Other books that might interest you

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  Bagratids The: The History and...

  Editors Charles River

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  At the height of the Roman Empire, the Romans sought to preserve their influence in Greater Armenia by employing foreign kings as proxies. In contrast, the Armenian people and their rulers strived to emancipate themselves from Roman hegemony and the dominance of their allies, aspiring to reinstate the sovereignty of the Greater Armenian Kingdom while reestablishing a mutually beneficial military-political alliance with the neighboring Parthian Kingdom.  
  The early medieval history of Armenia is characterized by a complex interplay of external pressures and internal resilience as the region navigated the competing influences of the Byzantine and Sassanid Empires. By the sixth century, Armenia had become a contested frontier, its strategic location making it a focal point for both empires and an emerging target for Arab expansion in subsequent centuries. Amid this geopolitical turbulence, the Armenian nobility—particularly the Nakharar (Princes) class—played a pivotal role in maintaining a semblance of political and cultural autonomy. Among these noble families, the Bagratunis rose to prominence, adeptly maneuvering through periods of foreign domination to establish the Bagratuni (Bagratid) dynasty in 885. 

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  Odin - An Illustrated Guide to...

  L. Dean Lee

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  Odin: wanderer, rune-carver, and chief of the Æsir. Explore the revered god of Norse mythology in this richly illustrated guide.   This authentic introduction to the Norse god Odin Borson, revered in Norse paganism as a warrior, a wanderer, and a leader, delves into his history, impact on the Norse pantheon, and enduring legacy. Portrayed as a poet, magician, mad man and, most distinctively, as an old man, Odin’s most famous role is as the keeper of Valhalla, a glittering afterlife reserved for chosen warriors who died bravely in the heat of battle.  Odin: An Illustrated Guide to the Allfather provides an overview of Odin’s origins, personality, significance, powers, and associations in this comprehensive, accessible, and beautifully designed hardcover. Included are the most important folklore and mythological tales involving Odin, such as the creation of the world, the Æsir-Vanir war, an eye for wisdom, Graybeard the ferryman, the death of Balder, and Ragnarök. This guide covers Odin not only in ancient times, but through the ages, sharing how he became an icon around the world.   With Odin: An Illustrated Guide to the Allfather you will delve into the depths of Norse mythology and understand the true nature of Odin. Expert practicing Norse heathen L. Dean Lee shares how to properly venerate and incorporate Loki into your spiritual practice.

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  Bootstrapped - Liberating...

  Alissa Quart

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  An unsparing, incisive, yet ultimately hopeful look at how we can shed the American obsession with self-reliance that has made us less healthy, less secure, and less fulfilled  
  The promise that you can “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” is central to the story of the American Dream. It’s the belief that if you work hard and rely on your own resources, you will eventually succeed. However, time and again we have seen how this foundational myth, with its emphasis on individual determination, brittle self-sufficiency, and personal accomplishment, does not help us. Instead, as income inequality rises around us, we are left with shame and self-blame for our condition. 
  Acclaimed journalist Alissa Quart argues that at the heart of our suffering is a do-it-yourself ethos, the misplaced belief in our own independence and the conviction that we must rely on ourselves alone. Looking at a range of delusions and half solutions—from “grit” to the false Horatio Alger story to the rise of GoFundMe—Quart reveals how we have been steered away from robust social programs that would address the root causes of our problems. Meanwhile, the responsibility for survival has been shifted onto the backs of ordinary people, burdening generations with debt instead of providing the social safety net we so desperately need. 
  Insightful, sharply argued, and characterized by Quart’s lively writing and deep reporting, and for fans of Evicted and Nickel and Dimed, Bootstrapped is a powerful examination of what ails us at a societal level and a plan for how we can free ourselves from these self-defeating narratives. 
  Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

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  Skull and Bones: The History and...

