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Durkheim and the Birth of Economic Sociology
by Philippe SteinerAn illuminating account of the development of Durkheim's economic sociologyÉmile Durkheim's work has traditionally been viewed as a part of sociology removed from economics. Rectifying this perception, Durkheim and the Birth of Economic Sociology is the first book to provide an in-depth look at the contributions made to economic sociology by Durkheim and his followers. Philippe Steiner demonstrates the relevance of economic factors to sociology and shows how the Durkheimians inform today's economic systems.Steiner argues that there are two stages in Durkheim's approach to the economy—a sociological critique of political economy and a sociology of economic knowledge. In his early works, Durkheim critiques economists and their categories, and tries to analyze the division of labor from a social rather than economic perspective. From the mid-1890s onward, Durkheim's preoccupations shifted to questions of religion and the sociology of knowledge. Durkheim's disciples, such as Maurice Halbwachs and François Simiand, synthesized and elaborated on Durkheim's first-stage arguments, while his ideas on religion and the economy were taken up by Marcel Mauss. Steiner indicates that the ways in which the Durkheimians rooted the sociology of economic knowledge in the educational system allows for an invaluable perspective on the role of economics in modern society, similar to the perspective offered by Max Weber's work.Recognizing the power of the Durkheimian approach, Durkheim and the Birth of Economic Sociology assesses the effect of this important thinker and his successors on one of the most active fields in contemporary sociology.
The Most Arrogant Man in France: Gustave Courbet and the Nineteenth-Century Media Culture
by Petra ten-Doesschate ChuA comprehensive reinterpretation of the pioneering and media-savvy artistThe modern artist strives to be independent of the public's taste—and yet depends on the public for a living. Petra Chu argues that the French Realist Gustave Courbet (1819-1877) understood this dilemma perhaps better than any painter before him. In The Most Arrogant Man in France, Chu tells the fascinating story of how, in the initial age of mass media and popular high art, this important artist managed to achieve an unprecedented measure of artistic and financial independence by promoting his work and himself through the popular press.The Courbet who emerges in Chu's account is a sophisticated artist and entrepreneur who understood that the modern artist must sell—and not only make—his art. Responding to this reality, Courbet found new ways to "package," exhibit, and publicize his work and himself. Chu shows that Courbet was one of the first artists to recognize and take advantage of the publicity potential of newspapers, using them to create acceptance of his work and to spread an image of himself as a radical outsider. Courbet introduced the independent show by displaying his art in popular venues outside the Salon, and he courted new audiences, including women.And for a time Courbet succeeded, achieving a rare freedom for a nineteenth-century French artist. If his strategy eventually backfired and he was forced into exile, his pioneering vision of the artist's career in the modern world nevertheless makes him an intriguing forerunner to all later media-savvy artists.
The Burnt Book: Reading the Talmud
by Marc-Alain OuakninA profound look at what it means for new generations to read and interpret ancient religious texts In this book, rabbi and philosopher Marc-Alain Ouaknin offers a postmodern reading of the Talmud. Combining traditional learning and contemporary thought, Ouaknin dovetails discussions of spirituality and religious practice with such concepts as deconstruction, intertextuality, undecidability, multiple voicing, and eroticism in the Talmud. On a broader level, he establishes a dialogue between Hebrew tradition and the social sciences, which draws, for example, on the works of Lévinas, Blanchot, and Jabès as well as Derrida. The Burnt Book represents the innovative thinking that has come to be associated with a school of French Jewish studies, headed by Lévinas and dedicated to new readings of traditional texts.The Talmud, transcribed in 500 C.E., is shown to be a text that refrains from dogma and instead encourages the exploration of its meanings. A vast compilation of Jewish oral law, the Talmud also contains rabbinical commentaries that touch on everything from astronomy to household life. Examining its literary methods and internal logic, Ouaknin explains how this text allows readers to transcend its authority in that it invites them to interpret, discuss, and recreate their religious tradition. An in-depth treatment of selected texts from the oral law and commentary goes on to provide a model for secular study of the Talmud in light of contemporary philosophical issues.Throughout, the author emphasizes the self-effacing quality of a text whose worth can be measured by the insights that live on in the minds of its interpreters long after they have closed the book. He points out that the burning of the Talmud in anti-Judaic campaigns throughout history has, in fact, been an unwitting act of complicity with Talmudic philosophy and the practice of self-effacement. Ouaknin concludes his discussion with the story of the Hasidic master Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav, who himself burned his life achievement—a work known by his students as "the Burnt Book." This story leaves us with the question, should all books be destroyed in order to give birth to thought and renew meaning?
