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The Testaments: A Novel
by Margaret AtwoodNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE • A modern masterpiece that "reminds us of the power of truth in the face of evil&” (People)—and can be read on its own or as a sequel to Margaret Atwood&’s classic, The Handmaid&’s Tale. &“Atwood&’s powers are on full display&” (Los Angeles Times) in this deeply compelling Booker Prize-winning novel, now updated with additional content that explores the historical sources, ideas, and material that inspired Atwood. More than fifteen years after the events of The Handmaid's Tale, the theocratic regime of the Republic of Gilead maintains its grip on power, but there are signs it is beginning to rot from within. At this crucial moment, the lives of three radically different women converge, with potentially explosive results. Two have grown up as part of the first generation to come of age in the new order. The testimonies of these two young women are joined by a third: Aunt Lydia. Her complex past and uncertain future unfold in surprising and pivotal ways. With The Testaments, Margaret Atwood opens up the innermost workings of Gilead, as each woman is forced to come to terms with who she is, and how far she will go for what she believes.
J. M. Coetzee and the Ethics of Reading: Literature in the Event
by Derek AttridgeNobel Prize-winning novelist J. M. Coetzee is one of the most widely taught contemporary writers, but also one of the most elusive. Many critics who have addressed his work have devoted themselves to rendering it more accessible and acceptable, often playing down the features that discomfort and perplex his readers. Yet it is just these features, Derek Attridge argues, that give Coetzee's work its haunting power and offer its greatest rewards. Attridge does justice to this power and these rewards in a study that serves as an introduction for readers new to Coetzee and a stimulus for thought for those who know his work well. Without overlooking the South African dimension of his fiction, Attridge treats Coetzee as a writer who raises questions of central importance to current debates both within literary studies and more widely in the ethical arena. Implicit throughout the book is Attridge's view that literature, more than philosophy, politics, or even religion, does singular justice to our ethical impulses and acts. Attridge follows Coetzee's lead in exploring a number of issues such as interpretation and literary judgment, responsibility to the other, trust and betrayal, artistic commitment, confession, and the problematic idea of truth to the self.
Nocturne: A Journey in Search of Moonlight
by James Attlee“Nobody who has not taken one can imagine the beauty of a walk through Rome by full moon,” wrote Goethe in 1787. Sadly, the imagination is all we have today: in Rome, as in every other modern city, moonlight has been banished, replaced by the twenty-four-hour glow of streetlights in a world that never sleeps. Moonlight, for most of us, is no more. So James Attlee set out to find it. Nocturne is the record of that journey, a traveler’s tale that takes readers on a dazzling nighttime trek that ranges across continents, from prehistory to the present, and through both the physical world and the realms of art and literature. Attlee attends a Buddhist full-moon ceremony in Japan, meets a moon jellyfish on a beach in Northern France, takes a moonlit hike in the Arizona desert, and experiences a lunar eclipse on New Year’s Eve atop the snowbound Welsh hills. Each locale is illuminated not just by the moonlight he seeks, but by the culture and history that define it. We learn about Mussolini’s pathological fear of moonlight; trace the connections between Caspar David Friedrich, Rudolf Hess, and the Apollo space mission; and meet the inventors of the Moonlight Collector in the American desert, who aim to cure all kinds of ailments with concentrated lunar rays. Svevo and Blake, Whistler and Hokusai, Li Po and Marinetti are all enlisted, as foils, friends, or fellow travelers, on Attlee’s journey. Pulled by the moon like the tide, Attlee is firmly in a tradition of wandering pilgrims that stretches from Basho to Sebald; like them, he presents our familiar world anew.
