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The way people live is different in many parts of the world. But whether rich or poor, wherever they live, people share the same hopes and dreams and values:kindness, hospitality, love of children.These books, created with and for Oxfam, help us to discover what makes us different and what binds us together.
8" x 8" For children ages 5-8 ... Read more

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What force compels people who are deeply concerned about the state of the earth to pollute on a daily basis?

Just as gravity affects us all regardless of whether you believe in science, spiritual laws, or the omnipotence of God, human emergent behavior works invisibly to define the character of our society.

These forces are created whenever enough people come together to form a group, a society, or all of humankind. People’s thoughts and actions are then subtly herded by these mechanistic forces.

By becoming aware of human emergent behavior, we create the opportunity to bring consciousness and love to this powerful presence that is blindly ravaging society and the world.

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Book for Discussion Groups
This is a book that is worth buying and creating a discussion group.The ideas that are touched on here are increasingly relevant in an ever shrinking world.As the population of the planet increases and competition for resourses follows, we need to have a better handle on how we are fundamentally connected to one another. The future is going to require us to be more adept at cooperation and collaboration.This book is not necessarily offering answers to how to do that but it does get the ball rolling on the kinds of conversations we need to have to get to those answers. ... Read more

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US Foreign Policy and Iran is a study of US foreign policy decision-making in relation to Iran and its implications for Middle Eastern relations. It offers a new assessment of US-Iranian relations by exploring the rationale, effectiveness and consequences of American policy towards Iran from the aftermath of the 1979 Iranian Revolution to the present day.

As a key country in a turbulent region and the recipient of some of the most inconsistent treatment meted out during or after the Cold War, Iran has been both one of America's closest allies and an 'axis of evil' or 'rogue' state, targeted by covert action and contained by sanctions, diplomatic isolation and the threat of overt action. Moreover, since the attacks of 11 September 2001, Iran has played a significant role in the war on terror while also incurring American wrath for its links to international terror and its alleged pursuit of a nuclear weapons programme.

US Foreign Policy and Iran will be of interest to students of US foreign policy, Iran, Middle Eastern Politics and international security in general

Donette Murray is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Defence and International Affairs at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. She was awarded a PhD in International History by the University of Ulster in 1997.

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Have you ever wanted to know why civilizations decay or why war has been a recurrent phenomena throughout history; what are the forces causing population explosions, and why it is very likely that the power balance between today's developed countries and the less-developed world will be altered in the decades to come?

A Scientific Model of History provides the simplest answers to these questions, as well as many others regarding the limits of our social organization, such as why even todayÂ’s most advanced economies are incapable of preventing huge inequalities in the distribution of wealth to appear. Thanks to an analysis developed in terms of four inextricably linked variables (Natural Resources, Population, Technology and Standard of Living), this book, besides identifying the ever-recurring historical cycles that have affected all historical societies, also provides an insight on how our historical evolution will cause civilization to reshape itself beyond recognition.

Customer Reviews (1)

An Enjoyable Read On AFascinating Subject!
This is an interesting and fascinating book that belabors a prosaic subject enroute to becoming an absorbing and well-written read. While I do not necessarily agree with author Juan J. Gomez-Ibarra's theory in "A Scientific Model Of History; Where The Future Is Leading Us "concerning the specifics of the tractability of the subject of history to scientific description and explanation, I did appreciate his thoughtful and relatively simple exposition as to how the evidence that exists supports the existence of such a theory.Gomez-Ibarra's scholarship is apparent as he ranges from subjects as far-flung as Malthusian theory to the so-called limits to economic growth that such organizations as the Club of Rome first discussed in a book called "The Limits To Growth" in the early 1970s.

The author's theory is relatively simple and straight-forward; he posits that the complex interplay of four key variables, namely natural resources, population, level of technology, and the accompanying standard of living, combine to produce the key events that characterize what we call history. Of course, there is nothing new or novel about the application of these factors in terms of their relative influence over the course of social, economic, and political events within a culture over time, it is the scientific way in which he demonstrates their interactive force that proves novel.

Gomez-Ibarra writes with verve and a refreshing sort of forthright enthusiasm that is both unusual and appealing. Using this ability to engage the reader, Juan-Jose successfully conducts a campaign of evidence-gathering on behalf of this scientific model of history.He marshals an array of factors that substantiates his scientific point of view, and argues well regarding the value and usefulness of the scientific model in approaching current social, economic, and political questions. I especially enjoyed his willingness to take a long and engaging look at the so-called big questions of history, and in his examination of the natural, human, and technological constraints on the limits to growth, his hits the mark exactly dead-on. Given the fact that he carefully constructed and supported his hypotheses and ideas with well-researched substantiation, it is hard to argue with his conclusions.

In short, this is an interesting and quite readable tract on what might otherwise be a dry and stuffy academic subject. It is also written by someone whose own enthusiasm for the subject literally pours from the page, which only serves to positively affect the disposition of the reader. For that reason alone this is a book well worth your time and money. Enjoy! ... Read more

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For some people, their lawn is a source of pride, and for others, caring for their lawn is a chore. Yet for an increasing number of people, turf care is a cause of ecological anxiety. In Lawn People, author Paul Robbins, asks, "How did the needs of the grass come to be my own?" In his goal to get a clearer picture of why people and grasses do what they do, Robbins interviews homeowners about their lawns, and uses national surveys, analysis from aerial photographs, and economic data to determine what people really feel about-and how they treat-their lawns.

