Benjamin Ginsberg's Books

The Fatal Embrace

Jews and the State

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

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Anti-Semitism is on the rise. And organized anti-Semitism is moving from the fringes to the center of public life. Now Ginsberg puts the new anti-Jew feelings under the powerful microscope of history and documents the uses of organized anti-Semitism on the national political agenda.

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302

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University of Chicago Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0226296660

ISBN 13

9780226296661

The Fall of the Faculty

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

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The Fall of the Faculty

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

Until very recently, American universities were led mainly by their faculties, which viewed intellectual production and pedagogy as the core missions of higher education. Today, as Benjamin Ginsberg warns in this eye-opening, controversial book, "deanlets"—administrators and staffers often without serious academic backgrounds or experience—are setting the educational agenda. The Fall of the Faculty examines the fallout of rampant administrative blight that now plagues the nation's universities. In the past decade, universities have added layers of administrators and staffers to their payrolls every year even while laying off full-time faculty in increasing numbers—ostensibly because of budget cuts. In a further irony, many of the newly minted—and non-academic—administrators are career managers who downplay the importance of teaching and research, as evidenced by their tireless advocacy for a banal "life skills" curriculum. Consequently, students are denied a more enriching educational experience—one defined by intellectual rigor. Ginsberg also reveals how the legitimate grievances of minority groups and liberal activists, which were traditionally championed by faculty members, have, in the hands of administrators, been reduced to chess pieces in a game of power politics. By embracing initiatives such as affirmative action, the administration gained favor with these groups and legitimized a thinly cloaked gambit to bolster their power over the faculty. As troubling as this trend has become, there are ways to reverse it. The Fall of the Faculty outlines how we can revamp the system so that real educators can regain their voice in curriculum policy.

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262

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Oxford University Press, USA

Published Date

ISBN 10

0199975434

ISBN 13

9780199975433

The American Lie

Government by the People and Other Political Fables

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

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The American Lie

Government by the People and Other Political Fables

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

Going all the way back to the time of George Washington, much of what we see and hear in the political world consists of lies and deceptions. Despite assurances to the contrary, politics is not about truth, justice, and principle. It is about money, power, and status. As astute political commentator Ben Ginsberg convincingly demonstrates, politicians habitually lie, pretending to fight for principles, in order to conceal their true selfish motives. Citizens who need the frequent injunctions to participate in politics and abjure political cynicism are likely to be duped into contributing their tax dollars and even their lives for dubious purposes. Most individuals gain little from political participation. Participants are the foot soldiers of political warfare, but even if their side is victorious, they receive few of the spoils of war. Thus, in this new political season, Ginsberg encourages citizens to think outside the (ballot) box, finding new ways to act on behalf of their interests and the public good. But if they do vote, their motto should be when in doubt vote them out. The elections of 2008 are a good time to begin.

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258

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Oxford University Press, USA

Published Date

ISBN 10

0199945950

ISBN 13

9780199945955

We the People

An Introduction to American Politics

By: Benjamin Ginsberg,Theodore J. Lowi,Caroline J. Tolbert,Margaret Weir

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We the People

An Introduction to American Politics

By: Benjamin Ginsberg,Theodore J. Lowi,Caroline J. Tolbert,Margaret Weir

Politics is relevant and participation matters.

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896

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ISBN 10

0393639924

ISBN 13

9780393639926

American Government

Enduring Principles, Critical Choices

By: Marc Landy,Sidney M. Milkis

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American Government

Enduring Principles, Critical Choices

By: Marc Landy,Sidney M. Milkis

This book brings the study of American politics and government alive by presenting American politics as a dramatic narrative of conflict and change. It adopts an American political development approach in order to show how the past, present, and visions of the future interact to shape governing institutions and political forces. There is a strong emphasis on the role of ideas. Two key political development principles - path dependency and critical choice - are central to explaining how and why the past affects the present and future. Each chapter begins with an opening vignette that epitomizes the key themes of the chapter. The book's developmental approach does not diminish the attention it gives to current matters but it does provide a richer context for the appreciation and understanding of the whole gamut of attitudes, behaviors, organizational activities, and institutional relationships that comprise American political and governmental life.

