Current Affairs

Cracking Codes & Cryptograms For Dummies features more than 300 different puzzles of varying skill levels, from the simplest substitution puzzles to fiendishly difficult ciphers.

The popularity of Dan Brown’s latest novel, The Lost Symbol, has opened up the secretive world of the Freemasons to millions of readers. The ancient society and puzzling ciphers featured in the book have sparked interest in finding out more about both.

The aromatic nose, the smooth taste, and the warm burn down the throat all characterize what makes drinking whiskey a passionate hobby for connoisseurs. Now, a new book unearths the philosophical underpinnings of this pastime.

Launched in 1987, Final Fantasy now ranks as one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time. The beloved series’ next installment is currently set to release in early 2010, but not before the first, unauthorized book probes the philosophical themes behind the game’s compelling characters and stories.  

New Book Breaks Down the Public Discourse Surrounding Political Correctness

Recent Article from the Journal of Empirical Legal Studies Questions Validity of Chamber Survey

It is a truth (somewhat) universally acknowledged that globalization has given us the most remarkable sixty years of economic growth in world history. It is a process that has lifted hundreds of millions worldwide out of extreme poverty, and has helped raise life expectancy and literacy rates.

For centuries, the major powers of the West were seduced by the allure of the countries of “the Far East”. Spices, textile, silk and tea were the staples of East-West trade. But competition between Western traders eventually led to military intervention and the establishment of colonial empires. These actions have shaped the history of Asia, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence and shape this region today.

Who are China’s Leaders? How do they think? What does it mean for the future?  These are the questions of the moment as New China celebrates its 60^th anniversary, because China impacts everyone—an economic superpower competing in every arena of human endeavor.  But China’s astonishing transformation comes with challenges and contradictions.  Is there a looming “China Threat?” Or an emerging “China Model?”

Is it possible to use evolutionary algorithms to create touring plans that can save up to 4.5 hours of waiting in line per day? How about using a technological optimization program that determines which of the admissions options is the best suited for a particular visitor?

This year marks the 40^th anniversary of John and Yoko’s Bed-In for Peace, which took place May 26 – June 2, 1969.  It was there, on June 1^st, that the legendary anthem “Give Peace a Chance” was recorded. Life magazine photographer Gerry Deiter was present for all eight days of the Bed-in, capturing both large, boisterous gatherings of journalists and celebrities, and the smaller, more intimate moments between John and Yoko. The result was an archive of almost 500 images, many of which were never published – until now. 

When ordinary individuals from around the world inexplicably develop superhuman abilities, they question who they are, struggle to cope with their new responsibilities, and choose whether to use their new powers for good or for evil. Such is the mythological universe of Tim Kring's hit TV show Heroes, a critical and popular success that has been developed into interactive websites, magazines, action figures, games, clothing, and now, just in time for the new fall season, the first unauthorized book to explore the show’s epic philosophies.

Love ‘em or leave ‘em, the saints have left their imprint on our culture. A brief look in the phone book at the names of hospitals, schools, and churches proves the point. But who were these saints and what made them so holy?

Where do we go when we die? Will we have personal chats with God on fluffy clouds? What are the odds I will be devoured by a demon? And, most importantly, is Michael Jackson in heaven? Life’s deepest mysteries question what happens when life is over.  

Do you know…how God employed talking donkeys, monkeys, mentally unstable prophets and helpful prostitutes in the master plan?  Which saints are the patrons of bowel disorders, serial killers, and stamp collections? What to expect upon arrival in destinations like Heaven, Purgatory, and the Chinvat Bridge?

Many Americans understand by now that while Wall Street ruined the American economy, the federal government was asleep at the wheel.  As Nomi Prins explains, far fewer understand that the government actually woke up last fall, drove the bus into the ditch on purpose, threw a party on it for all their friends, and then sent the rest of us the bill.

Terminator is one of the most popular sci-fi franchises ever created, captivating millions with its edgy depiction of the struggle of humankind for survival against its own creations. As Christian Bale steps into the role of John Connor in Terminator Salvation—the next highly anticipated movie in the Terminator franchise opening on Memorial Day—a new book exploring the franchise’s deepest conundrums hits the book shelves.

In this follow up to his bestselling It's Getting Ugly Out There, CNN commentator and veteran journalist Jack Cafferty covers the colossal blunders and hypocrisies the Bush administration has perpetrated on the world. 

Watchmen is widely considered the greatest graphic novel of all time, receiving critical acclaim by both the comics and mainstream press. The ideal companion book for the most avid fan, Watchmen and Philosophy (Wiley, $17.95, paperback) provides all the philosophical insight into the story that will make readers view Watchmen in a completely new light.         

Dr. Gregory House is arguably the most complex and challenging antihero in the history of television, but there is more to this self-important genius than gray matter and ego. HOUSE AND PHILOSOPHY (Wiley, $17.95, paperback) takes a deeper look at House to reveal the philosophical underpinnings of this popular medical drama and its cane-waving curmudgeon’s most outrageous behavior.