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A human perspective on the nature of friendship in the age of artificial intelligenceIs friendship with a chatbot as good as friendship with an actual person? Is there something about human friendships that eludes simulation? If so, what? And how much will the answers to questions like these change as AI develops and becomes more convincingly like us? Artificially Yours explains what friendship is and why it’s valuable—and why there is no perfect substitute for human friends.Blending insights from philosophy, psychology, and her own entertaining experiences with chatbots, Valerie Tiberius addresses a subject at the heart of our growing reliance on AI companions. She defines the ideal friendship as an enjoyable, close relationship built on shared activities between people who care about each other for their own sake. But few things in life are ever ideal, including friendship. Tiberius demonstrates how different kinds of friendships can be valuable in different ways: they can be pleasurable or useful, they can shape who we are and how we see ourselves, and the best ones are good for their own sakes. Using each of these values as her guide, Tiberius finds that relationships with chatbots do in fact exhibit some of the characteristics of friendship—but cautions that even future relationships with advanced AI are highly unlikely to be good in all the ways human friendships are.A vital contribution to our ongoing conversation about human-AI relationships, Artificially Yours weighs the ethical risks before us as we look to a future with intelligent machines and affirms the value of human connections. Autorid: Valerie Tiberius

A fully illustrated field guide to all of Asia’s major habitats—packed with invaluable information to help you understand these habitats and their wildlifeWhether you’re a birder, naturalist, eco-traveler, or ecologist, knowing the surrounding habitat is essential to getting the most out of your time in the field. This authoritative illustrated guide covers every major habitat found in Asia. It presents an easy-to-use system for exploring and enjoying habitats by combining vivid wildlife assemblages with detailed descriptions of vegetation, geology, and climate. Compact, easy to use, and requiring no scientific background, Habitats of Asia redefines how we experience the landscapes in this spectacular region of the world. Features engaging, fact-filled descriptions of 113 major habitatsBlends state-of-the-art habitat maps with informative infographics and more than 300 stunning color photos of habitats and their wildlifeThe incisive text enables anyone to assess and understand habitats anywhere in Asia—quickly and reliablyDescribes iconic and indicator species of birds, mammals, and plantsAn ideal travel companion for birders, naturalists, and wildlife enthusiastsA go-to reference for conservationists within the IUCN framework, ecologists, and policymakers

The hemispheric politics that shaped popular revolutions against European colonial rule In A New World of Revolutions, Arturo Chang reconstructs the histories, politics, and legacies of the Age of Revolutions (c. 1770–1850) from the vantage point of popular movements in the Americas. Challenging narratives that center the nation-state, Chang emphasizes the hemispheric politics, practices, and cultural production that connected revolutionary movements from the United States to Argentina. He draws on marching songs, poems, pamphlets, manifestos, plays, proclamations, constitutions, and other archival objects to show that hemispheric imaginaries were critical to the development of postcolonial republicanism in the Americas.Chang shows that marginalized groups, especially Indigenous, Mestizo, and Pardo communities, contributed to and benefitted from narratives of American emancipation. Armed with hemispheric discourses, they were able to argue for such egalitarian reforms as the abolition of slavery, the elimination of colonial tribute, the protection of Indigenous lands, the end of the Spanish caste system, and the establishment of civic equality. Countering assumptions that actors in popular movements followed elite leaders or had little to say during moments of revolutionary change, Chang shows how each of these campaigns influenced republican principles in ways that reflected their own cultures and histories—and how each produced concrete interventions in the legal, social, and material realities of their communities. Chang links popular movements in New Spain (Mexico), the United States, New Granada (Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, and Ecuador), and the postcolonial Andes (Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina), arguing that, together, they constituted an American tradition of resistance against European rule. Autorid: Arturo Chang

A fully updated and expanded third edition of the acclaimed writing guide for scientists The Scientists Guide to Writing explains the essential techniques that students, postdocs, and early-career scientists need to write more clearly, efficiently, and easily. Now in its third edition, this incisive primer offers practical advice on a host of topics, from maintaining writing momentum to structuring a scientific paper, revising a first draft, reading effectively, handling citations, responding to peer reviews, and choosing the right journal for your research. The ability to write clearly is critical to any scientific career. This book shows scientists how to become better writers so that their ideas have the greatest possible impact. Features a new chapter on AI writing tools that discusses the benefits and pitfalls of using LLMs as well as the legal, ethical, and professional implications scientists need to consider before working with them Provides expanded coverage of preprinting and predatory journals, humor and cultural references in titles, graphical abstracts, and managing very large coauthorship teams Offers detailed guidance on submission, review, revision, and publication Shares invaluable advice on reporting statistical results, dealing with conflicting peer reviews, writing with English as an additional language, and more Encourages habits that improve motivation and productivity Includes a wealth of exercises along with numerous new literature citations to support the discussions in the book Autorid: Stephen B. Heard

