Brazil's Zika outbreak revealed extreme health disparities and reproductive injustice across racial and socioeconomic lines.Brazil's 2015 Zika outbreak led to severe illnesses for many and the birth of several thousands of children with severe brain damage. Even though mosquito-borne diseases such as the Zika virus affect people across society, these children were born almost exclusively to poor, and usually non-white, women. In Viruses and Reproductive Justice, Ilana Löwy explores the complicated health disparities and reproductive injustice that led to these cases of congenital Zika syndrome.Löwy examines the history of the outbreak in Brazil and connects it to broader questions concerning reproductive rights, the medical science behind understanding new pathogens, and the role of international health organizations in battling--or ignoring--public health crises. The explanation behind the strongly skewed distribution of cases among social classes was far from straightforward or obvious during the Zika outbreak. Löwy argues that the disproportionate effect of Zika on births among the poor is primarily a function of dramatic disparities in access to contraception and prenatal care, as well as Brazil's anti-abortion laws: only wealthier women have access to safe abortions. This is a book about the changing meaning of an infectious disease outbreak and a haunting demonstration that an epidemic is both a biological and a political event produced by the complicated entanglement of humans, viruses, and mosquitoes.
When enormous amounts of information are available at our fingertips, how do we learn the things we need to know?In a world overflowing with information, how can we adapt our learning methods to thrive? Dave Cormier, a pioneering figure in digital education, presents a thought-provoking manifesto in Learning in a Time of Abundance. A leading voice in digital learning, Cormier offers a fresh perspective on how we can face the uncertainty of a world where our challenges don't have clear answers amid an overwhelming digital landscape.Measuring knowledge through memorization and grades made more sense in a world where information was hard to come by. Cormier explores the cultural and teaching changes necessary to adapt in the digital age while emphasizing the importance of understanding how to navigate the vast sea of information we encounter every day, from answering questions like "Should my child play sports that often lead to concussions?" to "How should I chime in on that Facebook conversation on gender identity?" Delving into the history of traditional learning, Cormier addresses the pressing question of how we must transform our learning approaches to thrive in an era of endless information and complex decision making. This book is a must-read for those seeking guidance on how to adapt when we are overwhelmed by information overload. Whether it's understanding social media influences on children or making impactful decisions as citizens, Cormier empowers readers in the digital age to find their humility, trust effectively, and learn to apply their values in complex situations.
Discover the hidden forces that shaped one of the most significant health care reforms in US history.In A Government of Insiders, William Genieys traces the winding path from the failed health policy priorities of the Clinton administration to the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Genieys uncovers the pivotal role of a committed group of unelected governmental elites known as "long-term insiders" who meticulously developed policy ideas and political connections. During George W. Bush's presidency, these insiders reconceptualized the foundations of a far-reaching health coverage reform both within and outside the public sector. When President Obama took office, these insiders returned to positions of power and ensured that their reform vision took center stage. Genieys highlights how these people were instrumental in crafting and passing the ACA by integrating existing programs like Medicare and Medicaid, engaging market forces with an individual mandate and health care marketplaces, and addressing the crucial issue of cost containment. By shedding light on the action of these health coverage policy elites and their role as custodians of the public interest, Genieys challenges traditional assumptions about the influence of economic elites and reveals the positive role of unelected professionals in advancing the common good. A Government of Insiders is a groundbreaking exploration of the unseen forces behind major policy reform, providing a fresh perspective on the dynamics of power in American politics.
Unveils how the immune system works and explores strategies for harnessing its potential for maintaining good health.Embark on a fascinating journey into the human immune system with The Logic of Immunity. B. J. Cherayil, an accomplished immunologist and educator, demystifies the complex workings of our body's defense system. This scientifically grounded book illustrates the inner mechanisms of specialized cells and molecules that safeguard our health, shedding light on how and why our immune systems can malfunction and lead to disease. Drawing from years of experience and expertise, Dr. Cherayil skillfully guides readers through the intricacies of immune responses and offers invaluable insights into the latest research-backed strategies to harness their power for maintaining and restoring well-being. Blending scientific knowledge with historical anecdotes, this work also introduces the remarkable scientists who have shaped our understanding of immune function. Complemented by detailed illustrations and a glossary of key terms, The Logic of Immunity explains how the immune system interacts with other body systems, why some people develop autoimmune diseases while others do not, and how lifestyle factors may activate or suppress the immune system. Explore the enigmatic world of immunity, unlock its secrets, and discover the power it holds to protect our health.
