only from hungry reporters and police detectives, but also a sinister voice from a past she does not remember. As she begins to discover the repressed memories of her horrific early childhood, Sally steps into the world for the first time, making new friends, big decisions, and learning that people don&’t always mean what they say. But who is the man observing Sally from the other side of the world, and why does he call her Mary? And why does her new neighbor seem to be obsessed with her? Sally&’s trust issues are about to be severely challenged in this &“truly incredible reading experience&” (Lisa Jewell, #1 New York Times bestselling author).
We Never Die: Secrets of the Afterlife
by Matt FraserFrom America&’s top psychic medium and the author of When Heaven Calls comes a new book that unveils the secrets of the afterlife, the truth about heaven, and inspires &“us with his comforting certainty that we never die&” (Gloria Estefan).Psychic medium Matt Fraser, author of When Heaven Calls, is back to unpack the number one question folks ask him: &“What happens after death?&” Although we might expect a complicated answer, it&’s actually pretty simple: We never die! Drawing from thousands of conversations with Spirit, Matt pulls back the curtain on life&’s hidden revelations: -What happens when we cross over -The beautiful realities of heaven and eternal life -The guardian angels who keep us safe on Earth (including our pets who have passed) -The role of dreams and how souls appear to the living -Love, romance, and soul mates beyond life -Ghosts, hauntings, negative souls, energy vampires, and psychic protection -Destiny, free will, and second chances -Regrets, amends, and forgiveness from heaven -Figuring out your gifts and purpose -Karma, kindness, and living in the divine flow -How to recognize the signs and messages our loved ones send us from heaven As Matt explains, &“We all have our own &‘phone line&’ to communicate with heaven. All we have to do is figure out how to use it.&” Revealed through never-before-told stories, the wisdom in We Never Die &“is healing the world by making sure we have a strong emotional and spiritual connection, which is the foundation for a healthy life&” (Karamo Brown, star of Queer Eye and author and author of Karamo).
Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class
by Rob HendersonA NATIONAL BESTSELLER In this raw coming-of-age memoir, in the vein of The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace, The Other Wes Moore, and Someone Has Led This Child to Believe, Rob Henderson vividly recounts growing up in foster care, enlisting in the US Air Force, attending elite universities, and pioneering the concept of &“luxury beliefs&”—ideas and opinions that confer status on the upper class while inflicting costs on the less fortunate.Rob Henderson was born to a drug-addicted mother and a father he never met, ultimately shuttling between ten different foster homes in California. When he was adopted into a loving family, he hoped that life would finally be stable and safe. Divorce, tragedy, poverty, and violence marked his adolescent and teen years, propelling Henderson to join the military upon completing high school. An unflinching portrait of shattered families, desperation, and determination, Troubled recounts Henderson&’s expectation-defying young life and juxtaposes his story with those of his friends who wound up incarcerated or killed. He retreads the steps and missteps he took to escape the drama and disorder of his youth. As he navigates the peaks and valleys of social class, Henderson finds that he remains on the outside looking in. His greatest achievements—a military career, an undergraduate education from Yale, a PhD from Cambridge—feel like hollow measures of success. He argues that stability at home is more important than external accomplishments, and he illustrates the ways the most privileged among us benefit from a set of social standards that actively harm the most vulnerable.
The Gardening Book: An Accessible Guide to Growing Houseplants, Flowers, and Vegetables for Your Ideal Garden
by Monty DonA fresh approach to gardening by bestselling author and England&’s favorite gardener Monty Don.&“Think of your garden like a meal. When you select a recipe, you&’re choosing it based on inclination, experience and circumstance. Making a garden, big or small, uses exactly the same process.&”If you are new to gardening, it can seem daunting—with Latin names, various soil types and seasonal requirements, it feels like a lot to learn. But with Monty Don&’s new book as a guide you will discover just how joyful and rewarding gardening can be.Whether you want to grow your own vegetables, create a child-friendly garden, connect with nature, or make the most of houseplants, Monty will help you unlock your space&’s potential, showing you what, where and when to plant. The Gardening Book gives you the basics to grow over 100 popular flowers, foods, shrubs, houseplants and more—each one has a clear, concise, format: what you need, timing, method, and step-by-step photos, all on one spread. It&’s a refreshingly accessible approach that will help you build a garden which best serves your needs and enhances your lifestyle.
