Book Lists

New Releases by Michael

Michael is the author of A Queer History of the United States (2026), Avatar: The Last Airbender -- The Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer (2024), How Nashville Became Music City, U.S.A. (2022), Ruptures in the American Psyche (2022), Bonnie Lass (2021).

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A Queer History of the United States

release date: May 26, 2026
A Queer History of the United States
A revised and expanded edition of the first book to cover the entirety of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history, from pre-1492 to the present In this new edition of A Queer History of the United States, Michael Bronski’s classic book now covers 500 years, bringing queer history into the 21st century and further illuminates how profoundly the LGBTQ+ life and people have shaped America. Drawing upon primary documents, literature, and popular culture, Bronski weaves a comprehensive tapestry of LGBTQ+ history, providing startling examples of unknown or ignored aspects of our collective past. From the ineffectiveness of sodomy laws in the colonies, to how rock music and youth culture unintentionally engendered the devastating backlash against gay rights in the late 1970s; from individuals such as Robert Treat Paine and Ezekiel Dodge, Harvard classmates in 1774 who formed a deep, loving relationship and wrote passionate love letters to one another to Lucy Hicks Andersen, a married African American socialite and celebrity chef in Oxnard, California, whose story appeared in Time magazine in 1945 after her transgender identity became known, Bronski covers an eclectic breadth of facts and stories. This revised edition includes details on the evolution of the transgender liberation movement, the upsurge of vibrant queer movements of color, the groundbreaking emergence of new sexual and gender identities, and concludes by analyzing the current conservative backlash against LGBTQ rights, racial and social justice policies, and the drive to eradicate historical diversity. Not simply about "gay history" it is about all American history, Bronski’s dynamic and revealing narrative radically reframes how we understand our past and, more important, our present.

Avatar: The Last Airbender -- The Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer

release date: Aug 20, 2024
Avatar: The Last Airbender -- The Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer
The Jasmine Dragon has become a fixture of social life in Ba Sing Se. When his tea supply suddenly and mysteriously dries up, Iroh goes in search of answers and finds himself captured by a familiar face—bounty hunter June! Iroh must confront a part of his past while June considers her future, but however things go…someone’s got to free the tea! Faith Erin Hicks, Peter Wartman and Adele Matera are back with another new adventure in the word of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Written in consultation with co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko!

How Nashville Became Music City, U.S.A.

release date: Nov 15, 2022
How Nashville Became Music City, U.S.A.
How Nashville Became Music City, U.S.A. was first published in 2006 and quickly became the go-to reference for those seeking to understand the Nashville music industry, or write about it. Now, Michael Kosser, prolific songwriter and author, returns with an updated and expanded edition, bringing the history of Music Row up to the present, since so much has changed over the last fifteen years. This new edition of How Nashville Became Music City, U.S.A. details the history of the Nashville song and recording industry from the founding of its first serious commercial music publishing company in 1942 to the present. Kosser tells the history of Music Row primarily through the voices of those who made and continue to make that history, including record executives, producers, singers, publishers, songwriters, studio musicians, studio engineers, record promoters, and others responsible for the music and the business, including the ambitious music executives who struggle to find an audience who will buy country records instead of just listening to them on the radio. The result is a book with insight far beyond the usual media stories, with plenty of emotion, humor, and historical accuracy. Kosser traces the growth and cultural changes of Nashville and the adventurous souls who fly to it to be a part of the music. He follows the changes from its hillbilly roots through its “Nashville Sound” quasi-pop days, from the outlaws, the new traditionalists, and the mega-sellers to the recent bro country and the rise of mini-trends. This edition also bears witness to the huge influence of Music Row on pop, folk, rock, and other American music genres.

