After studying under Alexandre Cabanel at the École des Beaux Arts, Thomas Hovenden (1840-95) began an exemplary career as a painter and teacher at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Along with his contemporaries there, Thomas Eakins and Thomas Anschutz, Hovenden acquired a reputation for being both an influential instructor and a talented artist.

A realistic genre painter and recorder of everyday activities such as those involving home and family, Hovenden had a particular gift for choosing subjects with wide recognition and appeal. His work reflects a Victorian ethos; unlike many artists of the time, however, Hovenden's work featured African American subjects in domestic settings. His firm belief in sentiment and beauty as the goals of artistic pursuits is evident in the nostalgic paintings for which he is best known, such as The Last Moments of John Brown, in which Brown is depicted stopping on his way to the gallows to kiss a young black child.

This first full-length study fosters a greater understanding of Hovenden's gifts as a painter and of his stylistic contribution to art. Chronologically organized, it is both a retrospective of Hovenden's work and a critical biography of the artist. The volume features many of his paintings, studies, and sketches, some reproduced for the first time.

A Barra Foundation Book

Enlighten Up Already!

Monet? Manet? Who can even tell the difference? Well, with the help of the newest mental_floss tome, you can! Want to learn how to tell egg rolls from spring rolls, nuclear bombs from dirty nuclear bombs, or even how to tell an idiot from a moron (there's a real scientific difference)? Piece of cake! Whether you're trying to impress your boss, your mother-in-law, attractive singles, or a pack of fourth graders (you know how they love semantics), mental_floss gives you all the tips and tricks to have you sounding like a genius.

Curious, headstrong, and impatient, Shundeen is a young girl always in search of adventure. As the only Navajo in her school, and growing up away from the Navajo Reservation, Shundeen faces some difficult issues: she must retain her culture while surrounded by peers who don't understand it.Every summer, Shundeen leaves her home in the city and lives with her grandparents on the Navajo Reservation. Her days are spent herding sheep, exploring the countryside, and learning more about her culture. With her constant companion Frosty, a black sheep almost as curious as herself, Shundeen wanders a little bit farther from home each day. Near the home of her grandparents are some dangerous, narrow canyons that quickly fill with water during storms. Shundeen's grandparents have forbidden her to explore those canyons, but Shundeen's curiosity overcomes her common sense. When a day of adventure culminates in a terrifying accident, Shundeen discovers there is more to herself – and to her clan – than she had ever imagined.

This book offers a detailed introduction to the tribes of the New England region - the first native American peoples affected by contact with the French and English colonists. By 1700 several tribes had already been virtually destroyed, and many others were soon reduced and driven from their lands by disease, war or treachery. The tribes were also drawn into the savage frontier wars between the French and the British. The final defeat of French Canada and the subsequent unchecked expansion of the British colonies resulted in the virtual extinction of the region's Indian culture, which is only now being revived by small descendant communities.

This book gauges America's progress in Iraq and Afghanistan from a unique perspective—that of East-Asian battlefield deception. As both countries were part of the Mongol Empire for over 200 years, they are a perfect breeding ground for every sort of ancient Chinese trick—any one of the famous “36 Strategems.” In combination, those stratagems can make a losing adversary think he is winning. They have done so to America before.To see past the militant Muslim's false face, one must look for the hidden intent behind his every initiative—whether martial or otherwise. Between September 2004 and September 2005, this book does just that for both theaters of war. For some readers, it will serve as an intelligence reference manual and be read a few paragraphs at a time. For others, it will provide an in-depth solution to the enemy's so-far-successful formula and be read cover to cover. Militant Tricks reveals enemy information that active-duty Americans seldom see—that which is contained in the regional media and literature. When properly interpretted (by a student of Eastern tactics and mindset), that information may shed enough light on ongoing events to still win both wars.

Although God is making a comeback in our society, popular culture still takes its orders from the Enlightenment, a movement that denied faith a prominent role in society. Today, many are questioning this elevation of reason over faith. How should Christians respond to a secular world that continues to push faith to the margins? While there is still no consensus concerning what a postmodern society should look like, James K. A. Smith suggests that the answer is a reaffirmation of the belief that Jesus is Lord over all. Smith traces the trends and directions of Radical Orthodoxy, proposing that it can provide an old-but-new theology for a new generation of Christians. This book will challenge and encourage pastors and thoughtful laypeople interested in learning more about currents in contemporary theology.

