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The Sword Unbound (Lands of the Firstborn #2)
by Gareth HanrahanGareth Hanrahan's acclaimed epic fantasy series of dark myth, daring warriors and bloodthirsty vengeance continues with The Sword Unbound. He thought he was saving the world. That was his first mistake. Twenty years ago, Alf and his companions defeated the Dark Lord and claimed his city. Now, those few of the Nine that remain find themselves unwilling rebels, defying the authority of both the mortal Lords they once served and the immortal king of the elves - the secret architect of everything they've ever known. Once lauded as a mighty hero, Alf is now labelled a traitor and hunted by the very gods he seeks to bring down. As desperate rebellion blazes across the land, Alf seeks the right path through a maze of conspiracy, wielding a weapon of evil. The black sword Spellbreaker has found its purpose in these dark days. But can Aelfric remain a hero, or is his legend tarnished forever? Praise for The Sword Defiant: "A treat for all fantasy fans . . . . It&’s an absolute blast.&” ― Justin Lee Anderson, author of The Lost War"In the tradition of Tolkien and Eddings, with a richly detailed narrative, well-drawn characters, epic battles, and political and religious intrigues, Hanrahan's outstanding first outing in the Lands of the Firstborn series will thrill fantasy readers—who will anxiously await the next book." ― Booklist (starred review) "This novel has the potential to become a fan-favorite among those who appreciate vast and eloquent epic fantasy. Readers will enjoy the unique twists, absorbing intrigue, and endearing characters." ― Library Journal "I will buy any novel that Gareth Hanrahan ever writes." ― The Fantasy InnFor more from Gareth Hanrahan, check out:The Black Iron Legacy The Gutter Prayer The Shadow Saint The Broken God
The Dead Don't Need Reminding: In Search of Fugitives, Mississippi, and Black TV Nerd Shit
by Julian RandallThis brilliant, adult nonfiction debut from the acclaimed MG author and poet weaves two personal narratives of recovery and reclamation, spliced with a dazzle of pop-cultureThe Dead Don&’t Need Reminding is a braided story of Julian Randall&’s return from the cliff edge of a harrowing depression and his determination to retrace the hustle of a white-passing grandfather to the Mississippi town from which he was driven amid threats of tar and feather. Alternatively wry, lyrical, and heartfelt, Randall transforms pop culture moments into deeply personal explorations of grief, family, and the American way. He envisions his fight to stay alive through a striking medley of media ranging from Into the Spiderverse and Jordan Peele movies to BoJack Horseman and the music of Odd Future. Pulsing with life, sharp, and wickedly funny, The Dead Don&’t Need Reminding is Randall&’s journey to get his ghost story back.
The Stolen Heir Digital Omnibus
by Holly BlackAn Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller! An Instant #1 Indie Bestseller! Return to the opulent world of Elfhame, filled with intrigue, betrayal, and dangerous desires, with this first book of a captivating new duology from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black. A runaway queen. A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both. Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge. Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and the one person with power over her mother, fled to the human world. There, she lives feral in the woods. Lonely, and still haunted by the merciless torments she endured in the Court of Teeth, she bides her time by releasing mortals from foolish bargains. She believes herself forgotten until the storm hag, Bogdana chases her through the night streets. Suren is saved by none other than Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame, to whom she was once promised in marriage and who she has resented for years. Now seventeen, Oak is charming, beautiful, and manipulative. He&’s on a mission that will lead him into the north, and he wants Suren&’s help. But if she agrees, it will mean guarding her heart against the boy she once knew and a prince she cannot trust, as well as confronting all the horrors she thought she left behind.