Ruptures in the American Psyche

release date: Apr 29, 2022
Ruptures in the American Psyche
This book describes Trumpism: the strong allegiance to former President Donald Trump that is in evidence among a sizable portion of the US population. How did Trump come to be elected in 2016, and who supported him during his presidential tenure - and why? How is it that he continues to hold cult-like status, exerting a strong influence not only on many individuals but also on numerous elected officials, despite his defeat in 2020? Why does his character continue to be an object of fascination even among anti-Trumpists, and why will Trumpism continue to play a major role in the American sociopolitical landscape even now he has left the presidential stage? Michael J. Diamond ponders these questions through the lenses of American history and culture, political theory, social phenomena, group dynamics, and psychoanalysis. In exploring the relationship between large-group regression, cultism, destructive populism, delusional thinking, conspiratorial beliefs, authoritarianism, and leadership characterised by narcissism and paranoia, psychoanalytic ideas pertaining to group dynamics, malignant regression, and leadership are brought into play. Prominent psychoanalytic thinkers who have addressed these topics and whose work usefully contributes to the discussion include Bion, Freud, Fromm, Bollas, Kernberg, Lifton, Rosenfeld, and Volkan, as well as Bleger, Jaques, and several more recent Kleinian/Bionian-influenced analysts. Most important, the book makes use of these understandings to reestablish a sufficiently containing frame that strengthens the body politics'' nonpathological elements in order to come to grips with these disturbing factors. Whatever their political beliefs, psychoanalysts in the US and worldwide will find much to think about in reading this book''s application of their discipline to today''s sociopolitical environment. In addition, the book''s insights extend beyond arguments targeting a strictly psychoanalytic audience in order to reach social and political thinkers, as well as activists, who are deeply concerned about dangers threatening the very foundations of democracy in the US and worldwide. And finally, the thoughtful lay person will appreciate the accessibility to all these fields that the book provides, and will come away with a much deeper understanding of just what motivates us to take a stand for or against a given political figure. In short, conceptual tools are provided that lead to greater understanding as well as effective strategies and tactics for containment of destructive forces - largely unconscious ones - that imperil our society.

Bonnie Lass

release date: Aug 17, 2021
Bonnie Lass
Seeking to set herself apart from the reputation of her infamous pirate father, Bonnie Lass makes waves to find ancient treasure and strange waters. Mercenaries, shadowy elitists, and an out-of-this-world sea monster stand between Bonnie's troupe and the promise of glory! For the first time in collected print, Volumes 1 and 2 of Bonnie Lass now make for one grandiose tale!

The Chemical History of a Candle (Scientific Lectures)

release date: Dec 17, 2020
The Chemical History of a Candle (Scientific Lectures)
The Chemical History of a Candle presents a series of lectures on the chemistry and physics of flames given by Michael Faraday. The lectures described the different zones of combustion in the candle flame and the presence of carbon particles in the luminescent zone. Demonstrations included the production and examination of the properties of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases. An electrolysis cell is demonstrated, first in the electroplating of platinum conductors by dissolved copper, then the production of hydrogen and oxygen gases and their recombination to form water. The properties of water itself are studied, including its expansion while freezing (iron vessels are burst by this expansion), and the relative volume of steam produced when water is vaporized. Techniques for weighing gases on a balance are demonstrated. Atmospheric pressure is described and its effects demonstrated.

The Hunting of Hillary

release date: Jul 28, 2020
The Hunting of Hillary
The Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter traces how an industry of lies was created to persecute Hillary Clinton: "thoroughly researched [and] incisive" ( Kirkus Reviews). A pioneer for women, Hilary Clinton was burdened in ways no male politician ever was. Maligned by an avalanche of sexist insults and baseless accusations, she couldn''t call out her right-wing attackers lest she be cast as weak and whiny. Nevertheless, she persisted. And her many achievements in politics and policy are all the more remarkable for the unprecedented smear campaign that attempted to stop her. The 2016 presidential election can only be understood in the context of the primal and primitive response of those who just couldn''t imagine that a woman might lead. For those who seek to understand the experience of the most accomplished woman in American politics, The Hunting of Hillary offers insight. For those who recognized what happened to her, it offers affirmation. And for those who hope to carry Clinton''s work into the future, it offers inspiration and instruction. "I''m biased! But I think Michael D''Antonio''s book, cataloging decades of right-wing misogyny and mythmaking, is a stunner." —Hillary Clinton

