Philip Larkin's favourite novel? That might be an exaggeration but it is one that not only exercised a lasting fascination for him but was also an influence on his own novel writing. Larkin famously wrote about it in a 1982 Spectator article (republished in Required Writing) under the wonderfully apt title ' The Traffic in the Distance'. Despite Larkin's enthusiasm The Senior Commoner, until now, has never been reissued, and although reprinted once, second-hand copies have been fabulously rare. The Senior Commoner was first published in 1934. It is set in Eton College (dubbed Ayrton in the novel) but is not remotely in the tradition of the English School story. To quote Larkin, 'There is no story, or hardly any: the book is a huge structure of tiny episodes, designed to portray a complex institution at all levels.' Whilst, interestingly, there might stylistic similarities with Henry Green and the early novels of Anthony Powell (all three authors were at Eton at the same time, though Julian Hall was two years junior to the other two) this novel very much has its own voice, indeed, Larkin found it unique. He was attracted to its 'brittle plangency of style' and its 'studied circumstantial irrelevancy' and concluded, 'Nor have I ever read another book in the least like it.'

Philip Larkin's favourite novel? That might be an exaggeration but it is one that not only exercised a lasting fascination for him but was also an influence on his own novel writing. Larkin famously wrote about it in a 1982 Spectator article (republished in Required Writing) under the wonderfully apt title 'The Traffic in the Distance'. Despite Larkin's enthusiasm The Senior Commoner, until now, has never been reissued, and although reprinted once, second-hand copies have been fabulously rare. The Senior Commoner was first published in 1934. It is set in Eton College (dubbed Ayrton in the novel) but is not remotely in the tradition of the English School story. To quote Larkin, 'There is no story, or hardly any: the book is a huge structure of tiny episodes, designed to portray a complex institution at all levels.' Whilst, interestingly, there might stylistic similarities with Henry Green and the early novels of Anthony Powell (all three authors were at Eton at the same time, though Julian Hall was two years junior to the other two) this novel very much has its own voice, indeed, Larkin found it unique. He was attracted to its 'brittle plangency of style' and its 'studied circumstantial irrelevancy' and concluded, 'Nor have I ever read another book in the least like it.'

Much of what we currently know about the ancient Maya concerns the activities of the elites who ruled the societies and left records of their deeds carved on the monumental buildings and sculptures that remain as silent testimony to their power and status. But what do we know of the common folk who labored to build the temple complexes and palaces and grew the food that fed all of Maya society? This pathfinding book marshals a wide array of archaeological, ethnohistorical, and ethnographic evidence to offer the fullest understanding to date of the lifeways of ancient Maya commoners. Senior and emerging scholars contribute case studies that examine such aspects of commoner life as settlement patterns, household organization, and subsistence practices. Their reports cover most of the Maya area and the entire time span from Preclassic to Postclassic. This broad range of data helps resolve Maya commoners from a faceless mass into individual actors who successfully adapted to their social environment and who also held primary responsibility for producing the food and many other goods on which the whole Maya society depended.

How to make your senior years healthy, safe, social, and stimulating. "Architect and author Chuck Durrett's recently released book Senior Cohousing Handbook comes at a time of high interest in greening, sustainable housing and affordable living concerns. Durrett's new book is a comprehensive guide for baby boomers wishing to continue vibrant, active lifestyles." - EPR Real Estate News "Make your senior years safe and socially fun with the idea of senior cohousing and a book on the topic that shows how seniors can custom-build their neighborhood to fit their needs. This is housing built by seniors, not for them, and emphasizes independence and social networking. Any library strong in gerontology or social science and many a general lending library needs this. - James A. Cox, The Midwest Book Review "As a Baby Boomer, I've joked for a few years that we'll all end up living communally again because Social Security will be broke...This is one of the better ways to envision it."-- Sacramento Bee No matter how rich life is in youth and middle age, the elder years can bring on increasing isolation and loneliness as social connections lessen, especially if friends and family members move away. Senior cohousing fills a niche for this demographic—the healthy, educated, and proactive adults who want to live in a social and environmentally vibrant community. These seniors are already wanting to ward off the aging process, so they are unlikely to want to live in assisted housing. Senior cohousing revolves around custom-built neighborhoods organized by the seniors themselves in order to fit in with their real needs, wants, and aspirations for health, longevity, and quality of life. Senior Cohousing is a comprehensive guide to joining or creating a cohousing project, written by the US leader in the field. The author deals with all the psychological and logistical aspects of senior cohousing and addresses common concerns, fears, and misunderstandings. He emphasizes the many positive benefits of cohousing, including: Better physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health Friendships and accessible social contact Safety and security Affordability Shared resources Successful aging requires control of one’s life, and today's generation of seniors—the baby boomers—will find that this book holds a compelling vision for their future. Charles Durrett is a principal at McCamant & Durrett in Nevada City, California, a firm that specializes in affordable cohousing. He co-authored the groundbreaking Cohousing with his wife and business partner, Kathryn McCamant.

In the context of European prehistoric crafting, this book highlights the daily lives of people of so-called distinct social classes who interacted with each other through creative crafting and, as such, produced both items of varying qualities and meanings, and also specific and multiple identities alongside these exquisite material remains.