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Artificial Intelligence, Finance, and Sustainability: Economic, Ecological, and Ethical Implications
by Thomas Walker Dieter Gramlich Akram SadatiAs the world increasingly recognizes the importance of sustainability, businesses and investors are looking for ways to integrate sustainable practices into their operations and investment decisions. At the same time, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and technology are transforming the finance industry and are enabling more data-driven decision-making. The intersection of these fields presents a significant opportunity to accelerate progress towards a more sustainable future, while also improving financial performance. This book explores the crucial role of AI in sustainability and finance, examining how financial technologies and machine learning are shaping the approach of finance professionals towards environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. It provides a comprehensive and integrated perspective on how these areas are becoming increasingly intertwined and examines the ethical and social implications of AI in finance and its potential to unlock new opportunities for sustainability. By focusing on the practical implications of these intersections and including both case studies and expert analysis, the book provides valuable insights for practitioners, policymakers, academics, and students alike.
Introduction to the Thermomechanics of Continua and Hyperbolic Systems (UNITEXT #167)
by Tommaso RuggeriThe primary aim of this book is to present a unified treatment of the thermomechanics of continua using the axiomatic approach typical of rational mechanics. While many books on continuum mechanics focus on specific types of continuous bodies, such as deformable solid bodies or fluids, this book adopts a general perspective. It presents the mathematical structure of balance laws and constitutive equations as a cohesive whole, with special attention given to the modern theory of constitutive equations. Notable principles such as the principle of material indifference and the contemporary interpretation of the principle of entropy are emphasized. This book will be beneficial not only to engineering students but also to students from other scientific disciplines where aspects of continuum mechanics are studied. It provides an opportunity to view traditionally distinct topics in a broader, interconnected context. To ensure self-consistency, the first part of the book addresses issues related to linear algebra, with a particular focus on linear operators within finite-dimensional vector spaces. The book then offers a detailed exploration of finite deformations of continua, followed by an overview of kinematics. It characterizes the various forces that can exist in a continuum, introduces the stress tensor, and presents the balance laws in both Eulerian and Lagrangian forms. Next, the modern theory of constitutive equations is defined, emphasizing the role of the general principles of material indifference and entropy as criteria for selecting physically acceptable classes of constitutive equations. The resulting field equations are specialized for various cases, including thermoelasticity, Eulerian fluids, Fourier-Navier‒Stokes fluids, and rigid heat conductors. In the final part of the book, partial differential equations in continuum mechanics are discussed, with particular attention given to hyperbolic systems. The method of characteristics is introduced in both linear and nonlinear cases, and the need to expand the class of solutions by introducing weak solutions is discussed, with shock waves being a significant case. As an illustrative example of a weak solution, the Riemann problem is presented for the fluid dynamic model of vehicular traffic, where cars are initially stopped at a red light and then start moving when the light turns green.
Graphene-Based Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Production and Environmental Remediation (Advanced Structured Materials #219)
by Muhammad Nihal Naseer Maryam Ikram Asad A. Zaidi Yasmin Abdul Wahab Mohd Rafie JohanThis book delves into the cutting-edge applications of graphene-based photocatalysts, unveiling their immense potential in addressing two critical global challenges: sustainable hydrogen production and environmental remediation. Through insightful analysis of the state of the art, the book highlights the remarkable capabilities of these innovative materials in harnessing the power of light to drive chemical reactions. By exploring the synthesis, characterization, and mechanisms of graphene-based photocatalysts, the book provides knowledge not only about the fundamental concepts but also recent advancements in water splitting for hydrogen generation, as well as the degradation of persistent organic pollutants and greenhouse gases. With its extensive coverage and interdisciplinary approach, this resource is tailored for a diverse readership, including materials scientists, chemists, photocatalysis experts, environmental engineers, and professionals working in the fields of renewable energy, water treatment, and environmental remediation.