Psychotherapy for Psychosis

release date: Aug 08, 2019
Psychotherapy for Psychosis
In this innovative book, master clinician Michael Garrett shows how to weave together cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and psychodynamic therapy to support the recovery of persons suffering from psychosis. This integrated framework builds on the strengths of both methods to achieve lasting gains, even for patients with severe, chronic mental illness. The therapist is guided to use CBT to help the patient recognize the literal falsity of delusions, while employing psychodynamic strategies to explore the figurative truth and personal meaning of psychotic symptoms. Extended case presentations and numerous clinical vignettes illustrate Garrett’s compassionate, empowering approach. Winner (Second Place)--American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Category

The Exoplanet Handbook

release date: Aug 30, 2018
The Exoplanet Handbook
With the discovery of planets beyond our solar system 25 years ago, exoplanet research has expanded dramatically, with new state-of-the-art ground-based and space-based missions dedicated to their discovery and characterisation. With more than 3,500 exoplanets now known, the complexity of the discovery techniques, observations and physical characterisation have grown exponentially. This Handbook ties all these avenues of research together across a broad range of exoplanet science. Planet formation, exoplanet interiors and atmospheres, and habitability are discussed, providing in-depth coverage of our knowledge to date. Comprehensively updated from the first edition, it includes instrumental and observational developments, in-depth treatment of the new Kepler mission results and hot Jupiter atmospheric studies, and major updates on models of exoplanet formation. With extensive references to the research literature and appendices covering all individual exoplanet discoveries, it is a valuable reference to this exciting field for both incoming and established researchers.

Participation Marketing

release date: Mar 03, 2018
Participation Marketing
Trust is an invaluable commodity in any business environment. Organizations benefit from being viewed as transparent, open and human, and one of the best ways of achieving this is through authentic employee advocacy. Participation Marketing takes a detailed look at the benefits that arise when employees are fully subscribed to a brand's ethos, and how this can be used to magnify a brand's voice. After all, it's likely that every individual employee of a company now has several hundred unique social media connections, if not more. So by engaging staff and encouraging them to participate in company activity and share via their own channels, they will be broadcasting trusted brand experiences to entirely new groups of consumers. Employee advocacy has always been worth investing in, but as the combination of constant connectedness and conversation becomes standard in our everyday lives, so too grows the importance of leveraging it. Participation Marketing will convince business leaders to think hard about employee advocacy as a channel that has many positive business outcomes. Internally, it will engage employees and make them feel part of something bigger, which will naturally result in employee satisfaction, retention and an increase in productivity. Externally, it will help brands reach new audiences with trusted and relevant stories.

Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs

release date: Mar 17, 2016
Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs
3500 photographs. Over 380 genera. More than 3700 species and cultivars. Dirr''s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs is the most comprehensive visual reference to more than 3700 species and cultivars. From majestic evergreens to delicate vines and flowering shrubs, Dirr features thousands of plants and all the essential details for identification, planting, and care. Color photographs show each tree''s habit in winter, distinctive bark patterns, fall color, and more. Dirr''s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs is a critical addition to any garden library.

FAME: Nicki Minaj

release date: Jan 01, 2015
FAME: Nicki Minaj
From her humble beginnings in Jamaica to her humble upbringing in Queens New York to her spotlight alongside high profile judges on the Panel of American Idol (including her infamous feuding with Mariah Carey.) Nicki Minaj came to conquer, to win, and she did. TidalWave Comics introduces the latest in it's popular 'Fame' series which focuses on the lives of celebrities. Join writer Troy, Michael and artist Jill Lamarina as they explore the life and times of mega hip Hop talent Nicki Minaj.

Fundamentals of Psychology

release date: Aug 07, 2014
Fundamentals of Psychology
Aimed at those new to the subject, Fundamentals of Psychology is a clear and reader-friendly textbook that will help students explore and understand the essentials of psychology. This text offers a balanced and accurate representation of the discipline through a highly accessible synoptic approach, which seamlessly brings together all the various related topics. Fundamentals of Psychology combines an authoritative tone, a huge range of psychological material and an informal, analogy-rich style. The text expertly blends admirably up-to-date empirical research and real-life examples and applications, and is both readable and factually dense. The book introduces all the main approaches to psychology, including social, developmental, cognitive, biological, individual differences, and abnormal psychology, as well as psychological research methods. However, it also includes directions for more detailed and advanced study for the interested student. Fundamentals of Psychology incorporates many helpful textbook features which will aid students and reinforce learning, such as: Key-term definitions Extremely clear end-of-chapter summaries Annotated further reading sections Evaluations of significant research findings Numerous illustrations presented in attractive full color. This textbook is also accompanied by a comprehensive program of resources for both students and instructors, which is available free to qualifying adopters. The resources include a web-based Student Learning Program, as well as chapter-by-chapter lecture slides and an interactive chapter-by-chapter multiple-choice question test bank. Combining exceptional content, abundant pedagogical features, and a lively full-color design, Fundamentals of Psychology is an essential resource for anyone new to the subject and more particularly those beginning undergraduate courses. The book will also be ideal for students studying psychology within education, nursing and other healthcare professions.

