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Books in Arts and humanities

Elsevier's Arts and Humanities titles encompass a rich spectrum of scholarship that explores human culture, history, philosophy, and creative expression. These works offer deep insights into language, literature, visual arts, and critical theory, supporting the academic community in understanding diverse perspectives and cultural legacies. Designed for scholars, educators, and students, this collection bridges classic studies with contemporary issues, fostering a deeper appreciation and knowledge of the human experience.

  • The Quality of Life: Systems Approaches

    Proceedings of the International Congress on Applied Systems Research and Cybernetics
    • 1st Edition
    • May 20, 2014
    • G.E. Lasker
    • English
    Applied Systems and Cybernetics covers the proceedings of the International Congress on Applied Systems Research and Cybernetics. The book presents several studies that cover the application of systems research and cybernetics in improving the quality of life. Majority of the materials in the text tackle various aspects of quality of life in relation to systems and cybernetics, such as living space, future prospects, work, education, politics, law, ethics and values, culture and ethnicity, and social systems. The selection also presents articles that cover the elemental properties of quality of life, such as the concept, views, indicators, and dimension. The book will be of great interest to any scientists regardless of disciplines, since it covers the main purpose of science, the improvement of quality of life.
  • Mathematics as a Cultural System

    • 1st Edition
    • May 20, 2014
    • Raymond L. Wilder
    • Mario Bunge
    • English
    Mathematics as a Cultural System discusses the relationship between mathematics and culture. The book is comprised of eight chapters discussing topics that support the concept of mathematics as a cultural system. Chapter I deals with the nature of culture and cultural systems, while Chapter 2 provides examples of cultural patterns observable in the evolution of mechanics. Chapter III treats historical episodes as a laboratory for the illustration of patterns and forces that have been operative in cultural change. Chapter IV covers hereditary stress, and Chapter V discusses consolidation as a force and process. Chapter VI talks about the singularities in the evolution of mechanics, while Chapter 7 deals with the laws governing the evolution of mathematics. Chapter VIII tackles the role and future of mathematics. The book will be of great interest to readers who are curious about how mathematics relates to culture.
  • The Craft of Social Anthropology

    • 1st Edition
    • May 19, 2014
    • A. L. Epstein
    • English
    The Craft of Social Anthropology focuses on the methodologies, approaches, and techniques used in the study of social anthropology, as well as anthropological analysis of marriage, divorce, and religious rituals. The book first discusses intensive study of small sample communities and quantification in social anthropology, including quantification and anthropological approach, role of quantification, types of quantitative data, and data collection and processing. The manuscript then examines the frequency of divorce. Topics include divorce ratios, marriage classified by duration, divorce without mortality, and risks of divorce. The text focuses on genealogies, as well as genealogies and pedigrees, terminological and prescriptive diagrams, and illustrative genealogical diagrams. The manuscript also ponders on the extended-case method and situational analysis and data of economics in anthropological analysis. Saora rituals, shamanism, and witchcraft are also discussed. The publication is a vital reference for readers interested in social anthropology.
  • The Arts and Personal Growth

    Curriculum Issues in Arts Education
    • 1st Edition
    • May 19, 2014
    • Malcolm Ross
    • English
    The Arts and Personal Growth focuses on the influence of arts education to personal growth, including the development of curriculum that puts the study of the arts at the core and learning of the arts in different time frames and educational considerations. The book is composed of papers derived from the conference conducted at Dillington House in Somerset from July 23 to 28, 1979 under the auspices of the University of Exeter with assistance from the Michael Marks Charitable Trust. The selection first outlines the meaning of the arts and the need for school curriculum to include both social and political settings in curriculum development. The book then examines the interrelations of arts education, curriculum, and multi-cultural society, putting emphasis on the contention that minorities have brought with them valid cultures that have various art forms. The text underscores the need to put arts at the highest consideration in curriculum development. The challenges posed to teachers of arts and the ability of experts in the arts to maintain natural and human artefacts are noted. The manuscript also ponders on the reality that learning the arts surpasses age and educational boundaries. The influence of art to a sound personal development is also mentioned. The publication is a dependable reference for readers and art patrons interested in the value of arts in personal growth.
  • Safety of Computer Control Systems

    Proceedings of the IFAC Workshop, Stuttgart, Federal Republic of Germany, 16-18 May 1979
    • 1st Edition
    • May 19, 2014
    • R. Lauber
    • English
    Safety of Computer Control Systems is a collection of papers from the Proceedings of the IFAC Workshop, held in Stuttgart, Germany on May 16-18, 1979. This book discusses the inherent problems in the hardware and software application of computerized control to automated systems safeguarding human life, property, and the environment. The papers discuss more specific concerns, such as railway systems, aircraft landing systems, nuclear power stations, chemical reactors, elevators, and cranes. The book also describes the safety and reliability of complex industrial computer systems together with an example showing the application of computers in power plants. One paper presents guidelines in documenting safety related computer systems that will help various parties who are involved in their purchase and operation. Another paper discusses how to detect failures in microcomputer systems such as memory violations and invalid operation code detectors. This book then concludes by discussing the necessity of inspecting process computers used in nuclear power plants, especially when computers are used in reactor protection, control rod, and authentication of log-in systems. This collection can be of interest for students of programming, process-computer analysts, heads of computer technology departments and institutions, and lecturers in industrial computer programming and design.
  • Consumer Education in the Human Services

