Best Selling Books by Michael Brown

The question of how the church deals with homosexuality has become the great moral and spiritual issue of this generation. How do we respond to gay people who tell us how much they love the Lord and experience God''s power? How do we answer them when they say that the greatest law is the law of love, and that love requires us to embrace them as they are? What do we do with the argument that the Old Testament laws (such as the prohibition against homosexuality and the dietary laws) no longer apply? Gay and Christian? will provide solid biblical answers, clearly written and based on sound scholarship, in a compassionate way that causes the reader to wrestle with the issues and discover the biblical truth. The book also provides practical guidelines for ministry and shows readers how they can resist the gay agenda while reaching out to their gay friends and family.

Designed for students with little or no musical background, An Introduction to the History and Literature of Music in Western Culture is an interdisciplinary text that can stand alone in a music appreciation class or serve as an excellent supplement to a survey of Western history or literature. The driving philosophy behind this text is music education, not musicology. Author Michael Brown has taught this material for 25 years in both high school and college, giving him a feel for the impractical and overburdened quality of many music appreciation textbooks. Because most students come to school with only a very limited knowledge of music, the overriding goal of An Introduction to the History and Literature of Music in Western Culture is simply to introduce students to the aesthetic appreciation of music and to give music a place in their view of the world. The text covers major composers and forms in chronological order, though without attempting to present a comprehensive history of music. Instead, the emphasis is on a broad view of the aesthetics of music as it has developed over the course of Western civilization. Similarly, it has no sample music manuscripts, but a pair of compact discs complements the text by offering selections to go with the “Music Analysis” sections of each chapter. Furthermore, the culture and style of each period is communicated more fully through dozens of works of art, from antiquity to the modern era, reproduced throughout the book.

A down-to-earth approach to spirituality that links your garden with biblical tradition. “Perhaps you’re asking, ‘What is a “Jewish garden”?’ Though it is essentially a collection of plants, it’s really more than that. You don’t just grow plants in a Jewish garden; you incorporate them into your life. Some will help transport you to different times and places; others will provide your senses with aromas, tastes, and beauty. All will help you experience a more personal attachment to God and to Judaism.” —from the Introduction This guide shows how your gardening can sustain your spirit in new ways, whether you grow one fig tree on an apartment terrace, or five acres of wheat in the country. It may also help you realize, as never before, that for each fruit and vegetable associated with every holiday, there is a profound and sustaining reason. To ancient Jews, figs symbolized prosperity, grapes signified fertility, and olives represented the renewal of life. Barley was the chief cooking staple, and dates were a honey substitute. The Jewish Gardening Cookbook gives clear and easy-to-follow instructions on how these foods—and more—can be grown and used for holidays, festivals, and life cycle events. For example, following the cycle of the Jewish year, it explains how to grow apples to bake in apple-raisin-nut cake at Rosh Hashanah, potatoes for latkes at Hanukkah, and ways to maximize use of your zucchini crop with zucchini nut bread at Purim. The Jewish Gardening Cookbook provides tasty vegetarian recipes so that what you grow can be enjoyed during holiday meals, bringing our biblical past into our lives as people who have a profound relationship with the Land of Israel.

“Unsolved Mysteries” explores some of history''s most perplexing enigmas, from lost civilizations to strange disappearances, using scientific and historical analysis. The book emphasizes evidence-based investigation and critical thinking to offer plausible interpretations of unexplained phenomena. It delves into mysteries like what happened to the Indus Valley Civilization, an advanced society that seemingly vanished, or the odd case of the Mary Celeste, a ship found adrift and deserted. The book uniquely emphasizes the process of investigation, applying scientific methodologies and historical analysis to archaeological discoveries and more. It examines unexplained finds like the Antikythera mechanism, highlighting lost ancient technology. Beginning with the principles of investigative analysis, the book progresses through case studies, each dedicated to a specific unsolved mystery. By connecting history, archaeology, and sciences like climatology and forensic science, “Unsolved Mysteries” avoids sensationalism, instead focusing on careful analysis and well-supported interpretations. This approach fosters critical thinking, encouraging readers to approach complex questions with a skeptical yet open mind, making it valuable for anyone interested in science, history, and the art of unraveling intricate puzzles.

John Toland was notorious. A pamphleteer, a polemicist and a prankster of the first order, modern scholarship has struggled to position his writings within the debates of his day. This study is the first to fully recount his remarkable biography, situating his writings within the controversies that sparked and shaped them.

