Collection: Self-Development

Dialectic of Enlightenment is undoubtedly the most influential publication of the Frankfurt School of Critical Theory. Written during the Second World War and circulated privately, it appeared in a printed edition in Amsterdam in 1947. "What we had set out to do," the authors write in the Preface, "was nothing less than to explain why humanity, instead of entering a truly human state, is sinking into a new kind of barbarism."

Yet the work goes far beyond a mere critique of contemporary events. Historically remote developments, indeed, the birth of Western history and of subjectivity itself out of the struggle against natural forces, as represented in myths, are connected in a wide arch to the most threatening experiences of the present.

The book consists in five chapters, at first glance unconnected, together with a number of shorter notes. The various analyses concern such phenomena as the detachment of science from practical life, formalized morality, the manipulative nature of entertainment culture, and a paranoid behavioral structure, expressed in aggressive anti-Semitism, that marks the limits of enlightenment. The authors perceive a common element in these phenomena, the tendency toward self-destruction of the guiding criteria inherent in enlightenment thought from the beginning. Using historical analyses to elucidate the present, they show, against the background of a prehistory of subjectivity, why the National Socialist terror was not an aberration of modern history but was rooted deeply in the fundamental characteristics of Western civilization.

Adorno and Horkheimer see the self-destruction of Western reason as grounded in a historical and fateful dialectic between the domination of external nature and society. They trace enlightenment, which split these spheres apart, back to its mythical roots. Enlightenment and myth, therefore, are not irreconcilable opposites, but dialectically mediated qualities of both real and intellectual life. "Myth is already enlightenment, and enlightenment reverts to mythology." This paradox is the fundamental thesis of the book.

This new translation, based on the text in the complete edition of the works of Max Horkheimer, contains textual variants, commentary upon them, and an editorial discussion of the position of this work in the development of Critical Theory.

Let go, embrace your imperfections, and reject unrealistic standards with this accessible workbook full of prompts, quizzes, quotes, and tips to inspire your inner goblin.

Messy house, laid-back standards, self-acceptance: congratulations, you're in goblin mode! The 2022 Oxford Dictionary word of the year is more than a trend. It's a way of life. By letting go and chilling out, you're on your way to contentment. In Goblin Mode Guide to Life, you'll explore your existing beliefs about how you should live, work, and see yourself through writing prompts and quizzes. As you work your way through, you'll find that you're starting to catch on: being in goblin mode is all good. Quit the busy work and the performative behavior and get real. In the book you'll find:

• Over 100 thought-provoking prompts
• Fun quizzes
• Inspirational quotes
• Helpful tips

Sample prompts include:

• What parts of your life leave you stressed and exhausted?
• What will happen if you don't do the things you think you're supposed to do?
• When you're in perfectionist mode, what image do you try to project to a potential date or partner?

Free the goblin within you. You'll find goblin mode life oh-so-satisfying.

An entertaining and enlightening collection of ancient writings about the philosophers who advocated simple living and rejected unthinking conformity

The Cynics were ancient Greek philosophers who stood athwart the flood of society's material excess, unexamined conventions, and even norms of politeness and thundered "No!" Diogenes, the most famous Cynic, wasn't shy about literally extending his middle finger to the world, expressing mock surprise that "most people go crazy over a finger." When asked why he was called Diogenes the Dog, he replied "because I fawn on those who give, I bark at those who don't, and I bite scoundrels." How to Say No is a delightful collection of brief ancient writings about Cynicism that captures all the outrageousness, wit, and wisdom of its remarkable cast of characters--from Diogenes in the fourth century BCE to the column-stander Symeon Stylites in late antiquity.

With their "less is more" approach to life, the Cynics speak urgently to our world of climate change, economic uncertainty, and psychic malaise. Although the Cynics weren't writers, their memorable utterances and behavior were recorded by their admirers and detractors, and M. D. Usher offers fresh new translations of appealing selections from this body of writing--ranging from street sermons and repartee to biography and snapshots of Cynics in action.

Complete with introductions to the volume and each selection as well as the original Greek and Latin on facing pages, this lively book demonstrates why the Cynics still retain their power to surprise us and make us laugh--and to make us think and question how we live.

Inspired by the hit board game that has sold over 12 million copies, travel the world from the comfort of your home with the Ticket to Ride Puzzle Book.

Based on the award-winning board game, this book is packed full of 100 original, colourful and exciting challenges for puzzlers and board-game enthusiasts alike.

It's the year 1900, and you are a young tourist setting off on a global rail journey. Voyaging from city to city across countries and continents, you meet an entertaining set of characters who provide you with a perplexing set of brainteasers, from logic problems and train track puzzles to riddles and linguistic conundrums.

