Written as liner notes to fictional music, Christopher Miller's uproarious debut novel skewers conventions in a work of high entertainment and imagination. In Sudden Noises from Inanimate Objects, the complete works of the prodigiously cranky composer Simon Silber get their diablolical due from Silber's official biographer -- a man who grows to hate his subject. Not content with simply discussing Silber's odd musical oeuvre -- whose highlights include an hourlong performance of the "Minute Waltz," an etude composed on a telephone keypad, and a transcription of crow caws -- the commentator veers into a delightfully venomous exposé of a musician whose grandiose ambitions far exceed his actual talent.

The writers of these works make the transition from folk psychology, theological views on human nature and metaphysical speculation to a more empirical and scientific study of the human mind, giving an insight into how pyschology emerged.

The most authoritative resource for students and researchers, The Cambridge Handbook of Child Language has been thoroughly updated and extended. Enhancements include new chapters on the acquisition of words, processing deficits in children with specific language impairments, and language in children with Williams syndrome, new authors for the bilingualism and autism chapters, a refocused discourse chapter on written narratives, and a new section on reading and reading disorders, cementing the handbook's position as the best study of the subject available. In a wide-ranging survey, language development is traced from prelinguistic infancy to adolescence in typical and atypical contexts; the material is intuitively grouped into six thematic sections, enabling readers to easily find specific in-depth information. With topics as varied as statistical learning, bilingualism, and the neurobiology of reading disorders, this multidisciplinary Handbook is an essential reference for students and researchers in linguistics, psychology, cognitive science, speech pathology, education and anthropology.

A Season for Seduction NBA star and oil company heir Keylan “KJ” Kingsley is the ultimate player on and off the court. When a midgame scuffle leads to community service, he opts to devote his hours to his family’s cherished foundation. And once he meets no-nonsense charity executive Mia Ramirez, he’s driven to prove there’s more to him than the wary beauty believes. Single mother Mia isn’t impressed by KJ’s wealth and fame. Her college sweetheart abandoned her—and their baby—to follow his hoop dreams. But KJ is a caring man beneath his superficial image, making an easy connection with her young son. Soon Mia plunges into a sensual relationship that ignites dreams of forever, until KJ returns to the court…and the headlines. Will the glare of celebrity blind them to the family that could be theirs by Christmas?

What is it that your dog is trying to say . . . and are you listening? Expert dog behaviourist Laura Vissaritis (with able assistance from her bull terrier Chester) introduces Dognitive Therapy, an approach that teaches you how to understand the world from your dog's point of view, and be the owner they need to be happy, healthy . . . and well-behaved. Insights into the canine mind combined with practical advice to solve common problems will help you see your bond with your dog in a whole new light. If you want a smart dog, you've got to be a smart owner!