New Releases by James Wood

Reprint of the original, first published in 1838.

This book addresses geohazards by establishing their unique hydrogeological conceptual site models. Geohazards occur in many forms and scales either naturally or induced by human''s activities. Many geohazards such as earth fissure, ground collapse and subsidence, mine water inrush, and groundwater contamination are closely related to hydrogeological conditions and their dynamics. Water, either surface water or groundwater, acts as a resource and an enabling agent that elevates geohazard risks in areas that are inherently vulnerable. The book presents case studies to describe identification and investigation methods, monitoring and early-warning techniques, modeling approaches, and engineering measures to prevent, control, and mitigate these geohazards. It targets students, researchers, practitioners, and decision makers who are engaged in water resource management, project planning, and geohazard control and management.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1867.

From The New Yorker''s book critic, "one of the most intelligent and passionate literary critics working today. . . . a masterful ''greatest hits'' collection" (Angela M. Giles, Los Angeles Review of Books ). Ever since the publication of his first essay collection, The Broken Estate James Wood has been widely regarded as a leading literary critic of the English-speaking world. His essays on canonical writers (Gustav Flaubert, Herman Melville), recent legends (Don DeLillo, Marilynne Robinson) and significant contemporaries (Zadie Smith, Elena Ferrante) have established a standard for informed and incisive appreciation, composed in a distinctive literary style all their own. Together, Wood''s essays, and his bestselling How Fiction Works, share an abiding preoccupation with how fiction tells its own truths, and with the vocation of the writer in a world haunted by the absence of God. In Serious Noticing, Wood collects his best essays from two decades of his career, supplementing earlier work with autobiographical reflections from his book The Nearest Thing to Life and recent essays from The New Yorker on young writers of extraordinary promise. The result is an essential guide to literature in the new millennium. "Forensically close readings of the text, pointing out fiction''s innovations and revolutions―the "failed privacies" of Chekhov''s characters, the "unwrapped" consciousness in Virginia Woolf''s novels. . . . a beautiful, moving sense of the stakes of criticism as Wood has practiced it." ―Parul Sehgal, The New York Times Book Review "[Food] has a notable capacity for articulate enthusiasm and a withering tongue to balance it." —Francis Mulhern, New Left Review "Thick with images you can almost reach out and grasp . . . With criticism like this, who needs fiction?" ―Becca Rothfeld, Bookforum

Rev. James Wood''s "Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources" serves as an indispensable compendium for scholars, writers, and avid readers alike. The book elegantly distills a vast array of quotations categorized by theme, author, and period, making it a remarkable reference for understanding the interplay between historical context and literary expression. Wood''s meticulous approach combines succinct definitions with insightful annotations that illuminate the significance behind each quote, reflecting a literary style that is both scholarly and accessible, thus bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and modern thought. Rev. James Wood, known for his profound admiration of literature and linguistic precision, was deeply influenced by the diverse cultural landscapes of his own experiences. His theological background coupled with a genuine passion for literary history motivated him to compile this extensive collection, showcasing his dedication to preserving the voices of both renowned and obscure writers across linguistic and temporal boundaries. Wood''s scholarly acumen is evident in his thoughtful selection and organization of materials, which demonstrate both breadth and depth. This dictionary is not merely a compilation; it is an invitation to explore the resonant echoes of wisdom across cultures and centuries. For anyone seeking inspiration, insight, or eloquence in expression, Wood''s collection stands as an outstanding resource. Engage with the quotes that have shaped history and contemporary discourse, and enrich your understanding of the human experience. In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience: - Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance. - Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.

"[This] novel [tells the story of] a family struggling to connect with one another and find meaning in their own lives"--Amazon.com.

