New Releases by Kristina

For readers who were inspired by Alua Arthur’s Briefly Perfectly Human, an emotional, eye-opening account of one woman’s journey from loss and abuse to healing and spiritual awakening. As a boy, Jay Amelong predicted the accident that caused his death, down to the color of the car that hit him. “I will die young, while riding my bike,” he told friends and family repeatedly. “It won’t be much longer, I want you to be prepared.” These were baffling words to hear from the mouth of a content thirteen-year-old—but when Kristina Amelong was only seventeen, her brother’s tragic death unfolded exactly as he said it would, radically changing her life. Propelled down a self-destructive path of drug addiction and reckless sex, Kristina spent much of her young adult years wanting to die. Once or twice she came close. Always, Jay’s bizarre story and his inexplicable acceptance of his own death lived in her body. More than thirty years after losing Jay, Kristina embarks on a journey of discovery, seeking truth about herself, her brother, and the universe. The result of her investigation is a memoir that defies belief. Charting a life path from loss and abuse to healing and spiritual awakening, What My Brother Knew demonstrates the transformative power of facing the mystery of death head-on and our incredible ability, as humans, to do just that.

An R&B singer and a corporate executive find love that hits the right notes in this romance by Kristina Forest, USA Today bestselling author of The Partner Plot. Iris Greene used to be a woman with a plan. But all of that changed after she met the love of her life at twenty-five, got pregnant and married…and then became a widow and a single mother all in a little over two years. Now, after years of hustling, Iris is the director of partnerships at a beauty company and raising sweet six-year-old Calla by herself. Despite her busy life, she still can’t help but feel lonely. She just needs to catch her breath—and one night, at her sister’s wedding, when she steps outside to do just that, she sees a certain singer who takes her breath away. . . . By all accounts, pop R&B singer Angel Hughes has it made. He’s a successful musician and has just scored a brand ambassador deal with an emerging beauty company. But he’s still not fulfilled; he’s not producing songs he’s passionate about, and there’s a gaping hole in his love life. When he visits the Save Face Beauty office to kickstart his campaign, he’s delighted to see Iris, his stylist’s sister—the beautiful woman he’s secretly had a crush on for years. Despite their obvious attraction to each other, they must stay professional throughout the campaign tour—a goal that doesn’t quite pan out. But when it becomes clear their lives aren’t in sync, can they fall back in step to the same rhythm and beat? "Kristina Forest’s Green Sisters series blends swoonworthy romantic moments with a healthy dose of sisterly bonding and a dash of glitz and glamor. Each book is a well-rounded treat."—Alexis Daria, bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola

This revised and updated edition of the landmark publication reveals the current state of knowledge regarding animal tool behavior. When originally published in 1980, Animal Tool Behavior was the first volume to catalog and analyze the complete literature on tool use and manufacture in non-human animals. Benjamin B. Beck showed how animals—from insects to primates—employed different types of tools to solve numerous problems. This work inspired and energized legions of researchers to study the use of tools by a wide variety of species. This new edition reveals the current state of knowledge regarding animal tool behavior, updated and revised with 300 additional references that have been published since the second edition. Through a comprehensive synthesis of studies produced through 2023, Robert W. Shumaker, Kristina R. Walkup, and Benjamin B. Beck define tool use, discuss the modes of tool use that have emerged in the scientific literature, examine all forms of tool manufacture, and address common myths about non-human tool use. Specific examples involving invertebrates, birds, fish, and mammals describe the differing levels of sophistication of tool use exhibited by animals. This volume provides a thorough framework for understanding animal tool use and manufacture.

Through storytelling, ethnography, and interviews, Heritage in the Body examines the links between health and heritage in times of change. Using a series of case studies, anthropologist Kristina Baines tells the intimate stories of how Indigenous Maya and Garifuna Belizeans—both in Belize and in the United States—navigate macro-level processes such as economic development, climate change, political shifts, and global health crises in the context of changes in their own lives. Employing an embodied ecological heritage (EEH) framework, Baines explores the links between health and heritage as a fluid series of ecological practices. Health and wellness are holistically defined and approached from a phenomenological perspective. Baines focuses on how sensory experiences change the body through practice and provides insights into community-driven alternatives as a means to maintain and support happy, healthy lives.

