Troubled by 70 years of vague and unsupported assertions by the church, together with unanswered questions about God and man's place in the universe, Malcolm Smith embarks on a down-to-earth, no nonsense study and seeks for himself any evidence for a God or 'Intelligent Designer.' The result is this concise volume on the merits or otherwise of religion; on the grandeur of the universe; the incredibly elegant simplicity of evolution; and on man's place in it all. The book is both easy and fascinating to read. No college degree is required, just a healthy dose of common sense (a rare commodity these days); an open mind would be a plus. "The down-to-earth style and occasional dash of humor helps avoid the dryness which often plagues similar works." "Rarely does a work of this nature, in a single slim volume, treat the subject in such an everyday manner. The absence of vague, long-winded religious 'theo-speak' and absence of technical jargon that goes with most scientific works, makes this book a pleasure to read." "This book is for all those looking for a little help in sorting out, at least to their satisfaction, what religion is all about, and whether it has any place in their future? That the reader will gain a basic insight into the workings of the universe and evolution, is an added bonus." "Is there any scientifically acceptable evidence for the existence of a God?" The author's finding was a reluctant "no" but ironically led to a surprising realization that more than compensates for any perceived spiritual loss, and left him far happier than he had hoped. If the reader is moved to do his/her own thinking and reasoning, even in dissent, then the author will have succeeded. "It was an easy, enjoyable read, void of 'filler' and left me with much thinking to do," was a typical comment.

The biology of people in the past is a rapidly expanding field of historical study. Our capacity to understand the biology of historical populations is experiencing remarkable developments on both theoretical and analytical fronts. Human Biology and History weaves together the fields of biology, archaeology, and anthropology in an exchange of methods and theoretical perspectives that exemplify the interaction between human biology and history. The book presents methods developed for the analysis of biological material that can be applied to historical specimens to reveal the lifestyles and environments of individuals who lived thousands of years ago. Historical data sources are used to reveal the biology and population structure of past civilizations, while biological methods are used to interpret historical patterns and processes. This multi-disciplinary volume presents a unique interlacing of human biology and history to illustrate how individuals and societies have evolved over time. It is an insightful reference for human biologists, historians, and students interested in the intriguing connections that can be made when scientific techniques are applied within a historical context.

During the interwar period cinema and literature seemed to be at odds with each other, part of the continuing struggle between mass and elite culture which so worried writers such as Aldous Huxley, T.S. Eliot and the Leavises. And this cultural divide appeared to be sharp evidence of a deeper struggle for control of the nation's consciousness, not only between dominant and oppositional elements within Britain, but between British and American vales as well. On the one hand, films like Sing As We Go, Proud Valley, and The Stars Look Down consolidated the assumptions about the existence of a national rather than separate class identities. On the other hand, working-class literature such as Love on the Dole articulated working-class experience in a manner intended to bridge the gap between the 'Two Englands'. This book, originally published in 1987, examines how two of the most significant cultural forms in Britain contributed indirectly to the stability of Britain in the interwar crisis, helping to construct a new class alliance. A major element in the investigation is an analysis of the mechanics of the development of a national cultural identity, alongside separate working-class culture, the development of the lower-middle class and the implications of the intrusion of Hollywood culture. The treatment throughout is thematic rather than text-oriented - works of Graham Greene, George Orwell, Bert Coombes, Evelyn Waugh, the British Documentary Film Movement and Michael Balcon are included in the wide range of material covered.

This volume looks at the relationship between specific aspects of Third World cities and human health. Rapid and extensive urbanization of the less developed nations is perhaps the most dramatic demographic phenomenon of our times, but its impact on human biology is not well understood. Here, a cross-section of work is presented on this subject allowing human biologists, urban planners, public health workers and other specialists to assess our knowledge and the current approaches available to increase it. Contributions fall into two groups: studies of urban ecology including the social, economic and physical domains, and studies of biological responses to the urban environment. Health is not merely the absence of specific diseases, but is construed more broadly to include a wide range of biological parameters that are correlated with various states of sub-optimal health. These include patterns of child growth and development, frequencies of specific diseases, nutritional status, immunological characteristics and physiological parameters. This important volume will be of interest to a wide range of researchers and academics, including human biologists, anthropologists, healthcare professionals, human geographers, urban and regional planners, and economists.