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445

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

1139952951

ISBN 13

9781139952958

Politics by Other Means

Politicians, Prosecutors, and the Press from Watergate to Whitewater

By: Benjamin Ginsberg,Martin Shefter

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Politics by Other Means

Politicians, Prosecutors, and the Press from Watergate to Whitewater

By: Benjamin Ginsberg,Martin Shefter

As scandals increasingly dominate the political agenda, Benjamin Ginsberg and Martin Shefter argue in this illuminating book, the United States is entering an era of postelectoral politics, with media revelations, congressional investigations, and judicial proceedings replacing elections as the primary tools of political competition.

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266

Publisher

W W Norton & Company Incorporated

Published Date

ISBN 10

0393977633

ISBN 13

9780393977639

The Value of Violence

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

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The Value of Violence

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

This provocative thesis calls violence the driving force not just of war, but of politics and even social stability. Though violence is commonly deplored, political scientist Ginsberg argues that in many ways it is indispensable, unavoidable, and valuable. Ginsberg sees violence manifested in society in many ways. "Law-preserving violence" (using Walter Benjamin's phrase) is the chief means by which society preserves social order. Behind the security of a stable society are the blunt instruments of the police, prisons, and the power of the bureaucratic state to coerce and manipulate. Ginsberg also discusses violence as a tool of social change, whether used in outright revolution or as a means of reform in public protests or the threat of insurrection. He notes that even groups committed to nonviolent tactics rely on the violent reactions of their opponents to achieve their ends. And to avoid the threat of unrest, modern states resort to social welfare systems (a prudent use of the carrot instead of the stick). Emphasizing the unavoidability of violence to create major change, Ginsberg points out that few today would trade our current situation for the alternative had our forefathers not resorted to the violence of the American Revolution and the Civil War.

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Page Count

224

Publisher

Prometheus Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

1616148322

ISBN 13

9781616148324

American Government

Power and Purpose

By: Theodore J. Lowi,Benjamin Ginsberg,Kenneth A. Shepsle,Stephen Ansolabehere

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American Government

Power and Purpose

By: Theodore J. Lowi,Benjamin Ginsberg,Kenneth A. Shepsle,Stephen Ansolabehere

The best text for teaching students to think analytically about American politics.

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583

Publisher

W W Norton & Company Incorporated

Published Date

ISBN 10

0393118223

ISBN 13

9780393118223

Presidential Power

Unchecked and Unbalanced

By: Matthew A. Crenson,Benjamin Ginsberg

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Presidential Power

Unchecked and Unbalanced

By: Matthew A. Crenson,Benjamin Ginsberg

This book explores how American presidents--especially those of the past three decades--have increased the power of the presidency at the expense of democracy.

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448

Publisher

W. W. Norton & Company

Published Date

ISBN 10

0393064883

ISBN 13

9780393064889

The Worth of War

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

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The Worth of War

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

Although war is terrible and brutal, history shows that it has been a great driver of human progress. So argues political scientist Benjamin Ginsberg in this incisive, well-researched study of the benefits to civilization derived from armed conflict. Ginsberg makes a convincing case that war selects for and promotes certain features of societies that are generally held to represent progress. These include rationality, technological and economic development, and liberal forms of government. Contrary to common perceptions that war is the height of irrationality, Ginsberg persuasively demonstrates that in fact it is the ultimate test of rationality. He points out that those societies best able to assess threats from enemies rationally and objectively are usually the survivors of warfare. History also clearly reveals the technological benefits that result from war—ranging from the sundial to nuclear power. And in regard to economics, preparation for war often spurs on economic development; by the same token, nations with economic clout in peacetime usually have a huge advantage in times of war. Finally, war and the threat of war have encouraged governments to become more congenial to the needs and wants of their citizens because of the increasing reliance of governments on their citizens’ full cooperation in times of war. However deplorable the realities of war are, the many fascinating examples and astute analysis in this thought-provoking book will make readers reconsider the unmistakable connection between war and progress.