Understanding Cancer Prevention through Geospatial Science: Putting Cancer in its Place (Global Perspectives on Health Geography)
by Trevor DummerThe worldwide cancer burden will double over the next two decades, with the number of new cancer diagnoses increasing in all regions of the world. However, it is estimated that around 40% of all cancers are preventable through the appropriate application of existing epidemiological and public health knowledge, and with further research this proportion will increase considerably. This edited volume explores the role of place in cancer prevention and how geospatial tools can be used to support this globally important goal. Its chapters detail many aspects of the application of geospatial science to cancer control, including quantifying exposure to environmental carcinogens, access to screening services, the importance of partnership building, and more through a variety of geographically diverse case studies. The book also offers background on geospatial modeling tools and methods for adding spatial analysis to cancer surveillance systems. The book is rooted firmly in the notion that geography significantly influences the accumulation of cancer risks (at the individual and community level) that are modifiable through policy, regulatory, and behavioral changes. The landscape of cancer prevention is vast, encompassing the building blocks of population and public health—i.e., epidemiology and causation—through risk factor modifications, behavior and policy change, to the interface of the cellular with society, including epigenetic modifications and gene/environment interactions, cancer genomics and precision medicine/health. It is clear that geography (space, place, setting, context) is central to all these activities. Geospatial methods and data support risk factor identification, can elucidate the interaction between individual behavioral, demographic, and genetic factors with community level contextual factors, and can be used to prioritize interventions more accurately towards at-risk people and at-risk population groups. Geography is also central to the organization of health services and hence, by definition, is fundamental to the organization of preventative services. More broadly, adopting a geographical approach can help move cancer prevention beyond a narrow medical definition of health, to tackle the upstream and structural determinants of cancer.
Anaerobic Digestion: Fundamentals, Modelling, and Applications (Green Energy and Technology)
by Guangxue WuAnaerobic digestion is a core technology for sustainable waste(water) management and renewable energy recovery from waste sources. This book introduces and brings readers up to date with anaerobic digestion and its applications. It refreshes readers on the fundamentals of anaerobic digestion processes for normal and stressed scenarios, introduces techniques for stable system operation and predication, and explains the innovation in technology applications for waste valorization. By providing scientific and engineering fundamentals, the book equips professionals with the knowledge of knowing why and how to solve the problems in the application of anaerobic digestion.
Textbook of Fungal Zoonoses and Sapronoses (Microbial Zoonoses)
by Subhash Chandra Parija Shivaprakash M. RudramurthyThis textbook, which is the second volume of the book series-Microbial Zoonoses, provides a comprehensive overview of the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and management of fungal zoonoses and sapronoses of public importance. The book is divided into two volumes; the chapters in the first volume deals with the general introduction, taxonomy and genomic analysis, classification of fungus, pathogenesis and immunology of fungal infections. The subsequent chapters in this section provide an overview of the epidemiology, diagnosis, antifungal agents available for treatment, management, and prevention of fungal zoonoses and sapronoses. It also classifies anti-fungal agents and discusses the mechanism of resistance to these agents. Lastly, it presents the challenges in the treatment of the fungal diseases. The second section discusses important fungal infections and disease causing fungal agents. It also provides information on the pathogenesis, pathology, immunology and clinical manifestations. Cutting across the disciplines, this book act as a guide to the undergraduate and post graduate students of medicine, veterinary and allied sciences who deals with fungal infections.
Forest of Noise
by null Mosab Abu Toha‘Powerful, capacious and profound’ OCEAN VUONG ‘A book you won’t soonforget’ ILYA KAMINSKY ‘Astonishing’ TERRANCE HAYES A deeply powerful collection of poems about life in Gaza by award-winning Palestinian poet, Mosab Abu Toha. Barely 30 years old, Mosab Abu Toha was already a well-known poet when the current assault on Gaza began. After the Israeli army bombed his house, pulverising a library he had painstakingly built for community use, he and his family fled for their safety. Not for the first time in their lives. Somehow, amid the chaos, Abu Toha kept writing poems. These are those poems. Uncannily clear, direct and beautifully tuned, they form one of the most astonishing works of art wrested from wartime. Here are directives for what to do in an air raid and lyrics about the poet’s wife, singing to his children to distract them. Huddled in the dark, Abu Toha remembers his grandfather’s oranges and his daughter’s joy in eating them. Here are poems to introduce readers to his extended family, some of them no longer with us. Moving between glimpses of life in relative peacetime and absurdist poems about surviving in a barely liveable occupation, Forest of Noise invites a wide audience into an experience that defies the imagination — even as it is watched live. This is an extraordinary and arrestingly whimsical book, that brings us indelible art in a time of terrible suffering.
