The Socialism of Fools?: Leftist Origins of Modern Anti-Semitism

The Socialism of Fools?: Leftist Origins of Modern Anti-Semitism by William I. Brustein, Louisa Roberts
2015 | ISBN: 0521870852 | English | 217 pages | PDF | 11 MB

Anti-Semitism, as it has existed historically in Europe, is generally thought of as having been a phenomenon of the political right. To the extent that nineteenth- and early twentieth-century leftist movements have been found to manifest anti-Semitism, their involvement has often been suggested to be a mere fleeting and insignificant phenomenon. As such, this study seeks to examine more fully the role that the historic European left has played in developing and espousing anti-Semitic views. The authors draw upon a range of primary and secondary sources, including the analysis of left- and right-wing newspaper reportage, to trace the relationship between the political left and anti-Semitism in France, Germany, and Great Britain from the French Revolution to World War II, ultimately concluding that the relationship between the left and anti-Semitism has been much more profound than previously believed.

Myths of the Asanas: The Ancient Origins of Yoga

Myths of the Asanas: The Ancient Origins of Yoga by Alanna Kaivalya, Arjuna van der Kooij
2010 | ISBN: 1601090579 | English | 192 pages | EPUB | 3 MB

Practitioners around the world reap the physical benefits of yoga, assuming poses and frequently calling them by their Sanskrit names. While many know that hanumanasana is named for the deity Hanuman, few understand why this is the case. Behind each asana and its corresponding movements is an ancient story about a god, sage, or sacred animal, much like Aesop’s fables or European folktales. Myths of the Asanas is the first book to collect and retell these ancient stories. The myths behind yoga’s spiritual tradition have the power to help students of all levels realize their full potential. Meditating on the tolerance of trees while standing in tree pose can help one become more tolerant. Learning how the disfigured sage Astavakra came to be the teacher of a king can liberate us from anxieties about our external appearance and our self imposed limitations. Marveling at Hanuman’s devotion to Ram can serve as a source of spiritual strength and determination. With more than sixty beautiful illustrations to frame the stories, Myths of the Asanas will add a new dimension to your practice and study of yoga.

Adam"s Ancestors: Race, Religion, and the Politics of Human Origins

David N. Livingstone, “Adam’s Ancestors: Race, Religion, and the Politics of Human Origins”
English | 2008 | ISBN: 0801888131 | PDF | pages: 314 | 5 mb

Although the idea that all human beings are descended from Adam is a long-standing conviction in the West, another version of this narrative exists: human beings inhabited the Earth before, or alongside, Adam, and their descendants still occupy the planet.

In this engaging and provocative work, David N. Livingstone traces the history of the idea of non-adamic humanity, and the debates surrounding it, from the Middle Ages to the present day. From a multidisciplinary perspective, Livingstone examines how this alternative idea has been used for cultural, religious, and political purposes. He reveals how what began as biblical criticism became a theological apologetic to reconcile religion with science—evolution in particular—and was later used to support arguments for white supremacy and segregation.

From heresy to orthodoxy, from radicalism to conservatism, from humanitarianism to racism, Adam’s Ancestors tells an intriguing tale of twists and turns in the cultural politics surrounding the age-old question, “Where did we come from?”

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God Bless America: The Origins of Over 1,500 Patriotic Words and Phrases

God Bless America: The Origins of Over 1,500 Patriotic Words and Phrases by Robert Hendrickson
English | 2013 | ISBN: 1620875977 | 564 pages | EPUB | 0,8 MB

The Queen’s English has no place across the pond, where a long history of defiance, creativity, and originality has made its way into the everyday vocabulary of Americans coast-to-coast. God Bless America is an informative and entertaining guide to the meaning and history beneath our uniquely American words and phrases. Robert Hendrickson makes it clear that whether you’re ordering “fried chicken” or heading out to see a “movie,” you are celebrating contributions to the English language made by Americans, both famous and forgotten. With extensive research and a passion for language, Hendrickson furthers our understanding of the familiar and introduces us to the more obscure artifacts of American speech.

God Bless America provides the definitions and background for many uniquely American phrases and terms, such as:

• Bald eagle

• Boston baked beans

• Five-and-ten

• Give ’em hell

• Lazy Susan

• Sho’ nuff

• Yankee Doodle

• And more!

A dictionary packed full of historical accounts, etymological peculiarities, and imaginative spirit, God Bless America represents not only the American language but also the American people. This book provides an undeniable resource for travelers, patriots, and Anglophiles from all walks of life.