In the World, But Not of It: Transforming Everyday Experience into a Spiritual Path
by David R. HawkinsSpiritual teacher Dr. David R. Hawkins offers practical advice for readers to reach advanced states of consciousness in their everyday lives, so that they can enjoy being in the world, but not of it.It seems the further the world advances the harder it becomes to lead a life that is centered in love, grace, and compassion. That is, until now . . .In this book, based on the popular audio program of the same name, Dr. Hawkins shares his timeless insights on why certain spiritual experiences only provide temporary enlightenment. In the process, he explains how to turn normal activities into your spiritual practice.Readers will learn:· How to help raise the consciousness of the world· Why being accountable for choices and actions is central to one's spiritual evolution· How to make sure that you&’re taking responsibility for your life and choices· What to embrace—and what to avoid—in our technologically advanced world· How to avoid getting overly stressed by change· And much moreThis extraordinary program captures Dr. Hawkins&’s startling brilliance, infectious humor, and deep understanding of walking the awakened path as a citizen of the world.
The Beggar Maid: Stories of Flo and Rose (Vintage International)
by Alice Munro&“An exhilarating collection&” (The New York Times Book Review) of ten blended stories from Nobel Prize–winning author Alice Munro &“The rich texture of its narrative and the author&’s graceful style make [The Beggar Maid] a considerable accomplishment.&”—Joyce Carol Oates, Ms. In this vibrant series of interweaving stories, Alice Munro recreates the evolving bond—one that is both constricting and empowering—between two women in the course of almost forty years. One is Flo, practical, suspicious of other people&’s airs, at times dismayingly vulgar. The other is Rose, Flo&’s stepdaughter, a clumsy, shy girl who somehow—in spite of Flo&’s ridicule and ghastly warnings—leaves the small town she grew up in to achieve her own equivocal success in the larger world.
Dance of the Happy Shades: And Other Stories (Vintage International)
by Alice MunroFifteen stunning short stories from Nobel Prize–winning author Alice Munro, &“a true master of the form&” (Salman Rushdie). &“How does one know when one is in the grip of art—of a major talent? . . . It is art that speaks from the pages of Alice Munro&’s stories.&”—The Wall Street Journal A young girl gets an unexpected glimpse into her father&’s past when she realizes the sales call they&’ve made one summer afternoon during the Great Depression is to his old sweetheart. A married woman, returning home after the death of her invalid mother, tries to release the sister who&’d stayed behind as their mother&’s caretaker. The audience at a children&’s piano recital receives a surprising lesson in the power of art to transform when a not-quite-right student performs with unexpected musicality and a spirit of joy. In Dance of the Happy Shades, Alice Munro conjures ordinary lives with an extraordinary vision, displaying the remarkable talent for which she is now widely celebrated. Set on farms, by river marshes, in the lonely towns and new suburbs of western Ontario, these tales are luminous acts of attention to those vivid moments when revelation emerges from the layers of experience that lie behind even the most everyday events and lives.
Walking on Eggshells: Navigating the Delicate Relationship Between Adult Children and Parents (Thorndike Health, Home And Learning Ser.)
by Jane IsayThe perfect gift for both parents and their adult children—&”a wonderfully wise and constructive intergenerational guide&” that will keep you connected to the people you love most. &“Read it and learn.&”—New York Times bestselling author Judith Viorst We raise our children to be independent and lead fulfilling lives, but when they finally do, staying close becomes more complicated than ever. And for every bewildered mother who wonders why her children don&’t call, there is a frustrated son or daughter who just wants to be treated like a grownup. Now, renowned author and editor Jane Isay delivers real-life wisdom and advice on how to stay together without falling apart. Using extensive interviews with people from ages twenty-five to seventy, Isay shows that we&’re far from alone in our struggles to make this new, adult relationship work. She offers up groundbreaking insights and deeply moving stories that will inspire those in even the toughest situations. Isay&’s warmth and wit shine through on every page as she charts an invaluable course through the confusing, and often painful, interactions parents and children can face. Walking on Eggshells is the much-needed road map that will keep you connected to the people you love most.