Now in paperback, overcome perfectionism and self-doubt by unapologetically embracing your fully awesome self—flaws and all—with the co-founder of Mindvalley, a global school delivering transformational education for all ages. "An inspiring read for any individual prepared to embark on a journey toward their truest self." — Dr. Shefali, New York Times best-selling author of The Conscious Parent Perfectionism is the one thing that often stands between us and lasting, deep happiness and feelings of peace and fulfillment. As life happens, we fall in love with the idea of who we could be instead of who we actually are—leaving parts of ourselves behind and losing sight of what and who are truly important. How can we simultaneously live as ourselves without ourselves? By sharing revelatory personal anecdotes and thoughtful reflection prompts, Kristina Mänd-Lakhiani, co-founder of the global transformational school Mindvalley, guides you toward: Finding your own truth despite the external and internal critics Transforming ideas of the Perfect You into the embodiment of the Real You Embracing a life where no one needs fixing Only by finding your way back to yourself and understanding who you really are—by accepting your dents and scratches, your quirky uniqueness, and your flaws—will you thrive in being unapologetically you, most flawesomely.

From the author of Hold On, But Don’t Hold Still, the emotionally charged and eye-opening account of a mother who navigates the cacophony of best practices and urgent advice from parenting authorities in search of a way to support her teen as he maps his own path to mental health. When Kristina Kuzmič started to see signs that her otherwise sunny, resilient teenage son was struggling, she was sure a few simple fixes could right the ship. But over the following months, the issues her family faced became more nuanced, complicated, and pervasive than she could''ve predicted—and what began as a clear to do list spiraled into an emotionally fraught and seemingly endless push and pull between signs of progress and overwhelming fear. Despite her best efforts, Kuzmič had internalized a set of obligations, ideas, and unrealistic standards from parenting culture and social media that left her unprepared to guide her child when he needed her most. Featuring an urgent and affirming foreword by renowned and New York Times bestselling clinician Dr. Shefali Tsabary—Kuzmič''s new book debunks ten "parenting truths” that kept her in crisis, and delves into her insecurities and the mistakes she made to reveal invaluable lessons and transformative approaches that worked. While her family stands on the other side now stronger than ever, Kuzmič''s journey calls to parents who have felt the instinct to say “I can fix this” in situations where good intentions far exceed our abilities to enact change.

Combat digestive symptoms and get trustworthy information to keep yourself healthy from the inside out Gut Health For Dummies can help you restore and optimize your gut and its microbes, for better health day to day. Clear away the confusion and debunk the unscientific information found on social media with this essential guide. You’ll learn what makes the gut so important and how it influences the rest of your body, including your brain. Figure out how to manage digestive disorders and gut symptoms, confidently navigate the world of probiotics and other gut health supplements, and find inspiration for the diet and lifestyle changes that will support your health for years to come. This jargon-free Dummies guide will set you on the right path, giving you tips for adopting healthy habits, healing your gut biome, and being proactive for wellbeing and longevity. Learn how the gut works and explore what may be causing your digestive symptoms Combat IBS and other gut disorders with the latest science Steer clear of myths, scams, and misinformation—discover what actually works Be proactive in managing your gut health to ensure robust health and wellbeing at every age For those who currently experience gastrointestinal symptoms, and anyone interested in learning about evidence-based ways to optimize gut health, Gut Health For Dummies is the right choice.