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258

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Prometheus Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

1616149515

ISBN 13

9781616149512

Essentials of American Politics

By: Robert J. Spitzer,Benjamin Ginsberg,Theodore J. Lowi,Margaret Weir

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Essentials of American Politics

By: Robert J. Spitzer,Benjamin Ginsberg,Theodore J. Lowi,Margaret Weir

Essentials of American Politics, Second Edition, is the ideal alternative to larger, more expensive American government texts.

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396

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W. W. Norton

Published Date

ISBN 10

0393926737

ISBN 13

9780393926736

The Dark Side of Politics

Essays on the Unpleasant Realities of Political Life

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

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The Dark Side of Politics

Essays on the Unpleasant Realities of Political Life

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

This series of scholarly chapters explores the unpleasant realities of modern politics – and American politics in particular – by examining how self- interest, war, violence, deception and institutional failure continue to characterize the political landscape. Author Benjamin Ginsberg argues that the political world in which we like to think we live – the world of civic engagement, representative government and principled political discourse – is fleeting and fragile, resting uneasily upon the foundation of a harsh and dark reality. Making a fundamental contribution to our understandings of politics, this book is an important read for students and scholars of American Politics and Government.

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222

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Published Date

ISBN 10

100382577X

ISBN 13

9781003825777

The Imperial Presidency and American Politics

Governance by Edicts and Coups

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

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The Imperial Presidency and American Politics

Governance by Edicts and Coups

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

Those who saw Donald Trump as a novel threat looming over American democracy and now think the danger has passed may not have been paying much attention to the political developments of the past several decades. Trump was merely the most recent—and will surely not be the last—in a long line of presidents who expanded the powers of the office and did not hesitate to act unilaterally when so doing served their purposes. Unfortunately, Trump is also unlikely to be the last president prepared to do away with his enemies in the Congress and transform the imperial presidency from a theory to a reality. Though presidents are elected more or less democratically, the presidency is not and was never intended to be a democratic institution. The framers thought that America would be governed by its representative assembly, the Congress of the United States. Presidential power, like a dangerous pharmaceutical, might have been labelled, "to be used only when needed." Today, Congress sporadically engages in law making but the president actually governs. Congress has become more an inquisitorial than a legislative body. Presidents rule through edicts while their opponents in the Congress counter with the threat of impeachment—an action that amounts to a political, albeit nonviolent coup. The courts sputter and fume but generally back the president. This is the new separation of powers—the president exercises power and the other branches are separated from it. Where will this end? Regardless of who occupies the Oval Office, the imperial presidency is inexorably bringing down the curtain on American representative democracy.

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209

Publisher

Routledge

Published Date

ISBN 10

1000400042

ISBN 13

9781000400045

The New American Anti-Semitism

The Left, the Right, and the Jews

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

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The New American Anti-Semitism