Their Divine Fires: A Novel
by Wendy ChenA captivating and intimate debut novel interwoven with folktale and myth, Wendy Chen&’s Their Divine Fires tells the story of the love affairs of three generations of Chinese women across one hundred years of revolutions both political and personal. In 1917, at the dawn of the Chinese revolution, Yunhong is growing up in the southern china countryside and falls deeply in love with the son of a wealthy landlord despite her brother&’s objections. On the night of her wedding, her brother destroys the marriage, irrevocably changing the shape of Yunhong&’s family to come: her daughter, Yuexin, will never know her father. Haunted by a history that she does not understand, Yuexin passes on those memories to her daughters Hongxing and Yonghong, who come of age in the years following Mao&’s death, battling the push and pull of political forces as they forge their own paths. Each generation guards its secrets, leaving Emily, great-granddaughter of Yunhong and living in contemporary America, to piece together what actually happened between her mother and her aunt, and the weight of their shared ancestry. Drawing on the lives of her great-grandmother and her great-uncles—both of whom fought on the side of the Communists—as well as her mother&’s experiences during the Cultural Revolution, Wendy Chen infuses this gorgeous debut with a passion that will transport the reader back to powerful moments in history while bringing us close to the women who persisted despite the forces all around them. Both brilliant and haunting, it&’s a story about what our ancestors will, and won&’t, tell us.
Empireworld: How British Imperialism Shaped the Globe
by Sathnam SangheraBestselling author and journalist Sathnam Sanghera explores the global legacy of the British Empire, and the ways it continues to influence economics, politics, and culture around the world. 2.6 billion people are inhabitants of former British colonies. The empire's influence upon the quarter of the planet it occupied, and its gravitational influence upon the world outside it, has been profound: from the spread of Christianity by missionaries to the shaping international law. Even today, 1 in 3 people drive on the left hand side of the road, an artifact of the British empire. Yet Britain's idea of its imperial history and the world's experience of it are two very different things. Following in the footsteps of his bestselling book Empireland: How Imperialism Has Shaped Modern Britain, Empireworld explores the ways in which British Empire has come to shape the modern world Sanghera visits Barbados, where he uncovers how Caribbean nations are still struggling to emerge from the disadvantages sown by transatlantic slavery. He examines how large charities--like Save the Children and the World Bank--still see the world through the imperial eyes of their colonial founders, and how the political instability of nations, such as Nigeria, for instance, can be traced back to tensions seeded in their colonial foundations. And from the British Empire's role in the transportation of 12.5 million Africans during the Atlantic slave trade, to the 35 million Indians who died due to famine caused by British policy, the British Empire, as Sanghera reveals, was responsible for some of the largest demographic changes in human history. Economic, legal and political systems across the world continue to function along the lines originally drawn by the British Empire, and cultural, sexual, psychological, linguistic, demographic, and educational norms originally established by imperial Britons continue to shape our lives. British Empire may have peaked a century ago, and it may have been mostly dismantled by 1997, but in this major new work, Sathnam Sanghera ultimately shows how the largest empire in world history still exerts influence over planet Earth in all sorts of silent and unsilent ways.
This is a Book for People Who Love Tattoos
by Verena HutterJourney from ink to skin with This Is a Book for People Who Love Tattoos, a glorious full-color celebration of the history and craft of tattooing. From the earliest known origins of tattooing to the latest trends, this gorgeously illustrated guide offers a deep look at the culture of American Traditional style tattoos. Tattoo aficionado and historian Verena Hutter profiles not just the key tattoo artists who inspired the style, such as Sailor Jerry, Bert Grimm, and Dainty Dottie, but also the meanings and origins behind some of the most iconic designs found in tattoo shops across the globe She traces the indelible &“I love Mom&” tattoo back to a 19th-century folk song sung by Irish sailors and reveals the significance of eagles, skulls, horseshoes, lighthouses, and dozens of other designs. This Is a Book for People Who Love Tattoos will inspire your next tattoo session while celebrating the rich history of the craft.