Genius at Play: The Curious Mind of John Horton Conway
by Siobhan RobertsA multifaceted biography of a brilliant mathematician and iconoclastA mathematician unlike any other, John Horton Conway (1937–2020) possessed a rock star&’s charisma, a polymath&’s promiscuous curiosity, and a sly sense of humor. Conway found fame as a barefoot professor at Cambridge, where he discovered the Conway groups in mathematical symmetry and the aptly named surreal numbers. He also invented the cult classic Game of Life, a cellular automaton that demonstrates how simplicity generates complexity—and provides an analogy for mathematics and the entire universe. Moving to Princeton in 1987, Conway used ropes, dice, pennies, coat hangers, and the occasional Slinky to illustrate his winning imagination and share his nerdish delights. Genius at Play tells the story of this ambassador-at-large for the beauties and joys of mathematics, lays bare Conway&’s personal and professional idiosyncrasies, and offers an intimate look into the mind of one of the twentieth century&’s most endearing and original intellectuals.
Genius at Play: The Curious Mind of John Horton Conway
by Siobhan RobertsA multifaceted biography of a brilliant mathematician and iconoclastA mathematician unlike any other, John Horton Conway (1937–2020) possessed a rock star&’s charisma, a polymath&’s promiscuous curiosity, and a sly sense of humor. Conway found fame as a barefoot professor at Cambridge, where he discovered the Conway groups in mathematical symmetry and the aptly named surreal numbers. He also invented the cult classic Game of Life, a cellular automaton that demonstrates how simplicity generates complexity—and provides an analogy for mathematics and the entire universe. Moving to Princeton in 1987, Conway used ropes, dice, pennies, coat hangers, and the occasional Slinky to illustrate his winning imagination and share his nerdish delights. Genius at Play tells the story of this ambassador-at-large for the beauties and joys of mathematics, lays bare Conway&’s personal and professional idiosyncrasies, and offers an intimate look into the mind of one of the twentieth century&’s most endearing and original intellectuals.
The Power of Prions: The Strange and Essential Proteins That Can Cause Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Other Diseases
by Michel BrahicThe remarkable family of proteins that can make us very ill—but can also be linked to long-term memory, immunity, and the origin of lifeOver the last decade, scientists have discovered the importance and widespread presence in the body of a remarkable family of proteins known as prion proteins. Research links various types of prion proteins to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson&’s and Alzheimer&’s—and this has fueled the search for new drugs that could halt the progression of these terrible disorders. Other discoveries have revealed the essential roles prion proteins play in memory and immunity, and—in an extraordinary finding—the part they may have played in the beginnings of life on our planet. In this engaging and accessible book, Michel Brahic tells the story of these amazing and versatile proteins.Brahic, a leading researcher on diseases of the central nervous system, first describes the discovery of prions and their role in infection, beginning with early work on the animal disease scrapie and a mysterious human illness in New Guinea, apparently transmitted by cannibalism. Prions were eventually identified and named by Stanley Prusiner in the 1980s. (Brahic tells us Prusiner&’s alternate name for prion was &“piaf.&”) Prion proteins were then revealed as the cause of other illnesses, from &“mad cow&” disease and its human counterpart, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, to such noninfectious brain disorders as Parkinson&’s and Alzheimer&’s. While the prion proteins responsible for diseases are definitively &“bad,&” Brahic also explains that these abnormal prions are rare exceptions. Most of the time, prion proteins actually serve &“good&” and vital functions—and they may even have been present at the origin of life itself.