The Left, the Right, and the Jews

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

This book could not be timelier. Benjamin Ginsberg uses his deep knowledge of Jewish history to show that Jews, long identified with leftwing causes, in many ways, are not natural allies of the left. A culture of separateness and high achievement make the Jews vulnerable to political pathologies from wherever they come— and two of the most destructive, anti-Zionism and wokeism, come from the left. With the help of fascinating detail, this book shows that Jews need neither right nor left but a society based on the universal values they brought into the world many centuries ago." — David Satter, author of Age of Delirium: The Decline and Fall of the Soviet Union The New American Anti-Semitism: The Left, the Right, and the Jews is a clarion call— not only to Jews, but to all Americans. As a nation, we must wake up and face the rising anti-Semitic threat and act accordingly. But that threat is not coming from its usual source. The most virulent form of anti-Semitism today, Ginsberg warns, is the result of toxic identity politics and anti-Israeli sentiment coming from today's political Left. Perhaps the most persecuted people in all of history, Jews have stood tall in the face of unprecedented persecution in all places, at all times. Their culture's rigorous emphasis on education and achievement catapults them, Ginsberg argues, to the upper echelons of the societies in which they live. But their success too often breeds resentment and jealousy, leading to an ugly anti-Semitism that has led, historically, to unspeakable violence. In this urgent new work, Dr. Benjamin Ginsberg— political scientist, professor, and bestselling author— exposes the ugly face of this new, progressive anti-Semitism (which is also thriving in Europe). To combat it, he urges American Jews to form new political alliances, particularly with evangelical Christians. The stakes of not doing so, says Ginsberg, are horrifically high— not only for the survival of the Jewish people, but for America's survival. After all, the Jews have contributed immeasurably to America's scientific, cultural, and economic achievements. Jews have been good for America; and America has been good to the Jews. But what once was so can change ... and Jews can never afford to forget their history. Read this book and learn: Why the Jews have always persisted in the face of persecution;Why the new face of Jewish persecution has found a home on university campuses, Left-leaning media outlets, and other unlikely places;The high and horrible costs of anti-Semitism;The profound benefits of philo-Semitism;The details of the new alliances that must be made to ensure the continuing success of American Jews— and America itself;And much, much more...In this must-read tour de force, Ginsberg enlightens readers by tracing the history of the Jewish people— starting from the children of Abraham and ending with Jews today— and urging all Jews and all Americans to learn the lessons of that history. Now.

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278

Publisher

Independent Institute

Published Date

ISBN 10

1598133888

ISBN 13

9781598133882

How the Swans Came to the Lake

A Narrative History of Buddhism in America

By: Rick Fields,Benjamin Bogin

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How the Swans Came to the Lake

A Narrative History of Buddhism in America

By: Rick Fields,Benjamin Bogin

A modern classic unparalleled in scope, this sweeping history unfolds the story of Buddhism’s spread to the West. How the Swans Came to the Lake opens with the story of Asian Buddhism, including the life of the Buddha and the spread of his teachings from India to Southeast Asia, China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, and elsewhere. Coming to the modern era, the book tracks how Western colonialism in Asia served as the catalyst for the first large-scale interactions between Buddhists and Westerners. Author Rick Fields discusses the development of Buddhism in the West through key moments such as Transcendentalist fascination with Eastern religions; immigration of Chinese and Japanese people to the United States; the writings of D. T. Suzuki, Alan Watts, and members of the Beat movement; the publication of Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki; the arrival of Tibetan lamas in America and Europe; and the influence of Western feminist and social justice movements on Buddhist practice. This fortieth anniversary edition features both new and enhanced photographs as well as a new introduction by Fields’s nephew, Buddhist Studies scholar Benjamin Bogin, who reflects on the impact of this book since its initial publication and addresses the significant changes in Western Buddhist practice in recent decades.

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587

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Shambhala Publications

Published Date

ISBN 10

1611804736

ISBN 13

9781611804737

Poetics of Emergence

Affect and History in Postwar Experimental Poetry

By: Benjamin Lee

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Poetics of Emergence

Affect and History in Postwar Experimental Poetry

By: Benjamin Lee

Experimental poetry responded to historical change in the decades after World War II, with an attitude of such casual and reckless originality that its insights have often been overlooked. However, as Benjamin Lee argues, to ignore the scenes of self and the historical occasions captured by experimental poets during the 1950s and 1960s is to overlook a rich and instructive resource for our own complicated transition into the twenty-first century. Frank O'Hara and fellow experimental poets like Amiri Baraka, Diane di Prima, and Allen Ginsberg offer us a set of perceptive responses to Cold War culture, lyric meditations on consequential changes in U.S. social life and politics, including the decline of the Old Left, the rise of white-collar workers, and the emergence of vernacular practices like hipsterism and camp. At the same time, they offer us opportunities to anatomize our own desire for historical significance and belonging, a desire we may well see reflected and reconfigured in the work of these poets.

