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The map of knowledge : a thousand-year history of how classical ideas were lost and found / by Moller, Violet,author.;
Includes bibliographical references (pages 271-290) and index."The foundations of modern knowledge--philosophy, math, astronomy, geography--were laid by the Greeks, whose ideas were written on scrolls and stored in libraries across the Mediterranean and beyond. But as the vast Roman Empire disintegrated, so did appreciation of these precious texts. Christianity cast a shadow over so-called pagan thought, books were burned, and the library of Alexandria, the greatest repository of classical knowledge, was destroyed. Yet some texts did survive and The Map of Knowledge explores the role played by seven cities around the Mediterranean--rare centers of knowledge in a dark world, where scholars supported by enlightened heads of state collected, translated and shared manuscripts. In 8th century Baghdad, Arab discoveries augmented Greek learning. Exchange within the thriving Muslim world brought that knowledge to Cordoba, Spain. Toledo became a famous center of translation from Arabic into Latin, a portal through which Greek and Arab ideas reached Western Europe. Salerno, on the Italian coast, was the great center of medical studies, and Sicily, ancient colony of the Greeks, was one of the few places in the West to retain contact with Greek culture and language. Scholars in these cities helped classical ideas make their way to Venice in the 15th century, where printers thrived and the Renaissance took root. The Map of Knowledge follows three key texts--Euclid's Elements, Ptolemy's The Almagest, and Galen's writings on medicine--on a perilous journey driven by insatiable curiosity about the world"--
Subjects: Learning and scholarship; East and West.;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Red dog farm : a novel / by Miller, Nathaniel Ian,author.;
Growing up on his family's cattle farm in western Iceland, young Orri has gained an appreciation for the beauty found in everyday things: the cavorting of a newborn calf, the return of birdsong after a long winter, the steadfast love of a good (or tolerably good) farm dog. But the outer world still beckons, so Orri leaves his no-nonsense Lithuanian Jewish mother and his taciturn father, Pabbi, to attend university in Reykjavík. Pabbi is no stranger to cycles of life and death, growth and destruction. He is pursued by the memory of a volcanic eruption and its aftermath, and so many years of hardscrabble farming have left their mark. Jaded, and no longer able to find joy in his way of life, Pabbi falls into a depression soon after Orri goes away to school. Orri, feeling adrift and aimless at the end of his first semester, comes home. For the first time, Pabbi allows Orri to help him run the farm. Despite their conflicting attitudes, Orri and Pabbi must learn to work together. Meanwhile, Orri meets a kindred spirit on the internet: Mihan, a part-time student. Over time--and countless texts and phone calls--their connection deepens. By year's end, Orri must decide whether he wants to--or should--return to university, and what a future with Mihan would hold, if she'll have him. With his signature blend of humor and tenderness, Nathaniel Ian Miller's Red Dog Farm is about the bonds forged and tested between family, friends, and lovers--and the act of building a home, together.
Subjects: Bildungsromans.; Domestic fiction.; Psychological fiction.; Novels.; Family farms; Farms; Fathers and sons; Interpersonal relations; Man-woman relationships;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Subtract : the untapped science of less / by Klotz, Leidy,1978-author.;
Includes bibliographical references."Blending behavioral science and design, Leidy Klotz's Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less offers a scientific appreciation of why we underuse subtraction-and how to access its untapped potential. When humans solve problems, we overlook an incredibly powerful option: We don't subtract. We pile on "to-dos" but don't consider "stop-doings." We create incentives for high performance, but don't get rid of obstacles to our goals. Whether considering a stack of Legos, preparing a grilled cheese sandwich, or writing an essay, Leidy Klotz shows that we consistently overlook the principle of subtraction as a way to improve. Our mental preference for addition-for adding to what's already there rather than thinking of taking away-is so wide-spread and strong that we would prefer to accommodate wrong ideas than simply remove them. Drawing from his own pioneering research and scientific research throughout history, Klotz examines cultural, political, and economic trends underlying our neglect of subtraction, asserting that we have billions of years of evidence showing that lifeforms are perfectly capable of subtracting to improve. Proposing a new way to frame our behaviors, Klotz shares thought-provoking examples and anecdotes to supplement his proven techniques on implementing a new perspective and understanding of subtraction. By learning to use the counterintuitive approach of subtracting, we can revolutionize not just our day-to-day lives, but our work across every field and industry. Subtract shows how this innovative approach to life is the key to unlocking our greatest potential"--
Subjects: Self-actualization (Psychology); Stress management.;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Investing in fixer-uppers : a complete guide to buying low, fixing smart, adding value, and selling (or renting) high / by DeCima, Jay P.,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index.Nobody wants to buy an ugly, decrepit, rundown house-which is exactly why they provide real estate investors with the best bargains! In 'Investing in Fixer-Uppers', nationally known real estate guru Jay DeCima reveals how investors can add thousands of dollars to the value of an "ugly" house". The bestselling guide for beginner real estate investors is back, and better than ever-with more than 40% new material to help you find-and profit from-new opportunities in today's market. When the first edition of the bestselling 'Investing in Fixer-Uppers' came out in 2003, browsing newspaper classified ads was the best way to search for fixer-uppers. Now, updated to reflect modern realities in the drastically changed property market, 'Investing Fixer-Uppers', Revised Edition gives you the most timely, accessible guide to finding great opportunities-and profiting handsomely-in the today's market. Written with the hands-on, real-life expertise of seasoned investor-educators with more than 250 properties between them, 'Investing in Fixer-Uppers' provides an easy-to-follow roadmap for adding value to a rundown house or apartment and profiting tens of thousands of dollars-without waiting for appreciation. In these pages, you'll learn about the power of seller financing, how to create a million-dollar property, how to specialize in the right kinds of properties, and more.