The Anatomy of Nature: Geology and American Landscape Painting, 1825-1875
by Rebecca BedellAn illuminating account of the interplay between science, religion, and nature in nineteenth-century landscape paintingGeology was in vogue in nineteenth-century America. People crowded lecture halls to hear geologists speak, and parlor mineral cabinets signaled social respectability and intellectual engagement. This was also the heyday of the Hudson River School, and many prominent landscape painters avidly studied geology. Thomas Cole, Asher Durand, Frederic Church, John F. Kensett, William Stanley Haseltine, Thomas Moran, and other artists read scientific texts, participated in geological surveys, and carried rock hammers into the field to collect fossils and mineral specimens. As they crafted their paintings, these artists drew on their geological knowledge to shape new vocabularies of landscape elements resonant with moral, spiritual, and intellectual ideas.Rebecca Bedell contributes to current debates about the relationship among art, science, and religion by exploring this phenomenon. She shows that at a time when many geologists sought to disentangle their science from religion, American artists generally sidestepped the era's more materialist science, particularly Darwinism. They favored a conservative, Christianized geology that promoted scientific study as a way to understand God. Their art was both shaped by and sought to preserve this threatened version of the science. And, through their art, they advanced consequential social developments, including westward expansion, scenic tourism, the emergence of a therapeutic culture, and the creation of a coherent and cohesive national identity.This major study of the Hudson River School offers an unprecedented account of the role of geology in nineteenth-century landscape painting. It yields fresh insights into some of the most influential works of American art and enriches our understanding of the relationship between art and nature, and between science and religion, in the nineteenth century. It will draw a broad audience of art historians, Americanists, historians of science, and readers interested in the American natural landscape.
Atlantic Shorelines: Natural History and Ecology
by Mark D. BertnessA comprehensive introduction to the natural history and intertidal ecology of East Coast shorelinesAtlantic Shorelines is an introduction to the natural history and ecology of shoreline communities on the East Coast of North America. Writing for a broad audience, Mark Bertness examines how distinctive communities of plants and animals are generated on rocky shores and in salt marshes, mangroves, and soft sediment beaches on Atlantic shorelines.The book provides a comprehensive background for understanding the basic principles of intertidal ecology and the unique conditions faced by intertidal organisms. It describes the history of the Atlantic Coast, tides, and near-shore oceanographic processes that influence shoreline organisms; explains primary production in shoreline systems, intertidal food webs, and the way intertidal organisms survive; sets out the unusual reproductive challenges of living in an intertidal habitat, and the role of recruitment in shaping intertidal communities; and outlines how biological processes like competition, predation, facilitation, and ecosystem engineering generate the spatial structure of intertidal communities.The last part of the book focuses on the ecology of the three main shoreline habitats—rocky shores, soft sediment beaches, and shorelines vegetated with salt marsh plants and mangroves—and discusses in detail conservation issues associated with each of them.
