Other books that might interest you

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  The Fly Girls Revolt - The Story...

  Eileen A. Bjorkman

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  In 1993, U.S. women earned the right to fly in combat, but the full story of how it happened is largely unknown. The Fly Girls Revolt chronicles the actions of a band of women who overcame decades of discrimination and prevailed against bureaucrats, chauvinists, anti-feminists, and even other military women. 
   
   
   
  Drawing on extensive research, interviews with women who served in the 1970s and 1980s, and her personal experiences in the Air Force, Eileen Bjorkman weaves together a riveting tale of the women who fought for the right to enter combat and be treated as equal partners in the U.S. military. 
   
   
   
  Although the military had begun training women as aviators in 1973, by a law of Congress they could not fly in harm's way. Time and again when a woman graduated at the top of her pilot training class, a less-qualified male pilot was sent to fly a combat aircraft in her place. 
   
   
   
  Most of the women who fought for change between World War II and today would never fly in combat themselves, but they earned their places in history by strengthening the U.S. military and ensuring future women would not be denied opportunities solely because of their sex. The Fly Girls Revolt is their story.

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  Times Alone - Selected Poems of...

  Antonio Machado

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  Antonio Machado, a school teacher and philosopher and one of Spain's foremost poets of the twentieth century, writes of the mountains, the skies, the farms and the sentiments of his homeland clearly and without narcissism: "Just as before, I'm interested/in water held in;/ but now water in the living/rock of my chest." "Machado has vowed not to soar too much; he wants to 'go down to the hells' or stick to the ordinary," Robert Bly writes in his introduction. He brings to the ordinary—to time, to landscape and stony earth, to bean fields and cities, to events and dreams—magical sound that conveys order, penetrating sight and attention. "The poems written while we are awake…are more original and more beautiful, and sometimes more wild than those made from dreams," Machado said. In the newspapers before and during the Spanish Civil War, he wrote of political and moral issues, and, in 1939, fled from Franco's army into the Pyrenees, dying in exile a month later. When in 1966 a bronze bust of Machado was to be unveiled in a town here he had taught school, thousands of people came in pilgrimage only to find the Civil Guard with clubs and submachine guns blocking their way. This selection of Machado's poetry, beautifully translated by Bly, begins with the Spanish master's first book, Times Alone, Passageways in the House, and Other Poems (1903), and follows his work to the poems published after his death: Poems from the Civil War (written during 1936 – 1939).

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  Why We Can't Sleep - Women's New...

  Ada Calhoun

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  The acclaimed author explores the hidden crises of Gen X women in this “engaging hybrid of first-person confession, reportage [and] pop culture analysis” (The New Republic). 
   
  Ada Calhoun was married with children and a good career—and yet she was miserable. She thought she had no right to complain until she realized how many other Generation X women felt the same way. What could be behind this troubling trend? To find out, Calhoun delved into housing costs, HR trends, credit card debt averages, and divorce data. At every turn, she saw that Gen X women were facing new problems as they entered middle age—problems that were being largely overlooked. 
   
  Calhoun spoke with women across America who were part of the generation raised to “have it all.” She found that most were exhausted, terrified about money, under-employed, and overwhelmed. And instead of being heard, they were being told to lean in, take “me-time,” or make a chore chart to get their lives and homes in order. 
   
  In Why We Can’t Sleep, Calhoun opens up the cultural and political contexts of Gen X’s predicament. She offers practical advice on how to ourselves out of the abyss—and keep the next generation of women from falling in. The result is reassuring, empowering, and essential reading for all middle-aged women, and anyone who hopes to understand them.

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  Rethinking Rescue - Dog Lady and...

  Carol Mithers

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  In Los Angeles's most underserved communities, Lori Weise is known as the Dog Lady, the woman who's spent decades caring for people in poverty and the animals that love them. Long before anyone else, Weise grasped that animal and human suffering are inextricably connected and created a new rescue narrative, an enduring safety net empowering pet owners and providing resources to reduce the number of pets coming into shelters. 
   
   
   
  Rethinking Rescue: Dog Lady and the Story of America's Forgotten People and Pets unites the causes of animal welfare and social justice, moving between Weise's story and that of the US rescue movement: from the dog's twentieth-century transition from property to family to the rise of the no kill campaign to stop shelter euthanasia and the contradictions that hampered those efforts. Through captivating storytelling and investigative reporting, Carol Mithers examines the consequences of bias within this overwhelmingly white movement, where an overemphasis on placing animals in affluent homes often disregards pet owners in poverty. Weise's innovative and ultimately triumphant efforts revealed a better way. 
   
   
   
  Rethinking Rescue boldly confronts two of the biggest challenges of our time—poverty and homelessness—in asking the very humane question, Who deserves the love of a pet?

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  Jainism - The Path of...

  Amman Hirsch

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  Jainism, one of the oldest religions in the world, offers a profound philosophical and spiritual framework that emphasizes non-violence, truth, and the quest for liberation. Rooted in ancient Indian traditions, Jainism has significantly influenced the cultural and ethical landscape of India and beyond. With a rich history that dates back over two millennia, Jain teachings focus on the importance of individual responsibility, ethical conduct, and the interconnectedness of all living beings. 
  At the heart of Jainism lies the principle of Ahimsa, or non-violence, which extends not only to humans but to all forms of life, reflecting a deep commitment to compassion and respect for nature. This principle is not merely a passive refrain from harm; it is an active dedication to fostering well-being and harmony in all aspects of life. Alongside Ahimsa, Jains practice Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (chastity), and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness), forming a comprehensive ethical code that guides their daily lives and spiritual aspirations. 
  Jainism also emphasizes the significance of self-discipline and self-realization as pathways to liberation (Moksha) from the cycle of birth and death (Samsara). The teachings of the Tirthankaras, spiritual teachers who have attained enlightenment, serve as guides for followers on their spiritual journey. These enlightened beings exemplify the ideal virtues of Jain philosophy and provide practical insights for navigating the complexities of life.

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  The Overconfidence Bias -...

  William Rands

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  Overconfidence is a cognitive bias that affects the way we perceive our abilities, knowledge, and future outcomes. It leads individuals to overestimate their competence and the precision of their knowledge, often resulting in flawed decision-making. At its core, overconfidence is an inflated sense of self-assurance that distorts reality. While a certain level of confidence is essential for success, excessive confidence can cloud judgment and lead to risky choices. 
  The overconfidence bias has been widely studied in psychology, with researchers highlighting its profound impact on decision-making processes. One of the primary reasons for overconfidence is the human tendency to focus on positive outcomes while downplaying potential risks or failures. People who are overconfident tend to believe they have more control over situations than they actually do, leading them to take on challenges that they are not fully prepared for. This overestimation of abilities can be seen in various domains, from personal life to professional settings, where individuals frequently believe they know more or can perform tasks better than they truly can. 
  Overconfidence is not just about the belief that one can succeed in a particular task or scenario; it also involves an overestimation of how much one knows. For instance, individuals may feel confident in their knowledge of a topic but may be unaware of the gaps in their understanding. This phenomenon is particularly noticeable in fields such as finance, medicine, and law, where professionals often make critical decisions based on incomplete or flawed information, assuming their knowledge is comprehensive. Overconfidence can also manifest in the form of the "illusion of control," where individuals believe they can influence outcomes that are largely governed by chance.

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