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173

Publisher

Contemp North American Poetry

Published Date

ISBN 10

1609386973

ISBN 13

9781609386979

The Development of the Biblical Hebrew Vowels

Including a Concise Historical Morphology

By: Benjamin Suchard

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The Development of the Biblical Hebrew Vowels

Including a Concise Historical Morphology

By: Benjamin Suchard

The Development of the Biblical Hebrew Vowels investigates the sound changes affecting the Proto-Northwest-Semitic vocalic phonemes and their reflexes in Tiberian Biblical Hebrew. Contrary to many previous approaches, Benjamin Suchard shows that these developments can all be described as phonetically regular sound laws. This confirms that despite its unique transmission history, Hebrew behaves like other languages in this regard. Many Hebrew sound changes have traditionally been explained as reflecting non-phonetic conditioning. These include the Canaanite Shift of *ā to *ō, tonic and pre-tonic lengthening, diphthong contraction, Philippi’s Law, the Law of Attenuation, and the apocope of short, unstressed vowels. By reconsidering reconstructions and re-evaluating phonetic conditions, this work shows how the Biblical Hebrew forms regularly derive from their Proto-Northwest-Semitic precursors.

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316

Publisher

BRILL

Published Date

ISBN 10

900439026X

ISBN 13

9789004390263

Tripping on Utopia

Margaret Mead, The Cold War and the Birth of Psychedelics

By: Benjamin Breen

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Tripping on Utopia

Margaret Mead, The Cold War and the Birth of Psychedelics

By: Benjamin Breen

It was not the Baby Boomers who ushered in the first era of widespread drug experimentation. It was their parents.' The generation that survived the second World War emerged with a profoundly ambitious sense of social experimentation. In the '40s and '50s, transformative drugs rapidly entered mainstream culture, where they were not only legal, but openly celebrated. American physician John C. Lilly infamously dosed dolphins (and himself) with LSD in a NASA-funded effort to teach dolphins to talk. A tripping Cary Grant mumbled into a Dictaphone about Hegel as astronaut John Glenn returned to Earth. At the centre of this revolution were the pioneering anthropologists - and star-crossed lovers - Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson. Convinced the world was headed toward certain disaster, Mead and Bateson made it their life's mission to reshape humanity through a new science of consciousness expansion, but soon found themselves at odds with the government bodies who funded their work, whose intentions were less than pure. Mead and Bateson's partnership unlocks an untold chapter in the history of the twentieth century, linking drug researchers with CIA agents, outsider sexologists and the founders of the Information Age.

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393

Publisher

Footnote Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

1804441104

ISBN 13

9781804441107

Aramaic Daniel

A Textual Reconstruction of Chapters 1–7

By: Benjamin D. Suchard

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Aramaic Daniel

A Textual Reconstruction of Chapters 1–7

By: Benjamin D. Suchard

The first half of the book of Daniel contains world-famous stories like the Writing on the Wall. These stories have mostly been transmitted in Aramaic, not Hebrew, as has the influential apocalypse of Daniel 7. This Aramaic corpus shows clear signs of multiple authorship. Which different textual layers can we tease apart, and what do they tell us about the changing function of the Danielic material during the Second Temple Period? This monograph compares the Masoretic Text of Daniel to ancient manuscripts and translations preserving textual variants. By highlighting tensions in the reconstructed archetype underlying all these texts, it then probes the tales’ prehistory even further, showing how Daniel underwent many transformations to yield the book we know today.

