New Releases by Ben Hillman

Power and Patronage examines the unwritten rules and inner workings of contemporary China''s local politics and government. It exposes how these rules have helped to keep the one-Party state together during decades of tumultuous political, social, and economic change. While many observers of Chinese politics have recognized the importance of informal institutions, this book explains how informal local groups actually operate, paying special attention to the role of patronage networks in political decision-making, political competition, and official corruption. While patronage networks are often seen as a parasite on the formal institutions of state, Hillman shows that patronage politics actually help China''s political system function. In a system characterized by fragmented authority, personal power relations, and bureaucratic indiscipline, patronage networks play a critical role in facilitating policy coordination and bureaucratic bargaining. They also help to regulate political competition within the state, which reduces the potential for open conflict. Understanding patronage networks is essential for understanding the resilience of the Chinese state through decades of change. Power and Patronage is filled with rich and fascinating accounts of the machinations of patronage networks and their role in the ruthless and sometimes violent competition for political power.

Strange but fascinating facts about everyday things that turns out to be extraordinary.

In this third book by Ben Hillman, young readers will learn and see just how fast something is. By comparing objects such as the Thrust SSC (that''s a Thrust-powered Super Sonic Car), an ostrich (don''t underestimate the ostrich, my friend!), the human brain, and bamboo,wildly different objects are taken out of normal context and placed next to one another to allow for new and exciting perspectives. So just how fast is an ostrich? An ostrich would beat a top-notch professional cyclist in a ten-mile (sixteen km) race, hands down! While the best cyclists can race at blistering speeds of twenty-five miles per hour, the ostrich can run at forty-five miles per hour! Other books in the series that kids will enjoy: How Big Is It? and How Strong Is It?

Presents a visual guide to items and animals of various strength and substance, including such examples as spider webs, bulldozers, black holes, lasers, icebreakers, and the Hercules beetle.