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FE Review Manual: Rapid Preparation for the Fundamentals of
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Lindeburg, Michael R., PUBLISHER: Professional Publications (CA), The Best-Selling Book for FE Exam Preparation The "FE Review Manual" is the most trusted FE exam prep book available. It offers comprehensive coverage of FE exam topics while providing what exam candidates have requested most--integration of equations and variables from the "NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering Supplied-Reference Handbook." The "FE Review Manual" is a complete exam prep package in one book. Gain a better understanding of key concepts and save prep time by reviewing FE exam topics and "NCEES Handbook "equations in a single location. These equations, along with "NCEES Handbook" figure names and table contents are distinguished in green text for easy cross-referencing. Use the 13 diagnostic exams to identify where you need the most review and improve your problem-solving skills with over practice problems. Be sure to evaluate your progress by taking the included realistic 4-hour sample exam--it's designed to simulate the actual FE exam's morning session. Entrust your FE exam prep to the "FE Review Manual "and get the power to pass the first time--guaranteed--or we'll refund your purchase price. "Everything You Need to Succeed " Complete FE exam coverage in 54 easy-to-read chapters 13 topic-specific diagnostic exams Green text to distinguish "NCEES Handbook" equations, table contents, and figure names Over practice problems with step-by-step solutions SI units throughout 4-hour morning session practice exam A sample study schedule A comprehensive, easy-to-use index Exam tips and advice Topics Covered Include Biology Chemistry Computers, Measurement, and Controls Conversion Factors Dynamics Electric Circuits Engineering Economics Ethics Fluid Mechanics Materials Science/Structure of Matter Mathematics Mechanics of Materials Statics Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer Transport Phenomena Units and Fundamental Constants _____________________________ Since more than 2 million people preparing for their engineering, surveying, architecture, LEED(R), interior design, and landscape architecture exams have entrusted their exam prep to PPI. For more information, visit us at www.ppi2pass.com.
Inherit the Land: Jim Crow Meets Miss Maggie's Will
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Stowe, Gene / Sergio, Carl A., PUBLISHER: University Press of Mississippi, In the early twentieth century, two wealthy white sisters, cousins to a North Carolina governor, wrote identical wills that left their substantial homeplace to a black man and his daughter. Maggie Ross, whose sister Sallie died in , was the richest woman in Union County, North Carolina. Upon Maggie's death in , her will bequeathed her estate to Bob Ross--who had grown up in the sisters' household--and his daughter Mittie Bell Houston. Mittie had also grown up with the well-to-do women, who had shown their affection for her by building a house for her and her husband. This house, along with eight hundred acres, hundreds of dollars in cash, and two of the white family's three gold watches went to Bob Ross and Houston. As soon as the contents of the will became known, more than one hundred of Maggie Ross's scandalized cousins sued to break the will, claiming that its bequest to black people proved that Maggie Ross was mentally incompetent. Revealing the details of this case and of the lives of the people involved in it, Gene Stowe presents a story that sheds light on and complicates our understanding of the Jim Crow South. Stowe's account of this famous court battle shows how specific individuals, both white and black, labored against the status quo of white superiority and ultimately won. An evocative portrait of an entire generation's sins, "Inherit the Land: Jim Crow Meets Miss Maggie's Will" hints at the possibility for color-blind justice in small-town North Carolina. Gene Stowe grew up in Monroe, North Carolina, and was a reporter for the "Charlotte Observer" for twelve years. He is head of the writing program of Trinity School at Greenlawn in South Bend, Indiana. Carl A. Sergio earned degrees in art design and psychology at the University of Notre Dame. He is currently working in Chicago while preparing to attend graduate school. Learn more about the author at http: //genestowe.blogspot.com/. Acquista Ora
Getting Started with CSS
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Powers, David, PUBLISHER: Friends of ED, Knowledge of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is essential for developing modern, attractive websites, but many beginners are put off by the need to learn about unfamiliar concepts, such as selectors, properties, and classes, before they can achieve anything. Getting StartED with CSS takes a practical approach by showing you how to use CSS in simple stages, starting by changing the default appearance of HTML tags to improve the look of text and links. It assumes no prior knowledge of CSS and avoids bombarding you with unnecessary technical details. At the same time, it explains all the main points and acts as a reference that you can come back to when you need to refresh your memory. More advanced concepts are introduced gradually, so that by the end of the book you'll have a solid understanding of all the main aspects of CSS. Particular attention is paid to avoiding the common pitfalls of beginners, enabling you to create websites that not only look good, but also are easy to maintain. Requires no previous knowledge of CSS Instant results--starts showing how improve the look of a website stage by stage Doesn't bombard you with endless rules and jargon What you'll learn Immediately improve the look of your entire website by controlling fonts and colors with just a few lines of code. Understand how to control the layout of elements on the page without resorting to complex tables. Add background images that appear exactly where you want them. Create effective style sheets that are easy to maintain by avoiding common mistakes such as overreliance on classes ("classitis"). Learn how browsers display page elements and master CSS positioning. Experiment with advanced CSS selectors. Who is this book for? This book is aimed at anybody who wants to learn how to style websites using CSS. The primary readership is likely to be independent web developers and serious hobbyists, but knowledge of CSS is essential to anyone planning a career in web development, so it should also find a place in the curriculum of academic courses in media studies.
Listening to Whales: What the Orcas Have Taught Us
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Morton, Alexandra, PUBLISHER: Ballantine Books, For the past twenty-five years, Alexandra Morton has been at the forefront of whale and dolphin research, dedicating her life to the study of orcas (also known as killer whales). Now in "Listening to Whales," Morton shares the spellbinding story of her career, her adventures in the wilderness, the heartbreak she has endured, and the rewards of living her life on her own terms. Born into an artistic family in Connecticut, Morton experienced a seismic jolt when at age twelve she first read the work of primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall and knew she wanted to study wild animals. Soon afterward, listening for the first time to orcas communicating with each other, she knew she had found her life work. In the late s, while working at California's Marineland, Alexandra pioneered the recording of whale sounds by dropping a hydrophone into the tank of two killer whales. She recorded the varied language of mating, childbirth, and even grief after the birth of a stillborn calf. At the same time she made the startling observation that the whales were inventing and perfecting wonderful synchronized movements, a behavior that was soon recognized as a defining characteristic of orca society. In , Alexandra moved with her husband, photographer Robin Morton, to a remote bay in British Columbia to continue her research with wild orcas. For a few idyllic years, Alexandra and Robin shared their passion for whales, cruising the green northern waters and raising a baby boy. But tragedy struck when Robin died in a terrible accident. Only the love of her son and her abiding dedication to whale research gave Alexandra the strength to continue her groundbreaking work. Her recordings of the whalesthat swim by her house have led her to a deeper understanding of the mystery of whale echolocation, the vocal communication that enables the mammals to find their way in the dark sea. She continues to be among the renowned researchers attempting to break down the barriers of interspecies communication. At once an inspiring story of a woman's determination to live her life on her own terms and a fascinating study of the profound communion between humans and whales, this book will open your eyes anew to the wonders of the natural world.