The Art Direction Handbook for Film & Television

release date: Jul 11, 2014
The Art Direction Handbook for Film & Television
In this new and expanded edition of The Art Direction Handbook, author Michael Rizzo now covers art direction for television, in addition to updated coverage of film design. This comprehensive, professional manual details the set-up of the art department and the day-to-day job duties: scouting for locations, research, executing the design concept, supervising scenery construction, and surviving production. Beyond that, there is an emphasis on not just how to do the job, but how to succeed and secure other jobs. Rounding out the text is an extensive collection of useful forms and checklists, as well as interviews with prominent art directors.

Cultural Intimacy

release date: May 12, 2014
Cultural Intimacy
In this new updated edition, Herzfeld includes more discussion about what cultural intimacy has come to mean for other authors and researchers, and how it can contribute to present studies of global processes and the forces that resist them.

Western Movies

release date: Jan 04, 2013
Western Movies
This revised and greatly expanded edition of a well-established reference book presents 5105 feature length (four reels or more) Western films, from the early silent era to the present. More than 900 new entries are in this edition. Each entry has film title, release company and year, running time, color indication, cast listing, plot synopsis, and a brief critical review and other details. Not only are Hollywood productions included, but the volume also looks at Westerns made abroad as well as frontier epics, north woods adventures and nature related productions. Many of the films combine genres, such as horror and science fiction Westerns. The volume includes a list of cowboys and their horses and a screen names cross reference. There are more than 100 photographs.

The Black Box

release date: Nov 26, 2012
The Black Box
In this "superb" thriller, Detective Harry Bosch links the bullet from a recent crime to the unsolved killing of a young female photographer during the 1992 L.A. riots (Wall Street Journal). In a case that spans 20 years, Harry Bosch links the bullet from a recent crime to a file from 1992, the killing of a young female photographer during the L.A. riots. Harry originally investigated the murder, but it was then handed off to the Riot Crimes Task Force and never solved. Now Bosch''s ballistics match indicates that her death was not random violence, but something more personal, and connected to a deeper intrigue. Like an investigator combing through the wreckage after a plane crash, Bosch searches for the "black box," the one piece of evidence that will pull the case together. Riveting and relentlessly paced, The Black Box leads Harry Bosch, "one of the greats of crime fiction" (New York Daily News), into one of his most fraught and perilous cases.

Forging Napoleon's Grande Armée

release date: May 07, 2012
Forging Napoleon's Grande Armée
"A fascinating study exploring the motivation of French soldiers during the Napoleonic Era, and the process through which they became Napoleon's men."—Frederick C. Schneid, author of Napoleon's Conquest of Europe The men who fought in Napoleon's Grande Armée built a new empire that changed the world. Remarkably, the same men raised arms during the French Revolution for liberté, égalité, and fraternité. In just over a decade, these freedom fighters, who had once struggled to overthrow tyrants, rallied to the side of a man who wanted to dominate Europe. What was behind this drastic change of heart? In this ground-breaking study, Michael J. Hughes shows how Napoleonic military culture shaped the motivation of Napoleon's soldiers. Relying on extensive archival research and blending cultural and military history, Hughes demonstrates that the Napoleonic regime incorporated elements from both the Old Regime and French Revolutionary military culture to craft a new military culture, characterized by loyalty to both Napoleon and the preservation of French hegemony in Europe. Underscoring this new, hybrid military culture were five sources of motivation: honor, patriotism, a martial and virile masculinity, devotion to Napoleon, and coercion. Forging Napoleon's Grande Armée vividly illustrates how this many-pronged culture gave Napoleon's soldiers reasons to fight. "Hughes offers a tight and well-grounded exposition and analysis of French military culture in the Napoleonic period in which military honour is presented as a dynamic element." — Journal of European Studies "Hughes's book not only contributes to our understanding of the military success of Napoleon's army, but also elegantly employs cultural history methods to better understand army operations and sustained troop motivations." —Julia Osman, History: Reviews of New Book

