New Release Books by Pandit Vishnu Sharma

In this 60-day devotional, you'll see how faith and life intertwine through your whole self--physical, relational, spiritual, mental, and emotional. Through stories and Scripture, you'll be empowered in every part of your being to live fully as God created you to be.

Develop original interviewing skills with the hallmark microskills approach within INTENTIONAL INTERVIEWING AND COUNSELING: FACILITATING CLIENT DEVELOPMENT IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 10E. Written by prominent leaders in the field, this edition provides the insights and tools to address individual and multicultural uniqueness. You learn to conduct interviews using six different theoretical approaches as you begin to develop a personalized style of interviewing and counseling that matches your aptitudes and affinities. This is the only book of its kind that demonstrates how to use the latest neuroscience developments in counseling practice. Updates detail how counseling and psychotherapy change the brain and build new neural networks in both client and counselor. New content also emphasizes telehealth and trauma counseling and the effects of stress and the pandemic. Timely case studies, sample interviews and a Portfolio of Competencies help you master key skills and become a better listener. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.

Water resources are linked to the global challenges of food insecurity and poverty, as well as to climate change adaptation and mitigation. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SGD), FAO works towards several dimensions of sustainable development, including the promotion of coherent approaches to efficient, productive and sustainable water management, from farm to river basin scales. Accordingly, FAO is enhancing well-informed on-the-ground decision-making processes on water management through projects, knowledge advancement, information-sharing and tools development, such as AquaCrop, the FAO crop-water productivity model. This model assists in assessing the effects of environment (including atmospheric CO2 concentration) and management on crop production through the simulation of yield response to water of herbaceous crops. It is particularly suited to address conditions where water is a key limiting factor in crop production. In 2009, FAO officially launched AquaCrop, being the result of several years of collaborative work among scientists, water and crop specialists and practitioners worldwide, bringing together previously fragmented information on crop yields in response to water use and water deficit. AquaCrop has evolved over the different versions released since its first launch, but it always balances accuracy, simplicity and robustness. This has enabled it to remain faithful to its goal, i.e., to be a dynamic tool accessible to several types of users, mainly practitioner-type end users, in different disciplines and for a wide range of applications. In addition, AquaCrop may be considered a valuable tool by research scientists for analysis and conceptualization.

This exciting book introduces readers to the life and career of auto racing star Lewis Hamilton. Colorful photos, fun facts, interesting sidebars, and a map of important places in his life make this a thrilling read for young sports fans. This Focus Readers series is at the Navigator level, aligned to reading levels of grades 3-5 and interest levels of grades 4-7.

This book provides an in-depth analysis of the concept of the Circular Economy (CE), as well as an assessment of the drivers and barriers for circular practices by firms, and its implications for managers in firms and public policy makers. It includes proposals for policy frameworks and instruments that will encourage the uptake of CE practices. The book is presented in three linked parts. The first part of the book provides a broad view of the topic, put into the wider context of sustainability. In the second part, the drivers of and barriers to the uptake of the CE are analysed, with a special focus on the micro-level not seen often in the previous studies on the CE. This book is of interest to researchers, policy makers and post-graduate students in areas such as environmental management and economics.

Management, Third Edition introduces students to the planning, organizing, leading, and controlling functions of management with an emphasis on how managers can cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset. The text includes 34 cases profiling a wide range of companies including Lululemon, Nintendo, Netflix, Trader Joe’s, and the NBA. Authors Christopher P. Neck, Jeffrey D. Houghton, and Emma L. Murray use a variety of examples, applications, and insights from real-world managers to help students develop the knowledge, mindset, and skills they need to succeed in today’s fast-paced, dynamic workplace. This title is accompanied by a complete teaching and learning package. Contact your SAGE representative to request a demo. Digital Option / Courseware SAGE Vantage is an intuitive digital platform that delivers this text’s content and course materials in a learning experience that offers auto-graded assignments and interactive multimedia tools, all carefully designed to ignite student engagement and drive critical thinking. Built with you and your students in mind, it offers simple course set-up and enables students to better prepare for class. Learn more. Assignable Video with Assessment Assignable video (available with SAGE Vantage) is tied to learning objectives and curated exclusively for this text to bring concepts to life. Watch a sample video now. Assignable Self-Assessments Assignable self-assessments (available with SAGE Vantage) allow students to engage with the material in a more meaningful way that supports learning. LMS Cartridge Import this title’s instructor resources into your school’s learning management system (LMS) and save time. Don’t use an LMS? You can still access all of the same online resources for this title via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site. Learn more.

