From Zeus and Europa, to Diana, Pan, and Prometheus, the myths of ancient Greece and Rome seem to exert a timeless power over us. But what do those myths represent, and why are they so enduringly fascinating? Why do they seem to be such a potent way of talking about our selves, our origins, and our desires? This imaginative and stimulating Very Short Introduction goes beyond a simple retelling of the stories to explore the rich history and diverse interpretations of classical mythology. It is a wide-ranging account, examining how classical myths are used and understood in both high art and popular culture, taking the reader from the temples of Crete to skyscrapers in New York, and finding classical myths in a variety of unexpected places: from Arabic poetry and Hollywood films, to psychoanalysis, the Bible, and New Age spiritualism.

The author of The Book of the Bizarre returns with a new compendium of freaky facts, terrifying trivia, and true stories that are stranger than fiction. In Beyond Bizarre, Varla Ventura presents an all-new batch of nightmarish tales that teem queasy diseases and paranormal encounters—not to mention the outrageous, outlandish, and the simply strange. Arranged into thirteen chilling chapters like Haunted Hollywood, Tales from the Cryptids, Bride of the Bizarre, and It’s Enough to Make You Hurl, Beyond Bizarre tackles everything from female pirates and creepy candy stripers to psychic predictions, virgin shark births and much, much more. A word of warning: this book is not for the faint of heart!

Traditionally, the concept of quality of life has been viewed through objective indicators. Beyond Facts looks at quality of life through a new lens, namely, the perceptions of millions of Latin Americans. Using an enhanced version of the recently created Gallup World Poll that incorporates Latin America-specific questions, the Inter-American Development Bank surveyed people from throughout the region and found that perceptions of quality of life are often very different from the reality. These surprising findings have enormous significance for the political economy of the region and provide a wealth of information for policymakers and development practitioners to feast upon.

An awesome treasury of facts so fake they seem real.

Presents several real-world activities parents can use to help their children's development in math.

The unpardonable sin is lurking like a deadly shark preying on its next unsuspecting meal. ... Will you be its next victim? One of the most confusing and debated teachings of the Bible is the unpardonable sin, found in Matthew 12:31: "Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men." Some attribute this frightening sin to cursing the name of God, while others believe it has to do with murder. Whatever it is, millions of Christians live in fear that they've committed it and have no real hope. But even worse, others might be close to living beyond God's mercy and don't even know it! What is the Bible truth about the unpardonable sin? What is so awful about it and why can't God forgive it? You don't need to guess! Pastor Doug Batchelor tackles these questions to give you all the information you need to know about this perplexing topic. Not only will you get clear and penetrating answers, you'll discover new hope and a strategy to stay right with God.

Social studies education is not in excellent health. The time has come to transcend the often stilted discussion about lesson plan format and the proper construction of behavioral objectives. Kincheloe suggests a reconsideration of the discourse of social studies which is grounded on the assumption that social studies teachers should control their professional lives and not merely «execute» the plans of their superiors. The idea of self-directed social studies teachers aware of their purpose offers an atmosphere of possibility to a field haunted by a lack of grounding.