- Table View
- List View
Responsible Use of AI in Military Systems (Chapman & Hall/CRC Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Series)
by Jan Maarten SchraagenArtificial Intelligence (AI) is widely used in society today. The (mis)use of biased data sets in machine learning applications is well‑known, resulting in discrimination and exclusion of citizens. Another example is the use of non‑transparent algorithms that can’t explain themselves to users, resulting in the AI not being trusted and therefore not being used when it might be beneficial to use it.Responsible Use of AI in Military Systems lays out what is required to develop and use AI in military systems in a responsible manner. Current developments in the emerging field of Responsible AI as applied to military systems in general (not merely weapons systems) are discussed. The book takes a broad and transdisciplinary scope by including contributions from the fields of philosophy, law, human factors, AI, systems engineering, and policy development.Divided into five sections, Section I covers various practical models and approaches to implementing military AI responsibly; Section II focuses on liability and accountability of individuals and states; Section III deals with human control in human‑AI military teams; Section IV addresses policy aspects such as multilateral security negotiations; and Section V focuses on ‘autonomy’ and ‘meaningful human control’ in weapons systems.Key Features: Takes a broad transdisciplinary approach to responsible AI Examines military systems in the broad sense of the word Focuses on the practical development and use of responsible AI Presents a coherent set of chapters, as all authors spent two days discussing each other’s work This book provides the reader with a broad overview of all relevant aspects involved with the responsible development, deployment and use of AI in military systems. It stresses both the advantages of AI as well as the potential downsides of including AI in military systems.
Learn R: As a Language (Chapman & Hall/CRC The R Series)
by Pedro J. AphaloLearning a computer language like R can be either frustrating, fun or boring. Having fun requires challenges that wake up the learner’s curiosity but also provide an emotional reward for overcoming them. The book is designed so that it includes smaller and bigger challenges, in what I call playgrounds, in the hope that all readers will enjoy their path to R fluency. Fluency in the use of a language is a skill that is acquired through practice and exploration. For students and professionals in the biological sciences, humanities and many applied fields, recognizing the parallels between R and natural languages should help them feel at home with R. The approach I use is similar to that of a travel guide, encouraging exploration and describing the available alternatives and how to reach them. The intention is to guide the reader through the R landscape of 2024 and beyond.What is new in the second edition? Text expanded by more than 25% to include additional R features and gentler and more detailed explanations Contains 24 new diagrams and flowcharts, seven new tables, and revised text and code examples for clarity All three indexes were expanded, and answers to 28 frequently asked questions added What will you find in this book? Programming concepts explained as they apply to current R Emphasis on the role of abstractions in programming Few prescriptive rules—mostly the author’s preferences together with alternatives Presentation of the R language emphasizing the “R way of doing things” Tutoring for “programming in the small” using scripts for data analysis Explanation of the differences between R proper and extensions for data wrangling The grammar of graphics is described as a language for the construction of data visualisations Examples of data exchange between R and the foreign world using common file formats Coaching to become an independent R user, capable of writing original scripts and solving future challenges
Polyamide Thin Film Composite Membranes for Water Applications: Advanced Characterization Techniques
by Ying Siew Khoo Jia Zheng Oor Woei Jye Lau Jia Wei ChewThe global market for polymeric membranes used in water and wastewater treatment is experiencing robust growth, with polyamide (PA) thin film composite (TFC) membranes dominating reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) processes. This monograph presents the latest trends in characterization techniques for PA TFC membranes and provides the most current and relevant information on these techniques tailored specifically for TFC NF and RO membranes.Features• Focuses solely on the characterization of PA TFC membranes used in water and wastewater treatment.• Provides the latest insights into employing advanced and emerging characterization tools to analyze the intrinsic properties of the PA selective layer and evaluate the overall performance of PA TFC membranes during filtration processes.• Extensively examines the strengths and limitations of each membrane characterization tool, offering in-depth analyses for readers.This book is an indispensable reference and practical guide for advanced students, researchers, and scientists involved in NF and RO membrane fabrication and characterization, including those in the fields of chemical, materials, and environmental engineering.
