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Retribution (A Will Parker Thriller #2)
by Anderson HarpThe author of Northern Thunder delivers &“a stunner: a blow to the gut and shot of adrenaline . . . It reminds me of Tom Clancy at his finest&” (James Rollins, #1 New York Times-bestselling author). A shattering debut thriller in which an unstoppable force of destruction is about to strike at the heart of America . . . The remote and impenetrable Pakistani mountains have offered refuge to the worst enemies of civilization since the time of Alexander. Now, the world faces a new challenge. Reared from birth to harbor a seething hatred, a lone man is about to unleash a firestorm that will rage for centuries. And the window of opportunity to stop him is shutting much faster than Washington D.C. can hope to deal with. A top lethal operative, Will Parker is embedded within the terrorists&’ ranks to stop this catastrophic disaster. But with a nuclear core on its way to America, Parker will go to any lengths to stop a biological terror more lethal than anything the USA—and the world—has ever faced. Retribution—a dire warning of what our future may hold . . . and our end. &“An outstanding thriller with vivid characters, breakneck pacing, and suspense enough for even the most demanding reader. On top of that, Harp writes with complete authenticity and a tremendous depth of military knowledge and expertise. A fantastic read—don&’t miss it!&” —Douglas Preston, #1 New York Times-bestselling author &“A fast-paced, suspenseful thriller loaded with vivid characters and backed by a depth of military knowledge. Top gun!&” —Kathy Reichs, #1 New York Times-bestselling author &“Tense and authentic—reading this book is like living a real-life mission.&” —Lee Child, #1 New Yor
Instructional Illusions
by Carl Hendrick Paul A. Kirschner Jim HealSo much of what happens in the process of learning and instruction is obscured from view. Much like the effects of a convincing illusion, what we think we see when we observe instruction is often far from the reality. Join three leading experts in the science of learning as they explore ten instructional illusions through the lens of educational psychology, cognitive science, and instructional design. Together, they will consider how such illusions operate, unmask their true nature in light of the evidence, and present powerful alternatives for authentic teaching and learning. Look beyond the illusion and reveal the true nature of instruction.
Brain Maker: The Power of Gut Microbes to Heal and Protect Your Brain - for Life
by David PerlmutterDebilitating brain disorders are on the rise - from children diagnosed with autism and ADHD to adults developing dementia at younger ages than ever before. But a medical revolution is underway that can solve this problem. Astonishing new research sheds light on the influence of the human microbiome in every aspect of health, including your nervous system. In BRAIN MAKER, Dr Perlmutter explains the connection between intestinal microbes and the brain, describing how the microbiome develops from birth and evolves based on the environment, how it can become 'sick', and how nurturing gut health through a few easy strategies can alter your brain's destiny for the better.With simple dietary recommendations and a highly practical program of six steps to improving gut ecology, BRAIN MAKER opens the door to unprecedented brain health potential.
The Tutor: An utterly gripping psychological thriller with a heart stopping twist for 2025
by Courtney Psak"Will keep you turning the pages until the final, killer twist" Lisa Unger"Wow wow wow! The twist at the end blew my mind!" Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "One hell of a ride!" Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Letting her into your home was your first mistake... Rose is a dedicated wife and mother to her husband Grant and her son James. Having recently moved to a grand mansion in Florida, Rose is keen for James to fit in with his new life and hires a tutor.Isabel is young, smart and beautiful, and not only gets along with James, but she gets results.But when Isabel starts to get too close for comfort, Rose can't help but think that Isabel is looking for more than just tutoring.Can Rose uncover who exactly she has let into her house, or will this lesson be deadly?Don't miss this utterly gripping psychological thriller with a heart-stopping twist, perfect for fans of Valerie Keogh and Daniel Hurst. Readers are obsessed with The Tutor:"Twisting, propulsive, and unsettling" Carter Wilson"Hits you with one shocking twist after another" Karin Nordin"Hooked from the start" Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"I loved everything about this book. I could not put it down! Twists, turns and everything I would want in a thriller" Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Was up all night reading it. I loved the characters & the storyline" Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"Twists and turns galore" Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Backyard Bird Chronicles