True Wealth: 9 Lessons from a Grandfather on Happiness and Abundance
by Ken HondaNew lessons on success and abundance from the author of the international bestseller Happy Money, founded on Zen principles and delivered in a spirit of compassion, freedom, and joy.Embark on a transformative adventure with Kei as he unravels his grandfather&’s legacy, one letter at a time.Upon the passing of his grandfather, Kei inherits a series of nine letters covering 80 years of his grandfather&’s learned wisdom. Each unveils an important lesson about what&’s most important in life—achieving a joyous and successful life beyond material wealth.Motivated by these letters, 20-year-old Kei begins an introspective international journey—from Tokyo to Hokkaido to Bangkok, Bhutan, and beyond—to learn about his grandfather&’s past. Readers follow Kei along this path as he absorbs the essence of each lesson and its fundamental value.Readers will explore:· The value of failure to propel us forward· The power of determination to chart our course· The opportunity we have, every day, to choose actions that will change our lives· The intricate balance between money and true abundance· And much moreWith every letter, Kei's worldview expands, leading him closer to understanding his grandfather's legacy and the profound meaning of true wealth. The letters invite readers to contemplate the meaning of wealth beyond financial abundance and propel them toward a life rich in happiness, purpose, and authentic connection.
Restore: The Life-Changing Power of Right-Away Wellness
by Jim Donnelly Steve WelchDiscover how cutting-edge treatments are helping people of all ages reverse common health issues and live longer, healthier, pain-free lives—and how you can start your new life today.Pain, disease, and complications of aging are universal problems, but &“right-away&” wellness is far more accessible than most people realize. Restore is a preventative approach to wellness based on a simple principle: therapies that make you feel better in the short term lead to consistent, long-term improvement. You don&’t need a cryo chamber to reap the benefits of cryotherapy. This book will teach you how to get the most from these techniques, whether or not you have access to specialized treatments. With clear, supporting science, Restore Hyper Wellness cofounders Jim Donnelly and Steve Welch share the real-life success stories behind paradigm-changing technologies—and how to use the power of those technologies in your everyday life for an immediate, palpable boost.This much-needed guide will change the way you think about your health, arming you with insider knowledge such as:The science and history of cryotherapy, red light therapy, nutrient-infused IV drips, and infrared saunasHow restorative practices are used to relieve and even reverse major health issues, including chronic pain, arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer&’s, and anxietySimple adjustments to everyday factors—like sleep, movement, oxygen, light, and connection—that can lead to tangible changes in energy, mood, and overall healthHow to leverage proven treatments for a lasting healthspan and lifespanNo matter who you are, where you live, or how old you are, Restore highlights practices and modalities that can help you treat and prevent health struggles, level up your wellness, and live longer, so you can do more of what you love.
The Worst Perfect Moment
by Shivaun PlozzaEqual parts hilarious and heartbreaking, this inventive queer romance asks what it means to be truly happy.Tegan Masters is dead. She&’s sixteen and she&’s dead and she&’s standing in the parking lot of the Marybelle Motor Lodge, the single most depressing motel in all of New Jersey and the place where Tegan spent what she remembers as the worst weekend of her life. In the front office, she meets Zelda, an annoyingly cute teen angel with a snarky sense of humor and an epic set of wings. According to Zelda, Tegan is in heaven, where every person inhabits an exact replica of their happiest memory. For Tegan, Zelda insists, that place is the Marybelle—creepy minigolf course, sad breakfast buffet, filthy swimming pool, and all. Tegan has a few complaints about this. When Tegan takes these concerns up with Management, she and Zelda are sent on a whirlwind tour through Tegan&’s memories, in search of clues to help her understand what mattered most to her in life. If Zelda fails to convince Tegan (and Management) that the Marybelle was the site of Tegan's perfect moment, both girls face dire eternal consequences. But if she succeeds…they just might get their happily-ever-afterlife. A tender and edgy take on coming of age in the afterlife."Filled with depth and wit, despite its dark tone . . . exceptionally well written . . . A worthy read about a short life brimming with possibility." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review"Plozza (Meet Me at the Moon Tree) strikes an expert balance between poignancy and irreverence, tackling topics such as death, parental abandonment, and self-worth in this queer romantic comedy that&’s as tender as a bruise." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Uni's First Recital (Step into Reading)
by Amy Krouse RosenthalFans of the uplifting Uni the Unicorn book series will love this story about not giving up! This relatable Step 2 Reader shares the familiar anxieties of performing in front of a crowd! Perfect for beginner readers who can recognize familiar words and are working on sounding out new ones.It is almost time for Uni's first dance recital! Uni has practiced but is still worried about forgetting the routine. How will Uni tell left from right and remember the steps when performing on stage? Uni fans new and old will be excited to join this bighearted unicorn on a new adventure that shares the power of hard work and practice—plus a little help from mom and unicorn magic—to feel confident!Step 2 Readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. They are perfect for children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.Look for Uni Step into Reading stories, including:Uni the Unicorn Bakes a CakeUni the Unicorn Goes to SchoolUni's First Sleepoverand more!
