David Wacks's Books

American Immigration: A Very Short Introduction

By: David A. Gerber

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

American Immigration: A Very Short Introduction

By: David A. Gerber

An updated, penetrating, and balanced analysis of one of the most contentious issues in America today, offering a historically informed portrait of immigration. Americans have come from every corner of the globe, and they have been brought together by a variety of historical processes--conquest, colonialism, the slave trade, territorial acquisition, and voluntary immigration. In this Very Short Introduction, historian David A. Gerber captures the histories of dozens of American ethnic groups over more than two centuries and reveals how American life has been formed in significant ways by immigration. He discusses the relationships between race and ethnicity in the life of these groups and in the formation of American society, as well as explaining how immigration policy and legislation have helped to form those relationships. Moreover, by highlighting the parallels that contemporary patterns of immigration and resettlement share with those of the past - which Americans now generally regard as having had positive outcomes - the book offers an optimistic portrait of current immigration that is at odds with much present-day opinion. Newly updated, this book speaks directly to the ongoing fears of immigration that have fueled the debate about both illegal immigration and the need for stronger immigration laws and a border wall.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

176

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0197542441

ISBN 13

9780197542446

The Judicial Process

Law, Courts, and Judicial Politics

By: Christopher P. Banks,David M. O'Brien

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The Judicial Process

Law, Courts, and Judicial Politics

By: Christopher P. Banks,David M. O'Brien

The Judicial Process: Law, Courts, and Judicial Politics is an all-new, concise yet comprehensive core text that introduces students to the nature and significance of the judicial process in the United States and across the globe. It is social scientific in its approach, situating the role of the courts and their impact on public policy within a strong foundation in legal theory, or political jurisprudence, as well as legal scholarship. Authors Christopher P. Banks and David M. O’Brien do not shy away from the politics of the judicial process, and offer unique insight into cutting-edge and highly relevant issues. In its distinctive boxes, “Contemporary Controversies over Courts” and “In Comparative Perspective,” the text examines topics such as the dispute pyramid, the law and morality of same-sex marriages, the “hardball politics” of judicial selection, plea bargaining trends, the right to counsel and “pay as you go” justice, judicial decisions limiting the availability of class actions, constitutional courts in Europe, the judicial role in creating major social change, and the role lawyers, juries and alternative dispute resolution techniques play in the U.S. and throughout the world. Photos, cartoons, charts, and graphs are used throughout the text to facilitate student learning and highlight key aspects of the judicial process.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

775

Publisher

CQ Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

1483317021

ISBN 13

9781483317021

The Beats: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Sterritt

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The Beats: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Sterritt

This book offers a concise overview of the social, cultural, and aesthetic sensibilities of the Beat Generation, explaining how their drastic visions and radical styles challenged postwar America's dominant values in ways that can still be felt in literature, cinema, music, theatre, and the visual arts.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

145

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0199796777

ISBN 13

9780199796779

Jewish History

A Very Short Introduction

By: David N. Myers

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Jewish History

A Very Short Introduction

By: David N. Myers

How have the Jews survived? For millennia, they have defied odds by overcoming the travails of exile, persecution, and recurring plans for their annihilation. Many have attempted to explain this singular success as a result of divine intervention. In this engaging book, David N. Myers charts the long journey of the Jews through history. At the same time, it points to two unlikely-and decidedly this-worldly--factors to explain the survival of the Jews: antisemitism and assimilation. Usually regarded as grave dangers, these two factors have continually interacted with one other to enable the persistence of the Jews. At every turn in their history, not just in the modern age, Jews have adapted to new environments, cultures, languages, and social norms. These bountiful encounters with host societies have exercised the cultural muscle of the Jews, preventing the atrophy that would have occurred if they had not interacted so extensively with the non-Jewish world. It is through these encounters--indeed, through a process of assimilation--that Jews came to develop distinct local customs, speak many different languages, and cultivate diverse musical, culinary, and intellectual traditions. Left unchecked, the Jews' well-honed ability to absorb from surrounding cultures might have led to their disappearance. And yet, the route toward full and unbridled assimilation was checked by the nearly constant presence of hatred toward the Jew. Anti-Jewish expression and actions have regularly accompanied Jews throughout history. Part of the ironic success of antisemitism is its malleability, its talent in assuming new forms and portraying the Jew in diverse and often contradictory images--for example, at once the arch-capitalist and revolutionary Communist. Antisemitism not only served to blunt further assimilation, but, in a paradoxical twist, affirmed the Jew's sense of difference from the host society. And thus together assimilation and antisemitism (at least up to a certain limit) contribute to the survival of the Jews as a highly adaptable and yet distinct group.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