Michael Douglas: A Biography
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Eliot, Marc, PUBLISHER: Random House USA Inc, A groundbreaking portrait of one of Hollywood's most successful stars, from critically acclaimed and bestselling biographer Marc Eliot Through determination, inventiveness, and charisma, Michael Douglas emerged from the long shadow cast by his movie-legend father, Kirk Douglas, to become his own man and one of the film industry's most formi-dable players. Overcoming the curse of failure that haunts the sons and daughters of Hollywood celebrities, Michael became a sensation when he successfully brought "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, "starring his friend Jack Nicholson, to the screen after numerous setbacks, including his father's own failed attempts to make it happen. This box-office phenomenon won Michael his first Oscar (the film won five total, including Best Picture), an award Kirk hadn't won at the time, and solidified the turbulent, competitive father-son relationship that would shape Michael's career and personal life. In the decades that followed, Michael established a reputation for taking chances on new talent and proj-ects by producing and starring in the hugely successful "Romancing the Stone "and "Jewel of the Nile "movies, while cultivating a multifaceted acting persona--edgy, rebel-lious, and a little dark--in such films as "Wall Street, Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct, "and "Disclosure. " Yet as his career thrived, Michael's personal life floundered, with an unhappy and tumultuous first mar-riage, rumors of infidelity (especially with leading ladies such as Kathleen Turner), and a headline-grabbing stint in rehab. Rocked by a series of tragedies, including Kirk's strokes, his son Cameron's incarceration, and his own fight against throat cancer, Michael has emerged trium-phant, healthy, and happy in his marriage to Catherine Zeta-Jones, a Welsh actress twenty-five years his junior, and their new young family. In "Michael Douglas, "Marc Eliot brings into sharp fo-cus this incredible career, complicated personal life, and legendary Hollywood family. Eliot's fascinating portrait of the lows and remarkable highs in Michael's life--in-cluding the thorny yet influential relationship with his father--breaks boundaries in understanding the life and work of a true American film star.
Metamorphosis and Other Stories (Barnes & Noble Classics
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Kafka, Franz / Baker, Jason / Freed, Donna, PUBLISHER: Barnes & Noble Classics, "The Metamorphosis and Other Stories," by Franz Kafka, is part of the ""Barnes & Noble Classics" "series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of "Barnes & Noble Classics": New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events Footnotes and endnotes Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work Comments by other famous authors Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations Bibliographies for further reading Indices & Glossaries, when appropriateAll editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. "Barnes & Noble Classics "pulls together a constellation of influences-biographical, historical, and literary-to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works. Virtually unknown during his lifetime, Franz Kafka is now one of the world's most widely read and discussed authors. His nightmarish novels and short stories have come to symbolize modern man's anxiety and alienation in a bizarre, hostile, and dehumanized world. This vision is most fully realized in Kafka's masterpiece, ""The Metamorphosis,"" a story that is both harrowing and amusing, and a landmark of modern literature. Bringing together some of Kafka's finest work, this collection demonstrates the richness and variety of the author'sartistry. ""The Judgment,"" which Kafka considered to be his decisive breakthrough, and ""The Stoker,"" which became the first chapter of his novel "Amerika," are here included. These two, along with ""The Metamorphosis,"" form a suite of stories Kafka referred to as "The Sons," and they collectively present a devastating portrait of the modern family. Also included are ""In the Penal Colony,"" a story of a torture machine and its operators and victims, and ""A Hunger Artist,"" about the absurdity of an artist trying to communicate with a misunderstanding public. Kafka's lucid, succinct writing chronicles the labyrinthine complexities, the futility-laden horror, and the stifling oppressiveness that permeate his vision of modern life. Jason Baker is a writer of short stories living in Brooklyn, New York.
Preventing Patient Suicide: Clinical Assessment and
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Simon, Robert I., PUBLISHER: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., Today's psychiatrists practice in an environment that poses difficult challenges. Both treatment time and duration are limited by insurance requirements; many facilities are understaffed; split treatment arrangements are typical; and high-risk, acutely suicidal patients are admitted to inpatient units for short lengths of stay. In addition, law now plays a pervasive role in the practice of psychiatry. The doctor-patient relationship is no longer defined solely by the involved parties. Clinicians must juggle these requirements and limitations while providing the very best care to their patients, especially those at high risk. "Preventing Patient Suicide: Clinical Assessment and Management" provides the wisdom of Dr. Robert I. Simon's vast clinical experience, combined with the latest insights from the evidence-based psychiatric literature, to offer a cutting-edge survey of suicide prevention and management techniques. The author: Addresses sudden improvement in high-risk suicidal patients, a phenomenon both common and perilous, with techniques for determining whether the improvement is real or feigned. Explores in depth the misuse of suicide risk assessment forms, with emphasis on their inherent limitations. Examines the many entrenched myths and traditions about suicide, exposing them to the critical light of evidence-based medicine, including the concept of "imminent suicide risk" and the myth of "passive suicide ideation." Discusses the continuum of chronic and acute high-risk suicidal patients, the fluidity with which one can become the other, and the difficulty in assessing these patients. Explores how the law and psychiatry interact in frequently occurring clinical situations, and the importance of therapeutic risk management. In addition, the book contains a variety of features that illuminate the subject and enhance the reader's understanding, including: Inclusion of illustrative case studies, combined with commentary on commonly occurring but complex clinical situations. Key points at the end of each chapter that identify critical information. A Suicide Risk Assessment Self-Test, a teaching instrument that consists of fifty questions designed to enhance clinician suicide risk assessment by incorporating evidence-based risk and protective factors. Dr. Simon provides a nuanced, empathic, yet pragmatic perspective on identifying, assessing, and managing the suicidal patient while successfully navigating a complex legal and clinical environment that poses its own risks to the practitioner.