I Beat the Odds

release date: Feb 07, 2012
I Beat the Odds
The football star made famous in the hit film (and book) The Blind Side reflects on how far he has come from the circumstances of his youth. Michael Oher shares his personal account of his story, in this inspirational New York Times bestseller. Looking back on how he went from being a homeless child in Memphis to playing in the NFL, Michael talks about the goals he had to break out of the cycle of poverty, addiction, and hopelessness that trapped his family. Eventually he grasped onto football as his ticket out and worked hard to make his dream into a reality. With his adoptive family, the Touhys, and other influential people in mind, he describes the absolute necessity of seeking out positive role models and good friends who share the same values to achieve one's dreams. Sharing untold stories of heartache, determination, courage, and love, I Beat the Odds is an incredibly rousing tale of one young man's quest to achieve the American dream.

Next

release date: Nov 22, 2011
Next
Contains an exclusive preview of Micro by Michael Crichton and Richard Preston. Is a loved one missing some body parts? Are blondes becoming extinct? Is everyone at your dinner table of the same species? Humans and chimpanzees differ in only 400 genes; is that why a chimp fetus resembles a human being? And should that worry us? There's a new genetic cure for drug addiction—is it worse than the disease? We live in a time of momentous scientific leaps, a time when it's possible to sell our eggs and sperm online for thousands of dollars and to test our spouses for genetic maladies. We live in a time when one fifth of all our genes are owned by someone else, and an unsuspecting person and his family can be pursued cross-country because they happen to have certain valuable genes within their chromosomes . . . Devilishly clever, Next blends fact and fiction into a breathless tale of a new world where nothing is what it seems and a set of new possibilities can open at every turn. Next challenges our sense of reality and notions of morality. Balancing the comic and the bizarre with the genuinely frightening and disturbing, Next shatters our assumptions and reveals shocking new choices where we least expect. The future is closer than you think.

Robert Redford

release date: Jun 09, 2011
Robert Redford
A national symbol of romance since the 1970s, Redford''s stardom has often eclipsed the life and trials of the man himself. In this biography -- written with Redford''s personal papers, journals, script notes, correspondence, and hundreds of hours of taped interviews -- Michael Feeney Callan strips away the Hollywood façade, exposing the complicated, surprising man beneath. The life of Robert Redford is a series of contradictions: descended from impoverished East Coast barbers on his father''s side and once-wealthy Texans on his mother''s side,the young Redford suffered from aimlessness and semi-poverty, dropping out of college and briefly spending time in jail before launching a career in theatre. Redford has contributed more -- and more widely -- to entertainment than most stars of his calibre. As an actor, he''s appeared on Broadway and film, with an Oscar-nominated performance in 1973''s The Sting. As a director, he''s earned Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Director and has received three Golden Globe nominations for Best Director.He won the Academy Award for Best Director in 1980 for Ordinary People.And as a producer of independent films -- including the patronage of his Sundance Institute -- he''s worked on films including All the President''s Men and 2004''s The Motorcycle Diaries. This is a fascinating exploration of one of our most celebrated and least understood public figures, and an essential read for anyone interested in the rocky road to Hollywood.

Philosophy in Science

release date: Mar 19, 2011
Philosophy in Science
The traditional topics of the "philosophy of nature" — space, time, causality, the structure of the universe — are overwhelmingly present in our modern scientific theories. This book traces the complex paths that discussion of these topics has followed, from Plato and Aristotle, through Descartes, Leibniz, Kant and other great thinkers, right up to the relativistic cosmologies and the grand unified theories of contemporary science. In the light of this historical development, it becomes clear that modern science gives us not only a technological power over the world, but also a deeper understanding of physical reality. In this sense, science could be regarded as an heir to the traditional "philosophy of nature". Moreover, the reader will learn why science itself deserves to be the subject of philosophical reflection.