162

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0199912858

ISBN 13

9780199912858

Civil Engineering: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Muir Wood

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Civil Engineering: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Muir Wood

Civil engineering produces the structures of all human settlements worldwide and is a vital discipline for many aspects modern life, underlying housing, transport, and our major areas and buildings related to work, study, and leisure. In this Very Short Introduction, David Muir Wood demonstrates the nature and importance of civil engineering not only in the history of civilization and urbanization, but its range of facets today, and its challenges for the future. Beginning with the challenge of creating a settlement on a deserted island, which sets out the problems that civil engineers need to solve, he looks at the social and environmental considerations as well as the science, technology, and craft of building bridges, tunnels, houses, and areas of recreation. He highlights the lives of some major civil engineers, including Brunel and Bazalgette, considers the challenges of managing water and energy, and looks at our increasing sensitivity to building and the environment. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

160

Publisher

OUP Oxford

Published Date

ISBN 10

0191642754

ISBN 13

9780191642753

Italian Literature: A Very Short Introduction

By: Peter Hainsworth,David Robey

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Italian Literature: A Very Short Introduction

By: Peter Hainsworth,David Robey

In this Very Short Introduction, Peter Hainsworth and David Robey consider Italian literature from the Middle Ages to the present day, looking at themes and issues which have recurred throughout its history and continue to be of importance today. Examining themes such as regional identities, political disunity, and the role of the national language, they also cover a wide range of authors and works, including Dante, Petrarch, Manzoni, Montale, and Calvino. They explore some of the distinctive traditions of the literature, such as its liking for theorizing its own position, its concern with politics, and its secular orientation in spite of the Catholic beliefs and practices of the Italian people. Concluding by looking at the ways in which Italian literature has changed over the last thirty years, they examine the influence of women's writing in Italian, and acknowledge the belated recognition of its importance. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

175

Publisher

OUP Oxford

Published Date

ISBN 10

019162392X

ISBN 13

9780191623929

Hard Cases in Wicked Legal Systems

Pathologies of Legality

By: David Dyzenhaus

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Hard Cases in Wicked Legal Systems

Pathologies of Legality

By: David Dyzenhaus

This influential book makes sense of abstract debates about the nature of law and the rule of law by situating them in the real-world context of apartheid-era South Africa. The new edition examines the transformation in South Africa since the end of apartheid, and the shift in debates surrounding the rule of law post 9/11.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

337

Publisher

Oxford University Press (UK)

Published Date

ISBN 10

0199532214

ISBN 13

9780199532216

Innovation: A Very Short Introduction

By: Mark Dodgson,David Gann

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Innovation: A Very Short Introduction

By: Mark Dodgson,David Gann

This book demonstrates how innovation is used to create wealth, productivity growth, and improved quality of life

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

163

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0199568901

ISBN 13

9780199568901

Minerals: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Vaughan

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Minerals: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Vaughan

Minerals existed long before any forms of life, playing a key role in the origin and evolution of life; an interaction with biological systems that we are only now beginning to understand. Exploring the traditional strand of mineralogy, which emphasises the important mineral families, the well-established analytical methods (optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction) and the dramatic developments made in techniques over recent decades, David Vaughan also introduces the modern strand of mineralogy, which explores the role minerals play in the plate tectonic cycle and how they interact with the living world. Demonstrating how minerals can be critical for human health and illness by providing essential nutrients and releasing poisons, Vaughan explores the multitude of ways in which minerals have aided our understanding of the world. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

161

Publisher

OUP Oxford

Published Date

ISBN 10

0191505323

ISBN 13

9780191505324

Judging the Judges, Judging Ourselves

Truth, Reconciliation and the Apartheid Legal Order

By: David Dyzenhaus

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Judging the Judges, Judging Ourselves

Truth, Reconciliation and the Apartheid Legal Order

By: David Dyzenhaus

With a Foreword by the South African Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Kader Asmal. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), established in South Africa after the collapse of apartheid, was the bold creation of a people committed to the task of rebuilding of a nation and establishing a society founded upon justice, equality and respect for the rule of law. As part of its historic, cathartic, mission, the TRC held a special hearing, calling to account the lawyers - judges, academics and members of the bar -who had been crucial participants in the apartheid legal order. This book is an account of those hearings, and an attempt to evaluate, in the light of theories of adjudication, the historical role of the judiciary and bar in the apartheid years. This book offers us the spectacle of an entire legal system on trial. The echoes from this process are captured here in a way which will appeal to all readers, lawyers and non-lawyers alike, interested in the relationship between law and justice, as it is exposed during a period of transition to democracy.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

