Other books that might interest you

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  Blood on the Moon

  Alan K. Rode

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  Of the movies that writers and historians call "Noir Westerns," none is more celebrated than 1948's Blood on the Moon. The comingling of the Western genre and the noir style crystalized in this extraordinary film, in turn influencing Westerns in the 1950s to become darker and more psychological. Produced during the height of the post-World War II film noir movement, Blood on the Moon is a classic Western immersed in the film noir netherworld of double crosses, government corruption, shabby barrooms, gun-toting goons, and romantic betrayals. With this volume, biographer and noir expert Alan K. Rode brings the film to life for a new generation of listeners and film lovers.

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  Smart Cities - Technology and...

  Lyric Vale

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  In recent years, the concept of smart cities has gained significant attention as urban areas face unprecedented growth and the challenges that come with it. As populations swell and technological advancements accelerate, cities around the world are exploring ways to harness the power of innovation to improve the quality of life for their residents. Smart cities represent a dynamic transformation where technology is seamlessly integrated into urban infrastructure, services, and governance. These cities use data, sensors, and interconnected systems to optimize functions such as traffic flow, energy consumption, healthcare, and public safety, creating more efficient, sustainable, and livable urban environments. 
  The rise of smart cities is driven by the need to address a host of urban issues that have become increasingly difficult to manage through traditional methods. Rapid urbanization has strained resources, from transportation networks to healthcare services, resulting in overcrowded cities and stretched public services. At the same time, the digital revolution has made it possible to rethink how cities are designed and operated, offering unprecedented opportunities for innovation. In smart cities, data is collected from a vast array of sensors and devices embedded throughout the urban landscape, enabling real-time monitoring and management of everything from traffic congestion to energy use. 
  The development of smart cities is also closely tied to sustainability. With growing concerns about climate change and the depletion of natural resources, urban planners are turning to smart technologies to reduce environmental impact. For instance, energy-efficient buildings, waste management systems, and smart grids can significantly lower a city's carbon footprint. Moreover, renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are increasingly being integrated into urban infrastructure, creating more sustainable energy systems.

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  They Can't Kill Us Until They...

  Hanif Abdurraqib

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  *2018 "12 best books to give this holiday season" TODAY Show 
  *Best Books of 2018* Rolling Stone 
  "A Best Book of 2017" NPR, Buzzfeed, Paste Magazine, Esquire, Chicago Tribune, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, CBC, Stereogum, National Post, Entropy, Heavy, Book Riot, Chicago Review of Books, The Los Angeles Review, Michigan Daily 
  *American Booksellers Association (ABA) 'December 2017 Indie Next List Great Reads' 
  *Midwest Indie Bestseller 
  In an age of confusion, fear, and loss, Hanif Abdurraqib's is a voice that matters. Whether he's attending a Bruce Springsteen concert the day after visiting Michael Brown's grave, or discussing public displays of affection at a Carly Rae Jepsen show, he writes with a poignancy and magnetism that resonates profoundly. 
  In the wake of the nightclub attacks in Paris, he recalls how he sought refuge as a teenager in music, at shows, and wonders whether the next generation of young Muslims will not be afforded that opportunity now. While discussing the everyday threat to the lives of black Americans, Abdurraqib recounts the first time he was ordered to the ground by police officers: for attempting to enter his own car. 
  In essays that have been published by the New York Times, MTV, and Pitchfork, among others along with original, previously unreleased essays Abdurraqib uses music and culture as a lens through which to view our world, so that we might better understand ourselves, and in so doing proves himself a bellwether for our times. 
  "Funny, painful, precise, desperate, and loving throughout. Not a day has sounded the same since I read him." Greil Marcus,

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  The Qin Dynasty - Unifying China

  Jun Liu

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  The Qin state emerged as one of the most formidable powers during the Warring States Period, a time of intense conflict and political fragmentation in ancient China. Situated in the western frontier, Qin was once considered a relatively backward state compared to its eastern rivals. However, through strategic reforms, military innovations, and a firm commitment to Legalist principles, Qin transformed itself into the dominant force that would eventually unify China. 
  One of the key factors in Qin’s rise was the implementation of Legalist policies under the statesman Shang Yang. In the fourth century BCE, Shang Yang introduced a series of reforms that fundamentally reshaped Qin society. These policies emphasized strict laws, centralized authority, and merit-based advancements. Land ownership was restructured to allow farmers more direct control over their land, encouraging agricultural productivity and economic growth. At the same time, a rigid legal code was enforced, ensuring discipline among the population while diminishing the power of aristocratic families. By weakening the influence of hereditary nobles and promoting individuals based on their abilities, Shang Yang’s reforms created a more efficient and loyal administrative system that strengthened Qin’s central government. 
  The military advancements of Qin also played a crucial role in its ascendance. Unlike other states that relied heavily on noble warriors, Qin adopted a professional army system that allowed for greater discipline and efficiency. The state implemented mass conscription, ensuring a steady supply of soldiers trained under strict military codes. Advanced weaponry, including iron swords and crossbows, gave Qin troops a significant advantage on the battlefield. Additionally, the construction of an extensive road network allowed for rapid troop movements, enabling Qin forces to respond quickly to threats and expand their territorial control.

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  Real Estate Realist - The...

  S.J. Plotkin

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  For over a quarter-century, S.J. Plotkin has been a driving force in Southern California's rental property market. Real Estate Realist unleashes Plotkin's seasoned strategies, mixing actionable insights with a dash of relatability. It invites you to explore rental property investing through the eyes of an expert who knows how to simplify the complexities, helping you build generational wealth through long-term appreciation and monthly cash flow.Investing in rental properties offers a fast track to wealth that most American homeowners don’t know they are missing out on. This engaging guide shows you how to spot valuable properties and navigate opportunities for income generation, such as accessory dwelling units, garage conversions, lot splits, communal amenities, and more. Plotkin’s advice and your hard work and dedication will guide you toward rental investment success, whether with single-family homes or multifamily apartment complexes (or anything in between).No one needs industrial, commercial, or office real estate as much as they need a place to live. Rental property investing offers the greatest wealth-building opportunity for everyday Americans, giving them more control over their lives and time. Real Estate Realist shows you how to find, purchase, and improve the right property wherever you are.

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  Music and Musical Thought in...

  Lewis Rowell

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  Offering a broad perspective of the philosophy, theory, and aesthetics of early Indian music and musical ideology, this study makes a unique contribution to our knowledge of the ancient foundations of India's musical culture. Lewis Rowell reconstructs the tunings, scales, modes, rhythms, gestures, formal patterns, and genres of Indian music from Vedic times to the thirteenth century, presenting not so much a history as a thematic analysis and interpretation of India's magnificent musical heritage. In Indian culture, music forms an integral part of a broad framework of ideas that includes philosophy, cosmology, religion, literature, and science. Rowell works with the known theoretical treatises and the oral tradition in an effort to place the technical details of musical practice in their full cultural context. Many quotations from the original Sanskrit appear here in English translation for the first time, and the necessary technical information is presented in terms accessible to the nonspecialist. These features, combined with Rowell's glossary of Sanskrit terms and extensive bibliography, make Music and Musical Thought in Early India an excellent introduction for the general reader and an indispensable reference for ethnomusicologists, historical musicologists, music theorists, and Indologists.

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