The Story of Christianity: Updated and Revised Editions

The original editions of The Story of Christianity found a place in college classrooms soon after they were published in the early 80s. However, much has changed in the last 25 years—and author and church historian Justo Gonzalez has revised and updated his two classic volumes to include:

• New archaeological discoveries that give students a better view of the early Christian Church and communities of Christians.


• Advances in the recovery of Gnostic texts that have revealed a richer diversity of “Christianities” in the first century.


• The latest research into the role of women throughout the history of the Christian Church.


• A look at how Christianity has been in decline in Europe and the US—and on the rise in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

The Story of Christianity: Volume 1, The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation is available now. (ISBN 9780061855887, paperback, $25.99)

The Story of Christianity: Volume 2, The Reformation to the Present Day will be available in early December—in time for spring adoption. (ISBN 9780061855894, paperback, $24.99)

Both will continue to give students a thorough and reasoned introduction to the history of Christianity.

If you need a desk copy of either volume, please let us know.

THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND: A Moving Tale of Overcoming Adversity and the Power of Knowledge

William Kamkwamba, co-author (along with Bryan Mealer) of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope, like the other children in Malawi, Africa, grew up entrenched in poverty and surrounded by disease. His family, poor farmers by trade, could barely afford enough food for one meal a day, let alone spend the $80 annual school tuition. Not allowing himself or his dreams to be crushed, William spent his free time reading books from a local library to try and overcome his lack of education. Eventually he stumbled across a book about electricity and was particularly intrigued by a section on energy provided by windmills.

Inspired by his dream of providing a better life for himself and his family, William set out to build a small windmill to supply electricity to power tiny light bulbs and a radio. As word of his ingenuity spread, however, William achieved much greater things. His amazing achievements have led him to be featured in the Wall Street Journal and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and he is currently enrolled at Dartmouth College.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is an inspirational story that shows not only the potential of renewable energy, but also what can be accomplished when a person truly puts their heart and soul into something. William is a shining role model and source of inspiration for his generation.

Praise for The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind:
“William Kamkwamba’s achievements with wind energy should serve as a model of what one person, with an inspired idea, can do to tackle the crisis we face. His book tells a moving and exciting story.”—Al Gore, former Vice President and Nobel Laureate

“The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a stunning narrative, a description of persistence and accomplishment told matter-of-factly…of greater worth is the humbling and inspiring example of intuition, inventiveness and determination that fuel Kamkwamba’s journey.”—Denver Post

If you would like to consider The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind for one of your classes, please order an examination copy. If you've already decided to require this book, please request a desk copy.

Graham Schweig Releases The Most Accessible Translation of BHAGAVAD GITA To Date

Bhagavad Gita: The Beloved Lord's Secret Love Song is often regarded as the Bible of India. With a gripping story and deeply compelling message, it is unquestionably one of the most popular sacred texts of Asia and, along with the Bible and the Qur'an, one of the most important holy scriptures in the world. Graham Schweig’s translation of the famous conversation between the Hindu god Krishna and the young prince Arjuna is perfectly suited for academic study; the glossary, pronunciation guide, and expert commentary provide greater ease of understanding.

Not only is the Bhagavad Gita one of the most important works in the history of world literature, but it is read in thousands of yoga studios across the country and Business Week recently reported that “it has replaced The Art of War as the hip new ancient Eastern management text.”

Praise for Bhagavad Gita:

“Schweig’s new, beautiful, and accessible translation of the Gita, backed by his enormous knowledge and authoritative commentary, will remain the standard text of this marvelous Song for years to come, if indeed it is ever superseded.”—Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions

“The Bhagavad Gita is a religious classic; Graham Schweig’s felicitous translation of it deserves to be called a classic in its own right.”—Arvind Sharma, Birks Professor of Comparative Religion at McGill University, author of Our Religions

If you would like to consider Bhagavad Gita for one of your classes, please order an examination copy. If you've already decided to require this book, please request a desk copy.

Francis Flaherty’s THE ELEMENTS OF STORY, An Essential Guide for All Writers

In the spirit of Strunk and White’s classic The Elements of Style, The Elements of Story: Field Notes on Nonfiction Writing offers 50 rules to story doctoring—perfecting the architecture and structure of a story to create prose that is riveting and persuasive. The hard-won techniques and strategies Francis Flaherty shares here have been culled from his 12 years teaching at NYU and 20-plus years as a journalist. With excerpts from published articles and stories straight from his experiences in the newsroom, this book provides story-level insights and principles that will benefit every student.