218

Publisher

Bloomsbury Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

1847313272

ISBN 13

9781847313270

Nutrition

A Very Short Introduction

By: David A. Bender

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Nutrition

A Very Short Introduction

By: David A. Bender

There is much conflicting information about diet and health; with issues such as obesity and food allergies increasing worldwide despite healthy eating campaigns such as 'five-a-day'. In 'Nutrition', David Bender provides a simple but authoritative guide to the main principles of human nutrition and a healthy diet.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

129

Publisher

Oxford University Press, USA

Published Date

ISBN 10

0199681929

ISBN 13

9780199681921

I Hope I Don't Intrude

Privacy and its Dilemmas in Nineteenth-Century Britain

By: David Vincent

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

I Hope I Don't Intrude

Privacy and its Dilemmas in Nineteenth-Century Britain

By: David Vincent

I Hope I Don't Intrude' takes its title from the catch-phrase of the eponymous hero of the 1825 play Paul Pry, which was an immense success on the London stage and then rapidly in New York and around the English-speaking world. It tackles the complex, multi-faceted subject of privacy in nineteenth-century Britain by examining the way in which the tropes, language, and imagery of the play entered public discourse about privacy in the rest of the century. The volume is not just an account of a play, or of late Georgian and Victorian theatre. Rather it is a history of privacy, showing how the play resonated through Victorian society and revealed its concerns over personal and state secrecy, celebrity, gossip and scandal, postal espionage, virtual privacy, the idea of intimacy, and the evolution of public and private spheres. After 1825 the overly inquisitive figure of Paul Pry appeared everywhere - in songs, stories, and newspapers, and on everything from buttons and Staffordshire pottery to pubs, ships, and stagecoaches - and 'Paul-Prying' rapidly entered the language. 'I Hope I Don't Intrude' is an innovative kind of social history, using rich archival research to trace this cultural artefact through every aspect of its consumer context, and using its meanings to interrogate the largely hidden history of privacy in a period of major transformations in the role of the home, mass communication (particularly the new letter post, which delivered private messages through a public service), and the state. In vivid and entertaining detail, including many illustrations, David Vincent presents the most thorough account yet attempted of a recreational event in an era which saw a decisive shift in consumer markets. His study casts fresh light on the perennial tensions between curiosity and intrusion that were captured in Paul Pry and his catchphrase. Giving a new account of the communications revolution of the period, it re-evaluates the role of the state and the market in creating a new regime of privacy. And its critique of the concept and practice of surveillance looks forward to twenty-first-century concerns about the invasion of privacy through new technologies.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

367

Publisher

OUP Oxford

Published Date

ISBN 10

019103813X

ISBN 13

9780191038136

Employment Law: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Cabrelli

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Employment Law: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Cabrelli

Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring In today's society, work takes up a vast proportion of the time and energy of ordinary people. Although use of the phrase 'work-life balance' is now commonplace in the media and ordinary conversation, people work longer hours than ever before. However, rather than purely a means to an end in terms of supporting oneself financially, the workplace is a place to develop skills and talents and build lasting friendships. For these reasons, people want to know about their rights in the workplace. Issues of equal pay, discrimination, discharge/dismissal, and redundancy are prevalent within the media, and there is a growing public appetite for knowledge of the law governing the employment relationship. This Very Short Introduction provides an overview of the main kinds of employment rights and labour laws found in many countries. It unpicks and evaluates some of the assumptions underpinning contemporary attitudes to such rights and laws in order to measure whether they are warranted. Throughout it also considers the economic, political, sociological, and social justifications for employment rights and laws. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

153

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0192551302

ISBN 13

9780192551306

The U.S. Constitution: A Very Short Introduction

By: David J. Bodenhamer

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The U.S. Constitution: A Very Short Introduction