Regrets of the Dying: Stories and Wisdom That Remind Us How to Live
by Georgina Scull'A beautiful and moving reminder to appreciate life' Roxie Nafousi, author of Manifest'This book may on first glance appear to be about death and regrets, but is in reality about life and choices. It is warmly life-affirming ... A magnificent read that will inspire. I loved it' Sue Black 'So beautiful ... Perfectly written and judged ... A wonderful book that made me grasp life a little more firmly' Dr Chris van Tulleken A powerful, moving and hopeful book exploring what people regret most when they are dying and how this can help us lead a better life. If you were told you were going to die tomorrow, what would you regret?Ten years ago, without time to think or prepare, Georgina Scull ruptured internally. The doctors told her she could have died and, as Georgina recovered, she began to consider the life she had led and what she would have left behind.Paralysed by a fear of wasting what seemed like precious time but also fully ready to learn how to spend her second chance, Georgina set out to meet others who had faced their own mortality or had the end in sight.
Earthshot: How to Save Our Planet
by Colin Butfield Jonnie HughesThe Earthshot concept is simple: Urgency + Optimism = Action. We have ten years to turn the tide on the environmental crisis, but we need the world's best solutions and one shared goal - to save our planet.It's not too late, but we need collective action now. The Earthshots are unifying, ambitious goals for our planet which, if achieved by 2030, will improve life for all of us, for the rest of life on Earth, and for generations to come.They are to:· Protect and Restore Nature· Clean our Air· Revive our Oceans· Build a Waste-Free World· Fix our ClimateEARTHSHOT: HOW TO SAVE OUR PLANET is the first definitive book about how these goals can tackle the environmental crisis, from rainforests to coral reefs, via wilderness, cities and in our own homes. It is a critical contribution to the most important story of the decade.
The Adventures of Connor and Sparky
by David ArmitageDreams can be anything you want them to be, but imagine flying through space doing cartwheels, flying past a giant floating doggy biscuit, or realizing that planet Mars, was in fact a giant chocolate bar. But this is just part of the story. Connor used to be such a happy little boy, but world events had made him sad and confused. Despite the best efforts of his mum and dad, and all the people who loved him, to cheer him up, nothing seemed to work. A new plan was needed, but would it work? It didn’t take long for Connor and his new dog, Sparky, to become the best of friends. At night-time, sleeping soundly, the pair would begin to have the wildest of adventures together. Join them on their first as they race aliens around Saturn and try to beat the current intergalactic champion. Starting from the back, the dynamic duo would need all their skills, determination, and resilience, to cross the ‘Slime Line’ first, but could they, do it?
Say More: Consent Conversations for Teens
by Kitty StrykerTalking about consent can feel overwhelming, especially for young people who may be navigating their own boundaries for the first time. In Say More, consent culture activist Kitty Stryker guides teenagers in exploring what consent means to them. This timely and practical workbook allows the reader to work at their own pace and in their own way, with concrete examples from Kitty' s youth, prompts inspired by questions teens have asked her and comprehensive resources to encourage exploration and introspection.
Decentralized Sanitation and Water Treatment: Treatment in Cold Environments and Techno-Economic Aspects (Sustainable Industrial and Environmental Bioprocesses)
by Rajeshwar D Tyagi Ashok Pandey Patrick Drogui Bhoomika Yadav Sridhar Pilli Wong, Jonathan W.C.This book discusses decentralized sanitation for wastewater treatment and management in cold environments. It addresses the knowledge gap that exists between the understanding of centralized and decentralized wastewater treatment approaches. Decentralized Sanitation and Water Treatment: Treatment in Cold Environments and Techno-Economic Aspects covers the sustainability principles, various technologies involved, decentralized treatment in cold countries, and the economic and social feasibility of decentralized sanitation. It provides solutions for the conservation of water sources and target-oriented sanitation approaches for wastewater treatment and recycling.Key Features Reviews the current status, challenges, and future perspectives of decentralized water treatments Discusses decentralized sanitation, water, and wastewater treatment in cold environments and Northern countries Focuses on interdisciplinary approaches of sustainability and circular economy Covers life cycle and environment assessment of decentralized sanitation systems Reviews the environmental, techno-economic, and social aspects of decentralized sanitation systems The book is meant for professionals and researchers working on wastewater treatment, environmental engineering, and ecology.