In Hunting Nature, Thomas P. Hodge explores Ivan Turgenev's relationship to nature through his conception, description, and practice of hunting—the most unquenchable passion of his life. Informed by an ecocritical perspective, Hodge takes an approach that is equal parts interpretive and documentarian, grounding his observations thoroughly in Russian cultural and linguistic context and a wide range of Turgenev's fiction, poetry, correspondence, and other writings. Included within the book are some of Turgenev's important writings on nature—never previously translated into English. Turgenev, who is traditionally identified as a chronicler of Russia's ideological struggles, is presented in Hunting Nature as an expert naturalist whose intimate knowledge of flora and fauna deeply informed his view of philosophy, politics, and the role of literature in society. Ultimately, Hodge argues that we stand to learn a great deal about Turgenev's thought and complex literary technique when we read him in both cultural and environmental contexts. Hodge details how Turgenev remains mindful of the way textual detail is wedded to the organic world—the priroda that he observed, and ached for, more keenly than perhaps any other Russian writer.

In the midst of exclamatory headlines that depict society in a litigation frenzy, such as Son Sues to Divorce His Mother, Surrogate Mother Refuses to Turn Over Baby and Facebook Divorces on the Rise, Statsky's FAMILY LAW, 7E helps you accurately understand the state of family law today and your role, as a paralegal, within it. You examine issues truly impacting family law, such as no-fault divorce, the women’s movement, and the impact of science and technology on concepts of parentage. This edition also addresses recent changes, such as new mechanisms for pursuing parents not paying child support and the court's support of unmarried fathers seeking to undo their children's adoptions. In addition to presenting fundamental principles of family law and current nationwide legal practices, this edition offers state-specific assignments for applying family law in your local area. Legal analysis exercises, real forms, documents and cases further prepare you to work with the actual tools and processes family law professionals use today. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.

Many words have been used to describe John Pope Hennessy, the former governor of Hong Kong. “Controversial” is perhaps the briefest way to outline his character. Yet we may be guilty of ascribing modern ideas to our understanding of characters of the past. An Irish Catholic raised during the age of empire and rising nationalism, a devout Tory and Disraeli follower, a believer in both the benefits of empire and a patron of local talent in his postings, it is easy to view Pope Hennessy as a man of contradictions. This volume traces Pope Hennessy’s history from his early beginnings in famine Ireland to his attempts to rise through the ranks in London. It goes on to cover his early postings to Labuan, West Africa, and, of course, Hong Kong, as well as his final days with his family. His actions and his personality are laid bare for readers fo form their own opinions of one of Hong Kong’s most enigmatic governors. “As to Sir J. P. Hennessy, the less said the better. His acts speak powerfully enough. The centre of his world was he himself. But with all the crowd of dark and bright powers that were wrestling within him, he could not help doing some good…” - Dr Ernst Johann Eitel, Missionary, sinologist, and John Pope Hennessy’s private secretary

Ritual Irony is a critical study of four problematic later plays of Euripides: the Iphigenia in Aulis, the Phoenissae, the Heracles, and the Bacchae. Examining Euripides' representation of sacrificial ritual against the background of late fifth-century Athens, Helene P. Foley shows that each of these plays confronts directly the difficulty of making an archaic poetic tradition relevant to a democratic society. She explores the important mediating role played by choral poetry and ritual in the plays, asserting that Euripides' sacrificial metaphors and ritual performances link an anachronistic mythic ideal with a world dominated by "chance" or an incomprehensible divinity. Foley utilizes the ideas and methodology of contemporary literary theory and symbolic anthropology, addressing issues central to the emerging dialogue between the two fields. Her conclusions have important implications for the study of Greek tragedy as a whole and for our understanding of Euripides' tragic irony, his conception of religion, and the role of his choral odes. Assuming no specialized knowledge, Ritual Irony is aimed at all readers of Euripidean tragedy. It will prove particularly valuable to students and scholars of classics, comparative literature, and symbolic anthropology.

