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Publikumsschwund?: Ein Blick auf die Theaterstatistik seit 1949
by Rainer GlaapDurch den teils massiven Publikumsschwund nach der Pandemie stellt sich die Frage, ob diese als Brandbeschleuniger gewirkt hat für bereits vorhandene Trends. Der Autor geht dem nach anhand der Besuchszahlen bis zur letzten vollständigen vorpandemischen Spielzeit 2018/19. Er zeigt historische Zeitreihen zu Sparten- und Personalentwicklung, Vertriebskanälen und den Einnahmen. Die Theaterstatistik des Bühnenvereins dient vielen Entscheidungsträgern als Grundlage für z.B. kulturpolitische Steuerungen, obwohl sie nicht die komplette deutsche Theaterlandschaft abbildet. Deshalb beleuchtet der Autor weitere Anbieter. Da die Theaterstatistik große kulturpolitische Bedeutung hat, gibt es zum Schluss einige Vorschläge für die Zukunft.
Feature Extraction in Medical Image Retrieval: A New Design of Wavelet Filter Banks
by Aswini Kumar Samantaray Amol D. RahulkarMedical imaging is fundamental to modern healthcare, and its widespread use has resulted in creation of image databases. These repositories contain images from a diverse range of modalities, multidimensional as well as co-aligned multimodality images. These image collections offer opportunity for evidence-based diagnosis, teaching, and research. Advances in medical image analysis over last two decades shows there are now many algorithms and ideas available that allow to address medical image analysis tasks in commercial solutions with sufficient performance in terms of accuracy, reliability and speed. Content-based image retrieval (CBIR) is an image search technique that complements the conventional text-based retrieval of images by using visual features, such as color, texture, and shape, as search criteria. This book emphasizes the design of wavelet filter-banks as efficient and effective feature descriptors for medical image retrieval.Firstly, a generalized novel design of a family of multiplier-free orthogonal wavelet filter-banks is presented. In this, the dyadic filter coefficients are obtained based on double-shifting orthogonality property with allowable deviation from original filter coefficients. Next, a low complex symmetric Daub-4 orthogonal wavelet filter-bank is presented. This is achieved by slightly altering the perfect reconstruction condition to make designed filter-bank symmetric and to obtain dyadic filter coefficients. In third contribution, the first dyadic Gabor wavelet filter-bank is presented based on slight alteration in orientation parameter without disturbing remaining Gabor wavelet parameters. In addition, a novel feature descriptor based on the design of adaptive Gabor wavelet filter-bank is presented. The use of Maximum likelihood estimation is suggested to measure the similarity between the feature vectors of heterogeneous medical images. The performance of the suggested methods is evaluated on three different publicly available databases namely NEMA, OASIS and EXACT09. The performance in terms of average retrieval precision, average retrieval recall and computational time are compared with well-known existing methods.
Expect A Miracle and Lots of Hard Work: My life with Vicente Ferrer
by Anne FerrerIn the heart of drought-stricken Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh, Vicente and Anne, hailing from diverse backgrounds, unite under the guiding force of destiny and Providence to establish the Rural Development Trust (RDT). Over four decades, they spearhead a remarkable journey of hope and prosperity, igniting transformative change across vital spheres of rural development: ecology, education, health, housing, women's empowerment, and support for the disabled. Their tireless dedication and the unwavering commitment of their team, largely comprising local villagers, breathe life into their vision of community-led progress. Through countless trials and triumphs, RDT becomes a beacon of empowerment, lifting thousands from the depths of poverty to a future defined by dignity and optimism. This is the epic saga of Vicente and Anne, their indomitable spirit, and the enduring legacy of empowerment they leave etched upon the landscape of Anantapur.