Sweet Invention

release date: Jan 01, 2011
Sweet Invention
A social, cultural, and--above all--culinary history of dessert, Sweet Invention explores the world''s great dessert traditions, from ancient India to 21st-century Indiana. Each chapter begins with author Michael Krondl tasting and analyzing an icon of dessert, such as baklava from the Middle East or macarons from France, and then combines extensive scholarship with a lively writing style to spin an ancient tale of some of the world''s favorite treats and their creators. From the sweet makers of Persia who gave us the first donuts to the sugar sculptors of Renaissance Italy whose creativity gave rise to the modern-day wedding cake, this authoritative read clears up numerous misconceptions about the origins of various desserts, while elucidating their social, political, religious--and even sexual--uses through the ages.

Term Paper Resource Guide to Latino History

release date: Sep 02, 2010
Term Paper Resource Guide to Latino History
This resource guide to 100 key events in Latino history provides students, librarians, and scholars with hundreds of original and compelling term paper ideas and the key print and electronic sources needed for research. Latinos are the largest, fastest growing minority group in the United States, and the ways they have positively impacted our nation are significant and undeniable. This book examines the contributions of Latinos to U.S. history, providing hundreds of possible topics for term papers and research projects along with primary, secondary, web, and multimedia sources of topical information. Subjects such as the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848); the Bracero Program (1942); the United Farm Workers of America Is Formed (1962); and The Great American Boycott ("A Day Without Immigrants") of 2006 are just a few samples of the topics included. Each historical event is described briefly, followed by direction toward specific research and writing topics for the student-historian. At least two alternative term paper suggestions complement these ideas, allowing creative, original approaches to historical inquires.

Food Rules

release date: Dec 29, 2009
Food Rules
#1 New York Times Bestseller "A useful and funny purse-sized manual that could easily replace all the diet books on your bookshelf." —Tara Parker-Pope, The New York Times A definitive compendium of food wisdom Eating doesn’t have to be so complicated. In this age of ever-more elaborate diets and conflicting health advice, Food Rules brings welcome simplicity to our daily decisions about food. Written with clarity, concision, and wit that has become bestselling author Michael Pollan’s trademark, this indispensable handbook lays out a set of straightforward, memorable rules for eating wisely, one per page, accompanied by a concise explanation. It’s an easy-to-use guide that draws from a variety of traditions, suggesting how different cultures through the ages have arrived at the same enduring wisdom about food. Whether at the supermarket or an all-you-can-eat buffet, this is the perfect guide for anyone who ever wondered, “What should I eat?” "In the more than four decades that I have been reading and writing about the findings of nutritional science, I have come across nothing more intelligent, sensible and simple to follow than the 64 principles outlined in a slender, easy-to-digest new book called Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual, by Michael Pollan." —Jane Brody, The New York Times "It doesn''t get much easier than this. Each page has a simple rule, sometimes with a short explanation, sometimes without, that promotes Pollan''s back-to-the-basics-of-food (and-food-enjoyment) philosophy." —The Los Angeles Times

Journey to a Revolution

release date: Oct 13, 2009
Journey to a Revolution
The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 marked a turning point in the history of the Soviet Union. For the first time, the West was able to see the level of dissent that existed in Communist Bloc nations, and the cruel tyranny with which opposition movements were suppressed. Although the Soviets were eventually able to stop the revolution, this was the first step towards their ultimate failure. Author Michael Korda witnessed these events firsthand. Along with several fellow Oxford undergraduates, Korda brought much-needed medical supplies to Hungary during the Revolution, and stayed to witness and participate in the uprising. He returns to those days in Journey to a Revolution, where he tells not only his own story, but also the story of a country fighting back after years of cruel mistreatment. Michael Korda is the New York Times bestselling author of Horse People, Country Matters, Ulysses S. Grant, and Cat People. He lives with his wife Margaret in Dutchess Country, New York. “Fascinating, vivid, and, of course, wonderfully written.” — Henry Kissinger

