"It’s not particularly difficult to run a successful bookshop, thought Valerie: a grasp of the rudiments of business, a sensible plan, a little skill in negotiation, a couple of contacts and a la
About a third of U.K. spending on public services goes on outsourcing: that’s over ￡80 billion a year. The companies in receipt of lucrative contracts are responsible for delivering some of our most s
We are using the resources of this planet as if we had three to depend on, not one. The threat of climate change looms large, yet our vision for the future remains based on materialism rather than val
Human rights, equality, freedom of expression, privacy, the rule of law. These five ideas are vitally important to the way of life we enjoy today. The battle to establish them in law was long and diff
Before Socrates, philosophers sought explanations for naturally-occurring phenomena from earthquakes and eclipses to the existence of the entire cosmos. But the Socratic era saw a great shift towards
Throughout history female composers have been subjected to ludicrous criticisms, had their sex lives scrutinized and the veracity of their authorship questioned. Fanny Mendelssohn, who established one
Masha dreams of becoming one of the great European auteurs. But first she must escape the drudgery of her daily existence: a father who drinks, a dull and empty city, the fear of getting stuck in a li
On the morning of Easter Sunday, 23 April 1916, the seven men who made up the Military Council of the secret Irish Republican Brotherhood gathered in Dublin’s Liberty Hall. By noon, the Proclamation o
A shocking investigation into the despair that traps the rural poor as well as a technically brilliant excursion into the claustrophobic realm of classic horror and suspense, A Perfect Crime is a thri
The Victorian period is crucial to any understanding of modern Britain, yet it is frequently understood only through the crude stereotypes of emotional repression, factories, child labour and the purs
Based on extensive reporting across the Middle East, this vital and timely book charts the rise of the most threatening strand of radical Islam to occur in the modern era. It is a totalitarian regime
A hard-hitting and controversial examination of honor crimes that involve a 'punishment'-often death or disfigurement-carried out by a relative to restore the family's honor.
Whether worshiped, feared, or studied, volcanoes have always been a subject of fascination and awe. This Beginner's Guide explains the importance of volcanoes in shaping worlds, the dangers of volcani
Visually arresting and symbolically rich, the phenomenon of truck decoration is one of the most distinguishing features of Pakistani culture. Considered much more than simply a means of transport, alm
"Easy to read and interesting. I would recommend it to anybody interested in acquiring a general understanding of the disease." Nick la Thangue---Chair of Cancer Biology, University of Oxford"Great. T
In 1928, Nazira Zeineddine al-Halabi wrote a book called Unveiling and Veiling, an indictment of patriarchal oppression in which she boldly stated that the veil was un-Islamic. Considered by many an a
"A Valuable guide to the underlying science, the possible impacts of change, and the political hazards now surrounding the debate", Sir Crispin Tickell - Director of the Policy Foresight Programme at
In this clear and authoratative guide, Lavinia and Dan Cohn-Sherbok concisely examine the Jewish faith and its practices and explore what it means to be a Jew today. From the nature of God to the divi
The father of modern philosophy, Descartes is still one of the most widely discussed philosophers today. Putting rationalism above all else, he sought to base all knowledge of the world on a single id
For centuries the phenomenon of play has perplexed scientists across the board. Studies by biologists, psychologists, neuroscientists, anthropologists, and educators have excited keen debate and conte
Chronicles the author's year-long experiment in self-sufficient living without the use of money, describing how he managed a cashless existence and offering tips for economical and environmentally fri
"Balanced, reliable, and engaging." Dr Robert Falkner - London School of Economics"Coherent, concise, and wide ranging. This guide does exactly what is required." Dr Mark Imber - University of St Andr
"Lively and accessible. One of the best guides yet to the divisions which afflict Northern Ireland. Accurate and engaging." Jonathan Tonge - Professor of Politics, University of Liverpool, and author
Epistemology is the philosophical study of knowledge. Without knowledge, scientific enquiry is meaningless and we can't analyse the world around us. But what exactly is it and how do we obtain it? Sho
"An important contribution. Ralley demonstrates an enviable depth and breadth of occult knowledge." Dave Green - Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of the West of England, and Co-Director of The
"A Terrifying and deeply moving account of a man and a country still brutalized by the politics of fear." Clive Stafford Smith, Director of Reprieve and author of Bad Men: Guantanamo Bay and the secr
"Excellent. Probably the best introductory guide to literary theory I've seen." Ian Buchanan-Professor of Critical and Cultural Theory, Cardiff University"Profoundly reliable as well as inviting, play
From FeelGoodButtGone, the antidepressant-diet-pill popular among big-boned? housewives, to arch criminals masterminding the theft of Louisiana, Cassidy and Byrne serve up a ferociously funny compendi
Since 1919 Save the Children has fought to uphold the human rights of children worldwide. Now promoted by the likes of Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Julianne Moore the charity’s founder was a childle
The fifteenth century saw the evolution of a distinct and powerfully influential European artistic culture. But what does the familiar phrase Renaissance Art actually refer to? Through engaging discus
Blamed for the bloody disasters of the 20th century: Auschwitz, globalisation, Islamic terrorism; heralded as the harbinger of reason, equality, and the end of arbitrary rule, the Enlightenment has be
The need to protect nature has never been so pressing. As unprecedented environmental challenges threaten to wipe out many of the planet’s species, there is a battle against time to formulate new ways
Introduces the history and people of West Papua, tracing the origins of the international conflict surrounding their struggle for self-determination following WW2. Based on three decades of exhaustive
The question ?Are we alone?’ has permeated human thought since ancient times, and today the possibility of alien life and intergalactic travellers remains a bountiful source of inspiration for science
Key Themes for the Study of Islam examines the central themes and concepts indispensable to an informed understanding of Islamic religion and society. From ?Gender” and ?History” to ?Prayer” and ?Prop
Key Themes for the Study of Islam examines the central themes and concepts indispensable to an informed understanding of Islamic religion and society. From ?Gender” and ?History” to ?Prayer” and ?Prop
Feminism is arguably the most significant social movement of the last century and it is far from over. By highlighting the themes that form the three waves, taking powerful examples from feminist camp
Muslims consider the Qur’an to be the final revelation of God. Moral code for millions of believers worldwide, it is seen as the principal miracle of the prophet Muhammad. In this stimulating study, A
Hasan al-Banna (1906-1949) was the founder and lifelong leader of the Muslim Brotherhood (al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun), one of the most influential political organisations in the contemporary Arab world. Fr
Muhammad Abduh (1849-1905) is widely regarded as the founder of Islamic modernism. Egyptian jurist, religious scholar and political activist, he sought to synthesise Western and Islamic cultural value
