Other books that might interest you

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  Mystery Cults in the Ancient World

  Hugh Bowden

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  Mystery cults are one of the most intriguing areas of Greek and Roman religion. In the nocturnal mysteries at Eleusis, participants dramatically reenacted the story of Demeter's loss and recovery of her daughter Persephone; in the Bacchic cult, bands of women ran wild in the Greek countryside to honor Dionysus; in the mysteries of Mithras, men came to understand the nature of the universe and their place within it through frightening initiation ceremonies and astrological teachings. 
   
   
   
  These cults were an important part of life in the ancient Mediterranean world, but their actual practices were shrouded in secrecy. Mystery Cults in the Ancient World makes plentiful use of artistic and archaeological evidence, as well as ancient literature and epigraphy, to reconstruct the sacred rituals and explore their origins. Greek painted pottery, Roman frescoes, inscribed gold tablets from Greek and Southern Italian tombs, and the excavated sites of religious sanctuaries all contribute to our understanding of ancient mystery cults. Not only is this clearly written book a significant contribution to the study of these cults, it is also accessible to a general audience. More than any other book on ancient religion, it allows the listener to understand what it was like to participate in these life-altering religious events.

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  Cheka The: The History of the...

  Editors Charles River

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  The KGB is one of the most famous abbreviations of the 20th century, and it has become synonymous with the shadowy and often violent actions of the Soviet Union’s secret police and internal security agencies. In fact, it is often used to refer to the Soviet state security agencies throughout its history, from the inception of the inception of the Cheka (Extraordinary Commission) in 1917 to the official elimination of the KGB in 1992. Whether it’s associated with the Russian Civil War’s excesses, Stalin’s purges, and even Vladimir Putin, the KGB has long been viewed as the West’s biggest bogeyman during the second half of the 20th century. 
  	However, the KGB did not appear out of thin air. Naturally, the earliest Soviet leaders utilized intelligence agencies that collected information both abroad and within the Soviet Union, targeting foreign opponents and domestic opponents alike. Lenin did not imagine the scale of the opposition he would have to face after the revolution, and he quickly came to the conclusion that "a special system of organized violence" must be created to implement the dictatorship of the proletariat. 
  	Thus, from nearly the beginning of the Bolshevik takeover of Russia, Lenin and his successors established and relied on a particularly ruthless agency: the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage, later abbreviated to the Extraordinary Commission. Known colloquially as the Cheka (Extraordinary Commission), it soon became as feared by non-socialists as the Tsar’s secret police had ever been. The main means approved by the Council of People's Commissars on December 20, 1917, which the Cheka had to use to fight the counter-revolution, were "seizure of property, resettlement, deprivation of cards, publication of lists of enemies of the people, etc."

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  Oceans Rise Empires Fall - Why...

  Gerard Toal

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  In the last few years, it has become abundantly clear that the effects of accelerating climate change will be catastrophic, from rising seas to more violent storms to desertification. Yet why do nation-states find it so difficult to implement transnational policies that can reduce carbon output and slow global warming? In Oceans Rise, Empires Fall, Gerard Toal identifies geopolitics as the culprit. States would prefer to reduce emissions in the abstract, but in the great global competition for geopolitical power, states always prioritize access to carbon-based fuels necessary for generating the sort of economic growth that helps them compete with rival states. 
   
    
   
  The Ukraine conflict in particular exposes our priorities. To escape reliance on Russia's vast oil and gas reserves, states have expanded fossil fuel production that necessarily increases the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Competitive territorial, resource, and technological dramas across the geopolitical chessboard currently obscure the deterioration of the planet's life support systems. In the contest between geopolitics and sustainable climate policies, the former takes precedence—especially when competition shifts to outright conflict. In this book, Toal interrogates that relationship and its stakes for the ongoing acceleration of climate change.

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  Cultivating Emotional...

  Michelle van Namen

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  Navigate the Digital Ocean without Emotional Turmoil: Equip Yourself with Digital EQ Strategies to Stay Afloat in a Sea of Screens, Posts, and Pixels Without Drifting Away! 
  Do you find yourself overwhelmed by the pace of digital life, struggling to keep up with the ever-changing expectations, demands and rules of online engagement? Are you searching for a way to balance your digital habits whilst preserving your mental health, without sacrificing the convenience and connectivity the digital world offers? You are not alone. Thriving and leading in the digital age requires a brand new set of skills - Digital EQ skills. 
  Introducing this practical guide with specific strategies to help you understand what it takes to cultivate emotional intelligence in this digital age. It is tailor-made for adults and leaders ready to take control of their well-being and their relationships in this rapidly changing world. 
  You will be guided on a journey to create your own personal "Digital EQ Blueprint," derived from a psychologist's in-depth exploration and understanding of Digital EQ.  
  With this book in your hands, you will: 
  Understand why Emotional Intelligence (EQ) matters more than IQ in the digital age 
  Transform Your Screen Time 
  Understand the Psychology of Digital Interactions 
  Protect Your Mental Health 
  Prevent Digital Burnout and Anxiety 
  Cultivate Authentic Connections 
  Elevate Your Leadership in the Digital Era 
  Create a Culture of Digital Wellness 
  Conquer Digital Distractions 
  Decipher the Emotional Language of Digital Communication 
  Become a Digital Role-Model for Your Children 
  This timely guide is neither a critique treatise against technology, nor a hall-pass to escape from digital rewards. Instead, it provides practical tools to leverage technology while enhancing your emotional intelligence skills.

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  Tamed by the Police Officer (Gay...

  Archer Vale

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  “I don’t need handcuffs to control you—all it takes is a chastity cage.” 
  It began with a cavity search. 
  The police officer is convinced I committed the crime, and he says he knows how to interrogate guys like me. He locked me into chastity and forced me to my knees. 
  Every morning, he brings me into the interrogation room and repeats the process. I’m trying to maintain my innocence, but I’m starting to feel strange. The thought of his seed makes me salivate. Am I developing an addiction? 
  He’s wearing me down. My willpower is slipping away… 
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  CONTAINS EXPLICIT GAY SEXUAL CONTENT. 
  For exclusive stories, visit www.ArcherVale.com.

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  Life Under Nazi Occupation - The...

  Paul Roland

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  When the Nazis invaded, they did not intend to govern fairly. Instead they stripped defeated nations of their treasures, industry and natural resources, with the aim of asserting German supremacy and imposing Hitler's New Order in Europe. 
   
  Paul Roland tells the story of daily life under Nazi rule - in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Guernsey and the Channel Islands- to be brought to heel by bribery and brutality, rape and torture, inducement and intimidation as the Germans carried out their vile policies. 
   
  We hear of quislings and collaborators who conspired with their captors, the 'enemies of the Reich' including Jewish citizens who were rounded up and exterminated, as well as stories of incredible courage by individuals who struck back against the Führer.

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