The Materiality of Nothing explores the invisible, intangible and transient materials and objects of everyday life and the relationships we have with them. Drawing on over 15 years of original, empirical research, it builds on growing research on the everyday, and unites the established field of material culture and materiality with emerging sociological studies exploring notions of nothing and the unmarked. The chapters cover topics such as lost property, museum curation, plastic microfibres, thrift, music and even hair, illuminating how invisible and intangible materials conjure memories, meanings and identities, inextricably binding us to other people, places and things. In turn, the book also engages with issues of sustainability and consumption, raising questions regarding society’s increasing need for material accumulation and posing some alternatives.

There has been a recent surge in the examination of the evolutionary roots of religious belief, all trying to identify where the human desire to seek the supernatural and the divine comes from. This book adds a new and innovative perspective to this line of thought by being the first to link prenatal and perinatal experiences to the origins of these unconscious underpinnings of our shared images of God. The book poses a ground-breaking paradigm by thinking about our earliest images of God, whether theist or atheist, within a psychoanalytic framework, comparing and contrasting the thought of Freud and Rizzuto. It looks at the issue of images of God from a diversity of psychological perspectives including, attachment theory, developmental theory and bio-psychosocial perspectives. This analysis leads to the conclusion that in parallel to postnatal findings, uterine and birth experiences can predispose individuals to form God representations later in life, through underpinning affective and environmental factors. This is a bold study of the development of one of humanity's most fundamental aspects. As such, it will be of great interest to scholars of the psychology of religion, psychology, psychoanalysis, religious studies and early infant development.

There has been a recent surge in the examination of the evolutionary roots of religious belief, all trying to identify where the human desire to seek the supernatural and the divine comes from. This book adds a new and innovative perspective to this line of thought by being the first to link prenatal and perinatal experiences to the origins of these unconscious underpinnings of our shared images of God. The book poses a ground-breaking paradigm by thinking about our earliest images of God, whether theist or atheist, within a psychoanalytic framework, comparing and contrasting the thought of Freud and Rizzuto. It looks at the issue of images of God from a diversity of psychological perspectives including, attachment theory, developmental theory and bio-psychosocial perspectives. This analysis leads to the conclusion that in parallel to postnatal findings, uterine and birth experiences can predispose individuals to form God representations later in life, through underpinning affective and environmental factors. This is a bold study of the development of one of humanity's most fundamental aspects. As such, it will be of great interest to scholars of the psychology of religion, psychology, psychoanalysis, religious studies and early infant development.

Mundane Methods is an innovative and original collection which will make a distinctive methodological and empirical contribution to research on the everyday. Bringing together a range of interdisciplinary approaches it provides a practical, hands-on approach for scholars interested in studying the mundane and exploring its potential. Divided into three key themes this volume explores methods for studying: materials and memories, emotions and senses, and mobilities and motion; with encounters, relationships, practices, spaces, temporalities and imaginaries cross-cutting throughout. In doing so, it draws on the work of a range of established and up-and-coming scholars researching the everyday, including human geographers, sociologists, anthropologists, urban planners, cartographers, and fashion historians. With empirical examples, practical tips, ethical considerations, and exercises. -- .

Ever felt that lurking sense of Sunday night dread? In this warm and empathetic guide to the modern workplace, Helen Holmes tackles precisely what's going wrong in your workplace - and how you can improve your working week. Drawing upon expert research and employee interviews, she answers questions such as: Why does that difficult colleague refuse to take ownership of anything? What can I do about the constant data overload of email and meetings? Why am I still not being paid fairly? Holmes proposes that fear, a lack of focus, and a lack of fairness are at the core of workplace challenges, and outlines how goodwill, purpose and trust can overcome them. Written for you as an employee, this book offers empathy and pragmatism for anyone who's ever contemplated quitting their job and running for the hills. Instead, Holmes gives inspiring case studies and practical tips for crafting a better working week, one step at a time.