The End of Everything: How Wars Descend into Annihilation
by Victor Davis HansonIn this &“gripping account of catastrophic defeat&” (Barry Strauss), a New York Times–bestselling historian charts how and why some societies chose to utterly destroy their foes, and warns that similar wars of obliteration are possible in our time &“In The End of Everything, Hanson tells compelling and harrowing stories of how civilizations perished. He helps us consider contemporary affairs in light of that history, think about the unthinkable, and recognize the urgency of trying to prevent our own demise.&” — H. R. McMaster, author of Battlegrounds War can settle disputes, topple tyrants, and bend the trajectory of civilization—sometimes to the breaking point. From Troy to Hiroshima, moments when war has ended in utter annihilation have reverberated through the centuries, signaling the end of political systems, cultures, and epochs. Though much has changed over the millennia, human nature remains the same. Modern societies are not immune from the horror of a war of extinction. In The End of Everything, military historian Victor Davis Hanson narrates a series of sieges and sackings that span the age of antiquity to the conquest of the New World to show how societies descend into barbarism and obliteration. In the stories of Thebes, Carthage, Constantinople, and Tenochtitlan, he depicts war&’s drama, violence, and folly. Highlighting the naivete that plagued the vanquished and the wrath that justified mass slaughter, Hanson delivers a sobering call to contemporary readers to heed the lessons of obliteration lest we blunder into catastrophe once again.
Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs In Leadership and Life
by Jeff WetzlerGlobally recognized expert on learning and leadership, Jeff Wetzler offers a hands-on, surprisingly effective way to find out what others really think, know, and feel. Ask leads to smarter decisions, more creative solutions, and deeper relationships. Too often, we don&’t find out what&’s truly on others&’ hearts and minds because we don&’t know how to ask the right questions in the right ways. Co-founder of Transcend and former international business consultant and Teach for America executive Jeff Wetzler wants to show you how to fix that. In Ask, he brings you a powerful method called The Ask Approach™, based on a simple premise: that tapping into what other people truly think, know, and feel is a game-changing superpower. In Section I, Wetzler reveals the most common things that people think and feel but often keep to themselves, as well as the key reasons why they choose to withhold information that could be valuable to you and your organization. Section II delves into the five steps of the Ask Approach, each answering an essential question. Choose Curiosity: How can you awaken your curiosity to make new discoveries and unexpected connections? Make it Safe: How do you make it easier for people to tell you hard things? Pose Quality Questions: What questions will best tap into the wisdom of anyone you ask? Listen to Learn: How can you hear what someone is really trying to tell you? Reflect & Reconnect: How do you turn talk into action? Section III helps you make asking an everyday superpower – not only for yourself but also for your team and organization, as well as for the next generation and society at large. The skills and messages of Ask could not be more timely. In a fast-changing world where AI is supplanting an increasing range of skills, the ability to learn from and connect with other people is one of the most important, fulfilling and uniquely human capabilities to master.
The Last of His Kind: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness
by Andy McCulloughThe definitive biography of Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, examining the genesis of his brilliance, his epic quest to win the World Series, and his singular place within the evolving baseball landscape—based on exclusive interviews with Kershaw and more than 200 others. More than any baseball player of his generation, Clayton Kershaw has embodied the burden of athletic greatness, the prizes and perils that await those who strive for it all. He is a three-time Cy Young award winner, the first pitcher to win National League MVP since Bob Gibson, and a surefire, first-ballot Hall of Famer. Many of his peers consider him the greatest pitcher to ever climb atop a big-league mound. In an age when baseball became more impersonal, a sport altered by adherence to algorithms and actuarial tables, Kershaw personified the game&’s lingering humanity, with his joy and suffering on display each October as he chased a championship. He pitched through pain, placing his future at risk on the game&’s grandest stages. He endeared himself to teammates and foes alike with his refusal to make excuses, with his willingness to shoulder the blame when he failed. And he only further impressed them when he returned, year after year, even as his body broke down from the strain of his profession. The journey captivated fans in Los Angeles and beyond, so much so that when the Dodgers finally won a title in 2020, the baseball world exulted in his triumph. The Last of His Kind traces Kershaw&’s path from a boyhood fractured by divorce to his development as one of the most-heralded pitching prospects in Texas history to his emergence in Los Angeles as the spiritual heir to Sandy Koufax. But the book also charts Kershaw&’s place in baseball&’s changing landscape, as his own stubbornness butted against the game&’s evolution. The story of baseball in the 21st century can be told through Kershaw&’s career, from his apprenticeship with icons like Joe Torre and Greg Maddux, to his wary relationship with the implementation of analytics, to his victimhood in the 2017 sign-stealing scandal at the hands of the Houston Astros. The game has changed so much during Kershaw&’s illustrious career. To understand how baseball is played today, and how it got that way, you must understand the journey of Clayton Kershaw.
