Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us about Ourselves and Our Society

Adult/High School - Fingeroth offers a lucid and accessible social critique of the mainstream comics' preternatural characters as well as reasoning why and how the public welcomes such stories. Although he rightfully reaches back to earlier literary uses and developments of heroic character types, these discussions don't demand strong academic knowledge of world cultures, nor do his analyses of superhero motives require readers to be grounded in theoretical psychology. Instead, this is an engaging discussion that may turn some readers into literary sleuths and deeper thinkers, simply because the writing is so solid and the presentation so balanced.

White Collar Zen: Using Zen Principles to Overcome Obstacles and Achieve Your Career Goals

The workplace is often a forum where aggressive competition, underappreciation, and self-doubt rule the day. Heine shows how the principles of Zen Buddhism can effectively dissipate stress and anxiety in the professional world. In dealing with conflict, Heine brings to light two seemingly contradictory Zen mindsets: the "Way of the Hermit," which requires one to step back and view the situation in contemplative objectivity, and the "Way of the Warrior," which requires quick and decisive action without hesitation.

Sherlock Holmes

A new edition of the pocket guide to one of English literature's best loved and finest creations, Sherlock Holmes. Holmes was the brainchild of Portsmouth GP Arthur Conan Doyle. A writer of historical romance, Doyle became unhappy that the detective's enormous success eclipsed his other work, and killed him off. But, faced with an enormous backlash from the public, he had no choice but to bring him back from the grave to face more puzzling mysteries. Holmes is an iconic fictional creature, and has been immortalised in countless film, TV and radio productions.

The Kids' College Almanac: A First Look At College

Dada and Surrealism: A Very Short Introduction

The avant-garde movements of Dada and Surrealism continue to have a huge influence on cultural practice, especially in contemporary art, with its obsession with sexuality, fetishism, and shock tactics. In this new treatment of the subject, Hopkins focuses on the many debates surrounding these movements: the Marquis de Sade's Surrealist deification, issues of quality (How good is Dali?), the idea of the 'readymade', attitudes towards the city, the impact of Freud, attitudes to women, fetishism, and primitivism.