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Cuban Fusion: The Transnational Cuban Alternative Music Scene
by Eva Silot BravoSurveying the impact of Cuba's economic crisis after the demise of the eastern socialist block, this book documents a relatively unexplored transnational network of collaborations among Cuban musicians that migrated to many different countries from the 1990s forward. The book’s main argument is that in light of the 1990s crisis in Cuba, new transnational and alternative narratives emerged, resulting in creative “in-between” spaces that reflect a post- socialist aesthetic condition. The manuscript also documents important developments in the Cuban jazz and fusion scenes outside the island in the last 20+ years..
Concordian Economics, Vol. 2: Some Applications (Springer Studies in Alternative Economics)
by Carmine GorgaThis is the second volume of a two-part series on Concordian economics, an innovative paradigm that builds upon the Aristotelian-Aquinian tradition of economic justice. Having introduced Concordian economics in the first volume as a compelling research paradigm that addresses the limitations of mainstream economics, this second installment takes the exploration further by examining its real-world applications in four policy areas.With a focus on industrial organization, labor markets, monetary, and fiscal policy, the author advocates for a transformative approach to economic rights and responsibilities. By promoting a moral economy, this book offers a substitute to the Pac-Man approach to industrial organization. The book challenges traditional notions by discussing the ownership rights concerning larger corporations and offering visionary solutions, in the steps of Louis O, Kelso, empowering workers and employees to participate in the ownership of robots and artificial intelligence. The Fed has given a nod of approval to the creation of a new Concordian monetary system. Following the advice of eight Nobel Laureates in economics, the proposed fiscal reforms emphasize taxing only the value of land and natural resources, ushering in a society where the use of our natural resources and machines serves the common good, economic freedom thrives, and forced income redistribution becomes obsolete. This book illustrates a vivid vision of a world founded on universal economic rights and responsibilities, offering fresh perspectives on a more just and sustainable future. It appeals to scholars and students of economics and related fields, as well as anyone interested in a free but just economic system.
The Palgrave Handbook of Left-Wing Extremism, Volume 1
by José Pedro ZúqueteThis handbook provides a broad overview of left-wing extremism and its associated key issues and themes. It breaks new ground by assembling in a single volume a comparative analysis of the phenomenon that is both multidimensional and multidisciplinary. Gathering a wide range of influential scholars who have worked at length in the field of extremism studies from different perspectives, backgrounds, and geographical settings, the Palgrave Handbook of Left-Wing Extremism presents an array of thought-provoking and innovative as well as informative analyses and discussions – both historical and contemporary - about the phenomenon of left-wing extremism and of how researchers conceive of and approach it in their study. The Handbook is designed to be, for the foreseeable future, the reference work for all students, researchers, and general readers interested in achieving a comprehensive understanding of left-wing extremism in all its manifestations, subtleties, and dynamics, and both its current and its potential directions.
I Live for This!: Baseball's Last True Believer
by Bill Plaschke Tommy LasordaAn award-winning sportswriter teams up with LA Dodgers manager and Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda to reveal the secrets of his unlikely success. Tommy Lasorda is baseball's true immortal and one of its larger than life figures. A former pitcher who was overshadowed by Sandy Koufax, Lasorda went on to a Hall of Fame career as a manager with one of baseball's most storied franchises. His teams won two World Series, four National League pennants, and eight division titles. He was twice named National League manager of the year and he also led the United States baseball team to the gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics. In I Live for This! award-winning sportswriter Bill Plaschke shows us one of baseball's last living legends as we've never seen him before, revealing the man behind the myth, the secrets to his amazing, unlikely success, and his unvarnished opinions on the state of the game. Bravely and brilliantly, I Live for This! dissects the personality to give us the person. By the end we&’re left with an indelible portrait of a legend that, if Tommy Lasorda has anything to say about it, we won&’t ever forget.