The Case against Perfection

release date: Jul 01, 2009
The Case against Perfection
Breakthroughs in genetics present us with a promise and a predicament. The promise is that we will soon be able to treat and prevent a host of debilitating diseases. The predicament is that our newfound genetic knowledge may enable us to manipulate our nature—to enhance our genetic traits and those of our children. Although most people find at least some forms of genetic engineering disquieting, it is not easy to articulate why. What is wrong with re-engineering our nature? The Case against Perfection explores these and other moral quandaries connected with the quest to perfect ourselves and our children. Michael Sandel argues that the pursuit of perfection is flawed for reasons that go beyond safety and fairness. The drive to enhance human nature through genetic technologies is objectionable because it represents a bid for mastery and dominion that fails to appreciate the gifted character of human powers and achievements. Carrying us beyond familiar terms of political discourse, this book contends that the genetic revolution will change the way philosophers discuss ethics and will force spiritual questions back onto the political agenda. In order to grapple with the ethics of enhancement, we need to confront questions largely lost from view in the modern world. Since these questions verge on theology, modern philosophers and political theorists tend to shrink from them. But our new powers of biotechnology make these questions unavoidable. Addressing them is the task of this book, by one of America’s preeminent moral and political thinkers.

In Defense of Food

release date: Jan 01, 2008
In Defense of Food
#1 New York Times Bestseller from the author of This is Your Mind on Plants, How to Change Your Mind, The Omnivore''s Dilemma, and Food Rules Food. There''s plenty of it around, and we all love to eat it. So why should anyone need to defend it? Because in the so-called Western diet, food has been replaced by nutrients, and common sense by confusion--most of what we’re consuming today is longer the product of nature but of food science. The result is what Michael Pollan calls the American Paradox: The more we worry about nutrition, the less healthy we see to become. With In Defense of Food, Pollan proposes a new (and very old) answer to the question of what we should eat that comes down to seven simple but liberating words: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." Pollan’s bracing and eloquent manifesto shows us how we can start making thoughtful food choices that will enrich our lives, enlarge our sense of what it means to be healthy, and bring pleasure back to eating.

Mourning and Disaster

release date: Jan 01, 2008
Mourning and Disaster
The Hillsborough stadium disaster of 15 April 1989 and the death of Princess Diana on 31 August 1997 sparked expressivist scenes of public mourning hitherto unseen within the context of British society. The largely local displays of grief witnessed on Merseyside following the Hillsborough disaster were, however, repeated and provided a pre-text for the national (and global) public mourning which accompanied the death of Princess Diana. What was it, this book asks, about the Hillsborough disaster and death of Princess Diana that provoked such strong emotions? Why and how did these ostensibly similar events produce such contrasting reactions, moving some people, including the bookâ (TM)s author, to mourn one event but resist the mourning for the other? Mourning and Disaster provides an insight into a series of questions raised by the public mourning that followed these two events. What, for example, do the messages contained in the public books of condolence signed in the wake of these events tell us either about the social identities of the people who mourned or about the processes of meaning-making by which death is apprehended and understood? What do condolence books tell us about how contemporary society mourns and the ways in which loss is languaged? Is it the case that, in episodes of public mourning in which the deceased are not known to us personally, the mourner might actually be mourning some aspect of themselves? Is it also the case that in not mourning these events some aspect of oneâ (TM)s own identity or self was being repudiated or mourned? Drawing upon both the public books of condolence signed in Britain during the public mourning for these events, alongside the authorâ (TM)s own autobiographical memories of them, it is to these sorts of questions, amongst others, that this book seeks to provide answers.

The Quickie

release date: Jul 02, 2007
The Quickie
A one-night stand spirals into a web of dark secrets in James Patterson''s steamy thriller of love, lust, and murder. Lauren Stillwell is not your average damsel in distress. When the NYPD cop discovers her husband leaving a hotel with another woman, she decides to beat him at his own game. But her revenge goes dangerously awry, and she finds her world spiraling into a hell that becomes more terrifying by the hour. In a further twist of fate, Lauren must take on a job that threatens everything she stands for. Now, she''s paralyzed by a deadly secret that could tear her life apart. With her job and marriage on the line, Lauren''s desire for retribution becomes a lethal inferno as she fights to save her livelihood-and her life. Patterson takes us on a twisting roller-coaster ride of thrills in his most gripping novel yet. This story of love, lust and dangerous secrets will have readers'' hearts pounding to the very last page.
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