Current responses to our most pressing societal challenges—from poverty to ethnic conflict to climate change—are not working. These problems are incredibly dynamic and complex, involving an ever-shifting array of factors, actors, and circumstances. They demand a highly fluid and adaptive approach, yet we address them by devising fixed, long-term plans. Social labs, says Zaid Hassan, are a dramatically more effective response.Social labs bring together a diverse a group of stakehold...

By most popular accounts, the universe started with a bang some 13.8 billion years ago. But what happened before the Big Bang? And how do we know it happened at all? Here prominent cosmologist Niayesh Afshordi and science communicator Phil Halper offer a tour of the peculiar possibilities: bouncing and cyclic universes, time loops, creations from nothing, multiverses, black hole births, string theories, and holograms. Along the way, they offer both a call for new physics and a riveting sto...

A major new history of revolutionary Iran, from the 1940s to the presentIran’s revolution in 1979 shook the world. The Pahlavi dynasty came crashing down, and the Islamic Republic rose in its place. But what led to this seismic event? How did the revolutionary movement gain such strength? And what has its legacy been for modern Iran?In this comprehensive history, Homa Katouzian explores Iran from the 1940s to the present, showing how the revolution came int...

Tensions are running high throughout the United States in 1970 as the anti-war movement heats up and a second wave of feminism washes over the nation.Nora Thompson and Russ Ayers, a young couple with a bright future ahead of them, find themselves suddenly torn apart when he is drafted and deployed to Vietnam. Nora grows anxious when months pass by with no word from Russ who is doing his best to serve his country and survive the hell of war.Feeling alone and trapped by her o...

At the age of 16, he escaped persecution and made his way to America as a refugee. At 28, he secured a billion-dollar IPO. Today, he's redefining what it means to be an entrepreneur by building a new model of capitalism.In the summer of 1987, Payam Zamani fled Iran. As a member of the Baha'i Faith, he had already survived years of religious persecution at the hands of Islamic fundamentalists. Taking the only path available to him, he escaped to Pakistan through the...

Welcome to Jungle Friends Academy! Where Friends Learn TogetherIn a magical jungle filled with colorful plants and friendly animals, learning begins with friendship.Follow Tiger Pup, Monkey Teacher, and their jungle friends as they help one another, solve small problems, and discover the joy of learning together.Jungle Friends Academy is a heartwarming children's story about kindness, teamwork, and building something special with fr...

First published in 2006. Cities are sites of multiple meanings and symbols, ranging from statues and street names to festivals and architecture. Some times the symbolic side of urbanism is so strong that it outshines reality - then we speak of hypercity. Urban symbolic ecology and hypercity studies are relatively new fields that deal with the production, distribution and consumption of symbols and meanings in urban space, timely concerns in an era of increasing globalization and competitio...

Bringing together a group of international scholars, Directors of Urban Change in Asia examines who the 'directors' for urban change are in an eclectic mix of Asian cities. The books discusses how, in the majority of cases, urban change has come about primarily as the result of visionary leaders, on national, regional and local levels. It also makes clear that the less successful cities have tended to lack such leaders.

The Dark Cave SecretThe Secret of the Hidden GardenBeneath the waves, there is a cave no one dares to enter.It looks dark and quiet—but it holds a secret.When a curious little fish and a thoughtful baby turtle decide to explore, they discover that adventures aren't always about being brave. Sometimes, they are about slowing down, thinking carefully, and staying close to a friend.Inside the cave, surprises wait at every turn. And beyon...

Following the Sun. A Quiet Adventure in the Sky. High above the jungle, two little birds set off on a magical journey through the sky. With fluttering wings and brave hearts, they travel together across clouds, light, and wonder—learning that courage grows stronger when shared.The Journey to the Sun is a warm, uplifting picture book about friendship, curiosity, and believing in yourself. Told through beautiful, peaceful imagery and simple storytelling, thi...

The Clean Up Crew is a warm and gentle picture book about caring, sharing, and helping one another.In a friendly jungle town, a group of animal friends notices small problems around them—a messy park, a broken bench, and places that need a little extra care. Instead of walking away, they choose to help. Together, they clean, fix, and support their community with kindness and teamwork.With soft watercolor illustrations and simple, comforting moments, this story shows young r...

Written during a genocide, After Savagery reveals the ethical bankruptcy of "Western philosophy" and how it undergirds the erasure of the colonized.The death toll in Gaza continues to rise―a cold, lifeless number representing entire communities crushed under the weight of settler colonialism.What remains of the theories we use to understand our world? With lyrical and lucid fury, Hamid Dabashi exposes the racist ro...