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The mad women's ball / by Mas, Victoria,author.; Wynne, Frank,translator.;
"The Salpetriere asylum, Paris, 1885. Dr Charcot holds all of Paris in thrall with his displays of hypnotism on women who have been deemed mad, hysterics, and been cast out from society. But the truth is much more complicated - these women are often simply inconvenient, unwanted wives, those who have lost something precious, or wayward daughters. For Parisian society, the highlight of the year is The Mad Women's Ball, when the great and good come to gawk at the patients of the Salpetriere dressed up in their finery for one night only. For the women themselves it is a rare moment of hope. Genevieve is a senior nurse - after the childhood death of her sister Blandine, she shunned religion and has placed her faith in Dr Charcot and science. But everything begins to change when she meets Eugenie, the 19 year old daughter of a bourgeois family who have locked her away in the asylum. Because Eugenie has a secret - she sees spirits. Inspired by the scandalous, banned work that all of Paris is talking about - The Book of Spirits - Genevieve is determined to escape from the asylum (and the bonds of her gender) and seek out those who will believe in her. And for that she will need Genevieve's help ..."--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Historical fiction.; Salpêtrière (Hospital); Psychiatric hospitals; Women; Women;

Somm. by Wise, Jason,film director.; Samuel Goldwyn Films (Firm),dst; Kanopy (Firm),dst;
Originally produced by Samuel Goldwyn Films in 2023.The fourth installment of the SOMM documentary series, SOMM: CUP OF SALVATION follows father-daughter winemakers Vahe and Aimee Keushguerian as they seek to revive the ancient winemaking traditions of Armenia. Their journey takes them to the Caucasus Mountains, often regarded as the birthplace of wine, where they navigate geopolitical tensions and post-Soviet challenges to restore their cultural heritage. The film also explores wine’s deep connections to religion and human history, with rare access to Vatican archives and a look at underground vineyards in Iran. Through stunning cinematography, the documentary reveals wine's enduring significance across civilizations and the passion of those dedicated to preserving ancient traditions.Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Subjects: Documentary films.; Food industry and trade.; Instructional films.; Balts (Indo-European people).; Foreign study.; History, Modern.; Social sciences.; Documentary films.; History.; Alcohol.; Wine and wine making.;

Hacking Darwin : genetic engineering and the future of humanity / by Metzl, Jamie Frederic,author.;
Includes bibliographical references (pages 269-306) and index.From leading geopolitical expert and technology futurist Jamie Metzl comes a groundbreaking exploration of the many ways genetic-engineering is shaking the core foundations of our lives -- sex, war, love, and death.At the dawn of the genetics revolution, our DNA is becoming as readable, writable, and hackable as our information technology. But as humanity starts retooling our own genetic code, the choices we make today will be the difference between realizing breathtaking advances in human well-being and descending into a dangerous and potentially deadly genetic arms race.Enter the laboratories where scientists are turning science fiction into reality. Look towards a future where our deepest beliefs, morals, religions, and politics are challenged like never before and the very essence of what it means to be human is at play. When we can engineer our future children, massively extend our lifespans, build life from scratch, and recreate the plant and animal world, should we? Passionate, provocative, and highly illuminating, Hacking Darwin is the must read book about the future of our species for fans of Homo Deus and The Gene.
Subjects: Genetic engineering; Human genetics.;

Culture : the story of us, from cave art to K-pop / by Puchner, Martin,1969-author.;
Includes bibliographical references (pages 309-336) and index."What good are the arts? Why should we care about the past? For millennia, humanity has sought to understand and transmit to future generations not just the "know-how" of life, but the "know-why"-The meaning and purpose of our existence, as expressed in art, architecture, religion, and philosophy. This crucial passing down of knowledge has required the radical integration of insights from the past and from other cultures. In Culture, acclaimed author, professor, and public intellectual Martin Puchner takes us on a breakneck tour through pivotal moments in world history, providing a global introduction to the arts and humanities in one engaging volume"--
Subjects: Art and society.; Civilization; Culture;

The fast : the history, science, philosophy, and promise of doing without / by Oakes, John G. H.,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."An engaging exploration of the unique history and biology of fasting-an essential component of many traditional health practices, religions, and philosophies, resurging in popularity today-perfect for readers of Breath by James Nestor and Why We Sleepby Matthew Walker. We fast all the time, even when we're not conscious of doing so. A fast manifests the idea of holding back, resisting the animal impulse to charge ahead. Its flip side is similarly everywhere: call it splurging, self-indulgence, or a variant of "self-care." Based on extensive historical, scientific, and cultural research and reporting, The Fast illuminates the numerous facets of this act of self-deprivation. John Oakes interviews doctors, spiritual leaders, activists, and others who guide him through this practice-and embarks on fasts of his own-to deliver a book that supplies readers curious about fasting with profound new understanding, appreciation, and inspiration. Fasting has become increasingly popular for a variety of reasons-from health advocates who see fasting as a method to lose weight or to detox, to the faithful who fast in prayer, to seekers pursuing mindfulness, to activists using hunger strikes as an effective means of peaceful protest. Fasting is central to holy seasons and days such as Lent in Christianity, Ramadan in Islam, and Yom Kippur in Judaism. Advocates for justice who have waged hunger strikes include Gandhi in India, Bobby Sands in Ireland, and the Taxi Workers Alliance in New York City. Whether for philosophical, political, or health-related reasons, fasting marks a departure from daily routine. Fasting involves doing less but doing less in a radical way, reminding us that a slower, more intentional contemplative experience can be more fulfilling. Ultimately, this book shows us that fasting is about much more than food: it is about reconsidering our place in the world"--
Subjects: Fasting; Fasting; Fasting;