Pixel Flesh: How Toxic Beauty Culture Harms Women
by Ellen AtlantaA generation defining exposé of toxic beauty culture in our digital age and how it is harming women We are living in a new age of beauty. With advancements in cosmetic surgery, augmented reality face filters, photo editing apps, and exposure to more images than we were ever meant to see, we have the ability to craft ourselves in whichever way we please. We pinch, pull, squeeze, tweeze, smooth and slice ourselves beyond recognition. But is modern beauty culture truly empowering? Are we really in control?In every era there is a beauty ideal. Yet, today the pressure to attain and retain the perfect body is compounded by our addiction to sharing every angle of ourselves online. In an age of influencers and social media, modern beauty culture is all-consuming and it is hurting the lives of women around the world. From Love Island to lip filler, blackfishing to the beauty tax, Ellen Atlanta reconfigures our understanding of women's relationship with beauty culture to account for the digital age. Providing an eye-opening account of the realities young women face under a dominant industry, Pixel Flesh unmasks the absurdities of the dystopia we find ourselves living in. Both a rallying cry and a refusal to suffer in silence, this is a vital insight into what it feels like to exist as a woman in a digitally obsessed world.
Pixel Flesh: How Toxic Beauty Culture Harms Women
by Ellen AtlantaA generation defining exposé of toxic beauty culture in our digital age and how it is harming women We are living in a new age of beauty. With advancements in cosmetic surgery, augmented reality face filters, photo editing apps, and exposure to more images than we were ever meant to see, we have the ability to craft ourselves in whichever way we please. We pinch, pull, squeeze, tweeze, smooth and slice ourselves beyond recognition. But is modern beauty culture truly empowering? Are we really in control?In every era there is a beauty ideal. Yet, today the pressure to attain and retain the perfect body is compounded by our addiction to sharing every angle of ourselves online. In an age of influencers and social media, modern beauty culture is all-consuming and it is hurting the lives of women around the world. From Love Island to lip filler, blackfishing to the beauty tax, Ellen Atlanta reconfigures our understanding of women's relationship with beauty culture to account for the digital age. Providing an eye-opening account of the realities young women face under a dominant industry, Pixel Flesh unmasks the absurdities of the dystopia we find ourselves living in. Both a rallying cry and a refusal to suffer in silence, this is a vital insight into what it feels like to exist as a woman in a digitally obsessed world.
Technology Fears and Scapegoats: 40 Myths About Privacy, Jobs, AI, and Today’s Innovation Economy
by Robert D. Atkinson David MoschellaTechnologies and tech companies are routinely accused of creating many societal problems. This book exposes these charges as mostly myths, falsehoods, and exaggerations. Technology Fears and Scapegoats debunks 40 widespread myths about Big Tech, Big Data, AI, privacy, trust, polarization, automation, and similar fears, while exposing the scapegoating behind these complaints. The result is a balanced and positive view of the societal impact of technology thus far. The book takes readers through the steps and mindset necessary to restore the West’s belief in technological progress. Each individual chapter provides a cogent and often controversial rebuttal to a common tech accusation. The resulting text will inspire conversations among tech insiders, policymakers, and the general public alike.
The Existential Toolkit for Climate Justice Educators: How to Teach in a Burning World
by Jennifer Atkinson Sarah Jaquette RayAn easy-to-use field guide for teaching on climate injustice and building resilience in your students—and yourself—in an age of crisis. As feelings of eco-grief and climate anxiety grow, educators are grappling with how to help students learn about the violent systems causing climate change while simultaneously navigating the emotions this knowledge elicits. This book provides resources for developing emotional and existential tenacity in college classrooms so that students can stay engaged. Featuring insights from scholars, educators, activists, artists, game designers, and others who are integrating emotional wisdom into climate justice education, this user-friendly guide offers a robust menu of interdisciplinary, plug-and-play teaching strategies, lesson plans, and activities to support student transformation and build resilience. The book also includes reflections from students who have taken classes that incorporate their emotions in the curricula. Galvanizing and practical, The Existential Toolkit for Climate Justice Educators will equip both educators and their students with tools for advancing climate justice.
