The Terror of History: On the Uncertainties of Life in Western Civilization By Teofilo F. Ruiz
2011 | 200 Pages | ISBN: 0691124132 | EPUB | 1 MB
This book reflects on Western humanity's efforts to escape from history and its terrors--from the existential condition and natural disasters to the endless succession of wars and other man-made catastrophes. Drawing on historical episodes ranging from antiquity to the recent past, and combining them with literary examples and personal reflections, Teofilo Ruiz explores the embrace of religious experiences, the pursuit of worldly success and pleasures, and the quest for beauty and knowledge as three primary responses to the individual and collective nightmares of history. The result is a profound meditation on how men and women in Western society sought (and still seek) to make meaning of the world and its disturbing history. In chapters that range widely across Western history and culture, The Terror of History takes up religion, the material world, and the world of art and knowledge. "Religion and the World to Come" examines orthodox and heterodox forms of spirituality, apocalyptic movements, mysticism, supernatural beliefs, and many forms of esotericism, including magic, alchemy, astrology, and witchcraft. "The World of Matter and the Senses" considers material riches, festivals and carnivals, sports, sex, and utopian communities. Finally, "The Lure of Beauty and Knowledge" looks at cultural productions of all sorts, from art to scholarship. Combining astonishing historical breadth with a personal and accessible narrative style, The Terror of History is a moving testimony to the incredibly diverse ways humans have sought to cope with their frightening history.

The Story of Life in 25 Fossils: Tales of Intrepid Fossil Hunters and the Wonders of Evolution by Donald R. Prothero
English | August 25, 2015 | ISBN: 0231171900, 0231171919 | True PDF | 408 pages | 59.1 MB
Every fossil tells a story. Best-selling paleontology author Donald R. Prothero describes twenty-five famous, beautifully preserved fossils in a gripping scientific history of life on Earth. Recounting the adventures behind the discovery of these objects and fully interpreting their significance within the larger fossil record, Prothero creates a riveting history of life on our planet.

The Sound of Salvation : Voice, Gender, and the Sufi Mediascape in China
by Guangtian Ha
English | 2022 | ISBN: 0231198078 | 312 Pages | True ePUB | 78 MB

The Socio-Economic Organisation of the Urartian Kingdom
by Ali Cifci
English | 2017 | ISBN: 9004347585 | 375 Pages | True PDF | 11.2 MB

The Social World of the Babylonian Priest
by Bastian Still
English | 2019 | ISBN: 900439995X | 328 Pages | True PDF | 3 MB

Paul H. Oehser, "The Smithsonian Institution: Second Edition"
English | ISBN: 0367295784 | 2019 | 224 pages | EPUB | 2 MB
The Smithsonian Institution has grown and prospered since the first edition of this book appeared in 1970, and Paul Oehser's revised edition is badly needed. New and expanded structures (the Air and Space Museum, the Hirshhorn, the National Museum of American Art, the National Portrait Gallery) and new undertakings (Smithsonian magazine, the Handbook of North American Indians series, the Woodrow Wilson Center, and prestigious symposia) richly serve the original purpose James Smithson envisioned in his will: " To found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." The heart of Oehser's original work has been left intact in this second edition. His is the only survey that combines the dramatic story of the Smithsonian's influence and expansion with the behind-the-scenes details of daily operations, structure, and administrative problems. The book has been updated to include all important developments of the last thirteen years, as well as to describe current plans for future expansion and program additions. The whole picture leads one to the conclusion that the world's largest museum complex, housing over seventy million objects, has succeeded―despite its air of old-fashioned traditionalism―in reflecting the adventure of the American experience and the insatiable curiosity and dynamics of the American spirit.

The Silencing of Slaves in Early Jewish and Christian Texts
by Ronald Charles
English | 2020 | ISBN: 0367204347 | 290 Pages | True ePUB | 1.97 MB

The Secure Information Society: Ethical, Legal and Political Challenges by Jörg Krüger
English | PDF | 2013 | 215 Pages | ISBN : 1447147626 | 3.3 MB
In our modern information societies, we not only use and welcome computers; we are highly dependent upon them. There is a downside of this kind of progress, however. Computers are not 100% reliable. They are insecure. They are vulnerable to attackers. They can either be attacked directly, to disrupt their services, or they can be abused in clever ways to do the bidding of an attacker as a dysfunctional user.

The Scientific Method: A Guide to Finding Useful Knowledge
English | 2022 | ISBN: 1316515168 | 249 Pages | PDF | 2 MB
The scientific method delivers prosperity, yet scientific practice has become subject to corrupting influences from within and without the scientific community. This essential reference is intended to help remedy those threats. The authors identify eight essential criteria for the practice of science and provide checklists to help avoid costly failures in scientific practice. Not only for scientists, this book is for all stakeholders of the broad enterprise of science. Science administrators, research funders, journal editors, and policymakers alike will find practical guidance on how they can encourage scientific research that produces useful discoveries. Journalists, commentators, and lawyers can turn to this text for help with assessing the validity and usefulness of scientific claims. The book provides practical guidance and makes important recommendations for reforms in science policy and science administration. The message of the book is complemented by Nobel Laureate Vernon L. Smith's foreword, and an afterword by Terence Kealey.