From prehistoric Mexico to modern Istanbul, Mary Beard looks beyond the familiar canon of Western imagery to explore the history of art, religion, and humanity. Conceived as a gorgeously illustrated accompaniment to “How Do We Look” and “The Eye of Faith,” the famed Civilisations shows on PBS, renowned classicist Mary Beard has created this elegant volume on how we have looked at art. Focusing in Part I on the Olmec heads of early Mesoamerica, the colossal statues of the pharaoh Amenhotep III, and the nudes of classical Greece, Beard explores the power, hierarchy, and gender politics of the art of the ancient world, and explains how it came to define the so-called civilized world. In Part II, Beard chronicles some of the most breathtaking religious imagery ever made—whether at Angkor Wat, Ravenna, Venice, or in the art of Jewish and Islamic calligraphers— to show how all religions, ancient and modern, have faced irreconcilable problems in trying to picture the divine. With this classic volume, Beard redefines the Western-and male-centric legacies of Ernst Gombrich and Kenneth Clark.

From prehistoric Mexico to modern Istanbul, Mary Beard looks beyond the familiar canon of Western imagery to explore the history of art, religion, and humanity. Conceived as a gorgeously illustrated accompaniment to “How Do We Look” and “The Eye of Faith,” the famed Civilisations shows on PBS, renowned classicist Mary Beard has created this elegant volume on how we have looked at art. Focusing in Part I on the Olmec heads of early Mesoamerica, the colossal statues of the pharaoh Amenhotep III, and the nudes of classical Greece, Beard explores the power, hierarchy, and gender politics of the art of the ancient world, and explains how it came to define the so-called civilized world. In Part II, Beard chronicles some of the most breathtaking religious imagery ever made—whether at Angkor Wat, Ravenna, Venice, or in the art of Jewish and Islamic calligraphers— to show how all religions, ancient and modern, have faced irreconcilable problems in trying to picture the divine. With this classic volume, Beard redefines the Western-and male-centric legacies of Ernst Gombrich and Kenneth Clark.

Mary Beard is one of the world's best-known classicists - a brilliant academic, with a rare gift for communicating with a wide audience both though her TV presenting and her books. In a series of sparkling essays, she explores our rich classical heritage - from Greek drama to Roman jokes, introducing some larger-than-life characters of classical history, such as Alexander the Great, Nero and Boudicca. She invites you into the places where Greeks and Romans lived and died, from the palace at Knossos to Cleopatra's Alexandria - and reveals the often hidden world of slaves. She takes a fresh look at both scholarly controversies and popular interpretations of the ancient world, from The Golden Bough to Asterix. The fruit of over thirty years in the world of classical scholarship, Confronting the Classics captures the world of antiquity and its modern significance with wit, verve and scholarly expertise.

You Mean I Can Ask That? Boys’ bodies do the craziest things! They can knock a baseball out to right field or trip in front of class. But at a certain point, those bodies start to grow up and go through some wild changes. You might be wondering things like: Why don't I look like him? How can I get buff without steroids? And how can I handle that talk my parents want to have—you know, the talk? Yikes! Guy Talk answers all the important questions you want answers to but would rather not ask, mixing fun with great advice for growing guys.

"Inspirational and enlightening is Greg Reitman's book Rooted in Peace."—Deepak Chopra, MD, world-renowned author and pioneer in integrative medicine "Greg Reitman's book journey of Rooted in Peace reconfirms the interconnectedness of our humanity from the inside to the outside."—Dr. Mark Hyman, director at Cleveland Clinic's Center for Functional Medicine, founder of the UltraWellness Center, and New York Times bestselling author "I really love this book Rooted in Peace. I think it is very important for today!"—David Lynch, American filmmaker, painter, musician, actor, and photographer Winner of the 2019 Living Now Book Award (Silver, Inspirational Memoir—Male) Winner of a 2019 Spiritual Book Award (Best Inspirational Author) Cultivate Peace and Balance within Yourself, among Humankind, and in the Natural World Join filmmaker and author Greg Reitman as he shares the transformative power in taking notice of the world in which we live, stopping the cycle of violence, and proactively seeking ways to find personal and social balance. Providing advice from environmentalists, spiritual teachers, and those who deeply understand the links between head and heart, this book shares inspiration for engaging with your own sense of inner peace. Featuring wise words from luminaries and activists such as Deepak Chopra, David Lynch, Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and many others, Rooted in Peace offers wisdom for your journey toward compassion and enlightenment. Praise: "Rooted in Peace offers a profound story and fertile ground for everyone interested in growing a global culture of peace."—J. Frederick Arment, founding director of International Cities of Peace "From the personal to the global a deeply uplifting and substantive book!"—Jonathan Granoff, President Global Security Institute "Humanity is slowly starting to awaken to the beautiful reality that we truly are all interconnected...Rooted in Peace brings this to life, creating a story rooted in our oneness with each other and Mother Nature. A much-needed book at a time of turbulence in the world."—Jean Oelwang, president and trustee of Virgin Unite "Greg Reitman takes us to the heart of spirit, to the core of what we must change to create a better world. This is a fine book, with vivid lessons of higher consciousness for us all."—Chris Kilham, author, educator, and founder of Medicine Hunter "Each time I read Rooted in Peace a new layer of my life and dreams for a flourishing world opens and shimmers and then becomes whole in a new, more powerful form."—Professor Jim (James A. F.) Stoner, professor at Fordham University "Greg Reitman has fashioned Rooted in Peace into a major statement on eco-consciousness, eco-spirituality and eco-health. A formidable teaching tool, it is informative, inspiring and—simply—engaging to read."—Kurt Johnson PhD, ecologist and coauthor of The Coming Interspiritual Age

It followed every major military victory in ancient Rome: the successful general drove through the streets to the temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill; behind him streamed his raucous soldiers; in front were his most glamorous prisoners, as well as the booty he’d captured, from enemy ships and precious statues to plants and animals from the conquered territory. Occasionally there was so much on display that the show lasted two or three days. A radical reexamination of this most extraordinary of ancient ceremonies, this book explores the magnificence of the Roman triumph, but also its darker side. What did it mean when the axle broke under Julius Caesar’s chariot? Or when Pompey’s elephants got stuck trying to squeeze through an arch? Or when exotic or pathetic prisoners stole the general’s show? And what are the implications of the Roman triumph, as a celebration of imperialism and military might, for questions about military power and “victory” in our own day? The triumph, Mary Beard contends, prompted the Romans to question as well as celebrate military glory. Her richly illustrated work is a testament to the profound importance of the triumph in Roman culture—and for monarchs, dynasts and generals ever since. But how can we re-create the ceremony as it was celebrated in Rome? How can we piece together its elusive traces in art and literature? Beard addresses these questions, opening a window on the intriguing process of sifting through and making sense of what constitutes “history.”