This article looks into and provides comment on all of the books I read in 2017. It begins in January and runs chronologically until the end of December 2017.
1. Peter Senge – The Necessary Revolution
2017 got off to a great start with this book. I was first nudged towards reading Peter Senge books because of a video series created by Jennifer Woofter, who recommended another Peter Senge book The Fifth Discipline. Peter Senge delivers a brilliantly well written and instructive offering with The Necessary Revolution. Definitely a must read.
2. David Ogilvy – The Unpublished David Ogilvy
There has been many times in my life where I have picked up and read books purely on the basis of their cover. So I am afraid that I just don’t agree with the saying that you should never judge a book by its cover. In 2016, I picked up and read Ogilvy on Advertising and immediately I was enthralled by David Ogilvy’s wit, charm and business acumen. The Unpublished David Ogilvy is an excellent book and includes lots of notes, memos and letters that shed light on this great man’s life. It is also packed full of life and business advice, so I would recommend buying rather than renting a copy, as if you are like me you will find yourself returning to it frequently.
3. Joel Raphaelson and Kenneth Roman – Writing That Works
This was a book that I picked up from a David Ogilvy memo titled How To Write. His first point of a 10 point memo was: “Read the Roman-Raphaelson book on writing. Read it three times.” That recommendation was definitely enough to persuade me. There is great advice in here on how to write everything from business letters to memos. This is definitely a useful book to have in your house.
4. James Lovelock – The Revenge of Gaia
Full disclosure, I am an enormous James Lovelock fan. Unsurprisingly then, I really enjoyed this book. I was particularly moved by the chapter “A personal View of Environmentalism.” James Lovelock’s books should be a staple on anyone who works in sustainability or environmental management’s book shelves.
5. Tim Marshall – Worth Dying For
Who would have ever though that a book on flags would be interesting? Well Tim Marshall obviously did and the end product is remarkable. I was a huge fan of another Tim Marshall book Prisoners of Geography and I also really enjoyed Worth Dying For. The power and politics which lies behind national flags is exceptionally interesting if at times totally irrational. There is lots of information in here that helps you to understand the modern world.
6. John Elkington and Jochen Zeitz – The Breakthrough Challenge
I personally found this to be one of the most fist pumpingly excellent books on sustainability that I have ever read. This is part management book, part sustainability treatise and part motivational keynote speech. This book will have you flipping and turning pages until you get to the end. Definitely a must read.
7. Andy Maslen – The Copywriting Sourcebook
This is another book that I bought in a charity shop based purely off of the title and the cover. This book is a great reference tool for all different types of content writing. There is lots of good advice in here for headlines, emails, articles and websites. You don’t have to read it all in one go, although I prefer to read books that way. But I highly recommend that you source a copy of this book to dip into when you need help getting words down on paper.
8. John Elkington and Peter Knight -The Green Business Guide
This book provided the biggest surprise of all in 2017. I assumed that a business guide produced in 1992 would be interesting, but that by 2017 lots of the information contained within it would be out of date. I was shocked to find this book pressingly relevant as I read it. This should really not have been any surprise as John Elkington is one of my all-time favourite authors and Peter Knight co-founded the always impressive Context sustainability consultancy. If you can get hold of a copy, I definitely recommend this book.
9. Robert Cialdini – Pre-Suasion
I bought Pre-Suasion as soon as it came out because I am a huge fan of Cialdini’s other work Influence, which is a classic amongst sales and marketing professionals. I really liked the content of his latest book and I would definitely recommend all of Robert Cialdini’s work to anyone working in sustainability or environmental management. Being able to influence is a skill. This is a particularly important skill in a field like sustainability where you need to effect change in areas where people may feel that change is not needed. Pre-Suasion was very interesting in highlighting why some people are able to persuade where others are not.
10. Giselle Weybrecht – The Sustainable MBA
I really enjoyed this book. It is certainly a tour de force coming in at almost 500 pages. The attention to detail is simply phenomenal. Whether you know a lot about sustainability or you would like to know more, this is an excellent guide to help make your organisation more sustainable.
11. David Holmgren – Future Scenarios
I first became interested in permaculture whilst studying at the University of Leeds and the Permaculture Association national office is also based in Leeds. David Holmgren who is the co-originator of the permaculture concept has written a really approachable guide on how communities can adapt to peak oil and climate change with this offering.
12. Malcom Gladwell – Outliers
I was introduced to Malcom Gladwell’s work by way of recommendation. It did not disappoint. His writing style and his way of writing non-fiction with such stunning prose was really impressive. I was immediately converted to being a fan of his after reading this classic.
13. Michael Braungart and William McDonough – Cradle to Cradle
This book contains within it many powerful insights that are necessary in order to build a better world. Even the production value of the book is highlighted as having been undertaken to the highest levels of sustainability possible. It is a regular bugbear of mine when books on sustainability are printed in an ostentatious manner and not on FSC or PEFC certified paper. We need to create a more circular economy and this book contains within it the ideas to make that happen. Definitely a must read.
14. Paul Hawken – The Ecology Of Commerce
I had heard a great deal about this book before reading it. I had heard it was responsible for converting Ray Anderson of Interface and countless others to join the sustainability cause. The content and the writing style are simply phenomenal. The message is also critically important. Businesses are the only institutions capable of destroying the planet and they are the only institutions capable of preventing that destruction.
15. Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein – Nudge
This was a great book and after reading it, I could see why Richard Thaler would win the Nobel Prize for Economics later in the year. There is a powerful section in the book on how you can nudge people towards more sustainable behaviours which I found very interesting. I definitely think there is a lot that sustainability could learn from the behavioural economics.
16. Bertrand Russell – The Problems of Philosophy
I found this to be a very interesting if quite challenging read. But I guess that is why I find myself coming back to Bertrand Russell’s huge catalogue time and time again because he challenges you to think differently.
17. Andrew Savitz – The Triple Bottom Line
I had a very enjoyable time reading this book. The strapline that accompanies it is: “how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social, and environmental success — and how you can too.” This book does exactly what it sets out to do. It is full of useful and helpful examples of sustainability in action. As a side note, there is always something that I like about books which are written by authors who have spent a long time in consulting. The writing is always crisp and to the point.
18. Tim Smit – Eden
This book was simply phenomenal. I saw Tim deliver a keynote speech in November 2016 and that prompted me to buy his book in 2017. In creating The Eden Project, he has reframed what is possible. The key takeaway from the book is that you only get one life, you only get once chance. Dream big, dream bold and try and make great things happen during your short stay on planet earth. Definitely a must read.
19. Seth Godin – Tribes
I had listened to Seth Godin audiobooks before, but this was the first physical book of his that I read. I thought it was really interesting, I loved the writing style and I was immediately converted to a super fan of his. It crystallised my belief that creating average products for average people is no longer a winning strategy. Rather, because of the internet you can now target far more niche audiences who will love rather than just like your product or service.
20. John Elkington and Julia Hailes – The Green Consumer Guide
I read the original 1988 version and I thought it was full of useful information to make shopping habits more sustainable. I will look to read the 2007 updated edition in 2018, but even that was released in 2007 so perhaps a second update is required from John Elkington and Julia Hailes.
21. George Marshall – Don’t Even Think About It
This was a book that I picked up because of a recommendation by Tim Smit in his keynote speech that I mentioned about previously.
This book contains within it some powerful insights on why there are many psychological barriers preventing us from tackling climate change appropriately. I was so moved by reading this book that I was motivated to produce my very first book review, which you can find by clicking the link below.
DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT – GEORGE MARSHALL
Overall, this is a fantastic book that sets out information on a key problem and finishes solutions to how we can solve that problem. Definitely a must read.
22. John Elkington – A Year In The Greenhouse
This was another book that I read this year that I did not have the highest expectations of that ended up blowing me away. It was great to be able to spend a year looking over John’s shoulder in 1989, which was a critical year for the environment. I was impressed with the amount of work that John packs into each working day. His work ethic is truly remarkable.
23. Alan Andreasen – Marketing Social Change
For me, this book provided the biggest disappointment of 2017. I was drawn in by the strapline of: “changing behaviour to promote health, social development, and the environment.” But I thought that the writing style was not particularly captivating and I finished reading it without many key takeaways or principles to keep hold of.
24. Jack Beatty – The World According to Peter Drucker
I love Peter Drucker so I was pleased when I came across this book on him. It did not disappoint at all. Peter Drucker has a great management philosophy that all businesses should use and internalise in order to be successful.
25. Bob Willard – The Sustainability Advantage
This book was another highlight of 2017. I did not have sky high expectations, but I did know that Bob had worked at IBM and was well thought of in the sustainability community. I was seriously impressed by Bob’s ability to quantify the business case for sustainability. You can tell Bob is a numbers guy and the quantitative work that has gone into this was simply incredible. Money talks and if you want to influence influential diction makers it is imperative that you go in armed with facts and figures.
Too often in sustainability we think that doing the right thing will be enough. But Bob has really done a fantastic thing with this book and the accompanying online resources to help organisations quantify the business benefits of sustainability. There is an updated version which I look forward to reading in 2018.