Artificial Intelligence: What Is Behind the Technology of the Future?
by Gerhard Paaß Dirk HeckerArtificial Intelligence (AI) is already present in our daily routines, and in the future, we will encounter it in almost every aspect of life – from analyzing X-rays for medical diagnosis, driving autonomous cars, maintaining complex machinery, to drafting essays on environmental problems and drawing imaginative pictures. The potentials of AI are enormous, while at the same time many myths, uncertainties and challenges circulate that need to be tackled. The English translation of the book “Künstliche Intelligenz – Was steckt hinter der Technologie der Zukunft?” originally published in German (Springer Vieweg, 2020), this book is addressed to the general public, from interested citizens to corporate executives who want to develop a better and deeper understanding of AI technologies and assess their consequences. Mathematical basics, terminology, and methods are explained in understandable language. Adaptations to different media such as images, text, and speech and the corresponding generative models are introduced. A concluding discussion of opportunities and challenges helps readers evaluate new developments, demystify them, and assess their relevance for the future.
General Ne Win’s Legacy of Burmanization in Myanmar: The Challenge to Peace in the Twenty-First Century
by Saw Eh Htoo Tony WatersThis book focuses on how Burmanization created and reinforced ethnic divides since the 1962 coup d’etat. when General Ne Win concentrated all authority in the Burmese speaking army. Background research for the book includes Burmese language materials from the Burmese Socialist Party (BSP) and others that describe with what the BSP believed in their own terms. This is unique from previous works on the topic which either simply pointed out that the policies “didn’t work” and therefore are uninteresting, or to claim that they were “necessary” given the chaos of the previous regime. The authors agree that Ne Win’s policies “didn’t work.” However, the book goes further by elaborating why Burmanization policies developed in the 1960s are important for understanding Burmese society today. Most importantly, Ne Win’s ideology reflects how patterns of interethnic relationships in Myanmar lead to the “intractability” of the battles in early twenty-first century Myanmar.
Economic Theory in the Twentieth Century, An Intellectual History—Volume III: 1946–Mid-1970s. Economic Theory in the New Golden Age of Capitalism
by Roberto MarchionattiThis book, set out over four-volumes, provides a comprehensive history of economic thought in the 20th century. Special attention is given to the cultural and historical background behind the development of economic theories, the leading or the peripheral research communities and their interactions, and a critical appreciation and assessment of economic theories throughout these times.Volume III addresses economic theory in the period of the new golden age of capitalism, between the years from the end of the Second World War to the mid1970s, which saw the establishment of the new mainstream, in particular in its Harvard-MIT-Cowles version. It was the period of the pre-eminence of the Neoclassical Keynesian Synthesis—the theoretical core of the period’s dominant school of thought.This work provides a significant and original contribution to the history of economic thought and gives insight to the thinking of some of themajor international figures in economics. It will appeal to students, scholars and the more informed reader wishing to further their understanding of the history of the discipline.
Recent Trends in Intelligence Enabled Research: Selected Papers of Fifth Doctoral Symposium, DoSIER 2023 (Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing #1457)
by Siddhartha Bhattacharyya Gautam Das Sourav De Leo MrsicThis book gathers extended versions of papers presented at DoSIER 2023 (Fifth Doctoral Symposium on Intelligence Enabled Research, held at Cooch Behar Government Engineering College, West Bengal, India, during December 20–21, 2023). The papers address the rapidly expanding research area of computational intelligence, which, no longer limited to specific computational fields, has since made inroads in signal processing, smart manufacturing, predictive control, robot navigation, smart cities, and sensor design, to name but a few. Presenting chapters written by experts active in these areas, the book offers a valuable reference guide for researchers and industrial practitioners alike and inspires future studies.
Asian Lives in Anthropological Perspective: Essays on Morality, Achievement and Modernity (WYSE Series in Social Anthropology #16)
by Susan BaylyContemporary Asian societies bear the imprint of the experience and afterlives of colonialism, revolutionary socialism and religious and secular nationalism in dramatically contrasting ways. Asian Lives in Anthropological Perspective draws together essays that demonstrate the role of these far-reaching transformations in the shaping of two Asian settings in particular – India and Vietnam. It traces historical and contemporary realities through a variety of compelling topics including the lived experience of India’s caste system and the ethical challenges faced by Vietnamese working women.