Flaherty provides writers at all levels of experience with real solutions to specific, common, and especially difficult problems of story writing. Unlike most on the shelf of writing books, The Elements of Story is not about run-on sentences, errant punctuation, or ambiguous antecedents. Instead, Flaherty warns students about common missteps and provides helpful guides like how to move a story along, write descriptively to “paint the setting,” and make a theme more impactful.

Praise for The Elements of Story:

“An essential read for both freelance writers and students of journalism.”—Library Journal

“A splendid book for journalists (new or old), fiction writers, essayists, and critics.”—Pete Hamill, author of A Drinking Life

If you would like to consider The Elements of Story for one of your classes, please order an examination copy. If you've already decided to require this book, please request a desk copy.

Get a FREE Hardcover of Todd Kashdan’s Curious? Now! The Paperback Will Be Ready for the Spring Semester

Curious?: Discovering the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life by Todd Kashdan will be released in paperback in time for the spring 2011 semester. In anticipation of this, HarperAcademic is offering the first 400 respondents a complimentary hardcover edition to be reviewed for possible course adoption. Those interested in obtaining a hardcover copy of Curious? should email kieran.parker@harpercollins.com, providing their name, institution, mailing address, and the course for which the text may be adopted.

As he does with his students at George Mason University, Kashdan provides a concrete plan, showing students how nurturing their inherent desire to know more will lead to a happy life well lived. Using scientific research to back his advice, Kashdan shows that curiosity is a deep, complex phenomenon; our approach to things we are unfamiliar-caused by an intense desire to learn more-is important to a fulfilling life. Curiosity, he proves, is actually the spice of life.

Praise for Curious:
“Curious? points the way to an exploring spirit that leads to wonderment, joy, and meaning. It’s one of those rare books that is both research-based and practical.”—David G. Myers, author, The Pursuit of Happiness

“Curiosity is what makes for great leaders, great parents, and great friends. Buttressed by the latest scientific research, Curious? is one of those rare books that can make you rethink how you see the world.”—Arianna Huffington

If you would like to consider Curious? for one of your classes, please order an examination copy. If you've already decided to require this book, please request a desk copy.

A Wake-Up Call for Small Businesses: PROFITS AREN'T EVERYTHING, THEY'RE THE ONLY THING by George Cloutier

The students in your entrepreneurial classes will graduate into an economy that will not be kind to America’s 23 million small businesses. Get them ready to face that harsh reality by assigning them George Cloutier's Profits Aren't Everything, They're the Only Thing: No-Nonsense Rules from the Ultimate Contrarian and Small Business Guru. Cloutier’s 13 no-nonsense rules for small businesses include:

Forget teamwork
Micromanage like crazy
Pay raises are over
Fear is the best motivator

Cloutier, Co-Chairman of Partner America™ and CEO of American Management Services, knows how to add to the essential bottom line—which is the ultimate measure of success.

Praise for Profits Aren't Everything, They're the Only Thing:

"A candid, 'tell it as it really is,' hard-hitting book. A must read for all small and midsized business owners."—Tom Cochran, CEO and executive director, The United States Conference of Mayors

If you would like to consider Profits Aren’t Everything, They’re the Only Thing for one of your classes, please order an examination copy. If you've already decided to require this book, please request a desk copy.

Graphic Novelization of Ginsberg’s HOWL Comes Just in Time for Film Release

After watching trailer for Howl starring James Franco as the famous beat poet Allen Ginsberg, I found myself becoming increasingly excited for its upcoming September 24, 2010 release date. The genre-bending biopic of one of America’s most important and influential poets consists of three different aspects that are interwoven together: Ginsberg’s early life in New York City, the obscenity trial that resulted from the publishing of his epic poem Howl, and an animated re-imagining of that poem.

Eric Drooker, painter, graphic novelist, and cover artist for The New Yorker, served as Animation Designer for the re-imagining of Howl. No stranger to Ginsberg’s work, Drooker collaborated with the famous poet on the book Illuminated Poems, providing illustrations to accompany pieces. Inspired by his work on the film Howl, Drooker appropriately felt that the Epic Poem would make a beautiful graphic novel.

Howl: A Graphic Novel provides students a visualization of the poem, stanza by stanza, drawing inspiration from storyboards and animations created during the film’s production. This artistic interpretation makes Ginsberg’s prophetic masterpiece—which rages against dehumanizing society—perhaps the most accessible it has ever been.

Looking for more ways to use Ginsberg’s work in a classroom? Check out WebEnglishTeacher’s resources. Also, listen to Howl straight from the mouth of Ginsberg himself! There is also an official website for Howl, providing more information on the film.

If you would like to consider Howl: A Graphic Novel for one of your classes, please order an examination copy. If you've already decided to require this book, please request a desk copy.