The Power of Prions: The Strange and Essential Proteins That Can Cause Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Other Diseases
by Michel BrahicThe remarkable family of proteins that can make us very ill—but can also be linked to long-term memory, immunity, and the origin of lifeOver the last decade, scientists have discovered the importance and widespread presence in the body of a remarkable family of proteins known as prion proteins. Research links various types of prion proteins to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson&’s and Alzheimer&’s—and this has fueled the search for new drugs that could halt the progression of these terrible disorders. Other discoveries have revealed the essential roles prion proteins play in memory and immunity, and—in an extraordinary finding—the part they may have played in the beginnings of life on our planet. In this engaging and accessible book, Michel Brahic tells the story of these amazing and versatile proteins.Brahic, a leading researcher on diseases of the central nervous system, first describes the discovery of prions and their role in infection, beginning with early work on the animal disease scrapie and a mysterious human illness in New Guinea, apparently transmitted by cannibalism. Prions were eventually identified and named by Stanley Prusiner in the 1980s. (Brahic tells us Prusiner&’s alternate name for prion was &“piaf.&”) Prion proteins were then revealed as the cause of other illnesses, from &“mad cow&” disease and its human counterpart, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, to such noninfectious brain disorders as Parkinson&’s and Alzheimer&’s. While the prion proteins responsible for diseases are definitively &“bad,&” Brahic also explains that these abnormal prions are rare exceptions. Most of the time, prion proteins actually serve &“good&” and vital functions—and they may even have been present at the origin of life itself.
Nationalism: A World History
by Eric StormA global perspective on the nature and evolution of nationalism, from the early modern era to the presentThe current rise of nationalism across the globe is a reminder that we are not, after all, living in a borderless world of virtual connectivity. In Nationalism, historian Eric Storm sheds light on contemporary nationalist movements by exploring the global evolution of nationalism, beginning with the rise of the nation-state in the eighteenth century through the revival of nationalist ideas in the present day. Storm traces the emergence of the unitary nation-state—which brought citizenship rights to some while excluding a multitude of &“others&”—and the pervasive spread of nationalist ideas through politics and culture.Storm shows how nationalism influences the arts and humanities, mapping its dissemination through newspapers, television, and social media. Sports and tourism, too, have helped fashion a world of discrete nations, each with its own character, heroes, and highlights. Nationalism saturates the physical environment, not only in the form of national museums and patriotic statues but also in efforts to preserve cultural heritage, create national parks, invent ethnic dishes and beverages, promote traditional building practices, and cultivate native plants. Nationalism has even been used for selling cars, furniture, and fashion.By tracing these tendencies across countries, Storm shows that nationalism&’s watershed moments were global. He argues that the rise of new nation-states was largely determined by shifts in the international context, that the relationships between nation-states and their citizens largely developed according to global patterns, and that worldwide intellectual trends influenced the nationalization of both culture and environment. Over the centuries, nationalism has transformed both geopolitics and the everyday life of ordinary people.
Nationalism: A World History
by Eric StormA global perspective on the nature and evolution of nationalism, from the early modern era to the presentThe current rise of nationalism across the globe is a reminder that we are not, after all, living in a borderless world of virtual connectivity. In Nationalism, historian Eric Storm sheds light on contemporary nationalist movements by exploring the global evolution of nationalism, beginning with the rise of the nation-state in the eighteenth century through the revival of nationalist ideas in the present day. Storm traces the emergence of the unitary nation-state—which brought citizenship rights to some while excluding a multitude of &“others&”—and the pervasive spread of nationalist ideas through politics and culture.Storm shows how nationalism influences the arts and humanities, mapping its dissemination through newspapers, television, and social media. Sports and tourism, too, have helped fashion a world of discrete nations, each with its own character, heroes, and highlights. Nationalism saturates the physical environment, not only in the form of national museums and patriotic statues but also in efforts to preserve cultural heritage, create national parks, invent ethnic dishes and beverages, promote traditional building practices, and cultivate native plants. Nationalism has even been used for selling cars, furniture, and fashion.By tracing these tendencies across countries, Storm shows that nationalism&’s watershed moments were global. He argues that the rise of new nation-states was largely determined by shifts in the international context, that the relationships between nation-states and their citizens largely developed according to global patterns, and that worldwide intellectual trends influenced the nationalization of both culture and environment. Over the centuries, nationalism has transformed both geopolitics and the everyday life of ordinary people.