Hutterites: Lives and Images of a Communal People
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Hofer, Samuel, PUBLISHER: Ex Machina Pub Co, "The Hutterites" is an ambitious undertaking for a young man who ran away from a Hutterite colony in and became successful as a writer and illustrator of classic books which document his Hutterite childhood (Born Hutterite and Dance Like a Poor Man). In his latest undertaking, years in the making, Hofer has taken on nothing less than a complete and straightforward account of the Hutterite experience, an explanation of its religious basis and the source of its communal life, the life cycles from birth to death and nearly 500 years of history of this most successful of the anabaptist Christian sects, right up to present-day schisms and struggles to survive into the 21st Century. What makes "The Hutterites: Lives and Images of a Communal People" unique among books dealing with Hutterites is the author's insightful and equitable perspective on his subject. Unlike other Hutterite who have left the "ark of communal life, Hofer has no bones to pick, no great cause to espouse. While the book is peppered with engaging anecdotes of his Hutterite upbringing, he describes the Hutterite experience with the objectivity and dispassion worthy of a professional historian or sociologist -- but in plain language stripped of jargon and pretense. His accessibility to the Hutterite communities and to others who have left the colonies has given him a wealth of stories and examples which help to make the Hutterite experience vivid and engaging. A reader comes to know not just about the Hutterites but also what it is like to be a Hutterite. The work is studded with 140 photographs, a valuable visual record in itself. While scholars will treasure this work for both its breadth and its detail, casualobservers of Hutterite life will find it both an easy and an illuminating read. Hofer has written for the common reader who is curious about the people whose dress and language have set them apart from the multitude of other cultures, not just for professors or for other disaffected Hutterites. He pierces the myth and misconceptions that have arisen about the communal people and builds a bridge of understanding that may be crossed by anyone conscious of our common humanity. In doing so, he has created that rare book that not only informs, but serves the cause of goodness.
Accelerated Silverlight 3
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Ghoda, Ashish / Scanlon, Jeff, PUBLISHER: Apress, Accelerated Silverlight 3 teaches you how to get up to speed with the latest version of Silverlight quickly and efficiently. The book assumes you're already comfortable with the basics of.NET coding and with WPF and builds on your existing knowledge to make your journey to Silverlight 3 proficiency as quick and painless as possible. Where coding techniques are similar to other, more established, areas of.NET, the text says so. Likewise, where there's a syntax or conceptual "gotcha" that you're existing coding habits will walk you into, the text points that out, too. This book provides you with fast-track coverage of all the most important elements of the Silverlight 3 technology ranging from XAML to standard controls, from dealing with media to networking, from testing to deployment. It concludes with a pair of fully worked sample applications for you to follow through, because nothing reinforces your understanding of how concepts fit together as much as looking at finished code. It is assumed that readers are already be comfortable with the workings of the.NET Framework. Knowledge of Expression Blend is useful, but not mandatory: you'll learn the Blend techniques that you need to know as you go through the book. By the end, you will have followed a sound, concise, path to mastery of Silverlight 3. What you'll learn Migrate your existing.NET skills to Silverlight 3 as quickly as possible Learn everything you need to know to start developing quality Silverlight 3 applications with confidence Explore worked case studies showing techniques and best practices in a code-heavy style that you can relate to Who is this book for? This book is for.NET developers, whether they are previewing.NET 4.0, already using.NET 3.5, or are in the process of migrating up from.NET 2.0. The aim is to ease people's migration paths as much as possible, so the text includes notes to highlight important features of.NET 3.5 and 4.0 that people need to be aware of and also to highlight where Silverlight's working and syntax differs substantially from that of WPF. About the Apress Accelerated Series The fastest path to mastery, with a rapid tutorial covering best industry practices and a permanent reference you'll keep by your desk.
Brainworks: The Mind-Bending Science of How You See, What
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Sweeney, Michael S. / Copperfield, David, PUBLISHER: National Geographic Society, Admit it. When you hear "neuroscience," you expect something abstract and remote, very complex, of little practical use. But this time? It's personal. National Geographic "Into" "Your Brain "makes YOU the test subject of an array of astonishing experiments. Your brain is going to be stimulated, fooled, and ultimately amazed, as scientists and other experts show you how this three-pound blob of gray matter makes you, you. Rather than simply displaying a collection of puzzlers or stating what happens during an illusion, this captivating book guides you to experience visual tricks firsthand and then explains your brain's reaction in clear, user-friendly language--giving every reader a strong personal interest in finding out why his or her mind acts the way it does. The companion to a highly anticipated, three-part series airing on the National Geographic Channel in Spring , this book will definitely mess with your head--to entertain you and show you the very cool complexities of how your brain does its job. In three sections--Sights, Sounds, and Memories--you'll see for yourself why visual illusions hoodwink the brain. You'll hear how sounds can provoke strong emotions and understand your brain's response to them. And you'll think of events that may not have actually happened, in order to learn how the mind can create a false memory. " " "Into Your Brain "brings together a crack team of scientists and researchers from a wide range of fields, including neurology, psychology, chemistry, audiology, and ophthalmology. Best-selling author Oliver Sachs, awareness expert Dan Simons, and memory expert Elizabeth Loftus are just a few of the notables who lend their considerable brainpower to this unprecedented project. The book also draws on the know-how of those who traffic in brain tricks--illusionists like Penn & Teller, artists like color expert Beau Lotto, and sound designers like Julian Treasure--to bring each mind-bending illusion to life. Smart, engaging, exciting, and deeply worthwhile, "Into Your Brain "pulls you in, manipulates your mind, and leaves you with a better understanding--as well as a richer appreciation--of the marvels that go on up there in the old noggin.