Atkins for Life: More Than 250 Recipes For Every Occasion
by Veronica Atkins Stephanie Nathanson The Atkins Kitchen"Controlling carbs works in virtually every situation, when you're having dinner with the family or hosting a dinner party, when you're in a hurry or spending the day creating delicacies in your kitchen. If you like to take shortcuts or you enjoy starting from scratch, if you mostly tinker in the kitchen on the weekends or cook every day, here are the recipes that suit your lifestyle."- Veronica AtkinsAtkins for Life took the nation by storm, proving that doing Atkins is not a "fad" - it's a healthy and satisfying way of eating that you can follow for a lifetime. With multiple weeks at the top of the New York Times bestseller list, Atkins for Life whet the appetites of millions of new and established Atkins followers, and had them clamoring for even more great-tasting recipes that complement the low-carb lifestyle. Enter Atkins for Life Low-Carb Cookbook. Whether you're an Atkins devotee or you're just beginning to explore the benefits of controlling carbs, this all-purpose cookbook has the solutions you need to cook and eat appropriately - and enjoyably every day, at every meal, whether you're feeding your family, throwing a sit-down dinner party, or just looking for a healthy between-meal snack!This invaluable book makes low-carb cooking easier than ever before. Illustrated with more than 80 full-color photographs, it includes 250 recipes for sumptuous dishes such as Pan-Seared Steak with Mustard Sauce, Clementine-Glazed Duck Breast, Ginger Ice Cream with Caramelized Pears, and more! There are also a slew of home-style favorites you may not have thought you could enjoy on Atkins, including Pork Stew with Hominy and Collards, Mini Meatballs and Spaghetti, Mexican Chicken Wrap, and Creamy Lemon Bars.Although many of these recipes are tailored to fit the Pre-Maintenance and Lifetime Maintenance phases of Atkins, more than half of them are also appropriate for the Induction and Ongoing Weight Loss plan. Inside you'll find:* More than 100 tips and sidebars including: Nuts About Nuts, Smart Snacks and Sides, and Spotlight on Ginger* Complete nutritional information for every recipe, including Net Carbs and suitable Atkins phases* Helpful ideas for choosing the highest-quality foods and avoiding those full of hidden sugars or dangerous added trans fats* Countless bits of wisdom to simplify cooking and preparation, plus important low-carb cooking techniquesThe wide range of recipes fills the bill for:* Speedy weeknight suppers in under 30 minutes* Budget and vegetarian options* Family-friendly fare for healthy eating at any age* Outdoor grilling and barbecuing* Snacks and bag lunches* Luscious desserts to satisfy a sweet tooth - all without sugar* Special-occasion and party menus, including: Thanksgiving, New Year's, Super Bowl Sunday, Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, and more! Now you don't have to give up your favorite dishes to control your carbs - you can simply make them the Atkins way.
Advanced Deep Learning with Keras: Apply deep learning techniques, autoencoders, GANs, variational autoencoders, deep reinforcement learning, policy gradients, and more
by Rowel AtienzaUnderstanding and coding advanced deep learning algorithms with the most intuitive deep learning library in existenceKey FeaturesExplore the most advanced deep learning techniques that drive modern AI resultsImplement deep neural networks, autoencoders, GANs, VAEs, and deep reinforcement learningA wide study of GANs, including Improved GANs, Cross-Domain GANs, and Disentangled Representation GANsBook DescriptionRecent developments in deep learning, including Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), Variational Autoencoders (VAEs), and Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) are creating impressive AI results in our news headlines - such as AlphaGo Zero beating world chess champions, and generative AI that can create art paintings that sell for over $400k because they are so human-like. Advanced Deep Learning with Keras is a comprehensive guide to the advanced deep learning techniques available today, so you can create your own cutting-edge AI. Using Keras as an open-source deep learning library, you'll find hands-on projects throughout that show you how to create more effective AI with the latest techniques. The journey begins with an overview of MLPs, CNNs, and RNNs, which are the building blocks for the more advanced techniques in the book. You’ll learn how to implement deep learning models with Keras and TensorFlow 1.x, and move forwards to advanced techniques, as you explore deep neural network architectures, including ResNet and DenseNet, and how to create autoencoders. You then learn all about GANs, and how they can open new levels of AI performance. Next, you’ll get up to speed with how VAEs are implemented, and you’ll see how GANs and VAEs have the generative power to synthesize data that can be extremely convincing to humans - a major stride forward for modern AI. To complete this set of advanced techniques, you'll learn how to implement DRL such as Deep Q-Learning and Policy Gradient Methods, which are critical to many modern results in AI.What you will learnCutting-edge techniques in human-like AI performanceImplement advanced deep learning models using KerasThe building blocks for advanced techniques - MLPs, CNNs, and RNNsDeep neural networks – ResNet and DenseNetAutoencoders and Variational Autoencoders (VAEs)Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and creative AI techniquesDisentangled Representation GANs, and Cross-Domain GANsDeep reinforcement learning methods and implementationProduce industry-standard applications using OpenAI GymDeep Q-Learning and Policy Gradient MethodsWho this book is forSome fluency with Python is assumed. As an advanced book, you'll be familiar with some machine learning approaches, and some practical experience with DL will be helpful. Knowledge of Keras or TensorFlow 1.x is not required but would be helpful.
