Böcker utgivna av Prometheus Books

Offers a friendly and conversational inquiry about basic Christian beliefs from a sceptical viewpoint. This book poses fifty simple questions about Christianity that will hopefully foster mutual understanding between Christians and non-Christians. It is designed to promote constructive dialogue on the subject.

Offers a fresh approach to the 'Alice' phenomenon of Lewis Carroll.

If you were attending school in the late-nineteenth century, it's very likely that your teacher would have taught you to memorize lines from "e;The Village Blacksmith"e; by renowned poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. And on the classroom wall you'd probably see his portrait looking down benignly on you and your classmates. Longfellow was so famous and beloved by youth in this era that he was known as "e;the children's poet."e; Students not only memorized his poetry but sent him hundreds of letters.In this charming biography, storyteller and author Sydelle Pearlrecounts the life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow by drawing upon the letters he received from his young admirers. In their letters, children from yesteryear reveal details about their lives that reach across the years to young people today. The letters also highlight the unique, close relationship that children shared with Longfellow. A girl from West Virginia writes, "e;Thank you so much for writing for children. It makes us feel that we are not forgotten."e; Others ask him about what he did as a boy or a young man. In one extraordinary gesture of friendship, the schoolchildren of Cambridge celebrated his birthday by presenting him with a chair created from the wood of the "e;spreading chestnut tree"e; made famous in his poem "e;The Village Blacksmith."e; Longfellow dedicated his poem "e;From My Arm-Chair"e; to these thoughtful children.Complete with selected poems and photographs of the poet and his family, Dear Mr. Longfellow brings to life a famous figure of American literature and a distant, simpler age in the history of our country.

Plato's dialogues, featuring his famous mentor Socrates, often prove difficult to understand for many contemporary readers. Students today miss the ancient cultural and historical references, and they have trouble following Plato's arguments as presented in dialogue format. This book remedies these problems by recasting five of Plato's dialogues into accessible and entertaining short stories in modern settings. The Euthyphro becomes a tale about a televangelist bent on disowning his son at a denominational boarding school in rural Virginia; the Crito - retitled "e;What do you have to do for your country?"e; - is focused on the question of whether a US citizen who considers a current war to be unjust should avoid a military draft by moving to Canada. In all of the stories (the Meno, the Statesman, and Phaedo are also included), the central character is Socrates, just as in the original dialogues, but here the maverick philosopher appears in twenty-first-century guise. The author, who has taught philosophy for many years, captures the tone, wit, and philosophical essence of Plato's dialogues in a modern English interpretation that is often amusing and fun to read. For instructors looking for an engaging way to interest undergraduates in Plato and for students who find the original works a bit daunting, this book offers an enlightening and enjoyable read.

A world-renowned criminal profiler takes a fascinating look at one of the most tragic mysteries in history. For more than two thousand years, the great pharaoh Cleopatra VII has been portrayed as a failed monarch. Various ancient sources state that she desperately ended her life with the bite of an asp, as her nemesis - the Roman general Octavian, later known as Augustus, the first Roman emperor - stormed Alexandria. Now, a completely unique interpretation of history is brought to light by world-renowned criminal profiler Pat Brown in her new myth-busting book, The Murder of Cleopatra. As host and profiler of The Mysterious Death of Cleopatra (Discovery 2005), Brown challenged the long-enduring myth that Cleopatra died via snakebite and that she committed suicide to avoid further humiliation. Using the techniques and methodology of investigative criminal profiling and crime reconstruction, The Murder of Cleopatra takes up where the Discovery Channel documentary left off. Brown's findings, borne of scientific method, rigorous inquiry, and deductive reasoning, will be revealed against a historical backdrop of mystery, drama, politics, danger, and romantic intrigue. The result: a thought-provoking analysis of the amazing woman Cleopatra truly was, a fascinating account of the queen's final desperate attempt to escape Egypt with her ships and treasure, and the brutal homicide that ended her life as the last Egyptian pharaoh.

Explores the issues from the two-centuries-long debate over religion and secularism in America. With a list of key dates related to the history of secular America, notes, bibliography, and glossary, this book offers important facts and arguments for secular humanists and anyone with an interest in freedom of conscience.