An Introduction to Spatial Data Science with GeoDa: Volume 1: Exploring Spatial Data
by Luc AnselinThis book is the first in a two-volume series that introduces the field of spatial data science. It offers an accessible overview of the methodology of exploratory spatial data analysis. It also constitutes the definitive user’s guide for the widely adopted GeoDa open-source software for spatial analysis. Leveraging a large number of real-world empirical illustrations, readers will gain an understanding of the main concepts and techniques, using dynamic graphics for thematic mapping, statistical graphing, and, most centrally, the analysis of spatial autocorrelation. Key to this analysis is the concept of local indicators of spatial association, pioneered by the author and recently extended to the analysis of multivariate data.The focus of the book is on intuitive methods to discover interesting patterns in spatial data. It offers a progression from basic data manipulation through description and exploration to the identification of clusters and outliers by means of local spatial autocorrelation analysis. A distinctive approach is to spatialize intrinsically non-spatial methods by means of linking and brushing with a range of map representations, including several that are unique to the GeoDa software. The book also represents the most in-depth treatment of local spatial autocorrelation and its visualization and interpretation by means of GeoDa.The book is intended for readers interested in going beyond simple mapping of geographical data to gain insight into interesting patterns. Some basic familiarity with statistical concepts is assumed, but no previous knowledge of GIS or mapping is required.Key Features:• Includes spatial perspectives on cluster analysis• Focuses on exploring spatial data• Supplemented by extensive support with sample data sets and examples on the GeoDaCenter websiteThis book is both useful as a reference for the software and as a text for students and researchers of spatial data science.Luc Anselin is the Founding Director of the Center for Spatial Data Science at the University of Chicago, where he is also the Stein-Freiler Distinguished Service Professor of Sociology and the College, as well as a member of the Committee on Data Science. He is the creator of the GeoDa software and an active contributor to the PySAL Python open-source software library for spatial analysis. He has written widely on topics dealing with the methodology of spatial data analysis, including his classic 1988 text on Spatial Econometrics. His work has been recognized by many awards, such as his election to the U.S. National Academy of Science and the American Academy of Arts and Science.
Transformational Sales Leadership: Sales Leader Perspectives
by Christine A. Eastman Phill McGowan Beth RogersTransformational Sales Leadership: Sales Leader Perspectives offers viewpoints from 12 leaders across the global sales industry, all of which challenge conventional sales models and promote visionary ways of thinking about sales and leadership.The leaders who share their professional stories in the book are from organizations including SAP, Google, Nationwide US, and Royal Caribbean, as well as their own practices, and they represent a new breed of salespeople who are increasingly sought after by organizations which need to transform their practices. They run teams, drive analytics, and improve operational excellence, and their careers rise or fall on getting the right KPIs. Their stories address solutions to age-old sales problems, but they bring a new perspective to the sales function in the digital age. The book focuses on what sales leaders need in order to be innovative. Specifically, the book shows you how to:• Coach sales people through disruption;• Leverage the most valuable habits for success; and• Provide for meaning and purpose in the hyper-connected and volatile sales industry.If you are a sales professional looking to succeed in challenging scenarios, the journeys recounted in this book demonstrate how the landscape of sales has changed and how thinking about sales differently can help you transform your career.