The Big Crowd
by Kevin BakerTwo Irish brothers journey from New York&’s East River to its halls of power in this &“masterwork of historical fiction&” by the author of Dreamland (Parade). Inspired by one of the great, unsolved murders in mob history, this novel tells the sweeping story of Charlie O&’Kane, a poor Irish immigrant who works his way up from beat cop to mayor of New York at the city&’s postwar zenith. Famous, powerful, and married to a fashion model, millions of local citizens look up to him, including his younger brother, Tom—until he is accused of abetting a shocking crime. The charges stem from his days as a crusading Brooklyn DA, when he sent the notorious killers of Murder, Inc., to the chair—only to let a vital witness fall to his death while under police guard. Now out of office, Charlie is hiding from the authorities in a Mexico City hotel. To uncover what really happened, Tom must confront stunning truths about his brother, himself, and the secret workings of the great city he loves. From the Brooklyn waterfront to City Hall, the battlefields of World War II to the glamorous nightclubs of 1940s Manhattan, The Big Crowd is filled with powerbrokers and gangsters, celebrities and socialites, scheming cardinals and battling dockside priests. But ultimately it is an American story of the bonds and betrayals of brotherhood—from &“the lit world&’s sharpest chronicler of New York&’s past&” (Rolling Stone).
Brilliant: The Evolution of Artificial Light
by Jane BroxThis &“superb history&” of artificial light traces the evolution of society—&“invariably fascinating and often original . . . [it] amply lives up to its title&” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). In Brilliant, Jane Brox explores humankind&’s ever-changing relationship to artificial light, from the stone lamps of the Pleistocene to the LEDs embedded in fabrics of the future. More than a survey of technological development, this sweeping history reveals how artificial light changed our world, and how those social and cultural changes in turn led to the pursuit of more ways of spreading, maintaining, and controlling light. Brox plumbs the class implications of light—who had it, who didn&’t—through the centuries when crude lamps and tallow candles constricted waking hours. She identifies the pursuit of whale oil as the first time the need for light thrust us toward an environmental tipping point. Only decades later, gas street lights opened up the evening hours to leisure, which changed the ways we live and sleep and the world&’s ecosystems. Edison&’s bulbs produced a light that seemed to its users all but divorced from human effort or cost. And yet, as Brox&’s informative portrait of our current grid system shows, the cost is ever with us. Brilliant is infused with human voices, startling insights, and timely questions about how our future lives will be shaped by light
Changing the Course of Autism: A Scientific Approach for Parents and Physicians
by Bryan Jepson Jane JohnsonIn Changing the Course of Autism, Dr. Bryan Jepson and Jane Johnson reveal the biological and neurological conditions behind autism spectrum disorders.Foreword by Katie Wright, daughter of the founders of Autism SpeaksRather than simply masking symptoms with drugs like Ritalin and Prozac, Dr. Bryan Jepson and Jane Johnson explain that autism can be treated by reducing the neurological inflammation that is part of the disease process. The authors have seen autistic behaviors improve dramatically or disappear completely with appropriate medical treatment. The book reviews the medical literature regarding the biological nature of the disease, including the potential connection between vaccines and autism.“This book will be the new PDR of autism for parents and physicians. Incredibly well referenced and easy to understand, it challenges long-held beliefs about this condition and introduces us to the new medical model of autism. An important book that every professional and family member who deals with autism must own.” —Lee Grossman, former president and CEO, Autism Society of America“The idea that the suffering of autism could be rooted in environmental injuries poses a huge challenge to medicine, science and society. Opening our hearts and minds to fresh thinking is the only way forward. Dr. Jepson’s information-filled book moves the reader through the discomfort of painful news to a framework for constructive responses.” —Martha Herbert, M.D., Ph.D., co-author of The Autism Revolution“The parent of an autistic child, Jepson encourages physicians and parents to view autism ‘as a medical illness, not just a behavior disorder.’ He discusses the neurological, gastrointestinal, genetic, and environmental issues that complicate our understanding of autism.” —Library Journal
Fast Forward: How Women Can Achieve Power and Purpose
by Melanne Verveer Kim K. AzzarelliThis book, based on interviews with the world&’s most inspiring women, &“shows every woman how she can empower herself and her community&” (Madeleine Albright). Important conversations about leaning in, work/life balance, and empowering females around the world have energized a generation of women. Fast Forward, by two leaders whose experience spans corporate America, public service, and global diplomacy, takes the next step. Through interviews with a network of more than seventy trailblazing women, Fast Forward shows women how to accelerate their growing economic power and combine it with purpose to find both success and meaning in their lives. Companies, countries, and organizations the world over are waking up to today&’s new reality. Women control the lion&’s share of purchasing power and are increasingly essential to competitiveness. The age of women&’s transformative economic influence has finally arrived, and women are using their power for purpose, redefining what power and success mean in the process. Through clear, practical advice and personal stories of women around the world—including Hillary Clinton, Geena Davis, Christine Lagarde, and Diane von Furstenberg—Fast Forward shows every woman how to know her power, find her purpose, and connect with others to achieve her life goals.
