Most Popular Books by Ruth Thomas

This collection of essays explores the origins and roles of Southeast Asian business groups, especially as they developed during the 1970s and 1980s. An important contribution to studies of ethnic Chinese entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia. Includes a comprehensive introduction by the editor.

Introducing a range of characters and themes, from childhood to old age, from family loyalties to communication breakdowns, and from loss to love and freedom, her stories buzz with insouciant humour as characters address contemporary dilemmas and classic situations. With settings ranging from Britain to Spain, to Greece and the United States, this is a cosmopolitan and engaging collection. Thomass ability to capture the smallest detail with characteristic humour and bite make her stories a joy to read.

In an age of ecological decay, Western ontological and epistemological assumptions have to be revisited. This book offers such a revision. It opens with a critical analysis of the paradigm of sustainable development and problematically situates it within the ecocidal trajectory of Western metaphysics. In search of some tools for examining the ecological conundrum, the book develops a pool of new categories of knowledge called “transpositions”. Though of cross-disciplinary nature, this work must be situated within the tradition of the post-Kantian critique of reason. To develop its own framework of analysis, it relies heavily upon Nietzsche’s oeuvre and that of part of his entourage (including Heidegger, Foucault, Derrida, and Plotnitsky). Major inputs also come from the work of the ecophilosopher of science Patrick Curry and ecofeminism at large. It will appeal to students and established scholars in environmental studies, ecology and philosophy.

Mum knew she shouldn''t have left the children alone. That was why she was hurrying home, running to catch the evening train. She was so worried about Nicky and Roy that she didn''t hear the thief come up behind her; she didn''t look carefully when she dashed across the road . . . Back at home Nicky is findingit harder and harder to reassure her younger brother Roy. Soon the children are running out of money and the neighbours are getting suspicious. But whatever happens, Nicky is certain of one thing - she will NEVER tell.

Edward is the school wheeler-dealer with dreams of becoming a millionaire by the time he''s twenty. When he finds a mysterious package in the park, he ropes two school-mates into a daring scheme, one that catapults them into an adventure of secrets and intrigue - and his wish seems very close to becoming a reality.

Julia and Nathan have no friends to speak of. They''re misfits of Mrs Henrey''s class - awlays the last to be picekd for the team, and always without a partner. Then they discover a stash of money in a deserted house and suddenly, instant popularity seems just around the corner. But so is trouble, in the shape of the adults who start asking difficult questions. There is only one thing the pair can do now, and that is to run away!

There''s been a spate of break-ins lately in the area and everyone in Kate''s class is saying that the burglar is Desmond Locke''s dad because he''s just come out of prison. Everyone, that is, except Kate. She''s sure that Mr Locke is innocent and turns to her Secret Seven books for inspiration - they always find the real thief. Kate and Desmond become detectives to find out the truth and prove Desmond''s dad is innocent. But the truth isn''t always what you would like it to be and Kate is horrified when she discovers who really is... GUILTY.

At fifteen, Sally Tuttle and Rowena Cresswell were firm friends, until a shocking event changed their lives. Now in their early forties, they are estranged, both single mothers, both haunted with memories of their intense friendship. Sally is an embroiderer, a needlewoman who works at a repairs shop in East Grinstead. When she wins an embroidery prize and is invited to deliver a lecture in Edinburgh, she has to leave her teenage daughter Pearl alone and step into this daunting new role. As fate would have it, Rowena is in Edinburgh too, helping her son move out of his student