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  The Bauhaus Movement - Art and...

  Nova Ashford

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  The Bauhaus Movement is one of the most influential art and design movements of the 20th century, shaping not only the world of architecture, but also industrial design, graphic design, and education. Founded in 1919 in Weimar, Germany, the Bauhaus school represented a radical shift in the way artists and designers approached their work, bridging the gap between art and industrial production. The term "Bauhaus," which translates to "building house," symbolized the school's fundamental belief in the fusion of craftsmanship and design with new technological advances. It advocated for an integrated, functional approach to design, emphasizing simplicity, clean lines, and the use of modern materials such as steel, glass, and concrete. 
  At the heart of the Bauhaus movement was the idea of total design, an approach that sought to unify art, craft, and industry into a single cohesive whole. The Bauhaus school emphasized collaboration between artists, architects, and designers, breaking down the traditional boundaries between fine arts and applied arts. This approach was revolutionary at a time when art was still often considered a separate entity from industrial production. The school encouraged students to experiment with new techniques and materials, while maintaining a commitment to functional design that was both aesthetically pleasing and usable in the modern world. 
  One of the defining features of the Bauhaus movement was its focus on the intersection of art and technology. The early 20th century saw rapid advancements in industrial production and materials science, which gave rise to new possibilities in design. Bauhaus educators believed that the application of these new technologies should be at the core of creative work. This philosophy led to the creation of iconic pieces of modern furniture, groundbreaking architectural designs, and revolutionary typography that defined the aesthetic of the era.

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  Spirit Voices - The Mysteries...

  David J. Shi

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  Provides a clear and accessible guide to the many different North Asian shamanic traditions, past and present. What is shamanism? Where is it from? How does one become a shaman? What are the requirements to become one? Anthropologists tell us that the word shaman derives from the Tungus language and traditions, but few people understand the full scope of what that means. In his groundbreaking book, Spirit Voices, David Shi answers all these questions and more.   Drawing upon his own ancestral traditions, Shi explores the history and practice of shamanism. He guides readers through what may be the unfamiliar landscapes of North Asia—the place where shamanism was born—as well as the largely hidden and unfamiliar traditions of Turkic, Mongolic, and Tungus shamanism, exploring the subtle and unique aspects of each tradition. Shi provides a clear and accessible guide that explores the many different North Asian shamanic traditions.    So, what exactly is shamanism? David Shi suggests that the most accurate definition derives from shamanologist Nicholas Breeze Wood, who writes, “A shaman is someone chosen by the spirits [typically at or before birth] and who can go into a controlled and repeatable deliberate trance state, during which they A) experience ‘spirit flight,’ where they go to the spirit worlds and meet spirits, who they either fight with, negotiate with, or trick, in order to create change in this physical world, or B) are often taken over/possessed by the spirits (normally ancestral shaman spirits, or local land spirits) while in this physical world—the spirits using the shaman’s voice and body to heal, or give advice to members of the shaman’s community. Without the spirits and their blessing, a shaman cannot exist or function. Without the trance state, it is not shamanism.”   Featuring history, firsthand experiential reports, mythology, and folklore, Spirit Voices explores the spirits, spirituality, tools, and practices of true shamanism, past and present. Shi also provides practical information for those readers seeking to implement shamanic practices, including those that are appropriate to noninitiates and outsiders to the culture. As the author points out, “the purpose of shamanism can be summed up in two words: coexistence and balance—coexistence with our spirits and our communities, and the balance that must be preserved between all of us and within ourselves.”

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  Ancient Kingdoms of Africa The:...

  Editors Charles River

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  Africa may have given rise to the first human beings, and Egypt probably gave rise to the first great civilizations, which continue to fascinate modern societies across the globe nearly 5,000 years later. From the Library and Lighthouse of Alexandria to the Great Pyramid at Giza, the Ancient Egyptians produced several wonders of the world, revolutionized architecture and construction, created some of the world’s first systems of mathematics and medicine, and established language and art that spread across the known world. With world-famous leaders like King Tut and Cleopatra, it’s no wonder that today’s world has so many Egyptologists. 	Although the Egyptians may not have passed their civilization directly on to later peoples, the key elements that comprised Egyptian civilization–their religion, early ideas of state, and art and architecture–can be seen in other pre-modern civilizations. For instance, civilizations far separated in time and space‒such as China and Mesoamerica‒possessed key elements that were similar to those found in ancient Egypt. Indeed, since Egyptian civilization represented some fundamental human concepts, a study of pharaonic culture can be useful when trying to understand many other pre-modern cultures.  
  	The Ancient Kingdoms of Africa: The History and Legacy of the African Continent’s Most Prominent Kingdoms in Antiquity chronicles the tumultuous rise and fall of kingdoms like Egypt, Nubia, Aksum, and more. 

