Why do many people enjoy risky activities--skydiving, bullfighting, or fast driving--that cause fear in others? Every normal human being seems to need excitement at times, yet for years this need remained largely unstudied. Now a professor of psychology explains why we experience the need for excitement at various times and what happens when excitement-seeking goes wrong.

The characters that inhabit Freya McClements' debut collection of short stories are each trying to make their way in a world in which love or lust has pushed them to the very edge of society - and sometimes beyond.

"Bishop Blougram's Apology" is a long poem by the English poet Robert Browning. It takes the form of a sermon spoken by Bishop Blougram to his son, Gerald, on the importance of religion in their daily lives. It also powerfully illustrates a sense of duty and morality that is seen as being more valuable than reason.

The world's leading scientific thinkers explore bold, remarkable, perilous ideas that could change our lives—for better . . . or for worse . . . From Copernicus to Darwin, to current-day thinkers, scientists have always promoted theories and unveiled discoveries that challenge everything society holds dear; ideas with both positive and dire consequences. Many thoughts that resonate today are dangerous not because they are assumed to be false, but because they might turn out to be true. What do the world's leading scientists and thinkers consider to be their most dangerous idea? Through the leading online forum Edge (www.edge.org), the call went out, and this compelling and easily digestible volume collects the answers. From using medication to permanently alter our personalities to contemplating a universe in which we are utterly alone, to the idea that the universe might be fundamentally inexplicable, What Is Your Dangerous Idea? takes an unflinching look at the daring, breathtaking, sometimes terrifying thoughts that could forever alter our world and the way we live in it. Contributors include Daniel C. Dennett • Jared Diamond • Brian Greene • Matt Ridley • Howard Gardner and Freeman Dyson, among others

Jim Houston reviews the insight he has gained over his years of teaching, counseling and mentoring Christians. and presents what he now regards as pivotal concerns for leading a faithful Christian life in today's world. If you are interested in Christian maturity, and want a guide through the "currents and eddies" of our society and culture, this book is for you.