Are ghosts real? Are there truly haunted places, only haunted people, or both? And how can we know? Taking neither a credulous nor a dismissive approach, this first-of-its-kind book solves those perplexing mysteries and more--even answering the question of why we care so very much. Putting aside purely romantic tales, this book examines the actual evidence for ghosts--from eyewitness accounts to mediumistic productions (such as diaphanous forms materializing in dim light), spirit photographs, ghost-detection phenomena, and even CSI-type trace evidence. Offering numerous exciting case studies, this book engages in serious investigation rather than breathless mystifying. Pseudoscience, folk legends, and outright hoaxes are challenged and exposed, while the historical, cultural, and scientific aspects of ghost experiences and haunting reports are carefully explored. The author--the world's only professional paranormal investigator--brings his skills as a stage magician, private detective, folklorist, and forensic science writer to bear on a topic that demands serious study.

Most people appreciate science on an obvious level. Modern medicine, electric lighting, rapid transportation, and long-distance communication are among the many benefits of science that have made life today healthier and more comfortable than people in earlier eras could have imagined.This book is about a deeper benefit of science, one that, while less obvious, may prove to be far more important in the long run: namely, the ability to look beyond our preconceptions and see the world and ourselves in a truer light. Author Dennis R. Trumble makes a compelling case that now more than ever the public at large needs to appreciate the critical-thinking tools that science has to offer and be educated in basic science literacy. Trumble emphasizes that the methods and facts of science are accessible to everyone, and that, contrary to popular belief, understanding science does not require extraordinary intelligence.He also notes that scientific rationality and critical thinking are not only good for our physical well-being but also are fully in sync with our highest moral codes. He illustrates the many ways in which the scientific worldview offers a profound sense of wonder, connectedness, and optimism about the human condition, an inspiring perspective that satisfies age-old spiritual aspirations.At a time of daunting environmental challenges and rampant misinformation, The Way of Science provides a welcome corrective and reason to hope for the future.

In 2011, Glenn Beck released a "new" biography of George Washington, while Rick Perry governor of Texas published a book arguing that Founding Fathers intended individual states to be powerful than federal government. This volume examines dozens of these books, articles, speeches, and broadcasts to expose flaws in their use of American history.

This hard-hitting expose blows the lid off of everything you thought you knew about Big Pharma and Big Food. What goes on behind the scenes in these industries is more suspicious, more devious, more disreputable than you could have ever imagined. Rosenberg's message is clear: the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries are tainting public health through marketing disguised as medical education and research, aggressive lobbying, and high-level conflicts of interest. If you're concerned about the safety of the drugs you take and the food you eat, you owe it to yourself to read this important book.Having gained the trust of more than twenty doctors, researchers, and experts who were willing to come forward and finally tell all, reporter and editorial cartoonist Rosenberg presents us with her shocking findings. Explosive material from whistle-blowers, scientists, unsealed lawsuits, and Big Pharma's and Big Food's own marketers exposes how these industries put profits before public safety and how the government puts the interests of business before the welfare of consumers, creating a double whammy that "e;pimps"e; the public health. What Rosenberg reveals about government complicity, regulatory food- and drug-safety lapses, and legislative injustices will both shock and appall.

This in-depth discussion of New Testament scholarship and the challenges of history as a whole proposes Bayes's Theorem, which deals with probabilities under conditions of uncertainty, as a solution to the problem of establishing reliable historical criteria. The author demonstrates that valid historical methodsnot only in the study of Christian origins but in any historical studycan be described by, and reduced to, the logic of Bayes's Theorem. Conversely, he argues that any method that cannot be reduced to this theorem is invalid and should be abandoned. Writing with thoroughness and clarity, the author explains Bayes's Theorem in terms that are easily understandable to professional historians and laypeople alike, employing nothing more than well-known primary school math. He then explores precisely how the theorem can be applied to history and addresses numerous challenges to and criticisms of its use in testing or justifying the conclusions that historians make about the important persons and events of the past. The traditional and established methods of historians are analyzed using the theorem, as well as all the major "e;historicity criteria"e; employed in the latest quest to establish the historicity of Jesus. The author demonstrates not only the deficiencies of these approaches but also ways to rehabilitate them using Bayes's Theorem. Anyone with an interest in historical methods, how historical knowledge can be justified, new applications of Bayes's Theorem, or the study of the historical Jesus will find this book to be essential reading.

Lays the groundwork for the principles of the market economy. This book established the guiding ideas behind the economic concepts of diminishing returns and economic rent.

For almost two decades John Loftus was a devout evangelical Christian, an ordained minister, and an ardent apologist for Christianity. But over the years doubts about the credibility of key Christian tenets began to creep into his thinking. This title presents a frank critique of Christian belief from a former insider.

Victoria Costello's family mental illness was given many names across four generations. This title recounts how the diagnosis of her 17-year old son with paranoid schizophrenia, her own fight with clinical depression, and her youngest son's struggle with anxiety disorder compelled her to look into her family history for clues to their conditions.