By: David J. Bodenhamer

Though the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1788, its impact on our lives is as recent as today's news. Claims and counterclaims about the constitutionality of governmental actions are a habit of American politics. This document, which its framers designed to limit power, often has made political conflict inevitable. It also has accommodated and legitimized the political and social changes of a vibrant, powerful democratic nation. A product of history's first modern revolution, the Constitution embraced a new formula for government: it restrained power on behalf of liberty, but it also granted power to promote and protect liberty. The U.S. Constitution: A Very Short Introduction explores the major themes that have shaped American constitutional history: federalism, the balance of powers, property, representation, equality, rights, and security. Informed by the latest scholarship, this book places constitutional history within the context of American political and social history. As our nation's circumstances have changed, so has our Constitution. Today we face serious challenges to the nation's constitutional legacy. Endless wars, a sharply divided electorate, economic inequality, and immigration, along with a host of other issues, have placed demands on government and on society that test our constitutional values. Understanding how the Constitution has evolved will help us adapt its principles to the challenges of our age. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

168

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0199702969

ISBN 13

9780199702961

Geoffrey Chaucer

A Very Short Introduction

By: David Wallace

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Geoffrey Chaucer

A Very Short Introduction

By: David Wallace

Covering Geoffrey Chaucer's life and work, David Wallace considers the influence and enduring appeal of his body of writing, explores the wide ranging geography and iconic characters in his stories, and discusses how Chaucer's own experiences contributed to his literature.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

169

Published Date

ISBN 10

0198767714

ISBN 13

9780198767718

The Roman Republic: A Very Short Introduction

By: David M. Gwynn

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The Roman Republic: A Very Short Introduction

By: David M. Gwynn

The rise and fall of the Roman Republic occupies a special place in the history of Western civilization. From humble beginnings on the seven hills beside the Tiber, the city of Rome grew to dominate the ancient Mediterranean. Led by her senatorial aristocracy, Republican armies defeated Carthage and the successor kingdoms of Alexander the Great, and brought the surrounding peoples to east and west into the Roman sphere. Yet the triumph of the Republic was also its tragedy. In this Very Short Introduction, David M. Gwynn provides a fascinating introduction to the history of the Roman Republic and its literary and material sources, bringing to life the culture and society of Republican Rome and its ongoing significance within our modern world. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

168

Publisher

OUP Oxford

Published Date

ISBN 10

0191642355

ISBN 13

9780191642357

Sellout

The Inside Story of President Clinton's Impeachment

By: David P. Schippers,Alan P. Henry

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Sellout

The Inside Story of President Clinton's Impeachment

By: David P. Schippers,Alan P. Henry

Schippers, the former Chief Investigative Counsel of the House Judiciary Committee, recounts the story behind the impeachment process.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

366

Publisher

Regnery Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

0895262436

ISBN 13

9780895262431

Tides

A Very Short Introduction

By: David George Bowers,Emyr Martyn Roberts

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Tides

A Very Short Introduction

By: David George Bowers,Emyr Martyn Roberts

The tide is important to Earth's climate, the biological productivity of our seas, and our hunt for renewable energy sources. It is also thought to have played a role in the evolution of life on Earth. This book explains the nature and cause of the tide, its observation and prediction, unusual tides, and their relevance to us.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

169

Published Date

ISBN 10

019882663X

ISBN 13

9780198826637

The Welfare State

A Very Short Introduction

By: David Garland

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The Welfare State

A Very Short Introduction

By: David Garland

This Very Short Introduction discusses the necessity of welfare states in modern capitalist societies. Situating social policy in an historical, sociological, and comparative perspective, David Garland brings a new understanding to familiar debates, policies, and institutions.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

177

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0199672660

ISBN 13

9780199672660

Astrobiology: A Very Short Introduction

By: David C. Catling

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Astrobiology: A Very Short Introduction

By: David C. Catling

Examines the origins of life on Earth and the search for extraterrestrial life, through an understanding of the factors that have allowed life to exist on this planet and the commonalities on others that may enable life elsewhere.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

161

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0199586454

ISBN 13

9780199586455

Microscopy

A Very Short Introduction

By: Terence David Allen

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Microscopy

A Very Short Introduction

By: Terence David Allen

Using light, electrons, or X-rays, microscopes today form a vital tool not only in biology but in many other disciplines, including materials science and nanotechnology. In this Very Short Introduction Terence Allen describes the scientific principles behind the main forms of microscopy, and the exciting new developments in the field. Beginning with a brief history of microscopy, Allen surveys the diverse and powerful forms of microscopes available today, illustrating how microscopy impinges on almost every aspect of our daily lives."--Inside front cover.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