Crypto Crowds: Singularities and Multiplicities on the Blockchain (Critical Interventions: A Forum for Social Analysis #21)
by Matan ShapiroOwnership of cryptocurrencies features contrasting forms of mobilization. On one hand, it denotes association with a global crowd of unrelated individual investors, which expands as it attracts more members. On the other hand, it includes participation in grassroots communities, which are generally more insular. Crypto Crowds demonstrates how this tension generates political, economic and moral realities in different cultural and geographical contexts. Pioneering in its approach to cryptocurrency trading, this volume will inspire scholars interested in the sociality of decentralized business models, boom-and-bust cycles on the blockchain, libertarian utopias and other postmodern crowding phenomena.
Principles and Praxis in Ancient Greek Philosophy: Essays in Ancient Greek Philosophy in Honor of Fred D. Miller, Jr. (Philosophical Studies Series #155)
by David Keyt Christopher ShieldsThis collection of original articles draws from a cross section of distinguished scholars of ancient Greek philosophy. It is focussed primarily on the philosophy of Aristotle but comprises as well studies of the philosophy of Socrates, Plato, and Epicurus. Its authors explore a range of complementary topics in value theory, moral psychology, metaphysics, natural philosophy, political theory, and methodology, highlighting the rich and lasting philosophical contributions of the thinkers investigated. Opening with an engaging intellectual autobiography of its honoree, Fred D. Miller, Jr., the volume offers treatments of Socrates as a citizen; Plato’s attitude towards poetry; Socratic self-knowledge; Plato’s conception of law in his Republic; explorations of reason, goodness, and moral conduct in Plato; Platonic metaphysics; Aristotelian causation; Aristotelian metaphysics and normativity; natural philosophy in Aristotle; Aristotelian logic; political theory and approaches to justice in Aristotle’s Politics; methodological reflections on how best to approach Aristotle’s indefensible ideas; and closes with a reconsideration of Epicurus on death and the art of dying. Altogether, the volume reflects the richness of the ongoing community of philosophical scholars dedicated to reconstructing, assessing, and criticizing the principal philosophers of the ancient world, whose epoch-forming explorations of the key elements of human life—considered socially, politically, psychologically, and metaphysically—remain topics of lively investigation today. It will be of interest to philosophers of many stripes, including those with a primary interest in ancient philosophy but extending as well to those with systematic interests in the themes it explores. This volume will be a valuable addition to all libraries serving communities dedicated to researching and studying the origins of Western philosophy.
Plant Holobiome Engineering for Climate-Smart Agriculture (Sustainable Plant Nutrition in a Changing World)
by R. Z. Sayyed Noshin IlyasThis edited volume is an inclusive collection of information on crop holobiome, their function and diversity, the plausible role of soil microbes in crop growth, protection from pathogens and stresses, the use of resilient microbiomes for changing climate, and the use of new technologies to study plant-insect-microbe molecular interactions in agricultural systems.Holobiomes provide information about both plants and their microbiomes, which gives a more comprehensive insight, particularly for changing climatic scenarios. By optimizing the crop holobime function crop productivity and plant health can be enhanced manifold. This book deep dives into the numerous ways in which holobiome supports the improving plant health, nutrient uptake, disease control, and stress resistance in major food crops. It helps researchers, academicians, agri-entrepreneurs, and technologists understand the structure and function of holobiomes in crop growth, health, stress tolerance under climatic changes, and holobiome diversity and evolution. The book is also helpful in designing new dimensions in the holobiome research and development of new products and technologies.This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students. This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.This volume is of interest and useful to agriculture scientists, microbiologists, ecologists, and is a valuable source of reference to researchers and students.This volume is of interest a
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Mechanics: A Modern Approach with Core Principles and Underlying Topics