  Editors Charles River

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  Conspiracy theories, and particularly the belief that elements of the world are secretly controlled by individuals or groups, have been around for as long as people have lived in groups. Perhaps that’s inevitable - after all, those who are excluded from power are very likely to be inclined to see their position not as an outcome of their own choices or situation but because of the secret machinations of shadowy groups. 
  When members of a secret society are some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in the world, it’s easy to see why rumors persist about the group, and among such secret societies, few have engendered interest quit like Skull and Bones, an undergraduate senior society at Yale University. Its members have included American presidents and the CEOs of some of the largest companies in the world, but the group’s secrecy has maintained itself to the extent that some of the membership is virtually all anyone knows for certain, leaving most of what is found in books and websites speculation and unproven legend. Is there any truth to the suggestion that this society is linked to the 18th century Illuminati? Is it a mafia-like organization that intends to see the creation of a New World Order? Why, during its almost 200-year history, has no member of this group ever talked publicly about what it involves? Have those who attempted to reveal more really been subject to intimidation, threats of violence, and even murder? Is the skull of the legendary Geronimo really kept within the group’s secret lair? 
  Writing about any secret society is difficult, and writing about a group that has maintained absolute privacy for a long time is even more difficult.

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  To Learn About Oneself One Has...

  Jiddu Krishnamurti

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  "To perceive 'what is' is the basis of truth," 7 February 1971. Duration: 86 minutes.
  Where there is division, there must be conflict. A mind in conflict must inevitably be distorted, and therefore it cannot possibly see clearly what is truth.
  
  We need a total change, a deep revolution, psychological revolution, the inward revolution, without which you cannot possibly create a new society. Is it possible to observe, to perceive without the observer?
  
  How are images formed? Can the image building come to an end? Knowledge is absolutely necessary. Is it possible that knowledge, which the brain has accumulated through centuries, does not interfere with relationships?
  
  "Direct perception is freedom," 10 February 1971. Duration: 80 minutes.
  Can the mind living in this world ever be free, not only superficially but profoundly, at the very root of its existence? 'Freedom from' is an abstraction, but freedom in observing 'what is' and going beyond it is actual freedom.
  
  How do I observe greed? Do I observe it as an outsider looking in, or do I observe it without the observer? Without the mind being free, you cannot live in order. Three years have passed; I have no energy to be aware of my reactions. Can we seek God through observation?
  
  "Love is that quality of mind in which there is no division," 14 February 1971. Duration: 89 minutes.
  To live in this world with intelligence, in spite of all the complications. Is it possible to be free of fear, not only the superficial fear in relationship but the deep-rooted fear? Thought nourishes, sustains and gives continuity to fear and pleasure.
  
  When you are learning, your mind is awake. Truth isn't second-hand; you can't get it through a guru, a book; you have to learn about it. The beauty of learning is that you don't know what truth is.
  
  What is love? A man who has not love in his heart but the things made by thought will make a monstrous world, will construct a society that is totally immoral. To find out, you must undo everything that you have done.
  
  What does it mean to die?
  
  "A mind in meditation is concerned only with meditation, not with the meditator," 17 February 1971. Duration: 87 minutes.
  If you can put aside your favourite systems, if you can understand that concentration is merely a resistance and therefore constant conflict and wastage of energy, then we can find out for ourselves what is necessary for a mind that is in a state of meditation. To learn about oneself, a living thing, you have to watch, learn anew each minute.
  
  What is will? Consciousness is heritage, the result of time. Consciousness is the content of itself, which is time, sorrow, confusion, misery. Intelligence has no heritage.
  
  What is a mind that is completely silent? How does one cope with the extraordinary energy that human beings have?

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  Adult Survivors of Emotionally...

  PhD Sherrie Campbell

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  When your parents are pathologically self-centered, manipulative, or emotionally abusive, the pain they cause is deep and often difficult to put into words. You may experience anxiety, depression, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), low self-esteem, addiction, or other mental health conditions as an adult. But it was not your fault, and there are tools you can use to heal the trauma caused by your childhood. 
   
   
   
  This compassionate guide will help you gain a greater understanding of what happened in your past; transform deep pain into emotional resilience; and build the loving, meaningful relationship with yourself that you deserve. You'll also learn to set boundaries with others, assert your needs, and overcome emotional avoidance to develop warm, loving relationships with others. 
   
   
   
  Author Sherrie Campbell offers powerful skills drawn from a range of evidence-based treatments, including mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), self-compassion, lived experience, and body-based practices to help you heal from the past and reconnect with your authentic self. 
   
   
   
  Let this book guide you on the path to healing, wholeness, and self-discovery.

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