A firsthand look at how policies and legal doctrines affect families living in low-income urban neighborhoods.In Disparities in Urban Health, Edward V. Wallace examines the impacts of political and structural determinants of health on people living in urban settings. This timely book intertwines the personal stories of real families with a comprehensive analysis of the policies and legal doctrines that shape their lives.Through interviews and an investigation of various policies, Wallace provides a firsthand look at the challenges faced by these families and their experiences with health disparities. Their voices bridge the gap between theory and reality while offering compelling and vital perspectives on the complex issues that affect their health. Wallace highlights key policies that impact low-income communities, including the "no duty to treat" policy, the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, comprehensive smoke-free laws, equitable development policies, and the Implied Warranty of Habitability law. These policies, among others, are examined through the lens of equity and social justice. The intimate portraits of real people and their struggles shed light on the challenges faced by many low-income families and offer a pathway toward addressing health disparities in our society.
A groundbreaking approach to training doctors could transform the future of health care.For decades, physicians have been trained on the textbook of the body, from the corpse in a cadaver lab to the patient in a procedure suite. This type of training usually leads them to specialize in specific organs or systems and breeds an increasingly impersonal view of medicine in which the importance of person-to-person care--the hallmark of a good relationship between doctors and patients--has been lost.In this engrossing narrative, you'll meet seven extraordinary students who embarked on a new way to train doctors that attempts to regain what's been lost. These medical students follow patients instead of physicians, accompanying patients to primary care appointments, emergency room visits, and even surgical procedures, developing deep connections and understanding the intricate interplay between the health of our bodies and the health of our communities. They learn the textbook of a community in addition to the textbook of the body.Through poignant stories of these seven students and the people they meet as patients, Dr. Abraham M. Nussbaum illustrates the power of becoming a doctor and the possibility of changing the way we train doctors. As the students acquire a wealth of knowledge about the human body, they also navigate immense challenges and responsibilities. Throughout the year, they go about their lives, find love, and start families, all while getting to know their patients and their lives. Progress Notes follows the evolution of medical education and is a must-read for premedical students, medical students, and medical professionals seeking insight into the changing landscape of their field as well as for readers captivated by medical dramas and the pursuit of transformative care that benefits us all.
Unleash your inner math diva.Join sensational drag queen Kyne Santos on a fascinating journey through the glamorous world of . . . math? This hilarious and sometimes controversial book is your VIP pass, taking you behind the scenes with a TikTok superstar who shatters stereotypes and proves that math can be sassy and fun, even for people who think they aren't good at it.Within these pages, Kyne educates us about both mathematical mysteries and the world of drag through her unique perspective. With elegant irreverence, Kyne explores surprising connections, such as the artistry of ballroom culture and the nature of infinity, the illegal joys of Pride and dividing by zero, and the role of statistics in her own experience on Drag Race. This book is about more than just numbers--it's a celebration of inclusivity and the exhilaration of rebellion. Kyne gets personal while sharing her own experiences as a queer person forging a path in STEM. She empowers readers of all ages, genders, and skill levels to break school rules, question everything, and embrace math's beauty. Math in Drag explores a world in which numbers glitter and equations sashay through history. Read it to fire your own excitement and unleash your inner diva. Let Kyne Santos show you how to perform math with style and flair.