by Amy Tan'What an enchanting and illuminating book! How lucky for us that Amy Tan has turned her genius, her deep empathy and insight, her keen eye for what is telling, to birds. Every page of these chronicles radiates warm curiosity, wonder, and delight' Jennifer Ackerman, The Genius of BirdsTracking the natural beauty that surrounds us, The Backyard Bird Chronicles maps the passage of time through daily entries, thoughtful questions, and beautiful original sketches. With boundless charm and wit, author Amy Tan charts her foray into birding and the natural wonders of the world.In 2016, Amy Tan grew overwhelmed by the state of the world: Hatred and misinformation became a daily presence on social media, and the country felt more divisive than ever. In search of peace, Tan turned toward the natural world just beyond her window and, specifically, the birds visiting her yard. But what began as an attempt to find solace turned into something far greater--an opportunity to savor quiet moments during a volatile time, connect to nature in a meaningful way, and imagine the intricate lives of the birds she admired. "Much of great writing comes from great interest, and in The Backyard Bird Chronicles, Amy Tan shows us how the world fascinates her, especially the birds. The result is both unexpected and spectacular."Ann Patchett, author of These Precious Days
ZomRomCom: Discover the hilarious paranormal romance packed with zombies, banter and one very sexy vampire
by Olivia Dade'Heart pounding action, delightfully madcap humor, and a swoony romance to lose your head over . . I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!' JENNA LEVINE, author of My Roommate is a Vampire'I could read Olivia Dade books for all eternity' ALICIA THOMPSON, author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers Surviving the zombie apocalypse is one thing, but falling for the vampire next door? That's the real nightmare . . . When Edie Brandstrup attempts to save her sweet, seemingly harmless human neighbor from the first major zombie breach in two decades, she's stunned to be saved by him-and his ridiculously large sword-instead. As it turns out, he's actually a super-old, super-surly vampire. But for all her neighbour's newly revealed cynicism and lethality, Gaston 'Max' Boucher (yes, Gaston) is unexpectedly protective. He wants her to stay in his safety bunker until the breach is resolved. Edie can't risk more innocent people getting killed, though-and Max won't let her save them alone.As they unravel a sinister conspiracy to set zombies loose on the world (again), the duo meet a host of lovable allies and discover they're not the only ones willing to fight for the future of humanity. Despite the awful timing, Edie finds herself falling for the vampire who's helping her save the world . . . but all their dangerous plans could end their future before it even begins. As she and Max battle side by side, Edie must decide whether having a love worth living for also means having a love you'd die for-and, in a world that grows deadlier by the minute, whether that's a risk she's willing to take.💕Why fans LOVE Olivia Dade!💕'Sexy, smart, and funny . . . I can't wait to read whatever [Dade] writes next' KIMBERLY LEMMING'Charming, witty, and heartfelt' KYLIE SCOTT'Olivia Dade never fails to make me laugh, blush, and feel like I'm being wrapped in a warm blanket. Cannot recommend enough!' KATEE ROBERT
The Raven Scholar: the masterfully woven and breathtaking epic adult fantasy of cutthroat competition and imperial deceit (The Eternal Path)
by Antonia HodgsonThe Sunday Times bestseller from an electrifying new voice in epic fantasy - a masterfully woven tale of imperial intrigue, cutthroat competition, and one scholar's quest to uncover the truth.'IT'S THRILLING, ROMANTIC, OFTEN TRAGIC, AND ALWAYS FUNNY' ALIX E. HARROW'SIMPLY GLORIOUS!' GEORGIA SUMMERS'FIENDISHLY CHARMING AND CLEVER' TASHA SURIShe might win the throne. She might destroy an empire. Either way, it begins with murder. After twenty-four years on the throne, it is time for Bersun the Brusque, emperor of Orrun, to bring his reign to an end. In the dizzying heat of mid-summer, seven contenders will compete to replace him. Trained at rival monasteries, each contender is inspired by a sacred animal - Fox, Raven, Tiger, Ox, Bear, Monkey, and Hound. An eighth - the Dragon proxy - will be revealed only once the trials have begun. Eight exceptional warriors, thinkers, strategists - the best of the best. Then one of them is murdered. It falls to the brilliant but