Offers information on eight mysterious deaths which were the headline stories of their day. From crime scene to morgue to courtroom, and finally the court of public opinion, this title is suitable for true-crime readers.

A collection of essays that is informed and unified by the conviction that philosophy can, and should, engage with real-world issues. This edition includes a devastating critique of Karl Popper's highly (and dangerously) influential philosophy of science; an analysis of scientism; and a paper on 'academic ethics in a preposterous environment'.

An illuminating collection of satirical poems. It homes in on the inconsistencies and downright perversities of what passes in our broad culture as 'Holy Writ'. It lets us hear from priests, televangelists, and faith healers, as well as some sagacious contemporaries, commenting on what it means to live a life of reason.

Scientists dream of making a discovery that changes the way we think. That dream came true for Dr Donald C Johanson when he found the most famous fossil in history, known to us as 'Lucy' (Australopithecus afarensis). This title takes us on a journey through Johanson's life and career.

This book uses evolutionary psychology as a lens to explain religious violence and oppression. The author, a clinical psychologist, examines religious scriptures, rituals, and canon law, highlighting the many ways in which our evolutionary legacy has shaped the development of religion and continues to profoundly influence its expression. The book focuses on the image of God as the dominant male in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This traditional God concept is seen as a reflection of the "dominant ape" paradigm so evident in the hierarchical social structures of primates, with whom we have a strong genetic connection.The author describes the main features of male-dominated primate social hierarchies-- specifically, the role of the alpha male as the protector of the group; his sexual dominance and use of violence and oppression to attain food, females, and territory; in-group altruism vs. out-group hostility (us vs. them); and displays of dominance and submission to establish roles within the social hierarchy. The parallels between these features of primate society and human religious rituals and concepts make it clear that religion, especially its oppressive and violent tendencies, is rooted in the deep evolutionary past.This incisive analysis goes a long way toward explaining the historic and ongoing violence committed in the name of religion.

Looks at how 'alternative energy' policies lead the way in the fight against the global energy crisis. This title explores how the unrelenting efforts of a small band of grassroots activists have discovered ways to turn solar into a practical retail energy solution.

Drawing on a wealth of case material, this title presents an examination of the many manifestations of religious violence - including sacrifice, self-mortification, religious persecution, ethno-religious conflicts, and religious war - to reveal why certain kinds of religious ideas and practices contribute to certain types of violence.

After more than four decades and scores of books, documentaries, and films on the subject, what more can be said about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy? A great deal, according to the author. This provocative, rigorously researched book presents evidence and compelling arguments that will make you rethink the entire sequence of terrible events on that traumatic day in Dallas. Drawing on his fifteen years of experience as an experimental physicist for the US Navy, the author demonstrates that the commonly accepted view of the assassination is fundamentally flawed from a scientific perspective. The physics behind lone-gunmen theories is not only wrong, says Chambers, but frankly impossible.This is the first book to: identify the second murder weapon, prove the locations of the assassins, and demonstrate multiple shooters with scientific certainty. It concludes with a persuasive chapter on why this horrible event, now almost half a century old, should still matter to us today. Originally published as a hardcover in 2010, this paperback edition contains a new preface and postscript in which the author addresses some interesting developments since the book was first published as well as the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination. For anyone seeking a fresh understanding of the JFK assassination, this is an indispensable book.

Statistics show that nearly six million people in the UK are affected by osteoporosis and low bone density, making it one of today's most prevalent health issues. This title brings together the info on bone health.

High-profile cases such as child sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic Church and 'faith healing' deaths in certain fundamentalist Christian congregations have raised public awareness that religion can sometimes mask deviant and harmful behaviour. This book explores how and why religious child maltreatment happens.

Explores the history of mathematics among the Babylonians and Egyptians, showing how their scribes in the era from 2000 to 1600 BCE used visualisations of how plane geometric figures could be partitioned into squares, rectangles, and right triangles to invent geometric algebra, even solving problems that we now do by quadratic algebra.

In his bestselling book, "The Language of God", Francis Collins attempted to harmonise the findings of scientific research with Christian belief. This title presents a point-by-point rebuttal of "The Language of God", arguing that there is no scientifically acceptable evidence to support belief in a personal God and much that discredits it.

Did the election of Barack Obama as President of the US signal real progress in bridging America's long-standing racial divide? This study discusses the greatest source of frustration and anger among African Americans: what the author calls the wall of ignorance that attempts to hide the long history of racial injustice from public consciousness.