Best Selling Books by Sean Murphy

THIS KIND OF MAN offers an unvarnished look at life in 21st Century America, excavating the complicated, tender, wild truth of what it is to be a man across generations and relationships. These stories interrogate the pressures and tensions of contemporary life, and the ways men grapple with them, often without success. Issues such as marriage, fatherhood, aggression, alcoholism, gender expectations, generational backlash, and the inexorable dread of death, abound. Many of these stories live within a slow implosion of coping, and often failing, as well as those who refuse to succumb, addressing concerns oft-discussed, or not discussed enough, in mainstream print: gun violence, the recent history of coal country Appalachia, sports-related concussions, illegal immigration (and the jobs many of these ostensibly unwelcome folks are obliged to do), homelessness, and the inability of men to honestly connect or communicate. Far from excusing or exonerating toxic males, this collection locates their violence (toward others, against oneself) in the context of a deadening culture and the false narratives that prevail in an exploitative, zero-sum game capitalist model, where those without are encouraged to quarrel with similarly overworked and underpaid, mostly blue-collar workers. We see that our received notions of manhood and masculinity are inculcated-from the beginning and by design-to ensure willing participation in a system where the overwhelming majority are excluded from the start. We witness the way these dysfunctions are handed down like inheritance, and how every cliché, from fighting to drinking to intolerance of dissent and distrust of others, is a carefully constructed trap, preventing solidarity, empathy, and love (for others, for one''s self).

Acclaimed author and music critic Sean Murphy''s new poetry collection is a searing and timely take on American culture that finds perspective on the present by interrogating our past. The Blackened Blues offers a powerful glimpse into the human psyche, exploring the minds of artists and visionaries, addicts and trauma survivors, searching (as we all are) for "some way to live." We leave this book with a heavy dose of truth, but also of the kind of beauty that makes such truth bearable.

Question: How do you get over it? Answer: You don''t. You don''t want to. It makes you who you are. Sean Murphy lost his mother days after her fifty-ninth birthday, following a five-year battle with cancer. In this eloquent memoir, he explores his family history through the context of grief, compassion, faith, and the cultivation of an artistic sensibility. Unfolding in a range of voices, brutal and tender in its portrayal of terminal illness, Please Talk about Me When I''m Gone is an unyielding love story, in which devotion and memory are capable of transcending death.

In this collection of essays, reviews and ruminations, best-selling author Sean Murphy attempts to tackle the world in writing, one topic at a time. Selecting a sampling of his most popular pieces as well as some personal favorites, Murphy ranges from movies and literature to politics, sports and tributes for the departed. At his blog, Murphy''s Law, and as a columnist for PopMatters and contributing editor for The Weeklings, Murphy has combined enthusiasm and proficiency in the service of short and extended analyses. Throughout this compilation he shifts seamlessly between culture, the arts and an ongoing interrogation of American society. Ranging from acclaimed foreign films like Walkabout to addictive pop-candy like Caddyshack, or remembering the impact of Steve Jobs and Norio Ohga (who invented the compact disc), this collection at times eulogizes, castigates and celebrates culture, both high and lowbrow. Whether describing the ordeal of putting down a beloved dog, the melodrama of unrequited teen crushes, or seeking out authentic Chinese cuisine in rural Virginia, Murphy takes a deep dive on topics familiar and obscure. Were the ''90s a soulless wasteland or an artistic apogee, ripe for reassessment? What''s the best scene in cinematic history? How did Muhammad Ali''s most important fight take place outside the ring? Did mistakes made early in Obama''s first term presage the unimaginable spectacle of Donald Trump? Can the millennial generation understand, much less appreciate, the lost art of making mix-tapes? Has 21st Century information overload made enlightenment possible, or even desirable? Equal parts reporter and raconteur, Murphy brings an informed acumen to essays mercifully free from academic jargon and pretension. By turns studious, confrontational, hilarious and philosophical, Murphy''s Law, Vol. Two will leave readers better informed, provoked and, hopefully, inspired to discover the work of some geniuses who''ve fallen outside the lower frequencies.