This book is still required reading at Fort Benning, Fort Leavenworth, and some Marine bases. That's because it fully describes the Islamists' 4GW method and how to counter it with truly 'light' infantry tactics. Since the latter stages of WWII, America has had only 'line' infantry. Its 'modern' sequel travels mostly by truck and fights mostly with supporting arms. That's because the Pentagon is still practicing a 'high-tech' version of 2GW (killing as many enemy as possible). Learning how to operate the latest equipment takes up most of the infantryman's training day. That leaves no time for learning how to surprise someone. One does not become any less visible by donning advanced electronics. His small-unit maneuvers are still lacking. Instead of historical artifacts, all Posterity Press books should be viewed as vehicles of long overdue change.

'[This Book] ... may help to turn the tide of this war.... [It] provides ... battlefield intelligence you can't get any other way.' -- Leatherneck, December 2004

'[T]he insurgency's ... mid-level leaders ... [are] from al-Qaeda, the Lebanese Shiite ... Hezbollah, and ... Iran's Revolutionary Guards, said the author.' -- Newhouse News Service, 12 November 2004

'[This book] ... is a comprehensive interpretation of Muslim extremists' tactics, theory, and thinking.' -- North County Times (San Diego), 28 November 2004

'Have become addicted to ... Poole's savvy books on how to beat the enemy, written for ... grunt at the bayonet level (author of 'About Face').' -- Col. David H. Hackworth U.S. Army (Ret.), September 2004

'John Poole has ... captured the nature of the new threat and ... produced a required read for our troopers' packs (former head of CENTCOM).' -- Gen. Anthony C. Zinni USMC (Ret.), November 2004

'This book grasps Fourth Generation war against Islamic opponents far better than anything coming out of TRADOC or Quantico (father of 4th-Generation Warfare theory).' -- William S. Lind, September 2004

'Poole ... [says] bombarding cities ... almost always backfires, because embittered civilians provide more cover to guerrillas and terrorists.' -- Atlantic Monthly, April 2005

'[F]ull of valuable pointers of how our high-tech military could outwit a low-tech enemy.... [S]hould be required reading for every serviceman or woman headed to Iraq or the Mideast.' -- El Paso Times, 14 August 2005

'Whether you are a security officer in Washington, D.C., a first responder in London, or a soldier in Kabul, 'Tactics of the Crescent Moon' provides valuable knowledge.' -- The Counter Terrorist, January 2009

'Poole's well-titled 'Tactics of the Crescent Moon' offers an absorbing ... analytic study of ... Islamic guerrilla tactics (former Head of History & Museums Division, HQMC).' -- B.Gen. Edwin H. Simmons USMC (Ret.), September 2004

''Tactics of the Crescent Moon' comes none too soon for deployed U.S. military personnel.... It shows ... how Muslim militants fight at short range.' -- Camp Lejeune Globe, 9 December 2004

'[D]etailed ... look at the combat techniques of Muslim fighters in Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iran, and Chechnya.... [S]olid treatise on [the] enemy.' -- Mil. Officers Assn. of America (MOAA) Magazine, Professional Reading List entry, 2008

'One of the most innovative and practical modern writers on military tactics.... For those who want to learn, 'Tactics of the Crescent Moon' is an invaluable resource.' -- Washington Dispatch, November 2004

'Once again, John Poole proves himself to be on the leading edge of military writers and researchers with this book.' -- Maj.Gen. Ray L. Smith USMC (Ret.), 2004

'Posterity Press has published books on counterinsurgent tactics.' -- Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2005

''U.S. forces have depended more on firepower than surprise,' Poole writes. 'They can no longer move unnoted along the ground.'' -- Savannah Morning News, 6 February 2005

'Book has 12 chapters,... 'How Islamic Guerrillas Are Trained' [is one of them].' --Newport News Daily Press, 12 December 2004