idiosyncratic Neema Kraa to investigate. But as she hunts for a killer, darker forces are gathering. If Neema succeeds, she could win the throne - whether she wants it or not. But if she fails, she will sentence herself to death - and set in motion a sequence of events that could doom the empire . . .PRAISE FOR THE RAVEN SCHOLAR'The Raven Scholar is an intricately plotted historical mystery steeped in gothic charm and intellectual intrigue' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'It [The Raven Scholar] is truly one of the best epic fantasy books I've read in a long time' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I have NEVER rooted a romance more' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'This book is simply "Magnificent"' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Mature and sensible, but still idealistic, emotional, passion-driven [characters]' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wolf Moon: A Woman's Journey into the Night
by Arifa Akbar'This imaginative and empathetic book will probably not guide you to better sleep, but it will be a fine companion for the wakeful hours'GUARDIAN'A rich kaleidoscope of a book in which a series of visions emerge from the shadows'FINANCIAL TIMES'A celebration of the exuberance of night-time and a moving portrait of the dangers of the dark'THE TIMES'A beautifully written combination of personal reflection and broader thought . . . at once atmospheric and touching' Louise Doughty, author of Apple Tree YardThe night is a time of darkness and nightmares, fear and vulnerability, especially for women. And, yet, it is another world, full of beauty and possibility, too.After the sun goes down, insomnia and sleep paralysis do threaten. But some have always walked the nocturnal landscapes, with more or less confidence. Others have worked, night shifts and hidden night work: nurses, security guards, sex workers. And some have found solace in the darkness, from queer rave culture to religious pre-dawn traditions.From dusk through to day, Arifa Akbar elegantly explores how the night shapes our bodies, minds and cultures. A personal and artistic journey from fear and into hope, Wolf Moon embraces the dark before bringing us, once more, into the light.'Had me entranced from start to finish . . . an absolute joy'Lucy Atkins, author of Windmill Hill'A deft, rich and intimate exploration of darkness in all its varied guises'Annabel Abbs, author of Sleepless'Truthful, lyrical and unforgettable'Yasmin Alibhai-BrownPraise for Consumed:⭐ 'Beguiling . . . this one stands out for its eccentricity and elegiac splendour' Diana Evans, Guardian⭐ 'Moving, engrossing, elegantly written' Sunday Times⭐ 'I have rarely read a memoir with such a combination of powerful, tender feelings and cool-headed analysis' Mail on Sunday
Instructional Illusions
by Carl Hendrick Paul A. Kirschner Jim HealSo much of what happens in the process of learning and instruction is obscured from view. Much like the effects of a convincing illusion, what we think we see when we observe instruction is often far from the reality. Join three leading experts in the science of learning as they explore ten instructional illusions through the lens of educational psychology, cognitive science, and instructional design. Together, they will consider how such illusions operate, unmask their true nature in light of the evidence, and present powerful alternatives for authentic teaching and learning. Look beyond the illusion and reveal the true nature of instruction.
Health Disparities in the US and China: Spatial, Social, and Environmental Dimensions (Geographies of Health Series)
by Yingru LiThis book provides a comprehensive insight into health disparities in both the United States and China. It offers valuable perspectives on public health and policy through an examination of the spatial, social, and environmental dimensions of health disparities.Through comparative analysis of two distinct healthcare systems, economic conditions, and cultural contexts, the book offers a thorough assessment of how policies and social structures influence public health outcomes. It examines factors such as socioeconomic status, social capital, community, social and physical environments, healthcare systems, and health policies. The book adopts an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on key theoretical frameworks such as socio-ecological model, social determinants of health (SDOH), and social capital theory. It integrates geospatial, statistical, and survey analyses and includes a series of case studies to explore health disparities.This book will be of interest to students and researchers in medical geography, medical sociology, and public health, as well as professionals and policy makers who address spatial, social, and environmental disparities.
