Through history, interviews, anecdotes, and popular culture, this book examines pregnancy from all angles, covering changing expectations for pregnancy; new definitions of when fatherhood begins; the implications of new, earlier connections to the fetus; and the political, economic, and social consequences to the public. In the 21st century, pregnancy is more than a biological event—it's a cultural phenomenon. A Womb with a View: America's Growing Public Interest in Pregnancy addresses how media influence and changes in society have exposed and commoditized pregnancy like never before, while technology has enabled us to share, record, and preserve all aspects of the pregnancy experience. Each chapter of the book focuses on an aspect of the pregnancy experience, including efforts to peer in and bond with the fetus, the various ways of obtaining advice, the evolving role of expectant fathers, how pregnancy is depicted and treated in popular culture, and branding and marketing to pregnant couples. Interviews with those marketing products and services to pregnant women reveal how pregnancy is now "big business," while real-life stories from pregnant women and images from television and film serve to illustrate our culture's fascination with pregnancy.

This book delves into the life of the Church of England at a near grassroots level during a period of seismic change. It seeks to capture the essence of experimental ministry during a time of national uncertainty. While it doesn’t provide definitive answers, it explores various possibilities with honesty and humour. The narrative shares the joys and challenges of parish ministry in diverse settings: from the heart of a bustling city to the serene depths of rural Wensleydale, from a sprawling inner-city housing estate to the hills and coastlands of Cumbria. It enthusiastically engages with ecumenical matters and approaches interfaith diversity with a certain naivety. “Here are the workings out of a practical theologian – a priest working across disciplines, and most powerfully working with and alongside communities.” – The Ven. Chris Burke, Archdeacon of Barking. “He created a platform to build on of the largest centres for social action and community activity in the country... Malcolm is courageous beyond belief and a true advocate of his faith and belief in human kind.” – Mark Law MBC. Chief Executive, BARCA, Leeds. “I found this lovely book quite a nostalgic read, because it reminded me of the church into which I was ordained nearly 40 years ago. I also found it deeply moving, endearingly honest, and at times profoundly inspiring. Malcolm - who is a natural entrepreneur – manages to tackle some very serious subjects without ever taking himself too seriously and he enables some powerful reflection on the meaning of ‘success’ in ordained ministry without trying to provide to many answers. I hope you will enjoy reading it as much as I did.” – James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle.

Enhanced recollection can open doors to unconscious thought procesesses and behavior patterns, in the process increasing your ability to cope with problems in daily life. The ability to recall not only the sights and sounds but the smells, tastes, sensations, and feelings associated with past events can help you attain a sense of perception unsurpassed in totality. *Have you ever met someone at a business conference or in a store and spent the fifteen minutes you were talking with him or her trying to remember his or her name? *Have you ever had a word or idea on "the tip of your tongue" and not been able to recall it until three hours later? *Have you ever been given tasks or assignments at work or in school and missed deadlines because you simply forgot about them? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, your memory could be dramatically improved by using the techniques and exercises suggested by Keith Harary and Pamely Weintraub in Memory Enhancement in 30 Days. Even if your memory is fairly reliable, you can still benefit from Harary and Weintraub's exercises as a means of keeping your mind fluid and receptive to new memories.

A practical guide to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of Dzogchen—or the direct experience of enlightenment—complete with meditation techniques by two Vajrayana teachers In Roaring Silence, Vajrayana teachers Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen walk the reader through the meditation techniques that "enable us to side-step the bureaucracy of intellectual processes and experience ourselves directly"—to discover this direct experience of enlightenment that is the mind of Dzogchen. Surprisingly, the approach is very pragmatic. Offering an investigation of the necessary steps, the authors begin with how to prepare for the journey: the lama is essential; as are a sense of humor, inspiration, and determination. They continue by describing the path of Dzogchen from sitting meditation to the direct perception of reality. The chapters include exercises for sharpening the presence of our awareness, for simple visualizations, and for investigating how to "remain uninvolved" with mental activity for a period—with follow-up guidance on how to view our experiences. Both practical and inspirational, the authors' exquisitely precise guidance is all presented with the caveat, "be kind to yourself, don't push yourself beyond your limits."

Taking The Path with the Result, or Lamdre, is the most important tantric system of theory and meditation practice in the Sakya school. Yet its writings have never been published in any European language until now. This book contains 11 vital works from the tradition including the basic text by the great Indian adept Virupa. Here too are sacred writings from Jamyang Khyentse Wangchuk and an instruction manual by the Fifth Dalai Lama. This collection was personally approved by His Holiness Sakya Trizin, head of the Sakya tradition.

Philosophers on Race adds a new dimension to current research on race theory by examining the historical roots of the concept in the works of major Western philosophers.

Inclusive Ethics begins from two ideas which are part of our everyday morality, namely that we have a moral reason to benefit or do good to other beings, and that justice requires these benefits to be distributed equally. A morality comprising these two general principles will be exceedingly hard to apply as these principles will have to be balanced against each in an intuitive fashion, but also because the notion of what benefits beings is quite complex, comprising both experiential components of pleasure and successful exercises of autonomy. Ingmar Persson argues that, on philosophical reflection, these ideas turn out to be more far-reaching than we imagine. In particular, the reason to benefit commits us to benefit beings by bringing them into existence. Further, since grounds that are commonly used to justify that some are better off than others - such as their being more deserving or having rights to more - are untenable, justice requires a more extensive equality. The book concludes by reflecting on the problems of getting people to accept a morality which differs markedly from the morality with which they have grown up.