Stand Up Straight and Sing!: A Memoir
by Jessye NormanIn this uplifting memoir, the acclaimed singer reflects &“on life, the arts, and spirituality . . . Inspiring&” (Booklist). Jessye Norman is one of the world&’s most admired and beloved singers—and her life story is as moving and dramatic as the great operatic roles she has performed on stage. Born and raised in Augusta, Georgia, she studied the piano and sang the songs of her childhood, never dreaming that this passion for music might lead to her life&’s profession. Here she presents &“a rich portrait of a childhood firmly grounded by family, church and community,&” and recalls in rich detail the strong women who were her role models, from her ancestors to family friends, relatives, and teachers (The Wall Street Journal). She also discusses her relationship with the pioneering African American singer Marian Anderson—revealing the lifelong support she provided through her example of dignity and grace at all times. Norman also describes coming face-to-face with racism, both as a child living in the segregated South and as an adult out and about in the world. Filled with inspiration and wisdom, Stand Up Straight and Sing! is not just for lovers of music, but for everyone.
Death with Interruptions
by José SaramagoThis novel by the Nobel Prize-winning author asks what happens when the grim reaper decides to stop reaping: &“A novel to die for.&”—The Washington Post On the first day of the new year, no one dies. This of course causes consternation among politicians, religious leaders, morticians, and doctors. Among the general public, on the other hand, there is initially celebration—flags are hung out on balconies, people dance in the streets. They have achieved the great goal of humanity: eternal life. Then reality hits home—families are left to care for the permanently dying, life-insurance policies become meaningless, and funeral parlors are reduced to arranging burials for pet dogs, cats, hamsters, and parrots. Death sits in her chilly apartment, where she lives alone with scythe and filing cabinets, and contemplates her experiment: What if no one ever died again? What if she, death with a small d, were to become human and fall in love? &“This novel has many pleasures.&”—The New York Times &“Arguably the greatest writer of our time.&”—Chicago Tribune
The Heart You Carry Home: A Novel
by Jennifer MillerA novel about men returning from war, and the women who love them, by &“a young writer full of energy and promise&” (Jennifer Egan, author of Manhattan Beach). Becca Keller is no stranger to the way war can change a man. Her Vietnam veteran father, King, suffered after his service, and as a result played only a limited role in his daughter&’s life. Now Becca is marrying Ben, who is also just back from battle—and her mother, convinced that Becca is making the same mistakes she did, boycotts the wedding. Ben does indeed seem different after his second tour, and only days after she marries him, he turns dangerous. Desperate, Becca turns to her father for help. But he is heading west with his motorcycle buddies—out to a place they call Kleos, a mysterious desert compound ruled over by a guru-like commanding officer. It serves as a refuge for some soldiers, but it might be the death of others. There, Becca will be faced with the possibility that she may not know the real damage in her loved ones&’ hearts. In finally seeing her father&’s demons, she might just be able to start a journey back to peace with her husband.
Small Memories: A Memoir
by José SaramagoThe Nobel Prize–winning author of Blindness recalls the days of his youth in Lisbon and the Portuguese countryside in this charming memoir.José Saramago was eighteen months old when he moved from the village of Azinhaga with his father and mother to live in Lisbon. But he would return to the village throughout his childhood and adolescence to stay with his maternal grandparents, illiterate peasants in the eyes of the outside world, but a fount of knowledge, affection, and authority to young José. Small Memories traces the formation of a man who emerged, against all odds, as one of the world’s most respected writers.Shifting between childhood and his teenage years, between Azinhaga and Lisbon, this mosaic of memories looks back into the author’s boyhood: the tragic death of his older brother at the age of four; his mother pawning the family’s blankets every spring and buying them back in time for winter; his grandparents bringing the weaker piglets into their bed on cold nights; and Saramago’s early encounters with literature, from teaching himself to read to poring over a Portuguese-French conversation guide, not realizing that he was in fact reading a play by Molière.