by José Rachid MohallemThis book serves as a textbook for an analytical mechanics course, a fundamental subject of physics, that pays special attention to important topics that are not discussed in most standard textbooks. Readers are provided with a clear understanding of topics that are usually inaccessible to the undergraduate level and that are critical to learning Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics. Each chapter also includes worked problems and solutions, as well as additional exercises for readers to try. This book begins with the fundamentals of analytical mechanics, concisely introducing readers to the calculus of variations, Hamilton’s Principle, and Lagrange’s equations. While presenting readers with these core topics, the author uses an intuitive approach to delve into essential questions, such as where Galilean invariance lies in Lagrangian mechanics and how Hamilton’s Principle of Least Action encompasses Newton’s three laws, interesting conclusions that often go unnoticed. Infact, Hamilton’s principle is taken throughout as the very origin of classical physical laws, and the choice of appropriate Lagrangians in each case as the real theoretical challenge, meaning that forms of Lagrangian which differ from the standard one are not mere curiosities but, instead, the general rule. This book clarifies common misunderstandings that students face when learning the subject and formally rationalizes concepts that are often difficult to grasp. In addition, the final chapter provides an introduction to a Lagrangian field theory for those interested in learning more advanced topics. Ideal for upper undergraduate and graduate students, this book seeks to teach the intrinsic meaning of the principles and equations taught in an analytical mechanics course and convey their usefulness as powerful theoretical instruments of modern physics.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Higher Plants: Fundamentals and Applications
by Golam Jalal Ahammed Roghieh HajibolandThis book covers the fundamentals of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and higher plant symbiosis with potential implications in crop production. It provides new insights into our understanding of the mechanisms of AMF-mediated plant growth regulation and stress tolerance covering the most recent biochemical, physiological, molecular, environmental, and ecological studies. Focusing on AMF-induced physiological and molecular mechanisms of enhanced tolerance to stress, environmental stress is discussed in several dedicated chapters. The book provides not only updated information with new insights and perspectives but also several new topics, such as a comprehensive discussion on biotic stressors, AMF interaction with other microorganisms, non-host plant species, plant secondary metabolism, signaling events in plant-AMF symbiosis, AMF-mediated nutrient acquisition and subsequent stress tolerance. The book also discusses the potential implications of AMF for sustainable crop production in the context of climate change. The book can be a useful reference book for academics and scientists involved in related research, such as academics in agronomy and plant sciences, scientists involved in beneficial fungi research, chemists, industrialists, and employees involved in the production and marketing of biofertilizers, master and doctoral degree students of agronomy, horticulture, and plant protection, consultants working on the production of crops in marginal environments as well as environmental scientists working for assisted phytoremediation programs. It would also be suitable for agronomy, ecology, and plant science-related courses, such as plant stress physiology, plant growth-promoting microbes, and plant pathology to teach undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students at colleges and universities.
The Violence of Reading: Literature and Philosophy at the Threshold of Pain
by Dominik ZechnerThe Violence of Reading: Literature and Philosophy at the Threshold of Pain expounds the scene of reading as one that produces an overwhelmed body exposed to uncontainable forms of violence. The book argues that the act of reading induces a representational instability that causes the referential function of language to collapse. This breakdown releases a type of “linguistic pain” (Scarry; Butler; Hamacher) that indicates a constitutive wounding of the reading body. The wound of language marks a rupture between linguistic reality and the phenomenal world. Exploring this rupture in various ways, the book brings together texts and genres from diverse traditions and offers close examinations of the rhetoric of masochism (Sacher-Masoch; Deleuze), the relation between reading and abuse (Nietzsche; Proust; Jelinek), the sublime experience of reading (Kant; Kafka; de Man), the “novel of the institution” (Musil; Campe), and literary suicide (Bachmann; Berryman; Okkervil River).
