Search

This volume critically engages with the work of the acclaimed Australian sociologist John Carroll. It makes the argument for a metaphysical sociology, which Carroll has proposed should focus on the questions of fundamental existence that confront all humans: ‘Where do I come from?', ‘What should I do with my life?'and ‘What happens to me when I die?'. These questions of meaning, in the secular modern West, have become difficult to answer. As contemporary individuals increasingly draw on their inner resources, or'ontological qualities', to pursue quests for meaning, the key challenge for a metaphysical sociology concerns the cultural resources available to people and the manner in which they are cultivated. Through wide-ranging discussions which include, film, romantic love, terrorism and video games, Metaphysical Sociology takes up this challenge. The contributors include emerging and established sociologists, a philosopher, a renowned actor and a musician. As such, this collection will appeal to scholars of social theory and sociology, and to the general reader with interests in morality, art, culture and the fundamental questions of human existence.

In a world in which individuals will undergo multiple career changes, is it possible any longer to conceive of a job as a meaningful vocation? Against the background of fragmentation and rationalisation of work, this book explores the significance and meaning of work in contemporary life, raising the question of whether people continue to feel motivated to dedicate their lives to their work, or must now look to other areas of life for meaning. Based on rich, in-depth interviews conducted with workers of different ages and across a broad range of occupations in the major city of Melbourne, Making a Living, Making a Life reveals that work continues to be a source of pride, passion and purpose, the author shedding light on the ways in which cultural narratives, collective meanings and structural factors influence people's feelings about work. An engaging and empirically grounded examination of the meaning and centrality of work to people's lives in today's'liquid'modern world, this book will appeal to sociologists with interests in cultural sociology, social theory, ethics, the sociology of work and questions of identity.

Around the world, millions of people love to work out using yoga or Pilates. These exercises help people to get in shape, lose weight, and keep a positive attitude. While yoga has been around for hundreds of years, and Pilates was only created a few decades ago, many people are combining yoga and Pilates today to push their bodies further. Learn more about how yoga and Pilates can improve your body, your mind, and your life. Discover how to live a fit and healthy life through yoga and Pilates!

Even if you aren't a gymnast or dancer, flexibility and agility are a big part of fitness and both affect your life long physical wellbeing. Exercising to improve your flexibility and agility can be a great way to get in better shape and push your body just a bit further. Find out more about flexibility and agility, including which exercises can help you to become more flexible and agile, while staying safe. Find tips on making a schedule for working out and how to stick with the plan you make. Discover how exercising for flexibility and agility can help you stay healthy and fit!

With exciting dance music and lots of energy, step aerobics and aerobic dance have become more and more popular for people who want to workout while having fun. Aerobic activities classes offer a huge number of different workouts to try. Finding one that works for you can be a great way to get active. Find out what you need to do to stay safe during step aerobic and dance classes. Learn more about the world of step aerobics and aerobic dance, including how moving your body to a beat can help you lose weight, stay in shape, and have a lot of fun!

Martial arts students don't just learn how to fight. They also learn lots of other important things—like how to stay safe. Martial artists know how to kick, jump, and punch without hurting themselves. They know how to protect their bodies in martial arts class—and out. Discover how martial arts can help you stay safe too!

Martial arts students don't just learn how to fight. They also learn lots of other important things they use every day—like self-discipline, for example. Self-discipline is what keeps us going, even when it's hard work. Martial artists learn this skill, and it helps them with everything from studying for a test... to practicing an instrument... to playing sports. Discover how martial arts can help you learn self-discipline too!

Martial arts students don't just learn how to fight. They also learn lots of other important things they use every day—like self-esteem, for example. Martial arts students feel better about themselves because they are learning new things; they are hearing encouragement; and they are reaching their goals, so they feel like a success. Self-esteem helps them do better in school, at home, and with friends. Discover how martial arts can improve your self-esteem too!

Now that we have cameras in smartphones, as well as plenty of ways to share photos with friends online, a lot of us are taking photos. But not everyone who takes a photo is an expert at using a camera lens to create works of art. If you're interested in a career in photography, first you'll need to know about the art, history, and business behind the beautiful shots. Learn more about the world of photography, from stock photographers to journalistic photographers who reveal truths we might not otherwise see. Discover how photographers make a living with their art—and how you too can build a career in photography!

