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  Threshold - Terminal Lucidity...

  Alexander Batthyány

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  Terminal lucidity is a relatively common but poorly understood phenomenon. Near the end of life, many people—including those who have suffered brain injuries or strokes, or have been silenced by mental illness or deep dementia—experience what seems a miraculous return. They regain their clarity and energy, are able to talk with families and caregivers, recall their lives and often appear to be aware of their nearing death.In this remarkable audiobook, cognitive scientist and Director of the Viktor Frankl Institute Dr. Alexander Batthyány offers the first major account of terminal lucidity, utilizing hundreds of case studies and his research in the related field of near-death studies to explore the mind, the body, the nature of consciousness, and what the living can learn from those who are crossing the border from life to death.Astonishing, authoritative, and deeply moving, Threshold opens a doorway into one of life's—and death's—most provocative mysteries.A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press Essentials.

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  Write Yourself Out of a Corner -...

  Alice LaPlante

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  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.

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  Summary of Jamie Raskin’s...

  Falcon Press

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  Buy now to get the main key ideas from Jamie Raskin’s Unthinkable 
    
  In Unthinkable (2022), Jamie Raskin details two intensely traumatic events that he never expected: the suicide of his son Tommy, followed within a week by the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Although immensely different, these events became intertwined in the Democratic congressman’s psyche. Raskin was dead set on doing his best to impeach Donald Trump and preserve democracy. He felt like he owed it to Tommy, who had lived a life filled with compassion and egalitarian ideals despite having to battle his inner demons.

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  Yuan Dynasty - Mongol Rule and...

  Rolf Hedger

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  The Yuan Dynasty emerged from the ambitions of Kublai Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, who sought to consolidate Mongol rule over China. Before the establishment of the Yuan, the Mongols had waged a relentless military campaign against the Song Dynasty, the ruling power in southern China. After decades of conflict, Kublai Khan successfully defeated the Song in 1279, marking the first time in history that all of China was under foreign rule. His ascension to the throne not only signified the dominance of the Mongols but also introduced a new era of governance that blended Mongol traditions with Chinese administration. 
  Kublai Khan declared himself emperor in 1271 and named his dynasty "Yuan," meaning "Great Origin," a term rooted in Chinese philosophy and symbolic of the vast scope of Mongol rule. Unlike his predecessors, who maintained a nomadic lifestyle, Kublai recognized the necessity of adopting Chinese customs to effectively govern a vast and diverse population. He moved the capital from Karakorum to Dadu, present-day Beijing, reinforcing his commitment to ruling as a Chinese emperor while still maintaining Mongol authority. His reign sought to balance the military-driven expansion of his ancestors with the complexities of ruling a settled, bureaucratic society. 
  Despite his efforts to integrate into Chinese political traditions, Kublai faced challenges in legitimizing his rule. Many Han Chinese viewed the Mongols as outsiders and resisted their authority. To solidify his claim, Kublai adopted Confucian principles and retained elements of the Chinese imperial structure, appointing Chinese officials in lower government positions while keeping key positions reserved for Mongols and trusted foreign allies. This approach ensured Mongol dominance while utilizing the administrative expertise of the Chinese.

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  The Expanding Circle - Ethics...

  Peter Singer

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  What is ethics? Where do moral standards come from? Are they based on emotions, reason, or some innate sense of right and wrong? For many scientists, the key lies entirely in biology—especially in Darwinian theories of evolution and self-preservation. But if evolution is a struggle for survival, why are we still capable of altruism? 
   
   
   
  In his classic study The Expanding Circle, Peter Singer argues that altruism began as a genetically based drive to protect one's kin and community members but has developed into a consciously chosen ethic with an expanding circle of moral concern. Drawing on philosophy and evolutionary psychology, he demonstrates that human ethics cannot be explained by biology alone. Rather, it is our capacity for reasoning that makes moral progress possible. In a new afterword, Singer takes stock of his argument in light of recent research on the evolution of morality.

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  The Jacobins vs the Girondins -...

  Amara Blackwood

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  The Jacobins and Girondins were two of the most influential political factions during the French Revolution, each representing different visions for the future of France. Their rivalry played a significant role in shaping revolutionary politics and ultimately led to the radicalization of the movement. While both groups initially sought to overthrow the monarchy and establish a republic, their ideological differences and approaches to governance placed them on a collision course. 
  The Jacobins emerged as a radical force advocating for centralized power, direct democracy, and the use of revolutionary violence to achieve their goals. They were named after their meeting place, the Jacobin Club, a former Dominican convent in Paris. The Jacobins attracted members who believed in strong government control, economic regulation, and the direct involvement of the lower classes in politics. They were heavily influenced by Enlightenment ideals, particularly the belief in equality and the general will of the people, as expressed by philosophers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The most prominent Jacobin leaders, including Maximilien Robespierre, Georges Danton, and Jean-Paul Marat, pushed for radical reforms such as the execution of King Louis XVI and the implementation of policies that favored the common people. 
  In contrast, the Girondins represented a more moderate and decentralized vision of the revolution. Many of their members came from the Gironde region, giving the faction its name, and they were often associated with the provincial bourgeoisie. The Girondins supported a constitutional monarchy in the early stages of the revolution but later advocated for a republican form of government with more power distributed among local authorities rather than concentrated in Paris.

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