Buy a new version of this Connected Casebook and receive access to the online e-book, practice questions from your favorite study aids, and an outline tool on CasebookConnect, the all in one learning solution for law school students. CasebookConnect offers you what you need most to be successful in your law school classes— portability, meaningful feedback, and greater efficiency. Environmental Regulation: Law, Science, and Policy, Eighth Edition by Robert V. Percival, Christopher H. Schroeder, Alan S. Miller, and James P. Leape, provides comprehensive and easy-to-understand coverage of the entire field of environmental law. It focuses not only on the substance of the environmental statutes, but also on the policies they seek to implement, how they are translated into regulations, and the factors that influence how they affect real-world behavior. Key Features: Explanation of the initial impact of President Trump’s efforts to sharply reverse environmental policy, including use of the Congressional Review Act to veto regulation Coverage of lead poisoning in Flint, Michigan and the Safe Drinking Water Act Coverage of the Paris Agreement on climate change and President Trump’s decision to withdraw from it Effective teaching and study aids mapping the structure of each environmental statute, real-world-based problems and questions, and “pathfinders” explaining where to find crucial source materials for every major topic the Supreme Court’s Murr v. Wisconsin decision and its impact on regulatory takings doctrine Explanation of the DC Circuit’s August 2017 decision requiring consideration of climate change in pipeline licensing decisions Self-contained chapters, written in a style accessible to the non-specialist, that also afford instructors flexibility in organizing courses. CasebookConnect features: ONLINE E-BOOK Law school comes with a lot of reading, so access your enhanced e-book anytime, anywhere to keep up with your coursework. Highlight, take notes in the margins, and search the full text to quickly find coverage of legal topics. PRACTICE QUESTIONS Quiz yourself before class and prep for your exam in the Study Center. Practice questions from Examples & Explanations, Emanuel Law Outlines, Emanuel Law in a Flash flashcards, and other best-selling study aid series help you study for exams while tracking your strengths and weaknesses to help optimize your study time. OUTLINE TOOL Most professors will tell you that starting your outline early is key to being successful in your law school classes. The Outline Tool automatically populates your notes and highlights from the e-book into an editable format to accelerate your outline creation and increase study time later in the semester.

The success of the first edition of Generalized Linear Models led to the updated Second Edition, which continues to provide a definitive unified, treatment of methods for the analysis of diverse types of data. Today, it remains popular for its clarity, richness of content and direct relevance to agricultural, biological, health, engineering, and ot

Focusing on the line of high-performance microcontrollers offered by Microchip, Microcontrollers: High-Performance Systems and Programming discusses the practical factors that make the high-performance PIC series a better choice than their mid-range predecessors for most systems. However, one consideration in favor of the mid-range devices is the abundance of published application circuits and code samples. This book fills that gap. Possibility of programming high-performance microcontrollers in a high-level language (C language) Source code compatibility with PIC16 microcontrollers, which facilitates code migration from mid-range to PIC18 devices Pin compatibility of some PIC18 devices with their PIC16 predecessors, making the reuse of PIC16 controllers in circuits originally designed for mid-range hardware possible Designed to be functional and hands-on, this book provides sample circuits with their corresponding programs. It clearly depicts and labels the circuits, in a way that is easy to follow and reuse. Each circuit includes a parts list of the resources and components required for its fabrication. The book matches sample programs to the individual circuits, discusses general programming techniques, and includes appendices with useful information.

One of the most famous science books of our time, the phenomenal national bestseller that "buzzes with energy, anecdote and life. It almost makes you want to become a physicist" (Science Digest). Richard P. Feynman, winner of the Nobel Prize in physics, thrived on outrageous adventures. In this lively work that “can shatter the stereotype of the stuffy scientist” (Detroit Free Press), Feynman recounts his experiences trading ideas on atomic physics with Einstein and cracking the uncrackable safes guarding the most deeply held nuclear secrets—and much more of an eyebrow-raising nature. In his stories, Feynman’s life shines through in all its eccentric glory—a combustible mixture of high intelligence, unlimited curiosity, and raging chutzpah. Included for this edition is a new introduction by Bill Gates.