'To handle fourth-generation warfare at the tactical level,... recommend Poole and Ray Smith's October 2004 book, 'Tactics of the Crescent Moon'.' -- Inside the Pentagon, December 2004

'John Poole has ... hit a home run.... [I]f we ... adapt our training and operations ..., we can still prevail (publisher emeritus of Presidio Press).' -- Col. Robert V. Kane U.S. Army (Ret.), October 2004

''Tactics of the Crescent Moon' helps us understand the threat of terrorism and what must be done to defeat it (former commander of 1st Marine Division).' -- Maj.Gen. John H. Admire USMC (Ret.), November 2004

'To handle fourth-generation warfare at the tactical level,... recommend Poole and Ray Smith's October 2004 book, 'Tactics of the Crescent Moon'.' --Inside the Pentagon, December 2004

'The depth of research is absolutely amazing which makes this dissertation a MUST READ.... This book is a revealing insight into the Muslim mind (frigate commander at the Battle of Leyte Gulf).' --Vice Adm. Thomas R. Sargent USCG (Ret.), 2004

WHO'S MORE IMPORTANT than the Queen? Whom does she serve? Her royal corgis, of course! But life isn't just royal thrones and unlimited biscuits for young Titus, Her Majesty's favorite pup. There are burglars to catch, fires to put out, leaking tubs to attend to, and jealous cousins to deal with. In the end, though, it's the Queen's edict that matters most: “Titus Rules!”

Dick King-Smith, beloved author of Babe: The Gallant Pig, offers a delightfully entertaining book to inspire readers with love for young
Titus, and also with love for reading.

“Kids will enjoy the engaging Titus; the fast-moving, witty prose; and the adventures inspired by loyalty and royalty, whether two legged or four. Comic drawings add to the fun.”—Booklist


From the Hardcover edition.

This is the story of Rebecca Smith and John R. Emshwiller, the two reporters who led the Wall Street Journal's reporting on Enron and uncovered the unorthodox partnerships at the heart of the scandal through skill, luck, and relentless determination.

It all started in August 2001when Emshwiller was assigned to write a supposedly simple article on the unexpected resignation of Enron CEO Jeff Skilling. During his research, Emshwiller uncovered a buried reference to an off-balance-sheet partnership called LJM. Little did he know, this was the start of a fast and furious ride through the remarkable downfall of a once highly-prized company.

Written in an intense, fast paced narrative style, 24 Days tells the gripping story of the colossal collapse of what would become the world's most notorious corporation. The reader follows along as Smith and Emshwiller continue to uncover new partnerships and self-dealing among the highest levels of Enron's management. As they publish articles detailing their findings in the Journal, Wall Street and individual investors have a crisis of confidence and start selling Enron stock at unprecedented levels of volume. In the end - 24 short days later - Enron had completely collapsed, erasing 16 years of growth and losing $19 billion in market value while watching the stock drop from $33.84 to $8.41. Not only was the company destroyed, but investors and retired employees were completely wiped out-all the while Enron executives were collecting millions of dollars.

Climaxing with this 24-day period, this book shows the reporter's-eye view of a David-and-Goliath battle between journalists and a giant corporation. Each day a new story uncovered another fact; each day the company issued denials. And when the investigative stories reached critical mass and momentum, the stock market cast its final vote of no confidence. In the tradition of Indecent Exposure and Barbarians at the Gate, two other gripping narratives that began as a series of Wall Street Journal stories and ended up as books that defined an era, 24 Days brings the importance of great investigative journalism to life.

Inspired and informed by the latest research in African American, military, and social history, the fourteen original essays in this book tell the stories of the African American soldiers who fought for the Union cause.

Collectively, these essays probe the broad military, political, and social significance of black soldiers' armed service, enriching our understanding of the Civil War and African American life during and after the conflict.

The contributors are Anne J. Bailey, Arthur W. Bergeron, Jr., John Cimprich, Lawrence Lee Hewitt, Richard Lowe, Thomas D. Mays, Michael T. Meier, Edwin S. Redkey, Richard Reid, William Glenn Robertson, John David Smith, Noah Andre Trudeau, Keith Wilson, and Robert J. Zalimas, Jr.

Illustrations and text describe the hard life of mammoth hunters in the ice age, including many of the tools and implements they used.

