Social Reality

In einer Welt, in der digitale Medien den Alltag unserer Kinder prägen, stehen viele Eltern vor der Herausforderung, den Einfluss von Social Media auf die mentale Gesundheit und das soziale Leben ihrer Kinder zu verstehen. "Social Media: Zwischen Filtern und Realität" bietet eine wertvolle Orientierungshilfe, die sowohl Eltern als auch Jugendlichen hilft, die Chancen und Risiken der digitalen Welt zu erkennen und einen gesunden Umgang mit Social Media zu entwickeln.

Imagine this: You’ve just hired someone for a job, but instead of showing initiative, they spend more time scrolling on their phone, wondering why they’re not the boss yet. Or perhaps you’ve seen a viral video of someone celebrated for doing… absolutely nothing. Meanwhile, your own hard work feels undervalued in a culture that rewards mediocrity. Sound familiar? In today’s world, intelligence, skill, and grit seem to take a back seat to viral fame and unearned entitlement. You’re left wondering: When did ambition become a dirty word?

The following essays focus on consciousness, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, artificial intelligence, computer science, virtual and augmented reality, and more. Each chapter stands on its own and doesn’t require prior knowledge about the subject, though having a background in philosophical and scientific thinking is a plus. These essays, with a few exceptions, were originally published in Europe on the Integral World website during the past decade.

On the surface, Iron Man appears to be a straightforward superhero, another rich guy fighting crime with fancy gadgets. But beneath the shiny armor and flashy technology lies Tony Stark, brilliant inventor and eccentric playboy, struggling to balance his desires, addictions, and relationships with his duties as the Armored Avenger. Iron Man and Philosophy explores the many philosophical issues that emerge from the essential conflicts found in the decades of Iron Man stories in comics and movies.

In Tensions in the American Dream, Melanie and Roderick Bush ask how a "nation of immigrants" pledge inclusion, yet marginalize so many citizens based on race, class, and gender. The authors consider the origins and development of the US nation and empire; the founding principles of belonging, nationalism, and exceptionalism and their lived reality.

In this original, far-reaching, and timely book, Justice Stephen Breyer examines the work of SCOTUS in an increasingly interconnected world, a world in which all sorts of public and private activity - from the conduct of national security policy to the conduct of international trade - obliges the Court to consider and understand circumstances beyond America's borders. At a time when ordinary citizens may book international lodging directly through online sites, it has become clear that judicial awareness can no longer stop at the water's edge.

Congratulations! You’ve been chosen to lead one of your state government’s most critical agencies. But for most state agency leaders, the job is like getting thrown into the deep end. From political landmines to agency processes held together by spreadsheets, the challenges are daunting — but so is the opportunity to make a difference for millions of people. Drawing on insights from over 30 of the country’s top state agency leaders, this Playbook equips you with the strategies, principles, and real-world examples you’ll need to thrive in your new role.

Ever wondered why a rich Athenian who died 2,400 years ago still dominates Western thought? Or why your professor keeps talking about invisible triangles and prisoners staring at shadows? "Plato's Cave: Philosophy's First Reality Show" is the hilarious guide to Plato you never knew you needed. In this irreverent takedown of philosophy's founding father, author Sophia Blackwell translates Plato's lofty ideas into actual human language while mercilessly mocking his metaphysical obsessions, aristocratic biases, and suspicious fondness for "perfect forms."

Embark on the exploration of 'The Book of Odd,' delving into the intricacies of our small world. Each chapter unfolds to reveal the active role consciousness plays in shaping an ever-evolving universe. This narrative underscores the profound interdependence of life, casting us as co-authors in a grand cosmic story. Beyond contemplation, the tale carries a passionate message about our collective influence on the present moment, Right Now. It champions our ability to shape destinies, turning potential into tangible outcomes and emphasizing the inherent purpose within each of us.

Despite the high number of programs and their evident popularity, paranormal reality television has to date received little critical attention. Ghost Channels provides an overview of the paranormal reality television genre, its development, and its place in television history. Conducting in-depth analyses of over thirty paranormal television series, author Amy Lawrence suggests these programs reveal much about Americans' contemporary fears.

This book examines how the human mind has constructed Western philosophy. What would a new history of Western philosophy be? Aren't there so many studies like that on the market already? Most histories of Western philosophy go in chronological order from the pre-Socratics up to the modern philosophers. But why does it have to be that way?

Gaby’s had it with “The Chelsea Show”. So she embarks on her own attention-seeking campaign, and claims the boy on a Survivor-type TV program for teens is her brother. At first this seems like the perfect get-popular-quick scheme. That is, until the boy wins the competition and is awarded the grand prize: a trip to Australia, leaving immediately... WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY! Forget popularity - unless Gaby figures out a way to convince her bunkmates that she’s on the next flight out to Australia, she’ll never be able to show her face at Lakeview again.

Terrorism expert Erick Stakelbeck pulls back the curtain on ISIS, the violent terrorist organization spreading death and hate in the Middle East. The rise of ISIS took the White House by complete surprise: President Obama called the group "JV" then was forced to reassess when ISIS began executing innocent American journalists. Now radicalized Americans and Europeans are joining ISIS' ranks.

Two authors with decades of experience promoting human rights argue that, as the world changes around us, rights hardly imaginable today will come into being.

En la prensa escrita y en la digital, en las redes sociales y en los medios tradicionales, un torrente de mentiras, propaganda e inexactitudes - motivadas por el afán de dinero, notoriedad o poder - se mezcla y confunde con el reporte de hechos reales. Jamás ha sido tan fácil ser engañado: a la censura y el espionaje se han sumado la sobreinformación y las fake news. En este escenario, que parece sacado de una distopía orwelliana, la ética periodística, la confirmación y el rigor parecen reliquias olvidadas.

Down to Earth: Busting the Myths of Mars and Venus blasts the lid off the myths of gender roles and stereotypes, and the damage they do to people and our planet. The book also offers strategies for changing the lives of women and men, girls and boys, for the better. Veronica Schwarz tells it like it is, with blistering clarity, anecdotes, statistics and humor, highlighting the points with her own illustrations.

Reality is the one word that describes everything we live in, everything we know, knew, and will. It represents time, space, and all the other possible dimensions. But what exactly is reality? In his book, The Bitter Truth of Reality, author Mahmoud Elsayed attempts to answer this complex query by taking a journey through physics, biology, human anatomy, history, philosophy, and even religions. Hopefully, by the end of this book, the listener will find an answer to this question that sits at the top of the existential questions list.

Economist and syndicated journalist Loretta Napoleoni argues that the world is undergoing rapid and unexpected great transformations fueled by what she calls rogue economics. Eagerly awaited around the world (translation rights have already been sold throughout Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia), Napoleoni's account is based on top-to-bottom primary-source interviews from banking executives in New York to Russian prostitutes to London morgue workers.

The Asymmetric Warfare Group (AWG) serves as the United States Army’s global scouts. We leverage direct observations of the operational environment, emerging threat capabilities, and friendly gaps to advise the operational force. One of the threats we see on the horizon is that posed by Private Military Companies (PMCs). PMCs are proliferating worldwide and play an increasingly important role in conflict. Specifically, PMCs based in the Russian Federation have been active in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. They are of increasing concern to commanders worldwide.

Second Lives takes us on a revelatory journey through the electronic looking glass as Tim Guest investigates one of the most bizarre phenomena of the 21st century: virtual lives.