What's so humorous about the Bible? Quite a bit, especially if experienced with others! Nine biblical scholars explore their experiences of reading and hearing passages from the Bible and discovering humor that becomes clearer in performance. Each writer found clues in their chosen biblical text that suggested biblical authors expected an audience to respond with laughter. Performers have a powerful role in either bringing out or tamping down humor in the Bible. One audience may be more di...

There's a theory about twins that says one is always good, and the other evil.And from the outside looking in, I'm sure it looks that way when it comes to my brother and me.After all, he's a priest, and I'm a hitman, our career paths both a product of our childhood in one way or another.But my twin is every bit as fucked up as I am, and I'm more determined than ever to prove that to the world now she's in his life.Waverly is a bright light.

The first edition of They and We was published shortly after the March on Washington in August 1963, where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his memorable “I Have a Dream” speech, and just before the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed by Congress. Now read by tens of thousands, this book has been updated and expanded seven times since then as it continues to provide a basic grounding in the sociological study of the dilemmas of diversity in America, focusing on prejudice, discriminati...

Months before the start of the Pacific War in 1941, John Reeves – his career and marriage failing – is posted as British consul to the tiny Portuguese colony of Macao in southern China. The Japanese soon declare war on the West with their attacks on Pearl Harbor and Hong Kong. But because Portugal is neutral, Macao is left alone and becomes a tiny island of neutrality, an Asian Casablanca surrounded by Japanese-occupied China. Reeves, a lonely and awkward man, finds himself the only senior...

Postmonitions of a Peripatetic Professor describes the lucky journey of Peter Rose, an octogenarian sociologist, ethnographer, writer, teacher and world traveler. In the pages of this colorful memoir, the author comments on six decades of academic life in the U.S. and abroad, his work as researcher, editor and consultant, his excursions as a travel journalist, and some intimate portraits of those he met along the way.With a foreword by the author’s former Smith College student, pla...

  A collection of short stories and poetry   Adventure, history, thrills and intrigue all mixed with insight and meaning.  

In the quiet sanctity of St. Perseverance Cathedral, Father Cassian has devoted his life to faith and purity.But when Celeste steps into his life, she brings with her a temptation so all-consuming it threatens to shatter every vow he's ever made. She's no ordinary woman—her strength and confidence awaken something unholy in Cassian, forcing him into a dangerous spiral of self-flagellation, forbidden fantasies, and sinful indulgence.As their connection deepe...

Tropes of Intolerance is a Baedeker of bigotry, a short course on xenophobic racism and populist nationalism – both enduring threats to the social fabric of democratic societies.Each chapter is a self-contained commentary and a building block. In the first, the author considers the concepts of pride and prejudice and discusses patterns of discrimination and strategies of resistance. This is following by an illustrated consideration of the emblems of enmity – words, signs, symbols a...

Americans from Africa seeks to convey varying perspectives on the "Black Experience" in the United States and its controversial history. This volume, Slavery and Its Aftermath, deals with four major issues: the extent of African influences on the lives of those enslaved and brought to America, beginning with an essay on "Africanisms in Everyday Life" by Melville J. Herskovits; the impact of slavery on personality and social structure, sometimes called "The Elkins Debate;" similarities and ...

Nearly 20 years after the first edition captivated readers, Fundamentals of Developmental Psychology returns in its third edition, offering a thoroughly updated and enriched exploration of developmental psychology. Building on the success of previous editions, this new version reflects the latest discoveries and evolving perspectives in the field, while maintaining the clarity, accessibility, and engaging style that have made it a favourite among students and instructors alike.

Ever wondered whether plant-based commercial products really are the healthy option? Or why some people consider margarine to be plastic? And do we really need to supplement our diet with extra vitamins? Is paying more for organic foods worth the price?Consumers who want to make informed food choices may do so on purported health claims or ethical grounds, but the information is often confusing and contradictory. The authors explore common perceptions about different foods, delving...

Mozart's remarkable life was well and richly documented in letters: his own and those concerning him written by others. This volume brings together a fascinating selection, giving us a detailed portrait of the composer's life and times.Here are letters to and from Mozart's domineering father, Leopold, the earliest of which, addressed to a friend, describes the six-year-old Mozart's accomplishments. There is also a letter sent to the Royal Society in London from one of its members d...