Do our lives have meaning? Should we create more people? Is death bad? Should we commit suicide? Would it be better to be immortal? Should we be optimistic or pessimistic? Since Life, Death, and Meaning: Key Philosophical Readings on the Big Questions first appeared, David Benatar's distinctive anthology designed to introduce students to the key existential questions of philosophy has won a devoted following among users in a variety of upper-level and even introductory courses.

A simpler life. In a shadow cast by the jarring beginning of the new millennium, simplicity has an undeniable appeal. Global conflicts, domestic security concerns, and a stalling economy can make keeping up with the Joneses feel like, at best, a misguided luxury. Now is not a time for excess; it is a time, it would seem, to focus on "what really matters." Thus the appeal of voluntary simplicity, a notion that combines the freedom of modernity with certain comforts and virtues of the past.

Theodore Kurita is heir to apparent to the Draconis Combine, one of the most powerful realms of the Inner Sphere. But the Draconis Combine has never been a place of smooth transitions. Kurita’s perilous journey to power is a twenty-year odyssey of lethal encounters and narrow escapes. And at the end awaits the most dangerous foe of all, the man whom Theodore must one day depose—his own father.

Two of today's most important and popular New Testament scholars, John Dominic Crossan and N. T. Wright, here air their very different understandings of the historical reality and theological meaning of Jesus' Resurrection. The book highlights points of agreement and disagreement between them and explores the many attendant issues.This book brings two leading lights in Jesus studies together for a long-overdue conversation with one another and with significant scholars from other d...

Acquired wisdom has always put Sgt. Pepper at the head of the class, but it was Revolver that truly signaled The Beatles' sea change from a functional band to a studio-based ensemble. These changes began before Rubber Soul but came to fruition on Revolver, which took an astonishing 300 hours to produce, far more than any rock record before it.The making of Revolver – hunkered down in Abbey Road with George Martin – is in itself a great B...

This fascinating book demonstrates that to be a good communicator and therefore an effective manager, a person must have five qualities in order to be viewed as totally credible–competence, character, composure, sociability, and extroversion. While some executives seem to possess all these qualities and be born with savvy communication skills, Weiner shows how anyone can find ways to make measurable improvements in how they present themselves that will enhance their credibility.

"CONCEPTS of a Law of Nature are as old as Western philosophy. From its inception Greek philosophy was concerned to reduce the apparent chaos and conflict of the visible world to some principle of harmony and order. The true relationship of man to the world about him was of primary concern. Philosophical solutions of these problems were found in concepts of Natural Law by which men could be brought into an ideal relationship with each other and with their environment."In selecting t...

The Most Wonderful Christmas Tales Of All Time is an exquisite anthology that captures the heartwarming essence and infinite diversity of storytelling inspired by the yuletide spirit. Encompassing a range of genres from classic drama to fairy tales and transformative narratives, this collection splendidly showcases tales that explore themes of generosity, hope, and the magic of Christmas. The eclectic array of stories speaks to the classical, romantic, and even modernist literary contexts,...

"Amphibians and Reptiles in Captivity" is a comprehensive guide that delves into the care, breeding, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles in a captive environment. Authored by experts Robert N. Bader, Donald J. Coxwell, and Tom R. Johnson, the book provides valuable insights into the biology and behavior of these fascinating creatures. It emphasizes the importance of creating suitable habitats and understanding the specific needs of various species, making it an essential resource f...

Commander Peter Wake, U.S. naval intelligence agent, is in Florida in 1888 culminating an espionage mission to learn Spain's naval readiness in Cuba. He and sidekick Sean Rork are hoping to wrap it up and head home on their annual leave. But a beautiful woman from Wake's past shows up, begging him to find her missing son. He agrees, and thus Honor Bound, Wake sets off across Florida and through the Bahamian islands with a motley band, including a Smithsonian ethnologist, a naval architect,...

Popular culture helps construct, define, and impact our everyday realities and must be taken seriously because popular culture is, simply, popular. Communication Perspectives on Popular Culture brings together communication experts with diverse backgrounds, from interpersonal communication, business and organizational communication, mass communication, media studies, narrative, rhetoric, gender studies, autoethnography, popular culture studies, and journalism. The contributors tackle such ...

This Top Five Classics illustrated edition of Treasure Island includes:• All 16 full-color paintings by N.C. Wyeth for the 1911 edition• Another 44 black & white illustrations by Louis Rhead for his 1915 edition• The essay "My First Book" by Robert Louis Stevenson, on the writing of his classic• A glossary of nautical terms and historical slang• A helpful introduction, author bio, and bibliographyRobert ...