Smart Management: How Simple Heuristics Help Leaders Make Good Decisions in an Uncertain World
by Jochen Reb Shenghua Luan Gerd GigerenzerWhy successful leaders must embrace simple strategies in an increasingly uncertain and complex world.Making decisions is one of the key tasks of managers, leaders, and professionals. In Smart Management, Jochen Reb, Shenghua Luan, and Gerd Gigerenzer demonstrate how business leaders can utilize heuristics—simple decision-making strategies adapted to the task at hand. In a world that has become increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA), the authors make the case against complex analytical methods that quickly reach their limits. This against-the-grain approach leads to decisions that are not only faster but also more accurate, transparent, and easier to learn about, communicate, and teach. Smart Management offers an evidence-based yet practical discussion of how business leaders can use smart heuristics to make good decisions in a VUCA world.Building on the fast-and-frugal heuristics program, Smart Management demonstrates the efficacy of heuristic decision making in a twofold approach. First, it introduces the concept of ecological rationality, which prescribes the environmental conditions under which specific heuristics work well. Second, the book describes a repertoire of heuristics, referred to as the adaptive toolbox, that leaders, managers, and professionals can develop and rely on to make a variety of decisions, such as on business strategy, negotiation, and personnel selection. The toolbox not only showcases the practical usefulness of these heuristics but also inspires readers to discover and develop their own smart heuristics.
Optimizing Play: Why Theorycrafting Breaks Games and How to Fix It
by Christopher A. PaulAn unexpected take on how games work, what the stakes are for them, and how game designers can avoid the traps of optimization.The process of optimization in games seems like a good thing—who wouldn&’t want to find the most efficient way to play and win? As Christopher Paul argues in Optimizing Play, however, optimization can sometimes risk a tragedy of the commons, where actions that are good for individuals jeopardize the overall state of the game for everyone else. As he explains, players inadvertently limit play as they theorycraft, seeking optimal choices. The process of developing a meta, or the most effective tactic available, structures decision making, causing play to stagnate. A &“stale&” meta then creates a perception that a game is solved and may lead players to turn away from the game.Drawing on insights from game studies, rhetoric, the history of science, ecology, and game theory literature, Paul explores the problem of optimization in a range of video games, including Overwatch, FIFA/EA Sports FC, NBA 2K, Clash Royale, World of Warcraft, and League of Legends. He also pulls extensively from data analytics in sports, where the problem has progressed further and is even more intractable than it is in video games, given the money sports teams invest to find an edge. Finally, Paul offers concrete and specific suggestions for how games can be developed to avoid the trap set by optimization run amok.