The fascinating story of a British army chaplain's buggery trial in 1774 reveals surprising truths about early America.On the eve of the American Revolution, the British army considered the case of a chaplain, Robert Newburgh, who had been accused of having sex with a man. Newburgh's enemies cited his flamboyant appearance, defiance of military authority, and seduction of soldiers as proof of his low character. Consumed by fears that the British Empire would soon be torn asunder, his opponents claimed that these supposed crimes against nature translated to crimes against the king. In Vicious and Immoral, historian John McCurdy tells this compelling story of male intimacy and provides an unparalleled glimpse inside eighteenth-century perceptions of queerness. By demanding to have his case heard, Newburgh invoked Enlightenment ideals of equality, arguing passionately that his style of dress and manner should not affect his place in the army or society. His accusers equated queer behavior with rebellion, and his defenders would go on to join the American cause. Newburgh's trial offers some clues to understanding a peculiarity of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century: while gay acts were prohibited by law in much of the British empire, the newly formed United States was comparatively uninterested in legislating against same-sex intimacy. McCurdy imagines what life was like for a gay man in early America and captures the voices of those who loved and hated Newburgh, revealing how sexuality and revolution informed one another. Vicious and Immoral is the first book to place homosexuality in conversation with the American Revolution, and it dares us to rethink the place of LGBTQ people in the founding of the nation.
Explore the mind of a bee and learn what drives its behavior.Have you ever observed a bee up close and wondered what was going on inside its head? Like ours, insects' brains take up most of the space in their heads, but their brains are smaller than a grain of rice, only 0.0002% as large as ours. But what purpose does the insect brain serve, and how does that drive their creativity, morality, and emotions? Bees in particular exhibit unexpected and fascinating cognitive skills. In What Do Bees Think About? animal cognition researcher Mathieu Lihoreau examines a century of research into insect evolution and behavior. He explains recent scientific discoveries, recounts researchers' anecdotes, and reflects on the cognition of these fascinating creatures. Lihoreau's and others scientist's research on insects reinforces the importance of protecting and preserving insects such as bees: after all, our survival on the planet is deeply dependent on theirs. This book provides an eye-opening window into the world of insect cognition and echoes an important ecological message about bees--they are intelligent creatures sharing the same fragile ecosystem as us.
This essential guide to understanding, preventing, and treating heart disease explains why communication between doctors and patients is so crucial for treatment.
Can a parliamentary democracy end America's constitutional crisis?Americans face increasingly stark choices each presidential election and a growing sense that our government can't solve the nation's most urgent challenges. Our eighteenth-century system is ill suited to our twenty-first-century world. Information-age technology has undermined our capacity to face common problems together and turned our democracy upside down, with gerrymanders letting representatives choose voters rather than voters choosing them. In Parliamentary America, Maxwell L. Stearns argues that the solution to these complex problems is a parliamentary democracy. Stearns considers such leading alternatives as ranked choice voting, the national popular vote, and congressional term limits, showing why these can't solve our constitutional crisis. Instead, three amendments--expanding the House of Representatives, having House party coalitions choose the president, and letting the House end a failing presidency based on no confidence--will produce a robust multiparty democracy. These amendments hold an essential advantage over other proposals: by leaving every member of the House and Senate as incumbents in their districts or states, the amendments provide a pressure-release valve against reforms threatening that status. Stearns takes readers on a world tour--England, France, Germany, Israel, Taiwan, Brazil, and Venezuela--showing what works in government, what doesn't, and how to make the best features our own. Genuine party competition and governing coalitions, commonplace across the globe, may seem like a fantasy in the United States. But we can make them a reality. This rare book offers an optimistic vision, explaining in accessible terms how to transform our troubled democracy into a thriving parliamentary America.
A compelling guide to understanding cancer and embracing life.Rogue Cells is the essential guide to navigating cancer diagnosis and treatment. Coauthored by Dr. Richard J. Jones, an internationally renowned cancer physician and researcher, and T. Michael McCormick, this guide provides the important information that patients and physicians need to know to approach cancer with more hope and less worry and fear.With an engaging blend of science and humor, Jones and McCormick discuss everything from the causes of cancer to preventative measures and treatment options. Their goal is to educate and reassure by making the science as easy to understand as possible. In conversational language, Jones and McCormick examine the biology of cancer, the state of current research, prospects for treatment, and different ways to approach a diagnosis.If you have cancer or are supporting someone who does, this book is a must-read. Rogue Cells provides a solid understanding of the disease, its causes, and its treatments--to help everyone confronting this disease make informed decisions and feel more in control of the cancer journey.