In this remarkable blend of memoir and criticism, James Wood, noted contributor to the New Yorker, has written a master class on the connections between fiction and life. He argues that, of all the arts, fiction has a unique ability to describe the shape of our lives and to rescue the texture of those lives from death and historical oblivion. The act of reading is understood here as the most sacred and personal of activities, and there are brilliant discussions of individual works - among others, Chekhov''s story "The Kiss," W.G. Sebald''s The Emigrants, and Penelope Fitzgerald''s The Blue Flower. Wood reveals his own intimate relationship with the written word: we see the development of a provincial boy growing up in a charged Christian environment, the secret joy of his childhood reading, the links he makes between reading and blasphemy, or between literature and music. The final section discusses fiction in the context of exile and homelessness. The Nearest Thing to LifeÊis not simply a brief, tightly argued book by a man commonly regarded as our finest living critic - it is also an exhilarating personal account that reflects on, and embodies, the fruitful conspiracy between reader and writer (and critic), and asks us to reconsider everything that is at stake when we read and write fiction.

No project management training? No problem! In today''s workplace, employees are routinely expected to coordinate and manage projects. Yet, chances are, you aren''t formally trained in managing projects—you''re an unofficial project manager. FranklinCovey experts Kory Kogon, Suzette Blakemore, and James Wood understand the importance of leadership in project completion and explain that people are crucial in the formula for success. Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager offers practical, real-world insights for effective project management and guides you through the essentials of the people and project management process: Initiate Plan Execute Monitor/Control Close Unofficial project managers in any arena will benefit from the accessible, engaging real-life anecdotes, memorable “Project Management Proverbs," and quick reviews at the end of each chapter. If you''re struggling to keep your projects organized, this book is for you. If you manage projects without the benefit of a team, this book is also for you. Change the way you think about project management—"project manager" may not be your official title or necessarily your dream job, but with the right strategies, you can excel.

Reissued here in its 1815 sixth edition, this work gives a glimpse into the teaching of mathematics at Cambridge.

This book recalls an era when criticism could change the way we look at the world. In the tradition of Matthew Arnold and Edmund Wilson, James Wood reads literature expansively, always pursuing its role and destiny in our lives. In a series of essays about such figures as Melville, Flaubert, Chekhov, Virginia Woolf, and Don DeLillo, Wood relates their fiction to questions of religious and philosophical belief. He suggests that the steady ebb of the sea of faith has much to do with the revo- lutionary power of the novel, as it has developed over the last two centuries. To read James Wood is to be shocked into both thinking and feeling how great our debt to the novel is. In the grand tradition of criticism, Wood''s work is both commentary and literature in its own right--fiercely written, polemical, and richly poetic in style. This book marks the debut of a masterly literary voice.

Computational Methods in Reactor Shielding deals with the mathematical processes involved in how to effectively control the dangerous effect of nuclear radiation. Reactor shielding is considered an important aspect in the operation of reactor systems to ensure the safety of personnel and others that can be directly or indirectly affected. Composed of seven chapters, the book discusses ionizing radiation and how it aids in the control and containment of radioactive substances that are considered harmful to all living things. The text also outlines the necessary radiation quantities and units that are needed for a systemic control of shielding and presents an examination of the main sources of nuclear radiation. A discussion of the gamma photon cross sections and an introduction to BMIX, a computer program used in illustrating a technique in identifying the gamma ray build-up factor for a reactor shield, are added. The selection also discusses various mathematical representations and areas of shielding theory that are being used in radiation shielding. The book is of great value to those involved in the development and implementation of systems to minimize and control the dangerous and lethal effect of radiation.

