“McGonigal is a clear, methodical writer, and her ideas are well argued. Assertions are backed by countless psychological studies.” —The Boston Globe “Powerful and provocative . . . McGonigal makes a persuasive case that games have a lot to teach us about how to make our lives, and the world, better.” —San Jose Mercury News “Jane McGonigal's insights have the elegant, compact, deadly simplicity of plutonium, and the same explosive force.” —Cory Doctorow, author of Little Brother A visionary game designer reveals how we can harness the power of games to boost global happiness. With 174 million gamers in the United States alone, we now live in a world where every generation will be a gamer generation. But why, Jane McGonigal asks, should games be used for escapist entertainment alone? In this groundbreaking book, she shows how we can leverage the power of games to fix what is wrong with the real world-from social problems like depression and obesity to global issues like poverty and climate change-and introduces us to cutting-edge games that are already changing the business, education, and nonprofit worlds. Written for gamers and non-gamers alike, Reality Is Broken shows that the future will belong to those who can understand, design, and play games. Jane McGonigal is also the author of SuperBetter: A Revolutionary Approach to Getting Stronger, Happier, Braver and More Resilient.

“The ivory tower, like other stately homes in the UK, might present a grand façade to the world but closer inspection reveals a dark, spidery basement full of inequalities.” Gender imbalances still exist across all areas of higher education. From salaries and promotion, to representation in the curriculum, formal approaches and good intentions rarely address the full complexity. EqualBITE digs into the messy reality of higher education gender issues, presenting people’s stories, experiences and frustrations and – more importantly – what can be done. University of Edinburgh students and staff share real-life experiences of gender challenges and opportunities, and their constructive responses. The book condenses current academic research into practical actions that do make a difference. EqualBITE is a pragmatic and positive response to gender issues in academia – a catalyst for creating a culture which is better for everyone. “We were so pleased to see this new guide to one aspect of diversity—gender equality—and to see how good it is: the book is comprehensive; it is raw, honest and personal; and it is very well written. It is a book both for reading cover-to-cover and for dipping into, and it will be enormously influential.” – Jim Smith Director of Science, Wellcome Trust & Gemma Tracey Diversity & Inclusion Programme Manager – Science & Research, Wellcome Trust “The balance between data and lived experience equip the reader with the vital understanding of the depth of institutionalised inequality...This is recommended reading for anyone working in higher education who truly wants to create a fairer culture of women.” – Talat Yaqoob Director, Equate Scotland “I really enjoyed reading the recipes - they combine humour with practical advice on how to tackle important gender issues.” – Fiona Watt Vice-Dean Research and Impact, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London

This book is a monograph of cultural economics of a new concept, artist–enterprises. It explores various dimensions that artists embody, i.e., aesthetic, critical, messianic, and economic ones, and screens the multiple challenges faced by the artist–enterprises in terms of pricing, funding, and networking in the Digital Age. It shows how these artist–enterprises are at the core of the contemporary creative industries. Even when they are on their own, artists have to demonstrate or manage a variety of skills, sign contracts both in the early and later stages of their activities, and also maintain relationships and networks that enable them to attain their artistic and economic goals. They are no longer simply entrepreneurs managing their own skills but are the enterprises themselves. The artist–enterprises thus find themselves at the confluence of two dynamics of production—artistic and economic: artistic because they invent new expressions and meanings; and economic because these expressions must be supported by monetary values on the market. The artistic dynamic is part of a long process of artistic enhancement and only an artist can say whether it has reached the point of presentation or equilibrium. The economic dynamic is dependent on the constant endorsement of artists' works by the market to ensure their survival as artist–enterprises. The tension created by this disparity is further aggravated by another tension: the need to overcome a number of risks so that artist–enterprises can progress. This book will be of special interest to artists, managers, students, professionals, and researchers in the fields of the arts, creativity, economics, and development. The author is Emeritus Professor at the University Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Acclaimed author Karen Hesse's Newbery Medal-winning novel-in-verse explores the life of fourteen-year-old Billie Jo growing up in the dust bowls of Oklahoma. Out of the Dust joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!"Dust piles up like snow across the prairie. . . ."A terrible accident has transformed Billie Jo's life, scarring her inside and out. Her mother is gone. Her father can't talk about it. And the one thing that might make her feel better -- playing the piano -- is impossible with her wounded hands.To make matters worse, dust storms are devastating the family farm and all the farms nearby. While others flee from the dust bowl, Billie Jo is left to find peace in the bleak landscape of Oklahoma -- and in the surprising landscape of her own heart.

In the World Water Development Report (WWDR) series, the WWDR4 represents a milestone. While providing a comprehensive assessment of the world’s water resources it also introduces a strong thematic element. Building on the WWDR3 in the recognition of the externalities, the WWDR4 elaborates on the interactions between water and the drivers of change. The WWDR4 describes the major changes, uncertainties, and risks taking place in the world and their links to water resources. It gives account of the status and the trends related to water supplies, uses, management, institutions and financing; highlights regional hotspots, and addresses issues such as gender equality, water-related disasters, health and the role of ecosystems.

This book includes original unpublished contributions presented at the International Conference on Data Analytics and Management (ICDAM 2021), held at Jan Wyzykowski University, Poland, during June 2021. The book covers the topics in data analytics, data management, big data, computational intelligence, and communication networks. The book presents innovative work by leading academics, researchers, and experts from industry which is useful for young researchers and students.