In this collection of essays, reviews and ruminations, best-selling author Sean Murphy attempts to tackle the world in writing, one topic at a time. Selecting a sampling of his most popular pieces as well as some personal favorites, Murphy ranges from music to movies, literature to politics, sports to tributes for the departed. At his blog, Murphy''s Law, and as a columnist for PopMatters and contributing editor for The Weeklings, Murphy has combined enthusiasm and proficiency in the service of short and extended analyses. Throughout this compilation he shifts seamlessly between culture, the arts and an ongoing interrogation of American society. Why is Robert Johnson the most influential American musician of the 20th Century? How-and why-did Dennis Miller go from being one of the better comedians in the world to a humorless hack? Why are even the most gifted novelists unable to write convincing sex scenes in their fiction? Was the first round of Hagler vs. Hearns in 1985 the most exciting three minutes in sporting history? Is it reasonable to suggest that Chinatown is the only perfect American film ever made? What does it mean to declare Stephen King the Paul Bunyan of letters? Is it possible we don''t adequately celebrate either Moby Dick or The Great Gatsby? Why should everyone consider cancelling their subscription to The Washington Post? Does nostalgia play a defensible, even necessary role in one''s art or life? Equal parts reporter and raconteur, Murphy brings an informed acumen to essays mercifully free from academic jargon and pretension. His subjects cover so-called high and lowbrow and just about anything in between, and it''s obvious throughout that his only agenda is to celebrate, or castigate, or cross-examine his own impulses and predispositions. By turns studious, confrontational, hilarious and philosophical, Murphy''s Law, Vol. One will leave readers better informed, provoked and, hopefully, inspired to discover the work of some geniuses who''ve fallen outside the lower frequencies.

Celebrate your Infidel self by coloring pigs and bacon. Flags and Patriotism ooze form this book as you color your pride of being American! Don''t tread on me! Get your creative juices flowing in this funny coloring book! We have made room for you to add your own touch to each page! How fun is that! All ages will have fun in their own ways in this book!

In space, no one can hear you scream or belch, or swear, or cry like a little girl when you''re about to be taken down by merciless interstellar bounty hunters who want that mysterious idol you swiped from that hot chick who inexplicably gave you the tip of a lifetime when you showed up at the wrong hotel room with a pizza delivery. This assumes that you'' are ne''er-do-well big-talker Quinn and explains-sort of-how you hooked up with a badass ex-cop named Krunk, who would just as soon kill you as look at you, if not both.''

The Jacinta 1972 photo has remained a mystery for over 50 years. The dates of the Garabandal warning, Garabandal miracle and the end of the world would remain obscure until we had arrived at this crucial time. The Garabandal warning in which two asteroids will impact Earth will prepare human consciousness for the coming Garabandal miracle, which is a direct encounter with God. The date of the end of the world is graduation day for all of humanity. The author has been collating information for almost two decades that would become pertinent to solving the puzzle. The dates provided in this book which will reverberate around the world, present an opportunity to prepare for the most important time in recent human history.

At birth, Ryan Maguire received a gift - a matching set of gorgeous, mesmerizing blue eyes. At an early age, Momma Maguire gave him another gift - her rules to which he was to adhere. She gave him a code to flourish and live life to the fullest. She expected Ryan to demand dignity, fight for himself, and for others not strong enough to fight for themselves. Despite Momma Maguire''s best efforts, by age 14, Ryan was riding a bullet train toward his own destruction. It would take more than her and her rules to change his life''s path. What and who intervene to save Ryan from certain destruction? What are Momma Maguire''s Rules? What Gifts does Ryan receive to help him along his journey? What Truths does Ryan discover along his path? Will he ever recover from damaged relationships to find true love? God calls each of us. When the Holy Spirit summons, how can we recognize Him? How do we make that connection? Will He protect us when we need Him the most, as we walk through our own personal valley of darkness? Gifts Given and Truths Learned answers all these questions and more in a riveting, twisting tale of life, love, growth, courage, discernment, seeking, healing, and faith. It takes you on a beautiful journey from a young child''s life, into adolescence, and finally to a young adult. The bends and turns in his path will keep you on the edge of your seat.

After an astonishing astronomical discovery is made near Melbourne, two scientists jostle for possession of the world''s largest iron meteorite. At a time of growing cultural awareness in Australia, brash colonials challenge hidebound imperial assumptions of ownership. At stake is a glittering prize, and a chance to gain an other-worldly talisman of local identity. Who will prevail?