Following The Broken Estate, The Irresponsible Self, and How Fiction Works—books that established James Wood as the leading critic of his generation— The Fun Stuff confirms Wood''s preeminence, not only as a discerning judge but also as an appreciator of the contemporary novel. In twenty-three passionate, sparkling dispatches—that range over such crucial writers as Thomas Hardy, Leon Tolstoy, Edmund Wilson, and Mikhail Lermontov—Wood offers a panoramic look at the modern novel. He effortlessly connects his encyclopedic, passionate understanding of the literary canon with an equally in-depth analysis of the most important authors writing today, including Cormac McCarthy, Lydia Davis, Aleksandar Hemon, and Michel Houellebecq. Included in The Fun Stuff are the title essay on Keith Moon and the lost joys of drumming—which was a finalist for last year''s National Magazine Awards—as well as Wood''s essay on George Orwell, which Christopher Hitchens selected for the Best American Essays 2010. The Fun Stuff is indispensable reading for anyone who cares about contemporary literature.

The citizen soldier is a central figure in Canada’s social memory of the First World War. But is the ideal of being a citizen first and a soldier only by necessity an unchanging feature of the Canadian identity? This compelling history traces the evolution of the Canadian amateur military tradition in the turbulent years from 1896 to 1921. Before the Great War, Canada’s military culture was in transition as Canada navigated an uncertain relationship with the United States and fought an imperial war in South Africa. Gradually, the untrained civilian replaced the long-serving volunteer militiaman as the archetypal amateur soldier, setting the country down a path leading directly to the battlefields of Flanders and northern France. Militia Myths reveals the history of a military culture that consistently employed the citizen soldier as its foremost symbol, but was otherwise in a state of profound change.

The Nuttall Encyclopaedia is an early-20th-century encyclopaedia, edited by Rev. James Wood, first published in London in 1900 by Frederick Warne & Co Ltd. It is named for Dr. Peter Austin Nuttall (d. 1869), whose works, such as Standard Pronouncing Dictionary of the English Language (published in 1863), were eventually acquired by Frederick Warne, and would be published for decades to come. The encyclopaedia has a strong editorial voice, and concerns itself mostly with people and places. It may be the only printed encyclopaedia that has entries for fictional characters from Charles Dickens'' books, but at the same time lacks entries for fruit. Entries generally are very short. It often reflects the personal bias of the author, and of course views events from its own perspective in time; both aspects can be seen in entries like Dates of Epoch-Making Events.

What makes a story a story? What is style? What’s the connection between realism and real life? These are some of the questions James Wood answers in How Fiction Works, the first book-length essay by the preeminent critic of his generation. Ranging widely—from Homer to David Foster Wallace, from What Maisie Knew to Make Way for Ducklings—Wood takes the reader through the basic elements of the art, step by step. The result is nothing less than a philosophy of the novel—plainspoken, funny, blunt—in the traditions of E. M. Forster’s Aspects of the Novel and Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style. It sums up two decades of insight with wit and concision. It will change the way you read.

A Passionate, Profoundly Funny First Novel from "the Best Literary Critic of His Generation" (Adam Begley, Financial Times) Thomas Bunting, the charming, chaotic, and deeply untruthful narrator of James Wood''s wonderful first novel, is in despair. His marriage is disintegrating and his academic career is in ruins: instead of completing his philosophy Ph.D. (still unfinished after seven years), he is secretly writing what he hopes will be his masterwork, a vast atheistic project he has privately entitled "The Book Against God." But when his father suddenly falls ill, Thomas returns to the tiny village in the north of England where he grew up and where his father still works as a parish priest. There, Thomas hopes, he may finally be able to communicate honestly with his father, a brilliant and formidable Christian example, and sort out his own wayward life. But Thomas is a chronic liar as well as an atheist, and he finds, instead, that once at home he soon reverts to the evasive patterns of his childhood years—with disastrous results. The story of a husband and wife, a father and son, faith and disbelief, and a hero who couldn''t tell the truth if his life depended on it, The Book Against God is at once hilarious and poignant; it introduces an original comic voice—edgy, elegiac, lyrical, and indignant—and, in the irrepressible Thomas Bunting, one of the strangest philosophers in contemporary fiction.

Publisher Description

Far from recommending cruel acts, utilitarianism, understood this way, actually runs congruent to our basic moral intuitions.