Catherine the Great: Life and Legend
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Alexander, John T., PUBLISHER: Oxford University Press, USA, Catherine II of Russia is one of the most colorful characters in modern history. Born a minor German princess, she was betrothed to the Grand Duke Peter of Russia at 15, through the designs of the childless Empress Elizabeth and her own scheming mother. By 33, she had overthrown her husband in a bloodless coup and established herself as Empress of the multinational Russian Empire, the largest territorial political unit in modern history. Portrayed variously as a political genius who restored to Russia the glory it had known in the days of Peter the Great and a despotic foreign adventuress who usurped the Russian throne, murdered her rivals, and tyrannized her subjects, she was, by all accounts, an extraordinary woman. Catherine the Great, the first popular biography of the mpress based on modern scholarship, provides a vivid portrait of Catherine as a mother, a lover, and, above all, an extremely savvy ruler. Concentrating on her long reign (), John Alexander examines all aspects of Catherine's life and career: the brilliant political strategies by which she won the acceptance of a nationalistic elite; her expansive foreign policy; the domestic reforms with which she revamped the Russian military, political structure, and economy; and, of course, her infamous love life. Alexander begins with an account of the dramatic "palace revolt" by which Catherine unseated her husband and a background chapter describing the circumstances of her early childhood and marriage, then proceeds chronologically through the 34 years of reign. In compelling narrative fashion, he describes such events as the incursion of bubonic plague on Moscow, the uprising of the Ural peasants, and the six political murders the empress sanctioned. Catherine is presented here in more human terms than in previous biographies, with numerous quotations included from her reminiscences and notes. We learn, for instance, not only the names and number of her lovers, but her understanding of what many considered a shocking licentiousness. "The trouble is," she wrote, "that my heart would not willingly remain one hour without love." The result of 20 years' research by one of the leading narrative historians of modern Russia in the U.S., this is truly an impressive work. Alexander delved into little-known sources (including a collection of Catherine's love notes which is included here as an appendix) as well as popular and specialized accounts to arrive at this much-needed, balanced appraisal of one of history's most scandal-ridden figures.
North Vietnam and the Pathet Lao: Partners in the Struggle
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Langer, Paul / Zasloff, Joseph, PUBLISHER: Harvard University Press, Laos is a major arena of international confrontation despite the Geneva Accords of . Yet there is a dearth of published material on Laos, and the crucial issue of North Vietnam's role in that country has hardly been examined. This important study illuminates the North Vietnamese-Pathet Lao partnership, an understanding of which is so critical to the search for peace in Indochina. The authors reconstruct dispassionately the politics of the Lao revolution since its beginning after the Second World War. Focusing on North Vietnam's past and present role in Laos they trace the origins, evolution, organization, and leadership of the Pathet Lao organization. They demonstrate that the war in Laos is really three wars--Vietnamese traditional attempts to assert hegemony over regions of Laos important to North Vietnam's security; an extension of the struggle in South Vietnam; and a civil war between Lao Communists and anti-Communists. They show that Hanoi's active role springs from its interest in protecting its borders, gaining access to South Vietnam, and establishing a politically congenial regime in Laos. They conclude that the Viet Minh were a key factor in the genesis of the Pathet Lao and that the Vietnamese have continued to provide guidance and vital assistance to the revolutionary organization which now controls a significant portion of the country. On the other hand, the authors point out that the Pathet Lao share common interests with the North Vietnamese Communists and that, from their own perspective, they have not compromised their legitimacy as a nationalist movement by their heavy dependence on Hanoi. Langer and Zasloff, experienced analysts of Southeast Asian affairs, conducted extensive field research in Laos. They interviewed a wide variety of persons with intimate knowledge of the Lao Communist movement, including former Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese military and civilian personnel. They talked with Lao, in and out of the Government, who had gone to school with their future Lao or Vietnamese adversaries, were linked to them by family ties, had been in the same political camp, or had confronted them at the conference table. They interviewed specialists on Laos and Vietnam, among them scholars, journalists, officials of international agencies, and foreign government officials. They examined a range of internal Pathet Lao and North Vietnamese documents diaries, letters, party directives, and training guides, as well as textbooks, newspapers, propaganda leaflets, and general literature. They studied Pathet Lao, Vietnamese, Thai, Cambodian, Chinese, and Soviet radio broadcasts and consulted printed materials about Laos from Hanoi, Peking, and Moscow.
Your Immortal Body of Light
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Gibson, Mitchell E., PUBLISHER: Reality Press, "My name is Mitchell." Thus begins, Your Immortal Body of Light, a fascinating and true story that takes Mitchell E. Gibson, M.D. out of his ordinary consciousness and into the inner realms of his being. Dr. Gibson was Chief Resident in Psychiatry at a large inner city medical center when he began his journey, expanding his consciousness using meditation. On his quest, he actually encounters an ancient 'god of healing' known as Djehuti (pronounced Dee-jan-tee), or Thoth. Being a psychiatrist, Gibson more than wavered before accepting that he was indeed speaking with an actual entity but the experience persisted and eventually Djehuti revealed profound information to Gibson, about the formation of the soul and the causes of mental illness. Your Immortal Body of Light is a credible and highly readable adventure into the land of magic and miracles invoked by meditation. Not since the release of Tranceformers: Shamans of the 21st Century by John Jay Harper has there been such a heartfelt sharing of what it means to be contacted by a "deceased" colleague and how to apply those insights to understanding the physics and metaphysics of creation. In this book the author travels beyond the illusive veil of "reality" to bridge the gap between cultures and centuries. Dr. Gibson reveals how Words of Power invoke transformation in body-mind-spirit as scholar Jeremy Naydler declared in Temple of the Cosmos: The Ancient Egyptian Experience of the Sacred. "It is no coincidence that Thoth, the Lord of Speech, who in the Beginning uttered the primordial sounds that thickened into tangible substances and thus brought the world into existence, was also the originator of writing." That is, your world will never be the same once you put these writings into practice to create a life that is a dream come true too. Both fascinating and chilling this is not your everyday spiritual awakening story. Lee Levinson, Emmy Winning Television Producer "Your Immortal Body of Light" is alternatively a sensitive and compelling portrait of one man's spiritual and emotional journey into the unknown. The author's recounting of his personal experiences are reflected in outstanding visual sequences and dramatic character interaction that make this true story resonate with an air of authenticity that will impact audiences everywhere. Five Stars Highly Recommended... Kirkus Reviews "Nourishing soul food for the spiritually inclined."