Change Point Analysis: Theory and Application
by Jialiang Li Baisuo JinChange point analysis is a crucial statistical technique for detecting structural breaks within datasets, applicable in diverse fields such as finance and weather forecasting. The authors of this book aim to consolidate recent advancements and broaden the scope beyond traditional time series applications to include biostatistics, longitudinal data analysis, high-dimensional data, and network analysis.The book introduces foundational concepts with practical data examples from literature, alongside discussions of related machine learning topics. Subsequent chapters focus on mathematical tools for single- and multiple-change point detection along with statistical inference issues, which provide rigorous proofs to enhance understanding but assume readers have foundational knowledge in graduate-level probability and statistics. The book also expands the discussion into threshold regression frameworks linked to subgroup identification in modern statistical learning and apply change point analysis to functional data and dynamic networks—areas not comprehensively covered elsewhere.Key Features: Comprehensive Coverage of Diverse Applications: This book expands the scope of change point analysis to include biostatistics, longitudinal data, high-dimensional data, and network analysis. This broad applicability makes it a valuable resource for researchers and students across various disciplines Integration of Theory and Practice: The book balances rigorous mathematical theory with practical applications by providing extensive computational examples using R. Each chapter features real-world data illustrations and discussions of relevant machine learning topics, ensuring that readers can see the relevance of theoretical concepts in applied settings Accessibility for Students: The content is designed with graduate-level students in mind, providing clear explanations and structured guidance through complex mathematical tools. Rigorous proofs are included to facilitate understanding without overwhelming readers with overly advanced theories early on The book incorporates computational results using R, showcasing various packages tailored for specific methods or problem domains while providing references for further exploration. By offering a selection of widely adopted methodologies relevant in scientific research as well as business contexts, this text aims to equip junior researchers with essential tools needed for their work in change point analysis.
Mathematics of Networks: Modulus Theory and Convex Optimization
by Nathan Albin Pietro Poggi-CorradiniMathematics of Networks: Modulus Theory and Convex Optimization explores the question: “What can be learned by adapting the theory of p-modulus (and related continuum analysis concepts) to discrete graphs?” This book navigates the rich landscape of p-modulus on graphs, demonstrating how this theory elegantly connects concepts from graph theory, probability, and convex optimization.This book is ideal for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the theoretical foundations of network analysis and applied graph theory. It serves as an excellent primary text or reference for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses across multiple disciplines, including mathematics, data science, and engineering, particularly those focusing on network analysis, applied graph theory, optimization, and related areas.Features: Accessible to students with a solid foundation in multivariable calculus and linear algebra. Broad interdisciplinary appeal, relevant to mathematics, data science, and engineering curricula. Numerous engaging exercises.
Probability, Objectivity and Evidence (Routledge Revivals)
by F. C. BenensonFirst published in 1984, in Probability, Objectivity and Evidence the author claims that the theory of probability provides a single, correct, analysis of probability and that the concept of probability employed in science can best be understood as that of inductive probability; to do so, it is necessary to show both how the logical relation theory of probability can be given a formulation sufficiently objective for the purposes of science, and how other attempts to explain the objective character of probability judgements are unsatisfactory.These and related questions occupy the first five chapters of the book. The last two chapters contain more or less independent material on the principle of indifference. The author argues that in essence, the logical relation theory alone can explain how we have objective knowledge of probabilities, and so it alone provides a viable system translation of the concept of probability used in science. This is a must read for students of logic and philosophy.
Descriptive Statistics and Probability Theory (Routledge Revivals)
by Robert Arthur BarksFirst published in 1972, in Descriptive Statistics and Probability Theory the numerical work- the selection of numerical data-is used as a basis for developing the statistical theory. Other starting points could have been chosen but a beginner will readily understand this sort of work and hence be able to ‘get the feel of’ statistics, untroubled by the learning of fresh concepts.From this numerical work emerges the ‘need’ to introduce counting techniques, permutations, combinations and the binomial theorem. In a similar way the necessity for probability is shown and the basic ideas are developed intuitively. A final short chapter shows how these ideas can be formalised within an axiomatic system. In all cases, simple intuitive ideas are taken as a starting point and then discussion leads to the final formalization. As concepts are introduced the language of statistics is developed. A large number of examples is used and they are all worked in full detail. Occasionally the reader is placed in a problem situation and invited to attempt his own individual solution before reading on to match his own attempts to other solutions. It is hoped that motivation of this sort will lead the reader to develop greater sensitivity than would otherwise be the case. This is an important read for students of statistics, mathematics and economics.