Whether clay, stone, glass, or another material, sculpting can be an amazing way to express yourself. While many people might try sculpting for fun, others make it a lifelong career, turning their art into a way to make money. Discover the world of sculpting, from how sculptures are created to the history of the art. Learn about the business of sculpting and how sculptors can make a career doing what they love. Find out how you too can get involved in a creative career in sculpting!

From a touching poem to an epic novel to a meaningful song, the right words can change people's lives. Whether you're just starting your first short story or you're a young songwriter looking for the perfect chorus, you may find you have a talent with words. If you're interested in building that talent into a career, first you'll need to know the basics of the vast business opportunities in writing. Learn how different people are paid to write, from novelists to rappers, and find out what it takes to begin a career in writing. Discover how you can build your own writing career!

Martial arts students don't just learn how to fight. They also learn lots of other important things—like how to defend themselves. All martial arts teach you self-defense. But martial artists also learn when to use these moves—and when not to use them. They know that martial arts actually lead to less fighting! Discover how martial arts can help you defend yourself too!

The popular interactive series returns! Can you save Haley from loserdom?Sixteen-year-old Haley Miller is back at Hillsdale High school after the holiday break, and she's finally got her driver's license! But something fishy is going on. The few people she trusts are now acting less than trustworthy, and she's beginning to wonder: is she turning into an outcast? Haley was looking forward to her best spring break yet, but now it's not clear she'll get an invite from anybody. Maybe readers—with their excellent decision-making skills—can guide Haley back to her rightful place in the social strata. Anything's possible in this fun series where Choose Your Own Adventure meets Gossip Girl.

Haley's back at Hillsdale High after a New England vacation with her family. She's got a new haircut and some great new clothes, but the same problems--and the same people--continue to follow her. Coco and Whitney want to groom her to become the next Coquette now that they've kicked Sasha to the curb, but is Haley ready to make the changes they demand? Meanwhile, Sasha seems to be in serious trouble, and Irene is still willing to take Haley to San Francisco with her. So many possibilities! So many choices! Haley's future is in your hands--choose wisely!

A gorgeously illustrated companion to the fashion documentary of the same name, Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf Goodman is an unforgettable collection of anecdotes, from the hilarious to the poignant, in commemoration of the internationally renowned luxury specialty store's 111th anniversary. With delightful remembrances from celebrities, designers, and highly regarded fashion insiders—from Manolo Blahnik, Marc Jacobs, and Vera Wang to Joan Rivers, Susan Lucci, and Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen—Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf Goodman also features a foreword by fashion writer Holly Brubach, as well as art and photography from major advertising campaigns and original vintage sketches created by Bergdorf at the collection presentations of designers such as Lanvin, Chanel, and Balenciaga. This is an essential book for anyone who loves fashion, the thrill of a sumptuous shopping experience, and wonderful stories told by and about the famous.

Special education needs to be just that: first rate; best practice; uncompromising; creative education that enables all of our children to fulfil their potential. This book is the story of an innovative school that will challenge you to re-think how special education is taught. Port Phillip Specialist School has received national and international recognition as a bestpractice model for educating children with special needs. The school has a unique threepronged approach to education. It uses: a fullservice school model, in which a wide-range of educational, medical, paramedical and mental health services operate collaboratively within the school; an integrated model of service delivery, in which teachers, specialists and therapists collaborate to address the specific needs of each student, embedding therapy in all classroom activities; and an arts-based curriculum that uses dance, drama, music and the visual arts to teach literacy, numeracy and living skills. An Extraordinary School will inspire those who want to re-model how special education can be taught and the story of Port Phillip Specialist School illustrates how effective the entire community can be in making change happen. Sarah James talks about An Extraordinary School on The Circle Recent media for An Extraordinary School in Education World and The Huffington Post

Time to send Haley off into the world. Are you ready?Haley's come to the end of her junior year, and it's time for her friends and readers to bid her adieu. But you've got one last job to do: leave her on a happy note! Can you give Haley the tools and friends she needs to lead a happy life? Should Haley follow up on her budding interest in photography—or should she spend her summer partying with the popular kids? SATs, college tours, and the all-important senior year are just around the corner. Have you prepared Haley?