Measurements-Based Radar Signature Modeling: An Analysis Framework (MIT Lincoln Laboratory Series)
by Joseph T. Mayhan John A. TabaczynskiA high-level text that synthesizes diverse research areas for characterizing objects (targets) from radar data and establishes a novel analysis framework for a class of signal processing techniques useful for high-resolution radar signature modeling.The only text to integrate a diverse body of work on characterizing objects (targets) from radar data into a common analysis framework, this book brings together the results of research papers and technical reports providing improved resolution and precision in radar target signature modeling and target motion solutions. It offers comprehensive coverage related to basic radar concepts, signal representation, and radar measurements; the development of advanced analysis tools essential for high-resolution signature modeling; the development of novel wideband and narrowband radar imaging techniques; the application of 2D spectral estimation theory to wideband signal processing; ultra-wideband scattering phenomenology and sparse-band sensor data fusion; and the integration of field measurements into the radar signature modeling process. The analysis techniques developed in the text provide the framework for a novel approach, called measurements-based modeling (MBM), to model target signatures by incorporating measurement data into the signature model of the target. Extensive examples throughout compare the performance of the new techniques with that of conventional analysis techniques.The first systematic, comprehensive synthesis of wide-ranging research areas for characterizing targets from radar data A deeply researched, lucid presentation enriched by extensive illustrations and examples An essential reference for experts in radar and signal processing, professional engineers in related fields, and graduate students
Voices on the Margins: Inclusive Education at the Intersection of Language, Literacy, and Technology
by Yenda Prado Mark WarschauerA rich view of inclusive education at the intersection of language, literacy, and technology—drawing on case study research in a diverse full-inclusion US school before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.Despite advancing efforts at integration, the segregation of students with disabilities from their nondisabled peers persists. In the United States, 34 percent of all students with disabilities spend at least 20 percent of their instructional time in segregated classrooms. For students with intellectual or multiple disabilities, segregated placement soars to 80 percent. In Voices on the Margins, Yenda Prado and Mark Warschauer provide an ethnography of an extraordinary full-inclusion public charter school in the western United States—Future Visions Academy. And they ask: What does it mean to be inclusive in today&’s schools with their increasingly pervasive use of digital technologies?Voices on the Margins examines the ways digital technologies support inclusion and language and literacy practices for culturally and linguistically diverse children with and without disabilities. A wide range of qualitative data collected in the case study illuminates three central themes: (1) the kinds of social organization that allow a fully inclusive environment for children with disabilities to thrive, (2) the ways that digital technologies can be used to help students express their voice and agency, while developing language and literacy skills, and (3) the ways that digital technologies can be used to foster stronger networks and connections between students, teachers, staff, and parents.
The Adventures of Drip and Drop
by Jaimal YogisBeloved children&’s book authors Jaimal Yogis and Matthew Allen are back with a new children&’s book about how mindfulness begins with a leap of faith to feel alive againDrip and Drop are just a couple of care-free clouds floating on the breeze. But when Sky Dive Day hits, they're forced to discover what they're really made of (and yes, their names are a hint). Join Drip and Drop on this hilarious and heartwarming adventure as they struggle to embrace change, face their fears, and open their hearts while also getting a first-hand crash course in the water cycle.
The Witches of Bellinas: A Novel
by J. Nicole JonesA dreamy California Gothic about a woman who moves to the mysterious town of Bellinas to save her marriage, only to be swept up in a hedonistic cult that isn&’t what it seemsTansy and her husband Guy are the newest arrivals in Bellinas, a lush oasis tucked into the coast of northern California where a reclusive, creative community is beginning to take shape. Helmed by Guy&’s cousin Mia, a famous model -turned -wellness -luminary, and her tech mogul husband, the group renounces the outside world in pursuit of purity, fashioning their own rules about what to eat and how to live.Everything seems perfect in Bellinas: food is abundant, flowers are always in bloom, and nearby wildfires leave the town remarkably unscathed. While Guy is happy in their new lives, Tansy becomes more and more suspicious of the community and increasingly desperate to save her already-fragile marriage. And as lonely women have throughout the ages, she wants to believe in what may only be a beautiful lie.The Witches of Bellinas unfolds as a confession from Tansy, filled with anguish over the life, and sense of self, she&’s surrendered in her desperation to belong. In J. Nicole Jones&’s clever reimagining of cult power and groupthink, the question isn&’t why join, but rather, what happens when you understand the danger, but can&’t conceive of a way out?
