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  The Sociology of Deviance -...

  Fred Grandsen

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  Deviance is not an inherent quality of an action or behavior but rather a label assigned by society based on cultural norms, values, and historical context. What is considered deviant in one society may be perfectly acceptable in another, highlighting the socially constructed nature of rule-breaking. This means that deviance is not a fixed concept but a fluid one, constantly evolving as societies change over time. 
  Norms, or the unwritten rules that govern behavior, play a central role in determining what is labeled as deviant. These norms vary across cultures, social groups, and historical periods, meaning that what is seen as unacceptable in one setting may be tolerated or even encouraged in another. For example, attitudes toward tattoos, same-sex relationships, and gender roles have shifted dramatically over time, illustrating how deviance is shaped by broader social forces rather than existing as an objective reality. 
  One of the key aspects of the social construction of deviance is the process of labeling. According to labeling theory, deviance is not just about breaking rules but also about how society reacts to those who violate norms. When a person is labeled as deviant, they may experience stigma, discrimination, or exclusion, reinforcing their deviant identity. This can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy where individuals internalize their label and continue engaging in deviant behavior. For instance, a teenager who is repeatedly told they are a troublemaker may begin to see themselves that way and act accordingly.

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  Spain’s Explorers in the Age of...

  Editors Charles River

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  The most seminal event of the last millennium might also be its most controversial. As schoolchildren have been taught for over 500 years, “In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” In October of that year, the Italian Christopher Columbus immortalized himself by landing in the New World and beginning the process of European settlement in the Americas for Spain, bringing the Age of Exploration to a new hemisphere with him. Ironically, the Italian had led a Spanish expedition, in part because the Portugese rejected his offers in the belief that sailing west to Asia would take too long. 
  If Columbus and Cortés were the pioneers of Spain’s new global empire, Pizarro consolidated its immense power and riches, and his successes inspired a further generation to expand Spain’s dominions to unheard of dimensions. Furthermore, he participated in the forging of a new culture: like Cortés, he took an indigenous mistress with whom he had two mixed-race children, and yet the woman has none of the lasting fame of Cortés’s Doña Marina. With all of this in mind, it is again remarkable that Pizarro remains one of the less well-known and less written about of the explorers of his age. 
  Today Ferdinand Magellan is remembered as the first man to circumnavigate the globe, an ironic legacy given that he died half a world away from completing that journey. But though it ended catastrophically for Magellan and most of his crew, his expedition accomplished its objective, and in economic terms, the opening up of new trade routes with Asia was a more significant development than the conquest of the Americas for the Europeans of the early 16th century.

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  Where the South Lost the War -...

  Kendall D Gott

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  This in-depth Civil War study examines two early Union victories that were instrumental in deciding the conflict’s ultimate outcome. Some historians argue that the Civil War was decided in February 1862 with the collapse of the Confederate defenses of Forts Henry and Donelson on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. This ambitious offensive opened the whole Tennessee Valley to Union invasion and control, effectively cutting the Confederacy in two.  In domino fashion, the Confederates lost Nashville and central and western Tennessee. Memphis eventually fell, and the upper stretch of the Mississippi itself was brought under Union control. During this period, General Ulysses S. Grant came to prominence, putting him in place to lead the Union to victory. Where the South Lost the War is a major contribution to Civil war literature. Shedding light on an overlooked campaign and revising conventional judgments on key players and events, author Kendall D. Gott provides a detailed, incisive, and even controversial study of the operation’s events.

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  Navalny - Putin's Nemesis...

  Jan Matti Dollbaum, Ben Noble,...

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  A fascinating account of Russia's famous dissident and the politics he embodies. 
   
   
   
  Who is Alexei Navalny? Poisoned in August 2020 and transported to Germany for treatment, the politician returned to Russia in January 2021 in the full glare of the world media. His immediate detention at passport control set the stage for an explosive showdown with Vladimir Putin. 
   
   
   
  But Navalny means very different things to different people. To some, he is a democratic hero. To others, he is betraying the Motherland. To others still, he is a dangerous nationalist. Navalny explores the many dimensions of his political life, from his pioneering anti-corruption investigations to his ideas and leadership of a political movement. It also looks at how his activities and the Kremlin's strategies have shaped one another. 
   
   
   
  Navalny makes sense of this divisive character, revealing the contradictions of a man who is the second most important political figure in Russia—even when behind bars. In order to understand modern Russia, you need to understand Alexei Navalny.

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  Psycholinguistics - A Very Short...

  Fernanda Ferreira

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  This Very Short Introduction to psycholinguistics is an accessible and engaging description of how people use language. Talking and understanding language probably seem like simple and straightforward skills, but research in psycholinguistics has shown that complex computations take place behind the scenes when you communicate with others. Recent debates concerning how AI tools such as ChatGPT work highlight some of these core questions about the language faculty and how it is that humans comprehend, produce, and learn language. 
   
   
   
  The book begins with an overview of the fields of linguistics and psychology and how they have cooperated from the earliest days of psycholinguistics. Issues that are considered include: (1) How successfully do people adapt what they say to the needs of their audience when they design their phrases and sentences? (2) How do people read languages such as Chinese, which do not use an alphabetic writing system? (3) Do the size and efficiency of a person's memory affect how effectively people use language? (4) Is bilingualism cognitively advantageous, and if so, what are the mechanisms that lead to this so-called bilingual advantage? And (5) Do users of sign language gesture when they communicate? These questions and more are answered using insights from the latest research based on methods from the cognitive and neurosciences.

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  A Brief History of the Coast in...

  Sally Coulthard

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  An immersive history of our coasts and the people who have shaped them 
  The coast means something different to everyone. 
  It’s a place of pleasure and reckless pursuits, of fishing, fearless endeavours and a crashing, rugged beauty. The coast is, and always has been, our first line of defence and our springboard to other cultures. 
  Through the lens of 100 carefully selected objects, this treasure chest of a book delves into the myriad ways our coastlines have shaped, and been shaped by, our history, culture, and identity. From Roman lighthouses to rosary beads, knitted jumpers to Viking slave shackles, each object serves as a portal to a unique story. 
  Sally Coulthard’s engaging narrative goes far beyond the traditional seaside holiday to illuminate the coast’s role as a first line of defence, a site of trade, and a catalyst for cultural exchange. Readers will discover how the coast has influenced our beliefs, economy, and even our domestic lives. And, looking out to sea, this book will show how Britain’s story is anchored to those of our European neighbours and of faraway lands. 
  From one of Britain’s finest historians of material culture, this book vividly captures the enduring magic and significance of our shores. Whether it’s smugglers’ underpants or sailor’s hoaxes, whale vomit or pickled puffin – it all washes up on the British coast…

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