26. Malcom Gladwell – Blink
I bought this because of a keynote speech that I saw delivered online by Patrick Schwerdtfeger. Again, I was amazed by Malcom Gladwell’s writing style and I found the insights and presentation of information in this book really interesting.
27. John Elkington with Tom Burke – The Green Capitalists
This was another exceptionally well written book by John Elkington. For me, the main takeaway was what I learned about the oil and gas supermajors and the environmental experts that they hire to help make their operations more sustainable. That being said, I do still believe there is a flaw in their business model and unless they make a 180 degree turn they still have to be considered as a threat. This book was published in 1987 and the core business operations of these companies are still rooted in the extraction and sale of petroleum products.
28. David Grayson and Adrian Hodges – Everybody’s Business
This book was one I picked up because of a recommendation that I saw in Steve Hilton’s More Human which is one of my all-time favourites. This is definitely a powerful book on corporate responsibility and how it will shape expectations of businesses in the 21st century.
29. Judi Marshall, Gill Coleman and Peter Reason – Leadership for Sustainability
This was a book that I picked up from a charity shop based purely off of the title. It provides a very interesting insight into the MSc in Responsibility and Business Practice that they run at the University of Bath. I really enjoyed the chapters that were written by alumni of the course and how they are putting the principles they learned on the course into practice in the real world. More universities should produce books like this.
30. Steve Keen – Can We Avoid Another Financial Crisis
I really liked Steve Keen’s other work Debunking Economics so I was pleased when I saw that Steve Keen was producing another book for 2017.I was really impressed by this work and for a more thorough review, please click the link below as I produced a full book review with my thoughts.
CAN WE AVOID ANOTHER FINANCIAL CRISIS – STEVE KEEN
31. George Friedman – The Next 100 years
I have been a fan of George Friedman’s political forecasting company Stratfor for some time. They put out a lot of free content in audio, video and written formats and they have a tendency to be right. This was the first George Friedman book that I read and I was really impressed with the writing style. His vision for the future is captivating and it definitely made for an interesting read.
32. Gary Firth – Salt and Saltaire
I was first introduced to Titus Salt and his utopian model village whilst studying at the University of Leeds. This was a book that I bought at the gift shop at Saltire and that I read whilst preparing for a project that I did on the area. I re-read the book in 2017 as I prepared for an article that I did looking at corporate responsibility through the lens of the life and work of Titus Salt. You can find out more about this article by clicking the link below.
CAPITALISM LIKE YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE
This is a great book and it provides you with everything you need to know about the legend of Titus Salt.
33. Malcom Gladwell – The Tipping Point
Discovering Malcom Gladwell was a big highlight of 2017 for me. I thought the content of this book was really important for sustainability professionals and anyone who wants to make change happen. The writing style is phenomenal as Malcom weaves a story together out of a number of narratives. This is definitely a must read.
34. George Friedman – Flashpoints
This was another George Friedman book that I read because of how much I enjoyed The Next 100 Years. The content of this book is focussed on Europe. I really enjoyed reading the perspectives contained within this book and I would definitely recommend it.
35. Paul Hawken – Drawdown
I was really excited when I saw the news that Paul Hawken was editing a new book on solutions to climate change. I bought this as soon as it came out and it was every bit as impressive as I expected it to be. The detail is incredible and these solutions are important if climate change is going to be tackled sufficiently. I was so impressed that I produced a full book review which you can read by clicking the link below.
DRAWDOWN EDITED BY PAUL HAWKEN
36. Frank Westell and Simon Martin – The Cyclist’s Body Book
I love cycling. But during 2017 I felt that the mileage I was undertaking was beginning to take its toll on my body. I decided to invest in this book and I was very pleased with its content. There is lots of good advice in here for pre and post workout stretches, nutrition and everything else you need to know to keep you moving on two wheels.
37. Niccolò Machiavelli – The Prince
This book provided a big surprise in 2017. I saw it recommended on a best business book list on LinkedIn so I decided to buy and read it. I was really impressed with the content and I can see why it is a classic that has survived for so long. Perhaps sustainability needs a more Machiavellian streak if it is to breakthrough?
38. John Elkington – The Chrysalis Economy
This was another excellent John Elkington book that I read in 2017. The content was really good with lots of great examples of how companies can develop a recognised position on sustainability even if they have not historically excelled in this area. This is something I think is really important as globally we all move at the pace of the slowest mover. It is great to have sustainability leaders, but we need to ensure there is a pathway for sustainability laggards to become the sustainability leaders of tomorrow.
39. Mitch Meyerson – Success Secrets of the Social Media Marketing Superstars
I read this book in advance of a talk that I was giving on social media. You can always learn something new by reading a book and there was lots of great advice in here. Whether you are a solo entrepreneur, a blogger or a business owner, the online world is a great place to market yourself and to develop leads. This book is full of advice on how to do that.
40. Bertrand Russell – What I Believe
I really enjoyed this book by Bertrand Russell. It provides the sort of guidance that you would expect from an esteemed philosopher of his calibre. I would definitely recommend getting hold of a copy and reading this book.
41. David Holmgren – Permaculture: Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability
I read this book whilst at university and the content really struck me. I am always impressed by the vision of a sustainable future that you get from permaculture activists. Sometimes I can be disappointed by the modern sustainability movement, so I read this book to reenergise myself. Reading this book provided the inspiration for two articles, the links for which can be found below.
PERMACULTURE & SUSTAINABILITY
A BIGGER VISION FOR SUSTAINABILITY
42. Geert Mak – Amsterdam
I was gifted this book as a present and I did not read it for some time. I was visiting Amsterdam in November and I took this book to read on the train there and back. I found it to be enormously interesting and I finished reading it with even more of an admiration for the city than I did before I started it. What struck me was the distinct personality that Amsterdamers have and that cities, whilst often thought of as being about buildings and infrastructure are really about the people that live there. They are what make cities special.
43. WCED – Our Common Future
In 2017 I decided to read Our Common Future, which was prepared by the World Commission on Environment and Development as I realised that I had only read extracts of the book and not the whole thing from cover to cover. This is an enormously important book and I had an enjoyable time reading it. I enjoyed it so much that I created a 4 part book review which you can find links for below.
OUR COMMON FUTURE +30 PART 1
OUR COMMON FUTURE +30 PART 2
OUR COMMON FUTURE +30 PART 3
OUR COMMON FUTURE +30 PART 4
44. Seth Godin – The Dip
I thought that this Seth Godin book was great. It contained some powerful insights into why some people fail and other succeed.
45. Seth Godin – We are all Weird
I am a big fan of Seth Godin and I had an enjoyable time reading this book. Seth Godin hammers home his consistent message about how the game has changed and that marketers politicians and anyone else looking to influence should target a niche audience and not the general masses.
46. John Elkington and Julia Hailes – Holidays That Don’t Cost the Earth
This was the last John Elkington book that I read in 2017. I had a great time working my way through his back catalogue this year. I read this before going on holiday and I did think the book contained a lot of useful information to help people plan holidays that take less from the earth socially and environmentally. As with some of the other guides, this was published in 1992 and I think that a modern update would be a good thing.
47. Hunter S Thompson – The Great Shark Hunt
I read this whilst on holiday and I had a thoroughly enjoyable time reading it.
I have read a lot of Hunter S Thompson books and thought I knew quite a bit about him but this book was full of information about him that I did not know before. I would not recommend it as the first book of his to read, but for anyone looking for an interesting read that has read a few of his books, this is an absolute page turner.
As a side note, one of the main reasons that I became interested in reading books and eventually writing was because of Hunter S Thompson. One quotation of his was stuck in my mind throughout reading this book, it was his line about his companion Oscar Zeta Acosta being “Too weird to live, and too rare to die.”
Whilst the film version of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas has done much to popularise Hunter S Thompson and his cult alias Raoul Duke. At bottom, he remains in my opinion one of the greatest writers of all time.
48. Rolf Potts – Vagabonding
I bought this book for my holiday after I saw it recommended by Tim Ferris. It was really enjoyable and for anyone who has never been travelling I would definitely recommend you get a copy of this book and then start planning your first adventure. Or for even the seasoned traveler this book has lots of great insights into how you can have a memorable trip.
49. William Burroughs – Naked Lunch
This was another book that I read whilst on holiday. I had heard it was a cult classic and so I had high expectations. My preconceptions of what the book would be like were totally shattered after the first ten pages. The book is simply stunning with the imagination shown by William Burroughs being simply incredible. I can now see why this book has carved out its own place in history as a literary classic.
50. Bertrand Russell – Icarus
This was the last book that I read in 2017. It was another by Bertrand Russell who I turn to for guidance and inspiration. This book contains some powerful information and I definitely recommend it to anyone.
What you need to know
This article looked into and provided comment on all of the books I read in 2017. It began in January and ran chronologically until the end of December 2017.
I had a really enjoyable time picking out and selecting the books that I read in 2017. I was very lucky in that they almost all turned out to be brilliant.
Reading is something that has helped me enormously in life and I definitely recommend that everyone tries to read at least one book a week.
Thank you for reading,
By Barnaby Nash
Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. What books did you read and enjoy in 2017?
Let’s stay connected
I can be reached on LinkedIn and on Twitter @FollowBarnaby
One thought on “2017 A YEAR IN LITERATURE”