Political Beliefs: A Philosophical Introduction
by Oliver TraldiAnyone who’s had an argument about politics with a friend may walk away wondering how this friend could possibly hold the beliefs they do. A few self-reflective people might even wonder about their own political beliefs after such an argument. This book is about the reasons that people have, and could have, for political beliefs: the evidence they might draw on, the psychological sources of their views, and the question of how we ought to form our political beliefs if we want to be rational.The book’s twenty-four chapters are divided into four larger parts, which cover the following: (1) the differences between political and other types of beliefs, (2) theories of political belief formation, (3) sources of our political beliefs and how we might evaluate them, and (4) contemporary phenomena – like polarization, fake news, and conspiracy theories – related to political beliefs. Along the way, the book addresses questions that will arise naturally for many readers, like: Does the news you choose to watch and your own social media leave you stuck in an “information bubble”? Are you committed to a certain ideology because of the history of your society? Are people who believe “fake news“ always acting irrationally? Does democracy do a good job of figuring out what’s true? Are some political beliefs good and some evil? As the book investigates these and other questions, it delves into technical, philosophical topics like epistemic normativity, the connection between belief and action, pragmatic encroachment, debunking arguments, and ideology critique. Chapter summaries and discussion questions will help students and all interested readers better grasp this new, important area on the border of politics and philosophy.Key Features Systematically covers the political turn in contemporary epistemology and integrates it with important work in other fields (like psychology and political science) In addition to deep coverage of the nature of political belief, includes material on the ethics of political belief and how we ought to form our beliefs Approaches topics that naturally interest students like political disagreement, fake news, conspiracy theories, and the morality of belief Provides a Conclusion and Discussion Questions at the end of each chapter, prompting student readers to think more clearly and deeply about the material they’ve read The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 International license.
Maneuverable Formation Control in Constrained Space (ISSN)
by Dongyu Li Xiaomei Liu Qinglei Hu Shuzhi GeInspired by the community behaviors of animals and humans, cooperative control has been intensively studied by numerous researchers in recent years. Cooperative control aims to build a network system collectively driven by a global objective function in a distributed or centralized communication network and shows great application potential in a wide domain. From the perspective of cybernetics in network system cooperation, one of the main tasks is to design the formation control scheme for multiple intelligent unmanned systems, facilitating the achievements of hazardous missions – e.g., deep space exploration, cooperative military operation, and collaborative transportation. Various challenges in such real-world applications are driving the proposal of advanced formation control design, which is to be addressed to bring academic achievements into real industrial scenarios. This book extends the performance of formation control beyond classical dynamic or stationary geometric configurations, focusing on formation maneuverability that enables cooperative systems to keep suitable spacial configurations during agile maneuvers. This book embarks on an adventurous journey of maneuverable formation control in constrained space with limited resources, to accomplish the exploration of an unknown environment. The investigation of the real-world challenges, including model uncertainties, measurement inaccuracy, input saturation, output constraints, and spatial collision avoidance, brings the value of this book into the practical industry, rather than being limited to academics.
Dominican American Politics: Immigrants, Activists, and Politicians (Routledge Research in American Politics and Governance)
by Jacqueline Jiménez PolancoIn this book, Jacqueline Jiménez Polanco examines the politics of empowerment of Dominican Americans in the United States. Covering the first two decades of the twenty-first century, Jiménez Polanco provides a new analytical perspective to understand the political development of a growing ethnic community that has been historically neglected in the studies of Latino/a/x political development and whose peculiar characteristics represent a paradigmatic case that debunks pervading theories about immigrant communities’ participation and representation in U.S. electoral politics. Rich archival research and interviews with key Dominican American leaders and activists shed light on how some patterns followed by Dominican Americans in their political empowerment correspond to those of other Latino/a/x communities, while other patterns distinctly diverge from that common trend. Dominican American Politics: Immigrants, Activists, and Politicians serves as a perfect companion for courses on Latino/a/x and Dominican studies and U.S. ethnic politics.
Emotionality: Heterosexual Love and Emotional Development in Popular Romance (Routledge Focus on Literature)
by Eirini ArvanitakiThis book focuses on the projections of romantic love and its progression in a selection of popular romance novels and identifies an innovation within the genre’s formula and structure. Taking into account Giddens’s notion of ‘confluent’ love, this book argues that two forms of love exist within these texts: romantic and confluent love. The analysis of these love variants suggests that a continuum emerges which signifies the complexity but also the formation and progressive nature of the protagonists’ love relationships. This continuum is divided into three stages: the pre-personal, semi-personal, and personal. The first phase connotes the introduction of the protagonists and describes the sexual attraction they experience for each other. The second phase refers to the initiation of the sexual interaction between the heroine and hero without any emotional involvement. The third and final phase begins when emotions such as jealousy, shame/guilt, anger, and self-sacrifice are awakened and acknowledged.
