Translator John Hughes
Publisher: e-artnow
Letters of Abelard and Heloise is a collection of a surviving correspondence between Peter Abelard and Héloïsed'Argenteuil. These letters are considered a foundation of French and European literature and primary inspiration for the practice of courtly love.
From World War Two to the Jet Age, Ian Mackersey charts the thrilling and personal accounts of airmen who have jumped from their planes and survived. Since the test pilot Harold Harris became the first man to save his life with a parachute in 1922 there have been over 120,000 air force pilots and crew who owe their lives to their parachutes. Into the Silk is full of astounding tales of people who against the odds bailed out of their planes and were therefore able to enter the annals of the Caterpillar Club, a society open only to men and women who survive aviation disaster with the aid of a parachute. Mackersey records dramatic moments during the Second World War when pilots leapt from their burning planes while still being shot at by enemy fighters. He uncovers the descent of the extraordinarily lucky man who jumped from his damaged bomber but had to put his parachute on while falling through the sky and the pilot who found himself attached to a moving train and was dragged along for miles. The book highlights the debts that all of these survivors owe to people such as Leslie Irvin, who invented the modern parachute and Sir James Martin, the great designer of ejection seats.Show book
In On Nothing & Kindred Subjects, Hilaire Belloc masterfully blends humor, philosophy, and social commentary in a series of essays that explore seemingly trivial or abstract topics—what he playfully calls "Nothing." With wit and wisdom, Belloc delves into themes like idleness, the absurdities of conversation, and the fleeting nature of modern trends, all while revealing deeper truths about human nature and society. Though lighthearted in title and tone, the book offers sharp critiques of contemporary culture and the loss of enduring values. Rooted in Belloc’s Catholic worldview and love for reason, these reflections encourage readers to see significance in the mundane and to question the emptiness of superficial pursuits. A delightful and thought-provoking read.Show book
Life can change in an instant. Even when the water seems calm, you can be thrown suddenly into the unfamiliar storm of caregiving.Most people will serve as a caregiver at some point in their lives, whether to their children, their spouse, their parents, or even their grandchildren. Despite how common the experience is, it’s difficult to find quick, easy, and practical advice to help you survive the never-ending stress of caring for a loved one.For anyone searching for support in moments of family crisis, Dr. Merle Griff’s Solace in the Storm can be your guide. Griff, a therapist who has helped families overcome the challenges of providing care at all stages of life, offers easy-to-apply solutions to common caregiving problems.Whether it’s dealing with uninvited opinions from friends and family members, communicating with healthcare professionals, or finding time for yourself, Solace in the Storm provides the direction you need to ride out even the roughest seas. Griff provides stories from people who have been where you are now—and her own life—to help readers get through what seems like the impossible.Caregiving can be needed at any point in your loved ones’ lives. In this book, Griff looks at caregiving throughout the human lifecycle, starting with infancy through caring for adult parents. And she gives advice on how friends and family can help, either by lending a hand or by learning what to say—and what not to say.Solace in the Storm will serve as your lifelong resource for quick tips, resources, and words of support and encouragement—a companion you will turn to again and again.Show book
"The most important contribution to the sociology of religion since Max Weber's The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism" (Commonweal). Acclaimed scholar and sociologist Peter L. Berger carefully lays out an understanding of religion as a historical, societal mechanism in this classic work of social theory. Berger examines the roots of religious belief and its gradual dissolution in modern times, applying a general theoretical perspective to specific examples from religions throughout the ages. Building upon the author's previous work, The Social Construction of Reality, with Thomas Luckmann, this book makes Berger's case that human societies build a "sacred canopy" to protect, stabilize, and give meaning to their worldview.Show book
Spanish accounts and Mesoamerican ruins have ensured that 500 years later, people remain fascinated by civilizations like the Maya and Aztec, as well as sites such as Chichen Itza and Tikal. What is often overlooked is that the Maya and Aztec established kingdoms on lands that had been inhabited for millennia before them, and ancient cultures had not only left ruins but also influenced the civilizations that came after them. Thus, while sites like Chichen Itza are more famous, they drew upon past sites like Teotihuacan. Cholula is one of the most interesting, enigmatic, and forgotten cities in ancient Mesoamerica, and few people are aware that it is the oldest continuously-occupied settlement in the entire Western hemisphere. The current city is known for the Great Pyramid, which has the largest base of all pyramids in the world, as well as its many colonial churches and constant religious celebrations. All of these things ensure that Cholula is heavily visited, but the tremendous importance of Prehispanic Cholula has mostly been lost in the historical accounts of Puebla and even Mexico as a whole. Located in the Puebla-Tlaxcala Valley within a very fertile area, the Prehispanic city of Cholula was founded around 500 BCE. It soon developed into an important city and the construction of its Great Pyramid began around 200 BCE. During the height of Teotihuacan’s influence in the Classic period and the expansion of the Aztecs in the Postclassic, Cholula managed to maintain its independence and grew to become the greatest religious center in central Mesoamerica. As the main site for the cult of the god Quetzalcoatl, Cholula received pilgrims from many Prehispanic cities, and the two high priests of the Temple of Quetzalcoatl were charged with confirming the legitimacy of these foreign rulers, making their role one of the most important in the region.Show book
'A wonderful and sometimes devastating book ... sophisticated, nuanced, fair-minded and yet very hard hitting' SIMON KUPER, author of SOCCERNOMICS 'This will transport you to Qatar and teach you with humanity and empathy some of the dark truths about globalisation' BEN JUDAH, author of THIS IS LONDON 'John McManus is a remarkable, compelling writer' RORY STEWART, author of THE PLACES IN BETWEEN 'Wise, well informed, fair-minded and honest' PETER OBORNE, author of THE ASSAULT ON TRUTH AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF LIFE IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S RICHEST NATIONS AHEAD OF THE FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP Just 75 years ago, the Gulf nation of Qatar was a backwater, reliant on pearl diving. Today it is a gas-laden parvenu with seemingly limitless wealth and ambition. Skyscrapers, museums and futuristic football stadiums rise out of the desert and Ferraris race through the streets. But in the shadows, migrant workers toil in the heat for risible amounts. Inside Qatar reveals how real people live in this surreal place, a land of both great opportunity and great iniquity. Ahead of Qatar's time in the limelight as host of the 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup, anthropologist John McManus lifts a lid on the hidden worlds of its gilded elite, its spin doctors and thrill seekers, its manual labourers and domestic workers. The sum of their tales is not some exotic cabinet of curiosities. Instead, Inside Qatar opens a window onto the global problems - of unfettered capitalism, growing inequality and climate change - that concern us all.Show book