Manet: A Model Family
by Hilton Als Nancy Locke Emily Beeny Adrienne Chaparro Kathryn Kremnitzer Samuel Rodary Bill Scott Juliet Wilson-Bareau Alex Zivkovic Isolde Pludermacher Gianfranco PocobeneA groundbreaking and richly illustrated account of the importance of Manet&’s family to his artAll families are complicated, but the family of Édouard Manet (1832–1883) was more complicated than most. The artist married a piano teacher who worked for his wealthy parents. Her son, born out of wedlock, may have been Édouard&’s, his father&’s, or another man&’s. For all its complexities, Manet&’s family fueled his creativity. They were his most frequent models, and supported him emotionally and financially. Manet: A Model Family is an innovative new exploration of the largely neglected story of the importance of Manet&’s family to his art.Presenting new research on works in which Manet depicted family members, Manet: A Model Family shows how an understanding of the artist&’s family sheds crucial light on his artistic career. Manet&’s mother, wife, stepson, and other relatives—including his sister-in-law, the painter Berthe Morisot—are given long overdue recognition for their roles in Manet&’s life and work. Leading scholars present technical and archival analysis, including redating Madame Auguste Manet, an important, newly conserved painting of Manet&’s mother. In an essay inspired by that canvas, Pulitzer Prize–winning critic Hilton Als reconsiders Manet&’s formative relationship with his mother and his bourgeois Parisian roots.With its original account of Manet&’s domestic relationships and personal life, Manet: A Model Family humanizes the artist and his contributions to the birth of modernism.Published in association with the Isabella Stewart Gardner MuseumExhibition ScheduleIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum, BostonOctober 10, 2024–January 20, 2025
Manet: A Model Family
by Hilton Als Nancy Locke Emily Beeny Adrienne Chaparro Kathryn Kremnitzer Samuel Rodary Bill Scott Juliet Wilson-Bareau Alex Zivkovic Isolde Pludermacher Gianfranco PocobeneA groundbreaking and richly illustrated account of the importance of Manet&’s family to his artAll families are complicated, but the family of Édouard Manet (1832–1883) was more complicated than most. The artist married a piano teacher who worked for his wealthy parents. Her son, born out of wedlock, may have been Édouard&’s, his father&’s, or another man&’s. For all its complexities, Manet&’s family fueled his creativity. They were his most frequent models, and supported him emotionally and financially. Manet: A Model Family is an innovative new exploration of the largely neglected story of the importance of Manet&’s family to his art.Presenting new research on works in which Manet depicted family members, Manet: A Model Family shows how an understanding of the artist&’s family sheds crucial light on his artistic career. Manet&’s mother, wife, stepson, and other relatives—including his sister-in-law, the painter Berthe Morisot—are given long overdue recognition for their roles in Manet&’s life and work. Leading scholars present technical and archival analysis, including redating Madame Auguste Manet, an important, newly conserved painting of Manet&’s mother. In an essay inspired by that canvas, Pulitzer Prize–winning critic Hilton Als reconsiders Manet&’s formative relationship with his mother and his bourgeois Parisian roots.With its original account of Manet&’s domestic relationships and personal life, Manet: A Model Family humanizes the artist and his contributions to the birth of modernism.Published in association with the Isabella Stewart Gardner MuseumExhibition ScheduleIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum, BostonOctober 10, 2024–January 20, 2025
Racing Rules Companion 2025-2028 (Practical Companions)
by Bryan WillisBryan Willis' Racing Rules Companion is the invaluable pocket reference guide to the essentials of the racing rules, updated for the latest 2025-2028 Racing Rules of Sailing. Every racing sailor should have a copy! It will build their knowledge and make them more confident on the racecourse. The book summarises the basic principles, definitions and rules and then covers every aspect of the race, with sections on starts, mark rounding, obstructions, signals and dispute resolution. Colour diagrams throughout ensure the concepts are easily understood. Splash-proof and spiral bound, this little companion stands up to frequent use and serves as a great aide-memoire that will fit into your pocket or kit bag. Written by the acknowledged rules expert, Bryan Willis who is also author of the best-selling rules guide, Rules in Practice 2025-2028.
