Publisher: e-artnow
Tribal custom in Anglo-Saxon law is a book by Frederic Seebohm. It provides a relative study of wergilds, a sum that was paid to a family in the case of the husband's death, across European tribal societies.
Crime is not merely a legal category but a social construct shaped by historical, cultural, and political forces. What is considered criminal behavior varies across societies and time periods, reflecting changing moral values, power structures, and social interests. Understanding crime as a social construct allows us to analyze how laws are created, enforced, and challenged within different social contexts. One of the key aspects of the social construction of crime is that laws are not neutral or universal. Instead, they are established by those in positions of power who determine what behaviors should be criminalized. For example, certain acts such as drug use, gambling, or even political protests have been criminalized in some societies while being tolerated or even encouraged in others. The legal system often reflects the interests of dominant groups, leading to selective enforcement of laws. Historically, vagrancy laws targeted the poor, while modern drug laws have disproportionately affected marginalized communities. Crime is also shaped by cultural perceptions and media representations. The way crime is reported in the news and depicted in television shows or films influences public perceptions of who is considered criminal. For instance, street crime is often sensationalized, while corporate or white-collar crimes receive comparatively little attention, despite their significant social and economic impact. This selective framing reinforces stereotypes and can lead to policies that prioritize punishment for certain groups while overlooking more systemic forms of harm.Show book
Stories accompany us through life from birth to death. But they do not merely entertain, inform, or distress us—they show us what counts as right or wrong and teach us who we are and who we can imagine being. Stories connect people, but they can also disconnect, creating boundaries between people and justifying violence. In Letting Stories Breathe, Arthur W. Frank grapples with this fundamental aspect of our lives, offering both a theory of how stories shape us and a useful method for analyzing them. Along the way he also tells stories: from folktales to research interviews to remembrances. Frank’s unique approach uses literary concepts to ask social scientific questions: how do stories make life good and when do they endanger it? Going beyond theory, he presents a thorough introduction to dialogical narrative analysis, analyzing modes of interpretation, providing specific questions to start analysis, and describing different forms analysis can take. Building on his renowned work exploring the relationship between narrative and illness, Letting Stories Breathe expands Frank’s horizons further, offering a compelling perspective on how stories affect human lives.Show book
"Outstandingly good … It may be the single most insightful book about climbing ever written." Paul Sagar, Climber, writer, thinker What do Zen masters, sixteenth-century Samurai, and the world’s elite climbers have in common? They have perfected the of awareness, of being in the moment, of trusting the process. Climbing is a sport of perception, and our successes and failures are matters of mind as much as body. Written by philosopher, essayist, and lifelong climber Francis Sanzaro, The Zen of Climbing explores the fundamentals of successful climbing, delving into sports psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and Taoism. Awareness, he argues, is the alchemy of climbing, allowing us to merge mental and physical attributes in one embodied whole. This compact volume puts the climber’s mind at the forefront of practice.Show book
A testament to the way of solitude and simplicity, the 21 precepts of the Dokkōdō, also known as The Way of Walking Alone, is one of Musashi's principal legacies. Inspired by his life of combat and the bushido code, Miyamoto Musashi wrote the Dokkōdō in Japan in 1645, to pass on his wisdom and philosophy of life before he died. In the short text, the master duelist shares 21 precepts for healthy living. They are influenced by principles akin to Stoicism. Even today, these universal lessons can be useful for leading an honest and happy life. Among the main themes he addresses in the Dokkōdō, Miyamoto Musashi stresses the importance of simplicity, discipline and detachment. He suggests forgetting material desires and distractions and concentrating on the essential. He advocates not only material simplicity, but also mental, spiritual simplicity; purity of thought. In his vision, mental clarity enables deeper self-mastery.Show book
Your creativity is your gift to the world. Award-winning author Josephine Chia illustrates this in Ayam Buah Keluak and the Art of Writing, an account of her own emotional journey of becoming a writer. She believes that creativity is a portal to our inner strengths and talents, and can help us delve deeper into more meaningful experiences. Josephine shares the parallels between two of the things she loves most—cooking and writing. As a craft and art, each goes through similar processes of creation. Being a Peranakan, she shares her culture’s quintessential recipe, Ayam Buah Keluak, as a metaphor for her philosophy. In this heartbreaking memoir, Josephine bares her soul so that others who are experiencing what she had gone through, will take steps to uplift, and even save, themselves. This book is her gift to them. An inspiring read for anyone looking to delve deeper into living fully and creatively.Show book
An entertaining and enchanting collection of myths, tales and traditions surrounding the seas, skies and woodlands that make up our natural world. Enter an enchanting world where the mysteries of the seas, skies and woodlands come alive through shared myths, legends and folk tales. From the majestic creatures that dance beneath the waves to the celestial beings that populate the heavens and the spirits that reside within the forests, The Treasury of Folklore offers a portal into the lore of the natural world that has been whispered through the generations. In this mesmerising compendium you'll embark on a journey through the rich tapestry of myths, legends, and tales that have been woven into the very fabric of our natural world. You'll tread mysterious waters and be beguiled by the sirens and sea monsters, soar to new heights with winged Pegasus and uncover stories of celestial beings, from thunder gods to constellations that have guided traveller's across the heavens. And as you wander through the ancient woods, you'll encounter spirits between the branches, insatiable cannibalistic children hewn from logs and the promise of the big, bad wolf. The stories included here traverse countries and continents and have been carefully selected to highlight how humans are linked through time and place, with shared dreams, fears and ways of rationalising the unknown. Immerse yourself in the tapestry of tales collected in these pages, each story a testament to the enduring enchantment of the seas, skies, and woodlands.Show book