Anna, Grandmother of Jesus: A Message of Wisdom and Love
by Claire Heartsong Claire Ann ClemettThe self-published spiritual word-of-mouth bestseller.Anna, Grandmother of Jesus became a publishing sensation when the self-published version sold 50,000 copies through word of mouth alone, amassing a worldwide following in the process.Anna is the mother of the Virgin Mary and the grandmother of Jesus. Her teachings and service birthed a spiritual lineage that changed the world. In this book, you'll discover missing pieces of history concerning Anna, Mary and Jesus, as channelled by Claire Heartsong, who has been receiving telepathic messages from Anna for 30 years.Told through the gentle and heartwarming voice of Anna herself, this book offers insights into unknown places the holy family visited, people they knew and intimate details of their daily struggle to complete the Resurrection challenges. You will learn about the Essenes of Mount Carmel and their secret teachings and initiations, and gain a new understanding of Jesus's mission.Containing encoded activations to bring Anna's wisdom and energy into your own spiritual life, this book is an invitation to complete a journey of initiation begun long ago.
Crocodile Hungry
by Eija SumnerA hilarious story about a hungry and hapless crocodile, for fans of How to Give Your Cat a Bath and I Want My Hat Back.Crocodile hungry. What can crocodile eat?Canned ham? Too hard to open.Beef jerky? Gets stuck in teeth.Eggs? Bite shell, get toothache.Crocodile must find food. But where? Though crocodile is surrounded by food, he doesn't know it. He's used to food coming in packages and boxes and in handy tins. Will the hungry crocodile figure it out?Readers big and little will laugh out loud at the simple but hysterical text and illustrations by debut author Eija Sumner and cartoonist (and now resident crocodile expert) John Martz.
Butterfly's Kiss
by Feral SephrianTyler wants to get spanked more than anything in the world. Unfortunately, he’s asexual and the last partner he asked to spank him didn’t respect that and left him traumatized. Years later, his yearning hasn’t faded but neither has his fear of being hurt again, so his therapist recommends him to an expert: Andreas Garro, spanking therapist.Andreas proves himself trustworthy and then some, providing Tyler with the treatment he thought he could never get. Tyler is especially in love with one of Andreas’s custom paddles called the “Metamorphosis Maker.”As time goes on and Tyler sees Andreas for more and more sessions, he realizes it’s not just the paddle he loves. But whether Andreas is a licensed therapist or just a very sympathetic dom, Tyler knows he shouldn’t develop feelings for him. If only Andreas wasn’t everything Tyler ever wanted in a spanker, or a partner.Is this real love, or have the endorphins skewed the way Tyler looks at the first man he felt he could trust since his ex broke his heart?
Next Year in Salem
by Eve MortonNatalie Durham is sick of men. After her latest boyfriend cheats on her, she skips town to her aunt's place in Boston and vows to burn all the things her exes have given her. Maybe she'll even do a spell or two, since she'll be close enough to Salem to venture over.Melissa Clarke is a former model now ready to live authenticity as both a lesbian and a foodie. She leaves her boyfriend, travels to her Boston home, and is determined to make the best Thanksgiving meal ever.When Natalie suffers car trouble, and Melissa steps up to help, it should be a brief encounter. But these women soon find out they have a lot more in common than they first believed, and it may be enough -- with some magick -- to change the rest of their lives.
The Psychic Psychologist: Heal Your Past, Find Peace in the Present, Transform Your Future
by Amanda CharlesDo you feel like your life looks perfect from the outside, but on the inside you&’re falling apart? Have you gone from one practitioner to the next desperately seeking solutions and yet still suffer? If the answer&’s &‘yes&’, then you need The Psychic Psychologist®.Combining traditional psychology, energy work and quantum theory, as well as professional and life experience, The Psychic Psychologist offers a completely unique perspective on healing.With evidence-backed psychological interventions alongside spiritual and intuitive practices, The Psychic Psychologist will help you break free from suffering, transform your pain and go beyond all limitations to create the life you desire. It&’s a book that will help you tap more deeply into your higher power and follow your inner voice, so you can embrace a new reality and consciously construct positive change in your present and for your future.So, no matter how many times life has kicked you when you&’re down, this book will show you that when you&’re fully connected to all the layers of your existence – body, heart, mind and soul – you can turn your pain into purpose and live a life you love.&‘I always hoped that someone would bring a totally new perspective to the way we view human consciousness. Amanda has absolutely done that with this wonderful book.&’Gordon Smith, internationally renowned medium, spiritual teacher and bestselling author.