Moral Courage
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Kidder, Rushworth M., PUBLISHER: William Morrow & Company, Why did a group of teenagers watch a friend die instead of putting their own reputations at risk? Why did a top White House official decide to come clean and accept a prison sentence during Watergate? Why did a finance executive turn down millions out of respect for her employer? Why are some willing to risk their futures to uphold principles? What gives us the strength to stand up for what we believe? As these questions suggest, the topic of moral courage is front and center in today's culture. Enron, Arthur Andersen, the U.S. Olympic Committee, abusive priests, cheating students, domestic violence -- all these remind us that taking ethical stands should be a higher priority in our culture. Why, when people discern wrongdoing, are they sometimes unready, unable, or unwilling to act? In a book rich with examples, Rushworth Kidder reveals that moral courage is the bridge between talking ethics and doing ethics. Defining it as a readiness to endure danger for the sake of principle, he explains that the courage to act is found at the intersection of three elements: action based on core values, awareness of the risks, and a willingness to endure necessary hardship. By exploring how moral courage spurs us to strive for core values, he demonstrates the benefits of ethical action to the individual and to society -- and the severe consequences that can result from remaining morally dormant. Moral Courage puts indispensable concepts and tools into our hands, equipping us to respond to the increasingly complicated moral challenges we face at work, at home, and in our communities. It enables us to make clear, confident decisions by exploring some litmus-test questions: Is the benefitworth the risk? Am I motivated by my desire to uphold my beliefs or just to impose them on others? Will my actions create collateral damage among those with no stake in the outcome? While physical courage may no longer be a necessary survival skill or an essential rite of passage out of childhood, few would dispute the growing need for moral courage as the true gauge of maturity. Treating this subject not as an esoteric branch of philosophy but as a practical necessity for modern life, Kidder deftly leads us to a clear understanding of what moral courage is, what it does, and how to get it.
The Deficit and the Public Interest: The Search for
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: White, Joseph / Wildavsky, Aaron, PUBLISHER: University of California Press, Political time is counted, not in years, but in issues--the depression defined the political era of the s just as the cold war did the s and civil rights the s. Today the federal budget looms as the dominant issue by which all others are considered and has become a concern which catalyzes debate again and again in our nation's capital. In this definitive new work, Joseph White and Aaron Wildavsky describe and analyze the struggles over taxing and spending from Carter's last year through the Reagan administration. The battle of the budget is largely about how we define the role of the government and its relationship to the people. It is a story of congressional horsetrading, partisan posturing, and technical tricks that affect billions of dollars. It is also a story of politicians operating within constraints set by both public opinion and political interpretation of economic reality. Though budgeting has always been important, its impact on the national agenda has grown dramatically in the last decades. Based on extensive interviews with participants and thorough use of documentary sources, this book both explains how budgeting works so the reader can see what is at stake in seemingly arcane disputes and locates budgeting within larger ideological trends in American society. It also explains the relationship of the budget to media, party and policy activists and explores the ways in which the deficit represents a crisis of self-confidence in the ability of our institutions, preeminently Congress and the presidency. Along the way, it provides a uniquely comprehensive account of the entire budget problem, exploring Gramm-Rudman, tax reform, and the continuing stalemate around this issue. "The Deficit and the Public Interest" offers a wide-ranging "solution" to the deficit that encompasses several ideas: the authors demonstrate that institutions have performed better than their members and critics believe, and they contend that extreme solutions would likely be much worse than the original problems. Further, they redefine the problem as one of reducing interest costs so the deficit becomes manageable, and they proffer political advice on how to make this approach politically acceptable, both at home and abroad. This meticulously researched work provides an invaluable journey through the last decade of American politics. In its theoretical depth and incisive new approach to policymaking, "The Deficit and the Public Interest" lends a fundamentally new understanding of the place of the federal government in American society.
Cost-Effectiveness: A Primer
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Levin, Henry M., PUBLISHER: Sage Publications (CA), Published in cooperation with the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory "Cost-Effectiveness will occupy a unique and important niche in the literature on normative economic analysis.... What Henry M. Levin does far better than other economic observer is to address the practical considerations in implementing cost analyses, with attention to the particular challenges of educational program evaluation. The educational evaluator with interest in costs will prize this book." --Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis "A very useful text for educational administrators as well as administrators in other public sectors. It would make an excellent textbook for students enrolled in educational or public administration courses. The concise text and numerous examples make the primer an interesting and useful guide and a valuable addition to the library of all those in public administration." --Resources in Review "Well organized, examining cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, cost-utility, and cost-feasibility studies. It also highlights the benefits and pitfalls of these tools for decision making. The examples and applications used throughout the book are directed at educators but can be readily generalized to other professions and services... It is an excellent start... for the uninitiated who is interested in making or influencing decisions when dividing our society's resources." --American Journal of Occupational Therapy "A clear and concise guide to understanding-and using-cost- effectiveness techniques, this primer will be an essential resource for policymakers, evaluators, social researchers and students." --Institute for Research on Educational Finance and Governance "Twoattractive features of this book are the extensive use of examples to illustrate the concept and methodology of cost-effectiveness analysis and the excercises presented at the end of each chapter.... A very worthwhile publication for policymakers, administrators, and the beginning program evaluators." --Economics of Education Review "Henry M. Levin's Cost-Effectiveness seeks to help evaluators and administrators to understand the concepts, uses, and applications of cost-effectiveness, and also to provide a basic course of study for those who will then move on to higher levels. And, by and large, it succeeds.... Appendixes offer feedback on exercises and a very useful annotated bibliography. There is a brief list of references and a commendably full index.... A competent and useful text." --Evaluation in Higher Education In the midst of budget slashing and diminishing resources, the need for efficient public policies has never been greater. Henry M. Levin introduces the concepts, uses, and applications of cost analysis-demonstrating step-by-step methods of resolving evaluation and decision-making dilemmas through four key approaches: cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, cost-utility, and cost-feasibility. Wh
Generalist Social Work Practice: An Empowering Approach