Untangling the private feelings, ambitions, and fears of early Americans through their personal writings from the Revolution to the Civil War.Modern readers of history and biography unite around a seemingly straightforward question: What did it feel like to live in the past? In Longing for Connection, historian Andrew Burstein attempts to answer this question with a vigorous, nuanced emotional history of the United States from its founding to the Civil War. Through an examination of the letters, diaries, and other personal texts of the time, along with popular poetry and novels, Burstein shows us how early Americans expressed deep emotions through shared metaphors and borrowed verse in their longing for meaning and connection. He reveals how literate, educated Americans--both well-known and more obscure--expressed their feelings to each other and made attempts at humor, navigating an anxious world in which connection across spaces was difficult to capture. In studying the power of poetry and literature as expressions of inner life, Burstein conveys the tastes of early Americans and illustrates how emotions worked to fashion myths of epic heroes, such as the martyr Nathan Hale, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln. He also studies the public's fears of ocean travel, their racial blind spots, and their remarkable facility for political satire.Burstein questions why we seek a connection to the past and its emotions in the first place. America, he argues, is shaped by a persistent belief that the past is reachable and that its lessons remain intact, which represents a major obstacle in any effort to understand our national history. Burstein shows, finally, that modern readers exhibit a similar capacity for rationalization and that dire longing for connection across time and space as the people he studies.
How can we make society more resilient to outbreaks and avoid forcing the poor and working class to bear the brunt of their harm?When an epidemic outbreak occurs, the most physical and financial harm historically falls upon the people who can least afford it: the economically and socially marginalized. Where people live and work, how they commute and socialize, and more have a huge impact on the risks we bear during an outbreak. In The Rich Flee and the Poor Take the Bus, economist Troy Tassier examines examples ranging from the 430 BCE plague of Athens to the COVID-19 pandemic to demonstrate why marginalized groups bear the largest burden of epidemic costs--and how to avoid these systemic failures in the future.The links between epidemics and social issues such as inequality, discrimination, and financial insecurity are not always direct or clear. Tassier reveals truths hidden in plain sight, from the way population density statistics can be misleading to the often-misunderstood differences between risk and uncertainty. The disproportionate harm experienced by marginalized individuals is not the product of their own decisions; instead, the collective choices of society and the tangled web of interactions across people and communities leave these groups most exposed to the perils of epidemics.However, there is reason to hope. Utilizing a wealth of economic and population data, Tassier argues that we can leverage lessons learned from historic and recent outbreaks to design better economic and social policies and more just institutions to protect everyone in society when inevitable future epidemics arrive.
"This work explores how, through shifts in narrative tone and pacing at the conclusions of her novels, Jane Austen gives her readers the happy ending they crave, but leaves its price tag attached"--
The fascinating stories of public health innovators who overcame immense obstacles to improve the health of millions.In the nineteenth century, the scourge of deadly infectious diseases permanently receded for the first time in human history. This progress was due in large part to advances in the public health field, including improved sanitation and cleaner water. Progress in health and longevity continued through the twentieth century, again thanks in part to public health advances in safer food, access to nursing care, an understanding of health disparities, reduced tobacco use, and a global network for vaccine distribution.In The Struggle for Public Health, Fred C. Pampel shares the stories of public health innovators who, over a period of 150 years, helped save lives and change the way we live. These engaging stories feature scientific discoveries, strong personalities, and new forms of social behavior. But these changes did not come without struggle: public health advances met vigorous resistance from vested interests in the status quo, attachment to deeply embedded but false beliefs, and the sheer difficulty of creating large-scale changes in public behavior. This well-researched and historically grounded volume chronicles the fascinating lives of seven advocates for public health progress, including a London bureaucrat who devoted his life to cleaning up filthy streets and neighborhoods, an activist nurse who provided first-rate care and health guidance to newly arrived immigrants, and the organizational genius who overcame limited funding, bureaucratic inertia, and political infighting to deliver vaccines across the world. The inspiring stories in The Struggle for Public Health offer insights on past advances and the potential for future solutions that could save lives and improve the quality of life for millions of people.This book features public health innovations developed by WEB DuBois, Harvey Wiley, Lilian Wald, Edwin Chadwick, John Snow, Richard Doll, and D. A. Henderson.