Subjects: House buying.; Real estate investment.;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Under magnolia : a Southern memoir / by Mayes, Frances.;
"A lyrical and evocative memoir from Frances Mayes, the Bard of Tuscany, about coming of age in the Deep South and the region's powerful influence on her life. The author of three beloved books about her life in Italy, including Under the Tuscan Sun and Every Day in Tuscany, Frances Mayes revisits the turning points that defined her early years in Fitzgerald, Georgia. With her signature style and grace, Mayes explores the power of landscape, the idea of home, and the lasting force of a chaotic and loving family. From her years as a spirited, secretive child, through her university studies--a period of exquisite freedom that imbued her with a profound appreciation of friendship and a love of travel--to her escape to a new life in California, Mayes exuberantly recreates the intense relationships of her past, recounting the bitter and sweet stories of her complicated family: her beautiful yet fragile mother, Frankye; her unpredictable father, Garbert; Daddy Jack, whose life Garbert saved; grandmother Mother Mayes; and the family maid, Frances's confidant Willie Bell. Under Magnolia is a searingly honest, humorous, and moving ode to family and place, and a thoughtful meditation on the ways they define us, or cause us to define ourselves. With acute sensory language, Mayes relishes the sweetness of the South, the smells and tastes at her family table, the fragrance of her hometown trees, and writes an unforgettable story of a girl whose perspicacity and dawning self-knowledge lead her out of the South and into the rest of the world, and then to a profound return home"--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Mayes, Frances.; Authors, American; Authors, American;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Alice & Gert / by Becker, Helaine.; Seiferling, Dena.;
"As in the traditional ant and grasshopper fable, winter is coming and Alice the ant is industriously stocking up nuts and seeds to see her through the harsh season. Meanwhile, Gert the grasshopper is carefree, singing songs, performing plays, and creating art out of the flowers and leaves around her. At first Alice disapproves, but as she gathers her stores, she finds herself humming Gert's tunes and is awestruck by the beauty of the grasshopper's creations. But the leaves start to fall and Alice wonders what will become of Gert over the winter, attempting to chide the grasshopper into productive action. Gert, however, dances on until one morning her nest is rimed with frost and she's down to one dry maple key for breakfast. Shivering and not knowing what to do, she tells Alice she fears she'll starve over the winter. Alice reminds Gert of her lack of foresight, singing and dancing through summer rather than planning ahead. But Alice has developed a soft spot for Gert over the summer-the grasshopper's works of art lightened her load, and she wants to extend kindness to her new friend in appreciation and acknowledgment of a different kind of work and effort that is also important to everyday life: artistic labour. Alice reveals that she's collected enough food to last the winter-for both of them. With its soft palette and gorgeous graphite drawings, Alice and Gert is a tribute to true friendship, kindness, hard work, and the importance and value of art, taking place in a natural setting that is both homey and a touch fantastical"--Provided by publisher.LSC
Subjects: Ants; Grasshoppers; Friendship; Kindness;
Available copies: 0 / Total copies: 1
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Life sketches : a memoir / by Bateman, Robert,1930-author.;
"Full of never-before-seen illustrations, Life Sketches is an inspiring and elegant portrait of Robert Bateman's life as an artist and of his belief that "Nature is an infinite source of reason, imagination, and invention." From one of Canada's most beloved painters comes an intimate, visually stunning memoir of the artist at work. Internationally acclaimed artist Robert Bateman has brought the natural world to vivid life with his unique perspective. His vast body of work--spanning species as large as the buffalo and as small as the mouse--has touched millions of hearts and minds, awakening a reverence for wildlife of all kinds. Bateman is perhaps best known for his gorgeous depictions of birds in flight and in repose, images that stir in the viewer a deep appreciation of colour, form and spirit. Life Sketches is a moving journey in both words and images that, for the first time, allows Bateman's fans full access into his creative process, detailing his singular artistic vision and the inspiration behind is iconic art. What emerges is a portrait of a young boy enchanted by the natural world around him and called to record it in his sketches and paintings. Bitten by wanderlust, Bateman travelled the world and documented his real life experiences in journals, sketches, and paintings. In Life Sketches, he recounts the evolution of his style from abstraction to realism and the events that have shaped his art into a vocation over many decades. And through it all, Bateman shows how his keen sensibilities extend beyond art, to a passion for conservation and relentless advocacy for the natural world that underpins an incredible artistic legacy."