Lethargic inactivity can be debilitating and depressing; but for those living in the modern world, the pendulum has swung far in the other direction. We live in a hectic, hyperactive, over-stimulated age. Excessive busyness and overfilled schedules are the norm, as are their effects on our mental and emotional lives. How might we address and counter such problems, for the sake of experiencing our lives more fully? In How to Be Bored , Eva Hoffman explores the importance we place on success, high level function, effectiveness and alertness in today's competitive society. In a world where it is almost impossible to be idle, she draws upon lessons from history, literature and psychotherapy to help us embrace boredom and find meaning in doing nothing - to appreciate real reflection and enjoy the richness of our inner and external lives.

In the current situation of polarization in the Middle East, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that a long tradition of dialogue and openness toward the "Other" exists in many strands of Jewish thought. Himself or herself the quintessential Other in a world in which she or he has existed dispersed, in exile, as a minority, the Jew has consistently envisioned the self in relation to surrounding societies. Esther Benbassa and Jean-Christophe Attias show that alterity is a useful and morally compelling notion with which to structure Judaism's historically specific and politically charged encounters with deity, femininity, the Christian West, and the Muslim East. In Benbassa and Attias's view, the Other may be rejected, but it is also a mirror, both reminding the Jew of ethical duties and constituting a source of temptation and danger. Sometimes, the authors find, the Other is the enemy. They note that it is with the enemy that peace is made, peace with the Other and peace with the self. The Jew and the Other , which is an extended commentary on a dozen Biblical verses and which follows the five books of the Pentateuch, offers the history of that encounter as an inextricable part of the Jewish condition and is itself a meditation on this encounter.

"Ernst Bloch was one of the most significant twentieth-century German thinkers, yet he remains overshadowed by his Frankfurt School contemporaries. Known for his engagement with utopianism and religious thought, Bloch also wrote incisively about ontological questions. In his short masterpiece Avicenna and the Aristotelian Left, Bloch gives a striking account of materialism that traces emancipatory elements of modern thought to medieval Islamic philosophers' encounter with Aristotle.Bloch argues that the great medieval Islamic philosopher Avicenna (Ibn Sina) planted the seeds of a radical materialism still relevant for critical theory today. He contrasts Avicenna's and Aquinas's interpretations of Aristotle on form and matter to argue that Avicenna's reading democratizes power and undermines clerical and political authority. Bloch explores Avicenna's world and metaphysics in detail, showing how even his most recondite theoretical concerns prove capable of pointing toward radical social transformation. He blazes an original path through the history of ideas, including Averroes (Ibn Rushd), Spinoza, and Marx as well as lesser-known figures. Here translated into English for the first time, Avicenna and the Aristotelian Left is at once a succinct summation of Bloch's own idiosyncratic materialism, a provocative reconstruction of the Western philosophical tradition in light of its exchanges with Islamic thought, and a vital resource for contemporary debates about materialism in critical theory."-- Publisher's website.

Experience the raw and untamed spirit of the Tennessee frontier in Charles Egbert Craddock's "The Story of Old Fort Loudon," a compelling work of historical fiction. Set against the backdrop of pioneer life and military engagement, this meticulously republished edition brings to life a pivotal chapter in American history. Immerse yourself in a world of rugged landscapes and the challenges faced by those who dared to carve out a life on the edge of civilization. Explore the dramatic narrative woven around Old Fort Loudon, a symbol of both hope and hardship for early settlers. This classic work offers a glimpse into the struggles, sacrifices, and triumphs that defined the era. A captivating blend of historical detail and vivid storytelling, "The Story of Old Fort Loudon" remains a testament to the enduring allure of the American West and the indomitable spirit of its pioneers. 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. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

With the originality and energy that have marked his earlier works, Eric Wolf now explores the historical relationship of ideas, power, and culture. Responding to anthropology's long reliance on a concept of culture that takes little account of power, Wolf argues that power is crucial in shaping the circumstances of cultural production. Responding to social-science notions of ideology that incorporate power but disregard the ways ideas respond to cultural promptings, he demonstrates how power and ideas connect through the medium of culture. Wolf advances his argument by examining three very different societies, each remarkable for its flamboyant ideological expressions: the Kwakiutl Indians of the Northwest Pacific Coast, the Aztecs of pre-Hispanic Mexico, and National Socialist Germany. Tracing the history of each case, he shows how these societies faced tensions posed by ecological, social, political, or psychological crises, prompting ideological responses that drew on distinctive, historically rooted cultural understandings. In each case study, Wolf analyzes how the regnant ideology intertwines with power around the pivotal relationships that govern social labor. Anyone interested in the history of anthropology or in how the social sciences make comparisons will want to join Wolf in Envisioning Power .