Hope for cynics : the surprising science of human goodness / by Zaki, Jamil,1980-author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."Runaway cynicism is turning our world into a meaner, sicker place; director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, Dr. Jamil Zaki, is about to disrupt this narrative. For thousands of years, people have argued about whether humanity is selfish or generous, cruel or kind. In 1972, half of Americans agreed that most people can be trusted; by 2018, that figure had fallen to 30%. Different generations, genders, religions, and political parties can't seem to agree on anything, except, perhaps, on one idea: that human virtue is evaporating. Cynicism is a perfectly understandable response to a world full of injustice, harm, and inequality. But in many cases, cynicism has become the first -- or only -- tool that people reach for these days. It is the psychological hammer of our age, and we are treating others more and more like nails. Knee-jerk cynicism worsens social problems because our beliefs don't just reflect the world -- they change it. When we expect people to be awful, we coax awfulness out of them. Cynicism is a disease, with a history, symptoms, and a cure"--
Subjects: Cynicism; Hope.; Social justice;

The Day After Trinity. by Else, Jon,film director.; Frees, Paul,actor.; Juno Films (Firm),dst; Kanopy (Firm),dst;
Paul FreesOriginally produced by Juno Films in 1981.When theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer became director of the Manhattan Project, he brought with him a love of poetry, philosophy and Eastern religion. In the years following Trinity, the classified maiden test of a prototype atomic bomb, Oppenheimer revealed himself as a thoughtful man who felt both a duty to his country and a deep regret for the death and destruction caused by his leadership in the development of the weapon that heralded the arrival of the Atomic Age. It features interviews with several Manhattan Project scientists, as well as newly declassified archival footage.Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Subjects: Documentary films.; Science.; Documentary films.; Physics.; History.; Atomic bomb.; Discoveries in science.; Scientists.; Physicists.; Nuclear physics.;

Undercover Kindness : Saying Yes to Love, No to Fear, and Embracing the Life-Changing Power of Ordinary Generosity. by Darts, Jimmy.;
One spark of love can change everything. In 'Undercover Kindness', Jimmy Darts, the social media sensation known for his viral random acts of kindness videos, invites you to discover a bigger, more meaningful existence, one act of generosity at a time.Library Bound Incorporated
Subjects: RELIGION / Christian Living / Inspirational; SELF-HELP / Motivational & Inspirational; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Philanthropy & Charity;

The signature of all things / by Gilbert, Elizabeth,1969-;
"Spanning much of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the novel follows the fortunes of the extraordinary Whittaker family as led by the enterprising Henry Whittaker--a poor-born Englishman who makes a great fortune in the South American quinine trade, eventually becoming the richest man in Philadelphia. Born in 1800, Henry's brilliant daughter, Alma (who inherits both her father's money and his mind), ultimately becomes a botanist of considerable gifts herself. As Alma's research takes her deeper into the mysteries of evolution, she falls in love with a man named Ambrose Pike who makes incomparable paintings of orchids and who draws her in the exact opposite direction--into the realm of the spiritual, the divine, and the magical. Alma is a clear-minded scientist; Ambrose a utopian artist--but what unites this unlikely couple is a desperate need to understand the workings of this world and the mechanisms behind all life. he story is peopled with unforgettable characters: missionaries, abolitionists, adventurers, astronomers, sea captains, geniuses, and the quite mad. But most memorable of all, it is the story of Alma Whittaker, who--born in the Age of Enlightenment, but living well into the Industrial Revolution--bears witness to that extraordinary moment in human history when all the old assumptions about science, religion, commerce, and class were exploding into dangerous new ideas"--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Historical fiction.; Enlightenment; Industrial revolution; Painters; Women botanists;

Power shift : the longest revolution / by Armstrong, Sally,1943-author.;
Includes bibliographical references."The facts are indisputable. When women get even a bit of education, the whole of society improves. When they get a bit of healthcare, everyone lives longer. In many ways, it has never been a better time to be a woman: a fundamental shift has been occurring. Yet from Toronto to Timbuktu the promise of equality still eludes half the world's population. In her 2019 CBC Massey Lectures, award-winning author, journalist, and human rights activist Sally Armstrong illustrates how the status of the female half of humanity is crucial to our collective surviving and thriving. Drawing on anthropology, social science, literature, politics, and economics, she examines the many beginnings of the role of women in society, and the evolutionary revisions over millennia in the realms of sex, religion, custom, culture, politics, and economics. What ultimately comes to light is that gender inequality comes at too high a cost to us all."--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Sex discrimination against women.; Sex discrimination.; Women's rights.; Women; Women; Women; Social justice.; Human rights.;

Results 51 to 60 of 70 | « previous |