Climb aboard and ride across the world in 100 globe-trotting puzzles!

Now a new Netflix series, Oddballs!

An instant New York Times bestseller!

The sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Odd 1s Out, with all new and never-before-seen content featuring opinions, stories, and signature characters from YouTube phenomenon James Rallison

James Rallison has always felt like he was on the outside looking in. His YouTube videos are all about his "odd" behavior, and with over 13 million subscribers and millions more followers on social media, these animations have found their way into the hearts of fans who also feel like a bit of an odd one.

In this second installment in the Odd 1s Out series, James is back with characters, stories, and opinions, including:

- The upside of the robot uprising
- Questionable pizza toppings
- Strange yet completely reasonable fears
- Inventions that don't exist, but should

Offering advice on accepting your quirks and growing up in the Internet age, The Odd 1s Out: The First Sequel is sure to be a must-have for old and new fans alike.

A kid-friendly guide to the history and customs of Kwanzaa.

This informative and fun guide to the holiday of Kwanzaa by Black author Angela Shelf Medearis provides information about parties, recipes for African-inspired dishes, instructions for craft projects, and brief biographies of individuals who are connected to the holiday and its history.

A guided journal companion to the card deck of the bestselling The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, with over 1 million copies sold.

With Hygge Simplified, learn how to find happiness with this essential Scandinavian mindset!

Hygge has taken the world by storm, and now you too can find comfort and safety in the company of others, as well as alone at home. Unlike so much self-help, hygge is fairly simple and straightforward, ranging from different lighting to storage and wardrobe. This lifestyle is about more than reducing clutter, however; it is about personal growth so you are living a life of confidence and balance. While the principles of hygge are applicable to people in all phases of life, start off friends and family in their new home with this ideal housewarming gift. Happiness is here with Hygge Simplified!

The Sefer Yetzirah is perhaps the oldest and most mysterious of all kabbalistic texts. In this landmark work of mystical studies, Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan brings the text's theoretical, meditative, and magical implications to light.

The book explores the dynamics of the spiritual domain, the worlds of the sefirot, souls and angels. Rabbi Kaplan explains that when properly understood the Sefer Yetzirah becomes an instruction manual for a very special type of meditation meant to strengthen concentration and to aid in the development of telekinetic and telepathic powers. Through the use of various signs, incantations, and divine names, initiates could also influence or alter natural events.

This translation includes the meditation in five dimensions, the transition from binah to chakhmah consciousness, the point of infinity, kabbalistic astrology, Ezekiel's vision according to the Sefer Yetzirah, and the mystery of the 231 gates. Also included is a digest of all major commentaries on the text of the Sefer Yetzirah and a bibliography of many of the major kabbalistic works that discus it, as well as extensive notes regarding the various aspects of the translation. Rabbi Kaplan's translation is based on the Gra version of the text, which is thought to eb the most authentic. Also included is the short version, the long version, and the Saadia version, making this volume the most complete work on the Sefer Yetzirah available in English.

Keep your brain engaged while creating fun, beautiful art with this easy-to-use sticker book.

• Includes 10 dog- and puppy-themed photos to complete.
• Each design is divided into 20 squares.
• Each square has a number that corresponds to a sticker.
• Find the sticker, peel it, and place it in the right space.
• Watch as a full-colored image emerges from the original unfinished photograph.
• Spiral binding and perforated pages make it easy to use!

"A glorious book. Jean Shinoda Bolen's weaving of myth, science and keen observation makes this an outstanding contribution to the humanities." -- Rita Mae Brown

Jean Shinoda Bolen's celebrated work of female psychology that uses seven archetypical goddesses to describing behavior patterns and personality traits, as relevant and timeless today as when it was first published thirty years ago.

Myths are fascinating stories that become even more intriguing when we realize that they can reveal intimate truths about ourselves and others. Jean Shinoda Bolen brings the Greek pantheon to life as our inner archetypes and applies the power of myth to our personal lives. Once we understand the natural progression from myth to archetype to personal psychology, and realize that positive gifts and negative tendencies are qualities associated with a particular goddess within, we gain powerful insights.

Depending on which goddess is more active within, one woman might be more committed to achieving professional success, while another more fulfilled as a wife and mother. From the autonomous Artemis and the cool Athena to the nurturing Demeter and the creative Aphrodite, she teaches women how to decide which to cultivate and which to overcome, and how to tap the power of these enduring archetypes to become a better "heroine" in their own life story.

Put your noggin to the test with the most famous brain games of all time!

