How did the U.S. get into a war over non-existent "weapons of mass destruction"? How did we allow our civil rights to be hijacked and our environment raped? How did we manage to let our personal savings be plundered? How did we get into an exploding financial depression? The greed of Wall Street and many CEOs is linked to the poor parenting of some conservatives, who learned to value success and personal gain more than caring for others. The character disorders of a Bernie Madoff, many investment bankers, sub-prime realtors, past U.S. presidents, and bellicose leaders such as Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Hitler, and Stalin may spring from early childhood trauma, especially from men's conflicts with their fathers. A series of losses abetted by rapid social change and life in an increasingly complex society instead of close-knit communities has accelerated the move to the Right over the past thirty years. It even brought us to the brink of dictatorship. These losses-of identity, self-esteem, love and affection, social supports, and control over life events-are still threatening. Add to the mix poor parenting and you have a perfect recipe for the intense longing for authority, religion, and a homogeneous community life that preceded Hitler's Germany. With luck, President Obama and his team can save us from this authoritarian tide.

Sixteen literary luminaries on the controversial subject of being childless by choice, in this critically acclaimed, bestselling anthology One of the most provocative and talked-about books of the year, Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed is the stunning collection exploring one of society’s most vexing taboos. One of the main topics of cultural conversation during the last decade was the supposed “fertility crisis,” and whether modern women could figure out a way to have it all—a successful career and the required 2.3 children—before their biological clocks stopped ticking. Now, however, the conversation has turned to whether it’s necessary to have it all (see Anne-Marie Slaughter) or, perhaps more controversial, whether children are really a requirement for a fulfilling life. In this exciting and controversial collection of essays, curated by writer Meghan Daum, thirteen acclaimed female writers explain why they have chosen to eschew motherhood. Contributors include Lionel Shriver, Sigrid Nunez, Kate Christensen, Elliott Holt, Geoff Dyer, and Tim Kreider, among others, who will give a unique perspective on the overwhelming cultural pressure of parenthood. This collection makes a smart and passionate case for why parenthood is not the only path to a happy, productive life, and takes our parent-centric, kid-fixated, baby-bump-patrolling culture to task in the process. In this book, that shadowy faction known as the childless-by-choice comes out into the light.

What if your path to a more successful, healthy, and satisfying life is actually not about you? Enough About Me equips you with practical tools to find meaning and compassion in even the smallest of everyday choices. When his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Richard Lui made a tough decision. The award-winning news anchor decided to set aside his growing career to care for his family. At first, this new caregiving lifestyle did not come easily for Lui, and what followed was a seven-year exercise in what it really means to be selfless. Enough About Me also takes a behind-the-scenes look at some of the world's most difficult moments from a journalist's point of view. From survivors of terrorist attacks to victims of racial strife, Lui shares the lessons he learned from those who rose above the fray to be helpful, self-sacrificing, and generous in the face of monumental tragedy and loss. Lui shares practical tips, tools, and mnemonics learned along the way to help shift the way we think and live, including: Selfless decision methods and practices for work, home, relationships, and community Studies and research that show the personal benefits of being selfless The lasting impact of sharing your story Practical, bite-sized ways to be more engaging and inclusive in your day-to-day life How to train our decision-making muscles to choose others over ourselves Choice by choice, step by step, the path to a more satisfying and fulfilling journey is right here in the people around us. Praise for Enough About Me: "Richard Lui underscores the importance of sharing stories to bring people together through selfless acts for the greater good." Beth Kallmyer, Vice President of Care and Support, Alzheimer's Association "Richard is living a life of service. This is a jewel of a book, a celebration of the best of the human spirit and of the good that emerges from sacrifice. Richard Lui is a beacon of light in these dark times." José Díaz-Balart, Anchor, NBC Nightly News Saturday; Anchor, Noticias Telemundo

Family caregiving affects millions of Americans every day, in all walks of life. At least 17.7 million individuals in the United States are caregivers of an older adult with a health or functional limitation. The nation's family caregivers provide the lion's share of long-term care for our older adult population. They are also central to older adults' access to and receipt of health care and community-based social services. Yet the need to recognize and support caregivers is among the least appreciated challenges facing the aging U.S. population. Families Caring for an Aging America examines the prevalence and nature of family caregiving of older adults and the available evidence on the effectiveness of programs, supports, and other interventions designed to support family caregivers. This report also assesses and recommends policies to address the needs of family caregivers and to minimize the barriers that they encounter in trying to meet the needs of older adults.

"A vibrant, sweeping analysis of the roots of American self-indulgence" --Kirkus Reviews "This ringing, provocative jeremiad cuts a path through a haze of self-indulgent thought and action in the "me first" society." --Publisher's Weekly "Wonderful...a delight to read, even exciting...There are few books that inspire real enthusiasm. This is one of them." --The Philadelphia Enquirer

Science need not be dull and bogged down by jargon, as Richard Dawkins proves in this entertaining look at evolution. The themes he takes up are the concepts of altruistic and selfish behaviour; the genetical definition of selfish interest; the evolution of aggressive behaviour; kinshiptheory; sex ratio theory; reciprocal altruism; deceit; and the natural selection of sex differences. 'Should be read, can be read by almost anyone. It describes with great skill a new face of the theory of evolution.' W.D. Hamilton, Science

Explores how the value-added tax (VAT) has risen from relative obscurity to become one of the world's most dominant revenue instruments.

The American family has come a long way from the days of the idealized family portrayed in iconic television shows of the 1950s and 1960s. The four volumes of The Social History of the American Family explore the vital role of the family as the fundamental social unit across the span of American history. Experiences of family life shape so much of an individual’s development and identity, yet the patterns of family structure, family life, and family transition vary across time, space, and socioeconomic contexts. Both the definition of who or what counts as family and representations of the “ideal” family have changed over time to reflect changing mores, changing living standards and lifestyles, and increased levels of social heterogeneity. Available in both digital and print formats, this carefully balanced academic work chronicles the social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of American families from the colonial period to the present. Key themes include families and culture (including mass media), families and religion, families and the economy, families and social issues, families and social stratification and conflict, family structures (including marriage and divorce, gender roles, parenting and children, and mixed and non-modal family forms), and family law and policy. Features: Approximately 600 articles, richly illustrated with historical photographs and color photos in the digital edition, provide historical context for students. A collection of primary source documents demonstrate themes across time. The signed articles, with cross references and Further Readings, are accompanied by a Reader’s Guide, Chronology of American Families, Resource Guide, Glossary, and thorough index. The Social History of the American Family is an ideal reference for students and researchers who want to explore political and social debates about the importance of the family and its evolving constructions.

America is one of the best countries in which to live. There is no doubting that notion. We have the world's most robust economy and the strongest military. However, with those successes, our country has a great deal of excess baggage. We struggle with many social issues that can potentially ruin America's outlook. Our children face a grave future based on the way we are currently living. This book speaks to those issues and addresses how we can fix our societal crisis with God’s help. If we do not change our current path and follow God’s words, we are sure to face a bleak future.