DIVCollection of essays which compares the gendered aspects of state formation in Latin Ameri can nations and includes new material arising out of recent feminist work in history, political science and sociology./div

In my search to find a career and to help others while so doing, I had to take a step back and realize my blessings, family and those who helped me along my journey. If I wanted to achieve my mission, I had to first reach the underserved population and help guide them in their financial journey. It is my belief in this mission that greatly influenced me to choose my financial planning career and write this book. My experiences and employment history could be repeated by many people who will not choose to pursue a career in the financial services industry but could benefit from the advantages of financial planning in caring for their families and community. My mission includes inspiring, motivating and preparing the next generation of financial planners, who truly care, to help others while pursuing a successful career.

August 31, 2005, was supposed to have been a wonderful day for Kimberly Wilder. She had just received a promotion at work. She had a loving, supportive husband, and she was expecting their first child together. But as the day wore on, Kimberly started experiencing abdominal cramps, and they lasted through the night. Knowing deep inside that something wasn't right, Kimberly's husband rushed her to the emergency room at two a.m. They soon found out that Kimberly was dilated to a four and would be having the baby soon—she was twenty-five weeks pregnant. Kimberly gave birth to Nathan Wilder on September 3, 2005. He was considered a micro-preemie and weighed in at a remarkably small one pound, thirteen ounces. One Step Forward, Two Steps Back chronicles the four long months Nathan spent in the hospital and the trials and triumphs his parents faced during that painful time. Kimberly shares her deepest fears and feelings of inadequacy, along with the joyous memories of getting to hear her son's first cry and holding him for the first time—when he was a month old. Kimberly's faith in God and willingness to trust her son's care to him brought her through the touch-and-go months after Nathan's birth. Parents of premature babies will learn the valuable lesson Kimberly learned: taking One Step Forward, Two Steps Back is better than not moving at all.

Charles Swindoll reminds readers that our problems are not solved by simple answers or all-too-easy cliches. Instead, he offers practical ways to walk with God through the realities of life-including times of fear, stress, anger and temptation.

"My real story starts with a disaster, an unmitigated, pull-the-rug-from-under-you, clean-out-the-bank-account disaster. But had it not happened, The Police would never have risen to become the biggest rock band in the world; Jools Holland would not have ended up on TV; The Bangles, The Go-Go's, R.E.M., and many other music stars might never have made it either. It's strange how a fluke, a disaster, an unlikely event can lead to incredible results. But that is in essence what happened to me . . ." Two Steps Forward, One Step Back tells the extraordinary story of Miles A. Copeland, a maverick manager, promoter, label owner, and all-round legend of the music industry. It opens in the Middle East, where Miles grew up with his father, a CIA agent who was stationed in Syria, Egypt, and Lebanon. It then shifts to London in the late '60s and the beginnings of a career managing bands like Wishbone Ash and Curved Air--only for Miles's life and work to be turned upside down by a disastrous European tour. From the ashes of near bankruptcy, Miles entered the world of punk, sharing a building with Malcolm McLaren and Sniffin' Glue, before shifting gears again as manager of The Police, featuring his brother, Stewart, on drums. Then, after founding IRS Records, he launched the careers of some of the most potent musical acts of the new wave scene and beyond, from Squeeze and The Go-Go's to The Bangles and R.E.M. The story comes full circle as Miles finds himself advising the Pentagon on how to win over hearts and minds in the Middle East and introducing Arabic music to the United States. "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story," his father would tell him. In the end, though, the truth is what counts--and it's all here.

History of Pakistani women's struggles for their rights in the 20th century. This struggle is set in the context of the country's troubled politics and the specific role of the Islam

DIVSince the end of the Cold War, the assumption among most political theorists has been that as nations develop economically, they will also become more democratic—especially if a vibrant middle class takes root. This assumption underlies the expansion of the European Union and much of American foreign policy, bolstered by such examples as South Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, and even to some extent Russia. Where democratization has failed or retreated, aberrant conditions take the blame: Islamism, authoritarian Chinese influence, or perhaps the rise of local autocrats./divDIV /divDIVBut what if the failures of democracy are not exceptions? In this thought-provoking study of democratization, Joshua Kurlantzick proposes that the spate of retreating democracies, one after another over the past two decades, is not just a series of exceptions. Instead, it reflects a new and disturbing trend: democracy in worldwide decline. The author investigates the state of democracy in a variety of countries, why the middle class has turned against democracy in some cases, and whether the decline in global democratization is reversible./div

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back chronicles the true story of a young man's struggle through the darkness of ulcerative colitis and the trials and triumphs of managing his disease through the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). At age 23, Tucker Sweeney was living the life any young person would envy. Rock climbing, backpacking, skiing, and traveling were the only thoughts on his mind. Yet, that same year, Tucker was diagnosed with the painful disease ulcerative colitis. This book follows the ups and downs of living life with inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohns or the more common disorders of irritable bowel syndrome and celiac disease. Tucker writes a practical and personal memoir detailing the day to day functioning of life on the SCD along with helpful hints on cooking, travel, and being active in the outdoors. Co-written with his mother, her chapters give the unique perspective of a care givers viewpoint, along with insights on the emotions present when caring for a family member with a chronic illness. An inspirational story of hope for those dealing with disease and hardship. The book also includes more than 20 easy to understand SCD recipes, tips, and a section on menu planning and cooking for a week.

Four stepsiblings from two opposite sides of the world are sharing a summer together in one strange city: Los Angeles. NYC fashionista girl Annabel is determined to hate LA, where her dad and his family have relocated. But just when Annabel thinks her summer is beyond ruined, she gets a surprise from Down Under . . . and let's just say he's a good kisser. Lucy misses her home country, Australia, but thinks LA isn't so bad after all. If she could only get her stepsister Annabel on board to loving LA too -- and get that weird Wheaties boy to stop staring at her! Wheaties, boy-genius, doesn't mind where he's spending the summer, so long as lovable Lucy is nearby. He's trying not to worry about how his dad and stepmother's marriage problems will affect his living situation. And he'd really like to know the secret of that Ben dude's swoony appeal to the girls. Ben, the Aussie athlete god, would rather be spending his school break playing footy with his mates back in Melbourne. He'd also really rather not have his dad's loud girlfriend sharing their American vacation. And he'd definitely like to know how he got interested in the pretty Annabel girl all over again. Told from the alternating points of view of Annabel, Lucy, Wheaties, and Ben, Two Steps Forward is funny and genuine -- and shows how love can create all kinds of families.

The spiritual journey continues for Hannah, Meg, Mara and Charissa, the characters we met in the bestselling book Sensible Shoes. Sometimes life feels like two steps forward and one step back. Find your own spiritual journey reflected in the lives of these women and discover the way forward.