These Songs I Know By Heart
by Erin BrubacherMarried and divorced in her 20s, looking for friendship in her 30s, and contemplating pregnancy at 40, our narrator wonders if she's going through life out of order. But Alice, The Turtle, The Kid, and other beloveds show her that motherhood is more than giving birth, art is never finished, and love is not linear. Through a three-day canoe trip, chance encounters, fierce female friendship, step-parenting, IVF, pandemic isolation, and quiet moments between humans, These Songs I Know By Heart weaves vignettes of everyday mythology into an absorbing and honest meditation on the connections in our lives. With razor-sharp reflection, humour, and most of all love, we are reminded that there's no formula to life and that instead, we must celebrate what makes the small moments of our lives extraordinary.
With Love, Mommie Dearest: The Making of an Unintentional Camp Classic
by A. Ashley Hoff Bruce VilanchWhen she died in 1977, Joan Crawford was remembered as an icon of Hollywood's Golden Age—until publication the following year of her daughter's memoir, Mommie Dearest. Christina Crawford's book was an immediate bestseller, combining the infrequently discussed topic of child abuse with the draw of Hollywood drama. But when Paramount Pictures released the film version, starring Faye Dunaway as Crawford, it was panned, and it remains one of the most legendary critical bombs in film history. The lavish, big-screen adaptation drew unexpected laughter for its over the top the scenes depicting life in the Crawford household. Rarely have such good intentions been met with such ridicule. Despite this, the movie was a commercial success and remains, four decades later, immensely popular as an unintentional camp classic. Based on new interviews with people connected to the book and the film—from cast and crew members to industry insiders—With Love, Mommie Dearest details the writing and selling of Christina's book and the aftermath of its publication, as well as the filming of the motion picture, whose backstage drama almost surpassed what was viewed on-screen in the film.Hollywood historian A. Ashley Hoff explores the phenomenon, the camp, and the very real social issues addressed by the book and film.
Turn the Tide: How to Ignite a Cultural Awakening (From Revival to Reformation #2)
by Michael L. BrownWith the power of the Holy Spirit, we can change the world instead of the world changing us. This book will provide the information you need so you can be effectively used by the Holy Spirit to bring reformation to our society in the wake of spiritual revival. You will see how God can use you in both big and small ways to fulfill His great commission. How can a spiritual outpouring in the church become a cultural awakening in the society? How can we move from revival to reformation? In Turn the Tide, Michael L. Brown, PhD, lays out the key steps believers must take in this new season of revival—from the prayer room to the home, from the schools and universities to the worlds of finance and politics—to see lasting cultural change. Drawing from historical revivals and scriptural insights, Brown challenges readers to move beyond the boundaries of the church walls and engage in a transformative journey that permeates every aspect of society. He addresses topics such as how to: deepen our prayer base infiltrate the educational system be grounded in apologetics raise up godly leaders in politics engage the culture wars in the power of the Spirit walk in God&’s love and truth without becoming the morality police Turn the Tide is an urgent call to believers to rise above complacency and embrace their role as catalysts for societal transformation. It is an essential guidebook for those who long to see their homes, cities, and nations transformed by the power of God.
