Other books that might interest you

• 

  Write Yourself Out of a Corner -...

  Alice LaPlante

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  100 imagination-stretching writing exercises inspired by the idea of creative constraints, from the author of The Making of a Story. 
   
   
   
  When you are facing down a blank page (or screen), a constraint-based prompt—for example, "you must use the words 'cloud' and 'green'" or "you must set the scene in a crowded grocery store"—can get your brain working in unexpected ways. 
   
   
   
  In this creative writing guide, longtime teacher and novelist Alice LaPlante shares 100 original exercises that will simultaneously push you into a corner and give you the tools to write yourself out of it. LaPlante explains the purpose of each exercise—to sharpen your ear for dialogue, generate surprising images, or access intense emotions—and breaks down student examples to reveal how to achieve these goals. Whether you are looking to jumpstart new ideas or find a fresh angle on a work in progress, and whether you write fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry, Write Yourself Out of a Corner will strengthen your imagination and your craft.

  Show book

• 

  The Ming Dynasty - Maritime...

  Jun Liu

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The Ming Dynasty, one of China's most influential and enduring dynasties, emerged in the aftermath of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty’s decline. It was a period marked by great transformation, political consolidation, and cultural revival. The dynasty's establishment under Zhu Yuanzhang, later known as Emperor Hongwu, signified the restoration of Han Chinese rule and the reinforcement of Confucian governance. Through military conquest, administrative reforms, and strategic centralization of power, the Ming Dynasty laid the foundation for a strong and prosperous China. 
  The fall of the Yuan Dynasty was driven by internal corruption, economic mismanagement, and widespread discontent. Mongol rulers faced difficulties controlling the vast empire, and their reliance on foreign administrators alienated the native Chinese population. Heavy taxation and frequent natural disasters exacerbated social unrest, leading to a series of revolts across the country. Among these rebellions, the Red Turban Rebellion, a movement rooted in peasant uprisings and religious discontent, played a crucial role in undermining Yuan authority. It was within this turbulent period that Zhu Yuanzhang, a former Buddhist monk turned military leader, rose to prominence. His leadership and military strategies enabled him to unify rebel factions and ultimately overthrow the Mongols in 1368, marking the beginning of the Ming Dynasty. 
  Upon ascending the throne, Emperor Hongwu sought to consolidate power and rebuild a nation weakened by war and misrule. His first priority was to eliminate threats to his rule, which led to purges against those he suspected of disloyalty. To prevent a recurrence of Yuan-era administrative failures, he restructured the government, reducing the influence of court eunuchs and emphasizing Confucian ideals in governance. He also reinstated the civil service examination system, ensuring that officials were selected based on merit rather than birthright.

  Show book

• 

  Fort Donelson: The History of...

  Jonathan Gianos-Steinberg

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  In January of 1862, Grant persuaded General Henry “Old Brains” Halleck to allow his men to launch a campaign on the Tennessee River. As soon as Halleck acquiesced, Grant moved against Fort Henry, in close coordination with the naval command of Flag Officer Andrew Hull Foote. The combination of infantry and naval bombardment helped force the capitulation of Fort Henry on February 6, 1862, and the surrender of Fort Henry was followed immediately by an attack on Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River, which earned Grant his famous nickname “Unconditional Surrender”. Grant’s forces enveloped the Confederate garrison at Fort Donelson, which included Confederate generals Simon Buckner, John Floyd, and Gideon Pillow. In one of the most bungled operations of the war, the Confederate generals tried and failed to open an escape route by attacking Grant’s forces on February 15. Although the initial assault was successful, General Pillow inexplicably chose to have his men pull back into their trenches, ostensibly so they could take more supplies before their escape. Instead, they simply lost all the ground they had taken, and the garrison was cut off yet again. 
  During the early morning hours of February 16, the garrison’s generals held one of the Civil War’s most famous councils of war. Over the protestations of cavalry officer Nathan Bedford Forrest, who insisted the garrison could escape, the three generals agreed to surrender their army, but none of them wanted to be the fall guy. General Floyd was worried that the Union might try him for treason if he was taken captive, so he turned command of the garrison over to General Pillow and escaped with two of his regiments. Pillow had the same concern and turned command over to General Buckner before escaping. Despite all of these successful escapes, General Buckner decided to surrender to Grant, and when asked for terms of surrender, Grant replied, “No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender.” 

  Show book

• 

  A Rare Recording of FA Hayek on...

  FA Hayek

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The following two audio clips are from Friedrich August von Hayek (May 8, 1899 - March 23, 1992), who was an Austrian-British economist and political philosopher. Hayek shared the 1974 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences with Gunnar Myrdal for work on money and economic fluctuations, and how prices communicate information. His seminal work, "The Road to Serfdom," has been republished many times over the eight decades since its original publication.

  Show book

• 

  Environmental Justice - A Very...

  Pamela Hill

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Environmental justice recognizes that environmental benefits and burdens should be distributed fairly, and that the people making policy decisions should incorporate the views of those most often harmed: people of color, Indigenous populations, low-income communities, and those who are underserved and disenfranchised for other reasons such as age, gender, or disability. It encompasses not only traditional environmental issues like clean air and clean water, but also social issues such as employment, nutrition, and access to health care. Although environmental justice is a relatively recent concept, it has become a focus of governmental environmental policy, UN actions, and the activities of many nongovernmental environmental organizations. Its development tracks our growing understanding of racism and wealth disparity in the United States and elsewhere, and of our understanding of inequality between the Global North and the Global South. In the era of climate change, climate justice is a particular focus.Environmental Justice: A Very Short Introduction defines the concept, identifies specific environmental justice populations, examines root causes, including racism, capitalism, and colonialism, and traces the history of the environmental justice movement and governmental responses to it. It concludes with suggestions for achieving this elusive goal.

  Show book

• 

  From Ally to Accomplice: How to...

  Seena Hodges

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  An inappropriate comment drops during your team meeting. What happens next depends on who’s in that room. Allies stand by. Accomplices take action. Which one are you? 
  Seena Hodges has spent decades watching smart, well-meaning leaders and organizations fail this exact test. She wrote this book for everyone who's ever sat frozen in that moment to help them dig into the difficult work of becoming the best, most understanding, and empathetic versions of themselves. 
  Through personal reflections, real-life examples, data-driven strategies, a framework based on engagement and accountability, and coaching questions at the end of every chapter, you’ll develop the confidence to move to action to: 
  leverage privilege positions to challenge norms and create inclusive environments, 
  engage in difficult conversations and listen to diverse lived experiences and perspectives, 
  reflect on language, ways to show up, and the role that organizations play, 
  increase self-awareness around issues of race and racial injustice, and 
  develop an antiracist lens

  Show book