Interactive Group Work
by Jane E. Atieno Okech Deborah J. Rubel William B. KlineA comprehensive and efficient guide for both novice and experienced group leaders, Interactive Group Work helps group leaders to create the conditions across group types and settings that enable group members to support one another. From group work principles to theories and procedures, this text focuses on group counseling and therapy and explores the shared foundations with psychoeducational and task groups. Through in-depth explanations and real-world examples, it illustrates how groups work and builds knowledge of how to create successful group environments—places where group members interact, grow, change, and achieve their goals. This book goes in depth on how to set the stage for group work and enhance the experience for leaders and clients. A supplemental Instructor’s Manual of test questions is available by request from ACA. Requests for digital versions from ACA can be found here. To purchase print copies, please visit the ACA website here Reproduction requests for material from books published by ACA should be directed to permissions@counseling.org
Accountable and Explainable Methods for Complex Reasoning over Text
by Pepa AtanasovaThis thesis presents research that expands the collective knowledge in the areas of accountability and transparency of machine learning (ML) models developed for complex reasoning tasks over text. In particular, the presented results facilitate the analysis of the reasons behind the outputs of ML models and assist in detecting and correcting for potential harms. It presents two new methods for accountable ML models; advances the state of the art with methods generating textual explanations that are further improved to be fluent, easy to read, and to contain logically connected multi-chain arguments; and makes substantial contributions in the area of diagnostics for explainability approaches. All results are empirically tested on complex reasoning tasks over text, including fact checking, question answering, and natural language inference. This book is a revised version of the PhD dissertation written by the author to receive her PhD from the Faculty of Science, University ofCopenhagen, Denmark. In 2023, it won the Informatics Europe Best Dissertation Award, granted to the most outstanding European PhD thesis in the field of computer science.
Handbook on Radiation Environment, Volume 1: Sources, Applications and Policies
by Dinesh Kumar AswalThis handbook provides a comprehensive review of radiation present in the environment, its sources, dose measurement techniques, exposures in natural and man-made radiation environments, policies governing radiation safety, societal applications of radiation technology, radiological and nuclear events, preparedness, response, and mitigation of radiation emergencies. It covers natural and man-made radiation environment with an emphasis on renewed interest in nuclear energy as a clean and green source of power generation. Additionally, it reviews various approaches to understand the fate and behaviour of radionuclides in the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. It also presents nuclear technology's diverse applications, from diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine to materials modifications and sustainable waste management strategies and the role of ionizing radiation in ensuring food security and safety. The handbook also highlights the existing (internationally adopted) radiation protection policies, which are originated from linear-no-threshold (LNT) model of dose-response characteristics. The scientific basis of LNT-model and its limitations at low doses prompts a revision of the exiting radiation protection policies for better utilization of the benefits of ionizing radiation. The handbook serves as a comprehensive resource for students, academicians, scientists, engineers, and policymakers interested in seeking an in-depth knowledge of radiation and the multifaceted applications of radiation technology while protecting human health and the environment.
The Ethnographic Optic: Jean Rouch, Chris Marker, Alain Resnais, and the Turn Inward in 1960s French Cinema (New Directions in National Cinemas)
by Laure AstourianThe Ethnographic Optic traces the surprising role of ethnography in French cinema in the 1960s and examines its place in several New Wave fictions and cinéma vérité documentaries during the final years of the French colonial empire. Focusing on prominent French filmmakers Jean Rouch, Chris Marker, and Alain Resnais, author Laure Astourian elucidates their striking pivot from centering their work on distant lands to scrutinizing their own French urban culture. As awareness of the ramifications of the shrinking empire grew within metropolitan France, these filmmakers turned inward what their similarly white, urban, bourgeois predecessors had long turned outward toward the colonies: the ethnographic gaze.Featuring some of the most canonical and best-loved films of the French tradition, such as Moi, un Noir, La jetée, and Muriel, this is an essential book for readers interested in national identity and cinema.