Spark: How to Lead Yourself and Others to Greater Success
by Angie Morgan Courtney Lynch Sean LynchThe New York Times–bestselling, non-nonsense guide to becoming a better leader through 7 key behaviors, based on a mix of military and corporate training. Leadership is not about job titles—it&’s about action and behavior. &“Sparks&” are the doers, thinkers, innovators, and key influencers who are catalysts for personal and organizational change. But these extraordinary individuals aren&’t defined by the place they hold on an organizational chart—they are defined by their actions, commitment, and will. Leadership experts Angie Morgan, Courtney Lynch, and Sean Lynch show how you can become a Spark by cultivating seven key leadership behaviors. Grounded in the latest research on leadership development, this fresh, accessible road map is packed with real-world stories from inside companies like Facebook, Google, and Boston Scientific, and from the authors&’ own high-stakes, challenging experiences serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. With SPARK as a blueprint, anyone can become a catalyst for change, and any organization can identify and develop Sparks.&“A myth-destroying book that will make you rethink both the theory and practice of leadership.&”—Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Drive&“If you truly want to become a Spark in your organization and in your life, I urge you to read this book now.&”—Mike &“Coach K&” Krzyzewski, head coach, Duke University Men&’s Basketball&“These authors are not only great leadership thinkers, but they have all led people in challenging circumstances…. Trust them to take you to a new level.&”—Brigadier General Thomas A. Kolditz, U.S. Army (Ret.), director of the Ann and John Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University
Pflanzen und Haut: Dermatologisch bedeutsame Abwehrstrategien der Pflanzen in Europa
by Andreas MontagDieses Buch beschreibt die Gesamtheit aller dermatologisch bedeutsamen Abwehrmechanismen der Pflanzenwelt als eigenständiges Arbeitsgebiet innerhalb des Fachgebietes Dermatologie und aller dermatologisch beeinflussten Gebiete innerhalb der Medizin.Mit einer für dieses Werk speziell erarbeiteten Systematik ordnet der Autor klar gegliedert und didaktisch nachvollziehbar die außerordentliche Vielfalt pflanzlicher Abwehrmechanismen und deren Auswirkung auf Haut und Schleimhäute.Im Mittelpunkt stehen dabei die Pflanzen innerhalb des geografischen Europas. Ausführlich besprochen werden aber auch zahlreiche eingebürgerte oder importierte Arten aus aller Welt, die hier als Nutz- oder Zierpflanzen inzwischen unverzichtbar zum Alltag gehören.Neben den mechanischen Auswirkungen von Pflanzenhaaren, Stacheln und Dornen stehen dabei pflanzliche Wirkstoffe im Fokus, die einzeln oder in Kombination verschiedenste Formen von Reizwirkungen oder Allergien an der Haut und den Schleimhäuten des Menschen auslösen können.Der erste, allgemeine Teil dieses Buches behandelt eingehend die wissenschaftlichen Grundlagen. Ein zweiter, spezieller Teil ergänzt dies durch zahlreiche Steckbriefe in alphabetischer Reihenfolge mit Informationen zu allen wichtigen Pflanzenspezies.Zahlreiche klinische Bilder und Fallbeschreibungen illustrieren die medizinische Bedeutung pflanzlicher Abwehrmaßnahmen und geben Hilfestellungen bei Diagnostik und Behandlung.Besondere Beachtung findet innerhalb der Steckbriefe aber auch die Darstellung der medizinischen Nutzwirkungen einer Pflanze in ihrer historischen Entwicklung bis zum heutigen Tag. Aus vielen ihrer Nutzwirkungen lassen sich auch die Schadwirkungen einer Pflanze ableiten.Dieses Buch möchte eine Hilfe im ärztlichen Alltag sein und richtet sich an Dermatologen, Allergologen, Allgemeinärzte und hausärztlich tätige Internisten, aber auch an alle anderen interessierten Fachgruppen. Pflanzen und Haut
The First Discriminant Theory of Linearly Separable Data: From Exams and Medical Diagnoses with Misclassifications to 169 Microarrays for Cancer Gene Diagnosis
