Other books that might interest you

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  999 Inside Death Row in the...

  Arnaud Gaillard

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  On death row, the poorest and most numerous, with no family and no decent lawyer, are sometimes executed before all their appeals have been exhausted. Their fate consigned to modest prison cemeteries. In Texas, the number engraved on the cement stone begins with 999.
  Out of 50 American states, 34 still have the death penalty. Why and how? The author's investigation took him to California, Utah, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi and Pennsylvania. A human immersion into the heart of American society and its judicial system, through encounters with death row inmates, lawyers and victims' families.
  This fascinating book finely deconstructs the American myth of fair and infallible justice—from the deplorable conditions of confinement to daily abuse, from random legal recourse to political and judicial manipulation. More than just a sentence, the death penalty appears to be torture with many faces. And in an America on the move, there are signs that abolition is on the way. 
  999, is the fruit of a fact-finding mission carried out by the French association, Ensemble contre la peine de mort (ECPM), with financial support from the European Union.

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  Mysteries of the Social Brain -...

  Virginia Sturm, Bruce L. Miller

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  Mysteries of the Social Brain describes the scientific underpinnings of human behavior and values. Through the retelling of fascinating clinical stories of people with neurological conditions, this book explores the parts of the brain that allow humans to thrive as social and creative beings. The authors reveal the relevance of our brain circuits to our well‑being―and the well‑being of our societies―and show what happens when changes in our brain circuitry drive changes in empathy, altruism, moral beliefs, and creativity. 
   
  By integrating perspectives from neurology, psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience, the stories in this book offer novel insights into the inner workings of the social brain and reveal groundbreaking findings from work in frontotemporal dementia, emotion, and the science of human values. This book showcases the discovery that creativity can emerge when there is decline in the brain’s language systems, a finding that highlights the robust, yet underappreciated connections between science and art. Listeners will learn about the biological basis of social behavior as well as simple steps that they can take to improve the functioning of their own social brains. 
   
  This book will captivate general listeners as well as clinicians and scientists who are interested in human social behavior, cognition, and emotion.

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  Ancient Greece’s Most Important...

  Editors Charles River

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  Nearly 2,500 years after the Golden Age of Athens, people across the world today continue to be fascinated by the ancient Greeks, but who did the Ancient Greeks look up to? The answer to that question can be found in Homer’s The Odyssey, in which Odysseus makes note of “a great town there, Cnossus, where Minos reigned.” It was perhaps the earliest reference to the Minoan civilization, a mysterious ancient civilization that historians and archaeologists still puzzle over, but a civilization that renowned historian Will Durant described as "the first link in the European chain.” Nearly 2,000 years before Homer wrote his epic poems, the Minoan civilization was centered on the island of Crete, a location that required the Minoans to be a regional sea power. And indeed they were, stretching across the Aegean Sea from about 2700-1500 BCE with trade routes extending all the way to Egypt. 
  In the Archaic and Classical periods, Rhodes often stood as a prime exemplar of the highs and lows of its fellow Greek cities, and as the largest island of the Dodecanese, Rhodes’ history is largely in line with that of the rest of those islands. Rhodes would reach the zenith of its power in the Hellenistic period following the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE. Even as the rest of the city-states waned compared to the much larger kingdoms of Alexander’s successors in Egypt and Asia, Rhodes would come to the forefront as a main power in the Greek world, standing toe-to-toe with these Hellenistic kingdoms.  
  It was during the Classical era that, especially under the tyrants (dictators) of the Greek city of Syracuse, Sicily came the closest to being governed as a single, unified, and independent state. In time, it came to challenge the powerful trade empire of Carthage, a former Phoenician colony in North Africa, and it vied with the cities and kingdoms of mainland Greece for primacy in the Greek world.

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  From Brokenness to Atonement...

  Dr. Hani Khouzam

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  This is a story of Mr. L, an orphan who was raised and nurtured by a devoted Carmelite nun, then drafted to serve as a skilled sniper during the Vietnam War. A journey of learning and mastering of the French language, excelling in the Little League baseball, discovering the art of hunting, and of an uttermost devotion to assigned military missions. A tale of grief, depression, anxiety, intermixed with bitterness, rage, fear, and delayed onset posttraumatic stress disorder with its most devastating aftermath of survivor's guilt. 
  Witnessing the emergence of innate talents, the gifts of left-handedness, and astounding suddenness of action in each and every providential and self-inflicted circumstances. Travelling through life in orphanages with boyish freedom, self-consciousness, and then an adulthood of giving of oneself and sacrificing of own needs to fulfill a patriotic mission, an acceptance of a higher calling to serve the poor and the disfranchised. 
  Biographies are woven in the tapestry of the therapeutic alliance of a patient-and-physician relationship. 
  As a reader, you will be invited to introspect and reflect on the wonder of the human brain, the bubbling joy of loving, and the gift of living. 
  Will Mr. L descend into the abyss of ending his God-given gift of a well-deserved and joyful life or will he survive his heartbreaking sorrows and insurmountable guilt? Can brokenness be restored through faith, hope, love, and forgiveness? 
  The answers could be revealed by reading this personal journey--a portrait of faith, grace, and the joy that rises from giving and loving.

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  The Gravity of Feathers - Fame...

  Andrew Fleming

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  Shortlisted for The Wolfson History Prize.
  Discover the true story of St. Kilda.
  When the last 36 inhabitants of St Kilda, 40 miles west of the Scottish Hebrides, were evacuated in 1930, the archipelago at 'the edge of the world' lost its permanent population after five millennia.
  It has long been accepted that the islanders' failure to adapt to the modern world was its demise. Andrew Fleming overturns the traditional view. Unafraid of highlighting dark times, he shows how they sacrificed their reputation as an uncorrupted, ideal society to embrace and exploit the tourist trade. Creating a prestigious tweed, exporting the ancestors of today's Hebridean sheep, the islanders gained access to consumer goods and learned how to play politics to their advantage.
  This book tells the absorbing and eventful story of St Kilda from earliest times, up to the evacuation and its aftermath. Previously untapped sources and fresh insights bring to life the personalities, feelings, attitudes and rich culture of the islanders themselves, as well as the numerous outsiders who engaged with the remote island community.

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  The Fallacy of Freedom

  Gregory Heary

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  How can you achieve true freedom in a society laden with diverse and often conflicting beliefs? This book cuts through the noise, offering clarity on what it means to be free in a world governed by ideologies.Exploring the notion of freedom, this book presents a riveting analysis of its impact on society and individual minds. It highlights the tension between the advocates of free speech and expression and those who perceive these freedoms as threats. By dissecting the actions and motivations of both supporters and critics of freedom, the book provides a unique lens through which to view our own beliefs. The book delves deep into the battleground of ideologies where freedom clashes with traditional and modern beliefs. Proponents of freedom argue for its necessity in expression and innovation, while its opponents criticize its potential for leading to chaos and moral decay. Through a detailed analysis of these conflicting viewpoints, this book illuminates the complexities of freedom in society. It examines how historical and religious teachings shape our understanding and practice of freedom, advocating for a balanced mental hygiene that aligns with divine guidance. By embracing this approach, you're not just informed but transformed, equipped to use your freedom wisely and in ways that contribute to personal and communal well-being. This astute analysis not only clarifies what it means to be truly free but also challenges you to examine your own beliefs and the societal norms that shape them. It navigates the intricate dynamics of freedom and control, offering you a path to a more enlightened, purpose-driven life.Unlock the path to true freedom and mental clarity by picking up this book today!

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