The purpose of the America's Wildlife Project was to assess the social context of wildlife management in the U.S. to understand the growing conflict around wildlife management. It is the first study of its kind to describe how U.S. residents within and across all 50 states think about wildlife, and how changing perspectives shape the wildlife profession.
"America's Wildlife Values: The Social Context of Wildlife Management in the United States,"
By Manfredo, M. J., et. al., 2018.
Click to read


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Over the course of time I've seen this ever growing division between two types of computer programmers.
Firstly there is the traditional "raw" programmer. This type like to own their code and nearly always program in C, sometimes Perl or Python but nearly always C. They understand how their program will compile and are okay with the fact that their code will compile a whole lot of evil "goto" statements.
The second type is the "library" developer. This type understand that writing code that has already been written is inefficient and use layers of other code to get code written quickly and beautifully. They will adhere to concepts like DRY and closures so their code is short and readable.
The "library" developer is in high demand as they can solve problems quickly by standing on the shoulders of giants. They understand their code must be easily readable because of the next person who may work on it. Constantly learning about new programming strategies and libraries is of the utmost importance to keep their programming skills relevant and efficient. Regular progress and multiple projects are the norm for this developer. Writing code that uses a library and is used by a library will keep them in a job like the "raw" programmers.
Another aspect is these two types of programmers don't tend to get along, even though they need to. What I've seen is this divide growing. Will it get to the point where the "library" developers don't even know what a computer is doing? Will "raw" programmers be regarded as too inefficient and relegated to only writing computer games and operating systems or has this already happened?
It's obvious now that there's an entire industry to connect these two types of developers. People that maintain tools and libraries that run in between these two types are common, Atlassian make a lot of money from doing just that. Where will it progress from here?


The Enslaved Persons Project
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The goal is to create a centralized database of information about formerly enslaved people contained in bills of sale from Wake County. This will help longtime Black residents track the histories of their families. Once complete, the community will have access to search these historic documents and images. This is a collaborative endeavor between Shaw University, Wake County Register of Deeds, the University of North Carolina Greensboro Libraries and the North Carolina Division of Archives and Records. Volunteers are welcome.
For any further questions, please reach out to us!


Saturday May 1st from 8pm to 2pm, the Soddy Daisy Community Library is hosting their Spring Book and Yard Sale. The Spring Book and Yard Sale will take place at 9619 Dayton Pike in the library parking lot.
There will be hundreds of books of many different genres. Hardback books are $1, paperbacks books are $0.50, romance paperbacks books are $0.25, and all books are ½ price for Friends of the Library. There will also be multiple families selling yard sale items.


Our latest white paper on information literacy was compiled by members of the UW Colleges Library Council, Dyan Barbeau (UW Sheboygan), Kelley Hinton (UW Waukesha), and Kelly Johnson (UW Fox Valley). As a way to facilitate reflection, consider the following questions:
- What does information literacy "look like" in your discipline?
- What level of information literacy skills do you expect students to have in your courses? How do those skills vary or build on skills from previous courses or courses in other disciplines?
- What learning outcomes for your courses involve information literacy? If you had to add information literacy to your course outcomes, how might you describe competency in this skill for your courses?
- What assessment activities do you assign that require students to use information literacy?
- How can you more effectively incorporate information literacy into your assignments? Teaching? Class time? Course design?
- What questions do you still have about information literacy?


A new resource from the AHA Centre, “CAHR 2020 Virtual – Roadmap to Indigenous Presentations” provides a guide to Indigenous presentations (both oral and posters) from CAHR 2020 Virtual. The Roadmap includes presentation titles and links to quickly access these presentations through the CAHR site (all oral presentations are available as Youtube videos and all virtual posters as in PDF form). It also includes quick links to access CAHR keynote and special session presentations.
Presentation/poster topics included on the Roadmap vary widely (from research approaches to describing prevention strategies and HIV care – and many more!). All presentations/posters provide great insights, information, and resources – browsing and accessing them is a great way to support your own learning in your work.
The Roadmap makes it very easy to scan through presentations/posters and view them on demand. We encourage you to take a look at this great resource and use it to guide your own learning!
Questions? Comments? Please contact Madeline Gallard, Community-Based Research Coordinator at [email protected].


On my way to work, there is one of those little free libraries that you may have seen on people’s lawns. It’s a box on a post with a door that has a window in it, and on the shelves, people leave books and take books that they’re interested in.
It’s an awesome concept and I have discovered by pure chance excellent books to read, and I’ve left some there as well.
I think it’s a reminder for me that although our digital world has so many resources in it, that sometimes by being in the real world, and discovering it just by accident, is really interesting and rewarding, whether it’s walking through an actual bookstore or going to a flea market or a yard sale.
There’s something about discovering things just by pure chance that make life a lot more interesting.
If you haven’t done so recently, I highly recommend it and if you go to the little free library in my neighborhood, you’re in luck, they recently added a second box.


The Best Behavior series uses simple words and delightful full-color illustrations to guide children to choose peaceful, positive behaviors. Kids, parents, and teachers love these award-winning books, and each includes helpful tips and ideas for parents and caregivers. Set of 4 titles.
Germs Are Not for Sharing: Achoo! Cough! What to do? Whether in childcare, preschool, home or elsewhere, this book teaches the basics of not spreading germs: covering up sneezes and coughs, hugging or blowing kisses when sick and washing hands. Child-friendly words and full-color illustrations help little ones stay clean and healthy.
Hands Are Not for Hitting: It's never too soon for children to learn that violence is never okay. Hands can do many good things, and everyone is capable of positive, loving actions.
Voices Are Not for Yelling: The toddler years are full of growth and smiles and sweetness-but also tantrums. Yelling, screaming, wailing and flailing become normal parts of life. Very young children don't yet have the words to express strong feelings, and they're still learning social skills. This board book helps little ones understand why it's better to use an indoor voice, and how to calm down and ask for help to can get what they need.
Diapers Are Not Forever: Learning to use the potty takes patience and practice, and this charming, straightforward book helps pave the way. Young children learn why and how to use the potty, while gaining the courage and confidence to face this important milestone in their lives.


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"One of the biggest benefits of Corinth is instilling that sense of curiosity and awe in our students. They much prefer to do research when they know they'll be using the app in their project!"
Manteca USD, CA, USA