Poetry and the Physical Voice (Routledge Revivals)
by Francis BerryFirst published in 1962, Poetry and the Physical Voice is a companion volume to author’s Poets’ Grammar and its conclusions might well be related to his own recently published collection, Morant Bay and Other Poems. An enquiry as to how far the fact- that poetry is vocal sound- was modified by the invention of printing. The eye-perusal of some kinds of prose, and even of verse, is one thing, the recognition of an individual voice behind an unsigned passage of poetry is another. Shakespeare, for a career, wrote words to be spoken by voices which he could hear in imagination since their owners were well known to him, but Tennyson composed aloud and so was confined to effects which his own voice could produce.Besides Shakespeare and Tennyson, Mr Berry considers other poets, including some who have spoken out for themselves on gramophone records. He further establishes that if a poet's physical voice, it's timbre and range, tends to condition his achievement, it also predisposes him to the use of particular syntactical and grammatical forms. Some kinds of voice to show special advantage when using such forms and thus exploit the emotional moods appropriate to these forms. This is an interesting read for scholars and researchers of English poetry and English literature.
Beaumont and Fletcher: A Critical Study (Routledge Revivals)
by William W. AppletonFirst published in 1956, Beaumont and Fletcher offers a compact critical survey of the plays by Beaumont and Fletcher, as well as Fletcher's collaborations with Massinger and Shakespeare.For a hundred years audiences and readers ranked Beaumont and Fletcher with Ben Johnson and with Shakespeare. The successors to Shakespeare as leading dramatists for The King's Men, they set the tone for the Jacobean drama. Consequently, this study of their plays illuminates not only the stage of their time but the period as a whole. It attempts to measure their impact on the Jacobean and Restoration theatre, their subsequent reputation, and their relevance to the theatre of today. It offers to lovers of the theatre an overall view of the two playwrights’ achievement. For the general reader it provides an insight into a period of exceptional interest.
Sin and the New Psychology (Routledge Revivals)
by Clifford E. BarbourFirst published in 1931, in Sin and the New Psychology the author has confronted, not with denunciation but with reasoned argument, the common view that there is no such thing as sin in the Christian sense, because “complexes” now are all. So far from an internecine conflict obtaining between Christian teaching about sin and the New Psychology (taken as equivalent to psychoanalysis), he urges that in a real degree they are pursuing the same end. The method of psychotherapy, as he contends, is in principle identical with that which Christianity employs for the cure and eradication of sin.The book discusses important themes like sketch of the new psychology; the Christian doctrine of sin; psychic evil and the essence of sin; original sin and the unity of the race; temptation and the unconscious impulse; the sense of guilt and the inferiority complex; confession and repression; forgiveness and transference; and sanctification and sublimation. This book is an important historical reference work for scholars of psychoanalysis, Christian theology, psychology and religion in general.
Pythagoras: A Life (Routledge Revivals)
by Peter GormanFirst published in 1979, Pythagoras aims to make available to a wide range of readers the events of Pythagoras’s life and his theories, and to present him not primarily as a mathematician and scientific genius nor as a poetical and mystical phenomenon but as a man of his times subject to diverse influences. Today, Pythagoras is best remembered as a mathematician and for his mystical religious beliefs but his seminal influence as a thinker has been largely misunderstood.Peter Gorman considers that the mystical and esoteric interpretations of Pythagoras’ work have now been vindicated and that modern attempt to describe him in terms of more primitive cultures have been based upon mistaken ideas about Greek mentality and the civilization of the sixth century BC. The concise chronological narrative precludes a more comprehensive discussion of this civilization, exemplified by such fascinating figures as Sappho and Ibycus. Mr Gorman’s lucid account, however, allows Pythagoras, his times and influence to emerge more clearly than in many larger works and in a manner comprehensible to the general reader as well as to the classical scholar.