The Darcy Connection: A Novel
by Elizabeth AstonMr. Collins and Charlotte of Pride and Prejudice endeavor to secure good marriages for their two daughters in this witting and romantic novel.Mr. Collins, the Bishop of Ripon, lives with his wife, Charlotte, and their two daughters, who have reached marriageable age. The elder, another Charlotte, is extraordinarily beautiful, and her parents hope her looks and connections will ensure a brilliant marriage. Her sister, Eliza, while not as handsome, possesses a lively intelligence that, in Mr. Collins&’s opinion, is too like her godmother, Mrs. Darcy. In London, Charlotte&’s beauty wins her many admirers, despite her modest fortune. But Eliza&’s wit and attempts to interfere in what she considers an unsuitable marriage for her sister infuriate her family and Charlotte&’s suitor—until Eliza herself meets her match.
Mr. Darcy's Dream: A Novel
by Elizabeth AstonFrom the author of Mr. Darcy&’s Daughters, the delightful escapades of the Darcy family continue with an enchanting story set at Pride and Prejudice&’s Pemberley.When Phoebe, a young niece of Pride and Prejudice&’s Mr. Darcy, is shattered by an unhappy romance, she retreats to Pemberley and is joined by kindhearted Louisa Bingley, unmarried after three London seasons. Once the young ladies are situated in the house, several handsome strangers also arrive—all hopeful of winning the girls&’ hearts. As preparations for the ball which Mr. and Mrs. Darcy are to give at Pemberley gain momentum, mischief and love triangles abound, making life as difficult as possible for anyone connected with the Darcy family. Populated with authentic characters firmly rooted in Jane Austen&’s mores and stylistic traditions, Mr. Darcy&’s Dream has an unforgettable combination of romance, societal scandals, friendship, family, and marriage.
A Beetle Is Shy
by Dianna Hutts AstonThe award-winning duo of Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long team up again, this time creating a gorgeous look at the fascinating world of beetles. From flea beetles to bombardier beetles, an incredible variety of these beloved bugs are showcased here in all their splendor. Poetic in voice and elegant in design, this carefully researched and visually striking book is perfect for sparking children's imaginations in both classroom reading circles and home libraries. Plus, this is the fixed-format version, which looks almost identical to the print edition!
Curse of the Night Witch (Emblem Island #1)
by Alex AsterFrom #BookTok phenomenon and New York Times bestselling author of the YA fantasy novel, Lightlark, this fast-paced middle grade series starter is steeped in Colombian mythology and full of adventure. Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, Curse of the Night Witch is filled with fantasy, action, adventure, and an unforgettable trio of friends.A Seventeen.com Most Anticipated Book of Summer!A Zibby Owens Summer Reading Pick on Good Morning America!On Emblem Island all are born knowing their fate. Their lifelines show the course of their life and an emblem dictates how they will spend it.Tor Luna was born with a leadership emblem, just like his mother. But he hates his mark and is determined to choose a different path for himself. So, on the annual New Year's Eve celebration, where Emblemites throw their wishes into a bonfire in the hopes of having them granted, Tor wishes for a different power.The next morning Tor wakes up to discover a new marking on his skin…the symbol of a curse that has shortened his lifeline, giving him only a week before an untimely death. There is only one way to break the curse, and it requires a trip to the notorious Night Witch.With only his village's terrifying, ancient stories as a guide, and his two friends Engle and Melda by his side, Tor must travel across unpredictable Emblem Island, filled with wicked creatures he only knows through myths, in a race against his dwindling lifeline.You'll love Curse of the Night Witch if you're looking for:Multicultural books for children (especially Latinx books)Stories based on fascinating mythologyYour next favorite fantasy series"Debut author Aster takes inspiration from Colombian folklore to craft a rousing series opener that's both fast-paced and thrilling. As her protagonists face off against a host of horrors, they learn the value of friendship and explore the possibility of changing one's fate in a world where destiny is predetermined."—Publishers Weekly, STARRED review"Worthy of every magical ounce."—Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review
Geography of Climate Change
by Richard AspinallClimate change is one of the inescapable themes of current times. Climate change confronts society in issues as diverse as domestic and international political debate and negotiation, discussion in the media and public opinion, land management choices and decisions, and concerns about environmental, social and economic priorities now and for the future. Climate change also spans spatial, temporal and organisational scales, and has strong links with nature-society relationships, environmental dynamics, and vulnerability. Understanding the full range of possible consequences of climate change is essential for informed decision making and debate. This book provides a collection of chapters that span environmental, social and economic aspects of climate change. Together the chapters provide a diverse and contrasting series that highlights the need to analyze, review and debate climate change and its possible impacts and consequences from multiple perspectives. The book also is intended to promote discussion and debate of a more integrated, inclusive and open approach to climate change and demonstrates the value of geography in addressing climate change issues.This book was originally published as a special issue of Annals of the Association of American Geographers.
