The economics profession in twentieth-century America began as a humble quest to understand the "wealth of nations." It grew into a profession of immense public prestige--and now suffers a strangely withered public purpose. Michael Bernstein portrays a profession that has ended up repudiating the state that nurtured it, ignoring distributive justice, and disproportionately privileging private desires in the study of economic life. Intellectual introversion has robbed it, he contends, of the very public influence it coveted and cultivated for so long. With wit and irony he examines how a community of experts now identified with uncritical celebration of ''free market'' virtues was itself shaped, dramatically so, by government and collective action. In arresting and provocative detail Bernstein describes economists' fitful efforts to sway a state apparatus where values and goals could seldom remain separate from means and technique, and how their vocation was ultimately humbled by government itself. Replete with novel research findings, his work also analyzes the historical peculiarities that led the profession to a key role in the contemporary backlash against federal initiatives dating from the 1930s to reform the nation's economic and social life. Interestingly enough, scholars have largely overlooked the history that has shaped this profession. An economist by training, Bernstein brings a historian's sensibilities to his narrative, utilizing extensive archival research to reveal unspoken presumptions that, through the agency of economists themselves, have come to mold and define, and sometimes actually deform, public discourse. This book offers important, even troubling insights to readers interested in the modern economic and political history of the United States and perplexed by recent trends in public policy debate. It also complements a growing literature on the history of the social sciences. Sure to have a lasting impact on its field, A Perilous Progress represents an extraordinary contribution of gritty empirical research and conceptual boldness, of grand narrative breadth and profound analytical depth.
What becomes of the wicked? Hell—exile from God, subjection to fire, worms, and darkness—for centuries the idea has shaped the dread of malefactors, the solace of victims, and the deterrence of believers. Although we may associate the notion of hell with Christian beliefs, its gradual emergence depended on conflicting notions that pervaded the Mediterranean world more than a millennium before the birth of Christ. Asking just why and how belief in hell arose, Alan E. Bernstein takes us back to those times and offers us a comparative view of the philosophy, poetry, folklore, myth, and theology of that formative age.Bernstein draws on sources from ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, and Israel, as well as early Christian writings through Augustine, in order to reconstruct the story of the prophets, priests, poets, and charismatic leaders who fashioned concepts of hell from an array of perspectives on death and justice. The author traces hell's formation through close readings of works including the epics of Homer and Vergil, the satires of Lucian, the dialogues of Plato and Plutarch, the legends of Enoch, the confessions of the Psalms, the prophecies of Isaiah, Ezechiel, and Daniel, and the parables of Jesus. Reenacting lively debates about the nature of hell among the common people and the elites of diverse religious traditions, he provides new insight into the social implications and the psychological consequences of different visions of the afterlife.This superb account of a central image in Western culture will captivate readers interested in history, mythology, literature, psychology, philosophy, and religion.
The idea of punishment after death—whereby the souls of the wicked are consigned to Hell (Gehenna, Gehinnom, or Jahannam)—emerged out of beliefs found across the Mediterranean, from ancient Egypt to Zoroastrian Persia, and became fundamental to the Abrahamic religions. Once Hell achieved doctrinal expression in the New Testament, the Talmud, and the Qur'an, thinkers began to question Hell’s eternity, and to consider possible alternatives—hell’s rivals. Some imagined outright escape, others periodic but temporary relief within the torments. One option, including Purgatory and, in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the Middle State, was to consider the punishments to be temporary and purifying. Despite these moral and theological hesitations, the idea of Hell has remained a historical and theological force until the present.In Hell and Its Rivals, Alan E. Bernstein examines an array of sources from within and beyond the three Abrahamic faiths—including theology, chronicles, legal charters, edifying tales, and narratives of near-death experiences—to analyze the origins and evolution of belief in Hell. Key social institutions, including slavery, capital punishment, and monarchy, also affected the afterlife beliefs of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Reflection on hell encouraged a stigmatization of "the other" that in turn emphasized the differences between these religions. Yet, despite these rivalries, each community proclaimed eternal punishment and answered related challenges to it in similar terms. For all that divided them, they agreed on the need for—and fact of—Hell.
Find out why the happiest, most successful people have the ability both to persist and to quit Do you believe that "winners never quit and quitters never win"? Do you tend to hang in longer than you should, even when you're unhappy? Our culture usually defines quitting as admitting defeat, but persistence isn't always the answer: When a goal is no longer useful, we need to be able to quit to get the most out of life. In Quitting, bestselling author Peg Streep and psychotherapist Alan Bernstein reveal simple truths that apply to goal setting and achievement in all areas of life, including work, love, and relationships: Without the ability to give up, most people will end up in a discouraging loop. Quitting is a healthy, adaptive response when a goal can't be reached. Quitting permits growth and learning, as well as the ability to frame new goals. Featuring compelling stories of people who successfully quit, along with helpful questionnaires and goal maps to guide you on the right path, Quitting will help you evaluate whether your goals are working for or against you, and whether you need to let go in order to start anew.