The Heart That Sees God: Following the Path to True Intimacy With the Father
by Frangipane FrancisFROM THE BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF THE THREE BATTLEGROUNDSWhat if everything you think you know about the Sermon on the Mount has only scratched the surface? This book will challenge you to embrace the process of change so that you can live an authentic, fulfilled, and intimate life with God. The Sermon on the Mount is more than a list of blessings—it&’s the recipe to becoming who God created you to be. Francis Frangipane invites you to remove the blinders from your heart and take a fresh new look at the only full sermon of Jesus ever recorded. Revisit Jesus's teaching and discover the amazing and life-transforming truths hidden behind the words He shared as He saw the multitudes gathering that day and led them on a journey from seeing their own needs to seeing God. Known for messages that lead you straight to the heart of God and deepen your relationship with Him, Frangipane&’s writing not only reveals the mysteries of Jesus&’s sermon he also reveals the true condition of your heart as he challenges you to embrace the process of change that is the only way to live the authentic, fulfilling, intimate Christian life you&’ve always wanted to live. Jesus never intended for us to think of this sermon as a list of blessings; He intended it as a progression of spiritual realities that leads us to become all God wants us to be. Rediscover Jesus&’s words and begin the journey that will transform your life and change your world.
A Journey Into Divine Love: A Revelation of the Song of Songs
by Rabbi Kirt SchneiderWhat if the point of the cross wasn&’t just to be saved but to be loved? After reading this book you will see the purpose and power behind a deep and meaningful relationship with Christ. You will find the spiritual refreshment you need to walk forward in your faith knowing how great God&’s love for you truly is. Rabbi Kirt A. Schneider, host of Discovering the Jewish Jesus, draws from his deep understanding of Scripture to unlock the mysteries of one of the most beautiful portions of God&’s Word—the Song of Songs. In what he considers one of the most important teachings the Lord has ever given him, Rabbi Schneider helps readers discover new depths of intimacy with the Lord and better understand how much God loves them by showing how the Song of Songs (or the Song of Solomon) is not just a poetic love story but also a prophetic message of God's love for His church. With practical guidance and insightful analysis, Rabbi Schneider illuminates the layers of meaning and symbolism in the Song of Songs, revealing the profound truths it holds for our spiritual lives today. Whether they are seeking to deepen their relationship with God or simply want to better appreciate the beauty of this ancient text, A Journey Into Divine Love is a powerful tool for personal transformation and spiritual renewal.
Neo-Nazi Terrorism and Countercultural Fascism: The Origins and Afterlife of James Mason’s Siege (Routledge Studies in Fascism and the Far Right)
by Spencer SunshineA new wave of aspiring neo-Nazi terrorists has arisen—including the infamous Atomwaffen Division. And they have a bible: James Mason’s Siege, which praises terrorism, serial killers, and Charles Manson. Neo-Nazi Terrorism and Countercultural Fascism, based on years of archival work and interviews, documents for the first time the origins of Siege.First, it shows how Mason’s vision arose from debates by 1970s neo-Nazis who splintered off the American Nazi Party/National Socialist White People's Party and spun off a terrorist faction. Second, it unveils how four 1980s countercultural figures—musicians Boyd Rice and Michael Moynihan, Feral House publisher Adam Parfrey, and Satanist Nikolas Schreck—discovered, promoted, and published Mason. Neo-Nazi Terrorism and Countercultural Fascism explores a previously overlooked period and unearths the hidden connections between a countercultural clique and violent neo-Nazis—which together have set the template for today’s Neo-nazi terrorist underground.It is obligatory reading for those interested in contemporary terrorism, postwar countercultures, and the history of the U.S. Far Right and neo-Nazism.