Operatic Geographies: The Place of Opera & the Opera House
by Suzanne AspdenSince its origin, opera has been identified with the performance and negotiation of power. Once theaters specifically for opera were established, that connection was expressed in the design and situation of the buildings themselves, as much as through the content of operatic works. Yet the importance of the opera house’s physical situation, and the ways in which opera and the opera house have shaped each other, have seldom been treated as topics worthy of examination.Operatic Geographies invites us to reconsider the opera house’s spatial production. Looking at opera through the lens of cultural geography, this anthology rethinks the opera house’s landscape, not as a static backdrop, but as an expression of territoriality. The essays in this anthology consider moments across the history of the genre, and across a range of geographical contexts—from the urban to the suburban to the rural, and from the “Old” world to the “New.” One of the book’s most novel approaches is to consider interactions between opera and its environments—that is, both in the domain of the traditional opera house and in less visible, more peripheral spaces, from girls’ schools in late seventeenth-century England, to the temporary arrangements of touring operatic troupes in nineteenth-century Calcutta, to rural, open-air theaters in early twentieth-century France. The essays throughout Operatic Geographies powerfully illustrate how opera’s spatial production informs the historical development of its social, cultural, and political functions.
Sustainable Food Waste Management: Anti-corrosion Applications (Materials Horizons: From Nature to Nanomaterials)
by Ruby Aslam Mohammad Mobin Jeenat AslamThis book highlights established research and technology on corrosion inhibitors and bio-waste management. It further discusses emerging aspects of utilizing food waste in the field of corrosion inhibition. The topics covered include overview on bio-waste and their management, different types of food waste (i.e., agricultural, vegetable and fruit/fruit juice, plant waste, slaughterhouse trash), and their application as corrosion inhibitors and mitigation of corrosion. It also discusses economic aspects and commercialization of food waste as corrosion inhibitors. The book is a valuable reference for beginners, researchers, and professionals working in the areas of sustainability, food waste management, and material science.
Lithium-Sulfur Batteries: Key Parameters, Recent Advances, Challenges and Applications (Springer Tracts in Electrical and Electronics Engineering)
by Abdullah Mohamed Asiri Muhammad Sagir Muhammad Bilal Tahir Muhammad Suleman TahirThis book provides an excellent review and analysis of the latest information on rechargeable Li-S battery research. With a clear and concise writing style and in-depth technical material, this book will appeal to undergraduates and graduates, researchers, chemists, material scientists, and physicists working in the field of energy storage, especially those with an interest in Li-S battery technology. IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine shows lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries give us an alternative to the more prevalent lithium-ion (Li-ion) versions and are known for their observed high-energy densities. Systems using Li-S batteries are in the early stages of development, and commercialization however could potentially provide higher, safer levels of energy at significantly lower cost. In this book, the history, scientific background, challenges, and future perspectives of the lithium-sulfur system are presented by experts in the field. Focus is on past and recent advances of each cell compartment responsible for the performance of the Li-S battery and includes analysis of characterization tools, new designs, and computational modeling. As a comprehensive review of the current state of play, it is ideal for undergraduates, graduate students, researchers, physicists, chemists, and materials scientists interested in energy storage, material science, and electrochemistry.