Whatever the outcome for Saddam Hussein of his foray into Kuwait, the world will continue to wonder just who he is, or was, and exactly how he ruled. In this biography, two specialists in Middle East history and politics have avoided the tendency to demonize Saddam. They debunk the perception of an irrational and unpredictable leader who would stop at nothing in pursuit of his incoherent goals, and instead portray a calculating and cautious man who, although ruthless and brutal, weighs his options carefully. While accounts of Iraqi policy tend to show Saddam as an expansionist motivated by the unbridled ambition of dominating the Middle East, this book describes his modus operandi in terms of a ceaseless struggle for political - and physical - survival; a pattern of aggressive behaviour based on distrust and insecurity.

Edwin S. Shneidman is recognized as the central figure in the field of suicidology. His writings have taught countless psychologists and other health professionals about the complexity of suicide, death and bereavement. This collection of his writings spans the entirety of his career and offers a unique insight into the development of his thinking. The material is broken down into five parts: Psychological Assessment, Logic, Melville and Murray, Suicide, and Death and each section includes an introduction by the editor. Lives and Deaths is a vital resource for those in suicidology and related fields, allowing the reader to sample a variety of selections from Shneidman's work in one compact volume. The book is ideal for classroom use by upper level undergraduates and graduate students in the history of suicidology or as a supplemental text in a general suicidology course. It is also of interest to clinicians treating high-risk patients as well as a more general audience including psychologists, social workers, crisis counselors and suicide prevention specialists.

It's 1914 and war has gripped the world... Lieutenant Thomas Knowlton awakes after a night of heavy drinking with Hans Erhardt, a German P.O.W who has been interned at the neutral port of Manila.Much to Knowlton's dismay, he soon realises he's missed his Submarine. It had left without him!Baker an inexperienced sailor and friend of Knowlton's, covers for his absence. However, without Knowlton to do his duty, the submarine sinks to the ocean floor, with all those on board perishing inside.What is Knowlton to do? He's has been presumed dead, as well as being the presumed cause of the tragedy for not doing his duty. If he's found to still be alive he would certainly be court martialled and executed.To make things worse, he sees Erhardt has stolen his uniform and is boarding a Dutch liner to make his way back to the war.This was all Erhardt's fault!He now goes by the name of Tom Knowles and has been making a living as a hard-working, hard-drinking riveter in shipyards around the world.He has been doing well for himself.Soon, however, he hears about a German U-boat, U-38 that has been targeting and wreaking havoc among neutral American merchant vessels. This particular U-boat appears to be captained by none other than Hans Erhardt...It can only be a matter of time before the U.S.A enters the theatre of war and Tom Knowles can enact his vengeance...After a series of brave feats of ingenuity and horrific experiences at sea, he once again finds himself captaining a submarine and going head to head with the figurehead of his anger.The detail and depth of emotion present in this chilling and claustrophobic tale in enthralling. A story of heroism and revenge in the harshest of conditions. A must-read for anyone with an interest in the history of the First World War, or any fan of Naval history. Commander Ellsberg's attention to detail and bleakly realistic storytelling are simply brilliant. Praise for Edward Ellsberg 'done in high adventure style' - Kirkus Reviews 'Authentic material in a good yarn' - Kirkus Reviews Rear Admiral Edward Ellsberg returned to active service with the navy the morning after Pearl Harbour, after a life of hazardous adventure in salvage operations, during which he won the United States Navy's Distinguished Service Medal. He thereby became the first man to gain the award in peacetime. At Massawa he raised the two Italian Floating Docks, in spite of expert opinion that it was impossible. Later he served as Principal Salvage Officer under General Eisenhower in North Africa and afterwards in the Normandy Invasion. Rear Admiral Ellsberg was awarded the C.B.E. by His Majesty King George VI, and two Legions of Merit by the United States Government.

