Thomas Banks

Persuasion defines our lives. Every day and everywhere, we are subject to communications produced by governments, associations, and individuals that seek to inspire our thoughts and actions to change. These communications seek to convince, urge, pressure, and sweet-talk their target audience into compliance. Persuasion and influence have been hotly-researched and discussed for decades. In ten chapters, this book holistically profiles the strategies, psychological theories, uses, and case studies concerning persuasion. In particular, this book looks at the science and scholarship of persuasion in a variety of areas including practical persuasive techniques, leadership and influence, the mathematics of persuasion and communication, the psychological foundations of persuasion, persuasion in the domain of global law and international systems, as well as persuasion in marketing and sales, propaganda, and conspiracy theories.

In 2022, law and technology are intertwined in a relationship defined by high-paced growth and deep interdependence. Technology, law, and jurisprudence have wide-ranging impacts affecting everything from purchasing a coffee in the morning to ensuring the stability and security of nations. In the New Normal, defined by ever-present and accelerated change, this book profiles the relationship between technology and legality with real examples in order that readers can adapt and understand the changing landscape. In particular, this book looks at the developments, challenges, risks, and opportunities in variety of areas including the use of technology in legal research, in the private practice of law, in criminal proceedings, state surveillance, incarceration and the penal system, in criminal enterprise and black markets, and in public health and female wellness.

Happiness is not a simple thing. It might seem simple on the surface, but across cultures, times, and individual outlooks, the definition of what happiness is shifts and changes constantly. This book looks at numerous perspectives on happiness and well-being found the world over, the ways they differ and relate, how modern and historical science support them, and where they are affected by economics, social influences, and even our own minds.

This book chronicles humanity's historical, mythical, and scientific quest to discover the secret to eternal youth, the struggles such a quest has brought, the ways in which it has shaped our very society, and the ways it might still in the future.

This authoritative, advanced introduction provides a complete, modern perspective on quantum mechanics. It clarifies many common misconceptions regarding wave/particle duality and the correct interpretation of measurements. The author develops the text from the ground up, starting from the fundamentals and presenting information at an elementary level, avoiding unnecessarily detailed and complex derivations in favor of simple, clear explanations. He begins in the simplest context of a two-state system and shows why quantum mechanics is inevitable, and what its relationship is to classical mechanics. He also outlines the decoherence approach to interpreting quantum mechanics. Distinguishing features: Provides a thorough grounding in the principles and practice of quantum mechanics, including a core understanding of the behavior of atoms, molecules, solids, and light. Utilizes easy-to-follow examples and analogies to illustrate important concepts. Helps develop an intuitive sense for the field, by guiding the reader to understand how the correct formulas reduce to the non-relativistic ones. Includes numerous worked examples and problems for each chapter.

The Literary Life KIDS Commonplace Book (Colored Pencils) features the Literary Life Podcast commonplace book with a colorful array of drawing pencils on the cover and a coordinating interior design. In the book, Cindy Rollins, on behalf of all the podcast hosts, gives kids tips on how to use the book and how to create a commonplace habit for life. Also included: the podcast's annual kids' reading challenge, pages for commonplace quotes and sketches, pages for book narrations, pages for book reviews, and space to keep track of books they would like to read as well as space for readers to track their own reading. This book is part of the Commonplace Book Series. Pick a cover and style that you like best These books can be started at any time of the year. Use it until it is full or you want a new cover This edition includes The Literary Life Reading Challenges for 2021.

This authoritative, advanced introduction provides a complete, modern perspective on quantum mechanics. It clarifies many common misconceptions regarding wave/particle duality and the correct interpretation of measurements. The author develops the text from the ground up, starting from the fundamentals and presenting information at an elementary level, avoiding unnecessarily detailed and complex derivations in favor of simple, clear explanations. He begins in the simplest context of a two-state system and shows why quantum mechanics is inevitable, and what its relationship is to classical mechanics. He also outlines the decoherence approach to interpreting quantum mechanics. Distinguishing features: Provides a thorough grounding in the principles and practice of quantum mechanics, including a core understanding of the behavior of atoms, molecules, solids, and light. Utilizes easy-to-follow examples and analogies to illustrate important concepts. Helps develop an intuitive sense for the field, by guiding the reader to understand how the correct formulas reduce to the non-relativistic ones. Includes numerous worked examples and problems for each chapter.

Every leap in technology brings with it consequences-both beneficial and detrimental. Today, drones are on the verge of demonstrating their benefit to society. Unfortunately, like all technology, they too will yield unintended consequences. In a short time, drones have become a part of pop-culture having found their way into everyday life including hobbyists, Realtors, Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement and now, retailers such as Amazon hoping to reduce the cost of delivering their products. As these low-cost unmanned vehicles prove their value, they will become as widespread as smart phones. Rest assured, just as smart phones, tablet pcs and GPS have changed our way of life, drones too will change the way we do everything...even terror. In Indefensible, you are introduced to a new and frightening terror regime-Lone Wolf Technology-Jihadism. Although operating independently, these Technology-Jihadists will be coordinated by invisible remote leadership commanding them through social media. Leadership guiding the delivery of swarms of drones wreaking havoc and destruction. Islam's drone warriors, milling invisibly within cities and towns, drive innocuous soccer-mom-mini-vans and maneuver invisibly within a couple of miles of their targets. Upon arrival, they simply open their sunroofs then let their merciless autonomous vehicles, laden with C4 and biologics, begin their ruthless journey to destruction. These swarms of micro-drones, each weighing only a few pounds and flying close to the ground, will be invisible to radar and prove to be both catastrophic and indefensible. In the near future no venue will be safe or immune from these heartless autonomous weapons. Drones have already changed the fabric and tempo of warfare. Now, they usher in a new era of remote, autonomous and impersonal terror. Indefensible doesn't require the suspension of disbelief, but rather acceptance of the inevitable.