How to Love Wine: A Memoir and Manifesto
by Eric AsimovEric Asimov, the acclaimed chief wine critic for the New York Times, has written a beautiful and thought-provoking combination memoir and manifesto, How to Love Wine.With charm, wit, and intelligence, Asimov tells how he went from writing beer reviews for his high school newspaper on Long Island to the most coveted job in the industry. He evaluates the current wine culture, discussing trends both interesting and alarming, and celebrates the extraordinary pleasures of wine while, at the same time, questioning the conventional wisdom about wine.Whether you’re a connoisseur or a novice, already love wine or want to know it better, How to Love Wine: A Memoir and Manifesto is the book for you.
Every Woman for Herself: A Novel
by Trisha AshleyCharlotte—Charlie—Rhymer's husband wants a divorce. Charlie isn't sure what she wants, but after the incident with the frying pan, even she has to concede that their differences may be irreconcilable after all. Returning home to her native Yorkshire and the bosom of her family seemed like a good idea at the time. Even if Charlie's father has never quite forgiven Charlie or her siblings (Anne, Emily and Branwell) for failing to live up to their more literary (as in Bronte) namesakes.Upvale Parsonage, the family home to which Charlie has retreated, is presided over by her sister Em. Em's hobbies are composing inspirational verses, dabbling in the Ancient Black Arts, and fighting off the incursions of Father's latest mistress. When the current mistress actually moves in, family loyalties are sorely tried. Still, Charlie is determined to bounce back from disaster and strike a blow for deserted older wives everywhere. But when she meets brooding actor Mace North, she realizes that when it comes to dating for the over-forty crowd, female solidarity be damned—it's every woman for herself!Sure to delight both Bronte fans and readers who like a good laugh with their romance, Trisha Ashley's first book to be published in the United States is a welcome treat.
The Creative Economy: Arts, Cultural Value and Society in Practice (Discovering the Creative Industries)
by Amanda J. Ashley Carolyn G. Loh Matilda Rose Bubb Shoshanah B.D. Goldberg-MillerThe creative economy permeates our everyday lives, shaping where we live, what we buy, and how we interact with others. Looking at dimensions of people, place, policy, and market forces, the book offers a comprehensive perspective on arts and culture, in both economic and social life.The book explores the multifaceted components that make up this complex field. Underlying this journey is the throughline of diversity, equity, and inclusion as watchwords of today’s global paradigm. Capital, gentrification, pay disparities, and the hegemonic confines of cultural production are a few of the key issues analyzed. Using case studies and stories of artists and creatives from the worlds of fashion, design, music, and the media arts, the book also delves into gastronomy, literature, architecture, and theatre—presenting a nuanced look at the ways in which the creative sector impacts the world today. Readers will benefit from features such as key takeaways, discussion questions, and activities, throughout the chapters.Students, scholars, policymakers, and the general public will find this a valuable resource. This book offers the reader a chance not only to understand the cultural and creative industries, but to internalize its elements and embrace the creative spirit that imbues the sector.
Immortal Hope: The Curse of the Templars (The\curse Of The Templars Ser. #1)
by Claire AshgroveCenturies ago, Templar knights defied the archangels and unearthed the copper scroll that revealed the locations of the gates to hell. Cursed for their forbidden act, they now roam the earth, protecting mankind from evil. But darkness stalks them, and battles they fight bring them ever closer to eternal damnation. One promise remains to give them salvation—the return of the seraphs.Embittered by his purpose, Merrick du Loire must honor an ancient pact and bring peace to his cousin's soul, releasing him from the clutches of their enemy. When he stumbles upon history professor Anne MacPherson, he discovers that she possesses a sacred artifact that marks her as a seraph. Duty demands he set aside his personal quest and locate the knight she's fated to heal. As Merrick struggles with conflicting oaths, Anne arouses buried hope and sparks forbidden desire that challenges everything he's sworn to uphold. Anne has six weeks to complete her thesis on the Knights Templar. When Merrick takes her to the Templar stronghold, he presents her with all she needs—and awakens a soul-deep ache that he alone can soothe. Yet loving Merrick comes with a price. If she admits she is destined for him, her gift of foresight predicts his death. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.