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Miley, Karla Krogsrud / O'Melia, Michael W. / DuBois, Brenda L., PUBLISHER: Prentice Hall, "An empowerment-based method of social work which integrates core themes of the profession." This text is part of the Connecting Core Competencies Series. "Generalist Social Work Practice, "7th edition, fully integrates core social work themes of collaboration, the strengths perspective, values and ethics, social justice and human rights, evidence-based practice, cultural competence, and policy practice. This text offers a progressive practice approach grounded in social work research, reflective of social work values, sensitive to client diversity, and applicable to work with any level of client system including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Beginning with engaging clients as partners and continuing with assessing, intervening, and evaluating from a strengths perspective, this approach offers social workers a method that fully realizes core social work values, respects client competence, and activates client resources within the context of their lives. All parts of the practice process are described in detail, connected to social work theory, illustrated with case examples, and supported with evidence from social work research. Each chapter focuses on teaching the knowledge, values, and skills reflective of the core competencies and correlated practice behaviors as described in the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). A better teaching & learning experienceThis program will provide a better teaching and learning experience--for you and your students. Here's how: "Personalize Learning -- "MySearchLab delivers proven results in helping students succeed, provides engaging experiences that personalize learning, and comes from a trusted partner with educational expertise and a deep commitment to helping students and instructors achieve their goals. "Improve Critical Thinking --" Teaches students specific strategies to identify and use client strengths in their practice. "Engage Students -- "Offers numerous case examples to apply the empowerment method to all levels of social work, with diverse clients and situations, and across fields of practice. "Explore Current Issues -- "Includes new practice research findings and updates to demographics to ensure currency. "Apply CSWE Core Competencies -- "The text integrates the CSWE EPAS, with critical thinking questions and practice tests to assess student understanding and development of competency. "Support Instructors -- "An Instructor's Manual and Test Bank, Computerized Test Bank (MyTest), BlackBoard Test Item File, MySearchLab with Pearson eText, and PowerPoint presentations are included in the outstanding supplements package.Note: MySearchLab does not come automatically packaged with this text. To purchase MySearchLab, please visit: www.mysearchlab.com or you can purchase a valuepack of the text + MySearchLab (at no additional Acquista Ora
A Line in the Sand
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Roberts, Randy W. / Olson, James S. / Olson, James N., PUBLISHER: Free Press, In late February and early March of , the Mexican Army under the command of General Antonio Lipez de Santa Anna besieged a small force of Anglo and Tejano rebels at a mission known as the Alamo. The defenders of the Alamo were in an impossible situation. They knew very little of the events taking place outside the mission walls. They did not have much of an understanding of Santa Anna or of his government in Mexico City. They sent out contradictory messages, they received contradictory communications, they moved blindly and planned in the dark. And in the dark early morning of March 6, they died. In that brief, confusing, and deadly encounter, one of America's most potent symbols was born. The story of the last stand at the Alamo grew from a Texas rallying cry, to a national slogan, to a phenomenon of popular culture and presidential politics. Yet it has been a hotly contested symbol from the first. Questions remain about what really happened: Did William Travis really draw a line in the sand? Did Davy Crockett die fighting, surrounded by the bodies of two dozen of the enemy? And what of the participants' motives and purposes? Were the Texans justified in their rebellion? Were they sincere patriots making a last stand for freedom and liberty, or were they a ragtag collection of greedy men-on-the-make, washed-up politicians, and backwoods bullies, Americans bent on extending American slavery into a foreign land? The full story of the Alamo -- from the weeks and months that led up to the fateful encounter to the movies and speeches that continue to remember it today -- is a quintessential story of America's past and a fascinating window into our collective memory. In "ALine in the Sand," acclaimed historians Randy Roberts and James Olson use a wealth of archival sources, including the diary of Jose Enrique de la Pena, along with important and little-used Mexican documents, to retell the story of the Alamo for a new generation of Americans. They explain what happened from the perspective of all parties, not just Anglo and Mexican soldiers, but also Tejano allies and bystanders. They delve anew into the mysteries of Crockett's final hours and Travis's famous rhetoric. Finally, they show how preservationists, television and movie producers, historians, and politicians have become the Alamo's major interpreters. Walt Disney, John Wayne, and scores of journalists and cultural critics have used the Alamo to contest the very meaning of America, and thereby helped us all to "remember the Alamo." Acquista Ora
Service Quality: Research Perspectives
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: White, Susan S. / Schneider, Benjamin, PUBLISHER: Sage Publications (CA), "This book is not a 'one-minute' guide for managers in search of alleged quick-fixes of service quality. Instead, it is thirty years of accumulated theory and research that can help serious students understand and analyze this complex phenomenon. The book succeeds in embedding the often overlooked customer within organization studies, using the interdisciplinary approach that scholars preach but seldom practice, and closing with an agenda for future research that others might even find worth pursuing." --Dr. David E. Bowen, Professor of Management and Dean of Faculty and Programs, Thunderbird"Schneider and White promise to deliver insight into the intriguing intricacies of providing excellent services. They deliver sagacity, the intelligent application of knowledge. They do this by being eclectic, disciplined, and thoughtful... Facts about service - what it is, how it happens, what is required to make it better - thankfully dominate this book, supported by good thinking and good methods. No one interested in service quality should miss this book. There is no other book like it." --Rick Guzzo, Ph.D., Mercer Human Resource Consulting"The coverage is excellent. Among other things, it does a nice job of providing a rationale for why researchers and managers need to understand the perspectives of their customers." --Susan E. Jackson, Ph.D., Rutgers UniversityThe last three decades have seen a dramatic increase in the attention businesses devote to their quality of service. Scholars and researchers in a number of disciplines, including marketing, human resources I/O psychology, sociology, and consumer behavior, have all made substantial contributions to understanding what service is, howservice and service delivery quality are experienced by customers, and the role of employees and their organizations in service delivery. Service Quality: Research Perspectives presents a comprehensive overview and analysis of the field and its research, including its growth, emerging trends, and debates. Authors Benjamin Schneider and Susan S. White cover the diverse conceptual and empirical approaches that characterize thinking and research on service quality, especially service delivery. It introduces the concept of service and the important ways service production can differ from goods production. It also presents a history of the concept of product quality and the emergence of concern for service quality. Key Features Summarizes conceptual and empirical research from the marketing perspective on the measurement of service quality and customer satisfaction Deals with concepts and approaches to service characteristic of operations management, especially the role of customer variability in service production Introduces research promoting the linkage of service climate experienced by employees to the service quality experienced by customers Presents several HR/OB approaches to organizational design and useful frameworks for integrating ide
The Winters in Bloom
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Tucker, Lisa, PUBLISHER: Atria Books, Kyra and David have been married for almost a decade and consider themselves happy - their home is comfortable, their jobs are stable, and their five year-old son, Michael, is simply perfect. Yet for reasons they've never fully shared with each other, the Winters have always been afraid that something will happen to the life they've created, and more importantly, to their little boy. David is a historian - he knows the past is inescapable, and yet he has spent fifteen years trying to escape the tragedy that ended his first marriage; trying to convince himself that if only he works hard enough, his new family will be safe. Kyra writes questions for a math textbook company; she loves puzzles and worships logic, yet she lives in fear of karma punishing her for the way she betrayed her sister, Amy, in college. After all, Amy was more than a sister - she was Kyra's only real family since their mother abandoned them as young children - and their estrangement weighs heavily on her conscience. So when Michael mysteriously disappears from his backyard one ordinary summer day, Kyra and David feel like the mistakes of their past have finally caught up to them. Each is convinced they know who has their son, but to find him, the Winters must embark upon an odyssey through time and memory. Their journey will involve David's mother, Sandra, who offers both her son and her daughter-in-law a path to understanding, and David's ex-wife Courtney, who lives just across town but in a universe away, where she struggles with the demons that caused her to lose everything she loved that fateful night fifteen years ago. It's only when a mysterious stranger enters their lives that they will discover it's not too late to become the kind of family they've always wanted to be--if only they can find a way to forgive themselves, and believe in the gift of a second chance. Lisa Tucker's most optimistic work since "Once Upon a Day, The Winters in Bloom "is a wise, life-affirming tale that is both poignant and surprisingly funny. Though the fast-paced, captivating story will keep readers turning pages, the novel's true power lies in its profound engagement with what it means to be alive: the mistakes we make, the price we pay, the fragility of human happiness but also the stubborn strength of the human heart.