The relationship between the presidency and the press has transformed—seemingly overnight—from one where reports and columns were filed, edited, and deliberated for hours before publication into a brave new world where texts, tweets, and sound bites race from composition to release within a matter of seconds. This change, which has ultimately made political journalism both more open and more difficult, brings about many questions, but perhaps the two most important are these: Are the hard questions still being asked? Are they still being answered? In Columns to Characters, Stephanie A. Martin and top scholars and journalists offer a fresh perspective on how the evolution of technology affects the way presidents interact with the public. From Bill Clinton’s saxophone playing on the Arsenio Hall Show to Barack Obama’s skillful use of YouTube, Twitter, and Reddit as the first “social media president,” political communication appears to reflect the increasing fragmentation of the American public. The accessible essays here explore these implications in a variety of real-world circumstances: the “narcotizing” numbness of information overload and voter apathy; the concerns over privacy, security, and civil liberties; new methods of running political campaigns and mobilizing support for programs; and a future “post-rhetorical presidency” in which the press is all but irrelevant. Each section of the book concludes with a “reality check,” a short reflection by a working journalist (or, in one case, a former White House insider) on the presidential beat.

The day prior to writing this section Jeff heard it again. He has been hearing it over and over, primarily on the news networks, that the country’s racial and ethnic background is changing. According to the numbers AND the eyeball test Jeff believes it. The Pew Research Center states that by 2055 there will be no racial majority in the United States! Jeff Drozdowski has spent most of his life traveling the country and seeing these changes with his own two eyes. There is more to this change than just race and ethnicity. The generation that has the highest percentage of people in the workplace, The Millennials, are considered the most unique generation ever. The way this group looks at life and their acceptance of people the way they are is something that employers need to acknowledge and embrace. After all great people run great companies! “Inspired! How Our Differences Are Changing The Workplace” explores how the changes that are going on can be a benefit to all of us, especially at work!

The first comprehensive handbook on the seeds of trees and shrubs produced by the USDA Forest Service was USDA Misc. Pub. 654, Woody-Plant Seed Manual. The manuscript was ready for publication in 1941, but World War II delayed publication until 1948. The boom in tree planting in the 1950s and 1960s created a large demand for seeds and exposed the gaps in our knowledge concerning production and quality of seeds of woody plants in general. The 1974 Handbook proved to be very popular both in this country and abroad, leading to five printings and translations in several other languages. More than a quarter-century after its publication, however, numerous advances in tree seed technology have dictated that a new revision is needed; the result is the current volume. Part I contains information on how to get seeds and raise seedlings. Get Your Copy Now.

Perhaps no other person could ever achieve the preeminent position in American history and culture occupied by George Washington. Born in 1732, Washington’s life–long commitment to self-improvement and discipline helped him become a legend in his own lifetime. Whether as a statesman, military man, or America’s first president, Washington created a legacy that has scarcely diminished in over two centuries. Yet the passage of time and the superlatives reserved for Washington have knit together and made it difficult to find the real man. Historian and editor John P. Kaminski has amassed an extraordinary body of quotations by and about George Washington that brings us closer to the essence of this great leader. This collection paints an intricate picture of the man who Henry 'Lighthorse' Lee of Virginia eulogized as: "First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen."

Sing, move, and play! Sweet heart-shaped module plays three baby-friendly melodies: "Pat-a-Cake," "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes," and "Row, Row, Row Your Boat." Listen to the songs while you read three stories about animals, letters, colors, and more. Interactive text engages baby with the colorful artwork, while the music inspires movement and dance.