Statics and Strength of Materials for Construction, Engineering Technology, and Architecture: Theory, Analysis, and Application
by Mohamed Askar M. Rashad IslamStatics and Strength of Materials for Construction, Engineering Technology, and Architecture: Theory, Analysis, and Application provides students and industry professionals with the necessary statics and strength of materials background for more innovative approaches to particular fields of engineering technology, construction engineering and management, civil engineering, and architectural technology. It presents an introduction to statics, a review of algebra and trigonometry, concepts of vectors, a classification of building structural systems, an overview of advanced topics in statics and strength of materials, and frameworks of real-world application projects.This book contains 19 chapters and discusses several topics related to statics and strength of materials, such as coplanar force systems; the equilibrium of particle and rigid bodies; design loads; beam and frame reactions; trusses; arches, cables, and pulleys; space force systems; centroid of areas; moment of inertia; friction; properties of materials; axial deformation; bending and shear stress; torsional stress; combined loading; stress transformation; deflection; and stress in columns.Each chapter includes an Instructor’s Solution Manual and Guide with instructional materials and comprehensive explanations of the related practice problems, critical thinking exercises, and application projects.
Data Representativity and Granularity in Spanish Syntax: Subjecthood across Dialects and Methodologies in Spanish (Routledge Studies in Hispanic and Lusophone Linguistics)
by Iván Ortega-SantosData Representativity and Granularity in Spanish Syntax focuses on the dialogue between Generative Grammar, Variationism, and experimental linguistics with a unique emphasis on Spanish linguistics.Combining formal syntax and empirical data collection, this volume analyzes and compares various data collection methods in syntactic theory, and examines a wide variety of approaches to gain novel insight in this emerging area. Through the case study of subject properties in Spanish, with an emphasis on how differences in data collection and data analysis standards may shape our perception of the object of study, this book addresses the following questions: (a) How do the data gathered through the standard methodology in each discipline diverge (if at all) and why? and (b) What kind of research questions can be answered with the standard methodology in each field? The volume argues for methodological crosspollination to avoid forcing data to conform to field-specific expectations and to appreciate language variation for what it has to tell us about linguistic theory, marrying the goals of Generative Grammar with data-driven research.This is an essential resource for researchers in the area of formal and generative syntax, linguists with an interest in data collection standard in syntax, and graduate or advanced undergraduate students in the field of Spanish linguistics.
The Shakespeare North Playhouse: Replica Theatres and Their Uses (ISSN)
by Tim KeenanThis collection celebrates the opening of the Shakespeare North Playhouse (SNP). After discussion of its genesis and development by four people pivotal to its progress at different stages of the project, this book explores different aspects of the SNP’s purpose and functions across three broad categories: buildings and spaces, practices and performance, and community arts and education. Various chapters offer answers to fundamental questions about replica theatres, including: Why do we build them? What do they do? How do we use them? In the course of these discussions, the purposes, potential, and programming of the SNP are discussed in relation to other Globe-type replicas in the UK and beyond. Contributors to this collection analyse key academic and practice-based concerns within their fields of expertise connected to the use (and misuse) of replica theatres to suggest the ways in which they can be used to drive research and practice in contemporary Shakespearean performance, connect with young people, and serve local communities.This book will appeal to academics, students, and practitioners interested in historical and contemporary approaches to Shakespeare in the fields covered. It should also appeal to general readers with an interest in the topics, particularly in Merseyside and the North-West region.
Populist Discourse: Recasting Populism Research
by Yannis StavrakakisPopulist Discourse: Recasting Populism Research offers a refreshingly innovative discourse theory perspective on populist phenomena. Reading this book will help you familiarize yourself with the historical genealogy of significant populist phenomena from the end of the 19th century onwards and with the main conceptual/theoretical accounts established to analyse them. Mainstream conceptualizations of populism in both academia and public discourse are critically discussed in order to map new, promising avenues for research. Inspired by the works of Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe, the book addresses current challenges within populism research and highlights the new directions that a conceptually nuanced, theoretically rigorous and historically informed discursive orientation can contribute to the contemporary study of populism. Without sacrificing attention to detail, strong bibliographical support and a focus on the future development of populism research, Populist Discourse is written in accessible language to engage populism scholars, advanced undergraduates and graduate-level students within the field of political science. Due to its interdisciplinary character, it will also appeal to readers associated with various politically informed area studies and the broader field of ideology and discourse analysis.