A History of the Modern Middle East
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Cleveland, William L., PUBLISHER: Westview Press, This comprehensive work provides a penetrating analysis of modern Middle Eastern history, from the Ottoman and Egyptian reforms, through the challenge of Western imperialism, to the Iranian Revolution and the recent Gulf War. After introducing the reader to the region's history from the origins of Islam in the seventh century, Cleveland focuses on the past two centuries of profound and often dramatic change. While built around a framework of political history, the book also carefully integrates social, cultural, and economic developments into a single, carefully crafted account.Cleveland sets the stage with a superb, concise overview of the long-term, general patterns of Middle Eastern history. The book opens with a portrayal of Islam that stresses an understanding of this great world religion and culture on its own terms and in its specific historical setting. The rich potential of this culture manifested itself in shifting centers of Islamic florescence, culminating in the rise of the Ottoman and Safavid Empires as the central political and social entities of the Middle East in the sixteenth through the eighteenth centuries.The book next examines the crucial developments of the nineteenth century--an era characterized by attempts at the self-transformation of Middle Eastern societies, a process sometimes misleadingly referred to as "modernization" or "Westernization." The resulting disruption of the established order was a wrenching and disorienting experience for the peoples of the region.Defeat in World War I delivered the coup de grace to Ottoman rule and brought in the "mandate system" through which the British and the French sought to impose their overlordship on the Arab world.The interwar years, through to the end of World War II, were characterized by the Arab struggle for independence. This struggle led to the emergence of the major political ideologies of the Arab world--regionalism, pan-Arab nationalism--combined with the enduring appeal of Islamic solidarity. During this same period the two major independent states of the region, Turkey and Iran, embarked on intensive programs of secular reform designed to remake their societies in the image of the West. Several Arab states were able to establish their independence, but this process was greatly complicated by the legacies of European rule, especially the founding of the state of Israel in and the cold war rivalry of the superpowers.Many of the problems faced in the region today are a direct consequence of this historical legacy: the Arab-Israeli conflict, the concentration of oil wealth into the hands of a few, the Iran-Iraq war, the Palestinian problem, the dissolution of Lebanon, Islamic fundamentalism, and the striving for power on the world stage of states such as Syria, Iraq, and Iran."A History of the Modern Middle East" explains the deep historical currents flowing beneath today's headlines, making it essential reading for anyone s
The Horseman: A Travel Memoir
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Reitter, Bart, PUBLISHER: iUniverse.com, "Robert Louis Stevenson-who understood a thing or two about the selves we refuse to know-once said "I travel not to go anywhere, but to go." Surely it was the likelihood of an accident, the unparalleled joy of stumbling upon himself now and then, which Stevenson most cherished in the going. A bit like Stevenson, Bart Reitter is a man who revels in the great distance between here and there. His memoir The Horseman is a wonderful account of the selves forged and found during his travels across the first half of a lifetime-a heartfelt testament to the wisdom of refusing to stand still." --Professor Greg Col n Semenza, University of Connecticut "For those who have ever spent time on the road for a living this book will awaken memories-some fond, some downright scary. It's the diary of a young man plying his trade as he jets around the world while climbing the corporate ladder. Bart Reitter writes in exacting detail. A delightful read." --Thomas J. Gibbons Jr. Retired Staff Writer, Philadelphia Inquirer "The Horseman is an excellent story about one man's travels. The book drew me in and I found myself reading longer than I had allowed for. Reitter's enthusiasm for travel has rekindled my own excitement for the many business trips I have planned for this year." --Rich Dibernardo, President, Initech, LLC "Reading The Horseman brought back fond memories of my travels with Bart. I also have been infected with the travel bug and the cure is to get me on the next flight to anywhere." --John Lin, Senior Territory Sales Manager For author Bart Reitter, the journey is the destination. In this travelogue, he narrates his lifelong journey of discovery through travel. Written with stark clarity and emotional honesty, "The Horseman" begins with a six-year-old boy's first joyful trip to Disney World and concludes with a -mile circumnavigation of the globe. Compiled from journals kept while traveling the world and interwoven with personal reflection and unique historical perspective, "The Horseman" voyages through the joys and frustration of global travel as well as the introspection aimed at understanding life's meaning. It presents an emotional, scientific, funny, and irreverent window into Reitter's mind as he seeks to understand the insatiable wanderlust that drives him forward. From the eastern United States to Singapore, and from the streets of Paris to the jungles of Thailand, Reitter communicates a unique point of view of life on the road that pictures rarely tell. From the euphoria of successful business deals to the loneliness of sterile hotel rooms, the story is never boring. In the end, with the help of his daughters, he discovers the best journey of all is the journey home.