Mantras: Sacred Words of Power (Routledge Revivals)
by John BlofeldFirst published in 1977, in this unique and beautifully illustrated book called Mantras, John Blofeld, an acknowledged authority on Buddhist yogic contemplation, explains the significance and operation of the sacred ‘words of power’. With the dramatic growth of interest in the religions and mysticism of the East, more and more people have become fascinated by ‘mantras’, the sacred formulae memorised for meditation in India, China and Tibet. Their precise meaning and exactly how they work have, understandably, long been surrounded by an aura of secrecy in order to guard against distortion and abuse. Meditators chant them sonorously and rhythmically or repeat them inwardly, and often visualise the syllables as emanating rays of gloriously coloured light. The efficacy of mantras as an aid to meditation is beyond doubt- but many people believe that the syllables themselves are imbued with marvellous or miraculous powers.John Blofeld explores these more controversial aspects with great insight and sensitivity. Much of his knowledge is derived from first-hand experience and from lips of monks and lamas encountered during a lifetime in the East. This is an interesting read for scholars and researchers of religion, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
Machine Learning Engineering on AWS: Operationalize and optimize generative AI systems and LLMOps pipelines in production
by Joshua Arvin LatSolve machine learning engineering challenges for GenAI applications on AWS and automate the LLMOps workflows using AWS services like Amazon Bedrock and Amazon SageMakerKey FeaturesLearn how to build RAG and agent-based GenAI apps with AWS servicesLeverage Amazon Bedrock for secure, responsible AI, and next-gen Amazon SageMaker for data, analytics, and ML engineeringApply access controls, compliance features, and best practices to ensure robust ML system securityPurchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBookBook DescriptionRecent advancements in generative AI, large language models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and AI agents have created a soaring demand for machine learning engineers who can build, manage, and scale modern AI-powered systems. To stay ahead in this rapidly evolving AI landscape, you need a deep theoretical understanding as well as hands-on expertise with the right tools, services, and platforms. Machine Learning Engineering on AWS is a practical guide that teaches you how to harness AWS services such as Amazon Bedrock and the next generation of Amazon SageMaker to build, optimize, and manage production-ready ML systems. You’ll learn how to build RAG-powered GenAI applications, automate LLMOps workflows, develop reliable and responsible AI agents, and optimize a managed transactional data lake. The book also covers proven deployment and evaluation strategies for dealing with various models, along with practical examples to help you manage, troubleshoot, and optimize ML systems running on AWS. Guided by AWS Machine Learning Hero Joshua Arvin Lat, you’ll be able to grasp complex ML concepts with clarity and gain the confidence to operationalize and secure GenAI applications on AWS to meet a wide variety of ML engineering requirements.What you will learnImplement model distillation techniques to build cost-efficient modelsDevelop RAG and agent-based generative AI applicationsLeverage fully managed Apache Iceberg tables with Amazon S3 tablesAutomate production-ready end-to-end machine learning pipelines on AWSMonitor models, data, and infrastructure to detect potential issuesApply proven cost optimization techniques for generative AI systemsWho this book is forThis book is for AI engineers, data scientists, machine learning engineers, and technology leaders who want to learn more about machine learning engineering, GenAI, LLMs, RAG, AI agents, and MLOps on AWS. A basic understanding of artificial intelligence, machine learning, generative AI, and cloud engineering concepts is a must.
Alive in the Sound: Black Music as Counterhistory (Refiguring American Music)
by Ronald RadanoIn Alive in the Sound, Ronald Radano proposes a new understanding of US Black music by focusing on the key matter of value, manifested musically in its seemingly embodied qualities—spirit, soul, and groove. While acknowledging these qualities are always embedded in Black music, Radano shows they developed not simply from performance but from musicians’ status as laborers inhabiting an enduring racial-economic contradiction: Black music originated publicly as an exchangeable property owned by people whose subhuman status granted them—as “natural” musicians—indelible properties of sound. As a contradiction of the rules of ownership, wherein enslaved property was forbidden the right to own, modern Black music emerges after emancipation as a primary possession, moving dialectically into commercial markets and counterhistorically back into Black worlds. Slavery’s seminal contests of ownership underlie modern musical sensations of aliveness, which become the chief measure of value in popular music. By reconceiving US Black music history as a history of value, Radano rethinks the music’s place in US and global culture.