"Bioart is a new art form that has emerged from the cultural impact and increasing accessibilty of contemporary biotechnology. Signs of Life is the first book to focus exclusively on art that uses biotechnology as its medium, defining and discussing the theoretical and historical implications of bio art and offering examples of work by prominent artists. Bio art manipulates the processes of life; in its most radical form, it invents or transforms living organisms. It is not representational; bio art is in vivo. (A celebrated example is Eduardo Kac's own GFP Bunny, centered on Alba, the transgenic green rabbit.) The creations of bio art become a part of evolution and, provided they are capable of reproduction, can last as long as life exists on earth. Thus, bio art raises unprecedented questions about the future of life, evolution, society, and art. The contibutions to Signs of Life articulate the critical theory of bio art and documents its fundamental works. The writers - who include such prominent scholars as Barbara Maria Stafford, Eugene Thacker, and Dorothy Nelkin - consider the culture and aesthetics of biotechnology, the ethical and philosophical aspects of bio art, and biology in art history. The section devoted to artworks and artists including George Gessert's "Why I Breed Plants," Oron Catts and Ionat Zurr's "Semi-Living Art," Marc Quinn's "Genomic Portrait," and Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey's "Chlorophyll Apparitions.". --

Greater Ethiopia combines history, anthropology, and sociology to answer two major questions. Why did Ethiopia remain independent under the onslaught of European expansionism while other African political entities were colonized? And why must Ethiopia be considered a single cultural region despite its political, religious, and linguistic diversity? Donald Levine's interdisciplinary study makes a substantial contribution both to Ethiopian interpretive history and to sociological analysis. In his new preface, Levine examines Ethiopia since the overthrow of the monarchy in the 1970s. "Ethiopian scholarship is in Professor Levine's debt. . . . He has performed an important task with panache, urbanity, and learning."--Edward Ullendorff, Times Literary Supplement "Upon rereading this book, it strikes the reader how broad in scope, how innovative in approach, and how stimulating in arguments this book was when it came out. . . . In the past twenty years it has inspired anthropological and historical research, stimulated theoretical debate about Ethiopia's cultural and historical development, and given the impetus to modern political thinking about the complexities and challenges of Ethiopia as a country. The text thus easily remains an absolute must for any Ethiopianist scholar to read and digest."-J. Abbink, Journal of Modern African Studies

This collection contains Donald Kuspit's writing at its illuminating best as it reveals the psychological and spiritual motivation that conceivably compelled the artists represented to create some of their most interesting work. His subjects range from the artist's relentless manoeuvring for status to the calculated use of perversion and empowering sexuality to engage the art-going public. His criticism is occasionally devastating but always eloquently convincing. Donald Kuspit's opinions will be disconcerting for many who accept what is considered by art journalists and curators to be significant and worthy of the public's attention. He also examines the art market and its compromising effect upon our system of cultural values. The book is appropriately illustrated with paintings by Marcus Reichert, whose own work adheres to a radical ethos. With essays on: Karel Appel, Louise Bourgeois, Robert Motherwell, August Sander, Lucian Freud, Lucas Samaras, Robert Graham, George Segal, Helmut Newton, Rebecca Horn, Elizabeth Peyton, Richard Serra, Gerhard Richter, Dieter Roth, Anne-Louis Girodet, Nicholas Poussin, Jasper Johns, Neo Rauch, Sean Scully, Stephen Newton, and many other subjects ranging from sensationalism in art to the spiritual in art. Donald Kuspit is one of America's most esteemed art critics. He is Distinguished Professor of Art History and Philosophy at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Winner of the prestigious Frank Jewett Mather Award for Distinction in Art Criticism (1983), given by the College Art Association, Professor Kuspit is a Contributing Editor at Artforum, Sculpture, and Tema Celeste magazines, and the editor of Art Criticism. He has also curated many exhibitions.