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260

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BRILL

Published Date

ISBN 10

9004521305

ISBN 13

9789004521308

The Fatal Embrace

Jews and the State

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

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The Fatal Embrace

Jews and the State

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

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302

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University of Chicago Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0226296660

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9780226296661

Cerebral Ischemia and Resuscitation

By: Avital Schurr,Benjamin M. Rigor

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Cerebral Ischemia and Resuscitation

By: Avital Schurr,Benjamin M. Rigor

This fascinating monograph is filled with information formerly found only in periodicals and symposia proceedings. Chapters discuss the different models of cerebral ischemia in use today, including their advantages and disadvantages. This one-of-a-kind resource also contains essential chapters on cellular mechanisms of ion and acid-base homeostases, and energy metabolism of the ischemic brain. It reviews the possible role of lipids, free fatty acids, and free radicals. Four chapters are devoted to neurotransmitters and neuroregulators in cerebral ischemia. This extraordinary work also covers aspects of protection against and resuscitation from cerebral ischemia. An extremely informative volume, this book is an absolute must for every student in the field of cerebral ischemia, as well as the clinician or scientist who is already involved with this worldwide problem.

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456

Publisher

CRC Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0849367158

ISBN 13

9780849367151

Sociology Faces Pessimism

A Study of European Sociological Thought Amidst a Fading Optimism

By: Robert Benjamin Bailey

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Sociology Faces Pessimism

A Study of European Sociological Thought Amidst a Fading Optimism

By: Robert Benjamin Bailey

My initial interest in sociology stemmed from the desire to see specific social change in certain areas of my native United States of America. My rather naive assumption at that time was that if the truth is known about social phenomena and presented to rational and educated persons, public opinion will bring about the desirable social change. That is, I assumed some automatic linkage between truth, rationality and social progress. Certainly some of the so-called "pioneers" of sociology also assumed this automatic linkage. Thus, the opportunity to study in Europe, on the soil of some of these "pioneers" heightened my interest and desire to learn more about the relationship between sociology and social progress. After living and studying several years in various parts of Western Europe - England, Germany, France, Holland - one finds that European sociology has remained very closely associ ated with social philosophy and history, has often been resisted by the universities, and is not as empirical as American sociology. The European sociologist, still quite conscious of the mistakes of the early fathers - Comte, Spencer, Marx, among others - is extremely cautious concerning problems of social progress and social action. He is aware that his science is still young and sus pect. He is also less sure than his predecessors about the exact role of sociology.

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172

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Springer Science & Business Media

Published Date

ISBN 10

9401508593

ISBN 13

9789401508599

Judaism Defined

Mattathias and the Destiny of His People

By: Benjamin Edidin Scolnic

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Judaism Defined

Mattathias and the Destiny of His People

By: Benjamin Edidin Scolnic

This book explores the story of Mattathias in 1Maccabees and asserts that Mattathias defined Judaism and Jewishness for his time. Mattathias's actions of zealous violence, as controversial as they were viewed to be in both his day and today, were primarily for the preservation of his religion and people.

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263

Publisher

University Press of America

Published Date

ISBN 10

0761851186

ISBN 13

9780761851189

Prophets and Protons

New Religious Movements and Science in Late Twentieth-century America

By: Benjamin E. Zeller

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Prophets and Protons

New Religious Movements and Science in Late Twentieth-century America

By: Benjamin E. Zeller

By the twentieth century, science had become so important that religious traditions had to respond to it. Emerging religions, still led by a living founder to guide them, responded with a clarity and focus that illuminates other larger, more established religions’ understandings of science. The Hare Krishnas, the Unification Church, and Heaven’s Gate each found distinct ways to incorporate major findings of modern American science, understanding it as central to their wider theological and social agendas. In tracing the development of these new religious movements’ viewpoints on science during each movement’s founding period, we can discern how their views on science were crafted over time. These NRMs shed light on how religious groups—new, old, alternative, or mainstream—could respond to the tremendous growth of power and prestige of science in late twentieth-century America. In this engrossing book, Zeller carefully shows that religious groups had several methods of creatively responding to science, and that the often-assumed conflict-based model of “science vs. religion” must be replaced by a more nuanced understanding of how religions operate in our modern scientific world.