When you purchase a new version of this casebook from the LIFT Program, you receive 1-year FREE digital access to the corresponding Examples & Explanations in your course area. Now available in an interactive study center, Examples & Explanations offer hypothetical questions complemented by detailed explanations that allow you to test your knowledge of the topics covered in class. Starting July 1, 2017, if your new casebook purchase does not come with an access code on the inside cover of the book, please contact Wolters Kluwer customer service. The email address and phone number for customer service are on the copyright page, found within the first few pages, of your casebook. For instructors who prefer a case-oriented approach, the fourth edition of Administrative Law is a case-rich text that focuses on the core issues in administrative law. Lightly-edited cases preserve the feel of reading entire opinions and include facts, content, full analyses, and citations. Introductory material and questions following the cases focus students’ reading and stimulate class discussion. Keystone cases introduce important themes and topics, and helpful notes facilitate keen understanding of legal doctrines. ‘Theory Applied’ sections at the conclusion of major parts offer teachers an opportunity to evaluate students’ grasp of the materials in new factual and legal contexts. This flexible, easily teachable text is designed for a 3-unit course, yet its self-contained parts can be taught in any order. Key Features: Addition of important, recent U.S. Supreme Court and Circuit Court decisions, including: Kerry v. Din, 135 S. Ct. 2128 (2015) Williams v. Pennsylvania, 136 S. Ct. 1899 (2016) Perez v. Mortgage Bankers Ass’n, 135 S. Ct. 1135 (2014) Texas v. United States, 809 F. 3d 134 (5th Cir. 2015) City of Arlington v. FCC, 133 S. Ct. 1863 (2013) National Labor Relations Board v. Noel Canning, 134 S. Ct. 2550 (2014) Wellness International Network, Ltd. v. Sharif, 135 S. Ct. 1932 (2015) Department of Transportation v. Association of American Railroads,135 S. Ct. 1225 (2015) Decker v. Northwest Environmental Defense Center, 133 S. Ct. 1326 (2013) Lexmark Int’l, Inc. v. Static Control Components, Inc., 134 S. Ct. 1377 (2014) T-Mobile South, LLC v. City of Roswell, 135 S. Ct. 808 (2015) King v. Burwell, 135 S. Ct. 2480 (2015) United States Army Corps Of Engineers v. Hawkes Co., 136 S. Ct. 1807 (2016) Heartland Plymouth Court MI, LLC, v. National Labor Relations Board (D.C. Cir. 2016) Revised and expanded notes and discussion materials addressing contemporary issues in Administrative Law, including: due process in the administrative setting formalities of administrative rulemaking and adjudication modification of agency interpretations and interpretive rulemaking delegation of authority to private entities recess appointments political influence of agency policy standing and judicial deference Lightly-edited cases, similar to reading entire opinions, including facts, content, full analyses, and citations Helpful Notes and ÒTheory AppliedÓ sections, built to enrich students’ understanding of legal doctrines, introduce important themes and topics, and allow for systematic review of major concepts.

THE DEFINITIVE INTRODUCTION TO ROCKET PROPULSION THEORY AND APPLICATIONS The recent upsurge in global government and private spending and in space flight events has resulted in many novel applications of rocket propulsion technology. Rocket Propulsion Elements remains the definitive guide to the field, providing a comprehensive introduction to essential concepts and applications. Led by industry veteran George P. Sutton and by Professor Oscar Biblarz, this book provides interdisciplinary coverage including thermodynamics, aerodynamics, flight performance, propellant chemistry and more. This thoroughly revised ninth edition includes discussion and analysis of recent advances in the field, representing an authoritative reference for students and working engineers alike. In any engineering field, theory is only as useful as it is practical; this book emphasizes relevant real-world applications of fundamental concepts to link "thinking" and "doing". This book will help readers: Understand the physics of flight and the chemistry of propulsion Analyze liquid, solid, gas, and hybrid propellants, and the engines they fuel Consider high-temperature combustion, stability, and the principles of electric and chemical propulsion Dissect the workings of systems in common use around the world today Delve into the latest advances in materials, systems, propellants, and more Broad in scope, rich in detail, and clear in explanation, this seminal work provides an unparalleled foundation in aerospace engineering topics. Learning through the lens of modern applications untangles complex topics and helps students fully grasp the intricacies on a more intuitive level. Rocket Propulsion Elements, Ninth Edition merges information and utility building a solid foundation for innovation.

This volume makes JEC-commissioned expert studies of economic developments in East-Central Europe available to business people, educators and students. Coverage includes economic, political and social reform issues, regional relations, and the impact of Western assistance programmes.

Born in 1755 on a small Caribbean island to unmarried parents, Alexander Hamilton did not enjoy the privileges of wealth or heredity by which so many of his contemporaries advanced to the highest levels of power. Yet Hamilton's natural ability and ambition earned him prevailing influence in the American Revolution and the government created thereafter, eventually securing his place in the pantheon of America's founders. Editor John P. Kaminski has gathered a remarkable collection of quotations by and about Alexander Hamilton that paint for us a nuanced portrait of a complex man. Through his own words and the words of his contemporaries -- including the man who killed him in a duel, Aaron Burr -- we can gain a better understanding of this fascinating man who rose from anonymity on a small Caribbean island to the corridors of power.