Go to War: Football on the Brink in the '80s
by Jon SpurlingSet against a backdrop of economic recession, rampant hooliganism and suspect fashion, Go To War tells the story of how triumph and tragedy shaped English football during the 1980s. It was a decade in which some fans died watching the game they loved, and at times, the 'slum sport' seemed set to implode. Yet, remarkably, the game was on the cusp of morphing into the behemoth it has become today. Throughout this explosive book, author Jon Spurling delves into the stories behind the successes and strife at clubs including Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal, investigates the trials and tribulations of the England team and explores how 'small-town boys' from Luton, Watford and Wimbledon made their mark. The decade also heralded the arrival of artificial pitches and fanzines, and Spurling introduces us to the new breed of high-profile executives, like Irving Scholar and Martin Edwards, who soon got busy changing the face of football. Thirty years in the making, Go To War draws heavily on interviews conducted with '80s icons including Terry Butcher, Graeme Sharp and Ray Wilkins, managerial legends like Howard Kendall and Bobby Robson and FA Cup heroes Ricky Villa and Norman Whiteside. Like its precursor, the bestselling Get It On: How the '70s Rocked Football, Go To War provides a unique insight into a pivotal footballing decade.
Restoring the Wild: Creation, Restoration and Management
by Donald MacIntyreDrawing on the latest botanical science and opinion, and real-world practical knowledge, this richly illustrated practical guide is essential reading for anyone interested in creating and restoring species-rich meadows and wild vegetation, whether it is a garden, woodland, field, urban space or simply to gain a greater understanding of the history and renovation of Britain and Ireland's rich and diverse meadows – an intrinsic part of our natural and cultural heritage. In this book, the UK's leading wild meadow seed producer, Donald MacIntyre, provides expert advice on all areas of the creation, restoration and management of meadowland, including a directory with detailed accounts of the 220-plus species for habitat restoration and creation in the British Isles. Foreword by Sara Oldfield OBE 'Donald's generosity in sharing his knowledge through this inspiring and practical publication will enable wider production of good quality seed to support and enhance biodiversity whether in wild areas, meadows, farmland, urban parks and gardens, and along transport routes.' Sara Oldfield OBE
Sufi Cuisine
by Nevin HaliciCombining culinary history with over one hundred sumptuous recipes inspired by the teachings of Sufism, Sufi Cuisine takes the reader on a sensuous journey of earthly and spiritual delights. As Nevin Halici explains in her introduction, the eating and preparation of food is at the heart of Sufi religious practices and beliefs, and the truly inspiring array of dishes - from preserved rose petals and snow helva, to baklava prepared with water in which oak ashes have been soaked overnight - illustrates this beautifully. Full of charming anecdotes, poetry from the great Sufi mystic, Mevlana, and delightful recipes, Sufi Cuisine is a rare treat.
Floor Rules: Insider Culture in Financial Markets (Yale Series in Economic and Financial History)
by Mark W. GeigerA compelling account of how markets really govern themselves, and why they often baffle and outrage outsiders One of the reasons many people believe financial markets are lawless and irrational—and rigged—is that they follow two sets of rules. The official rules, set by law or by the heads of the exchanges, exist alongside the unofficial rules, or floor rules—which are the ones that actually govern. Break the official rules and you may be fined or jailed; break the floor rules and you’ll suffer worse: you will be ostracized. Regulations vary across markets, but the floor rules are remarkably consistent. This book, offering compelling stories of market disturbances in which insider rules played a key role, shows readers, without excessive moralizing, how markets really govern themselves. It is a study of the norms, customs, values, and operating modes of the insiders at the center of the financial markets that trade money, stocks, bonds, futures, and other financial derivatives. The core insiders who rule trading markets are a relatively small group who exert disproportionate influence on financial systems. Mark W. Geiger examines the historical roots of the culture of financial markets, describes the role insiders play in today’s high finance, and suggests where this peculiar, ingrown culture is heading in an era of constant technological change.
The Philosophy of Translation
by Damion SearlsA deep dive into the nature of translation from one of its most acclaimed practitioners Avoiding theoretical debates and clichéd metaphors, award-winning translator Damion Searls has written a fresh, approachable, and convincing account of what translation really is and what translators actually do. As the translator of sixty books from multiple languages, Searls has spent decades grappling with words on the most granular level: nouns and verbs, accents on people’s names, rhymes, rhythm, “untranslatable” cultural nuances. Here, he connects a wealth of specific examples to larger philosophical issues of reading and perception. Translation, he argues, is fundamentally a way of reading—but reading is much more than taking in information, and translating is far from a mechanical process of converting one word to another. This sharp and inviting exploration of the theory and practice of translation is for anyone who has ever marveled at the beauty, force, and movement of language.
