Other books that might interest you

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  Culture and Society - How...

  Fred Grandsen

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  Culture and society are deeply interconnected, shaping human behavior, beliefs, and institutions. Culture encompasses the shared practices, values, symbols, and artifacts that define a group of people, while society refers to the structured interactions and relationships within a community or nation. Culture provides the foundation for social norms, influencing everything from language and customs to laws and moral expectations. At the same time, society determines how culture is transmitted, adapted, and reinforced through institutions such as family, education, and government. 
  One of the key aspects of culture is its learned nature. Unlike biological traits, cultural knowledge is passed down through generations via socialization. From early childhood, individuals absorb cultural norms through interactions with family, peers, and media. These shared understandings create a sense of belonging and cohesion within a group. However, culture is not static; it evolves over time as societies encounter new ideas, technologies, and challenges. The dynamic nature of culture ensures that it remains relevant to the needs and values of the people who uphold it.

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  Allen Dulles: The Life of the...

  Editors Charles River

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  The 28-year period from 1933-1961, bracketed on one end by Hitler’s rise to power in Germany and on the other by the very height of the Cold War, was marked by a remarkably stable succession of American presidents. In fact, only three men held office in this period, and that predictability led to a general stability among government agencies. Conversely, the CIA had five different directors in its first 15 years, from 1946-1961, and then nine different directors in the next 20, with four of those directors serving less than a year. But of all the CIA’s directors, none wielded the immense influence or power of Allen Dulles, who, together with his brother, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, became arguably the two most powerful people in the government after the president.  
  	To this day, Dulles’ eight-year tenure in that office is the longest, and as one of the country’s leading experts in international law, intelligence, and spycraft, he became renowned for his unwavering anti-communist ideology and readiness to take decisive measures to counter what he perceived as a menace to American safety. As such, it would be Dulles who sanctioned many of the CIA’s most notorious operations, including the ousting of Iran's democratically elected government in 1953, spying and experimentation on American citizens, and the disastrous Bay of Pigs. That last episode cost him his job, though he continued to play a role in American political life after President John F. Kennedy forced him out of the CIA in 1961.  
  	By then, however, Dulles had already had an outsized influence on the direction of the country, and to this day his legacy can be felt, even as his reputation continues to be a source of much debate. 

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  Britain’s Secret Defences -...

  Andrew Chatterton

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  The first full history of the highly trained and ruthless civilian volunteers secretly trained across Britain to be deployed in the case of a German invasion.The narrative surrounding Britain’s anti-invasion forces has often centered on ‘Dad’s Army’-like characters running around with pitchforks, on unpreparedness and sense of inevitability of invasion and defeat. The truth, however, is very different.  Top-secret, highly trained and ruthless civilian volunteers were being recruited as early as the summer of 1940. Had the Germans attempted an invasion they would have been countered by saboteurs and guerrilla fighters emerging from secret bunkers, and monitored by swathes of spies and observers who would have passed details on via runners, wireless operators and ATS women in disguised bunkers.  Alongside these secret forces, the Home Guard were also setting up their own ‘guerrilla groups’, and SIS (MI6) were setting up post-occupation groups of civilians – including teenagers – to act as sabotage cells, wireless operators, and assassins had the Nazis taken control of the country.  The civilians involved in these groups understood the need for absolute secrecy and their commitment to keeping quiet meant that most went to their grave without ever telling anyone of their role, not even their closest family members. There has been no official and little public recognition of what these dedicated men and women were willing to do for their country in its hour of need, and after over 80 years of silence the time has come to highlight their remarkable role.

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  Bad Hombres - How Hispanics Will...

  Steve Cortes

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  As Hispanic citizens rally to the political right, they will provide the economic, cultural, and political renaissance to save the American republic. 
   
   
   
  Hispanics have moved materially to the political right in recent years—but why? What explains this marked and sustained shift? Bad Hombres details the radicalism of the modern Democratic Party, which has turned so many outcasts into political orphans. Steve Cortes provides evidence of the massive benefits of this Hispanic surge to the right. Cortes himself has been a key driver of this mass political movement, first as the lead Hispanic face of the 2016 and 2020 Trump campaigns, and presently as the primary Latino advocate for the New Right—patriotic populism. Given this vantage point, Cortes makes a powerful case that reveals how the teetering American nation will find a national rescue by entrepreneurial, tradition-minded Hispanic citizens.

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  Death of the Senate - My Front...

  Ben Nelson

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  Something is rotten in the U.S. Senate, and the disease has been spreading for some time. But Ben Nelson, former U.S. senator from Nebraska, is not going to let the institution destroy itself without a fight. Death of the Senate is a clear-eyed look inside the Senate chamber and a brutally honest account of the current political reality. 
  In his two terms as a Democratic senator from the red state of Nebraska, Nelson positioned himself as a moderate broker between his more liberal and conservative colleagues and became a frontline player in the most consequential fights of the Bush and Obama years. His trusted centrist position gave him a unique perch from which to participate in some of the last great rounds of bipartisan cooperation, such as the “Gang of 14” that considered nominees for the federal bench—and passed over a young lawyer named Brett Kavanaugh for being too partisan. 
  Nelson learned early on that the key to any negotiation at any level is genuine trust. With humor, insight, and firsthand details, Nelson makes the case that the “heart of the deal” is critical and describes how he focused on this during his time in the Senate. As seen through the eyes of a centrist senator from the Great Plains, Nelson shows how and why the spirit of bipartisanship declined and offers solutions that can restore the Senate to one of the world’s most important legislative bodies.

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  Australian Citizenship Test -...

  Ray Aldous

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  Becoming an Australian citizen is a significant milestone and the Australian Citizenship Test is a crucial step in this journey, assessing your knowledge of Australia’s history, culture, laws, and government. 
  This audiobook has been carefully designed to help you prepare for the Australian Citizenship Test. By working through the practice test questions, you will gain a deeper understanding of the key topics covered in the test. This will not only increase your chances of passing but also help you become a well-informed and active member of the Australian community. 
  Key Features:In-depth practice questionsInsights into Australia’s culture, laws, and historyTips for effective studying and test-taking strategies 
  Whether you’re a new immigrant, a long-time resident, or simply looking to broaden your understanding of Australia, this audiobook equips you with the tools to succeed. Embrace your future as a well-informed and active member of Australian society, ready to contribute to the diverse tapestry that is Australia. 
  Prepare for the Australian Citizenship Test with confidence and clarity—your journey to belonging starts here!

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