Böcker av Richard Brook

A compelling account of the project to transform post-war Manchester, revealing the clash between utopian vision and compromised reality. Urban renewal in Britain was thrilling in its vision, yet partial and incomplete in its implementation. For the first time, this deep study of a renewal city reveals the complex networks of actors behind physical change and stagnation in post-war Britain. Using the nested scales of region, city and case-study sites, the book explores the relationships between Whitehall legislation, its interpretation by local government planning officers and the on-the-ground impact through urban architectural projects. Each chapter highlights the connections between policy goals, global narratives and the design and construction of cities. The Cold War, decolonialisation, rising consumerism and the oil crisis all feature in a richly illustrated account of architecture and planning in post-war Manchester.

Understanding Human Nature brings together twenty-five years of Richard Brook's experiences in yoga and meditation, Chinese medicine, dance and movement, Native American mysticism, tantra and community living.

Hellfire Rising, part one of The Middleton Saga is a contemporary adventure thriller. It tells the story of the Liber Veritatis, a legendary codex made from the Tree of Knowledge. Split into seven parts by the ancient Sumerians and entrusted to a number of global civilisations to protect and prevent it from being made whole. A fanatical totalitarian brotherhood known as The Glove are verging on rediscovering the pieces and plunging the whole world into chaos. All that stands between them and absolute power is James Middleton and the Order of Pepin.James Middleton recently retired from the Special Forces, having struggled to overcome the loss of his fiancée six months previous, is expecting to retreat into a life of relative obscurity. However, as he will soon discover, nothing could be further from the truth as he is drawn into a web of secret brotherhoods, ancient artefacts and a struggle for power between good and evil that has been simmering below the surface for millennia and is now about to erupt into all out war. The question is does he still have what it takes?

The subjects covered in this book are presented within a wider framework of urban theory into which are embedded case study examples that outline the practices, processes and interpretations of each theme.