Building China into a Cyber Superpower: Desires, Drivers, and Devices
by Munish SharmaThis book provides a comprehensive look into China’s emerging cyberspace strategy. It highlights the prime drivers of China’s desire to be a cyber superpower and discusses the ways in which China is turning resources into cyber power.The book analyses China’s domestic cyber policy initiatives, strategy documents, censorship measures, and the rationale behind its strong advocacy for sovereignty in cyberspace. It examines China’s position on the prominent issues of cyberspace governance, norms and security in cyberspace, and key diplomatic initiatives. The book also discusses next-generation networks, artificial intelligence, quantum information sciences, and cyber warfare.An important contribution to the study of China’s cyber policy, the book will be of interest to students and researchers of international relations,Chinese digitalisation, security studies, Chinese politics, international security, Chinese foreign policy, and Chinese economy. It will also be useful to the policymakers and corporate professionals engaged with China’s digital sphere.
Asphyxia in Neonates
by Miljana Z. JovandaricIn severe asphyxia, lipid peroxidation occurs. Neonatal lipid concentration may indicate the severity of asphyxia and be a reason for needing cooling therapy. Asphyxia in Neonates describes the results of research into the impact oxygen deficits in neonates. The physiological consequences of asphyxiated newborn infants include changes in the pH of plasma and changes in lipid concentrations. These changes can result in apoptosis, loss of cell membrane integrity, and damage to the brain.Features Reviews pathophysiology of asphyxia Describes the influence of asphyxia on lipids concentrations Summarizes the weight distribution of neonates with asphyxia based on lipid concentration Illustrates the use of lipids as an indicator of prognosis following asphyxia Provides guidance for lipids parameters in cooling therapy
Promoting Healthy Behaviour: A Practical Guide to Physical Health and Mental Wellbeing
by Dominic Upton Katie ThirlawayThe new edition of this leading text is an essential guide to promoting healthy behaviour in a multi-cultural society, providing a holistic stance that integrates both physical and mental health and wellbeing. With a comprehensive overview of the interplay between social class, gender, ethnicity and individual health differences, the book also looks at key lifestyle issues such as eating well, smoking, drinking alcohol and safe sex, as well as the mechanisms for behavioural change. Each chapter features engaging case studies, points for discussion and student activities. Updated since the COVID-19 pandemic, the new edition also discusses the effects of lockdowns on healthy behaviours.An accessible and engaging text, the third edition of Promoting Healthy Behaviour will continue to be essential reading for both students and practitioners across nursing, public health and allied health professions.
Teaching the Literature of Climate Change (Options for Teaching)
by Debra J. RosenthalOver the past several decades, writers such as Margaret Atwood, Paolo Bacigalupi, Octavia E. Butler, and Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner have explored climate change through literature, reflecting current anxieties about humans' impact on the planet. Emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinarity, this volume embraces literature as a means to cultivate students' understanding of the ongoing climate crisis, ethics in times of disaster, and the intrinsic intersectionality of environmental issues.Contributors discuss speculative climate futures, the Anthropocene, postcolonialism, climate anxiety, and the usefulness of storytelling in engaging with catastrophe. The essays offer approaches to teaching interdisciplinary and cross-listed courses, including strategies for team-teaching across disciplines and for building connections between humanities majors and STEM majors. The volume concludes with essays that explore ways to address grief and to contemplate a hopeful future in the face of apocalyptic predictions.