Dina Z, a Jewish-American filmmaker is seeking to document the lives of people who dwell on ancient holy ground and to discover how that history affects them. She falls in love with a Palestinian activist and sees him and his people in ways that were not available to her before the ancient story of Dinah and Shechem was revived through their meeting. This novel is a republication of Deena Metzger's 1989 novel, originally published by Viking.. This novel is a republication of Deena Metzger's 1989 novel. The original motivation for the novel was to investigate the Biblical story from Genesis, the story of Jacob and Leah's daughter who is loved and ravished by a "heathen," and whose brothers avenge her honor by slaying him on his wedding night. This story, which is somehow still unacknowledged, is of the ancient core of the intergenerational conflict remaining very much in our collective DNA, the story which has not been mourned, for which amends have not been made. Metzger is hoping to see if the retelling of it in a new way, the reliving of it, even if only in the creative imagination, could offer healing to the terrible history which was (which is) once again exploding in violence.

"Based on his own family history, David Pryce-Jones’s virtuosic novel tells the tale of the Ellingens, one of the richest and most powerful Jewish families in the Habsburg Empire. Gustav will ascend from the poverty and obscurity of an orphanage to the pinnacle of Viennese society, steering the family’s fortunes through defeat in the Great War, the inflation of Weimar, and the perils of Depression. His only child, Henriette, must cope with the challenges of innocence and wealth. But her only child, Jules, will face a far more terrible challenge in the rise of Nazism. The Afternoon Sun is a vivid portrait of four brilliant generations and their Europe by a peerless observer who knew them as few others could."--

This third edition of Lester, Pannick and Herberg: Human Rights Law and Practice has been substantially re-written to take account of the major changes which have occurred in this area of the law. It includes not only a summary of European and UK human rights law but also wider international and comparative case law. It places this subject within its wider parliamentary context and connects with other jurisdictions.Up-to-date as of March 2009 to include the very latest cases, such as the judgment of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in A v United Kingdom (finding that the United Kingdom was in breach of the Convention by detaining terrorist suspects without trial in Belmarsh Prison); judgment of the Court of Appeal in Purdy v DPP (how Convention rights apply in the context of a possible criminal prosecution of a man who assists his seriously ill wife to travel to Switzerland to commit suicide); and the House of Lords' judgment in RB (Algeria) v SSHD (considering risk of Art 3 ill-treatment on return and the return state's assurances, and Art 6 in connection with the removed person's right to a fair trial).Issues arising under the Human Rights Act, such as freedom of expression, conscience and belief, freedom of assembly and fair trial receive comprehensive treatment within the text. International Human Rights codes and comparative human rights law elsewhere in the Commonwealth, Ireland and the United States are also discussed. With specific chapters analysing the political history and the role of parliament in its conception and enforcement, this practical book covers all the information you need to interpret the Human Rights Act 1998 and this complicated area of law.Includes coverage on the UK government's Green Paper, Rights and Responsibilities: Developing Our Constitutional Framework.

"What is the relation of philosophy and theology? This question has been a matter of perennial concern in the history of Western thought. Written by one of the premier philosophers in the areas of Jewish ethics and interfaith issues between Judaism and Christianity, Athens and Jerusalem contends that philosophy and theology are not mutually exclusive. Based on the Gifford Lectures David Novak delivered at the University of Aberdeen in 2017, this book explores the commonalities and common concerns that exist between philosophy and theology on metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical questions. Where are they different and where are they the same? And, how can they speak to one another?"--