"The author examines the implications of this liberty reset for the ways we negotiate freedom's boundaries as we tend to our unending preoccupations of wealth, work, health, happiness, security, voice, love, and death"--
A brief but engaging look at love.In Love, researcher Anne Marie Pahuus explores the fascinating dimensions of this complicated and alluring feeling. Defining love as a mixture of warm emotions fueled by our wish to be with another person, Pahuus illustrates how love frames and influences our eventful lives, plans, and goals. But we haven't always viewed love in the romantic way that we see it now--the idea of love has changed and evolved throughout history, from Plato to Kierkegaard and Milan Kundera. Love determines our experience of happiness, but it also defines our responsibilities. Pahuus asks provocative questions: How do our attitudes toward love reinforce or subvert traditional ideas about gender, sexuality, and partnership? And how do we experience and value different forms of love, such as romantic, familial, or universal? Tackling these essential questions with humor and candor, Love will help you reframe your relationship with yourself, others, and the world.In Reflections, a series copublished with Denmark's Aarhus University Press, scholars deliver 60-page reflections on key concepts. These books present unique insights on a wide range of topics that entertain and enlighten readers with exciting discoveries and new perspectives.
A brief but engaging look at the fascinating world of ants.In Ants, researcher Joachim Offenberg encourages us to take a closer look at the ant: a small insect, but mighty in number and evolutionary sophistication. Exhibiting highly advanced social structures, the ability to control and manipulate other organisms, and the use of medicinal substances and tools, ants are more like humans than we might think. Like humankind, ants have multiplied on every continent on the globe, except Antarctica. Follow along as Offenberg delves into the complex world of ants: the architecture they build, the exciting societies in which they live, and the clever methods they use to survive.In Reflections, a series copublished with Denmark's Aarhus University Press, scholars deliver 60-page reflections on key concepts. These books present unique insights on a wide range of topics that entertain and enlighten readers with exciting discoveries and new perspectives.
A brief but engaging look at getting older.In Age, biogerontologist Suresh Rattan delves into the fascinating biology and philosophy of aging. Beginning with an exploration of the chemical origins and fundamental characteristics of life, Rattan then explains how gerontologists interpret human life as a continuum divided into four "ages." Our age flows forward and backward depending on how we feel, how we behave, and how we perceive ourselves. How we approach our age and the age of others often determines our physical, mental, and social health as well as how we treat others. Thanks to evolution, our bodies maintain a homeodynamic space that repairs our bodies until about the age of 45, at which point this space begins to shrink. Through his research, Rattan was inspired to create a formula for eternal life: perfect genes, a healthy environment, and good fortune. Unfortunately, these three ingredients are impossible to achieve, and Rattan urges us to accept our aging bodies and mortality with grace. After all, aging happens to all of us.In Reflections, a series copublished with Denmark's Aarhus University Press, scholars deliver 60-page reflections on key concepts. These books present unique insights on a wide range of topics that entertain and enlighten readers with exciting discoveries and new perspectives.