Two former high school sweethearts get a second chance in this marriage of convenience in this USA Today bestselling romance by Kristina Forest. To Violet Greene, fashion is everything. As a successful celebrity stylist, she travels all over the world, living out her dreams. Professionally, she’s thriving, but her personal life is in shambles. After surviving a very public breakup with her ex-fiancé six months ago, Violet is now determined to focus on her career. But life hands her something—or rather, someone—that might derail everything… Xavier Wright did not expect to run into his high school girlfriend Violet—the girl he once thought he’d marry—on a birthday trip to Vegas. As a high school teacher and basketball coach, he rarely leaves his New Jersey hometown, so what were the chances? But when the initial shock wears off, they decide to celebrate together. They feel young and reckless as they party the night away—and reckless they clearly were when the following morning, they wake up beside each other with rings on their fingers. Their impulsive nuptials might be a blessing in disguise, though, when they realize that both of their careers could benefit from the marriage. So they play the part of a blissfully wedded couple. Yet when their passion comes hurling back, they realize their feelings are just as real as they were back when they were teens. But are their lives too different to stick it through or will they finally get a happy ending?

"Discovering that a partner has had an affair can feel like an earthquake. Long after the first jolt, emotional aftershocks can make it difficult to be there for family, manage daily life, and think clearly about options. From award-winning couple therapists, this compassionate guide has already provided support and expert advice to thousands of readers. Updated throughout, the second edition draws on the latest research and is filled with vivid stories of diverse couples struggling with infidelity in all its forms--sexual or emotional, in-person or online. The book offers exercises and tips for processing what happened, coping with anger and mistrust, and mapping a way to move forward, whether separately or together. Prior Edition: Replaces Getting Past the Affair (9781572308015)"--

It''s odd to think that we can simultaneously be living as ourselves without ourselves. As life happens, we fall in love with the idea of who we could be instead of with who we actually are-leaving parts of ourselves behind and losing sight of what and who is truly important within ourselves. By sharing revelatory personal anecdotes and reflection prompts, Kristina M nd-Lakhiani, co-founder of Mind Valley, helps to guide you toward- Finding your own truth despite the external and internal critics Transforming from the Perfect You into the Real You Embodying a life where no one needs fixing Reclaim your happiness as your gift to the world and take the first steps to living truthfully within your flawesomely beautiful reflection.

Building off the success of the first edition, Gut Microbiota: Interactive Effects on Nutrition and Health, Second Edition, details the complex relationship between diet, the gut microbiota, and health. This second edition expands its coverage of emerging practical applications in nutrition and medicine.Covering topics such as the ecological concepts that apply to the gut microbiota and the effects of aging on the gut microbiome, among others, this book is sure to be a welcome resource to microbiome science trainees, food and nutrition researchers working in academia, and industry and healthcare professionals giving dietary recommendations to the general public. - Presents diet, the gut microbiota, and health in a way that helps the reader interpret the value of related consumer tests and products - Includes frequently asked questions that help clinicians provide succinct answers to their patients or clients - Covers gut microbiota in the context of nutrition research and analyzes gaps in current knowledge to shape the design of future studies in this field

For more than fifty years, we have been waging, but not winning, the war on cancer. We’re better than ever at treating the disease, yet cancer still claims the lives of one in five men and one in six women in the US. The astonishing news is that up to two-thirds of all cancer cases are linked to preventable environmental causes. If we can stop cancer before it begins, why don’t we? That was the question that motivated Kristina Marusic’s revelatory inquiry into cancer prevention. In searching for answers, she met remarkable doctors, scientists, and advocates who are upending our understanding of cancer and how to fight it. They recognize that we will never reduce cancer rates without ridding our lives of the chemicals that increasingly trigger this deadly disease. Most never imagined this role for themselves. One scientist grew up without seeing examples of Indian-American women in the field, yet went on to make shocking discoveries about racial disparities in cancer risk. Another leader knew her calling was children’s health, but realized only later in her career that kids can be harmed by invisible pollutants at their daycares. Others uncovered surprising links between cancer and the everyday items that fill our homes and offices. For these individuals, the fight has become personal. And it certainly is personal for Berry, a young woman whose battle with breast cancer is woven throughout these pages. Might Berry have dodged cancer had she not grown up in Oil City, Pennsylvania, in the shadow of refineries? There is no way to know for sure. But she is certain that, even with the best treatment available, her life was changed irrevocably by her diagnosis. Marusic shows that, collectively, we have the power to prevent many cases like Berry’s. The war on cancer is winnable—if we revolutionize the way we fight.

