Philosophy has sometimes been described as the discipline in which you can never be wrong, as the reserve of absentminded professors, aloof academics and purveyors of obscure ideas or interesting opinions. Quite the contrary. Philosophy answers the hard questions: Does everything happen by chance? Is there anything more than matter in the universe? Are humans in the same class as animals? Is there a God? Can we know the correct answer to these questions? The answers to these questions matt...

The problem of human knowing has been foundational for the enterprise of philosophy since the time of Descartes. The great philosophers have offered different accounts of the power and limits of human knowing but no generally acceptable system has emerged. Contemporary writers have almost given up on this most intractable issue. In this book, Brian Cronin suggests using the method of introspective description to identify the characteristics of the act of human understanding and knowing. In...

Whether you've read the earliest X-Men comics from the silver age or never miss a big screen release, these are the 100 things all X-Men fans need to know and do in their lifetime. Comic Book Resources' Brian Cronin has collected every essential piece of mutants knowledge and trivia, as well as must-do activities, and ranks them all from 1 to 100, providing an entertaining and easy-to-follow checklist as you progress on your way to fan superstardom!

Four boisterous bunnies try to evade a bemused bear in this rhyming picture book that’s a silly and sweet comedy of errors from the New York Times bestselling author of the Click Clack Moo books, Doreen Cronin.Bunny 1, Bunny 2, Bunny 3, and Bunny 4, are out for a springtime hop when they see…a bear! As every bunny knows, it’s best to let sleeping bears lie, so they try to quietly tiptoe by. But a loud crunch on a tasty lunch wakes the bear up! The bunnies ...

When Lawrence makes a new friend, Sophia feels left out . . . and then acts out. It's a scenario that so many kids can relate to, told here with loads of laughs and charm.Lawrence and Sophia do everything as a pair. Together, they are big and bold and fast (sort of). But then one day, another kid appears—and Lawrence is excited about new adventures with this new friend. Sophia . . . is not. And she misses Lawrence while he’s bike-riding and shipbuilding wi...

In this gentle and comforting bedtime book by two award-winning creators, a mama sloth helps her baby to self-soothe while she’s making her way back to him.Baby sloth lives high up in the trees with his mama, where he loves to sleep between her and the moon. But one night he tumbles from her arms to land in a soft patch of leaves far below. “I’ll be there soon,” Mama sloth calls down to him. But sloths never get anywhere soon. When Baby becomes worried, Ma...

By the author of Click, Clack, Moo and the illustrator of The Lost House, here is an utterly endearing story about venturing out of your comfort zone and overcoming anxiety to help a friend.Lawrence stays close to home because “out there” is too big and loud. Sophia stays high up in the tree branches because “down there” is too dark and dangerous. When they meet and become friends, they find ways to enjoy each other’s company without leaving their...

From celestial navigation to sharpening blades, Ana Maria Spagna outlines 100 skills you’ll find indispensable for life after an apocalyptic global catastrophe. She covers obvious needs like first aid and farming, while also providing suggestions on how to build a safe and culturally rich community through storytelling and music making. Full of quirky illustrations by Brian Cronin, this book will provoke surprise, debate, and laughter as it leads you to greater self-reliance and joy — what...

Outrageous, fascinating and bizarre facts from every corner of the comic book universeWhat comic book artist was the recipient of an on-stage thank you from Paul McCartney and an on-air apology from Johnny Carson? What superhero got his powers by being bitten by a mongoose? What popular NPR host was forever immortalized as a "bad boyfriend" in a notable comic book? In Why Does Batman Carry Shark Repellent?, author Brian Cronin will answer those questions and more by revealing the ...

Fascinating and often bizarre true stories behind more than 130 urban legends about comic book culture.Was Superman a Spy? demystifies all of the interesting stories, unbelievable anecdotes, wacky rumors, and persistent myths that have piled up like priceless back issues in the seventy-plus years of the comic book industry, including:• Elvis Presley's trademark hairstyle was based on a comic book character (True)• Stan Lee featured a gay cha...

This is a book about the comics genre and language, how these were used to create Batman, and how that character's longevity is largely due to the medium's unique formal qualities. It argues that Batman's core appeal is his mythic nature which allows him to transcend changes in reader tastes, the vicissitudes of the comics industry, and the changing media landscape. While including some historical elements, it is mostly a study of how the formal aspects of comics are able to evoke uniquely...

The first full-fledged history not just of the Man of Steel but of the creators, designers, owners, and performers who made him the icon he is today, from the New York Times bestselling author of Satchel and Bobby Kennedy“A story as American as Superman himself.”—The Washington PostLegions of fans from Boston to Buenos Aires can recite the story of the child born Kal-El, scion of the doomed planet Krypton...