Chaat: Recipes from the Kitchens, Markets, and Railways of India: A Cookbook
by Maneet Chauhan Jody Eddy&“A sumptuous whistle-stop tour of India&’s diverse food ways. Maneet has penned a love letter to the best of Indian food.&”—Padma Lakshmi, host and executive producer of Top Chef and Taste the NationIACP AWARD WINNER • LONGLISTED FOR THE ART OF EATING PRIZE • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Food Network • Salon • Epicurious • Garden & Gun • Wired Explore the bold flavors, regional dishes, and stunning scenery of India with over 80 recipes from Chopped judge and James Beard Award-winning chef Maneet Chauhan.In Chaat, Maneet Chauhan explores India&’s most iconic, delicious, and fun-to-eat foods coming from and inspired by her discoveries during an epic cross-country railway journey that brought her to local markets, street vendors, and the homes of family and friends. From simple roasted sweet potatoes with star fruit, lemon, and spices to a fragrant layered chicken biryani rice casserole, and the flakiest onion and egg stuffed flatbreads, these recipes are varied, colorful, and expressive. Maneet weaves in personal stories and remembrances as well as historical and cultural notes as she winds her way from North to South and East to West, sharing recipes like Goan Fried Shrimp Turnovers, Chicken Momo Dumplings from Guwahati in Assam, Hyderabad's Spicy Pineapple Chaat, and Warm-Spiced Carrot and Semolina Pudding from Amritsar. With breathtaking photography and delectable recipes, Chaat is a celebration of the diversity of India's food and people.
Rushing Woman's Syndrome: The Impact of a Never-ending To-do list and How to Stay Healthy in Today's Busy World
by Dr. Libby WeaverDo you often feel overwhelmed, and in a daily battle to keep up? That you rarely get on top of your to-do list, and at times feel out of control and unable to cope? If so, you may be experiencing the first signs of Rushing Woman&’s Syndrome…Never before have women been in such a hurry to do so many things and be there for so many people. The pace of modern life has drastically increased – but even though our minds can go faster and technology allows us to get more done, our bodies still have cavewoman-like biology – which means they cannot respond healthily to the new and constant pressures we experience.In this book, nutritional biochemist Dr Libby Weaver explains how a stressful, fast-paced lifestyle can have dangerous effects on all areas of a woman&’s health, including:• Nervous system – how an imbalanced nervous system may be causing you to gain weight and disrupting your sleep• Adrenal glands – why adrenal fatigue may be making you feel tired but wired• Reproductive system – how your daily stresses may be affecting your menstrual cycle or fertility• Digestive system – why stress could be at the heart of your bloating, cravings or unpredictable appetite• Emotions – how your emotional landscape holds the key to leading a fulfilling life without the need to rushInspired by Dr Libby&’s clinical experiences and her empathy for women and the many roles they now juggle, this book offers real solutions to restore your health, so that you can stay both productive and healthy.
The Second Sex (Sparknotes Literature Guide Ser.)
by Simone De BeauvoirThe essential masterwork that has provoked and inspired generations of men and women. &“From Eve&’s apple to Virginia Woolf&’s room of her own, Beauvoir&’s treatise remains an essential rallying point, urging self-sufficiency and offering the fruit of knowledge.&” —VogueThis unabridged edition reinstates significant portions of the original French text that were cut in the first English translation. Vital and groundbreaking, Beauvoir&’s pioneering and impressive text remains as pertinent today as when it was first published, and will continue to provoke and inspire generations of men and women to come.