The Routledge Handbook of Autocratization (Routledge International Handbooks)
by Aurel Croissant and Luca TominiThe Routledge Handbook of Autocratization comprehensively and systematically explores the current understanding, and unchartered research paths, of autocratization.With wide-reaching regional coverage and expert analysis from Asia, North and South America, Europa, the Middle East, and North Africa, this handbook reveals cross-country, and cross-regional, analysis and insights and presents in-depth explanations and consequences of autocratization. Arranged in five thematic parts, chapters explore the basic aspects of conceptualization, theorization, and measurement of autocratization; the role of various political and non-political actors as perpetrators, supporters, bystanders, or defenders of democracy against autocratization processes; and the consequences across various policy fields. Showcasing cutting-edge research developments, the handbook illustrates the deeply complex nature of the field, examining important topics in need of renewed consideration at a time of growing concerns for democracy and the global spread of authoritarian challenges to democracy.The Routledge Handbook of Autocratization will be a key reference for those interested in, and studying authoritarianism, democratization, human rights, governance, democracy and more broadly comparative politics, and regional/area studies.Chapter 2 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.
Fractional Calculus for Skeptics I: The Fractal Paradigm (Fractional Order Thinking in Exploring the Frontiers of STEM)
by Bruce J. West YangQuan ChenThis book is the first of its kind on fractional calculus (FC), dedicated to advocating for FC in STEM education and research.Fractional calculus is increasingly used today, but there remains a core population of skeptics regarding the utility of this "new" calculus. This book is intended for those who are skeptical about the need for fractional calculus to describe dynamic complex networks and must be convinced of its use on a case-by-case basis. It is a one-stop resource to rapidly read and replace the appropriate skepticism with new knowledge. It offers compelling reasons from the perspectives of the physical, social, and life sciences as to why fractional calculus is needed when addressing the complexity of an underlying STEM phenomenon. The six chapters are accompanied by useful and essential appendices and chapter-end references. Each includes new (fractional-order) ways of thinking about statistics, complexity dynamics, and what constitutes a solution to a complexity science problem.The book will appeal to students and researchers in all STEM-related fields, such as engineering, physics, biology and biomedicine, climate change, big data, and machine learning. It is also suitable for general readers interested in these fields.
Hollywood Pride: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Representation and Perseverance in Film
by Alonso DuraldeFor generations, members of the LGBTQ+ community in Hollywood needed to be discreet about their lives but—make no mistake—they were everywhere, both in front of and behind the camera. On the eve of the twentieth century, in Thomas Edison&’s laboratory, one of the earliest attempts at a sound film depicted two men dancing together as a third plays the violin. It&’s only a few minutes long, but this cornerstone of early cinema captured a queer moment on film. It would not be the last. With Hollywood Pride, renowned film critic Alonso Duralde presents a history spanning from the dawn of cinema through the &“pansy craze&” of the 1930s and the New Queer Cinema of the 1990s, all the way up to today. He showcases the hard-working actors, writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, art directors, and choreographers whose achievements defined the American film industry and charts the evolution of LGBTQ+ storytelling itself—the way mainstream Hollywood decided it would portray (or erase) their lives and the narratives created by queer filmmakers who fought to tell those stories themselves. Along the way, readers will encounter a fascinating cast of characters, such as the first generation of queer actors, including J. Warren Kerrigan, Ramon Novarro, and William Haines. Early cinema pioneers like Alla Nazimova and F. W. Murnau helped shape the new medium of moving pictures. The sex symbols, both male (Rock Hudson, Tab Hunter, and Anthony Perkins) and female (Lizabeth Scott and Greta Garbo), lived under the threat of their private lives undermining their public personas. Underground filmmakers Kenneth Anger and John Waters made huge strides in LGBTQ+ representation with their off-off-Hollywood productions in the 1960s and &’70s. These screen legends paved the way for every openly queer figure in Hollywood today. Illustrated with more than 175 full-color and black-and-white images, Hollywood Pride points to the bright future of LGBTQ+ representation in cinema by revealing the story of the community&’s inclusion and erasure, its visibility and invisibility, and its triumphs and tragedies.