Friend of My Youth: Stories (Vintage International)
by Alice MunroA &“wickedly funny&” (Newsweek) collection of ten short stories from Nobel Prize–winning author Alice Munro, &“one of the most eloquent and gifted writers of contemporary fiction&” (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times). &“Each of her collections demonstrates such linguistic skill, delicacy of vision, and . . . moral strength and clarity.&”—Chicago Tribune A woman haunted by dreams of her dead mother. An adulterous couple stepping over the line where the initial excitement ends and the pain begins. A widow visiting a Scottish village in search of her husband&’s past—and instead discovering unsetting truths about a total stranger. The miraculously accomplished stories in this collection not only astonish and delight, but also convey the unspoken mysteries at the heart of all human experience. The mastery—the almost numinous ability to say the unsayable—makes Friend of My Youth a genuine literary event.
'Salem's Lot
by Stephen King#1 BESTSELLER • Soon to be a new major motion picture • Ben Mears has returned to Jerusalem&’s Lot in hopes that exploring the history of the Marsten House, an old mansion long the subject of rumor and speculation, will help him cast out his personal devils and provide inspiration for his new book. "A master storyteller." —The Los Angeles TimesWhen two young boys venture into the woods, and only one returns alive, Mears begins to realize that something sinister is at work. In fact, his hometown is under siege from forces of darkness far beyond his imagination. And only he, with a small group of allies, can hope to contain the evil that is growing within the borders of this small New England town.With this, his second novel, Stephen King established himself as an indisputable master of American horror, able to transform the old conceits of the genre into something fresh and all the more frightening for taking place in a familiar, idyllic locale.
My Life in Recipes: Food, Family, and Memories: A Cookbook
by Joan NathanA new cookbook from the best-selling and award-winning author that uses recipes to look back at her life and family history—and at her personal journey discovering Jewish cuisine from around the world"There is no greater authority on Jewish cooking than Joan Nathan." —Michael Solomonov, James Beard award-winning chef and author of ZahavBefore hummus was available in every grocery store—before shakshuka was a dish on every brunch menu—Joan Nathan taught home cooks how and why they should make these now-beloved staples themselves. Here, in her most personal book yet, the beloved authority on global Jewish cuisine uses recipes to look back at her own family&’s history— their arrival in America from Germany; her childhood in postwar New York and Rhode Island; her years in Paris, New York, Israel, and Washington, DC. Nathan shares her story—of marriage, motherhood, and a career as a food writer; of a life well-lived and centered around meals—and she punctuates it with all the foods she has come to love.With over 100 recipes from roast chicken to rugelach, from matzoh ball soup to challah and brisket, here are updated versions of her favorites. But here too are new favorites: Salmon with Preserved Lemon and Za&’atar; Fragrant Spiced Chicken with Rice, Eggplant, Peppers, and Zucchini; Mahammar (a Syrian pepper, pomegranate and walnut dip); Moroccan Chicken with Almonds, Cinnamon and Couscous; Joan&’s version of the perfect Black and White Cookies.This is a treasury of recipes and stories—and an invitation to a seat at Nathan's table.