Lawn People places the lawn in its ecological, economic, and social context. Robbins considers the attention we pay our turfgrass-the chemicals we use to grow lawns, the hazards of turf care to our urban ecology, and its potential impact on water quality and household health. He also shows how the ecology of cities creates certain kinds of citizens, deftly contrasting man's control of the lawn with the lawn's control of man.

Lawn People provides an intriguing examination of nature's influence on landscape management and on the ecosystem. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

succinct and provocative
This is an accessible but theoretically sophisticated study of American lawns, and the reasons why people who are anxious about the effects of lawn chemicals on themselves, their children and their pets (including a woman who put booties on her dog when its paws bled after it walked on a chemically-treated lawn, rather than stopping the chemical treatment!) continue to use lawn chemicals and obsess over having a monocultured turfgrass lawn.Robbins writes with a minimum of jargon and name-dropping -- any undergraduate could easily follow his arguments without much difficulty -- but also quietly engages with actor-network theory, Foucauldian and Gramscian notions of power, hegemony and subject formation, as well as putting ecology into political ecology.It's a book which could sit equally well on an undergraduate or graduate syllabus, which speaks both to its clarity and the sophistication of its analysis.Highly recommended. ... Read more

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Learn about the geography and history of Mexico with iMindsJNR learning series for younger minds.

Which country separates the United States of America from Central America? Where, on average, do people eat half a kilo of tortillas every day? And, where is home to the cactus and the Chihuahua? Mexico, of course!
Mexico, or the United States of Mexico, is a federation of thirty-one sovereign states. Its land mass is almost three times that of Texas, which it borders. In fact, Mexico is the world’s fourteenth largest nation.

Perfect to engage, entertain and broaden young thinkers.. iMindsJNR brings targeted knowledge to your eReading device with short information segmentsto whet your mental appetite and broaden young minds.

iMindsJNR offers 6 main categories for ages 7-14years including General Knowledge, Geography & Nature, Famous People, Science & Maths, The Arts and History.Clear, concise and engaging, open young minds to a love of learning. ... Read more

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The Earth Around Us, a unique collection of thirty-one essays by a diverse array of today's foremost scientist-writers, examines vital questions about soil contamination, public lands, surface and groundwater pollution, coastal erosion and global warming. Sharing an ability to communicate science in a clear and engaging fashion, the contributor explore Earth's history and processes--especially in relation to today's environmental issues-- and show how we, as members of a global community, can help maintain a livable planet. This book empowers all of us to play more educated and active part in the search for a sustainable future for people and other living things on our planet.

Soil contamination . . . public lands . . . surface and groundwater pollution . . . coastal erosion . . . global warming. Have we reached the limits of this planet's ability to provide for us? If so, what can we do about it?

These vital questions are addressed in The Earth Around Us, a unique collection of thirty-one essays by a diverse array of today's foremost scientist-writers. Sharing an ability to communicate science in a clear and engaging fashion, the contributors explore Earth's history and processes--especially in relation to today's environmental issues--and show how we, as members of a global community, can help maintain a livable planet. The narratives in this collection are organized into seven parts that describe:

Earth's time and history and the place of people on it;
Views of nature and the ethics behind our conduct on Earth;
Resources for the twenty-first century, such as public lands, healthy forests and soils, clean ground and surface waters, and fluctuating coastlines;
Ill-informed local manipulations of landscapes across the United States;Innovative solutions to environmental problems that arise from knowledge of the interactions between living things and the Earth's air, water, and soil;
Natural and human-induced global scale perturbations to the earth system;
Our responsibility to people and all other organisms that live on Earth.

Never before has such a widely experienced group of prominent earth scientists been brought together to help readers understand how earth's environment works. Driven by the belief that earth science is, and should be, an integral part of everyday life, The Earth Around Us empowers all of us to play a more educated and active part in the search for a sustainable future for our planet and its inhabitants. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent science compilation!
This is an excellent example of science writing at its best.The essays are well-written and well-organized, and will appeal to a wide audience.As an earth scientist, I appreciate the detail that the authors provide,but the clarity of the book makes it accessible to readers of all levelsand backgrounds.I highly recommend this book as a worthy addition to anybook collection.

Highly Recommend
I absolutely loved this book. This book gives you the rare opportunity to hear a stunning array of scientists tell you about your surroundings in language that is accessible and informative to amateurs as well as expertsin the geosciences. As a geologist I feel like this book was written justfor me, but if you are at all curious about the environment around you andit's future, this is a great book to start with.The essays in this bookcover a large breadth of pertinent global issues, and backs up fascinatingnarratives with sound scientific reasoning.It answered questions I had,and introduced me to new issues and environmental crises I hadn'tconsidered until now.My family and friends can be certain that they willbe receiving a copy for Christmas.