by Shuichi ShinmuraThis book deals with the first discriminant theory of linearly separable data (LSD), Theory3, based on the four ordinary LSD of Theory1 and 169 microarrays (LSD) of Theory2. Furthermore, you can quickly analyze the medical data with the misclassified patients which is the true purpose of diagnoses. Author developed RIP (Optimal-linear discriminant function finding the combinatorial optimal solution) as Theory1 in decades ago, that found the minimum misclassifications. RIP discriminated 63 (=26−1) models of Swiss banknote (200*6) and found the minimum LSD: basic gene set (BGS). In Theory2, RIP discriminated Shipp microarray (77*7129) which was LSD and had only 32 nonzero coefficients (first Small Matryoshka; SM1). Because RIP discriminated another 7,097 genes and found SM2, the author developed the Matryoshka feature selection Method 2 (Program 3), that splits microarray into many SMs. Program4 can split microarray into many BGSs. Then, the wide columnLSD (Revolution-0), such as microarray (n Theory3 shows the surprising results of six ordinary data re-analyzed by Theory1 and Theory2 knowledge. Essence of Theory3 is described by using cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) data. RIP discriminates CPD data (240*19) and finds two misclassifications unique for cesarean and natural-born groups. CPD238 omitting two patients becomes LSD, which is the first case selection method. Program4 finds BGS (14 vars.) the only variable selection method for Theory3. 32 (=25) models, including BGS, become LSD among (219−1) models. Because Program2 confirms BGS has the minimum average error rate, BGS is the most compact and best model satisfying Occam’s Razor. With this book, physicians obtain complete diagnostic results for disease, and engineers can become a true data scientist, by obtaining integral knowledge ofstatistics and mathematical programming with simple programs.
Biomass-based Clean Technologies for Sustainable Development: Sustainable Resources of Energy Production and Utilization (Clean Energy Production Technologies)
by Dan Bahadur Pal Ashish KapoorThis book explores the comprehensive world of biomass-based clean technologies for sustainable development. The meticulously curated book delves into the latest advancements, process and product development aspects, and socio-techno-economic viability of biomass-derived solutions. The book aims to explore cutting-edge strategies and innovative approaches to revolutionize energy and environmental sectors on a global scale. The book covers a wide range of scientific and technological fields, shedding light on the utilization of agricultural and forest-derived biomass. Multifarious applications in biofuels, biochar, natural composites, construction materials, and value-added chemicals are explored. The book is an attempt to impart knowledge to address challenging aspects like feedstock variability, supply chain management, process optimization, product standardization, environmental impact, net carbon footprint, and economic viability. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and harnessing the renewable nature of biomass, this book offers a holistic approach to develop novel and sustainable solutions. Researchers, scientists, engineers, and professionals from diverse backgrounds will find this book to be an invaluable resource. Policymakers and industry leaders seeking to drive the adoption of clean and green technologies will gain crucial insights. Students and academics will benefit from the latest advancements in biomass-based clean technologies, process and product development aspects, and sustainability assessments. This book is an essential companion for those dedicated to shaping a greener future and will inspire public-private collaborations and innovative research endeavours.
Party System Changes and Challenges to Democracy: Slovenia in a Comparative Perspective
by Danica Fink-HafnerThis open access book focuses on the nexus between “party system stability” and “democratic consolidation”, using Slovenia as a case study. Its findings are presented from a comparative perspective to illustrate the commonalities and differences found in research on Central European post-socialist countries and former Yugoslav countries. On the one hand, Slovenia’s characteristics (including the characteristics of its transition to democracy) are far more similar to those of Central European post-socialist countries than Western Balkan countries. On the other, Slovenia shares some similarities with other parts of the former Yugoslavia – especially its experiences with the political system of socialist self-management, elements of a market economy under socialism, and war following the end of socialism (albeit the conflict in Slovenia was very short and rather mild in comparison to those in other parts of socialist Yugoslavia). Slovenia’s experiences with rapid but limited democraticbacksliding under the Janša government (March 2019–June 2022) were halted by the 2022 national election – in contrast to the more widely known cases of Hungary and Poland, where such backsliding took place incrementally over a longer period of time that included several election cycles.