Understanding and Applying Assessment in Education
by Damian Murchan Gerry ShielAll teachers are responsible for assessing the children they teach, and the outcomes of any assessment are important for individual learners, schools and wider education systems. Designed as a pragmatic guide for new teachers and those training to teach, this book is your one-stop-shop for understanding assessment in schools. It covers formative and summative approaches used across primary and secondary education, supporting a balanced overview with policy examples drawn from the UK, Ireland and wider international contexts. This updated second edition reflects recent trends in assessment and includes: more balanced coverage across primary and secondary age phases with a broader range of examples across curriculum subject areas a new chapter on the potential of digital assessment for both formative and summative purposes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on assessment in general, and examinations in particular Damian Murchan is Associate Professor in the School of Education at Trinity College Dublin. Gerry Shiel is a Research Fellow at the Educational Research Centre, Dublin, Ireland.
Understanding and Applying Assessment in Education
by Damian Murchan Gerry ShielAll teachers are responsible for assessing the children they teach, and the outcomes of any assessment are important for individual learners, schools and wider education systems. Designed as a pragmatic guide for new teachers and those training to teach, this book is your one-stop-shop for understanding assessment in schools. It covers formative and summative approaches used across primary and secondary education, supporting a balanced overview with policy examples drawn from the UK, Ireland and wider international contexts. This updated second edition reflects recent trends in assessment and includes: more balanced coverage across primary and secondary age phases with a broader range of examples across curriculum subject areas a new chapter on the potential of digital assessment for both formative and summative purposes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on assessment in general, and examinations in particular Damian Murchan is Associate Professor in the School of Education at Trinity College Dublin. Gerry Shiel is a Research Fellow at the Educational Research Centre, Dublin, Ireland.
Smoother Pebbles: Essays in the Sociology of Science
by Jonathan R. ColeUntil the middle of the twentieth century, few thought of science as a social system, instead seeing scientific discovery as the work of individual geniuses. Columbia University’s Department of Sociology played a pivotal role in advancing the social study of science. Researchers of the “Columbia Program” analyzed how science works as a social institution, exploring its norms, values, and structure.Smoother Pebbles presents a collection of essays authored or coauthored by Jonathan R. Cole, a leading Columbia Program figure, that trace the development and institutionalization of the sociology of science. Spanning from the 1960s to the 2020s and including both empirical and theoretical studies of science, the book is at once wide-ranging and united by core questions. Are scientists rewarded for the merits of their work or for other reasons? How does the system of social stratification in science operate? Has the funding of scientists been the result of an “old boys’ network”? How fair is the peer review process? In what ways does science fall short of its universalistic ideals? What factors have constrained opportunities for women in science? How has science fared amid attacks on academic freedom and free inquiry at universities? Cole’s introduction contextualizes both individual essays and the major concerns of the Columbia Program. Smoother Pebbles is essential reading for those interested in the growth and crucial questions of the sociology and social studies of science.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: New Edition - Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain (Norton Critical Editions #0)
by Mark Twain“I LOVE this book, as a reader, and I always enjoy teaching it. In the midst of current conversations and conflicts (Black Lives Matter and the responses to it, for example), its importance as a truly ‘American’ novel only grows.” —Anita Guynn, University of North Carolina at Pembroke This Norton Critical Edition includes: The American first edition text, plus the reinstated “raft passage” from Life on the Mississippi (1883), complete with all original illustrations by Edward Windsor Kemble and, for the raft passage, John Harley. Editorial matter by Thomas Cooley. A rich selection of contextual and source documents centered on the novel’s historical background, language, composition, and reception, four of them new to the Fourth Edition. Seventeen carefully chosen critical assessments of Mark Twain’s greatest work, ten of them new to the Fourth Edition. A chronology and a selected bibliography. About the Series Read by more than 12 million students over fifty-five years, Norton Critical Editions set the standard for apparatus that is right for undergraduate readers. The three-part format—annotated text, contexts, and criticism—helps students to better understand, analyze, and appreciate the literature, while opening a wide range of teaching possibilities for instructors. Whether in print or in digital format, Norton Critical Editions provide all the resources students need. “The materials and notations were excellent and useful. They often lead the students to further inquiry. It is a valuable text.” —Michael W. Carter, University of Kentucky “I have generally found the editorial annotations excellent. Overall I still find this the best critical edition of Huck Finn for my students.” —Shelly Jarenski, University of Michigan–Dearborn
Word Perfect: Etymological Entertainment For Every Day of the Year
by Susie Dent'Susie Dent is a one-off. She breathes life and fun into words and language' Pam Ayres'Susie Dent is a national treasure' Richard OsmanWelcome to a year of wonder with Susie Dent, lexicographer, logophile, and longtime queen of Countdown's Dictionary Corner.From the real Jack the Lad to the theatrically literal story behind stealing someone's thunder, from tartle (forgetting someone's name at the very moment you need it) to snaccident (the unintentional eating of an entire packet of biscuits), WORD PERFECT is a brilliant linguistic almanac full of unforgettable stories, fascinating facts, and surprising etymologies tied to every day of the year. You'll never be lost for words again.