The Gingerbread Party is jam-packed with more than 30 Christmas recipes, 6 decorating tutorials, and multiple templates, crafts, and gifts, hosting tips, and plenty of party ideas for sweet inspiration to start a holiday gingerbread tradition of your own.“Courtney has not only created a stunning guide for making magic with homemade gingerbread, she also gives readers creative recipes that will become holiday traditions year after year. With her trusted advice, Christmas will now be perfectly spiced and beautifully iced for all to enjoy. Thanks to Courtney’s creations, I’m already counting the days until Christmastime is here.” —Rebecca Lang, Food Writer, Cooking Instructor and Television Personality“Every page of The Gingerbread Party is as inspirational as it is practical! Courtney’s expert tips help make this usually intimidating process finally feel doable. And as a new mom, I’m so ready to use this book to create my own sweet gingerbread memories with my daughter!” —Ivy Odom, senior lifestyle editor at Southern Living and author of My Southern KitchenCourtney Dial Whitmore’s latest is a Christmas entertaining book that offers readers a charming collection of gingerbread-themed projects and recipes. Each chapter features creative ideas for festive parties, gingerbread tutorials and crafts, and coordinating recipes all centered around the warm, nostalgic appeal of gingerbread. The book features a range of unique party ideas, including the author’s beloved children’s Pink Gingerbread House Tea Party (using graham crackers), an adult gingerbread house decorating party, and a Gingerbread Train Party designed especially for boys. In addition, readers will find an array of gingerbread recipes and tips for hosting unforgettable holiday events that incorporate the allure and wonder of gingerbread at Christmas.Along with the Gingerbread Construction Dough you will find recipes for such delights as Gingerbread Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream, Gingerbread Hot Cocoa, Gingerbread Martini, Rosemary and Parmesan Shortbread with Whipped Goat Cheese, Gingerbread Cheesecake Trifle, and Spiced Gingerbread Pecans among many other tasty treats. Some of the decorating crafts include a Christmas Citrus Topiary, Gingerbread House Place Cards, a Gingerbread Cookie Wreath, a Gingerbread Sleigh, and Gingerbread Ornaments. Autorid: Courtney Dial Whitmore, Cameron Wilder

How Zambian Pentecostal activists worked to transform their country into a self-styled Christian nation In 2015, Zambia began an ambitious program to actualize the countrys constitutional declaration that it was a Christian nation. For Pentecostal Christian nationalist activists, this was a divine season, an opportunity to change their country by submitting it to Gods control. In this book, Naomi Haynes examines these efforts at national transformation, offering a careful ethnographic exploration of Christian nationalist theology, ritual, and policy initiatives. Drawing on her extensive fieldwork in Lusaka, Zambias capital, Haynes describes how activists promoted Zambias Christian identity, whether by writing books and newspaper articles, posting on social media, building new monuments, praying for the nation, or lobbying for constitutional changes. By tracing Zambian Christian nationalisms internal contradictions and tensions, Haynes charts its ultimate failure, which she ascribes in part to institutional opposition from the civil service and Catholic and mainline Protestant denominations. She also points to what she terms its fatal theological flaw, going beyond the usual secular analysis in anthropology to engage with theological critiques of Christian nationalism. The example of Zambia offers the most fully realized expression of Christian nationalism outside the West, demonstrating what this movement can look like when given free political rein. With this book, Haynes provides an instructive account of an increasingly influential global movement. Autorid: Naomi Haynes

