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Showing 1 - 7 of 7 items
Dante: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Peter Hainsworth, David Robey. 2015
Analysis of the Italian poet's major works focuses on the Divine Comedy, exploring its relevance to its own time and…
the ways it still speaks to modern readers. Considers Dante's use of allegory, his inventive language, and his insights into human nature. 2015
Comedy: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Matthew Bevis. 2013
Scholar examines comedy, from the ancient Greeks to the present, through recurring elements and themes: the physical body, marriage, pain,…
the humdrum of existence, death. Discusses the idea that comedy and tragedy are not true opposites; comedy presupposes rather than precludes tragedy. 2013.
Sociology: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Steve Bruce. 1999
Professor of sociology asserts the value of his discipline for understanding the modern world. Draws on studies of social class,…
crime and deviance, work in bureaucracies, and changes in religious and political organizations. Explores the tension between the individual's role in society and society's role in shaping the individual. 1999
Sociolinguistics: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By John Edwards. 2013
Psychology professor describes the discipline that studies language in its social and cultural contexts--how words and sentences are influenced by…
our social environment. Discusses the importance of accents and dialects, the significance of names, the relationship between language and gender, the language of poverty, and the intertwining of language and religion. 2013
Terrorism: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Charles Townshend. 2011
Professor of international history examines the historical, ideological, and regional roots of terrorist violence. Explores terrorism in relation to revolutionary…
power, nationalism, and religious extremism and considers the successes of specific terrorist and antiterrorist campaigns recently and in the distant past. Discusses debates about the erosion of civil liberties. 2011
Risk: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By John Kadvany, Baruch Fischhoff. 2011
Professor and policy consultant discuss the field of decision theory and risk analysis. The authors demonstrate how to be a…
critical consumer of claims about risk--whether from politicians, pundits, doctors, financial advisors, car mechanics, suitors, or scientists--and provide a conceptual framework for thinking about risks in the context of decisions where they matter. 2011
Work: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Stephen Fineman. 2012
Professor of organization studies draws on psychology, sociology, management, and social history for this multidisciplinary account of work--as a concept…
and as practical experience. Examines the cultural and social factors that influence the way we work, the ethics of certain types of work, and factors affecting work's future. 2012