Love's Braided Dance: Hope in a Time of Crisis
by Norman WirzbaA moving exploration of the place of hope in the world today, drawing on agrarian principles In this series of meditations, Norman Wirzba recasts hope not as something people have, like a vaccine to prevent pain and trouble, but as something people do. Hope evaporates in conditions of abandonment and abuse. It grows in contexts of nurture and belonging. Hope ignites when people join in what Wendell Berry calls “love’s braided dance”—a commitment to care for one another and our world. Through personal narratives and historical examples, Wirzba explores what sustains hope and why it so often seems absent from our vision of the future. The vitality of hope, he maintains, depends on a collective commitment to care for the physical world (its soils and waters, plants and animals, homes and neighborhoods) and to promote the moral, aesthetic, and spiritual ideals that affirm life as good, beautiful, and sacred. Engaging with such contemporary topics as climate change, AI and social media, and the intensifying refugee crises and drawing on the wisdom of James Baldwin, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Martha Graham, and others, Wirzba offers a powerful argument for hope as a way of life in which people are intimately and practically joined with all the living.
Beyond Jefferson: The Hemingses, the Randolphs, and the Making of Nineteenth-Century America
by Christa DierksheideA global history of how Thomas Jefferson’s descendants navigated the legacy of the Declaration of Independence on both sides of the color line The Declaration of Independence identified two core principles—independence and equality—that defined the American Revolution and the nation forged in 1776. Jefferson believed that each new generation of Americans would have to look to the “experience of the present” rather than the “wisdom” of the past to interpret and apply these principles in new and progressive ways. Historian Christa Dierksheide examines the lives and experiences of a rising generation of Jefferson’s descendants, Black and white, illuminating how they redefined equality and independence in a world that was half a century removed from the American Revolution. The Hemingses and Randolphs moved beyond Jefferson and his eighteenth-century world, leveraging their own ideas and experiences in nineteenth-century Britain, China, Cuba, Mexico, and the American West to claim independence and equal rights in an imperial and slaveholding republic.
The Brothers Grimm: A Biography
by Ann SchmiesingThe first English-language biography in over fifty years to tell the full, vibrant story of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, known to history as the Brothers Grimm “Magisterial.”—Kirkus Reviews More than two hundred years ago, the German brothers Jacob Grimm (1785–1863) and Wilhelm Grimm (1786–1859) published a collection of fairy tales that remains famous the world over. It has been translated into some 170 languages—more than any other German book—and the Brothers Grimm are among the top dozen most translated authors in the world. In addition to collecting tales, the Grimms were mythographers, linguists, librarians, civil servants, and above all the closest of brothers, but until now, the full story of their lifelong endeavor to preserve and articulate a German cultural identity has not been well known. Drawing on deep archival research and decades of scholarship, Ann Schmiesing tells the affecting story of how the Grimms’ ambitious projects gave the brothers a sense of self-preservation through the atrocities of the Napoleonic Wars and a series of personal losses. They produced a vast corpus of work on mythology and medieval literature, embarked on a monumental German dictionary project, and broke scholarly ground with Jacob’s linguistic discovery known as Grimm’s Law. Setting their story against a rich historical backdrop, Schmiesing offers a fresh consideration of the profound and yet complicated legacy of the Brothers Grimm.
Perfection: 400 Years of Women's Quest for Beauty
by Margarette LincolnA colourful account of women’s health, beauty, and cosmetic aids, from stays and corsets to today’s viral trends Victorian women ate arsenic to achieve an ideal, pale complexion, while in the 1790s balloon corsets were all the rage, designed to make the wearer appear pregnant. Women of the eighteenth century applied blood from a black cat’s tail to problem skin, while doctors in the 1880s promoted woollen underwear to keep colds at bay. Beautification and the pursuit of health may seem all-consuming today, but their history is long and fantastically varied. Ranging across the last four hundred years, Margarette Lincoln examines women’s health and beauty in fascinating detail. Through first-hand accounts and reports of physicians, quacks, and advertising, Lincoln captures women’s lived experience of consuming beauty products, and the excitement—and trauma—of adopting the latest fashion trends. Considering everything from body sculpture, diet, and exercise to skin, teeth, and hair, Perfection is a vibrant account of women’s body-fashioning—and shows how intimately these practices are related to community and identity throughout history.