Desert Greenhouses explores the groundbreaking intersection of technology and agriculture, revealing how arid landscapes are being transformed into productive farmlands. It addresses the critical issue of food security in regions facing water scarcity by detailing how advanced irrigation techniques and climate control systems are revolutionizing desert farming. Traditional irrigation methods often lead to significant water wastage; however, innovations like drip irrigation are drastically improving water use efficiency. The book examines the science behind water management and the engineering of controlled environments. It progresses from foundational principles of plant physiology and soil science to detailed analyses of irrigation technologies and greenhouse designs. Case studies of successful desert greenhouse operations around the world highlight the practical applications of these concepts and technologies. Ultimately, Desert Greenhouses posits that integrating these technologies offers a sustainable path to food production in arid and semi-arid regions. The book emphasizes that adopting these methods can significantly contribute to food self-sufficiency and economic development in desert communities, presenting a valuable resource for those interested in sustainable agriculture and environmental science.

This collection represents new and selected poems spanning the thirty year career of this notable poet. Included are poems from all of his previous books. His writing style is unparrelled and speaks in his unique voice. The romantic poems are most certainly some of the best poetry you will find anywhere. The Marriage Proposal is a truly inspired example.

In Moving Beyond Self-Interest, psychologists, neuroscientists, economists, and political scientists discuss and extend cutting-edge developments in the science of caring for and helping others. Their insights help readers appreciate the human capacity for engaging in altruistic acts, on both a small and large scale.

Puzzle Addiction Factors explores the compelling allure of puzzles, delving into the psychology and neuroscience behind why we find them so captivating. It examines the brain''s reward system, specifically how dopamine release reinforces puzzle-solving behavior, making us want to continue. Intriguingly, the book highlights how well-designed puzzles create a ""flow state,"" where challenge and skill are perfectly balanced, leading to heightened engagement. The book progresses systematically, first introducing the neurobiological basis of puzzle addiction, then unraveling the psychological factors at play, such as cognitive biases. It then details how game design principles contribute to a puzzles addictive quality. It combines insights from psychology, neuroscience, and game design to provide a holistic view. This interdisciplinary approach, combined with its accessible language and real-world applications in education, therapy, and employee engagement, sets the book apart.

“Readers who enjoy plants and offbeat tales will find Brown’s book a happy mix” (Publishers Weekly). Mankind has always had a morbid fascination with poisonous plants. Over the centuries, poisonous plants have been used to remove garden pests—as well as unwanted rivals and deceitful partners. They have also been used for their medicinal qualities, as rather dangerous cosmetics, and even to help seduce a lover when perceived as an aphrodisiac. Some of these and other uses originate in a medieval book that has not yet been translated into English. This book delves into the history of these plants, covering such topics as: How shamans and priests used these plants for their magical attributes, as a means to foretell the future or to commune with the gods How a pot of basil helped to conceal a savage murder The truth about the mysterious mandrake A conundrum written by Jane Austen to entertain her family—the answer to which is one of the plants in this book These stories and many more will enlighten you on these treacherous and peculiar plants, their defensive and deadly traits, the facts behind them, and the folklore that has grown around them.

Why we can’t stop fighting – and how to get great stuff done despite our differences Did you know you’re likely to have had over 89,000 heated altercations with your closest relations before you reached the age of eight? By age 16, thousands more hours will have been spent by most of us in some form of disagreement with those in our extended social networks. As a species, we’re well practised at falling out with each other. We may even have a gene for it – certainly, some of us seem to be gifted. When it comes to finding resolutions, however, things don''t come quite so naturally: as much as 90% of all interpersonal conflicts never reach agreement. But it doesn’t have to be this way. I Don’t Agree is a fascinating exploration of new, powerful and surprising solutions to an ancient problem: why we disagree so much. It shows how to sidestep our animosities and get great things done, despite our differences. Underpinned by cutting-edge research and academic thinking (as well as fascinating real-life case studies and easy-to-use tools), author and marketeer Michael Brown reveals the eye-opening secrets that can lead to better leadership, stronger teams, swifter promotions, more effective collaboration, better organisational culture – as well as radically improving your life outside of work. “Well researched, empathic and urgent. If the title makes you nervous, you probably need to read the book. Michael Brown wants to help us learn to listen so we can figure out how to move forward.” SETH GODIN Author, This is Marketing “In an age where rage is all the rage, here’s a manual for how we can agree to disagree and move forward. A pacey read written with hope, heart and a very welcome sense of humour.” VICTORIA HARPER Features Director, Daily Telegraph