    Pergamon Policy Studies
    • 1st Edition
    • May 19, 2014
    • Alan Gartner + 2 more
    • English
    Consumer Education in the Human Services: A Social Policy Book focuses on the trends in consumer education and inclusion of the human services sector, aside from budgeting and purchase of goods, among the considerations in consumer education. The selection first offers information on consumers in the service society and consumer education and advocacy, including the service society, activating consumers, and models of consumer education. The text also looks at consumer education from the feminist perspective. Topics include feminist housing, transportation, and medical care. The manuscript ponders on low-income consumers and disabled consumers as enabled producers, as well as facts regarding low-income service consumers and poor consumers in the 1970s. The text also concentrates on health care, self-care and health planning, and costs of medical care. Private insurance discrimination, flaws of family-related insurance coverage, and women and the health delivery system are discussed. The book is a valuable source of information for readers interested in consumer education.
  • Britain Observed

    A Russian's View
    • 1st Edition
    • May 19, 2014
    • V. V. Ovchinnikov
    • English
    Britain Observed: A Russian's View focuses on the understanding of the customs, identity, political and social structure, and societal relations of the British. The book first underscores some of the misperceptions of the British of Russia, the author's country. The text also highlights the experiences of the author when he first arrived in Britain, noting the process of acclimatization that he has undergone. The manuscript emphasizes the appreciation of the author of the sceneries in England, as the sloping hills, fertile meadows, and village church spires that emerge from the hilltops are mentioned. The author also signifies that England is the kingdom of private life and says that neighbors maintain a certain degree of secrecy, and that they discourage intrusion into their private lives. The text also conveys how the author perceives the structure of the government and how Buckingham Palace influences the functions and operations of the government. The book is a fine reference for readers who want to learn the traditions, political considerations, and identity of the British.
  • Crime and Justice in America

    Critical Issues for the Future
    • 1st Edition
    • May 19, 2014
    • John T. O'Brien + 1 more
    • English
    Crime and Justice in America: Critical Issues for the Future details the importance of a unified justice system in the U.S. The title aims to tackle the measure that needs to be taken in order to develop a more unified system as to theory, profession, and separation of powers. The text first talks about the public role, and then proceeds to dealing with the role of private sector. Next, the selection covers organized crime, terrorism, and hostage situations. Part IV tackles laws, courts, and correction. The last part discusses the upcoming changes in the criminal justice system in terms of personnel organization. The book will be of great interest to anyone who is concerned with the criminal justice system of the U.S.
  • Toward a New Strategy for Development

    A Rothko Chapel Colloquium
    • 1st Edition
    • May 19, 2014
    • Albert O. Hirschman + 2 more
    • English
    Toward a New Strategy for Development: A Rothko Chapel Colloquium is a collection of papers commissioned by the Rothko Chapel and presented at a colloquium held in Houston, Texas on February 3-5, 1977. The colloquium provided a forum for discussing the need for a new strategy for development, with emphasis on needs and programs from the perspectives of the developed countries at the center of the world's economic system and of the developing countries at its periphery, and from the standpoint of different disciplines. Comprised of 10 chapters, this book begins with an introduction to Marxism and its congruence with other neoclassical doctrines such as the Chicago School, followed by a discussion on development economics as well as the conditions that gave rise to the rapidly growing interest in development. The next chapter traces the origins and history of one major body of Latin American ideas on development since the early 1950s: the United Nation's Economic Commission for Latin America. Subsequent chapters explore internal issues of development within countries, with emphasis on urban and rural bias as well as factors that influence regional development policy; the postwar economic experience of the Third World; and the reactions of developed countries to calls for a new international economic order. This monograph will be of interest to economists and sociologists.
  • Rutland Street

    The Story of an Educational Experiment for Disadvantaged Children in Dublin
    • 1st Edition
    • May 19, 2014
    • Séamas Holland
    • English
    Rutland Street is a project that explores the ways in which education can help develop human’s innate abilities and the importance of this concept to the educational needs of the disadvantaged. The book consists of a recording of the valuable experience gained during pre-school and junior school of the subject children between the ages of 3 to 8, who belong to a poor family. The text provides a background of the Bernard van Leer Foundation, which is the initiator of the project. The description of the geographical location of the project site as well as the history of the location and its residents are given. The planning of the project is explained. The background and implementation of the educational program that will be used for the project is discussed in detail. Another program is initiated to include the adults of the area in the development of the Rutland Street project. The book is an interesting read for people concerned with humanitarian projects and for educators, students, and researchers in the field of sociology.