Here is a thoughtful and curiously floating short story by one of our volunteers, Fiona Taylor. It is a story that I found to be very effecting, as it sort of slid from the introverted and gentle world of meditation into a much more brutal world of reality.
Anyhow, here it is… read it an let us know what you felt about it if you would.
The dreamy voice of the meditation app said find a comfortable place to sit, so she took a chair to her favourite spot on the deck outside the kitchen door. From here she could look out over her garden with the mountains in the distance defining the border of the small, farming valley beyond. It had taken a long time to improve the soil around the house after the builders had left it barren and compacted, but now it grew roses, daisies, and salvias alongside seasonal vegetables and herbs for both the kitchen and simple home remedies.
Sitting here, content with the progress she had made, she liked to think about Isabella Joyner, a pioneer woman of the district who, after the death of her husband, ran her cattle and dairy alone, with only the help of her mother in caring for the house, her infant son and the workers.
Thinking of Isabella’s obvious hardships in managing one of the state’s first pastoral leases made her feel like she could cope with the few difficulties in her own life. Isabella often drifted into her mind as she meditated, offering words of wisdom or advice on whatever was troubling her that day.
It had been 2 months since she had taken the psychologist’s advice and started to meditate and it was beginning to get easier; to be still, to focus on the breath, and calm the ever-present anxieties. The app she had downloaded offered many choices and she had been working her way through the calming anxiety series to mixed effect.
Maybe today I’ll try somewhere different to meditate, she thought, and see if that helps to deepen my practice.
Looking around her much loved garden she decided on a shady spot under the large Kurrajong tree. With its strong straight trunk shaped by decades of dairy cattle stripping it of its lower branches, it had always calmed her with its gentle but robust stability. Even its canopy, which listed heavily to the north east, was evidence of its resilience against the wild south-westerly winds that could tear across its solitary hilltop location. Buran, she had read in the local paper, was what the Aboriginal people had called this area, place of wind.
They certainly knew a thing or two, she thought, Buran told you more than Mt Samson as a name.
With that thought she settled in her chair in the shade of its outstretched branches, closed her eyes and began her meditation.
“Bring your attention to the breath,” the calm voice of the teacher instructed.
“Feel the cool of the breath as it enters your nostrils”, she gently guided, “and the warmth as it leaves.”
“Feel the breath spread through your body with every inhalation, and relaxation deepen each time you exhale, slowing and lengthening with every cycle.”
Just as she was falling into the rhythm of her breathing, the wind began to pick up and started to swirl through the leaves of the old Kurrajong. Momentarily distracted, she directed her thoughts back to the breath as she had practised over the last 2 months.
The wind continued to increase its intensity as if straining to catch her attention. Whistling through the branches the leaves rustled and whispered.
I can hear them whispering to me, she thought, distracted once more.
Again, she tried to redirect her attention but this time the leaves would not be subdued. The whispers now sounded more like pleas, like cries of pain, of grief. A shrill keening that passed through the Kurrajong and swirled around her, encompassing her in its sorrow and unsettling her deeply.
Eventually, the voice of the meditation instructor broke through the wailing of the leaves and reminded her to gradually bring herself back to the room or wherever she was seated. She stretched her fingers and toes, her neck and shoulders, and slowly opened her eyes. Moving back into the shelter of the house, she hoped that the sounds and feelings that had shaken her would now begin to die down along with the wind.
She awoke the next morning, still with a deep sense of disquiet. Whose cries had she heard and what did they mean? The sounds of lament still singing in her mind, she couldn’t settle herself to any task. Eventually the restlessness drove her to seek out her trusted seat of tranquility within the library. Usually the solidity of so many books and the company of strangers that she didn’t feel the pressure to converse with, brought her comfort and soothed her ragged nerves. But today even here, she was unsettled, roaming from room to room until she found herself in a section of the library that she had never entered before. It was different from the other rooms, containing seats in circles instead of lines or squares, pictures and stories of Aboriginal histories painted onto the walls and her eye was particularly drawn to the map of greater Brisbane etched onto the window overlooking the river. She recognised the name Buran inscribed in the north of the map indicating several Bora rings and ancient pathways traversing it. In large letters the word Garumngar was written across this section.
“Can I help you?” asked a calm voice from behind her.
She turned to see a friendly middle-aged woman, sipping tea from a mug with I See Deadly People emblazoned across it, and a name tag that indicated she worked in the library.
“Oh, yes please” she responded gratefully, “What does Garumngar refer to?”
“That is the name of the first people who lived there and they were the custodians of that land.”
“Do we know what happened to them? Have they died out? I’m from that area and I haven’t seen any Aboriginal people living there?”
“Well you wouldn’t really say died out. Here, here is a history of that area. It will give you some idea of the battles and skirmishes that were fought between the graziers and the Aboriginal people. It wasn’t all smooth sailing you know. The Garumngar people wouldn’t have understood these strangers on their country and all the fences they erected. The farmers, of course, took to defending, what they thought of as their land, with guns and many aboriginal people were killed” the librarian explained as she handed her a slim book to read.
She found a comfortable chair and finally settled in to read.
That first book led to many more, a deeper understanding of this place, that she was trying to connect to, and eventually to a desire to just listen. Her usual meditations had taught her to let go of attachment to worrying thoughts or past or future events but she was now feeling the need to become more aware of her present. Scrolling through the list of meditations she clicked on the sensory mediation
Maybe this one will be what I need, she thought, not really knowing what it contained.
She sat herself on the ground under the Kurrajong, this time with her eyes open and waited for the instructor,
“Feel the ground that you are sitting on… is it hard, is it soft, is it rough or is it smooth…? Feel the air surrounding you… is it warm, is it cool, is it calm or is there movement?”
She sat and quietly focussed her mind on what she could feel, followed by what she could see. Watching the long grasses dance in the wind, a variety of birds flitting into view, searching for food or playing in the airflows, ants crawling past, scurrying back and forth carrying finds much bigger than themselves, the branches of the trees swaying in the breeze. She noticed the fruit just beginning to swell, and the bees that buzzed around the blossoms that remained. As time passed, she was guided to move her attention to what she could hear
“What is the first sound that you can hear?”
“Now let go of that sound and deepen your listening.”
Rustling of the grasses.
“And release that, are there deeper sounds?”
The whispering of the leaves again!
This time however, as the leaves began to fall from the tree she heard the happy voices of women, laughing and chattering. Although she couldn’t understand the words that they spoke, she felt a peace and a comfort as if she was just one more in this strong female community. As she looked around, the fallen leaves had formed a delicate ring around her. Feeling safe within this circle she could finally truly relinquish herself and listen to her present. The voice of the instructor had long left her to continue in her own time and it was only a growing numbness in her legs that prompted her to move, such was her contentment in this stillness.
Moving back into the house, her solitude no longer felt like the escape it once was. Instead, she now missed the voices of the women, the quiet strength she derived from their presence, from feeling connected to something, or someone again.
“Hi Mary? Yes, it’s me. Yes, it has been a long time. I was wondering if you and Anita would like to come out for a visit?
So, there it is…. A peaceful and thoughtful story I hope you will agree, and one that gives a different perspective to our small Mount Samson (which I gaze upon every day here at home).
If you enjoyed this story, please do leave a comment below to tell others how you found it.


Julie Ries is a graduate of Yale and the MFA program at NYU, where she taught expository and creative writing. Her novel-in-progress (working title: The Hunger Bride) follows the stories of two extraordinary women in early twentieth-century San Francisco—a brilliant Chinese peasant girl sold into prostitution and the scandalous American missionary who befriends her.
Inspired by actual historical figures, the book draws on elements of the medical mystery, Gothic tale, Victorian thriller, and traditional Chinese ghost story.
The first chapter of The Hunger Bride, featured in Guernica magazine, can be seen here.
Fletcher & Company


Robert lee xian long walks unsteadily towards Crystal’s desk. He throws the books on the table and sinks into his chair opposite Crystal. Crystal looks at him annoyingly. Robert ignores her and flips his book roughly. Crystal mumbles in a voice full of irritation. “Do you know how long i have been waiting?”. Robert without gazing up from his book, whispers “Do you think it is that easy to get the stuff?”. Crystal stares at him. Hardly blinking. Her gaze projecting anger.
Robert continues to ignore her gaze, incensing Crystal further. Crystal stands up angrily and walks away. After a few minutes, Robert follows her looking around as if checking if anyone notices anything going on.
Robert continues to walk to a dark corner outside the library. The sound of sobbing becomes distinctly clear. He finds crystal kneeling down, her face a crimson red. “You made me addicted to this Robert, and now you are treating me like a slave!”.
Robert kneels beside her. Anger clear on his face. “You deserve it! And you are right about the part that you are a slave. MY SLAVE!”.
Crystal looks at him helplessly and shows him her hand. Her hand full of marks. Marks from numerous injections. Robert grabs her hand roughly and takes out a shiny object from his pocket. An injection. He slowly injects her. Crystal winces in pain.


The Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild is pleased to announce Alice Kuipers as our Winter Virtual Writer-in-Residence. Alice will be working with SWG members in this online program between February 1 to April 30, 2021.
Alice Kuipers is the award-winning, internationally bestselling author of the chapter book series Polly Diamond and the Magic Book, a Parents’ Magazine Best Book for 2018 and a Junior Library Guild selection praised for "bringing the magic of imagination to life" (Booklist). Among her other published books are five novels for young adults, two Hi-Lo books for middle-grade readers, and two picture books featuring twins Violet and Victor. In all, her work has been published in 36 countries. She has also published essays and short stories for adults and had several short stories made for CBC radio here in Saskatchewan.
Alice regularly shares her love of reading on CTV Saskatoon, in her segment Ali’s Book Club. A mother of four, she has taught writing to thousands of people, in person and in online workshops. She is the co-chair of the Saskatoon Public School Foundation’s campaign to raise $20 million dollars to ensure every kid is reading at a Grade 3 level when they leave Grade 3. For more information about Alice, please visit www.alicekuipers.com.
The Virtual Writer-in-Residence program is open to any current SWG member living outside of Regina or Saskatoon. Writers of any genre and level of ability are welcome to access this program. Members can submit proposals, writing samples or excerpts up to a max of 15 pages to Alice, who will discuss your work, give feedback and answer any writing questions you may have during a one-hour virtual Zoom consultation. Our program will be open from Sept 1 to Nov 30, 2020, with Neil Aitken, and again Feb 1 – April 30, 2021, with Alice Kuipers.
For more information about the program, and how to access the Virtual Writer-in-Residence, please check out our webpage.
To learn more about Alice and to listen to a reading of her latest work, check this out:
For more information, please contact:
Yolanda Hansen, Program Manager
Program supported by:


WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING…
“…keeps your interest until the very end.”
Writer Jack Quinn suspects the secretive, high-security, barbed-wire resort next door is connected to a local captain’s murder. When his research uncovers something far more hideous, Jack finds himself in a race against time to stop what lies beyond the fence.
– – – – – – – – – –
For the second time in his life, writer Jack Quinn finds himself involved in a murder. Within days of arriving at his favorite island retreat on the Caribbean island of Utila, he rescues the crew off a stranded catamaran only to be robbed, beaten, tied up and left for dead by the same two men. When freed by the house caretaker the next morning, he learns the Captain of the catamaran was found murdered on the boat, and that Jack, along with the “supposed two-man crew,” are now the prime suspects.
A new twist unfolds when Jack finds the popular resort next door to the Round House villa he’s renting has been transformed into a secretive, high-security, barbed-wire enclosure complete with guard towers and armed sentries. A chance meeting with Ned Foster, a scientist from the resort, provides the perfect opportunity for Jack to dig into what lies within.
The doctor claims he’s on the verge of perfecting an experimental life-altering drug that ‘will change life on earth as we know it’ and he wants Jack to document his journey. Despite concerns from friends, Jack agrees to Ned’s lucrative writing contract; while researching Foster’s background, Jack uncovers a startling and hideous secret.
Risk intensifies when false evidence anonymously arrives causing police and locals to suspect Jack as not only complicit in the captain’s murder but connected to the mysterious resort. The unexpected arrival of Jack’s wife sets up a climax filled with twists, turns, and a dramatic conclusion with someone paying the ultimate price.
Author Pat Wiley maintains a plot ripe with twists, turns, and suspense up until the end, raising questions about our divided loyalties to science, money, ego and the ones we love.
Book 2, ROUND HOUSE, a deadly side to paradise
Book 1, EYEWITNESS, a nautical murder mystery
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
After a successful career in the aerospace industry Pat Wiley began his second career as a writer at the New School for Creative Writing. A series of short stories followed about his adventures sailing his boat on a two year, three thousand-mile journey to the islands of the Caribbean and South America. From this journey, he wrote his first novel EYEWITNESS a nautical murder mystery.
The Sinking of the MV Le JOOLA: Africa’s Titanic is his first book. The non-fiction narrative is the result of two-years of research into one of the worst maritime tragedies in recorded history–a tragedy, which tore at the soul of a country. His interviews with survivors and extensive in-country research revealed the shameful loss of life and incredible accounts of survival that form the heart of the book.
Pat is a licensed Captain and resides in Flat Rock, North Carolina with his wife, an accomplished painter and sculptor.


If you haven’t read Charles Mann’s 1491: New Revelations of the Americas before Columbus yet, you should. Written in 2005, 1491 is a fascinatingly deep survey into turn-of-the-millennium American anthropology. The Americas were more populous, more densely populated, and more technologically advanced than we were ever taught — or so the literature says.
But what makes 1491 particularly important — not just in terms of Mann’s light, easily-readable style (he’ll suck you in and won’t let go) — is the amount of rigor he has put into the work. Take a look at the notes and bibliography: the latter takes up a huge chunk of the back of the book, while the former delves even deeper into a topic that clearly fascinates Mann than the main narrative does.
Moreso, Mann has given all the voices their fair share. While it is clear that he is more persuaded by the more recent literature, as he weaves his tale together he makes sure to give very staunchly critical voices — such as the Smithsonian’s Betty Meggers — room to breathe. This is a level of rigor Mann never needed to put into what is, at the end of the day, a popular work — and a survey, at that; nothing too in-depth on any specific subject — and it is perhaps why 1491 is so deeply and richly successful.
Anybody who is interested in American anthropology needs to have this book on their shelves. Not only does it present an early-2000s snapshot of the discipline, but it also yields up a legendarium’s worth of tales — not just of the conquistas, but also of the rise of the Aztec and Inca empires, of the wars that rended the Maya poleis. It also gives a much more jaundiced view of the Puritans’ meeting with the Wampanoag, and shows that Mixtec and Zapotec history go deeper than previously believed.
Any time I try doing a worldbuild centered on the Americas, 1491 is my primary source. Can there by any higher honor?


The Second Greatest Book
The circumstance made me read some pages (around 10). I was awakened. If 10 pages can contain so much knowledge, what will I become with 700+ pages? I made it a duty of acquire all of the knowledge in this book. And I succeeded. Let me tell you why I call it the Second Greatest Book.
Vedas are not available where I am. The books released on Vedas are corrupted. Writers often unaware of the light, write what they see, not what they perceive. The Light of Truth explains what the Vedas are really and how people misinterpret them.
This book replies answers of an awakened mind. Like, creation, annihilation, afterlife, God, religion, spirituality, way of life, society, economy, disasters, blind faith and false religion, idol worship, nutrition, life on other planets and so much more.
Imagine you have these answers with you. How it feels? I cannot describe. It's like I will be telling someone that never ate a laddoo how eating a laddoo feels.
Remember: this book is not a religious book. It is a book of Truth for anyone at anytime. Be prepared for the light.


A ground-breaking initiative from the University of Exeter, the Sex and History project, is offering schools a new way to tackle difficult topics in sex education. Led by Professor of History Kate Fisher and Classicist Dr Rebecca Langlands, Sex and … Continue reading →
Behind the surface of a painting lies the history of its making. Scholars now know more about the histories of some 19th-century Haitian paintings held in Yale’s collections, thanks to the collaborative efforts of colleagues from Yale, the Smithsonian Institution, … Continue reading →
Annika Finne, senior and aspiring conservator, jumped at the chance to investigate the authenticity of a Modigliani painting stored in the archives of the RISD Museum of Art. What followed was a year-long journey of research and discovery and a … Continue reading →
DATES: Oct. 1, 2010-Jan. 23, 2011 and Feb. 4-May 29, 2011. EVENT: “Vaults of Heaven: Visions of Byzantium” features a two-part series of ultra-large-scale photographs, many over six feet tall, by Turkish photographer Ahmet Ertug.


Welcome to my website! My name is James M. Tucker. I am a Ph.D candidate at the University of Toronto, in the collaborative doctoral program. This means that I am an academic member of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations and Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies. My research focuses on the transmission and development of law and legal interpretation from the Iron Age into the Second Temple and Rabbinic era.
My dissertation, From Ink Traces to Ideology: Material, Text, and Composition of Qumran Community Rule Manuscripts takes up a careful analysis of a central group of texts that were discovered in 1947 in the northwest regions of the Dead Sea, commonly known as Qumran. One of these scrolls (1Q28) is among the few scrolls that was discovered nearly in tact. Several other copies were discovered, but are very fragmentary. A comparison of these scrolls and their compositional development opens an important window into the issues concerning legal disputes, developments, and legal authority in the Second Jewish Commonwealth. I am currently working to revise my thesis for publication.
As a specialist of Jewish law and legal interpretation, I work at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen in the international project, Scripta Qumranica Electronica. I am currently working on a new critical edition of the Damascus Document.


DUSTOFF Association scrapbooks are a collection of photographs showing individual (or group) shots of DUSTOFF crewmembers. Many of the photos are labeled with the crewmember's name.
Select the book you would like to go see from the books below.
Send your scanned DUSTOFF related photo to and we'll try to get it included on this page. No scanner; no problem. Send photo and SASE to R. (HUEY) Huether, 110 Cedar Hills Dr., Fredericksburg, TX 78624.


|Budding Balbriggan photographers are in with a chance to have their work featured in the windows of the Our Balbriggan Hub office.
The images in the Hub, which is at George’s Square between the library and the Bracken Court Hotel, change twice a year and photographers have until June to get snapping.
The idea is to turn the Hub into an evolving canvas, displaying local artists and talent, but also reflecting how the people of Balbriggan see their town.
Since the start of the year, the windows feature an image of Bremore Castle, taken by Ampika Currivan and an aerial shot of the town by Tony Healy.
Last year, the lighthouse featured prominently, with a photo by Michael Stanley and an illustration by Alison O’Grady.
Also featured was Yolanda Aguilo’s photo of her young son in the window of their house.
To be in with a chance to be get your photo in the window of the Hub, post your pictures on Instagram and social media with the tag: #OurBalbriggan.
A decision will be made in the weeks leading up to June on which photos to feature.
Please keep sharing and tagging your wonderful images with the people of Balbriggan and further afield throughout the year, they really are appreciated.
A photographic exhibition will be held later in the year featuring a wider selection of photography from local contributors.