The Artist Edition is a 48-page softcover collection of the raw scans of the first 44 pages of Sean Murphy''s The Plot Holes. The Plot Holes tells the story of a squad of fictional warriors who transport themselves into the pages of other books, using their unique skills to save the plots in order to stop them from being destroyed.

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With Kinds of Blue, Sean Murphy has created a deep personal and spiritual meditation on the personalities, stories, and souls that created some of the most important music (plus comedy, film and more) of the 20th century. More than a book ''about'' these other art forms, Kinds of Blue gives voice to ineffable and transcendent qualities of the art using the medium of poetry. -Jon Madof, bandleader, composer, and co-founder of Chant Records "It''s not worth singing about if it doesn''t leave a scar," the speaker in Sean Murphy''s Kinds of Blue says-and these poems are about song and scar, even as they sing and heal along the hurt-lines. Murphy muses about what drives us to art, what hinders art''s making, what sacrifices art demands, what makes art, and the artist, endure. "It never hurts if you write an anthem," the speaker says, though the book is filled with artists who hurt, even to the point of self-harm and death. The poems here confront an "America waking up/ slowly, from the old school/ slumber of the whitest world," and comes to a reckoning: "again it was down to artists/ to guide us through." Kinds of Blue is a wise, startling, beautiful guide. -James Allen Hall, author of Romantic Comedy A transformative journey that not only unveils new dimensions to familiar tunes but beckons you to venture into uncharted musical realms. -Nabil Ayers, author of My Life in the Sunshine Late in Kinds of Blue, his third poetry book, Sean Murphy asks: "What is this? How is it possible to make instruments scream in agony and shriek in joy, at the same time?" Yet, these powerful poems do just that with lines crafted from the alchemical tip of his historical pen. Conjuring legendary artists such as Miles Davis and Sam Cooke, as well as lesser-known geniuses, Eric Dolphy and Linton Kwesi Johnson, this collection offers the reader necessary pages from our troubled past "so [we] might bear witness to an anguished joyful noise that could save and restore." Dear Reader, this book is full of poems you will want to research and then read out loud again, while you "trust that hearing is believing." As poetry continually reminds us, we need our collective notes to more fully understand ourselves, our country, our predecessors, in all the potent ways. "Even still they sang-coded texts for torn out tongues, the savage air aglow with conviction." I''ve read these poems again and again, then pulled my old albums out; here where poetry and music become one. -Susan Rich, author of Blue Atlas

Traditional engineering is built upon a world of knowledge and scientific laws, with components and systems that operate predictably. But what happens when a large number of these devices are interconnected? You get a complex system that''s no longer deterministic, but probabilistic. That''s happening today in many industries, including manufacturing, petroleum, transportation, and energy. In this O''Reilly report, Sean Patrick Murphy, Chief Data Scientist at PingThings, describes how data science is helping electric utilities make sense of a stochastic world filled with increasing uncertainty--including fundamental changes to the energy market and random phenomena such as weather and solar activity. Murphy also reviews several cutting-edge tools for storing and processing big data that he''s used in his work with electric utilities--tools that can help traditional engineers pursue a data-driven approach in many industries. Topics in this report include: Key drivers that have changed the electric grid from a deterministic machine into probabilistic system Fundamental differences that put traditional engineering and data science at odds with one another Why the time is right for engineering organizations to adopt a complete data-driven approach Contemporary tools that traditional engineers can use to store and process big data A PingThings case study for dealing with random geomagnetic disturbances to the energy grid.

This special issue of Developmental Neuroscience features seven original articles dealing exclusively with the regulation and role of the constitutive nitric oxide synthase expressed in neurons. The first paper explains regulation through alternative splicing, yielding isoforms of the enzyme which are expressed differentially in the nervous system. The following papers outline the renewed expression of nitric oxide synthase in sensory and motoneurons following injury to the spinal cord. The final three articles discuss whether there is an interaction between nitric oxide synthase, signals from adjacent cells, and neuronal development. Neuropathologists, neuroanatomists, developmental biologists and graduate students in neuroscience programs will find this publication a valuable contribution to the field.

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Horror comic Anthology