Colin Sharp will be speaking on Button Gwinnett, Dubious Signatory of the American Declaration of Independence, on Monday 23rd November at 6.00 pm in Shrewsbury Library, to coincide with publication of Button Gwinnett, Failed Merchant, Plantation Owner, Mountebank, Opportunist Politician and Founding Father, his fascinating account of this little-known but remarkable figure. Gwinnett, from Wolverhampton, rose by dubious means to become one of the largest landowners in the State of Georgia and, in 1776, placed his signature on the Declaration of Independence and then became President of Georgia – before his last, unfortunate duel. Colin Gwinnett Sharp is a former Royal Navy Commander who first came to know of his forbear’s exceptional life whilst serving in the British Embassy in Washington DC.
Call for new values to govern the relationship between humanity and our planet.
Patrick Duncan
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THIS BOOK, written fifty years ago, was among the first calls for a new system of values to govern the relationship between humanity and our planet. It has at least two claims on our attention. First, it contains a passionate and reasoned plea for the rights of non-human life. Second, Patrick Duncan proposes a new ethic which might enable fractious humanity to come together and help save the world from disaster. His biography was written by C.J.Driver Patrick Duncan: South African and Pan-African. James Currey (2000). See also: wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Duncan (anti-apartheid_activist) |
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| Man and the Earth is being republished fifty years on, because of its continuing relevance to some of the greatest global public policy challenges of the 21st century: the impact of humanity on our environment (climate change, biodiversity loss, etc.), and inequality of opportunity. The book makes exhilarating reading when Duncan describes the beauty of the world and human creativity. He does not flinch when reacting against the destructive side of humanity, and his anger and disgust are reminiscent of Swift. This is deeply personal, and many readers will disagree with some of his analyses. They will also be surprised, charmed, and moved. | ||||||||||
... This book suggests an ethical approach which might serve to unite humanity ... I hope it will be read by all those who believe that the present philosophy of maximisation must be replaced by a new concept of high-quality human living ...
Reviews...
Dr. George Monbiot, Writer and Journalist at The Guardian
This is a remarkably prescient book. Written at a time when technological optimism appeared to sweep all before it,
Man and the Earth identifies some of the great themes that later came to dominate.
Cormac Cullinan, environmental activist, lawyer and author of Wild Law
Man and the Earth is a book for the 21st Century which explains with great clarity why humanity cannot prosper unless we unite behind a common ethic centred on what is of greatest value to us all – Earth. The clarity, breadth and foresight of Patrick Duncan’s analysis and proposals for a way forward are all the more extraordinary for having been written in the 1960s. With the benefit of half of century of hindsight his discussions of ideology, population increase, global warming, the depletion of the ozone layer, the destruction of wild places, and the extinction of species seem prophetic. Yet global society is only now beginning to explore the solutions that he proposed. Only in the last few decades have serious attempts been made to determine the “budgets” that he proposed for establishing the ecologically sustainable limits of human impacts. Even more recent is the emergence of a global movement that advance his insight that it is essential to embrace the establishment of a balance and harmony between humanity and rest of the community of life as the purpose of life, and that achieving this requires fostering our inherent love of Earth. The fate of most, even all, of humanity will be decided during the first half of this Century. One of the best ways of enhancing our prospects is to read and act on Duncan’s insights. The Duncan family deserve credit for republishing a book that was so ahead of its time, now, when its time has come.
Satish Kumar, Editor-in-Chief, Resurgence & Ecologist magazine and Founder, Schumacher College
Patrick Duncan was a prophet ahead of his time. His seminal book, Man and the Earth is at once visionary, profound and practical. Patrick Duncan reminds us again and again that we mistreat our planet home at our peril. Man and the Earth is a lucid engaging read, wisdom and deep insight leaps out of every page. The essential message of the book is very simple and clear; take care of the earth and the earth will take care of you. Furthermore, Patrick Duncan makes it clear that nature is not merely a resource for our economy, nature is the source of life. Even though the book was written 50 years ago, it is as relevant today as it was then.
Roundhay Garden Scene
14 October is the anniversary of the world’s oldest movie picture It was made in 1888 by Louis le Prince at the home of his brother-in-law Joseph Whitely at Roundhay in Leeds. It shows Louis’s son Adolphe, Joseph and Sarah Whitley and Harriet Hartley walking round on the lawn by the French windows.
Girls Can’t Play Football
David Waugh
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She had often watched the boys from a distance and she was certain that she was more skilful than most of them. The trouble was, she had never played in a game. She could dribble in and out of the obstacle courses she set up for herself using plastic bottles and drinks cans, and she could trap and volley the ball as she bounced it off the brick wall of the old factory. What she did not know was if she could use her skills when other people were trying to take the ball from her. But before she could find out, she had to persuade the boys to let her play! |
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The book should appeal to both boys and girls and includes a range of topics which may interest readers, including wildlife, football, the effects of being a celebrity, and attempts to communicate in French. | ||||||||||
A Psychiatrist’s Life
Dr. Yousufzai F.R.C. Psych.
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This is the story of a long, hard struggle, cleverly analysed and described in vivid terms. Dr. Yousufsai is brutally frank and honest about his own weaknesses and he describes, in brief, a number of interesting cases he had the privilege to help, in the hope that this will give insight to the general public about the nature and variety of human problems that psychiatrists deal with - and in the hope that it will also help to reduce the stigma of mental disorders and shed light on the interaction of body and mind. |
And on Kindle Or Buy from YouCaxton Pay with PayPal £11.99 (+ £2 postage) |
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Essential skills for improving essay-writing and exam technique.
Kyriacos Papasavva
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Based on a decade long experience in teaching, Kyriacos Papasavva helps you develop the essential skills which will enable you to improve your essay writing and exam technique, and therefore succeed at university. Uniquely, this guide merges everyday study skills with a critical approach to your studies; required for philosophy, theology and ethics students particularly. This guide will help you: Understand marking criteria at university. Write well-structured essays. Develop a critical & reflective study skills approach. Manage your time throughout the academic year. And much more. |
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Reviews...
Ken Loach
Film maker Ken Loach invites us to consider Micheline Mason and Alan Sprung’s new book, published by YouCaxton, Healing the Hurts of Capitalism. This carefully argued book makes use of concepts more generally applied in psychology in order to arrive at an understanding of why our present system of finance and social relationships remains entrenched. His introduction is on the back cover.
Flux
Pat Edwards
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Pat's work has been published on-line in poetry blogs and websites such as Offa's Press and Not a Silent Poet. Pat regularly attends open mic events in Welshpool, Wrexham, Chester, Aberystwyth and Much Wenlock. She has had drama scripts published by Lazy Bees. Pat's first book, printed very much as a 'vanity project', was well-received: The book won't make the holiday as it was read from cover to cover when I got home....I laughed and cried all in the same hour, fantastic writing Been reading your essays, moved me to tears. Can certainly recognise many feelings and thoughts. Fantastic keep writing Very poignant and clever - very moving |
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Reviews...
J. A. Humphrey - Intelligent and Moving Poems
This book, consisting mostly of poetry with some autobiographical essays at the end, is full of 'oh yes, it's exactly like that!' moments. Pat Edwards writes with a mixture of intelligence, emotion and humour that creates an immediate connection with the reader. She has clearly been through a great deal of personal trauma because of recent serious illness, but has transformed this into universal experience through the quality of her controlled and incisive writing. I came upon 'Flux' purely by chance, but it is a book to which I shall return again and again.