Found throughout the universe, variable stars are fascinating objects to observe. Their brightness changes over time and they can easily be seen with even the most basic equipment. David Levy explains how to begin electronic (or CCD) observing, as well as how to observe variable stars through a small telescope or binoculars. Featuring a section on Southern hemisphere stars, this book covers various types of objects that can be observed by amateur astronomers, including more exotic phenomena like gamma ray bursts, blazars, and polars. It will motivate anyone with even a basic interest in astronomy to begin observing variable stars. David H. Levy is one of the most successful comet hunters in history. He has discovered twenty-one, eight of them using a telescope in his own backyard. With Eugene and Carolyn Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California, Levy discovered Shoemaker-Levy 9, the comet that collided with Jupiter in 1994, and is currently involved with the Jarnac Comet Survey, based at the Jarnac Observatory in Vail, Arizona. In addition to being the author or editor of 31 books and other products, David Levy is the Science Editor for Parade magazine and contributing editor for Sky and Telescope magazine and the Canadian periodical, SkyNews. Frequently interviewed in the media, he has given almost a thousand lectures and appeared on many television programs. His most recent CUP book is David Levy's Guide to Observing and Discovering Comets (Cambridge, 2003). First Edition Pb (1989) 0-521-62755-9

"Embracing Exile is a comprehensive history of Jewish responses to and conceptions of their exiles/diasporas. Jews have, since their beginnings, been a wandering people. According to their origin story, they wandered from Ur of Chaldees to Canaan to Egypt and then back to Canaan. From there, they were exiled to Babylon, where they built their longest-lived home, one that survived until the twentieth century. Over the span of centuries, they resettled in Persia, Egypt, Morocco, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Poland, Ukraine, and the United States, often flourishing. Thanks to these experiences, Diaspora became "natural" to Jews, and though they may have hoped for a return to their Promised Land at the End of Days, they made sense of their many homes, defending Diaspora as the realm where Jewish life could grow and Jews fulfill their covenantal obligations in the company of their God. The texts and expressions the volume documents in Defending Diaspora include biblical and rabbinic texts, philosophical treatises, Kabbalah, Hasidism, and a multiplicity of modern expressions. The book offers revised readings of the book of Esther and other biblical texts, a survey of Talmudic treatments of exile, an in-depth analysis of the thought of the Maharal of Prague, analyses of works by Philip Roth, and other modern authors, and much more. The book shows that lament has not been the most common Jewish response to diaspora and that Zionism is not the natural outcome of either Jewish ideology or history"-- Provided by publisher.

Daavid Kimche has served in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office for many years and in 1980 was appointed Director-General of the Foreign Ministry. He has therefore been involved behind the scenes in all the major political events that Israel has engaged in for the past two decades. In this book, he not only gives an informed and often controversial appraisal of events, but also provides first-hand insights into situations in which he personally played a central role: for example, from his early meetings with Bashir Gemayel in Lebanon in 1976 to the Israeli invasion, and Israel's role in Irangate. Instead of covering old ground by describing events that many others have already written about, he instead puts forward a number of new theories which should provoke a reassessment of the political history of the area. With fascinating chapters on Israel's relations with Egypt, the United States and Lebanon, on the Iran-Iraq conflict, the Gulf War, and the current situation with the Palestinians and the intifada, Kimche not only gives a comprehensive and clear account of complicated events, but also provides his own explanations and criticisms of people and policies, which make the book an important contribution to the history of the Middle East as well as to what is happening in the region today.

Iconoclast David F. Noble traces the evolution and eclipse of the biblical mythology of the Promised Land, the foundational story of Western Culture. Part impassioned manifesto, part masterful survey of opposed philosophical and economic schools, "Beyond the Promised Land" brings into focus the twisted template of the Western imagination and its faith-based market economy. From the first recorded versions of "the promise" saga in ancient Babylon, to the Zapatistas' rejection of promises never kept, Noble explores the connections between Judeo-Christian belief and corporate globalization. Inspiration for activists and students alike. David Noble is the author of "Progress Without People" (BTL, 1995) and "Digital Diploma Mills" (BTL, 2002). He teaches history at York University, Toronto.

Part social history and part exposé, this revealing, entertaining, and provocative book spans nearly seventy years as it explores the lives and careers of some of the silver screen's foremost gays and lesbians and the effect of their high-profile lifestyles on the general public. From Charles Laughton and Greta Garbo to Nathan Lane and Ellen DeGeneres, David Ehrenstein traces the gradual transformation of Hollywood from a time when it was box-office poison to be publicly gay to the modern era when many top entertainment figures are celebrating their gay sexuality--and are in turn celebrated for it. Updated, Open Secret reveals what has happened to the key players in gay Hollywood since the original hardcover publication.