Sketching User Experiences: Getting the Design Right and the
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Buxton, Bill, PUBLISHER: Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, Bill Buxton and I share a common belief that design leadership together with technical leadership drives innovation. Sketching, prototyping, and design are essential parts of the process we use to create new products. Bill Buxton brings design leadership and creativity to Microsoft. Through his thought-provoking personal examples he is inspiring others to better understand the role of design in their own companies--Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft "Informed design is essential." While it might seem that Bill Buxton is exaggerating or kidding with this bold assertion, neither is the case. In an impeccably argued and sumptuously illustrated book, design star Buxton convinces us that design simply must be integrated into the heart of business--Roger Martin, Dean, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto Design is explained, with the means and manner for successes and failures illuminated by engaging stories, true examples and personal anecdotes. In Sketching User Experiences, Bill Buxton clarifies the processes and skills of design from sketching to experience modeling, in a lively and informative style that is rich with stories and full of his own heart and enthusiasm. At the start we are lost in mountain snows and northern seas, but by the end we are equipped with a deep understanding of the tools of creative design.--Bill Moggridge, Cofounder of IDEO and author of Designing Interactions "Like any secret society, the design community has its strange rituals and initiation procedures. Bill opens up the mysteries of the magical process of design, taking us through a land in which story-telling, orange squeezers, the Wizard of Oz, I-pods, avalanche avoidance, bicycle suspension sketching, and faking it are all points on the design pilgrim's journey. There are lots of ideas and techniques in this book to feed good design and transform the way we think about creating useful stuff." -Peter Gabriel I love this book. There are very few resources available that see across and through all of the disciplines involved in developing great experiences. This is complex stuff and Buxton's work is both informed and insightful. He shares the work in an intimate manner that engages the reader and you will find yourself nodding with agreement, and smiling at the poignant relevance of his examples.--Alistair Hamilton, Symbol Technologies, NY Books that have proposed bringing design into HCI are aplenty, though books that propose bringing software in to Design less common. Nevertheless, Bill manages to skilfully steer a course between the excesses of the two approaches and offers something truly in-between. It could be a real boon to the innovation business by bringing the best of both worlds: design and HCI. --Richard Harper, Microsoft Research, Cambridge There is almost a fervor in the way that new products, with their rich and dynamic interfaces, are being released to the public-typically promising to make lives easier,
With Pen and Voice: A Critical Anthology of
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Logan, Shirley Wilson, PUBLISHER: Southern Illinois University Press, "O woman, woman upon you I call; for upon your exertions almost entirely depends whether the rising generation shall be any thing more than we have been or not. O woman, woman your example is powerful, your influence great."--Maria W. Stewart, "An Address Delivered Before the Afric-American Female Intelligence Society of Boston" () Here--in the only collection of speeches by nineteenth-century African-American women--is the battle of words these brave women waged to address the social ills of their century. While there have been some scattered references to the unique roles these early "race women" played in effecting social change, until now few scholars have considered the rhetorical strategies they adopted to develop their powerful arguments. In this chronological anthology, Shirley Wilson Logan highlights the public addresses of these women, beginning with Maria W. Stewart's speech at Franklin Hall in , believed to be the first delivered to an audience of men and women by an American-born woman. In her speech, she focused on the plight of the Northern free black. Sojourner Truth spoke in at the Akron, Ohio, Women's Rights Convention not only for the rights of black women but also for the rights of all oppressed nineteenth-century women. Frances Ellen Watkins Harper struggled with the conflict between universal suffrage and suffrage for black men. Anna Julia Cooper chastised her unique audience of black Episcopalian clergy for their failure to continue the tradition of the elevation of womanhood initiated by Christianity and especially for their failure to support the struggling Southern black woman. Ida B. Wells's rhetoric targeted mob violence directed at Southern black men. Her speech was delivered less than a year after her inaugural lecture on this issue--following a personal encounter with mob violence in Memphis. Fannie Barrier Williams and Victoria Earle Matthews advocated social and educational reforms to improve the plight of Southern black women. These speeches--all delivered between and --are stirring proof that, despite obstacles of race and gender, these women still had the courage to mount the platform in defense of the oppressed. Introductory essays focus on each speaker's life and rhetoric, considering the ways in which these women selected evidence and adapted language to particular occasions, purposes, and audiences in order to persuade. This analysis of the rhetorical contexts and major rhetorical tactics in the speeches aids understanding of both the speeches and the skill of the speakers. A rhetorical timeline serves as a point of reference. Historically grounded, this book provides a black feminist perspective on significant events of the nineteenth century and reveals how black women of that era influenced and were influenced by the social problems they addressed. "A government which can protect and defend its citizens from wrong and outrage and doe
Effect of a Whisper
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: O'Shea, J. Scott, PUBLISHER: Dog Ear Publishing, In, Effect of a Whisper, Josh Greeley has made his decision on the next step in this life-fate chose otherwise. When the chaos of the world quiets down you can begin to truly listen to what is being said. What follows is one man's fight to remember any memories that may give him a future. It took Josh 29 years to get to today, but a single phone call and bad timing changed it all in an instant. It was in this instant, precisely, that a vibrant, intelligent, young man would lose so much. Life is frail, even for a mature man who has overcome life's challenges, and poor timing, only to succumb to another's actions. With the news of a dear uncle's plight and his own bizarre, violent, car crash, Josh's spirituality tells him there are no accidents. Caught between personal suffering, and the mourning of another, Josh must find his way. From out of the darkness to the confines of bed, there come dreams, visions, and ultimately, a realization there is a deeper reasoning for his fate, one that medicine cannot disguise, nor explain. More appropriately, reasoning may lie within a vow, or a prayer with his fading uncle. Or.was it God? Josh walks away from his accident unscathed, but has a gift bestowed upon him that will grow in strength. Coming to terms with this burden, he pieces profound visions and insights together, and so, discovers the purpose of his pain, and finally-his existence. Hesitantly, he learns to listen to the thoughts coming from beyond him to make sense of it all, as death waits for him to weaken. Careful Something that you ask for can come true by unimaginable ways. J. Scott O'Shea currently resides in Kansas City alongside some of his immediate family. Scott was born inthe small town of Westmoreland, Kansas in . He was thereafter raised in Paxico, Kansas during the remainder of his childhood. He went on to attend Washburn University in the City of Topeka, Kansas, where he lived during the development of this work. Aimlessly searching for his calling through college and beyond, he frequented various careers, aside from ending up a wandering, nervous actor, and a short-lived entrepreneur. As it ended up, the last two endeavors took him to where this story began. Effect of a Whisper is the first book in J. Scott O'Shea's promising writing career. It is a story he was first reluctant to write then hesitant to share. The events, which he conveys, began only as a record for his voided memories. Consequently, he struggled with the reason, and the push to unleash his story onto others. It is his sincerest wish that others amongst us can gain an understanding, and find hope where they could not find it before.