--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Bateman, Robert, 1930-; Animals in art.; Naturalists; Nature in art.; Painters; Wildlife artists; Wildlife conservation.;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Dementia reimagined : building a life of joy and dignity from beginning to end / by Powell, Tia(Psychiatrist),author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."The cultural and medical history of dementia and Alzheimer's disease by a leading psychiatrist and bioethicist who urges us to turn our focus from cure to care. Despite being a physician and a bioethicist, Tia Powell wasn't prepared to address the challenges she faced when her grandmother, and then her mother, were diagnosed with dementia--not to mention confronting the hard truth that her own odds aren't great. In the U.S., 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day; by the time a person reaches 85, their chances of having dementia approach 50 percent. And the truth is, there is no cure, and none coming soon, despite the perpetual promises by pharmaceutical companies that they are just one more expensive study away from a pill. Dr. Powell's goal is to move the conversation away from an exclusive focus on cure to a genuine appreciation of care--what we can do for those who have dementia, and how to keep life meaningful and even joyful. Reimagining Dementia is a moving combination of medicine and memoir, peeling back the untold history of dementia, from the story of Solomon Fuller, a black doctor whose research at the turn of the twentieth century anticipated important aspects of what we know about dementia today, to what has been gained and lost with the recent bonanza of funding for Alzheimer's at the expense of other forms of the disease. In demystifying dementia, Dr. Powell helps us understand it with clearer eyes, from the point of view of both physician and caregiver. Ultimately, she wants us all to know that dementia is not only about loss--it's also about the preservation of dignity and hope"--
Subjects: Dementia.; Dementia; Alzheimer's disease.; Alzheimer's disease;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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On the edge : the art of risking everything / by Silver, Nate,1978-author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."From the New York Times bestselling author of The Signal and the Noise, the definitive guide to our era of risk -- and the players raising the stakes. In the bestselling The Signal and the Noise, Nate Silver showed how forecasting would define the age of Big Data. Now, in this timely and riveting new book, Silver investigates "The River," or those whose mastery of risk allows them to shape -- and dominate -- so much of modern life. These professional risk takers -- poker players and hedge fund managers, crypto true-believers and blue-chip art collectors -- can teach us much about navigating the uncertainty of the 21st century. By embedding within the worlds of Doyle Brunson, Peter Thiel, Sam Bankman-Fried, Sam Altman, and many others, Silver offers insight into a range of issues that affect us all, from the frontiers of finance to the future of AI. The River has increasing amounts of wealth and power in our society, and understanding their mindset -- including the flaws in their thinking -- is key to understanding what drives technology and the global economy today. There are certain commonalities in this otherwise diverse group: high tolerance for risk; appreciation of uncertainty; affinity for numbers; skill at de-coupling; self-reliance and a distrust of the conventional wisdom. For the River, complexity is baked in, and the work is how to navigate it, without going beyond the pale. Taking us behind-the-scenes from casinos to venture capital firms to the FTX inner sanctum to meetings of the effective altruism movement, On the Edge is a deeply-reported, all-access journey into a hidden world of powerbrokers and risk takers"--
Subjects: Risk perception; Risk; Risk-taking (Psychology);
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Superfan : how pop culture broke my heart : a memoir / by Lee, Jen Sookfong,author.;
Includes bibliographical references."A memoir in pieces that uses one woman's life-long obsession with pop culture as a lens to explore family, grief, the power of female rage, Asian fetish, and what it's cost her to resist the trap of being a "good Chinese girl." For most of Jen Sookfong Lee's life, pop culture was an escape from family tragedy and a means of fitting in with the larger culture around her. Anne of Green Gables assured her that, despite losing her father at the age of twelve, one day she might still have the loving family of her dreams, and Princess Diana was proof that maybe there was more to being a good girl after all. And yet as Jen grew up, she began to recognize the ways in which pop culture was not made for someone like her-the child of Chinese immigrant parents who looked for safety in the invisibility afforded by embracing Model Minority myths. Ranging from the rise of Gwyneth Paltrow, the father-figure familiarity of Bob Ross, and the surprising maternal legacy of the Kardashians, to the long shadow cast by The Joy Luck Club, Jen uses pop culture icons to understand her emotionally fraught upbringing. She also dissects how pop culture created both unrealistic ideals and harmful stereotypes that would devastate her as she struggled to carve out her own path as an Asian woman, single mother, and writer. With great wit, bracing honesty, and a deep appreciation for the ways culture shapes us, Jen draws direct lines between the spectacle of the popular, the intimacy of our personal bonds, and the social foundations of our collective obsessions."--
Subjects: Biographies.; Autobiographies.; Personal narratives.; Lee, Jen Sookfong.; Asians in mass media.; Model minority stereotype; Popular culture; Stereotypes (Social psychology) in mass media.; Women authors; Authors, Canadian (English); Chinese Canadian women; Chinese Canadians; Popular culture;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Results 181 to 190 of 206 | « previous |