Career counselor Alan B. Bernstein helps you identify your interests and style by guiding you through the Birkman Career Style Summary.(TM) You will answer a series of questions about your personal preferences and then score yourself to identify your Birkman(TM) colors on a grid. Your Birkman(TM) colors represent your career interests and style-not only what you like to do but also how you like to do it. The Princeton Review's Guide to Your Career features: - Profiles of more than 200 professions, from accountant to zoologist - First-hand insight from professionals - Easy organization so you can find all the careers compatible with your needs and desires - In-depth information on the hottest careers in a twenty-first century economy, from the expected (attorney, carpenter, and dentist) to the unexpected (baseball player, sommelier, and wedding consultant) - Crucial career data, including average salaries and major associations Alan B. Bernstein, C.S.W., P.C., is a psychotherapist with expertise in career development and has consulted on strategic training and development programs at major institutions.
Explores how the thought of Leo Strauss amounts to a model for thinking about the connection between philosophy, Jewish thought, and history. In Leo Strauss on the Borders of Judaism, Philosophy, and History, Jeffrey A. Bernstein explores how the thought of Leo Strauss amounts to a model for thinking about the connection between philosophy, Jewish thought, and history. For Bernstein, Strauss shows that a close study of the history of philosophyfrom the ancients to medievals to modernsis necessary for one to appreciate the fundamental distinction between the forms of life Strauss terms Jerusalem and Athens, that is, order through revealed Law and free philosophical thought, respectively. Through an investigation of Strausss published texts; examination of his intellectual biography and history; and making use of correspondence, archival materials, and seminar transcripts, Bernstein shows how Strausss concern with the relation between Judaism and philosophy spanned his entire career. His findings will be of use to those interested in the thought of Strauss, the history of Jewish thought, and the relation between religion, philosophy, and politics.
The great economic downturn; tumultuous weather patterns; Ponzi schemes; Occupy protests; political uncertainty; flash mobs and mall melees make daily headlines. When you hear about catastrophic news, do you ever think about how an unanticipated event might affect your business? As you know from the classic Boy Scout mantra, it is always best to be prepared. This quick read teaches you the art and science of crisis management and rapid response to PR emergencies. A review from Andrew Scott, Grammy Nominated Producer/Songwriter, Owner of ASA Public Relations: "Bold, tenacious, and downright in-your-face. Alan B. Bernstein and Cindy Rakowitz create a masterpiece in public relations management with the latest edition of 'Emergency Public Relations: Crisis Management in a 3.0 World'. A bible for service professionals, this book tackles all angles of crisis management from brand salvaging to social media handling. A must-read for publicists, marketing professionals, service providers, and business owners...
A fresh translation of quaestiones from the Summa theologiae of Thomas Aquinas, edited by Robert Miner. This volume provides direct access to the medieval theologian’s deepest thinking about the supreme goal of human life—blessedness—and the virtue most intimately related to this goal—charity. The edition also contains Aquinas’s treatment of charity’s effects—love, joy, peace, and mercy—and the vices opposed to them, such as hatred, envy, and war. Featuring five supplementary essays by noted Aquinas scholars, the volume will enable readers to engage more thoroughly with the thought of Thomas Aquinas. (Publisher).
Create a new life plan to thrive in your retirement "In Your Retirement, Your Way, Alan and John lead the way to a new and dynamic definition of retirement. They begin with this exciting premise: the more you clearly identify your own personal style, the more you will experience a powerful and fulfilling next chapter in your life. With the variety of guides and road maps they provide, including a sample version of the Birkman® (a mini-Birkman®), readers can navigate their way to a more confident phase of life that offers both purpose and renewal." --Dr. Roger W. Birkman, Chairman, Birkman International, Inc. After years of focusing on career and family, most of us embark on the next phase of life with only a vague idea of what will make us happy. But you can guarantee yourself a long and successful retirement with Your Retirement, Your Way! Its revolutionary retirement planning approach combines a powerful self-assessment system based on the Birkman Method®--a personality assessment system used by companies and government agencies worldwide--with sophisticated financial planning tools and step-by-step guidelines that allow you to: Define your ideal retirement environment Determine where you are now, financially, and where you want to be Map out a solid plan for realizing your dreams in the shortest time possible
Living With The Dead" follows the story of Toast Murphy from 1978 to 1995. Toast is a "Dead Head"--a dedicated fan of the San Francisco rock group, the Grateful Dead. Events take a terrible turn when Toast's best friend Jimi is killed in a road accident, shortly after Jimi's girlfriend Burn Out discovers that she is pregnant.
The newest installment in a quadrennial series that now spans five presidential elections, this book presents a broad overview of the presidential nomination process and showcases some of the most interesting work now being done on the politics of presidential selection. Written by leading experts, including a former presidential candidate, The Making of Presidential Candidates 2012 covers a wide selection of topics, including the Tea Party, digital media campaigns, how television covers the nomination process, election forecasting, and campaign finance. The Making of the Presidential Candidates 2012 is valuable for students, specialists, and all readers with an interest in the ever-evolving presidential nomination process and American elections.
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