Index of Governance and Public Policy in Disaster Risk Management
Disaster Deficit Index
Prevalent Vulnerability Index
Local Disaster Index
Risk Management Index
Riskmonitor is a digital platform that serves as a repository for the disaster risk management studies’ results developed by the Inter-American Development Bank for its member countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. This information contributes to a better knowledge of disaster risk and the main facets of public policy in risk management
System of indicators
The System of Indicators is composed of five indicators that allow representing the risk of disasters and their management at the national level, as well as their temporal evolution in each country. These indicators facilitate the understanding of essential aspects of disaster risk and its management from different perspectives: normative, institutional, budgetary, territorial, social, economic, financial and public policy.
Riskmonitor includes the results of the application of the System of Indicators. This System of Indicators has been applied periodically since 2005 in the 26 member countries of the IDB in Latin America and the Caribbean.


We created Blue Spectrum Books to explore and produce books on a wide range of topics and genres. Our goal is first to find those interesting, and sometimes quirky, products that invite a reader to awaken their imaginations. Whether the reader is a child, an adult, or an adult that dreams like a child, we create books especially for your interests.
Blue Spectrum Books is just beginning the journey. Join us! Our States Have Crazy Shapes will make you slap the side of your head while saying – “I never knew that!”
Our States Have Crazy Shapes: Panhandles, Bootheels, Knobs and Points looks behind-the-scenes at the decisions that caused our leaders to carve odd shapes on our map. For example:
- Who decided that Michigan should have the Upper Peninsula when that landmass is actually attached to Wisconsin?
- What’s up with that bootheel, Missouri?
- Why did the shapes of our states get noticeably square as we moved west? And furthermore…
- Why are some of our states so big and others so small?
JOIN IN ON THE FUN - BUY THE BOOK!
Learn More Below↓
Note to Educators:
This book addresses 23 Minnesota State Education standards in history and geography for grades 4-9. Available from Ingram.
Our States Have Crazy Shapes, by Lynn Garthwaite answers those questions above, and more. In addition, bonus chapters describe border battles that continue to this day. You’ll also learn how Mother Nature has played a part in creating our map outlines.
Available through Ingram Distributors. To schedule Lynn to speak to your business or organization, contact her at Lynn@lynngarthwaite.com. Check the speaking tab to see her current schedule of events.
“Mysterious Planet” (working title). This book will combine history and psychic channeling. If that doesn’t pique your interest, some of the topics will be: The Shroud of Turin, Puma Punku, The Sphinx, and The Knights Templar. The history side tells the tale of what we know about these historical mysteries and what we think happened. The psychic channeling chapters will tell “what really happened” at those places and events, as told by spirit guides through a psychic medium. Watch for more information.
A second book, untitled, is a murder mystery that will unearth (literally) a 40 year old disappearance and put 28 year old Jadey Evans in the middle of a terrorist scheme that may destroy her family. She learns that she should never have gone back home.


Program for Young Children
This class is a local addition to the official 12-year Purna Vidya Program. Started as a class for the very young (4-5 years old) siblings of already registered children, it is now open for independent enrolment for kindergarteners. While there is no set curriculum for it, children learn small stories from children's story books and slokas that are not covered in the regular curriculum. They learn about the vahanas (mounts) of various deities through the medium of coloring pages. They are taught by a very nurturing home toom teacher and a sloka teacher.
Grade 1. Pancatantra for the Young
These short stories having animals as the main characters are unique in their ability to catch the attention of young children and educate them in dharma - adharma.
Young children have a special fascination for symbolism and the use of symbolic language. They are also endowed with the capacity of a rather vivid imagination. They have not yet learnt to think multi-dimensionally i.e. to look at a particular issue from different angles. Neither is their mind fully capable of indulging in abstract reasoning. All these factors make the tales from Panchatantra particularly attractive to them at their age.
Their vivid imagination enables them to easily impute human emotions and thoughts to animals and the stories provide varieties of characters and themes. They are not constrained by adult logic such as, "Do animals have emotions? How can animals be foolish or wise?".
Grade 2. Puranic Tales for the Young
Some of these stories are quite well known throughout India. They are stories of the Lord in His manifold divine expressions. Deities such as Ganesa, Shiva, Hanuman, Parvati and celestials such as Naradha are well known by everyone who belongs to the Vedic Culture. Several of the stories are of the divinities in their form as children and are particularly appealing to the young as they can easily identify with the characters.
The simple stories are easy to remember and carry profound messages. By listening to them young children develop a reverential attitude for our religious traditions and learn universal values.
Grade 3. Ramayana
Both the itihasas (historical epics) Ramayana and Mahabharata depict the lives of kings and the people of their times. They are highly inspiring and pervade the length and breadth of the land and culture of India.
Grade 4. Bhagavata Purana
Bhagavata Purana is made up of stories of the ten avataras of Lord Vishnu and other selected stories. All these stories highlight the necessity and outcome of living a life of dharma and give an insight into the nature of devotion to the Lord. Such understanding strengthens one’s faith in living a life of values.
Grade 5. Mahabharata
Both the Itihasas (historical epics) Ramayana and Mahabharata depict the lives of kings and the people of their times. They are highly inspiring and pervade the length and breadth of the land and culture of India.
Grade 6. Values
While it is easy for an adult to tell a child what to do and what not to do, it is not easy to explain the why’s of do’s and don’ts. When a child is young telling them to do / not to do seems adequate. Due to a natural need to please an adult they tend to comply - generally willingly, and at times unwillingly.
As they get older they seek to understand the reasoning that guides our judgement of right and wrong. It is necessary and important for them to do so as dharma / adharma often become an issue for interpretation.
Grade 7. Isvara & Religious Discipline
This can be an intimidating subject to teach students. Not being faith based Ìsvara is not looked upon as merely a matter for belief but as something to be understood and contemplated upon. Teachers will find this profound subject dealt with in a simple language that they can easily understand and communicate to the students.
Grade 8. Religious Culture
Throughout history India and its people have been a source of inspiration to people all over the world. This is because our way of life is highly spiritual and guided by humanistic principles that are truly universal. The principles that form the basis of our way of life are expounded in the Vedas and other religious literature. The cultural forms express the profound truths of the beliefs and understanding that underlie our spiritual wisdom.
Grade 9. Sanatana Dharma
This covers the significant topic of Hindu Samskaras (sacraments) and Sanatana Dharma. Their positive psychological impact in a human mind and development is also explained. Certain unique aspects of Vedic dharma such as karma, avatara, varas and other topics are discussed.
The first prayer in this part is a contemplation which is recited in the morning. This prayer is followed by Vedic mantras, called Shanti-mantras, which invoke the blessings of the Lord. This part gives an overview of the Vedic scriptures. These scriptures give a meaning and support to those who live the Vedic way of life. They also reveal and unfold the knowledge of the self, ¡tm¡, providing a means for the human being to gain moksha, freedom from sorrow.
Grade 10. Human Development & Spiritual Growth
This subject matter is concerned with human growth. The Vedic culture has recognized for thousands of years that the growth of a human being is multifaceted. A person grows not only physically but also matures emotionally; and the potential for his or her emotional growth is immense. Even though a human being appears bound by numerous limitations, in the Vedic vision, every individual has the capacity to discover his essential nature as being limitless.
Grade 11. Vedic Knowledge
This deals with Vedic thought and literature and some salient features of Hinduism. Various disciplines of knowledge, as diverse as architecture, sculpture, warfare, medicine, poetry and music, were all dealt with in astounding detail by the people of the Vedic society. The topics covered in this section are by no means exhaustive; they provide only a survey of certain significant subjects dealt with in the vast Vedic literature.
Grade 12. Introduction to Bhagavadgita
This contains an introduction to the Bhagavad Gita and a comprehensive analysis of chapter two, which encapsulates the subject matter contained in the remaining sixteen chapters of the Gita. The material presented in this section are abridged portions of the Gita Home Study Programme by Swami Dayananda Saraswati. This home study programme is based on class material presented by Swami Dayananda to resident students who attended a course in Vedanta and Sanskrit at Saylorsburg, P.A. (USA).
2023 © purnavidya. ALL Rights Reserved.