A comprehensive guide for those caring for a loved one nearing the end of life.Many people seek the comfort and dignity of dying at home. Advances in pharmacology and hospice care allow the dying to remain at home relatively free of pain and symptoms, but navigating professional services, insurance coverage, and family dynamics often compounds the complexity of this process. Extensively updated and revised, this third edition of Andrea Sankar's Dying at Home: A Family Guide for Caregiving provides essential information that caregivers and dying persons need to navigate this journey.Featuring contributions by professionals and personal stories from in-depth case studies of family caregivers, this guide discusses the challenges, resources, benefits, and barriers to care at home. With updates on advance care planning, developments in palliative care medicine, and the availability of legally assisted dying, this edition discusses how to: - Arrange medical care, nursing, and ancillary therapies- Understand costs, sources of financial support, and insurance coverage - Collaborate with health professionals in the home- Assist in implementing pain management techniques- Find social and spiritual support, as well as self-care for caregivers- Handle family dynamics and legal matters- Collaborate to make complex care and treatment decisions- Navigate the process of dying and caring for the body after death
A brief but engaging look at the importance of trust.Gert Tinggaard Svendsen explores how to cultivate this elusive feeling--and why developing trust is so important for maintaining a happy, stable, and economically sound society. Without it, societies become more corrupt and legal systems cannot guarantee justice. Why do Nordic countries like Denmark score so highly in trust and happiness levels and so low in levels of corruption--and how can other countries replicate these stats for the good of their people? Higher levels of trust often translate to more cooperation and social responsibility, advantages in economic growth and social stability, and happier workplaces. Tinggard Svendsen's research on trust emphasizes that if we want to build trust, we must minimize control. The fewer resources we expend on surveillance and monitoring, the more resources we can use to improve competition, advance research, and nurture innovation. In Reflections, a series copublished with Denmark's Aarhus University Press, scholars deliver 60-page reflections on key concepts. These books present unique insights on a wide range of topics that entertain and enlighten readers with exciting discoveries and new perspectives.
Chronicles Johns Hopkins Medicine's triumphs and challenges during the last ten years, including the institution's global leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.In Leading the Change: Johns Hopkins Medicine from 2012 to 2022, Karen Nitkin describes a remarkable decade in the history of the institution--an era of growth, innovation, and adaptation. Guided by Paul B. Rothman, the former dean of the medical faculty and the CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine, this prestigious medical school and health system cemented its status as a leader in medical education, research, and patient care. This was particularly true during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world turned to Johns Hopkins for evidence-based information and expertise. In this beautifully designed volume, Nitkin introduces the leaders, clinicians, researchers, educators, students, patients, and community members who collaborate to make Johns Hopkins an exemplary place to work, learn, teach, research, and heal. Leading the Change covers many triumphs and challenges, including a Nobel Prize win, historic surgeries, the implementation of a groundbreaking precision medicine approach, innovations in medical education, and ongoing work to address health inequities in Baltimore and Washington, DC. Nitkin chronicles how a leading organization weathered a tumultuous decade--and emerged stronger than ever. Filled with photographs and informed by dozens of interviews, the book is a companion to Leading the Way: A History of Johns Hopkins Medicine, which traces the extraordinary story of Johns Hopkins Medicine from its founding in 1889 through 2011.
In the United States, federal prosecutors enjoy a degree of power that's unmatched elsewhere in the world: unlike their counterparts in other countries, federal prosecutors are free to investigate and prosecute (or decline to prosecute) criminal cases -- without significant oversight. Our contemporary concerns about federal prosecutors -- that they have too much power and too much discretion over how they use it -- have a history that goes back to the founding of the United States. This will be the first book to examine the development of the federal law enforcement apparatus in the earliest part of the early republic"--
"This title explores the origins, impacts and responses to diseases that are particularly damaging, persistent and/or are currently threatening wildlife conservation"--
A guided journey through the inner workings of Earth, the cloaked mysteries of other planets in our solar system, and beyond.Extreme heat. Extreme cold. Extreme pressure. Toxic gases. Scorching magma flows, and ice volcanoes. Interior tides. Asteroids filled with gold. In What's Hidden Inside Planets? planetary scientist Dr. Sabine Stanley cracks the surface to reveal the beating heart of planets and what created them--from the building blocks of swirling cosmic dust, pebbles, and gas to coalesced planetesimal beginnings to the worlds we see today. We're only beginning to explore the secretive interiors of planets, where awe-inspiring wonders await. Our home planet is no exception. Earth, from space, looks like a shimmering gem suspended in an inky, infinite expanse. But this serene image masks the magnificent and volatile interior forces that make life possible for millions of species on the surface. The placid appearances of our neighboring planets similarly belie their powers--and science fiction-worthy features, like diamond rain. The daily machinations of Earth's deep interior make the planet a habitable, yet sometimes treacherous, place to live. Drill down thousands of miles through our built environments and soil, sand, water, rock, and minerals to the outer (mainly liquid iron with nickel) and inner core, encountering intense convection, roiling metals, hidden continents, and shifting tectonic plates. Discover the effects of magnetism, rotation, and seismic activity seen and sensed in the forms of auroras, hurricanes, volcanoes, and earthquakes, among other manifestations. Our neighboring planets boast their own fierce forces, along with moons covered by frozen oceans that might someday reveal extraterrestrial life. Join this exciting journey to far-flung interstellar locations and the center of the Earth to learn what lies beneath our feet, and why it's the best real estate in our solar system.