Science....In terms I could understand!
I really enjoyed reading The Earth Around Us. It answered so many questions I had regarding the earth processes that are relevant to environmental questions. As a person who lives on the shore of a largelake, I was especially interested to read about what types of erosion Imight expect along my shoreline. All the essays in this book were short,fascinating, and very accessible. I loved `hearing' scientists speak inlanguage I could understand about practical environmental issues. I'mrecommending this book to all my friends and plan to give it as gifts topeople I know who are interested in science and environmental issues. ... Read more

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An eye-opening, at-a-glance guide to the myths and realities of American demography. Is demography destiny? Corporate marketers and government agencies act as if it is, producing mountains of statistics about Americans—most always remarkably inaccessible and dry. Now, America by the Numbers puts the power of demography back in the people's hands, collecting and clearly explaining a vast amount of population data in easy-to-read, informative tables and graphs. From the new immigration to the aging of America, this guide reveals how the ebb and flow of population shapes every public and private decision we make. In an engaging and accessible form, America by the Numbers ranges across the US landscape as it offers the latest facts about racial conflict, class division, health, schooling, family life, crime, and political participation. The most recent in The New Press's highly successful popular guides to politics and economics—including The Ultimate Field Guide to the US Economy and Social Stratification in the United States—America by the Numbers is both a practical reference on US population trends and a probing examination of the roots of America's most pressing problems. B/W charts and graphs throughout.

In America by the Numbers you'll learn:
• One in three Americans is a baby boomer.
• The nation's elderly population will have grown 80% by 2025.
• During Revolutionary War times, less than 10% of households owned a gun.
• ZIP codes in which less than 1% of the population lives provide 23% of all presidential campaign contributions. Beverly Hills, zip code 90210, gave over $500,000 in 2000, while Watts, zip code 90059, gave a total of $250. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Leftist sermonizing
I found this book very disappointing. It's too predictable in the demographics covers. It never ventures beyond the core themes in the field. Its conclusions are mundane and stereotypically leftist. The charts and graphs look pretty but, in general, are not all that functional. Some of the commentary is crackpot conspiracy grist (see page 98 where they argue that the Federal Reserve Bank policy of trying to contain inflation is an instrument of economic oppression). And, occasionally, the charts just simply distort the truth. For example, on page 200, there is a graph charting the sex, race, and education of Democrats. And, on page 202, there is a similar graph charting the sex, race, and education of Republicans. However, the scale of each of these differs: the scale of the Republican one is smaller.At a glance, it looks as though Democrats are statistically more educated than Republicans (which the numbers refute). Perhaps, I quibble over this last point, but I found the leftist bias of this book incredibly annoying. And, by the way, NO, I am not a Republican. I suppose Progressive Democrats, Green party advocates, free trade protesters and other partisan intellectual lightweights might enjoy the sermon but I would have preferred something that was more objective this.

Excellent guide to population statistics in America
This book is a succint and accessible guide to population statistics and demigraphics in America. Any one interested in economics, business, public policy, political science, sociology, history, etc., should run out and get this excellent book.

Besides presenting an important topic to the general public -- population trends in the US -- the book is written and organized in a user-friendly way. The excellent pictures and diagrams presenting quantitative information would make Edward Tufte proud! Even people with limited statistics background would find this book readable.

This book is a definite must for anyone who cares about the relationship between policy and the populous in the USA. ... Read more

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Make your first discoveries about geography with Harry and his dog Ralph as they explore the globe in their hot air baloon. This book shows you why the wind blows, snow falls and day turns to night. ... Read more

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Learn about the history and geography of Antarctica with iMindsJNR learning series for younger minds.

Antarctica is the fifth biggest continent on Earth. It is also the coldest. The sun shines for only half of the year and stays under the horizon for the other half. Early explorers of Antarctica described it as a mysterious, lonely place. But they also described it as a desert. And a desert it is! For it receives only 50 millimetres of rain and snow per year. That is less precipitation than the Sahara Desert! So, believe it or not, Antarctica is also the driest continent on Earth.

Perfect to engage, entertain and broaden young thinkers.. iMindsJNR brings targeted knowledge to your eReading device with short information segmentsto whet your mental appetite and broaden young minds.

iMindsJNR offers 6 main categories for ages 7-14years including General Knowledge, Geography & Nature, Famous People, Science & Maths, The Arts and History.Clear, concise and engaging, open young minds to a love of learning. ... Read more

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Q. What is Geography?
A. A description of the Earth's surface.
Q. What is the Earth?
A. The planet or body on which we live.
Q. What is the shape of the Earth?
A. Round, like a ball.
Q. Of what is the Earth composed?
A. Land and Water.
________________________________________
LESSON II.
Q. What is a Continent?
A. The largest division of the land.
Q. How many Continents are there?
A. Two; the Eastern and the Western.
Q. On which Continent do we live?
A. On the Western Continent.
Q. What are the divisions of the Western Continent?
A. North America and South America.

Q. What are the divisions of the Eastern Continent?
A. Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Q. What is an Ocean?
A. The largest division of the water.
Q. How many Oceans are there?
A. Five; Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern or Antarctic, Northern or Arctic.
... Read more