This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of identity-based brand management based on current research. The authors focus on the design of the brand identity, which covers the internal perspective of brand management, and the resulting external brand image perceived by consumers and other audiences. The book covers topics such as brand positioning, the design of the brand architecture and brand elements, the management of brand touchpoints and the customer journey, as well as multi-sensory brand management and brand management in a digital environment. Further topics covered are international brand management, brand management in the retail sector, in social media and on digital brand platforms (electronic marketplaces). Numerous practical examples illustrate the applicability of the concept of identity-based brand management. The authors show that the concept of identity-based brand management is a valuable management model to make brands successful. In the 2nd edition, all chapters were fundamentally revised and up-to-date practical examples as well as latest research findings were added. Additional material is available via an app: Download the Springer Nature Flashcards App and use exclusive content to test your knowledge.

Anna Jinghua returned to her ancestral home. It was meant to be a holiday with friends but every hundred years there is a disturbance. The time wasn’t right to travel as a prediction was unfolding. She could have returned home but instead, followed a trail of tales where she accepted the inevitable. Being a seer of the future, there were many threads to weave and with the help of immortals, she learned of a diversion. Mars isn’t a place for the future but a connection with the past. To get to your destination, all YOU need to do, is look into a mirror.

Set in pre-war England, Jacob''s Room traces the development of Jacob Flanders from childhood to adulthood. In this pathbreaking experimental novel, Jacob''s character and the events of his life are revealed primarily through the letters, conversations, and thoughts of the people in his life who love him. Their impressions and memories surround the lacuna at the center of the story, which is Jacob himself, whose inner life is only fleetingly glimpsed. Elegiac, probing, and poignant, Jacob''s Room is an important modernist text by a literary virtuoso coming into her own. This Warbler Classics edition includes an illuminating afterword by Kristina K. Groover and a detailed biographical timeline.

A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.

From three bestselling authors comes an interwoven tale about a trio of World War II nurses stationed in the South Pacific who wage their own battle for freedom and survival. The Philippines, 1941. When U.S. Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, U.S. Army nurse Penny Franklin, and Filipina nurse Lita Capel forge a friendship at the Army Navy Club in Manila, they believe they’re living a paradise assignment. All three are seeking a way to escape their pasts, but soon the beauty and promise of their surroundings give way to the heavy mantle of war. Caught in the crosshairs of a fight between the U.S. military and the Imperial Japanese Army for control of the Philippine Islands, the nurses are forced to serve under combat conditions and, ultimately, endure captivity as the first female prisoners of the Second World War. As their resiliency is tested in the face of squalid living arrangements, food shortages, and the enemy''s blatant disregard for the articles of the Geneva Convention, the women strive to keep their hope— and their fellow inmates—alive, though not without great cost. In this sweeping story based on the true experiences of nurses dubbed "the Angels of Bataan," three women shift in and out of each other''s lives through the darkest days of the war, buoyed by their unwavering friendship and distant dreams of liberation. "A novel rich in historical detail that immerses readers in the dangers and deprivation WWII nurses suffered in the Pacific, wrapped up with a hopeful ending." -Booklist