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  Escaping America in World War...

  Editors Charles River

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  Though it’s often overlooked today, during World War II, the United States held hundreds of thousands of enemy prisoners of war, and the country was unprepared for the influx, despite the fact that only weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the government started detaining Japanese Americans and foreigners from Axis countries. Some camps, used for training Army recruits, were repurposed as prison camps, and the experience of building camps for the 120,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans was useful in building camps for the POWs. In addition to the Japanese, about 31,000 German, Japanese, and Italian residents were placed in camps.  
  	At first, there were few POWs because it took months for the American military to get ready to participate in campaigns. The first POW was a Japanese sailor who’d survived the sinking of his midget submarine at Pearl Harbor. The first German prisoners were survivors of U-boats sunk off the American coasts. There were also a few hundred German and Italian merchant sailors on ships seized in American ports (these sailors were interned as enemy aliens, not POWs). 
  	Soon, the prisoners came in waves. A sizable number came to the US at the request of Britain, which had too many prisoners and sent tens of thousands to Canada and the US. The first large number of enemy POWs captured by American forces came at the end of the North Africa campaign in May 1943, when the Allied forces trapped most of the vaunted Afrika Korps in Tunisia (then a French colony) and forced it to surrender. About 280,000 German and Italian troops surrendered. These were different from later prisoners; they tended to be volunteers, with many of them fervent Nazis (if German) and diehard Fascists (if Italian). They were generally confident of an ultimate German victory.

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  The Questions That Matter Most -...

  Jane Smiley

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  Long acclaimed as one of America’s preeminent novelists, Jane Smiley is also an unparalleled observer of the craft of writing. In The Questions That Matter Mostthis Pulitzer Prize–winning writer offers steady and penetrating essays on some of the aesthetic and cultural issues that mark any  
  serious engagement with reading and writing. Beginning with a personal introduction tracing Smiley’s migration from Iowa to California, the author reflects on her findings in the varied literature of the Golden State, whose writers have for decades litigated the West’s contested legacies of racism,  
  class conflict, and sexual politics through their pens. 
   
  As she considers the ambiguity of character and the weight of history, her essays provide new entry points into literature, and we lucky readers can see how Smiley draws inspiration from across the literary spectrum to invigorate her own writing.  
   
  With enthusiasm and meticulous attention, Smiley dives beneath surface-level interpretations to examine the works of Marguerite de Navarre, Charles Dickens,Anthony Trollope, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Louisa May Alcott, Mark Twain, Willa Cather, Franz Kafka, Halldór Laxness, and Jessica Mitford.  
  Throughout, Smiley seeks to think harder and, in her words, with “more clarity and nuance” about the questions that matter most.

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  Lose the debate

  Summer Allen

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  How many tough conversations have you had—or avoided—about politics, religion, social issues, or parenting? These topics often evoke strong, physical reactions: tension, a knot in the stomach, and rising anxiety. As perspectives clash, the fear of sparking a contentious debate can lead to frustration and division. 
  But it doesn’t have to be this way. 
  In Lose the Debate, Dr. Summer Allen introduces the ACTER model, a research-backed framework that equips readers to stay calm and open, even in tough conversations. ACTER stands for:A—Appreciate diverse opinionsC—Cultivate curiosityT—Identify triggersE—Regulate emotionsR—Practice respectful listening 
  When applied, ACTER helps ease the stress of difficult dialogues, enabling readers to understand others objectively and confidently express their own views. This straightforward model encourages small, practical steps toward mastering courageous conversations. 
  Lose the Debate is timely, addressing the divides straining relationships today. Living in silos stifles growth and limits meaningful connections. Dr. Allen shares her research to show that one conversation at a time can heal divides. Drawing from her experience training Fortune 500 leaders, public figures, and influencers, she teaches how to approach difficult topics with respect and emotional intelligence. 
  As the founder of a consulting firm dedicated to emotional intelligence, Dr. Allen provides skills to engage constructively in polarized conversations, using insights from 15 years of experience. Her book equips readers to approach sensitive topics thoughtfully, fostering greater understanding, connection, and respect.

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