Vital Organs
by Suzie EdgeThe remarkable stories of the world's most famous body parts.Louis XIV's rear end inspired the British National Anthem. Queen Victoria's armpit led to the development of antiseptics.Robert Jenkin's ear started a war.All too often, historical figures feel distant and abstract; more myth and legend than real flesh and blood. These stories of bodies and its parts remind us that history's most-loved, and most-hated, were real breathing creatures who inhabited organs and limbs just like us - until they're cut off that is.Medical historian Dr Suzie Edge investigates over 40 cases of how we've used, abused, dug up, displayed, experimented on, and worshipped body parts, including why Percy Shelley's heart refused to burn; how Yao Niang's toes started a 1000 year long ritual; why a giant's bones are making us rethink medical ethics; and the strange case of Hitler's right testicle.
Windswept & Interesting: My Autobiography
by Billy ConnollyIn his first full-length autobiography, comedy legend and national treasure Billy Connolly reveals the truth behind his windswept and interesting life.Born in a tenement flat in Glasgow in 1942, orphaned by the age of 4, and a survivor of appalling abuse at the hands of his own family, Billy's life is a remarkable story of success against all the odds.Billy found his escape first as an apprentice welder in the shipyards of the River Clyde. Later he became a folk musician - a 'rambling man' - with a genuine talent for playing the banjo. But it was his ability to spin stories, tell jokes and hold an audience in the palm of his hand that truly set him apart.As a young comedian Billy broke all the rules. He was fearless and outspoken - willing to call out hypocrisy wherever he saw it. But his stand-up was full of warmth, humility and silliness too. His startling, hairy 'glam-rock' stage appearance - wearing leotards, scissor suits and banana boots - only added to his appeal.It was an appearance on Michael Parkinson's chat show in 1975 - and one outrageous story in particular - that catapulted Billy from cult hero to national star. TV shows, documentaries, international fame and award-winning Hollywood movies followed. Billy's pitch-perfect stand-up comedy kept coming too - for over 50 years, in fact - until a double diagnosis of cancer and Parkinson's Disease brought his remarkable live performances to an end. Since then he has continued making TV shows, creating extraordinary drawings... and writing.Windswept and Interesting is Billy's story in his own words. It is joyfully funny - stuffed full of hard-earned wisdom as well as countless digressions on fishing, farting and the joys of dancing naked. It is an unforgettable, life-affirming story of a true comedy legend.'I didn't know I was Windswept and Interesting until somebody told me. It was a friend who was startlingly exotic himself. He'd just come back from Kashmir and was all billowy shirt and Indian beads. I had long hair and a beard and was swishing around in electric blue flairs.He said: "Look at you - all windswept and interesting!"I just said: "Exactly!"After that, I simply had to maintain my reputation...'