A Rapid Load Test (RLT), developed to determine the initial stiffness and bearing capacity, is an economical and practical alternative to a Static Load Test (SLT). The broad application of RLT, however, was hampered by uncertainty about the interpretation of the test results. This book offers clear guidance on the available analysis techniques and

Sudoku X (also known as "Diagonal Sudoku") is a placement puzzle. In this sudokus main diagonals also contain the digits 1 through 9. About Book This book introduces you to the amazing world of Sudoku X puzzles. It will help you understand the rules of this puzzle. This book is perfect for players of all skill levels and ages. You will find 200 exciting puzzles, both for beginners and for professionals. HOW TO PLAY It is a 9x9 grid, partially divided by black cells into compartments. The puzzle is most frequently a 9x9 grid made up of 3x3 subgrids (called "regions"). Some cells already contain numbers, known as "givens". The goal is to fill in the empty cells, one number in each, so that each column, row, and region contains the numbers 1 through 9 exactly once. Main diagonals also contain the digits 1 through 9. Each number in the solution therefore occurs only once in each of three "directions".

Sudoku X (also known as "Diagonal Sudoku") is a placement puzzle. In this sudokus main diagonals also contain the digits 1 through 9. About Book This book introduces you to the amazing world of Sudoku X puzzles. It will help you understand the rules of this puzzle. This book is perfect for players of all skill levels and ages. You will find 200 exciting puzzles, both for beginners and for professionals. HOW TO PLAY It is a 9x9 grid, partially divided by black cells into compartments. The puzzle is most frequently a 9x9 grid made up of 3x3 subgrids (called "regions"). Some cells already contain numbers, known as "givens". The goal is to fill in the empty cells, one number in each, so that each column, row, and region contains the numbers 1 through 9 exactly once. Main diagonals also contain the digits 1 through 9. Each number in the solution therefore occurs only once in each of three "directions".

Sudoku X (also known as "Diagonal Sudoku") is a placement puzzle. In this sudokus main diagonals also contain the digits 1 through 9. About Book This book introduces you to the amazing world of Sudoku X puzzles. It will help you understand the rules of this puzzle. This book is perfect for players of all skill levels and ages. You will find 200 exciting puzzles, both for beginners and for professionals. HOW TO PLAY It is a 9x9 grid, partially divided by black cells into compartments. The puzzle is most frequently a 9x9 grid made up of 3x3 subgrids (called "regions"). Some cells already contain numbers, known as "givens". The goal is to fill in the empty cells, one number in each, so that each column, row, and region contains the numbers 1 through 9 exactly once. Main diagonals also contain the digits 1 through 9. Each number in the solution therefore occurs only once in each of three "directions".

Sudoku X (also known as "Diagonal Sudoku") is a placement puzzle. In this sudokus main diagonals also contain the digits 1 through 9. About Book This book introduces you to the amazing world of Sudoku X puzzles. It will help you understand the rules of this puzzle. This book is perfect for players of all skill levels and ages. You will find 200 exciting puzzles, both for beginners and for professionals. HOW TO PLAY It is a 9x9 grid, partially divided by black cells into compartments. The puzzle is most frequently a 9x9 grid made up of 3x3 subgrids (called "regions"). Some cells already contain numbers, known as "givens". The goal is to fill in the empty cells, one number in each, so that each column, row, and region contains the numbers 1 through 9 exactly once. Main diagonals also contain the digits 1 through 9. Each number in the solution therefore occurs only once in each of three "directions".

Techniques and strategies are clearly illustrated and explained for players of all ages, teaching both fundamental and advanced skills in these easy-to-follow companion guides to the Sports Rules in Pictures series - for players, fans, and coaches alike.

"African-Atlantic Cultures and the South Carolina Lowcountry examines perceptions of the natural world revealed by the religious ideas and practices of African-descended communities in South Carolina from the colonial period into the twentieth century. Focusing on Kongo nature spirits known as the simbi, Ras Michael Brown describes the essential role religion played in key historical processes, such as establishing new communities and incorporating American forms of Christianity into an African-based spirituality. This book illuminates how people of African descent engaged the spiritual landscape of the Lowcountry through their subsistence practices, religious experiences, and political discourse"--

Santa gives a nameless mouse a special gift for Christmas.