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238

Publisher

NYU Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0814797210

ISBN 13

9780814797211

Running Commentary

The Contentious Magazine that Transformed the Jewish Left into the Neoconservative Right

By: Benjamin Balint

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Running Commentary

The Contentious Magazine that Transformed the Jewish Left into the Neoconservative Right

By: Benjamin Balint

In the years of cultural and political ferment following World War II, a new generation of Jewish- American writers and thinkers arose to make an indelible mark on American culture. Commentary was their magazine; the place where they and other politically sympathetic intellectuals -- Hannah Arendt, Saul Bellow, Lionel Trilling, Alfred Kazin, James Baldwin, Bernard Malamud, Philip Roth, Cynthia Ozick and many others -- shared new work, explored ideas, and argued with each other. Founded by the offspring of immigrants, Commentary began life as a voice for the marginalized and a feisty advocate for civil rights and economic justice. But just as American culture moved in its direction, it began -- inexplicably to some -- to veer right, becoming the voice of neoconservativism and defender of the powerful. This lively history, based on unprecedented access to the magazine's archives and dozens of original interviews, provocatively explains that shift while recreating the atmosphere of some of the most exciting decades in American intellectual life.

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306

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PublicAffairs

Published Date

ISBN 10

1586488600

ISBN 13

9781586488604

What Washington Gets Wrong

The Unelected Officials Who Actually Run the Government and Their Misconceptions about the American People

By: Jennifer Bachner,Benjamin Ginsberg

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What Washington Gets Wrong

The Unelected Officials Who Actually Run the Government and Their Misconceptions about the American People

By: Jennifer Bachner,Benjamin Ginsberg

Each year unelected federal administrators write thousands of regulations possessing the force of law. What do these civil servants know about the American people whom they ostensibly serve? Not much, according to this enlightening and disturbing study. The authors surveyed federal agency officials, congressional and White House staffers, and employees of various policy-making organizations about their attitudes toward and knowledge of the public. They found a significant chasm between what official Washington assumes they know about average Americans and the actual opinions and attitudes of American citizens. Even in such basic areas as life circumstances (e.g., income levels, employment, racial makeup) the surveys revealed surprising inaccuracies. And when it comes to policy issues--on such crucial issues as defense, crime, social security, welfare, public education, and the environment--officials' perceptions of the public's knowledge and positions are often wide of the mark. Compounding this ignorance is a pervasive attitude of smug dismissiveness toward the citizenry and little sense of accountability. As a result, bureaucrats tend to follow their own preferences without much reference to the opinions of the public. The authors conclude with recommendations to narrow the gap between official perceptions of the American public and the actual facts. These include shorter terms, rotation from the Washington beltway to local offices, compulsory training in the responsibilities of public office, and better civic education for ordinary citizens in the realities of government and politics.

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306

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Prometheus Books

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ISBN 10

1633882500

ISBN 13

9781633882508

Dreyer's English

An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style

By: Benjamin Dreyer

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Dreyer's English

An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style

By: Benjamin Dreyer

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A sharp, funny grammar guide they’ll actually want to read, from Random House’s longtime copy chief and one of Twitter’s leading language gurus NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY O: The Oprah Magazine • Paste • Shelf Awareness “Essential (and delightful!)”—People We all write, all the time: books, blogs, emails. Lots and lots of emails. And we all want to write better. Benjamin Dreyer is here to help. As Random House’s copy chief, Dreyer has upheld the standards of the legendary publisher for more than two decades. He is beloved by authors and editors alike—not to mention his followers on social media—for deconstructing the English language with playful erudition. Now he distills everything he has learned from the myriad books he has copyedited and overseen into a useful guide not just for writers but for everyone who wants to put their best prose foot forward. As authoritative as it is amusing, Dreyer’s English offers lessons on punctuation, from the underloved semicolon to the enigmatic en dash; the rules and nonrules of grammar, including why it’s OK to begin a sentence with “And” or “But” and to confidently split an infinitive; and why it’s best to avoid the doldrums of the Wan Intensifiers and Throat Clearers, including “very,” “rather,” “of course,” and the dreaded “actually.” Dreyer will let you know whether “alright” is all right (sometimes) and even help you brush up on your spelling—though, as he notes, “The problem with mnemonic devices is that I can never remember them.” And yes: “Only godless savages eschew the series comma.” Chockful of advice, insider wisdom, and fun facts, this book will prove to be invaluable to everyone who wants to shore up their writing skills, mandatory for people who spend their time editing and shaping other people’s prose, and—perhaps best of all—an utter treat for anyone who simply revels in language. Praise for Dreyer’s English “Playful, smart, self-conscious, and personal . . . One encounters wisdom and good sense on nearly every page of Dreyer’s English.”—The Wall Street Journal “Destined to become a classic.”—The Millions “Dreyer can help you . . . with tips on punctuation and spelling. . . . Even better: He’ll entertain you while he’s at it.”—Newsday