One of The New Yorker’s Best Books of the Year • Named one of the Most Memorable Music Books of the Year by No Depression: The Journal of Roots Music "Compelling.… [R]eveals [an instrument] intimately rooted in the African diaspora and capable of expressing flights of sorrow and joy." —David Yezzi, Wall Street Journal An illuminating history of the banjo, revealing its origins at the crossroads of slavery, religion, and music. In an extraordinary story unfolding across two hundred years, Kristina Gaddy uncovers the banjo’s key role in Black spirituality, ritual, and rebellion. Through meticulous research in diaries, letters, archives, and art, she traces the banjo’s beginnings from the seventeenth century, when enslaved people of African descent created it from gourds or calabashes and wood. Gaddy shows how the enslaved carried this unique instrument as they were transported and sold by slaveowners throughout the Americas, to Suriname, the Caribbean, and the colonies that became U.S. states, including Louisiana, South Carolina, Maryland, and New York. African Americans came together at rituals where the banjo played an essential part. White governments, rightfully afraid that the gatherings could instigate revolt, outlawed them without success. In the mid-nineteenth century, Blackface minstrels appropriated the instrument for their bands, spawning a craze. Eventually the banjo became part of jazz, bluegrass, and country, its deepest history forgotten.

"The Queen''s Gambit meets The Alice Network in this epic, action-packed novel of family, loss, and one woman''s journey to save all she holds dear—including freedom itself." —Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars From the New York Times bestselling author of Sold on a Monday—over a million copies sold—comes a sweeping World War II tale of an illusionist whose recruitment by British intelligence sets her on a perilous, heartrending path. As a little girl raised amid the hardships of Michigan''s Copper Country, Fenna Vos learned to focus on her own survival. That ability sustains her even now as the Second World War rages in faraway countries. Though she performs onstage as the assistant to an unruly escape artist, behind the curtain she''s the mastermind of their act. Ultimately, controlling her surroundings and eluding traps of every kind helps her keep a lingering trauma at bay. Yet for all her planning, Fenna doesn''t foresee being called upon by British military intelligence. Tasked with designing escape aids to thwart the Germans, MI9 seeks those with specialized skills for a war nearing its breaking point. Fenna reluctantly joins the unconventional team as an inventor. But when a test of her loyalty draws her deep into the fray, she discovers no mission is more treacherous than escaping one''s past. Inspired by stunning true accounts, The Ways We Hide is a gripping story of love and loss, the wars we fight—on the battlefields and within ourselves—and the courage found in unexpected places.

A fresh love story about the will they, won''t they—and why can''t they—of first love. While on a school trip to the Poconos Mountains (in the middle of a storm) high school seniors, Zyla Matthews and Kai Johnson, run away together leaving their friends and family confused. As far as everyone knows, Zyla and Kai have been broken up for months. And honestly? Their break up hadn''t surprised anyone. Zyla and Kai met while working together at an amusement park the previous summer, and they couldn''t have been more different. Zyla was a cynic about love. She''d witnessed the dissolution of her parents'' marriage early in life, and it left an indelible impression. Her only aim was graduating and going to fashion school abroad. Until she met Kai. Kai was a serial dater and a hopeless romantic. He''d put a temporary pause on his dating life before senior year to focus on school and getting into his dream HBCU. Until he met Zyla. Alternating between the past and present, we see the love story unfold from Zyla''s and Kai''s perspectives: how they first became the unlikeliest of friends over the summer, how they fell in love during the school year, and why they ultimately broke up... Or did they? Romantic, heart-stirring, and a little mysterious, Zyla & Kai will keep readers guessing until the last chapter.

Den moderne mand vågner for nedrullede mørklægningsgardiner den morgen, hvor pæren i hans lysterapilampe med indbygget fuglekvidder-option pludselig går. Det skal vise sig at indvarsle en ren lavine af ulykker, der kommer til at rulle ind over ham gennem det morgenritual, som ellers var tænkt til at gøre ham fit for fight til endnu en dag i spotlightenes midte. TO THE MODERN MAN er et forbandet og humoristisk portræt, der hænger den moderne mand op i tøjklemmer, så vi kan se ham, rigtig se ham, vende og dreje ham og det image, han har så travlt med at brande sig selv med.