The definitive account of Synanon.On a fall day in 1978, Los Angeles attorney Paul Morantz reached into his mailbox to collect his mail and was nearly killed. He was bitten by the four-foot-long rattlesnake that had been put there by members of a cultlike group called Synanon.Chuck Dederich--a former Alcoholics Anonymous member who coined the phrase "Today is the first day of the rest of your life"--established Synanon as an innovative drug rehabilitation center near the Santa Monica beach in 1958. Synanon quickly evolved into an experimental commune and religion that attracted thousands of members and was strongly committed to social justice and progressive education. Twenty years later, when Dederich was arrested for the Morantz attack, Synanon had devolved into a paranoid community that followed its egomaniacal leader in whatever direction he chose to take.Based on extensive primary sources and interviews with former members, The Rise and Fall of Synanon explores how the group arose in the context of American social, political, and economic trends. Historian Rod Janzen argues that Synanon's downfall resulted from members giving too much power to Synanon's charismatic founder. The subject of a new documentary and podcast, this community serves as a mesmerizing case study of how alternative societies can change over time and how the general public's reactions to such societies can shift from tolerance to fear and opposition.
"Explores how authoritarian regimes are deploying "sharp power" to undermine democracies from within by weaponizing universities, institutions, media, technology, and entertainment industries.The world's dictators are no longer content with shoring up control over their own populations-they are now exploiting the openness of the free world to spread disinformation, sow discord, and suppress dissent. In Defending Democracy in an Age of Sharp Power, editors William J. Dobson, Tarek Masoud, and Christopher Walker bring together leading analysts to explain how the world's authoritarians are attempting to erode the pillars of democratic societies-and what we can do about it. Popular media, entertainment industries, universities, the tech world, and even critical political institutions are being manipulated by dictators who advance their regimes' interests by weakening democracies from within. Autocrats' use of "sharp power" constitutes one of the gravest threats to liberal, representative government today. The optimistic, early twenty-first-century narrative of how globalization, the spread of the internet, and the rise of social media would lead to liberalization everywhere is now giving way to the realization that these same forces provide inroads to those wishing to snuff out democracy at the source. And while autocrats can do much to wall their societies off from democratic and liberal influences, free societies have not yet fully grasped how they can resist the threat of sharp power while preserving their fundamental openness and freedom.Far from offering a counsel of despair, the international contributors in this collection identify the considerable resources that democracy provides for blunting sharp power's edge. With careful case studies of successful resistance efforts in such countries as Australia, the Czech Republic, and Taiwan, this book offers an urgent message for anyone concerned with the defense of democracy in the twenty-first century.Contributors: Ketty W. Chen, Sarah Cook, William J. Dobson, John Fitzgerald, Martin Hâala, Samantha Hoffman, Aynne Kokas, Edward Lucas, Tarek Masoud, Nadáege Rolland, Ruslan Stefanov, Glenn Tiffert, Martin Vladimirov, Christopher Walker"--
"This book examines the role that Amish women played in their community's successful survival of the Great Depression"--
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