Political Theology Reimagined
by Vincent W. Lloyd Alex DubiletPolitical theology has emerged as an enormously energetic, creative way of exploring the complex relationships between religion, politics, and culture around the world. Political Theology Reimagined centers decolonial, Black, queer, feminist, and Marxist modes of critical practice to offer a cutting-edge vision of the field that foregrounds a political theology animated by both a fascination with and a suspicion of the secular. Among other things, contributors explore how religious ideas, practices, and imaginations are inflected by anti-Blackness, patriarchy, and colonial histories; theorize anew the status of secularization narratives; probe the universality and translatability of conceptual abstractions; and experiment with the powers of genealogy and speculation. In short, they grapple with religion and critique in all their complexity, opening new itineraries in political theology by transforming its fundamental theoretical coordinates. Traversing diverse sites, from South Asia to the Middle East to Indigenous North America, and working across diverse scales, from the national to the planetary to the cosmic, this volume models the future of political theology by pairing rigorous critique with a commitment to collective liberation.Contributors. Prathama Banerjee, Agata Bielik-Robson, Kirill Chepurin, Alex Dubilet, James Edward Ford III, Lucia Hulsether, Basit Kareem Iqbal, Ada S. Jaarsma, Siobhan Kelly, David Kline, Adam Kotsko, Dana Lloyd, Vincent W. Lloyd, Beatrice Marovich, Aseel Najib, Milad Odabaei, Inese Radzins, George Shulman, Martin Shuster, Rafael Vizcaíno
Speculative Relations: Indigenous Worlding and Repair
by Joseph M. PierceIndigenous relations are often described in anthropological terms, or as expressions of timeless, unchanging kinship ties. In Speculative Relations, Joseph M. Pierce challenges this view, considering the potential of these relations as a means of repairing the damages of history. Pierce approaches Indigenous art and culture not as objects of study, but through relations committed to reciprocity and care for human and more-than-human beings. Drawing on Cherokee thinking, Indigenous queer theory, literary and cultural studies, and art criticism, he illuminates pathways for understanding and resisting the ongoing damages of colonialism while pointing to future worlds and imaginaries that breathe life into Indigenous thought and practice. Analyzing a range of materials—from photography, literature, and sculpture to film and ethnography—Pierce reveals how speculation, as a form of situated knowledge production, can repair and reimagine the worlds that colonialism sought to destroy. In doing so, Pierce highlights how gestures, poetics, and embodiment can uphold tradition and harness the imaginative power of speculation to create pathways for living in good relations.
The Human in Bits: Graphical Computers, Black Abstractions
by Kris CohenIn The Human in Bits, Kris Cohen examines black abstractionist painting to demonstrate how race and computation are intimately entangled with the personal computer’s graphic user interface. He shows how the personal computer and the graphical field of its screen meant to transform the human by transforming what environments humans were to labor in. It also provided the means for whiteness to tie itself to notions of colorblind meritocracy. Cohen focuses on the post-1960s experiments of black abstractionists Alma Thomas, Jack Whitten, Charles Gaines, and Julie Mehretu, who developed a nonrepresentational approach to blackness that was oriented more toward constraint than human expression. From Gaines’s use of grids to Mehretu’s layering of paint, these artists—in their knowledge that black life had always been conflated with numbers and bits of information—flirted with repetition, systems, and formulas to test other ways of being human. By demonstrating how these artists bypassed the white fear that the human would become interchangeable with data, Cohen reframes modernism and modernist art to account for racialization in computational cultures.
Relating Ontological Truth in the Upanishads to Sleep, Dreaming and Schizophrenia Spectrum Models: An Interdisciplinary Study (SpringerBriefs in Religious Studies)
by Edward MillerThis book explores the potential relevance of the Upanishads, a corpus of ancient Eastern apophatic texts, to contemporary Western theories of consciousness and psychopathology, particularly in relation to psychoanalysis, neuroscience, and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Beginning with an analysis of Upanishadic thought and its historical influence in Europe, this work bridges the gap between ancient wisdom and modern scientific inquiry. It examines the dream theories of psychoanalyst Wilfred Bion in relation to Upanishadic conceptions of the Self, followed by an exploration of contemporary neuroscientific perspectives on selfhood. Further, it delves into the evolution and function of sleep and dreaming in Homo sapiens, proposing a novel heuristic: that schizophrenia-spectrum disorders may be developmentally linked to alterations in the sleep and dreaming systems of the human mind-brain. Offering a unique interdisciplinary synthesis, this text will appeal to scholars and students of philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and religious studies, as well as those interested in the intersections of ancient meditative traditions and modern scientific paradigms.