Want to make your instruction more equitable and effective, more interesting, and more fun? It''s time to try flexible grouping. Unlike traditional grouping, which typically puts like with like or combines students without regard to the best way to promote their individual growth, flexible grouping is both purposeful and fluid, regularly combining and recombining different students in different ways to pursue a wide range of academic and affective goals. In this comprehensive guide to flexible grouping, author Kristina J. Doubet shares a staged implementation approach that takes students from simple partner set-ups designed to build cooperative skills to complex structures ideal for interest and readiness-informed academic exploration. She covers the key factors to consider when forming groups and highlights how this approach to organizing learning can help you disrupt rigid tracking, deliver targeted instruction, connect to student interests, boost collaboration, and build community. Focused, practical, and written for teachers of all subjects and grade levels, The Flexibly Grouped Classroom provides * Dozens of strategies to expand your instructional repertoire, along with links to additional models and resources; * Guidance on setting the tone and expectations for group tasks, ideas for student role distribution, and tips for monitoring progress, noise, and time; * A planning template and sample grouping plans for an elementary and secondary classroom; and * Specific troubleshooting advice to help you navigate common complications. Choosing to make your classroom a flexibly grouped one means positioning every student to learn better—without feeling superior or inferior, without being overburdened or underchallenged—and to discover for themselves how much farther they can go together than they ever could alone.

Winner of the 2022 Dan David Prize for outstanding scholarship that illuminates the past and seeks to anchor public discourse in a deeper understanding of history Winner of the 2023 Medieval Academy of America Monica H. Green Prize for Distinguished Medieval Research Honorable Mention in the 2023 Middle East Medievalists Book Prize In Middle Eastern cities as early as the mid-8th century, the Sons of Sasan begged, trained animals, sold medicinal plants and potions, and told fortunes. They captivated the imagination of Arab writers and playwrights, who immortalized their strange ways in poems, plays, and the Thousand and One Nights. Using a wide range of sources, Richardson investigates the lived experiences of these Sons of Sasan, who changed their name to Ghuraba'' (Strangers) by the late 1200s. This name became the Arabic word for the Roma and Roma-affiliated groups also known under the pejorative term ''Gypsies''. This book uses mostly Ghuraba''-authored works to understand their tribal organization and professional niches as well as providing a glossary of their language Sin. It also examines the urban homes, neighborhoods, and cemeteries that they constructed. Within these isolated communities they developed and nurtured a deep literary culture and astrological tradition, broadening our appreciation of the cultural contributions of medieval minority communities. Remarkably, the Ghuraba'' began blockprinting textual amulets by the 10th century, centuries before printing on paper arrived in central Europe. When Roma tribes migrated from Ottoman territories into Bavaria and Bohemia in the 1410s, they may have carried this printing technology into the Holy Roman Empire.

A young girl learns a valuable lesson about disappointment, acceptance, silver linings, and unexpected opportunities. Sometimes in life, children (and adults!) want something so badly that they can''t let go of the idea that what they want is "meant to be." This story, based on a real-life experience, follows a young girl named Macey through the process of losing something that she thought was meant for her. On the other side of disappointment and heartache, Macey learns that sometimes losing out on what we thought we wanted opens the door for something just as good-or even better! Is It Meant to Be? is based on a true story that happened to the author, Kristina, and her family. One night, at their ranch in Idaho, a dog showed up out of nowhere. The family all fell in love with him and felt that he had come to them for a reason. It seemed like he was meant to be their dog. The events that happened after that and the lessons they learned in the process inspired Kristina to write this book.

This open access book provides an introduction to multimodality and the role of multimodal texts in today’s education. Presenting a comprehensive framework for analysing and working with multimodal texts in disciplinary education, it serves as a tool for researchers and teachers alike. The second part of the book focuses on sample analyses of a variety of educational texts for different age groups and from different disciplines, including games and online resources. The authors also comment on the specific challenges of each text, and how teachers can discuss such texts with their students to enhance both their understanding of the content and their multimodal literacy. The book is intended for researchers in fields like education and multimodal studies, and for teacher educators, regardless of school subject or age group. With the combined perspectives on text analysis and implications for education, the book addresses the needs of teachers who want to work with multimodal aspects of texts in education in informed ways, but lack the right tools for such work.