153

Publisher

Oxford University Press, USA

Published Date

ISBN 10

0198701268

ISBN 13

9780198701262

Universities and Colleges

A Very Short Introduction

By: David Palfreyman,Paul Temple

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Universities and Colleges

A Very Short Introduction

By: David Palfreyman,Paul Temple

This book looks at the role of the university in a social and economic context, as a repository of knowledge and a site for instruction. It considers how universities are founded, funded, governed, lead, and managed, how the advent of increased fees has affected their relationship with students, and what is in the future for higher education.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

177

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0198766130

ISBN 13

9780198766131

Geoffrey Chaucer: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Wallace

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Geoffrey Chaucer: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Wallace

Originally writing over 600 years ago, Geoffrey Chaucer is today enjoying a global renaissance. Why do poets, translators, and audiences from so many cultures, from the mountains of Iran to the islands of Japan, find Chaucer so inspiring? In part this is down to the character and sheer inventiveness of Chaucer's work. At the time Chaucer's writings were not just literary adventures, but also a means of convincing the world that poetry and science, tragedy and astrology, could all be explored through the English language. French was still England's aristocratic language of choice when Chaucer was born; Latin was used for university education, theological discussion, and for burying the dead. Could a hybrid tongue such as English ever generate great writing to compare with French and Latin? Chaucer, miraculously, believed that it could, through gradual expansion of expressiveness and scientific precision. He was never paid to do this; he was valued, rather, as a capable civil servant, regulating the export of wool and the building of seating for royal tournaments. Such experiences, however, fed his writing, leading him to achieve a range of social registers, from noble tragedy to barnyard farce, unrivalled for centuries. His tale-telling geography is vast, his fascination with varieties of religious belief endless, and his desire to voice female experience especially remarkable. Many Chaucerian poets and performers, today, are women. In this Very Short Introduction David Wallace introduces the life, performance, and poetry of Chaucer, and analyses his astonishing and enduring appeal. Previously published in hardback as Geoffrey Chaucer: A New Introduction ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

169

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0191080373

ISBN 13

9780191080371

Dinosaurs: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Norman

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Dinosaurs: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Norman

Dinosaurs are fascinating creatures and their popularity seems never ending, fuelled by films such as Jurassic Park and documentaries such as Walking with Dinosaurs. Yet dinosaurs (or more precisely non-avian dinosaurs) last trod the Earth 65 million years ago. All we know of them today are their fossilised bones, the tracks and traces that they left behind and, in very rare instances, some of the soft tissues or even traces of their chemistry. In many respects dinosaurs present us with one of the ultimate forensic challenges: they comprise the fragmentary remains of creatures that died many tens of millions of years ago, rather than just recently, or a few tens of years ago, which is the problem usually faced by forensic pathologists. How much do we really know about them, and to what extent can their remains inform us about ancient worlds, and indeed about the history of our planet? In this Very Short Introduction David Norman discusses how dinosaurs were first discovered and interpreted, and how our understanding of them has changed over the past 200 years. He looks at some of the amazing discoveries that have enabled us to gain new and unexpected insights into dinosaurs as animals with natural histories and behaviours, and considers some of the biggest questions in dinosaur biology, such as the implications of them having warm blood. Norman also shows how research upon dinosaurs has been enriched, particularly in recent decades, by technological break-throughs, which complement the informed speculation and luck which have played a part in many of the major discoveries. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

193

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0192515640

ISBN 13

9780192515643

Theology: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Ford

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Theology: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Ford

This is an introduction to the subject of academic theology. Its basic approach is interrogative, raising key questions so as to lead into a range of selected topics such as knowledge community, salvation, God, prayer and evil.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

209

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0199679975

ISBN 13

9780199679973

Where Angels Fear to Tread

My Life in Medicine and Minding Other People's Business

By: David Coussmaker Anderson

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Where Angels Fear to Tread

My Life in Medicine and Minding Other People's Business

By: David Coussmaker Anderson

This is an autobiography with a difference, an unapologetic justification for asking questions, and never being satisfied with unsupported “expert opinion.” The author, now aged seventy-seven, counts himself fortunate to have lived in this time of unprecedented scientific advance. But when wandering into areas outside medicine—for example, the law and archeology—he is less sanguine over what he sees. He treasures the opportunities retirement has offered him and describes his life with an acerbic wit as he takes the reader through his erratic voyages of exploration. These range from fighting psychopathic bosses and WHO guidelines, to searching for China’s missing impact craters, to fighting for justice in obvious travesties in Italy and those that framed Stefan Kiszko in the UK and put Darlie Routier on death row in Texas. He argues that man’s collective psychopathology may have selected by balanced polymorphism for amygdala dysfunction, leading to a state where the most empathy-deficient hold most of the positions of power. The book is lightened by many entertaining anecdotes and illustrations, including sketches by the author, and an appendix of poetry and North Country recitations to which he is addicted.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