About the Book
JACK LONDON: HIS LITERARY GENESIS AND WRITING STYLE ARE DISCOVERED IN HIS POETRY
This is a seminal book of exploration and discovery into the literary genesis and writing style of Jack London. It brings together all the poetry, published and unpublished, of Jack London tosupport the assertion that London was first and foremost a poet who wrote fiction and nonfictionand not a writer of fiction and nonfiction who also wrote poetry.
After more than 20 years of research in all depositories and databases of Jack Londonmaterial, Wichlan publishes his remarkable results. The book contains the poetry embedded inLondon’s writing and correctly identifies previously uncredited authors and defines the poetry probably written by Jack London. Included are two published plays in verse, and book inscriptionsJack London wrote in his first editions given to his first wife, Bessie Maddern, their children andhis second wife, Charmian London. Twenty-eight pages from his first log book “No 1 – MagazineSales” are reproduced, which reveal the true extent of London’s avid study of classical prosodytaken from a newly discovered source.
In an extended introduction Dan cites many examples and quotes from London’s 51 books,numerous letters, and descriptions of his life with poetry from Charmian London’s biography ofher husband. Dan connects and links London’s words and actions from many sources to supportthe central theme of the book that Jack London was a poet and his lyrical prose style a directconsequence of prosodic studies, poetic aspirations and a lifelong passion for poetry. Therefore, for those interested in discovering the true Jack London, this is essential reading.
“The world knows Jack London the adventurer, Jack London the Klondike Argonaut, Jack Londonthe scientific farmer, Jack London the social crusader, and—above all—Jack London the master story–teller. Now, thanks to the remarkable research of Dan Wichlan, the world will know Jack London the poet. Wichlan’s comprehensive collection provides invaluable testimony to yet another measure of thisworld-famous author’s extraordinary creative genius.”
— Earle Labor, Wilson Professor of American Literature, Centenary College of Louisiana.
“With publication of The Complete Poetry of Jack London Dan Wichlan, an authority on the celebrated author, has rendered a singular service to the study of American Literature. …Aside from the book’s obvious virtue of being complete and therefore unique, Wichlan’s introductory essay stands as a significant commentary into London’s poetic aspirations. Another commendable inclusion are the extracts fromLondon’s personal logs that depict his study into the mechanics of poetic form. These are priceless glimpsesinto the workings of an author best known for works of prose – but prose that is infused with poetry.”
— Dale L. Walker, Editor of In a Far Country: Jack London’s Tales of the West, and other London studies.
“A groundbreaking and definitive work that will be welcomed by both general readers and scholars alike. Wichlan not only gathers the complete array of London’s published and unpublished poetry, he examines the poetry of others embedded in London’s writings. Crisp and apt annotations throughout reveal London’spassion for language, as well as his astute business sense. A modest title covers immense riches.”
— Clarice Stasz, Professor Emerita of History, Sonoma State University, CA.
“A scholarly tour de force, revealing Jack London as never before, this one of a kind study examining his passion for the power of poetry demands that we take a fresh look at an often under appreciated writer and confirms the importance of his prose style as true art made with words.”
— Marc Goldsmith, Associate Professor of Humanities, Mitchell College, New London, CT


If there was a singular cinematic image among the Oscar contenders this year, it was probably the vicious bear attack in the movie “The Revenant,” where Leonardo DiCaprio gets mauled by a grizzly and is left for dead.
The movie is based on Michael Punke’s 2002 book of the same name, which tells the story of Hugh Glass and his fateful adventures in the 1820s. Glass was a former pirate and trapper who survived unimaginable odds to achieve retribution after he was abandoned by fellow trappers following the bear attack. He managed to crawl nearly 200 miles to safety across the rugged frontier of what is now northwestern South Dakota.
But before the movie, before Punke’s book, local author Bruce Bradley wrote “Hugh Glass,” also based on the frontiersman and the subject of the new movie, which on Sunday won an Oscar for DiCaprio.
Much of why Bradley, who tends bar at the National Hotel, wrote the book can be attributed to his eventful life. He grew up in an unfinished house in Alaska with no running water or TV. Wearing his standard black leather vest and Western-style tie, he said growing up in Alaska, where temperatures sometimes dropped to 60 degrees below zero, he spent most of his youth reading books.
“My folks were gypsies,” Bradley said. “They were in and out of the restaurant business and we moved around.”
When Bradley was very young, his family owned a hotel next door to a Grass Valley bordello called Bessie Gerald’s Sporting House, which had 12 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms.
The family’s hotel burned down. “So we had a family discussion. We were either going to go to Costa Rica to grow bananas or Alaska. I was either going to be Tarzan or Nanook of the North.”
Eventually, Bradley and his family ended up in Napa Valley. The author spent most of his time there in the wine-making business, while trying to write books.
Both the “Hugh Glass” book and the movie are described as true stories. Key scenes in both are the bear attack and the aftermath, Glass’ treacherous effort to reach Fort Henry. Bradley became interested in the story of Hugh Glass after reading one of many books about the legendary frontiersman, entitled “Lord Grizzly” by Frederick Manfred.
But when the movie version of the adventure came out, Bradley was disappointed.
“They got his name right,” he said, referring to Glass. “They got the bear attack down right. Everything else about the movie got it historically wrong.”
“In August of 1823, Glass was with a group of 10 trappers. They were all in panic to get to Fort Henry up on the Yellowstone River,” Bradley says. “All the Indians in that area had declared war on all the whites.” At one point in the story, Glass is attacked by a huge bear. After the attack, Glass managed to kill the grizzly. Thinking Glass was nearly dead, his fellow trappers left him and took his tomahawk and rifle. But Glass survived.
Driven by revenge for being left behind, Glass sets out crawling inch by inch across more than 200 miles of uncharted Western frontier, encountering predators, Indians, the threat of starvation and the agony of his horrific wounds. It took him until New Years Eve from October to walk to Fort Henry, Bradley said.
When he got to Fort Henry, one of the trappers who left him for dead felt so guilty that he thought Glass was a ghost who came to haunt him.
“The Revenant” means ghost,” Bradley said. “That’s where the name of the movie comes from. But they never explain that in the film.”
“The movie said Glass had a half-breed son,” Bradley continued. “He didn’t have a half-breed son. The movie also said trapper (John Fitzgerald) killed his son.”
“They made Fitzgerald out to be a murderer. He wasn’t a murderer,” he said.
Fond memories of his early years living in Grass Valley drew Bradley back to the area in 2006. He moved to Nevada City, where he has been bar tending and writing. He published another book, “Jaguar” in 2006, which takes place mostly in Grass Valley in 1858, beginning with Glass’s death in 1833.
For more about Bradley and his books, visit www.moosegantz.com.


How to Pass the NCLEX PN Test
If you have recently graduated from LPN school you may find yourself wondering what is the best way to pass the NCLEX PN exam. Passing the NCLEX isn’t just a matter of being able to recite answers to every question, taking a few practice tests, and then doing a marathon of review. It’s about studying and preparing, then practicing again. Becoming familiar with the NCLEX format and learning the types of questions that can be asked is an integral part of your overall study and preparation. Fortunately, there are several resources available to help you. Here’s a look at what’s out there.
The Neely Test, developed by Exam Test Company, is one of the best tools available to study for the NCLEX PN test. The website includes lots of sample questions, which will allow you to see how the format of the NCLEX PN exam will work and what types of information you should expect as you proceed through the questions. This is one of the best ways to prepare for the NCLEX PN.
For a comprehensive review of the NCLEX PN, you might want to look into Preparing For the NCLEX PN Exam. This eBook contains several hundred pages of NCLEX PN practice tests and study guides. You will learn what types of questions can be expected during the NCLEX PN exam, which will help you determine what you need to study and prepare for. This eBook will serve as an invaluable resource for your future studies and testing.
There are several websites that will walk you through the entire process of learning to take the NCLEX PN test. One of the advantages of these websites is that they allow you to access a variety of review materials and tools to help you get prepared for the NCLEX PN. Another advantage of these websites is that they allow you to download and save your results for future reference. Once you pass the NCLEX, you will have many options for further studies and to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. Finding a resource that allows you access to several resources will give you the edge in becoming a CNA.
The greatest advantage to training for the NCLEX PN is that you will have the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively carry out your duties as a CNA. Therefore, finding a resource that offers courses at discounted prices will be a great benefit to you.
Once you begin taking the NCLEX PN test, you will quickly discover that it is not as difficult as you might have thought. In fact, it is a very easy test to pass and make the most out of your time. You will want to review the various concepts that will be tested and take notes so that you remember what you learned correctly. If possible, try to practice taking the test right before the test. As long as you have everything you need including the answers handy, you will have no problems with taking this test and knowing exactly how to answer it.If You’re Worried About Best Way To Take NCLEX-PN Exam | Home