Get through any relationship split with this collection of relatable, impassioned, and irreverent breakup haikus. When her marriage came to a sudden and infuriating end, noted relationship columnist Kristina Grish turned to writing impassioned breakup haikus as a creative way of processing all the messy and intense feelings she was experiencing. Now, in F*ck You Haiku, Kristina has compiled more than 100 breakup haikus—inspired by her past breakups as well as universal experiences—to help anyone going through a split deal with their heartbreak via poetry. Representing a range of emotions and clever ways to vent about your ex, these haikus are entertaining and enraging, as well as enlightening and empowering. So if you’re currently going through a breakup—whether you did the deed or are on the receiving end of it—let this collection of inventive poems help you say “f*ck you” to that special someone and eventually “love you” to yourself.

Mooncakes and Milk Bread takes you on a culinary adventure through the world of Chinese bakeries, as architect-turned-food blogger Kristina Cho introduces everyone to her unique twists on traditional Chinese baked goods.

When a virus keeps Mira indoors and isolated, she misses her friends. She misses karate. She even misses school. To return to normal life, she must fight the nasty germs, and her imagination runs wild. In the end, it''s Mira''s use of hygiene and healthy habits that save the day Written and illustrated by three moms during the COVID-19 outbreak, microbiologist and epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bondurant, author Jen Holman, and award-winning artist Cary Smith, this book is meant to help parents explain tough topics like pandemics and social distancing. The beautifully-illustrated picture book delicately reveals to children how viruses spread, what "pandemic" means, and what they can do to help. Included in the back of the book are a history and timeline of pandemics, as well as a glossary-- all simplified so children can better understand the science behind how viruses affect the world.

In Colombia, decades of social and armed conflict and the US-led war on drugs have created a seemingly untenable situation for scientists and rural communities as they attempt to care for forests and grow non-illicit crops. In Vital Decomposition Kristina M. Lyons presents an ethnography of human-soil relations. She follows state soil scientists and peasants across labs, greenhouses, forests, and farms and attends to the struggles and collaborations between farmers, agrarian movements, state officials, and scientists over the meanings of peace, productivity, rural development, and sustainability in Colombia. In particular, Lyons examines the practices and philosophies of rural farmers who value the decomposing layers of leaves, which make the soils that sustain life in the Amazon, and shows how the study and stewardship of the soil point to alternative frameworks for living and dying. In outlining the life-making processes that compose and decompose into soil, Lyons theorizes how life can thrive in the face of the violence, criminalization, and poisoning produced by militarized, growth-oriented development.

Delivering inspiration and "parenting comedy at its finest,"* here is one woman''s story of ditching her fairytale dreams and falling in love with her unpredictable, chaotic, imperfect life from the author of I Can Fix This Kristina Kuzmic has made herself a household name, speaking directly to mothers from the trenches of parenthood via her viral videos and social media presence. She is now bringing her message of self-acceptance, resilience, and joy to book readers. With a refreshingly unpretentious, funny, and galvanizing voice, Kuzmic goes behind the scenes to reveal how she went from broke and defeated to unshakably grounded and brimming with thankfulness. Illuminating the hard-won wisdom from a life always spent one step behind--whether it was as a high school student new to America, a suddenly single mother to two kids, remarried and juggling two teens and a toddler, or the unexpected recipient of Oprah''s attention and investment--Hold On, But Don''t Hold Still is the book every mother needs to reassure her that she''s not only fine just as she is, but that she already has more tools and support than she can possibly imagine. Sparkling with wit, this heartfelt memoir is like a long coffee date with a best friend, or the eleventh-hour text message that gives you just the boost you need to get through the night. *The Huffington Post