This book is the most current, comprehensive medical text focusing specifically on obesity and its related syndromes and diseases. This text takes the newest science and latest research about obesity and renders the information imminently readable and immediately useful to the medical practitioner charged with providing best practices health care for patients who are obese. In the process, this text scientifically clarifies obesity as a disease of epidemic proportions, debunks common myths about obesity, and challenges medicine’s traditional and oftentimes limited view of obesity. More specifically, in Obesity: The Medical Practitioner’s Essential Guide you will find comprehensive, accurate, science-based information about the epidemiology, biology, genetics, psychology, discrimination and prejudice, causes, and effects of obesity, as well as the latest science about obesity’s related syndromes and diseases. In addition, this book provides the medical practitioner with specific best practices, including preferred methods of measurement, preferred methods of obesity screening, a system of graded interventions, a comprehensive description and analysis of various bariatric/surgical interventions, and a proposed population management strategy. This medical text focusing on obesity and its related syndromes and diseases is not only an invaluable reference source for current front line practitioners, but is an essential tool that can be used both domestically and internationally to educate all students in medical schools, nursing programs, physician assistant programs, doctor of osteopath programs, medical weight loss clinics, and any other health science programs.

First Published in 1988. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an Informa company.

Women, Crime, and Justice: Balancing the Scales presents a comprehensive analysis of the role of women in the criminal justice system, providing important new insight to their position as offenders, victims, and practitioners. Draws on global feminist perspectives on female offending and victimization from around the world Covers topics including criminal law, case processing, domestic violence, gay/lesbian and transgendered prisoners, cyberbullying, offender re-entry, and sex trafficking Explores issues professional women face in the criminal justice workplace, such as police culture, judicial decision-making, working in corrections facilities, and more Includes international case examples throughout, using numerous topical examples and personal narratives to stimulate students’ critical thinking and active engagement

Today, threats to the security of an organization can come from a variety of sources- from outside espionage to disgruntled employees and internet risks to utility failure. Reflecting the diverse and specialized nature of the security industry, Security: An Introduction provides an up-to-date treatment of a topic that has become increasingly comple

The ability to work with, and retrieve images, is vital to forensic and criminal case work. During a five-decade-long career, author John C. Russ has taught methods for image processing and measurement to thousands of students. Forensic Uses of Digital Imaging, Second Edition distills his classroom and workshop material to present the information m

The 12th Edition of Fundamentals of Human Resource Management helps students understand and remember concepts through a straightforward and conversational writing style and a wealth of examples to clarify ideas and build interest. The authors provide a strong foundation of essential elements of Human Resource Management as well as a clear understanding of how Human Resource Management links with business strategy. Through practical applications, the authors illustrate the importance of employees on every level of the organization, helping students understand HRM elements such as recruitment, training, motivation, retention, safety, the legal environment, and how they support successful business strategies.

This book focuses on the modeling and analysis of heat and fluid flow in microchannels and micro-systems, compiling a number of analytical and hybrid numerical-analytical solutions for models that account for the relevant micro-scale effects, with the corresponding experimental analysis validation when applicable. The volume stands as the only available compilation of easy to use analytically-based solutions for micro-scale heat and fluid flow problems, that systematically incorporates the most relevant micro-scale effects into the mathematical models, followed by their physical interpretation on the micro-system behavior.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Paul's letter to the Philippians may aptly be seen as a meditation on joy. But Paul's joy, rather than the result of ease and comfort, is a contentedness made pure through suffering. Ralph Martin draws out these themes.

Thinking through Digital Media: Transnational Environments and Locative Places speculates on animation, documentary, experimental, interactive, and narrative media that probe human-machine performances, virtual migrations, global warming, structural inequality, and critical cartographies across Brazil, Canada, China, India, USA, and elsewhere.

Espionage, deception, and death, ... words not usually associated with obtaining a PhD in physics from MIT. Italian scientist Sara Ricci moves to America to begin her PhD journey. Two years later, her course work is complete, and she prepares to enter the research phase but a week later, Sara's perfect world collapses. Chinese researchers disprove her thesis and days later, her beloved mother passes. Her future in doubt, she returns to Italy for the funeral. There, Sara discovers hidden research papers from her great-great-grandfather. Secret papers once coveted by the Nazi war machine. These hidden theories offer Sara a new beginning and a new thesis, but others are watching. The CIA and DARPA want these secrets for themselves. So does a wealthy industrialist from Scotland. It doesn't take long before these powerful forces collide. When they do, they pull Sara into their web of deception. But Sara proves to be more than they thought as she fights to complete her research and not get killed trying. Deadly Dissertation is a scientific thriller set in exotic locations around a world. Can Sara stay one step ahead of her pursuers and complete her research? Can she survive the ultimate confrontation? Find out in this first installment of the Sara Ricci suspense book series.