Some of my favourite quilt books got taken off the shelf last night. Mr. Q.O. and I are both really feeling the allergy season starting and, while I did get some stitching done, last night was mostly a night for leafing through these books.
This little book, Quilts, A Beautiful History, is definitely one of my favourites and one which has inspired two of my quilts – Pink Ice and the pink and cream quilt.
When I first got the book, this page was looked at over and over again and eventually I made Pink Ice, which was inspired by the photo.
Ontario’s Heritage Quilts is a book I can never get enough of. I can read and re-read the narrative and look at the pictures for hours at a time.
This is just one of the many quilts in the book. It’s impossible to describe just how fabulous this book is.
Next up is the Two-Color Quilts book. I love looking through and seeing the various two-colour quilts, as making a series of two-colour quilts is one of my long-term goals.
Clearly I’m on a red and white kick, as this is the one I spent the most time looking at last night.
Then Art of the Needle from the Shelburne Museum. There are countless quilts in this book that are absolutely stunning.
This is one of the many quilts in the book that I can’t stop going back to and looking at.
Then comes the Jinny Beyer book, The Quilter’s Album of Patchwork Patterns, which I think is an absolute must-have for any quilter.
Turn to any page in that book and there’s inspiration plus just waiting.
So what are your favourite quilt books? Which ones do you turn to for inspiration?
Baxter was looking regal as he sat atop the couch watching.


Identifying with a limited body and personality has led human beings to create a self-destructing world marked by fear, anger, lack, and separation.
Through a shift in identity towards awareness, you can discover that you are not a victim or powerless bystander. You can easily heal your life and participate in the healing of other beings, the ecosystem, and the planet. No challenges are impossible to deal with when you know who you are.
“Healing Is Child’s Play” contains detailed explanations of your subtle anatomy, the process of creation, practices for awakening, and step-by-step guidance to heal specific issues, from your health, career, relationships, and finances to climate, the ecosystem, and the planet.
“Healing Is Child’s Play teaches us that the limits and the magic are in us.”
Tell Your Friends


Updated: Dec 12, 2022
In this post we thought of doing some investigation work to satisfy our curiosity and also at the same time to share with our readers some "cultural gems" that are present in museums and libraries nearby us. We went on a search for the oldest book in Mafra region and decided to start with the famous library of Mafra's National Palace - Palácio Nacional de Mafra.
In our findings for the oldest book in the library in Mafra's National Palace, we unveiled pieces of text written in latin and printed in Gothic calligraphy. It is a chronicle that describes the creation of the world until the date of its publication.
It's an incunabulum (printed works before the 15th century).
It contains woodcut images* of: Adam and Eve; Able and Cain; Noah's Ark; cities.
Foresti, Jacopo Filippo, (1434-1520)
Venice: [Bernardinus Rizus, 1492 ou 1493]
 f. br., , 256,  f.,  f. br. : il. ; In fol. (32 cm)
* Woodcut images - A printmaking technique that involves printing an image from a carved plank of wood. The image is cut into the wood using tools such as chisels, gouges, and knives. Raised areas of the image are inked and printed, while cut away or recessed areas do not receive ink and appear blank on the printed paper.
We much appreciate the collaboration and effort of the kind staff at the headquarter office of Mafra's National Palace, that allowed us to get this information of interest to share with you.


BURDEN ON THE LAND
Boxing: In and Out of The Ring (2001)
92 mins. - A&E, Sky & TVOntario - YAP (Yorkshire/Associated Producers Ltd.)
A YAP Films Production currently in the YAP Films Library
BURDEN ON THE LAND (2001)
60 mins. • Roger Pyke Productions • Global TV & CIDA
Directed by ROGER PYKE
Producers HENRY GOLD, SIMCHA JACOBOVICI AND ROGER PYKE
Associate Producer RIC ESTHER BIENSTOCK
Executive Producer SIMCHA JACOBOVICI
AN ASSOCIATED PRODUCER PRODUCTION
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH ROGER PYKE PRODUCTIONS
IN ASSOCIATION WITH GLOBAL TV AND CIDA
Millions of Africans will suffer from the effects of drought. Yet despite this overwhelming tragedy, very little is known about the roots of famine and the ways to avert it. BURDEN ON THE LAND avoids the horrors of recent droughts and concentrates on the real problems of social structure, living patterns, women’s roles, education, public health, fuel, water, transportation, deforestation, desertification and appropriate agriculture.
Films about Africa usually oscillate between sensationalistic footage and dull academic lectures. The former evokes feelings of despair, and the latter simply bores. In contrast, BURDEN ON THE LAND combines the intellectual depth of an educational film with the quickness, pacing, graphics and sophistication of television journalism.
Filmed in Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi, Zaire, Ivory Coast, Mali, Ethiopia and Uganda, our footage ranges from sexy North American fashion shows for African relief to the projects they help in Africa, from a gruelling marathon for Africa to Africa itself. The film takes viewers on a tour deep into the rainforests of Zaire, the slums of Goma, the ancient wonder that is Timbuktu, and the modern skyscrapers of Abidjan. It ranges from exotic dancing in Malawi, to modern factories in the Ivory Coast, to deserted Mozambican villages caught in the crossfire of civil war.
BURDEN ON THE LAND is a visually stunning and intellectually gripping look at Africa as it faces the 21st century.
American Film & Video Festival, 1991
National Educational Film & Video Festival, 1991
Golden Gate Awards, San Francisco Film Festival, 1991


TORONTO AUTHOR JOYCE GRANT’S SECOND CHILDREN’S BASEBALL NOVEL FROM LORIMER KIDS TO BE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED AT CHRISTIE PITS DURING THE JAYS CARE FOUNDATION LIGHTS ON CHRISTIE PITS DIAMOND 3 RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY & BLUE JAYS HONDA BASEBALL CLINIC EXTRAVAGANZA ON MAY 12
Toronto Playgrounds Baseball is proud to announce that distinguished local author Joyce Grant will be launching her second children’s baseball novel, Sliding Home, during our Jays Care Foundation Lights On Christie Pits Diamond 3 ribbon cutting ceremony & Blue Jays Honda Baseball Clinic event on Saturday, May 12 at Christie Pits.
Grant’s newest novel, from publisher Lorimer Children & Teens, involves the story of Miguel, who left El Salvador without his father and came to Canada with his mother and sister. Juggling a hectic schedule of multiple jobs while pursing his love of baseball with the Toronto Blues baseball team at the same time, he reaches a crossroads when his father’s situation back home becomes critical and it’s necessary to bring him to Canada. Unable to finance his baseball dreams and pay his father’s way to Toronto, Miguel opens up to his teammates about his dire situation. In the process, the Blues learn about the hard realities that new immigrants face – and Miguel finds help where he least expects it by learning to trust those in his community.
In praise of Grant’s latest release, author and illustrator Kevin Sylvester, says “Baseball is hard. So is life. Sliding Home blends those realities seamlessly in a book that’s fun to read.”
‘Tagged Out’, Grant’s debut novel from Lorimer, revolved around the story of the inner-city Toronto Blues baseball team that is having a lousy year. Shortstop Nash and the Blues just can’t seem to win a game. They especially hate losing to their archrivals, The Parkhill Pirates. When all-star player, Jock, joins the Blues, it looks like they might be able to turn the season around. The only problem? When the Pirates find out that Jock is gay, they ambush Nash and Jock, and Nash has to decide if he wants to stand by his teammate.
Both ‘Sliding Home’ and ‘Tagged Out’ are great books for kids who love baseball but don’t love reading. There’s lots of real-life baseball action–and best of all, both novels are set in Toronto’s own Christie Pits.
As part of the official book launch, TP Baseball Committee Member Paul Bagnell will be conducting an on site interview with Grant during the Lights On 3 Ribbon Cutting & Blue Jays Honda Baseball Clinic event. Everyone is welcome to attend this public forum where Grant will answer questions regarding the inspiration and work involved behind bringing ‘Sliding Home’ and ‘Tagged Out’ to fruition.
Additionally, there will an opportunity for all attendees at our event to participate in a free prize draw for copies of ‘Sliding Home’.
Along with renowned illustrator Jan Dolby, Grant is also the author of the popular Gabby children’s picture book series. In addition, Grant is also a writer and editor for Teaching Kids News (TKN), a popular children’s blog which offers kid-friendly news articles, taken from the headlines of real newspapers.