This fascinating, multi-disciplinary volume weaves together the fields of biology, archaeology, anthropology and history to produce a stimulating and wide-ranging analysis of the biological history of past human populations. Research methods, theoretical approaches and the outcomes of research are all fully explored, and contributions to the book are made by an eminent mix of experts in the afore-mentioned fields.
Comprehensive in its coverage of the subject, chapters include discussions on adaptation and the English demographic regime; British polygyny, warfare and population structure; and a human ecological approach to the interface of history and biology.
A unique interlacing of human biology and history, this book will encourage further reflection and debate and presents a fresh perspective to the subject for students and professionals across all levels in biology, archaeology, anthroplogy and social history.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203217594

Farmland wildlife has been decimated by intensive crop growing using pesticides, grubbing up hedges, ploughing heathland and draining marshes, etc. With too many sheep grazing our moors, hills and mountains, a range of upland plants, invertebrates and birds has been diminished and the land converted to closely-grazed turf, perfect for heavy rain to cause catastrophic downstream floods. Once common farmland birds have declined by 54% since 1970 with farmland invertebrates declining by 40% in a few decades. Since the 1930s a staggering 97% of our once flower-rich meadows has been lost. Ploughing a New Furrow examines these stark figures and in the context of Brexit considers the unprecedented opportunity for wildlife once again to be nurtured by Britain's farmers alongside food production, reversing the enormous plant and animal losses our farmland has suffered. With its financial largesse, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has encouraged farmers to destroy huge areas of wildlife habitat in Britain's lowlands and seriously damage large tracts of our uplands, depleting Britain's farmed land of much of its wildlife. With responsibility for farm policy to be transferred back to the UK, these enormous losses could be reversed and Britain's farms made wildlife-rich once more. This book is based to a significant extent on conversations with farmers and on the achievements and experiences of some farmers who have made good use of agri-environment payments to reinstate lost habitats and manage their remaining wildlife more sensitively. The author sets out the case for removing or capping subsidies, supporting organic and other more sustainable forms of agriculture and the conservation of soils and the rich life forms they hold. He proposes a set of policy changes and other measures that should be adopted by the Government post-Brexit to make the 70% of our land that farming occupies rich in wildlife again. Literally food for thought!

1940 was the most significant year in European history this century. For Britain it was 'the finest hour', the beginning of the People's War. Britain and 1940 explores what the year meant for the people of Britain then and now.
Malcolm Smith explores the great fear that a second world war would perhaps mean the end of British civilization and charts the development of the myths of Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain and the Blitz, and the great influence they have had on our national consciousness and on attitudes to the outside world.

This unique and popular text, now in a sixth edition, clearly and succinctly guides Accounting students and researchers in their understanding and conducting of research from conception to completion, across a wide range of research methods, including quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods research. This latest edition provides new and extended coverage, including the role and impact of social media, big data analytics, data mining, and emerging and disruptive technologies, such as Blockchain. There is also a renewed focus on the role of ethics in Accounting research. This text remains essential reading for those completing a research methods course, project/dissertation or other form of individual study in Accounting. Malcolm Smith was Foundation Professor of Accounting at the University of South Australia.

During the interwar period cinema and literature seemed to be at odds with each other, part of the continuing struggle between mass and elite culture which so worried writers such as Aldous Huxley, T.S. Eliot and the Leavises. And this cultural divide appeared to be sharp evidence of a deeper struggle for control of the nation's consciousness, not only between dominant and oppositional elements within Britain, but between British and American vales as well. On the one hand, films like Sing As We Go, Proud Valley, and The Stars Look Down consolidated the assumptions about the existence of a national rather than separate class identities. On the other hand, working-class literature such as Love on the Dole articulated working-class experience in a manner intended to bridge the gap between the 'Two Englands'. This book, originally published in 1987, examines how two of the most significant cultural forms in Britain contributed indirectly to the stability of Britain in the interwar crisis, helping to construct a new class alliance. A major element in the investigation is an analysis of the mechanics of the development of a national cultural identity, alongside separate working-class culture, the development of the lower-middle class and the implications of the intrusion of Hollywood culture. The treatment throughout is thematic rather than text-oriented - works of Graham Greene, George Orwell, Bert Coombes, Evelyn Waugh, the British Documentary Film Movement and Michael Balcon are included in the wide range of material covered.

This book is a simple case-by-case approach to the many different types of orthopaedic fractures. The book is being written for residents, registrars, newly qualified doctors and medical students, primarily targeted to those in the fields of diagnostic radiology, orthopaedic surgery and emergency medicine. There are a variety of texts that exist in these fields to assist in acquiring knowledge; however, there lacks a text that provides simple images and explanations from which a fundamental base of skeletal trauma can be formed. Some of the standard textbooks are still too advanced and lack the basic knowledge. This book is divided into sections by anatomic location, each containing a number of cases presented as unknowns. A standard template is utilised for each case, including a brief clinical description, physical examination, followed by radiological images. The reader is then asked to interpret the plain films given. Several questions are then asked, including the most likely diagnosis and followed by brief discussions on radiological findings (with appropriate annotated images, as necessary) and clinical management. Finally, the case is concluded with a summary of key points. With this format readers can test their knowledge on important orthopaedic fractures as seen on a plain film. Furthermore, they can integrate this information with the standard clinical management involved with that specific disease entity.