Führungsaufgabe Interne Kommunikation: Erfolgreich in Unternehmen kommunizieren – im Alltag und in Veränderungsprozessen
by Andrea MontuaDies ist ein Buch für alle Führungskräfte, Kommunikations- und Personalverantwortlichen, die ihre Rolle als Kommunikatoren überdenken und neu justieren möchten. Alle, die die Hoheit über ihre Alltags- und Veränderungskommunikation behalten oder zurückgewinnen wollen, die Gerüchteküchen durchlüften, Erfolgsrezepte umsetzen oder eine Abteilung neu zusammenstellen wollen, finden in diesem Buch konkrete Hilfestellungen. Sie erfahren, was Mitarbeitende antreibt und motiviert, welche Unterstützung Führungskräfte wirklich benötigen und wie Kommunikation den Change ideal begleitet.Mit Vorworten von Sebastian Purps-Pardigol und Thomas Voigt.
The Patron Saint of Ugly
by Marie ManillaCatholic lore, American tales, and Sicilian superstition blend in this &“clever, funny, heartbreaking, and heartwarming&” novel (Publishers Weekly). Born with unruly red hair, a sharp tongue, and wine-colored marks all over her body—marks that oddly mimick a map of the world and make her subject to endless ridicule—Garnet Ferrari would hardly consider herself blessed. So when an emissary from the Vatican shows up at her door, convinced that her seeming ability to cure the skin ailments of others qualifies her for sainthood, she&’s not quite convinced—or pleased. Garnet sets off on a quest to better understand who she is and where she and her unusual gifts came from. Tracing a twisted path that leads from Sicily to West Virginia, poverty to riches, romance to loss, reality to mythology, Garnet uncovers a truth far more powerful than any dermatological miracle: that the things of which we are most ashamed often become our greatest strengths. &“A cleareyed, touching fable of a girl learning the hard truths about herself and others.&” —Kirkus Reviews
The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins: A Novel (Thomas Hawkins Ser.)
by Antonia HodgsonA lively tale of &“pitch-perfect suspense&” set in eighteenth-century England—one of Publishers Weekly&’s Top Ten Crime/Mystery Novels of the Year. Winner of the CWA Historical Dagger Award London, 1728. Tom Hawkins is headed to the gallows, accused of murder. Gentlemen don&’t hang, and Tom will be damned if he&’s the first—he is innocent, after all. It&’s hard to say when Tom&’s troubles began. He was happily living in sin with his beloved—though their neighbors weren&’t happy about that. He probably shouldn&’t have told London&’s great criminal mastermind that he was in need of adventure. Nor should he have joined the king&’s mistress in her fight against her vindictive husband. And he definitely shouldn&’t have trusted the calculating Queen Caroline. She&’s promised him a royal pardon if he holds his tongue, but there&’s nothing more silent than a hanged man. Now Tom&’s scrambling to save his life and protect those he loves. But as the noose tightens, his time is running out.
