While in grad school in the early 1990s, Chris Niebauer began to notice striking parallels between the latest discoveries in psychology, neuroscience, and the teachings of Buddhism, Taoism, and other schools of Eastern thought. When he presented his findings to a professor, his ideas were quickly dismissed as “pure coincidence, nothing more.” Fast-forward 20 years later and Niebauer is a PhD and a tenured professor, and the Buddhist-neuroscience connection he found as a student is practically its own genre in the bookstore. But according to Niebauer, we are just beginning to understand the link between Eastern philosophy and the latest findings in psychology and neuroscience and what these assimilated ideas mean for the human experience. In this groundbreaking book, Niebauer writes that the latest research in neuropsychology is now confirming a fundamental tenet of Buddhism, what is called Anatta, or the doctrine of “no self.” Niebauer writes that our sense of self, or what we commonly refer to as the ego, is an illusion created entirely by the left side of the brain. Niebauer is quick to point out that this doesn't mean that the self doesn't exist but rather that it does so in the same way that a mirage in the middle of the desert exists, as a thought rather than a thing. His conclusions have significant ramifications for much of modern psychological modalities, which he says are spending much of their time trying to fix something that isn’t there. What makes this book unique is that Niebauer offers a series of exercises to allow the reader to experience this truth for him- or herself, as well as additional tools and practices to use after reading the book, all of which are designed to change the way we experience the world—a way that is based on being rather than thinking.

It is possible to access the same sense of well-being, clarity, inner freedom, and loving connection realized by the world’s meditation masters. We can do this by shifting our awareness in the midst of our daily lives. Shift into Freedom presents innovative teacher Loch Kelly’s training manual for actively participating in the evolution of your own consciousness. Synthesizing insights from neuroscience and psychology with wisdom from the world’s contemplative traditions, Shift into Freedom offers an accessible and remarkably powerful series of meditations that lead us to a little-known natural capacity called “awake awareness.” Through an unfolding process of “small glimpses, many times,” these exercises shift us from a thought-based knowing to an awareness-based way of operating in the world. With continued practice, we learn to “unhook” from our customary home in our ego-based identity—and then sustain an embodied presence and relatedness known as “open-hearted awareness.” Loch Kelly teaches that this is “the meeting place of awakening and growing up, where we have the capacity to handle a fully emotional, intimate life and act with authenticity and compassion.” Learn more about: • How to separate awareness from thinking to realize that thoughts and emotions are not the center of who we are • How insights from neuroscience can help us learn how to embody awakening • Ego-identification, a pattern of thought that co-opts the body’s boundary program and creates a mistaken identity • The paradox of “being home while returning home” • Finding the off-switch for the chattering mind • How to intentionally and immediately shift into peace of mind any time of your day • Awakening as a natural process of human development, which unfolds as waking up, waking in, and waking out • Meditation practices for all phases of the journey of awakening and embodiment • Four stages of spiritual growth: recognition, realization, stabilization, and expression • Untying the “knots” in our mindbody system to liberate us from our deepest doubts and fears • How to move from deliberate mindfulness to effortless mindfulness and heart mindfulness • How to effortlessly focus without using attention • Discovering your innate happiness that is not dependent on circumstances • How to welcome and liberate sub-personalities after initial awakening • A user’s manual for your consciousness to help you free yourself from the limits of ego-identification and live from open-hearted awareness

Chris Baty, motivator extraordinaire and instigator of a wildly successful writing revolution, spells out the secrets of writing—and finishing—a novel. Every fall, thousands of people sign up for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), which Baty founded, determined to (a) write that novel or (b) finish that novel in—kid you not—30 days. Now Baty puts pen to paper himself to share the secrets of success. With week-specific overviews, pep "talks," and essential survival tips for today's word warriors, this results-oriented, quick-fix strategy is perfect for people who want to nurture their inner artist and then hit print! Anecdotes and success stories from NaNoWriMo winners will inspire writers from the heralding you-can-do-it trumpet blasts of day one to the champagne toasts of day thirty. Whether it's a resource for those taking part in the official NaNo WriMo event, or a stand-alone handbook for writing to come, No Plot? No Problem! is the ultimate guide for would-be writers (or those with writer's block) to cultivate their creative selves.

You're about to learn how to make the best gluten-free pizza you've ever had. For Kelli and Peter Bronski, pizza is a passion. So when Peter was diagnosed with celiac disease, they set out on a mission—to master the art of gluten-free pizza-making themselves. With insights from the best pizzaioli from Naples to New York City and beyond—and more than a decade of gluten-free recipe experience—they tested over one thousand pies in pursuit of the perfect gluten-free pizza. Now, they deliver the spectacular result: Seventy-five recipes with all of the authentic flavor and texture of traditional pizza, but none of the gluten Every step of the process explained, from making the perfect flour blends to launching your pizza into the oven—and everything in between Fifteen (!) kinds of dough covering all the major pizza styles, including puffy Neapolitan, traditional New York, crispy Roman, buttery Chicago deep dish, and thick-crust Detroit and Sicilian pies You’ll find: Classic and creative flavor combinations, like Rustic Pepperoni, Thai Chicken, and Wild Mushroom Grain-free and nutrient-rich pizzas, like Pesto Farinata, Cauliflower and Zucchini Crusts, and Teff and Buckwheat Doughs Pizzas for every meal, like Chocolate-Hazelnut Dessert Pizza, Lox and Cream Cheese Breakfast Pizza Fried and filled pizzas, focaccia, and flatbreads, like Montanara Pizza, Calzones, Rosemary Focaccia, and Fig and Prosciutto Flatbread Everyone deserves great pizza—and with this book, you can finally have it!

The popular Social Studies Connects series links history, geography, civics and economics to kids’ daily lives. Featuring stories with diverse characters who face situations young readers can relate to, these books support reading and social studies skills including researching, inferring, comparing, and communication. An activity to stimulate curiosity about the world is included in each book! Amy is dying to buy the latest, greatest video game, but with only fifty-two cents in her piggy bank, she's out of luck. Or is she? (Social Studies Topic: Economics/Bartering)

Curt seems to have it all--a girlfriend, friends, a good summer job and a guaranteed position on the baseball team with the promise of a professional career. Then, one misstep causes his world to unravel and his life to plummet into the depths of depression and addiction. A bleak yet ultimately hopeful story about one teen's struggle with the pressures of growing up, fitting in and getting by.

Does Scotland have a problem with racism? With its 'civic nationalism' and 'welcoming' attitude towards migrants and refugees, Scotland is understood to be relatively free of structural and institutional racism. As the contributors to this book show, such generalisations fail to withstand serious investigation. Their research into the historical record and contemporary reality tells a very different story. Opening up a debate on a subject that has been shut down for too long, No Problem Here gathers together the views of academics, activists and anti-racism campaigners who argue that it is vital that the issue of racism be brought into the centre of public discourse. Scotland's role in maintaining and extending slavery across the British Empire is finally beginning to receive the attention it deserves. Yet there is much more that needs to be said about racism in Scotland today.