A concise and unified introduction to the foundational concepts of modern topology and geometry Topology and geometry are branches of mathematics with applications in fields ranging from physics and chemistry to computer science and economics. This textbook offers a rigorous yet accessible approach to the subject that integrates key concepts while providing a robust toolkit that can serve as a starting point for further specialization in diverse areas. It builds intuition by first exploring metric spaces and identifying which properties are topologicalthat is, unchanged by continuous transformationsand goes on to discuss topological spaces, topological manifolds, simplicial complexes, smooth manifolds, and Riemannian manifolds. Richly illustrated to encourage students to think visually, Introduction to Topology and Geometry is an essential introduction for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students in mathematics and related disciplines. Provides a unified treatment of point-set topology, differential topology, and differential geometry Prioritizes a deep understanding of core definitions and concepts Includes complete proofs of the inverse and implicit function theorems, Sards theorem, the Whitney embedding theorem, and Gausss Theorema Egregium Features exercises at the end of each section and a wealth of figures that illustrate the proofs, definitions, and examples presented in the text Adaptable to semester-long and quarter-long courses Autorid: Ciprian Manolescu

A fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at non-religious funerals in contemporary London An Honest Death is an intimate and moving ethnographic account of funerals for people who dont believe in God or an afterlife. Focusing on secular funeral celebrants of the British Humanist Association (now called Humanists UK), the book examines how their ritual work is geared toward helping realize a secular world. There is a strong ethical commitment behind this effort, which is to face death with honesty based on the belief that this life is all we have. For the humanist celebrants and those they serve, this is what allows for a life with meaning and purpose. Written in a vivid style, the book centers on the lives and the funerals of particular people, from a three-year-old child to a man in his nineties. Anthropologist Matthew Engelke, who trained as a humanist celebrant as part of his research, describes how these officiants try to craft sincere funerals, avoiding language and music that might suggest that the person who died had any religious beliefs. The book also captures the highs and lows for humanist celebrants of working in the funeral businessa business that is, for many of them, a kind of vocational calling. Above all, An Honest Death draws out the tensions in secular humanist thought and practice between reason and the body, rationalism and materialism. Nothing matters more to the humanists than daring to know in the Enlightenment tradition, but nothing is so certainly known as the fact that we are finite and embodied creatures. Autorid: Matthew Engelke

How the geopolitical behavior of states is closely related to the nature of their political systems Todays world is characterized by an unstable coexistence of empires, nation-states, and democracies. In this book, Gerard Roland examines these three fundamentally different institutional systems and considers whether the international behavior of nations is influenced by the nature of their political regimes. He explains that until the nineteenth century, international relations were driven by rivalries among competing empires; as empires started to disintegrate, they were replaced by nation-states, some of which became democracies. The nation-state project supported by todays extreme right promotes ethnic homogeneity within a countrys borders, while democracies are based on universal values of citizenship. Interactions between countries with such essentially different political systems, Roland shows, are seldom harmonious and likely to evolve into cultural clashes and military conflict. Drawing on his expertise in political and comparative economics, Roland analyzes why and how countries geopolitical behaviortheir actions and attitudes regarding war, peace, expansionism, and tradeis closely linked to their political systems. In the long run, he argues, the ethnically homogenous nation-state is doomed because of the strong economic inefficiencies entailed by economic nationalism and the lack of openness to immigration, trade, and foreign direct investment. A better path for the future of the international order, Roland suggests, would be a world of small democracies building supranational institutions on the basis of commonly accepted rules. Autorid: Gerard Roland

How the seventeenth-century translations of notoriously obscene tales by Rabelais shaped some of the great works of eighteenth-century English fiction François Rabelaiss Gargantua and Pantagruelloosely related tales of gluttonous, drunken giants and their fantastic adventureswas one of the most notorious works of Renaissance Europe, condemned by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant reformer John Calvin as obscene and irreligious. In Elizabethan and early Stuart England, familiarity with Rabelais signaled membership in a cosmopolitan elite. But it was only with the seventeenth-century translations of Gargantua and Pantagruel by the eccentric Scottish laird Sir Thomas Urquhart and the Huguenot refugee Peter Motteux that Rabelaisian comedy became fully a part of English literature. In Comic Enlightenment, Nicholas McDowell reconstructs the cultural and political contexts of Urquhart and Motteuxs work during the Civil Wars and Restoration and shows how this palimpsest of translations, notes and commentary influenced the development of satire and fiction in Britain and an emergent Anglo-Irish literary culture. Challenging conventional accounts of the origins of the English novel, McDowell offers extensive new interpretations of landmark literary works of the eighteenth century, including Jonathan Swifts A Tale of a Tub and Gullivers Travels and Laurence Sternes Tristram Shandy. McDowells ambitious and sweeping account shows how the Rabelaisian became part of novelistic currency through the long history of translation and imitation of Rabelaiss works. Autorid: Nicholas McDowell