Theories of distributive justice are most severely tested in the area of disability. In this book, Mark Stein argues that utilitarianism performs better than egalitarian theories in this area: whereas egalitarian theories help the disabled either too little or too much, utilitarianism achieves the proper balance by placing resources where they will do the most good.Stein offers what may be the broadest critique of egalitarian theory from a utilitarian perspective.  He addresses the work o...

This offbeat slice of American history places the story of our great republic beneath an unexpected lens: that of fringe candidates for president of the United States. Mark Stein explores how their quest for our nation’s highest office helped to amplify voices otherwise quashed during their day. His careening tour through elections past includes the efforts of true pioneers in the quest for social equality in our country: the first woman to run for president, Victoria Woodhull in 1872; the...

"A learned romp through American history, and the persistent bad habit a strong and free people has of worrying about other people." —Ray Suarez, author of We Are Home and host of the World Affairs podcastIn American Panic, New York Times-bestselling author Mark Stein traces the history and consequences of American political panics through the years. Virtuall...

"[A] wonderfully entertaining account of an often-overlooked oddity of America's history: how the jigsaw-puzzle layout of the United States emerged." —VogueThe New York Times BestsellerWhy does Oklahoma have that panhandle? Did someone make a mistake?We are so familiar with the map of the United States that our state borders seem as much a part of nature as mountains and rivers. Even the oddities—the entire state of Maryland(!...

What political panics—from the Salem witch trials to the Tea Party—can tell us about our modern societyIn American Panic, New York Times bestselling author Mark Stein traces the history and consequences of American political panics through the years. Virtually every American, on one level or another, falls victim to the hype, intensity, and propaganda that accompany political panic, regardless of their own personal affiliations. By highlighting the similarities be...

A League of His Own tells the remarkable story of A.G. Spalding—the pitcher, mogul, and visionary who shaped baseball and the sporting goods empire.Albert Goodwill Spalding became the initial star pitcher of the first professional sports association, cofounded baseball’s National League, founded the world’s greatest sporting goods empire, owned the team that became the Chicago Cubs, organized an around-the-world tour to promote baseball, b...

A sports agent. In its simplest form, a sports agent is an individual or company who represents a sportsperson. They try to get them a better contract, a better endorsement, a better sponsorship, a better deal. Nothing wrong with that, is there? Or is there? The problem, inevitably, is money. There are huge sums sloshing around in professional sport today, which, coupled with human greed, can lead to conflicts of interest... How to be a Sports Agent is a practical and down-to-earth book th...

This superb sampler of brief, classic mindfulness meditation audio tracks, is an ideal resource for people on the go with limited time, who still want to enjoy the benefits of a regular practice of meditation made easy. It also provides an opportunity for beginning meditators to try out different kinds of calming, centering, healing meditation methods, in a user-friendly way, neither too time consuming nor demanding. Here's the track list:1. Introduction2. Mindful Breathing3. Mindful Body ...

This offbeat slice of American history places the story of our great republic beneath an unexpected lens: that of fringe candidates for president of the United States. Mark Stein explores how their quest for our nation’s highest office helped to amplify voices otherwise quashed during their day. His careening tour through elections past includes the efforts of true pioneers in the quest for social equality in our country: the first woman to run for president, Victoria Woodhull in 1872; the...

If you’ve ever wondered why the 50 states have the shapes they do, this audiobook’s for you. In a light, accessible style, Mark Stein unpacks the mysteries state by state, line by line. Why are some states boringly square, and others, like Texas and California, truly “outsized.” How can Maryland possibly be - is that even a shape? HOW THE STATES GOT THEIR SHAPES is packed with fun oddities and trivia, but you’ll also encounter the major fault lines of American history through the fresh len...

In the quarter century since Wallerstein first developed world systems theory (WST), scholars in a variety of disciplines have adopted the approach to explain intersocietal interaction on a grand scale. These essays bring to light archaeological data and analysis to show that many historic and prehistoric states lacked the mechanisms to dominate the distant (and in some cases, nearby) societies with which they interacted. Core/periphery exploitation needs to be demonstrated, not simply ass...

Was Roger Williams too pure for the Puritans, and what does that have to do with Rhode Island? Why did Augustine Herman take ten years to complete the map that established Delaware? How did Rocky Mountain rogues help create the state of Colorado? All this and more is explained in Mark Stein's new book.How the States Got Their Shapes Too follows How the States Got Their Shapes looks at American history through the lens of its borders, but, while How The States Got Their Shapes told ...