Sport Cyberpsychology
by Olivia A. HurleyThe new edition of Sport Cyberpsychology is the only textbook in this field that provides a detailed overview of theories, concepts and research findings specifically related to the discipline of sport cyberpsychology. Post-pandemic, this new edition explores the vast psychological impact technology has on athletes' thoughts, emotions and preparations for their sport, as well as the role technology plays in sport consulting, officiating and social interactions. It covers topics that include performance-enhancing technologies, social media use by athletes and sport personnel (e.g., sport officials) and the role of technology in sport psychology consulting. Problematic behaviours athletes may encounter or engage in within the online world, such as their experiences with cyberbullying and online gambling are also discussed.This second edition includes a review of the latest esports research and activities that are gaining global popularity. The final chapter presents some new research horizons in the field of sport cyberpsychology. The book includes a range of helpful features including case studies, open-ended discussion questions, suggestions for future research studies and extensive reference lists.Accessibly written, this edition of Sport Cyberpsychology offers a one-stop, engaging resource for students and instructors alike. It is important reading for students of sport psychology, cyberpsychology, sport coaching, sport officiating and sport technology, as well as coaches, traditional athletes, esports athletes, sport scientists and performers in areas such as dance, the arts, the military and medicine.
Space and Play in Japanese Videogame Arcades (Routledge Contemporary Japan Series)
by Jérémie Pelletier-GagnonThis book presents a scholarly investigation of the development and culture of Japanese videogame arcades, both from a historical and contemporary point of view.Providing an overview of the historical evolution of public amusement spaces from the early rooftop amusement spaces from the early nineteenth century to the modern multi‑floor and interconnected arcade complexes that characterize the urban fabric of contemporary Japan, the book argues that arcade videogames and their associated practices must be examined in the context in which they are played, situated in the interrelation between the game software, the cabinets as material conditions of play, and the space of the venue that frames the experience. Including three case studies of distinct and significant game centres located in Tokyo and Kyoto, the book addresses of play in public, including the notion of performance and observation as play practices, spatial appropriation, as well as the compartmentalization of the play experience.In treating videogames as sets of circumstances, the book identifies the opportunities for ludic practices that videogame arcades provide in Japan. As such, it will appeal to students and scholars of Game Studies and Digital Media Studies, as well as those of Japanese Culture and Society.
Thinking About Medicine: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Healthcare
by David MisselbrookThis introduction to the philosophy of medicine surveys the landscape of western philosophy as it pertains to healthcare in an accessible way. Written by a doctor for doctors and other health professionals, framing the 'toolbox' of philosophy within the community of medicine, it encourages examination of the implicit assumptions made in the construction of medical knowledge and practice.Taking the reader step by step through the concepts that underpin modern philosophy, they will be challenged to reflect upon the premises within clinical practice which might benefit from scrutiny and challenge, including the nature of scientific knowledge, the limits of our biomedical model, the cultural and relational context, and the failure to recognise or manage adequately the fact/value distinction in medicine and healthcare.The book is an ideal textbook for students of medicine and medical philosophy and will also be of interest to bioethicists, medical sociologists, clinical commissioners and to practicing clinicians in medicine and the allied health professions seeking to improve their understanding of philosophy and ethics and sharpen their critical thinking skills.
Theory of Obligations in International Law (Routledge Research in International Law)
by Cezary MikExamining the fulfilment of international obligations by subjects of this law, this book explores the normative and functional links between the sources and rules of international law on the one hand, and the responsibility for violating international law on the other. In the sphere of law-making, the theory of obligations allows for a more precise and considered formulation of international obligations. It has the potential to enable subjects of international law to behave more rationally, allowing deeper reflection on whether to take on obligations and how to properly perform them. This book proposes a new approach to the issue of the proper operation of international law, with the theory of obligations at its heart. Linking the institutions and concepts of international law into a rational whole, the book offers an analysis of the operation of international law and the behaviour of its subjects to develop a framework for ensuring the ultimate effectiveness of international law. Analysing sources of law including treaties and common law, alongside the resolutions of international organisations, this book demonstrates the practical application of the subject with reference to the jurisprudence of international courts and other bodies. The volume will be of interest to scholars, students, and practitioners concerned with international law – its creation, performance, application, compliance, and enforcement.
