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  Venezuela - Economic Crises and...

  Anya Solace

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  Venezuela’s history is one of dramatic shifts, from its early days as a Spanish colony to its emergence as one of the world’s largest oil producers. The country’s vast natural resources positioned it as a regional economic powerhouse, yet mismanagement, political instability, and external pressures have contributed to repeated cycles of crisis. Today, Venezuela stands as a cautionary tale of how wealth, when poorly managed, can lead to economic collapse and social turmoil. Understanding the nation’s historical trajectory is essential to grasping its current struggles and the possibilities for recovery.  
    
  Venezuela’s path to independence followed the broader wave of Latin American liberation movements. Gaining independence from Spain in 1821 under the leadership of Simón Bolívar, the country initially experienced political turbulence as it transitioned from colonial rule. The 19th and early 20th centuries were marked by military dictatorships and internal conflicts, preventing the establishment of a stable government. However, the discovery of vast oil reserves in the early 20th century would drastically reshape Venezuela’s economic and political landscape.  
    
  With the discovery of oil in the 1910s, Venezuela saw rapid economic expansion, attracting foreign investment and transforming Caracas into one of the most modern cities in Latin America. By the mid-20th century, the nation was one of the wealthiest in the region, boasting a growing middle class and infrastructure that rivaled its neighbors. Yet, with prosperity came vulnerability. The economy became overwhelmingly dependent on oil revenues, leaving it exposed to fluctuations in global energy markets. Instead of using its wealth to diversify industries and strengthen institutions, successive governments spent recklessly, often prioritizing short-term political gains over long-term stability. 

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  A Measure Short of War - A Brief...

  William C. Wohlforth, Jill Kastner

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  In 2016, the United States was stunned by evidence of Russian meddling in the US presidential elections. But it shouldn't have been. Subversion—domestic interference to undermine or manipulate a rival—is as old as statecraft itself. The basic idea would have been familiar to Sun Tzu, Thucydides, Elizabeth I, or Bismarck. 
   
   
   
  It came as a surprise in 2016 because the sole superpower had fallen asleep at the wheel. But what's really new? Have we entered a new age of vulnerability? To answer these questions, and to protect ourselves against future subversion, we need a clear-eyed understanding of what it is and how it works. 
   
   
   
  In A Measure Short of War, Jill Kastner and William C. Wohlforth provide just that, taking the listener on a compelling ride through the history of subversion, exploring two thousand years of mischief and manipulation to illustrate subversion's allure, its operational possibilities, and the means for fighting back against it. With vivid examples from the ancient world, the great-power rivalries of the nineteenth century, epic Cold War struggles, and more, A Measure Short of War shows how prior technological revolutions opened up new avenues for subversion, and how some democracies have been fatally weakened by foreign subverters while others have artfully defended themselves—and their democratic principles.

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  The Road Less Triggered -...

  Dr. Kelly Flanagan

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  There is a moment that repeats itself over and over again in your relationships—it's the moment you're triggered to flip from connection mode into protection mode. This moment is the unseen source of all disconnection and conflict. However, it happens so quickly and unconsciously most of us feel powerless to choose connection. The Road Less Triggered will empower you to: 
  · quickly disrupt your defensiveness· turn inner turmoil into inner peace· connect with clarity, curiosity, and compassionThrough a powerful blend of psychology, spirituality, real-world examples, and practical exercises, clinical psychologist Dr. Kelly Flanagan illustrates in actionable detail the process through which you can free your relationships from the patterns that imprison them. Can you imagine uninterrupted peace with your partner? Kids who leave home but also love to return? Friendships that deepen instead of dwindle? Ruptured relationships restored to their highest potential? A professional life freed from personal hang-ups? All those rewards and more lie just ahead of you, down the road less triggered.

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  Big Book of New York Ghost Stories

  Cheri Revai

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   Hauntings lurk and spirits linger in the Empire State—from Manhattan’s Ear Inn to the Seneca Hill Ghost in Oswego.   Reader, beware! Turn these pages and enter the world of the paranormal, where ghosts and ghouls alike creep just out of sight. Author Cheri Farnsworth shines a light in the dark corners of New York and scares those spirits out of hiding in this thrilling collection. From apparitions and objects that fly off of tables at the Manhattan Bistro, to a specter that stalks Pulpit Rock in Lake Placid, there’s no shortage of bone-chilling tales to keep you up at night. Around the campfire or tucked away on a dark and stormy night, this big book of ghost stories is a hauntingly good read.  “Whether you’re an armchair ghost enthusiast or prefer to visit haunted locales, this book, excellently organized for both, is a perfect guide and companion.” —Tamara Thorne, author of Old Wives’ Tales

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  The Treasure of the Humble

  Maurice Maeterlinck

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  "The Treasure of the Humble" by Maurice Maeterlinck delves into the profound wisdom found in simple, everyday experiences. Exploring the hidden depths of life, Maeterlinck reflects on the beauty within the ordinary, inviting readers to discover the richness concealed in the humble aspects of existence. Through poetic prose, he unveils the treasures that await those who pause to contemplate the quiet marvels of the world around them. This contemplative work invites readers to appreciate the often overlooked and find meaning in the seemingly trivial moments of life. Read in English, unabridged.

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  Fire Island - A Century in the...

  Jack Parlett

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  A groundbreaking account of New York's Fire Island, chronicling its influence on art, literature, culture and queer liberation over the past centuryFire Island, a thin strip of beach off the Long Island coast, has long been a vital space in the queer history of America. Both utopian and exclusionary, healing and destructive, the island is a locus of contradictions, all of which coalesce against a stunning ocean backdrop.Now, poet and scholar Jack Parlett tells the story of this iconic destination—its history, its meaning and its cultural significance—told through the lens of the artists and creators who sought refuge on its shores. Together, figures as divergent as Walt Whitman, Oscar Wilde, James Baldwin, Carson McCullers, Frank O'Hara, Patricia Highsmith and Jeremy O. Harris tell the story of a queer space in constant evolution.Transporting, impeccably researched and gorgeously written, Fire Island is the definitive book on an iconic American destination and an essential contribution to queer history.Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

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