The Universe Always Has a Plan: The 10 Golden Rules of Letting Go
by Matt KahnGifted spiritual teacher and intuitive Matt Kahn guides readers on their spiritual path with 10 Golden Rules to help unlock emotional freedom.Do you feel an insatiable drive to fulfill a mission greater than yourself? To be reacquainted with a long-lost desire to follow the excitement of passion, inspiration, and playfulness? Have you reached a turning point in your reality?In this powerful work, spiritual teacher and intuitive Matt Kahn explores the 10 Golden Rules for emotional freedom-divinely curated and practical to the demands of everyday life. Infused into each rule is Matt's loving, heart-centered perspective, to help guide you through your own profound spiritual transformation.By overcoming self-sabotage, hardship, and anger, you will find true liberation and the infinite current of unconditional love that nourishes your heart. Matt's energetically encoded mantras and exercises will enable you to jumpstart your spiritual growth and access deeper levels of ease, freedom, and joy. Unlock the Universe's plan for you and the milestones that will become the personal testimony of your life on this Earth.
The Rhythm of Thought: Art, Literature, and Music after Merleau-Ponty
by Jessica WiskusBetween present and past, visible and invisible, and sensation and idea, there is resonance—so philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty argued and so Jessica Wiskus explores in The Rhythm of Thought. Holding the poetry of Stéphane Mallarmé, the paintings of Paul Cézanne, the prose of Marcel Proust, and the music of Claude Debussy under Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenological light, she offers innovative interpretations of some of these artists’ masterworks, in turn articulating a new perspective on Merleau-Ponty’s philosophy. More than merely recovering Merleau-Ponty’s thought, Wiskus thinks according to it. First examining these artists in relation to noncoincidence—as silence in poetry, depth in painting, memory in literature, and rhythm in music—she moves through an array of their artworks toward some of Merleau-Ponty’s most exciting themes: our bodily relationship to the world and the dynamic process of expression. She closes with an examination of synesthesia as an intertwining of internal and external realms and a call, finally, for philosophical inquiry as a mode of artistic expression. Structured like a piece of music itself, The Rhythm of Thought offers new contexts in which to approach art, philosophy, and the resonance between them.
The Freudian Robot: Digital Media and the Future of the Unconscious
by Lydia H. LiuThe identity and role of writing has evolved in the age of digital media. But how did writing itself make digital media possible in the first place? Lydia H. Liu offers here the first rigorous study of the political history of digital writing and its fateful entanglement with the Freudian unconscious. Liu’s innovative analysis brings the work of theorists and writers back into conversation with one another to document significant meetings of minds and disciplines. She shows how the earlier avant-garde literary experiments with alphabetical writing and the word-association games of psychoanalysis contributed to the mathematical making of digital media. Such intellectual convergence, she argues, completed the transformation of alphabetical writing into the postphonetic, ideographic system of digital media, which not only altered the threshold of sense and nonsense in communication processes but also compelled a new understanding of human-machine interplay at the level of the unconscious. Ranging across information theory, cybernetics, modernism, literary theory, neurotic machines, and psychoanalysis, The Freudian Robot rewrites the history of digital media and the literary theory of the twentieth century.
Francesca Caccini at the Medici Court: Music and the Circulation of Power (Women In Culture And Society Ser.)
by Suzanne G. CusickA contemporary of Shakespeare and Monteverdi, and a colleague of Galileo and Artemisia Gentileschi at the Medici court, Francesca Caccini was a dominant musical figure there for thirty years. Dazzling listeners with the transformative power of her performances and the sparkling wit of the music she composed for more than a dozen court theatricals, Caccini is best remembered today as the first woman to have composed opera. Francesca Caccini at the Medici Court reveals for the first time how this multitalented composer established a fully professional musical career at a time when virtually no other women were able to achieve comparable success. Suzanne G. Cusick argues that Caccini’s career depended on the usefulness of her talents to the political agenda of Grand Duchess Christine de Lorraine, Tuscany’s de facto regent from 1606 to 1636. Drawing on Classical and feminist theory, Cusick shows how the music Caccini made for the Medici court sustained the culture that enabled Christine’s power, thereby also supporting the sexual and political aims of its women. In bringing Caccini’s surprising story so vividly to life, Cusick ultimately illuminates how music making functioned in early modern Italy as a significant medium for the circulation of power.