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321

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Random House Trade Paperbacks

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ISBN 10

0812985710

ISBN 13

9780812985719

Dreyer's English (Adapted for Young Readers)

Good Advice for Good Writing

By: Benjamin Dreyer

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Dreyer's English (Adapted for Young Readers)

Good Advice for Good Writing

By: Benjamin Dreyer

Adapted from the New York Times bestseller by Random House's longtime copy chief, this informative and witty guide to writing and grammar, written especially for a younger audience, entertains as well as instructs. Full of advice, insider wisdom, and fascinating facts, this book will prove to be invaluable to anyone who wants to be confident in their writing skills, or anyone who enjoys the power of language. Explored throughout are the mysteries of using punctuation, word choice decisions, and more, presented in a clear, concise and accessible manner made fun! Praise for the New York Times bestseller DREYER'S ENGLISH: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY O: The Oprah Magazine,Paste, and Shelf Awareness "Essential (and delightful!)" --People "Playful, smart, self-conscious, and personal . . . One encounters wisdom and good sense on nearly every page." --The Wall Street Journal "Destined to become a classic." --The Millions "Dreyer can help you . . . with tips on punctuation and spelling. . . . Even better: He'll entertain you while he's at it." --Newsday

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306

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Delacorte Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0593176804

ISBN 13

9780593176801

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Learning Yiddish

By: Benjamin Blech

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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Learning Yiddish

By: Benjamin Blech

You're no idiot, of course. You can serve up a mean s'il vous plaît in a French bistro, live la vida loca for a night of margaritas, and manage a sayonara! after sushi, sake, and karaoke. But when it comes to throwing around a little Yiddish, you feel like a total nebbish! Don't throw up your hands in a helpless “Oy, vey” just yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Learning Yiddish is your guide to this unique tongue, whether you're tackling rules of grammar or just throwing around some key phrases so you sound a little less goyish. In this Complete Idiot's Guide® you get: --A fascinating explanation of how and why Yiddish developed. --An easy introduction to the Yiddish alphabet, as well as to the distinctive sound of Yiddish. --All the Yiddish you'll need for communicating with family and friends or for bargain-hunting on New York's Lower East Side. --A treasury of Yiddish words and phrases for everything.

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390

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Penguin

Published Date

ISBN 10

0028633873

ISBN 13

9780028633879

Presidential Government

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

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Presidential Government

By: Benjamin Ginsberg

Noted political scientist Benjamin Ginsberg has written an essential text for courses on the United States presidency. An invaluable resource, Ginsberg’s comprehensive analysis emphasizes the historical, constitutional, and legal dimensions of presidential power. He explores the history and essential aspects of the office, the president’s relationship to the rest of the executive branch and to a subordinated Congress, and the evolution of the American president from policy executor to policy maker. Compelling photo essays delve into topics of special interest, including First Spouses, Presidential Eligibility, and Congressional Investigations of the White House.

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504

Publisher

Yale University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0300220731

ISBN 13

9780300220735

Book's by Benjamin Ginsberg

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