Books » Social Science Nonfiction

This proceedings volume of the ISEA 2008 examines sports engineering, an interdisciplinary subject which encompasses and integrates not only sports science and classical engineering but also aims to bridge the gap between the analysis of the equipment and the athlete himself. The areas of interest include the mechanics, biomechanics and dynamics of sport, the physiology, anatomy and the analysis of movement, instrumentation, equipment design, surface interaction, materials and modelling, and many others. These various topics could be part of technology applications practically in every sport. The proceedings will be of particular interest among others to Engineering, Physics, Mathematics and Sports Science Departments and will act as a forum where research, industry and the sports sector can exchange state of the art technology, dedicated knowledge and innovative ideas.

This book examines the linkages between environmental change and forced migration. This has been a headline topic during the past few years with predictions of millions of refugees. It presents case studies from across the world of responses to climate change as well as other environmental changes and examines the role that environmental change plays among the other factors that lead to a decision to migrate.

Evolutionary theory addresses the phenomenon of the origin and diversity of plant and animal species that we observe. In recent times, however, it has become a predominant ideology which has gained currency far beyond its original confines. Attempts to understand the origin and historical development of human culture, civilization and language, of the powers of human cognition, and even the origin of the moral and ethical values guiding and constraining everyday life in human societies are now cast in an evolutionary context. In Evolutionary Theory and the Creation Controversy the author examines evolutionary theory from a historical perspective, explaining underlying metaphysical backgrounds and fundamental philosophical questions such as the paradoxical problem of change, existence and creation. He introduces the scientists involved, their research results and theories, and discusses the evolution of evolutionary theory against the background of Creationism and Intelligent Design.

A brilliantly researched and wickedly funny rebuttal of the pseudo-scientific claim that men are from Mars and women are from Venus. It?s the twenty-first century, and although we tried to rear unisex children?boys who play with dolls and girls who like trucks?we failed. Even though the glass ceiling is cracked, most women stay comfortably beneath it. And everywhere we hear about vitally important ?hardwired? differences between male and female brains. The neuroscience that we read about in magazines, newspaper articles, books, and sometimes even scientific journals increasingly tells a tale of two brains, and the result is more often than not a validation of the status quo. Women, it seems, are just too intuitive for math; men too focused for housework.

Drawing on the latest research in neuroscience and psychology, Cordelia Fine debunks the myth of hardwired differences between men?s and women?s brains, unraveling the evidence behind such claims as men?s brains aren?t wired for empathy and women?s brains aren?t made to fix cars. She then goes one step further, offering a very different explanation of the dissimilarities between men?s and women?s behavior. Instead of a ?male brain? and a ?female brain,? Fine gives us a glimpse of plastic, mutable minds that are continuously influenced by cultural assumptions about gender.

Passionately argued and unfailingly astute, Delusions of Gender provides us with a much-needed corrective to the belief that men?s and women?s brains are intrinsically different?a belief that, as Fine shows with insight and humor, all too often works to the detriment of ourselves and our society.

The definitive critical introduction to American society, challenging readers to think about the disconnection between how things are supposed to be in theory versus how they really work in practice. Jeff Manza, New York UniversityIn American Society: How It Really Works, Erik Olin Wright and Joel Rogers ask several crucial questions: What kind of society is American society How does it really work Why is it the way it is In what ways does it need changing, and how can those changes be brought about They explore the implications of these questions by examining five key values that most Americans believe our society should realize: Freedom, Prosperity, Efficiency, Fairness, and Democracy. Wright and Rogers ask readers to evaluate to what degree contemporary American society realizes these values and suggest how Americans might solve some of the social problems that confront America today.

Exploring ten extraordinary places, this provocative analysis of historic preservation's past and future will transform contemporary understanding of the movement. This book examines assumptions about why history, heritage, and place should matter. It ranges from a discussion of the commemoration of place in the Marquis de Lafayette's triumphal tour of the United States in 1824-25 to speculation about the cultural and political import of interpreting history on superfund toxic waste sites. 12 color and 165 black-and-white photos

For both the preservation professional and urban planner, this book shows how preservation is a key to the creation of livable cities. The author Eric Allison, the founder and coordinated of the graduate historic preservation program at Pratt Institute in New York City, offers tools and case studies that preservationists and planners can learn from in implementing preservation projects or plans in cities large and small. This book is a must read for anyone working in or interested in these fields and the creation and maintenance of livable cities.

Part travelogue and part scientist's notebook, The Last Speakers is the poignant chronicle of author K. David Harrison's expeditions around the world to meet with last speakers of vanishing languages. The speakers' eloquent reflections and candid photographs reveal little-known lifeways as well as revitalization efforts to teach disappearing languages to younger generations. Thought-provoking and engaging, this unique book illuminates the global language-extinction crisis through photos, graphics, interviews, traditional wisdom never before translated into English, and first-person essays that thrillingly convey the adventure of science and exploration.

In a compelling exploration of all things female, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Bride celebrates the defining connections among women and honors their differences. Each chapter reveals the actions through which a woman connects with herself, with her family, with members of her community, and with other women?from quincea?era parties commemorating a Hispanic girl turning 15, to pre-wedding henna ceremonies in the Middle East, where the hands and feet of the bride and her party are lavishly painted for her special day. Readers also will learn about such American traditions as the debutante ball, as well as the coming of age rituals of Mende girls in Sierra Leone. Gorgeous photographs from the National Geographic archive portray these women and their customs across time and around the world.

Remarkable stories and anecdotes from anthropologist Joanne Eicher complement the profiles written by Lisa Ling, who as host of the weekly television program National Geographic Explorer, has traveled the world, observing and documenting rituals both ancient and emerging, from her exceptional perspective as a journalist.

Together these accomplished authors provide a fascinating look at the historical, cultural, emotional, and personal impact of women's rituals and ritual practices. Provoking a range of emotions?reverence, sadness, joy, and shock?Mother, Daughter, Sister, Bride puts women in perspective in the modern world, in multiple situations and on all levels.

Social Issues in Sport, Second Edition, is an outstanding introduction to the multifaceted roles of sport and physical activity in society and the perfect tool for examining sport from a critical perspective. The texts engaging writing style, full-color format, and sound learning tools make it accessible and get students involved in and excited about the material. A full array of instructor resources and a variety of learning activities in each chapter make this book a highly functional and enjoyable way for instructors to introduce this subject to their students. This edition continues to engage students with real-world examples, connecting theory with the sports they view and participate in. Following are new and updated features: A new chapter on the emerging area of sport and development, which describes how sport may be used to promote peace, socialization, and moral development Expanded discussions of deviance in sport and social media phenomena that have become intertwined with the world of sport Updated sidebars, including an increased number of Expert's View sidebars to help students take a theory-to-practice mind-set to their studies The latest research in the field with current examples and statistics While the book is solidly grounded in research, it does not dwell on theory. Social Issues in Sport, Second Edition, provides a deeper look at the issues, contradictions, and confusion surrounding sport for students in sport management, sport sociology, or other areas of sport studies. Students will find heavy emphasis on areas that other texts often overlookincluding the role of coaches, importance of lifetime sport and fitness, and sport for special populations such as the physically and mentally challenged and the elderly. As a result, students gain a complete view of what constitutes sport and physical activity and a firm grasp of the sociocultural considerations vital to their understanding of sport.