Energy Law and the Sustainable Development Goals: Host Government Instruments for Sustainability in Oil and Gas Operations (Routledge Research in Energy Law and Regulation)
by Eduardo G Pereira Thomas L Muinzer Patrick R BakerThe UN Sustainable Development Goals are an ambitious agenda for environmental sustainability, economic development, and social transformation. The SDGs include targets for governments, in partnership with private industry and communities, to improve access to affordable and reliable energy, reduce inequality, protect natural resources, and invest in transparent legal institutions and resilient infrastructure. Although transitioning energy systems towards a low-carbon future is a core aspect of the SDGs, the International Energy Agency anticipates that oil and gas will remain a significant component of the global energy mix for some time. Host Government Instruments are tools which governments use to grant oil and gas companies permission to develop state-owned resources. In addition to bringing substantial resources into governments, these HGIs often also include environmental commitments as well as commitments to local hiring, stakeholder engagement, and investment in economic development programmes. The different structures of HGIs and their precise terms and conditions are crucial determinants of the sustainability of oil and gas operations conducted thereunder. This book addresses how governments can use HGIs to advance the SDGs. Part I introduces the SDGs and the legal institutions and governance related to HGIs, including in relation to international energy development, international environmental treaties, the Paris Agreement, and human rights regimes. Part II examines specific provisions within HGIs and regulatory systems which relate to the oil and gas sector and SDGs. It provides case studies to illustrate approaches to HGIs and to identify opportunities for host governments and international oil and gas companies to advance the SDGs. The book concludes with a summary of recommendations regarding how host governments, in partnership with the oil and gas industry, can use HGIs to advance economic development and sustainability goals, and advances potential insights towards development of new and renewable resources.
Revisiting Social Theory: Challenges and Possibilities (Routledge Studies in Social and Political Thought)
by D. V. KumarThis book revisits social theory with a view to highlighting certain essential features of ‘good’ social theory: its ability to raise certain questions, its explanatory power, its critical and reflexive interrogation of concepts, its search for objectivity, its concern to make sense of empirical data and its aim of projecting some degree of generality and abstraction. With particular attention to issues of nationalism, democracy, civil society, state, feminism, neoliberalism, minority rights, environment and North-East Indian society, it considers whether new and more relevant theoretical questions need to be asked.It will therefore appeal to scholars of social theory and political sociology with interests in new approaches to social theory and the development of local or ‘indigenous’ social thought.
The Routledge Handbook of Megachurches (Routledge Handbooks in Religion)
by Afe Adogame Chad M. Bauman Damaris Parsitau Jeaney YipThe Routledge Handbook of Megachurches provides a survey of global megachurch phenomena, with an international slate of authors introducing existing and emerging research on a wide variety of relevant topics.Over the past decade, the field of megachurch studies has matured and become global in its scope and orientation. The Handbook offers 33 chapters by top scholars in the field, focusing in particular on: The location, demographic nature, and transnational connections of megachurches. Megachurch worship, hermeneutics, and theology (in theory and practice). Megachurch institutional dynamics. The various ways that megachurches have both influenced and been influenced by their social contexts in terms of class, age, gender, sexuality, and pop culture. The Handbook's interdisciplinary orientation makes it essential reading for sociologists, political scientists, anthropologists, media specialists, pop culture observers, business strategists, leadership consultants, marketing analysts, scholars of religion, and Christian historians, theologians, and missiologists. Experienced scholars of megachurches will gain valuable insight into aspects of megachurch research beyond their own specializations. Scholars new to the field will find the chapters useful as signposts for where to begin their own academic exploration. Christian pastors and laypeople will learn more about this increasingly prominent and influential form of their faith.