The 1980s saw the peak of a moral panic over fantasy role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons. A coalition of moral entrepreneurs that included representatives from the Christian Right, the field of psychology, and law enforcement claimed that these games were not only psychologically dangerous but an occult religion masquerading as a game. Dangerous Games explores both the history and the sociological significance of this panic. Fantasy role-playing games do share several functions in common with religion. However, religion—as a socially constructed world of shared meaning—can also be compared to a fantasy role-playing game. In fact, the claims of the moral entrepreneurs, in which they presented themselves as heroes battling a dark conspiracy, often resembled the very games of imagination they condemned as evil. By attacking the imagination, they preserved the taken-for-granted status of their own socially constructed reality. Interpreted in this way, the panic over fantasy-role playing games yields new insights about how humans play and together construct and maintain meaningful worlds. Laycock’s clear and accessible writing ensures that Dangerous Games will be required reading for those with an interest in religion, popular culture, and social behavior, both in the classroom and beyond.

In Ruling Capital, Kevin P. Gallagher demonstrates how several emerging market and developing countries (EMDs) managed to reregulate cross-border financial flows in the wake of the global financial crisis, despite the political and economic difficulty of doing so at the national level. Gallagher also shows that some EMDs, particularly the BRICS coalition, were able to maintain or expand their sovereignty to regulate cross-border finance under global economic governance institutions. Gallagher combines econometric analysis with in-depth interviews with officials and interest groups in select emerging markets and policymakers at the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, and the G-20 to explain key characteristics of the global economy. Gallagher develops a theory of countervailing monetary power that shows how emerging markets can counter domestic and international opposition to the regulation of cross-border finance. Although many countries were able to exert countervailing monetary power in the wake of the crisis, such power was not sufficient to stem the magnitude of unstable financial flows that continue to plague the world economy. Drawing on this theory, Gallagher outlines the significant opportunities and obstacles to regulating cross-border finance in the twenty-first century.

Understanding Western Society, Second Edition, features a brief, question-drive narrative that models for students the inquiry-based methods used by historians and helps students understand what’s really important to know about Western civilization.

Simultaneously celebrated and denigrated, celebrities represent not only the embodiment of success, but also the ultimate construction of false value. Celebrity and Power questions the impulse to become embroiled with the construction and collapse of the famous, exploring the concept of the new public intimacy: a product of social media in which celebrities from Lady Gaga to Barack Obama are expected to continuously campaign for audiences in new ways. In a new Introduction for this edition, P. David Marshall investigates the viewing public’s desire to associate with celebrity and addresses the explosion of instant access to celebrity culture, bringing famous people and their admirers closer than ever before.

What, if anything, is Esoteric Pure Land Buddhism? In 1224, the medieval Japanese scholar-monk Dōhan (1179-1252) composed The Compendium on Esoteric Mindfulness of Buddha (Himitsu nenbutsu shō), which begins with another seemingly simple question: Why is it that practitioners of mantra and meditation rely on the recitation of the name of the Buddha Amitābha? To answer this question, Dōhan explored diverse areas of study spanning the whole of the East Asian Mahayana Buddhist tradition. Although contemporary scholars often study Esoteric Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism as if they were mutually exclusive, diametrically opposed, schools of Buddhism, in the present volume Aaron Proffitt examines Dōhan's Compendium in the context of the eastward flow of Mahayana Buddhism from India to Japan and uncovers Mahayana Buddhists employing multiple, overlapping, so-called esoteric approaches along the path to awakening. Proffitt divides his study into two parts. In Part I he considers how early Buddhologists, working under colonialism, first constructed Mahayana Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, and Esoteric Buddhism as discrete fields of inquiry. He then surveys the flow of Indian Buddhist spells, dhāraṇī, and mantra texts into China and Japan and the diverse range of Buddhist masters who employed these esoteric techniques to achieve rebirth in Sukhāvatī, the Pure Land of Bliss. In Part II, he considers the life of Dōhan and analyzes the monk's comprehensive view of buddhānusmṛti as a form of ritual technology that unified body and mind, Sukhāvatī as a this-worldly or other-worldly soteriological goal synonymous with nirvana itself, and the Buddha Amitābha as an object of devotion beyond this world of suffering. The work concludes with the first full translation of Dōhan's Himitsu nenbutsu shō into a modern language.