330

Publisher

AuthorHouse

Published Date

ISBN 10

1546298312

ISBN 13

9781546298311

From Diversion to Subversion

Games, Play, and Twentieth-century Art

By: David Getsy

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

From Diversion to Subversion

Games, Play, and Twentieth-century Art

By: David Getsy

Examines the wide-ranging influence of games and play on the development of modern art in the twentieth century"--Provided by publisher.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

240

Publisher

Penn State Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0271037032

ISBN 13

9780271037035

Bohemians: a Very Short Introduction

By: David Weir

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Bohemians: a Very Short Introduction

By: David Weir

The Romantic myth of Bohemia originates in the early nineteenth century as a way of describing the new economic and cultural conditions artists and writers faced as the system of aristocratic patronage collapsed in the wake of republican revolution. This book analyses the bohemian myth likening the artist's vagabond career to the "gypsy" life by discussing its various fictional manifestations; its historical presence in different bohemian communities; its political implications as a counter to the ascendancy of a bourgeois, commercial class; and its role in the development of both modern art and popular culture. It concludes by discussing the legacy of the bohemian myth today, arguing that the political and cultural conditions that originated that myth no longer obtain, rendering the idea of "contemporary Bohemia" problematic"--

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

161

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0197538290

ISBN 13

9780197538296

Biodiversity Conservation: a Very Short Introduction

By: David W. Macdonald

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Biodiversity Conservation: a Very Short Introduction

By: David W. Macdonald

Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Extinction is a natural process. In geological time there have been several periods of mass extinction. One of these periods is unfolding right now but all the evidence suggests that current extinction rates are between a hundred and a thousand times greater than the background rate. To put this in to context, a quarter of all known mammalian species is at risk. The current extinction crisis is unique, because it is caused by the impact of one species, humans, on all others. This acceleration of species loss, and the much more widespread reductions in the populations of many species, is not merely a tragedy in aesthetics, it is also a threat to the quality of human life, indeed to the entire human enterprise. Biodiversity, the diversity of life, is not only fascinating and beautiful, it is the engine of all the world's natural cycles, and the source of many of the resources on which humanity depends. Concern about biodiversity conservation is, therefore, not merely the preoccupation of a few enthusiastic naturalists - it is the lifeline business of everybody. In this Very Short Introduction, David Macdonald introduces the concept of biodiversity and the basic biological processes that it involves - evolutionary, ecological, and behavioral. He considers the various threats to biodiversity, their impacts, and some of the solutions to the problems; concluding by considering the future of biodiversity conservation. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

241

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0199592276

ISBN 13

9780199592272

Nutrition: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Bender

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Nutrition: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Bender

Nutrition is a topic of wide interest and importance. In spite of growing understanding of the underlying biochemistry, and health campaigns such as 'five-a-day', increasing obesity and reported food allergies and eating disorders, as well as the widely advertised 'supposed' benefits of food supplements mean that a clear explanation of the basic principles of a healthy diet are vital. In this Very Short Introduction, David Bender explains the basic elements of food, the balance between energy intake and exercise, the problems of over- and under-nutrition, and raises the question of safety of nutritional supplements. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

138

Publisher

OUP Oxford

Published Date

ISBN 10

0191504165

ISBN 13

9780191504167

Dante: A Very Short Introduction

By: Peter Hainsworth,David Robey

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Dante: A Very Short Introduction

By: Peter Hainsworth,David Robey

In this Very Short Introduction, Peter Hainsworth and David Robey take a different approach to Dante, by examining the main themes and issues that run through all of his work, ranging from autobiography, to understanding God and the order of the universe. In doing so, they highlight what has made Dante a vital point of reference for modern writers and readers, both inside and outside Italy. They emphasize the distinctive and dynamic interplay in Dante's writing between argument, ideas, and analysis on the one hand, and poetic imagination on the other. Dante was highly concerned with the political and intellectual issues of his time, demonstrated most powerfully in his notorious work, The Divine Comedy. Tracing the tension between the medieval and modern aspects, Hainsworth and Robey provide a clear insight into the meaning of this masterpiece of world literature. They highlight key figures and episodes in the poem, bringing out the originality and power of Dante's writing to help readers understand the problems that Dante wanted his audience to confront but often left up to the reader to resolve. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