Puzzles and brainteasers can be found throughout history and around the world (did you know that coded messages date all the way back to 2500 BCE?). This book collects 125 of the most popular and challenging mind-benders for hours of fun-filled entertainment that can sharpen your creative thinking skills. Get ready to dive into famous math, logic, and word puzzles like Odd One Out, Fibonacci's Legacy, the Polybius Cipher, and more. Bring it on road trips, to family game night, or give it as a gift, and get everyone involved in the puzzle-solving fun!

• Fun for anyone--You don't need any special skills to solve these puzzles, and clues and answer keys are there to help you if you get stumped.
• 5 challenge levels--A wide variety of puzzle types and challenge levels ensures there's something to solve for puzzle masters of all ages and skills.
• Hints of history--Every time you tackle a new puzzle, you'll learn fun facts about where it comes from and how long it's been around.

Get ready to sharpen your mind with the ultimate book of mind-blowing brain teasers.

DATE SMARTER, MAKE BETTER DECISIONS IN LOVE, AND ACHIEVE THE RELATIONSHIP YOU DESERVE... IT ALL STARTS WITH NOT SETTLING!

By day, Faith Jenkins is the host of Oxygen's Killer Relationship and former host of the nationally syndicated relationship show Divorce Court; by night, she's a happily married new mother who navigated these dating streets for years before learning how to attract the love of her dreams. When she turned 35 without a wedding ring in sight, like most women, she started getting tons of questions about not being married. But she made a decision: I. Will. Not. Settle.

As an attorney and arbitrator, Faith has presided over hundreds of cases, and has helped couples avoid and resolve a wealth of drama. And she's seen it all! In Sis, Don't Settle, she's gathered an arsenal of love, wisdom and advice for women on how to play it smart.

Modern culture would have women believe they can't have it all--and be smart, successful, strong women with authentic love to boot. Wrong. Told in her signature style--sometimes salty and sometimes sweet--Faith provides real solutions that will teach you how to thrive in relationships while avoiding common missteps and pitfalls. She delivers it straight, with no chaser, to show us how to level up, and reminds you that how you live single will set the tone for your success in relationships.

Smart, illuminating, and, often laugh-out-loud funny, Sis, Don't Settle is the essential playbook that will help you build your confidence, generate better results in love, and land a high-value relationship once and for all. You'll find tips on topics like:

• Strong Independent Women...and the Men Who Love Them
• What's Worse than a Bad Relationship? Overextending Your Stay in One
• Becoming the Right Person to Attract the Right Person
• How to Release Trash Subconscious Beliefs that Keep You Settling
• And much more!

Whether you're single, divorced, or in a situationship, Sis, Don't Settle reveals the direction and guidance you need to navigate love and take back your power.

Discover how to explore and deepen your connection to nature with a rich array of do-anywhere meditations.

Meditations on the Trail offers a rich array of do-anywhere meditations that will help you explore and deepen your connection to nature, and yourself, in new ways, making the most of your time on the trail.

This small book--perfect for throwing in a daypack or a back pocket as you head out for the trail--is filled with practices to take you into the heart of the natural world and uncover your most vibrant self. You'll return home grateful, more aware of interconnection, and maybe just a little wiser.

"For walkers of all paces and geographies, this lovely book is a helpful guide for savoring moments on the trail, and feeling how deeply related we are to all existence."--Stephanie Kaza, author of Conversations with Trees: An Intimate Ecology

Prolonged Exposure Therapy is an effective, highly flexible, and very well researched intervention to reduce the symptoms of PTSD across a variety of traumatized populations. The second edition of Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD: Emotional Processing of Traumatic Experiences, Therapist Guide, along with the accompanying Workbook, provides all of the tools necessary for trained mental health providers to implement this first-line PTSD treatment with their patients. This model is individualized to address the needs of a variety of trauma survivors. Leaders in clinical practice, training, and research in the field of PTSD treatment, the authors have revised the Guide throughout to reflect the many advances in PTSD research that have occurred since the release of the first edition, including key adjustments to the underlying theory as well as additional evidence for modifications and individualization for more complex patient presentations and military populations. The Guide provides a concise but thorough description of the key components of the program, how to implement them, and when and how to consider adaptations.

A compact guide to everything bonsai.

The Japanese and Chinese have been creating bonsai trees for centuries and it is now an internationally popular pastime. This compact and stylish guide will provide everything you need to know to grow bonsai successfully, including shaping with wires, watering, seasonal maintenance, tackling common ailments, choosing the right container, feeding and repotting. A directory of over 180 of the most popular species, illustrated with beautiful photographs, will enable you to find the tree that is right for you.