All the Days of Summer: A Novel
by Nancy ThayerA woman&’s second act on the island of Nantucket delivers much more than she expected in this captivating novel by New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer.&“A beautiful, hope-filled, heartwarming story about new beginnings and second chances.&”—RaeAnne Thayne, author of The Cafe at Beach EndHeather Willette has a good life in Concord, Massachusetts. But when her marriage fizzles out, Heather has to decide what sort of life to live next. Ready to seek out her own happiness and discover herself again, Heather decides to leave her husband and rent a cottage on Nantucket. And her plan is going perfectly—until her son, Ross, announces he&’s moving to Nantucket to work at his girlfriend&’s family&’s construction business instead of going back home to work with his own father, like he'd promised. Worst of all for Heather, this means having to get along with her. Kailee Essex is thrilled that Ross is willing to move to her hometown. She has big hopes for their happily ever after, especially now that her parents are finally showing interest in her career. She&’s less thrilled, however, about his mother living nearby. Kailee has clashed with Heather since the day they met. But anything is possible in the summer sun and sea breezes of Nantucket—even reconciliation. And when change comes sooner than either Heather or Kailee expect, they must learn to overcome their differences to fight for the future they want. With All the Days of Summer, beloved storyteller Nancy Thayer delivers a moving novel that explores the complexity of family and the unexpected ways fate can guide you forward.
Fatal Alliance: Fatal Alliance (Star Wars: The Old Republic - Legends #3)
by Sean WilliamsLong-standing foes must put aside their ancient grudges and deep-seated distrust to uncover and defeat a threat to the galaxy before it can escape its isolation—forcing Sith and Jedi to raise their lightsabers together.&“When I look into you, I see no loyalty. . . . I sense only tangled allegiances. . . . Given a choice, I would never trust you.&” From across the galaxy they&’ve come: agents of both the Republic and the Sith Empire, an investigating Jedi Padawan, an ex-trooper drummed out of the Republic&’s elite Blackstar Squad, and a mysterious Mandalorian.An extraordinary auction has drawn them all together—in quest of a prize only one can claim. Each is prepared to do what he must to possess the treasure, whose value may be the wealth of a world itself. No one intends to leave empty-handed. All have secrets, desires, and schemes. And nothing could ever unite them as allies—except the truth about the deadly danger of the object they covet.But can Sith and Jedi, Republic and Empire—enemies for millennia—join as one against the certain doom of the galaxy?
The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America
by Timothy SnyderNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of On Tyranny comes a stunning new chronicle of the rise of authoritarianism from Russia to Europe and America.&“A brilliant analysis of our time.&”—Karl Ove Knausgaard, The New YorkerWith the end of the Cold War, the victory of liberal democracy seemed final. Observers declared the end of history, confident in a peaceful, globalized future. This faith was misplaced. Authoritarianism returned to Russia, as Vladimir Putin found fascist ideas that could be used to justify rule by the wealthy. In the 2010s, it has spread from east to west, aided by Russian warfare in Ukraine and cyberwar in Europe and the United States. Russia found allies among nationalists, oligarchs, and radicals everywhere, and its drive to dissolve Western institutions, states, and values found resonance within the West itself. The rise of populism, the British vote against the EU, and the election of Donald Trump were all Russian goals, but their achievement reveals the vulnerability of Western societies.In this forceful and unsparing work of contemporary history, based on vast research as well as personal reporting, Snyder goes beyond the headlines to expose the true nature of the threat to democracy and law. To understand the challenge is to see, and perhaps renew, the fundamental political virtues offered by tradition and demanded by the future. By revealing the stark choices before us--between equality or oligarchy, individuality or totality, truth and falsehood--Snyder restores our understanding of the basis of our way of life, offering a way forward in a time of terrible uncertainty.