145

Publisher

OUP Oxford

Published Date

ISBN 10

0191507660

ISBN 13

9780191507663

Planets: A Very Short Introduction

By: David A. Rothery

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Planets: A Very Short Introduction

By: David A. Rothery

This Very Short Introduction discusses the nature of planets and gas giants, and their rings and moons. It also looks beyond Pluto, in the Kuiper Belt, at the knowledge we have about planets around other stars. With many striking photos to illustrate the details, it demonstrates the unique world of every planet.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

158

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0199573506

ISBN 13

9780199573509

Structural Engineering: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Blockley

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Structural Engineering: A Very Short Introduction

By: David Blockley

Have you ever wondered how it's possible to build a skyscraper, a big bridge, a jumbo jet, or a cruise liner? Everything has structure. Structure is the difference between a random pile of components and a fully functional object. Through structure the parts connect to make the whole. Natural structures vary from the very smallest part of an atom to the entire cosmology of the universe. Man-made structures include buildings, bridges, dams, ships, aeroplanes, rockets, trains, cars and fair-ground rides and all forms of artefacts, even large artistic sculptures. The wide range of different industries in which structural engineers work includes construction, transport, manufacturing, and aerospace. In this Very Short Introduction, David Blockley explores, in non-technical language, what structural engineering is all about, including examples ranging from the Shard in London and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to jumbo jets like the A380 and the Queen Elizabeth cruise liner. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

153

Publisher

OUP Oxford

Published Date

ISBN 10

0191652083

ISBN 13

9780191652080

Privacy

A Short History

By: David Vincent

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Privacy

A Short History

By: David Vincent

Privacy: A Short History provides a vital historical account of an increasingly stressed sphere of human interaction. At a time when the death of privacy is widely proclaimed, distinguished historian, David Vincent, describes the evolution of the concept and practice of privacy from the Middle Ages to the present controversy over digital communication and state surveillance provoked by the revelations of Edward Snowden. Deploying a range of vivid primary material, he discusses the management of private information in the context of housing, outdoor spaces, religious observance, reading, diaries and autobiographies, correspondence, neighbours, gossip, surveillance, the public sphere and the state. Key developments, such as the nineteenth-century celebration of the enclosed and intimate middle-class household, are placed in the context of long-term development. The book surveys and challenges the main currents in the extensive secondary literature on the subject. It seeks to strike a new balance between the built environment and world beyond the threshold, between written and face-to-face communication, between anonymity and familiarity in towns and cities, between religion and secular meditation, between the state and the private sphere and, above all, between intimacy and individualism. Ranging from the fourteenth century to the twenty-first, this book shows that the history of privacy has been an arena of contested choices, and not simply a progression towards a settled ideal. Privacy: A Short History will be of interest to students and scholars of history, and all those interested in this topical subject.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

204

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons

Published Date

ISBN 10

1509505121

ISBN 13

9781509505128

Napoleon: A Very Short Introduction

By: David A. Bell

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Napoleon: A Very Short Introduction

By: David A. Bell

This Very Short Introduction might prove disappointing to those expecting an introduction to a very short man. Dispelling the myth of Napoleon Bonaparte's short stature, as well as the other rumors and legends, David A. Bell provides a concise, accurate, and lively portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte's character and career, situating him firmly in historical context. This book emphasizes the astonishing sense of human possibility--for both good and ill--that Napoleon represented. By his late twenties, Napoleon was already one of the greatest generals in European history. At thirty, he had become absolute master of Europe's most powerful country. In his early forties, he ruled a European empire more powerful than any since Rome, fighting wars that changed the shape of the continent and brought death to millions. Then everything collapsed, leading him to spend his last years in miserable exile in the South Atlantic. Bell underscores the importance of the French Revolution in understanding Napoleon's career. The revolution made possible the unprecedented concentration of political authority that Napoleon accrued, and his success in mobilizing human and material resources for war. Without the political changes brought about by the revolution, Napoleon could not have fought his wars. Without the wars, he could not have seized and held onto power. Though his virtual dictatorship betrayed the ideals of liberty and equality, his life and career were revolutionary.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