Yellowstone and Grand Teton’s Best Nature Walks: 29 Easy Ways to Explore the Parks' Ecology
by Roddy ScheerPlan out your trip on some of America's most beautiful natural wonders with this indispensable guide to the flora, fauna, geology, and hiking trails of Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. Step out of your car and right into nature! Yellowstone and Grand Teton&’s Best Nature Walks by Roddy Scheer guides you through simple hikes that feature the best of the park&’s rich ecology. Each entry starts with the brief description of the hike's level of difficulty—all are gentle to moderate and cover no more than two miles. Entries also include directions and clear descriptions of the flora, fauna, and geology you are likely to encounter along the way. Yellowstone and Grand Teton&’s Best Nature Walks is a must-have guide for outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, and tourists.
Beyond the Light Horizon: Book Three of the Lightspeed Trilogy (Lightspeed trilogy)
by Ken MacLeod'IF YOU LIKE SCIENCE FICTION YOU WILL LOVE THIS. . . A ROLLICKING GOOD READ' Scotsman on Beyond the Hallowed Sky'MACLEOD'S BEST BOOK TO DATE' SFX on Beyond the Hallowed SkyHumanity has taken to the stars, using faster-than-light travel to reach distant planets and new worlds. But in the far reaches of the galaxy, John Grant will discover a planet of humans who believe he has travelled not only through space to find them, but time.On Apis, the mysterious Fermi appear to have vanished, taking with them knowledge of the universe that humanity desires. But Marcus Owen, the robot AI now plagued with sentience, knows that the Fermi would not easily abandon the native life of Apis, and that they won't take kindly to mankind asserting dominance on a world that does not belong to them.Beyond the Light Horizon is the jaw-dropping conclusion to the Lightspeed trilogy from science fiction legend Ken MacLeod, a thrilling tale of politics, AI and the far reaches of space.Praise for Ken MacLeod:'An exceptional blend of international politics, hard science, and first contact' Michael Mammay, author of the Planetside series on Beyond the Hallowed Sky'MacLeod is up there with Banks and Hamilton as one of the British sci-fi authors you absolutely have to read' SFX'Prose as sleek and fast as the technology it describes. . . watch this man go global' Peter F. Hamilton on Star Fraction'Ken MacLeod has an enviable track record of extrapolating from current trends to produce mind-bending novels of ideas' GuardianAlso by Ken MacLeod:LightspeedBeyond the Hallowed SkyFall RevolutionThe Star FractionThe Stone CanalThe Cassini DivisionThe Sky RoadEngines of LightCosmonaut KeepDark LightEngine CityCorporation Wars TrilogyDissidenceInsurgenceEmergenceNovelsThe Human FrontNewton's WakeLearning the WorldThe Execution ChannelThe Restoration GameIntrusionDescent
The Naughty Nineties: The Triumph of the American Libido
by David FriendA sexual history of the 1990s when the Baby Boomers took over Washington, Hollywood, and Madison Avenue. A definitive look at the captains of the culture wars -- and an indispensable road map for understanding how we got to the Trump Teens.The Naughty Nineties: The Triumph of the American Libido examines the scandal-strafed decade when our public and private lives began to blur due to the rise of the web, reality television, and the wholesale tabloidization of pop culture. In this comprehensive and often hilarious time capsule, David Friend combines detailed reporting with first-person accounts from many of the decade's singular personalities, from Anita Hill to Monica Lewinsky, Lorena Bobbitt to Heidi Fleiss, Alan Cumming to Joan Rivers, Jesse Jackson to key members of the Clinton, Dole, and Bush teams. The Naughty Nineties also uncovers unsung sexual pioneers, from the enterprising sisters who dreamed up the Brazilian bikini wax to the scientists who, quite by accident, discovered Viagra.