Islamic Finance and Sustainable Development: A Global Framework for Achieving Sustainable Impact Finance (Islamic Business and Finance Series)
by Mohd Ma’Sum Billah Rusni Hassan Razali Haron Nor Razinah Mohd ZainThe interest in improving Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) outcomes among stakeholders of Islamic banking and finance has become front and centre in the discussions relating to Islamic sustainable finance.This book offers an expansive overview of the relevant issues, global initiatives and trends in the management, governance, and operation of Islamic sustainable impact finance. It identifies the models and mechanisms required to achieve sustainable impact finance in the context of Islamic investment and project development and collects and observes the latest approaches in maintaining and fulfilling the principles of Shariah-compliance in Sustainable Development Goals and Environmental, Social and Governance-oriented projects. The book also explores conventional financing instruments, which are being used in modern practice.While Islamic sustainable finance provides a positive change in the Islamic banking and finance industry globally, implementing it is not without its challenges. Such challenges, such as the fulfilment of Shariah-compliance requirements, both legally and jurisprudentially, and the application and development of modern innovative products and hybrid models of classical products are highlighted and addressed in the book. The book delves into the current management practices of Islamic banking and finance, which promote Islamic sustainable impact finance and outlines strategies for meeting sustainable investments and projects. Other factors, such as the latest technology, regulations and social, political and economic policies are also considered. Evidence is provided via case studies from selected countries that participate actively in the Islamic banking and finance industry globally.The book will attract a wide audience from researchers, scholars, and students to stakeholders of Islamic banking and finance, regulators, policy makers and Shariah-compliant practitioners.
Progressive Intertextual Practice In Modern And Contemporary Literature (Routledge Studies in Contemporary Literature)
by Katherine Ebury Christin M. MulliganThis edited volume aims to reposition intertextuality in relation to recent trends in critical practice. Inspired by the work of Sara Ahmed in particular, our authors explore and reconfigure classic theories of authorship, influence and the text (including those by Roland Barthes, Michel Foucault and Harold Bloom), updating these conversations to include intersectionality specifically, broadly understood to include gendered, racial and other forms of social justice including disability, and the progressive impact of the transmission and transformation of texts. This diverse volume includes discussions of major canonical works such as James Joyce’s Ulysses alongside the recent contemporary literature by authors such as Siri Husvedt and Maggie O’Farrell, as well as theoretical interventions. This volume also engages with how intertextuality can facilitate interdisciplinary and ekphrastic thinking and representation, as the inspiration of music and the visual arts for texts and their transmission is addressed. The choice of intertexts become deliberately political, ethical and artistic signifiers for the authors discussed in this volume, and our contributors are thus enabled to address topics ranging from visual impairment to Shakespearean motherhood to the influence of Jazz culture on writing on the Northern Irish Troubles.
First Love: Essays on Friendship
by Lilly DancygerA bold, poignant essay collection that treats women&’s friendships as the love stories they truly are, from the critically acclaimed author of Negative Space&“Fiercely felt and finely etched.&”—Leslie Jamison, New York Times bestselling author of The Empathy ExamsLilly Dancyger always thought of her closest friendships as great loves, complex and profound as any romance. When her beloved cousin was murdered just as both girls were entering adulthood, Dancyger&’s devotion to the women in her life took on a new urgency—a desire to hold her friends close while she still could. In First Love, this urgency runs through a striking exploration of the bonds between women, from the intensity of adolescent best friendship and fluid sexuality to mothering and chosen family.Each essay in this incisive collection is grounded in a close female friendship in Dancyger&’s life, reaching outward to dissect cultural assumptions about identity and desire, and the many ways women create space for each other in a world that wants us small. Seamlessly weaving personal experience with literature and pop culture—ranging from fairy tales to true crime, from Anaïs Nin and Sylvia Plath to Heavenly Creatures and the &“sad girls&” of Tumblr—Dancyger&’s essays form a kaleidoscopic story of a life told through friendships, and an expansive interrogation of what it means to love each other.Though friendship will never be enough to keep us safe from the dangers of the world, Dancyger reminds us that love is always worth the risk, and that when tragedy strikes, it&’s our friends who will help us survive. In First Love, these essential bonds get their due.