Serious food with a lighthearted attitude! A pinch of Route 66 memorabilia, a dash of humor, and two heaping helpings of honest American classics make this the perfect guide to good eating. With culinary contributions from roadside restaurants and well-traveled chefs, this book is a treasured keepsake and valuable resource. Regional specialties share the road with innovative treats, and easy-to-follow instructions allow cooks of all experience levels to create the recipes with ease, pleasure, and enjoyment. Take a detour across Route 66 and sample these down-home recipes from the legendary road.

Environmental artists from Europe and North America talk about their work.

Our seventh anthology features original Star Trek®, Star Trek: The Next Generation®, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine®, Star Trek: Voyager®, and Star Trek: Enterprise? stories written by Star Trek fans, for Star Trek fans!

Featuring new stories by new writers and a few contest veterans, Strange New Worlds VII spans the entire Star Trek universe from the original days of Captain Kirk and throughout the tenures of Captains Picard, Sisko, and Janeway and back in time again to Archer. Each of these unforgettable stories explores the past and future of Star Trek from many different perspectives.

This year's contributors include Kevin Lauderdale, Kevin Killiany, Christian Grainger, Paul J. Kaplan, Muri McCage, Pat Detmer, Gerri Leen, Julie Hyzy, Kelly Cairo, John Coffren, Scott Pearson, Jeff D. Jacques, Jim Johnson, Anne E. Clements, Russ Crossley, Susan S. McCrackin, Catherine E. Pike, G. Wood, Annie Reed, Louisa M. Swann, Brett Hudgins, Amy Sisson, and Frederick Kim.

Providing an advanced introduction to the field of structural bodywork, this valuable resource combines coverage of both skills and theory into one comprehensive guide to this specialized form of bodywork practice. Featuring numerous illustrations with photographs and drawings, it provides extensive information on the theory of structural bodywork related to human anatomy and clinical presentations. Focusing on issues related to dysfunctions of structure, posture, and gait, this reader-friendly text also discusses the background of structural bodywork, how it has developed, and how it is understood today.

• Content is highly readable, academically sound, and grounded firmly in bodywork practice.
• Previously unrelated theories are discussed and applied to practice.
• The well-known theories of Rolf and Feldenkrais are reviewed.
• A comprehensive practical manual section provides numerous techniques and models for a variety of musculoskeletal skeletal problems.
• Numerous illustrations provide a better understanding of text content.

Nobel laureate Robert Fogel's compelling new study examines health, nutrition and technology from 1700 to 2100. Although throughout most of human history, chronic malnutrition has been the norm, a synergy between improvements in productive technology and human physiology has enabled humans to more than double their average longevity and to increase their body size by over fifty percent over the past three centuries. Larger, healthier humans have contributed to the acceleration of economic growth and technological change, resulting in reduced economic inequality, declining hours of work and a corresponding increase in leisure time. Increased longevity has also brought increased demand for health care. Fogel argues that health care should be viewed as the growth industry of the twenty-first century and systems of financing it should be reformed. His book will be essential reading for all interested in economics, demography, history and health care policy. A professor at the University of Chicago, Robert William Fogel has taught at the University of Rochester, Cambridge University, and Harvard University. He has received numerous awards and prizes for his work, including the Arthur C. Cole Prize (1968), the Schumpeter Prize (1971), the Bancroft Prize (1975), the Gustavus Myers Prize (1990), and the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science (1993). Previous books include Without Consent or Contract: The Rise and Fall of American Slavery (W.W. Norton & Company, 1994) and The Fourth Great Awakening and the Future of Egalitarianism (The University of Chicago Press, 2000).

This is the third volume in a series collecting the early Conan comic book stories by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith. Originally created in the 1930s, Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian has survived to emerge as one of this century's most powerful and popular characters. Even more impressive than the character's lasting appeal over the past seven decades, is the caliber of talent involved in all of the various Conan incarnations. Of those, there are few that speak as clearly and as uniquely as artist Barry Windsor-Smith. Over the course of these early stories, Windsor-Smith's stunning evolution from comic-book cartoonist to full-fledged artist is apparent and thrilling to behold.