The book roots corruption in the idea of a departure from conventional standards, and thus offers an account not only of its corrosiveness but also of its malleability and controversiality. In the course of a broadranging exploration, it examines various links between private and public corruption, connecting the latter with other social and political structures.

Finding Oz tells the remarkable story behind one of the world’s most enduring and best-loved books. Offering profound new insights into the true origins and meaning of L. Frank Baum’s 1900 masterwork, it delves into the personal turmoil and spiritual transformation that fueled Baum’s fantastical parable of the American Dream. Before becoming an impresario of children’s adventure tales, the J. K. Rowling of his age, Baum failed at a series of careers and nearly lost his soul before setting out (...) on a journey of discovery that would lead to the Land of Oz. Drawing on original research, Evan Schwartz debunks popular misconceptions and shows how the people, places, and events in Baum’s life gave birth to his unforgettable images and characters, from the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City to the dual view of witches that reflected the life of Baum’s mother-in-law, the radical women’s rights leader Matilda Joslyn Gage. A narrative that sweeps across late-nineteenth-century America, Finding Oz ultimately reveals how failure and heartbreak can sometimes lead to redemption and bliss, and how one individual can ignite the imagination of the entire world. (shrink)

Finding Oz tells the remarkable story behind one of the world’s most enduring and best-loved books. Offering profound new insights into the true origins and meaning of L. Frank Baum’s 1900 masterwork, it delves into the personal turmoil and spiritual transformation that fueled Baum’s fantastical parable of the American Dream. Before becoming an impresario of children’s adventure tales, the J. K. Rowling of his age, Baum failed at a series of careers and nearly lost his soul before setting out (...) on a journey of discovery that would lead to the Land of Oz. Drawing on original research, Evan Schwartz debunks popular misconceptions and shows how the people, places, and events in Baum’s life gave birth to his unforgettable images and characters, from the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City to the dual view of witches that reflected the life of Baum’s mother-in-law, the radical women’s rights leader Matilda Joslyn Gage. A narrative that sweeps across late-nineteenth-century America, Finding Oz ultimately reveals how failure and heartbreak can sometimes lead to redemption and bliss, and how one individual can ignite the imagination of the entire world. (shrink)

In what follows I argue for two interrelated theses: that early Buddhism is not a form of empiricism, and that consequently there is no basis for an early Buddhist apologetic which contrasts an empirical early Buddhism with either a metaphysical Hinduism on the one hand, or with a baseless Christianity on the other.

This paper argues that God may create and exist in any possible world, no matter how much suffering of any sort that world includes. It combines the traditional free will defence with the notion of an ‘occasion’ for good or evil action and limits God's responsibility to the creation of these occasions. Since no possible world contains occasions for more evil than good action, God is morally permitted to create any possible world. With regard to suffering that is not due (...) to free will, namely the suffering of beings who are not moral agents, the paper questions the idea that the relief of such suffering is a moral perfection. (shrink)

"You will learn powerful exercises and techniques that are simple to do and immediately effective, helping you quiet emotional upsets in seconds, remove physical pain in yourself and others in minutes, lay the foundation for a perfect relationship, remove the anxiety and frustration of financial difficulties, and much, much more"-- Back cover.

ve r since the appearance of Ontogeny and Phylogeny a decade ago, Stephen Jay Gould has continued to delight and inform a wide spectrum of readers and, in doing so, to defy C.P. Snow's lament about the "two cultures" of the sciences and the humanities. Gould's monthly column in Natural History magazine, published under the heading "This View of Life," has led to a series of highly praised volumes of essays—Ever Since Darwin (1977), The Panda's Thumb (1980), Hen's Teeth and (...) Horse's Toes (1983), and most recently The Flamingo's Smile (1985). In addition, Gould's The Mismeasure of Man (1981), which won the National Book Critics' Circle Award, analyzed the questionable character of intelligence testing and emphasized the many personal and cultural biases that have led researchers astray in this field. Given the sheer amount of Gould's publications, which include numerous scientific publications as well, Gould's readers have been kept busy indeed absorbing his prodigious output. (shrink)

For years people have been waiting for a book that merges the abstract Eastern philosophy of inner peace with the scientific applications of quantum physics. Well, that book has finally arrived! The Secret of Quantum Living is a straightforward guide that offers profound spiritual insights and a practical, easy-to-apply process for healing and harmonious living. Join Dr. Frank Kinslow on a journey to deep inner peace through what quantum physics calls the "implicate order." Within the pages of this powerful (...) book, you will learn Dr. Kinslow's process of Quantum Entrainment® (QE) and discover how to enrich and enliven all areas of your life. You'll be able to resolve problems or challenges you face by applying QE to your finances, your relationships, your sex life . . . and even your eating, sleeping, and exercising habits. You will also uncover ways to dissolve anger issues, negative thinking, physical pain, and emotional discord. And the great news is that anyone can practice QE! It doesn't require previous training, and it's so simple that a child can do it. The Secret of Quantum Living is fun to read and exciting to apply. You'll begin seeing results from your very first session. Give it a try . . . you'll be surprised how quickly the process works for you! (shrink)

The Experience of Human Communication approaches everyday communication as a philosophical and psychological matter. Using insights from Merleau-Ponty, Heidegger, and Foucault, Frank Macke stresses that human communication—and with it, the human body—is, first and foremost, a relational phenomenon involving friends and family.

Who am I? -- How to see with new eyes -- How the mind works -- How time works -- Self-awareness -- How to fix the future -- Your problems are not the problem -- How to overcome happiness -- Memory is not intelligent -- Fixing a broken mind -- Overcoming psychological pain -- Overcoming physical pain -- The perfect relationship -- How to not-know -- When you become enlightened.