The Word According to Eve: Women and the Bible in Ancient Times and Our Own
by Cullen Murphy“A disarming, intelligent, and timely book” that re-examines religious history and scripture with a focus on the feminine experience (The New York Times). In the world that created the Bible, there were no female scholars and theologians, yet in recent decades, owing to such stunning discoveries as the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi texts, as well as advances in historical understanding and the rise of feminism, a generation of scholars has found new ways to interpret the Scriptures and the societies that created them—exploring avenues traditionally ignored by male-dominated religious study.Surveying the new scholarship and the personalities of those who have created it, The Word According to Eve not only explores afresh the history of our religions but offers exciting new challenges to our sense of worship.“Provocative and lucid . . . an engaging book.” —The Boston Globe
Friendship: An Expose
by Joseph EpsteinThe amusing and erudite anatomy of modern friendship, from the New York Times–bestselling author of Snobbery. Is it possible to have too many friends? Is your spouse supposed to be your best friend? How far should you go to help a friend in need? And how do you end a friendship that has run its course? In a &“smart, delightfully literate, and sophisticated&” anatomy of friendship in all its contemporary guises, Joseph Epstein uncovers the rich and surprising truths about our favored companions (Los Angeles Times). Friendship illuminates those complex, wonderful relationships without which we&’d all be lost. &“Reading [Epstein] is like spending an evening being flatteringly entertained by the most interesting guy at the party.&” —The Seattle Times &“A brilliant and outspoken commentator . . . Epstein&’s graceful style and irrepressible wit provide unalloyed pleasure.&” —Chicago Tribune &“Brisk and delightful.&” —The Wall Street Journal
The Sonic Boom: How Sound Transforms the Way We Think, Feel, and Buy
by Joel Beckerman Tyler GrayA fascinating study on the influence of sound—and how companies wrangle its power to affect our moods, our shopping habits, and our lives. From movie scores and national anthems to cell-phone dings and squeaky shoes, sound and music impact how we perceive the stories, situations, and products we encounter every day. In The Sonic Boom, composer and strategic sound expert Joel Beckerman reveals sound&’s surprising power to influence our decisions, opinions, and actions in ways we might not even notice: discordant ambient noise can induce anxiety; ice cream truck jingles can bring you back to your childhood. You don&’t need to be a musician or a composer to harness the power of sound. Companies, brands, and individuals can strategically use sound to get to the core of their mission, influence how they&’re perceived by their audiences, and gain a competitive edge. Whether you&’re a corporate giant connecting with millions of customers or a teacher connecting with one classroom of students, the key to an effective sonic strategy is the creation of &“boom moments&”—transcendent instants when sound connects with a listener&’s emotional core. &“Equal parts sociological study and business advice, using unique everyday examples—for instance, how the fate of the Chili&’s fajita empire rested on the sound of the sizzling platter, and how Disneyland approaches soundscapes for a fully immersive experience—to explain how sound effects our mood and shopping habits.&” —Entertainment Weekly &“Music defines us. Joel Beckerman knows. Let him tell you all about it.&” —Anthony Bourdain &“The Sonic Boom reveals the music and structured cacophony of everyday life.&” —Moby
Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year in the Life of an Extreme Birder
by Kenn KaufmanAn ornithologist&’s account of his youthful, year-long, cross-country birdwatching adventure: &“A fascinating memoir of an obsession.&” —Booklist At sixteen, Kenn Kaufman dropped out of the high school where he was student council president and hit the road, hitching back and forth across America, from Alaska to Florida, Maine to Mexico. Maybe not all that unusual a thing to do in the seventies, but what Kenn was searching for was a little different: not sex, drugs, God, or even self, but birds. A report of a rare bird would send him hitching nonstop from Pacific to Atlantic and back again. When he was broke he would pick fruit or do odd jobs to earn the fifty dollars or so that would last him for weeks. His goal was to set a record—most North American species seen in a year—but along the way he began to realize that at this breakneck pace he was only looking, not seeing. What had been a game became a quest for a deeper understanding of the natural world. Kingbird Highway is a unique coming-of-age story, combining a lyrical celebration of nature with wild, and sometimes dangerous, adventures, starring a colorful cast of characters.
Drowning in Gruel: Stories
by George SingletonTake a darkly hilarious trip through a South Carolina town with the &“unchallenged king of the comic Southern short story&” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution). &“Usually stories about small, quirky, southern towns are full of adorable, quirky characters that share their unusual philosophies with us and teach us how to enjoy life (think Forrest Gump or even Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil). Gruel may be small, southern, and quirky, but it is also as miserable as its name sounds. The inhabitants are miserable. Even people from as far away as New York who happen to stop by Gruel are miserable . . . Fortunately, the writing is good enough that the misery becomes somehow enjoyable.&” —Booklist &“George Singleton is a madman. He&’s also one of the most talented American writers the South has turned out in decades.&” —The Post and Courier