What are the ends of economic activity? According to neoclassical theory, efficient interaction of the profit-maximizing "ideal producer" and the utility-maximizing "ideal consumer" will eventually lead to some sort of social optimum. But is that social optimum the same as human well-being? Human Well-Being and Economic Goals addresses that issue, considering such questions as:Does the maximization of individual welfare really lead to social welfare?How can...

Almost always when we think of Ghost Stories, we first think of those written by the Victorians.When you consider the depth of literary talent available over the extraordinary length of Queen Victoria’s reign, allied to the fascination with their all things spiritual on ‘the other side’, then perhaps it’s simply right place, right time.Whatever the reasons given or proffered the reality and known facts are that if you want a really good ghost story to bring that edge of chi...

Life is to be lived. Experiences gained, pleasures sampled. But, troublingly, when you are a classic author your thoughts sometimes lean towards darker thoughts. Within the space of a few paragraphs these literary masters shape a new world; more difficult experiences, darker pleasures. Life becomes uneasy, a queasy feeling, perhaps a repulsion here, a disgust there and very soon what was cosy, warm and comfortable becomes cold, painful, even horrific.The talents of their pens now f...

An author’s talents may seem obvious and indisputable as they move words and ideas into gathered phrases and stories.But where do these ideas and stories come from? A lonely thought that suddenly gathers form? An inspiration from a Muse? A suggestion from an everyday event?Perhaps in the case of their darker, more malevolent stories, other forces are at work. They help to nourish single words into sentences and paragraphs that ease themselves from the shadows and are sudden...

A SUNDAY TIMES NATURE BOOK OF THE YEARIt's flight and egg and feathers and song. It's the demure plumage of a mountain thornbill and the extravagant tail feathers of an Indian paradise flycatcher, the solo song of a superb lyrebird and the perfectly timed duets of canebrake wrens, an osprey's hurtling dive toward the sea, and a long-legged heron's still, patient eyeing of the dark water.There is no single bird way of being.Drawing on person...

A gentle, comforting, body-positive approach to foodIt's time to explore and build new, positive relationships with food, moving away from restriction, deprivation, and obsession with body image. The Intuitive Eating Plan provides you with the information and steps necessary to heal your relationship with food and accept your body's beautiful intuition.You will be introduced to intuitive eating concepts that challenge what you previously believed a...

Birds are astonishingly intelligent creatures. In fact, according to revolutionary new research, some birds rival primates and even humans in their remarkable forms of intelligence. Like humans, many birds have enormous brains relative to their size. Although small, bird brains are packed with neurons that allow them to punch well above their weight.In The Genius of Birds, acclaimed author Jennifer Ackerman explores the newly discovered brilliance of birds and how it came ...

‘Don’t venture into the future without having read this book’ ANDREW ROBERTSIt is twenty years on from the nuclear war between the US and China that brought down the old world order, and the American president has held power for over a decade. Suddenly, he collapses in the middle of an address to the nation. A cover-up ensues, the administration announces his death and the country descends into civil war.Everything points to a remote assassination made poss...

Inside the Witch is a poetic adventure where passion and romance are interwoven with the games of dominance and submission. Elektra Ackerman introduces enigmatic characters with depth, personality, and purpose. The story takes the readers from an ordinary college scene to the fantasy world of the Witch. Alexander, a talented undergrad, lonely and frustrated with the social scene, goes on a camping trip to find an infamous Witch. Meanwhile, the Witch, bewildered by Alexander's strength and ...

Intergalactic space missions can be lonely, especially if you're one of the only humans on the ship and your only friend is a vibrator. This is how it goes for Pillary, a young woman who wants to orgasm with excitement, but doesn't want to complicate her life with a workplace fling. Back to the self-gratification… well, until a knock on her quarter's door changes everything. Who's there? It's Rabik, a squid-like creature that is twice her size and floats in the air. This alien colleague is...

A BookBub "Best Books Coming This Winter”A haunting mystery beneath the ocean’s surface. One woman’s reckoning with the past. Long-buried secrets waiting to rise.Hawai’i, 1998. When a string of rare shark attacks unsettles the once-peaceful Kohala coast, marine biologist Minnow Gray is called in to investigate. Known for her uncanny connection to sharks, she is the island’s best hope for uncovering why the attacks are happening—a m...

"A contemporary love story set on the Turkish/Syrian border that explores loss, resilience, and second chances. Haris Abadi is a man in search of a cause. An Iraqi who once translated for the American troops in exchange for US citizenship for himself and his sister, Haris yearns to return to Turkey and cross into Syria and join the fight against Bashar al-Assad's regime. But he is robbed before he can make it, and is taken in by two Syrian refugees in Gaziantep – Amir, a former Syrian revo...