159

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0199321671

ISBN 13

9780199321674

Understanding the Times

A Survey of Competing Worldviews

By: Jeff Myers,David A. Noebel

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Understanding the Times

A Survey of Competing Worldviews

By: Jeff Myers,David A. Noebel

Your view of God determines your view of the world. You hold in your hands a landmark guide to understanding the ideas and forces shaping our times. Understanding the Times offers a fascinating, comprehensive look at the how the tenets of the Christian worldview compares with the five major competing worldviews of our day: Islam, Secular Humanism, Marxism, New Age, and Postmodernism. Understanding the Times is a systematic way to understand the ideas that rule our world. While the material is expansive, the engaging, easy-to-understand writing style invites you to discover the truths of God – and our world. This classic should be on the shelf of every Christian home, on the desk of every pastor, and in the hands of every Christian student headed off to college.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

520

Publisher

David C Cook

Published Date

ISBN 10

0781413788

ISBN 13

9780781413787

Glaciation: A Very Short Introduction

By: David J A Evans

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Glaciation: A Very Short Introduction

By: David J A Evans

Vast, majestic, and often stunningly beautiful, glaciers lock up some 10% of the world's freshwater. These great bodies of ice play an important part in the Earth system, carving landscapes and influencing climate on regional and hemispheric scales, as well as having a significant impact on global sea level. Throughout time, the Earth has experienced various major glaciations in its deep history, long before the ice ages of the Quaternary, and the observed effects of climate change on glaciers have recently brought them to the forefront of public attention This Very Short Introduction offers an overview of glaciers and ice sheets as systems, considering the role of geomorphology and sedimentology in studying them, and their impacts on our planet in terms of erosional and depositional processes. Looking at our glaciers today, and their ongoing processes, David Evans considers the extent to which we can use this knowledge in reconstructing and interpreting ancient glacial landscapes. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

201

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0191062987

ISBN 13

9780191062988

Encyclopedia of Law and Society

American and Global Perspectives

By: David S. Clark

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Encyclopedia of Law and Society

American and Global Perspectives

By: David S. Clark

This work will be very valuable for academic and public libraries supporting prelaw, law, social, and cultural studies. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through professionals/practitioners; general readers." —CHOICE There are two aspects of scholarship about the legal systems of our day that are especially salient—one being for the first time there is a fair amount of genuine research on legal systems, and two, that this research is increasingly global. As soon as you cross a jurisdictional line, even if it separates countries that are very similar, you enter a different legal system. It cannot be assumed that any particular rule, doctrine, or practice is the same in any two jurisdictions, regardless of how close these jurisdictions are, in terms of history and tradition. The Encyclopedia of Law and Society is the largest comprehensive and international treatment of the law and society field. With an Advisory Board of 62 members from 20 countries and six continents, the three volumes of this state-of-the-art resource represent interdisciplinary perspectives on law from sociology, criminology, cultural anthropology, political science, social psychology, and economics. By globalizing the Encyclopedia′s coverage, American and international law and society will be better understood within its historical and comparative context. Key Features: Includes more than 700 biographical entries that are historical, comparative, topical, thematic, and methodological Presents the rich diversity of European, Latin American, Asian, African, and Australasian developments for the first time in one place to reveal the truly holistic, interdisciplinary virtues of law and society Examines how and why legal systems grow and change, how and why they respond (or fail to respond) to their environment, how and why they impact the life of society, and how and why the life of society impacts in turn these legal systems With borders more porous than ever before, this Encyclopedia reflects the paradoxical reality of modern life, including legal life. This valuable resource aims to present research, along with the theories on which it is grounded, fairly and comprehensively and is a must-have for all academic libraries.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

1809

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Published Date

ISBN 10

1452265542

ISBN 13

9781452265544

The Resettlement of Sex Offenders after Custody

Circles of Support and Accountability

By: David Thompson,Terry Thomas

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The Resettlement of Sex Offenders after Custody

Circles of Support and Accountability

By: David Thompson,Terry Thomas

Sexual offending is a very contemporary issue and not least following news of historical cases (of well-known people) and of ‘localised grooming for sexual exploitation’ (e.g. the Rotherham case); The rehabilitation of all offenders from prison is currently undergoing a transformation initiated by the coalition government; The position of the voluntary sector in that transformation (see (2)) alongside the public (probation service) and private sector is still being discussed; Voluntary work has taken on a new significance in the age of austerity and the so-called ‘Big Society’ (even though that term has recently fallen into some disuse); Circles of Support and Accountability challenge the prevailing negative ‘public protection’ agenda which just seeks to constrain offenders and offers a more positive way of working with sex offenders.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

263

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Published Date

ISBN 10

1317483146

ISBN 13

9781317483144

Book's by David Wacks

Username

Password

Password again

Birthday

Email