Using examples from a wide variety of conflicts, Lawrence Freedman shows that successful military command depends on the ability not only to use armed forces effectively but also to understand the political context in which they are operating. Command in war is about forging effective strategies and implementing them, making sure that orders are appropriate, well-communicated, and then obeyed. But it is also an intensely political process. This is largely because how wars are fought depends to a large extent on how their aims are set. It is also because commanders in one realm must possess the ability to work with other command structures, including those of other branches of the armed forces and allies. In Command, Lawrence Freedman explores the importance of political as well as operational considerations in command with a series of eleven vivid case studies, all taken from the period after 1945. Over this period, the risks of nuclear escalation led to a shift away from great power confrontations and towards civil wars, and advances in communication technologies made it easier for higher-level commanders to direct their subordinates. Freedman covers defeats as well as victories. Pakistani generals tried to avoid surrender as they were losing the eastern part of their country to India in 1971. Iraq's Saddam Hussein turned his defeats into triumphant narratives of victory. Osama bin Laden escaped the Americans in Afghanistan in 2001. The UK struggled as a junior partner to the US in Iraq after 2003. We come across insubordinate generals, such as Israel's Arik Sharon, and those in the French army in Algeria, so frustrated with their political leadership that they twice tried to change it. At the other end of the scale, Che Guevara in Congo in 1966 and Igor Girkin in Ukraine in 2014 both tried to spark local wars to suit their grandiose objectives. Freedman ends the book with a meditation on the future of command in a world that is becoming increasingly reliant on technologies like artificial intelligence. A wide-ranging and insightful history of the changing nature of command in the postwar era, this will stand as a definitive account of a foundational concept in both military affairs and politics.

Here is an introduction to modern logic that differs from others by treating logic from an algebraic perspective. What this means is that notions and results from logic become much easier to understand when seen from a familiar standpoint of algebra. The presentation, written in the engaging and provocative style that is the hallmark of Paul Halmos, from whose course the book is taken, is aimed at a broad audience, students, teachers and amateurs in mathematics, philosophy, computer science, linguistics and engineering; they all have to get to grips with logic at some stage. All that is needed to understand the book is some basic acquaintance with algebra.

In January 2011, Harvard Professor Harry Lewis gave a series of four talks and lectures in Hong Kong, anchored by an invitation from the Chinese University of Hong Kong as Sir Run Run Shaw Visiting Scholar. The four lectures gathered in this volume are: "Approaches to General Education" Lee Hysan lecture, delivered at Chinese University of Hong Kong "Civic Education in the Information Era" Sir Run Run Shaw Distinguished Lecture delivered at Shaw College, Chinese University of Hong Kong "The Future of Ignorance" delivered at City University of Hong Kong "Idea economy" delivered at the Asia Society Harry R. Lewis is Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University. He served as Dean of Harvard College from 1995-2003. He is the author of "Excellence Without a Soul: Does Liberal Education Have a Future?" and coauthor of "Blown to Bits: Your Life, Liberty, and Happiness After the Digital Explosion"

Take A Number: Mathematics For The Two Billion is a book written by Lillian Rosanoff Lieber that explores the importance of mathematics in our daily lives. The book focuses on the idea that mathematics is not just a subject to be studied in school, but a fundamental tool that everyone needs to navigate the world around them. Lieber argues that there are two billion people in the world who lack basic mathematical skills, and this has serious consequences for their ability to make informed decisions, manage their finances, and participate fully in society. She uses real-life examples to illustrate how math is used in everything from cooking and shopping to medicine and engineering.The book is divided into three sections. The first section provides an overview of the importance of mathematics and its role in our lives. The second section focuses on basic mathematical concepts, such as fractions, decimals, and percentages, and how they are used in everyday situations. The third section delves into more advanced topics, such as algebra, geometry, and calculus, and their applications in fields like science and technology.Throughout the book, Lieber emphasizes the importance of understanding math and encourages readers to develop their skills through practice and exploration. She also provides tips and strategies for overcoming math anxiety and building confidence in one's abilities.Overall, Take A Number: Mathematics For The Two Billion is a compelling and informative book that highlights the critical role of mathematics in our lives and the need for everyone to have basic math skills.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.