This collection of short stories, anecdotes, and poems was likely compiled during the 13th century. Tales of romantic love—including courtship, marriage, and illicit affairs—unify the collection and make it an essential primary source for literary and social history, since official Chinese history sources did not usually discuss family conflict or sexual matters. This volume, the first complete translation of The Drunken Man’s Talk (Xinbian zuiweng tanlu) in any language, includes an introduction that explores the literary significance of the work as well as annotations explaining the symbolism and allusions found in the stories.
“Okay, I know what you’re thinking, but let’s get one thing straight: No. I’m not a vampire. I mean, yes, I rely on blood to sustain my part-human, semi-immortal lifestyle, but that’s as far as it goes, alright?” For the dead man talking, each death is only a new beginning – as long as someone can be relied upon to donate enough blood to bring him back to life. But it’s hard to fit in when you’re legally dead, and a youth marred by constant reinventions has made relationships and employment seem futile. Unable to gain a foothold in the real world, he begins to question what it means to be human, to be a monster, and to exist. Offering a fresh and frequently hilarious take on immortality, Dead Man Talking is the story of one man's many lives: from a hedonistic quest to determine whether pleasure alone can bring fulfilment, to a wayward journey of discovery with the self-styled King of the Goths. At the point of giving up, he finally comes to understand the meaning of life – but nothing is without cost, and his genetics will not allow him to escape his fate.
A wartime attack on a defenceless merchant convoy brings the intent of the Admiralty into question. Was it merely a bad tactical decision or something more sinister? Why did Admiral Dudley Pound scatter Convoy PQ17 in the Barents Sea on the evening of 4th July 1942? Most of the merchant ships were destroyed while not a single one of the warships assigned to protect them was lost, casting a long shadow over subsequent events. Why did Pound act as he did? And why was this information an official secret for so long? It might have remained so, but for the revelations of a dead man talking. A thrilling tale of World War II from Richard Woodman, perfect for fans of Patrick O’Brian and Dewey Lambdin
Even as America's prison system is expanding at an unprecedented rate, Lee Griffith makes a startling proposal in this book: abolish prisons. To make his case, Griffith thoroughly examines prisons from the perspectives of sociology, theology, history, and biblical exegesis. Bolstered with extensive documentation as well as lively anecdotal evidence, this compelling, radical book is bound to stir up serious discussion.
Contains almost 100 stories by famous yarn-spinners from the United States, Africa, and the Caribbean, ranging from ghost stories to ghetto adventures.
Learn to recognize and resolve communication problems common to gay male relationships Man Talk presents effective techniques to help gay couples communicate better on the way to enjoying a fulfilling relationship. This practical guide from the author of Affirmative Gay Relationships examines common problems that create communication difficulties and offers straightforward, easy-to-use strategies for understanding feelings, resolving arguments, expressing anger, understanding nonverbal communication, improving listening skills, expressing love and appreciation, and dealing with issues specific to interracial and intercultural relationships. Man Talk explores areas very well known to gay men, such as competition, the need to “win” arguments, and uncertainty about how to handle anger. Written by a licensed clinical social worker, this unique book avoids clinical jargon in presenting the thoughts of gay men in multiple, detailed vignettes that illustrate effective—and ineffective—communication. This practical guide provides proven methods of avoiding communication “destroyers,” hidden agendas, the need to be “right,” and disagreements that become “courtroom” battles, and offers effective ways of saying what you really mean, listening to your partner, dealing with uncomfortable subjects (like sex and money), and recognizing that there are many levels of communication (body movement, silence, voice inflection, etc.) that will significantly impact the quality of interaction between two men. Topics examined in Man Talk include: understanding what effective communication is—and why it’s so important how major misunderstandings can develop—and how to avoid them how communication can be destroyed—and how to prevent it from happening understanding the nature of anger and learning how to manage it understanding male socialization that teaches men to be “in control” learning how to relinquish the need to be in control all of the time how men can “let go” and become aware of, accept, and communicate their feelings learning how to listen—and not preach how to identify and deal with a relationship that’s in trouble how to communicate appreciation, care and love and much more! Man Talk is a must-read for all gay men interested in relationships—past, present, and future. It’s also an essential professional guide for therapists who work with gay men and for concerned friends of gay men who want to help.
