In Against Religion, Wars, and States: The Case for Enlightenment Atheism, Just War Pacifism, and Liberal-Democratic Anarchism, Andrew Fiala argues that, societally, we must radically redefine our goals. A renewed focus on global justice, a heightened criticism of religion and a fuller embrace of enlightened humanism and the sciences are just some of the ways in which we can begin to address some of the problems endemic to our society, and ultimately bring about more lasting peace. Fiala argues both theoretically and empirically, moving from analyses of theology, ethics and political philosophy to case studies and data mined from these respective disciplines, and from the fallout of recent world events involving all three. Fiala attempts to wean us off of our deferral to the oppressive forces that spark movements like Occupy, and the Arab Spring, forces that manifest themselves in the brutal drug wars along our borders, and in the currently fractious and bigoted rhetoric of some of our most powerful political and religious leaders. Against Religion, Wars, and States provides a provocative, unified, and revolutionary critical theory for all who are skeptical of the religious, political, and military powers that be, and points the way towards a more peaceful, just and reasoned future.

This analysis of religious violence from a Muslim perspective considers questions about the nature of memory and the ways in which memories of violence affect perceptions of time, space and religious practice. The author asks whether memories of violence affect victims' perceptions of the land, neighbours and themselves.

This work is a critical investigation into the relationship between religious affiliation, on the one hand, and fertility, family size preferences and family planning behaviour, on the other. Dr Chamie works from a set of unique data: the 1971 Fertility and Family Planning Survey in Lebanon. This survey is not only a national study of Lebanese fertility but also a large-scale survey (2,800 people) offering the opportunity to study Arab Christian-Muslim differentials. Lebanon's demographic situation has far greater scientific and practical importance than might be supposed from its relatively small population. From observing the important religious communities at different stages of social and economic development, Dr Chamie has thus been able to analyse the interacting effects of religion and socio-economic development on reproductive behaviour.

This book highlights historical and current perspectives on population issues in the Bengali-speaking states of India (i.e., West Bengal, Tripura, Assam) and Bangladesh and explores three core population dynamics: fertility, mortality–morbidity and development. Furthermore, it presents a selection of revealing cases from area-specific micro-studies, mainly conducted in West Bengal and Bangladesh. The book covers various demographic and health issues in these two regions, which are similar in terms of several sociocultural aspects, yet dissimilar in terms of their policies and programs. Adopting an integrated approach that combines various disciplines and perspectives, it explores highly topical issues such as social inequality, religious difference and mental health. The book is intended for a broad readership interested in population studies, sociology and development, including academics, researchers, planners and policymakers.

I opened my series editor manuscript of The Handbook of Contraception: A Guide for Practical Management, edited by Drs. Donna Shoupe and Siri Kjos, on a tiny plane on the way to giving a lecture in Albany, NY. I expected to peruse the ma- script, and found that I could not put it down. The Handbook of Contraception: A Guide for Practical Management is an incredibly informative and enjoyable read. In keeping with the objective of this series for primary care clinicians, there is a quality in this title that is uncommon among medical textbooks. The chapters of this book are written with extraordinary intelligence and und- standing, and with attention to practical considerations in the selection and mana- ment of contraceptive options. The authors have reviewed the science behind contraception, including the chemical structure and effects of hormonal contraception, physiology of contraception, efficacy rates, and side effects, as well as the practical considerations that are relevant in helping patients choose between different cont- ceptive options. They do this with a clarity of language and intent that lets the book cover with sufficient detail the full range of questions that any primary care clinician will have regarding any of the traditional or new contraceptive options. Also included in each chapter is a section on “counseling tips,” which explicitly answers many of the questions that clinicians and their patients often have when discussing contraceptive options. For a book so useful and well done, the editors and authors deserve our thanks.

The Population Myth reveals how the right-wing spin to population data has given rise to myths about the 'Muslim rate of growth', often used to stoke majoritarian fears of a demographic skew. The author, S.Y. Quraishi, uses facts to demolish these, and demonstrates how a planned population is in the interest of all communities. The book delves into the Quran and the Hadith to show how Islam might have been one of the first religions in the world to actually advocate smaller families, which is why several Islamic nations today have population policies in place. This busts the other myth - that Muslims shun family planning on religious grounds. Based on impeccable research, this is an important book from a credible voice about the politicization of demographics in India today.