From sharing secrets as children to chasing unconventional dreams as adults, network correspondent Sara James and wildlife filmmaker Ginger Mauney explore their learning curve on life through the lens of their thirty-year friendshipTransplanting southern roots to southern Africa, Ginger Mauney has earned the acceptance of a troop of baboons, unraveled mysteries of life and death in an elephant herd, and raised her young son in the wilds of Namibia—but has often felt the pull of the country she once called home. As a local television anchor, Sara James paid her own way to cover the war in Nicaragua, a gamble that later propelled her to NBC. At the network, James exposed slavery in Sudan and plunged to the gravesite of the Titanic, but struggled to balance her demanding career with marriage and motherhood.Though the two lead seemingly opposite lives, there is much they share: a hometown in Richmond, Virginia, an attraction to life on the razor's edge, a weakness for men with foreign passports and accents, and a past. Now, in their heartfelt memoir, Mauney and James alternately narrate the story of how, they, two women separated by thousands of miles, have found themselves bound together through temperament, circumstance, and serendipity. The Best of Friends uses the example of their lives to explore such universal questions as: When your heart is broken, how do you heal? How do you realize your dreams without compromising yourself? How do you tame ambition to make room for love and family? And what does it mean as an adult to be a'best'friend?The Best of Friends is James and Mauney's story, but it is also the story of so many women in their twenties, thirties, and forties who, with the help of friends, dared to reinvent their lives just when it seemed that everything was falling apart.

AS HALEY CONTINUES her junior year, choices abound. Until now, Haley's past life in California has been mostly a mystery—but that's about to change. Haley has some juicy secrets that are about to become public knowledge. Will they destroy her social standing—or will the faint whiff of scandal make her even more popular? It all depends on the choices you make in this popular interactive series.

This fall finds our ever-indecisive 16-year-old heroine at the end of her sophomore year and facing some big decisions. Prom looms on the horizon, and beyond that, three months of summer! Will Haley play Good Girl with Reese, Bad Girl with Spence, or Alterna Girl with Devon? Will the decisions she's been making all year come back to haunt her? Find out in the fourth novel of this popular interactive series!

After a year at Hillsdale High, Haley thinks she knows what she's in for as she starts her junior year. She knows what to expect from the it girls, the brains, the rockers, and the artists. She knows how to handle drunken disasters, shoplifting scandals, IM warfare, and out-of-control false rumors. But none of the lessons learned during her sophomore year can prepare her for this dilemma: what's Haley supposed to do when everything they're saying about her is true?

In What If... You Broke All the Rules, Haley will turn 16 on Valentine's Day. But there won't be any big parties or celebrations to mark the occasion—her parents are so distracted by their own lives that they forget her birthday. Haley's dad is absorbed in finishing his documentary, and Haley's mom is spending waaaay too much time with a former coworker from San Francisco. With Perry and Joan preoccupied, Haley will suddenly find herself in a world without rules. Will Haley turn into a wild child or do the responsible thing? And how will Haley choose to spend her spring break—with a trip to Paris with Sasha, to Sebastian's hometown of Seville, making a movie in New Jersey with Irene, or in the Hamptons with Coco, Whitney, and their crew? It's up to you to choose Haley's destiny!

Meet Haley Miller. She's a 15-year-old girl of average height, average weight, and an average sense of style. Installed in her first public high school, Haley faces the toughest choices of her young life. And guess what? She's all yours.In this interactive novel, readers lead Haley through the halls of Hillsdale High for better or for worse. Until graduation do you part. Do you guide her away from the pitfalls of peer pressure? Or into the vortex of bad boys and parties? Send her to homecoming with the captain of the soccer team... or have her skip the dance to go on a road trip with the hot rebel. Give Haley a makeover or teach her to love herself the way she is. Pick which crowd she'll hang with. Tell her how often to do her homework. And decide whether she drinks or inhales.You determine her fortune. Her grades, her friends, her love life, her future. With Haley's many positive traits, you should have no trouble achieving success... or will you? It's all in the way you work, love, and play with Haley Miller, the girl with the most potential at Hillsdale High.